The Liberal Scarf: Former Conservative candidate and "shadow MP" on your tax dollars arrested in Quebec corruption probe

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Saulie+Zajdel+arrest+UPAC+surprise+Conservatives/8536640/story.html “He was known as the “shadow MP” of the federal Mont-Royal riding, hovering and thinking about making another run at the job after losing in 2011….Saulie Zajdel’s stunning arrest Monday on five charges including breach of trust, corruption and fraud sent a shock wave through the ranks of the

Continue reading

openalex: écoHackMTL: An excellent launch

We had an excellent turnout for the écoHackMTL launch.  A big thank-you to everyone who helped me put it together!  If you missed the action you can see a few photos over on our facebook page.

With close to 75 people in the room the energy was phenomenal, and we had a good mix of developers, community activists and NGOs, and representatives from the city.  Those were exactly the connections that we were trying to make possible.

Now the questions is how much of that momentum we can translate into concrete projects between now and the hack itself in October.

Stay tuned.  And for more info check out www.ecohackmtl.org.

Continue reading

Art Threat: Art Seen: The Sleepers

Who: Sergio Clavijo What: Les dormeurs / The Sleepers Where: Montreal, Quebec, as part of Art SouTerrain (a literally underground city festival of art) When: Friday, March 1, 2013 Why: The implications of this installation are more than artistic. The Sleepers is a disruption in a process of exhange. To

Continue reading

From Orangutan: Mainstream headlines demonize Quebec student protesters (again!)

(video – 5 mars 2013, Montréal. Ostie d’grosse manif de soir contre la hausse éternelle from Mario Jean on Vimeo.)

Tuesday, March 5, 2013, marked the rebirth of Montreal nocturnal protests against the commodification of university education. Below are a few of the sensationalist headlines (linked) that appeared in some of the city’s mainstream news outlets the next day. These headlines demonize the protesters as violent criminals and sadly continue a shabby tradition of “news” coverage from last year’s Maple Spring.

English-language Media
Free tuition protest ends with smashed windows, arrests (CTV Montreal)
62 detained as protests resume (The Gazette)
Quebec student protest turns violent (Global Montreal)

French-language Media
Manifs: des commerçants veulent une police plus réactive (La Presse)
Droits de scolarité : comparution de six manifestants   (Radio Canada)
Violences et arrestations (TVA)

Sure, a MINORITY of protesters got out of control, but they do not represent the inspiring collective spirit of the MAJORITY of people walking peacefully through the streets of downtown Montreal, side by side, English- and French-speaking (among others), and with the common goal of universal accessibility to higher education.

On the encouraging side, the prize for most objective headline goes to CBC Montreal for
Students rekindle nighttime protest against tuition hikes (CBC Montreal). Et voilà. It can be done.

Continue reading