From lack of part-time jobs to language laws, finding a job is no easy task.
By Saima Mazumder Contributor @saima_maz
Feyrouz Saleh, a first-year mechanical engineering student is—once again—staring at another rejected job application. Feeling hopeless, she says she doesn’t understand why this keeps happening, "where do I even start if no one wants an inexperienced worker."
Unfortunately, this is the norm for most Concordia students. Landing a job in this market is very difficult.
Statistics Canada reported that employment across Canada went down by
66,000 (down 0.3 per cent) in August, mainly in part-time positions. In addition to that, unemployment rose by 7 per cent, from 0.2 per cent to 7.1 per cent—the highest rate of unemployment since 2016, excluding the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The decline of employment opportunities is a major factor in why students are unable to find these jobs. In addition, the emphasis on part-time jobs being at risk is a major problem for students, as most of them are studying full-time. Therefore, part-time jobs are all they are capable of juggling along with school.
For Concordia students like Saleh these numbers are a reality.
“The biggest obstacles students have when finding jobs is availability,” said Nicholas, an assistant at the Concordia Student Union’s Housing and Job Office (HOJO).
Students who are taking a full load of courses, often give very little availability, which frustrates employers.
“Treat it like a full-time job. The more volume you put out there, the more likely you are to hear something”
explains Nicholas.
However, persistence is not always enough for everyone. Camille Pichette, a front line worker at Carrefour Jeunesse-Emplois, says that you need to not only be persistent, but also tailor your CV’s for each job application.
Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi, a Montreal organization, provides free services for young adults aged 13 to 35, to connect with employment experts and explore career paths.
Saleh has been job hunting for months, yet still has not landed a position. However, she understands why.
“I’m not fluent in French,” she says. There it is—the big elephant in the room: Can you get a job while not speaking French in Montreal?
For Saleh, this has been the biggest obstacle. Out of 10 job applications, she only heard back from three. However, her inability to speak French fluently has caused her to get rejected from all. The rest simply ignored her application.
In Montreal, most employers require employees to speak French fluently. This
is because Quebec's Charter of the French Language states that French should be part of “the normal everyday language at work.” This explains why nonFrench speakers in Montreal, like Saleh, are struggling, as employers are scared to get fined if caught with employees speaking English.
These fines can range from $700 to $7000 if a singular person is fined and from $3000 to $30,000 for businesses.
This affects a large portion of the student body, as only 25% students reported French as their first language or language spoken at home according to a 2024 study done by Concordia’s Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis (2024). While non-francophones can and do find work in Montreal, individual French fluency can affect which jobs are accessible to these students.
This all goes to show that, like Saleh, being dedicated is important, however, in a city like Montreal, it may not always be enough.
“Work on your French. Or else you will struggle,” Saleh said.
Seven student associations so far have voted in favour of the strike motion urging Concordia to cut ties with Lockheed Martin and divest from other companies.
By Sabina Bellisario-Giglio Assistant Campus News Editor
From Sept. 23 to Oct. 1, student associations from various departments across Concordia held general assemblies to vote on strikes that will be held on Oct. 6 and 7.
The strike motions called upon students to urge the university to cut ties with Lockheed Martin and divest from Booz Allen Hamilton, Palantir, Boeing, Spirit Systems and Triumph Group.
Oct. 7 will be the two-year anniversary since Israel began committing genocide on the Palestinian people.
On Sept. 16, a United Nations (UN) report concluded that “Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces committed four of the five genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.” This now aligns the UN with many other international organizations who have designated it a genocide earlier.
The student strikes will be in support of Palestine and in an effort to put pressure on Concordia to divest from companies and corporations currently sending funds to Israel or profiting off the genocide in Palestine.
Zeinab Karkachi, the Political Science Student Association (PSSA) internal coordinator, said that students have made their stance very clear for the past two years. “Students strongly condemn the accelerated ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people, and by trying to pass these motions […] it is a way for [students to hold] their academic institutions accountable.”
Lina Elbakaye, the PSSA general coordinator, explained that collective actions do work, referencing the Concordia Student Union’s (CSU) adoption of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) motions in 2025. “It forced more transparency around Concordia’s investments and it was a really important step to wards accountability.”
On Jan. 29, 885 Concordia un dergraduate students voted in favour of two motions regarding the BDS movement at a special general meeting hosted by the CSU.
The next day, Jan. 30, 2025, Graham Carr, the President and Vice-Chancellor of Con cordia University, released
a statement a day after the vote, writing that “such campaigns are contrary to the value of academic freedom upon which all universities are founded,” and opposing the motions.
In a response to The Link, in February, Concordia spokesperson Julie Fortier communicated that the statement was “misread” and “purposefully miscommunicate,” given that “President Carr reiterates what has been Concordia’s position for years.” The university has not changed its statement since then.
Karkachi said that voting is the best way for people to engage in student politics within student associations.
“Especially in regards to the political science department,” Karkachi said. “We really try to encourage them to attend these events and partake in voting on any motions for any special occasions.”
“It shows that students are engaged and that we are willing to take a stand on urgent issues of justice and human rights,” Elbakaye said.
At the time of publication, the Fine Arts Student Association (FASA),
Undergraduate Student Society (GUSS), Teaching English 2nd Language Student Association (TESLSA), Concordia Association for Students in English (CASE) and PSSA all voted in favour of the strikes.
The Urban Planning Student Association (UPA) voted against the strike motion.
Karkachi also said that striking is one of many ways for students’ voices to be put into action. “To be put into effect, for their demands, their concerns, their opinions to be heard properly by the university, the dean, as well as the general university body.”
Elbakaye shared these thoughts, saying, “Strikes show that students are not complicit … we refuse [to have] our tuition fund violence.”
Pro-Palestinian strikes will be held on Oct. 6 and 7, with more details about locations and times to follow.
Student associations that have yet to vote:
School of Community and Public Affairs Student Association (SCPASA): Oct. 1 at 4 p.m., H-1224
Communications Guild (COMSGUILD): Sept. 30 at 11:30 a.m., CJ 1.117
Concordia Undergraduate Psychology Association (CUPA): Sept. 30 at 11:30 a.m., CC-308 & Online
Sociology and Anthropology (SASU): Referendum vote, by email till Sept. 30
Students of History at Concordia (SHAC): Oct. 3 at 5 p.m., Location TBD
With Orange Shirt Day coming up and a semester filled with minimal information about it, it begs the question: is this a shallow attempt to make amends, or is it the best that can be done?
By Maya Jiyâmeyihtam Brousseau Contributor @mayabfay
To get to campus, Patrick Tionekahten Zachary, a third-year political science student, leaves Kahnawake before dawn to beat the traffic on the Mercier Bridge.
“I really [find that] there are a couple of things that are really lacking. I don't have access to public transportation to get here,” he said. “The train tracks, although they come through the reserve, there's no station in the reserve, so it just blows right past you.” By the time he reaches Concordia University, he’s already spent hours in transit and up to $20 a day just to park.
With National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, Concordia put forward different actions towards reconciliation. From tuition waivers for First Nations and Inuit students in Quebec, to daily land acknowledgments in classrooms, to workshops and social media posts, the university has taken visible steps.
Indigenous graduate rates are lower according to Statistics Canada, and Concordia should take pride in helping improve these statistics, with the Kaié:ri Nikawerà:ke Indigenous Bridging Program,
making Indigenous students feel welcome.
But for students like Zachary from Kahnawake, who face steep daily costs just to get to campus, questions remain about whether these actions translate into meaningful support for Indigenous students.
“When people hear truth and reconciliation, I think it’s admitting to the fact that the land was taken over by Europeans, but we must celebrate the fact that Indigenous cultures are still alive and living and present,” said Joshua Onazi, a Concordia alumni.
If in my first ever semester I was educated about it, I think I would’ve been much more conscious with my approach or way of living throughout the rest of my program.
Concordia acknowledged and committed to change regarding truth and reconciliation in 2019, with the launch of its Indigenous Directions Action Plan. The document was created in response to the 2015 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada.
However, the process of Indigenization and decolonization at Concordia began even earlier, driven by the efforts of Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. The Otsenhákta Student Centre at Concordia was established in 1992. In 2014, a proposal was submitted to university administrators to address Indigenous issues. In 2016, special advisors were appointed, and the Indigenous Directions Leadership
Group (IDLG) was created to consult on Concordia's response to the TRC's principles and calls to action. Bringing us to now, Concordia's five-year strategic plan was introduced to include decolonizing and Indigenizing the curriculum.
In 2021, the Canadian federal government passed legislation in June 2021 to establish Sept. 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. However, it is not a day that students feel like the university has put forward.
As far as Orange shirt day and truth and reconciliation itself as a topic, I don't think it's publicly introduced to the students, said Zachary.
What can be done?
This goes deeper than what is available at the moment. Usually a yearly occasion, Concordia hosts a pow-wow, which has been put on pause for the 2025-26 academic year.
Concordia University’s spokesperson Julie Fortier communicated the following statement to The Concordian over email: “Several activities are scheduled at Concordia in September leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold the pow wow this year, due to the deficit the university is facing. All units have had to reduce expenses and have had to make difficult decisions to do so. ”
Unlike other provinces, Quebec does not have a statutory closure of its public schools or universities on this day, whereas provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan do. More specifically, universities like UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal) and UdeM (Université de Montréal) will close its doors for the day on Sept. 30 out of respect for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
While there might be posts, events, and activities set up by the school. For example, the Orange Shirt Dyeing Workshop led by Professor Geneviève Moisan, is a significant advance in the system.
Unfortunately, Concordia has not yet reached and expressed the gravity of Canadian and Indigenous history to many students, affecting participation rates in community-building Indigenous activities.
Small things can also be done, like access to parking for students like Zachary. Awareness about these issues should be something Concordia considers when it welcomes Indigenous students. Not just resources or posts, but actions that make students feel welcomed and encouraged to become educated.
Onazi moved to Montreal six years
serves as a reminder, but again, what are we doing about that? What is Concordia actively doing to help the community? That's what matters,” he said.
“It seems kind of weird to me because […] when we do our land acknowledgement, we acknowledge the lands, we know, we call it Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen (the words that come before all else/ the thanksgiving address),” Zachary said. Traditionally, before any feast or ceremony, there was a different type of acknowledgement, the giving of thanks. From the earth and up, they thanked the people, Mother Earth, the land, the water, the fish and the animals, the roots and the trees, and finally the sky.
Zachary confronts the two interpretations of the concept of a “land acknowledgement,” one where he is one with the land, the elements surrounding him, and the other as a protocol reminding him that the lands are still unceded.
Truth and reconciliation should go beyond simply naming the land, it should confront our history and honour the survival of Indigenous people through hardships, and invite learning.
While Indigenous students have access to spaces like the Ostenhakta Student Centre, non-Indigenous and international students are left with little to no exposure to Canada’s Indigenous history beyond classroom formalities. With thousands of students arriving from across the world, many leave Concordia without ever hearing more than a scripted land acknowledgement.
Onazi felt like he only had the chance to learn about Indigenous culture through art, museums and exhibitions. “I would randomly come across a bunch of art which got me curious to educate myself …] but I feel like in school I hear like a sentence or two and that's it,” he said.
Teaching non-Indigenous students about history and respect, and giving Indigenous students a place to feel accepted and encouraged to pursue their education is essential. Respect is important in any culture, and the respect between Indigenous people and Concordia should be clear. It is agreeable that many are doing the best they can, and Concordia is doing more than other institutions; unfortunately, there is still a huge gap between reconciliation, teaching and students’ hearts.
As it is now the national day of Truth and Reconciliation, we should be asking what does reconciliation look like beyond an Instagram post? Why do Indigenous voices call for change? Students deserve facts, seminars, and teachings, not just protocol. Some professors are now teaching about decolonization and more in-depth history, which is an important
Maya is a Political Science, Concordia student. She is a Cree student from Northern Quebec. With enthusiasm, she is always willing to learn as well as educate people on Indigenous issues, particularly inequality in society and in current events.
The opening of the Anse-à-l’Orme branch is delayed until next spring.
By Félix-Antoine Beauchemin City News Editor @fa.beauchemin.journalisme
Originally scheduled to open on Oct. 1, CDPQ Infra and the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) operator have opted to delay the openings for both the Deux-Montagnes and the Anse-à-l’Orme branches. The opening of Deux-Montagnes has been pushed back to November, while the Anse-à-l’Orme branch is set to open in the spring of 2026.
Francis Labbé is the deputy director of media relations for CDPQ Infra, who is responsible for the development of
the REM. He said that gradually opening the branches and starting with the Deux-Montagnes branch was the best decision. The REM’s network will be three times larger and have four times as many stations with the opening of these new branches.
“The main reason behind this is to give our operators time to gradually take on this mammoth task, this enormous project,” he said in an interview with The Concordian. “Doing so also gives our partners at the ARTM, which is the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, time to organize the rerouting to our stations in the West Island, which would not have been ready if we had implemented everything at once.”
The exact date for the opening of the Deux-Montagnes branch in November is yet to be determined. Labbé explained that there are still some things to work on and test before proceeding with the dry run.
The dry run consists of operating the
REM exactly as it would in service, but without passengers. This means trains running every four to five minutes during morning and afternoon peak times, and every 10 minutes at all other times. Labbé explained that after a week or two of dry runs, they will be able to determine the exact opening date for the Deux-Montagnes branch.
The branch serving Montréal-Trudeau International Airport is still scheduled to open in 2027.
While he acknowledged that everybody would have liked to see the project completed quicker, he stressed the importance of doing things “by the book” to ensure a smooth opening.
“We can’t cut corners at this stage,” Labbé said. “So we’re going to proceed methodically. As soon as we have an idea of the timing, we will definitely make an announcement to the general public and then to our partners to say that [the opening] will be on this date.”
Since the opening of the South Shore
branch two years ago, the REM has experienced frequent breakdowns, particularly during the winter months. This has left passengers stranded in the trains, sometimes for hours.
Labbé explained that the main problem was with the railroad switches—particularly their heaters and the snow removal on the switches. He said that the switch heaters had been improved and that although breakdowns are inevitable, he believes they will be shorter and less frequent going forward.
“The biggest problem last winter was the switches,” Labbé said. “We definitely took significant measures to ensure that it works. You know, as I was saying, there will always be breakdowns in major transportation systems. That’s true for the metro in Montreal, but it’s also true for the metro in Paris. And it’s true in London. And it’s true everywhere else on the planet.”
Find out about all five parties’ plans to make housing more affordable.
By Félix-Antoine Beauchemin City News Editor @fa.beauchemin.journalisme
Handling the housing crisis is one of the core issues of this year’s municipal elections in Montreal.
With the Canadian political system separating responsibilities between municipal, provincial and federal governments, municipalities are limited in what they can act on. Nonetheless, municipal governments have considerable power when it comes to housing.
Zoning laws, building permits, property taxes and even the types of projects that can be built are only some of the levers at the disposal of municipal governments. However, both the provincial and federal governments also play a role in addressing the housing crisis, particularly through financial programs that support the development of more housing infrastructure.
The costs of apartments have skyrocketed in Greater Montreal in recent years. According to Statistics Canada, the average rent for one-bedroom apartments increased by 57 per cent, from $980 to $1,540, between 2019 and 2025. Over the same period, the price rose by 71 per cent for two-bedroom apartments, from $1,130 to $1,930.
The vacancy rate in Greater Montreal
is also very low, which pushes rent prices even higher. According to the Observatoire Grand Montréal, the rate was 2.1 per cent in 2024, up from 1.5 per cent the previous year. However, it was much lower for rental properties in the bottom third of prices, “reaching a critical availability level of 0.4 per cent,” according to the report.
The historically suggested vacancy rate for a balanced rental market is 3 per cent.
The last time the vacancy rate was above this level was in 2016. In June, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, an organization comprising 82 municipalities in Greater Montreal, adopted a target vacancy rate of 5 per cent as the new benchmark for a balanced rental market. The last time the vacancy rate was this high was in 1997.
While all parties agree that access to housing is too expensive, they differ on their plans for making it more affordable.
Here is a summary of each party’s plan for access to housing:
Projet Montréal (Luc Rabouin):
Projet Montréal has been in power since the fall of 2017, when Valérie Plante was first elected. In this campaign, they have announced the creation of the Bâtissons Montréal Fund. It is a bond system that will allow people to directly invest in housing projects with a “guaranteed return.” They have also announced the following commitments:
• The introduction of a tax on vacant housing;
• Work carried out on behalf of landlords to ensure the salubrity of housing;
• A $100 million guarantee fund that will remove between 4,000 and 5,000 housing units from the
speculative market at no cost to the city;
• Simplification of the RMM and the creation of 1,000 transitional housing units for people facing homelessness.
Ensemble Montréal (Soraya Martinez Ferrada):
Tackling the housing crisis is one of Ensemble Montréal’s six priorities in this campaign. Soraya Martinez Ferrada has pledged to do the following things in her first 100 days in office if elected:
• Consolidate a single registry of all vacant buildings;
• Launch a broad call for projects to give these buildings a new purpose through partnerships with non-profit organizations and private-sector stakeholders willing to contribute to solving the housing crisis;
• Approve all housing projects that have already been submitted but remain stalled.
Transition Montréal (Craig Sauvé):
Craig Sauvé, the party leader and longtime municipal politician in the SudOuest, has been a supporter of progressive housing policy designed to improve the conditions for tenants in the city.
• Sauvé has also called for a moratorium on Airbnb’s in the city;
• Single-family properties with a property value in excess of $3.5 million would be subject to a tax rate equivalent to 1.25 times the standard rate. Those with value in excess of $5 million would be subject to 1.33 times the standard rate;
• The party also plans to use the powers granted under Quebec’s Bill 39 to impose higher taxes on vacant or underutilized buildings.
has announced four priorities when it comes to housing accessibility for students:
• Recognize student housing as a priority within the affordable housing agenda;
• Introduce targeted tax incentives for landlords who commit to offering reduced-rate housing to full-time students;
• Rapidly expand housing supply by converting unused municipal lands and buildings into student and community housing, in partnership with non-profits and cooperatives;
• Fight speculation with our “Use it or lose it” policy, reclaiming vacant lots and turning them into housing projects.
Action Montréal (Gilbert Thibodeau): Action Montréal says they will mobilize the public to support their projects like facilitating access to land through municipal partnerships and streamlining offices.
• Facilitate Access to Land: Collaboration with the City of Montreal to make land available on highly advantageous terms, supporting affordable housing projects by community organizations;
• Promote Initiatives: Partnerships with educational, community, and municipal institutions to raise awareness of affordable housing options among residents, maximizing their impact;
• Simplify Administrative Processes: Streamline project approval processes by providing support for permits and public consultations.
Various levels of government are using international students as scapegoats and Canadian universities are paying the price.
By Aidan Raynor & Felix-Antoine Beauchemin Editor-in-Chief & City News Editor
“It was very bittersweet because I knew that I was going to go back and see my family, see my cats, see my country and like […] go back home,” said Ariana Orrego, a Concordia journalism graduate diploma alumni from her new apartment in Peru. “But I mean, on the other side, it was also like, I built something here.”
On Aug. 1, Orrego was in an Uber on her way back to Peru after being informed her partner was not able to stay with her in Montreal after graduating. Their ultimate goal was to stay in Montreal long-term—something that seemed like a reality when she started at Concordia in 2023.
“Our plan was to sort of go year by year, which is sort of the thing that you have to do when you immigrate and you don't have a privileged passport.”
In the midst of finishing her degree in March 2025, the federal government changed the rule allowing partners to stay in Canada for the year.
took a bit of time. The first couple months away from her family and home were stressful, but by March she had found a groove and was applying to jobs in her field of study.
“I mean, growing up in Latin America, you're always told that first world countries like Canada, the U.S., Europe, they’re like the dream, you know, you have to get there,” said Orrego.
“He had a plan way before we met of moving to Canada because as I told you, there's a lot of propaganda from Canada in Latin American countries.”
She described all the ads on social media sponsored by the federal government and others, encouraging people to immigrate to Canada, but she said that was not the reality she felt when she moved here. Moving to Quebec served as another barrier to her and her partner's success in Montreal.
She said Concordia’s International Students Office (ISO) had warned her of the potential changes back in November 2024.
“I do remember that person was like [...] by the way, things are going to change for international students and you have to be really attentive because in January which is the month where everything sort of the policy changed.”
But other than her lawyer and the ISO, there was no warning the policy was going to change.
“They have more anxiet and stress, and fear than hope, optimism and excitement,” said Marshia Akbar, director of the BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, from the sentiments she is seeing from her interviews with international students across Canada.
“They don't even know which policies will be applied to them, which policies will not,” said Akbar. “Whether they
will be able to get postgraduate or permit or not, whether they will be able to plan their life.”
“Now, as we know that the cap was for [a] 30 per cent decrease of international students, compared to, let's say, 2023. So by 2024, it would be [a] 35 per cent decrease,” said Akbar. Now she says the 2025 changes have decreased even further.
Akbar said since 2020 there have been 21 policy changes impacting international students.
“In a couple of conferences we talked about [how] the people from the university sector feel that they are unfairly punished for the issues that were kind of like, emerged due to the Ontario college sector.”
Akbar is referring to the private Ontario colleges accused by the federal government in 2024 of being “diploma mills” profiting off of international students.
But the federal government said the policy changes have been made to reflect a need to ease pressures on critical sectors like housing.
“The country is experiencing system-wide pressures across critical sectors, including housing and access to social services. Canada is addressing pressures by taking responsible measures to achieve stable growth, announcing an ambitious federal housing plan, and better aligning immigration streams with the labour market,” said a spokesperson for the Government of Canada in comment to The Concordian
They also said the provinces and territories are responsible for distributing the allocations which leaves Concordia beholden to the Quebec government as well.
This is the same CAQ government that raised tuition for out-of-province students and frozen provincial funding to universities in their last budget. The provincial government also adopted Bill
international students is a contributing factor to the university’s deficit.
“For 2025-2026, Concordia’s revenue from international students is expected to drop to $18 million, a third of what it was before the policy changes introduced a couple of years ago,” said Concordia University deputy spokesperson, Julie Fortier. “This reduction, combined with the freeze in government funding in the last provincial budget, are both contributing to the difficult financial situation the university is facing, with costs continuing to increase while revenue are falling.”
These impacts are not only limited to Anglophone universities. Admission requests from international students at the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) have been halved over the past year, leading to “significant reductions” in the number of international students being admitted.
Isabelle Dionne, vice-chancellor for academic affairs and student life at Université de Sherbrooke, deplores the negative financial and reputational impacts these measures have on her institution.
“Obviously, this deprives us of significant financial leverage,” she wrote in a statement to The Concordian. “Furthermore, international students at UdeS are an essential pillar of our research activities. They contribute to the advancement of knowledge and its application.”
Dionne also stressed the importance that alumni have in promoting the Université de Sherbrooke abroad if they return to work in their own country, or they contribute to a skilled workforce if they choose to stay in Quebec after they graduate.
She believes a more open approach from the provincial and federal governments when it comes to international students would help attract more to the Université de Sherbrooke.
“First, we must promote Quebec culture,” Dionne added in the same statement. “We must also promote the quality of our training programs, the competence of the university resources mandated to support international students in their integration, and, above all, remind them of our openness to welcoming them, because we recognize that they enrich our learning environment and contribute to the international outlook of our Quebec students.”
When asked, the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration refused to say if they were considering reducing barriers for international students.
“Decisions regarding the management of applications under the [International Student Program] will be announced following the public consultation on the proposed multi-year immigration policy guidelines. The current decision remains in effect until February 26, 2026,” wrote the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration in a statement to The Concordian
By Anthony Maruca Sports Editor
Women’s rugby rout McGill Martlets in Kelly-Anne Drummond Cup, continue building with win over Montreal
It’s hard to ignore the performance the Stingers put up against their rival McGill Martlets on Sept. 21. Not only did Concordia blank McGill from the scoresheet, but they also put up 71 points in an utterly dominant performance at home. The Stingers’ performance could not have come at a better time, honoring the late Kelly-Anne Drummond in an annual game in her honor. The Stingers have won their last six outings in Drummond’s honor. Mahalia Robinson led the team in scoring, along with six other teammates hitting the scoresheet.
Not even a week later, the Stingers visited l’Universite de Montréal on Sept. 27 for an afternoon matchup. Concordia took care of business, winning in a con vincing fashion and thus building a win streak that has them back above a .500 winning percentage with a 3-2 record. The Stingers hope to carry this momentum into their next matchup at home, hosting the Sherbrooke Vert et Or for their final regular season game on Oct. 4. With a win, they would clinch a playoff spot as one of the top four seeds in the RSEQ. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m..
Men’s and women’s soccer collect crucial points in both double-header events
Concordia women’s soccer failed to get on the scoresheet for the fifth game in a row against Sherbrooke. However, they did secure a crucial point in aid of their chase to make the RSEQ playoffs. Their clutch 2-1 win over UQAM places them in the sixth seed, giving them the last of six spots if the playoffs were to start today. The undefeated Car abins of l’Université de Montréal await the Stingers in what will be a very big test for them on Friday night, Oct. 3. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m..
Stingers’ men’s soccer midfielder Lundon Durand Browne was the lone player to hit the scoresheet in the Sep. 26 double-header, beating the Sherbrooke goalkeeper from nearly 40 yards out on a beautiful
The captain’s game-winner propelled Concordia past Sherbrooke, breaking a four-game losing streak going back to win in their home-opener on Sept. 7. The Stingers continued to build on their win streak after defeating UQAM, shutting them out on their home turf. Concordia’s wins this weekend places them at a respectable 3-5 record, giving life to a potential playoff push. The Carabins of l’Université de Montréal await the Stingers as part of another double-header with the woman’s team set on Friday night, Oct. 3. Kick-off is set for 8:15 p.m..
Women’s hockey nearly surprises Boston University Terriers, fall to Northeastern Huskies
The Stingers did not make it easy for the Terriers, forcing the home team to beat them in a shootout after a back-andforth affair. Concordia played Boston University in an exhibition game at a similar time
last year, but lost that game 4-1. Newcomer Ekaterina Pelowich and Jessymaude Drapeau each scored three points in the hard-fought loss, showing Concordia’s promise on offence as they approach the regular season start in October.
Unfortunately, Concordia couldn’t keep up with the Northeastern Huskies on Saturday, getting shutout by the home team. Although both games ended with a loss, these matchups offer the Stingers a chance to face more diverse competition than during the regular season, where they face only three other teams in the RSEQ. Facing this tougher competition makes for a good learning experience and measuring stick for what it takes to play in the NCAA for those who have that ambition.
Women’s basketball off to a good start in first non-conference action of the pre-season
The Stingers’ women’s basketball team won their first of seven non-conference matchups scheduled in October. They beat the Laurentian University Voyageurs by 14 points, giving head coach Tenicha Gittens’ squad an ideal start to their pre-season action. No scoring information was made available at this time, however, the team hopes to continue to build on this momentum as they prepare for the RSEQ action beginning in November.
Men’s hockey shut Carleton out in final preseason bout
The Stingers beat the home-team Carleton Ravens in a low-scoring affair last Friday evening. It has been a rather successful preseason for
Concordia, as the win gives them their third out of four preseason games set in the month of September. The reigning Queen’s cup champions hope to defend their title against what should be another competitive season in the OUA. The Stingers’ regular season is set to start next weekend on Oct. 4, as they are set to visit the Royal Military College Paladins. Puck-drop is set for 2 p.m.
Men’s basketball falls to Queen’s in tight matchup, but battle for tough win over U of T
Although the Stingers men’s basketball team did not get the result they wanted against Queen’s Gaels, they took care of business against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Concordia held up against the Gaels, only to fall short by single digits. The Stingers fought hard once again against the Varsity Blues and came through with the win to end their roadtrip out west on a good note. Consistent shotmaking from guard Sami Jahan and a strong interior presence from center Karam Sahly led to what Stingers’ faithful hope is a preview for what their offence could look like heading into the season.
ETS defeats Concordia on the road to cap off middling month of September
Concordia’s men’s rugby team have had a satisfactory opening month to their season. After visiting Montréal for a draw, and shutting out Carleton, the Stingers hoped to propel themselves up the RSEQ standings, hoping for a win while visiting the undefeated ETS Piranhas. Unfortunately, they came up short as ETS beat the Stingers and extended their undefeated streak to four games.
UdM spoil Concordia homecoming game, winning in dominant fashion Another entry goes into what has been a disappointing season for the Stingers football team. The Carabins of l’Université de Montréal’s top scoring offence looked the part against Concordia’s bottom ranked defence in terms of points allowed. With the loss on Saturday, Concordia has now lost four of their five games this season which has them ranked last in the RSEQ. They now have three games remaining to capture a playoff spot within the top four seeds in their conference.
Laurence
Beauregard collected bronze
as she continues to make her journey toward becoming an olympian.
By Connor Rooney Contributor
Former Concordia Stinger, Laurence Beauregard won a bronze medal at the senior wrestling world championships in Croatia on Sept. 17, becoming one of only four Quebec-born female wrestlers to achieve the feat.
During training camp, Beauregard worked closely with Stingers wrestling head coach David Zilberman, who helped diversify her wrestling moves to make her style more unpredictable.
“People will be more and more prepared but there’s still a way that I can have a different strategy,” said Beauregard.
In an interview with The Concordian, Zilberman highlighted the psychological preparation, saying they used every practice to build confidence and manage stress.
On the opening day of the tournament, Beauregard scored a resounding 10-0 win over Filipino wrestler, Arian Carpio.
In wrestling, points are scored as two for a takedown with the opponent landing on their chest, and four if on their back. Once on the ground, two points can be scored by exposing the opponent’s shoulders by 90 degrees.
She followed that up with a barn-burner against Turkish wrestler Bediha Gun, starting the second round down 4-2.
After a back-and-forth battle, Beauregard scored the decisive takedown in the last 50 seconds of the match. She won by criteria with a score of 6-6, propelling her into the semi-finals.
Her day unfortunately ended in a hardfought loss to Ukrainian Mariia Vynnyk with a final score of 10-5.
Beauregard’s mantra throughout the tournament was to “focus on the process
rather than the outcome.”
Going into the bronze medal match her mind was focused solely on wrestling one final match rather than the medal that was at stake.
In her final match, Beauregard would come back from a 2-0 deficit, doing so by pinning her opponent on her back to secure the bronze medal with a final score of 4-2.
After the final whistle blew, tears streamed down Beauregard’s face as she reflected on the years of intense training that it took to reach that point.
“It’s been a long year filled with a lot of work, doubt, tears, you name it,” said Beauregard. “In that moment it felt crazy, I’m a world medalist. No matter what happens I’ll always have that.”
“She’s been physically ready to go and do it for 3 years now,” said Zilberman.
“Now the psychological piece, the confidence, the belief that she can do it is now coming together.”
Zilberman credited other coaches from the Montreal Wrestling Club, including head coach Victor Zilberman,
and assistant coaches Martine Dugrenier and Rob Moore.
“It’s a team effort,”said Zilberman. “We’ve all been contributing for the past 10 years.”
Over the past decade, Beauregard has already accrued an incredibly impressive career having won four Pan-American Championships, one of which she did not concede a single point.
The work is hardly over for Beauregard, who currently has her sights on making the Olympic team in 2028.
“It’s kind of a trap to get a big result and then just relax so I know the road ahead is going to be gruelling and difficult but so far it's been so fulfilling,” said Beauregard.
The third-year center was the most efficient postscoring player in the country last season according to advanced analytics.
By Anthony Maruca Sports Editor
When an organization evaluates talent, it’s common for them to pay careful attention to the efficiency of its members. More specifically, they seek to understand how much investment is required for them to provide value.
This function of organizations is no different within sports teams than it is for a large corporation in the business world.
For Concordia’s men’s basketball team, a player’s scoring efficiency is an important aspect of evaluating talent both within and outside the organization.
The Stingers lost several key starters this past off-season. Most notably, their two starting guards in Junior Mercy and
Alec Phaneuf. Phaneuf has since moved on to play for the University of Ottawa, and there is no record of Mercy’s playing career continuing elsewhere.
Taking into consideration the offensive production that has left with these players, Concordia’s coaching staff knew they would need to pivot, finding an alternative on offence.
This is where third-year center Karam Sahly comes into the equation.
Using data derived from the Synergy Basketball program, a video and statistical analysis platform, the Stingers’ coaching staff saw that Sahly was the most efficient scorer in post-up situations last year with at least 75 possessions.
To score from the “post” in basketball is to have initiated the play in a post-up , where their back is to the basket in “post” positioning, usually being guarded by one defender.
The shooter must also be in relatively close proximity to the rim, typically within 15 feet of the basket.
“It’s how [many] points per possession he is scoring when he gets it in the post. Every score is two points, so when it comes up possession-wise, every time he got the ball he scores 1.2 points for our team. That’s how they calculate it,” said Stingers’ head coach Damian Buckley in an interview with The Concordian. Buckley, alongside former interim and
now assistant coach Aleks Mitrovic, determined that elevating Sahly’s usage on offence was the pivot they needed to move forward. However, this meant some adjustments had to be made both on and off the court.
“What we really pointed out as a point of emphasis for us in the off-season for [Karam] was to get in shape, you know, he has to be able to run the floor,” added Buckley.
“He has to be able to play six, six-anda-half minutes every quarter. Last year, he
only played 19 minutes a game right? So it’s a big expectation to need him to play 30 out of the 40 minutes on the court.”
Even with the added pressure that comes with the increased workload, Sahly says he is ready for whatever comes his way.
“I’ve worked this off-season to be able to ramp-up the usage [...] I worked on my cardio and different stuff so I can be able to sustain that level for a long period of time,” said Sahly.
“I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life.”
Mitrovic looks at Sahly’s elevated role as a way to balance out the pace of the offence and limit mistakes.
“[Sahly]’s a good decision maker. He slows down things for us. When we play with our guards, we tend to go fast, so Karam slows it down and we take the time to make better decisions,” said Mitrovic.
Concordia was unable to evaluate their new offensive approach in a pre-season win visiting Saint Mary’s, due to Sahly getting into foul trouble and only playing 10 minutes.
The Stingers will play several exhibition games, including a tournament in Victoria, before officially starting their season in November. This provides them an opportunity to make adjustments for their new-look offence heading into the new season.
La mythologie sous l’angle de la haute technologie d’animation.
Par Selena Ruiz Rédactrice attitrée
Sous forme de projection audiovisuelle, le centre Phi invite les visiteurs à s’immerger dans la profonde vie océanique dans l’exposition swell of spæc(i)es par l’artiste Josèfa Ntjam ouverte jusqu’au 11 janvier 2026.
Les créatures hyper colorées et non verbales hypnotisent les visiteurs avec leurs formes et mouvements presque aliénés avec toutes les couleurs possibles. Les couleurs vives du film créént un fort contraste avec la pièce sombre, créant une ambiance encore plus invitante et chaleureuse.
À l’intérieur de l’espace découverte
se trouvent deux sculptures en bois en forme de méduses de grandeur nature. Lors du film, la piste narrative jouait sous les coupoles des méduses. Il était difficile d’entendre les voix, car la composition sonore englobait presque la totalité des paroles, en raison d’un mauvais équilibre de volume.
Afin d’aider d’autres passionnés d’art à mieux comprendre son processus de création, Ntjam a dédié la deuxième pièce de l’exposition à ses cahiers et à ses livres d’inspiration, auxquels le public peut librement accéder et les lire.
Parmi les livres, on retrouve Moi, Tituba sorcière... par Maryse Condé, The Abyss Stares Back de Stacy Alaimo et Theory of Water de Leanne Betasamosake Simpson. Par les lectures on comprend le sens plus large de l’œuvre et le lien entre la vie marine et la mythologie.
Dans la panoplie de papier à disposition, Cahier de lectures, partagée par Ntjam, explique son intérêt pour les significations diverses.
« À partir de symboles, je trouve des corrélations et tente de les relier. Par
exemple, le serpent est un symbole très présent dans de nombreuses mythologies.
[...] Je m’intéresse aux diverses significations », partage Ntjam.
L’un des thèmes étant l’afrofuturisme, concept développé en 1993 sous Mark Derry, Ntjam crée sa propre définition du terme
« C’est impossible d’en donner une définition parce qu’il y a trop de ramifications.
L’afrofuturisme pour moi, c’est le collage, le sample et l’augmentation. Ça peut être quelque chose de très méta, un cyborg en évolution », explique-t-elle.
Graphique par Anna Huang // Éditrice graphique // @itza_me_anna
Papier ou numérique, quelle est la meilleure manière de prendre ses notes?
Par Selena Ruiz Rédactrice attitrée
Avec la mi-session qui arrive à grands pas, sans compter les travaux, les cours, les projets, les présentations et les examens, il est essentiel d’avoir un système en place pour organiser son temps et ses engagements sociaux.
L’utilisation d’un agenda ou d’un planificateur de temps devient alors essentielle
d’utiliser l’option traditionnelle du papier et des crayons?
Pour Sarah Abo-Hussein, étudiante en troisième année en communications à Concordia, la réponse est claire : l’agenda papier.
« Pour moi, c’est papier à 100 %. J’ai l’impression que je me rappelle plus des choses quand je l’écris à la main. Comme si faire la motion était assez pour me souvenir que j’avais écrit quelque chose ».
Sarah a raison, et cela a été démontré dans plusieurs études au cours des dernières décennies, preuves à l’appui.
Une étude norvégienne réalisée par Audrey van der Meer et Ruud van der Weel auprès de 36 participants, et rap portée par National Geographic, montre que la prise de notes manuscrites permet une meilleure mémorisation que la prise de notes numérique.
« L’ensemble du cerveau était actif lor
munications à Concordia, elle préfère le papier, et ce pour ses notes, comme pour son agenda.
« Pour ma prise de notes, j’écris sur des feuilles individuelles et je les organise par cours. Chaque cours a sa pochette, avec le plan cours imprimé. C’est plus facile de s’y retrouver, et de voir mes dates de remise. Ça fait six ans que je fonctionne comme ça, et ça marche très bien ».
De son côté, Laurence, jeune professionnelle dans le domaine des ressources humaines, opte quant à elle pour les agendas numériques, malgré certaines dif-
notes. Chacun à sa technique développée au cours des années d’études, et de l’expérience professionnelle. Si ce n’est pas déjà fait, vous pouvez aller vous chercher gratuitement un agenda de l’Association étudiante de Concordia (CSU), dans le bâtiment Henry F. Hall, salle H-711.
Graphique par Anna Huang // Éditrice graphique // @itza_me_anna
Des centaines de personnes ont rendu hommage au jeune de 15 ans tué par balles par un policier la semaine dernière.
Par Nicolas Tremblay Rédacteur attitré
C’était un moment sombre pour la communauté de Longueuil, qui a perdu un adolescent de 15 ans la semaine dernière. Des centaines de personnes étaient rassemblées en début d’après-midi ce samedi 27 septembre au coin des rues de Monaco et Joseph-Daigneault, à Saint-Hubert. Elles rendaient hommage à Nooran Rezayi, abattu par un policier, à l’endroit où le drame s’est produit la semaine dernière.
Contexte
Nooran Rezayi est mort le 21 septembre après avoir été atteint par deux balles d’un policier du Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL). Les policiers intervenaient à la suite d’un appel au 911 mentionnant un groupe de jeunes « cagoulés et armés », selon la personne ayant contacté le 911.
Le Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) mène une enquête pour comprendre les circonstances ayant mené à la mort de l’adolescent de 15 ans. Le BEI a confirmé n’avoir saisi qu’une seule arme à feu, celle du policier qui a tiré sur Nooran Rezayi.
Selon les informations de Radio-Canada, qui a parlé à des témoins présents sur les lieux du drame, Nooran Rezayi aurait voulu montrer aux policiers qu’il n’avait rien dans son sac à dos.
Toujours selon Radio-Canada, l’appel au 911 aurait duré dix minutes et aurait fait mention d’une arme à feu quatre fois. Après moins d’une minute sur les lieux, le policier a tiré sur Nooran Rezayi.
Le BEI a écrit dans un courriel au Concordian qu’il n’avait pas de mise à jour à l’enquête, que l’organisation continue son enquête et diffusera un communiqué dès que le rapport sera remis au Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP).
Le SPAL refuse de commenter l’enquête en cours du BEI, a dit Marie Beauvais, sergente à la section des communications du SPAL lors d’une entrevue accordée au Concordian. Le SPAL a toutefois confirmé par courriel au Concordian que le policier impliqué est sous enquête et absent pour une durée indéterminée.
« Le policier du SPAL impliqué dans l’événement actuellement sous enquête par le BEI, survenu le dimanche 21 septembre dernier, est en absence pour une durée indéterminée », a écrit le SPAL dans un courriel destiné au Concordian
« Son statut sera réévalué à l’issue de cette absence, le cas échéant, en fonction des éléments de l’enquête qui nous seront communiqués par le BEI », ajoute le SPAL dans ce même courriel.
Le BEI a annoncé le 23 septembre que le Service de police de la ville de Montréal (SPVM) a déclenché une enquête parallèle à celle du BEI.
Marche silencieuse et discours poignants
La vigile, organisée par l’Association de la Sépulture Musulmane au Québec, a débuté à 14 h. La famille du défunt a mené une marche calme et silencieuse vers le parc Marcel-Simard.
Rayan Bazzaz, un ami proche de Nooran Rezayi, a témoigné sa gratitude envers les participants de la vigile.
« Aujourd’hui ça me fait vraiment plaisir qu’il y ait autant de monde parce que ça prouve aussi qu’il y a une solidarité entre nous et que tout le monde est là l’un pour l’autre », a-t-il mentionné lors d’une entrevue accordée au Concordian
« Que ça ne soit pas une question de couleur, qu’on soit arabe, noir ou n’importe quelle race, que l’on soit unis ensemble. Et je trouve ça vraiment merveilleux qu’il y ait autant de monde qui s’est présenté aujourd’hui. »
Des centaines de personnes se sont rassemblées au terrain de soccer, où de nombreux discours touchants prononcés par la famille et les amis de Nooran Rezayi ont marqué cet après-midi pacifique.
Après deux minutes de silence, la sœur de Nooran a prononcé le premier discours. Tout en tentant de retenir ses larmes, elle a rendu hommage à son frère et a remercié tous ceux et celles qui offraient du support et leurs condoléances à sa famille.
« Il est essentiel d’être clair, cette tragédie n’est pas uniquement la nôtre, elle est collective. En tant que citoyens du Québec, en tant que famille qui a placé sa confiance dans les valeurs de cette province, nous affirmons ceci; la paix n’est pas un mot, c’est une responsabilité ! »
Andrés Fontecilla et Alejandra Zaga Mendez, députés de Québec Solidaire,
étaient présents à la vigile. Fontecilla a pris la parole.
« C’est important d’être là aujourd’hui. Non seulement pour la famille, non seulement pour ses amis, non seulement pour la jeunesse de l’école André-Laurendeau, non seulement pour sa communauté. C’est important d’être là pour rappeler que c’est tout le Québec qui devra faire le deuil de la mort injustifiée d’un de nos enfants! » a dit Fontecilla.
Il s’est ensuite tourné vers la famille Rezayi pour lui offrir ses condoléances. Alors que Fontecilla donnait son discours, certains manifestants ont fait entendre leur mécontentement de voir des politiciens présents.
Les organisateurs et la famille ont alors rappelé à la foule de garder le calme et de ne pas chanter ou crier. Par la suite, des amis de Nooran Rezayi ont pris la parole.
Des manifestants ont témoigné leur désir de manifester pour la communauté alors que des amis de la famille les priaient de rester calmes et de ne pas chanter fort. Les manifestants restants ont quitté le terrain de soccer vers 15 h 25.
Concordia’s International Students Office hosts movie nights as an opportunity for students to connect with one another.
By Kasi Peri Assistant Arts and Culture Editor
Concordia’s International Students Office (ISO) kicked off the semester with a movie night on Sept. 22 in its offices in the Guy de Maisonneuve Building (GM). The event brought together international students as a way to unwind from the stress that comes with university life.
Kelly Collins, manager of the ISO, explained that this event helps international students to find a space where they can come meet and network with other students. Collins explained that events held by the office are also advertised to spend time outside the classroom. These events are designed to be stress-free, especially for students who are in the thick of exam period or counselling, these social events can help them take their mind off of their schoolwork.
“We do [movie nights] quite reg ularly. We also usually offer a movie blitz during exam periods, so stu dents can study and then come in and binge some series,” said Collins.
A poll on Instagram allowed stu dents to decide what they want to watch. La La Land was chosen for their latest movie night. ISO student workers who oversaw the event chose to create a poll that stems from their goal of stu dent outreach by giving the opportuni ty to gather around an activity that is affordable.
“We advertise the movies ahead of time and give students the op tion [to decide] what they want to watch,” said Collins. “We try to involve the partici pants as much as possible.”
The volunteers set up a snack table for the at tendees, which included some granola bars and a large bowl of pop corn. Chairs were set up to replicate a typ ical movie viewing experience.
The ISO brought snacks to make students feel comfortable and welcome, especially as food and movies help form a sense of
community. Social events, such as Movie Night, hope to motivate students to get out of their comfort zone and break from classes to explore the city, allowing students visiting Montreal for the first-time a chance to bring home memories that they’ve made.
“It’s important that it is for everyone, they should try to get outside the mental health zone of the classroom, and move on to some social events,” said Collins.
Dali Anargyros, a film student from Paris, who arrived in the city just a few weeks ago, explained that she followed ISO’s social media accounts for events like movie nights that will help her explore what Concordia has to offer.
“I'm a film student, so a movie now sounded good, and especially when I saw it was La La Land,” said Anargyros. “I arrived, and the film started right away, so I didn't really talk to anyone, and I was going to kind of meet people, meet other international students.”
Collins hopes that events such as the Movie Night are going to help students out of isolation to meet other international students, especially with the winter semester creeping up.
“I think it’s important that they establish some friendships and bonds early on,” said Collins. “I think it’s a great way to foster those connections early, so that we can go through winter together and not be isolated,” she concluded.
By Ferdaous Amrati | Staff Writer | Letterboxd: @Ferdaous
Set during the First World War, this film follows Lionel (Paul Mescal), a Kentucky farm boy gifted with a remarkable voice and David (Josh O’Connor), a Newport music student, as they bond over their mutual interest in folk music. Together, they embark on a song-collecting journey, recording folk songs through a phonograph across states.
Director Oliver Hermanus captures a quiet struggle for love using a muted palette of greys, browns and blues. The romance unfolds through stolen gazes, covert admiration and an invisible yet palpable desire veiled by their shared passion for music. The film’s
magnetic pull lies in the silence and the characters’ attempt to hide their feelings for each other.
The film’s strength rests not only in the characters’ attempt to dissimulate their affection and admiration for one another but also in the visuals, ambiance and performances. From candlelit rooms and grainy textures to raw folk songs, Lionel and David embody a quiet intensity and unspoken longing.
With its washed-out tones and lingering silences, The History of Sound captures the warmth and wistfulness of fall, making it an ideal watch for the season.
Rating: 3.5/5
Jack Steer | Staff Writer | Letterboxd: @WhatisaJack
Every character is clad in thick wool sweaters, and it's set in a creepy, remote mansion, the world outside is draped in moody fog and fallen leaves: Knives Out is the perfect fall movie.
When mystery writer Harlan Thrombey slits his throat the night of his 85th birthday, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is hired to investigate the death. With a southern drawl and absurd vocabulary, Craig is undoubtedly the film’s standout performance. He’s witty, ridiculous and infinitely
Knives Out is a classic murder mystery turned upside down. The audience know Harlan’s death
is a suicide, but the film slowly undermines their understanding of circumstances around the death. The film confuses the audience as it progresses instead of following the usual mystery template where the audience gradually solves the case.
The Thrombey family is deeply unlikeable, conceited and selfish, adding underlying family drama to the mystery. Any good mystery has many suspects, and many of the Thrombey’'s have potential motives to kill Harlan. The film relentlessly keeps its audience guessing.
Refreshing and subversive, Knives Out proves the whodunit is timeless and perfect for fall.
Rating: 4.5/5
Carlos Javier Montenegro | Contributor | Letterbox: @CJPG
John Hughes’ Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a Thanksgiving classic that captures the chaos and frustrations of holiday travel and the unexpected people we meet along
Neal Page (Steve Martin) is desperate to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Bad weather forces him to seek alternative transportation and where he meets Del Griffith (John Candy), a talkative shower curtain salesman who joins him on his unpredictable journey back home. Martin and Candy’s chemistry is
the heart of the film, as their conflicting personalities create tension, hilarious moments and genuine empathy.
Hughe’s direction perfectly balances sharp humor and heartfelt moments, keeping you engaged throughout the journey. The film’s unforgettable 80s tracks including ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ and ‘If You Leave’ enrich its emotional tone.
A warm story about human connection and kindness, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is the kind of holiday film you’ll return to, year after year.
Rating: 4/5
Fall’s fashion staples are back, with style that speaks for you
By Anastasia Pobudzey Contributor
As the leaves change colour, fall 2025 fashion embraces an era that is both a nostalgic embrace of tradition and a bold expression of individuality.
With a blend of classic autumnal hues and rich new statement shades, the fall 2025 colour palette offers a vibrant canvas. Anything from deep burgun dy, forest green and classic mus tard yellow, to modern favorites like chocolate brown and an un expected royal purple.
Many fall trends, like the vin tage preppy look, are reinterpre tations of classic styles. While this look might be a reliable fall staple, the key is to customize it so it feels organic, not performative.
“These aesthetics reassure us that what we’re wearing is not only trendy, but also atemporal,” said Danik Côté, the junior marketing at McGill’s Cir cle of Fashion.
This involves mixing timeless and structured pieces, like a tweed jack et, with modern touches that reflect
a unique personality, turning trends into a foundation for self-expression rather than a uniform to perform.
Beyond how to style a look, the fabrics tell a story on their own. This season's collections invite a deeper, more tactile conversation.
Leather remains an enduring fall favourite, recently with a focus on both style and comfort. The material is being celebrated for its versatility, allowing for
“A lot of people who are really into fashion will start wearing full leather outfits. Leather jacket, leather boots, leather pants, leather gloves,” said Adel Kasseb, vice president of the Concordia Fashion Business Association.
“Consistent leath er all across,” says Kasseb, who is all for a head-to-toe leather ensem ble that creates a strik ing, cohesive silhouette, while Côté mentioned how smaller touches like a suede bucket bag deliv ers texture without the full commitment.
piece. It's a statement of classic style that adds a cozy, luxurious feel to
This season also sees the return of another powerful, single-mate rial look: the Canadian tuxedo—making a statement that is both classic and cool. The key to a modern denim-on-denim look is to play with cuts and washes. For Kasseb a denim shirt tucked into denim jeans serves a nice look.
Accessories are the ultimate tool for agency and personality, allowing the everyday consumer to participate in trends and build a coherent and unique outfit without sacrificing an entire wardrobe. This season focuses on signature pieces that can elevate a look. A classic pair of sunglasses or a belt can easily tie an outfit togeth-
The way you accessories differentiates you from the next person.
Fall 2025 is a season that proves you can be fashionable and authentic, but as Kasseb concludes, it's about finishing off every look with a “smile,” the most timeless accessory of all.
Miaoutréal: Le Miaousée, invites visitors to learn more about Montreal’s feline history, from the 1800s to the present day.
By Nathalie Bucur Contributor
Miaoutréal: The history of Montreal’s cats is a temporary exhibit happening from Sept. 12 to Oct. 12. It features two exhibit rooms, laid out to emulate Montreal’s “ruelles,” small alleyways that are characteristic of the city. The “ruelles” feature local artists' “cat-themed” work, yet spreads awareness about numerous cat rescue groups operating in Montreal.
Photographs of Montreal’s feline companions from 1864 to the present day cover the walls. They allow visitors to learn about the city’s “cat shows” of 1875, blessings of the pets done in Montreal Catholic church es—mainly around The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals—and even iconic neighborhood cats.
Humbert the cat, known by Notre-Dame-de-Grâce residents for his presence around a local depanneur on Sherbrooke Street W, served as personal inspiration for Aqeela Nahani when creating the Miaousée’s alley cat gallery setup.
Nahani, executive di rector of The Miaousée seeks to end the stigma against rescue cats which is why the inclusion of advocacy groups has al ways been crucial to her cat museum project.
“We want to celebrate cats in all ways, so advocacy is a huge part of it, but we also want people to have fun and learn interesting things. That’s why we have a mixture of cat history, cat art, cat events, famous cats in the city,” said Nahani.
Cat rescue groups sell locally made jewelry at the exhibit, with proceeds going to support their work.
Nancy-Ann Michaud, the founder of Kitty-Kat Rescue, has been offered a space within the Miaousée This exposure allows her and many other rescuers to fundraise and educate visitors on the challenges of fostering.
visitors] get to learn so much about cats. I believe in what she’s doing, and I’m really happy that someone is doing this.”
Michaud said that Quebec has the largest numbers of cat abandonment in the country. According to her, this is a result of attitudes held towards cats in the province.
“I believe that what she [Nahani] created is so necessary […] Nobody knows about all the people who work behind the scenes to try to save the cats. It’s an eye-opener; people see that when you adopt a cat, it’s a serious thing, it’s a member of the family. And they [the museum
“The problem starts at home. It’s the old mentality that a cat is ‘just a cat’, it’s a thing that is easily disposable. Most people think cats are lions and are happier outside, but that’s not true. Domesticated cats don’t know how to defend themselves with feral cats outside, they just don’t.”
Nahani’s goals for the permanent exhibit involves cat fostering within the museum, along with platforming artists and rescue groups.
“[The temporary exhibit] is hyper-focused on the history of cats in Quebec, because I wanted to make it very local and pertinent to the community of Montreal,” said Nahani. “For the larger museum, we plan to have temporary exhibits, permanent exhibits as well as a cat lounge with rescue cats.”
By Sofia Dawson Music Editor @sofiajdawson
“When I started singing and playing, I was terrible, I did not sound good at all,” said Aysanabee in an interview with The Concordian. “It’s been a lot of hours of just trying over and over again and trying new things, and, yeah, I don’t think, anyone’s ever really born with anything.”
The multi-faceted singer-songwriter and producer is Oji-Cree, Sucker Clan of the Sandy Lake First Nation, a flyin community in Northwestern Ontario. Now based in Tkaronto, Aysanabee is a writer and producer of deep-cut indie folk records that sets him apart in the music scene.
For Aysanabee, music has been a source of guidance and catharsis.
“It was kind of always the thing that
was there. Growing up in the bush without electricity and a guitar being there, I just started learning. It was one of the very few things I had to kind of keep myself entertained growing up, but yeah, my mom would go work in like, hotels or laundry mats—wherever she could find work. So I used songs almost as a journal, and sometimes, as a teacher. I think I still kind of carry that into the process to date.”
Evident from his inaugural project Watin released in 2022, Aysanabee folds lived perspectives into his music in a way some described as journalistic.
“I was just journaling a lot at the time about imposter syndrome and self doubt and wondering, if I will have, you know, the endurance to kind of just keep growing, keep evolving and see how far we can, you know, really, really go, and how many ears can hear this music, and how many stages can I share these stories, yeah. It’s kind of been interesting having this full circle moment,” said Aysanabee about the Edge of the Earth’s closing track, “Dream Catcher.”
“I think it’s the first record where people see a lot more of me in it. Every song is written from a different introspective moment in my life over the last few years— my career growing, traveling to new places, sharing songs and stories, and meeting
a lot of amazing people. I’ve been able to carry these songs across the world and have them be felt with the same impact so far away.”
Aysanabee’s current The Way We’re Born Tour is hardly his first rodeo. “I am looking forward to the tour of just, we’re out to do our thing and, you get into the zone—this flow, which is really nice,” he said. The singer is set to land at the Cabaret La Basoche in Gatineau, QC. on Dec. 12, 2025.
To date, Aysanabee has done over 300 shows across high-profile venues and riveting festivals, performing alongside artists such as Allison Russell, The National and William Prince, but his work doesn’t stop there. Aysanabee’s platform is the furthest thing from self-serving: his passion for uplifting the voices of emerging artists is nothing short of luminous.
“If I’m being completely honest, I feel like, when the mass graves were found, and people were stuck at home, and were just faced with the reality of the history of this country, this big realization happened. Like, holy shit, this terrible thing has happened, and now we’re all paying attention to it. And, how do we address it?”
The singer went on to explain how the spotlight shifted focus towards Indigenous artists of all mediums. “All this culture
and all these people are telling the story in our words, by our people. My record came out, and then the story broke, and suddenly so many people are like, ‘Oh, wow, let’s talk to this artist, because he has this album that’s relevant to what’s going on’ and so this—this part of the larger conversation.”
Now four years on, Aysanabee feels popular cultures moved on from Indigenous artists, and the necessity for action persists. “It’s continuing to fight for that space—keeping these doors open and making sure they stay open, because I would like other artists to get the opportunity to share their stories, their songs, and get to potentially make a career of doing the things that they want to do.”
“We could all just be country artists... so you know,” he joked.
“At the end of the day, just make music that you really enjoy […] play the songs that mean something to you.”
When music becomes an escape, it can offer an artist catharsis like no other. For Aysanabee, finding his way through song and guitar strings led him to becoming the first ever Indigenous artist to win the Juno for Songwriter of the Year and Best Alternative Album of The Year.
Fresh off their first tour Niivi sat down to talk about the state of queer issues in Inuktitut, their influences, and the expectations set for Inuit musicians.
By Simon Bowrin Assistant Music Editor @simonbowrin
Niivi Snowball is a young multidisciplinary artist from the northern Nunavik
town of Kuujjuaq. Identifying themself as an activist before a musician, they have gradually become an icon for queer Inuit youth.
Niivi was key in organizing Kuujjuaq’s first ever Pride parade at age 12 and has been an important part in putting the parade on every year since. They have raised concerns about how the parade has been treated since 2023’s display, which remains the biggest the town has seen.
“The fourth and fifth have been smaller because the board cut our funding. They decided that they no longer want to support a queer event. The mayor we have right now is not in support of queer people either. We’ve had complications with even putting the event on in the first place.”
As a young organizer of the community’s first pride event, they’ve had to face some backlash head on.
“I’ve had to grow thick skin and learn to take criticism very well. I do face a lot of scrutiny being the face for Nunavik
pride. I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it because I wouldn’t want someone else to be subjected to that. I know that I can get through it. As long as I’m able to still make the parade happen.”
They attribute some of this feeling of belonging in the role to their descent from a long line of artists and activists. They cite their father, Etua Snowball, a recording artist in his own right, as a major influence.
“I grew up in the music scene because of him. I got to meet people like Elisapee and Beatrice Deer and all these very big artists in the indigenous music scene.”
They feel that there are expectations placed upon Inuit musicians.
“What has always been most popular among Inuit musicians is folk music. When they do have a louder sound it’s still almost like a shock. In history we have been depicted as such cute little creatures, but we have so much anger and we have to be able to express it instead of killing ourselves because we are unable to.”
Niivi has been involved in Inuit performance arts since they were very young, and as they incorporate more of these sounds into their music, they worry about the commodification of this art.
“Sometimes in the scene I can feel like a diversity hire,” they explained. “People hear the words ‘Inuk punk artist’ and think ‘Wow Inuk artist.’ When my main thing is Inuk activism, in a way, I have to commodify myself to be this voice and have my people’s stories heard. Worst case scenario for this would be me being the sole face of Inuit music. Not all Inuit people look like me.”
If there’s one change they’d like to see in Quebec it’s education about Inuit people. “I’m always shocked by how little people know what Nunvik is. It’s literally in Quebec. I’m often forced to use colonial slurs for ourselves just to let people know what I’m talking about.”
Niivi’s lifelong project continues as they hope to one day see the land rightfully returned.
Day-by-day, here’s a recap of Montreal’s most familial music festival
By Sofia Dawson Music Editor @sofiajdawson
POP Mon treal, Sept. 24 to 28, an inter national music fes tival that took place across over 20 venues in Mile End and the surround ing Montreal neighborhoods. This notfor-profit event elevates emerging artists from across the globe, bringing together individuals in a truly familial experience. Missed it? Fret not! Here’s a recap of what went down, who to check out and where to find these artists next.
Hanako at La Sotterenea @hanakomusicqqq
WEDNESDAY - Sept. 24
Lizzie Lives Forever at Le P’tit Ours
@lizzielivesforever
This five-piece group from coastal Halifax brought a groovy alt-indie sound to warm up the POP Montreal scene. Lead vocalist Annah-Lauren Bloom reverberated effortlessly against the sweet riffs from guitarist Ryan Allen
Where to hear from them next: Listen to their newest record JUST MARRIED across all streaming platforms now!
Múm at Thèâtre Fairmont
@mumtheband
Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Le P’tit Ours is the historical Mile End venue, Thêâtre Fairmont. Here, the globally recognized Múm took the stage. This Icelandic group of experimental artists created an ambience like no other. For anyone wishing to see effervescent soundscapes come together live, Múm’s performance was a dream come true. Where to hear from them next: Múm is currently touring their newest record History of Silence. Catch them across the United States in early October and over in Europe this November.
THURSDAY - Sept. 25
Pure Pulp at Le P’tit Ours
@pure_pulp
For the Thursday crowd, Sam Sarty, also known under the name Pure Pulp, created an electronic mindfield you couldn’t take your eyes off. Originally from Winnipeg, Man., Sarty’s sound stemmed from a multitude of thrift ed instruments, top-notch looping systems and drum machines. Where to hear from them next: Check out five of the latest Pure Pulp tracks available on Bandcamp.
Just downstairs from the punk-rave at Sala Rosa, Montrealers could decompress with local indie singer-songwriter Hanako at La Sotterenea. The sheer relief that followed after hearing Hanako’s soft, intricate vocals radiated her grounded nature. Where to hear from them next:
Hanako will be performing Festival de Nouveau Cinema for their evening of honouring David Lynch on Oct. 10.
Fleeting Colours at Quai des Brumes
@fleetingcolours Further down St. Laurent, Montreal carried a certain nostalgia to the festival. The fivepiece band ripped up the stage at Quai tably, Concordia stu dent and Fleeting Co lours member Seamus Hickey shredded both vocals and electric gui tar as fans rocked alongside the group’s raw undertones and headbanging nature. Where to hear from them next: Fleeting Colours will be working away in the studio—stay tuned for the upcoming EP.
POP Montreal affairs. His cheerful smile and clear passion embraced audience members as they inched closer to stage as the set went on.
Where to hear from them next: Listen to newest work by Cedric Noel, Guides, across all streaming platforms now.
Ribbon Skirt at La Sotterenea
@ribbonskirtband
There aren’t enough words to describe the utter sensation that is Ribbon Skirt. With a sold-out show and a line out the door, the anticipation for the group’s performance was overwhelming. Formerly known as Love Language, the indie-rock Tashiina Buswa —blew the house away with songs you cannot help but headbang to. With jaw-dropping energy and unimaginable authenticity, these two Concordia alums are just getting
FRIDAY - Sept. 26
Ana Romm at L’Escogriffe Bar Spectacle @musica.de.ana
Surrounded by a crowd full of friends, family and newcomers, Ana Romm’s set at L’Esco was intimate and inspiring. The B.C.-born Concordia Student began by sharing stories solo before being joined by her counterparts Sarah Carnat, Simon Vandermuelen Kerr and Jesse Millman. The group’s effortless intertwining of sound was truly magical. For those who’ve watched Romm blossom in recent years, her first POP performance was both warming and a tear-jerker.
Where to hear from them next: Catch Ana Romm at Mai/son on Nov. 5!
Hanorah at La Sala Rossa
@hanorahmusic
With a jazzy, soulful set, Montreal star Hanorah gathered a packed audience who swayed alongside her divine presence. With captivating lyrics and groovy tunes, Hanorah brought some graceful pizazz to the Friday evening.
Where to hear from them next:
Hanorah will be playing a handful of shows across several Québec cities in the upcoming months including Saint-Romuald, Rivière-Ouelle, Saint-Jérôme, Québec City and Sherbrooke.
SATURDAY - Sept. 27
Cedric Noel at La Sala Rosa
@somespecialsolace
Local songwriter and bassist
Cedric Noel lit up La Sala with a heartfelt opening to the Saturday night’s
Catch Ribbon Skirt live while they support the North American leg of
Fat Dog at La Toscadura
@fatdogfatdogfatdog_
Technical difficulties didn’t stop this young group of rambunctious London artists from ripping through the walls at La Toscadura. Fat Dog, a wild U.K.-bred punk-rock band, has recently blown up on the other side of the globe for the nature of their crazy performances and eccentric music. While their set got off to a rocky start and the crowd grew anxious, the mosh pit that kicked off within the first song of their set reinstated their godlike presence for fans.
Where to hear from them next: Fat Dog will be flying back to the U.K. after a show at The Garrison in Toronto but for now, take a listen to their newest single “Pray to That” out now.
SUNDAY - Sept. 28
NIIVI at Le P’tit Ours
@niivi.music
Raw, gritty and honest are three words to describe NIIVI’s electric evening set at P’tit. The two-spirit Inuk indie-punk songwriter from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik blew the roof off the intimate space. Their magnetic sound and stunning throat singing drew in those walking by the venue, trippiling the crowd by the end of the set. Where to hear from them next:
NIIVI is currently working on their debut album—make sure to stay tuned!
Sofia’s Top Three Acts For You:
1. Ribbon Skirt Band
2. Ana Romm
3. Fat Dog
An intimate performance with the Montreal-based Wendat singer
Tamara
Galinato Head of Social Media @tamaragalinato
Wendat singer-songwriter, Eadsé performed at Théâtre Outremont last Thursday, Sept. 25 as part of a series of concerts presented by Radio-Canada to discover its “Révélations” of the year.
“Révélations” is a program by Radio-Canada that shines a spotlight on emerging Quebec artists. Each year, a jury of industry professionals selects several artists who carry the title. Eadsé is one of six artists picked this year who will receive personalized support and visibility across Radio-Canada’s platforms.
As the lights dimmed, Eadsé’s warm voice filled the small room with “Oné-Onti,” a piece dedicated to Max Gros-Louis, the former grand chief of Wendake. Gros-Louis served as a grandfather figure in her life, even giving Eadsé her name which signifies “my good friend” in Wendat, after which she named her first album. “Oné-Onti” is currently her most popular song with over seven million streams on Spotify.
The artist led the audience on an intimate emotional voyage with her voice—in English, French and Wendat—and a hand tambourine, accompanied by Raphaël Bussières (also known as Lucill) on the electric guitar and backup vocals.
After her opening song, she followed with “Wendat Endi,” “Dreamcatcher” and “Moi qui le peux encore,” from her new album, Healer The latter piece reflects on the violence faced by murdered Indigenous women.
Eadsé also has two songs named after her son, Owen, meaning “the one who glides on the water.” She explained how one of the last things Gros-Louis did before he died was name her son, an action that means a lot to her. Through “Owen I”, Eadsé dives into postpartum depression, which she experienced, and “Owen II” is giving her son life advice.
The singer shifted the mood with “Ya’ndahkwa,’” an upbeat dance song. Her stage presence was electric, drawing the audience into the performance.
As she sang “Two Falls,” she placed a red tobacco tie on the ground, near Bussières who sat on the left side of the stage. She explained that the pouch is used as a sacred offering and gratitude which she further expressed to the small crowd for being there.
By Kailee Krentz Opinions Editor @kaileeliz
Growing up, we dream of love that’s full of life and colour—a magnetic connection drawing two irresistible forces together. Acts of passion aren’t far-fetched but rather a typical Wednesday evening. The rain would fill the streets as someone stands outside your window waiting for you, or a yearning other writes a song about the freckles on your face because they can’t get them out of their head.
Unfortunately, when we wake up from that dream we are struck with the nauseating reality of swiping left and right, recycled superficial conversations, and the unknown of whether a first date will ever become a second.
So, where did we go wrong?
I blame these longing expectations on the movies we watched growing up, specifically, the rom-coms of the early 2000’s. These films—my favourites being 13 Going On 30, Notting Hill and Dresses—all follow a similar plot line of
man and woman meeting and falling in love. My apologies if that was a spoiler, but ultimately, it’s all you need to know.
This particular genre has studied almost every type of meet-cute you can think of, playing with the audience’s heart strings as the couples push and pull from each other only to end with some grand romantic gesture and a profession of love that leads to marriage. It’s hard not to get attached to these ideas when they have been shown to us in every which way.
As a consequence of this, I would consider myself to be a hopeless romantic, holding onto the idea that love is meant to look like this. I’ve created more scenar ios in my head than could ever be lived in one lifetime, yet hopelessly my mind continues to conjure bouquets of flowers nestled on my doorstep.
Nowadays, everything feels like a dating app. Merely overwhelmed by the thought, there are millions of people at our disposal that can all be accessed with the touch of a screen. We’ve resorted to sending messages through Snapchat, secretly begging for the other
attempt to send a signal that there is an interest for something more.
As a society we’ve become grounded in the social media we consume, often leading people to forget that it is not reality. This same artificial feeling has bled into the dating game; nothing feels authentic. When reality shatters this vision of love we grew up believing, we’re left just as cold and confused as Mr. Darcy after Lizzy’s rejection in the garden. This unwanted reality has seeped into day-today conversation as complaints are heard more frequently than praise concerning the endeavors
in yet another failed attempt to find love. As we grow older, one can only hope that these actions begin to match our expectations. I remain faithful in this ever-changing society that change is on the horizon as we strive to find the same passion that filled our heads with dreams about prince charming when we were kids.
I guess only time will tell if I get a pebble at my window telling me someone’s waiting in the rain to confess their love to me.
Today is all we got and there is no replay button.
By Rita Kamel Staff writer
In the final episode of the TV show The Office, the character Andy Bernard delivers a line I consider genius. He said, “I wish there was a way to know that you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”
I find myself thinking about this quote from time to time. It was the wake-up call I needed to realize that I am living in the good old days right now.
It is hard to stay in the moment because there is always something to look forward to. As young adults, we have a life full of adventures ahead of us—careers to build, families to create and many more firsts to experience.
There is always this sense of anticipation and wonder, sometimes even stress, about what comes next. We try to accelerate the process of achieving our goals, because we want to have the relief of
knowing that everything will be alright. But we don’t realize that by doing so, we are just rushing our lives and we let it pass in front of us without truly savouring it.
Photography has helped me appreciate today. I try to always have my camera with me, and the result of this habit is thousands of pictures that have helped me put things into perspective and realize how precious my life is.
Every time I look back at my old pictures, I get this beautiful sense of nostalgia, and I realize how much I miss the old chapters of my life. Yet, it also helps me be more intentional about enjoying the current chapter.
Three years ago, my sister got me a photo album for Christmas and her gift was the beginning of a yearly tradition. I started printing my pictures and making an album that recaps the best moments of the year.
I try as much as I can to print the pictures and add them to the album right
away, and every time I add pictures, I already find myself missing the present moment. I will never be 22 again, so I am trying to make every moment count.
There is another quote from my favourite movie, About Time, that summarizes the way I want to live my life. The quote reads: “I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life."
Sometimes we get distracted by the motion of life, and we fall into the trap that today is just another day. But maybe we should start listening to what Andy said and notice the good old days before they slip away. Let’s slow down and admire the present moment, maybe even take a few pictures. Those pictures will be our only souvenirs today.
Why orange shirt day matters; for residential school survivors and the new generation of Indigenous people, it is crucial to learn, listen, and honour the children who were taken.
By Maya Jiyâmeyihtam Brousseau Contributor @mayabfay
As a white-passing Indigenous woman, it's easy to assume that I’m not deeply affected by truth and reconciliation. Presuming the average Concordian knows the bare minimum—that being from class, an acquaintance, or other—Orange Shirt Day is like any other day. For me, it's something that is passed down from generation to generation, through stories, teachings and trauma. Living in Canada, it's more than likely to meet an Indigenous person who has experienced residential schools and the abusive
systems. It’s important to be sensitive and if possible, ask questions, learn, and educate yourself and others. Prejudice and assumptions are the biggest downfalls of our society, and ideas that we’ve unintentionally created over time, like race, are simply bringing us apart. Truth and reconciliation is the start of fixing this issue.
The meaning behind wearing an orange shirt and the connection to the day begins with a story shared by Elder Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor. Before being forcibly taken from her home, her grandmother gifted her an orange shirt. At the residential school, their strict rules forbid it and the school took her shirt away. The orange shirt is now a symbol of power, despite an incredible loss of identity and freedom. The story
of Phyllis is about the many thousands of children that were sent away from their homes, and wearing an orange shirt as a symbol is central to keeping in our hearts the loss and trauma inflicted on Indigenous children.
Jane Saganash, an elder from the community of Waswanipi, Quebec, and a residential school survivor, expanded on wishing more was done about Truth and Reconciliation and participation on Orange Shirt Day.
“I wonder if they know what we went through, we left in September and didn’t go home until end of June,” Saganash said. “We didn’t see our family for 9-10 months straight, didn’t go home for Christmas or any holidays. That’s sad. 1000km away from home, do you think
Making student transit more affordable with the power of collective bargaining.
By Danylo Perkov Assistant Opinions Editor
In 2023, Concordia’s Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis conducted a voluntary study on the commuting habits of students, faculty and staff.
According to the study, 78 per cent of students and 83 per cent of staff consider SGW their primary campus. As a result, between 58 and 71 per cent of both groups use public transportation as their main commuting method.
With so many of us taking a combination of buses, metro and commuter trains to Concordia daily, costs start to pile up. Students living on the island can spend as much as $753 annually for
transportation, just to attend classes and get around an already expensive city. For those living off-island and commuting by train or regional bus networks, prices can skyrocket to as much as $1983 yearly.
There are solutions that make transportation more affordable for university students. Several institutions, such as University of Waterloo, University of British Columbia, Conestoga College and others, have implemented U-Pass systems—a collective bargain from their respective student associations that allow full-time students unlimited public transportation usage.
According to the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) their program saves individual students over $850 yearly on transportation fees, and over $3200 over the length of an undergraduate degree.
For those not utilizing the metro daily because they live nearby and walk or bike to school, exemptions can be made. The aforementioned examples allow exemptions to students taking online courses or those with disabilities, not utilizing the public transport services.
Additionally, WUSA lets part-time students opt in, making the service an
optional deal for those only taking one or two courses per semester.
This is a powerful system that utilizes collective bargaining of the student unions and ultimately ben efits most. The CSU has more than 40,000 members and has the power and responsibili ty to offer better deals to its members, especially in Montreal, where it becomes hard to commute to school via bike or walking during the winter months.
our parents had money to come and visit? Or us? I didn’t even know where I was, I was sad. That’s why sometimes when they say ‘Orange Shirt Day’, I don’t want to think about it, but other people need to know about it.”
So much has already been taken from the elders and residential school survivors, “like I said, it brings back memories from when I was away from my family, crying at night, missing my parents, my home, our way of living in the bush, eating rabbit and moose meat. It was hard,” Sanagash said.
The trauma and heartbreak that has been ongoing for generations; understanding this is the bare minimum that can be done. Truth and reconciliation is not only for them, but for the generations of trauma that have and are continued to be passed down.
Indigenous history is the foundation of this country, stay empathetic and understanding, and offer support wherever you can. This Sept. 30, participate in walks, events and wear your orange shirt for elders like Phyllis and Saganash to remember the child victims of the abuses of residential schools, like Saganash’s brother who never made it home and was buried in an unmarked grave, whose family was never able to mourn rightfully.
Wear an orange shirt this month shamelessly, support the residential school survivors and victims, help out local communities and groups, and read up on Orange Shirt Day.
Montreal already has reduced fares for students, offered to all high school, college and university students. By striking deals directly between student unions and the Montreal transit authority (ARTM), lower costs for individuals can be achieved.
Such agreements especially benefit students living farther away. Concordia students currently living in Zones B, C or D are forced to drive to school due to absence of public transportation in their area or due to the outrageous prices.
Forced to pay nearly $100 or more, students living off the island would especially benefit from a potential deal between the CSU and ARTM with a flat rate for all students, independent of their location.
With the second phase of REM’s opening just around the corner—albeit a further corner than we thought—Montreal has an opportunity to encourage more students to use their public transportation system. By inviting larger bargains such as the U-Pass, the city will boost the usage of public transport on the island by making it more affordable for students.
Aries
Bring this coupon for a discount on your next between-class meal at Souvlaki George. Does not stack with other offers. Available for in-person purchases only. Valid until October 31.
Scan to visit our website! (514) 482-0040
6995 Monkland Ave
Or check us out on Instagram: @souvlaki_george and TikTok: @_souvlakigeorge
Horoscopes
You’re either going to crash out or lock in.
Taurus
Book a recording studio, you have a secret talent.
Gemini
You’ll find your next fit in a Renaissance dumpster.
1. Signing gorilla and friend of Robin Williams
2. ____ instant (Whenever!)
3. Low carb diet (initially created for epileptic kids!)
4. Kinda
5. Rapper Biggie
6. Used a steel or strop
7. Aged
8. PTA concern (abbr.)
9. Egyptian bug of heiroglyphs
10. Family of exoskeletoned arthropods
11. Boorish
12. Revise
13. Moistens
Cancer
Your intuition will lead you to where you need to be.
Leo
Someone is very proud of you.
Virgo
Misfortune will follow your footsteps this week. Avoid staircases.
61. ___-fi Across Down
1. Studio Ghibli witch with
18. Ties, as a boat
23. Pontificate
24. Gauge of women’s depiction in media
25. More fearful
27. Oat, almond, soy, and coconut for example
28. “This is too much for me”
29. Pearl material
31. Ancient Andean
32. Word said while shaking hands, often
33. Zeroes
34. Cancel, in a launch
36. Author Robert of “The Power Broker”
39. Destinies
in a famous Bed-In
21. Soccer gamer cheer
22. Waist management article?
24. Emphasises, in a memo
26. Narc
27. Gold diggers?
30. Some sandwich breads
35. Big Apple purchases?
who
Corrections
Libra
36. Unable to
43. Break down
45. Rents out, as a space
46. Mall figures come December
49. Masticated and ingurgitated
50. Sod spot
51. Gym goer’s woe
52. Raven’s relative
53. Early birds?
55. Lead, in a film
56. Mathematician and philosopher Descartes
57. “Beware the ____ of March”
60. Contents of the Seine
37. Ebenezer Scrooge, or miserly figure
38. ____ Ness
39. Trivial display
40. Continental currency
41. Many an Iraqi minority
42. Opera solo
43. Indiana B-Baller
44. Construction site footwear requirement
Never become Tiktok famous as you will bring shame upon your family name.
Scorpio
Stack up on coconut water, you need that hydration.
Sagittarius
Adopt a shelter dog.
Capricorn
All the grind will be worth the while.
Aquarius
Something fruity is on its way.
Pisces
You have an authoritative presence. Scary.
46. Most reasonable
47. Author Harper of "To Kill a Mockingbird"
48. Rumps
50. Dairy additive
54. A year in Lyon
55. Indian Honorific
58. Area units defined as the land 8 oxen could plow in a day
59. Go to an exam, say
62. "_____ line is it anyway?"
63. Greek earth god
64. House MD. accessory
65. Little salamanders
66. Midpoints of heliocentric systems
67. Angers
In the Sept. 16 issue of The Concordian, in the article titled “Concordia’s budget constraints leave the Greenhouse searching for $1.5M” it stated that it could take the university up to seven years. This statement was made from documents obtained by The Concordian. But Concordia has clarified that “future increases in funding from the provincial government remain uncertain and we have no indication of when we will have additional funds to support other initiatives.” According to Concordia Facilities Management, the mention of “five to seven years” references the current cap on spending for infrastructure imposed by the provincial government, and is not a timeline for the renovation of the greenhouse nor an indication as to when the work could happen.
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Emily Pasquarelli
Janna Toubal
Simaiya Shirley
Anna Huang
Mac Chaplin
Production Assistant:
Head of Social Media:
Podcast Editor:
Board of Directors:
President: Secretary: Treasurer: Members:
Matthieu Chatelain
Tamara Mae Galinato
Christelle Meghri Ghazarian
Hadassah Alencar
James Fay
Sakib Hossain
Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman
Aidan Raynor