Volume 43, Issue 5: September 30th 2025

NEWS

SPORTS

PAGES FRANCOS

ARTS & CULTURE

MUSIC

OPINIONS

Canada’s student cap leaves grads in limbo and campuses short

Concordia alum wins medal at Wrestling Worlds

Un moment de silence pour Nooran Rezayi

A first look at the upcoming Montreal Cat Museum

An icon of queer Inuit youth

Remembering the children and honouring the survivors

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Jason Sikoak is an

interdisciplinary Inuk artist from Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, now based in Tiohtiá:ke/ Montreal. Inspired by elders' stories, Sikoak explores themes of spirituality, colonialism, environment, and contemporary Inuit life.

"Two For Joy" 2018 by Jason Sikoak // Inuk, Rigolet, Nunatsiavut // Contributor// @jasonsikoak @theconcordianmtl @theconcordian @theconcordian theconcordian.com

VOL. 43 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 5

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September 30, 2025 | campus@theconcordian.com

Campus News

Why Concordia students are struggling to get hired Archive graphic by Alexa Hawksworth

From lack of part-time jobs to language laws, finding a job is no easy task.

By Saima Mazumder Contributor @saima_maz Feyrouz Saleh, a first-year mechanical engineering student is—once again—staring at another rejected job application.

Feeling hopeless, she says she doesn’t understand why this keeps happening, "where do I even start if no one wants an inexperienced worker."

Unfortunately, this is the norm for most Concordia students. Landing a job in this market is very difficult.

Statistics Canada reported that employment across Canada went down by

66,000 (down 0.3 per cent) in August, mainly in part-time positions. In addition to that, unemployment rose by 7 per cent, from 0.2 per cent to 7.1 per cent—the highest rate of unemployment since 2016, excluding the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The decline of employment opportunities is a major factor in why students are unable to find these jobs. In addition, the emphasis on part-time jobs being at risk is a major problem for students, as most of them are studying full-time. Therefore, part-time jobs are all they are capable of juggling along with school.

For Concordia students like Saleh these numbers are a reality.

“The biggest obstacles students have when finding jobs is availability,” said Nicholas, an assistant at the Concordia Student Union’s Housing and Job Office (HOJO).

Students who are taking a full load of courses, often give very little availability, which frustrates employers.

“Treat it like a full-time job. The more volume you put out there, the more likely you are to hear something”

explains Nicholas.

However, persistence is not always enough for everyone. Camille Pichette, a front line worker at Carrefour Jeunesse-Emplois, says that you need to not only be persistent, but also tailor your CV’s for each job application.

Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi, a Montreal organization, provides free services for young adults aged 13 to 35, to connect with employment experts and explore career paths.

Saleh has been job hunting for months, yet still has not landed a position. However, she understands why.

“I’m not fluent in French,” she says.

There it is—the big elephant in the room: Can you get a job while not speaking French in Montreal?

For Saleh, this has been the biggest obstacle. Out of 10 job applications, she only heard back from three. However, her inability to speak French fluently has caused her to get rejected from all. The rest simply ignored her application.

In Montreal, most employers require employees to speak French fluently. This

is because Quebec's Charter of the French Language states that French should be part of “the normal everyday language at work.” This explains why nonFrench speakers in Montreal, like Saleh, are struggling, as employers are scared to get fined if caught with employees speaking English.

These fines can range from $700 to $7000 if a singular person is fined and from $3000 to $30,000 for businesses.

This affects a large portion of the student body, as only 25% students reported French as their first language or language spoken at home according to a 2024 study done by Concordia’s Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis (2024).

While non-francophones can and do find work in Montreal, individual French fluency can affect which jobs are accessible to these students.

This all goes to show that, like Saleh, being dedicated is important, however, in a city like Montreal, it may not always be enough.

“Work on your French. Or else you will struggle,” Saleh said.

Student associations vote to strike for Palestine on Oct. 6 & 7 Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.” a statement a day after the vote, writing Undergraduate Student Society (GUSS),

Seven student This now aligns the UN with many other that “such campaigns are contrary to the Teaching English 2nd Language Student international organizations who have des- value of academic freedom upon which all Association (TESLSA), Concordia Associassociations so far ignated it a genocide earlier. universities are founded,” and opposing ation for Students in English (CASE) and The student strikes will be in support the motions.

PSSA all voted in favour of the strikes. have voted in favour of Palestine and in an effort to put pres- In a response to The Link, in Febru- The Urban Planning Student Association sure on Concordia to divest from compa- ary, Concordia spokesperson Julie Fort- (UPA) voted against the strike motion. of the strike motion nies and corporations currently sending ier communicated that the statement was Karkachi also said that striking is one funds to Israel or profiting off the geno- “misread” and “purposefully miscommu- of many ways for students’ voices to be urging Concordia cide in Palestine. nicate,” given that “President Carr reiter- put into action. “To be put into effect, Zeinab Karkachi, the Political Science ates what has been Concordia’s position for their demands, their concerns, their to cut ties with Student Association (PSSA) internal coor- for years.” The university has not changed opinions to be heard properly by the unidinator, said that students have made their its statement since then. versity, the dean, as well as the general Lockheed Martin stance very clear for the past two years.

Karkachi said that voting is the best university body.”

“Students strongly condemn the acceler- way for people to engage in student polElbakaye shared these thoughts, sayand divest from ated ongoing genocide of the Palestinian itics within student associations. ing, “Strikes show that students are not people, and by trying to pass these mo“Especially in regards to the political complicit … we refuse [to have] our tuiother companies. tions […] it is a way for [students to hold] science department,” Karkachi said. “We tion fund violence.”

By Sabina Bellisario-Giglio Assistant Campus News Editor From Sept. 23 to Oct. 1, student associations from various departments across Concordia held general assemblies to vote on strikes that will be held on Oct. 6 and 7.

The strike motions called upon students to urge the university to cut ties with Lockheed Martin and divest from Booz Allen Hamilton, Palantir, Boeing, Spirit Systems and Triumph Group.

Oct. 7 will be the two-year anniversary since Israel began committing genocide on the Palestinian people.

On Sept. 16, a United Nations (UN) report concluded that “Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces committed four of the five genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and

their academic institutions accountable.”

Lina Elbakaye, the PSSA general coordinator, explained that collective actions do work, referencing the Concordia Student Union’s (CSU) adoption of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) motions in 2025. “It forced more transparency around Concordia’s investments and it was a really important step towards accountability.”

On Jan. 29, 885 Concordia undergraduate students voted in favour of two motions regarding the BDS movement at a special general meeting hosted by the CSU. The next day, Jan. 30, 2025, Graham Carr, the President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University, released

really try to encourage them to attend these events and partake in voting on any motions for any special occasions.”

“It shows that students are engaged and that we are willing to take a stand on urgent issues of justice and human rights,” Elbakaye said.

At the time of publication, the Fine Arts Student Association (FASA), Linguistics Student Association (LSA), Women’s and Sexuality Studies Student Association (WSSSA), Geography

Pro-Palestinian strikes will be held on Oct. 6 and 7, with more details about locations and times to follow.

Student associations that have yet to vote: School of Community and Public Affairs Student Association (SCPASA): Oct. 1 at 4 p.m., H-1224 Communications Guild (COMSGUILD): Sept. 30 at 11:30 a.m., CJ 1.117 Concordia Undergraduate Psychology Association (CUPA): Sept. 30 at 11:30 a.m., CC-308 & Online Sociology and Anthropology (SASU): Referendum vote, by email till Sept. 30 Students of History at Concordia (SHAC): Oct. 3 at 5 p.m., Location TBD

Campus News

campus@theconcordian.com | September 30, 2025

Concordia’s efforts for truth and reconciliation on campus With Orange Shirt Day coming up and a semester filled with minimal information about it, it begs the question: is this a shallow attempt to make amends, or is it the best that can be done?

By Maya Jiyâmeyihtam Brousseau Contributor @mayabfay To get to campus, Patrick Tionekahten Zachary, a third-year political science student, leaves Kahnawake before dawn to beat the traffic on the Mercier Bridge.

“I really [find that] there are a couple of things that are really lacking. I don't have access to public transportation to get here,” he said. “The train tracks, although they come through the reserve, there's no station in the reserve, so it just blows right past you.” By the time he reaches Concordia University, he’s already spent hours in transit and up to $20 a day just to park.

With National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, Concordia put forward different actions towards reconciliation. From tuition waivers for First Nations and Inuit students in Quebec, to daily land acknowledgments in classrooms, to workshops and social media posts, the university has taken visible steps.

Indigenous graduate rates are lower according to Statistics Canada, and Concordia should take pride in helping improve these statistics, with the Kaié:ri Nikawerà:ke Indigenous Bridging Program,

making Indigenous students feel welcome.

But for students like Zachary from Kahnawake, who face steep daily costs just to get to campus, questions remain about whether these actions translate into meaningful support for Indigenous students.

“When people hear truth and reconciliation, I think it’s admitting to the fact that the land was taken over by Europeans, but we must celebrate the fact that Indigenous cultures are still alive and living and present,” said Joshua Onazi, a Concordia alumni.

If in my first ever semester I was educated about it, I think I would’ve been much more conscious with my approach or way of living throughout the rest of my program.

Concordia acknowledged and committed to change regarding truth and reconciliation in 2019, with the launch of its Indigenous Directions Action Plan. The document was created in response to the 2015 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada.

However, the process of Indigenization and decolonization at Concordia began even earlier, driven by the efforts of Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. The Otsenhákta Student Centre at Concordia was established in 1992. In 2014, a proposal was submitted to university administrators to address Indigenous issues. In 2016, special advisors were appointed, and the Indigenous Directions Leadership

Group (IDLG) was created to consult on Concordia's response to the TRC's principles and calls to action. Bringing us to now, Concordia's five-year strategic plan was introduced to include decolonizing and Indigenizing the curriculum.

In 2021, the Canadian federal government passed legislation in June 2021 to establish Sept. 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. However, it is not a day that students feel like the university has put forward.

As far as Orange shirt day and truth and reconciliation itself as a topic, I don't think it's publicly introduced to the students, said Zachary.

What can be done?

This goes deeper than what is available at the moment. Usually a yearly occasion, Concordia hosts a pow-wow, which has been put on pause for the 2025-26 academic year.

Concordia University’s spokesperson Julie Fortier communicated the following statement to The Concordian over email: “Several activities are scheduled at Concordia in September leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold the pow wow this year, due to the deficit the university is facing. All units have had to reduce expenses and have had to make difficult decisions to do so. ” Unlike other provinces, Quebec does not have a statutory closure of its public schools or universities on this day, whereas provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan do.

More specifically, universities like UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal) and UdeM (Université de Montréal) will close its doors for the day on Sept. 30 out of respect for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

While there might be posts, events, and activities set up by the school. For example, the Orange Shirt Dyeing Workshop led by Professor Geneviève Moisan, is a significant advance in the system.

Unfortunately, Concordia has not yet reached and expressed the gravity of Canadian and Indigenous history to many students, affecting participation rates in community-building Indigenous activities.

Small things can also be done, like access to parking for students like Zachary.

Awareness about these issues should be something Concordia considers when it welcomes Indigenous students. Not just resources or posts, but actions that make students feel welcomed and encouraged to become educated.

Onazi moved to Montreal six years ago, and he recognizes the purpose for these protocols [land acknowledgement] as a non-Indigenous student. “It always

Archive photo by Hannah Bell // Graphic by Jason Sikoak // Inuk, Rigolet, Nunatsiavut // Contributor // @jasonsikoak Creative Director @hannahnevebell

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serves as a reminder, but again, what are we doing about that? What is Concordia actively doing to help the community?

That's what matters,” he said.

“It seems kind of weird to me because […] when we do our land acknowledgement, we acknowledge the lands, we know, we call it Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen (the words that come before all else/ the thanksgiving address),” Zachary said.

Traditionally, before any feast or ceremony, there was a different type of acknowledgement, the giving of thanks. From the earth and up, they thanked the people, Mother Earth, the land, the water, the fish and the animals, the roots and the trees, and finally the sky.

Zachary confronts the two interpretations of the concept of a “land acknowledgement,” one where he is one with the land, the elements surrounding him, and the other as a protocol reminding him that the lands are still unceded.

Truth and reconciliation should go beyond simply naming the land, it should confront our history and honour the survival of Indigenous people through hardships, and invite learning.

While Indigenous students have access to spaces like the Ostenhakta Student Centre, non-Indigenous and international students are left with little to no exposure to Canada’s Indigenous history beyond classroom formalities. With thousands of students arriving from across the world, many leave Concordia without ever hearing more than a scripted land acknowledgement.

Onazi felt like he only had the chance to learn about Indigenous culture through art, museums and exhibitions. “I would randomly come across a bunch of art which got me curious to educate myself …] but I feel like in school I hear like a sentence or two and that's it,” he said.

Teaching non-Indigenous students about history and respect, and giving Indigenous students a place to feel accepted and encouraged to pursue their education is essential. Respect is important in any culture, and the respect between Indigenous people and Concordia should be clear. It is agreeable that many are doing the best they can, and Concordia is doing more than other institutions; unfortunately, there is still a huge gap between reconciliation, teaching and students’ hearts.

As it is now the national day of Truth and Reconciliation, we should be asking what does reconciliation look like beyond an Instagram post? Why do Indigenous voices call for change? Students deserve facts, seminars, and teachings, not just protocol. Some professors are now teaching about decolonization and more in-depth history, which is an important step forward.

Maya is a Political Science, Concordia student. She is a Cree student from Northern Quebec. With enthusiasm, she is always willing to learn as well as educate people on Indigenous issues, particularly inequality in society and in current events.

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September 30, 2025 | city@theconcordian.com

City News

The REM’s Deux-Montagnes branch will open in November The opening of the Anse-à-l’Orme branch is delayed until next spring.

By Félix-Antoine Beauchemin City News Editor @fa.beauchemin.journalisme Originally scheduled to open on Oct. 1, CDPQ Infra and the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) operator have opted to delay the openings for both the Deux-Montagnes and the Anse-à-l’Orme branches. The opening of Deux-Montagnes has been pushed back to November, while the Anse-à-l’Orme branch is set to open in the spring of 2026.

Francis Labbé is the deputy director of media relations for CDPQ Infra, who is responsible for the development of

the REM. He said that gradually opening the branches and starting with the Deux-Montagnes branch was the best decision. The REM’s network will be three times larger and have four times as many stations with the opening of these new branches.

“The main reason behind this is to give our operators time to gradually take on this mammoth task, this enormous project,” he said in an interview with The Concordian. “Doing so also gives our partners at the ARTM, which is the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, time to organize the rerouting to our stations in the West Island, which would not have been ready if we had implemented everything at once.”

The exact date for the opening of the Deux-Montagnes branch in November is yet to be determined. Labbé explained that there are still some things to work on and test before proceeding with the dry run.

The dry run consists of operating the

REM exactly as it would in service, but without passengers. This means trains running every four to five minutes during morning and afternoon peak times, and every 10 minutes at all other times. Labbé explained that after a week or two of dry runs, they will be able to determine the exact opening date for the Deux-Montagnes branch.

The branch serving Montréal-Trudeau International Airport is still scheduled to open in 2027.

While he acknowledged that everybody would have liked to see the project completed quicker, he stressed the importance of doing things “by the book” to ensure a smooth opening.

“We can’t cut corners at this stage,” Labbé said. “So we’re going to proceed methodically. As soon as we have an idea of the timing, we will definitely make an announcement to the general public and then to our partners to say that [the opening] will be on this date.”

Since the opening of the South Shore

branch two years ago, the REM has experienced frequent breakdowns, particularly during the winter months. This has left passengers stranded in the trains, sometimes for hours.

Labbé explained that the main problem was with the railroad switches—particularly their heaters and the snow removal on the switches. He said that the switch heaters had been improved and that although breakdowns are inevitable, he believes they will be shorter and less frequent going forward.

“The biggest problem last winter was the switches,” Labbé said. “We definitely took significant measures to ensure that it works. You know, as I was saying, there will always be breakdowns in major transportation systems. That’s true for the metro in Montreal, but it’s also true for the metro in Paris. And it’s true in London. And it’s true everywhere else on the planet.”

Montreal elections: The different parties’ housing plans is also very low, which pushes rent prices

speculative market at

Find out about all even higher. According to the Observano cost to the city; toire Grand Montréal, the rate was 2.1 • Simplification of the RMM five parties’ plans to per cent in 2024, up from 1.5 per cent and the creation of 1,000 the previous year. However, it was much transitional housing units for make housing more lower for rental properties in the bottom people facing homelessness. third of prices, “reaching a critical avail- Ensemble Montréal (Soraya Martinez affordable. ability level of 0.4 per cent,” according Ferrada):

By Félix-Antoine Beauchemin City News Editor @fa.beauchemin.journalisme Handling the housing crisis is one of the core issues of this year’s municipal elections in Montreal.

With the Canadian political system separating responsibilities between municipal, provincial and federal governments, municipalities are limited in what they can act on. Nonetheless, municipal governments have considerable power when it comes to housing.

Zoning laws, building permits, property taxes and even the types of projects that can be built are only some of the levers at the disposal of municipal governments. However, both the provincial and federal governments also play a role in addressing the housing crisis, particularly through financial programs that support the development of more housing infrastructure.

The costs of apartments have skyrocketed in Greater Montreal in recent years.

According to Statistics Canada, the average rent for one-bedroom apartments increased by 57 per cent, from $980 to $1,540, between 2019 and 2025. Over the same period, the price rose by 71 per cent for two-bedroom apartments, from $1,130 to $1,930.

The vacancy rate in Greater Montreal

to the report.

The historically suggested vacancy rate for a balanced rental market is 3 per cent.

The last time the vacancy rate was above this level was in 2016. In June, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, an organization comprising 82 municipalities in Greater Montreal, adopted a target vacancy rate of 5 per cent as the new benchmark for a balanced rental market.

The last time the vacancy rate was this high was in 1997.

While all parties agree that access to housing is too expensive, they differ on their plans for making it more affordable.

Here is a summary of each party’s plan for access to housing: Projet Montréal (Luc Rabouin): Projet Montréal has been in power since the fall of 2017, when Valérie Plante was first elected. In this campaign, they have announced the creation of the Bâtissons Montréal Fund. It is a bond system that will allow people to directly invest in housing projects with a “guaranteed return.” They have also announced the following commitments: • The introduction of a tax on vacant housing; • Work carried out on behalf of landlords to ensure the salubrity of housing; • A $100 million guarantee fund that will remove between 4,000 and 5,000 housing units from the

Tackling the housing crisis is one of Ensemble Montréal’s six priorities in this campaign. Soraya Martinez Ferrada has pledged to do the following things in her first 100 days in office if elected: • Consolidate a single registry of all vacant buildings; • Launch a broad call for projects to give these buildings a new purpose through partnerships with non-profit organizations and private-sector stakeholders willing to contribute to solving the housing crisis; • Approve all housing projects that have already been submitted but remain stalled.

Transition Montréal (Craig Sauvé): Craig Sauvé, the party leader and longtime municipal politician in the SudOuest, has been a supporter of progressive housing policy designed to improve the conditions for tenants in the city.

• Sauvé has also called for a moratorium on Airbnb’s in the city; • Single-family properties with a property value in excess of $3.5 million would be subject to a tax rate equivalent to 1.25 times the standard rate. Those with value in excess of $5 million would be subject to 1.33 times the standard rate; • The party also plans to use the powers granted under Quebec’s Bill 39 to impose higher taxes on vacant or underutilized buildings.

Futur Montréal (Jean-François Kacou): Futur Montréal has announced four priorities when it comes to housing accessibility for students: • Recognize student housing as a priority within the affordable housing agenda; • Introduce targeted tax incentives for landlords who commit to offering reduced-rate housing to full-time students; • Rapidly expand housing supply by converting unused municipal lands and buildings into student and community housing, in partnership with non-profits and cooperatives; • Fight speculation with our “Use it or lose it” policy, reclaiming vacant lots and turning them into housing projects.

Action Montréal (Gilbert Thibodeau): Action Montréal says they will mobilize the public to support their projects like facilitating access to land through municipal partnerships and streamlining offices.

• Facilitate Access to Land: Collaboration with the City of Montreal to make land available on highly advantageous terms, supporting affordable housing projects by community organizations; • Promote Initiatives: Partnerships with educational, community, and municipal institutions to raise awareness of affordable housing options among residents, maximizing their impact; • Simplify Administrative Processes: Streamline project approval processes by providing support for permits and public consultations.

City News

city@theconcordian.com | September 30, 2025

Canada’s student cap leaves grads in limbo and campuses short Various levels of government are using international students as scapegoats and Canadian universities are paying the price.

By Aidan Raynor & Felix-Antoine Beauchemin Editor-in-Chief & City News Editor “It was very bittersweet because I knew that I was going to go back and see my family, see my cats, see my country and like […] go back home,” said Ariana Orrego, a Concordia journalism graduate diploma alumni from her new apartment in Peru. “But I mean, on the other side, it was also like, I built something here.”

On Aug. 1, Orrego was in an Uber on her way back to Peru after being informed her partner was not able to stay with her in Montreal after graduating.

Their ultimate goal was to stay in Montreal long-term—something that seemed like a reality when she started at Concordia in 2023.

“Our plan was to sort of go year by year, which is sort of the thing that you have to do when you immigrate and you don't have a privileged passport.”

In the midst of finishing her degree in March 2025, the federal government changed the rule allowing partners to stay in Canada for the year.

Orrego said adjusting to Canada

took a bit of time. The first couple months away from her family and home were stressful, but by March she had found a groove and was applying to jobs in her field of study.

“I mean, growing up in Latin America, you're always told that first world countries like Canada, the U.S., Europe, they’re like the dream, you know, you have to get there,” said Orrego.

“He had a plan way before we met of moving to Canada because as I told you, there's a lot of propaganda from Canada in Latin American countries.”

She described all the ads on social media sponsored by the federal government and others, encouraging people to immigrate to Canada, but she said that was not the reality she felt when she moved here. Moving to Quebec served as another barrier to her and her partner's success in Montreal.

She said Concordia’s International Students Office (ISO) had warned her of the potential changes back in November 2024.

“I do remember that person was like [...] by the way, things are going to change for international students and you have to be really attentive because in January which is the month where everything sort of the policy changed.”

But other than her lawyer and the ISO, there was no warning the policy was going to change.

“They have more anxiet and stress, and fear than hope, optimism and excitement,” said Marshia Akbar, director of the BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, from the sentiments she is seeing from her interviews with international students across Canada.

“They don't even know which policies will be applied to them, which policies will not,” said Akbar. “Whether they

will be able to get postgraduate or permit or not, whether they will be able to plan their life.”

“Now, as we know that the cap was for [a] 30 per cent decrease of international students, compared to, let's say, 2023.

So by 2024, it would be [a] 35 per cent decrease,” said Akbar. Now she says the 2025 changes have decreased even further.

Akbar said since 2020 there have been 21 policy changes impacting international students.

“In a couple of conferences we talked about [how] the people from the university sector feel that they are unfairly punished for the issues that were kind of like, emerged due to the Ontario college sector.”

Akbar is referring to the private Ontario colleges accused by the federal government in 2024 of being “diploma mills” profiting off of international students.

But the federal government said the policy changes have been made to reflect a need to ease pressures on critical sectors like housing.

“The country is experiencing system-wide pressures across critical sectors, including housing and access to social services. Canada is addressing pressures by taking responsible measures to achieve stable growth, announcing an ambitious federal housing plan, and better aligning immigration streams with the labour market,” said a spokesperson for the Government of Canada in comment to The Concordian.

They also said the provinces and territories are responsible for distributing the allocations which leaves Concordia beholden to the Quebec government as well.

This is the same CAQ government that raised tuition for out-of-province students and frozen provincial funding to universities in their last budget. The provincial government also adopted Bill 74 last December, which has reduced the number of international students in the province.

These recent measures from both the provincial and federal governments have impacted the attractiveness of Quebec universities for international students. This has led to a sharp decline in the number of international students in universities across the province, including at Concordia.

This reduction in the number of

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international students is a contributing factor to the university’s deficit.

“For 2025-2026, Concordia’s revenue from international students is expected to drop to $18 million, a third of what it was before the policy changes introduced a couple of years ago,” said Concordia University deputy spokesperson, Julie Fortier. “This reduction, combined with the freeze in government funding in the last provincial budget, are both contributing to the difficult financial situation the university is facing, with costs continuing to increase while revenue are falling.”

These impacts are not only limited to Anglophone universities. Admission requests from international students at the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) have been halved over the past year, leading to “significant reductions” in the number of international students being admitted.

Isabelle Dionne, vice-chancellor for academic affairs and student life at Université de Sherbrooke, deplores the negative financial and reputational impacts these measures have on her institution.

“Obviously, this deprives us of significant financial leverage,” she wrote in a statement to The Concordian. “Furthermore, international students at UdeS are an essential pillar of our research activities. They contribute to the advancement of knowledge and its application.”

Dionne also stressed the importance that alumni have in promoting the Université de Sherbrooke abroad if they return to work in their own country, or they contribute to a skilled workforce if they choose to stay in Quebec after they graduate.

She believes a more open approach from the provincial and federal governments when it comes to international students would help attract more to the Université de Sherbrooke.

“First, we must promote Quebec culture,” Dionne added in the same statement. “We must also promote the quality of our training programs, the competence of the university resources mandated to support international students in their integration, and, above all, remind them of our openness to welcoming them, because we recognize that they enrich our learning environment and contribute to the international outlook of our Quebec students.”

When asked, the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration refused to say if they were considering reducing barriers for international students.

“Decisions regarding the management of applications under the [International Student Program] will be announced following the public consultation on the proposed multi-year immigration policy guidelines. The current decision remains in effect until February 26, 2026,” wrote the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration in a statement to The Concordian.

Graphic by Ana Cristina Rodríguez // Contributor // @ana.cristina.rodriguez

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September 30, 2025 | sports@theconcordian.com

Sports

The return of the Scoreboard!

Concordia sports in full swing as we approach the busy month of October

By Anthony Maruca Sports Editor Women’s rugby rout McGill Martlets in Kelly-Anne Drummond Cup, continue building with win over Montreal It’s hard to ignore the performance the Stingers put up against their rival McGill Martlets on Sept. 21. Not only did Concordia blank McGill from the scoresheet, but they also put up 71 points in an utterly dominant performance at home.

The Stingers’ performance could not have come at a better time, honoring the late Kelly-Anne Drummond in an annual game in her honor. The Stingers have won their last six outings in Drummond’s honor. Mahalia Robinson led the team in scoring, along with six other teammates hitting the scoresheet.

Not even a week later, the Stingers visited l’Universite de Montréal on Sept.

27 for an afternoon matchup. Concordia took care of business, winning in a convincing fashion and thus building a win streak that has them back above a .500 winning percentage with a 3-2 record. The Stingers hope to carry this momentum into their next matchup at home, hosting the Sherbrooke Vert et Or for their final regular season game on Oct. 4. With a win, they would clinch a playoff spot as one of the top four seeds in the RSEQ. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m..

The captain’s game-winner propelled Concordia past Sherbrooke, breaking a four-game losing streak going back to win in their home-opener on Sept. 7. The Stingers continued to build on their win streak after defeating UQAM, shutting them out on their home turf. Concordia’s wins this weekend places them at a respectable 3-5 record, giving life to a potential playoff push. The Carabins of l’Université de Montréal await the Stingers as part of another double-header with the woman’s team set on Friday night, Oct. 3. Kick-off is set for 8:15 p.m..

last year, but lost that game 4-1. Newcomer Ekaterina Pelowich and Jessymaude Drapeau each scored three points in the hard-fought loss, showing Concordia’s promise on offence as they approach the regular season start in October.

Unfortunately, Concordia couldn’t keep up with the Northeastern Huskies on Saturday, getting shutout by the home team. Although both games ended with a loss, these matchups offer the Stingers a chance to face more diverse competition than during the regular season, where they face only three other teams in the RSEQ. Facing this tougher competition Women’s hockey nearly surprises makes for a good learning experience Boston University Terriers, fall to and measuring stick for what it takes to Northeastern Huskies play in the NCAA for those who have The Stingers did not make it easy for that ambition. the Terriers, forcing the home team to beat them in a shootout after a back-and- Women’s basketball off to a forth affair. Concordia played Boston Uni- good start in first non-conferversity in an exhibition game at ence action of the pre-season a similar time The Stingers’ women’s basketball team won their first of seven non-conference matchups scheduled in October. They beat the Laurentian University Voyageurs by 14 points, giving head coach Tenicha Gittens’ squad an ideal start to their pre-season action.

No scoring information was made available at this time, however, the team hopes to continue to build on this momentum as they prepare for the RSEQ action beginning in November.

Concordia, as the win gives them their third out of four preseason games set in the month of September. The reigning Queen’s cup champions hope to defend their title against what should be another competitive season in the OUA. The Stingers’ regular season is set to start next weekend on Oct. 4, as they are set to visit the Royal Military College Paladins.

Puck-drop is set for 2 p.m.

Men’s hockey shut Carleton out in final preseason bout The Stingers beat the home-team Carleton Ravens in a low-scoring affair last Friday evening. It has been a rather successful preseason for

UdM spoil Concordia homecoming game, winning in dominant fashion Another entry goes into what has been a disappointing season for the Stingers football team. The Carabins of l’Université de Montréal’s top scoring offence looked the part against Concordia’s bottom ranked defence in terms of points allowed. With the loss on Saturday, Concordia has now lost four of their five games this season which has them ranked last in the RSEQ. They now have three games remaining to capture a playoff spot within the top four seeds in their conference.

Men’s and women’s soccer collect crucial points in both double-header events Concordia women’s soccer failed to get on the scoresheet for the fifth game in a row against Sherbrooke.

However, they did secure a crucial point in aid of their chase to make the RSEQ playoffs. Their clutch 2-1 win over UQAM places them in the sixth seed, giving them the last of six spots if the playoffs were to start today. The undefeated Carabins of l’Université de Montréal await the Stingers in what will be a very big test for them on Friday night, Oct. 3. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m..

Stingers’ men’s soccer midfielder Lundon Durand Browne was the lone player to hit the scoresheet in the Sep. 26 double-header, beating the Sherbrooke goalkeeper from nearly 40 yards out on a beautiful strike.

Men’s basketball falls to Queen’s in tight matchup, but battle for tough win over U of T Although the Stingers men’s basketball team did not get the result they wanted against Queen’s Gaels, they took care of business against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Concordia held up against the Gaels, only to fall short by single digits. The Stingers fought hard once again against the Varsity Blues and came through with the win to end their roadtrip out west on a good note. Consistent shotmaking from guard Sami Jahan and a strong interior presence from center Karam Sahly led to what Stingers’ faithful hope is a preview for what their offence could look like heading into the season.

ETS defeats Concordia on the road to cap off middling month of September Concordia’s men’s rugby team have had a satisfactory opening month to their season. After visiting Montréal for a draw, and shutting out Carleton, the Stingers hoped to propel themselves up the RSEQ standings, hoping for a win while visiting the undefeated ETS Piranhas. Unfortunately, they came up short as ETS beat the Stingers and extended their undefeated streak to four games.

Infographic by Anna Huang // Graphics Editor // @itza_me_anna

Hockey photo courtesy of Eliza Nuestro // Boston University

Rugby photo courtesy of Concordia Stingers Athletics

Sports

sports@theconcordian.com | September 30, 2025

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Concordia alum wins medal at Wrestling Worlds Laurence Beauregard collected bronze as she continues to make her journey toward becoming an olympian.

By Connor Rooney Contributor Former Concordia Stinger, Laurence Beauregard won a bronze medal at the senior wrestling world championships in Croatia on Sept. 17, becoming one of only four Quebec-born female wrestlers to achieve the feat.

During training camp, Beauregard worked closely with Stingers wrestling head coach David Zilberman, who helped diversify her wrestling moves to make her style more unpredictable.

“People will be more and more prepared but there’s still a way that I can have a different strategy,” said Beauregard.

In an interview with The Concordian, Zilberman highlighted the psychological preparation, saying they used every practice to build confidence and manage stress.

On the opening day of the tournament, Beauregard scored a resounding 10-0 win over Filipino wrestler, Arian Carpio.

In wrestling, points are scored as two for a takedown with the opponent landing on their chest, and four if on their back.

Once on the ground, two points can be scored by exposing the opponent’s shoulders by 90 degrees.

She followed that up with a barn-burner against Turkish wrestler Bediha Gun, starting the second round down 4-2.

After a back-and-forth battle, Beauregard scored the decisive takedown in the last 50 seconds of the match. She won by criteria with a score of 6-6, propelling her into the semi-finals.

Her day unfortunately ended in a hardfought loss to Ukrainian Mariia Vynnyk with a final score of 10-5.

Beauregard’s mantra throughout the tournament was to “focus on the process

rather than the outcome.”

Going into the bronze medal match her mind was focused solely on wrestling one final match rather than the medal that was at stake.

In her final match, Beauregard would come back Laurence Beauregard lands a podium finish at from a 2-0 deficit, doing so World Championships in Croatia. Curtosy photo by pinning her opponent by Darren Matte // WCL photo on her back to secure the bronze medal with a final score of 4-2. and assistant coaches Martine Dugrenier After the final whistle blew, tears and Rob Moore. streamed down Beauregard’s face as she “It’s a team effort,”said Zilberman. reflected on the years of intense training “We’ve all been contributing for the past that it took to reach that point.

10 years.”

“It’s been a long year filled with a lot Over the past decade, Beauregard has of work, doubt, tears, you name it,” said already accrued an incredibly impressive Beauregard. “In that moment it felt crazy, career having won four Pan-American I’m a world medalist. No matter what Championships, one of which she did not happens I’ll always have that.” concede a single point.

“She’s been physically ready to go and The work is hardly over for Beauredo it for 3 years now,” said Zilberman. gard, who currently has her sights on “Now the psychological piece, the confi- making the Olympic team in 2028. dence, the belief that she can do it is now “It’s kind of a trap to get a big result coming together.” and then just relax so I know the road Zilberman credited other coaches ahead is going to be gruelling and diffrom the Montreal Wrestling Club, in- ficult but so far it's been so fulfilling,” cluding head coach Victor Zilberman, said Beauregard.

Karam Sahly to become focal point in Concordia men’s basketball’s new-look offence Alec Phaneuf. Phaneuf has since moved

The third-year on to play for the University of Ottawa, and there is no record of Mercy’s playing center was the career continuing elsewhere.

Taking into consideration the offenmost efficient post- sive production that has left with these players, Concordia’s coaching staff knew scoring player in they would need to pivot, finding an alternative on offence. the country last This is where third-year center Karam Sahly comes into the equation. season according to Using data derived from the Synergy Basketball program, a video and statistical advanced analytics. analysis platform, the Stingers’ coaching

By Anthony Maruca Sports Editor When an organization evaluates talent, it’s common for them to pay careful attention to the efficiency of its members.

More specifically, they seek to understand how much investment is required for them to provide value.

This function of organizations is no different within sports teams than it is for a large corporation in the business world.

For Concordia’s men’s basketball team, a player’s scoring efficiency is an important aspect of evaluating talent both within and outside the organization.

The Stingers lost several key starters this past off-season. Most notably, their two starting guards in Junior Mercy and

staff saw that Sahly was the most efficient scorer in post-up situations last year with at least 75 possessions.

To score from the “post” in basketball is to have initiated the play in a post‑up , where their back is to the basket in “post” positioning, usually being guarded by one defender.

The shooter must also be in relatively close proximity to the rim, typically within 15 feet of the basket.

“It’s how [many] points per possession he is scoring when he gets it in the post. Every score is two points, so when it comes up possession-wise, every time he got the ball he scores 1.2 points for our team. That’s how they calculate it,” said Stingers’ head coach Damian Buckley in an interview with The Concordian.

Buckley, alongside former interim and

Karam Sahly shoots free throws at a Stingers practice. Photo by Anthony Maruca Sports Editor now assistant coach Aleks Mitrovic, determined that elevating Sahly’s usage on offence was the pivot they needed to move forward. However, this meant some adjustments had to be made both on and off the court.

“What we really pointed out as a point of emphasis for us in the off-season for [Karam] was to get in shape, you know, he has to be able to run the floor,” added Buckley.

“He has to be able to play six, six-anda-half minutes every quarter. Last year, he

only played 19 minutes a game right? So it’s a big expectation to need him to play 30 out of the 40 minutes on the court.”

Even with the added pressure that comes with the increased workload, Sahly says he is ready for whatever comes his way.

“I’ve worked this off-season to be able to ramp-up the usage [...] I worked on my cardio and different stuff so I can be able to sustain that level for a long period of time,” said Sahly.

“I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life.”

Mitrovic looks at Sahly’s elevated role as a way to balance out the pace of the offence and limit mistakes. “[Sahly]’s a good decision maker. He slows down things for us. When we play with our guards, we tend to go fast, so Karam slows it down and we take the time to make better decisions,” said Mitrovic.

Concordia was unable to evaluate their new offensive approach in a pre-season win visiting Saint Mary’s, due to Sahly getting into foul trouble and only playing 10 minutes.

The Stingers will play several exhibition games, including a tournament in Victoria, before officially starting their season in November. This provides them an opportunity to make adjustments for their new-look offence heading into the new season.

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September 30, 2025 | news@theconcordian.com

Pages Francos

En partenariat avec et financé par L’Organe

Mythologies et technologies La mythologie sous l’angle de la haute technologie d’animation.

Par Selena Ruiz Rédactrice attitrée Sous forme de projection audiovisuelle, le centre Phi invite les visiteurs à s’immerger dans la profonde vie océanique dans l’exposition swell of spæc(i)es par l’artiste Josèfa Ntjam ouverte jusqu’au 11 janvier 2026.

Les créatures hyper colorées et non verbales hypnotisent les visiteurs avec leurs formes et mouvements presque aliénés avec toutes les couleurs possibles.

Les couleurs vives du film créént un fort contraste avec la pièce sombre, créant une ambiance encore plus invitante et chaleureuse. À l’intérieur de l’espace découverte

se trouvent deux sculptures en bois en forme de méduses de grandeur nature.

Lors du film, la piste narrative jouait sous les coupoles des méduses. Il était difficile d’entendre les voix, car la composition sonore englobait presque la totalité des paroles, en raison d’un mauvais équilibre de volume.

Afin d’aider d’autres passionnés d’art à mieux comprendre son processus de création, Ntjam a dédié la deuxième pièce de l’exposition à ses cahiers et à ses livres d’inspiration, auxquels le public peut librement accéder et les lire.

Parmi les livres, on retrouve Moi, Tituba sorcière... par Maryse Condé, The Abyss Stares Back de Stacy Alaimo et Theory of Water de Leanne Betasamosake Simpson. Par les lectures on comprend le sens plus large de l’œuvre et le lien entre la vie marine et la mythologie.

Dans la panoplie de papier à disposition, Cahier de lectures, partagée par Ntjam, explique son intérêt pour les significations diverses. « À partir de symboles, je trouve des corrélations et tente de les relier. Par

exemple, le serpent est un symbole très présent dans de nombreuses mythologies. [...] Je m’intéresse aux diverses significations », partage Ntjam.

L’un des thèmes étant l’afrofuturisme, concept développé en 1993 sous Mark Derry, Ntjam crée sa propre définition du terme « C’est impossible d’en donner une définition parce qu’il y a trop de ramifications.

L’afrofuturisme pour moi, c’est le collage, le sample et l’augmentation. Ça peut être quelque chose de très méta, un cyborg en évolution », explique-t-elle.

Graphique par Anna Huang // Éditrice graphique // @itza_me_anna

Deux camps : Papier ou numérique ? d’utiliser l’option traditionnelle du papier munications à Concordia, elle préfère le notes. Chacun à sa technique développée

Papier ou et des crayons? papier, et ce pour ses notes, comme pour au cours des années d’études, et de l’exPour Sarah Abo-Hussein, étudiante son agenda. périence professionnelle. numérique, quelle en troisième année en communications à « Pour ma prise de notes, j’écris sur des Si ce n’est pas déjà fait, vous pouvez Concordia, la réponse est claire : l’agen- feuilles individuelles et je les organise par aller vous chercher gratuitement un agenest la meilleure da papier. cours. Chaque cours a sa pochette, avec da de l’Association étudiante de Concor« Pour moi, c’est papier à 100 %. J’ai le plan cours imprimé. C’est plus facile dia (CSU), dans le bâtiment Henry F. Hall, manière de prendre l’impression que je me rappelle plus des de s’y retrouver, et de voir mes dates de salle H-711. choses quand je l’écris à la main. Comme remise. Ça fait six ans que je fonctionne ses notes? si faire la motion était assez pour me sou- comme ça, et ça marche très bien ».

Par Selena Ruiz Rédactrice attitrée Avec la mi-session qui arrive à grands pas, sans compter les travaux, les cours, les projets, les présentations et les examens, il est essentiel d’avoir un système en place pour organiser son temps et ses engagements sociaux.

L’utilisation d’un agenda ou d’un planificateur de temps devient alors essentielle pour la réussite scolaire.

La question se pose : est-il préférable de noter ses rendez-vous avec un agenda en ligne ou

venir que j’avais écrit quelque chose ».

Sarah a raison, et cela a été démontré dans plusieurs études au cours des dernières décennies, preuves à l’appui.

Une étude norvégienne réalisée par Audrey van der Meer et Ruud van der Weel auprès de 36 participants, et rapportée par National Geographic, montre que la prise de notes manuscrites permet une meilleure mémorisation que la prise de notes numérique. « L’ensemble du cerveau était actif lorsqu’ils écrivaient à la main, alors [qu’il était question] de zones beaucoup plus petites lorsqu’ils tapaient au clavier », expliquent les chercheurs dans leur étude. « Cela suggère que lorsque vous écrivez à la main, vous utilisez la plus grande partie de votre cerveau pour accomplir votre tâche. » Pour Lara, vice-présidente de l’associ-

ation d’étudiants du département d e s com-

De son côté, Laurence, jeune professionnelle dans le domaine des ressources humaines, opte quant à elle pour les Graphique par Anna Huang // agendas numériques, malgré certaines dif- Éditrice graphique // @itza_me_anna ficultés qu’apporte ce médium. « Ce n’est pas toujours pratique quand on a un seul écran, surtout quand on pleins de fenêtres d’ouvertes en même temps, donc parfois j’écris en papier en attendant », dit-elle.

Elle mentionne aussi le fait d’avoir un agenda personnel en plus de celui de son travail et qu’il faudrait qu’elle trouve une manière de les combiner.

Il y a encore un besoin pour le papier en termes d’outil organisationnel, en plus des cahiers de

Pages Francos

news@theconcordian.com | September 30, 2025

Un moment de silence pour Nooran Rezayi

9

Toujours selon Radio-Canada, l’appel

Des centaines de au 911 aurait duré dix minutes et aurait fait mention d’une arme à feu quatre fois. personnes ont Après moins d’une minute sur les lieux, le policier a tiré sur Nooran Rezayi. rendu hommage au Le BEI a écrit dans un courriel au Concordian qu’il n’avait pas de mise à jour à jeune de 15 ans tué l’enquête, que l’organisation continue son enquête et diffusera un communiqué dès par balles par un que le rapport sera remis au Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP). policier la semaine Le SPAL refuse de commenter l’enquête en cours du BEI, a dit Marie Beaudernière. vais, sergente à la section des commuPar Nicolas Tremblay Rédacteur attitré C’était un moment sombre pour la communauté de Longueuil, qui a perdu un adolescent de 15 ans la semaine dernière.

Des centaines de personnes étaient rassemblées en début d’après-midi ce samedi 27 septembre au coin des rues de Monaco et Joseph-Daigneault, à Saint-Hubert. Elles rendaient hommage à Nooran Rezayi, abattu par un policier, à l’endroit où le drame s’est produit la semaine dernière.

Contexte Nooran Rezayi est mort le 21 septembre après avoir été atteint par deux balles d’un policier du Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL).

Les policiers intervenaient à la suite d’un appel au 911 mentionnant un groupe de jeunes « cagoulés et armés », selon la personne ayant contacté le 911.

Le Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) mène une enquête pour comprendre les circonstances ayant mené à la mort de l’adolescent de 15 ans. Le BEI a confirmé n’avoir saisi qu’une seule arme à feu, celle du policier qui a tiré sur Nooran Rezayi.

Selon les informations de Radio-Canada, qui a parlé à des témoins présents sur les lieux du drame, Nooran Rezayi aurait voulu montrer aux policiers qu’il n’avait rien dans son sac à dos.

nications du SPAL lors d’une entrevue accordée au Concordian. Le SPAL a toutefois confirmé par courriel au Concordian que le policier impliqué est sous enquête et absent pour une durée indéterminée. « Le policier du SPAL impliqué dans l’événement actuellement sous enquête par le BEI, survenu le dimanche 21 septembre dernier, est en absence pour une durée indéterminée », a écrit le SPAL dans un courriel destiné au Concordian. « Son statut sera réévalué à l’issue de cette absence, le cas échéant, en fonction des éléments de l’enquête qui nous seront communiqués par le BEI », ajoute le SPAL dans ce même courriel.

Le BEI a annoncé le 23 septembre que La tristesse se fait sentir chez des amis de Nooran Rezayi lors de leurs discours à le Service de police de la ville de Montréal la vigile. Photo par Nicolas Tremblay // Rédacteur attitré.

(SPVM) a déclenché une enquête parallèle à celle du BEI. « Que ça ne soit pas une question de cou- étaient présents à la vigile. Fontecilla a leur, qu’on soit arabe, noir ou n’importe pris la parole.

Marche silencieuse et discours poignants quelle race, que l’on soit unis ensemble. « C’est important d’être là aujourd’hui.

La vigile, organisée par l’Association Et je trouve ça vraiment merveilleux qu’il Non seulement pour la famille, non de la Sépulture Musulmane au Québec, y ait autant de monde qui s’est présenté seulement pour ses amis, non seulement a débuté à 14 h. La famille du défunt a aujourd’hui. » pour la jeunesse de l’école André-Laumené une marche calme et silencieuse vers Des centaines de personnes se sont ras- rendeau, non seulement pour sa commule parc Marcel-Simard. semblées au terrain de soccer, où de nom- nauté. C’est important d’être là pour rapRayan Bazzaz, un ami proche de breux discours touchants prononcés par la peler que c’est tout le Québec qui devra Nooran Rezayi, a témoigné sa gratitude famille et les amis de Nooran Rezayi ont faire le deuil de la mort injustifiée d’un de envers les participants de la vigile. marqué cet après-midi pacifique. nos enfants! » a dit Fontecilla. « Aujourd’hui ça me fait vraiment plaiAprès deux minutes de silence, la Il s’est ensuite tourné vers la famille sir qu’il y ait autant de monde parce que sœur de Nooran a prononcé le premier Rezayi pour lui offrir ses condoléancça prouve aussi qu’il y a une solidarité discours. Tout en tentant de retenir ses es. Alors que Fontecilla donnait son disentre nous et que tout le monde est là larmes, elle a rendu hommage à son frère cours, certains manifestants ont fait enl’un pour l’autre », a-t-il mentionné lors et a remercié tous ceux et celles qui off- tendre leur mécontentement de voir des d’une entrevue accordée au Concordian. raient du support et leurs condoléances politiciens présents. à sa famille.

Les organisateurs et la famille ont alors « Il est essentiel d’être clair, cette rappelé à la foule de garder le calme et de tragédie n’est pas uniquement la nôtre, ne pas chanter ou crier. Par la suite, des elle est collective. En tant que citoyens du amis de Nooran Rezayi ont pris la parole.

Québec, en tant que famille qui a placé sa Des manifestants ont témoigné leur confiance dans les valeurs de cette prov- désir de manifester pour la communauté ince, nous affirmons ceci; la paix n’est pas alors que des amis de la famille les priun mot, c’est une responsabilité ! » aient de rester calmes et de ne pas chanter Andrés Fontecilla et Alejandra Zaga fort. Les manifestants restants ont quitté Mendez, députés de Québec Solidaire, le terrain de soccer vers 15 h 25.

La famille Rezayi marche lors de la vigile en mémoire de Nooran le 27 septembre 2025. Photo par Nicolas Tremblay // Rédacteur attitré.

La sœur de Nooran Rezayi prononce un discours lors de la vigile en mémoire de son frère. Photo par Nicolas Tremblay // Rédacteur attitré.

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September 30, 2025 | artsculture@theconcordian.com

De-stress for Less with ISO Movie Night Concordia’s International Students Office hosts movie nights as an opportunity for students to connect with one another.

By Kasi Peri Assistant Arts and Culture Editor @k_a_s_i_p_e_r_i_ Concordia’s International Students Office (ISO) kicked off the semester with a movie night on Sept. 22 in its offices in the Guy de Maisonneuve Building (GM). The event brought together international students as a way to unwind from the stress that comes with university life.

Kelly Collins, manager of the ISO, explained that this event helps international students to find a space where they can come meet and network with other students. Collins explained that events held by the office are also advertised to spend time outside the classroom. These events are designed to be stress-free, especially for students who are in the thick of exam period or counselling, these social events can help them take their mind off of their schoolwork.

“We do [movie nights] quite regularly. We also usually offer a movie blitz during exam periods, so students can study and then come in and binge some series,” said Collins.

A poll on Instagram allowed students to decide what they want to watch. La La Land was chosen for their latest movie night. ISO student workers who oversaw the event chose to create a poll that stems from their goal of student outreach by giving the opportunity to gather around an activity that is affordable.

“We advertise the movies ahead of time and give students the option [to decide] what they want to watch,” said Collins. “We try to involve the participants as much as possible.”

The volunteers set up a snack table for the attendees, which included some granola bars and a large bowl of popcorn. Chairs were set up to replicate a typical movie viewing experience.

The ISO brought snacks to make students feel comfortable and welcome, especially as food and movies help form a sense of

community. Social events, such as Movie Night, hope to motivate students to get out of their comfort zone and break from classes to explore the city, allowing students visiting Montreal for the first-time a chance to bring home memories that they’ve made.

“It’s important that it is for everyone, they should try to get outside the mental health zone of the classroom, and move on to some social events,” said Collins.

Dali Anargyros, a film student from Paris, who arrived in the city just a few weeks ago, explained that she followed ISO’s social media accounts for events like movie nights that will help her explore what Concordia has to offer.

“I'm a film student, so a movie now sounded good, and especially when I saw it was La La Land,” said Anargyros. “I arrived, and the film started right away, so I didn't really talk to anyone, and I was going to kind of meet people, meet other international students.”

Collins hopes that events such as the Movie Night are going to help students out of isolation to meet other international students, especially with the winter semester creeping up.

“I think it’s important that they establish some friendships and bonds early on,” said Collins. “I think it’s a great way to foster those connections early, so that we can go through winter together and not be isolated,” she concluded.

Archive graphic by @spooky_soda // Contributor

Arts & Culture

The Monthly Take: The History of Sound (2025)

By Ferdaous Amrati | Staff Writer | Letterboxd: @Ferdaous Set during the First World War, this film follows Lionel (Paul Mescal), a Kentucky farm boy gifted with a remarkable voice and David (Josh O’Connor), a Newport music student, as they bond over their mutual interest in folk music. Together, they embark on a song-collecting journey, recording folk songs through a phonograph across states.

Director Oliver Hermanus captures a quiet struggle for love using a muted palette of greys, browns and blues. The romance unfolds through stolen gazes, covert admiration and an invisible yet palpable desire veiled by their shared passion for music. The film’s

magnetic pull lies in the silence and the characters’ attempt to hide their feelings for each other.

The film’s strength rests not only in the characters’ attempt to dissimulate their affection and admiration for one another but also in the visuals, ambiance and performances. From candlelit rooms and grainy textures to raw folk songs, Lionel and David embody a quiet intensity and unspoken longing.

With its washed-out tones and lingering silences, The History of Sound captures the warmth and wistfulness of fall, making it an ideal watch for the season.

Rating: 3.5/5

Knives Out (2019) Jack Steer | Staff Writer | Letterboxd: @WhatisaJack Every character is clad in thick wool sweaters, and it's set in a creepy, remote mansion, the world outside is draped in moody fog and fallen leaves: Knives Out is the perfect fall movie.

When mystery writer Harlan Thrombey slits his throat the night of his 85th birthday, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is hired to investigate the death. With a southern drawl and absurd vocabulary, Craig is undoubtedly the film’s standout performance. He’s witty, ridiculous and infinitely quotable.

Knives Out is a classic murder mystery turned upside down. The audience know Harlan’s death

is a suicide, but the film slowly undermines their understanding of circumstances around the death. The film confuses the audience as it progresses instead of following the usual mystery template where the audience gradually solves the case.

The Thrombey family is deeply unlikeable, conceited and selfish, adding underlying family drama to the mystery. Any good mystery has many suspects, and many of the Thrombey’'s have potential motives to kill Harlan.

The film relentlessly keeps its audience guessing.

Refreshing and subversive, Knives Out proves the whodunit is timeless and perfect for fall.

Rating: 4.5/5

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) Carlos Javier Montenegro | Contributor | Letterbox: @CJPG John Hughes’ Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a Thanksgiving classic that captures the chaos and frustrations of holiday travel and the unexpected people we meet along the way.

Neal Page (Steve Martin) is desperate to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving.

Bad weather forces him to seek alternative transportation and where he meets Del Griffith (John Candy), a talkative shower curtain salesman who joins him on his unpredictable journey back home. Martin and Candy’s chemistry is

the heart of the film, as their conflicting personalities create tension, hilarious moments and genuine empathy.

Hughe’s direction perfectly balances sharp humor and heartfelt moments, keeping you engaged throughout the journey. The film’s unforgettable 80s tracks including ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ and ‘If You Leave’ enrich its emotional tone.

A warm story about human connection and kindness, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is the kind of holiday film you’ll return to, year after year.

Rating: 4/5

Arts & Culture

11

artsculture@theconcordian.com | September 30, 2025

Don’t fall behind: a guide to this season’s must-have looks a unique personality, turning trends into a foundation for self-expression rather than a uniform to perform.

Beyond how to style a look, the fabrics tell a story on their own. This season's collections invite a deeper, more tactile conversation.

Leather remains an enduring fall favourite, recently with a focus on both

By Anastasia Pobudzey style and comfort. The material is being Contributor celebrated for its versatility, allowing for everything from a bold all-leather look As the leaves change colour, fall 2025 to a subtle refined detail. fashion embraces an era that is both a nostalgic embrace of tradition and a bold expression of individuality.

With a blend of classic autumnal hues and rich new statement shades, the fall 2025 colour palette offers a vibrant canvas. Anything from deep burgundy, forest green and classic mustard yellow, to modern favorites like chocolate brown and an unexpected royal purple.

Many fall trends, like the vintage preppy look, are reinterpretations of classic styles. While this look might be a reliable fall staple, the key is to customize it so it feels organic, not performative.

“These aesthetics reassure us that what we’re wearing is not only trendy, but also atemporal,” said Danik Côté, the junior marketing at McGill’s Circle of Fashion.

This involves mixing timeless and structured pieces, like a tweed jacket, with modern touches that reflect

Fall’s fashion staples are back, with style that speaks for you

“A lot of people who are really into fashion will start wearing full leather outfits. Leather jacket, leather boots, leather pants, leather gloves,” said Adel Kasseb, vice president of the Concordia Fashion Business Association.

“Consistent leather all across,” says Kasseb, who is all for a head-to-toe leather ensemble that creates a striking, cohesive silhouette, while Côté mentioned how smaller touches like a suede bucket bag delivers texture without the full commitment.

For Kasseb the fur jacket remains a timeless piece. It's a statement of classic style that adds a cozy, luxurious feel to any outfit.

This season also sees the return of another powerful, single-material look: the Canadian tuxedo—making a statement that is both classic and cool. The key to a modern denim-on-denim look is to play with cuts and washes. For Kasseb a denim shirt tucked into denim jeans serves a nice look.

Accessories are the ultimate tool for agency and personality, allowing the everyday consumer to participate in trends and build a coherent and unique outfit without sacrificing an entire wardrobe. This season focuses on signature pieces that can elevate a look. A classic pair of sunglasses or a belt can easily tie an outfit together. Kasseb said,

The way you wear your accessories is what differentiates you from the next person.

Fall 2025 is a season that proves you can be fashionable and authentic, but as Kasseb concludes, it's about finishing off every look with a “smile,” the most timeless accessory of all.

Photos by Simaiya Shirley // Photo Editor // @https.simaiyashirley

A first look at the upcoming Montreal Cat Museum Graphic by Anna Huang // Graphics Editor // @itza_me_anna

Miaoutréal: Le Miaousée, invites visitors to learn more about Montreal’s feline history, from the 1800s to the present day.

By Nathalie Bucur Contributor Miaoutréal: The history of Montreal’s cats is a temporary exhibit happening from Sept. 12 to Oct. 12. It features two exhibit rooms, laid out to emulate Montreal’s “ruelles,” small alleyways that are characteristic of the city. The “ruelles” feature local artists' “cat-themed” work, yet spreads awareness about numerous cat rescue groups operating in Montreal.

Photographs of Montreal’s feline companions from 1864 to the present day cover the walls. They allow visitors to learn about the city’s “cat shows” of 1875, blessings of the pets done in Montreal Catholic churches—mainly around The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals—and even iconic neighborhood cats.

Humbert the cat, known by Notre-Dame-de-Grâce residents for his presence around a local depanneur on Sherbrooke Street W, served as personal inspiration for Aqeela Nahani when creating the Miaousée’s alley cat gallery setup.

Nahani, executive director of The Miaousée, seeks to end the stigma against rescue cats which is why the inclusion of advocacy groups has always been crucial to her cat museum project.

“We want to celebrate cats in all ways, so advocacy is a huge part of it, but we also want people to have fun and learn interesting things. That’s why we have a mixture of cat history, cat art, cat events, famous cats in the city,” said Nahani.

Cat rescue groups sell locally made jewelry at the exhibit, with proceeds going to support their work.

Nancy-Ann Michaud, the founder of Kitty-Kat Rescue, has been offered a space within the Miaousée.

This exposure allows her and many other rescuers to fundraise and educate visitors on the challenges of fostering.

“I believe that what she [Nahani] created is so necessary […] Nobody knows about all the people who work behind the scenes to try to save the cats. It’s an eye-opener; people see that when you adopt a cat, it’s a serious thing, it’s a member of the family. And they [the museum

visitors] get to learn so much about cats.

I believe in what she’s doing, and I’m really happy that someone is doing this.”

Michaud said that Quebec has the largest numbers of cat abandonment in the country. According to her, this is a result of attitudes held towards cats in the province.

“The problem starts at home. It’s the old mentality that a cat is ‘just a cat’, it’s a thing that is easily disposable.

Most people think cats are lions and are happier outside, but that’s not true. Domesticated cats don’t know how to defend themselves with feral cats outside, they just don’t.”

Nahani’s goals for the permanent exhibit involves cat fostering within the museum, along with platforming artists and rescue groups. “[The temporary exhibit] is hyper-focused on the history of cats in Quebec, because I wanted to make it very local and pertinent to the community of Montreal,” said Nahani. “For the larger museum, we plan to have temporary exhibits, permanent exhibits as well as a cat lounge with rescue cats.”

12

September 30, 2025 | music@theconcordian.com

Music

Finding catharsis through storytelling and song was there. Growing up in the bush with- a lot of amazing people. I’ve been able to and all these people are telling the story

The singer’s newest out electricity and a guitar being there, carry these songs across the world and in our words, by our people. My record I just started learning. It was one of the have them be felt with the same impact came out, and then the story broke, and studio album Edge very few things I had to kind of keep my- so far away.” suddenly so many people are like, ‘Oh, self entertained growing up, but yeah, Aysanabee’s current The Way We’re wow, let’s talk to this artist, because he of the Earth is a my mom would go work in like, hotels Born Tour is hardly his first rodeo. “I has this album that’s relevant to what’s or laundry mats—wherever she could am looking forward to the tour of just, going on’ and so this—this part of the testament to his find work. So I used songs almost as a we’re out to do our thing and, you get larger conversation.” journal, and sometimes, as a teacher. I into the zone—this flow, which is really Now four years on, Aysanabee feels creative process. think I still kind of carry that into the nice,” he said. The singer is set to land popular cultures moved on from IndigBy Sofia Dawson Music Editor @sofiajdawson “When I started singing and playing, I was terrible, I did not sound good at all,” said Aysanabee in an interview with The Concordian. “It’s been a lot of hours of just trying over and over again and trying new things, and, yeah, I don’t think, anyone’s ever really born with anything.”

The multi-faceted singer-songwriter and producer is Oji-Cree, Sucker Clan of the Sandy Lake First Nation, a flyin community in Northwestern Ontario.

Now based in Tkaronto, Aysanabee is a writer and producer of deep-cut indie folk records that sets him apart in the music scene.

For Aysanabee, music has been a source of guidance and catharsis.

“It was kind of always the thing that

process to date.”

Evident from his inaugural project Watin released in 2022, Aysanabee folds lived perspectives into his music in a way some described as journalistic.

“I was just journaling a lot at the time about imposter syndrome and self doubt and wondering, if I will have, you know, the endurance to kind of just keep growing, keep evolving and see how far we can, you know, really, really go, and how many ears can hear this music, and how many stages can I share these stories, yeah. It’s kind of been interesting having this full circle moment,” said Aysanabee about the Edge of the Earth’s closing track, “Dream Catcher.”

“I think it’s the first record where people see a lot more of me in it. Every song is written from a different introspective moment in my life over the last few years— my career growing, traveling to new places, sharing songs and stories, and meeting

at the Cabaret La Basoche in Gatineau, QC. on Dec. 12, 2025.

To date, Aysanabee has done over 300 shows across high-profile venues and riveting festivals, performing alongside artists such as Allison Russell, The National and William Prince, but his work doesn’t stop there. Aysanabee’s platform is the furthest thing from self-serving: his passion for uplifting the voices of emerging artists is nothing short of luminous.

“If I’m being completely honest, I feel like, when the mass graves were found, and people were stuck at home, and were just faced with the reality of the history of this country, this big realization happened. Like, holy shit, this terrible thing has happened, and now we’re all paying attention to it. And, how do we address it?”

The singer went on to explain how the spotlight shifted focus towards Indigenous artists of all mediums. “All this culture

enous artists, and the necessity for action persists. “It’s continuing to fight for that space—keeping these doors open and making sure they stay open, because I would like other artists to get the opportunity to share their stories, their songs, and get to potentially make a career of doing the things that they want to do.”

“We could all just be country artists... so you know,” he joked.

“At the end of the day, just make music that you really enjoy […] play the songs that mean something to you.”

When music becomes an escape, it can offer an artist catharsis like no other. For Aysanabee, finding his way through song and guitar strings led him to becoming the first ever Indigenous artist to win the Juno for Songwriter of the Year and Best Alternative Album of The Year.

An icon of queer Inuit youth town of Kuujjuaq. Identifying themself pride. I wouldn’t want anyone else to do

Niivi has been involved in Inuit per-

Fresh off their as an activist before a musician, they it because I wouldn’t want someone else formance arts since they were very young, have gradually become an icon for queer to be subjected to that. I know that I can and as they incorporate more of these first tour Niivi Inuit youth. get through it. As long as I’m able to still sounds into their music, they worry about Niivi was key in organizing Kuujjuaq’s make the parade happen.” the commodification of this art. sat down to talk first ever Pride parade at age 12 and has They attribute some of this feeling of “Sometimes in the scene I can feel like been an important part in putting the belonging in the role to their descent from a diversity hire,” they explained. “People about the state parade on every year since. They have a long line of artists and activists. They cite hear the words ‘Inuk punk artist’ and raised concerns about how the parade has their father, Etua Snowball, a recording think ‘Wow Inuk artist.’ When my main of queer issues been treated since 2023’s display, which artist in his own right, as a major influence. thing is Inuk activism, in a way, I have remains the biggest the town has seen.

“I grew up in the music scene be- to commodify myself to be this voice and in Inuktitut, their “The fourth and fifth have been small- cause of him. I got to meet people like have my people’s stories heard. Worst er because the board cut our funding. Elisapee and Beatrice Deer and all case scenario for this would be me being influences, and the They decided that they no longer want these very big artists in the indigenous the sole face of Inuit music. Not all Inuit to support a queer event. The mayor we music scene.” people look like me.” expectations set for have right now is not in support of queer They feel that there are expectations If there’s one change they’d like to see people either. We’ve had complications placed upon Inuit musicians. in Quebec it’s education about Inuit peoInuit musicians. with even putting the event on in the “What has always been most popu- ple. “I’m always shocked by how little first place.”

As a young organizer of the community’s first pride event, they’ve had to face some backlash head on.

“I’ve had to grow thick skin and learn Niivi Snowball is a young multidisci- to take criticism very well. I do face a lot plinary artist from the northern Nunavik of scrutiny being the face for Nunavik

By Simon Bowrin Assistant Music Editor @simonbowrin

lar among Inuit musicians is folk music.

When they do have a louder sound it’s still almost like a shock. In history we have been depicted as such cute little creatures, but we have so much anger and we have to be able to express it instead of killing ourselves because we are unable to.”

Photos by Sofia Dawson // Music Editor // @somewhereordinary

people know what Nunvik is. It’s literally in Quebec. I’m often forced to use colonial slurs for ourselves just to let people know what I’m talking about.”

Niivi’s lifelong project continues as they hope to one day see the land rightfully returned.

Music

13

music@theconcordian.com | September 30, 2025

The Sounds of POP Montreal 2025 Day-by-day, here’s a recap of Montreal’s most familial music festival

By Sofia Dawson Music Editor @sofiajdawson POP Montreal, Sept. 24 to 28, an international music festival that took place across over 20 venues in Mile End and the surrounding Montreal neighborhoods. This notfor-profit event elevates emerging artists from across the globe, bringing together individuals in a truly familial experience.

Missed it? Fret not! Here’s a recap of what went down, who to check out and where to find these artists next.

WEDNESDAY - Sept. 24 Lizzie Lives Forever at Le P’tit Ours @lizzielivesforever This five-piece group from coastal Halifax brought a groovy alt-indie sound to warm up the POP Montreal scene. Lead vocalist Annah-Lauren Bloom reverberated effortlessly against the sweet riffs from guitarist Ryan Allen.

Where to hear from them next: Listen to their newest record JUST MARRIED across all streaming platforms now!

Hanako at La Sotterenea @hanakomusicqqq Just downstairs from the punk-rave at Sala Rosa, Montrealers could decompress with local indie singer-songwriter Hanako at La Sotterenea. The sheer relief that followed after hearing Hanako’s soft, intricate vocals radiated her grounded nature.

Where to hear from them next: Hanako will be performing at the Festival de Nouveau Cinema for their evening of honouring David Lynch on Oct. 10.

POP Montreal affairs. His cheerful smile and clear passion embraced audience members as they inched closer to stage as the set went on.

Where to hear from them next: Listen to newest work by Cedric Noel, Guides, across all streaming platforms now.

Ribbon Skirt at La Sotterenea @ribbonskirtband There aren’t enough words to describe the utter sensation that is Ribbon Skirt.

With a sold-out show and a line out the door, the anticipation for the group’s performance was overwhelming. Formerly known as Love Language, the indie-rock Fleeting Colours at Quai duo—Anishinaabe artist Tashiina Buswa des Brumes and U.K.-born Billy Riley—blew @fleetingcolours the house away with Further down St. songs you cannot Laurent, Montreal help but headshoegaze group Fleetbang to. With ing Colours carried a jaw-dropping certain nostalgia to energy and the festival. The fiveunimagpiece band ripped inable auup the stage at Quai thenticity, des Brumes and, nothese two tably, Concordia stuConcordia dent and Fleeting Coalums are lours member Seamus just getting Hickey shredded both started. vocals and electric guiWhere tar as fans rocked alongside to hear from the group’s raw undertones and them next: headbanging nature.

Catch Ribbon Skirt live while Where to hear from them next: they support the North American leg of Fleeting Colours will be working away in WOMBO’s global tour. the studio—stay tuned for the upcoming EP. Fat Dog at La Toscadura FRIDAY - Sept. 26 @fatdogfatdogfatdog_ Ana Romm at L’Escogriffe Bar Spectacle Technical difficulties didn’t stop this @musica.de.ana young group of rambunctious London Surrounded by a crowd full of artists from ripping through the walls at friends, family and newcomers, Ana La Toscadura. Fat Dog, a wild U.K.-bred Romm’s set at L’Esco was intimate and punk-rock band, has recently blown up inspiring. The B.C.-born Concordia Stu- on the other side of the globe for the nadent began by sharing stories solo before ture of their crazy performances and ecbeing joined by her counterparts Sarah centric music. While their set got off to a Carnat, Simon Vandermuelen Kerr and rocky start and the crowd grew anxious, Jesse Millman. The group’s effortless the mosh pit that kicked off within the intertwining of sound was truly magi- first song of their set reinstated their godcal. For those who’ve watched Romm like presence for fans. blossom in recent years, her first POP Where to hear from them next: performance was both warming and a Fat Dog will be flying back to the U.K. tear-jerker. after a show at The Garrison in Toronto Where to hear from them next: but for now, take a listen to their newest Catch Ana Romm at Mai/son on Nov. 5! single “Pray to That” out now.

Múm at Thèâtre Fairmont @mumtheband Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Le P’tit Ours is the historical Mile End venue, Thêâtre Fairmont. Here, the globally recognized Múm took the stage. This Icelandic group of experimental artists created an ambience like no other. For anyone wishing to see effervescent soundscapes come together live, Múm’s performance was a dream come true.

Where to hear from them next: Múm is currently touring their newest record History of Silence. Catch them across the United States in early October and over in Europe this November.

Hanorah at La Sala Rossa @hanorahmusic THURSDAY - Sept. 25 With a jazzy, soulful set, Montreal star Pure Pulp at Le P’tit Ours Hanorah gathered a packed audience who @pure_pulp swayed alongside her divine presence.

For the Thursday crowd, Sam Sarty, With captivating lyrics and groovy tunes, also known under the name Pure Pulp, cre- Hanorah brought some graceful pizazz to ated an electronic mindfield you couldn’t the Friday evening. take your eyes off. Originally from Where to hear from them next: Winnipeg, Man., Sarty’s Hanorah will be playing a handful of sound stemmed from shows across several Québec cities a multitude of thriftin the upcoming months including ed instruments, Saint-Romuald, Rivière-Ouelle, top-notch loopSaint-Jérôme, Québec City ing systems and and Sherbrooke. drum machines.

Where to hear SATURDAY - Sept. 27 from them next: Cedric Noel at La Sala Rosa Check out five @somespecialsolace of the latest Pure Local songwriter and bassist Pulp tracks available Cedric Noel lit up La Sala with a on Bandcamp. heartfelt opening to the Saturday night’s

SUNDAY - Sept. 28 NIIVI at Le P’tit Ours @niivi.music Raw, gritty and honest are three words to describe NIIVI’s electric evening set at P’tit. The two-spirit Inuk indie-punk songwriter from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik blew the roof off the intimate space. Their magnetic sound and stunning throat singing drew in those walking by the venue, trippiling the crowd by the end of the set.

Where to hear from them next: NIIVI is currently working on their debut album—make sure to stay tuned!

Sofia’s Top Three Acts For You: 1. Ribbon Skirt Band 2. Ana Romm 3. Fat Dog Photos by Sofia Dawson // Music Editor // @somewhereordinary

Eadsé showcases versatility at Théâtre Outremont

An intimate performance with the Montreal-based Wendat singer Tamara Galinato Head of Social Media @tamaragalinato Wendat singer-songwriter, Eadsé performed at Théâtre Outremont last Thursday, Sept. 25 as part of a series of concerts presented by Radio-Canada to discover its “Révélations” of the year.

“Révélations” is a program by Radio-Canada that shines a spotlight on emerging Quebec artists. Each year, a jury of industry professionals selects several artists who carry the title. Eadsé is one of six artists picked this year who will receive personalized support and visibility across Radio-Canada’s platforms.

As the lights dimmed, Eadsé’s warm voice filled the small room with “Oné-Onti,” a piece dedicated to Max Gros-Louis, the former grand chief of Wendake. Gros-Louis served as a grandfather figure in her life, even giving Eadsé her name which signifies “my good friend” in Wendat, after which she named her first album. “Oné-Onti” is currently her most popular song with over seven million streams on Spotify.

The artist led the audience on an intimate emotional voyage with her voice—in English, French and Wendat—and a hand tambourine, accompanied by Raphaël Bussières (also known as Lucill) on the electric guitar and backup vocals.

After her opening song, she followed with “Wendat Endi,” “Dreamcatcher” and “Moi qui le peux encore,” from her new album, Healer.

The latter piece reflects on the violence faced by murdered Indigenous women.

Eadsé also has two songs named after her son, Owen, meaning “the one who glides on the water.” She explained how one of the last things Gros-Louis did before he died was name her son, an action that means a lot to her. Through “Owen I”, Eadsé dives into postpartum depression, which she experienced, and “Owen II” is giving her son life advice.

The singer shifted the mood with “Ya’ndahkwa,’” an upbeat dance song. Her stage presence was electric, drawing the audience into the performance.

As she sang “Two Falls,” she placed a red tobacco tie on the ground, near Bussières who sat on the left side of the stage. She explained that the pouch is used as a sacred offering and gratitude which she further expressed to the small crowd for being there.

14

September 30, 2025 | opinions@theconcordian.com

Opinions

Knock knock! Who’s there?

Not a chivalrous man man and woman meeting and falling in attempt to send a signal that there is an in yet another failed attempt to find love.

How our love. My apologies if that was a spoiler, interest for something more.

As we grow older, one can only hope but ultimately, it’s all you need to know.

As a society we’ve become grounded in that these actions begin to match our exexpectations of love This particular genre has studied al- the social media we consume, often lead- pectations. I remain faithful in this evmost every type of meet-cute you can ing people to forget that it is not reality. er-changing society that change is on have been brutally think of, playing with the audience’s heart This same artificial feeling has bled into the horizon as we strive to find strings as the couples push and pull from the dating game; nothing feels authentic. the same passion that filled our disappointed. each other only to end with some grand When reality shatters this vision of heads with dreams about prince

By Kailee Krentz Opinions Editor @kaileeliz Growing up, we dream of love that’s full of life and colour—a magnetic connection drawing two irresistible forces together. Acts of passion aren’t far-fetched but rather a typical Wednesday evening.

The rain would fill the streets as someone stands outside your window waiting for you, or a yearning other writes a song about the freckles on your face because they can’t get them out of their head.

Unfortunately, when we wake up from that dream we are struck with the nauseating reality of swiping left and right, recycled superficial conversations, and the unknown of whether a first date will ever become a second.

So, where did we go wrong?

I blame these longing expectations on the movies we watched growing up, specifically, the rom-coms of the early 2000’s. These films—my favourites being 13 Going On 30, Notting Hill and 27 Dresses—all follow a similar plot line of

romantic gesture and a profession of love that leads to marriage. It’s hard not to get attached to these ideas when they have been shown to us in every which way.

As a consequence of this, I would consider myself to be a hopeless romantic, holding onto the idea that love is meant to look like this. I’ve created more scenarios in my head than could ever be lived in one lifetime, yet hopelessly my mind continues to conjure bouquets of flowers nestled on my doorstep.

Nowadays, everything feels like a dating app. Merely overwhelmed by the thought, there are millions of people at our disposal that can all be accessed with the touch of a screen. We’ve resorted to sending messages through Snapchat, secretly begging for the other person to ask for our number, or responding to someone’s Instagram story in an

love we grew up believing, we’re left just as cold and confused as Mr. Darcy after Lizzy’s rejection in the garden. This unwanted reality has seeped into day-today conversation as complaints are heard more frequently than praise concerning the endeavors

charming when we were kids.

I guess only time will tell if I get a pebble at my window telling me someone’s waiting in the rain to confess their love to me.

Graphic by Hannah Bell // Creative Director // @Hannahnevebell

Spoiler alert! This is the good old days Today is all we got and there is no replay button.

By Rita Kamel Staff writer In the final episode of the TV show The Office, the character Andy Bernard delivers a line I consider genius. He said, “I wish there was a way to know that you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”

I find myself thinking about this quote from time to time. It was the wake-up call I needed to realize that I am living in the good old days right now.

It is hard to stay in the moment because there is always something to look forward to. As young adults, we have a life full of adventures ahead of us—careers to build, families to create and many more firsts to experience.

There is always this sense of anticipation and wonder, sometimes even stress, about what comes next. We try to accelerate the process of achieving our goals, because we want to have the relief of

knowing that everything will be alright. But we don’t realize that by doing so, we are just rushing our lives and we let it pass in front of us without truly savouring it.

Photography has helped me appreciate today. I try to always have my camera with me, and the result of this habit is thousands of pictures that have helped me put things into perspective and realize how precious my life is.

Every time I look back at my old pictures, I get this beautiful sense of nostalgia, and I realize how Graphic by Edmond Peng // Contributor // @edm_exp much I miss the old chapters of my life. away, and every time I add pictures, I Yet, it also helps me be more intentional already find myself missing the present about enjoying the current chapter. moment. I will never be 22 again, so I Three years ago, my sister got me a am trying to make every moment count. photo album for Christmas and her gift There is another quote from my favouwas the beginning of a yearly tradition. I rite movie, About Time, that summarizes started printing my pictures and making the way I want to live my life. The quote an album that recaps the best moments reads: “I just try to live every day as if of the year.

I've deliberately come back to this one I try as much as I can to print the pic- day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final tures and add them to the album right day of my extraordinary, ordinary life."

Sometimes we get distracted by the motion of life, and we fall into the trap that today is just another day. But maybe we should start listening to what Andy said and notice the good old days before they slip away. Let’s slow down and admire the present moment, maybe even take a few pictures. Those pictures will be our only souvenirs today.

Opinions

opinions@theconcordian.com | September 30, 2025

Remembering the children and honouring the survivors Why orange shirt day matters; for residential school survivors and the new generation of Indigenous people, it is crucial to learn, listen, and honour the children who were taken.

By Maya Jiyâmeyihtam Brousseau Contributor @mayabfay As a white-passing Indigenous woman, it's easy to assume that I’m not deeply affected by truth and reconciliation. Presuming the average Concordian knows the bare minimum—that being from class, an acquaintance, or other—Orange Shirt Day is like any other day.

For me, it's something that is passed down from generation to generation, through stories, teachings and trauma.

Living in Canada, it's more than likely to meet an Indigenous person who has experienced residential schools and the abusive

"Every Child Matters March 2024." Archive photo by Hannah Bell // Creative Director // @hannahnevebell systems. It’s important to be sensitive and if possible, ask questions, learn, and educate yourself and others. Prejudice and assumptions are the biggest downfalls of our society, and ideas that we’ve unintentionally created over time, like race, are simply bringing us apart. Truth and reconciliation is the start of fixing this issue.

The meaning behind wearing an orange shirt and the connection to the day begins with a story shared by Elder Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor. Before being forcibly taken from her home, her grandmother gifted her an orange shirt. At the residential school, their strict rules forbid it and the school took her shirt away. The orange shirt is now a symbol of power, despite an incredible loss of identity and freedom. The story

of Phyllis is about the many thousands of children that were sent away from their homes, and wearing an orange shirt as a symbol is central to keeping in our hearts the loss and trauma inflicted on Indigenous children.

Jane Saganash, an elder from the community of Waswanipi, Quebec, and a residential school survivor, expanded on wishing more was done about Truth and Reconciliation and participation on Orange Shirt Day. “I wonder if they know what we went through, we left in September and didn’t go home until end of June,” Saganash said. “We didn’t see our family for 9-10 months straight, didn’t go home for Christmas or any holidays. That’s sad.

1000km away from home, do you think

15

our parents had money to come and visit?

Or us? I didn’t even know where I was, I was sad. That’s why sometimes when they say ‘Orange Shirt Day’, I don’t want to think about it, but other people need to know about it.”

So much has already been taken from the elders and residential school survivors, “like I said, it brings back memories from when I was away from my family, crying at night, missing my parents, my home, our way of living in the bush, eating rabbit and moose meat. It was hard,” Sanagash said.

The trauma and heartbreak that has been ongoing for generations; understanding this is the bare minimum that can be done. Truth and reconciliation is not only for them, but for the generations of trauma that have and are continued to be passed down.

Indigenous history is the foundation of this country, stay empathetic and understanding, and offer support wherever you can. This Sept. 30, participate in walks, events and wear your orange shirt for elders like Phyllis and Saganash to remember the child victims of the abuses of residential schools, like Saganash’s brother who never made it home and was buried in an unmarked grave, whose family was never able to mourn rightfully.

Wear an orange shirt this month shamelessly, support the residential school survivors and victims, help out local communities and groups, and read up on Orange Shirt Day.

Bargaining for cheaper transport Making student transit more affordable with the power of collective bargaining.

By Danylo Perkov Assistant Opinions Editor In 2023, Concordia’s Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis conducted a voluntary study on the commuting habits of students, faculty and staff.

According to the study, 78 per cent of students and 83 per cent of staff consider SGW their primary campus. As a result, between 58 and 71 per cent of both groups use public transportation as their main commuting method.

With so many of us taking a combination of buses, metro and commuter trains to Concordia daily, costs start to pile up. Students living on the island can spend as much as $753 annually for

transportation, just to attend classes and get around an already expensive city. For those living off-island and commuting by train or regional bus networks, prices can skyrocket to as much as $1983 yearly.

There are solutions that make transportation more affordable for university students. Several institutions, such as University of Waterloo, University of British Columbia, Conestoga College and others, have implemented U-Pass systems—a collective bargain from their respective student associations that allow full-time students unlimited public transportation usage.

According to the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) their program saves individual students over $850 yearly on transportation fees, and over $3200 over the length of an undergraduate degree.

For those not utilizing the metro daily because they live nearby and walk or bike to school, exemptions can be made. The aforementioned examples allow exemptions to students taking online courses or those with disabilities, not utilizing the public transport services.

Additionally, WUSA lets part-time students opt in, making the service an

optional deal for those only taking one or two courses per semester.

This is a powerful system that utilizes collective bargaining of the student unions and ultimately benefits most. The CSU has more than 40,000 members and has the power and responsibility to offer better deals to its members, especially in Montreal, where it becomes hard to commute to school via bike or walking during the winter months.

Montreal already has reduced fares for students, offered to all high school, college and university students. By striking deals directly between student unions and the Montreal transit authority (ARTM), lower costs for individuals can be achieved.

Such agreements especially benefit students living farther away. Concordia students currently living in Zones B, C or D are forced to drive to school due to absence of public transportation in their area or due to the outrageous prices.

Graphic by Angélie Côté // Contributor // @c0te_design Forced to pay nearly $100 or more, students living off the island would especially benefit from a potential deal between the CSU and ARTM with a flat rate for all students, independent of their location.

With the second phase of REM’s opening just around the corner—albeit a further corner than we thought—Montreal has an opportunity to encourage more students to use their public transportation system. By inviting larger bargains such as the U-Pass, the city will boost the usage of public transport on the island by making it more affordable for students.

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Corrections In the Sept. 16 issue of The Concordian, in the article titled “Concordia’s budget constraints leave the Greenhouse searching for $1.5M” it stated that it could take the university up to seven years. This statement was made from documents obtained by The Concordian. But Concordia has clarified that “future increases in funding from the provincial government remain uncertain and we have no indication of when we will have additional funds to support other initiatives.” According to Concordia Facilities Management, the mention of “five to seven years” references the current cap on spending for infrastructure imposed by the provincial government, and is not a timeline for the renovation of the greenhouse nor an indication as to when the work could happen.

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