By Natalia Tovilla-Bátiz Rédactrice Française
L’Influence française au Mexique, et l’inverse
La fête de l’indépendance du Mexique a eu lieu le 16 septembre, ce qui a inspiré une grande célébration au Nathan Phillips Square à Toronto le 14 septembre, avec des vendeurs de la nourriture, de la musique, de la danse, de l’art et de la culture.1 Dans l’esprit de la fête de l’indépendance mexicaine, cet article se penche sur les relations étroites, parfois insoupçonnées, entre la France et le Mexique, et sur la manière dont chaque pays a influencé l’autre.
Saviez-vous que la France n’a pas seulement envahi le Canada, les États-Unis, les Caraïbes et l’Afrique, mais qu’ils avaient également établi des colonies au Mexique sous Napoléon III? Le Québec et la Louisiane sont deux des endroits les plus connus où les Français se sont installés en Amérique du Nord. L’influence française au Mexique, bien que moins connue que cela dans cetaines autres régions des Amériques, a tout de même laissé une empreinte significative sur la culture et l’histoire mexicaine.
Il est important de mentionner brièvement que la France avait envahi le Mexique à deux reprises : d’abord, lors de la Guerre des Pâtisseries qui s’est déroulée dans le port de Veracruz, sous le roi Louis-Philippe I, de 1838 à 18392. L’autre tentative de prise de contrôle du Mexique, sans doute la plus importante, fut l’intervention française de 1862 à 1867, également connue sous le nom de la Seconde intervention française au Mexique. 3 Cette fois, l’intervention réussie a commencé lorsque l’empereur français Napoléon III, avec l’aide d’atres puisances européennes, a tenté de créer un empire mexicain sous
le règne de l’archiduc autrichien, Ferdinand Maximilien de Habsbourg.4 Le but était de restaurer un régime monarchique au Mexique et d’élargir l’influence française en Amérique. Cependant, cette aventure impériale a été de courte durée. Maximilien n’a pas réussi à obtenir un soutien populaire au Mexique, en grande partie parce que de nombreuses forces mexicaines restaient loyales au président Benito Juárez et à la République mexicaine.5 Finalement, avec la pression des États-Unis (qui appuyaient Juárez et invoquaient la doctrine Monroe), ainsi que des conflits internes en France, Napoléon III a retiré ses troupes. Maximilien a été capturé et exécuté en 1867, mettant ainsi fin à cette tentative d’empire sous influence française.6
Sur le plan culturel, l’influence française a également imprégné divers aspects de la société mexicaine. À partir du 19e siècle, notamment sous la présidence de Porfirio Díaz (qui admirait la France), le Mexique a adopté des éléments de l’architecture, de l’art et de la mode française, ce que l’on a appelé el Porfiriato.7 Cette époque a hérité de ce nom, en raison de l’obsession du dictateur Porfirio Díaz pour la vie française, et l’a intégrée à la haute société mexicaine. Par exemple, Díaz avait commandé la reproduction des célèbres Champs-Élysées à Mexico en créant le « Paseo de la Reforma ». D’autres commandes d’inspiration française comprenaient le Palacio de las Bellas Artes, le Palacio de Hierro (sur le modèle du Bon Marché) et le palais impérial, le Palacio de Chapultepec.8 Le
Mexique a vu la construction de nombreux bâtiments de style néoclassique et art déco, inspirés par l’architecture parisienne.
Lorsque le Mexique était occupé par les Français, à l’époque de l’empereur d’Autriche, une partie importante de cette diaspora venait de Barcelonnette, dans la province des Alpes-de-Haute, en France, en tant qu’entrepreneurs.9 Puis, après la défaite des Français, un petit nombre de ces derniers sont retournés à Barcelonnette, qui se distingue aujourd’hui par son architecture de ville mexicaine, et qui est devenue un centre touristique.10 Enfin, la langue française était largement enseignée dans les écoles mexicaines durant cette période, et elle reste aujourd’hui une langue étudiée dans de nombreux établissements d’enseignement. Ces influences témoignent de la fascination de certaines élites mexicaines pour la culture française et de celle des citoyens français qui ont vécu la vie mexicaine et sont rentrés chez eux pour la recréer. Bien que l’occupation française n’ait jamais débouché sur une colonisation durable ou une domination politique directe (comme ce fut le cas ailleurs dans les Amériques et l’Afrique), l’amour du monde pour la culture mexicaine est indiscutable.
photo:
PRO TEM
Editor In Chief/Éditrice En Chef
ÉDITORIAL
Chief of operations/Chef des opérations
Flo Iyam Tierra Amie Sosa
Layout Designer/Maquettiste
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Section Editor/Rédactrice de sections:
Issues & Ideas/Actualité & opinions Expressions/Expressions Health & Wellness/Santé & bien-être
Christina Savoiardo
Campus Life/Vie étudiant Arts & Entertainment/ Arts & Divertissement Metropolis Métropole
Leanne Eyre
English Editor/Rédactrice Anglaise
Destiny Chan
French Editor/Rédactrice Française
Natalia Tovilla-Bátiz
English Journalist/Journaliste Anglais
Connell Simkin-Watt
French Journalist/Journaliste Française
Iris Capron
Bilingual Journalist/Journaliste Bilingue
Geneviève Stacey
Letter from the editor
“On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was...” If you know, you know. It’s October 3rd, and as we celebrate this iconic pop culture moment (Mean Girls, anyone?), we’re excited to present the second issue of Pro Tem, filled with even more insightful and dynamic content for this academic year.
Campus life is in full swing, and we’ve just wrapped up the GENIAL competition—a campus-wide event that brought out our creativity, camaraderie, and a bit of competitive spirit. Whether you were out there strategizing or cheering from the sidelines, the event showcased how friendly competition can push us to excel while keeping things fun. It’s a reminder that in the pursuit of academic and personal excellence, it’s important to embrace that genial spirit, making the journey enjoyable for all of us.
En parallèle, nous célébrons le Mois du patrimoine hispanique avec un article en couverture qui rend hommage aux liens culturels uniques entre la France et le Mexique. « L’Influence française au Mexique, et l’inverse » explore les échanges fascinants entre ces deux pays, et comment leurs cultures respectives se sont mutuellement influencées à travers l’histoire. Que ce soit dans la musique, l’art, ou la gastronomie, cet article met en lumière une riche diversité culturelle que nous célébrons également ici, à Glendon.
This issue brings you a variety of perspectives—from thoughtful academic advice to in-depth reviews of cultural and student life happenings on campus. For those looking for a break from assignments, don’t miss our Arts and Entertainment section, where you’ll find a feature on Kendrick Lamar that delves into his impact on the music scene and cultural discourse. It’s a must-read for fans and newcomers alike. Plus, our coverage of campus sports will explore how competition and team spirit enrich the student experience. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re deep into your studies or taking a moment to relax.
Un grand merci à nos contributeurs et à l’équipe de Pro Tem pour avoir une fois de plus mis leur talent au service de cette publication. Nous sommes toujours ravis de recevoir des articles qui reflètent la diversité des voix de notre campus, et nous vous encourageons à continuer à partager vos idées et projets créatifs avec nous.
Looking ahead, we want to remind everyone that the next contributor deadline is October 20th. This gives you plenty of time to lock into your academics, reflect on the semester so far, and take advantage of Reading Week to submit your pieces. Whether it’s an article, a creative review, or something completely unique, we can’t wait to see your contributions and continue sharing your stories with the Glendon community.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @protemglendon for updates, exclusive content, and more. We’ve got an exciting semester ahead, and we can’t wait to bring it all to life with your input and support!
For now, et à bientôt, Amie Sosa
Contributors/Contributeur
Xaneva Elorriaga George
Céleste Lajoie
Editor In Chief: editor@protemglendon.com
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Photographer: photography@protemglendon.com
French Editor: frencheditor@protemglendon.com
English Editor: englisheditor@protemglendon.com
HEALTH WELLNESS
Conquering the Corporate World: A Guide for Young Hardworking Women
By Natalia Tovilla-Bátiz Rédactrice Française
After spending four years studying, handing in assignments, working minimum wage jobs, managing a healthy social life and household responsibilities, doing grad school and summer job applications, and maybe even juggling a relationship, graduation finally arrives. Félicitations! Congratulations! You’ve got your diploma! You’ve got your job! Now you are ready to take on the corporate world as the deserving, hardworking new graduate you are. This past June, I thought I was ready. However, some lessons cannot be learned in school. I have reflected and decided to write this article to hopefully help others succeed—whether you’re going into your second year or graduating in June—this guide is for your benefit and will stop you from making the same mistakes I made when I started working in a more serious and competitive work environment postgrad.
1. Ask Questions Early
If you’re starting a new job with important tasks, ask all the clarification questions possible, even if you feel dumb asking them. There is no such thing as asking a stupid question—you’re new, and that means being inquisitive and making mistakes as you go which is okay and expected. You want to ask them in the beginning and make the mistakes early so that you do not make them later when you are held to a higher standard.
2. Make Your Mark
Starting a new “big girl” job can be scary, and theoretically it is because you want to do a good job. Nonetheless, shyness and not taking initiative are the enemies of grounding yourself in the new work environment. These mistakes will hold you back from reaching bigger and better opportunities. You need to step up to the plate and show the team that you are transitioning well into your new role. Another way is to professionally personalize your desk (or whatever space they have assigned to you) to discreetly show your intentions of staying longer than your current contract.
3. Participate
Don’t be the last person to speak during the weekly team meeting. You need to be brave in demonstrating to the team every chance you get the reasons why your boss hired you, especially when you start out. Show the team you are confident with what you have been assigned (even if you are not), and you will start to make a good impression. Keep participation consistent. This can be done by partaking in workplace socials and events that are optional.
4. Fake It ‘Til You Make It
You’re probably wondering why I have written this. What I’m referring to is to act as confidently as you can, even if you don’t actually feel it. Do this every single day you are in the office; you will eventually feel confident in yourself and be more sure of what you’re doing. At first, it’s scary, but honestly, it will take you farther than you think. This advice is also geared towards job applications, where even if you don’t think you’re meeting 100% of the job requirements, you should still apply. Why? Because any man would do that without thinking twice, and he probably wouldn’t overthink it either. In my experience, it is better to submit job applications that meet at least 70% of the job description and see what happens. There’s a famous saying: you lose 100% of the shots you don’t take. Please don’t be the one to close the door on yourself before the hiring manager or AI processor does. Take the chance because you’ve worked hard and you’re worth the shot!
5. Communicate What You Want
In retail, school clubs, and organizations, you were probably taught that hard work gets noticed. Maybe you were taught that acknowledgement for this hard work will be met with some kind of reward, maybe consideration for a newer and better role/job. Well, that model changes after graduation. You need to be direct with your boss and voice what you want or what you’re interested in, like a contract extension or consideration for a higher position that’s currently vacant, a pay raise, or maybe a permanent position. Again, you need to express your interest in these opportunities to your boss and/or any other hiring managers that may also be hiring in the near future. Get your name in the hat and get them thinking about you before they even start finding a new recruit.
6. Beware the Office Gossip
Unfortunately, office gossip is real. If you’re new it will definitely be about you, for better or for worse. For example, if you’re in a work environment where primarily people aged 35+ work, chances are they may not be pleased that an early 20-something-year-old got the job that took a few years of internal job experience to get. Some people will be jealous or unhappy with your hire, so be sure to keep information about your private life to yourself until you have a colleague you can trust. Not everyone who is polite, nice, and talks to you with a big smile will act the same when they go to their office clique. Just keep your head down, do the work, and your efforts will let your worthiness shine through, which will earn their respect in due time.
7. Dress to Impress
I am not saying you have to get a suit or get something fancy, but it’s one thing to look like a student and it’s another to blend in and look like you’re the perfect addition to the team or company. A few good-condition thrifted work-appropriate clothes that make you feel confident and empowered is a must. Please leave the name-brand sweatpants, leggings, and ratty sweaters at home. Instead, find lightly used or cheap business casual attire from stores that offer great deals and discounts, such as Value Village, Plato’s Closet, Winners, Marshalls, Uniqlo, and Old Navy.
Hopefully, these tips help you gain the confidence you need, develop the reputation you want, and achieve the success you deserve. Following these tips will help you be taken more seriously and help you earn the respect you deserve from your colleagues as a young woman entering the workplace. Whether the incorporation of these new habits is gradual or immediate, I promise they will not only help you achieve corporate success, but will also help you become the best new hire you can be (not only when you’re young, but whenever you take a new job). Now, go out and become the powerful, high-earning, boss woman you have dreamed of and worked so hard to become!
image: Pixabay
MÉTROPOLE
Black Women Entrepreneurship: An
Interview on Identity, Feminism and Decolonization with Account Manager at the World’s Largest Corporations & CEO Jackee Kasandy
By Xaneva Elorriaga George
Your advocacy in Canada is inextricable from your African identity and the gender inequity you experience as a woman. Born and raised in Kenya and completing the later part of your studies in Canada, how do you define the binary nature of your career; especially given the dual living circumstances working in business both inside and outside the African continent?
I grew up in Africa until my very early 20s and then I moved to Canada, so my entire adult adulthood has happened here and has shaped who I am as an entrepreneur, an intellect, etc... The adult me discovered herself while in Canada and culture shaped me when I was a young girl.
In my corporate experience, I was often the only Black person, the only Black woman. Some things worked to my benefit such as having an English name and not having a strong accent. I have a Kenyan accent, but it’s kind of British-“ish” so everyone would think it was cute. If you have a strong, let’s say Nigerian, Chinese or Indian accent, people don’t think it’s cute, right? They end up judging your intellect on your accent as opposed to what you are saying. I had several advantages: being a smart woman, having an English name, being outgoing and also having a somewhat understandable accent and being thought of as cute. I didn’t experience what most people experience in terms of career hardship and climbing the ladder. I was able to interview and get the jobs I wanted. I went quite high in the different things I was doing so I see myself as being privileged in that way. Even now I can get into so many doors without issue, but is that true of everyone? I don’t think I’ve faced much in terms of career issues other than some places being toxic, but that had nothing to do with me as a Black woman.
As a businesswoman, though, I faced what most people face when you come into businesses and you’re Black, which was a very, very difficult time accessing funding. It took me a while to get it, even though I come from a career background that is great, very healthy and I mean, I know my sh*t. I know what I’m talking about, but when you go into the business world, you’re going to have to ask people for money. What I found being Black is you need to first defend your humanity, defend your smarts and experience and then defend your idea. That’s three levels you have to go through just for someone to hear you and maybe fund you. If they do, it’s gonna be a little money, not much. It’s like, hey, maybe we can do 10k, maybe 30k when what you need is a lot more to get the business going. I have managed to get around it; my business is 8 years old, so I can’t complain or begrudge anyone in that way.
How does this “diasporic” or dual identity influence your feminist activism?
That is a good and interesting question because I am very successful here in Canada. When I go back to Kenya, everyone remembers the young me. In a family, if you grow into adulthood outside of them, they don’t actually know you as an adult. They know the young you and that’s who they want to be operating with. I come from a culture where as a woman the expectation was that I’d marry some dude. In my culture, I am a failure because I haven’t married and had children. But me being me, the feminist that I am; I wasn’t going to settle for anything just because it’s expected of me. I have brains. I’m doing what I want to do. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to have children or be married. But I am going to do it when, if and how I want to. In the definition of being an African woman and from the perspective of my family, my mom and my aunties, I’m a failure. But I don’t give a sh*t. I’m a failure but when you look at a lot of people who follow the traditional path and get married, it’s not like they’re sitting there happy. It just goes back to what your definition of happiness is. For me, I am happy and successful and have no worries at all.
Would you say the bulk of your feminist activism is in rebellion to the cultural norms you were raised around; more so than in a corporate context?
It depends on the audience. Speaking to people who have my cultural background, then yes. If I’m speaking to people who are out here in the West, then I’m a great success.
A 2017 Harvard Business School article entitled “Minorities Who Whitened Their Job Resumes to Get More Interviews”, based on an Administrative Science Quarterly research article titled “Whitened Résumés: Race and Self-Presentation in the Labor Market”, found true that in job applications with pro-diversity signalling, minority applicants are less likely to “whiten” their resumes (from 39% to 21% of participants)1. As the visiting Associate Professor of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management working on the study Katherine (Katy) DeCelles says, “You are at an even greater risk for discrimination when applying with a pro-diversity employer because you’re being more transparent…Those companies have the same rate of discrimination, which makes you more vulnerable when you expose yourself...”.2
The science backs up people’s experiences of getting treated better or receiving more callbacks before race revelation—by redacting mentions of their race, anglicizing their name and changing their interests to fit those commonly enjoyed by White Western culture. It can go beyond that too by modifying their communication style to be less expressive in favour of impersonal business language established by White-owned enterprises, using vocabulary established by predominantly White scholars to fit the continent-wide standard of intelligence founded on the White main production of knowledge and even altering the sound of their voice to better fit the educated connotations of the General American English dialect. The associations of poverty and incompetence around accents of ethnic minorities are irrefutably the product of institutionalized classism, racism and White supremacy. I view the way certain minorities are compelled to enhance their corporate opportunities by rejecting sociopolitical affiliations with their racial group as a three-tiered descent: realizing the privilege in one’s White adjacency, using this to one’s advantage through White approximation, and, if necessary, concealing one’s identity by White assimilation.
There are ethnic minorities that are more proximate to Whiteness due to visible features and social perceptions, and hence, can metaphorically “play the game” of corporate politics better. What is concerning, is the presence of these already advantaged minorities occupying and benefitting from spaces specifically designed for Black social refuge within corporations and universities, which is disregarded by these institutions as long as diversity targets are met. Cynically, I see the task of dismantling the societally engrained ideas around professionalism as distant, since earnings directly correlate to a company’s adherence to these principles, for credibility. You must realize the “Anglo proximate” aspects within yourself that fit into the box of Black business people that corporations can stomach and how that has helped you get where you are. Yeah, absolutely. Things have generally worked out for me so far, even in business. I’ve managed to have a successful business in Granville Island, and I’ve managed to come through.
In “Voices of African Leaders: Perspective Paper III from Collateral Benefits”, Dr. Yabome Gilpin-Jackson wrote a chapter titled “Crossing the Threshold” about Africa’s response to the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic in which she states, “We need leaders, formal and informal, to break the real and perceived shackles of corruption on the continent and remove barriers to collaboration and investment”.3 As an owner of an eponymous fair trade ethical lifestyle brand in Downtown Vancouver that imports from African artisans, what role do fair trade products play in dismantling corruption in Africa and economically empowering African women?
My business 100% supports—OK, not 100%, but a very large percentage supports artisans, especially in East Africa where I come from. I come from Kenya and it’s very difficult to get jobs in Kenya. The economy isn’t doing well enough to support jobs that pay enough to make a living. A lot of moms and women tend to do crafts to make some money. When I was in corporate, I used to wear high-end expensive suits paired with African jewelry, bags and all of that, and they just looked cool. Everyone commented saying “Oh my God, this is great,” so I basically united my love of the clothing I was wearing and the impact I wanted to have in the world—supporting people from where I come from and trying to unite their stories, my story, the stories of my customers and introduce them to what that looks like here in my store. Now, I support about 165 women who make baskets and about 20 to 30 people who make jewelry. I support a lot of women in Kenya who make products I sell here. I buy from them directly and design with them. I get to see the impact I and my business are having. I’m not dealing with anyone in government, anyone where I need to pay bribes or do anything that includes corruption. How did this direct buying help these African Women during the pandemic?
I was still ordering from them because we had just moved to Granville Island with a bigger store and it’s the only thing that allowed them to survive it. I went to visit after the pandemic and they were all saying, “I was able to keep the people working. I was able to do all of this because you kept the orders during the pandemic when everything else died”. In Canada, we at least had a process, we had the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), etc. In Africa though, it’s like good luck, you’re not allowed out of your house and if you come out, we’ll beat you up, so stay home. But there wasn’t any support system, they were not getting CERB, so people just had to survive somehow. Besides buying fair trade from African artisans, what is another action step Canadian businesses can take to empower African women disproportionately affected by health crises (or in general)?
By seeing the creativity and buying their products! Right now, you can either go to Winner’s or Kasandy to buy. I’m supporting African artisans but it doesn’t have to be just African women. It can be any woman doing things outside of the norm. Buy local, buy small, buy ethical products. We can vote with our money and be the change we want to see in the world.
1. Gerdeman, Dina. “Minorities Who ‘whiten’ Job Resumes Get More Interviews.” HBS Working Knowledge, Harvard Business School, May 17, 2017, hbswk.hbs.edu/item/minorities-who-whitenjob-resumes-get-more-interviews.
2. Kang, Sonia, et al. “Whitened Résumés: Race and Self-Presentation in the Labor Market.” Administrative Science Quarterly, University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management, Jan. 22, 2016, www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/facbios/file/Whitening%20MS%20R2%20Accepted.pdf.
3. “ Gilpin-Jackson, Yabome, et al. “Voices of African Leaders. Perspective Paper III.” We Will Lead Africa, Collateral Benefits, Jan. 15, 2021, https://wewillleadafrica.com/voices-of-african-leaders/.
METROPOLIS
Black Women Entrepreneurship (continued)
By Xaneva Elorriaga George
In April 2021, the largest study of Black women entrepreneurs in Canada was published, presenting information concerning the financial hurdles this specific demographic faces. In this regard, the Director of Research from the Diversity Institute, Dr. Mohamed Elmi emphasizes, “Our research continues to highlight the challenges of anti-Black racism and barriers in the system. Black women entrepreneurs are doubly disadvantaged and also face barriers as women. There are new supports that offer hope: the Government of Canada is investing in targeted support through its new Black Entrepreneurship Program, for example. We also need to address bias in the ecosystem. We pour billions of dollars into our tech-oriented innovation ecosystem, which is justified because tech is potentially high growth. But businesses in other sectors – services, culture, food, retail – also create and sustain jobs, families and communities.”4
As an industry expert in marketing strategies, what methods can be used to pitch to important business sectors that Black women entrepreneurs are a part of outside the tech ecosystem that investors may potentially view as less lucrative?
It’s very nuanced in terms of how to answer that question in a way that works because there are too many different ways you could look at it in terms of making it successful. If you say marketing outside of tech, I would go back and say define tech because if you’re defining tech, then tech means you need to be advertising on Facebook and Instagram and that’s true. How can you separate tech from that and what does tech mean?
That said, a lot of Black businesses are regular businesses, they’re not tech businesses. Most investors invest in tech because they feel like it’s the easiest way to make money. You’ll do an app and then people will use the app and they can see the clear line of money. When I tell people an African or Black woman could set up a profitable wig business making custom wigs, Black people understand. Even now, White women understand because now they all wear wigs. But if you go to an investor, a regular investor and you tell them I want to sell wigs, they’ll be like, “Sorry, I can’t” because they’ll assume there’s no market when the beauty industry for Black women is one of the biggest.
The way we are going to have to do it, is we’re going to have to build our investment vehicles because culturally, the things that drive our economy are different from the general population. I would like to set up a fund at some point in the future and invest in those people who want to be nail techs, and hair specialists and are Black women. You are not going to go to a big investor and tell them you want to do wigs and they’ll give you money. They will give it to a Chinese manufacturer of the wigs, but they will not give it to an African woman. Even just doing braids—people charge ridiculous amounts of money to get braids done, but we still get our braids done, right? There’s money there, but people don’t see the money there.
If I’m going to suggest how people can invest, I’ll have to say we have a job in educating the rest of the world that Black business is business and that you can make money without needing an app. It’s a different experience that we give and want. We get our nails done, we get our faces done and we get our hair done, and those were the only businesses that succeeded through COVID-19. During that entire time, women, Black or non-Black, were all getting their hair done even though we couldn’t do anything else. The nail tech businesses, all the Asian women who are nail techs, made money during COVID-19 when all the other businesses were not making money. It’s very nuanced and I think there’s a lot of
change we need to make happen and teach people it’s just different from what everyone else is doing.
Do you think the saturation of these markets, like the hair and beauty industry, is what turns investors off compared to tech which tends to be novel, or do you think there’s something else?
No, there’s definitely something else there. If you look at all the other businesses they invest in, they are all also saturated. Everyone is in every single business, but the world has 7 billion people; there’s always a market. I’m not going to say there isn’t a market. It’s easy to say, “Yeah, this is saturated”, but I don’t want to accept that’s entirely true.
As is evident by your meaningful work, such as founding the Black Entrepreneurs and Businesses of Canada Society (BEBC) in September 2020 in response to George Floyd’s murder and the Black Lives Matter movement, you are truly the exemplar of a woman in business that gives back to her community. Your organization paves the way for Black-led Canadian businesses through advocacy, facilitating access to capital, advisory, certification, networking and cross-promoting, coordinating operational support and collecting data and research. Which of these pillars best addresses the biggest challenge in advancing the equity of Afro-Canadian women in business?
It’s hard to fully separate them because they’re all very much interlinked—one works because the other one’s worked. The biggest issue we have right now is funding, which means the wrap-around services and the Investment Readiness program are very, very important to allow businesses to access funding. Also, creating new markets for businesses ends up being very important, which means doing supplier diversity and educating Black people about it.
We were just talking about market saturation, but that’s because we’re thinking about B2C (business to consumer). But one thing Black people don’t engage in, especially here in Canada, is selling to the government and selling to corporations. The government buys everything, the government will buy raccoon eggs because they’re doing a research project, like they’ll buy the most random **** you would never think of. Think of diapers, soap, and tissue paper. Remember they run prisons, group homes, and more. But are we selling to the government? No. Do we know there’s an opportunity to sell? We don’t even think about it. We just think it’s inaccessible to us which means we don’t engage. There’s a lot of work to be done to change that.
Lastly, in your nonprofit, business or in the multinational corporations you have worked for, how do you engage in Pan-African decolonization to confront the needs of African/Black women in the corporate setting (Afro-feminist leadership)?
I started by telling you how it was beneficial for me to have an English name. I saw that in action because in one of my positions, I was a manager, which means I was included in recruitment. When you apply to this large organization, there’s a portal that weeds people out and it constantly weeded people out with weird names and things they couldn’t understand or pronounce. When they got resumes, let’s say the top 300 they brought me, I always asked for the ones they didn’t bring because I needed to manually go through them. I’d see this long Indian name with the experiences I needed. The system is built for White people, without thinking about other cultures and what names mean. There’s a systematic change that needs to happen so that they are built to make our lives easier and don’t eliminate people just because they have an African or Indian-sounding name. That’s why so many Asian people have English names. Those are not their names,
really. They all have Asian names, but they can’t use those names, right?
There’s an education that needs to happen in decolonizing those systems. Instead of names, it should only look at experiences and what someone has said. There’s an education to do within our groups to say, “Here’s how you should respond to those things, here’s how those systems read you” so that you’re not eliminated from getting a possible job. It’s just realizing how actual recruitment happens and why it’s more difficult for us to get callbacks. You’ve seen those experiments where people change or whiten their names and suddenly they’ve been getting called back. I call these things out. When I was speaking to corporations who wanted to consult with us and say, “We’re trying to hire people but Black people don’t apply”, I’m like, “Yeah. Have you realized why they don’t get through to you? Have you realized what your system does in terms of eliminating people? You’re saying Black people don’t apply, actually they do apply. They just don’t get through”. How can you change and decolonize the system so it is actually fair?
Even to circle back to technology, it’s thought-provoking how nowadays, a conversation about human resources has to include technology. In this case, decolonization was completely centred around it. Technology has maintained the Western White normativity that was beginning to be dismantled in human relations and has added another layer of complexity that minority groups need to hurdle over in order to be successful in business. It means we have to be aware of the diversity among those creating our software and view the technology they create as a manifestation of their own biases and agendas. As University of Toronto professor Katy DeCelles says, “It’s time for employers to acknowledge bias is hardwired into the hiring system and prejudice is clouding the screening of qualified applicants taking a closer look at their resume screening processes. Blind recruitment is one possible solution, where information about race, age, gender, or social class is removed from resumes before hiring managers see them. Companies can also perform regular checks for discrimination in the screening process, for example by measuring how many minorities applied for a position and comparing that with the percentage of those applicants who made the first cut.”5 Ultimately, a pledge of diverse inclusion isn’t sufficient anymore for a company to establish their progressivity and integrity—it needs to have the numbers to back it up.
Xaneva Elorriaga George is a graduate of International Studies from York University, Glendon whose work centers around extracting marginalized people and communities, specifically Black women, from the many manifestations of discrimination in dominant institutions through intersectional feminist and postcolonial theories. 4.
& ART DIVERTISSEMENT
Le Comte de Monte Cristo : un des plus grands chefs d’œuvre littéraires du XIXe siècle à l’origine d’un
Par Iris Capron Journaliste Française
renouveau du cinéma français
Après sa projection au festival de Cannes, Le Comte de Monte Cristo est enfin sorti dans les salles de cinéma françaises le 28 juin 2024. Ce film, très attendu, a été un succès immédiat. Mélangeant histoire d’amour, de vengeance, de haine et de complot, les réalisateurs ont su captiver le public en s’appuyant sur l’œuvre d’un auteur célèbre.
Grand écrivain français, Alexandre Dumas, n’est pas seulement l’auteur des Trois Mousquetaires, mais également celui du Comte de Monte Cristo. Publié entre 1844 et 1846, cet ouvrage est une plongée au cœur d’une histoire de trahison et de vengeance.
Edmond Dantès, le personnage principal, se retrouve pris au piège d’un complot. Il est incarcéré au Château d’If, une prison située au large de Marseille, pour un crime qu’il n’a pas commis. Après quatorze ans d’emprisonnement, il réussit à s’évader et part à la recherche du trésor du Comte de Monte Cristo. Il l’utilise par la suite pour se venger des trois hommes qui l’ont trahi : son cousin, le procureur et son ancien capitaine - trois hommes rongés par la jalousie et prêts à tout pour accéder au pouvoir. Edmond Dantès devient alors le Comte de Monte Cristo, un homme froid et sombre. Sous ce masque, il met en place son plan implacable, ou presque… Parfois, la haine et l’amour peuvent contrecarrer le plus réfléchi des stratagèmes.
Ce chef d’œuvre littéraire a été adapté plus de vingt fois au cinéma. Cependant, la justesse du jeu de Pierre Niney, dans le rôle d’Edmond Dantès et la réalisation du film par Alexandre de La Patellière et Matthieu Delaporte ont dépassé les attentes du public et leur attachement pour les premières adaptations, en leur offrant un nouveau regard sur l’ouvrag. Deux mois après sa sortie, le film a dépassé les 8 millions d’entrées au box-office français, et a été salué par la critique :
« Pierre Niney campe un Comte de Monte-Cristo époustouflant, à la fois charismatique, intense et torturé » (Le Journal de Montréal).
« Autant de libertés qui insufflent une modernité inédite au récit, enrichie par des comédiens plus charismatiques les uns que les autres » (Paris Match).
Néanmoins, certains journalistes, tels que Martin Gignac, estiment que le défi n’a pas été relevé. Tandis que plusieurs saluent les mises en scène et les choix scénaristiques, Gignac évoque une adaptation « beaucoup trop sage, mécanique et superficielle ».
En tant que simple spectatrice, je trouve que ce film est une réussite. Dès les premières minutes, nous sommes transportés au XIXème siècle, avec des personnages interprétés majestueusement et une tension qui nous donne envie d’en savoir plus. Le choix d’intégrer de nouveaux personnages et de modifier certaines intrigues rend le récit plus fluide : trois heures de visionnage qui semblent ne durer qu’une heure.
Cette œuvre cinématographique est une véritable pépite du cinéma français, que je vous conseille vivement d’aller voir, tant pour enrichir votre culture personnelle que pour savourer la magie du grand écran.
Demers, Maxime. “Critique Du Film « Le Comte De Monte-Cristo »: Une FresqueGrandiose Et Captivante.” Le Journal De Montréal, 15 Aug. 2024, www.journaldemontreal.com/2024/08/15/critique-du-film-le-comte-de-monte-cristo-une-fresque-grandiose-et-captivante.
AlloCine. “Le Comte De Monte-Cristo : Les Critiques Presse.”
AlloCiné, www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-288404/critiques/presse.
“Attendre Et Espérer - Critique - LE COMTE DE MONTE-CRISTO (2024).” Cinoche.com, 15 Aug. 2024, www.cinoche.com/films/le-comte-de-monte-cristo-2024/critiques/attendre-et-esperer.
Avec AFP, Franceinfo Culture. “‘Le Comte De Monte-Cristo’ Dépasse Les 8 MillionsD’entrées Au Box-office Français.” Franceinfo, 12 Sept. 2024, www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/cinema/le-comte-de-monte-cristo-depasse-les-8-millions-d-entrees-au-box-office-francais_6777304.html. “Le Comte De Monte Cristo.” Pathefilms, 2024, www.pathefilms.com/fr/films/le-comte-de-Monte-crist
image: Pixabay & Wikimedia Commons
ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
My Dream Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Halftime Show Setlist
By Connell Simkin-Watt English Journalist
Kendrick Lamar has recently been announced as the halftime show performer for Super Bowl LIX, which will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2025. This will be Lamar’s second time performing at the Super Bowl, following his performance alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige in 2022. He will also be the first rapper to have a solo performance at a Super Bowl halftime show. Additionally, this announcement comes after his widely publicized rap feud with Drake, which resulted in a massive win for Kendrick as the general public and major media outlets declared him the winner. One of Lamar’s diss tracks aimed at Drake, “Not Like Us” has quickly become one of the biggest songs of the year. I am a huge Kendrick Lamar fan and I can’t wait to see him perform next year. As the halftime show is usually anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes long, it will definitely be interesting to see what songs he will perform. I am going to explain what songs I’d love to see him perform, as well as which guest performers I’d like to see him bring out. Here’s my ideal Kendrick Lamar halftime show setlist!
“HUMBLE.”
Album: “DAMN.”
“HUMBLE.” is Lamar’s biggest hit to date, so it would make sense for him to start his halftime show with his most well-known song.
“A.D.H.D”
Album: “Section 80”
Since “HUMBLE.” is his most recognizable song, I think Kendrick will follow it up with a song for his day-one fans. I believe “A.D.H.D” will be that song, as it is his first hit from his debut album “Section 80” and it would maintain the high energy like “HUMBLE.”.
“Money Trees (feat. Jay Rock)”
Album: “good kid, m.A.A.d city”
Super Bowl halftime shows usually feature some surprise guests, and Kendrick Lamar’s performance will be no exception. “Money Trees” is one of his most iconic songs, and it includes a standout feature verse from Jay Rock, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Lamar brings him out to perform this classic.
“Alright”
Album: “To Pimp a Butterfly” “Alright” is another one of Kendrick’s most iconic songs, and the upbeat instrumental produced by Pharrell Williams makes it a great song to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show.
“family ties (Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar)”
Album: “The Melodic Blue”
The next special guest I’d love to see Lamar bring out is Baby Keem. The two rappers are cousins (hence the name of the song) and they always bring tons of energy when performing it.
“N95”
Album: “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” “N95” is the biggest song from Kendrick’s most recent album. Being a high-tempo track, it’s perfect for his halftime show set.
“Bad Blood (Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar)”
Album: “1989 (Taylor’s Version)”
Kendrick Lamar bringing Taylor Swift out to perform “Bad Blood” makes sense for several reasons. Firstly, Swift will likely already be at the Super Bowl. Secondly, she has an extremely dedicated fanbase, many of whom will be watching the Super Bowl and halftime show, especially if the Chiefs make it to the Super Bowl. Lastly, collaborating with Swift is something Drake dissed Kendrick over, so Kendrick could potentially fire back at him through this performance.
“Not Like Us”
Album: N/A
Speaking of Lamar’s feud with Drake, “Not Like Us” is perhaps the song most likely to be performed at his halftime show. The song is easily the biggest hit to come out of the aforementioned Drake beef. Although Kendrick Lamar will likely perform this song, I’m definitely intrigued to see how he goes about doing that. The song contains some lyrics directed at Drake that the NFL likely wouldn’t want him saying in front of millions of viewers.
“Mona Lisa (Lil Wayne feat. Kendrick Lamar)”
Album: “Tha Carter V”
There has been plenty of controversy over the NFL picking Kendrick Lamar as the Super Bowl LIX halftime show performer instead of Lil Wayne, as the game will take place in New Orleans, which is his hometown. However, the two actually have a song together, and I think bringing Lil Wayne out would be an amazing way to end Kendrick’s halftime show.
So that’s my dream Kendrick Lamar halftime show setlist! It goes without saying he’s an amazing rapper and performer so I’m very excited to watch his halftime show!
image: Wikimedia Commons
Ode à mes dactylos
By Céleste Lajoie
Ma dactylo mécanique Royal 200 des années 60 est probablement une des machines les plus merdiques de l’âge d’or d’où elle est issue. Ce n’est pas une IBM futuriste ou une Olivetti moderniste. C’est un outil des plus abordables, doté seulement de ce qui est nécessaire pour l’usager, comme ma grand-mère, qui m’en a gracieusement fait le don. Un bloc compact de métal beige défraîchi, son unique atout est son clavier francphone. La touche « A » se coince sans faute. La qualité d’impression est grossière. J’adore cet engin.
Malgré ma réputation d’amatrice de technologie désuette, j’avais un raisonnement pragmatique pour hériter de cette antiquité. La pandémie et la prolifération du travail en ligne ont dévoilé un défaut assez important dans mes hatudes de travail: je peine à travailler à l’ordinateur sans sombrer dans le gouffre overt qui est l’Internet. Une heure désignée pour la rédaction d’essai a de fortes chances
d’être dédiée à une recherche approfondie sur un sujet très important comme la musique mariachi en Yougoslavie, le Google Docs étant quasiment vierge. Mon inclusion du manque de fonctions chez ma machine dans sa liste de défauts est assez trompeuse, car c’est ma raison principale de rédiger cet article même à la dactylo. Aucune barre de recherche, aucun bris dans la rédaction. Cet article ne fut aucunement affecté par mon TDAH. Les rares fois que j’ai amené ma Royal en classe ont suscité une réaction guère positive. J’avais trouvé une nouvelle façon de manifester mon excentrisme et j’admets que la symphoniepercussive générée par ma frappe n’est guère accommodante à ceux qui préfèrent le silence. Donc, j’ai pris la décision exécutive d’utiliser mon as académique seulement en privé. Cette restriction n’est aucunement restrictive; en soirée, accompagnée de musique appropriée, il me faut des heures pour compléter une semaine de travail à l’ordinateur. Je deviens aussi mécanique que ma machine, et 2 heures plus tard, voilà une chronique complétée en Courier taille 12. Le martèlement est une hypnose créative.
A few months ago, I did the unthinkable. I gifted my Royal a sibling, acquired for just ten dollars at a yard sale. My Smith Corona XL 1800 electric typewriter is probably one of the most crappiest machines of the twilight age in which she was
Land Acknowledgement Opinion
By Anonymous
I believe, in its current state, the land acknowledgement often reiterated by countless organisations is devoid of meaning. Many establishments have added it to their constantly growing checklist of requirements to signify their supposed “forward thinking” and simply use it as a get-out-of-jail-free card to avoid taking any real substantial action.
I find this phenomenon to be on par with the concepts of diversity hires and the adding of a pride logo in June; are we really suggesting a certain number of positions filled by members of a marginalized group, or a rainbow on your marketing material absconds the workplace of its disproportionate, racism-heavy hiring practices, or undoes the ongoing homophobic and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in some states? If anything, a land acknowledgement draws attention to the cruel, unyielding mistreatment of Indigenous communities and the colonially voided treaties that existed before our time. Are we really eliciting change and bettering the country through an “I am conscious of your suffering” speech? Reading a paragraph to recognize the stolen land you are standing on does nothing to help those
made. Released at an age when the PC, Macintosh, and Amiga were sweeping the typewriter’s old turf, this cheap 80s beast is also a tired yellowed slab; its only feature is a whiteout button that does not work. It is barely portable, requires electricity whereas the Royal does not, and has one of the worst feeling keyboards I’ve ever had the pleasure of typing upon. Despite all this, I love this thing.
Its print quality is perfect and the electric action makes it, in many ways, more convenient than the Royal. It’s so imposing in a late 80s way; writing with it makes me want to listen to Whitney Houston while wearing the boxiest power suit. I was deeply saddened that I could not make room for it in my dorm room for it feels like a natural companion to its manual sister. Both obsolete sepia crimes against industrial design that, nonetheless, made me love writing again. I feel genuine affection just from being able to take them apart, clean every nook, and see how they work in the process. They will never have a buggy update, they will never lock me out with a subscription service, and I don’t need to do political campaigning to have the right to repair them. My typewriters are mine, and despite its infinite possibilities, my MacBook will never incite the same feelings. It is ascetic to my user experience where its elders are not.
Une fois ce paragraphe achevé, je vais scanner ces pages dans Google pour corriger mes (nombreuses) erreurs de frappe, ainsi que toute autre édition textuelle nécessaire. Mon amour de
belonging to the Indigenous groups who were displaced, tortured, and forced into segregated communities without so much as clean drinking water.
A land acknowledgment can only be read in good faith if the establishment in question is truly making efforts of reconciliation, demonstrating clear support for Indigenous communities, and uplifting the Indigenous voices that have been repressed for so long. We must take action to assist those peoples affected by the decisions of the past if we ever hope to offer a semblance of an adequate apology for the pain and suffering that we have inflicted upon them. We can do better. We must do better.
l’analogique ne mérite pas une haine du numérique. Il y a énormément à admirer chez les deux, et je suis certai ne que le nombre important des lecteurs de cet article ont eu des expériences similaires avec les disques vinyles et la photo pellicule. La dactylo n’a pas mérité la même appréciation des internet, ce que je trouve étrange vu la popularité de cette esthétique bouquineuse tiré du Wes Anderson et autres. J’espère que cet article, peu importe sa circulation, sert de thèse à ceux qui voudraient ou auraient même besoin d’une machine à écrire. L’amour du look est une raison parfaitement valable de vouloir acquérir une antiquité mais une raison pragmatique contemporaine de faire ainsi est assez rare et mérite considération. Ma Royal 200 est utilisée 60 ans après sa fabrication, et je souhaite que tous nos produits ménagers méritent une telle appréciation et puissent le fournir sur plusieurs générations. C’est écolo, c’est pragmatique, mais surtout c’est romantique.
image: Céleste Lajoie
image: Céleste Lajoie
photo: Pixably
EXPRESSIONS
Finding Destiny in France: School Lunch and Goûter
By Destiny Chan English Editor
Have you ever been subjected to whole wheat cardboard-esque pizza lunch in school? How about daily chicken fingers and oily fries? Or maybe you had to pack your lunch yourself, resorting to the same dry peanut butter sandwich or, if you’re lucky, the easy Lunchable of crackers, ham and cheese. Or were you fortunate enough to have your parents pack you a marvellous hot lunch with food from your culture in a tightly wound thermos?
My name is Destiny Chan and I am a Glendon student currently taking a gap year in sunny Montpellier, France as an au pair. An au pair is like an after-school babysitter for your host family’s kids in exchange for room, board and pocket money. I hope to write a column for every issue, each with a different topic like a new word, culture shock, experience, product etc...
My host dad and I were done grocery shopping at the local Carrefour when I asked, “What do Claire and the kids eat for lunch?”. Louis replied, “They eat at the canteen”. “Like sandwiches?”. “No”, he replied surprised, “They have a hot lunch: appetizer, main course and dessert”, to which I exclaimed, “What?!”. It turns out, in France, it is mandatory to have all of those components in school lunches “prepared on-site on the same day they are served” with dairy products “such as cheese or yogurt” and unlimited water (no sugary drinks).1 In some areas, the meal is provided free of charge, while in others you can expect to pay €4 to €8 per meal.2 Furthermore, the food has to be healthy, organic and locally sourced; with “at least one vegetarian meal per week to promote plant-based protein, reduce food waste and instill healthy eating habits and cultural value in children”.3
According to one of my host kids, Alban, opting into the school canteen is mandatory unless you are going home for lunch or have many dietary restrictions. Their school has two 45-minute lunch services where each course is served individually. When your class is not eating lunch, there is recreational time. One day this week, they had an île flottante (floating island) for desert which is meringue baked in a bain-marie floating on crème anglaise. All of this for €5. This system starkly contrasts Canadian high school cafeterias or “The Lunch Lady” program in elementary schools, which delivers small containers of one main course on only certain days of the week.
Compared to North America, being healthy with access to clean, unprocessed, portion-size-controlled food is not hard to do. Instead of endless snacking between meals, the goûter, also known as the merienda, “is a light meal in southern Europe, particularly Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France”.4 It often consists of a piece of fruit, bread, biscuits, yogurt, and other snacks, and is taken to ease the pit of hunger between the afternoon and evening meal. There are restaurants dedicated to the goûter and most others will often close between 3-6 pm which emphasizes a healthy eating schedule. The goûter is a special time of day my host kids are always excited for and will complain if they do not receive it.
In other news, it’s been almost a month since I have been in France, and it’s been easy and hard at the same time to get adjusted to life here. My tasks
are simple enough; I only look after the two kids after school and all of Wednesday (since there is no school on Wednesdays) for a maximum of 25 hours per week. However, to state the obvious, everything feels completely different here; the people, the food, the weather, the pace of life, the routine, the language, everything. My brain subconsciously pretends it still exists in Canada by thinking in English and never letting my thoughts fully stray away from people and memories back home. Not to mention, this is my first September since preschool not having to attend school myself and I’m already anticipating how strange it will be to experience my first winter without any snow.
My host family has been incredibly kind and generous. They support me in any way they can and also give me complete freedom and space when wanted. Alban, 10 years old, has been a gift; welcoming me from the start and being patient with my improving French. My presence for Cléo, almost 7 years old, has been…a hard adjustment for her which I expand on in the poem below. All in all, everybody is getting into the back-to-school swing of things and I know things will be running even more smoothly by the time the next issue rolls around!
Meeting Cléo for the First Time
Meeting Cléo for the first time was like
Expecting a bubbly girl
Happy to see you
And being Confronted
With the little girl
Inside yourself
Precious
Delicate
Inner child
Like expecting excited open arms
Ready to run to you
To hug you
And then Realizing
You were the one
That was supposed
To run up
And hug her
Timid, shy
Then scared
Throwing tantrums
Being a brat
A drama queen
Not coming to the dinner table
Begging for her parents
To join her on the couch
Begging for attention
They told me
It would take some time
For her
To warm up
To me
They were embarrassed
Understandably
But I understood
She’s just a kid
A little girl
Doing little girl things
Her small body shakes with so many emotions
Happiness, fear, excitement, nervousness, anger
She doesn’t know how to manage them all
So she’s allowed
Right now
To throw tantrums
Be a drama queen
Because
When she’s older
She’ll be less
And less
And less Allowed
Until She Can’t
Do it
Anymore
At all
Unless it’s in the bathroom
Privately
To herself
So throw your tantrums!
Give me everything you got!
I know it’s hard
But in the end will be
The firmest, strongest hug
You have ever received
Cause I’m here for you
Little girl
I’m here for you now
I’m sorry it took me so long
To come and get you
But I’m ready this time
With arms open wide
Heart soft and strong
For you
For her
For me
For us
Little girls
photo: Wikimedia Commons
Île flottante
By Amie Sosa
JEUX AMUSEMENT
&
Crossword/Mot
croisés
ACROSS:
2. A traditional Puerto Rican music genre known for its rhythm
6. The cultural background of the Editor-in-Chief
7. Traditional Spanish dish made with rice, seafood, and saffron
8. Langue parlée dans une grande partie de l’Amérique latine
10. Lat traditionnel à base de maïs, souvent servi au Guatemala
11. Mr. Worldwide
12. Famous Tex-Mex singer
DOWN:
1. Danse et genre musical populaire originaire de la République dominicaine
3. artiste mexicaine célèbre pour ses autoportraits
4. Traditional dance from Spain known for its passion
5. Jour de l’indépendance mexicaine
9. Traduisez le mot ‘friendship’ en espagnol
CAMPUS LIFE
Mon histoire d’amour avec la francophonie
Par Christina Savoiardo Rédactrice de sections
En écrivant cet article, la journée des Franco-ontarien(ne)s n’est pas encore arrivée, mais elle est probablement passée le moment où vous lisez cet article. En tout cas, depuis 2010, le 25 septembre de chaque année, on célèbre les personnes francophones en Ontario, ainsi que l’anniversaire du drapeau franco-ontarien. Chaque année, à cette période, je pense toujours à ma culture francophone dont je suis fière (en chantant « Mon beau drapeau » dans ma tête !). Cependant, depuis l’année dernière, quand je suis arrivée à Glendon, je réfléchis à la manière dont les choses ont changé, et mon appréciation pour la langue s’est intensifiée… Depuis l’âge de quatre ans environ, je parle le français. Ma mère, originaire du nord de l’Ontario, a grandi dans un foyer francophone ; c’est elle qui m’a appris la langue française, ce qui m’a énormément aidée lorsque j’ai commencé la maternelle dans une école francophone. Bien sûr, au début, je n’avais pas encore acquis la langue et je parlais plus en anglais à l’école, mais selon les histoires, j’ai commencé à parler le français plus couramment vers décembre 2009. Après plusieurs années à parler le français à l’école et en suivant tous mes cours dans cette langue, j’ai finalement commencé à la maîtriser de plus en plus. Je me sentais tellement plus confiante et ceci m’a inspirée à continuer à parler la langue dans mon futur. Comme je l’ai mentionné, j’étais dans un environnement 100 % francophone depuis la maternelle, et cela a continué jusqu’à la fin de mon
parcours au secondaire. Vers la saison des inscriptions aux universités, je pensais que je ne voulais pas perdre mon français après la douzième année. Une présentation faite par des agents de liaison de Glendon sur les programmes offerts m’a permis de découvrir qu’il avait un programme d’études françaises, ce qui m’a convaincue de m’inscrire. Quand j’ai commencé ma première année à Glendon, j’ai eu la chance de rencontrer plusieurs personnes qui parlent le français, qui sont francophones,ainsi que des personnes qui font aussi partie du programme d’études françaises et qui l’apprennent. C’était un peu surprenant pour moi, puisque pendant mes années au secondaire, la plupart des élèves voulaient s’éloigner de la langue ; ils évitaient de parler français quand c’était possible, et beaucoup d’élèves s’adresaient aux enseignants en anglais. C’était un peu décevant, puisque plusieurs personnes semblaient vouloir abandonner le français, alors que c’est une langue incroyablement utile dans le marché du travail. Par contre, ici, les personnes veulent intégrer la langue dans leurs vies et continuer à s’améliorer, ce qui me rend très contente.
C’est peut-être un peu drôle à dire, mais la langue française prend une place spéciale dans mon cœur. Le fait d’avoir appris le français à la maison, de l’avoir parlé chaque jour à l’école, et maintenant de poursuivre un baccalauréat en études françaises, tout en envisageant peut-être de devenir enseignante dans une école francophone, a renforcé mon attachement à cette langue. De plus, même si Glendon n’est pas un milieu 100 % francophone, la
Six Entrepreneurs Go Head to Head: Une Compétition Géniale
By Leanne Eyre Section Editor
You know that feeling as you’re sitting down to take an exam? The air feels heavy, tense, almost suffocating. All of the hours spent in preparation boil down to that one defining moment. C’est exactement ça que j’ai ressenti en entrant dans la Compétition d’Entrepreneuriat Étudiant à Glendon, où six étudiants audacieux, alignés au premier rang, s’apprêtaient à pitcher des idées qu’ils ont élaborées pendant des mois. En jetant un coup d’œil autour de moi, je ne reconnaissais plus la salle A100, désormais remplie de professionnels du monde des affaires, d’un panel de juges expérimentés et d’invités spéciaux. L’atmosphère académique avait été remplacée par une ambiance chargée d’anticipation et d’ambition.
The soft buzz of chatter was replaced by attentive silence. Not coming from a business background myself, initially I was intimidated, being surrounded by an auditorium full of successful entrepreneurs and business owners. However, over the course of the evening, this intimidation was overshadowed by inspiration and empowerment. Les compétiteurs étaient tous des étudiants ou diplômés récents de York, venant de programmes et de parcours différents. À travers le programme Passeport Compétences Entrepreneurial (PCE), offert par GENIAL (Glendon ENtrepreneuriat et Innovation A L’international), ils ont été accompagnés dans le développement de leur propre entreprise, de la conception à la création. Voilà ce qui les amène ici, face à leur dernière épreuve, celle de la présentation de leur entreprise devant un panel de juges.
Here’s some advice for any aspiring entrepreneurs from the event’s keynote speakers - Beckie Prime (Founder of Beck’s Broth) & Domenique Mastronardi (the COO): 1. Go with your gut. 2. Trust the process. 3. Ask questions, without letting your ego get in the way. 4. Incorporate your passions into your work. Dom also urged “don’t stay stuck behind a computer, get out and meet people, that’s where the magic happens.” Ces conseils, qui s’appliquent à nous tous d’ailleurs, ont donné le coup d’envoi de la compétition. Avant de dévoiler les résultats, je vais introduire les six entreprises, dans l’ordre qu’elles ont été présentées. Peu importe le résultat, Colin, Nancy, Nolan, Juwon, Isabelle, et Colvis, vous pouvez tous être fiers de ce que vous avez accompli. « L’esprit de curiosité et de courage » dont vous avez fait preuve, comme Marylin Horrick l’a mentionné, fait
de vous des entrepreneurs.
First to the stage was Colin Liu, a recent York psychology graduate and founder of Bridging Keystone Identities (BKI) Coaching. After moving to Canada, Colin, like many newcomers, struggled to adapt to Canadian culture and integrate himself in the job market. His mission is to help newcomers “take the first step to calling Canada home,” and create a new identity that bridges their past and present selves through personal and professional coaching.
Apprendre le français peut parfois sembler ennuyeux et difficile. C’est là que Nancy Sheng, étudiante en études françaises, entre en scène avec son entreprise Lingoplay Learning, “because learning should be fun!” Issue elle-même du système d’immersion française, elle a reconnu la nécessité de rendre la pratique de la grammaire et du vocabulaire français plus engageante. Combinant son talent artistique et son aspiration à enseigner le français, elle a présenté le prototype de d’une application, qui utilise ses dessins comme personnages dans des jeux et des mises en scènes captivants.
Up next was Nolan Karuta, a.k.a Coach Nolan, who kicked it out of the park with Karuta Futbol Academy. His training programs, primarily targeting the often overlooked pre-teen age group, aim to instil “precision in every play” amongst up and rising soccer players. As a recent York alumni and former semi-pro footballer, this academy unites Nolan’s passions for teaching and soccer. He focuses on mastering fundamental techniques, while providing an attractive child to coach ratio. En tant qu’étudiants, on sait que le marché du logement dans le Grand Toronto est en pleine expansion. OluwaJuwon Olofe a souligné que trouver un logement abordable et confortable devient de plus en plus difficile pour des étudiants internationaux comme lui, d’où Divine Peace Home Services. Son objectif est de faciliter la transition et « les aider à trouver leur chez-soi loin de chez eux. » Sa plateforme mettra les étudiants en relation avec des colocataires potentiels, tout en privilégiant l’abordabilité et la sécurité.
The fifth entrepreneur was Isabelle Lepage, a Ph.D. French Studies candidate and founder of Lepage Translation Services. She brought up a point I think many of us overlook when it comes to using AI for translation; it lacks confidentiality. So “when words matter” businesses and individuals requiring precision and security can turn to her services such as translation, revision, proofreading, post-editing and tutoring.
langue est encore répartie partout au campus. Il y a de nombreuses personnes qui parlent français ou qui l’apprennent, des cours sont offerts en français, des ressources sont disponibles dans cette langue, et le Salon francophone est l’espace parfait pour pratiquer son français avec d’autres locuteurs. Savoir que le français est presque partout à Glendon et que tant de personnes apprécient la langue m’aide à l’apprécier encore plus. Cela me ramène à pourquoi je pense à la francophonie chaque année, surtout autour de ce temps.
Le français est vraiment une belle langue, pleine de qui potentiel et porteuse de plusieurs opportunités. Pouvoir l’apprendre, la parler et s’entourer de gens qui la valorisent est un grand privilège dont je suis infiniment reconnaissante. Alors que le 25 septembre est le grand jour où l’on célèbre la francophonie en Ontario, je suis une franco-ontarienne fière chaque jour de l’année !
En prenant la parole, son expertise linguistique était évidente par la manière élégante dont elle s’exprimait, ainsi que par ses nombreuses qualifications.
Dernier, mais non des moindres, Clovis Serushago, un étudiant de Glendon et artiste, a présenté son entreprise, Dego Apparel. Son but est de proposer des vêtements africains abordables adaptés à la vie urbaine. Sa collection de streetwear - hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants - met en valeur l’art et la culture africains à travers ses designs uniques. His final remark, said in passing, was encouraging; “I’m just a guy interested in art and they [GENIAL] opened the world to me.” Did you notice what each of these entrepreneurs have in common? They all identified a problem or pain-point that hit close to home, and then leveraged their passions to propose a solution. They didn’t wait till they had a business degree, an extensive network, or all the answers; they just took a chance with the Entrepreneurial Skills Passport Program and went all-in. And that takes courage. It also proves that anyone, at any age or stage, can take an idea and run with it. Afterall, who knows where it will lead?
Après toutes ces présentations inspirantes, le moment tant attendu était enfin arrivé. Tous les membres du public ont eu l’occasion de voter pour leur entreprise favorite sur MentiMeter. La tension montait lorsque les votes ont commencé à apparaître sur l’écran, les pourcentages fluctuaient chaque seconde, jusqu’à ce qu’enfin, une favorite du public soit apparue. Félicitations à Karuta Futbol Academy ! But that’s not all, the judges also chose three winners who would also receive seed funds to help fund their new business ventures. In third place, we have Bridging Keystone Identities Coaching, followed by Karuta Futbol Academy in second. Cue drumroll please…. Lingoplay Learning was crowned the prestigious first place winner. My biggest congrats to each and every competitor ! Keep up your entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and passion that shone through on September 26th, 2024.
VIE ÉTUDIANTE
Changer de cap à l’université : Une exploration sans fin
Par Leanne Eyre Rédactrice de sections
Il y a deux ans, je pensais avoir tout prévu. J’ai été acceptée dans une licence en arts (BA) et une licence d’éducation concomitante (BEd) à Glendon, donc les six années suivantes de ma vie étaient planifiées. Plus de doutes, plus d’incertitudes. On m’avait assuré qu’après cette formation, des postes d’enseignante, de mathématiques et de français au secondaire viendraient frapper à ma porte. Pour quelqu’un avec une personnalité de type A, dont la plus grande peur est l’inconnu, j’étais soulagée. Je n’ai jamais remis en question mon parcours… jusqu’à cet été.
Selon l’Université de Toronto, 50 à 70 % des étudiants changent de spécialité au moins une fois au cours de leurs études1 Au jeune âge de 18 ans, on nous demande de choisir notre domaine d’études, qui déterminera notre future carrière et l’orientation de notre vie. Malgré la pression sociétale, il est difficile de savoir avec certitude ce que l’on veut vraiment faire sans beaucoup d’expérience de vie. C’est pourquoi l’université est censée être un moment d’exploration. Les cours, les stages, les emplois, la recherche, les clubs, et les activités parascolaires nous façonnent et nous aident à découvrir ce qui nous passionne réellement. Changer de spécialité, ce qui pourrait entraîner des coûts supplémentaires et retarder l’obtention de votre diplôme,
est franchement terrifiant. Mais le choix que vous avez fait à 18 ans ne devrait pas dicter votre avenir. Il vaut mieux s’en rendre compte plus tôt, pendant tes études, que de découvrir après coup que la carrière que vous aviez envisagée n’est pas celle que vous attendiez.
Ce n’est qu’une fois devant 26 adolescents apprenant le français dans une classe au Québec cet été que j’ai réalisé qu’être enseignante n’était peut-être pas pour moi. J’aime partager mes connaissances sur des matières qui m’intéressent, mais la gestion de classe et tout ce qui dépasse l’aspect pédagogique de l’enseignement ne m’attirent pas. Au début, j’ai ignoré cette prise de conscience. Mais au fil des semaines, je n’ai pas pu me débarrasser de ce sentiment de déception. Le tutorat individuel en mathématiques, que j’adore, est loin d’être la même chose que d’enseigner à une classe entière. Pour la première fois depuis le début de mon parcours universitaire, je me suis sentie perdue.
J’aimerais pouvoir dire que tout est réglé et que je sais exactement la voie à suivre, mais ce n’est pas encore le cas. Heureusement, il existe de nombreuses opportunités pour ceux qui ne savent pas encore ce qu’ils veulent faire, ou pour ceux qui souhaitent simplement vérifier qu’ils sont bien orientés.
1. Le Centre de développement de carrière
est là pour vous accompagner dans l’exploration de carrière et le développement de compétences. Sur Expérience York, vous pouvez prendre des rendez-vous individuels, vous inscrire à des ateliers et à des occasions de recrutement. C’est une excellente ressource pour en apprendre davantage sur le marché du travail et pour découvrir les postes qui vous conviennent le mieux2
2. Le bureau d’Éducation expérientielle propose plusieurs stages dans le cadre des cours. Quelle meilleure manière d’explorer que de tester divers milieux de travail tout en répondant aux exigences du diplôme ? Vous pouvez également participer à un échange ou faire un stage international pour acquérir des compétences mondiales3
3. Les activités périscolaires, telles que le travail, le bénévolat, et les clubs, offrent d’excellentes occasions d’exploration et de développement personnel. Vous pouvez travailler sur le campus grâce à un poste « work-study » ou effectuer de la recherche avec un professeur par le biais du Programme d’apprentis chercheurs (PAC) ou de Recherche à York (RAY). S’engager comme bénévole en donnant de son temps et de ses aptitudes est un moyen remarquable d’apporter sa contribution au bien-être des autres, ce qui se répercutera positivement sur soi-même. De plus, rejoindre des clubs et des organisations non seulement embellit votre CV, mais constitue également une autre manière de découvrir de nouveaux intérêts. S’impliquer en dehors des cours vous rend plus polyvalent, un atout pour les
employeurs, et enrichit en même temps votre expérience universitaire. Il est normal de ne pas avoir toutes les réponses dès le début de votre parcours universitaire. C’est en m’impliquant pleinement que je me suis rendu compte que je m’engageais dans une direction qui ne correspondait pas à ce que j’avais imaginé. À ceux qui, comme moi, ont eu une vision claire, mais se retrouvent à douter, je veux vous rassurer : changer de cap n’est pas un abandon. Au contraire, c’est un signe de croissance personnelle. Il faut plus de courage pour s’adapter et réévaluer ses choix que de se conformer aveuglément au programme universitaire. Peu importe où vous en êtes dans vos études, prenez le temps de faire une pause et de réfléchir à la direction que vous prenez. Chaque détour et chaque réévaluation est une chance de découvrir ce qui vous passionne réellement et de forger un avenir qui vous correspond vraiment.
PEACE BY PEACE
Oragnisation
Photos by Flo iyam Tierra