What is Montreal made of? If last week’s big stories are any indication, the answer is: Sports, snow, and social justice.
Claude Julien becomes the new coach of the Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens fired head coach Michel Therrien on Tuesday and replaced him with Claude Julien, sparking commentary from all the usual suspects (Stu Cowan, Pat Hickey, Jack Todd, Brendan Kelly, and the team at HIO). Said Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin: “The decision to remove Michel from his coaching duties was a difficult one because I have lots of respect for him. I came to the conclusion that our team needed a new energy, a new voice, a new direction.
Slavery in Quebec: Shedding light on a largely unknown history
Most Quebecers are unaware of the history of black and native slavery in our province. Between 1629 and 1833, there were a reported 4,185 slaves in the province. Many lived in Quebec City, where they were employed in the homes of the province’s wealthiest and most prestigious families. Through his music and walking tours, rapper and educator Aly Ndiaya — a.k.a. Webster — is working to raise awareness.
Montrealers dig out after 25 centimetres of snow blankets city
Quebecers love to talk about the weather, and Mother Nature gave us all sorts of fodder for conversation this week. In the aftermath of a 26-centimetre weekend dump of snow, Montrealers needed two things: patience and a shovel. A week later, the city was still working on getting the mess cleaned up.
Eugenie Bouchard featured in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue
Eugenie Bouchard is one of the city’s favourite sports heroes, and fans were full of good will when she tweeted this week that she’s featured in the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Bouchard, 22, has been criticized for her use of social media, and she herself said she would try to pay less attention to what was being written and said about her and focus more on her tennis, but not before going on a date with a stranger — she lost a bet with him on Twitter during the Super Bowl.
Are refugees fleeing Donald Trump’s America?
Hemmingford has become one of the entry points for a growing flow of refugee claimants braving the elements to illicitly enter Canada. We spoke with Yasser Ahmed, who made the long journey from Saudi Arabia to New York to Plattsburgh and finally to downtown Montreal — via Lacolle — with little more than a suitcase, Google Maps and some broken English. And judging by the smile on his face as he carried his 1½ year-old daughter in his arms, it was worth it.
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