Downtown YMCA emergency shelter will drop to half capacity on Jan. 18
The centrally-located YMCA currently offers 135 beds and chairs to unhoused individuals, regularly reaching capacity.
Sex and The Concordian: Can women ever decentre men?
A new social media trend risks turning love into something cringeworthy.
Hit show Heated Rivalry raises concern surrounding LGBTQ+ acceptance in sports
The homosexual romance highlights the gap between media representation and the harsh reality of the league never having an out LGBTQ+ player in its history.
Sports Page 6
A Trip to Little Philippines: Experiencing Filipino culture in Côte-des-Neiges
Côte-des-Neiges is one of, if not the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the city, and it is also where many members of the Filipino community settled. With the rich history that this community brings to the area, these spots and businesses have become icons for experiencing the culture.
What to look for in politics 2026
What
to the Graduate Students’ Association?
On Jan. 19, the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) will be holding a special general assembly (SGA) to address ongoing issues within the association. Throughout the month of December, members of the GSA started receiving a series of emails attributed to the former GSA president filled with serious allegations of fraud, misconduct, and discrimination taking place in the association. In case you missed it, here is a timeline of the key events. Nov. 22: The GSA claimed that the Council of Directors (COD) unanimously voted to suspend the former GSA president, Swathi Priya Pasumarthy. According to an emailed statement from the COD, this suspension came as the result of an internal investigation regarding the former president’s “conduct towards other members of the Executive Committee and members of the GSA’s permanent staff.”
Continued on next page.
The coldest music festival in the world
The former president’s GSA email sent graduate students an accusatory email directed at past and present leaders in the GSA. The message alleged that “significant financial fraud and serious procedural violation” had been committed by the leadership and staff of the GSA, and that this had been an issue for several years. More specifically, the sender alleged that tens of thousands of dollars in student funds had been misappropriated without approval and that the 2025 general elections were undemocratic.
This email concluded with the link to a petition calling for Concordia to conduct an external investigation into the alleged misconduct.
According to a subsequent email from the GSA, this is the same day that the former president tendered her resignation and took control of the GSA’s Google Workspace. This email also alleges the
former president then; “attempted, with varying degrees of success, to lock out other Executives, staff members, and a number of Directors from their Google accounts in order to prevent the removal of her access to the president@gsaconcordia.ca account.”
To date, The Concordian has not obtained sufficient evidence to substantiate or disprove any of these claims.
Dec. 12:
In an email from the GSA to its members, the association warned of “potential cybercrime, privacy breach and fraud issues involving unauthorized messages being sent to GSA members soliciting their personal information in support of an alleged petition, often using inappropriate, fraudulent and harmful messaging directed towards the GSA councillors and staff members.”
The email concluded with a statement that the GSA would be seeking to resolve the situation and “criminally prosecute those responsible.”
Dec. 20:
The COD shared an email condemning the actions of the former president and stated they would be seeking legal recourse for the various privacy violations she is alleged to have committed. Further, the COD took a firm stance that the former president had mischaracterized the actions of the GSA but did accept responsibility for “years of sub-par documentation practices” relating to the financial dealings of the association. The COD stated that the GSA has gone several years without an audit and has been trying to resolve it, but has found it difficult to secure willing auditors. For reference, the GSA has an annual operating
budget of over $500,000 per year.
Dec. 22:
Someone identifying themself as the former president sent out the most recent email to the date of publication. According to documents obtained by The Concordian, the same email may have been sent several times to different recipients over the course of the following days.
In this email, the sender went into greater detail about the alleged misappropriation of funds. Among these allegations, the sender claimed the GSA had previously been using student funds to pay union dues to CUPE 4512 instead of subtracting them from salaries.
Documents show the association had discussed appropriate sourcing of union dues during the former president’s term during the Oct. 29, 2025 Regular Council of Directors meeting. At the meeting it was resolved that, “the Council directs the GSA staff to follow the written policy in the GSA-Union agreement in terms of the payment of union dues (i.e., to ensure that they are taken out of salaries and not GSA funds).”
The email also includes screenshots of WhatsApp conversations including messages attributed to current and former GSA executives.
One conversation included in the email sent from the president, included GSA directors alledgedly discussing the possibility of utilising student funds to purchase customized winter jackets for the directors. In this screenshot, there is some debate as to whether or not this is an appropriate use of student funds.
Another conversation includes sexist messages allegedly sent by a former GSA executive. The screenshot shows a bulleted list titled “my concerns in
nominating [a] girl as [president].” The sender goes on to list four reasons as to why they believe a woman would not be a suitable candidate for GSA president, including their belief that “generally girls avoid sensitive talks and accountability.”
The Concordian has not yet been able to confirm the veracity of any of these messages.
Jan. 5:
The COD sent out an email officially inviting GSA members to the assembly. The email cites the reasoning for the meeting as being, “to consider the charges preferred against the President following an internal investigation in October into her conduct towards other members of the Executive Committee and members of the GSA’s permanent staff. Two Directors appointed by the Council will present the case against the President and the President will have the opportunity to offer a defence. Thereafter, the SGA will consider if the charges are warranted and, if so, the appropriate penalty to impose.”
The SGA is set to take place at 6 p.m. on Jan. 19, both online and in person at the JMSB conference center. Those who wish to attend should register via the form provided on the GSA website.
The GSA did not reply to comment on the allegations in time for publication. The sender of the emails did not reply to a request for comment via the channel specifically set up for contact noted in the email on Dec. 22, 2025.
This is a developing story.
Concordia 101: Concordia’s GenAI policy and recommendations
Everything you need to know about permitted use of GenAI in your assignments.
By Megan Mills Devoe Campus News Editor
As we kick off the new semester, you might have noticed something new in your syllabi — guidelines on using artificial intelligence.
Concordia currently has no dedicated, university-wide policy regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in academic work, but that doesn’t mean anything goes. This impacts the usage of platforms like ChatGPT, DeepL, and Claude. The university has allowed professors to determine acceptable and unacceptable use cases for use of GenAI in their classes and has encouraged them to create cohesive outlines for students. In turn, they have also encouraged students to become increasingly transparent about disclosing any AI use in their assignments.
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) has published a series of guidelines for instructors and students detailing best-practices for using
GenAI in an academic context.
If you’re having a hard time understanding what to expect from your professors, here’s a basic breakdown of some of the CTL guidelines:
Your instructor MAY
- Set guidelines and rules for the use of GenAI specific to each class and individual assignment. For example, your professor might permit the use of GenAI in the development and planning stage of an essay, but forbid the use of AI generated material in the final version of the essay.
- Encourage you to use GenAI in completing classwork. This could include encouraging you to use a software like Grammarly to reword your work so the tone is more appropriate, or encouraging you to input your history notes into ChatGPT in order to create a more cohesive timeline of events for your study guide.
- Ban the use of GenAI in classwork entirely. Your professor has the right to classify the use of GenAI as a form of academic misconduct in the context of their class.
- Accuse you of an academic offense if they believe that you have used GenAI in a dishonest or prohibited manner. In this case, the Academic Code of Conduct would require the accuser to present a “preponderance of evidence” that you have used GenAI in a manner that qualifies as an academic offense. The CTL
guidelines recommend that professors do not attempt to detect the use of GenAI due to the possibility of false positives. However, this is not a binding rule.
- Assign work designed to be impossible or extremely difficult to complete using GenAI.
- Specify which GenAI softwares are permitted and forbidden in the context of the class. For example, you may be permitted to use a software like Grammarly to check your work, but barred from using ChatGPT to generate ideas.
- Require that you document and disclose the specific use of GenAI in your work. This could include the software you used, the prompt(s) you inputted, the results you received, etc.
- Require you to cite any and all use of GenAI in your classwork.
- Require that you write a reflection about how and why you chose to use GenAI for an assignment.
Graphic by Anna Huang
Campus Resource Guide: Winter 2026 CSU Events
By Jia Marguerite Schofer Campus News Assistant
Your instructor MAY NOT
- Require you to use GenAI for coursework in any way that involves your personal information without the option to opt out. Required use of GenAI in the classroom must comply with Concordia’s Policy Regarding the Protection of Personal Information and Access to Information.
- Employ the use of GenAI detection softwares to check your work.
- Input work you have submitted into a large language model (LLM). The work you submit is your intellectual property.
- Directly apply sanctions against you if they believe you have used GenAI in a dishonest or prohibited matter. All alleged academic offenses, including prohibited use of GenAI, must be processed by the relevant Dean.
If you are uncertain about the policy regarding the use of GenAI in any of your classes or assignments it is important that you reach out to your professor directly for clarification. Do not assume that policies or permissions given for one class or assignment will apply universally. Students who are interested in learning more about the suggested use of GenAI in classwork can consult the educational modules provided through the GenAI Quickstart for Students project.
// Graphics Editor // @itza_me_anna
Dec. 5:
Downtown YMCA emergency shelter will drop to half capacity
The YMCA currently offers 135 beds and chairs to unhoused individuals every night, regularly reaching capacity.
By Chloe Rose Stuart-Ulin Assistant City News Editor
The downtown Montreal YMCA shelter on Drummond St. will reduce its capacity by half on Jan. 18. It currently offers 85 beds and 50 chairs to unhoused individuals needing to escape deadly winter temperatures; it regularly reaches its total full capacity of 135 people.
On Jan. 7, the shelter's operator first-aid charity St. John Ambulance, and the YMCA decided to keep the shelter operating under reduced capacity, halving its 135 current spots. It is unclear what proportion of beds and chairs will be cut, but the remaining spots will be available every night until March 31. Other shelter services at that location, including the on-site clinic, food, drinks,
clothing, and hygiene products, won’t be affected.
“When there’s less people, we’ll get to give more resources, more support, more help,” said Aydin Matlabi, deputy director of community services at St. John Ambulance. He sees the capacity reduction as a much-needed opportunity to focus on individual care.
“Having 135 people — we’re just managing crises,” Matlabi said. “If one or two of those 135 people cause a problem, and we have to deal with that, we have no energy to help the people who actually want to get help.”
In early December, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada set a city-wide mandate to add 500 new emergency warming spots by Christmas, following through on one of Ensemble Montréal’s central campaign promises to tackle the city’s homelessness crisis.
“To date, 509 additional chairs and beds have been added,” said Michèle Chappaz, director general of Le Mouvement pour mettre fin à l’itinérance à Montréal (MMFIM).
“Right now, the occupancy rate of all these spots is 92 percent.”
The city has been able to meet that goal by keeping temporary warming stations open for longer periods. Technically, emergency shelters like the downtown YMCA are not obligated to open unless the temperature
drops below -27°C with wind chill, but the city has negotiated with them and several other locations to stay open regardless of temperature.
The fate of the downtown YMCA shelter, however, has been in flux since it opened on Dec. 4. Despite its central location and high occupancy rate, the shelter initially only agreed to stay open until Jan. 18.
The City of Montreal did not respond directly to questions regarding the partial closure of services at the downtown YMCA.
“The city is working closely with the healthcare system and community partners to maintain services throughout the winter,” it wrote in a statement to The Concordian
“Several projects are underway in this regard, and further communications will follow in the coming days.”
For years, a great source of frustration for permanent, community-based shelters has been the uncertainty surrounding the availability of the city’s emergency shelters, which, given the extremely low temperature threshold, might only open for a day or two at a time.
St. Michael’s Mission, a permanent day center for the unhoused in downtown Montreal that opens overnight in winter, is a 2-minute walk from the YMCA.
Once their 60 available spots are taken, the staff redirects people to nearby alternatives. When emergency shelters are solely
temperature-dependent, the Mission’s staff might not know what’s open until hours before.
“Sometimes we get that news on the same day,” said Andrew Marrocco, executive director of St. Michael’s Mission. “One of the biggest issues in Montreal is the fragmentation — the lack of coordination and cohesion of communication.”
Last year, the Mission had to turn away 50 to 100 people a day. Knowing where to send people is crucial for helping them stay safe, not only in dangerously low temperatures but all year-round.
“This area is one of the places with the biggest problems and with the clearest lack of capacity,” said Marrocco, of Montreal's downtown core. “The consequences are quite staggering.” Once the YMCA halves its capacity, it will be that much harder for his staff to find available spaces for people to go.
“If we have a hard time keeping up with everything,” said Marrocco, “how are the people who are actually using these services meant to have any kind of stability?”
Every frontline worker and advocate who spoke to The Concordian for this story agreed: while the downtown YMCA emergency shelter may not be the best permanent solution, consistent services are needed. Not just on nights below -27°C, or even all winter long, but every night of the year.
Quebec’s union bill doesn’t apply to student unions; for now
CSU Finance
Coordinator Ryan Assaker is fiercely opposed to applying it to student unions.
By Félix-Antoine Beauchemin City News Editor
In December 2025, the Quebec government voted to adopt Bill 3, a bill aimed “to improve the transparency, governance and democratic process of various associations in the workplace.”
But unions are denouncing it as an attack on their rights, aimed at weakening their power.
The bill splits union fees into principal dues and optional dues, with principal dues that can be used only to fund operations directly linked to work conditions. Other operations, such as publicity, participating in social and political movements or lawsuits, would have to be funded through optional dues.
The bill also includes many measures that increase financial transparency and disclosure, particularly for large unions. In its press conference presenting the bill, Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet said increased transparency in union spending and governing has become necessary.
“But the cases that have been documented by the media in the last 18 months and the cases that have not been documented by the media in the last 18 months forced us to act, forced us to consider a bill,” he said in October.
Multiple union groups have denounced the bill as an attack on unions’ rights. The Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), which represents over 500,000 unionized workers in the province, called for the CAQ to cancel the bill before it was studied by parliamentarians.
“Bill 3 is part of an authoritarian drift to eliminate countervailing powers and limit the scope of human rights and freedoms. The bill must be shredded” wrote Magali Picard, the president of the FTQ, in a press release in November.
On Nov. 29, tens of thousands of workers protested in Montreal against Bill 3. What about student unions?
While the bill does not currently apply to student unions, Ryan Assaker, the CSU’s finance coordinator, is opposed to the idea.
“It would do a lot of damage,” he said in an interview with The Concordian. “I mean, the CSU is governed by its political positions in the sense that all of our Positions Book, which is where our political positions lie, are all decided by the highest authority at the CSU, which is the huge special general meetings that we have.”
Assaker also defended the CSU’s political positions, noting that they have been approved by students at special general
Rob Ashton wants to bring the NDP back as the workers’ party
Ashton sat down with The Concordian to talk about what he’s bringing to the table in this year's NDP leadership race.
By Félix-Antoine Beauchemin City News Editor @fa.beauchemin.journalisme
Following the first debate of the federal NDP’s leadership race, The Concordian sat down with candidate Rob Ashton for an exclusive interview detailing his vision for Canada and the NDP.
On Nov. 27, 2025, the NDP held its first leadership debate in Montreal. The results of its leadership race will be announced on March 29, during the party’s national convention in Winnipeg.
NDP party members in good standing before Jan. 28, 2026, will be eligible to cast a ballot to elect their new party leader. The NDP will use preferential voting to elect its new leader, meaning party members will rank each candidate in order of preference on their ballot.
A leader is elected once they reach a simple majority of votes. If no candidate reaches a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, the ballots for this candidate are reallocated for their next-preferred candidate and so on until a candidate reaches a majority and is elected as leader of the NDP.
Félix-Antoine Beauchemin To you, what is the main priority to get union workers, a lot of whom left for the Conservative Party last election, to get them back to voting for the NDP?
meetings (SGM). For example, he pointed to a SGM in January 2025. Over 900 students overwhelmingly passed motions ordering the CSU to demand the university comply with the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and for it to be presented to Concordia’s Board of Governors.
He also said the CSU had a duty to act on political positions voted on by its members to address them.
“For example, we have a political position on how education needs to be accessible and affordable, then the CSU needs to enact, the executives need to enact, to take action in parallel with these, which, first of all, prevents bias, personal political biases from executives,” he said.
One of Bill 3’s main consequences is that
it reduces unions’ ability to get involved in political debates. Assaker believes that unions are inherently political and has criticized the government’s efforts to depoliticize them and reduce their powers.
“If this was applied back in 2023 for the tuition hikes, then I’m sorry, but the amount of mobilization that we’ve done back then would not have been possible,” he said. “So, yeah, it is very concerning, and it’s definitely a step, an overreach of the government if they would go ahead and try to, I don’t know, go after student unions.”
Quebec’s Ministry of Labour did not respond to The Concordian’s request for comment on whether it was considering tabling a bill similar to Bill 3 that would apply to student unions.
The NDP will host its second and final leadership debate on Feb. 19 in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Five candidates are running for party leadership:
• Heather McPherson, MP for Edmonton Strathcona;
• Avi Lewis, journalist and activist;
• Tanille Johnston, Indigenous social worker and city councillor;
• Tony McQuail, farmer and “Green Progressive” candidate;
• Rob Ashton, union leader.
Here is an excerpt from the interview. Scan the QR code to listen to the full interview on The Concordian’s YouTube, Spotify and Substack.
Rob Ashton: We have to prove ourselves. We have to prove ourselves that, prove to people that we’re back as the workers’ party. Because what I’ve been hearing as I’ve been on the campaign trail is we kind of left the workers behind.
And whether we did it on purpose or by accident, we allowed Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party to come in and pretend that they’re workers. And Poilievre’s the worst cosplayer ever, especially when he’s saying that he’s a worker, because I don’t think he’s worked a day in his life outside the house.
And so we have to prove ourselves. Like, my union, what I represent is, like, we have a saying, I'll do it en français: Les débardeurs se battent pour les travailleurs. We fight for workers. We fight for everybody. That’s what longshore does.
And that’s where I come from.
Félix-Antoine Beauchemin: I want to touch on student activism. Concordia has one of the most active student bodies. In recent years, we had multiple strikes for Palestine. We had our seeking assistance go on strike last year. A couple of years ago, we had strikes against tuition hikes. And so, how would the NDP under your leadership work with student unions and student activism to kind of federate them and integrate them more into the party, into a common vision?
Rob Ashton: So that’s one of the things that I learned early on is that the party never really did too much, from what I was told, with student unions or with NDP groups and the different colleges and universities out there. And that’s something that we have to get back to. You see the alt-right, you see the rightwing governments. That’s what they do. They get into the colleges and universities, they pop up tents. We used to do that.
We used to go stand on a soapbox and talk to hundreds of people. But we stopped doing that. And so, yeah, we have to start working with the universities, the students at the universities, the students in the colleges.
Tuition: Tanille Johnston,
of the other candidates, has been arguing for free tuition. 100% agree with her. Because why should you go to school, spend tens of thousands of dollars or whatever your course costs are, who knows what kind of credit card debt you're going to come out with because maybe you can't find a job, so you're living off your credit cards.
And then when you graduate and you need a degree, you come out, you have no job.
Then what? You go back to school to try to get another degree so you can find a different job? It’s BS.
And so we have to be working with the student unions and the different NDP groups across the country in schools, even in high schools, so that we can actually come out with a solid message about what needs to be done in the federal government. Because I’m done talking at people.
As the leader, we have to talk together. That’s why I was given two ears and one mouth to – well, maybe not in this interview. I’m doing a hell of a lot of talking! But my job is to listen to you, is to hear your voice, and then put your voice through my lips when I get to Ottawa.
one
Scan the QR code to listen to the whole interview with Rob Ashton.
Graphic by Nan Wang // Contributor // @piccolowang
NDP leadership candidate Rob Ashton posing in front of Concordia's SGW campus on Nov. 28. Photo by Aidan Raynor // @aidanjraynor // Editor-in-Chief
Heated Rivalry reignites LGBTQ+ acceptance conversation in sports
The hit show highlights the gap between media representation and the harsh reality present in the NHL.
By Mathilde Colls Assistant Sports Editor @mathcolls
With the global phenomenon that is Heated Rivalry, the topic of LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance in sports has been put under the microscope.
The show centred on the story of two rival players hiding their love from the world has forced a league with a poor, if not nonexistent, track record of defending queer representation to talk about it.
As of 2025, the National Hockey League (NHL) remains the only major men’s sports league without any openly gay players. In fact, it is the only league among the four major North American leagues to have never seen an actively out LGBTQ+ player while holding a roster spot with one of its teams in the league’s history.
Heated Rivalry’s lead actor, Hudson Williams, stated on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live that multiple closeted athletes have reached out to him, including “hockey players, football players [and] basketball players.”
The closest the NHL has had to an openly queer player as of 2025 is defenceman Luke Prokop. Selected by the Nashville Predators, 73rd overall, in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the 22-year-old came out in 2021 and became the first active player under an NHL
contract to publicly do so. He currently plays for the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL).
In 2022, a report released by Hockey Canada indicated that there were 900 total, both documented and alleged, incidents of on-ice discrimination across all levels and age groups during the 2021–22 season.
According to the report, 61 per cent of the 512 penalties called by officials that season involved sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination.
However, Prokop believes LGBTQ+ acceptance in hockey is progressing in the right direction, noting significant changes.
“One big thing I noticed is just the language,” Prokop said in a 2025 interview with the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal. “On the ice, guys aren’t saying homophobic slurs or anything like that, where, even when I was growing up playing in minor hockey, it was natural for guys just to kind of use that language.”
He credits Pride Nights, special games hosted by NHL teams to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community as part of the league’s “Hockey Is For Everyone” initiative, a long-standing program intended to promote inclusion and combat discrimination in the sport.
“I think as each year goes by, we’re getting more open and being able to be comfortable talking about things. So I think that’s been really positive,” added Prokop.
Some other sports leagues may be more advanced than the NHL in terms of LGBTQ+ acceptance in hockey, such as the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
The PWHL has no fewer than 36 out gay players among its 206 athletes. The league is now celebrated as an “LGBTQ+ positive environment,” according to Dr. Stefanie Duguay, a Concordia University professor, researcher and director of the Digital Intimacy,
Gender and Sexuality Lab.
“I think we could look at what they have done in that league that has allowed it to be so inclusive, and is there any aspect of that that can actually be carried over to the NHL?” said Duguay.
also in our policies, in the social spaces that we’re in, in the institutions that we function in as well.”
While Heated Rivalry has kept everything fictional, its popularity sparked a reaction from the NHL itself.
“So even though the NHL has been around for much longer, perhaps they could be doing some things differently, and we can look to a newer league like the PWHL to see what could be done.”
For Duguay, multiple things have to change to see real progress in LGBTQ+ acceptance in male hockey, including a shift from toxic masculinity to positive masculinity not rooted in oppression, as well as providing young athletes with educated mentors who model for them this positive masculinity.
“Heated Rivalry opens the possibility of that because now everybody's talking about it,” said Duguay. “But how do we continue? What sort of actual support, what sort of care, what sort of positive social environments in relation to hockey do we need to foster to make that a reality that people can live into?”
She believes that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and representation cannot rely on a single show. “A television show can be influential. We need change across media, but
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, an unnamed league representative said about the hit show, “There are so many ways to get hooked on hockey and, in the NHL’s 108-year history, this might be the most unique driver for creating new fans.”
The NHL has built an infamous reputation when it comes to protecting its athletes internally. In 2021, Kyle Beach, the 11th overall NHL 2008 draft pick, reported being sexually assaulted when he was 20 by former Chicago Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich. An independent investigation found that top Blackhawks executives knew about Beach’s claims of abuse when he initially brought them up in 2010, but failed to act on the allegations.
Despite the league’s history of covering up transgressions or failing to foster an inclusive LGBTQ+ environment that punishes against discrimination, Heated Rivalry creates a newfound scrutiny to the league that may just well hold them accountable.
The NHL representative added, “See you all at the rink.”
FC Supra debuts with players from here, and playing for here
With FC Supra’s introduction, Quebec now has its first team in the CPL.
By Anthony Tapia Ancinez
Soccer
Correspondent
@_anthonytapia
“When we say it is a team from here, for here, we mean it. We’re very excited to showcase our local talent in the CPL, ” said FC Supra president Rocco Placentino in an interview with The Concordian.
The team is the latest addition to the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and will debut in Laval’s Stade Boréale in April 2026. FC Supra will exclusively sign players born and raised in the province, as well as some special cases who move to
Quebec and seek residency.
The Montreal fans already had two professional Soccer clubs: CF Montreal, which plays in the Major League Soccer (MLS), and The Montreal Roses FC women’s soccer club that competes in the Northern Super League (NSL).
However, the city lacked a professional soccer club in the Canadian Premier League, which did not have a Quebec representative yet.
The team was co-founded by Rocco Placentino along with investors Matt Rizzetta, Angelo Pasto and Stéphane Tétreault.
The name Supra pays homage to the late ‘80s professional soccer team Supra Montreal, which dissolved in 1992, making way for the creation of Montreal Impact, currently known as CF Montreal.
“I was a young boy when Supra was around in the late ‘80s,” said Placentino.
“When it went away, it was sad because it was something cool. There were a lot of players from Montreal that played on that
team [...] so, to bring back something so important in the 80’s is an honour.”
The organization is eager to play, win and get better every day.
“I want to win, we want to win, but at the end of the day, the field is going to do the talking,” said Placentino. “The first year is for us to understand the league, understand the way they play. Because it is a very good soccer league, and then each and every day gets better.”
As of Jan 11. 2026, FC Supra has signed 8 players, with its most recent additions being three-time CPL champion Aboubacar Sissoko and former CS Saint-Laurent and Valour FC player Wesley Wandje. They will be coached by Nicholas Razzaghi, who was awarded coach of the year in Quebec’s semi-professional league, Ligue 1, with CS Saint-Laurent.
Placentino believes that when Quebec players sign for Supra, they feel attachment to their province, city, family and identity.
“It’s more than just the contract. When
Aly Barghout: The Big Friendly Giant
A look back at one of Concordia’s greatest wrestlers.
By Connor Patrick Rooney Wrestling Correspondent
Towering at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 265 pounds in his prime, Aly Barghout was a force to be reckoned with during his nine-year wrestling career from 2013 to 2022. In this timespan, he accrued a record of 179-33, netting the Concordia alum a career win rate of 81.6 per cent.
Over the course of his decorated career, Barghout won a silver medal at the World Wrestling Championships, 3 silvers at the Pan American Games, was a five-time national champion, a seven-time provincial champion, and won a U Sports national championship representing Concordia in 2020.
In 22 varsity tournaments, Barghout earned a podium finish every single time, winning gold on 12 occasions.
Barghout immigrated from Egypt when he was only 11 years old, with limited Greco-Roman wrestling experience. Training with this style of wrestling without leg attacks is ironic, considering leg attacks would become Barghout’s bread and butter. He spent his first three years in Canada swimming before returning to the mats for good.
“I just hated swimming, it was very repetitive, just going back and forth,” said Barghout in an interview with The Concordian.
“I wanted something with more action.”
Barghout made his way to the esteemed Montreal Wrestling Club in a twist of fate.
you sign for Supra, you’re signing a fidelity contract to make sure that Supra is on your sleeve, and you give your 100 per cent,” he said.
The team has done tryouts around the province to recruit more talent. Quebec has a big roster of skilled players in Ligue 1, and it will be a unique task to bring them together to compete and win the CPL.
Placentino’s experience makes him the right person for this task. His nine-year career playing for Italian and Canadian teams, followed by working as technical director for CS Saint-Laurent for more than a decade, gives him a distinguished view of Quebec’s youth league and the players’ potential.
“It’s a huge challenge, but in life, if you’re not challenging yourself, you’re doing something wrong,” added Placentino.
“Now there is opportunity for kids to showcase themselves if they work hard and never give up.”
His cousin frequented Concordia’s gym and ran into wrestling Olympian David Zilberman, who worked there at the time.
After hearing about a big, young, and interested Barghout, Zilberman invited him to practice. The rest is history.
Training at the Montreal Wrestling Club allowed Barghout to train with some of the best wrestlers in Canada.
This meant that for the first few years of his career, Barghout had to become accustomed to getting beaten up in practice by talented sparring partners. While the prospect of showing up day after day for a beating may deter most, Barghout channelled his frustration into motivation.
“My goal was to beat them before they retired,” Barghout said.
The highlight of Barghout’s career was winning the silver medal at the Junior Wrestling World Championships in 2018 during his first year at Concordia.
In the lead-up to the world championship, Barghout had struggled in international tournaments, having lost three of four within four months. Barghout refused to let these results deflate his hopes.
“All that helped me for worlds, it pushed me and gave me more motivation,” said Barghout.
Having those tournaments back-toback gave me international experience.”
Frédérick Choquette was one of Barghout’s training partners at the time and recalled their sparring sessions before the world championships. He noted that Barghout’s specialty was in grabbing the single leg position.
“He wouldn’t go crazy or berserk,” said Choquette. “He was disciplined and controlled with what he was doing. I think that was part of the key to his success.”
One of Barghout’s biggest challenges throughout his career was putting on the weight to compete in the heavyweight division, where athletes can weigh up to
125 kg. Barghout weighed roughly 110 kg at the start of his career and had a long road to reach his goal.
Gaining weight was made most difficult by the fact that Barghout was training two to three times a day. Whether on the mat, in the pool or in the weight room, Barghout was constantly burning calories. To make up for this, Barghout would eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet three times a week and eat a high-protein diet.
Stingers wrestling head coach David Zilberman made it clear that gaining that amount of weight while training is incredibly uncomfortable. He explained the process as eating until you think you’re full and then eating more.
“It’s tough because you have to train when the food is up to your throat,” said Zilberman, “You have to be full all the time.”
Another way in which Barghout managed to put on weight was by constantly lifting weights. He was in the weight room five days a week throughout his career. His proudest lift is his max bench press, coming in at a whopping 345 pounds for five repetitions.
Barghout believes the key to his suc cessful career was consistency, staying on his goal no matter what. He does not believe he possessed much talent for wrestling and that it was his drive to be better that led him to reach such heights.
“He was really motivated to train; he wouldn’t miss practice. He was a workhorse,” said Zilberman.
“He was always training; sick, tired, or injured.”
A detail that accentuates his dedication is that Barghout lived in Longueil, meaning he had his alarm set for 4:30 a.m. every
day in order to get to morning
Since
Keeping up with Stingers basketball
Both varsity basketball teams look to flip the script on disappointing starts.
By Blake Saraga Basketball Correspondent @blake_saraga
With the new year beginning, Concordia’s varsity basketball teams look to carry the momentum gained late in the year to improve on disappointing starts, respectively.
Both teams left a lot to be desired in the first half of the season, as both teams held a record of 2-4 against conference opponents.
The women’s team started the year with a dominant win against UQAM, then went on to lose three in a row, before closing the calendar year with another win against a struggling UQAM squad.
Led by head coach Tenicha Gittens, the women’s team is looking to pick up where they left off and continue to ride the greatness of star center Serena Tchida.
The senior is averaging 11.2 rebounds per game, which has her ranked sixth in the country, to go along with her team-leading 15.8 points per game on
43 percent shooting from the field.
“I haven’t stopped working since the beginning of the season,” said Tchida in an interview with The Concordian.
Coach Gittens is certain that her group can compete for a championship in the RSEQ with their stifling perimeter defence and explosive capabilities on offence.
“The key to success for us is staying consistent for four straight quarters and making sure the habits built in practice translate to game play,” said Gittens.
On the other side of the Stingers’ locker room tunnel, expectations for a deep playoff run remain high despite a slower start than what Concordia faithful have become accustomed to.
Unfortunately, they started the year off 0-3 in conference games, their worst start to a season in almost a decade.
At the beginning of the season, the Stingers looked great, going toe-to-toe with giants from conferences that offer stronger competition than RSEQ play.
Coach Damian Buckley has mentioned the roster turnover as one of the causes for the slow start, along with poor execution down the stretch.
The Stingers’ all-stars, Karam Sahly and Sami Jahan, gave their thoughts on what a successful 2026 would look like for the highly coveted Concordia Men’s basketball team.
“We feel like we started really well, but we could have done a lot better in league play,” said Sahly. “The losses showed us where we needed to improve, and since the break, I think we did a great job on improving those weaknesses.”
The third-year veteran expects the team to heavily improve on defence and operate with better pace in the second half of conference play.
“We have to maximize the talent we have on paper and translate that to on-court performance,” said Jahan.
The Stingers have one of the most talented teams in the country, led by seasoned veterans like Jahan, who have played on big stages.
Concordia has been a model of excellence in the RSEQ, boasting back-to-back trips to the finals, along with a trip to the U Sports national championship tournament in 2025. According to the former all-star, camaraderie and playing for each other are more important than the X’s and O’s.
“Making sacrifices for each other and putting egos aside for the overall goal of winning a championship,” is what makes a winning team, said Jahan
The preferred results have begun to show, starting the new year right with a hardfought 59-55 win against Carleton University in a non-conference exhibition game.
The Stingers’ men’s team has also
practice on time.
Tragically, Barghout retired in 2022 ahead of the Olympic Trials after suffering a heart attack during training.
then, Barghout has transitioned into coaching at Loyola High School. So far, he has led the team to three straight championships and introduced several of his athletes to the Montreal Wrestling Club, where they can follow in his big, yet
Photo courtesy of U Sports
Graphic by Dia Diekmann // Contributor // @diadrws
Serena Tchida surveys the court from the top of the key // Photo by Concordia Athletics
À quoi s’attendre en politique provinciale et fédérale en 2026?
Entre les courses à la chefferie, des élections provinciales et un gouvernement fédéral minoritaire, l’année 2026 promet!
Par Félix-Antoine Beauchemin City News Editor
@fa.beauchemin.journalisme
1. Le Parti libéral du Québec (PLQ) à la recherche d’un nouveau chef
Pablo Rodriguez a démissionné de son poste de chef du PLQ en décembre, six mois après son élection, à la suite d’un mois marqué par des scandales. Le dernier clou dans le cercueil du règne de Pablo Rodriguez à la tête du PLQ a été la révélation, par Le Journal de Montréal, de remboursements de 500 $ par l’homme d’affaires Emmanuel Cabral à une vingtaine de donateurs à la campagne à la chefferie de Rodriguez.
Charles Milliard est pour l’instant le clair favori pour devenir le prochain chef du PLQ. Ex-PDG de la Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, il avait terminé deuxième de la course à la chefferie du
PLQ en 2025. Il a également reçu le soutien officiel de 10 députés libéraux actuels.
Mario Roy, agriculteur de la Beauce, a également annoncé son intention de briguer la chefferie du PLQ. Il avait terminé cinquième et dernier de la dernière course à la chefferie du PLQ l’an dernier, avec 0,76 % des points au premier tour.
Les candidats ont jusqu’au 13 février pour déposer leur candidature et le nouveau chef sera élu le 14 mars.
2. Cinq candidats à la chefferie du NPD
Le NPD a tenu son premier débat de course à la chefferie à Montréal en novembre, avant l’élection de son chef le 29 mars. Cinq candidats sont dans la course :
· Tanille Johnston, travailleuse sociale autochtone et conseillère municipale;
· Tony McQuail, agriculteur;
· Rob Ashton, dirigeant syndical.
Le parti ne compte actuellement que sept députés, son total le plus bas en plusieurs décennies, ce qui lui a fait perdre son statut de parti officiel à la Chambre des communes après la dernière élection.
3. François Legault restera-t-il en poste? Après sept ans au pouvoir, le gouvernement de François Legault est extrêmement impopulaire. Selon de récents sondages, la CAQ serait même menacée de ne pas élire aucun député lors des prochaines élections provinciales, qui se tiendront en octobre.
François Legault a tout de même exprimé son désir de se présenter à nouveau
pour un troisième mandat. En revanche, en raison de son impopularité, il ne serait pas impossible qu’il soit poussé à la sortie par les membres de son parti, surtout au vu de la manière dont le départ de Justin Trudeau et l’arrivée de Mark Carney ont permis aux libéraux fédéraux d’effectuer un retournement de situation spectaculaire et de se maintenir au pouvoir.
4. Le Parti Québécois (PQ) vogue vers une majorité À en croire les sondages, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon et le PQ se dirigent vers un gouvernement majoritaire en octobre 2026. Un fervent indépendantiste, le chef péquiste a promis de tenir un référendum au cours d’un premier mandat. En revanche, l’agrégateur de sondages
Qc125.com ne lui attribue que 36 % du vote populaire pour l’instant. Derrière, le PLQ est à 21 %, alors que le parti tentera de sortir de sa crise avec un nouveau chef. La CAQ est, quant à elle, à 18 %, mais les projections de sièges lui sont très défavorables en raison d’une forte distorsion électorale, ne lui accordant que deux sièges sur 125. Le Parti conservateur du Québec d’Éric Duhaime tentera de faire son entrée à l’Assemblée nationale et est en bonne position pour l’obtenir, avec une projection actuelle de sept sièges. Québec Solidaire, ayant récemment élu Sol Zanetti comme co-porte-parole aux côtés de Ruba Ghazal, peine à se créer du momentum et élirait, pour l’instant, quatre députés.
Au Théâtre Saint-Denis, Peter Pan s’envole
Soyez émerveillés par l’éternelle magie de l’enfance!
Par Alexandra Montenegro Nodarse Collaboratrice
La comédie musicale Peter Pan était présentée au Théâtre Saint-Denis jusqu’au 11 janvier. Dès le 12 décembre, elle a accueilli chaleureusement des centaines de familles prêtes à célébrer le temps des fêtes. Tous les mercredis, cette comédie transporte les membres de l’auditoire au Pays de nulle part, là où l’enfance est une éternelle féerie capable de vous faire rêver. Peu importe votre âge, ce spectacle magique promet d’exaucer tous vos souhaits.
L’histoire de Peter Pan, popularisée par le célèbre film de Walt Disney, raconte les aventures d’un enfant qui ne veut jamais grandir. Celui-ci voyage avec Wendy Darling et ses frères vers une contrée imaginaire, où il l’emporte sur le Capitaine Crochet.
Parmi les spectateurs, Ileana Cabreras, mère de deux enfants, vante les prix
abordables pour ces derniers.
« Le français n’est pas ma langue maternelle, mais cela ne m’a pas empêché d’en profiter malgré la barrière linguistique. L’histoire de Peter Pan est archi-connue. Il y a eu quelques blagues que je n’ai pas comprises tout de suite, mais j’avais les enfants pour ça », dit-elle. Elle a été éblouie par la beauté colorée des décors, la voix retentissante des acteurs et les chorégraphies aériennes de ces derniers. Elle insiste notamment sur les acrobaties à couper le souffle, qu’elle qualifie d’époustouflantes d’un regard émerveillé. Cabreras voulait planifier une activité pouvant plaire à des personnes d’âges et de goûts différents pour passer du temps en famille et célébrer l’arrivée de l’année 2026. Dès qu’elle a visionné la vidéo d’Éléonore Lagacé, qui chantait et dansait en suspension dans les airs, elle a été immédiatement subjuguée. Le fait de voir la comédienne chanter à l’envers était pour cette mère une cause d’émerveillement.
Quant à la fille de Cabreras, Isabela, elle réitère les propos élogieux de sa mère, mais ajoute aussi une vision contemporaine et critique du féminisme apportant une touche de modernité à cette pièce classique.
« Il y avait un message un peu féministe, avec Peter qui était joué par une femme et
les commentaires du genre ‘les filles sont trop futées pour tomber de leur berceau’ ou quand Wendy demande directement à Peter ses sentiments. J’ai trouvé ça amusant », dit-elle.
Une femme qui joue le rôle de Peter Pan est une tradition de Broadway que le metteur en scène Luc Guérin souhaitait maintenir.
Son petit frère de sept ans, Eddie Cabreras, a beaucoup ri, surtout lorsque le père de Wendy criait à répétition « Moins fort, les enfants! ».
« J’ai aimé le crocodile », ajoute-t-il.
La Fondation du Centre jeunesse de la Montérégie est une collaboratrice officielle du spectacle. Pour la Fondation, ce projet reflète sa contribution vitale à l’épanouissement des jeunes Québécois suivis par la direction de la protection de la jeunesse. En plus d’ouvrir une porte vers la culture et l’inclusion, cette initiative permettra également d’amasser des fonds essentiels au soutien de cette mission.
Le 18 novembre 2025, alors que les rideaux venaient à peine d’ouvrir, Peter Pan avait déjà fait exploser les ventes, franchissant le cap des 30 000 billets vendus. Cette comédie musicale remplit les salles et obnubile les foules par ses paysages enchanteurs et sa musique ensorcelante.
Des géodes dans la boîte crânienne: les extraterrestres anthropomorphes de David Altmejd à la Galerie de l’UQAM
Jusqu’au 24 janvier, un incroyable échantillon de bustes humanoïdes en plâtre habitera la galerie de l’école où l’artiste a commencé la sculpture.
By Laure-Charlotte Côté Contributor
La Galerie de l’UQAM accueille cet hiver une monumentale exposition des œuvres sculpturales d’un des diplômés de l’université les plus reconnus: David Altmejd. Agora . Sous le commissariat de Louise Déry, qui l’avait accompagnée en 2007 lorsqu’il avait représenté le Canada à la Biennale de Venise, Altmejd met en scène une collection d’une trentaine de sculptures, dont plusieurs ont été produites en 2025. C’est sa première exposition à Montréal en dix ans, ce que la responsable en médiation de la
galerie Léa Lanthier-Lapierre appelle un « retour à la maison ».
La pratique sculpturale de David Altmejd s’inscrit dans une vaste expérimentation avec divers matériaux et incarnations de l’être. Agora est composée de bustes et de portraits en bois, en polystyrène, en graines de sésame, en cigarettes, en fils de fer et en bronze coulé, et bien d’autres. Les créatures qu’il en fait, des hybrides humanoïdes surréels et futuristes, cohabitent dans l’espace de la Galerie de l’UQAM. Ce n’est pas la première collaboration entre la galerie et Altmejd, qui y a été exposé plus d’une dizaine de fois depuis sa graduation en 1997. Ce qui distingue Agora des autres, c’est qu’on a ici l’occasion de voir des œuvres sélectionnées sur les trente ans de carrière de l’artiste. C’est une collection qui montre la rigueur de la démarche de l’artiste, à travers les yeux d’une commissaire qui a suivi sa carrière avec assiduité « Quand on s’intéresse à l’art avec beaucoup de ferveur, c’est passionnant de découvrir des artistes très jeunes et de les suivre toute notre vie », Louise Déry. Elle explique que cette exposition représente une démarche différente de ce qui a fait connaître l’artiste, une échelle plus intime représentée par les créatures de taille humaine qu’il positionne face à face au spectateur — et souvent face à face les unes aux autres.
D’après Déry: « C’est un tête-à-tête entre lui-même et ce qu’il fait naître devant lui. Il ne souhaite plus faire des immenses œuvres avec quinze assistants dans l’atelier, il veut être seul en rapport avec ses œuvres. Ça lui confère une immense authenticité ».
Thea Favron, étudiante en arts visuels à Sainte-Foy, suit le travail de l’artiste depuis quelques années. Lors de sa visite d’ Agora , elle fut charmée par l’intimité de la démarche à plus petite échelle.
« Je trouve que ça lui va très bien. Ses traces de doigts dans le plâtre rendent l’émotion très crue », dit-elle. Agora est une exposition clé que le Globe and Mail a placée sur sa liste des « 10 meilleures choses en arts visuels en 2025 ». La commissaire Déry souligne l’importance de montrer le travail d’artistes à succès dans une institution d’enseignement : « Qu’il expose ici, à la galerie ou il a étudié, ça a eu beaucoup d’importance pour lui — je savais que ça aurait beaucoup d’importance aussi pour les étudiants.
Ça donne de l’espoir ». L’exposition sera en place jusqu’au 24 janvier 2026, et la commissaire mènera une visite conviviale le 14 janvier à 17h30. Après la fermeture de l’exposition physique, une visite virtuelle sera mise en ligne pour une durée de cinq ans.
Graphic by Hannah Bell // Creative Director // @hannahnevebell
Photo par Alexandra Montenegro Nodarse // Contributrice
Photo par Laure-Charlotte// Contributrice
En partenariat avec et financé par L’Organe
Rest in Peace 2025
Unforgettable pop culture moments from 2025.
By Ginane Deslauriers Arts and Culture Editor
Tiktok banned
On Jan. 19, 2025, the United States banned TikTok so Americans all over the platform started sharing secrets “before the TikTok ban.” The funny part of it all is the fact that the app came back a couple hours later.
Poison apples and stuff Disney’s Snow White adaptation received a lot of criticism and is even rated a 1.8 out of 5 on Letterboxd. A lot of people hated Gal Gadot’s acting, criticizing it as bland and lacking in emotion. Letterbox user “@justinwuah” commented that “Gal Gadot’s acting is not a performance you watch but a performance you survive.” Some even decided to boycott the movie because of the actress’s Pro-Israel views. However, her co-star Rachel Zegler was applauded for her performance and hypnotic singing. Many also criticized Disney for using CGI dwarfs instead of using real actors and for Snow White’s horrible costume and wig.
Sydney Sweeney's blue genes
This ad completely destroyed Sweeney’s last ounce of popularity. The commercial played with the words “jeans” and “genes” and had Sweeney later say that her “jeans are blue.” The internet
like glue to paper; she simply refuses to disappear from the tabloids. In the span of a year, she found herself in space and at dinner with our former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. One of her reasons for her galactic voyage was to inspire her daughter to do whatever she wishes to do. However, many online framed this mission as a “fake feminist message,” claiming it is tone-deaf considering the wealth inequality.
Cheating is not as easy as it used to be
This 2025 moment took the internet by storm! During one of Coldplay’s concerts, the camera focused on a couple cuddling. But they quickly tried to hide their faces when they realized they were being filmed. #caughtoncam
Have you ever seen bunnies jump on a trampoline?
A video of bunnies jumping on a trampoline went viral on the internet five months ago. Many people believed it to be real when it was in fact AI. Some started to point out that additional bunnies started appearing out of nowhere. Did you notice it was AI?
Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday
Jet2 Holiday is a tour operator, and their ads of family vacationing with the sound “nothing beats a Jet2 Holiday” gave people the idea to start using the famous sound over chaotic vacation videos. So next time your hotel room gets flooded, know you may also go viral.
Bye-bye Jimmy Kimmel
In September 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! Was cancelled after Jimmy Kimmel mocked President Donald Trump. What’s even funnier is that less than a week later, he was back on air. Labubu takes over the internet
While some might have fallen victim to the Labubu trend, others have made videos mocking it. “@Lilz Bullz Official" has been making numerous vid eos mocking the trend
for making Labubu seem like a luxury item.
“I have the one and only 24 karat gold Labubu,” she said in one of her TikTok videos.
Miss Rachel
BLACKLISTED Known for her educational videos on YouTube and Netflix, Miss Rachel was named on the StopAntisem itism’s Antisemite of the Year Award after bringing a Palestinian girl, Rahaf with an amputated leg on her show to sing “Hop Little Bunny.”
That didn’t stop her from becoming an advocate for the Palestinian cause, as she even showed up to Glamour’s 2025 Women of the Year Awards with a dress filled with Palestinian children’s draw ings. She continues to voice her concern for Palestinians to this day. Flip it around WICKED WITCH
The second and last press tour for Wicked brought fans to question the codependent relationship between Ari ana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. However, the most memorable meme of the press tour is given to Michelle Yeoh’s “Ma dame Marble, MM, flip it around? Wick ed Witch!” This is how to properly use your influence for good.
Lupin has come to life Suspects were found and arrested for stealing from the Louvre. Some were sup porting the robbers for stealing from the
A trip to Little Philippines: experiencing Filipino culture in Côte-des-Neiges
The Filipino community settled in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, establishing iconic spots to celebrate rich Filipino culture.
By Julia Imee Silva Staff Writer
There is no shortage of diverse restaurants and shops in Montreal’s Côte-desNeiges neighbourhood. But it also especially showcases classic Filipino spots that bring the community a taste of home.
For Jane-Marie Ramil, a Montreal-born Filipina and Concordia graduate student, growing up in Côte-des-Neiges ultimately paved her connection to the culture — including learning the Filipino language through the video stores that used to exist there.
“There’s a certain charm to it,” she said. “There’s a sense of familiarity that I’m used to.”
This multicultural neighbourhood on the western slope of Mount Royal is home to the majority of Filipinos in Montreal, with over 17,000 living in the Côte-desNeiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, according to Statistics Canada’s 2021 census.
Events to look forward to in 2026
From photography to chocolate, Montreal gears up for a year filled with cultural events in 2026.
By Kasi Peri
Assistant Arts and Culture Editor
@k_a_s_i_p_e_r_i
It’s time to ring in the new year and events in Montreal are just getting started. To kickstart the year, step into the role of a legendary detective, taste some chocolate, and see theatre shows happening in the city.
Cinéma du Parc will be screening the third season of Twin Peaks: The Return by David Lynch, which will be running until Feb. 1. These screenings will also include several episodes from previous
seasons. Visit Cinéma du Parc’s website for more information.
Salon du Chocolat presents its 2026 edition of the event that will be held at Windsor Station in downtown Montreal from March 19-22. This event features a chocolate cocktail party and opportunities for visitors to experience chocolate tastings. For more information, visit Salon du Chocolat website.
Montreal Comic Arts Festival returns this spring with its 15th edition which will run from May 15 to 17. The outdoor festival will take place on Saint-Denis St., filled with activities such as meet-andgreets and exhibits for comic books. For more information, visit MCAF website.
Exhibitions
Pointe-à-Callière Museum presents Sherlock Holmes: Cracking the Case which runs until March 8. This is an interactive exhibition that allows visitors to try to solve the case. It explores Montreal’s history of police investigation through historical figures such as Silas Carpenter, who was a notable investigator in Montreal. For more information, visit the Pointe-à-Callière website.
On The Menu-Montreal: A Restaurant
Story organized by the McCord Stewart Museum until Oct. 18. The exhibit combines archival footage and photographs that depict the history of Montreal restaurants from the 1960s onwards. For more information, visit the McCord Stewart Museum.
Richard Avedon: Immortal Portraits of Aging, 1951-2004 presented at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from Feb. 12 to Aug. 9 is an exploration of photographs by Richard Avedon based on the topic of aging. The photographs depict images of both famous and ordinary elderly people such as author Toni Morrison and Irish playwright Samuel Beckett. Visit MMFA for more information.
Theatre
Crash is a play at the Segal Centre from Feb. 11-22 written by Pamela Mala Sinha and put on by Imago Theatre. Directed by Krista Jackson, artistic director of Imago, this play centers around the character of The Girl whose past memories come back after a loss in the family. For more information, visit the Segal Centre’s website.
WinterWorks, organized by the Centaur Theatre and in collaboration with
Rebecca Gibian, returns this year from Feb. 4-22. This festival brings together both written plays by playwrights and staged readings by Canadian emerging artists. Some artists that are included in the series are Aaron Collier and Marie Barlizo. For more information, visit Centaur Theatre.
Concordia Events
FOFA Gallery presents its 2026 Undergraduate Student Exhibition, which showcases student artwork such as sculptures, essays, and drawings from different departments. The event runs until Feb. 20. For more information, visit Concordia’s events page.
Art opportunities
artch is looking for new applicants for the 9th edition of artch, an emerging contemporary art festival. Submissions are accepted until Jan. 26 for emerging artists. Visit artch for additional information. Sex [Ed.] magazine is accepting submissions for their second volume; their theme is called Devour. Submissions are due by Jan. 15. To learn more, visit Sex [Ed.] magazine on Instagram.
Beginning in the late 1990s, an influx of Filipino women migrants came to work as nurses, settling in the area for its affordable rents and proximity to three major Montreal hospitals. Others worked as helpers and nannies for families in the neighbouring areas of Westmount and the Town of Mount Royal.
Later, many brought over their families and a yearning for home blossomed, influencing the bloom of Filipino businesses in the area.
Stepping outside the Plamondon metro station teleports you to what could easily be Montreal’s Little Philippines — albeit unofficial. Along and around Victoria Street are iconic establishments that link the Filipino community together and provide a means to experience the culture.
Have a hearty meal at Cuisine de Manille
Cuisine de Manille is one of the oldest Filipino restaurants operating in the city since it first opened in 2003.
It is famous for its lechon, a whole roasted pig that is a staple food at many Filipino parties. It also serves other hearty dishes like kare-kare and adobo, with family recipes passed down for generations. Of course, it also wouldn’t pass on spotlighting classic desserts like the famous halo-halo, whose name literally translates to “mix-mix,” which is a milky shaved ice dessert with a variety
of fruits and beans, and turon, a sweet, fried delica cy made with ripe bananas stuffed inside a spring roll wrapper.
The restaurant’s interior gives off a modern appeal to elements that feel essen tially Filipino. Stepping in from the front door, the left wall is decorated with framed old photographs of the owners and their fam ilies, as well as some art works and articles about the restaurant from when it first opened. On the op posite wall, bright orange stools face a long steel countertop, where custom ers can enjoy their meals.
Cuisine de Manille also started joining Montreal food festivals with its icon ic Alfonso food truck, fur ther boosting its popularity among Montrealers.
Try breads and pastries from Fiesta Filipino
A few steps away from Cuisine de Manille is the first Filipino bakery in the neighbourhood, established in 1994, Fiesta Pilipino. It closely resembles the local bakeries in the Philippines, not only with its quaint, aged interior but also with the breads and pastries whose flavours unlock memories of home.
The breads range from the plain-flavoured ones, to others that are a bit more buttery and fluffy. Some are sweet, with cheese and sugar like the well-loved ensaymada or the pan de coco that is filled with sweetened coconut. Others are more savoury, like the empanada, a puffy pastry stuffed with meat.
Owner Eduardo Vasquez dabbled in the baking business because of his roots.
“One of the main reasons is that the town where I came from –– Cuenca, Batangas –– is called the home of the bakers,” he said.
Vasquez and his family make everything in-house daily. Like any Philippine bakery, it is notable for pandesal, a soft, round bread roll that is always present in Filipino homes, typically a breakfast staple. Fiesta is also known for its egg pie and cassava cake, sweet delicacies popularly served during more special occasions.
Grab groceries and a quick meal from Plengke
The name Plengke is a play on the word “palengke,” which is Tagalog for market. As a Filipino grocery store, it offers an array of products, from snacks and candies to spices and sauces that families can use to recreate favourite Filipino dishes in the comfort of their Montreal homes.
The store also has a karinderya or canteen, where customers can dine for home-cooked meals on a budget. It follows the classic format of the karinderya that displays ready-to-eat dishes on warming platters, from which customers can choose and point to. The dishes are often served with warm, white rice — the way
that Filipinos eat any meal.
Shop for traditional Filipino wear at Boutique Zenaida
For anyone looking for a traditional Philippine attire for formal events, Boutique Zenaida is surely the place to go.
The store sells Filipinianas and Barong Tagalogs, clothing respectively dedicated to women and men.
These are traditionally made from sheer and lightweight fibres that are local to the Philippines like piña (pineapple) or jusi (banana silk), and even organza fabric. They also typically feature intri cate designs that are embroidered onto the fabric.
The boutique’s owner, Zenaida Alva rez, sources the traditional clothing di rectly from the Philippines. She said that the demand for these is typically seasonal, like during the Filipino Heritage Month in June, when many community events take place, or for other occasions where Filipinos wish to represent their cultural fashion. In this sense, the inventory for traditional wear is usually limited.
Meanwhile, the boutique mostly sells other non-traditional clothing items like shirts, dresses, jackets, bags and even gowns. Although the space can feel quite cramped, with piles of clothing stacked on the floor, Alvarez’s enthusiasm to share stories and connect with her customers will leave you feeling cozy.
Catch a celebration at Parc
Mackenzie-King
As a central gathering space for many of Montreal’s Fili pino community, Côte-desNeiges parks have witnessed countless cultural festivals and intimate parties through the years.
Park Mackenzie-King is one of several parks in the area that hosts Filipino events, includ ing the Independence Day celebrations in June and the Pista sa Nayon summer fes tival, annually held in July.
Reminiscent of Philippine festival traditions, these events are filled with food and art markets, sports, and folk dancing that celebrate Filipino excellence and pride. The park also houses a bust statue of Dr. José P. Rizal, a Philippine national hero and a known writer, who aided the revolution for Philippine independence.
in
with the
Created
collaboration
city of Montreal, this monument truly seals the
Photos by Julia Imee Silva // Staff Writer
Ball Drop or Dropping the Ball?
The 55th year of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”
Anna Dunlop Contributor
@anna.dunlopp
at home this year, out with friends, or crouched under a table with a fistful of grapes, one New Year's Eve tradition has remained steadfast for the past 55 years:
“Dick Clark’s New Year's Rockin’ Eve!” celebrations, has wavered in its consis tency and quality over its long run, its presence on television has always re mained. Over the years, it has had its wins, just as it feels when you finally get your new year's kiss at the bar, and its losses, just as it feels when you do not get your new years kiss. After a partic ularly hard four years for the program, averaging a rating of one star and slowly
All The Small Gigs - A guide to the next month of music in Montreal
Get out of the cold and into a music venue. Luca Jarman
Montreal is an outstanding city for music. But it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of cool venues, visiting acts and upcoming bands, so here at The Concordian, we’ve made it easier for you, with our new column All The Small Gigs. Festivals
As well as Montreal’s famous Igloofest, another festival graces the city from Feb. 6-7. Northern Invasion takes you into MTELUS in the dead of winter to dance away your frostbite. To mark their 10-year anniversary, they have curated an ambitious bill of acts. Masked artists FuntCase will mercilessly dictate the dancefloor as the headliner on Friday 6. He has been at the forefront, leading the dubstep movement into North America since 2009. UK bass
trio Gentlemens Club bring their groundbreaking and genre bending style to Montreal to headline on Saturday. Concerts
For a night of good vibes and tie dye visit l’Escogriffe Bar on Jan. 17. Upcoming psychedelic rock band The Space Wizards have released a new single “Into Space” and will be celebrating with a brilliant lineup. Sunday Riot Club and Street Panther join them. South London band Shame bring their tight post-punk across the pond to Montreal on Jan. 21 at Club Soda. Their fourth album, Cutthroat, released last year, is the most complete and polished in their collection. They are excellent live, inspiring sticky mosh pits and singalongs amongst their crowd. Frontman Charlie Steen is a true showman — effortlessly emphatic in his vocal delivery. They are supported by Ribbon Skirt, an exciting local band who will set the atmosphere of the evening perfectly.
Canadian singer Jade LeMac will light up Théâtre Beanfield on Jan. 29 with her indie songwriting. Her debut single “Constellations” released in 2021, now sitting on nearly 200 million streams on Spotify, blew up online, and she has grown leaps and bounds over the years since then.
Making a visit to the colossal Centre
and viewed special over the past four years, with 30 million viewers tuning in, but it would also hit its youngest demographic and the longest run in fran -
Ross’s medley stood out amongst the rest as the most memorable of the night, and with the popularity of Strang, it seemed to be the perfect amalgamation of generations to end the night. Despite some falters nearing the end of her performance, she held her own as she brought in 2026 with her rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” After 55 years on air, “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” like that of Ross’s vocals, has not been without its falters; however, it proved itself in its legendary status this year, making its comeback like that of Michael Jordan coming out of retirement to return to the Bulls. Should they maintain this momentum for years to come, they may just win over viewers
The coldest music festival in the world
Everything you need to know about Igloofest 2026.
By Sofia Dawson Music Editor @somwhereordinary // @sofiajdawson
What’s that about the Winter Blues? Montrealers’ know better than most that the dark and dreary months that follow the holiday season leave many stuck inside, fearing the slippery sidewalks, wet slushy puddles and standing back against the wind while waiting for the bus. Luckily, they also know how to find a space to party amongst the chilly snowbanks.
Bell are metal legends Ghost on Jan. 30. If there was ever an act who could command an arena, it is this Swedish band. Dressed in their gothic uniforms, they are true theatre. They often open their encores with the hypnotic but ethereal “Mary on a Cross,” a must see live. If heavy metal isn’t your thing, maybe UK rap is. On the same night across the city, breakout star EsDeeKid will play at Théâtre Fairmount. His 2025 album Rebel hit new heights and charted in many European countries. One of its singles “Phantom” has over 150 million streams on Spotify. Acclaimed British magazine Dazed hailed him as “the fastest growing artist in the world.”It’s unlikely he’ll appear in such an intimate venue here ever again.
Only three days later in that same venue, comes Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba on Feb 3. He has four Latin Grammys and two Juno Awards to his name and added a Grammy to his list of achievements in 2022 with his album Mendó. The Latin legend’s jazz will have you grooving. We will be bringing you select live music recommendations every month, so make sure to keep up to date with The
If you’re someone looking for a reason to embrace the cold rather than enduring it, Igloofest’s frozen dancefloor may be just what you need to kickstart your new year. What has now become a staple of Montreal winter brings some of the hottest EDM artists from around the globe to the coldest festival of the year.
From Jan. 15 to Feb. 7, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays will be packed full of evening live music in Montreal’s Old Port. There’s lots to see and do and lucky enough four consecutive weekends to pick and choose your favourite artists to see.
If you’re someone looking for a reason to embrace the cold rather than enduring it, Igloofest’s frozen dancefloor may be just what you need to kickstart your new
year. What has now become a staple of Montreal winter brings some of the hottest EDM artists from around the globe to the coldest festival of the year.
Torn between lineups? Here’s our two-cents: If you are looking for a more rave-oriented sound, stick with Traxence, Nasty Gloss, TRYM, AZYR or Misstress Barabara.
Seeking out hip-hop, R&B or rap?
Look out for A-Trak, YaYa La Bae, High Klassified, Hamza or Aluna
Finally, if you’re in the mood to dance the night away, DiscoLines, DJ Seinfeld, Sofia Kouresis, Max Styler, and of course
DJ Snake
This riveting roster alone is enough to convince anyone to grab their ticket — but Igloofest isn’t your walk-in-the-park festival — it’s vital to come prepared and know what you’re stepping into.
The Do’s of the Festival
Layer up! As much as music festivals are often an excuse to show off your quirkiest fashion, this outdoor extravaganza is a rather chilly one. The below-zero temperatures call for layers, hats, gloves, and scarves! Keep in mind that dancing can only keep us warm for so long.
Take advantage of the Igloovillage. Hydrate at the Hydration Chalet 2.0 or grab a warm or cold cocktail or mocktail from one of the Igloobars.
Zip down the Sapporo Iglooglisse!
Trade the ski slopes for this legendary slide and take your festival experience to the next level.
Get a feel for the music ahead of time.
From entrancing performances that de mand your full attention to high-energy tracks that force everyone into their danc ing shoes, it’s a good idea to know what vibe you’re entering for the evening. While some sets invite immersion, others may push against your musical boundaries.
The Don’ts of the Festival
Don’t bring large bags. While you may think to pack extra mitts and tuques to fight the frost, it’s important to remem ber that security is strict and storage options at the venue are rather sparse.
Don’t forget your photo ID: it’s re quired to enter the festival.
Don’t camp out at one stage. Take a walk around the venue! Igloofest offers a diverse range of pop, house, techno, disco and so many other genres to explore.
Don’t forget about the Après Ski sets! Keep the party going all night long with live music at New City Gas, Soubois, Bazart and Newspeak. For its 18th year of top-tier elec tronic music, this highly anticipat ed spur of live music weekends is not to be missed. Who knows? A little dancing could be just what you need to kickstart the new year!
Stay up to date with all things Igloofest via our social media (@theconcordian) as we take you live for Weekend 1 and show you what to expect from the upcoming festival.
Concordian’s music section!
Graphic by Hannah Bell // Creative Director // @hannahnevebell
Graphic by Hannah Bell // Creative Director // @hannahnevebell
Alex Cuba // Photo by Alvaro Natese
Shame // Photo by Jamie Wdziekonski
Ghosts // Photo by Ryan Chang // @ryancphoto
New year, new me?
The urge for reinvention in the new year.
By Kailee Krentz Opinions Editor @kaileeliz
The days between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 begin to blur into one; a lethargic time of year as my mom and I spend quality time together sitting on the couch drinking wine and watching reality TV — recently Vanderpump Rules being at the top of our binge list. We watch Stassi and Scheana have yet another fight (a screaming match if you will) about who the ‘it’ girl is as our brains rot away. Not without the occasional pestering from my mother on the dramatic lives they live, in a hope that I won’t end
In a weird way, these crazy characters that have been filling my days have forced me to reflect on my life and the way I want to live it. As we delve deeper into our binge, hours go by and the characters only increase in age, with some acting the same way they
did in the first season.
What a better time to reflect as I surround myself with their drama-fueled existence, yet with a new year and new beginnings on the horizon.
Welcome to 2026!
This holiday season, I visited home — Vancouver, BC for me — and the question on everyone’s mind lingers as I enter my final semester of university; what’s next?
A lovely time of year that acts as a constant reminder of the inevitable act of growing up, as these holiday celebrations that I used to count down the days for are seemingly minimized to just another day on the calendar. Christmas, New Years, birthdays; special days that are now celebrated with a pit in my stomach.
This new year in particular, I feel a certain amount of pressure as friends and family comment on how grown up I look, toying with the forbidden query above about what I want to do with my life. Leaving me, simply, smiling and saying thank you, without giving a specific answer to anyone.
Not to mention the constant and undying urge for reinvention as the new year comes.
Pinterest boards, play lists, resolutions; a way to manifest a new way of being, because the
trend risks turning love into something cringeworthy.
By Noor Musawi Contributor @noor__msi
Vox Magazine released an article announcing that 2025 was the year of decentring men. From British Vogue questioning if having a boyfriend is embarrassing to increasing online discourse encouraging singledom — we seem to be in an era where romantic love is being relegated, within modern womanhood, sidelined against friendships and career aspirations. However, aside from TikTok girls and influencers, looking at my friends in real life who are in relationships, I can’t help but wonder, can women ever really de-center men?
person I was last year just wasn’t good enough.
How do we manage what to do next with our life if we are constantly trying to restart and become a better, somewhat implied, “new” version of ourselves without ever fully figuring out who we were in December.
Just like Stassi, reflecting on flashbacks of her infamous birthday parties of years prior — always ending with some sort of drama, fight, or tantrum — she enters her 30th with a fresh perspective in order to avoid the same events. Now, I won’t say whether or not she was successful, after all we are only human, but it’s the thought that counts.
All of this to say, my only resolution this year is to continue to reflect and better myself in hopes of figuring out adulthood as my adolescence slowly sheds away. In hopes that the next time I visit home, in
the inescapable question of “what’s next?” I will have an affirming answer that settles both their minds and my own. And maybe to read more.
Can women ever decentre men?
How to win against health misinformation?
Health misinformation is on the rise, and it demands that journalists and healthcare professionals take action.
By Sara Behravesh Contributor
My chest is feeling tight. That’s a strange feeling. Let me pick up my phone and Google what might be wrong. It could be a heart attack or a stroke. Or worse! Cancer!
I, alongside 75 per cent of surveyed Canadians, have searched online to find information about a symptom or a health condition, according to the 2025 Health and Media Annual Tracking Survey. News and media act as a bridge that brings the world of medicine and science closer to the general public. However, when this bridge is weakened by misinformation, people lose trust in both journalism and science. Encounters with health misinformation have risen to 62 per cent which has led to Canadians trusting
health news less, as the numbers in the survey suggest.
In fact, misinformation is spreading so much that the World Health Organization (WHO) has called the era of COVID-19 and after that, the rise of “infodemic.”
An infodemic is the flood of information in the real and digital world that is not always true or accurate.
As noted by scholars Xiaoli Nan, Yuan Wang, and Kathryn Thier, health news in the media could spread misinformation through oversimplifying, misrepresenting, and exaggerating in the process to make them suitable for the audience and fit the standards of balance and objectivity.
Exaggerating negative developments, failure of a drug or medical treatment, or even success stories can affect readers' emotions. This may lead to people ignoring real risks, taking fewer precautions or even feeling scared and hopeless.
According to the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), 35 per cent of Canadians avoided getting proper health treatment because of misinformation. This number has increased by 6 percentage points from 2024.
Misinformation can cause more harm than skipped appointments. It can exacerbate existing mental illnesses. According to the CMA, 43 per cent of Canadians have felt anxious due to health-related misinformation. This can even trigger panic attacks and OCD that could prevent individuals from living their day-today lives, as stated in an article written by Elianna Lev, a Toronto-based writer.
We know that providing trusted health news can give people peace of mind. According to the CMA, 62 per cent of Canadians say that they feel more informed and equipped when they have access to trusted health news coverage.
Based on the 2025 Health and Media Annual Tracking Survey, trained health professionals are the most trusted source by Canadians to report on health news. Among media sources, community leaders and journalists hold the top two positions. This highlights the importance of a strategic collaboration between journalism and medicine to overcome this crisis.
Another way to combat misinformation in health news is by enhancing public health literacy. WHO defines health literacy as a skill that allows people to obtain, interpret and critically evaluate health information and use that to maintain good health.
Studies show that having higher health literacy can help stop misinformation from circulating. People with higher levels of health literacy tend to be more careful about health news. They try to analyze and verify the information they find online.
Public Health Ontario suggests health professionals and communicators create health literacy programs. Hyun Jung Oh and Hyegyu Lee, two researchers from South Korea, argue in their article that health
organizations should closely monitor social media and the internet for rumours and misleading information and correct them as soon as they appear. In order to win this battle against misinformation, it takes all of us, from journalists and health professionals to citizens, to come together to create a healthy, trusted information landscape.
Bi-annual Student Information System Bingo
Somehow they never have time to see you, but they’ve seen him six times in the past week. They can’t take your call but they instantly respond to his texts when you’re together. They feel less inclined to share parts of their lives, because they have someone else they can share those things with. Even the women who try to not be like “other girls’’ seem to struggle with maintaining that balance. Almost as if they are fighting against a force that pushes them towards their partner. Maybe this isn’t a weakness. Maybe a woman in love just naturally devotes herself to the relationship — as much as she may resist, in small ways, she lets parts of herself go and merge with her partner. Is that such a bad thing?
The modern dating culture is drenched in cynicism. We are encouraged to be calloused versions of ourselves in order to save face. Be a black cat. Let him chase you. Sprinkle, Sprinkle. Have we forgotten that love requires vulnerability, risk and dare I say some cringiness? Why is it
Growing up with my Middle-Eastern friends, I watched many of them pursue studies and careers only to slowly drift away from them once they got married and started families. On the other hand, my “western” friends who grew up prioritizing their education and careers and friendships, also, seem to forget about them once they have a boyfriend.
embarrassing to be in love?
Somehow it’s wholesome when a guy is obsessed with his girlfriend but it’s cringe when a girl is obsessed with her boyfriend.
My friends are married to some wonderful men — how can I expect them not to center themselves around their life partner? The person who is sharing their hopes and dreams?
Not every relationship is worth romanticizing, and it can feel borderline unhinged to watch a friend obsess over a man who doesn’t give much back. Much of today’s discourse seems to emerge from women who are burnt out from accommodating men who later humiliate them. Still, the solution can’t be to warn women against investing deeply in love simply because it might end. What if it doesn’t? Love, by definition, demands devotion; you can’t approach a relationship half-heartedly out of fear and expect it to flourish.
We seem to have confused independence with
emotional distance. A man can be central to a woman’s life without consuming it. The problem isn’t centring love — it’s shrinking your life around it instead of letting it expand and make space for your own growth. That is ultimately what makes it “embarrassing.’’
Graphic by Anna Huang // Graphics editor.
Faculty bingo game that determines whose grades will be posted with significant delay.
By Danylo Perkov Assistant Opinions Editor
DISCLAIMER: This article is farcical, nonsensical and potentially made up. Reader discretion is advised.
contracts, amongst other things, that had something to do with ostrich eggs, but our investigative reporter did not feel comfortable enough investigating that part of the story.
students concentrate on the wonders of the winter break, the magic of Christmas and not think about the awful grade they’ve just received. It also helps build strength of character.
each semester and leads to an average of 500 work hours lost, at least two breakups each semester, as well as heated tensions during exactly 13 family Christmas dinners.
We were lucky enough to also interview a couple of students whose classes were chosen in this semester’s game.
The bi-annual bingo is an event held towards the end of the fall and winter semesters. As Concordia’s spokesperson, Madeline Speakeasy explained in an exclusive interview with The Concordian, “It’s a jolly time of the year where each person represents a class taken by the students. The goal, of course, is to win, because the classes associated with the first 10 people to scream ‘BINGO!’ get their grades delayed. It’s really funny if you think about it. Like an April Fool's prank in January.”
This year’s bi-annual Student Information System Bingo took place on the 12th floor of the Henry F. Hall Building, reports a mole working for The Concordian. This was the first time in 40 years that the event was held behind closed doors, with attendees being invited individually through Moodle DMs.
This is partially due to the recent backlash towards the university administration’s decision not to renew any LTA
According to the university’s website, all final grades for undergraduate courses must be submitted no later than seven calendar days after the last examination. Most grades are submitted within this time frame and students get their respective SIS-no.reply notifications on time. Those whose classes have been chosen via the bingo game must wait until the first week of January to receive their grades. According to Speakeasy, this helps
“They’re just a flock of muppets! How am I supposed to sign up for a winter class if I don’t know if I’ve passed the prerequisite?” said William Van William, a thirdyear engineering student. According to Speakeasy, one of the classes he took in the fall actually won first place in the bingo event held in late November. When asked about the ethical side of this tradition, Speakeasy assured us that, according to her eight-ball, it’s totally fine and the students love it. When asked for a quote from at least a single student she spoke to about the issue, she confusingly asked what we meant by that.
According to our mediocre research, this issue affects up to 400 undergraduate students
By the end of the exclusive interview, Speakeasy stated that the university has no plans to stop this tradition anytime soon, as it brings her great joy and the food catering at the event is the best she’s ever seen.
Graphic by Cynthia Comeau // Contributor // @cynthoil
Graphic by Cynthia Comeau // Contributor // @cynthoil
HANNAH CLAUS
TSI IOTNEKAHTENTIÓNHATIE (TIOHTIÀ:KE)
19 novembre 2025 –7 février 2026
November 19, 2025 –February 7, 2026
Doesn’t your head hurt from constantly charging headfirst? Take a deep breath and let yourself be uncomfortable for a little while. I know what was done to you is unfair but sometimes it’s best to let time work its magic instead of speeding whenever you meet a red light.
with friends” somewhere in there. Being
Happy New Year my little zodiac freaks. This year, things will be on the move. Keep your cat indoors, dog on a leash and doors locked. And remember to hold on tight, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
couple of weeks as he will arise and try to persuade you to follow him down, down, down. But don’t let him fool you. Remember what happened to Alice. Fight your curiosity and lead with reasoning. Otherwise, you will lose a friend for not being present and caring.
Editor-in-Chief:
Managing
Building an empire takes a whole crew willing to put the work in. You can’t be the only one sketching the plans, building the streets and selling the houses. In 2026, you may enjoy the art of craftsmanship all while delegating. Otherwise you can say goodbye to your Roman Empire.
followed you for quite some time, but this new year brings some welldeserved perspective. You need to learn that being good at everything is quite humanly impossible. Instead of compensating for a lack of skill, try to regain that confidence you’re born with and believe in yourself.
Sofia Dawson
Saskia Wodarczak
Hannah Bell
Félix-Antoine Beauchemin
Chloe Stuart-Ulin
Megan Mills Devoe
Jia Marguerite Schofer
Kailee Krentz
Danylo Perkov
Anthony Maruca
Mathilde Colls
things chaotic but isn’t it also chaotic to
Luca Jarman
Ginane Deslauriers
Kasi Peri
Victoria Psiharis
Zaineb Karkachi
Kira Minall
Chelsea Nadarajah-Chinniah
Anna Huang
A walking fish is always impressive to outsiders but remember that every fish that’s ever walked this earth hasn’t made it back in the water in one piece… It’s always tempting to try new things and get out of your comfort zone but staying in your element isn’t always a bad thing.
Hadassah Alencar James Fay
Sakib Hossain
Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman
Aidan Raynor
Matthieu Chatelain Tamara Mae Galinato Christelle Meghri Ghazarian
