Where I am Writing From, December 2023. Photo by Caro DeFrias.
These are the desks I wrote my graduate thesis on.
Caro (Caroline) DeFrias is an emerging academic, artist, and curator currently based in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montréal. They are currently in the final stages of their graduate thesis in art history at Concordia University. Previously, they achieved a Combined Honours with Distinction from the University of King’s College in the historiography of science and technology and anthropology, with a certificate in art history and visual culture, and an unofficial minor in contemporary philosophy.
Their work, through a variety of mediums and forms, explores the embodied politics and poetics of queerness, anticolonial art histories and practices, and notions of inheritance and identity in relation to immigration and (re)settlement. As well, they maintain a critical interest in the construction of the gallery space, the politics and history of display practices, embodied and queer phenomenologies of encounter, and the ethics and pathos of the archive.
Where I am Writing From, July 2023. Photo by Caro DeFrias.Where I am Writing From, August 2023. Photo by Caro DeFrias.Where I am Writing From, September 2023. Photo by Caro DeFrias.Where I am Writing From, October 2023. Photo by Caro DeFrias.Where I am Writing From, November 2023. Photo by Caro DeFrias.Where I am Writing From, December 2023. Photo by Caro DeFrias.Where I am Writing From, January 2024. Photo by Caro DeFrias.Where I am Writing From, February 2024. Photo by Caro DeFrias.
For the ninth Monday in a row, drag queen Bambi Dextrous hosted a Trivia Night at The Diving Bell Social Club on Saint-Laurent
Photo by Elisa Gallot
It is around 8:30 p.m. and The Diving Bell is full. Bambi Dextrous — a drag queen for over 10 years — has just arrived to greet the participants. As she stands next to the bar, we improvise a photoshoot before she goes on stage.
Photo by Elisa Gallot
Before the quiz begins, the drag queen likes to introduce each Trivia Monday with a traditional lip-sync performance.
Photo by Elisa Gallot
After the show, time for reflection. Our host gets ready to enumerate the questions that she tailor-makes for each quiz night.
Photo by Elisa Gallot
Forty general knowledge questions later, Bambi Dextrous gives the audience a last performance before announcing the winning team.
Photo by Elisa Gallot
Sitting under the stage, I try to capture as many movements, facial expressions, and colours as possible.
Photo by Elisa Gallot
It is almost midnight when Trivia Night comes to an end and Bambi Dextrous invites me into the dressing room to take some final pictures. In this more intimate environment, I get to learn more about this multidisciplinary artist who combines passions for modeling, make-up, or acting in front of the camera. Beyond drag, Bambi Dextrous hopes to develop her acting career as well.
Students share their opinions on the strike for a reading week in the fall semester
As of Oct. 2, 13 member associations (MAs) within the Arts and Science Federation of Associations (ASFA) have passed a mandate to strike from Oct. 3– 7 for a fall reading week. The growing awareness of the reading week strike has spread across Concordia, resulting in some students having strong thoughts on the subject.
The Concordian interviewed students across both Sir George Williams and Loyola campuses to get their opinions regarding the upcoming reading week strike:
Concordia students Amélie (left) and Lennie (right) at the Loyola campus. KAITLYNN RODNEY/ The Concordian
Amélie (left) and Lennie (right)
“I think it should happen because we have one in the winter, and other schools have them, so I think it only makes sense to have the whole week off to catch up on studies and have time for midterms,” said Lennie.
“I think it is a good idea because it’s important to have time to catch up on school, but it’s important to have time for other stuff than school like leisure, family or anything else in your life. I feel like when you’re in school you have less time for that,” said Amélie.
Concordia students Luca Quol (left) and Sofia Pofizkus (right) at the Loyola campus. KAITLYNN RODNEY/ The Concordian
Luca Quol (left) and Sofia Pofizkus (right)
“I honestly just learned about it yesterday. I am in support of it. I think it’s kind of ridiculous that we don’t have a reading week, it seems like every other university in Canada does,” said Quele.
“I think it’s a good idea, honestly, since everyone else has one. We also need a break in the fall, not just the winter,” said Pofizkus.
Portrait of Concordia student Emma Megelas at the Loyola campus. KAITLYNN RODNEY/ The Concordian
Emma Megelas
“I think that it’s beneficial for students to do the strike and the reading week. Not only will it give us more time to study and be prepared, it will help to spread out our schedule so that you’re not crammed with other exams you have to do. You also won’t feel so stressed with work or getting a good grade, so you can be feeling a lot more confident with what you got,” said Megelas.
Concordia students Luca Safar (right) and Exael Cormarie (left) at the Loyola campus. KAITLYNN RODNEY/ The Concordian
Luca Safar (right)and Exael Cormarie(left)
“I think it’s fair enough, you know what I mean? Reading weeks are important and they said that they would give one,” said Safar.
“I think it’s interesting and motivating to see everybody wanting to do this. I am an international student, so I don’t really know what a reading week is, but I do like the idea of having extra time to relax. We don’t seem to have that many breaks already throughout the term,” Exael said.
Portrait of Concordia student Mohammad Abdullah at Sir George Williams Campus. ANTONY FALCONE/ The Concordian
Mohammad Abdullah
“No, I am not against it. I wasn’t sure about the reading week strike but now that I heard about it, I’m sure that students should get the time to participate. They can get their homework done. It’s good to have a strike. I’ll probably catch up with my homework, my labs, assignments, and get ready for midterms,” Abdullah said.
Concordia students Francisco Ceballos (left) and Cesar Delossantos (right) at Sir George Williams Campus. ANTONY FALCONE/ The Concordian
Francisco Ceballos (left) and Cesar Delossantos (right)
“I think it should happen because other schools have a reading week in the fall term. I’m gonna need to study and catch up on my other classes,” said Delossantos, a civil engineering student.
“I think it’s a really good opportunity for students so they can catch up. Some students might have fallen behind on classes so it also gives them the opportunity to catch up. It has also been really crazy since we’ve been back in school. It’ll be great for everyone to relax, not stress out and settle down a little bit to use that time to catch up with notes and things like that,” said Ceballos, who is currently pursuing a degree in civil engineering.
Clear cut debris create obstacles, making tree planting more difficult. (Chandler, QC)
In mid-May, I gathered with 20-some fellow tree planters in Bonaventure, Gaspésie for the same reasons as usual: money, outdoor living and friendships forged through adversity and isolation. The only difference in the formula this time was COVID-19.
Before the season started, we were informed of the procedures put in place to prevent an outbreak: allowing a maximum of two people in the same room at once, mandatory disinfections of the kitchen after use and the wearing of visors inside cars. I quickly realized that only the visor rule was being respected. Even this simple instruction only lasted about a week, though, after which car floors were littered with dirty and broken visors, among other planting-related objects. Quite frankly, it felt like we lived in a world unaffected by the pandemic.
Forestry activities were included in the list of essential services put together by the Canadian government last spring, which gave silviculture companies the go-ahead for their 2020 season (silviculture, in case you didn’t know, is the practice of controlling forest growth for timber production). This meant that thousands of young folks across the country were able to take on the ‘Canadian Rite of Passage,’ (a.k.a going tree planting) for another year. You’ve probably met one of them, even if you aren’t already a tree planter yourself. Some of them, like myself, are students at Concordia.
The following images are an explanatory testament to my 2020 season of tree planting, cut short due to an injury. All photos were taken on 35mm film with a Pentax K1000, a 50mm lens and a fascination with the job’s aesthetically pleasing sceneries.
Arnaud sits in the back of the truck as he is given a ride to his next piece (the area assigned to him for replanting). The hot day left crusts of dried sweat on his face, also known as ‘’legendary tears.’’ (Chandler, QC)
Planters gather shortly before 5 a.m. to enter the vehicle that will bring them to the cut block. Rides to the bush often give birth to strong camaraderie. (Left to right: Myriam, a Concordia Studio Arts student, and Guillaume). (Chandler, QC)
While travelling, planters cannot keep the prescribed two-meter distance in a closed space and must wear protective material to avoid contracting COVID-19. During the beginning of the season, visors were used. Later, they were replaced with medical masks and glasses. (Chandler, QC)
Rainy days turn logging roads into difficult terrain for vehicles, which become prone to sliding or getting stuck. (Chandler, QC)
Tree planting is piece work, meaning salary is not dependent on the number of hours worked but on the quantity of work done (the number of trees planted, in our case). In eastern Quebec, rates depend on the type of tree planted (here, they are $0.17 per tree). (Chandler, QC)
Every morning, Roxanne adds duct tape to her footwear to prevent her laces from getting caught in bush debris and to prevent rocks from falling into her boots. (Chandler, QC)
Jasmine, filling the back of her piece before planting the front of it. Efficient management of a piece is essential in order for the job to be profitable.(Saint-Jean-de-Cherbourg, QC)
Clear cut debris create obstacles, making tree planting more difficult. (Chandler, QC)
Roxanne has everything she needs to get through the day. Planting bags, a plotting cord, a shovel, a GPS device, a big lunch, lots of water, and other accessories are all in her backpack.
Maxime, a tree runner, brings empty nursery pots he picked up from tree caches to the drop-off location. Tree runners ensure planters never run out of trees. (Saint-Jean-de-Cherbourg)
Maxim and Jasmine chat at the end of a work day. (Chandler, QC)
Logging roads are hard on vehicles. Police pulled over this planter’s car after they deemed it unsafe to drive; its suspensions were no longer functional. Myriam and Roxanne, passengers of the now out-of-service vehicle, pose while waiting for the tow truck and their (functional) ride back home. (Chandler, QC)
Planters spend time relaxing and socializing with their peers at the end of the week. (Left to right: Dominic, a Concordia music student, with Paula, Isabelle and Elizabeth). (Chandler, QC)
Jasmine and Myriam embrace each other during an afternoon at the beach. (Chandler, QC)
Three ‘’highballer’’ planters share a log while waiting for the morning briefing. (Left to right: Pierre, Gontran and Guillaume). (Chandler, QC)
The women’s hockey team won their first championship since 2005 last season. Archive photo by Mackenzie Lad.
Taking sports photos is all about capturing the perfect moment, including funny ones
The Stingers women’s hockey team had a great celebration after winning their first Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) championship since 2005 on March 4. Family members and friends of the players spilled onto the ice at Université de Montréal’s CEPSUM arena after the Stingers won 3-1 in game three against the Carabins.
The Stingers huddle to get a touch of the trophy. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.
The post-game celebration had everything you would expect in a hockey celebration: the players jumped on goalie Katherine Purchase, there were sticks and gloves everywhere, they had champagne, and they got to mob captain Marie-Joëlle Allard when she held the trophy. This is my favourite sports photo of the year because of its great timing, and even though you don’t see any players’ faces, you can tell how happy they are to win. It’s also my favourite sports cover photo of this year. Expect to see more championship photos of the women’s hockey team in the future.
Charles-Eric Legare scored three regular-season goals against McGill. Photo by Alex Hutchins.
Forward Charles-Eric Legare scored the game-winning goal in the Stingers men’s hockey team’s first game of the season on Oct. 13 while playing on the road against the McGill Redmen. The Stingers played the Redmen seven times this season, including the epic Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East final. Concordia had a 3-2-2 record against McGill, but it was the Redmen who won the OUA East final in three games, and later won the Queen’s Cup as OUA champions. Legare scored three of his nine regular-season goals against the Redmen this season. He finished the season how he started, scoring the game-winning goal in game one of the series against McGill.
The Stingers beat the Redmen twice this season. Photo by Alex Hutchins.
The Concordia Stingers football team probably wished for a different outcome to their season. After winning the first two of three games, including a 68-16 demolishing of the McGill Redmen, the Stingers nearly beat the Laval Rouge et Or in Quebec City on Sept. 24, but lost 12-8 following some controversy. Stingers quarterback Trenton Miller was knocked out with a concussion, and on one of the last plays of the game, wide receiver James Tyrrell was also the victim of a hit to the head. If either hit had been penalized during the game, the Stingers could have easily walked away with a victory. The following week, the Montréal Carabins cancelled their game against the Stingers, claiming too many of their players were sick. After all this controversy, the Stingers beat the Redmen on the road 36-10 on Oct. 14. Defensive backs Jersey Henry (#10) and Khadeem Pierre (#5) celebrated.
The Stingers had an undefeated season, until nationals. Photo by Alex Hutchins.
The men’s rugby team had a season to remember. After finishing last season with a 1-7 record, the Stingers went undefeated this year en route to a RSEQ championship. On Nov. 12, they beat the École de technologie supérieure (ETS) Piranhas in the final, 35-7. No other sport has more battles than rugby, and this picture proves it. The Stingers had to face some adversity themselves heading into the season. Moritz Wittman, Charles Debove and Lucas Hotton all returned to play after injuries suffered during the 2016 season, and all played key roles on the championship-winning team. Despite winning all their games during the regular season and playoffs, the Stingers lost both of their games at nationals in Guelph, Ont.
Frédérique Rajotte was named at the Stingers female athlete of the year. Photo by Alex Hutchins.
The Stingers women’s rugby team didn’t share the same success as the men’s team. They had a 4-3 record and lost in the semi-final against the Laval Rouge et Or. However, Alex Tessier and Frédérique Rajotte (pictured, holding ball) continued to prove why they’re two of the best university rugby players in the country. Rajotte was named U Sports MVP, scoring 15 tries, while Tessier scored a team-leading 92 points off 36 kicks and four tries. It was the last season in Stingers uniforms for the pair, who both played for Canada at last summer’s Women’s Rugby World Cup. Both are active in the Stingers community, and you can always find them supporting their fellow student-athletes at other sports games.
Madeleine McKenzie prepares to throw the ball in during a game on Feb. 4. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.
Even though this is a great picture, I find it amusing because photo assistant Mackenzie Lad is taking a picture of Stingers midfielder Madeleine McKenzie. Mackenzie with a picture of McKenzie. The soccer player, is one of 14 players on the team from outside of Quebec (she is from Calgary, Alta.). The Stingers women’s soccer team had a good mix of players from around the globe, with players from Canada, the United States, Chile, Spain, France and Algeria. First-year defender Imane Chebel, although born in Montreal, received a call-up to play a pair of games for the Algerian women’s national team on April 4 and April 10 against Senegal. She was also named to the RSEQ second all-star team for the winter season.
Carl Neill forgot to protect his goalie. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.
This picture is easily the funniest taken this season. Even though there was nothing funny about defenceman Carl Neill’s season (pictured, foreground), he forgot to protect his goalie in a home game against the Brock Badgers on Oct. 20. As a Badgers player crashed into goalie Marc-Antoine Turcotte, Neill is skating away from the incident, not looking back. In the background, it seems like forward Julien Avon-Rainville is skating up the ice, possibly towards the puck. Wherever the puck is, Neill is not skating towards it. Obviously, it wasn’t one of his best moments this season. He finished the year leading the country in points by a defenceman with 31. He was named a first-team all-star in the OUA East, and made the OUA and U Sports all-rookie teams.
The 15th edition of Nuit Blanche saw artistic expression materialize across media
Although it’s unclear where the concept of all-night art festivals originated, Paris is credited with creating “Nuit Blanche” in the early 2000s. Other European cities hosted these types of festivals throughout the 90s, but the first night of Nuit Blanche was established in France and has since spread to other cities around the world.
The program for this year’s edition of Montreal’s Nuit Blanche was divided into six categories based on the type of event. Whether you were looking for “A Night of Stories” or “A Night on the Dancefloor,” you were guaranteed to find something you’d enjoy. With over 200 events and activities, from poetry readings and interactive installations to DJ and comedy performances, the festival promised a night of unabashed creativity.
Dozens of art-and-music lovers moved and grooved to upbeat house music by local DJs. Surrounded by flashing lights, deep bass and an aura of pulsating energy, many spectators danced until well after 3 a.m. Photo by Alex Hutchins.
A feeling of collective celebration permeated the city—even underground. The metro was open all night, encouraging people to explore and increase their chances of finding hidden gems—of which there were plenty. The metro also served as a performance venue at certain times throughout the night. Berri-UQAM hosted swing and salsa performances, and the St-Laurent station was the spot for local DJs to perform improvised scratch sessions.
Spectators gathered around pop-up fire pits in Esplanade de la Places des Arts to warm their chilled hands, recommend exhibits to newfound friends, roast delicious sausages and, of course, have obligatory photo-ops. Photo by Alex Hutchins.
Photo by Alex Hutchins.
The hub of the entire event was, of course, the Quartier des Spectacles, which hosted everything from free concerts to competitive games inspired by the Olympics. Place des Festivals transformed into a lively and crowded strip as people jumped from one activity to the next. Portraits of famous musicians illuminated an entire wall of the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan building, and a huge zipline stretched over the expanse of the crowd.
Shattered glass illuminated with hues of green and yellow make up one of the exhibits at Eastern Bloc. Decorated with industrial-style string lights, an outdoor terrasse allowed spectators to chat with art-loving friends and strangers alike. Photo by Alex Hutchins.
Joffré Roy-Beauregard (above) is one of the seven artists featured in the (Dis)CONNECT exhibition. Other interactive multimedia installments invited spectators to listen to and watch the audio-visual representations of varying human emotions, such as fear and anxiety. Photo by Alex Hutchins.
For festival-goers who wanted a more relaxed experience, galleries all over the city kept their doors open well into the night. The Art Matters Festival, for example, took Nuit Blanche as the opportunity to open this year’s edition of student-run exhibitions. Espace POP hosted the festival’s opening night, with the artworks of its first exhibition, (Dis)CONNECT, on display. Eastern Bloc, a new media production and gallery space, collaborated with the non-profit organization Never Apart to showcase the talents of Latin-American artists in two parts. The night began with multimedia installations, and concluded with performances by local DJs, which saw visitors dropping by to warm up and shake off their fatigue.
Plant care tips and tricks for those who suck at gardening
If you’re anything like me when it comes to gardening—meaning you kill 75 per cent of all plants you touch, but are still first in line whenever Plantzy has a liquidation sale—then this article is for you, wannabe master gardener.
I have about 30 plants and counting in my apartment that are thriving, surprisingly, so I’m clearly qualified and in a position to be giving advice about plants. (Shout-out to my roommate who takes care of literally everything plant-wise whenever I’m slacking hard, which is basically all the time). So here’s my fool-proof, totally legit, how-to guide on care for low-maintenance indoor houseplants. Don’t worry, all of this advice has been approved by Concordia Greenhouse official Paul Fournier.
GENERAL TIPS FOR HOUSEPLANTS:
Only water your plants when the soil has dried out. Stick your finger in the soil, and if the first two centimetres are dry, it’s time for some H2O. Waterting proportions typically depend on how large your plant is and how quickly the soil dries out. On average, you should be checking your plants about once a week, and more frequently as ambient heat increases.
Re-potting, or “potting up,” should be done yearly. Increase your pot size by about five centimetres in diameter each time. Keep in mind though: commercial pots are sold in inches! Do not increase your pot size by five inches. A pot that’s too big will cause root rot. Also, be sure to give your plants fresh soil when re-potting.
Most indoor houseplants can’t handle direct sunlight. Some can in small amounts (see examples below), but as a general rule, just avoid it. Unless the species you have requires direct light, indirect, medium-low light conditions are ideal.
Developing roots from plant clippings in water instead of moist soil can be effective for some houseplants—but not all. If you choose to start with water, make sure that, once the roots have grown to about one centimetre, you put them in soil. Many plants, if left in water for too long, will develop a water-root system and their growth will stagnate. Once this happens, the plant is likely to suffer when transferred to soil. However, some plants can be left in water permanently and will grow very well (see examples below).
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum). Photo by Alex Hutchins
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Sunlight: Medium-low, indirect (no direct sun)
Soil: All-purpose
Bonus tips: Pothos’s are one of the few houseplants that tend to thrive just as well with a water-root system as they would with a soil-root system. (For all the broke students reading this who are not willing to spend money on dirt, just leave your pothos in a mason jar with water). They also grow well in the shade of other plants.
Spider-plant (Chlorophytum comosum). Photo by Alex Hutchins
Spider-plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Sunlight: Medium-indirect is best (but will grow in almost any type of light)
Soil: All-purpose
Bonus tips: If you add a bit of fertilizer every time you water your spider babies, they will grow like crazy—even during those dreary winter months. They are one of the easiest plants to propagate and, like pothos, thrive with a water-root system.
Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron cordatum). Photo by Alex Hutchins
Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron cordatum)
Sunlight: Medium-indirect
Soil: All-purpose
Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata). Photo by Alex Hutchins
Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Sunlight: Indirect-low (but will tolerate a bit of medium sun)
Soil: Succulent mix is best (but can manage with all-purpose)
Bonus tips: Some succulent care rules apply to this plant—mainly avoid over-watering. So many plants belonging to the sansevieria genus have similar care requirements: Starfish, Silver Queen, Robusta and Bird’s Nest, to name a few.
Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina). Photo by Alex Hutchins
Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
Sunlight: Medium-low, indirect (no direct sun)
Soil: All-purpose
Bonus tips: Weeping figs don’t like to be moved! Find that sweet spot, and leave ‘er be.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia). Photo by Alex Hutchins
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)
Sunlight: Medium-low, indirect is best (but will tolerate a bit of direct sun)
Soil: All-purpose
Bonus tips: ZZ plants like to be “pot-bound,” meaning they thrive in a pot that constricts them. (Yearly re-potting rules still apply). They’re also very forgiving if you forget to water them, or forget that you’ve already watered them.
An important gardening lesson that can take years to learn (you’re welcome) is that all plants have a mind of their own. Trial and error is key when developing your green thumb, and don’t always trust the internet—shocker, I know. Everything you’ve just read here are merely suggestions. More than anything else, it’s important to pay attention to your plants and how they adapt to your specific growing conditions. Even if your methods are unconventional, if they work, keep doing whatever your plants seem to like.
Get started on your garden by hitting up the Concordia Greenhouse plant sale on March 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The premier electronica music festival is a favourite amongst partygoers
Each winter, Igloofest brings thousands of eager festival attendees together in a shared space to celebrate decades of electronic music—a genre which has defined Montreal’s underground culture for years.
Taking place from Jan. 18 to Feb. 3, the festival features electronica acts such as a Bonobo DJ Set, Izzy Vadim, Joachim Pastor, Kaytranada, N’to, NIGHTMRE, The W4rriors and Worakls, to name a few.
Ice-themed furnishings decorate the space, creating an overall vigorous, worry-free vibe. You’ll hear this every year, but it rings oh-so true—the biting cold temperatures are an afterthought. Though it might sound exaggerated, the festival’s consistent raving energy really gets the blood pumping. With beats on constant blast, you can easily lose yourself in the trance of the performances.
The 2018 Igloofest lineup consists of premier local and international DJs. Always a surefire way to kick off the new year, it’s an added benefit that the festival takes place in arguably the foremost party city in the world.
I met Rhea Gurnagul while she was protesting against gender inequality with her mother.
An exploration of why people protest against gender inequality
On Saturday, Jan. 21, I attended the annual Women’s March in Montreal at Place des Arts, where many speakers gave a voice to issues of gender inequality through an array of critical lenses. I asked several people why they thought these protests are important and how it felt to be part of a public gathering with so many people fighting for different forms of equality. This is what they had to say.
“I think it’s important because we need to raise public awareness on issues that have the tendency to be silenced. I think it’s the perfect moment, now, to be a woman, because I recognize the shift, and I’m just so happy to be a part of it,” she said, smiling at her mother. I asked Gurnagul what she personally drew from being at the protest. She replied: “Just complete empowerment. Just pure ecstasy. Like, I’m so ready to march. We’re all here with similar values, and it feels great. It feels like I’m part of a movement.”
Erin Strumpf was sporting a hot pink feather boa, a shiny gold cape, a fairy wand and a “pussyhat.”
“[The march is] a reminder that those of us who are fighting to make change and a better world are still here, and we’re not going anywhere. I think it’s an important opportunity, as a community, to come together and feel the power of being together and to be sort of reinvigorated and re-energized,” she said. “It’s empowering at an individual level, and I think you feel that exchange with other people, and it sort of builds into something bigger than just yourself.”
Dalia Robidoux proudly displays her hand-made sign while protesting in favour of feminism and gender equality.
“I feel like it’s really empowering for you and for other people because […] when you see your neighbours coming out and protesting, it makes you see the whole movement and you see the community, because this is a community,” she said. Robidoux told me what she personally took away from the protest. “I feel so much more powerful,” she said with a smile. “[Coming] to this protest, I don’t know, I feel like I can do anything, like I can say anything and I’ll be listened to.”
Fatou Ndiaye was supporting Democrats Abroad Montreal, an organization that allows American citizens living abroad to mobilize and participate in electoral processes, according to their website.
“This is important because it is a symbol of the fight and the continuation of the resistance, and being able to say that this is more than just a one-time thing. We’re not swayed by what […] seems to be most important in the general stream of popular culture. It’s about a genuine passion for equality. It’s honestly beautiful,” she said.
I asked Ndiaye how she felt people could be more politically active beyond gathering in physical spaces. She answered, “I think this comes in two-folds; the first being on just the individual level, to reach out to your [community] to try to get more people mobilized on a regular basis.” She said the second fold is about organizations continuously engaging with more communities, even if only briefly. “I think it’s just about making that awareness known and being more proactive in diffusing that awareness.”
A previous version of this article used the headline “Women of la Manifestation.” The headline has been changed to more accurately represent the diversity of people who attended the event. The Concordian regrets the error.
Vintage shops of all kinds can be found at Kensington Market. Photo by Sandra Hercegova
A glimpse into my experience at NASH and the people I met along the way
The first time I heard about NASH was when I began my journey as a contributor for The Concordian over two years ago. Since then, I envisioned attending the gala and possibly winning an award—it was a nice daydream I had every now and then.
Little did I know, this daydream would become reality. This year, from Jan. 4 to 7, I attended NASH for the first time. NASH is an annual gathering of student journalists from across Canada. I got on a bus to Toronto, impatient to meet people who, like me, shared a passion for journalism.
The featured conferences and panels held by professional journalists inspired me. In particular, the “Photojournalism and Beyond” talk given by photographer, writer and interactive storyteller Laurence Butet-Roch on interactive visual storytelling gave me the urge to explore my own idea of multimedia journalism.
Owner of Ozzy’s hamburger restaurant, Ozgur Sekar, alongside his business partner, Turgay Kirbiyik, as they flip burgers and share their story. Photo by Sandra Hercegova
After her talk, I decided to follow my intuition. I left the hotel, got in a cab and headed straight to Kensington Market. The unbearable cold did not stop me; if anything, it made it more thrilling.
While walking down Kensington Avenue taking test shots, a man noticed me and said: “Take a photo of me.” I replied, “Can I?” He turned around and posed for the camera. He then happily greeted me while pointing to his T-shirt, which read “Ozzy.” His name was Ozgur Sekar and he owned Ozzy, a hamburger restaurant down the street. “Are you hungry? I’ll make you the best burger you ever had.” To this question, the answer will always be yes.
love Kensington Market and truly have a passion for cooking and making people smile,” said restaurant owner Ozgur Sekar. Photo by Sandra Hercegova
As I entered the cozy burger shack, I noticed album covers spread out on the wall, including those of David Bowie, Whitney Houston and Pink Floyd. I took photos while Sekar and his business partner, Turgay Kirbiyik, began flipping burgers on the grill. It had only been three years since Sekar arrived in Canada from Turkey and only a month since he opened this restaurant.
“As a new immigrant to Canada, you face many challenges in starting and operating a business in a vibrant city such as Toronto,” he said. “I have known my business partner since I’ve been in Canada. […] One day, we met up and committed to opening a burger restaurant, and the rest is history. I am finally living my dream.”
Another customer sat in the restaurant. His name was Michael Caligiuri. He noticed my camera and said: “You know, you don’t need a camera to take photos. We are constantly photographing with our eyes and memory.” I wholeheartedly agreed; I have always thought of our eyes as camera lenses. I replied by saying I feel technology gets in the way of our natural recording process, to which he answered: “Oh yeah, I call cell phones the self-contemplation device.” Intrigued, I asked him to join me at my table for lunch since we were both alone.
“Rest from training to gather philosophy. Which means: No rest for the praying. Thinking on my feet. Thinking with my feet. Letting my feet think.” A poem by Caligiuri. Photo by Sandra Hercegova
Caligiuri happened to be a poet. He had a notepad filled with his poetry written in bright colours which he read to me. “I don’t write poetry,” he said. “I draw letters. I make words easy to read.”
After finishing our delicious burgers, we left the restaurant and Caligiuri asked to accompany me during my photography session. I began learning about his adventurous and spiritual life and took photographs of him at the market.
Michael Caligiuri asked me what I thought about letters. I said to him: “I love them.” So, we exchanged letters on the street. Photo by Sandra Hercegova
Time was running short, as I had to return to NASH to attend more conferences. As I said goodbye to my new friend, he asked me what I thought about letters. I told him that I loved them, so he got down on the ground, pulled out a marker and paper and wrote me a beautiful letter.
Exploring Kensington Market, with its numerous cheese shops and bright, contrasting colours. Photo by Sandra Hercegova
As I was walking away, I decided to turn around and grab one more candid shot of him. Caligiuri happened to turn around at the same time which made for a great photo.
That day I learned that stories are everywhere. Sometimes we just need to put the camera down and talk to the people we are photographing.
Concordia students were featured at Art Matters, in collaboration with Mainline Theatre at Nuit Blanche this Last Saturday. They performed an original contemporary dance piece by Jess Alley (Center) accompanied by an Original soundscape piece by Mallika Guhan (Right) and Daniel Marquez (Left). The performance was bluesy, romantic, and visually stunning.
Photographer Sydney Pine explores Phil Allard and Justin Duchesneau’s installation Forêt, as part of the Festival International Les Escales Improbables de Montreal, an interactive art festival running from September 2 to 14 at locations in and around Montreal.
See the photo gallery below to learn more about this installation.
Forêt is meditation space made of 650 pieces of recycled wooden pallets.
Not normally self-supportable, the pallets are made to support themselves in this piece and filter light as though they were tree branches and had returned to their birth form.
The space suggests a natural sanctuary at the center of the urban landscape.
The many pieces come together like a puzzle to form a gigantic structure.
“We conceived a space which bears itself with the idea of support. The light is filtered as through natural tree branches.” – wrote Phil Allard and Justin Duchesneau.
The installation draws inspiration from the buildings surrounding it but is set apart by its unique construction.
