Latest news with #Montreal
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Protester captured on video spraying pink paint at Picasso artwork
Climate change protesters have claimed responsibility for throwing pink paint at Picasso 's 1901 painting L'hetaire at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Footage of the incident, shared by the environmental group Last Generation Canada, shows a person smearing paint on the artwork. A person was arrested for mischief, released, and is scheduled to appear in court, while two others who filmed were detained and released without charge. Last Generation Canada, which recently also claimed responsibility for spray-painting a Montreal casino, is demanding the Canadian government establish a climate disaster protection agency. Watch the video in full above.
CBC
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
No hangovers, home by 9 p.m.: Why some Canadians are choosing daytime parties over nightlife
Imagine getting all the exhilaration of a night out — the euphoria of losing yourself in the music, the thrill of dancing shoulder to shoulder with strangers, and the joy of meeting new people — without the 4 a.m. crash or the dreaded next-day hangover. That's the idea behind a social trend that's catching on around Canada: daytime parties. Across the country, organizers are rethinking what it means to party, flipping the script on traditional nightlife culture by challenging the idea that celebrations must happen after dark. "There was nothing going on in that time frame, from 11 [a.m] to 3 p.m.," Zohaib Aziz told The Current 's host Matt Galloway. "And we just said, 'Why not give it a try?'" Aziz is the co-founder and partner of The Coffee Party, a Toronto-based daytime dance event. These events feature many of the same elements as a typical club night — DJs, dancing, and a lively atmosphere — but with a shift in focus. Alcohol is often swapped with non-alcoholic beverages, shifting the activities toward joy, connection, and well-being rather than excess. WATCH | Montreal is waking up to daytime parties: Coffee, croissants and good sound — daytime parties are popping up in Montreal 1 month ago Duration 2:25 In Montreal, an event called Croissound brings that energy to local cafés, hosting pop-up dance parties at a different spot each time. With DJ sets from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., it blends coffee culture, house music and daytime dancing into one lively experience. And at the end of May, inspired by this viral trend, organizers in Nova Scotia brought the alcohol-free daytime dance scene to downtown Halifax with a community coffee party at a local restaurant. For attendees like Geraldine Hinojosa, a partygoer at Toronto's Tech-Noon event, the change is refreshing. "Since I became 30 a few months ago ... I am trying to do more daytime activities because I feel partying at night, it's more like drunk people, drugs — [the] kind of things that I don't feel aligned right now with," said Hinojosa. "I feel this type of event inspired me more to really enjoy what I like, [which] is dancing and networking." Aspiring DJ Luis Diaz, who also attended the event, echoed the sentiment. "A day party is a pretty cool idea because not everyone wants to be [out] on nights. The vibe inside is pretty cool, all the people [are] nice," he said. Promoting a healthier lifestyle Aziz, who once identified as a "big party guy," said he used to love going out until 3 a.m. But that all changed during a personal fitness journey that helped him shed over 40 pounds and re-evaluate how nightlife fit into his routine. "I want to be up early in the morning, go to the gym, get my workout in and be in bed by nine, 10 p.m.," he said. But stepping away from the traditional club scene also meant losing a key way to meet new people. "That was one thing I was noticing by not being in the club scene because that is where I met a lot of my friends," said Aziz. "I think it's so important to still meet new people and just get yourself out there [to] talk to strangers." Inspired by that need, Aziz and four of his friends launched The Coffee Party in November 2024. The goal was to address what he describes as a "lack of spaces for people that still want to go out and party and enjoy a sober day out." The Coffee Party events, according to Aziz, bring a unique style — he calls it a "farmer's market mixed with a party." Guests are greeted by coffee stations, live art and food vendors offering cookies and pastries, with the option to have an espresso martini. From there, they head to the main floor, where local Toronto DJs keep the party going all day. Aziz and his team are using the platform to promote health and wellness too. Many events begin with fitness activities like pilates, yoga, or interval training workouts. They've also partnered with Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to support the Sunrise Challenge, a national initiative raising funds for mental health research and care. Giving the joy of partying to everyone In Vancouver, Home By Midnight has a similar mission. The early-evening dance party was created in 2018 by Rachel Morris and her co-founder Mikael Bingham. Their events run from 8 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., designed to give people a full club experience while still getting home at a reasonable hour. The idea came to the two friends after they became parents and began missing the dance floors of their twenties, but the late nights that once came easily were no longer sustainable while raising children. "The idea that that kind of connection over music wouldn't be available to me anymore as a parent or in this new phase of life — I mean, it's devastating if you're a fan of music, and if you are a fan of collective experiences and bonding over something like that," said Morris, who is also the managing director of Home By Midnight. "[What] all of these movements are about, is still making space for people, no matter their circumstances, and encouraging people that this connection over music does not need to just exist in that one particular format that we were used to." Aziz has seen that demand first-hand, and as he sees it, the momentum shows no signs of slowing. He says about 4,000 people showed up to a recent The Coffee Party event in Toronto. "Our community [has] grown so big … the demand is there," he said. "Let's see — sky's the limit — how big we can take this."
CBC
an hour ago
- Business
- CBC
Old NFB head office in Montreal to get new lease on life with mixed-use development
The former home of the National Film Board on Côte-de-Liesse Road in Montreal's Saint-Laurent borough has sat vacant since 2019, but that could soon change. The Canada Lands Company unveiled its plans for the site on Thursday, which includes transforming the area —equivalent in size to approximately six football fields — into a mixed-use residential, commercial and cultural hub. Christopher Sweetnam-Holmes, the Crown corporation's senior director of real estate for Quebec and the Atlantic, said after 30 months of consultations with the public, the project has changed to better answer the community's needs. Issues raised by the community, Sweetnam-Holmes said, included a need for more housing, stores within walking distance and more parks for kids to play in. "So first, we're going to insert 700 units of new residential housing, of which half will be non-market housing," Sweetnam-Holmes said. "So that means social housing, affordable housing, non-profit housing. Then, we're going to repurpose 80 per cent of the buildings on the site, only demolishing 20 per cent." The plans include room for retail and office space, as well as more green space including a big community park centre in the middle of the housing development. And to preserve the legacy of the NFB, Sweetnam-Holmes said there will be a place "where art gets made" and people can take part in cultural activities. Also, the future Côte-de-Liesse REM station, which is slated to open later this year, is less than a kilometre away. Sweetnam-Holmes is hopeful the project will be transformative. "I think it's going to bring a lot of new life," Sweetnam-Holmes said. "Because you're going to have all these new people, you're going to have kids, you're going to have people working here, it's going to become like this really dynamic place." In an interview with CBC, Robert Shearmur, a professor of urban planning at McGill University, struck an optimistic tone when discussing the project. WATCH | What is co-op housing and can it help alleviate housing crisis: How co-operatives could become a hack to Canada's housing crisis 17 days ago Duration 5:18 People who live in them say they offer an attractive, low-cost alternative as the price of renting and buying property rises. Here's how housing co-ops work and why we might start hearing more about them in Canada. He said the Canada Lands Company has a good track record when it comes to listening to communities and coming up with good development ideas and proposals. He did, however, raise a few areas of concern. "These are all wonderful ideas if they work," he said, but added they need to be properly scaled. "There's a very small residential area right next to it. So, for a population of, let's say a couple of thousand people, how much culture, how much community space do you need or would be used?" Shearmur asked. The same question applies to retail and office space. Shearmur said he doesn't believe the population size will necessarily warrant having a big grocery store and people will likely have to do their weekly shopping elsewhere. Which brings us to the issue of cars and where to park them. In its current form, the site will have 350 indoor parking spots for residential use, 180 indoor and 60 outdoor spots for commercial use. Shearmur said that might not be enough. "Unless people happen to work along the REM line, getting to work ... typically requires a car," he said. "I suspect that housing units will be more difficult to sell without at least one space per unit." Meanwhile, housing advocates worry about how affordable the new units will be. " The market prices right now are crazy if you look at the prices in Montreal, and even in Quebec," said FRAPRU coordinator Catherine Lussier. "Even if you go below the market, how much below the market?" Even at 80 per cent, Lussier said tenants risk being priced out. Meanwhile, Sweetnam-Holmes said its impossible at the moment to know what the rents might look like. "All that we know is that they will meet the standards of both the City of Montreal and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in terms of what they define as affordable housing," he said. According to the CMHC website, "housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30 per cent of a household's before-tax income." Later this year, Canada Lands Company will start taking proposals from developers who want to make the vision a reality. It says the first residents could start moving in in 2028.
CBC
an hour ago
- Health
- CBC
How to fight Quebec's toxic drug problem? A former user says change the conversation
This is the second of two articles looking at the issue of drug overdoses in Quebec, where the situation is heading and what needs to be done to curb this trend. You can read the first article here. The turning point in Martin Rivest's recovery from a crystal meth addiction came when his doctor, in an attempt to provide comfort, told him: "Martin, addiction is a disease." "It gave me a sense of relief. I was like 'OK, I'm not a bad person,'" said Rivest, looking back at his struggles from about 15 years ago. "A lot of people that are affected by the drug crisis, a lot of it is due to shame, stigmatization, judgment from others and a lack of respect." Rivest now does outreach work with the Association québécoise pour la promotion de la santé des personnes utilisatrices de drogues (AQPSUD), a group in downtown Montreal that advocates for safe drug consumption and is run by people who use drugs or did so in the past. The stigma, Rivest believes, doesn't just come from friends, family or strangers. It comes from people in power. Rivest and others believe that too much of the discussion around Quebec's opioid crisis ignores the perspectives of the people who, according to him, are the most knowledgeable about the issue: drug users and those who work with them. Advocates say overcoming the crisis is complicated, but it starts with an openness to ideas they've been pushing for years: having a real conversation about decriminalizing simple drug possession and ending the stigmatization of users. And with fatal overdoses in Quebec occurring at an unprecedented frequency, those advocates say decision makers need to finally listen up. "Frankly, we feel abandoned. We don't feel heard or taken seriously. We get the feeling they view us like children," said Rivest. "We like to say in French, rien sur nous sans nous, So nothing for us without us. We are part of the solution because we are the users. We know the problem." 'We shame them every day' As far as fatal drug overdoses are concerned, 2025 is not off to an encouraging start: 153 deaths between Jan. 1 and March 31, according to the province's public health institute, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ). In 2024, Quebec recorded 645 confirmed or suspected fatal overdoses, by far the highest total ever recorded in the province. The numbers have been trending upwards over the last decade. That same year, B.C. Premier David Eby rolled back the province's historic decriminalization project and recriminalized drug use in public spaces after facing intense scrutiny. Governments dealing with a toxic drug problem often appear to be trying to walk a fine line: getting people with drug addictions the help they need while not angering the broader public. "While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe," B.C's premier said at the time. Last month, when the Coalition Avenir Québec government tabled Bill 103 — which would prohibit supervised drug consumption sites from being located within 150 metres of a school or daycare — Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant had a similar message. "The overdose crisis is at the heart of our concerns," Carmant said. "But we also have the responsibility to ensure that these places are safe for everyone." If Bill 103 becomes law, Maison Benoît Labre, a facility with a safe drug consumption site located about 143 metres away from a school, would eventually need the move. Andréane Desilets, the executive director there, said Bill 103 and the controversy that's followed Maison Benoît Labre has taken a toll on staff and clients. "A lot of people are hurt. A lot of people feel ashamed," said Desilets. "Because this is what we do, right? We shame them. We shame them every day with these laws. We exclude them from being a part of our community because we failed to provide acceptable support for them." Desilets says she understands concerns about Maison Benoît Labre, but adds that the conversation could use some reframing: more of a community perspective and less of an "us and them" attitude. "What should be very scary is the fact that people are dying on the streets and we're not doing anything," she said. "If we just continue on with this vision that it's a personal problem or an individual problem, then we will not get better and will not see any action and will not see numbers that are going down, only going up." Quebec has 14 supervised drug consumption sites. If Bill 103 is adopted, Maison Benoît Labre is one of two sites that would need to move. The other one is in Gatineau. Maison Benoît Labre has said moving the centre, which is currently seven metres too close to a school at the moment, would cost about $6.6 million. Quebec's plan for drug overdoses Quebec's Health Ministry says dealing with drug overdoses in the province is a priority, but it's also become increasingly challenging. "The situation is changing rapidly and is made more complicated by the fact that there are numerous substances contributing to the overdoses," wrote spokesperson Marie-Christine Patry in a statement. "The illicit market is evolving rapidly, with drug contaminations that are not just limited to opioids." The Health Ministry says it's putting a lot of effort into flattening the overdose curve, pointing to its 14 safe consumption sites and 34 drug verification sites, the widespread availability of naloxone in pharmacies and recent ad campaigns. WATCH | Quebec government tries to raise awareness about overdoses: It also highlighted the province's 2022-25 strategy for overdoses, which focuses on seven areas: Raising awareness. Prevention and harm reduction. Public policy. Monitoring the issue. Research and training. Addiction treatment. Pain management. Overdose deaths in Quebec are on the rise, and the problem could get worse When asked about the province's plan, Desilets stressed the need to invest "massively" in prevention, but she also paused to reflect about how complex the drug overdose problem is. "You know, it's never this one solution, right?" she said, before bringing up a broader but, according to her, necessary approach. "We need to rethink how we see people that are using .... We have to address the fact, that maybe, just maybe, having safer substances going on the streets instead of letting criminal organizations create stronger and stronger and stronger substances." 'It's hell out there' For many observers, providing safe supply of drugs goes hand in hand with decriminalizing simple possession. Sarah Larney, a researcher and associate professor at the Université de Montréal with an expertise in drug-related harm, is favourable to the idea, but she acknowledges it can be a tough sell to the general public. She said the pilot project in B.C. and its failures didn't help. "It's really unfortunate," Larney said. "How do you move that needle to make that a conversation that can even be had in a way that is productive?" When asked about decriminalization, Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher said it's not a "miracle solution" and was a failure in B.C. "Decriminalization, when you think of it, it's not a bad option, it's not a bad orientation, but the system has to follow," Dagher told CBC Radio Noon host Shawn Apel. "The problem is you decriminalize but nobody's taking over. The health system is not there to do the follow-up and the partners are not there to do the follow-up." A spokesperson for Health Canada told CBC News that B.C. remains "the only jurisdiction that has been granted a time-limited exemption related to personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal substances" and it does not have any other similar requests. "As the first exemption of its kind in Canada, there was always an understanding that all levels of government, partners and stakeholders would need to work together to closely monitor impacts in British Columbia, learn from the implementation and make adjustments as needed," the statement reads. For the Quebec government, decriminalization is a non-starter. IA spokesperson for the province's Justice Ministry said the risks associated with opioid consumption are significant, "so are the implications of a decision" on decriminalization. "For now, we're focused on doing everything possible to accompany people in the most humane way possible," said spokesperson Cathy Chenard. WATCH | How to use naloxone to help someone: How to administer naloxone if you witness an overdose 2 years ago Duration 2:28 Larney says tackling the toxic drug crisis requires several layers of intervention, such as decriminalization, addressing the housing crisis and supplementing people's income. "It's quite radical, I'll admit that," she said. "But everything else we've tried doesn't work and I'm not sure that continuing down this path is going to work either." The Quebec government's current path involves likely adopting Bill 103 and restricting where safe drug consumption sites can be located. Desilets, the executive director for Maison Benoît Labre, says the proposed legislation "will not have any impact on what's going on."
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Climate change activist throws pink paint at Picasso painting
A climate change protester threw pink paint at a Picasso painting in Montreal. Environmental group Last Generation Canada shared footage of the incident on Thursday (19 June), which shows an activist smearing bright paint on the 1901 painting L'hetaire at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The protester can be seen being escorted out of the museum by security, with police later confirming that an individual had been arrested for mischief. The suspect was released and will appear in court at a later date, Montreal Police said, while the two others who filmed the incident were detained before being released without charge. The group, who spray-painted a Montreal casino pink last week, are calling for the Canadian government to create a climate disaster protection agency.
