Your Guide to Pop Montreal • Special Insert

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Your Guide to Pop Montreal • Special Insert volume 31, issue 7 • tuesday, september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca • 2010 28, september tuesday, • 7 issue 31, volume BAR DIANA POP MONTREAL CON*CEPT CON U BLOWS HOMECOMING ANGLO CONSPIRACY FEATURES 12 FRINGE ARTS 14 LITERARY ARTS 23 SPORTS 26 OPINIONS 32

ENERGY: THE DEBATE OVER SHALE GAS CONTINUES PAGE 03 ‘The Death of Student Space’ McGill Students Protest the Closing of the Arch Café

• CHRISTOPHER CURTIS

McGill students are buckling down in their fight to re-open the Arch Café. On Sept. 22, hundreds took to the university’s downtown campus to protest the closure of the Architecture Café—McGill’s last student run eatery. Wearing multi-coloured lab coats and hardhats, engineering students led protesters as they marched across campus and through McGill’s gated entrance where they were egged on by honking motorists. “The Architecture Café held a special place in the hearts of architecture and engineering students, but also students at large,” said Alan Cyril, an executive on McGill’s Engineering Undergraduate Society. Over the summer Morton Mendelson, McGill’s head of Student Life and Learning, decided to shut down the Arch Café without consulting any of the university’s student groups. “The café was no longer fi- nancially viable,” said one McGill official. “As Professor Mendelson has said ‘we aren’t in the business of subsidizing lunch.’” Despite this claim, Mendel- son has yet to make any of the café’s financial records public. The protest was the latest in a series of steps undertaken by students to persuade administration to reopen the café. On Sept. 7, the Architecture Student Association and the EUS put forward a plan to re- open the café under both groups’ management. The pro- Clockwise from bottom left: A makeshift drum corps sounds off against McGill’s administration. Hundreds take to McGill’s front gates to protest the clo- posal was rejected. sure of McGill’s last student-run eatery. A student makes noise outside the university’s Leacock building during a Senate meeting. PHOTOS CHRISTOPHER At a Sept. 13 meeting with CURTIS Mendelson, Student Society of McGill President Zach ‘I will consider this advice and further pressure tactics on Sept. “The closing of the Arch Café are owned and operated by Ara- Newburgh presented the ad- reconsider.’” 27. is basically the death of student mark Canada, a food service ministrator with a memo show- Mendelson has since denied Protesters met outside space on campus,” said Sam company that has over 400,000 ing that 80 per cent of telling Newburgh he would re- McGill’s Leacock building, Neylon, one of the protest’s or- student clients across the coun- undergraduate architecture stu- consider his decision to close where the university’s student ganizers. “Corporatist groups try. dents are in favour of reopening the Arch Café. governing body was holding like frosh have space set aside “Aramark has doubled prices the café. The work to re-open the café their first meeting of the fall se- for them, and the school is at the nearest cafeteria [and] re- “When I came out of the continued beyond the demon- mester. An improvised drum beautified which is more a way duced portion sizes,” said Cyril. meeting […] I left with the un- stration. Midnight Kitchen—a core banged wildly on their in- to attract new students than to “We’re being gouged. But we’re derstanding that [Mendelson] McGill student group that pro- struments as the crowd moved provide current students with a fighting back. I’ve had teachers was going to reconsider his de- vides students with on-campus towards the MacDonald-Har- comfortable space where they and even administrators come cision,” Newburgh told The vegan meals—helped organize a rington building, site of the now can eat affordable meals.” up to me and say ‘you’re doing a McGill Daily. “[Mendelson] said strategizing session to discuss defunct café. Most of McGill’s cafeterias good job, keep it up.’” 04 news the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/news Angry and Unapologetic Young Indigenous Activists Speak Out at disORIENTATION

• MEAGAN WOHLBERG There is no time for apologies when the stakes are as high as live-or-die for people and culture, according to young indigenous women activists. Jessica Yee of Akwesasne and Melissa Elliott of Six Nations shared personal narratives about the issues facing indigenous peoples at the panel “Indigenous Youth Speak Out” on Sept. 23 as part of QPIRG Concordia’s dis- ORIENTATION week. Around 80 people attended to hear Yee and Elliott, both in their early twenties, speak of the ongo- ing effects of colonization as real threats to indigenous communities requiring immediate action. “There are so many youth that are standing up and doing what they feel is necessary to be able to say that we have a future,” said Elliott, co-founder of Young Onkwehonwe United at Six Na- tions. “Right now it’s not a choice for us. It’s a live or die situation. Do we want to keep our people going, or do we want to be one of those things you read in history books, one of those nations that Jessica Yee and Melissa Elliot speak about the issues facing first indigenous youth post-colonialism. PHOTO MEAGAN WOHLBERG died off?” 2009. Yee and many others con- currently more incarcerated than victims under the age of 18. gard. When we’re standing on the Citing incarceration, violence, test the report, which claimed at the height of residential “I don’t feel any less safe from front lines, when we’re masked and poverty as some of the reali- that Corbiere hung himself. schools. We currently have more being abused if I worked in an of- up—these are more than just a ties disproportionately affecting “I am absolutely willing to be- indigenous children in care than fice or if I worked on the street,” symbol. This is who we are as a indigenous peoples in Canada, lieve that he was in there because there were at the height of resi- said Yee. “I don’t feel like I will people.” Yee and Elliott were unapologetic he’s native and that an autopsy dential schools. get any support from the police Despite the difficulties of the in their deeply personal outrage. was barely done because he’s na- “We shouldn’t be there in the or so-called authorities to believe issues they face, indigenous “It’s just another native who tive,” she said. first place.” me and seek justice on my be- youth, as the fastest growing de- killed himself, another native According to Statistics The problem of disproportion- half.” mographic in Canada, have a who was incarcerated, because Canada, aboriginal adults make ate representation stretches be- Elliott echoed Yee’s feelings, huge opportunity to effect we’re ‘over-represented and dis- up three per cent of the Canadian yond prisons and foster care. The saying that it’s up to youth to do change, said Yee. She hopes her proportionate in the system,’” population, yet account for 21 Native Women’s Association of the work of decolonization. anger will empower future youth said Yee, founder of the Native percent of male prisoners and 30 Canada reports 583 cases of “We feel as Onkwehonwe leaders. Youth Sexual Health Network. percent for women. missing and murdered aboriginal youth that every day our people “I would love to start a move- Yee was referring to her late “It’s an all-too-common women. Indigenous women are are imprisoned,” she said. “Vio- ment of stopping apologizing for friend Dylan Corbiere, who died story,” said Yee. “Not just at the five times more likely to die from lence is continuing in our com- things,” she said. “That would be while in custody at the Montreal Bordeaux jail, but for many of violence than other women and munities every day. We don’t really amazing to pass on to up- Dtention Center in November, our indigenous peoples. We are make up 75 per cent of sex crime really have a choice in this re- and-coming generations.” Hundreds ‘Die’ Near Phillip’s Square 50,000 Montrealers Leave Their Car at Home for En Ville Sans Ma Voiture!

• EMILY CAMPBELL Quebec. In 2009, 515 people died alternative public transportation Square, the group of cyclists “The roads belong to in automobile accidents. options like the metro and bus sys- marched down the street, blocking Hundreds of protestors staged The Agence métropolitaine de tems as well as walking, running traffic, ringing their bells, and cyclists, too,” their death at the corner of Ste. transport held a rally at nearby and cycling to get around down- chanting “Leave the car, it ain’t —Claire MacDonald, Catherine Street West and McGill Phillips Square before the die-in. town. that far, get off your ass, save some Die-In Attendee College Avenue on Sept 22. Cycling activists made speeches The efforts of LeMaB and other gas!” until they reached McGill The die-in was held in conjunc- encouraging the use of public tran- environmentalist groups led to the College Ave. and Ste. Catherine tion with the eighth edition of En sit and bicycles. creation of the downtown bicycle Street West where they “died” sur- ville sans ma voiture!, a day where Largely considered a trailblazer path and paved the way for the rounded by onlookers. 50,000 Montrealers chose to leave in North American cyclist ac- success of the BIXI bike-rental Many protestors were covered their cars at home. tivism, Robert Silverman spoke at service in Montreal. in fake blood to make the scene “I don’t think people should be the event. Silverman, also known Despite these victories for cy- even more dramatic. Car Free Day allowed to drive cars downtown,” as Bicycle Bob, founded Mon- clists, protestors hoped to remind is an annual, worldwide event with said Charli Rascal, one of the pro- treal’s first bicycle advocacy group drivers to be aware of their pres- similar “die-ins” staged to remind testors participating in the event. in 1975. His group, called Le ence on the road. us all to be careful on the roads, The act of protest, organized by Monde a Bicyclette, was formed to “Cyclists don’t have enough and to urge us to consider leaving Collectif Montreal à vélo, was a pressure the city into creating space,” said Claire MacDonald. the car at home. symbolic gesture against the death safer options for public transport “The roads belong to cyclists, too.” and pollution caused by car use in and encourage citizens to consider After the speeches at Phillips —With files from Casey Keating the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/news news 05 Fight the Night Women March Against Violence, Sexual Oppression

• LAURA BEESTON Clad in red and steadfast against spurts of pouring rain, 300 women gathered outside the Berri-UQAM Metro station on Sept. 24 for Take Back the Night, an annual march denouncing the violence and sexual exploitation of women. Women of all generations, races and social classes came out chanting, cheering and banging pots and pans, demonstrating against sexual aggression— which statistics indicate effect one in three Quebec women over the age of 16. “We walk in a time where women are still being raped, still being murdered, and are still being shamed. We walk in a time where violence by men against women is still a reality,” said Diane Matte, an organizer with Concer- the Montreal chapter of Demonstrators rail against sexual aggression, which affects one in three Quebec women. PHOTO LAURA BEESTON tation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle. “Enough is attention to incidents such as the Rape and Incest. “But we’re here change dramatically to meet the east down Mont Royal Avenue. enough!” gang rape of a 16-year-old in to get visibility for the specificity needs of women, added Wong. En route, the crowd engaged The march, organized by var- Fraser Valley, B.C. that was of women’s issues and to create “Nearly 90 per cent of all inci- with bystanders and billboards, ious Montreal community broadcast over the Internet last safe space. We wanted to stay dents go unreported [and] a re- flyering and stickering over sex- groups, originally captured the week. true to the traditions and convic- ally pathetic minority of the ist advertisements as they went imagination of the women’s Take Back the Night also tra- tions from when the marches cases of women who do report and ignoring a pack of men de- movement in Brussels in 1976. ditionally operates as a women- first happened.” sexual violence ever make it to manding them to “show us your The first march that took place in only space, with marchers court,” she explained. “It’s be- tits.” Quebec saw 10,000 women in demanding that men accept re- “We walk in a time cause of how our legal system “For us to be able to walk the streets. sponsibility for the sexual op- works: it excludes, intimidates through parks without fear, This year, Take Back the pression of women. where violence by and shames women who have dressed how we wish and mak- Night was coordinated to bring “It’s not that we don’t want men against women experienced sexual violence. The ing noise is powerful,” said attention to various contempo- men [to march] in solidarity is still a reality,” legal system has to be made ac- Christine Nadeau, who was rary incidents of sexual exploita- [with us], and it’s not that we cessible.” working security alongside the tion, specifically in solidarity don’t think men are part of the –Diane Matte, Making a point to walk movement. “We need to talk with the more than 500 missing solution, but the idea of having Take Back the Night through parks and darkened about it, we can’t hide it and we organizer or murdered aboriginal women women-only space is still some- high-risk areas, the crowd can’t believe it is something that in Canada and the alarming thing that comes under attack snaked up Berri Street, down St. does not exist today. It does number of women currently and that a lot of people ques- The systematic and social re- Denis Street, through the Village, exist, which is why we’re here being raped in Hatian refugee tion,” said Rosalind Wong of the sponses to sexual violence over Ontario Street and through tonight. When we walk, we mo- camps. The event also brought Montreal Movement against against women also need to Parc La Fontaine before heading bilize.” Con U Unveils Montreal Signs Project

• ALESSIA FAUSTINI learn about the industry I was so interested in, the opportunity to The Concordia University meet new people and the opportu- Archives and Concordia’s Commu- nity to discover what I wanted to nications department came to- do with the rest of my life.” gether on Sept. 25 to celebrate the At the time of its inception in program’s 45th anniversary as well 1965, the communication studies as the unveiling of the Montreal program was the first of its kind in Signs Project at Loyola Campus. Canada, prompting critics to ques- The Montreal Signs Project, tion whether it was even a valid ac- which saves and restores iconic ademic field of study. The program signs from Montreal businesses, has since produced some of unveiled five different signs to be Canada’s foremost filmmakers and permanently on display in the CJ journalists. building. Brian Lewis, the dean of the Matt Soar and Nancy Marrelli faculty of arts and science, con- spearheaded the project, which cluded the speeches by discussing has salvaged the signs from Ben’s the merits of the program both in Restaurant, Monsieur Hot Dog, the past and present. Warshaw Supermarket and the “Remarkably little has changed Paramount movie theatre in the sense that we are still pio- While the collection allows for The Montreal Signs Project restores iconic signs from Montreal businesses. PHOTO RILEY SPARKS neers, we are still passionately insight into Montreal’s cultural committed, we are still the first and commercial heritage, the re- graduates. ies program viewed items from the “I think of my time here as one communications program in union served as a tangible demon- In a tent outside the CJ build- university’s archives, such as is- of incredible opportunities,” said Canada and we are still the best stration of the achievements of ing, over 200 alumni, faculty and sues of the Loyola News that date alumnus Tracy McKee, who spoke communications program in both the program itself and its staff of the Communication Stud- back to 1945. at the reunion. “The opportunity to Canada and the world.” 06 news the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/news Building Collapse Kills Worker ‘It Was a Question of Seconds:’ Building Owner

The surviving workers stare at the wreckage in disbelief (left). Firefighters survey the damage (right). PHOTOS RILEY SPARKS

• RILEY SPARKS time paramedics were allowed and said little. Work Safety Board, said that the this corner.” A construction worker was in, the man was pronounced A spokesperson for the Mon- agency will begin an inquiry to He added that he did not be- killed in a partial building col- dead at the scene. treal ambulance service said two determine the causes of the ac- lieve the fires contributed to the lapse on the corner of de la Vis- “It was a question of sec- of the workers suffered minor cident, but that it could take up collapse. itation Street and Sherbrooke onds,” said Cédric Dumoulin, injuries. to six months. There were three serious Street on Sept. 27. the building’s owner. “I just “The workers were doing Arseneault said that he did construction accidents last Six workers were renovating cannot believe it. It’s too much.” their job […] everything was not know which company was month. On Aug. 6, one worker an apartment when an exterior The victim’s 19-year-old son well done. I have no idea how doing the renovation. was killed in Laval when the wall and part of the third floor was also working in the building this could have happened,” said According to Dumoulin, the forklift he was driving rolled gave way. After the building but escaped without injury. Dumoulin. He noted that city collapsed building was damaged over. The day before, three crumbled, a 54-year-old man As emergency workers milled inspectors visited the site by two fires in a neighbouring workers were injured while re- remained trapped beneath the about the scene, four men, in- weekly, and that he believed all building, one in January 2009 pairing a balcony in the Plateau, debris. cluding one who appeared to be of the contractors were properly and another in September of the and on Aug. 11, another four Ambulance crews waited out- the victim’s son, sat nearby. licensed. same year. were hurt when a brick wall col- side until the building had been Huddled on an apartment Eric Arseneault, a spokesper- “It’s just bad luck,” he said. “I lapsed at a construction site in examined by firefighters. By the stoop, they smoked cigarettes son for the Quebec Health and don’t know what’s going on with Ville-Emard. QPIRG’s CURE Community University Research Exchange Launches Publication

• IRINA GABNER groups working for social change. Montreal-based activism.” an added platform for asking “CURE does an The organization gets research Lappano now hopes that the those questions to a larger audi- Concordia students now have done for them and students get project will take on a life of its ence, as well as an outlet to excellent job [at] an outlet to combine course cred- class credit. Until now, students’ own and continue annually, if not archive student work. pushing all of us in its with community activism. work could only be seen during twice a year. He hopes the jour- The journal showcases pieces As part of QPIRG’s disORI- the Study in Action conference nal will broaden to eventually in- of this year’s Study in Action asking the tough ENTATION, the coordinators of hosted by Concordia each March. clude works outside of the CURE Conference, with research forms questions about the Community University Re- “I realized that as an under- and Study in Action projects. ranging from honours theses and academic privilege search Exchange introduced stu- grad, there aren’t so many outlets “CURE does an excellent job photo-essays to political pam- dents to its latest brainchild, the for research or political writings,” in not only facilitating the logis- phlets. and the role of an Convergence undergraduate said Derek Lappano, coordinator tics of community based re- The works span an array of institution like journal. and editor of Convergence. search, but also in pushing all of themes, from the role of tempo- Concordia within the CURE launched Convergence “Basically a TA will read it, or us in asking the tough questions rary migrant workers in Canada on Sept. 22 to current and former a professor. So at the very least I about academic privilege and the to mining practices abroad and community,” Concordia students interested in hope this is a sort of affirmation role of an institution like Concor- demystifying the life sentence in —Julie Norman, publishing research papers for of the student’s really hard work dia within the community,” said our country. Concordia local activist groups. and good work when it comes to Julie Norman, a professor in the Political Science CURE aims to link student re- orienting their academic labour political science department Visit qpirgconcordia.org/cure to Professor sources to the needs of local towards community research and But Convergence now offers find a project that interests you. the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/news news 07

What the Frak? Environmental Groups Debate Shale Gas

“Fracking” is a process that uses water, silica and chemical compounds to create cracks in shale rock and extract natural gasses from it. GRAPHIC JULIA WOLFE

• RAY CORKUM known to cause anemia and Nathalie Normandeau, Que- there should be little worry about times higher than what is consid- leukemia in humans. Other chem- bec’s Natural Resource minister, contamination. ered safe for human consumption. Drilling for shale gas in Que- icals remain corporate secrets has said that shale gas is an op- “The higher the toxicity levels Green Party water critic Lor- bec’s St. Lawrence Valley has been protected by intellectual property portunity to reduce the province’s the more expensive it is to treat,” raine Banville recently cited the put on hold. agreements. dependency on Alberta. Quebec said Lloyd. “No company wants experience in the U.S. as proof On Oct. 4, Quebec’s environ- Government bodies often re- currently imports most of its nat- that. By the time they remove the that fraking is unsafe. mental assessment board will host quire that companies divulge the ural gas from the West. water from the pipeline it has less “We only have to look to our a public hearing and information contents of their fraking mix, but Normandeau sees this as an chlorates than Montreal’s tap neighbours to the south to see session to discuss its investigation are sworn not to release the infor- opportunity to “consume a natu- water.” the problems,” she said. “In of hydraulic fracturing—the pro- mation to the public. ral gas that is 100 per cent from At each step of the drilling pro- Pennsylvania, Wyoming and posed method of gas extraction in Several groups, including Eq- Quebec,” and to provide thou- cedure, concrete is fed into the Colorado, this type of gas explo- the St. Lawrence Valley. uiterre and Greenpeace Quebec, sands of jobs. well, creating a seal meant to sep- ration has been disastrous and Hydraulic fracturing, or “frak- have called for a moratorium on Andre Caille, the president arate the pipeline and its contents legislators are now trying to ing,” is a procedure that uses all exploration until the potential of the Quebec Oil and Gas Associ- from the soil and the groundwater clean up the mess after the fact water, silica and chemical com- effects on ground water and soil ation, spent the past several weeks aquifer—an underground layer of with very strong regulations.” pounds piped several thousand can be studied. Stephen Guil- hosting information sessions in porous-rock from which potable In New York, there is a tem- meters below the earth’s surface, beault, the cofounder of Equiterre, areas known to be currently under water can extracted. porary ban on natural gas extrac- creating cracks in shale rock. This stressed the need for an inquiry exploration, claiming that Quebec Contamination of the aquifer is tion. Government officials cited allows natural gas to be released led by people outside the oil and is blessed with this chance to re- the chief concern of many living in a need for further study of the and extracted. gas industry. duce its reliance on gas from Al- the valley, but Lloyd stresses the potential dangers of the process The Bureau d'audiences “Obviously, the information berta. procedure is designed to maintain as the reason for the ban. publiques sur l'environnement is provided needs to be independ- Concerns have been raised by pressure within the pipeline and Critics of the ban argue that currently assessing the potential ent,” said Guilbeault. “It cannot those opposed to the expansion can only work efficiently with a this potential revenue stream risks of further shale gas drilling come from the people who stand about the massive quantities of proper seal. must be exploited. in the Utica shale strata that run to benefit millions from the ex- water used in the procedure and “Any sort of failure or contam- Officials from New York City under Quebec. ploitation of this resource.” the disposal of contaminated ination issue comes down to engi- and environmental advocates In late August, the provincial Danielle Hawey, the communi- water left over from the extraction neers, not the procedure. With the argue that the United States’ government announced its inten- cations director for BAPE, would process, also known as brine. high safety standards in Quebec, I most populous city, which re- tions to open the St. Lawrence not comment on the makeup of About 40 per cent of the water can’t see this being an issue,” he ceives some five billion liters of Valley to further fracking. the inquiry committee. When used in the procedure can be re- said. water a day from unfiltered Environmental groups have asked if members of the oil and covered and reused after water There have been several cases reservoirs—some of which are since criticized the decision, gas industry would be a part of the treatment. where fraking has resulted in en- connected to the Marcellus gas claiming the project’s potential review, Hawey stated that “the in- The remaining water and vironmental damage and water patches of Pennsylvania—cannot economic benefits are far out- formation will be released on [Oct. chemicals remain in the rock for- contamination. Thousands of be too cautious. weighed by environmental dan- 4 and] the commission has al- mation below. complaints have been lodged According to Global Data, 27 gers and concerns about public ready begun its investigation.” Geraint Lloyd, geophysicist throughout New Mexico, Ohio wells have been drilled in the St. health. Some politicians argued that a and independent consultant on and Pennsylvania, where thou- Laurent Valley, with no prior The chemicals used in the pro- potential financial boon from the drilling within the St. Lawrence sands of wells have been drilled consultation. cedure are a matter of contention. drilling, in a time of rising con- Valley, said that due to an incred- using hydraulic fracturing. Sam- All production has been Several are known to be highly cerns over energy security, could ibly high water-to-chemical ratio, ples there have shown benzene halted in the St. Lawrence Valley toxic—including benzene, which reshape the landscape of energy the depth of drilling and the non- concentrations in the groundwa- pending the provincial investiga- can be found in diesel fuel and is production in Canada. porous nature of the shale rock, ter that are several thousand tion. 08 news the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/news City Hall Cuts $35 Million From Police Budget Despite Cuts, Crime and Traffic Deaths Down Since 2009

One hundred and forty temporary cops saw their contracts expire in September. Montreal has the second largest police force in Canada with 4,600 full time officers on duty. PHOTO RILEY SPARKS

recession, which is positive, but Newly-graduated cadet Nick sergeants and captains than any Fraternité des policiers et poli- • CHRISTOPHER CURTIS we’ve had to find ways to cover the Agostino began looking for work other force [in Quebec].” cières de Montréal. “These young Even cops are affected by the shortfall,” said Darren Becker, on Sept. 27. He does not expect t0 Becker said Marc Parent, Mon- officers want to work, they are economy. spokesperson for the city of Mon- find a job in Montreal. treal’s new police chief, is looking trained to be effective police offi- One hundred and forty police treal. “We’ve announced a budget “When I was at police school, I at the force’s budget to try and fig- cers, but they have to live with this officers saw their contracts with freeze through 2011 and we’ve kept hearing about job cuts in ure a way around the SPVM’s pre- uncertainty and find work some- the Service de Police de la Ville de asked our boroughs to get ready Montreal,” he said. “It’s tough, carious employment situation, but where else. This is just a symptom Montreal expire this month after for cuts.” you know, you’re doing your could say little about the prospect of a city that underfunds its police city hall cut $35 million from the The 140 newly-unemployed po- exams, you’re going through your of hiring new recruits until the city department.” police force’s budget. lice officers were serving two-year training and you hear about job tables its next budget in Novem- Despite the cuts, the SPVM’s In May, Mayor Gerald Trem- internships with the SPVM and cuts.” ber. annual budget exceeds $500 mil- blay announced potential short- were set to replace 160 officers re- For Agostino, a job with the Police union bosses have de- lion. Furthermore, crime is down falls of $400 million in the city of tiring at the end of this year. SPVM would mean working for manded that the 140 officers be re- since last year and the city is on Montreal’s budget. Since provin- Cadets coming out of Quebec’s the second largest police force in hired, citing concerns over the pace to set record lows for deaths cial law prohibits municipal gov- national police school apply for Canada alongside 4,600 other of- police’s ability to fight crime with caused by automobile accidents. ernments from running a deficit, two, one-year internships, where ficers. fewer officers. “Montreal remains one of the the city has been forced to cut cor- they complete 2,400 hours of “There is room for advance- “It really hurts the force’s safest cities in the world,” said ners. fieldwork in the hope of earning a ment at the SPVM,” said Agostino. morale,” said Martin Desrochers, Becker. “The numbers speak for “We’re slowly coming out of a permanent job. “You have more detectives and the communications director for themselves.” A Club for All Seasons Six New Clubs at Concordia

• JOEL BALSAM According to CSU VP Clubs Aboard Program. Typhon Dragon Boat Club and Students for Advancement of Ramy Khoriaty, the initiative is Twenty paddlers, a dragon Hip-Hop Culture all dissolved and Concordians have stepped up set to begin in two weeks. Concordia University boat and an emphasis on team will not be receiving funding this and formed a six-pack of new “It’s a plus that can attract Catholic Students spirit are what this club is all year. In addition, The Animal clubs for the 2010-2011 school people to be executives in Association about. No experience required. House, the Concordia Games Club year. clubs,” said Khoriaty, “It’s im- Seeks to organize Catholic and the Concordia Pre-Health As- The new Concordia Student portant to have a full CV when students for social and religious Chess Club sociation all are unregistered. Union clubs range from the you graduate.” activities including speakers, Not really athletic, but the Concordia students can also spiritual to the adrenaline in- Here is a look at this year’s social activities and prayer. ancient game is a great workout expect less diversity in the univer- fused. new additions: for the brain. sity’s political scene as major These organizations are St. Paul’s Coptic Orthodox groups Amnesty International coming to Concordia at a time Humanity First Society Although Concordia has gar- and Liberal Concordia have not when the university has given This Canadian international This club acts as a forum to nered some new and exciting registered for CSU club status students an academic incentive humanitarian relief NGO aims discuss the teachings of the Or- clubs, there has been some this year. to join clubs with their new co- to “help alleviate poverty, thodox Church, as well as to amount of housekeeping with the “I think its unfortunate,” said curricular record, which can hunger and disease in those provide spiritual guidance. loss of a number of older clubs who Conservative Concordia President be paired with a student’s areas of the world where hu- chose not to reapply for club status Taylor Knott. “I think that political transcript. manity continues to struggle for Concordia Dodgeball this year. clubs on campus are important to The new document will in- the basic necessities of life.” League Cultural groups including the help students get educated and include a brief description on the No plans yet on how it will Whip a ball or two at fellow Iranian Students Association, Hel- volved.” role of a volunteer in the organ- work with existing groups like students on either the SGW or lenic Student Association of Con- ization, their tasks and what Engineers Without Borders or Loyola campuses at monthly cordia, Armenian Students You find all of Concordia’s Clubs skills they may have gathered. the Concordia Volunteer dodgeball events. Association, SGI Buddhist Club at http://studentgroups.csu.qc.ca the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/news news 09 Number 14 Despite a bumpy road, Windsor might be the latest out of the CFS

• JUSTIN GIOVANNETTI dents,’” Woodrich wrote on Sept. Robert Woodrich and Jake 17, before he began gathering DeJong aren’t getting much signatures. sleep lately. DeJong confirmed on Mon- Since Sept. 20 they have been day that six members of the CFS gathering signatures from stu- and CFS’ Ontario branch were on dents at the University of Wind- campus. sor to launch a referendum to “They won’t campaign when leave the Canadian Federation of anyone wearing a drop CFS shirt Students. They feel the national is around. They have started a student lobby group is wasting counter petition, though I cannot their money and meddling in prove it is the CFS staff since their university’s internal affairs. when I asked to see the petition I They aren’t alone. Over the was told no, in a more inappro- past year, six other universities priate way,” wrote DeJong. have tried to leave the CFS. Un- Even if DeJong and Woodrich like most of the others, Windsor get their petition to the univer- has turned into a battleground. sity on Thursday, the fight will “I just don’t have the time to only be starting. do [an interview] right now. We Concordia students voted to would love to, but because our leave the CFS last March, but the campus is currently overrun with national lobby group refused to CFS executives and staff mem- recognize the results. Under- bers, I’m very busy dealing with graduate students and graduates that situation,” wrote Woodrich, at Concordia are slowly prepar- the VP University Affairs of the ing to meet the CFS in court. University of Windsor Students’ Concordia Student Union VP Alliance, in an email from his External and Projects Adrien mobile phone. Severyns is keeping an eye on the After three requests for an in- situation in Windsor. terview in as many hours, “Other universities are look- Woodrich simply didn’t have the ing closely at what happened at time to stop. Concordia since last March and He expects to have 2,500 sig- the legal proceedings that have natures into the university regis- Students at the University of Windsor hustle to leave the CFS, a national lobby group they claim has meddled in taken place since Council voted trar’s office by Thursday. the universities student politics. PHOTO ROBERT WOODRICH in favour of starting legal actions DeJong, the founder of the against the CFS,” said Severyns. Windsor Drop CFS Movement need to get 20 per cent of stu- ing. Despite the new rules, the two “Windsor is a very recent devel- and a member of UWSA’s Board dents to sign their petition. Be- “I think that the rules are ab- are doing their best. The CFS opment, things are moving fast. of Directors, also didn’t have fore May, they would have only surd,” Woodrich told The Link in isn’t making it easy on them. But up to now, it is going well.” time to stop. His interview was needed to gather 10 per cent. late August. “At a school like “The CFS has been on our When Windsor drops off its conducted by text message as he After a year with more than a Windsor it is very difficult, al- campus since Sept. 6 and has yet petition on Thursday, the CFS gathered signatures. dozen petitions across Canada, most prohibitively so, to collect to leave, offering the justification will have a 14th student group Part of DeJong and the CFS tightened the rules to signatures from 20 per cent of of ‘we're here to help you pro- that is trying to leave the organi- Woodrich’s problem is that they leave at its annual general meet- students.” mote our campaigns to your stu- zation. To Concordia’s Governors: Drop the Increase Free Education Montreal Gathers 2,000 Name Petition for Board of Governors

• JUSTIN GIOVANNETTI John Molson School of Busi- his tuition and he has been in However, according to Sonin tion was started before we got ness graduate students saw and out of depression,” said and the GSA, the university has into office. It was hard to take a As Concordia’s Board of Gov- their bill increase by 50 per cent Hausfather. “Two years later, done a poor job of informing position at the time, but we are ernors sits down to meet on without warning, while under- he’s still afraid to talk to the students of the change. behind it.” Sept. 30, a petition with more graduate students in the same press.” “The university hasn’t been The same situation is present than 2,000 names protesting program saw an increase of 28 Because students like Haus- communicating the new policy at the GSA. Despite having the the unannounced increase to in- per cent. Engineering and com- father feel that they have not well to students or their staff,” support of individuals within ternational tuition fees two puter science students saw sim- been heard, a group of students said Sonin. “Depending on who the graduate association, no of- summers ago will be presented ilar increases. will be demonstrating in Nor- you speak to at the university ficial support has been given to to the 37 governors. In the two years since the in- man Bethune Square as the gov- there are different interpreta- the petition. “This is our last try,” said crease, the Board of Governors ernors meet on Sept. 30 at 8:00 tions of the late fees and inter- “It is an official GSA position Nadia Hausfather, an organizer voted to increase tuition for the a.m. in the MB building. est.” to be against any tuition infor Free Education Montreal, an same students again during the “We’re going to make a point Despite working with Free crease and the petition was cre- organization advocating that summer of 2010 and changed and bring attention to this issue. Education Montreal with the $1 ated and is being presented by education is a societal right and the payment structure for grad- The Board cast their votes al- Campaign, the Concordia Stu- GSA people,” said Sonin. “It’s a not a privilege. “We currently uate students so that they pay most unanimously in favour [of dent Union hasn’t officially sup- project done by GSA people. have about 2,000 signatures, so larger lump sums. the increase],” said Robert ported the petition. According The petition will be presented to it’s going to be a rush to the fin- According to Hausfather, the Sonin, a Graduate Students’ As- to VP External and Projects the Board by [GSA President] ish.” lives of some students have sociation councillor. “I think Adrien Severyns, this was a Adnan [Abueid], so it has the At its meeting in May 2009, been ruined by the unexpected they just like the money.” matter of timing, not an ideo- support of the president.” Concordia’s Board of Governors financial burden. To help with the changing tu- logical difference. voted to increase the tuition for “We know someone who ition and fee structure, Concor- “The CSU signed the petition A meeting will be held at 4:00 international students in pro- can’t afford his winter tuition, dia has given graduate students and supported it, but we were p.m. on Sept. 29 at 2030 Mackay grams recently deregulated by his education has been affected until August 31, 2011 to pay not a part of that petition,” said St. to organize the protests during the Charest government. by needing to work more cover their tuition without penalty. Severyns. “The work of the peti- the Board of Governors meeting. the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/news news 11 Delicious Library Briefs Downtown Restaurant Nourishes Mind and Body G20 Inquiry John Morden will lead an • CLAY HEMMERICH our prisoner program,” an initia- independent inquiry into the tive that delivers reading material The ringing of acoustic strings to prisoners. chain of command behind po- and the laughs of lively children “The general focus is their ma- lice operations during the G20 filled Burritoville’s three-floor terials are available for free, that summit in Toronto. Morden complex on Sept. 25. you don’t have to be a member of For the second anniversary of the library, the materials are in a served as council to the Royal the Bishop Street restaurant, Bur- social justice or environmental Commission on Civil Rights in ritoville’s owners launched a li- justice mandate,” Fortier said. the 1960s. brary on the building’s third floor. “The general purpose is to net- Membership and book lending is work and provide as many mate- free of charge, with no late fees. rials as possible. Part of QPIRG’s Enter the “The library just developed be- mandate is to break the academic Authors cause I started [accumulating] bubble. People on campus have a Concordia’s Community lots of books from moving from lot of privileges and we have to place to place,” said Jono Aitchi- expand on it.” Solidarity Co-op Bookstore will son, one of the restaurant’s own- Aitchison added that “the ex- celebrate Montreal literature ers. “The [books are lent out using change of ideas should be as free as well as its own 8th anniver- an] honour system. If they’re out as possible.” for too long, we’ll just send out a Although a library is not a typ- sary by launching the weekly simple e-mail to remind them.” ical extension of a restaurant, Local Legends Reading Series. The Quebec Public Interest Aitchison said it is a completely The first reading is on Oct. 6 Research Group had considered it fitting extension to Burritoville’s Ghost Pine an alternative resource library mission statement. and features author and offered Burritoville an invita- “Our mission is to nourish,” Jeff Miller. tion to register it to their data- said Aitchison, who partnered up base. Other organizations with Stephen Aitchison and Dave New Info Chief involved in the alternative re- Tamas for the opening of their source library database are the downtown location. “We’re not Marc Denoncourt has been Center for Community Organiza- just selling food, we’re trying to named the new Associate Vice- tions, which lends out books that build a cultural space.” President, Information Sys- promote social justice, and the The lack of said cultural space Sexual Assault Center of the downtown gave the Burritoville tems, as well as Chief McGill Student Association. trio incentive to open one in the Information Officer at Concor- QPIRG coordinator Ashley city’s core after establishing a dia. Having previously worked Fortier said that “[QPIRG ap- similar restaurant in Notre Dame as executive director of Infor- proached Aitchison] because he de Grace six years ago. The NDG Burritoville will loan books free of charge and without late fees. PHOTO ERIN had been giving a lot of books to branch has since closed. SPARKS mation Technology at CBC/Radio-Canada, he is set to bring all the efficiency of a crown corporation to the uni- A Walk on the Radical Side versity’s IT systems. Singh Takes QPIRG’s Walking Tour through ConU’s Past Maclean’s Under Fire The new benches in Norman table. The Federation of chambers • JUSTIN GIOVANNETTI Bethune Square were held up as a The Hall building’s Mezzanine of commerce of Quebec is de- Looking at the world through small example of that redefinition. was another stop on the tour. Maclean’s his round glasses, Montreal ac- With a black bar splitting the Once an area with chairs and manding that mag- tivist Jaggi Singh has a very differ- bench in two, people can’t use tables that moved as students did, azine apologize for its October ent way of seeing the city around them for a nap or any other use a student art gallery, bookstore cover article entitled “The Most him. other than two people sitting. and café, the Mezz looks little like That vision was on full display Corporatization is also becom- its past self. Corrupt Province in Canada.” on Sept. 22 as Singh led the Que- ing more visible on campus. The art gallery is gone, the café The FCCQ, which represents bec Public Interest Research “Some people upstairs have a has been transformed into a Java 40,000 businesses, claimed Group’s Radical Walking Tour. problem with this being a non-tra- U and the student-run bookstore “We take some things for ditional university,” said Singh, al- has been replaced by a computer the article unfairly blamed the granted,” said Singh as he led the luding to Concordia’s many store. province’s businesses for con- walking tour as part of QPIRG’s student groups and strong pres- “They now have everything tributing to Quebec’s alleged Alternative Orientation. Pointing ence of part-time and delayed- bolted down because of students institutional corruption. west, Singh highlighted the recent entry students. “They want throwing the furniture at cops dur- refurbishment of Concordia’s only students to finish in three to five ing the Benjamin Netanyahu riot,” public square as proof. years. They want an elite univer- said Singh. Ecstasy Bust “Norman Bethune Square sity.” On Sept. 9, 2002, a speech by A Laval couple is set to ap- needs a definition, it hasn’t been Singh also took up issue with current Israeli Prime Minister claimed yet,” Singh said. “Will it be some of the university’s policies, Benjamin Netanyahu was can- pear in a New York State court- a space where the cops move peo- including its exclusivity contract celled after students protested, room on Sept. 30 for allegedly ple along or will it be a space for art with food provider Chartwells. leading to a clash with police inside attempting to smuggle $2 mil- and artists, where people can stop, Because Chartwells is assured a the Hall building. Five demonstra- relax and not feel the need to pur- monopoly on campus food, tors were arrested and 12 students lion worth of ecstasy into the chase things?” the People’s Potato could not serve were suspended. United States. According to the Dominated by the university’s food during the Alternative With only six students on the United States Department of new glass towers, which have what Orientation Tabling Fair on tour, Singh recalled Concordia’s Singh said was limited postering Sept. 2. strong history of activism. That Justice, Canadian-based Asian organized crime syndicates space, Concordia’s campus is “Why can’t a student group that history of the bolted down chairs Activist Jaggi Singhn reminds Con- undergoing a redefinition that provides a service use this space?” of the Mezz, the Chartwells concordians of their activist roots on have a major stake in the coun- is looking increasingly to the pri- Singh asked, as he led the group tract and the benches of Norman his walking tour of the university’s try’s ecstasy exports. vate sector for funding and through the LB atrium where the Bethune Square might slowly be downtown campus. PHOTO JUSTIN inspiration. Potato was denied the right to disappearing. GIOVANNETTI OFF THE RESERVATION: ADDICTION AMONG THE FIRST NATIONS PAGE 12 Drinking to Forget Inside Diana Bar and the Hidden World of First Nations Alcohol Abuse

The Ste. Catherine Street West bar has become a rare refuge for disaffected aboriginals. PHOTOS JULIA JONES

• NATASHA LUCKHARDT In front of the dimly lit establish- inals living in city centres.” crack [cocaine] in our store and aimed towards assimilating aborig- ment on Ste. Catherine Street West, Peluso has worked with many things like that.” inals into Canadian society, flour- All throughout the year, pockets the huddle of smokers talk loudly aboriginal women as the former ished in the 20th century and of homeless people are found scat- amongst themselves. When asked President of Chez Doris, a centre for The Lingering Shadow stripped aboriginals of their lan- tered along the streets of Montreal, what brought them together, one itinerant women. She is familiar of Abuse guage, culture and human rights. particularly in the Atwater area. man responds that this is where with the popularity of the bar, which Not only did our colonial ances- Destitute people sit crouched with many Cree and Inuit people gather. she jokingly calls “Sweet Diana.” The problem of addiction tors introduce liquor to native pop- outstretched hands and desperate The man, who wishes to remain “Bar Diana is a local bar, not an amongst aboriginals is a daunting ulations, but they also drove them expressions as countless others anonymous, is from The Great elegant bar, it’s quite a rowdy type reality, both in rural areas and on to abuse it after being physically, walk by without tossing them a Whale River and is visiting friends of bar because so many of the other the reserves. The fatality rate due to mentally and sexually abused by the glance, let alone money. from his native reserve as his bars have shut down,” said Peluso. alcohol abuse is almost twice the teachers and priests who ran the Although they are shunned by mother is undergoing surgery at a “It’s a seedy kind of a bar for a lot of rate of the general population and residential schools. darting eyes, many find comfort in local hospital. people who are homeless—a lot of drug-related deaths are nearly three Adrienne Campbell, who volun- each other’s company. Without a While he plans on returning to native people, drug users and pros- times that of non-aboriginals, ac- teers for La Nation Autochtone du place to call home, many take refuge his reserve, the same cannot be said titutes.” cording to a study done by the Québec, a Montreal Aboriginal in local bars, the most infamous of for many other aboriginal people An employee of the neighbour- National Native Addictions Part- homeless shelter, said that abuse is which is Bar Diana. who make the trek to Montreal only ing store, Romance, is familiar with nership Foundation in 2000. a common thread woven through to find themselves in places like Bar the rowdy crowd that Bar Diana at- Peluso points the finger at “us” the stories of many aboriginal Bittersweet Diana Diana. tracts. Emanuelle has seen many for alcohol abuse problems in places homeless people. In her experience, Maria Peluso, a human rights fights outside, the worst of which like Bar Diana, as she blames the problems range from physical Walking into the bar, you are activist and Concordia University was when someone threw a Canada’s colonial ancestors for in- violence in residential schools to overwhelmed by the sound of slot professor, said that it is desperation chair through the bar’s front win- troducing alcohol to their culture. emotional trauma inflicted by their machines colliding with blaring that draws them to the city. dow. While she has only stepped in- She said that alcohol is poison to parents, which drive many to drink. music coming from the jukebox by “They’ve either been rejected by side the bar once, she seems to have their immune systems, referring to This sentiment is reflected in a the bare dance floor. Despite the their own communities or they are a clear picture of its bleak research completed by Health 2003 report written by the Aborigi- loud ambience, the bar is mostly having trouble coping with their reality. Canada. Alcohol is also responsible nal Healing Foundation, based on empty—aside from people standing marginality,” said Peluso, adding “It’s always full starting in the for the higher incidence of violent the experience of 127 Aboriginal by the beer taps or crowding around that many have a difficult time deal- morning until when I’m gone at crimes among our First Nations. residential school survivors. The the VLTs. Passing by a few people in ing with the busy nature of the city, midnight,” she recounts. “There are In saying “us,” Peluso mainly survey reveals that prior to entering front of the large, dirt-stained win- as they are used to the quiet envi- always people and they’re always refers to the Canadian government a residential school, only 17.9 per dow, one man lights a cigarette and ronment typical of reserves. very drunk. I don’t want to be rude and its oppressive history, like the cent had abused alcohol, in compar- eventually wanders towards the “In effect, they are becoming but it sure is not classy at all. There creation of the residential school ison to the 90.9 per cent who crowd outside. part of a growing number of aborig- are a lot of drug addicts that take system. The system, which was abused alcohol after leaving the the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/features features 13

Bar Diana attracts a large aboriginal clientele, like John, pictured here. schools. Among the people sur- system, as it was like being in the which was granted $350 million in veyed, only two of the 127 survivors residential school system, yet not as 1998, was not renewed in the fed- did not experience some degree of bad. eral budget last March, abandoning sexual, physical or psychological After spending many years in many traditionally-run aboriginal abuse. and out of jail, he began expressing healing centres. Freddy Taylor is one of the many his anger through art, which he cre- In fact, since these cuts were faces behind these statistics. ates at the Whetung Gallery on made, many of them have been Originally from Curve Lake in Curve Lake. He also said that he forced to shut down, a large number Peterborough, Ont., Freddy was overcame his addiction through his of which were located in rural areas. forced into a residential school at newfound belief in the Great Cre- Peluso is outraged by the federal the age of six. ator, who he claims helps him from government’s action and believes Throughout the 10 years that he day to day. them to be morally reprehensible. was there, he said he was beaten for After being sober for 25 years, In terms of a solution, she suggests being native and for speaking his Freddy, now 63, is confident that “a concerted effort. You need to look only known language, Ojibwa. His his own creations have helped him at the problem, which is well known identity was stripped from him as overcome his past drinking habits. and develop a program, a policy— he was referred to as “number 39,” “I don’t need alcohol now that that’s what government is there for. the only name that stuck with him I’ve got my artwork to heal me. It Where are they? It’s not rocket sci- as he not only eventually forgot his was due to the residential school ence. If you have an urban drug or parents’ names, but where he came that I drank. I’ll never drink again. alcohol problem among First Na- per cent of incarcerated aboriginals from. Well, I can’t say that, but I hope I tions people, then you have a pro- 80 When Freddy was released from never drink tomorrow.” gram that responds to that problem. have substance abuse problems. the school, any recollection of his You don’t ignore it and then com- parents had been shattered when he Federal Funding: plain that we have bars like Bar saw how his absence had changed Cutting Corners Diana.” 43.7 deaths per 100,000 due to alco- them. In fact, she said that she’s glad “When I [was sent to the resi- While Freddy was able to heal Bar Diana exists, if only because hol in the aboriginal community. dential school], I can’t remember through his art, many other aborig- they don’t have anywhere else to go. my parents ever drinking alcohol, inals find it hard to access therapy. Taylor is not too bothered by the but when I came back, they were al- Campbell said that it is hard for Healing Fund cuts—he believes the 23.6 deaths per 100,000 due to alco- coholics,” he remembers. “During aboriginals to reach out to a healing money is mismanaged anyhow. In hol in the general population. those 10 years, I never got to see program for problems such as alco- his view, the money should be given them or anything. So that’s proba- hol abuse. It is especially difficult for directly to residential school sur- bly the reason they drank, because them to seek out programs if they vivors. per cent of those accused of homi- their kids got taken away.” are not run in an aboriginal man- “They’ve got the names of the 89 He returned to the reserve at the ner, where their unique traditional survivors. So what if they drink or cide in aboriginal communities who had an age of 16. and communal values are inte- do drugs? It’s their right to spend “I was let off in a car and I see grated into the holistic healing the money.” intoxicant in their system at the time this little old lady coming out of my process. Campbell suggests more While Freddy thinks that places parents’ house. It was my mom, and outreach and public awareness in such as Bar Diana prevent the inte- of their crime. she had something in her hand, Montreal is needed to facilitate gration of aboriginals into society, which I found out later was wine. So changes in the system. he believes it is also hard for them I took a drink of that and it [trig- “It doesn’t help to just throw to do so if they don’t have equal gered] a lot of pain and culture money into Health Canada and ex- rights. In the case of Freddy and shock.” pect them to go and get the help,” other aboriginals, their lives have Longing to erase the memories said Campbell. Even when they do been marked by the denial of due of the residential school, Freddy get help, Campbell points out that rights. said he drank to numb the pain, but it’s often not adequate. “So let’s raise a glass to ‘Sweet found drinking only made the pain “Another huge issue is that the Diana,’ the type of joint that caters worse. residential school system has been to the cultural alienation of our First “I drank to try and fit in but then going on for over a 100 years, and Nations people stuck in the cycle of I got addicted to alcohol and taken they expect healing to happen in poverty, homelessness, and vio- to prison for fighting and stealing,” less than 10 years. That just doesn’t lence. It’s for them that Diana Bar said Freddy. He explained that he make sense.” exists, a gathering place of broken quickly turned to crime because The health of aboriginal peoples souls,” said Peluso. drinking was the only way he knew is threatened in light of the Harper From the outside, Bar Diana is a how to deal with his pain and anger, government’s funding cuts to The cold and gloomy place. Inside, and subsequently the drinking Healing Centre Foundation, which there’s an unusual warmth—the made him act out violently. funds 134 centres across Canada. warmth of a place where the mar- Freddy said he fit into the prison The funding of the Foundation, ginalized can be among equals. GRAPHIC JULIA WOLFE POP MONTREAL: A GUIDE TO THE MOST VIBRANT FOUR DAYS OF THE YEAR IN MONTREAL PAGE 14 Shake What Yo Mama Gave Ya POP Montreal Welcomes Dance Workshops to the Festival

• MEGAN DOLSKI whether you are a musician or a Whether dancing is something pre-professional and professional dancer, to have an opportunity to you do purely when intoxicated or dancers. Get ready to bust a move. learn from an established master,” happens to be a passion of yours, Luisa Sassano, owner and That’s right, you can grab your he said. “I think it’s part of our job POP is offering you a way to em- founder of Extravadanza, is sports bras and spandex—POP with the festival to serve as a liai- brace and explore your inner thrilled to have the opportunity to Montreal is giving you the oppor- son between some of the more es- rhythms. share the art of dance with tunity to break it down and learn tablished acts and the young If contemporary dance is your anyone who is interested. from the best. up-and-coming artists who are cup of tea, check out one of the two “I think a dance studio should The ninth edition of the festival looking for a chance to learn and master classes taught by Mia be a vehicle for dancers, allowing is offering two separate sets of develop their craft.” Michaels. The classes are hosted them to open doors and to ex- dance workshops taught by So You Seligman is also excited about by local dance studio Ex- plore their art,” she said. Think You Can Dance’s Emmy the opportunity to embrace as travadanza in tandem with the fes- If getting down and dirty is award winning choreographer and many forms of art as possible tival, and will be held at the Rialto more your thing, you might judge Mia Michaels and New Or- through POP’s diverse lineup. Theatre. want to check out the bounce leans’s bad-ass, booty-shaking Big “What we want to do is not nec- The workshops mark the inau- class led by Big Freedia along with Freedia. essarily have barriers between the guration of Extravdanza II, a new DJ Rusty and Altercation. Big Dan Seligman, one of the festi- different types of art,” he ex- studio opening in the Montreal’s Freedia is a transvestite rapper val’s founders and current creative plained. “Whether it’s dance, east end. The first class is for inter- who will teach you how to get low, director, is happy to have dance on music or visual art, I think it’s immediate and advanced dancers and shake what yo mama gave ya. this year’s bill—especially in the portant for us to see that there are (with a recommended minimum The class will also encourage dis- form of a learning experience. common threads and crossroads of three to five years of dance ex- cussion on several issues, such as “I think it’s good, regardless of between these different art forms.” perience) and the second is for female sexual empowerment. GRAPHIC ELIZABETH RANGER Montreal Fashion Week Struts Into Town

• STEPHANIE LA LEGGIA about connecting you to something, Costello Tagliapietra and Jeremy cated to fashion ever since.” “I remember it was raining, and which is much like art. Fashion is Scott during New York Fashion With her own personal even though it was grey and cloudy, Once again the moment has about trying to communicate a cer- Week. favourites like Alexander McQueen the sun was so strong that I could come when women line up in heels tain emotion to an audience,” she Shirvani left Iran at the age of and Canadian designers Andy The- see these pinks and corals in the on the white marble steps of Place said. three and attended an arts high Anh and Lida Baday, Shirvani has sky,” Shirvani said of her visionary Bonsecours, waiting for a sneak Her clothing line is called Paria school in Mississauga. become a distinguished designer moment in the Caribbean for her peak of the upcoming fashion Lambina. “My spring collection is It was the Joeffer Caoc fashion herself. Her designs are modern new collection. trends. an expression of versatility and fem- show that she attended with her and elegant in their romantic Shirvani’s colour-inspired col- But it’s not all about the trends. ininity well suited for the modern model friend, Daria Werbowy, that Parisian ideals. lection will be unveiled to the public “Clothing is functional,” said woman that lives in every moment,” drew her into the world of fashion. Although Shirvani has built her- this week during Montreal Fashion Paria Shirvani, one of the twenty- said the Canadian/Iranian designer. “I was instantly mesmerized by self a reputation for creating well- Week. seven designers who will be unveil- “You can expect to see what a the collection,” Paria said. “I was tailored and timeless designs, she is ing her Spring/Summer 2011 woman would wear throughout dif- eager to learn as much as possible never short of creativity. She admit- Montreal Fashion Week takes Collection during Montreal Fashion ferent parts of her day, from work about what fashion was like behind ted that her muses have a way of place from Sept. 27 to Sept. 30. Week. transitioning into evening.” the runway. Shortly after, I went for finding her in various forms, “It’s a basic need. Fashion is The Toronto designer has an interview and got [an] internship whether it is architecture, a shape or See www.montrealfashionweek.ca about pushing the boundaries, worked with designers such as at Misura. My life has been dedi- people in general. for the full schedule. spins Röyksopp translate as well as previous instru- Taken that this album is intended as a I actually owe The Link for Fake Prob- incredibly solid, listenable, catchy, fun Senior mental Röyksopp tracks. continuation of Röyskopp’s previous lems. A review copy of their last album, album of vaguely folk-punk-tinged, Dog Triumph The closing track, “A Long, Long Way,” album, it does the job of providing a It's Great to Be Alive, had found its way poppy indie rock about growing up, sounds a lot like Boards of Canada slumberous kick-back-on-the-couch- to the office a couple of weeks before coming to terms with young adulthood Röyksopp’s instru- and leaves the listener with a strange, and-listen continuation to Junior. the thing dropped for real. and looking back wistfully on past mis- mental album Senior is a grainy and at- rather incomplete feeling. It does not, however, give the listener I’d heard good things about the band, takes. mospheric departure from their rather Without the usual vocal collaborations what they were expecting. largely on the strength of their debut No super standout tracks—but it’s perky and peppy album Junior. from fellow Scandinavians such as record, How Far Our Bodies Go. So I took a grower, not a shower, as they say. “The Alcoholic” is just pure, easy-going Robyn, Anneli Drecker or Lykke Li, and a 8/10 it home and gave it a few spins. This is very much worth checking out. and intriguing bliss. “Senior Living” has slight lack of instrumental epicness, the —Carlos von Reckow It didn’t hit me right away, but by De- And “Soulless,” probably one of the bet- a dark, retirement home feeling to it. album does feel rather monotonous at cember it was one of my top four or five ter cuts, has not one but two former Ar- “The Drug,” the album’s first single, certain points. Fake Problems albums of 2009 rested Development cast members on falls to repetitiveness and does not Tracks from Senior are nonetheless wit- Real Ghosts I think Real Ghosts Caught on Tape will back-up vocals. sound very single-worthy. tily engineered to be effectively down- Caught on grow on me—and you—in a similar However, songs like the “The Fear” have tempo and atmospheric, creating a Tape way. The first couple of listens 8.1/10 a more captivating sound, but doesn’t curious spatial-nostalgic feeling. SideOneDummy Records did not overwhelm me, but it’s an —Alex Manley POP Montreal is upon us.

Do you know that feeling of emptying an entire package of Pop Rocks into your mouth? The incredible, three- dimensional, blissful moment that is part sweetness and part, well, magic? POP Montreal offers just that for all of your senses, particularly your lovely lobes.

GRAPHIC SARAH SKINNER

pull out section 02 POPMONTREAL the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca

INSIDE:

How to POP POP Montreal is in its ninth year and to those in the know, it is arguably the your Cherry best festival in Canada. POP is continually evolving and is never afraid to try something new. It is a festival where you can literally be at one show, hold your pg. 3 breath, run outside in any direction and be at another show before you have to gasp for air. It is also one of the greatest opportunities you will have to discover new music. The festival is a five-day celebration of being alive. The best thing about POP Fringe Picks is that, although it is an incredible music festival, it’s not all about the music. pg. 4 This festival also opens its arms to arts and crafts, film, literature and a kick- ass community. New to Montreal? This special insert will familiarize you with the festival and will open your mind to what it offers to those of us lucky enough to be around Featured during this time of year. The festival is spread out across the city—reaching from the depths of Griffin- Label: Arbutus town to the Mile End. To make the most of your POP Montreal experience, I have a few suggestions: pg.5 • Commute via bicycle. If you don’t own a bike, BIXI is always ready to be your friend. If you don’t know how to ride a bike or are feeling lazy, the Metro will do just fine. Music • Make sure to team up with your coolest, most outgoing friends. If you don’t have any friends, that’s okay. Head out anyways and make some! POP goers are pg. 6 famously drunk and friendly. • Rest up in the next couple days to ensure that you’ll have the energy to spend the evening flutter- ing from venue to venue to after party. Puces POP • Put on your dancing shoes, fill your pockets pg. 7 with confetti and head out to conquer Montreal. —Ashley Opheim, Symposium Fringe Arts Editor pg. 8 and more!

GRAPHICS CLEMÉNT LIU the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca POPMONTREAL 03 How To POP Your Cherry

whelming, and it is,” shared Besides, how can you dinal named at least 15. Big stuff, whether that is folk, • ANDREA ZOELLNER Marilis Cardinal, Puces POP choose when so much is Freedia, Grimes, Shonen rock or more experimental How does a virgin festival- coordinator and festival con- going on all the time? Knife, Deerhoof, Pat Jor- music. However, this is a fes- goer sift through the vertigo- noisseur. “You have to be ex- One feature that could dache, Adam and the tival to discover new bands inducing plethora of cited about it.” save you big when hitting up Amethyst, Naomi Shelton, and new sounds, so be open POP-related events? According to Cardinal, multiple shows in one night is Fred Penner (yes the Fred to different styles. Although POP Montreal is diving in headfirst is the best the POP Hopper pass (try Penner who used to crawl To be sure you’re in the only five days long, it man- and is, perhaps, the only way saying that a few times fast). through that hollow tree log loop on all these simultane- ages to boast an overwhelm- to really appreciate all that You pay for your first show of every morning), Braids, Xiu ous events and the latest fes- ing amount of shows, POP has to offer. This starts the evening, and for $10 Xiu, Peace, Matt Perri and the tival news, a great idea is to workshops, conferences, with getting the schedule and more, you have access to any Living Sluts—the list goes on. follow POP Montreal on screenings and activities. a highlighter. You can step it other show you want that One could be suspicious Twitter. Their schedule booklet could up by putting it all in a same night, capacity permit- that POP lets just about any- “Keep your ear on the double as a booster seat. spreadsheet or creating your ting. one play, but the truth is the ground for the after-parties” The festival’s program- personal schedule on the POP When choosing your selection process is months of as Cardinal put it, since the fi- ming is divided into six sec- Montreal website. Pick, shows, Cardinal suggested months of listening with esta usually goes on all night tions: POP Montreal, choose and don’t rule out try- balancing the bigger names input from various music in- long. “The after-parties can FilmPOP, ArtPOP, KidsPOP, ing to book three shows at and the local acts. “You know dustry professionals. The va- make your festival,” she said. PucesPOP and the Sympo- once, advised Cardinal. you’re going to get a really riety of musical genres Music aside, the venues, sium. There is no shortage of “Find out what is playing great show with local bands showcased makes this festival people and art weaved into things to do, see, taste, hear in venues nearby and get a because they are so excited to a winner for everyone. The this POP Montreal tapestry and buy. bike. You’ll get there faster be playing. They have great schedule has a code for genre make it one sweet party. “It can seem really over- and make more than one energy.” When asked for her and short descriptions, so you show in an evening.” top-five acts not to miss, Car- can get straight to the juicy POP! Goes the Free Stuff • ANDREA ZOELLNER AND ASHLEY OPHEIM

If you thought the never-ending list of $5 shows was bliss, get a load of all the free events planned during the festival.

Film POP Music

Notman House (51 Sherbrooke St. W.) A few film screenings are scheduled during POP, some of which are The Notman House will host multiple BBQs where you can check free of charge. Puces Pop out some free music, drink some beer, spin a prize wheel and take a swing at a piñata. On Friday, the Notman House is putting on a show Studio OFF Interarts (5143 St. Laurent Blvd.) Puces POP is a free event until presented by Exclaim! and CBC Radio 3. Bands include Hot Panda, POP will screen San Francisco’s Disposable Film Festival you decide to buy something. Prairie Cat and more. selections, which will include Toilet Paper Animation by Montrealer Sept. 30 – Oct. 3 Oct. 2 at 4:00 p.m. Christophe Jordache. This event is dedicated to new forms of film media such as cellphone and webcam video. The Rialto (5723 Ave. Du Divan Orange (4234 St. Laurent Blvd.) Sept. 30 at 8:00 p.m. Parc) Divan Orange is offering a load of free music including No Joy, Puces POP Fashion Show Black Feelings, The Golden Dogs, Leif Vollebekk and some Trusst Club (6341 St. Laurent Blvd.) Sept. 30 secret guests! Dark Night Of The Soul is a video installation by Jean Luc 8:30 p.m. Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Della Montagna, which combines 13 video clips and still photographs by David Lynch set to music from Danger Mouse Église Saint-Michel (105 St. Red Bird Gallery (135 Van Horne Ave.) and Sparklehorse. You can view this film at Trusst Club (6341 St. Viateur St.) Local sweethearts The Luyas will win over your hearts, for free, at Laurent Blvd.) Puces POP Craft fair the Red Bird Gallery. Someone bring roses to throw. Sept. 30 at 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Oct. 2 and 3 Oct. 2 at 8:00 p.m. Oct. 3 at 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Ubisoft (5480 St. Dominique St.) Canadian filmmaker Yung Chang will present his short film Before Ukrainian Federation Night. The Concordia Alumnae will be projecting his film on the roof (5413 Hutchison St.) of the Ubisoft Building (5505 St. Laurent Blvd.) in the Mile End. Puces POP Record Fair Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Dance Stanley POP! Symposium Little Burgandy (200 Sherbrooke St. W.) POP Loft (660 Hutchison St.) Cheer on bands, Need to shake off some school jitters? Need to let loose? Big Free- promoters, bar and club staff The Symposium is a relatively new feature that’s worth checking dia will be offering some free bounce classes featuring DJ Rusty & as they compete for the out. It’s a series of conferences and workshops on various aspects of Altercation. There will also be discussion on topics such as female Stanley POP! the music industry led by inspiring artists and knowledgeable music sexual empowerment, cultural reciprocation, and our ‘inner beat.’ (pophockey.blogspot.com professionals. Learn all about how to start your own record label, tour Oct. 3 at 4:00 p.m. for directions and game across Quebec, write songs and much more. times) 04 POPMONTREAL the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca Fringe Picks The Link chooses some musical acts we’re most excited to see at POP. Thank us later.

Sept. 29 Sept. 29 Sept. 30 The Planet Smashers Hollerado Holy Fuck

Who says ska is dead? I’ve got a pair Some people will tell you that Remember when you were six and of spats that very clearly says other- there’s music and there’s comedy, your mom insisted on you taking piano wise, and the Smashers will back me never the two shall meet. lessons from your elderly neighbour? up. Don’t listen to them. They’re stupid You figured the big pay-off would At this point, Matt Collyer and his and unhappy people. For those of us come when you got to rock out on one gang of loveable goofs have become who are able to stand proud and tall, of those newfangled Casio keyboards. nothing less than a Montreal institu- there’s Montreal’s own Hollerado, a When the big day finally came, you tion, with a career that spans over 15 quartet of loveable pranksters who plugged that sucker in, and were im- years. This writer will tell you from conveniently churn out the sweetest mediately delighted by that magical first-hand experience that their shows power pop this side of Cheap Trick. contraption. Remember how you got are like the most ridiculous house They’re also one of the first Cana- bored of that within 20 minutes? Holy party you’ve ever been to, but with dian bands to ever tour China, and Fuck did not. Infamous for playing an- more saxophones and near-death ex- one billion of them can’t be wrong. cient, piece of shit Casios, these am- periences in a circle pit. Danceable pop-rock not your thing? bient dudes have become a must-see If you’re too cool for school, you’ll Luckily, you can get your chuckles for the way they mix up insane noise- skip out, but for those of us who still out as the band boasts some of the making gadgets that have never before treasure our Reel Big Fish albums, funniest between-song banter since been used to make listenable music. this is the super orgy porno party to be Anthony Kiedis was still on heroin. And hey, Stephen Harper singled them at during POP Montreal. out for being obscene, so they must be pretty epic, right?

Sept. 30 Sept. 30 Sept. 30 Grimes Twin Sister Lunice and Hovatron Montreal, meet the princess of gothic Twin Sister are a quartet reigning from If you’re into Dubstep—and I have it pop. Grimes evokes a musical sensibility the uber-hip music scene of Brooklyn, on good authority that all of the kids that is unwordly yet painfully human. NY. Their songs are atmospheric and are these days—then you either al- Mostly, her songs sound like sonic love stormy, yet remain grounded, cool and ready know about Lunice and Hova- letters to someone (or something) who collected. Twin Sister’s lead singer is a tron, or you’re sorely missing out. Each lives on a different planet. cooing and enchanting Andrea Estella. will be playing a set at Club Lambi on This is music for the apocalypse; for She has the sort of airy, committed Thursday. The event runs from 10 p.m. space travel; for drowning scenes. It’s voice that I would follow straight to hell, and will continue until your mind has music to get lost in. Weird. Wonderful. if that were where she wanted to take been zapped to death by brawling, Grimes. me. brainy beats. Her music is sensitive and explorative in Twin Sister are still realizing their Hovatron, ex member of Mofomatronix, the possibilities of the human voice. The sound. This musical uncertainty comes has a meager release history, but made songs are distantly but acutely aware of across as playful, genuine and damn re- up for it by releasing all sorts of free themselves, putting the listener in a freshing; the type of sound that can only mixtapes on his MySpace page. trance between the here and now, and be achieved by this very uncertainty. Lunice, for his part, has been featured the sweet thereafter. on CBC Radio 3, and recently got in on Laced in reverb, Grimes haunts the lis- a Deerhunter remix with famous pro- tener in strange ways. The music is at- ducer Diplo. That pretty much speaks mospheric in the sense that it surrounds for itself, dunnit? and includes you, yet somehow you feel left out. Perhaps her live show will fill in that void. the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca POPMONTREAL 05 Featured Label: Arbutus Records Local Label Hosts Showcase at The Rialto

Braids and Savage, will take to When quizzed about this odd “I would think that the term record label, it’s also an experi- • BRIAN HASTIE the Rialto and rock out at the Ar- pairing of words, Sebastian DIY is very important to that. ment.” “Making shit happen.” butus/Weird Canada showcase. Cowan, managing director of Ar- DIY links up to the punk move- Without the physical dimen- This simple credo, which was The showcase also doubles as butus, explained that the ethos of ment of the ‘70s and ‘80s and is sion of Lab Synthèse, the label an unofficial motto for the now- a record release party for Grimes, the movement and the notion of very pertinent to what we’re speaks to a wider audience closed Lab Synthèse loftspace, who will be putting out her forth- pop music aren’t mutually exclu- doing. When you link it back, through a pay-what-you-want has been carried over to Arbutus coming record Halfaxa. sive. punk music generally has ties to digital model, while still releas- Records. The label, in some ways an “I feel like, in relation to Arbu- popular music,” Cowan added. ing CDs and vinyls. Arbutus includes Blue Hawaii, offshoot of the closed loftspace, tus, I cannot separate popular “The Sex Pistols, for example, “Arbutus is just a way to tie all Pop Winds, Silly Kissers, Oxen is also much more—it is a logical music and DIY. Pop music has were a group formed by Malcolm of these people in and keep in Talk, Grimes, Braids and Sean extension from the ideals of Do- kind of taken on a cultural con- McLaren, all the song structures touch, and to help each other,” Nicholas Savage. On Sept. 30 the It-Yourself and popular music, notation beyond its basic defini- were super poppy. said Cowan. “Without the physi- Arbutus crew, minus Oxen Talk, with a central community theme. tion,” said Cowan. “It’s all very inline with the cal space, we’re no longer re- DIY ethic, but it’s 2010 and stricted by physical boundaries, everyone’s interested in pop but at the same time you need music and this is how it hap- something to keep it all in order.” pens,” he said. Cowan will also be speaking as Cowan explained that all the part of the Making It Montreal artists involved in the label know panel at POP Montreal. The each other. “All of the bands on panel, conceived by Louis the label played their first show Rastelli (of Expozine/Distroboto at Lab [Synthèse], and they’re all fame) is exploring the concept of really good friends with [the anglophones who immigrate to label] and live within a block of the city to lead an artistic life. our offices.” Cowan will be on a panel dis- Community development, cussing the next step in growth Cowan stresses, is a central tenet when a record company becomes of Arbutus. “Every show we more than a hobby label, as booked had to have one of our Cowan noted with Arbutus’ friends performing,” he said. growth. “And of course our circle was As for the future of the label, constantly expanding and Arbu- Cowan explained that more re- tus was a way to encourage my leases from friends are immi- friends who made music to make nent. “Sean Savage is launching a it available to a wider audience, record on Nov. 5 at Club Lambi. to record and distribute it.” It’s entitled Mutual Feelings of The social dimension inherent Respect And Admiration. [The in a label like Factory Records— album] is disco-inspired and cited by Cowan as an influence— we’re all excited by it.” is central to the label’s existence. “I receive a lot of demos in the The Arbutus Showcase/Weird mail or e-mails from other bands Canada/Grimes record release is on who have an interest in joining the roster,” said Cowan. “But Ar- Sept. 30th at The Rialto (5723 Ave. butus is very much a community- Du Parc). Show starts at 10 p.m. Local band Pop Winds will play the Arbutus Showcase at The Rialto on Thursday night. based project. As much as it is a Tickets are $5. Indie Montreal meets Project Noise

• NATASHA YOUNG into me doing shows with travel- deemed Project Noise. Weisz and only about noise—there are “The most rewarding part, for Over the past two years, Indie ing acts, booking agents, man- his friends in the scene have all other, political things going on me, is knowing that a lot of the Montreal has become a catalyst agers and all that.” been feeling the heat. As a busi- there,” said Weisz. shows we put on legitimately in promoting the local music Before Indie Montreal arrived ness in the indie music market “The smaller venues and art help touring acts who someday scene, offering a stage for bands on the scene, Weisz said there and a lover of the local art scene, spaces, from what I have seen, may be really major international too small-time for the city’s other was no real promotion company Weisz is concerned about Project are expected to spend tens of acts but, for now, are [doing] indie promoters, but too hot to or market for small, up-and-com- Noise’s greater ramifications. thousands of dollars in noise- small tours. Without us, [a lot of ignore. ing indie bands, despite Montreal “[Project Noise] has affected proofing. But even if they noise- bands] would not be playing in Jon Weisz, a McGill Univer- being a hotbed for those kinds of Indie Montreal indirectly be- proof, there’s still no guarantee Montreal at all.” sity alumnus, conceived this one- acts. When Weisz’s operation cause most of the shows that we they won’t get fined,” he said. “If Indie Montreal is putting on man concert promotion began to gain success around the do are at smaller venues, and a [a venue] gets fined $12,000, an official showcase at this year’s company, deciding to put his love city, other established promotion lot of the smaller venues are ei- they’ll close. I don’t know any POP Montreal festival, giving of music and business towards a companies took notice. ther getting shut down or having small venue that can pay a Weisz the opportunity to shine good cause for the city’s artistic “It’s an extremely competitive severe pressure from the city $12,000 fine and remain open.” that spotlight on five bands he community. market,” said Weisz. “The people about noise,” said Weisz. “It For Weisz, the ability to put believes in: The Balconies, The Indie Montreal began simply who have been doing this for makes it much harder for smaller on these shows—and the ability Golden Dogs, Ben Sinister, Lau- as Weisz organizing parties for [many years] do not want new touring acts to come through, or for Indie Montreal to survive— rent Bourque and Honey Honey. his friends. companies to enter the market, even for smaller local acts to put rests on the presence of well- “I started doing parties when and they’re very vocal and active on shows in adequate venues. equipped, smaller venues with [about it]. We just stand our There are really only two or three enough capacity for bands to I was 16. Friends who were in Indie Montreal’s Showcase is bands started asking me to put ground.” venues in the city that [have] cover their touring expenses. The on shows for them. Then, about Lately, the local indie scene 200-person [capacities] that are indie music market is not very lu- happening at 3 Minots (3812 Saint- two and a half years ago, I started has been taking hits from the really adequate for touring acts. crative as it is, but Weisz is Laurent) on October 2nd. Show city’s controversial attempt at “The general consensus is that driven by more than monetary doing concerts more seriously,” starts at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $8. Weisz said. “It kind of spiraled controlling noise pollution, the Project Noise thing is not gain. 06 POPMONTREAL the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca Meditative States Bear In Heaven Talk Meditation, Musical Influences

• ATLI BOLLASON “As a musician Brooklyn’s Bear in Heaven be- making records, we came indie sensations upon the never know what release of their second album, Beast Rest Forth Mouth, last Oc- songs people are tober. going to connect The album’s melding of mini- malistic art-rock with pop with, so we just— structures and curious nods this might sound to ‘80s synth-pop sounded naïve—go about it fresh and contemporary. The album sent the four-piece instinctively,” band zig-zagging across the con- —Jon Philpot, tinent to appease rock-thirsty musician crowds. “It’s been good. We’ve been in the lyrics. “I think people want seeing the world—going places,” and need records. You might said Jon Philpot, Bear in not like all the songs on the Heaven’s singer, songwriter, gui- first listen but I think most tarist and keyboardist, as he mo- records gradually open them- mentarily caught his breath in his selves up and sort of expand Brooklyn apartment. “We loved upon that first song or sound that Montreal when we played there drew you in. [at Il Motore] in April and are “Then you hear those looking forward to coming back. other songs live and you’re like: It’s quite a nice town you guys ‘That’s alright on the record, have up there.” but I loved it live.’ As a musician Their sound evokes images making records, we never know of an almost pre-historic era; what songs people are going the songs often have a sort to connect with, so we just—this of primitive or tribal rhythm might sound naïve—go about to them and the vocals are, in Bear In Heaven make tribal-infused pop music. it instinctively,” Philbot ways, reminiscent of chants. The explained. band gives off a mystical, medita- But has Philbot actively pur- sort of lose yourself meditatively. I’ve been into Throbbing Gristle “In the end, that one song tive vibe. sued meditation? A lot of the stuff on the remix for a few years. I had been hang- that you happen to like is part “[These sounds are] a huge “Let’s say I’ve tried. It’s not as album is more drone-y or experi- ing out with a friend and he was of an overall statement, it’s part of drone and experimental easy as it sounds at all. It takes a mental, and that’s still the music playing this crazy, amazing music a package: the imagery, the music, which are sort of the lot of practice and patience,” he I listen to most frequently.” so I asked him what it was and he lyrics, the music—it’s a whole di- scenes I’m coming out of. But on said. The dense sonic world of Bear said ‘It’s Throbbing Gristle. mension. And that’s something a more general note, I feel that Bear in Heaven recently in Heaven also suggests traces of They’re fucking great. Better than worthwhile.” music in and of itself can often released a remix album The Cure, Throbbing Gristle, The Beatles.’ And yeah, recently bring you into meditative states,” where dance artists such as Gary Numa and Vangelis to these I’ve gotten heavily into Vange- Bear In Heaven play with Twin said Philpot. “Sometimes you to- The Field reworked their tracks. ears. lis—this record of his called The Sister, The Luyas and Grounders on tally forget yourself at a show; They’ve also remixed songs “You nailed it, man!” Philbot Dragon is also very tribal-like.” you look around and suddenly for techno artists like Matthew responded to this observation. “I Beast Rest Forth Mouth September 30 at La Sala Rossa find yourself asking, ‘What is this Dear. was listening to The Cure’s BBC contains a consistent sound (4848 St Laurent Blvd). Tickets are sound? Where am I?’ Those are “Dance music is a perfect ex- Sessions when we were making hammered home with tricks like $15. Show starts at 9 p.m. the best concerts.” ample of music in which you can the record, like, all the time. And reprises and recurring themes Spooky Nights Toronto Band Bad Tits Play POP

• COLIN HARRIS sampler. Everything’s heavily ef- group spent an afternoon creating “part of our [motto] with this about this project just because of fected, very experimental, very im- improvised psychedelic noise- band. Don’t commit to anything the reception we’ve had at the Sebastien Grainger, drummer provisational. We don’t have any rock. early on, enjoy the moment of cre- shows […] but that’s sort of not from disbanded dance-punk outfit written lyrics, we just sort of im- After releasing Garbage ativity and not revise it too much,” good enough at this point. I want Death From Above 1979, will be provise,” he explained. Nights, Bad Tits had a reason to he said. “[We’re] trying to make to really find out how this trans- pounding out beats and synths in Compared to other members’ start playing live, although imme- something different.” lates in a show perspective,” he his band Bad Tits on Thursday past projects, this is a totally new diate results were not all so satis- For the next recording session said. opening for Holy Fuck. approach to establishing a sound. fying. “We got together and tried the band will approach the album If the live shows work out, the “It’s like a nightmare on rave “We get down to the basic to play these songs that we only in a similar way. “We’re not going band is ready to put more energy street, like if [Halloween director] requirements of music, and it ends ever played in an afternoon in the to be precious about it, that’s an into the group. However, Grainger John Carpenter had a band,” up being far more performance studio, and found that not only did attitude [we] reserve for solo ma- said he wasn’t interested in push- Grainger said about Bat Tit’s oriented. It’s a lot more free, it’s it not sound good b ut it didn’t terial […] but with this one we’re ing the music onto people unnec- sound. “Our concept for [Bad Tits] also weird, a lot more weird than translate.” probably going to record the next essarily. “If it works it works, if it is for it to be like if you were the other things I’ve done,” he ex- This lack of translation forced release in our practice space,” doesn’t, what are you going to do?” stoned and walked into a bar and plained. Bad Tits to rework and write more Grainger said about their post- something weird was happening.” The band’s debut EP, Garbage material that Grainger called “a lot tour plans. “We’re probably going Bad Tits play with Holy Fuck and Playing alongside Josh Reich- Nights, was released this year and more dance-oriented.” to take the attitude we have from Indian Jewelry on September 30 at mann in a live setting is something recorded in Toronto during last This approach to recording the live show and bring it to the the Little Burgandy POP Loft (6600 that seems really new to Grainger. year’s garbage strike. With barely is new territory for the studio. Hutchison St.). Tickets are $15. “I’m playing a half drum kit, half anything written beforehand the band. However, it has also become “We have a really good feeling Show starts at 12 p.m. the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca POPMONTREAL 07 Hit the Road, Jack Netherfriends Get Friendly With Touring

• COLIN HARRIS my voice so it sounds like there ‘Making it’ has become an in- are multiple people singing, and I creasingly difficult task in the have this sampler that plays kind music industry. Bands have to of ambient noises that fill out the focus on what they love if they sound as well,” explained Rosen- want to succeed. blatt. “I don’t want to replicate ex- For Shawn Rosenblatt, singer, actly what I’m doing on the guitarist and songwriter of recording, but I do try to do it jus- Chicago’s psychadelic pop group tice as much as I can.” Netherfriends, touring has be- Netherfriends sound is influ- come the band's priority. “The enced from his contemporaries, music industry’s dead and every- too. “I’m really into the idea of one’s kind of looking around like, neo-psychedelic pop sound, 'What are we supposed to do?’” where it’s kind of fusing the ideas Rosenblatt said. of ‘60s pop with new ideas,” “I think a lot of people are re- Rosenblatt said. lying on the internet these days to “I'm a big fan of Caribou. That Andorra bring them to a new level. With one record is the epit- these ‘buzz bands,’ people have ome of what I love about new psy- this really skewed view about chedelic pop.” blogs bringing [bands] to a new Their POP Montreal perform- level. I think that bands should be ance on Thursday will showcase on the road if they really want to Rosenblatt and friends doing make a career of playing music.” what they love most—playing live. “I met someone recently “I’m kind of fed up with bands and they knew of Netherfriends that are spending all this time at because we played the Pitchfork home recording a record and not Festival,” he added. “He was playing any shows, when no one’s like ‘I would do anything to play buying it to begin with,” said the Pitchfork Festival. That would Rosenblatt. “I don’t understand be like the most incredible thing Netherfriends believe the road to success is in touring. why you’re spending all this ever!’ and I was like ‘Yeah it was money to record for no one. I fun, but it didn’t change my life or records almost everything him- time’s parents’ house. I had the Barry & Sherry is a combina- mean, you’re not Radiohead.” anything.’ I still went back to the self, and on the road he brings a whole house to myself,” he said. tion of old and new sounds, a mix same thing I was doing, which is couple friends along to flesh out “They were moving out of the of ‘60s chillwave with a hint of Netherfriends play with Adam & touring and recording.” his songs in a live setting. place so I was there by myself for early Pink Floyd. The production the Amethysts and Guests at Netherfriends have a unique “With the full-length [album], seven days and I recorded 10 sound is big, something Rosen- Cabaret Playhouse (5656 Ave. Du approach to their band’s opera- I was recording in Apple Valley, songs and that's what [latest re- blatt aims to replicate live. tion. Rosenblatt writes and Minnesota, at my girlfriend at the lease] Barry & Sherry is.” “I do a lot of live looping with Parc). Show starts at 10 p.m.

Puces POP Record Fair Celebrates Its Puces POP Third Anniversary

• JULIA JONES expand their collections. A gear • NATALIE GITT well as local record stores like swap and guitar repair area will Primitive and Phonopolis. Puces POP is one of Montreal’s also be available. Puces POP There is a raw authenticity Also featured will be art works largest marketplaces of artists, Roughly 20 per cent of all ap- behind the jumps and crackles made from vinyl, hand- crafters, fashion designers and plicants were accepted. Oct. 2 and 3 you hear when you put on a made instruments and a space record connoisseurs. “Every year we get a growing 11 a.m.—6 p.m. vinyl record that makes the en- that will cater to instrument This event happens in the heart number of submissions,” event or- St. Michael’s Church (corner St. tire experience so much better repairs. of the Mile End on the last two ganizer Marilis Cardinal said. than, say, placing your iPod in A vinyl collection is a tangible days of POP Montreal. Cardinal said one of craft sale’s Urbain St. and St. Viateur St.) the speaker dock. treasure for both young and In its sixth edition, Puces has new highlights is the presence of If records are your thing, old. Of course, it also rules an even broader variety of partici- Raymond Biesinger, an illustrator Fashion POP whether for hanging on the that the Record Fair will pants than in previous years. new to Montreal published by the wall, making popcorn bowls offer food and beer—everything Sept. 29 Along with the returning glory New Yorker, and Le Petit Cupcak- out of—yes, people seriously do is more fun when beer is of the arts and crafts sale, Puces ery, that brings together exotic in- 8:30 p.m. that—or for actually listening to, involved, right? POP will also host Fashion POP, gredients to create fun treats like The Rialto (5723 Ave. du Parc) then make your way to the base- On top of that, the fair will which will feature six emerging the bacon cupcake. ment of the Ukrainian Federa- provide a listening station where fashion designers. This is the first “We are really excited to tion this coming weekend for you can spin your selections be- year that participants submitted see how people react this year Record Fair the 3rd Annual Puces POP fore purchase, so rest assured their own application rather than to the new arrivals; it always Oct. 2 and 3 Record Fair. you’ll go home with the right being invited. depends on so many factors, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. The two-day fair, which records at the end of the day. L’il Biz is a workshop offered by but hopefully the weather will runs alongside Puces POP’s distinguished artists for emerging be nice and people will come Exclaim! Ukrainian Federation Craft Fair, will feature an over- Puces POP Record Fair takes artists. This event is for artists and out,” Cardinal said. Basement (5213 Hutchison St.) whelming array of old and place Oct. 2 and 3 from 11 a.m.— “We always joke, my coworker crafters who want to improve their new vinyl. 6 p.m. at the basement of the business skills and learn how to [Amy Johnson] and I, that we are Vendors include not only hack it as an entrepreneur. getting [vendors] to come so we record collectors, but also Ukrainian Federation (5213 The Record Fair will offer a can shop! It’s creating our perfect local indie labels like Arbutus Hutchinson St.) Admission is free. space for music nerds looking to shopping experience.” Records and Fixture Records, as 08 POPMONTREAL the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca

Montreal Artists On the Silver Screen Local Filmographer Captures Montreal Artists, Screened at FilmPOP

Tim Kelly makes intimate portraits of local musicians, artists and personalities. PHOTOS MARC RIMMER

• MICHAEL SALLOT highlights of this year's edition is some of Kelly’s documentaries, show,” he said. “Hands down, I they normally take one. the Big Small short-film series caught Film POP organizer Car- saw more acts than anyone else in “[Grimes] didn’t know me be- For over six years Film POP presented by Tim Kelly. men Negrelli’s eye. Montreal over those five days.” fore I asked her to do the film, and has presented a diverse array of Kelly, a local filmmaker, re- These documentaries, deemed The subjects of Kelly’s por- there is three shoot days of filmography that compliments the cently transplanted from Mel- Meet New People by Kelly, were traits come across as totally hon- footage that weren't used at all in eclectic programming of the POP bourne, makes insightful and “a more low-fi Australian version est. What does it take for Kelly’s the completed film,” Kelly said. Montreal festival. intimate portraits of local artists. of [what we can expect from] Big subjects to feel comfortable “She is a wonderful, weird and The aim of this “festival within His films feature a diverse se- Small,” Kelly said. speaking about themselves and super talented person, but it just a festival” is to present films in lection of local artists, including Based on these films, “[Film their experiences in front of his took ages for us to click cre- non-traditional settings, free of the multi-talented Jason Harvey, POP then] asked me to do a Mon- camera? atively,” he said. “The final prod- the trappings and pretensions of spooky songstress Grimes, writer treal portrait series and I cordially “If you pick the right people, uct is very different from other Big mainstream film fests. Past years and journalist Ian Orti and sludge agreed.” anyone will be comfortable in Smalls. Some people like it, some have featured numerous docu- rock heavies Tornstartssbandht. This is not Kelly’s first experi- front of the camera after you’ve people don’t” mentaries, classic silent films with Kelly’s involvement sprouted ence working with the festival. shot about 30 minutes of tape,” live scores and shorts from up and from Cinequanon, an outdoor Last year he was the videographer Kelly explained. “For everyone Big Small at Film POP takes coming directors from both Mon- summer cinema festival he started for POP Montreal, spending else, it’s about gaining trust.” place at Studio Off Interarts (5143 treal and abroad. in 2009. “most of [my time] on a bicycle His portrait on Grimes, for ex- St Laurent Blvd.) from Sept. 29 to One of the most anticipated Cinequanon, which featured riding from show to show to ample, took three months when Oct. 2 from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. We Need to Talk... Symposium, A Fun and Educational Space

• OLIVIA DUMAS artists and members of the national language of music. munity. Helpful tips are supplied toy that will shape your new band. musical community share their from bands like Godspeed You! Other workshops to check When it comes to choosing knowledge through workshops Songwriting and Arrange- Black Emperor, The Luyas and out are musician-oriented—ideal an event to attend at POP Mon- and discussions. This guide will ments with Van Dyke Sebastian Cowan. Louis Rastelli, when searching for tools to pro- treal, it can often be difficult to sift walk you through the more prom- Parks the creator of Distroboto/Ex- mote, distribute, tour and create through the bible-thick program. ising events of this underrated This world renowned musician pozine, will moderate the discus- new art. This section of POP Mon- The musical performances of part of POP Montreal. has composed, produced, sion. treal has teamed up with experi- the festival are such a large aspect arranged, sung and acted with the enced, fascinating speakers and, that often smaller, low-key Improvising with Mahala likes of The Beach Boys, Joanna DIY Day Lives On given that almost all events are events—like the mysterious Sym- Rai Banda Newsom, Grace Kelly and Ringo This interactive workshop with free, is accessible to all. posium—are overlooked. This Mahala Rai, a Romanian nine- Starr. Van Dyke Parks will give the Philly-based Maximilian free, five day part of the festival is piece band, has played over 200 privilege of accessing his musical Lawrence explores the sounds and Symposium events are mostly the ideal starting point for aspir- shows in 26 countries. They will knowledge and experience. construction of synthesizers and held at the Agora Hydro-Québec ing musicians, professionals in be doing a jam with whoever has trigger-toys. Not only will you get (175 President Kennedy Ave.) search of new ideas or simply cu- an instrument and wants to play. Making it Montreal to experiment with sound, but you Visit popmontreal.com for other rious show-goers looking for a This should be fun and interest- This workshop is aimed specif- can leave this workshop with your venues. more interactive experience. ing, considering the language bar- ically at anglophone artists trying very own instruments. Bring a lit- The Symposium is a space rier that will force all to to “make it” in their field within tle money to pitch in for the mate- where professional or budding communicate through the inter- the dominant francophone com- rials and learn how to build the HODGE-PODGE: BIG CROOKS MIX WITH FREE DRINKS, NOTHING-KINGS SYPHON SCI-FANS PAGE 23 The Motorcycle Diaries Lit Events

Concordia Association for Students in English (C.A.S.E.) Party

Wednesday, Sept. 29 5pm – 8pm McKibbin’s Irish Pub, 1426 Bishop St. (Free drinks)

Kenneth Goldsmith reading, “Shed- ding Light on

Overcoming biker’s block GRAPHIC DAVID BARLOW-KRELINA the Obscure”

• ADAM KOVAC tury: outlaw motorcycle gangs. tics, partying and personalities same restless energy that fuels Langton describes the rise of that made up a bloody chapter of these outlaw gangs—one scene in Saturday, Oct. 2 Ask an American and they’ll biker gangs in excruciating detail, Canadian history. particular, in which eight mem- tell you that Canada is a country delving deep into the founding The book’s major weakness is bers of the Bandidos are mur- 12:30pm – 1:30pm filled with overly polite hockey and evolution of well-known that Langton’s attention to detail dered one by one by a fellow Agora Hydro-Québec, players and hasn’t experienced a groups like the Hells Angels, Out- goes way beyond being informa- Bandido, is absolutely chilling, in 200 Sherbrooke St. W. crime more serious than jay- laws and Bandidos, as well as tive and well into anal-retentive large part because of Langton’s walking in a dog's age. It’s the minor players like Satan’s Choice, territory. Chronologies of some of matter-of-fact prose. kind of stereotype that those of us the Rockers, the Mongols, the the biker gangs, even small ones Thanks to extensive research born and raised in the Great Loners and their ilk. who are not integral to the story and firsthand interviews with the White North, well… kind of em- Although Quebec’s biker war— being told, can read like a biblical proverbial cops and robbers, brace. which raged furiously between family tree—“The Phantom Rid- Showdown is as complete a tome Like all stereotypes, however, 1994 and 2002 and claimed over ers begat Satan’s Choice who as you can expect to find on On- The Yellow Door there's a grain of truth to it—but 100 lives—has long been the begat Hells Angels, and lo, much tario’s biker battles. Though at there's also a grain of bullshit. focus of the media’s attention cocaine was sold throughout the times perhaps too complete, it’s a Poetry & Prose While Canada is, compared to our when it comes to the gangs, Lang- land.” stark reminder that behind neighbours to the south, a rela- ton instead concentrates on the The sheer number of people Canada’s tranquil veneer, we reading tively safe country, there is a dark bloody battle for Ontario. It’s mentioned in the book often breed Mom Bouchers as well as and seedy side to it, filled with compelling stuff, filled with makes it hard to know who is Wayne Gretzkys. Thursday, Sept. 30 enough rapes, drug deals and colourful characters such as for- fighting whom. Showdown may murders to keep Martin Scorsese mer Hells Angels national presi- have been a more streamlined Showdown: How 7pm-onwards occupied for the next century. dent Walter Stadnick and read had Langton focused more the Outlaws, Hells The Yellow Door, 3625 In Showdown: How the Out- Outlaws president Mario “Mike” on a few key players, as he did in Angels and Cops Aylmer St. laws, Hells Angels and Cops Parente, who Langton managed Fallen Angel, his biography of Fought for Control Fought for Control of the Streets, to interview for the book. former Hells Angels leader Stad- of the Streets $5 at the door Jerry Langton profiles the groups Centered around Stadnick and nick. Jerry Langton that were most prolific in the ol' Parente’s hometown of Hamilton, When Langton focuses on a Wiley Canadian era of ultra-violence in Showdown is a vivid and com- few of the many colourful charac- 272 pp the second half of the 20th cen- prehensive account of the poli- ters, Showdown bristles with the $26.95 24 literary arts the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/lit Lit Writ King of that Nothingness

• IAN TRUMAN The city lights fade in the background as you enter a bad part of town Where you are the ruler of a vast space nobody else wanted Described as nothing, nowhere, a no man’s land of nothingness And you are the king of that nothingness Until that nothing becomes something to someone

Who sees it as something profitable and who’s rich enough to make it profitable Because nothing is so easily destroyed and rebuilt into anything And it’s a fight you can’t afford Because nothing is all you could ever afford

And even if you won’t sell or won’t budge Science fantasy: Where mythical beasts and space so deep collide. GRAPHIC DAVID BARLOW-KRELINA They’ll win it anyways, Landlords Slumlords Dungeons & DeLoreans Investors Bankers Tad Williams Brings the Fantasy and the Sci-Fi to Con*Cept Bastards They’ll push you out year after year fantasy, Williams once again well thought out, Williams just • CHRISTOPHER OLSON Little by little, it will happen, dealt with audience expectations has to ask, “How do these people The only consistent element in flying in the face of what he survive? Yes, they all have cute 3% by 3% author Tad Williams’ life has wanted to do. little names and they all go And a thousand cutbacks at a time been change. “To be quite honest, I proba- around with huge staffs in their Whether it’s going from sell- bly made a quarter of the income hands and they have friends that ing shoes one day to hosting a over the years that I would have are dwarves and crap, but how do It’s bound to happen. syndicated radio show the next, made if I had written whatever these people actually eat? How You’ll lose your job at one point in time or maneuvering into science fic- people wanted next, which is do they make a living? What do Miss a payment, owe them something and they won’t hesitate tion after making a name for more of whatever I [had] just these people do when they need himself in fantasy publishing, done,” he says. “But I wouldn’t fresh water? How do they school To use inflation, harassment and raising interest Williams doesn’t care to repeat have liked it. I wouldn’t have their children? Is there any Until you are forced to give them everything, himself. been happy.” school? How do they pass on A devotee of Ray Bradbury as However, Williams says that knowledge? Don’t you under- Left with nothing in your hands and no place to go well as J.R.R. Tolkien, Williams with 25 years in the business, it’s stand that a village like that was introduced to both science difficult to keep from repeating wouldn’t be able to survive out The city lights fade in the background as you enter a worse part of fiction and fantasy early on. yourself. That’s where self-disci- in the middle of nowhere? Those town “[It wasn’t] just the fact that pline comes in. people would die. They would Where you are once again the ruler of a space nobody else wanted they were writing fantasy or sci- “The longer you write, the have already died out a hundred ence fiction,” he said of Bradbury more you can see your own hobby years ago. You can’t have 20 Described as nothing, nowhere, and Tolkien. “But the fact horses,” he says. “One of the people with no visible means A no man’s land of nothingness that they were people who fol- things I have to do now is actually of support living out in And you are the king of that nothingness lowed the idea first and didn’t weed out my own knee-jerk the middle of nowhere. It doesn’t worry about, ‘Oh, am I writing things. I’ll catch myself and I’ll work.” But it is bound to start again so enjoy it while it lasts science fiction? Am I writing go, ‘That’s a Tad character, and in If selling shoes and flipping Because that nothing will become something again fantasy? What kind of a writer this case it feels like an automatic burgers informed any part of Someday. am I?’” use of a Tad character and not re- his writing, it taught Williams But when Williams published ally one that’s been thought out to cling tenaciously to his his first book, Tailchaser’s Song, very well.’” career as a writer—and anything a fantasy book involving cats, his Williams’ stories tend to deal that would prevent him from career as a “fantasy writer” with people being forced to step going back to selling insurance. seemed impossible to shake. out of their circle of familiarity— “I’m not happy unless I’m my “For the first year or two after something he knows quite a lot own boss and I’m making some- that I was called the ‘cat book about. thing. That’s the main thing they guy.’ ‘Tad Williams? Oh, yes, the “The fine line between magic gave me,” he says. “And maybe cat book guy.’ It’s like being re- and just the incomprehensibility never to take for granted what- membered as the kid who of the universe is big with me,” he ever you’re lucky enough to have skinned his knee in fourth grade says. “I never use a lot of magic in happen in your favour.” or something. I mean, yes, it hap- my [writing], because I think it pened, but you don’t really want denatures magic, to have it be Tad Williams will be the Author to spend the rest of your life like hot and cold running water, being determined by that.” and I want every time it comes up Guest of Honour at this year’s When Williams wanted to to be something that’s exciting.” Con*Cept, Montreal’s only fan-run an- write a science fiction novel after Even if your imaginary world nual science fiction and fantasy con- authoring his popular Drag- is littered with make-believe, says onbone Chair series, his publish- Williams, it still has to be believ- vention, which will be held at the Hotel ers balked at him, and urged him able. Espresso (1005 Guy St.) from Oct. 1- to give his fans more of the same. “If you’re writing fantasy or 3. Visit conceptsff.ca to register. But Williams fought back, and science fiction, it’s really hard to went on to write and publish Oth- do if you don’t know a lot, at least erland, a “modern epic fantasy” in a basic way, about how the real Visit thelinknewspaper.ca for a set in a world largely comprised world works,” he says. transcript of the full interview with Tad of virtual reality. Sometimes, while reading a Williams. When he wanted to return to fantasy story that hasn’t been When you’re crowned king of that nothing. GRAPHIC VIVIEN LEUNG the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/lit literary arts 25 Palimpsest Plans POP Printings Mag Makes Mature Media Medium Modern

• ALEX MANLEY day in association with the Danielle St-Amour, one of beautiful in your hands that feels festival. The other, a publication French-language graphic design Palimpsest’s two co-editors, nice and gives you some informa- conceived by Maria Fusco enti- During this week, of all weeks, magazine Pica, has a bit more up noted that these daily POP pa- tion. [It’s] about the love of a tled Cosey Complex Reader, it is easy to get caught up in The their sleeves for later in the week. pers will be put online as PDFs good looking piece of informa- which was an attempt made by a Link’s POP Montreal insert. If They’re planning to print a daily after the festival. tion that you can pick up and range of artists to consider the you’re arriving here fresh from broadsheet paper through the In addition, the project will take with you.” musician and artist Cosey Fanni the special pull-out, I forgive you duration of POP Montreal filled produce some content that will St-Amour echoed Goerzen’s Tutti as methodology.” for skipping over the Literary with up-to-the-minute music be exclusively available online, sentiments with regards to the It’s worth noting, however, Arts pages. I’ll wait a few min- journalism and other fest-related since Palimpsest is run by self- aesthetics of their work, both in that this won’t be a simple utes, even, while you go back and craziness. proclaimed paper fetishists— the context of the magazine case of traditional music give the last two pages a look. people who are as much and the daily papers they writing. Rather, the project, There. Don’t you feel better interested in the pro- will be producing dur- “almost takes on a perform- about all this? I know I do. duction of printed ing the festival. ance art quality,” as Goerzen Now, I should let you know paper as they are in what put it. that the Literary Arts haven’t is printed on that paper. “Music journalism is an inte- been completely neglected by The project is one that is very gral aspect of any music festival, POP Montreal. and by creating a vehicle for con- Under the big- ducting our own music journal- tent that is Art “All of our ism we have created a medium POP, Concordia- projects stem from an for performance,” he said. affiliated and idea of the desire for and the “Our role as artists will be to design, art and objectification of printed mat- question our roles as music jour- literature material-based. ter.” nalists, and in doing so we aim to related Matt Goerzen, a cu- As for the inspiration for the open up new possibilities for a Palimpsest rator for Art POP project, St-Amour was open journalistic engagement with this magazine is get- and associate of the about its predecessors. music festival.” ting in on the ac- magazine, said that The concept was based “very tion. it’s about “the loosely around two publica- You can find out more about The magazine, pleasure derived tions—the first being a daily these printing parties at which is hosting a Palimpsest magazine easily takes the gold in the from wanting to broadsheet produced by Dexter vernissage on Wednes- hundred metre print GRAPHIC GINGER COONS hold something Sinister during a performance art palimpsest.ca under Daily Print.

2010-2011 BYELECTION

Byelection The following positions are open: October 22, 2010 • Literary Arts Editor 4 p.m. H-649 • Student Press Liason • Online Editor • Graphics Editor

The following contributors are eligible to vote and run for any of the open positions: Ray Corkum, Sebastien Cadieux, R. Brian Hastie, David Kaufmann, Vivien Leung, Alex Manley, Christopher Olson, Jasmine Papillon-Smith, Daryna Rukhyuadeva, Natasha Young.

The following contributors need one more contribution to be eligible to vote and run for any of the positions: Rob Amyot, David Barlow-Krelina, Emily Campbell, Pierre Chauvin, Ozgur Veysel Demirtas, Faiz Imam, Erin Jasiura, Daniel Johnston, Julia Jones, Joseph Ste. Marie, Joel Suss, Nicholas Ward.

The following contributors need two more contributions to be eligible to vote and run for any of the positions: Esther Bernard, Megan Dolski, Natalie Gitt, Colin Harris, Stephanie La Leggia, Gabby Leon, Hugo Pilon-Larose, Shawn McCrory, Jamie Pimentel, Gaul Porat, Elizabeth Ranger, Sam Slotnick, Andrea Zoelliner.

Applications for the positions must be posted one week before the election in The Link office, Hall building, H-649. Applicants must have contributed to at least four (4) issues this semester as of October 19 and must include a one-page letter of intent, as well as three (3) contribution samples. For more information email: [email protected] or call 514-848-2424 ext.7407 SOCCER: WEEKEND WOES PAGE 26

RUGBY

Members of the men’s rugby team showed they could rise to the cccasion on Friday. PHOTO PIERRE CHAUVIN

see story, pg. 27 The Politics of Sports scoreboard

Dave Zirin Speaks at Concordia

• JOEL SUSS In his opening remarks, organ- BASEBALL WOMENʼS SOCCER izer Jaggi Singh explained the im- Dave Zirin, a modern day portance of “the political side of L 0-3 v Laval fri Hunter S. Thompson without the [the] phenomena of sports, which W 3-1 v McGill wed suitcase of narcotics, was at Con- so dominates our popular culture.” cordia on Sept. 21 to discuss the Zirin is unique among sports L 0-2 v UQAM sun politics of sports and the corpora- journalists for delving into L 1-2 v Ottawa sat tization of franchise ownership. the dark side of the sports business apparatus. Where most “If all of sports was sportswriters will only discuss in- L 3-6 v Ottawa sat FOOTBALL game exploits, scores and statis- racist, reactionary tics, Zirin invests his energy in L 17-18 v Bishopʼs sat refuse then it exploring the deeper significance MENʼS RUGBY wouldn’t be sports, of sports, which he sees as inter- connected with the political. fri WOMENʼS RUGBY it would be “[There’s a] disconnect W 32-0 v Sherbrooke NASCAR,” between sports and people W 65-0 v Bishopʼs fri –Dave Zirin, who see themselves on the left,” said Zirin, adding that he believes author of Bad Sports this is hindering the reclamation MENʼS HOCKEY MENʼS SOCCER of a powerful social vehicle and al- As part of their alternative ori- lowing corporatization to succeed fri fri entation, the Quebec Public Inter- unchallenged. W 4-3 v Western L 0-5 v Laval est Research Group invited Zirin Zirin went on to prove his point to discuss his new book on the by alluding to the fact that Jackie L 1-4 v Waterloo sat L 1-4 v UQAM sun greed of owners and the conse- Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Billy quent political and social ramifica- Jean King and Martina tions. continued on politics, pg. 28 the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/sports sports 27 Gaiters Spoil Homecoming Stingers Lose Shrine Bowl to Bishop’s by a Single Point

Stingers QB Rob Mackay will continue to miss games with what appears to be a more severe injury than originally thought. PHOTO FAIZ IMAM

• JENNIFER AOUAD Shrine Bowl, raising money annu- completed 25 of 41 passes for a total game, the Stingers failed to get a Regaining possession, the ally for the Montreal Shriners Hos- of 326 yards. single touchdown, relying on kicker Stingers struggled with a penalty. pital for Children. “I think Terrance is playing very Rene Paredes to put points on the Their final plays proved to be fruit- Bishop’s 18 It all came down to the final 30 well. Obviously we’re having to ask scoreboard. less; the Stingers dropped two seconds, proving once again that it’s more of him than we really should The Stingers came undone late passes as the relentless purple mass Concordia 17 never over until the clock runs out. want to from a second-year QB,” in the fourth quarter, falling from a chanted, “You fucked up!” Emotions ran high at Concordia said McGrath, who noted his team’s 17-7 lead to an 18-17 loss. With less Security tried to contain the Stadium, with heads butting both troubles to run the ball. than three minutes left in play, the Gaiters’ fans as they poured out of It was a painful homecoming for on the field and in the stands as McGrath has become increas- Gaiters capped off a six play, 75- the stands and onto the field, dis- Stingers football on Saturday as a three busloads of dominating and ingly worried about the well-being yard drive with a pass to David rupting the Shrine Bowl ceremony. last second field goal led to the sur- clearly inebriated Gaiters fans of veteran QB Mackay, who suf- Haddrall for a questionable touch- Morsink earned himself offen- rendering of the Shrine Bowl to the chanted and cheered their team fered what appeared to be a minor down deep into the end zone. Con- sive player of the game, while nose Bishop’s Gaiters 18-17 at Loyola until the very last moments of the concussion in the season-opener. cordia players questioned whether tackle Maurice Forbes, who Campus. game. “This is a bit of an enigma. We or not the ball was caught in recorded six tackles, was named de- “We didn’t get a chance to con- The first three quarters proved thought it would be fine for him to bounds. fensive player of the game. Paredes, cede the point—the kicker just the strength of the Stingers’ defen- play a week after the [first game] The late touchdown was fol- who ended the game 5 for 5 on field kicked it through the end zone,” sive line, denying Bishop’s all but a against Bishop’s,” he said. “It just lowed by another safety, leaving the goals, with the longest being 48 said Stingers head coach Gerry Mc- field goal and a safety. On offence, seems to be something hanging on. Gaiters trailing by a mere two yards, was named Shrine Bowl Grath about a crucial single scored the Stingers drove the ball for a Every time he goes to study, read a points. Gaining possession of the MVP. by the Gaiters earlier in the game. total of 410 yards and 21 first book or focus on something, he gets ball, Bishop’s took every opportu- “There’s nothing we could have downs. Quarterback Terrance a headache again. I’m becoming nity and capitalized on good field The Stingers will line up against done about that.” Morsink started once again in lieu concerned about his health overall.” position for a 22-yard field goal the infamous Laval Rouge et Or in Que- Saturday marked the 24th of the injured Rob Mackay and Despite this otherwise solid with 24 seconds left on the clock. bec City this Sunday. Stingers Take Care of Sherbrooke Men’s Rugby Wins, Regulars Get Rest

• NICHOLAS WARD brooke side, the coaching staff The first half saw strong play Coach Thomas called the one more try, a cooperative effort was able to give some other play- up front for both teams, with tackle “one of the biggest hits that back-row substitute ers a chance to start. Sherbrooke possibly getting the [he’s] seen in Quebec rugby this Theo “Doug” Gardner finished Concordia 32 Dynamic prop-forward Jimmy edge on set pieces, challenging year.” off. Bang skippered the squad and led the Stingers both at line out and A late surge by ConU resulted Sherbrooke gained full marks Sherbrooke 0 a pack of hungry Stingers. against the head. in another try resulting from for bravery, fighting for every “A lot of people had something However, dynamic running forward play, with number last possession, including a An outmatched Université de to prove to themselves and to the led by inside centre Dario Pelliz- eight Paul Bouet placing the daring kick at goal from 40 Sherbrooke Vert et Or side was coaches,” he said. zari led to the first try of the ball under the uprights. The metres out that came up shut out 32-0 by the superior With the game being played match by Birot, who then missed conversion was good, leaving the just short. But in the end, Concordia Stingers in men’s under wet skies, Bang and the the conversion kick. Stingers ahead 22-0 at halftime. the better team on paper and rugby last Friday at Concordia rest of the forwards clashed with Following a strong pack effort, The rain set in by the start of on the field came away with Stadium. a group of Sherbrooke players Bang touched the ball down for the second half, and the few re- the win. “A win is a win, [but] we can’t who made Concordia earn yards the game’s second try. maining supports ran for cover. take too much out of this game as the hard way. The remaining first half saw The slippery conditions meant Concordia will have their big guns far as celebrations go,” said first- ConU started strongly and both teams lose their structure. that the backs were effectively rested for next week’s matchup against year coach Shane Thomas. bullied their way down field. Fly- Replacement tighthead prop spectators for the much of the Bishop’s, where they are sure to be With key starters like Edward half Xavier Birot notched the first Sean McDonough literally ran second half—the ball stayed tight greeted by a vocal crowd of Gaiter McGregor and David Biddle given three of his 12 points on the over a member of the Sherbrooke to the forwards. faithful. The game takes place Oct.1 at a rest against the weaker Sher- night. backline. The Stingers were able to add 8:00 p.m. 28 sports the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/sports

CONTINUED FROM PG. 26

Navratilova are more than just Sliotars and Hurleys sports legends—they are icons that have transcended the games they played and are symbols of a transformation in Concordia Hosts Hurling Workshop political society. “Sport is the closest thing to a common language that we have in the world. If all of sports was racist, reactionary refuse then it wouldn’t be sports, it would be NASCAR,” said Zirin. In his book, Zirin shines the spotlight on anonymous, super-wealthy, Montgomery Burns-like owners that put profits before fans. Take, for instance, the prospective owners of the Quebec Nordiques, media conglomerate Quebecor and its founder Pierre Péladeau. They would be the prime beneficiaries of the pro- posed publicly funded arena to bring hockey back to Quebec City. “If there are going to be public expenditures to get the Nordiques back, then there also should be public ownership. No more socializing the debt of these projects and then priva- tizing the profits,” Zirin said. Zirin pointed out that owners, some of the wealthiest individuals in our society, have been able to suck cities dry of money to build their gargan- tuan stadiums by getting massive amounts of public funds, while not returning any of the profits. “Look at the wonderful cities of Detroit, Pittsburgh, Milwau- kee, Oakland, [and] Cleveland— it’s an American tragedy—what do they have in common? They have declining populations, age- ing populations, the complete erosion of anything resembling a manufacturing base and union labour, and new publicly funded gleaming stadiums,” he said. He said it’s not just North American pro-sports that are haunted by the spectre of malfeasance, but international competition as well. For example, there are the Olympics, the While hurling is just starting to make a resurgence in Montreal, the sport can attract upwards of 80,000 people to inter-county games in its native Ire- World Cup, and, as we can wit- land. PHOTOS ANGIE PARKER & ALEX DI PIETRO ness right now, the Common- After a 30-year absence from their sticks and “soloing” with it, thought it would be interesting to wealth Games in India. • ALEX DI PIETRO league play, the Shamrocks were or carrying it, while maintaining a try out,” said Macdougall. “I think Zirin, in his weekly sports Concordia students, alumni revived when they appeared in a fast pace toward goal. Hurlers can the one-day workshop format was column written about the social and members of the public were tournament last year in Portland, also hold the ball, but only for a just exactly what I was looking cost and impending disaster invited to learn the fundamentals ME, and just recently collaborated limit of four steps, before passing for.” that is the 2010 Delhi games, of hurling during a workshop or- with Irish Concordia—a club aim- it to a teammate. The Shamrocks do, however, sums it up nicely: “Injury. ganized by Irish Concordia and the ing to shed light on the positive as- A defensive player is allowed to hold practices every Saturday at Death. Destruction. Despair. Montreal Shamrocks last Sunday pects of Irish culture. hook an opponent’s stick with the Jeanne Mance Park in the Plateau Deficits. None of these have morning at Loyola Campus. “We looked into other options bottom of his or her hurley and at 10 a.m. for those interested in stopped the 2010 Common- “[Irish Concordia President] like sports and music, and then I shoulder-to-shoulder contact is playing on a consistent basis. wealth Games in Delhi. But risk Angie Parker emailed the club and came across the Gaelic Athletic As- permitted when fighting for a “We’re just trying to get the in- to the health of the athletes? asked us if we could come out,” sociation and the Montreal Sham- loose sliotar. terest for hurling going and while Strike up the concern.” said Shamrocks member David rocks,” said Parker. “At first I was While hurling can be a danger- we’re playing amongst ourselves To conclude his speech, Keane. “So we were happy to bring looking at the GAA to possibly do ous sport, helmets were only made for now, we’ll try and branch out Zirin delivered this ominous hurleys [hurling sticks], show peo- Gaelic football and then I saw on mandatory this year. to more established teams,” said warning: “We have to turn on ple how to play and get a little their website that they had hurl- Heather Macdougall, a PhD Keane, who also noted that work- to sports and how sports oper- game going here.” ing.” student and film studies professor shops like the one held on Sunday ate, or it’s going to turn on us.” An ancient sport of Irish origin, The goal for a “hurler,” other- at Concordia, was among roughly help the recruiting process. hurling is known for its similari- wise known as a player, is to use 10 people who attended the work- “You’ve got to get players from Dave Zirin’s book Bad Sports: ties to field hockey, lacrosse, base- his hurley to gain points by firing shop, and found out about it somewhere, and just by advertis- How Owners Are Ruining the ball and soccer. A match in hurling the “sliotar”—the ball which is through Parker, who works in the ing, nobody really knows what Games We Love, is on bookshelves is played for two equal halves of 35 used—either into or over the oppo- Canadian Irish studies depart- [hurling] is. You’ve got to actually wherever books are sold. His col- minutes with 15 members a side sition’s goal. ment. go out and show people, and that’s umn can be found at www.edgeof- on a grass surface spanning up to Players can gain possession of “I’m not really a sporty type, why we’re at Jeanne Mance Park sports.com and you can tune in to 145 metres in length. the ball only by picking it up with but I have seen hurling before and every Saturday.” his radio show on Sirius/XM. the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/sports sports 29 Soccer Teams Garner No Points with Weekend Results

• ALEX DI PIETRO

Stingers defender Michael Al Tork challenges a Rouge et Or player for the ball. The Stingers spent the second half chasing Laval for goals on Friday. PHOTO JULIA JONES PHOTO JULIA JONES Second-Half Goals Seals Men’s Fate After Solid Women’s Team Keeps Struggling Despite First-Half Performance Decent Second-Half Performance

Laval 5 that three goals came off of corner kicks. Laval 3 Her first test came in the eighth “We conceded a lot of goals and the goal- minute as Chebbi centered a pass for Concordia 0 keeper didn’t deserve it. The boys in front Concordia 0 Guy, who fired a low shot that Davidson of him just didn’t do the job today.” was equal to. The men’s soccer team was unfortunate Laval was awarded a penalty kick for a Concordia’s women’s soccer Guy opened the scoring as a whipped- in its encounter with the unbeaten Laval suspect handball a few minutes later, team tried to reverse a first-half deficit of in corner kick was headed downward and Rouge et Or, conceding four goals in the but Giannone parried the incoming two goals during Friday’s away game took a few deflections before entering the second half and concluding the road trip to shot out and to the right for yet another against the Laval Rouge et Or, but ended net. Quebec City with a 5-0 loss on Sept. 24. corner. with a 3-0 loss on the cold night in Que- The second goal caught Concordia’s “We had a plan to congest the midfield Concordia had its best chance of the half bec City. backline by surprise. Winger Gabrielle and it seemed to be working, as we created in the 44th minute, as midfielder Ryan “We could have played just to save Verret raced down the left chances in the first half,” said Concordia Brousseau put in a back-post free kick from our honour, to only lose 2-0 at the and swung in a low ball to Collin, who at- head coach Lloyd Barker. “[One goal] down the left to Eppinga, who headed the ball end, but we pushed players forward tempted to take one touch to control the against the number-one ranked team in the firmly on goal. and we had our chances,” said Stingers ball, but ended up side-footing it beyond country is OK away from home, and it was After the break, Laval netted three goals head coach Jorge Sanchez. Davidson and into the top right corner. promising.” in an 11-minute span. Forward Ilyes Ben- Rounding out the scoring were Davidson denied Guy a second goal The Stingers and Rouge et Or had to miloud struck a perfectly placed corner Laval’s Melissande Guy in the just before halftime by coming out to contend with a heavy downpour that lasted kick in the 53rd minute, which floated into 15th minute, midfielder Caroline Collin rush the charging Laval forward and by for the duration of the second half and did- the penalty area, ricocheted off of Gian- in the 33rd minute and Marwa Chebbi cutting the angle just enough to push the n’t make things easy for either team. none and trickled in. Benmiloud found the late in the game. ball safely out for a corner. Concordia employed the 4-5-1 forma- back of the net again just four minutes “Even though it ended 3-0, I The Stingers frustrated Laval in the tion, using forward Matthijs Eppinga as the later, increasing his team’s lead to 3-0. think Concordia put a good effort second, as the defence produced numer- lone striker. Eppinga recorded the Stingers’ David Chapdelaine-Miller beat a in, especially in the second half ous successful challenges and tried to first shot in the 12th minute after he was sprawling Giannone with a blast over his where they changed their style to open up the Rouge et Or on the counter released with a through-ball from attacking shoulder in the 64th minute and forward be more offensive,” said Laval coach attack. midfielder Claude-Arthur Diesse, which Gabriel Moreau was credited with the final Helder Duarte. Coach Sanchez tried injecting some gave him space down the left side and per- goal. “We have two attackers who are very offence by sending in striker Sarah Burge mitted him to fire a shot into Laval goal- “We know Concordia is the type of team dangerous up front and midfielder Hannah Lise to exploit keeper Vincent Cournoyer’s midsection. that never stops. We knew of their [the and they both scored today, so that the right side. While possession was split between the Stingers’] 2-1 loss to McGill and were certainly made a difference.” However, two minutes from the final two sides for much of the first half, Laval’s therefore cautious,” said Laval head coach Concordia goalkeeper Andrea David- whistle, Chebbi was allowed to waltz into Samuel Georget put his team on top in the Samir Ghrib. “We have to play to avoid in- son was kept busy in the first half, as the an offensive position on the right and 32nd minute. jury when it rains like it did today. Even Stingers had a tough time finding a way past a fatigued core of Concordia defend- Georget took advantage of the Stingers’ when we’re winning by four or five goals, through the Rouge et Or defence. ers before firing in a low shot for the failure to pick him up on a corner kick op- you have to think of the next game.” “Andrea keeps looking more game’s final goal. portunity and rose to smash a header past and more comfortable, both in her Concordia ‘keeper Nick Giannone. Concordia also lost its second game of the shot-blocking and in the way she’s The Stingers played UQAM and lost 2-0 on “We know that they’re urgent on set weekend, a 4-1 defeat against UQAM on Sunday. guiding her team back there,” Sanchez Sunday. They will face UQTR this pieces and we’ve got to match that urgency, They welcome the UQTR Patriotes this Friday, said of Davidson, who made a total of 19 Friday, Oct. 1. but didn’t,” said coach Barker, who noted Oct. 1 at 8:30 on Loyola Campus. saves. The Link’s media and democracy issue is around the corner, and we need ideas. The theme of this year’s edition is citizen and online journalism. If you’ve got a blog, have done some independent reporting or know anyone who has, swing by H-649 on Friday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. for our brainstorming session. The New York Times doesn’t break all the big stories anymore, and we’re looking for students interested in exploring the future computer world of journalism. BIG GUNS: BILL C-391 LONG GUN REGISTRY CALLED OUT FOR SHOWDOWN PAGE 31 Anglo Conspiracies Against Quebec Master Plan Against Quebec Nationalism Unveiled

GRAPHIC SEBASTIEN CADIEUX

• CHRISTOPHER CURTIS ens from the inside. For years, he per- ers all over the province. And when he fected his French, made up a charming offered Quebecer Daniel Briere a more Take this article as a letter of confes- back-story about being from a small lucrative contract than the young for- sion. mining town in northern Quebec, ward signed with the Philadelphia Fly- After Parti Québécois MNA Pierre learned how to play hockey at a profes- ers, he was just doing so to flash his Curzi discovered The Montreal Canadi- sional level and cunningly gained Que- high-roller Anglo money in Briere’s face. ens’ fiendishly clever plot to destroy becers’ trust by helping the Canadiens Also, when Gainey tried selling the Quebec nationalism, I can no longer win five Stanley Cups in the 1970s. farm for Vincent Lecavalier, he really hold in all these secrets. I feel it is my After decades of undercover work, just wanted to get his hands on the Que- duty as a member of the city’s anglo- Houle became general manager of the bec-born forward to sabotage his career. phone community to divulge what I club and began dismantling the team Luckily for Gainey, Lecavalier did a great know about the hockey club’s longstand- from the inside—trading away French- job of that on his own. When Gainey ing plan to eradicate separatism and rob Canadian stars like Patrick Roy, Pierre found out Jaroslav Halak was going to Quebecers of their national identity. Turgeon and Vincent Damphousse, and be made an honorary Quebecer, he Few Quebecers know this, but Mon- drafting horribly for his five years as called current Habs general manager treal anglophones secretly meet in a GM. Is it a coincidence that Houle was Pierre Gauthier and forced him to trade bunker under Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s GM the same year that Quebec’s second Halak to prevent the possibility of a Westmount estate every month. It was at referendum failed to pass? third referendum. All this after Gainey one of these very meetings where Cana- Bob Gainey hates Quebec. Even clandestinely wrote the two terrible se- diens mascot Youppi, who in reality is a though you would think the hall of famer quels to Pierre Falardeau’s Elvis Gratton British spy working for MI6, revealed and former Canadiens GM would have in part of his sinister five-part plan to the following list of secrets to me: been in on our little anglophone ploy, he humiliate Quebec’s cultural icons. Réjean Houle is a secret anglophone. actually just hates French Canadians. I would keep spilling the beans about This news may come as a shock to most, Sure, he learned to speak French per- this vast conspiracy, but I’m late for a se- but this former Canadiens forward and fectly, but he only did that to intention- cret Anglo meeting. Tonight we drink general manager was a well-trained op- ally mispronounce certain words and blood under a statue of General Wolfe erative working to demolish the Canadi- draw the ire of high school French teach- and play Boggle with Justin Trudeau. 32 opinions the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/opinions

GRAPHIC GINGER COONS Bang, Bang, Bang On Wednesday Sept. 22, the Long Gun Registry survived as Paliament voted down Bill C-391—a motion to kill the law—by a slim margin. The Long Gun Registry is still under intense debate. Kill Bill C-391 Registry Misses Target

153 Members of Parliament were for the Long 151 Members of Parliament were against the Gun Registry and voted against Bill C-391. Long Gun Registry and voted for Bill C-391.

• TOM LLEWELLIN tents have been withheld from • CLAY HEMMERICH their heartstrings are misguided, Parliament and the public since especially considering the perpe- “Boondoggle” was practically then on an indefinite basis pend- Growing up in Alberta, I never trator used registered guns. coined with the long-gun registry ing translation, according to the thought of a rifle in a threatening Instead of worrying about who in mind. Its critics argue that it CBC. manner. has the guns, we should worry has saved no lives and produced Without all relevant hard data I grew up riding around in my about who can have the guns. Per- little benefit. available to policymakers when a father’s pick-up truck with a .22 haps the substantial amount of But what’s been buried in the vote is occurring, we can’t expect calibre rifle in the backseat. We money saved after abolishing the vast spin this issue has suffered is them to make smart decisions, used to drive down to an uninhab- bloated law can go into supporting the fact that the program pro- and we can’t expect the public to ited piece of land, find a bank and under-funded and neglected Cana- duced tangible benefits and is an pressure them responsibly. Gun line-up cans to shoot at. Often, dian mental health institutions. important way of keeping track of control is an agreed upon precept we’d see another father/son duo Perhaps social change starts at weapons, and continues to do so of Canadian society. Seven mil- doing the same thing. the grassroots level of gun laws, every year in this country. lion rifles and other weapons A rifle wasn’t a weapon of mass like Bill C-68, a law that prohibits The registry’s detractors have exist that would be covered killing to us. It was a test of pa- the ownership of a gun without a been quite successful at pitching under the program, the largest tience and due diligence. Make license. To obtain a firearms li- long-guns as tools like any other category of licensed firearms in sure no one’s in the line of fire. cense, one should have to go for rural Canadians, undeserving the country. Push the safety when you’re done through a formal psychological of the scrutiny or hassle of forced The most substantial piece of shooting. Point the rifle down to screening. As of now, garnering a registration. However, they’re data, however, remained conspic- the dirt when you’re loading it and firearms license is as easy as used in domestic homicides 71 uously absent. never ever point the gun at some- downloading a form off of the in- per cent of the time, according to We should question the mo- one for play or you’ll get your ass ternet and dropping it off at your Statistics Canada, largely because tives of a government that prac- kicked. nearest governmental office. they’re so close at hand. tices this kind of strategic There was never a crazy button Everyone seems to forget the most On the other hand, spousal information control at such key on the gun that magically trans- obvious of sayings: guns don’t kill homicide has been trending moments. formed the person holding it into people, people kill people. downwards for the last decade, The same thing has happened a blood-lusting freak, despite what According to numerous news most likely because of the impact with the abolition of the long- some mainstream media would reports, the long-gun registry costs of the gun registry. Canadian po- form census, the muzzling of fed- have you believe. up to a billion dollars to maintain. lice forces consult the database eral research scientists and the Talking from my own experi- The law is overkill (no pun in- around 11,000 times a day, and painstakingly-detailed talking ences, people seem to be hoplo- tended), and really does not pre- are able to respond better to do- points that every federal agency phobic—or afraid of guns—in the vent gun crimes from happening. mestic violence calls because of it. and employee must dance to on east when compared to the west of Bill C-68 is a sufficient enough The best evidence we have is command. Canada, and maybe for good rea- law to point out households with an RCMP report on the program, The lack of data serves their son. Being affected by such disas- gun owners. Besides, does it really commissioned externally and interests by muddying the waters, ters as the 1989 Polytechnique matter what type of gun someone completed in February. Among exploiting ignorance and stirring massacre and the Dawson College has? This is not a first person other things, leaked portions that discord over an important public shooting gives justification to their shooter game. The average gun surfaced last week before safety effort. fear of guns. holder is not a marksman and Wednesday’s vote pointed out If data comes along showing But it doesn’t give reason to put each bullet doesn’t attribute more that management costs are $3.6 that the gun registry is not worth the blame on the laws instead of or less damage to your health million a year—a far cry from the the expense in lives saved and the troubled individuals that gauge. billions of dollars cited by the benefits to society, then maybe lacked proper counseling and a More education regarding gun registry’s detractors. we should let it go. However, all support base. safety and gun control should be In a sign of the partisan we really need is to sit down and Although I do feel deeply for readily available in forms differing brinksmanship contest the de- have a real debate. Until then, the victims of the Dawson College from crime reports and fear-mon- bate has turned into, the full con- registry should stay in place. shooting, I do feel that pulling on gering news stories. the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/opinons opinions 33 Breaking News: World Dissolves

• TODD LANGFORD gone missing—probably stolen by Levi could not be consulted my [now non-existent] brother, for further comment. NOTHINGNESS, NJ—The Anthony.” Although Deb and husband universe, long home of the stars Cory Jenkins was 9. Stanley Parker expected to be and of mankind, came to an Although the final and ulti- whisked away to the afterlife as abrupt and permanent halt on mate conclusion of this soirée we their eternal reward for a life of Monday at approximately 11:31 call existence came unexpectedly, dutiful Catholic observance, no Greenwich time. biblical and Talmudic scholars heavenly reward appeared forth- The DOW plummeted 3000 have attempted to consult their coming as of press time. points at the announcement of respective holy books for signs of “Any second now—just you the cessation of creation. the then-impending cataclysm wait, Stanley—the golden arches The cable news network CNN, without end. will appear, and St. Paul will be whose founder Ted Turner there,” came the shrill, creaking claimed he would be there to “This phenomenon voice of the late Deb Parker. “televise the apocalypse,” in- is not without “We’re in limbo, Deborah,” instantly vanished along with precedent in holy terrupted Stanley Parker. “It’s everything else in the universe, your fault for enticing me with no longer anything but a whisper scripture.” your lascivious ways.” of a dream of a memory in the –Rabbi Levi, Exactly what legacy mankind mind of a screaming idiot, signi- “Gabbin’ with Jehovah” host will leave behind—whether its fying nothing. reprehensible greed which led to Cory Jenkins, a student at “This phenomenon is not the desiccation and destruction Westview Elementary, was not without precedent in holy scrip- of the natural world, or its noble happy with the sudden evapora- ture,” claimed Rabbi Levi, host of quest for enlightenment and self- tion of all matter, but particularly the multi-faith podcast “Gabbin’ improvement—has been fiercely the matter comprising his with Jehovah.” debated among cultural critics, portable gaming system. “For instance, in, um. I forget who argue that the lack of any ex- “Six hours I waited for the the exact passage. Just give me a isting medium for an archeologi- school bell to ring, and for what? minute.” Upon the realization cal record makes leaving any A big empty nothingness where that his holy book no longer held kind of legacy—even a buttery my room used to be,” said Jenk- physical form, Levi added, “It fi- smear on a piece of toast—some- ins. “Worst of all, my b.b. gun has nally hit me. The rapture.” what difficult. Nah’msayin?

Snacks in your system

I have a one-track stomach. If the threat of developing Type-2 diabetes and losing a foot weren’t so realistic, I would only ever eat sugary breakfast ce- reals. But the other day something threw a wrench in my lust for that cold milky goodness. A few hours after finishing my third bowl of Sugar Crisp, I made a quick trip to the bathroom and discovered something startling. My urine smelt exactly like Sugar Crisp. I haven’t eaten cereal since, because I can’t decide whether this occurrence has made cereal infinitely less appealing or my own urine slightly more appealing.

GRAPHIC VIVIEN LEUNG —Christopher Curtis News Editor Notice something that just doesn’t make sense? Got an axe to grind? Send in a rant to Nah’msaying? 300 words max. [email protected] 34 opinions the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/opinions

GRAPHIC MATT MAROTTI

Letters @thelinknewspaper.ca

Aaron Green on “Objectivity” Café than any other service mentioned. Be- tone of Manley’s editorial ignores more impor- mote the same kind of activities demonized support we would expect from the leader of The article on ATM fees written last week in sides being primarily a café and lounge space tant similarities between the two campuses: in an editorial as toxic to student's lifestyles one of Canada’s “most innovative universi- The Link lacked any semblance of objectivity. similar to Arch Café, Café X is also associated the serious limitations on student independ- is intellectually dishonest, especially consid- ties.” Perhaps The Link believes student bars oper- with a faculty association, also receives no fee ence and food sovereignty at both McGill and ering another advertisement found The Link. University administrators, from President ate on thin air or that money grows on trees. levy and also pays no rent on their university- Concordia. What I’m referring to is the full-page color Woodsworth to the manager of student ac- How do you think the Concordia Student’s owned space. —Julia Wilk, advertisement promoting a The Link event counts, repeatedly state that the government Union can make drinks at Reggies so afford- Le Frigo Vert, on the other hand, does pay McGill University French Major called “Drink with The Link.” Was it really nec- is mandating they make these changes or able for students? How does The Link believe rent to a private landlord, and is therefore in essary to have a full page colour advertise- that we are simply following “best” practices employees of Reggie’s are paid? a much less vulnerable position vis-à-vis the Hypocritical Editorial ment promoting an event that would both as set by other Quebec universities. If you don’t like ATM fees, withdraw money administration. It is vulnerable, however, to the Reading last week’s editorial piece on this help in tightening students’ wallets and dam- The blind acceptance of these institutional at your own bank branch—it’s that simple. student union through which they collect their year’s Clubs Fair, “Selling Our Souls” [Vol. 31 aging their livers? Would the advertisements mantras obscures the need to ask questions When you pay fifty cents, you’re paying for the fee levy—and I’d like to remind you that LFV Iss. 5, Pg. 35], I couldn’t help but notice that for the bars and restaurants that shill out un- such as, “How much do we pay annually to convenience of not having to walk to your own had an enormous amount of difficulty even this self-righteous piece showed zero self- healthy products still be necessary for the fi- service our private bond debt?” or “What is bank branch. getting a fee levy increase question on the bal- awareness. nancial stability of The Link if it weren’t the effect of these decisions on the quality of CUSACorp exists to serve students and to lot last year, an increase which was subse- The author of the editorial has no qualms printing full page color advertisements for its education students receive at Concordia?” continue to provide a fun and enjoyable at- quently denied by the student body. in bashing the CSU for trying to bring in new own events? Maybe so, but the ad’s promi- President Woodsworth has staged “open mosphere at Reggie’s throughout the year I also feel that it is pertinent to mention that advertising revenue at the expense of selling nence makes The Link look hypocritical. question” events on Friday, when most stu- while simultaneously managing the lease McGill also has a so-called “vegan eatery,” the soul of the Clubs Fair event to corpora- I won’t be so melodramatic as to claim that dents are not on-campus, that see university agreement with Java U. Last year, CUSACorp namely The Midnight Kitchen, which bears a tions who bring nothing but suffering and The Link has sold its soul. But shouldn’t The leaders, staff members and faculty avoid ask- introduced food at Reggies and actually man- strong resemblance to the People’s Potato. We misery onto students’ pancreases and wal- Link remain logically consistent with its edi- ing any tough questions of our leadership. aged to push CUSACorp into making a modest also have a weekly farmers’ market and a CSA lets. The author goes so far to ask “Aren’t stu- torial position and stop taking these adver- Students are left as the sole critical voice, so profit, profit that will always be reinvested in program run by a group called Organic Cam- dents generally unhealthy and indebted tisements for unhealthy products that, as I will be asking these questions and others at Reggie’s and ultimately seeks to improve stu- pus. The important distinction however, is that enough?” stated in the editorial, only profit “the corpo- the Board of Governors meeting on Sept. 30 dents’ experiences here at Concordia. the Midnight Kitchen and Organic Campus op- Flipping immediately to the next page of rations themselves?” at 8 a.m. Please try to refrain from trashing an organ- erate within the student union, which offers a The Link, advertisements for Bar Biftek and —Robert Neszt, What legacy will our generation of Concor- ization that works hard for students and pro- significant amount of protection from the uni- the admittedly delicious Le Gourmet Burger, B.A. English Literature dia students and faculty leave? If President vides valuable services and initiatives. I’d love versity administration. are all taking up some advertising space. Last Woodsworth, Chancellor Peter Kruyt and Gov- to open The Link one week to find a positive Furthermore, the tone of Manley’s editorial time I checked, burgers, pitchers and shooters GSA Fight Tuition ernor Richard Renaud have their way, we will article on any of the campaigns or services the seems to encourage Concordia students to feel cost students health and money. The Link The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is be a party to increasing tuition, thus “saving” CSU organizes and provides for Concordia’s self-satisfied about their food options instead surely receives advertising revenue from these an active voice for students angry with uni- Quebec universities for a privileged few who undergraduate students. of learning from the situation at McGill and companies to support itself beyond the stu- versity administrators, business leaders on can easily afford higher fees. What our lead- —Aaron Green, taking a critical look at the support (or lack dent subsidies it already receives, as any our university governance bodies and Govern- ers fail to acknowledge is that their choices CSU Councillor thereof) that they offer their own student-run newspaper would do. ment Ministers who believe the only method will also ensure many students face large ed- food outlets. We’re actually not nearly as dif- What is troubling here is not that The Link to fund public education is to raise tuition. ucational debts throughout their adult life. Response to A Tale of Two ferent as Manley suggests, and propagating is bashing the CSU for bringing corporate This is maddening in the Concordia context, We ask that all students join Free Education ‘Sities competition between McGill and Concordia sponsors that promote unhealthy student as it was their decisions to acquire debt in the Montreal and the GSA by participating in our While I truly appreciate Alex Manley’s at- misses the point of a student movement based lifestyles to a Clubs Fair event. In itself that private bond market and to pursue an aggres- Holler for a Dollar campaign and sign our pe- tempt to spread word about our current prob- on solidarity. At best, this tone is ill-advised might be a tenable argument. What compli- sive, albeit badly planned, fundraising cam- tition that is available at the GSA house at lems surrounding the closure of the since Concordia students are in no way invul- cates this position is that The Link itself ac- paign with operating budget funds that 2030 Mackay Street. Most importantly, let the Architecture Café in “A Tale of Two ‘sities,” I nerable to this sort of problem and I’m sure cepts advertisement revenue they bring in partially contributed to Concordia’s current fi- Board of Governors and President Woodsworth feel the need to comment on the gross over- you would like us to stand in solidarity with you from comparable businesses to stay afloat. nancial position. Having backed us into this know how angry you are by joining us on Sept. simplification of this issue. should a similar situation arise. It’d be ridiculous to bash a newspaper for dismal situation, our president now calls for 30 at 7:30 a.m. in front of the GM building. Manley failed to mention Concordia’s Café So in conclusion, thanks for the free press, needing advertising revenue to stay finan- further tuition increases as the only solution —Adnan Abueid, X, a student initiative far more similar to Arch but the self-congratulatory and competitive cially viable, but to accept sponsors who pro- to our problems, not the type of creativity or GSA President

The Link’s letters and opinions policy: The deadline for letters is 4 p.m. on Friday before the issue prints. The Link reserves the right to verify your identity via telephone or email. We reserve the right to refuse letters that are libellous, sexist, homophobic, racist or xenophobic. The limit is 400 words. If your letter is longer, it won’t appear in the paper. Please include your full name, weekend phone number, student ID number and program of study. The comments in the letters and opinions section do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board. the link • september 28, 2010 • thelinknewspaper.ca/opinons opinions 35 editorial

•crswrd R. BRIAN “STAIND ISN’T PLAYING?” HASTIEpzzlol THE “POP MONTREAL” EDITION Sanction Scrutiny

Dear elected officials, (Please don’t take this as an attack) You need to start talking to us. The proper relationship between the press and student government extends far beyond what is printed on these pages. When we ask you if everything is okay, don’t shrug it off if it’s not. When Concordia Student Union VP Finance Zhuo Ling was asked about our page three story last week regarding the ATMs at Reggie’s, he told The Link that everything was okay. Two days later, he wrote a letter that said inflammatory things about The Link’s brand of journalism, levelled several strong allegations at the journalists who wrote the story and made unfortunate criticisms of our funding. That was the first we had heard from the CSU about our top story last week. I wish I could say that this was the first time our elected officials let us down, but it wasn’t. Three weeks ago, Pres- ident Heather Lucas and her administration sent The Link two letters about articles that were in our paper the week before. They never tried calling us before publishing the letters, they never opened a dialogue about their concerns or, it seems, even listened to the valid criticism we were putting forth. Instead, the CSU’s response was to deflect criticism and stay the wrong course. Perhaps they should listen now. Across The factual errors in our ATM story last week were due 4. Don’t ask me what the fuck crossover using an electric cello, as well as playing a Mile-End on Saturday, Oct. 2. to their VP Finance. He told us facts and figures that were thrash is, just know that this band is gonna strange brand of alt. rock incorporating country 5. Alec Empire and co. will “Start The Riot” wrong and didn’t give us the corporation’s budget, although we’ve been requesting it for the last month. While tear Club Soda up in all kinds of semi-illegal elements in it. off at Foufs on Saturday, Oct. 2. we wish your VP Finance were more careful with numbers, ways on Thursday night/Friday morning. 18. Long-running Bay area quartet will show 6. A Winnipeg-based hip-hop band, you say? this kind of thing happens. 8. The band behind the record-in-a-bag con- the cats what's what with their barrage of With a record featuring verses from Shad and Errors are human. Ling has since retracted his letter and apologized, but cept and an insane five-city, month-long resi- beautiful, aching sound at La Tulipe on Friday, Cadence Weapon? Consider me sold. They're in the process, we published a story that misinformed stu- dency are back in town, opening for the 222s Oct. 1. amazing live, to boot. dents. The ATMs have been in Reggie’s for at least 13 years, and the Asexuals. 19. This Family band released their second 7. Montreal post-metal has never felt so but former CSU VP Finance Andre Leroy didn’t play the role the story said he did with the ATMs. For that we have 11. These Brooklyn-based noise maestros album on Alien8 last year and their mixture of good. Their new record Exalt will destroy your apologized to Leroy. will fill your ears and hearts with a strange dance beats and poppy hooks has made them senses, before rebuilding them in brand-new Now, we are left with new questions and a bigger prob- sense of wonder as they play cuts off of their a perennial winner. Check them out for free at ways. lem: CUSACorp, as the CSU’s for-profit arm, has operated outside of larger student oversight for some time. recently released Sisterworld record. Le Divan Orange on Saturday, Oct. 2. 9. “Lay Down” band, headlining the Tee Pee By larger student oversight, I mean the people outside 14. This legendary New York City band will Down Records showcase at Katacombes on Saturday, of the CSU and Council. rip you a new asshole with their brand of avant- Oct. 2. Almost 400 issues of The Link have been printed since guard experimental music. They are in the 1. This Montreal band, which describes itself 10. This electronic band from Toronto will ATMs were rolled out at Reggie’s—that’s 160 million pages of ATM-free criticism. We’ve never mentioned it once and midst of touring for the first time in more than as “Moog rock,” have played around the world manipulate sounds and get you to scream out not from a lack of interest. a dozen years and will pummel you into obliv- and will now be playing at the strike of mid- their expletive-filled name in no time. CUSACorp needs better accounting of its assets, its lia- ion. night in-between Friday and Saturday to a 12. This Acadian rap group set things on fire bilities and its investments, or something with more substance than a three line summary budget. I’m not asking 15. This perennial favourite is putting on two throng of willing participants. at Osheaga two years ago, and continue to just for the profit margin of each gin and tonic, but if you want shows Sunday, Oct. 3rd, though he will not be 2. This Arbutus Records act will blow you get better and better. to make it that detailed, I certainly won’t protest. climbing out of any logs. away at the newly-re-opened Rialto on Sept. 13. Originating from Poland, one of the If you want to understand what you need to be account- able for, come and drop by. 16. This Canadian rapper-cum-provincial- 30. Pop hooks and sing-alongs abound! longest-running death/thrash metal bands We haven’t given up on you CSU. poet-laureate is performing this year, but is 3. Fresh off of opening for Superchunk at Le around will be performing at Foufounes Elec- Give us a call. doing a DJ set instead of his usual thing. National, this one-woman band is going to be trique on Sunday, Oct. 3 to a veritable sea of —Justin Giovannetti, 17. Indiana-based rock band known for manipulating loops and effects at the Cabaret black t-shirts. Horns up. Editor-in-chief

Volume 31, Issue 07 editorial: (514) 848-2424 issue 06 solutionz Tuesday, September 28, ext. 7405 2010 arts: (514) 848-2424 ext. 5813 CONCORDIA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER Concordia University ads: (514) 848-2424 ext. Hall Building, Room H-649 8682 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. fax: (514) 848-4540 Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8 business: (514) 848-7406 The Link is published every Tuesday during the academic year by the Link Publication Society Inc. Con- editor-in-chief photo editor tent is independent of the university and student associations (ECA, CASA, ASFA, FASA, CSU). Editorial policy is set by an elected board as provided for in The Link’s constitution. Any student is welcome to JUSTIN GIOVANNETTI RILEY SPARKS work on The Link and become a voting staff member. The Link is a member of Canadian University Press news editor graphics editor and Presse Universitaire Indépendante du Québec. CHRISTOPHER CURTIS OPEN Material appearing in The Link may not be reproduced without prior written permission from The Link. features editor managing editor Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters 400 words or less will be printed, space permitting. The ADAM KOVAC LAURA BEESTON letters deadline is Friday at 4 p.m. The Link reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length and re- fringe arts editor layout manager fuse those deemed racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, libellous, or otherwise contrary to The Link’s ASHLEY OPHEIM JULIA WOLFE statement of principles. interim literary arts editor online editor Board of Directors 2010-2011: Matthew Gore, Matthew Brett, Jake Stevens, Clare Raspopow, Mathieu ALEX MANLEY OPEN Biard, Dale Corley, Les Honywell; non-voting members: Rachel Boucher, Justin Giovannetti. Typesetting by The Link. Printing by Transcontinental. sports editor business manager ALEX DI PIETRO RACHEL BOUCHER THIS WEEK ’S CONTRIBUTORS opinions editor distribution Jen Aouad, David Barlow-Krelina, Atli Bollason, Sebastien Cadieux, Emily Campbell, Etienne Charron-Willard, Pierre Chauvin, Ray Corkum, ginger coons, Megan Dolski, Olivia Dumas, Irina Gabnek, Natalie Gitt, Alessia Faustini, Colin Harris, R. Brian Hastie, Faiz Imam, Daniel Johnston, CLAY HEMMERICH ROBERT DESMARAIS Julia Jones, David Kaufmann, Casie Keating, Stephanie La Leggia, Vivien Leung, Clement Liu, Tom Llewellin, Natasha Luckhardt, Matt Marotti, copy editor DAVID KAUFMANN Christopher Olson, Elizabeth Ranger, Michael Sallot, Sarah Skinner, Sam Slotnick, Joseph Ste. Marie, Joel Suss, Ian Truman, Carlos Von Reckow, Nicholas Ward, Meagan Wohlberg, Natasha Young, Andrea Zoelnner. DIEGO PELAEZ GAETZ ad designer student press liaison ADAM NORRIS cover by Elizabeth Ranger OPEN