North east of Montreal, Saguenay citizens have started a campaign for secular government. In an attempt to preserve the community's Catholic history, Mayor Jean Tremblay has been reciting prayers at the beginning of council meetings. He defends his actions by saying: "[I think the community is behind me]" (translated by author). In response, citizens have posted a video on youtube expressing their dissent.What do you think? Does religion really have no place in government? Are these symbols safest as part of our past?
Image source: Flickr.
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March has a lot of amazing events to attend including St. Patrick's Day parade on March 20th, the International Film Festival of Art from March 17-27, and Voix d'Ameriques starting on March 11th. With Spring fast approaching, which festivals and events are you most looking forward to? What about festivals in the summer?
Ice skating is an age-old tradition in Montreal and there are many options for partaking in this much-loved activity. There are both indoor and outdoor rinks available all over the city such as The Quays Skating Rink or Atrium Le 1000 de la Gauchetière. There are also several free outdoor rinks, such as the one found in Notre Dame de Grace Park. Have you gone skating this winter? Where do you like to go?
This weekend marked the 8th annual Nuit Blanche in Montreal. If you haven't heard of it before, Nuit Blanche is a day and night of festivities commemorating arts and performances around the city. Galleries, museums and other such venues are open all night long, which you can visit for free. STM also keeps metros and busses open in order to ensure safe travel. Visit the official website for more information. 
As Spring gets nearer, the time spent outdoors increases tenfold. Which parks in Montreal do you visit most often and why? To enjoy a walk? to exercise with your yoga class? To sit and read? Some parks, such as Notre Dame de Grace park or Westmount park even have water fountains to cool off and splash around in. What do you like to do?
What do you do to keep fit and active?
A Monster by Montreal's David Altmejd
Art is an integral part of life in Montreal. The city has a plethora of art galleries with engaging shows that are always coming and going, big and small. Has anyone been to any good ones recently? Or maybe you saw a single work that was particularly enticing?
Montrealites would love to hear what you're interested in.
Montreal is a wonderful and vibrant place to live. But sometimes people want to escape from the city's noise and action. There are quite a few places right off the island, or even on the island, to go to be in the open space and unwind. Where's your favourite place to get away?
Many people (and some animals and places) depend on the generosity of others. Since starting to work with an non-profit organization two and a half years ago, I began to realize just how many charities and non-profit groups exist in Montreal. I've gained valuable skills through my work and found it to be a great place to learn about myself. Do any of you volunteer somewhere? Do you volunteer with more than one organization? What got you interested in volunteering where you do? Why do you volunteer? If you don't volunteer, why not? Or if you just never got around to it, where or what kind of volunteering would you be interested in?
Estrogen plays a significant role in women's mental health, one that is more far-reaching than the fact that we have breasts!
I have been an avid coffee drinker since the age of 16 and I recently did some research on Starbucks vs Independent coffee shops.Many people tell me they are indifferent on the issue, and they would go to both. I was wondering where people get their morning cup of coffee, or their daily buzz? Are independent coffee shops more appealing to you? Do you feel that Starbucks is too corporate? Do you have a favourite local coffee shop? Who makes the best latte, cappuccino, machiatto? What is your drink of choice?
I have lived all over the island and south shore, but currently I live in Griffintown/Little Burgundy. St. Cunegonde de la Petite Bourgogne is the parish name. Montreal neighbourhoods have names from the past parish lines, federal and provincial political districts and local lore. Griffintown was built for Irish immigrants who worked on the Lachine Canal. It was destroyed by Mayor Jean Drapeau in a slum-clearing project in preparation for Expo 67. It covers the area of lower downtown from the Lachine Canal to St. Antoine, roughly from Mountain Street to Atwater.
The canal is now a wonderful place to walk, bike or have a picnic. In thepast it was a place of heavy industry and poverty. The city has done of wonderful job of remaking a disused area. We can walk to the suburb of Lachine or to the Old Port. Atwater Market is just off the canal and is a great place to pick up food.
Little Burgundy has a tough reputation. It is a hard place to grow up. It has the highest proportion of single-parent families in the city. There is quite a lot of youth gang activity but there is little or no crime against local residents. In Montreal, random violence is rare but if you are involved in criminal activity, you have a higher likelihood of being hurt. Kids are being killed in this 'hood but it is still rare.
The great thing is that Griffintown/Little Burgundy is that it is a five minute walk from Concordia, down Guy Street. It used to be called Lowertown because it is at the bottom of Mount Royal. We are close to everything: metros, buses, downtown, canal and parks.
The talk of housing development in Griffintown is frightening. We came here to find a peaceful place to live without the gentrification which has plagued other parts of the downtown area.
If you are looking for something to do with your free time between classes, I invite you to come down the hill and explore the 'hood. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Sometimes the reputation that a neighbourhood has, is undeserved.
We all know that Montreal is a huge university city, which means there is a huge student population. What is your favourite inexpensive thing to do, and why do you enjoy it? Is it seasonal, if so when? What do you like to do for inexpensive, student-budget date? Are there any other cost-effective, fun ideas you would like to share?
When you are hungry, really hungry, what is the first restaurant that pops into your mind? Where is the restaurant located? What is like inside? What dish do you want to order? How will it look and taste?