Montreal kicks off new year with warm weather
Above-seasonal temperatures opened the gates to 2025. The normal daytime high for the start of January in the Montreal area is -5 C. However, this New Year’s Day brought an expected high of 3 C.
Montreal's Simple Plan donates $250K to underprivileged youth
Members of Montreal-based band Simple Plan were in town Friday — not to perform, but to donate $250,000 to organizations helping underprivileged youth. The pop-punk band is known for angsty hits like “I’m Just a Kid” and “When I’m Gone” and have sold millions of records worldwide. But while performing is the members’ passion, they’re even more proud of the work they do off-stage.
Concordia University researchers use AI to identify counterfeit coins
Researchers at Montreal’s Concordia University have developed an innovative technique for accurately identifying counterfeit coins. As techniques used by fraudsters become more sophisticated, one research author says artificial intelligence could change the game.
$415M for new aerospace innovation centres in Montreal, Longueuil, Mirabel
A major investment for Quebec’s aerospace industry was announced Tuesday to the tune of $415 million, and American company Boeing is involved. The project aims to enhance Quebec’s “attractiveness” in the aerospace field, hoping to make it a world leader in decarbonization and advanced air mobility.
Montreal drafts new nightlife policy project
Is Montreal a party city? That reputation could be further solidified if officials have their way. A consultation was held at city hall to help draft Montreal’s new nightlife policy. The Plante administration is planning to invest in nightlife in hopes of boosting its economic and cultural potential, without leaving anyone negatively impacted.
‘A humanitarian’: Montrealers say final goodbye to Brian Mulroney
An authentic and genuine politician who stood up for what’s right and made Canada a better place. That’s how Montrealers who gathered outside Brian Mulroney’s state funeral remembered the country’s 18th prime minister, who died at age 84.
Silicon Valley Bank's collapse sparks mad scramble and fears of wider chaos
“Stay calm.” That’s what Greg Becker, chief executive of Silicon Valley Bank, told clients Thursday morning on a conference call, hastily convened to assure them the Santa Clara institution was confident it would weather a liquidity crunch. By the end of the day, as high-profile venture capital firms urged their portfolio companies to get their money out, the bank had seen withdrawals of $42 billion.
LA Times Today (Produced Segment): Low wages, short hours drive many fast-food workers into homelessness
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Bill 96: Quebec pre-med students struggling with MCAT registration
Bill 96, Quebec’s French language law, has forced medical college admissions test (MCAT) centres to be pulled from the province, as the exams are administered in English only.
What happens to social media influencers when inflation hits?
At first glance, Jacquelyn Mengel’s TikTok looks like every other influencer video. She stares directly into the camera, holds up name-brand makeup products and discusses how she feels about each one. It’s a familiar scene on social media: someone trying to sell you something. But that’s not what’s going on.
Man speaks out against housing discrimination
Charles Grogan has moved between experiencing homelessness and living in low-income housing since March 2023, following unemployment due to a work-related accident. Grogan has been living in a motel in Saint-Eustache, north of Montreal, through Quebec’s Non-Profit Housing Program – known as the HLM. In the search to find a long-term home amid the housing crisis in the province, he says he’s often discriminated against, claiming landlords refuse him based on his circumstances.
Woman diagnosed with rare form of Parkinson's spreading awareness
Montrealer Manon Day was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson’s at 27-years-old. Now 39 and in honour of April’s Parkinson’s Awareness Month — she’s spreading the word on the condition that is most commonly seen among older men and that it can happen to someone just like her.
Montreal singer-songwriter is a finalist in SiriusXM Top of the Country competition
Among 2024’s three finalists for the sixth annual SiriusXM Top of the Country competition is none other than Montreal singer-songwriter Trudy. This stage of the competition, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), means she’ll get coveted mentorship, live performance opportunities and a shot at a $25,000 grand prize.
Montreal doctor debunks myths about coffee and other foods
Montreal Dr. Christopher Labos’ new book titled “Does Coffee Cause Cancer?” is debunking myths around coffee and eight other common foods.
How an app is helping to reduce food waste in Canada
The Too Good To Go app is helping to reduce food waste in Montreal and globally, by connecting customers to restaurants and stores that have a surplus of unsold food at the end of the day.
Travis Scott’s McDonald’s Collaboration Caters to His Fans
For the first time in almost 30 years, a celebrity can say that their name is on the McDonald’s menu. On Sept. 8, 2020, 28-year-old hip-hop artist and music producer Travis Scott began a collaboration with the fast food franchise, launching McDonald’s x Travis employee uniforms, clothing merchandise and a “Travis Scott Meal.” The menu item consists of a quarter pounder with onions, pickles, bacon, lettuce, melted cheese, mustard and ketchup, which will be available until Oct. 4, 2020. This is Sc
Manhattan's New Dreamy Art Exhibit Takes Visitors to the Sky
Central Park in the sky. That is what New Yorkers are calling the city’s newest art installation, Air. But for the artist and creator known as Kenzo Digital, 42, the immersive observatory experience is much more.
The dream-like exhibit opened in Manhattan on October 21. It begins underground at One Vanderbilt’s Grand Central Terminal entrance, where an illuminated elevator catapults visitors to the sky. Atop New York’s fourth tallest building at over 1,200 feet, views span from Coney Island all
The dream-like exhibit opened in Manhattan on October 21. It begins underground at One Vanderbilt’s Grand Central Terminal entrance, where an illuminated elevator catapults visitors to the sky. Atop New York’s fourth tallest building at over 1,200 feet, views span from Coney Island all
An Off-Broadway Star from Argentina Makes Big Moves
Latin theatre triple-threat, Valeria Llaneza is taking on the New York performance scene by storm.
Real People Things
These two musical theatre writers from NYU Tisch have turned their pandemic experience into a theatre event.
A Brooklyn Artist Brings Healing One Woven Piece at a Time
Meet Cynthia Alberto, the founder and director of Weaving Hand, as she explains the art of Zero Waste weaving and how she has made it a pathway to healing.
Onomatopoeia: My Grandmother in Queens on
Anastasia Johnson gets a reading from a New York City psychic. The question is what, or who, will come through?
Onomatopoeia: Germaine Goodson: Tapper Extraordinaire on
Anastasia Johnson gets to know Germaine Goodson, a Broadway tap master, performer and teacher. Germaine’s passion is infectious and her stories are too. Meet her kind and resilient spirit.
About Me
Anastasia Dextrene S. Johnson is a journalist from Canada with a B.A.(Hons.) from the University of Toronto, a M.F.A. from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, and a M.S. from the Columbia University Journalism School. She specializes in print editing, multimedia and broadcast, and has worked as a journalist at the Los Angeles Times, CityNews and CTV, among other publications.