Kahnawake Survival School (KSS)’s gymnasium was host to something a little different than an Akweks’ home game on the evening of February 5, as the Kahnawake Education Center (KEC) had its combined schools science fair there.

One hundred eighty-one students from Kateri School, Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa, and KSS displayed their projects for their classmates, teachers, and families to see. Six winners – two per school – were chosen among them to represent their school and bring their winning projects to the Quebec Indigenous Science Fair from March 18-20 in the communities of Whapmagoostui and Kuujjuarapik in Nunavik.

One of the winners was Kahnawiiostha Whyte-Turner, in grade six at Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa.

Her project was a water cleanliness and filtration project, which looked to compare water from rivers in Kahnawake, Chateauguay, and Lachine, and then built her own filter to try to filter it more.

“When she first asked to test the water, I was excited for her. Water has always been a huge part of who she is, both in what she loves but also symbolically,” said Megan Kanerahtenha:wi Whyte, Kahnawiiostha’s mother. Kahnawiiostha means “she makes the rapids beautiful” in Kanien’kéha.

“I think I’ll forever remember her jumping up and down when the pH level changed for each river water sample after she ran it through her filter. She made the connection that human beings have the power to pollute the water or clean it. She ended her project with the phrase ‘climate change is in our hands,’” said Megan. 

Kahnawiiostha said her filtration system, while using a lot of items that are easy to find around her, mirrors how filtration naturally occurs.

“The filter was made of a plastic bottle and a jar, and the contents were rocks, charcoal and cotton to represent the natural filtration system,” said Kahnawiiostha. “I was testing pH levels, and I learned that safe drinking water is between 6.5-8.5 pH. The water runs through the filter and all the elements and it helps drain out the impurities of the water. Each river sample became cleaner,” said Kahnawiiostha.

“It is our job as Onkwehón:we to project the earth, the water and its gifts.”

Kahnawiiostha said she did not expect to win, thinking she would finish at best third, and is very excited to go up north in March.

“I am very excited and nervous. I’d like to travel to this new place and meet other kids, and I am hoping I’ll get to see the Northern Lights,” said Kahnawiiostha.

“I’m so proud of her, not just because she put in so much effort into this project and didn’t give up, but because she really wanted to make a difference and understand something she cares a lot about. That’s inner fire!” said her mother.

Another winner was Kaylani Delormier, in grade eight at KSS. Her project was to use candles to heat up terracotta pots, to use as a way to keep heat for a period of time in a part of a room without necessarily using electricity.

She said that her grandfather Alan Beauvais was the one who gave her the idea, when she was having trouble finding a project to do.

“We went on the TV and we just started watching videos about it and said ‘yeah, let’s do it,’” said Delormier.

She was happy to win, after having won two years ago for a project that involved regrowing kitchen scraps instead of throwing them away.

At first, she did not realize she had actually won: she did not believe the teacher that had told her, until one week after the fair when it was announced in class that she had.

The other winners of the KEC science fair were Willow Jackson in Kateri School’s grade five for “How does your body react to music,” Iakothwatsiriio Stacey in Kateri School’s grade six for “Wild Blueberries,” Shakotharani Phillips in Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa’s grade five for “Your Imagination,” and Kanien’kwentha McComber in KSS grade 10 for “Living Lights (Bioluminescence).”

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Thousands of pounds of deer meat went out to community members last week, following a recent cull in the province. Culls to deal with overpopulation are common – but up until now, Kahnawa’kehró:non haven’t been able to benefit from them. 

“We valued it at something around $27,000 that was delivered,” said Council chief David Diabo, who oversaw the agreement struck recently between the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) and wildlife officials that made the donation possible. 

The cull began in the fall and ran into this winter, and was carried out in regions like Mount Bruno, Boucherville, and Longueuil, he said. No community members were involved in the hunting. 

The shipment included over 4,500 pounds of the meat that were vacuum sealed and frozen. 

Various cuts went out to community members through the Kateri Food Basket and the free food program run by Bobby Patton last Thursday, February 6.

“The amount that we received was just incredible,” said Patton, who operates the All Nations Gathering Place, also known as the Mohawk-Cree teepee project. “It’s gone out and helped so many people, so many people are just grateful.”

The Kateri Food Basket got over 1,000 pounds of the game.

“It was all gone that same day, in six hours actually,” said Cory Rice, the director there.

Luckily there’s still some left at the All Nations Gathering Place. They got a larger chunk of the order, said Ashley Ross, who volunteers there – just because they have more storage space.

“We’ve never got a shipment of meat that’s been this large, this is the first time that this has happened,” she said. 

The remainder of the meat will likely be integrated into the pre-cooked meals they serve each Friday. Whether it’ll be included in the meal this Friday (today) is still up in the air. It’s their chef that calls the shots, she said. 

“There’s just so much that you can do with it,” Ross said.

She took home some of the steak and ground meat herself, which she’ll probably be using to fry up some burgers.

Rice, meanwhile, cooked up some chilli that he ate alongside his wife. With grated cheese on top, of course. 

It’s not just ground meat and steaks that were distributed. Antlers, used to make kahstó:was and regalia, were also donated to the two main Longhouses in town, Diabo said. Hides currently being held in Magog will also come through the community at a later date, he said.

Some will be set aside for the cultural centre and Longhouses, with the remainder set to go out to community members. 

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TNT boxing’s third event – the second at the Action boxing club in Mercier – was another resounding success for the promotion formed by the partnership between FightQuest’s Peter Thomas and Joey Two Rivers.

“It was sold out, all action-packed fights, and the crowd loved it,” said Two Rivers of last Saturday’s card, which had a dozen amateur fights.

Of that dozen was Joey’s nephew, Slade Two Rivers, who, at 15 years old, was already in his fourth amateur fight.

Slade, who trains with Action boxing club and represented them on the card, took on Derek Lapierre from Boxe Matthew Carrier Inc.

In the first round, after an exchange of blows, Slade came out on top, with Lapierre losing the fight by technical knockout – essentially the referee stopping the fight due to the inability of one fighter to keep going, in the official’s mind.

“To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect,” said Slade of his mindset going into the fight. “All my opponents so far all had the same build, so I was expecting something like that, but he was completely different.”

Slade said Lapierre was very aggressive, and that they, more or less, made an unspoken agreement to start brawling and see who was left standing.

The only way to determine how hard your opponent will punch is to get punched, according to Slade, but once the first blow was felt, he knew he would have the upper hand in a brawl.

“Once I felt his punches, I knew I got him. He didn’t punch too hard. I knew I had the power advantage. When I’m training, I like to train on my power a lot to exchange punches that are a lot harder than my opponents,” said Slade.

“And I won. I won the exchanges that led to the TKO.”

Slade said he felt great about winning, especially by stoppage instead of by points, but he still felt he could improve some elements of his technique before the next time he climbs in the ring.

“Next fight, I can be a lot more technical, I can do a whole lot better than that, and be a lot cleaner,” said Slade. “I’ll train my feints and my head movements, and my footwork. I train those a lot, especially the feint, but during the fight I really did not feint that much.”

The win brings Slade’s record to 3-1. After losing his first-ever fight, he has now won three straight contests and has won his last two fights by referee stoppage.

The other boxer from Kahnawake, Kael King, went the distance against Jonathan Robert from Boxe Matthew Carrier Inc. but lost his fight by majority decision. His record is now 1-1.

Slade said his next time in the ring for a fight will most likely be for the next TNT show in May at the Knights of Columbus.

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When Angela Mason sent in the application for Howard S. Billings High School to the NFL’s Forward Pass program, she never imagined they would actually win.

“I was scrolling on Facebook, and I happened to fall on it. It was right at the beginning of the football season, so it caught my eye,” said Mason, who is the manager of the Juvenile and Cadet Blazers football teams.

On a whim, she decided to enter the program for a chance to win $25,000. She described how the Blazers helped assemble a community to help her and the program out.

“Every time we had home games, I needed a whole crew of parents and citizens to help me set up the field, put up gates, sell the sweaters and all the game gear, and everyone stepped up,” said Mason. “It was unbelievable how the parents stepped up. It was touching how I had so much help from everyone. So, I thought it was nice, and it fit what they were looking for. The football games brought everyone together.”

Months later, she started receiving calls from a number she did not recognize.

“When I don’t recognize the phone number, I don’t answer. Plus, I never in a million years thought we’d be chosen,” said Mason. 

“So they contacted the school directly, and then the principal of the school called me to ask me if it was a scam because nobody really knew that I sent it in,” said Mason.

The official announcement that the Blazers – along with the Peel Panthers in Ontario and the North Winnipeg Nomads Football Club – had been chosen was broadcast on Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast on Canadian television. Prior to the broadcast, Billings put out a post telling parents to watch the broadcast for the special announcement. Many Facebook posts from excited parents showing screen recordings followed the announcement on TV.

“It was quick, but it was still something nice,” said Mason.

The NFL said of its Forward Pass program that it “helps empower more families to engage in a sport that inspires character, leadership, resilience, and teamwork – values that extend far beyond the field. This initiative is dedicated to elevating the football experience in local communities, increasing youth participation, and shining light on the football programs that make a difference.”

Along with $25,000, the NFL will also be coming to Howard S. Billings in the summer for a tailgate party.

Charlie Ghorayeb, technical director of the Blazers football program, said that while what the money will be used for has not been finalized, they would like to use if for something that will last a long time.

“Twenty-five thousand dollars is a sizable amount of money. So, you can do something pretty cool with that,” said Ghorayeb. “One thing that we all agreed on is that we don’t want to use it just for operations. We want something that’s going to be a capital expenditure and that is going to be there for 20 years or more.”

As part of the general growth of the Blazers’ program, they will also be adding a Cadet team this year to help develop athletes in-house for the Juvenile team. 

“The Cadet team allows us to instil football in the school from grade eight onwards to grade 11,” said Ghorayeb.

Being able to recruit kids at a younger age – especially on the lines – will help the on-field results as well, according to Ghorayeb. He also said he saw the program as a continuation of the development many players go through with the Chateauguay Raiders in younger age groups, with almost half the players in the program going through the Raiders before playing for the Blazers.

 Indeed, one factor for the Blazers’ strong recruitment has been, according to Ghorayeb, that it is the school itself that runs football and not the Raiders.

“Civil football practices start at 6:30 p.m. and they go on until 8 p.m. or later and a lot of parents either don’t have the time to go or don’t want their kids out that late,” said Ghorayeb. “Here, they come in, they do their football practice, they are home by 6 p.m.”

Ghorayeb will also be meeting with Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) in the coming weeks to discuss the logistics of having kids from KSS play for the Blazers.

“I wanted to inform them that the kids from KSS are, in fact, eligible to play at Billings, because that’s not obvious,” said Ghorayeb. 

He said that Billings had a strong tradition of fielding athletes from Kahnawake on its teams, and that he is hoping this will continue with football.

“We’ll be welcoming them with open arms. However many come, whether it’s one or 10, we’ll be happy to have them,” said Ghorayeb.

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With the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) in Kamloops, British Columbia, only a few months away, Team Eastern Door and the North (EDN) have now publicized their teams.

Team EDN held their final selection camps at the Kahnawake Sports Complex at the end of January. Players who made the teams were made aware prior to this week’s publication.

Seven players from Kahnawake will represent Team EDN in Kamloops in May – four boys and three girls. On the boys’ team, goaltender Pryor Stacey will be joined by Ioteseronties Marcus Diabo, Camden Jackson, and Rohsennakehte Lahache.

For the girls, they too will have a Kahnawa’kehró:non goaltender, as Hayse Horne made the team. She will be joined by last year’s captain Ryan Stacey and Waheshon Curotte.

Ross Leclaire, who coaches the girls’ team, said that while he does not have any specific expectations for the tournament, he feels as though this year’s team is one of an especially strong calibre.

“It’s difficult to say at exactly what level we’re at right now. Competitiveness will always be one of our biggest challenges, since we are pulling together a team on short notice and trying to get them to play as a team, but it’s definitely a higher calibre than it has been over the past few years,” said Leclaire.

The teams will hold a pre-tournament practice, after the regular season of the various leagues they have pulled players from will be finished to try and build chemistry and get them prepared for Kamloops.

Leclaire said that the girls’ team is very young, especially when compared to the other teams in the tournament.

Kwaronienhawi Jacobs, who manages the girls’ EDN team, said that the reason for that is to try and create continuity on the team, with players coming back year after year to create a core – something she saw for herself when she was a player for the team from 2003 to 2008.

“That’s how it was like when I was playing. We had a core group of girls who played together for a very long time, and they moved up further and further in three years and losing one or two here and there, but still gaining another one that has just as much talent, and continuing to create a team,” said Jacobs.

“We want to create a team that’s young and we can move together for the next few years. You’re going to see them grow each year and get better and better.”

Jacobs said that for the returning players, they can already see that growth since last year.

Team EDN is mostly made up of U15 players, and with this being a U18 tournament, it can be intimidating for newer players, according to Jacobs.

“But at the same time, it shows them what they’re capable of, and it makes them strive for next year, to come back even better,” she said.

Another factor for the calibre of the team according to Jacobs is having the tryouts be in Kahnawake, as well as a growth in popularity of women’s hockey in the last few years. She said that compared to prior years, the tryouts had a lot more players this time around.

“I think it’s nice to see that girls are more interested in playing again, because while it was not necessarily going down, it had not really been growing for a while,” said Jacobs.

The full rosters are available on EDN’s website at pen-edn.com. 

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Police were called to a residence Thursday to perform a wellness check. Instead, they found the bodies of a 73-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman.

Police received a 911 call around 2:25 p.m. about a man who was shot on des Chutes Boulevard in Quebec City's Beauport borough. Three suspects were arrested after police intercepted a suspicious vehicle on a highway.

Kids from the city’s Sun Youth program tested out their hockey skills on the ice of Montreal’s Bell Centre alongside a Finnish hockey legend.

With Canadian fans booing the U.S. national anthem at sporting events amid political tensions, is it time to re-evaluate the time-honoured North American tradition?

Streaming guide JustWatch has revealed the most popular romance movies streaming in Canada this Valentine’s Day. Topping the charts is The Holiday — starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black — which is streaming now in Canada via CTV.

“Two women, one from the United States and one from the United Kingdom, swap homes at Christmas time after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance with a local man but realizes that the imminent return home may end the relationship.”

In second and third place are Call Me by Your Name (CBC Gem) and Anyone but You (Crave).

According to JustWatch, Prime Video and Netflix are the streaming services with the best selection of romance movies.

For previous updates on the most popular movies and TV shows streaming in Canada right now, please click here.

For our latest in film and TV, please visit our Film & TV section.

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NIEBO HOTEL is an immersive dance experience that will transform le Germain Hotel Montréal into a living stage.

A collaboration between Ballets Jazz Montréal, CAPAS, Danse Danse, la Parenthèse and le Germain, this unique performance, choreographed by Christophe Garcia, invites audiences into intimate hotel rooms where dance, music and visuals bring human connections to life.

For an hour, spectators will follow a personalized journey, becoming both witnesses and participants in this poetic exploration of memory and emotion. Blending art and hospitality, NIEBO HOTEL offers an encounter with contemporary dance in an evocative, close-up setting.

Performances of NIEBO HOTEL take place at le Germain Hotel Montréal (2050 Mansfield) from Feb. 18 to March 1

For more on Montreal arts, please visit the Arts & Life section.

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Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape is a multimedia and sound-driven exhibition immerses visitors in the creative world of the late, acclaimed Quebec director, where music was the heartbeat of his storytelling. Drawing on testimonies from collaborators and loved ones, the PHI Centre exhibition explores Vallée’s deep connection to music as both inspiration and creative process. Through five immersive installations and a rich sound environment, Mixtape highlights key moments in his career while offering an intimate journey into the mind of a filmmaker who translated emotion into cinema through the power of music. Free entry, reservation required.

Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape is on at PHI Centre (407 St-Pierre) through May 4

For more on Montreal arts, please visit the Arts & Life section.

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Over a decade into Marvel’s reign, the rot they’ve unleashed on our culture has never been clearer. The films are stupid and, increasingly, poorly made. Storytelling has long taken a backseat to easter eggs and marketing opportunities. The films have become increasingly convoluted and fragmented, the effects cheaper and cheaper. Even the propaganda feels desperate and unconvincing. What once was (albeit debatably) a good thing was ruined by the same greed and artlessness that has helped contribute to the fall of the American Empire as well.

Captain America: Brave New World continues the mad descent of a once successful franchise. Sam Wilson is now Captain America (Anthony Mackie) and he finds himself pulled into the inner-circle of the newly elected American president, Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford). The optimism of a new presidential term collapses, however, after a violent event spurs distrust in the new regime but contributes to a collapse in international relations that thrusts the world on the brink of war. Captain America not only has to save America, but also a close friend who has been unfairly implicated in the incident.

Like many late-era Marvel films, Captain America: Brave New World feels fragmented. While pretty much par for the course in terms of Disney’s over-produced and data-driven blockbusters, this one has an especially gruesome restructuring. The film introduces Ruth Bat-seraph, played by Israeli actress Shira Haas, a character intended to be the Israeli superhero Sabra. For dishonourable reasons tied to their bottom line rather than their conscience, it’s clear that Disney had cold feet given the ongoing genocide and spotlight on Israeli war crimes, and did their best to diminish the character. The film feels edited around diminishing mentions of Israel as much as possible and, as a result, downplaying the influence of a character who was clearly instrumental to the plot. She’s still very much present, particularly in the second half, but as an ineffectual prop in a plotless spectacle. Even so, the movie treads that oh-so-diplomatic line of diminishing without criticizing, lest anyone assume Captain America: Brave New World has taken the moral high ground.

Once upon a time, it felt not only accurate to point out that Marvel films are intended for children, but necessary. The fandom that swirled around the movies attempted to elevate these corporate products as high art akin to modern myth-making. Now, pointing out that these films are intended for children should send a chill down your spine: these movies are insidious, pacifying tools that offer little substance and do little more than uphold the American military. Far from a new development, this goes back all the way to Iron Man in 2008, but it seems especially urgent to emphasize that these movies represent a negative contribution to art, culture and human life.

The fact that the film tries — and fails — to deal with the complexity of race relations in the United States only adds insult to injury. As the movie grapples with what a Black Captain America “means,” it does so with only feigned subversion, embracing many false tenets of a post-racial society while vaguely alluding to the difficulties that Black Americans face. As this film seems set up to fail critically and at the box office, it also seems ripe in our newly post-woke culture that the blame will inevitably fall on the POC leads rather than the greedy, anti-art executives. 

As Palestinian arts organizations ask for a boycott of this film and Disney, it should be a moment of reflection for fans who are still willing to dish out money to see Captain America: Brave New World. Where does your loyalty lie? With plastic propaganda or with the people? ■

Captain America: Brave New World opens in Montreal theatres on Friday, Feb. 14. 

For our latest in film and TV, please visit our Film & TV section.

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One day after a persistent winter storm dumped over 30 centimetres of snow on Montreal, the city is racing to clear some streets before another one arrives.

Montreal author and Canada Reads champion Heather O'Neill is back with a new book, illustrated by her daughter Arizona O'Neill! The serialized novel Valentine in Montreal will be released on July 15, 2025.

The plan includes making legislative changes that would increase oversight of the province's teachers and ensure the province's schools are secular.

Fans in Montreal booed the U.S. national anthem prior to the Americans’ first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off against Finland. Forward Matthew Tkachuk had a simple reaction. "I didn’t like it, and that’s all I got," Tkachuk said.

The number of job vacancies in Quebec has hit a seven-year-low.

The storm caused school closures, tough driving conditions and flight cancellations across southern Quebec. It’s the biggest storm of the season, but more snow is expected in the coming days.

The extent of the victims' injuries is not yet known, according to a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), who said police are still investigating.

The couple was identified as Michel Gosselin, 73, and Ginette Gosselin, 71, Radio-Canada learned. Their bodies were found in a home on Champagne Street in Boucherville, Que.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Sherbrooke resident Karl Davey has spent weeks advocating for better snow removal on Quebec Street, arguing that the city’s policy of clearing only one sidewalk creates unsafe conditions for pedestrians. Davey, who has lived in the area for over 50 years, says the decision ignores the steep incline of the street and the challenges it presents in winter.

According to a 2011 municipal policy that was made permanent in 2013, the city clears both sidewalks only on high-traffic streets. On local streets with fewer than 500 vehicles per day, only one sidewalk is maintained. The city reaffirmed this policy in a statement provided to The Record on Feb. 13, stating that the decision was made by council and not subject to administrative changes.

Davey said his concerns stem from the specific geography of Quebec Street. “The city forgot that this is one of the steepest streets in Sherbrooke,” he said. “When you add snow and ice, it becomes a serious hazard.” He highlighted that seniors, parents with young children, and residents with mobility issues are particularly affected.

On Jan. 20, Davey formally requested snow removal on both sidewalks. The city responded that the request had been closed and that an “the team will complete the work soon.” However, subsequent follow-ups left Davey frustrated. “They told me it was approved, then two days later, I was told it wasn’t happening,” he said.

District councillor Raïs Kibonge, who was on parental leave at the time, later acknowledged the request and forwarded it to the borough office. “There’s so much red tape,” Davey said. “Nobody wants to take responsibility.”

A passage from the city’s winter maintenance policy, which Davey has reviewed extensively, outlines that service levels are based on safety and circulation efficiency. However, he argues the implementation on Quebec Street contradicts these goals. “This policy says safety is a priority, but it’s not being applied fairly here,” he said.

Davey’s efforts have garnered attention beyond city hall. “I’ve spoken to two radio stations, and it’s picking up traction,” he said. “This isn’t just about me—it’s about my neighbours, the elderly, and families who are forced to walk in the street.”

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L’article Quebec Street residents push for better snow clearing in Sherbrooke est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

Spring application deadline approaches

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Tillotson Regional Coaticook Foundation (TCRF) is once again accepting applications for its semi-annual grant program, with the deadline set for March 12, 2025. The fund, which has been supporting community initiatives since 2012, distributes financial aid twice a year to organizations across the region.

With its roots in Coaticook, the fund was established through a $3 million investment from the estate of Neil Tillotson, an American businessman with strong ties to the area. Since its inception, the TCRF has contributed nearly $2.5 million to local causes, reinforcing Tillotson’s guiding philosophy: “Be humble, be creative, and be kind.”

In its funding round last spring, the TCRF awarded more than $125,000 across 36 grants to various organizations, supporting projects that improve quality of life, education, and access to essential services.

Impact on local organizations

Organizations across the region have consistently expressed gratitude for the foundation’s contributions. Bridget Suitor, director of Lennoxville Community Aid, emphasized in a recent conversation the fund’s reliability in supporting their essential services. “We have been very fortunate to receive Tillotson funds for many years now. It’s always very, very helpful,” she said.

One of the previous grants helped offset rising costs for Meals on Wheels containers, keeping meal prices stable for seniors in need. Another funded new equipment for their pedicure service, which assists elderly residents who have difficulty caring for their own feet. “It allowed us to get new equipment that provides better disinfection of our tools, ultimately giving a better service to our seniors,” Suitor added.

Camp Massawippi, a specialized camp for children with disabilities, has also benefited from the fund. Director Karl Boulé described how a previous grant helped them purchase special chairs that allow children to safely enter and exit the water, especially after flooding affected their docks. “The timing was perfect,” Boulé said Feb. 13 over the phone. “Without those chairs, some of the kids would not have been able to participate in water activities. Tillotson has been extremely good to us.”

The camp also received funding for a golf cart to help transport medical staff around the site. “We skipped applying once to let other organizations benefit, but we will definitely be applying again. The needs at camp never stop,” Boulé said.

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L’article Tillotson Fund continues to support local organizations est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

The federal rebate program for electric vehicles has ended early and the Quebec program is on pause until April, before being phased out in 2027. In this episode of This is Montreal, we explore what this means for car buyers.

To Build Law is a documentary by Francesco Garutti and director Joshua Frank that follows bplus.xyz (b+) and station.plus (s+) as they launch HouseEurope!, a policy lab advocating for systemic change in the construction industry.

With the sector responsible for 38% of global carbon emissions and driven by profit-focused redevelopment, the film captures efforts to shift cultural and legal norms by promoting renovation over demolition.

As part of Groundwork, a three-part film and exhibition series at the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), To Build Law documents architecture as an open, collaborative process — where legislation, storytelling and activism converge to reshape the built environment.

To Build Law is on at the Canadian Centre for Architecture (1920 Baile) through May 25

For our latest in film and TV, please visit our Film & TV section.

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Montreal’s small concert venues and theatres will be getting financial assistance from the city to help them stay afloat. Venues with fewer than 1,000 seats will be eligible.

The company overseeing the construction of the REM said trains will begin running between Deux-Montagnes, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and downtown Montreal in March or April for testing. In October, trains should begin carrying passengers along the entire REM route — except for the link to the airport.

The day before Sylvie Hudon was admitted to the hospital, she says nurses visiting her home told her not to worry about the bedsore located on her back. Advocates are now calling for better resources for people with spinal cord injuries dealing with bedsores in Quebec.

Montreal-area school boards have already begun announcing closures on the eve of one of the biggest winter storms of the season.

The former federal tourism minister has secured the backing of four borough mayors, two city councillors and the party’s interim leader, Aref Salem. Martinez-Ferrada says she wants to position Ensemble Montréal as a viable alternative to Projet Montréal, arguing that the current administration has failed to deliver on one of its key promises: increasing housing in the city.

Mitchell Arnott has been found not criminally responsible for the double homicide and has been declared a high-risk accused, a designation reserved for those considered a serious threat to public safety.

Outlines achievements and plans

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Lennoxville Library held its Annual General Meeting on Feb. 11, highlighting a year of growth, community engagement, and financial responsibility. Library board president Heather Thomson, treasurer Ron Coughlin, and director Christian Collins presented their respective reports, detailing accomplishments and future plans.

President’s report: A year of improvements and community support

Heather Thomson, president of the board, opened with a note of gratitude for the library’s volunteers, whose 2,000 hours of work equate to that of a full-time employee. “Our volunteers are the backbone of the library,” Thomson emphasized. The library currently has about 50 volunteers, with 10-12 offering weekly assistance. Volunteers assist with cataloguing, shelving, interlibrary loans, and event organization.

One of the key highlights was the reorganization of the library’s physical space. Thanks to financial support from the Tillotson Fund, the City of Sherbrooke, and Global Excel, significant improvements were made, including the acquisition of modular tables, new study carrels, comfortable seating, and beanbags for the children’s area. The library also installed a retractable screen, which had been provided by the City of Sherbrooke but had not yet been put in place. “We’ve reimagined the space to better serve our patrons,” Thomson said.

The library also expanded its outreach with the enhancement of the Espace Biblio at Square Queen. With the help of the Townshippers Foundation and the Tillotson Fund, a new tent, outdoor seating, and children’s play materials were added, enriching community engagement at the Lennoxville Farmers Market. Over the summer, Espace Biblio hosted 21 activities, drawing in 1,017 visitors, including 696 children and families who participated in programs such as storytelling and arts and crafts.

Fundraising efforts brought in over $11,600, primarily from book sales at the Lennoxville United Church and the Salle Amédée Beaudoin. The “Adopt-a-Book” program and local business sponsorships contributed an additional $4,800. “Our community’s generosity makes everything we do possible,” Thomson noted. Additionally, the Supporting Member Program raised $5,535, reinforcing financial stability for the library.

The library also saw success in program development, hosting 105 children’s activities and 55 events for adults. Programs such as family book clubs, pajama storytimes, author visits, and history talks helped bolster engagement. “Our goal is to keep expanding our offerings while maintaining the quality of service,” Thomson said.

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L’article Lennoxville Library holds annual general meeting est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

Though the amplitude of the problem is still significant, 2024 was the first year since 2020 that the number of car thefts declined compared to the previous year. There were 57,359 reported car thefts in Canada in 2024. In 2023, there were 70,475.

Quebec Premier François Legault called for an export tax on Canadian aluminum to the United States, in retaliation to President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum, during his visit to Washington with Canada's 12 other premiers on Wednesday. 

The following is a capsule review of the Montreal restaurant Maison Boulud. To read the 2025 Montreal restaurant guide, please click here.

Maison Boulud

Renowned French chef Daniel Boulud has restaurants in many cities, but his Montreal location in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel is pretty close to perfect. With unparalleled service and amazing bartenders continuously upping their cocktail game, Maison Boulud offers ample reasons to stop in for a celebration or a casual lunch. (The restaurant recently launched a new three-course lunch table d’hôte — served in 50 minutes — and offers a fantastic breakfast buffet, too, not to mention impressive collaborations with Michelin-starred chefs every year for Montréal en Lumière.) With an emphasis on sourcing the highest quality ingredients, Maison Boulud’s diverse menu ranges from decadent caviar services to perfectly rendered pasta and fish mains to a truly phenomenal burger.

For more on Maison Boulud and to make a reservation, please visit their website.

For more on the food and drink scene in Montreal, please visit the Food & Drink section.

The post Montreal Restaurant Guide: Maison Boulud appeared first on Cult MTL.

Montreal police have opened an investigation after a senior was found outside a CHSLD suffering from hypothermia in Montreal's Rivière-des-Prairies—Pointe-aux-Trembles borough.

MainLine Theatre has announced that its theatre space on St-Laurent Boulevard is closing on June 30. The HQ for the Montreal Fringe Festival will host one more, 35th edition of the annual event (May 26 to June 15) before shutting down its 20-year-old theatre, located at 3997 St-Laurent, and moving to a new home (TBD) that would “offer an improved experience for both artists and audiences.”

This move followed destructive flooding last summer, and extensive consultation with stakeholders and community members, according to MainLine’s press release. With the current space no longer considered sustainable long-term, the goal of starting again in new location is to ensure “the viability of the theatre as a welcoming, inclusive cultural hub and an essential supporter of emerging and established independent artists in Montreal.”

MainLine Theatre’s Executive and Artistic Director commented on the spirit and the importance of the space in Montreal’s anglo theatre realm, which ultimately drove their vision of a fresh start in a new home.

“MainLine is more than a space — it’s a welcoming place where diverse artists, art lovers and the simply curious gather to celebrate and participate in creativity of all kinds. MainLine is cutting-edge theatre, enchanting contemporary dance, exhilarating musical theatre, enthusiastic student productions, queer comedy nights, poetry-slam showcases and more. Above all, MainLine is community and, for many people, MainLine is home.”

For more on MainLine Theatre, please visit their website.

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

MainLine Theatre is closing, and looking for a new HQ for the Montreal Fringe Festival

The post MainLine Theatre is closing, and looking for a new HQ for the Montreal Fringe Festival appeared first on Cult MTL.

From her first shot at it on her 2018 EP Higher Self, to leaving a 9 to 5 career life in pursuit of a calling in music, and through successive, successful and increasingly refined projects since, Naya Ali has kept the faith. 

With a tight collaborative team that harnesses the composition and production skills of Adrian X and Kevin Figs alongside top-notch technical studio talents, the Ethiopia-born, Montreal-raised hip hop talent re-emerges from the lab after a couple of years spent crafting her second studio LP, We Did the Damn Thing.

Available everywhere via Bonsound records on Friday, Feb. 7 and launching with a high-concept concert at la Ministère on Saturday, Feb. 15, her latest incorporates new ideas, new sounds and a deeper execution of a distinctive musical vision.

Threading inventive production with live instrumentation, through subtle nods to her cultural roots that complement a polish she’s worked hard for and a flex she’s earned, We Did the Damn Thing sounds exactly like what its title proclaims. 

The accomplished ambition of the music speaks for itself. Here’s what Naya Ali had to say about the process. 

Darcy MacDonald: Firstly, what are you most happy with on the new record?

Naya Ali: Honestly, the album as a whole. I’m super proud of what we created. I took my time lyrically, pushed myself in songwriting and experimented with new sounds, like on “Trading Tables” or “Life.” I challenged myself.

I’m also really proud of the title and what it means for the culture, for me, for my community, my family, where I come from and where I am now. I think it’s a well-put-together record, both musically and in its messaging.

DM: Tell me about the (album art) image with the close-up of your eyes and the bead of sweat running down your forehead.

Naya Ali: The one with the sweat ties into the themes of the album — roots, culture and giving flowers to those who came before us. The sweat running down my forehead represents a lot,  like the sweat trickling down our brains for generations. It’s about recognition, homage and also the present. Blood, sweat and tears. I think most people can relate to that. 

There’s also intensity in my eyes. It’s a powerful image, even outside the album’s context. There are a lot of cultural codes within it — braided hair, baby hair, sweat. It’s all very intentional, with clear references to my culture.

DM: You’re very forward about your spirituality. In hip hop, God gets name-dropped. Some artists go deep on the concept (but) fans sometimes tune that part out. How do you bring God into the room when you’re creating? 

Naya Ali: I don’t think I bring God in. God is already present. My spirituality is deeply embedded in who I am, so it naturally comes into my music. Creating is a spiritual experience, to make something from nothing.

When I’m on the mic, freestyling, and I hit a pocket — what I call a state of flow — it feels like ideas and words come from somewhere beyond me. I’m not consciously thinking; I’m a transmitter. It’s ever-present. It’s like nature. You don’t bring nature inside music. It’s already there. You just build around it.

DM: Do you think there’s a new openness to the idea of a higher power, or do you see more rejection?

Naya Ali: I don’t preach. It’s not my role. But people ask me to share my experience, and I do. Music is powerful. It can shape minds, start riots, and it’s energy-based. I use it to uplift and I believe that aligns with God’s work. 

People are losing faith in those in power and looking for something greater. I think that’s leading to a spiritual awakening. I do think people are opening up to a higher power because of everything happening in the world. There’s so much darkness, and people are searching for light.

DM: Where do you draw from to converge talent, creativity and belief?

Naya Ali: Honesty and humility. The greatest thing you can do is serve others rather than be self-serving. Of course, I have moments of ego. I want to be the best rapper! (laughs) But I try to approach music from a place of giving.

My mom is deeply religious, so I grew up in the church. That foundation shaped me. As I got older, I branched out and looked for God in different places, only to realize God is within us. As long as you keep the light on, you can create with purpose. If I create selfishly, I can say a lot of nonsense. That’s when I could sell out.

DM: How do you create with your team?

Naya Ali: We start from scratch, setting an intention: what are we trying to say? What’s the vibe? I freestyle on the mic, find melodies and my team builds from there. It’s very collaborative.

I’m deeply involved in production, especially on this record. I led the choir sessions on many songs. On “Freedom Creepin’” (with Dominique Fils-Aimé), I had a significant hand in production.

DM: You’re singing a lot more on this album.

Naya Ali: I didn’t plan it that way. It’s just the evolution of my voice. On this album, I pushed myself with tracks like “Turning Tables” or “Life.” Trying new things helped me discover new strengths.

Musically, I also focused on adding more live instrumentation. There’s a lot on this album. There are Ethiopian influences, like the flute you mentioned is a traditional Ethiopian flute. I wanted to incorporate elements of my culture subtly but in an enchanting way.

DM: In 2019, you told me you left a marketing job to give yourself a year to make hip hop your career. How do you feel about that decision now?

Naya Ali: I’ve grown so much! Not just musically but as a person, daughter, friend, partner. This journey has shaped my character in ways I didn’t expect.

You know, I’m here because my mom made a bold decision to move to Canada. That’s something I have to recognize and truly live. I’m proud of what I’ve done and who I’m becoming. That’s what this album represents. I really quit my job (back then), we really made this album — we really did this! My mom really came from Ethiopia and built this life. It’s crazy.

I used to be a fan of myself in a surface-level way. Now, I’m working on myself deeply. I love music, but I’ve learned it can’t take over my whole life. Relationships matter. Life is short and unpredictable. ■

Naya Ali launches We Did The Damn Thing at le Ministère (4521 St-Laurent) on Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m., $25. This article was originally published in the Feb. 2025 issue of Cult MTL.

For our latest in music, please visit the Music section.

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A new study by Léger has found that a large majority of Quebecers no longer see the United States as a friendly country.

Following threats of tariffs and annexation, 71% of Quebecers say that they’re on less friendly terms with the U.S. since the re-election of Donald Trump.

The study also found that a large majority of Quebecers are ready to boycott the United States.

According to the Angus Reid Institute, favourability of the United States has plummeted to new lows under Donald Trump.

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

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The price for a carton of eggs has remained relatively stable in Canada, despite high egg prices afflicting the U.S. in the midst of an avian flu outbreak. Experts say that’s because of smaller Canadian farms and how outbreaks are managed here.

Quebec Premier François Legault has undertaken a diplomatic mission to Washington, D.C., this week, meeting with aluminum and steel importers and hoping to help them convince United States President Donald Trump to back down on announced tariffs.