Kahnawake Peacekeepers spokesperson Kyle Zachary said that almost half a decade after their introduction, many residents in town do not remember – or do not know in the first place – what their emergency location identifier is.

That is what prompted the Peacekeepers to remind the community of the importance of knowing this information.

The Emergency Location Mapping Service was launched in October 2019, in response to concerns from first responders that as the community grows, finding where emergencies were in a community with no street addresses was proving to be difficult and stressful.

As such, the Public Safety Commission, the Kahnawake Peacekeepers, and the Kahnawake Fire Brigade came together to launch the Emergency Location Mapping Service. It uses a GPS mapping system, where they use the location given to the residence to better direct first responders in an emergency, instead of only relying on directions or knowledge of the area.

But, almost five years on, Zachary said that it is still not as ingrained as it could be in terms of residents knowing to have it ready when calling emergency services.

Community members who need an emergency location – either due to moving to a new residence or if they are not sure what it is – can call the Community Protection Unit at 450-632-0635 for assistance.

When you do have it, Zachary said there are a few tricks to keep the emergency location handy in case of an emergency.

“Community Protection issues stickers and magnets that you can put your Emergency Location on and post it where it’s needed – by the phone is probably best because it’ll be nearby if you need to call us. A lot of people put it on their fridge or by the door,” said Zachary. “If you see it enough, you’ll commit it to memory, in theory.”

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A new operations manager has been selected for the Kahnawake Cannabis Control Office (KCCO), with Jennifer Paul announced as the person who will oversee and develop the responsibilities of the office.

“I am excited to start this role as the operations manager. The past few weeks have been dedicated to onboarding and transitioning into the role, to best assist the KCCB (Kahnawake Cannabis Control Board) and oversee the KCCO,” Paul said.

Paul will be responsible for managing all operations and regulatory requirements and services for the KCCO. She will be tasked with coordinating KCCB meetings, and will act as the primary contact between the KCCB, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK), Peacekeepers, and other stakeholders. Paul said that the next few months will see the office focus on applications and licensing, and that she’s looking forward to working on new projects in her role.

She takes over from Brandon Cross, who was the interim operations manager. He is currently assisting with the transition and guiding Paul on daily operations.

KCCB chairperson Tara Jacobs said her hiring is a positive step for the office.

“I and the board look forward to working with Jennifer. She has a wealth of knowledge and is eager to learn about different aspects involving cannabis and how the KCCO and KCCB work,” Jacobs said. “In the short time that she has been with the KCCO she has been excelling with the guidance and mentorship of our interim operations manager.”

She was hired after interview questions and exercises laid out by the KCCB and KCCO.

“We prioritized candidates who not only scored highest on the interview questions and the exercise, but also demonstrated the skills, integrity, and leadership qualities essential for the role,” Jacobs said. “Ultimately, we chose a trustworthy individual who we are confident will effectively lead the KCCO forward.”

The KCCB announced Paul’s new role this week, and Paul started in the role on December 16.

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The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) has announced that chief Paul Rice’s medical leave will continue until at least early February.

The announcement came on Thursday, January 9, via a press release.

Originally, it had been announced on December 9 that Rice had taken a 30-day medical leave, which had taken effect on December 6.

An update was supposed to be given regarding his potential return on January 6. Instead, on January 9, the MCK released another press release, this time announcing the extension of his leave by another 30 days.

While no precise date has been given regarding his potential return, the MCK said that an update is expected in “early February.”

The MCK declined to comment on the extension of Rice’s leave, citing a policy not to comment on human relations matters.

Apart from it being for a medical leave, no other details have been shared regarding Rice’s absence. The MCK did wish Rice a “full and speedy recovery” in its December 9 press release.

During Rice’s absence, his files and portfolios have been reallocated to other council chiefs.

For the time being, grand chief Cody Diabo has taken over the Finance, Administration, and Operations Committee; Tonya Perron took over the administrative affairs portfolio, for which she is a portfolio chief; Jeffrey Diabo took the lead on the economic development portfolio, where he too is a portfolio chief; and David Diabo is now tasked with the Kahnawake Gaming Commission file.

Rice also serves as portfolio chief on infrastructure, transport, and operations; lands and territories; regulatory boards/commissions and labour; and heritage.

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A special community meeting is expected to be held soon to allow community members the chance to weigh in on which laws should be triaged by the Kahnawake Legislative Commission (KLC). 

There’s currently a backlog of laws at the commission, which led it to seek input from Kahnawa’kehró:non over which ones should be prioritized over the course of the next four years. 

As it currently stands, the commission develops laws on a first-come, first-served basis, with that being the only factor involved in its triage process, Council chiefs told The Eastern Door. The commission is now looking to reassess how it handles laws on the docket, but wants to hear first from community members before moving forward.  

“There are various reasons why certain laws move through the process quicker than others, and once again, it has less to do with the legislative commission than it does with the drafting committees and the portfolio chiefs responsible for those laws,” said Council chief Tonya Perron, second on the legislative portfolio.

The commission is responsible for developing laws in accordance with Kahnawake’s Community Decision Making and Review Process (CDMRP), a process which requires human resources that just aren’t always available, she said. 

“All of that, how fast or how slow, or the speed at which that happens, depends on the technical drafting committees, not the commission,” Perron said.

“There’s a number of factors that have led to this waiting list of requests, and the KLC is, in collaboration with the portfolio chiefs, trying to figure out how to best address that,” Perron said.

The commission is now in the process of setting a new four-year agenda. On the docket already are three laws – a residency law, an occupational health and safety law and a tobacco law. There’s space to add two more laws, which are currently waitlisted to the agenda, but which ones will make it to will only be decided after speaking with the community. 

“I’ve always been a firm believer that how we make laws in the communities is directly related to how we govern,” said Council chief Jeremiah Johnson, lead on the legislative portfolio. “If we’re going to be transparent about governance, we need to do the same with our legislative branch.”

He said backlogs happen when those bringing forward proposed laws delay in their duties to draft the legislation and consult the community. That’s why he hopes to see the commission move away from its current approach, with an emphasis on what’s in the community’s best interest.

“That’s not necessarily the best process, unfortunately, because we have some laws that are much further along than others. So, to triage them based on when they come is quite unfair,” Johnson said. “It’s not just about what’s important to MCK or for individual units, it’s about what’s important to the community.”

There are currently five laws on the commission’s waitlist. They include a gaming law, a right of way law, an environment protection law, a policing law, and finally, a landlord and tenant law. 

The first two were brought to the commission back in 2022, while the two most recent ones – the policing and landlord and tenant law – date back to the spring and summer, respectively.

Details regarding when and where the special community meeting will be held will be announced shortly, Johnson said.

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Community members are being invited to join an advisory group that’ll be tasked with reviewing the code of conduct elected Mohawk Council chiefs must abide by, in addition to other key governance documents. 

Those interested in taking part have until January 24 to submit a letter of intent to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK). Anyone can apply, Council chief Tonya Perron said, as long as they’re registered on the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawake registry.

“Those documents have existed for a number of years, but there wasn’t a lot of detail to them. There were a lot of gaps,” said Perron, the lead on the governance file.

A total of five governance-related documents will be up for review by the group, with each speaking to the roles and responsibilities of elected Council chiefs. 

They include the code of conduct Council chiefs must abide by, the oath they take upon being elected, and two terms of reference for the Council table, including one that only applies to the MCK grand chief. The advisory group will also be tasked with looking at the administrative guidelines provided to Council chiefs.

These governance documents have routinely been updated over the years, Perron said, but this time around the Council table thought it best to get input from the community before going through a major rewrite of them. 

The creation of an assistant to the MCK grand chief is an example of one the more major rewrites that have happened in recent years. That role was created following the sudden passing of the late MCK grand chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. Council had wanted to call a by-election then to replace him, but not enough time had passed according to the election law back then, Perron said, prompting debate over the need for an assistant grand chief. 

How exactly the assistant grand chief should be selected, whether that be through appointment or election, has yet to be laid out in clear terms, however. 

“We know that that’s one of the big concerns, and one of the issues that the community would want to have input on,” Perron said.

Each of the five governance-related documents have already been drafted and finalized ahead of seeking input from community members, she said.

“We would like to have an advisory group look at them first, to see if there’s anything else in there that they feel needs to be flagged for engagement,” Perron said. 

The community will be consulted about the governance documents once the advisory group is done reviewing them. 

“We want them ratified by the community,” Perron said. “We’re representing the community. The community puts us here, so the community should also be informing us as to what their expectations are regarding our conduct and our roles.”

A handful of other governance documents will also soon be undergoing review, she said, but it’ll only be later on that they’ll be presented to the community for feedback. These documents will be replaced with a disciplinary measures regulation, Perron said, which will lay out how complaints can be filed between MCK staff, Council chiefs, and community members. 

Since it’ll become a regulation, it’ll have to go through Kahnawake’s legislative commission, which will trigger the Community Decision Making and Review Process. 

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With a growing student population, a hiring spree heading into the current school year is paying off as the Kanesatake Education Center (KEC) begins a new academic term and looks ahead to expanding its programming in the coming years.

“Everyone is doing a fantastic job at their roles,” said education director Watsenniiostha Nelson. “I think people are seeing the services that we’re providing and it’s benefitting the students. Overall, it’s been really great, and I feel very grateful to be part of such an amazing team.”

In addition to a number of positions being filled in time for the fall, such as student life animators, a guidance counsellor, and others, the KEC recently hired a community member to serve as building maintenance manager.

“So far, he’s been a huge help to both the schools. His list is never-ending,” said Nelson.

It may seem like a modest addition, but having someone to focus on building maintenance does more than ensure schools are in good shape. It also frees up other staff to focus on their main responsibilities, instead of fixing doorknobs and replacing ceiling tiles. It even helps out the principals, who were spending time calling around for quotes when things broke.

The aging infrastructure is another reason it’s helpful to have someone on hand, with Ratihén:te High School now built around 50 years ago.

“It’s falling apart. We are dealing with something every day, so that’s a struggle,” said Nelson.

Another physical challenge the education centre faces is a lack of space, especially with more students attending – 44 were enrolled at Ratihén:te to begin the year and 73 at Rotiwennakéhte Elementary School.

“Even for hiring new employees, whether it’s at the elementary school or at the high school, they have a hard time finding spots to put them. We’re just putting anyone anywhere at this point,” said Nelson.

She is hopeful that when a new education agreement is signed between the province and the First Nations Education Council in 2027, that there will be an increase to the budget for infrastructure.

Something sooner on the agenda is the FNEC Inter-School Games, which will take place this year from May 22-25. Schools are already preparing for the event, with notices going out imminently.

“We’re in the very beginning stages of getting all the teams ready and figuring out who’s going to be where, who wants to play what, and from there we’re going to be doing the practices and everything,” Nelson said.

In other sports news, Ratihén:te was recently chosen as a Jays Care Foundation affiliate, receiving equipment free of charge to help the school start up a softball program.

As for plans to start up a Kanesatake Combined Schools Committee, with the education centre starting to look for applicants late last year, it could be a while before it’s in operation.

“I want to kind of get our ducks in a row first before we have a first potential meeting of people who are interested in it,” Nelson said.

The committee is an important component of her goal to increase the involvement of the community in the local education system. The committee should be up and running by the end of the school year or at least by the beginning of the next one, Nelson said.

The education director has also been looking at future programming, with the KEC being selected by the FNEC for its language revitalization project, for which a language committee has been started. The project will run from now until 2028.

“We can figure out what we want to do with this project, and in the end, we decided we want to start from the very beginning of creating benchmarks in the Kanien’kéha classes, so from nursery, what they should know by the end of the year, all the way up to grade 11,” she said, adding the education centre is working with the Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center on it.

Nelson recently met with the FNEC about land-based learning with the same advisor to discuss programming opportunities. That advisor, Liza McLaughlin, is familiar with Kanesatake, having served for years at Ratihén:te High School as special education technician.

Also on the topic of land-based activities, the KEC plans to send smaller groups of students to do land-based activities at the Kanesatake Health Center (KHC) farmland this year, with an eye to expanding programming in the future when logistical issues such as transport can be sorted out.

Nelson, whose first anniversary in the job is coming up next week, is looking back not only on the first completed term of the academic year, but also her first full year at her post.

“I’ve learned so much with the help of my colleagues,” she said. “I feel like we’ve been playing a lot of catch-up, and I think that’s something I’ve emphasized a lot, that we’re playing catch-up on a lot of things, but I feel we’ve made a lot of really great progress over the last year.

“As a team, I’m really excited to where the future takes us. I’m really pumped for that.”

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Monday was the first recycling pickup for the new company servicing Kanesatake. There was just one hiccup – they didn’t come.

That was the experience of most Kanehsata’kehró:non, who were frustrated to find full bins, but few answers, after recycling pickup was supposed to take place.

“I hope this new company gets their ó’ta’ together quick,” said Kanehsata’kehró:non Brenda Etienne.

“You got the contract, exercise due diligence according to your contract,” she said. “I should not have to fork over money to have a strong young man pull my bins out of the ditch.”

As of January 1, Eco Entreprises Quebec (EEQ) is overseeing all curbside recycling in the province, part of a drive to modernize and streamline recycling in the province. This has benefits such as a single list of accepted items for recycling across Quebec.

However, the non-profit organization is not directly coordinating the pickups. According to Marie-Claude Rivet, spokesperson for EEQ, the organization’s contract is with the municipality of Two Mountains, which in turn has a contract with a company that is doing the collection in the area that includes Kanesatake and Oka.

“We are in charge of the supervision and the financing of the curbside recycling system throughout the province. To make that happen, we have partnerships with different municipal organizations, but it is the municipal organizations that sign the contracts with the collectors,” she said.

The Pines Reporter reached out to Two Mountains to ask for the name of the collection company but did not hear back by deadline.

“Things are not going well because it’s a new company, as you know,” said Gabrielle Lamouche of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) environment department. She has been coordinating with Oka throughout the week to resolve the issue and has sent over a map including the names of streets where collection was missed.

“This week’s pick up was their first time on the territory and they were not familiar with the area,” said MCK chief Brant Etienne of the new company, adding that Council has been told the collection should be finished by today (Friday).

A recycling day that was added to the calendar for January 2, after the new contract took effect, was done by the previous collector.

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

More than half of Quebec’s confirmed measles cases are in the Laurentians, as the latest outbreak of the highly contagious illness continues to spread.

So far, of 11 cases that have been reported, six are in the same region as Kanesatake. New possible exposures have popped up in nearby municipalities such as St. Jerome, St. Eustache, Ste. Marthe sur le Lac, and others, with a list frequently updated on Quebec’s measles site.

There are currently no known cases in Kanesatake, according to Matthew Barr, community health nurse with the Kanesatake Health Center (KHC).

“For sure if a case does appear in Kanesatake, we can offer support to that family and the people around,” he said.

There is reason to believe the outbreak could continue to snowball, with the province warning that the person with the latest confirmed measles diagnosis visited the CF Carrefour Laval shopping mall on January 7 while they were contagious.

“Thus, thousands of people may have been exposed to measles,” reads a press release from the Quebec health ministry.

Those who may have come into contact with the virus, including those who were in the locations named on the Quebec site at the given times, are asked to isolate and monitor for symptoms for three weeks after possible exposure.

“If you are protected against measles, it is very unlikely that you will get the disease,” the health ministry said. “As a precaution, anyone exposed to measles is advised to watch for the following symptoms: fever, nasal congestion with runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis (red, runny eyes), sensitivity to light, and general malaise. Later, redness appears on the face and then on the body.”

Children younger than one year, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of complications, which can be very serious and could even lead to death.

People who may have been exposed to the virus should call 811 to seek preventative treatment, the health ministry said.

Vaccination against measles is very effective and is included in the routine schedule for 12 and 18-month-olds, but community members who have not been vaccinated or are unsure can contact the KHC for more information or to seek vaccination as measles circulates.

“It’s always a good chance for the community to have the opportunity if they’re not vaccinated to get caught up,” said Barr.

Anyone born before 1970 is considered protected against measles due to natural immunity.

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A brand-new language program from the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center (KOR) launched this month, filling a gap in community programming to help advanced speakers continue to advance their Kanien’kéha proficiency.

“In order to revitalize our language, we must produce superior-level speakers, which is unattainable in only two years of language learning in an adult immersion program like Ratiwennahní:rats,” said Ohontsakéhte Montour, cultural development manager at KOR. 

That programming gap became obvious to KOR, which identified a need to create opportunities to further engage advanced language learners beyond graduation. 

So was borne the Shatiwennakarí:tats Mentorship Program, a six-month pilot program that launched this month. The program pairs learners with elders, who will meet regularly to immerse themselves in the language. 

Throughout the six months, students will create a “personalized learning portfolio,” which will include recordings of language conversations, transcriptions to practice writing and reading skills, journal entries to reflect on progress and insights, and homework assignments tailored to individual learning goals.

“What I love about this program is its flexibility and focus on individualized learning,” said Iohsennóntion Lahache, who is the language development specialist at KOR and will be the program advisor for Shatiwennakarí:tats.

“Witnessing their progress, celebrating their successes, and watching them become confident speakers will be incredibly rewarding,” she said.

KOR had previously tried a similar pilot program, partnering with Kahnawake Collective Impact (KCI) to offer shorter-term programming in 2021 and 2023. The first pilot had only lasted 10 weeks.

“Mentees shared that it was so successful for their language-learning experience in such a short time,” Montour said. “Now with our extended timeline and greater resources for our mentees, they could reach new heights.”

The first cohort for the Shatiwennakarí:tats program started work on Monday, and the 10 students and nine elders met one another at an orientation this week. Some students will pair up for their elder visits, and some learners will attend the program for 10 hours per week and others for 25 hours per week.

Kahentiióhstha’ (Roberta) Duhaime is one of the students in the first cohort. She signed up for the program to advance her proficiency, after graduating from Ratiwennahní:rats in 2023, and will be working with Allen Deer over the next six months.

“It’s very gratifying to know that programs like this are happening, because these things need to be available to more people,” she said. “A lot of people would like to go into Ratiwennahní:rats but they can’t because it’s full-time and they have family, or they need to work, so there’s a need for more and more programs. I feel like we’re going in a good direction.”

Duhaime has been continuing to study at the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK)’s Tsi Niionkwarihò:ten Tsitewaháhara’n Center as part of its five-year Language and Culture Training program, but said that she’s looking forward to getting highly specific about her language-learning throughout Shatiwennakarí:tats.

“When you start, you just try to get the gist of it, and don’t get stuck on every little word. Now, I’m in a position where I can focus on what I want, and I want to do every single little word,” she said. “I don’t care if it takes me five hours to do two minutes of audio, that’s what I want to do. I want to feel like I really got it.”

Lahache said that coming up with individual learning goals like this was a key component of the application process, and students were matched with mentors who had similar expectations in mind. Scheduling compatibility, time preferences, and gender preferences were also considered when making mentorship matches, to give the program the best chance at success.

“With so few first-language speakers remaining, it’s crucial that we create opportunities for others to become fluent and confident speakers,” Lahache said. “My hope is that this program will not only help participants develop their language skills but also foster a deeper connection to our culture and community.”

The program will be evaluated at the end of the six-month pilot period, and KOR will continue to consider the best methods to move forward with the goal of supporting more students in becoming advanced speakers.

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Following the reception of the New Frontiers of Research Fund Transformation grant of almost $23 million, Concordia University’s Abundant Intelligences research program is still developing as the project continues to grow.

Part of that development was the publication of a paper in the journal AI & Society, where they outlined the research and writing they had done in their ultimately successful funding application.

“It’s a peer-reviewed journal article. So, it’s in an academic register, but I still think it’s pretty accessible,” said Jason Edward Lewis, professor at Concordia, co-director of Abundant Intelligences, and the lead author on the paper. 

Hēmi Whaanga, professor at Massey University in New Zealand, and Ceyda Yolgörmez, a postdoctoral fellow with Abundant Intelligences, also contributed to the paper, titled Abundant intelligences: placing AI within Indigenous knowledge frameworks.

“It gives a good background on the kinds of research that’s been done into the ways in which these AI systems are perpetuating and amplifying biases of different sorts, against women, minorities, Indigenous people, the whole list just sort of takes all the existing biases and prejudices in society and kind of amplifies them,” said Lewis.

He said the team is cognizant that artificial intelligence technologies are not unanimously praised, and that they themselves come at it from a skeptic’s point of view.

“We’re not boosters, we’re not rah-rah AI is going to save the world,” said Lewis.

“We talk about why it’s important for Indigenous people to engage with AI in the paper. We know that not everybody agrees with that position. Our position is AI is going to happen, and we would rather fight our way to a place at the table. In fact, what we would rather do is create our own table, where we build this stuff ourselves, but we feel as a group that if we ignore it, it just means it’s going to be really bad for Indigenous people, whereas we think that we have an opportunity to maybe design and develop AI that is good for Indigenous communities.”

The paper also lays out the ways the different research groups at different institutions – which they call pods – will cooperate with local communities.

“Part of the reason why we have this pod structure is we wanted to have the majority of the research happen in really close cooperation with their local community. Of course, there’s one of the biggest challenges. When you’re doing research, is easy to say you’re going to be in collaboration with an Indigenous community, and then not actually do it,” said Lewis.

“I think it’s interesting to look at that, because that’s a different model for doing AI development, for figuring out what kind of AI do we want, instead of having it imposed by other people,” said Lewis, who is Hawaiian and Samoan.

Lewis said the project has still very much been in the development phase.

“We really spent most of the last year putting the plumbing in place, putting the infrastructure in place, to get the projects up and going, hiring staff and creating policies,” said Lewis. 

The Concordia team now numbers six people, with plans to expand to 10 in the coming months. The expansion and creation of other pods in places like the University of Lethbridge and Western University make up another dozen or so hires to have joined those groups.

“It’s been one of the most challenging things I’ve done. I mean, it’s been super exciting as well. But scaling up is hard,” said Lewis. 

Many members of the project went to New Zealand in November for about two weeks for Abundant Intelligences’ second annual general meeting, hosted by Maori there.

“We started in northern New Zealand, and we went all the way to the south end, and we got to know each other. It’s hugely beneficial to collaborative opportunities, because now people know each other, they feel like they can get an email going and they can get on Zoom with somebody in Hawaii or Lethbridge and feel like they know one another and talk about research projects together.”

Abundant Intelligences’ paper is available, free of charge, online via the Concordia website or by looking up the title of the paper on Google.

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A Pakistani man accused of planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting in New York has been ordered to appear in a Quebec court for a U.S. extradition hearing next month. Muhammad Shahzeb Khan is wanted by U.S. authorities to stand trial in connection with an alleged plot to attack a Jewish centre.

Jeremy White’s New Hampshire drivetime radio program – aptly named The Jeremy White Show – has reached the top spot on the Nielson ratings in the coveted demographic of women aged 25-54 and adults.

“It’s funny, I wasn’t expecting the ratings to come out and get the results that we got,” said White, who credits changes under a new program director, like promos, contests, music, and a more youthful image for the station, 105.5 JYY, in large part for the success of the show, which he pre-records from his home in Kahnawake.

However, despite these humble words, fans of White will know his personality has also played a big role in his program’s leap to number one.

“I sell smiles for a living, and if you turn the radio on and don’t hear that smile beaming through the speakers, it’s not the Jeremy White show,” he said.

“You’ve got to have the energy, you’ve got to have the sunshine, you’ve got to have the smiles because you never know who’s having a terrible day, and if you can brighten it for just a couple of seconds with something stupid you say between Gwen Stefani and Lady Gaga songs, well then my job is done.”

White, whose media journey began at K1037 Radio before moving to Montreal’s The Beat 92.5 and beyond, has racked up over a decade of experience on the air. He even filled in for two weeks this summer on talk radio juggernaut 640 AM in Toronto, the biggest station of its kind in the country.

“It was so weird being in a live radio studio again because I hadn’t done live radio in a year-and-a-half,” said White, for whom its been two years since he made the choice to step away from The Beat 92.5 in Montreal.

While he misses live radio for its interactive element, he enjoys a pre-recorded approach for the control it gives him over what he’s doing and executing his vision for the show.

“It’s just about upbeat, feel-good vibes that you can work alongside to or drive home to,” he said. “It’s all about the feel good.”

While his gig in New Hampshire is the crux of his radio appearances these days, he’s keeping busy with all kinds of media work, including keeping his interview chops sharp on his podcast, also called The Jeremy White Show, and corresponding YouTube channel, which is up to 17,000 subscribers.

That’s all on top of helping out at his parents’ store, the Mohawk Market, and producing his album, which involves musicians from across the globe.

“It’s kind of a mish-mash of all kinds of really cool musicians, kind of the musicians I grew up loving and I always wanted to play on my record. We’re getting a lot of those names to play on my album, which is pretty damn cool.”

He’s hoping to finish up by the end of the summer, but he’s in no rush.

“I don’t mind this album taking as long as it needs to for it to be perfect,” he said.

The Jeremy White Show on 105.5 JYY is on the air from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. every weekday in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire.

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

If you told Ghislain Picard 32 years ago that he’d still be the head of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) in 2025, he wouldn’t have believed you.

“I’d be the last one to think that!” Picard told The Eastern Door. “I mean, 32 years is a long time, it’s almost a lifetime. It’s a good half my life spent on the political front.”

Picard, who is Innu, has decided to officially retire, and will be passing the baton to someone else at the end of February, when chiefs will vote for a new leader of the AFNQL.

He said that he decided not to seek re-election so that he could spend more time with his family and relax a little after so many years of dealing with politics each day.

“This is a time where I’m leaving on my own terms,” he said. 

Over the last three decades, Picard has served six terms as leader of the AFNQL, a role that also makes him regional chief for Quebec-Labrador at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). Throughout his time in the role, he has been at the forefront of many political moments, including with regards to energy and pipelines, systemic racism, and youth protection.

Picard received the National Order of Quebec for his work in 2003, and he also served as AFN’s national chief on an interim basis in 2014.

He said that one of the most difficult to navigate issues has been the changing role of the organization, and the different opinions in communities about how AFN should operate.

“I think regionally and nationally, First Nations are at a crossroads, and there needs to be a realignment on the role of the AFNQL and also of the AFN,” he said. “The issue of relevancy has been brought up a number of times over the years, and maybe it’s time to question that and find solutions for how we will respond.”

He said that it’s imperative that leaders and communities work together to establish that path going forward.

“I’ve always strongly believed that as a regional organization we could provide support and somehow strengthen our governments at a regional and local levels,” Picard said. “I think we can still do that, there’s still a purpose for a regional body, but it needs to be better tailored, and I think only the chiefs at the table can provide those answers.”

In a press release on Thursday, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chiefs wished well, noting that Picard’s children and grandchildren are from Kahnawake.

“On behalf of the MCK, I would like to thank Ghislain for his tireless dedication and commitment to our communities and to First Nations as a whole,” said MCK grand chief Cody Diabo. 

“We wish him all the best in his future endeavours, and we will always be grateful for his contributions,” added MCK chief Iohahí:io Delisle.

The nomination period for Picard’s successor runs until February 10. 

[email protected]

Monday marked the first day for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK)’s new director of Financial Services, with Nikola Mirkovic taking over the reins from Erica Delisle last November.

“I’m looking forward to meeting more people, because I’ll have more exposure to dealing with the executive team, senior staff, and other directors,” said Mirkovic, who has been a financial controller at MCK since 2019. “I know a lot of people by name or from email requests but some I’ve never met face-to-face, so I’m looking forward to getting to know them more.”

Mirkovic was selected for the role after a rigorous application process led by MCK’s executive financial officer, Kyle Delisle. The application included a three-hour case study component as well as interviews, and Delisle said that Mirkovic’s experience made him stand out as a particularly good candidate amongst several candidates for the role.

As well as his experience at the MCK, Mirkovic is a chartered professional accountant and holds a commerce degree in accounting from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University. 

Mirkovic is also completing his Certified Aboriginal Management Designation from the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada, as well as his Public Sector Certification from Chartered Professional Accountants Canada.

He also worked as an auditor at MNP, a professional services firm that MCK uses for their own audits. That experience means that Mirkovic is particularly well-prepared to lead the process of preparing for auditing, one of the largest tasks in MCK’s financial office.

“He has the experience, both in terms of overseeing the accounting system and in terms of working through the audit,” Kyle Delisle said. “Nikola already is very familiar with our processes here at MCK, so it should make the transition fairly easy.”

As financial controller, Mirkovic became well-acquainted with the way MCK works, and he learned valuable lessons from Erica throughout the years.

“I worked very closely with her, and I became very familiar with what she did,” Mirkovic said. “I find that she kind of trained me for the past five years.”

Erica Delisle said that Mirkovic is a good fit for the job.

“The Mohawk Council is in very good hands, he’s very capable, and very qualified,” she said. “I can’t predict the future, but I think that Nikola will definitely bring the finance unit to the next level.”

Erica has moved to Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) where she’ll be the organization’s new director of financial services. She said that she’s just a phone call away if any questions should arise.

“Just because I’m not there doesn’t mean I don’t care, and I will offer my support in sharing any type of knowledge I could provide,” she said. 

Kyle said that Mirkovic’s first few days in his new role have gone smoothly.

“I think it’s looking very good, he’s hit the ground running,” he said.

As well as focusing on the next fiscal year’s budget and the audit, Mirkovic said he’s also keen to work on other financial initiatives, like the push to make certain processes in the financial office entirely digital.

“There’s certain things like approval processes, where instead of gathering signatures manually, we’d want to get it digitally, which would make it easier,” he said. 

“It’s easier to have things digitally rather than having a bunch of paper around that slows down the process, so I’m looking forward to that.”

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Dementia diagnoses can be emotional for any family to deal with, but not knowing the tools for how to care for a loved one with the disease can be especially difficult. A five-week program from Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) in association with the Alzheimer Society Suroit is aiming to give community members the knowledge and resources to help make that process a little easier, with a two-hour course each Wednesday evening. 

“Our goal is to destigmatize the disease itself,” said Lisa Kawisahawi Fazio, a case worker at KSCS who is coordinating the training, which is the third of its kind from KSCS. “We want to get as much information as we can out there to help people to live the best life possible for as long as possible.”
More and more dementia diagnoses have been happening every year across Canada, mostly because the number of people over the age of 65 – who are more likely to develop dementia – is increasing.

Right now, The Alzheimer Society Canada estimates that nearly nine percent of people in Canada over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, with that number expected to increase more than 13 percent by 2050. As of the start of this year, around 772,000 people in Canada are believed to be living with dementia.

With so many cases, large numbers of people become caregivers.

“We want people to know that they’re not alone, there is help out there, and we’re here to assist in any way that we can,” Fazio said. 

“It’s very good to connect with other people going through the same thing,” she said.

During the training, caregivers will learn about the different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and will receive training about how the disease progresses, as well as what kinds of medication are used to treat different symptoms.

They’ll also learn the best ways to communicate with a loved one who has dementia, how to keep people safe in their own home, and what long-term care options there are – as well as when to know if long-term care is something to start considering.

The definition of “caregiver” is broad for the purpose of the group, and people should feel encouraged to attend even if they aren’t the only person responsible for a loved one’s care, Fazio said.

 “We’re not going to turn anyone away. If you’re a caregiver and you want to know more information, you’re welcome in the program.”

Fazio added that it can often be difficult for caregivers to take time away from their loved one and said that KSCS is here to support people if they’re facing those challenges.

“Reach out to myself or anybody in Home and Community Care Services. We’ll do as much as we can to help you get here. We know it’s sometimes hard to leave their person at home, but we can troubleshoot with them,” she said. “We can see what we can do, maybe we can have somebody give respite care while they’re here. We definitely want to make it as easy as possible to come.”

The program runs on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. starting on January 29. Attendees are also welcome to attend KSCS’s Dementia Support Group in future, which also runs on Wednesday evenings. 

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Community member Suzanne Jacobs believes that knowing the warning signs of suicide is something everyone should know. She lost her 15-year-old daughter, Lexi Fox, to suicide three years ago this month.

“Silently crying out is so misunderstood. I didn’t see or know the signs until it was too late,” Jacobs said. “It’s important to be educated about suicidal or mental health crises so that we can save a life.”

Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) is on a mission to help make more community members aware of the signs of suicide and mental health problems, and in the coming weeks, will be offering multiple sessions on the topic. 

On February 6 and 7, a free two-day applied suicide intervention skills training will be offered, as well as a separate training next Friday called SafeTALK, where community members will learn more about how to help someone who may be suffering in silence.

The SafeTALK training runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is being coordinated by Terry McComber in association with LivingWorks, who administer the training to over 120,000 people each year. 

“The more people that we have who are trained in SafeTALK, the better we are at saving people,” McComber said. “We need as many people as possible trained so that we can recognize the signs.”

McComber said that people assume it would be obvious to recognize the signs of suicidality in loved ones, or that someone would seem visibly depressed if they were contemplating suicide. But often, the warning signs can be hard to notice, and an individual might seem happy on the surface.

“You could be sitting next to someone in the next cubicle and not notice things,” she said. 

The training will teach participants how to connect others with life-saving resources, both in the community and beyond, and help people learn how to keep someone safe until those resources can step in. The training also covers how to speak directly to someone about suicide – something that can be especially intimidating, but that is an essential component of saving lives.

“If you say it in a way that the person knows you’re listening, and you’re alert, and you’re caring, then they know that you’re caring enough to want to hear their answer,” she said. “Even if that person says ‘No, I’m not considering that,’ at least they know you’re an open person to that discussion if they do feel that feeling.”

Participants will learn from facilitators and have the chance to work in small groups to practice what they’ve learned. Part of that practice will be working on asking those questions, McComber said.

“You’re going to understand how to say those tough questions, and we’re going to practice saying the word ‘suicide’ because some people can’t even say that word because they’re used to it being such a taboo thing and nobody talks about it,” she said. 

KSCS is striving to offer these kinds of resources preventatively, to help community members know the signs before it’s too late.

“We’re a small community. Even one suicide is already too many,” McComber said. “It’s so, so important to be alert, because you don’t want to miss the signs.”

Jacobs said that since Lexi’s passing, she’s made an extra effort to continue educating herself and others around her about suicide. Last year, she and her two younger children attended the National Suicide Prevention Conference in Vancouver.

“This conference opened my eyes that mental health is such a bigger issue than we could ever imagine,” she said.

She hopes more and more people will get suicide prevention training in future, and said she dreams of there being even more support for those experiencing suicidality in the community.

“We need a drop-in centre or a safe hotline, we need people to be taken seriously,” she said. “We need hope and love for all.”

To register for or ask questions about the SafeTALK training, community members should contact McComber directly at 450-632-6880 (ext. 34107) or via email at [email protected] by January 23.

To register for the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, community members should contact [email protected] by January 31. 

[email protected]

For the first time in their history, the United States won back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Hockey Championships on January 5, defeating Team Finland 4-3 in overtime to do so at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.

Akwesasne’s Carey Terrance was a member of both gold-winning teams, finishing the 2025 tournament with two goals in seven games.

Terrance was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round, 59th overall in the 2023 NHL draft.

The Eastern Door spoke with Terrance about his experience at the World Junior Championships, and what it meant for him to represent his community on one of hockey’s biggest stages.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: How does it feel to have won gold at the 2025 World Junior Championships?

It’s an awesome feeling. I got a chance to go home for a few days after the tournament and just kind of take it all in. It was a really special three weeks, and I’m happy that the team got it done. Obviously, it was a crazy tournament, and there’s even more hype around the tournament when it’s in North America and especially when it’s in Canada, so it’s very special to win in Canada and win two gold medals in a row for the first time.

Q: Last year, you were on Team USA’s roster, but you did not appear in any games during the tournament. Did you have any expectations for yourself and your play going into this year’s tournament?

I think going over to Sweden last year, it really helped me to get familiar with the coaching staff and training staff. I tried to have a sense of comfort coming into this year, knowing everyone, how the coaches want to play the game, and what structure they use throughout the tournament. So, I think that really helped me coming into the tournament. At the World Juniors, everyone has to play a role on the team. Your role might not be the same as on your Junior team or college team. But I think that everyone did their job really well.

Q: Speaking of roles, your role on this team was different than it is for your OHL team, the Erie Otters, where you are the captain and one of the team’s leading scorers, and at the World Juniors, you were tasked with a more defensive role. How did you find that?

In Erie, I’m on the power play. I play a lot of minutes, but that was not part of the plan at the World Juniors. And I didn’t expect that going in, I knew that the role in the tournament would be different than in Erie, it’s more defensive, on the penalty kill, and I roll with more limited minutes. It was just a matter of taking advantage of those minutes.

Q: Part of taking advantage of that role was the second goal you scored during the tournament, a goal on the rush that made the highlight reels in the loss against Finland during the group stage on December 29. What do you think of that moment?

It was a big game for us. Obviously, it was also a tough loss in the preliminary rounds. It’s good to score and contribute to the team. It’s obviously a great feeling to score at the World Juniors, and it was a pretty nice goal. My teammates were really hyped up for me, too. 

Q: Another photo that made the rounds was the photo of you celebrating the gold medal win with the Haudenosaunee flag over your shoulders. Why did you do that, and was that something you had already planned on doing before the game?

Last year when we won, there were a lot of guys skating around with USA flags. I knew there was going to be plenty of Haudenosaunee flags all over the rink, because people came from Akwesasne to be there, they came from K-Town, and from other rezes. After we won, and I saw a flag near the glass, I wanted to grab it right away. It means so much to me, being from Akwesasne and taking pride in where I’m from, where I grew up, and where my family is. I was proud that everyone from home and from other rezes were there to support me and follow me along in my journey. It means a lot, and I’m trying to give back to the community as much as I can.

Q: What comes next for you?

I think after this year, I’ll talk to Anaheim and see what’s in the cards for myself, and kind of go from there. I don’t want to worry about it right now, to be honest. We have a really great team in Erie this year, and if we make the playoffs, we’re going to make a run for the Memorial Cup. So I just want to focus on that right now.

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A new year means new projects for the Kahnawake Minor Lacrosse Association (KMLA), with preparations for the upcoming season already started.

The first step of that preparation is currently underway, as offseason training has started at the Beau-Chateau Sportsplex in Chateauguay. Each age group will practice once a week at the Sportsplex until the end of March.

Kirby Joe Diabo, president of the KMLA, said that the extended training time is new for this year.

“In the past, because we had no floor time in the wintertime, it’s been difficult for us. We would only be able to see our teams two or three weeks before the season, and that’s at the outdoor rink in town,” said Diabo. “It doesn’t really give a full evaluation of the full potential of players. That’s what the offseason training is for, so coaches can get a full evaluation for the next three months and then get ready for the trials.”

The trials will be held to determine which team a player will play on: the A team, which will strive to be more competitive, or the B team, which will be a development team.

“Every program has it set up like this. That’s what the way it is, especially with the Junior squads,” said Diabo. “We have big plans for our Junior squad, and that’s what the minor system is there for, that’s our farm system.”

Diabo said that part of the efforts from the KMLA to get players ready for the season has been a proposal to find strength and conditioning coaches as well as enlisting the help of Mia Phillips, from The Runners running group in town.

“Conditioning is the most important thing for lacrosse. If you can’t run, you can’t play. You have to run for three periods or four quarters. That’s the most important thing, and a lot of our players don’t do that,” said Diabo. 

“This is the mentality we’re trying to change. We’re trying to have these student athletes get into those good habits and teach them the right things and to get the right attitude. Ultimately, we’re creating better Mohawk people.”

Another mentality change Diabo is looking to establish is good eating habits. The food available at the Sports Complex is the classic fast-food fare, said Diabo, and they would like to prepare healthy meals for the players to have available to eat.

“The fast-food kind of defeats the purpose of doing all this training,” said Diabo. 

While training for everyone started this week, Diabo said that training started last week for their newest prospective teams: U13 and U15 girls’ teams.

“I wanted to give the girls priority. If we start now, they can tell their friends, people are getting interested, they want to come out, and then the group grows and grows and grows, and by the time the season starts, we should have full squads,” said Diabo.

This is the first year the KMLA will have girls’ teams. Diabo said that interest started concretely in the fall with girls joining some of the Fall Ball teams, as well as a sixes team, playing the format that will be played in the next summer Olympics in 2028.

“That’s how that started, and then it grew, and girls just wanted to keep coming out,” said Diabo. “So, I said, we’re going to make a girls team this year, and we’re going to push it, and I want to give them priority, this way we get the most interest out of it. And who knows, it could grow into three, four teams pretty quickly.”

While the KMLA has many coaches volunteering already, they are always looking for more, with a callout being put out for coaches to register until January 31.

Prospective coaches are required to fill out a document beforehand, explaining their philosophy, background, achievements, and how they want the team to practice and their game plans.

“The coaching application is to see which coaches want to do the work, who is in it to better the kids or who’s in it just to have the title,” said Diabo.

New coaches are welcome to apply, and there are opportunities to learn.

“I know a lot of people just want to help. They just want to open the door on the bench, and those are the perfect opportunities to train,” said Diabo. “You get to watch head coaches all year, watch what the coach is doing, what the coach is talking about, and learn like that, hands on.”

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The Chateauguay Raiders football team will be holding a winter camp at the Beau-Chateau Sportsplex once again this year, to help kids get ready in advance of the next football season.

The winter camp will start on February 16, and will last 10 weeks, taking place once a week on Sundays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Signups for the camp will be held in-person on January 22 and 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Laberge Park in Chateauguay. Only cash payments will be accepted for winter camp registration.

“There’s going to be coaches from every single position, from every single age group, and there’s going to be different stations. These stations are going to be for each position and have different drills to teach you different techniques for those positions,” said Andrew Cormier, lines coach for the Raiders.

Cormier said that there will be opportunities for players looking to try out new positions and see if they like it or are up to playing it.

“If they don’t like that position, they have the opportunity to try a different position. We give them a look into not only how to play and the rules and the techniques of the sport if they have played before but also give them the opportunity to kind of feel comfortable in a position that they can pick themselves,” said Cormier.

The camp is open to new and returning players, with the goal of getting them in shape and ready for the start of the season.

“Some of these kids play other sports. Some will play indoor soccer; some will play hockey for the season. But what about the kids that don’t? What are they doing from November to June?” said Cormier. “This gives them something to do over the winter, get their energy out, exercise.”

The Raiders also want the camp to serve as an introduction to the sport for new players. 

While Cormier is not from Kahnawake, he said that he has been trying to find ways to recruit players from the community to the team, in particular older players for the Bantam team.

He said that more kids are eligible to play for the Raiders than they might realize.

“How community sports work is that there’s zones. For example, the Chateauguay Raiders team, even though it’s based out of Chateauguay, is in a zone where multiple surrounding communities, including Kahnawake, are eligible to play for us,” said Cormier.

“Over the years, we’ve had children from Kahnawake who have played for us, but there’s times lately where parents that I know, or other coaches know, or even Kevin Wyeth the president of the Raiders knows, they come to us saying that they didn’t know their child could play for Chateauguay.”

Cormier hopes that they will be able to attract more players from town to the Raiders, and that there is definitely room for them in the association. 

“We just want the kids from town to know that Chateauguay is their community ball as well. We encourage the kids from Kahnawake to come out and play for us. We want as many kids as possible,” said Cormier.

Wyeth, for his part, said that he has not yet determined a concrete strategy for recruiting players since he has taken over the presidency of the association prior to last season.

“They used to put out some stuff on Facebook, but they never really did any big recruiting, I don’t think,” said Wyeth, who said that he had to focus on other aspects of the association last year.

“I was starting from scratch, basically,” said Wyeth. “I’m learning as I go. So, I am going to have to start, like, reaching out to everyone, including in Kahnawake.”

Wyeth said that while the younger age groups have had a lot of demand for many years, this year included, the association has started to struggle with getting older players to join the Raiders. According to Wyeth, the Raiders have not had a Midget team for a few years now, and so far, have not had that much demand for Bantam either, due in part because other options have become available to players in those age groups at Howard S. Billings High School and Louis-Phillipe-Paré high school, for example, which was not the case just a few years ago.

As for the winter camp, Wyeth is hopeful they will repeat the strong attendance they have had in the last few years – many returning parents had been asking for the signup dates prior to their announcement last week, and last year they had around 150 kids who participated.

“I just hope we get a good turnout again. I hope I see a lot more new faces. I’m hoping to get some older boys, some bigger boys, so we can keep our Bantam team alive. I don’t want Bantam to die in the second year I’m in control of everything,” said Wyeth.

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We should do everything we can to entertain ourselves. This is what life should be about. There is no point in being stressed, sad and concerned all the time, especially if you have a big family with children who are constantly looking to invest their energy into all kinds of activities.

For all Canadians out there, we know how struggling some days can get. The costs of living is higher than ever, so here are some suggestions on what you can actually do to remain entertained on a budget.

Play Golf With Your Kids

There is a company in Canada that you may already know about that offers incredible golf services across the country. There are more than 675 golf courses across Canada that you and your kids can go to and play golf for free.

One week per year, in July, the National Golf Course Association Canada made this whole thing possible through the “Take a Kid to Course” program. On their website, you can find plenty of information regarding all the course locations, their schedule and addresses. If you manage to get there while the campaign is active, you and your kid will be allowed to play a free round of golf. 

The only requirement you should be aware of is that the free coupon applies only to children under the age of 16, accompanied by an adult, preferably one of the parents.

Try Yoga For Free At Lululemon

As stated in the Brand Finance 2024 report, Lululemon is Canada’s top clothing brand, but this is not why we are suggesting you keep an eye on their physical shops. Apparently, to promote a healthier lifestyle and sports products, Lululemon organizes free yoga classes for those who might want to get a taste of what this sport is like.

They sometimes promote these free classes through influencers, public announcements or inside their stores. For example, those of you who live in the Windsor ON area, there is a Lululemon in Devonshire Mall. They had multiple free yoga classes in 2024, so it is worth to keep an eye on their website. Also, you can just go to their website and subscribe to their newsletter. They also communicate all these events through that channel as well.

Play Bowling For Free With Your Kids

You guessed right, there is another sport you can introduce your little one to. Bowling is fun, exciting and competitive, so why not take advantage of an entire summer of free bowling games? The kidsbowlfree platform should be on your list of bookmarks.

What they do is provide this special context in which children can enjoy two free games of bowling per day throughout the summer. Basically, all you have to do is register your children in The Kids Bowl Free Program and watch them developing another healthy habit.

The platform works intuitively enough. Just use their features to find a center near you, get your kid registered, and get to bowl with them the entire warm season. It will cost you way less, and you will get to bond with your kid. Let’s not lie about it; bowling is way more fun if it’s free.

Since 2007, 35 million kids have taken part in this program and enjoyed countless free games of bowling, so step up your game and join them!

Minimal Cost Gaming

We live in 2025, so gaming is probably one of the most accessible forms of entertainment. Nowadays, you don’t even need a PC to play video games. You can just take out your phone and scroll through the store to search for some free games to play.

If you have a PC, there are a lot of platforms like Steam and Epic Games that come up with all types of offers and discounts every day. You just have to enjoy every game, try to understand it, and not judge it based on trends.

Now, we know that some of you out there are into a different sort of gaming, and we are not here to judge. For instance, if you like to gamble from time to time, try to do it exclusively for fun because this is what responsibility teaches us.

Always keep your wager at the lowest amount, or just play casino games for free. Slotscalendar.ca is a great source of free slots that you don’t even have to register to play. 

So, even if you like casino games, you can still save all your money and still have a lot of fun.

Treat Yourself With a Free Breakfast

This is a good one. If you have a Denny’s close to where you live, and your birthday is coming, find out that you can score a free breakfast and a joyful “happy birthday” on the side.

Dennys has a special promotion that is permanently ongoing. If it’s your birthday, just show your ID at the location, and they will congratulate you and give you a free “Build Your Own Grand Slam” breakfast.

Make It Fun

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars. Everything can be fun and entertaining if you have the right mindset. So, take a closer look at our suggestions, find yourself some time to do the research, and start saving money in this harsh economy!

The post Entertainment on a Budget: Canadian Perspectives on Low-Stakes Fun appeared first on Cult MTL.

While Montreal music fans are pretty spoiled for shows year-round, bands on tour and festival buzz tend to die down in the dead of winter. But then there’s Taverne Tour, an annual festival bringing exciting shows to small venues in the heart of the Plateau — on St-Laurent, St-Denis and Mont-Royal Avenue.

Intimate showbars in the area, like Casa del Popolo, l’Escogriffe and le Ministère, are always in the mix during Taverne Tour, but so are the likes of Taverne Saint-Sacrement, Pub Pit Caribou and Pub West Shefford, venues that don’t typically host loud shows with big crowds. That’s part of what makes this festival so unique in Montreal — that and the fact that it happens at a time of year when most people are holed up in semi-hibernation mode.

The lineup for Taverne Tour 2025, happening from Feb. 6 to 8, promises loads of exciting acts, like Wombo (Louisville, KY post-punk), We Are Wolves (Montreal indie rock), VioleTT Pi (Montreal electro-rock), Kaya Hoax (Montreal alt hip hop), Billy Woods (NYC hip hop), the Sadies (Toronto country/rock), Rough Francis (Burlington, VT punk rock), Priors (Montreal melodic punk), the Gories (Detroit garage punk), Charlotte Cornfield (Toronto folk) and la Sécurité (Montreal art punk).

For the complete Taverne Tour 2025 lineup, please see the slider below.

For more on Taverne Tour and to buy tickets, please visit their website.

For more Montreal music coverage, please visit the Music section.

The post Taverne Tour 2025 promises exciting times for Montreal music fans, Feb. 6 to 8 appeared first on Cult MTL.

Despite being caught leading a drone smuggling network while in prison, a convicted drug trafficker wasn't charged. He was released and later re-arrested, this time for his involvement in a drug selling platform that sold opioids to a minor who died of an overdose.

Quebec City is hoping to see the introduction of more refrigerated skating rinks as warmer winters risk impacting outdoor hockey.

Nav Canada, which manages air traffic control at the nation’s airports, says a shortage of air traffic controllers has forced the cancellation of flights and caused delays.

Bruce Chang started using an abacus a year ago to improve his math skills. In December, he won a major international mathematics competition in India, attended by 6,000 participants from all over the world, in which Chang had to solve 200 questions in eight minutes.

Last October, about 70 people lived in Manoir Louisiane, a seniors’ residence in Montreal’s east end. Now, it’s a ghost town. The windows are boarded up, and the lights are off.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Jacques Demers, president of the Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM), is calling on the Quebec government to reinstate cost controls on Sûreté du Québec (SQ) services and implement greater accountability measures. Municipalities are struggling with skyrocketing policing costs following the expiration of a cost-control agreement at the end of 2024, with some facing increases exceeding 50 per cent.

The SQ funding model, established in 2009, previously ensured the provincial government paid 47 per cent of policing costs. This was adjusted over time to a 50-50 split between the government and municipalities, alongside a 7 per cent cap and 2 per cent floor on annual cost increases. Demers explained in a Jan. 16 interview, “These measures avoided large variations in costs and provided predictability for municipal budgets.” However, the expiration of these safeguards has led to significant financial pressure for municipalities.

“Since 2024, there is no cap on increases, which leads to significant disparities,” Demers said, highlighting how property valuations have compounded the issue. Municipalities with surging assessments are seeing costs soar. “For many municipalities, police services represent over 10 per cent of their budget. These increases are unsustainable,” he added. The Record has previously reported that some municipalities, like Cookshire and Hatley Township, have voiced concerns about their inability to manage these hikes, while others, like Stanstead, report improvements in service quality.

Demers proposes reinstating a ceiling and floor for cost increases—suggesting an 8-9 per cent cap and a 0-1 per cent floor. “This adjustment wouldn’t cost the government anything,” he explained. “It’s a way to distribute costs more equitably while avoiding sudden, overwhelming increases.” The measures would also provide stability for municipalities experiencing fluctuating property assessments.

Service quality has been another point of contention. While some municipalities report improvements, many complain about a lack of visible police presence despite increased costs. Demers acknowledged this widespread perception, saying, “People often feel they’re paying too much and not seeing enough officers. We hear this everywhere.” To address these concerns, he advocates for an independent auditor to review SQ operations, echoing the provincial government’s recent approach to public transit. “Municipalities pay 50 per cent of SQ’s costs but have no say in negotiations or verification of service quality,” he noted. “We want someone impartial to assess whether the budget is well-managed and whether the services promised are being delivered.”

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L’article Federation of municipalities president calls for SQ cost reforms and accountability est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

The association representing teachers and staff in northern Quebec are advocating for better recruitment and retention premiums to prevent the worsening teacher shortage.

In a press conference this afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about the federal government’s efforts to deal with Donald Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods by joining with the country’s premiers to plan retaliatory tariffs and other counter-measures. Trudeau referenced Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s rejection of this Team Canada approach, and challenged federal Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre to pick a side — between Canada and president-elect Trump & co.

“Pierre Poilievre, who wants to be prime minister for all Canadians, has a choice to make. Either he stands up to fight for all Canadians alongside all premiers and the federal government that are doing that, or he chooses to stand with Danielle Smith, Kevin O’Leary, and, ultimately, Donald Trump.”

Earlier this week, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh attributed Poilievre’s hesitancy to deal with Trump’s tariffs to the CPC leader’s fear of upsetting his endorsement from Elon Musk.

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

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In this episode of This is Montreal, we'll hear how, in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, Montreal women's shelters are taking matters into their own hands.

Bill 29, which modified Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act, was adopted in spring 2023. But some experts worry the changes will increase prices for shoppers.

The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal from Kanien'kehá:ka elders who were seeking greater oversight over a university construction site in Montreal where they suspect unmarked graves of children are located.

In a beautiful apartment in Old Montreal, a dying documentary filmmaker recounts his life. An uncooperative and occasionally confused subject, Leonard Fife (Richard Gere in the present), uses the documentary as an opportunity to tell his beloved wife Emma (Uma Thurman) the secrets of his past. An adaptation of a Russell Banks novel (Paul Schrader’s second), Oh, Canada covers decades of history. It’s a labyrinthian deathbed confession, brimming with nuance, contradiction and regret. Jacob Elordi plays a young Fife, channelling the eroticism of a young Gere — we have a film that seems to come full circle with early Schrader obsessions laid bare in films like Mishima and American Gigolo. Here though, the revolution and vitality of youth has been worn down and exhausted. It’s a movie charged with the desperate intensity of time running out; a chase film where the characters are running from death.

In some ways a frustrating experience, Oh, Canada has a circular cycle, an occasionally rushed pace, that never quite answers any of the questions laid out by the documentarians. Yet that’s what makes the film so compelling. As we witness a man grappling with his story and how he wants to tell it, he focuses on the “in-betweens” of history and the preoccupations of his biographers are of little interest to him. As his life slips through his fingers, he’s worried about his wife, his children and the pain he’s wrought rather than his accomplishments. Gere in particular delivers a performance that undeniably evokes Schrader in 2024 — he’s gruff, intense and thoughtful. There’s pathos without sentimentality, and the film’s final act has such incredible earnestness that it even manages to sell the titular Canadian anthem as a surprisingly tender reflection on yearning. It’s a profoundly human film that manages by omission to capture the sum of a life lived. One of Schrader’s best. 

Oh Canada is now playing in Montreal theatres.

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

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Experts say while artificial intelligence could replace some jobs, it can also be a useful tool for others. Nevertheless, a new study says it will have an effect on a large portion of the province’s workforce, hitting specific demographics harder than others.

Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to pause the fighting in Gaza and secure the hostages' return, possibly bringing an end to 15 months of conflict that quickly became one the most divisive social issues in Montreal’s recent memory, with protests, encampments, violence and vandalism.

Snow removal reminders, deer discussions, and pay raises at

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

North Hatley’s first monthly public meeting of 2025, held on Jan. 13, saw Mayor Marcella Davis-Gerrish preside over a range of municipal matters. With approximately 15 residents in attendance at the small hall adjoining Église de Sainte-Élisabeth, topics ranged from practical reminders about snow removal to concerns over deer and updates on council remuneration. The meeting also touched on plans for demolishing a hazardous structure in the village.

Snow removal and waste bin placement

The council used the meeting to remind residents of their responsibilities during the winter season. Mayor Davis-Gerrish emphasized the importance of keeping waste bins on private property rather than near streets or sidewalks. “This is not just for aesthetics; it’s about enabling our public works team to clear snow efficiently,” she explained. The issue has become particularly pressing in recent weeks as misplaced bins have obstructed snow ploughs and delayed street clearing operations.

“It may seem like a small thing, but it’s a big deal for our crews who work tirelessly during storms to keep our roads and sidewalks safe,” the mayor added. Residents were urged to review guidelines on proper bin placement and avoid leaving items at the curb prematurely. Compliance with this request is expected to improve overall efficiency and safety during heavy snowfall periods.

Several residents expressed dissatisfaction with the snow removal services, citing inconsistent plowing schedules and poor road conditions after storms. In response, the council discussed their ongoing challenges with the current contractor, which holds a de facto monopoly on snow removal and waste services in the area. Mayor Davis-Gerrish noted that similar issues have been reported by other municipalities within the MRC. “We are aware of the problems, and this is completely unacceptable,” she stated. Plans are underway to address the issue at an upcoming MRC meeting, where collective pressure will be sought to push the contractor and government for improved service delivery.

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L’article North Hatley meeting est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

In a bid to enhance sustainable water management, the City of Sherbrooke is calling for residents to volunteer for the installation of free smart water meters as part of the Quebec Strategy for Drinking Water Conservation (SQEEP). The project aims to install 380 meters in homes connected to the city’s water system, with data collected used solely for municipal water usage analysis.

Philippe Côté, Section Chief for Engineering, Water, and Major Projects at the City of Sherbrooke, explained the initiative’s purpose in a recent interview. “We want to confirm that our theoretical data aligns with reality,” he said. “The meters will allow us to refine our annual water usage summary, a requirement under SQEEP.” He further emphasized the importance of accurate data in shaping sustainable water policies. “This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure the sustainable use of potable water, a critical resource for our region,” he added.

The program is entirely cost-free for participants, with the city covering installation expenses. According to Côté, once installed, the meters operate autonomously, transmitting data to the city’s servers without any further input from homeowners. “The device has a lifespan of nearly 20 years, and residents won’t even notice its presence,” he assured. The collected data will be used exclusively for creating accurate consumption reports and will not affect water billing. “This is not a step toward residential water taxation,” Côté clarified, addressing possible concerns from some residents.

The city’s press release outlines the eligibility criteria for volunteers. To qualify, participants must:

• Own their residence.
• Have accessible water entry points.
• Be connected to Sherbrooke’s municipal water system, excluding properties with private wells.
• Reside in their home for at least eight months a year.

Residents interested in participating can apply via an online form at Sherbrooke.ca/compteur-eau. The city encourages those with suitable properties to consider contributing to this vital initiative. The installation process is designed to be minimally invasive. “We’ve prioritized homes where installation can be completed without structural disruptions, such as breaking walls,” Côté noted. The city has contracted professional plumbers to ensure seamless installations.

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L’article Sherbrooke launches call for volunteers for water meter program est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

Buy now, pay later plans give consumers the option to pay for everyday products in instalments, but some financial experts say it could create a hole that some people can't get out of.

Following the opening of several refrigerated skating rinks in Montreal in recent years due to unstable winter temperatures, the city is getting a new refrigerated sledding hill called la FOMO. The four-lane hill in the Quartier des Spectacles is part of the Glissades Gamelin circuit, which launched last year, including two other hills — la MOLLO, for snowskating and snowshoeing, and la YOLO — and a heated “Après-glisse” chalet.

All three Glissades Gamelin hills will be open on Wednesdays through Sundays from Jan. 16 until March 9 (and will also open on Mondays and Tuesdays during kids’ school breaks), and are accessible for free. Helmets and other equipment are available on site to rent.

For our latest in Montreal life, please visit the Arts & Life section.

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The mural, located on the side of a Plateau bookstore, was painted by Quebec cartoonist Michel Rabagliati. Its recent vandalism has led to outcry online, but some artists say it’s a complex issue.

According to a study by Léger, just 29% Canadians say they want a federal election now.

A majority of Canadians would prefer that the next federal election take place in the spring (30%) or in October 2025, as set out in fixed election-date legislation.

Following three failed attempts to secure the confidence of Parliament in the fall, Pierre Poilievre continues to call for an immediate election Canadians don’t want.

The Léger web survey was conducted from January 10 to 13, 2025, with 1,545 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel.

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

The post Just 29% of Canadians want a federal election now appeared first on Cult MTL.

The BBC is reporting that a ceasefire deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas, and that dozens of hostages will soon be released. Israeli and Hamas officials have been negotiating a deal in Qatar for months.

A formal announcement with details of the ceasefire agreement is expected in an upcoming news conference from the prime minister of Qatar.

Over 46,000 people have been killed during the war in Gaza, which began following attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths.

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

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The Brutalist opens with an extended tracking shot. Moving through a dark claustrophobic space, crowded with people, it’s difficult for the audience to situate themselves. Evoking László Nemes’s Son of Saul, there’s a sense of aching despair to the sequence. As characters move towards the light, we imagine the untold horrors that have thrust them into this situation. Sickness and death hang around the edges of the frame. Unlike Nemes’s technical beauty, the sequence possesses a hand-held ugliness that feels unaesthetic, at least in classical terms. Where are these people going? The characters reach the light and we have our first context clue: the Statue of Liberty in cold, bright light, hanging upside down.

The Brutalist isn’t without value. It’s a film that imagines, through the experiences of architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a realer, harsher version of the American immigrant experience — particularly that of Jews resituating in the country in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Its ironic tagline, “Welcome to America,” suggests a not-so-hidden history of oppression and exclusion endemic to the American identity. In broad strokes, the film attempts to invoke the clarity and imagination of brutalism through modernist optimism — a pathway towards redemption.

As a vehicle for these ideas, though, The Brutalist often falls short. It has undeniable ambition: It’s a decades-spanning epic shot on VistaVision on a (relatively) minuscule budget of $10-million. It aspires to encompass not just a life but the sprawling cruelty of the mid-century American project and the continued echoes of the unrepentant greed, waste and pettiness of the plastic golden era’s impact on the lives we live today. 

The film stumbles through these ideas with a kind of awkward unfamiliarity. The movie leans heavily into cruelty, which connects to its thesis, but the ugliness of this perspective feels cheap and easy rather than embodied. Structuring so much of its narrative and themes around the concepts of László’s brutalist style does little to illuminate the movement or shapes of that experience. Only through a rather clumsy epilogue do we get the full context of the project; it feels necessary but also as ham-fisted as the film’s worst impulses. The unfriendliness of this world, filled with the cheap but shiny surfaces of respectability and perceived moral value, lacks a paradoxical gentleness and fragility. Too much of the film operates under this same tone of miserableness. 

Much of the first half of The Brutalist almost works. The set-up is generous, and watching László situating himself within the American project has a few wistful moments of passing beauty. There’s a tenderness to the film’s casting, which privileges faces, that invites the audience to imagine the hopes and dreams of its characters. There are beautiful images, though I’d argue that, as with many contemporary films, the movie only half-commits to compelling framing. Considering the undertaking of adopting VistaVision, a mostly obsolete process, much of the film lacks a modernist or visionary rigour to justify the decision outside of the stubborn vigour of ego. The opening sequence is a good example of a strong concept that ultimately isn’t particularly original or accomplished, though I’m sure an argument can be made that, following the sparseness of brutalism itself, ostentatiousness gives its way to pure form.

The second half undoes any goodwill of the first, though. László’s small victories collapse under the weight of telenovela-like tragedies. The trajectory of the film feels like Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life, an epic treatise on pain and suffering, that seems to revel in its sadism without rooting it in real experience. The Brutalist crumbles under the weight of an ambition that doesn’t seem to match the scope or experience of its makers, floundering increasingly under the pressures of how to handle big ideas or challenging events in a way that feels authentic or meaningful. The film hits a crescendo in a last-act dinner sequence that completely falls apart aesthetically, morally and ideologically. It’s a complete disaster even though it’s ostensibly the thrust of the entire project — a grand confrontation and affirmation of identity that ends up feeling cheap despite the efforts of its cast. 

The overall experience watching The Brutalist is one of increased exasperation. The movie fails to construct any real meaning, leaving a lot of the heavy lifting to the audience. The ideas are there but they don’t coalesce and the film ends up feeling incomplete, and often rushed. Some sequences, such as a sojourn in Italy marked with hallucinatory imagery and unrestrained violence, are stronger in concept than execution. The idealization of Israel as a safe haven for Jews, conceptually, can be understood within a greater context of the state’s ultimate failure, but within the actual text, remains an uncomplicated beacon of hope. For a film so critical of the U.S., it fails to account for much nuance in its approach to the wider world. It’s a movie that often feels myopic to a fault, failing to account for the messiness of reality. 

Perhaps my biggest frustration with the film ends up being how much of it serves as a kind of metaphor for the artistic process itself. The film’s final scene draws strange parallels between the character’s journey and that of filmmaking; one that feels clumsy and self-serving. Even if it’s merely intended as a metaphor for brutalism, it doesn’t particularly ring true. It’s a movie that only seems to half-understand the scope of its ambition. The last sequence, which offers new context to László’s obsessions, almost feels like a thematic “gotcha” but still doesn’t actually delve into the weight or complexity of its allusions. 

What we’re left with is a film that signals its own importance in every way, but fails to measure up to it. The performances are uniformly strong, with Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce rising to the cream of the crop. The score is magnificent as well. The movie’s scope endears a certain commitment from the audience that often means that they’ll piece together meaning to justify spending nearly four hours glued to their seat. ■

The Brutalist opens in Montreal theatres on Friday, Jan. 17.

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

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