In 1998, I had a bad breakup.  Breakups are rarely easy but this one was particularly difficult because not only was I heartbroken but also, my ego was crushed to its core.  I was too proud to cry on anyone’s shoulder so I sulked for longer than I wish to admit and found therapy via [...]

Il y a plus d’une semaine, le journal La Presse publiait un article intitulé « Le fléau caché » sur la violence conjugale en Haïti.

La photo a dérangée plusieurs lecteurs, toutes origines confondues. Moi, c’est l’article que j’ai trouvé dérangeant. J’ai écrit à La Presse. Mon texte n’a pas été publié (comme les 84 autres lettres reçues au journal, d’ailleurs). La voici.

Il y a des rencontres qui nous nous marquent pro-fon-dé-ment. Lors d’un dîner chez de amis en commun, il y a quelques années, je rencontrais René-Frantz Durosel. Je le connaissais de réputation puisque c’est le Maverick derrière l’ascension de Corneille. C’est lui aussi qui a mis Gage sur le palmarès ici et en France. Mais [...]

Photo by jean-barak.fr We are obsessed with the new. We are obsessed with the young. In music, and in almost everything else for that matter, these two epithets do not necessarily mean better. The music charts are filled with ingrate & talentless artists who want the accolades without the blood, the sweat or the tears. [...]

Top photo is from Herby.TV There are many ways Montréal distinguishes itself from big North American cities. First, it’s an island. Second, there is the language. Sure, many Montrealers are bilingual but en français is how it’s done here. It’s a cultural metropolis with its own definition for joie de vivre and Montréal is part [...]

Montréal is Hockey town. Even more so this year as the City’s beloved Canadiens (the Habs) came so close to reaching the Stanley Cup finals, against all odds & pundits’ predictions. Tourisme Montréal asked a few Montrealers to write about their affinities for Hockey & their meaning of the game. You’ll find the edited version [...]

Photo taken from ceospeaks.wordpress.com I’m about to celebrate my second anniversary on Twitter. I joined the now almost mainstream micro-blogging site at the urgency of friend, and fellow Barackanista, McLean Greaves. At the time, McLean & I were fully invested in the U.S. Democratic race (well, as much as Canadians could be). Barack Obama’s name [...]

Being a publicist is great. You get instant gratification by seeing your clients’ names in the papers and their faces on television. Lasting gratification comes from the people you meet in the process and who remain in your life. Still, in times like these, in the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake, you feel helpless and wish [...]

In Montreal, like in many other cities in the world, February is Black History Month. Even though I question its existence, I applaud all the initiatives executed by the dedicated team behind the Montreal edition. It was thus impossible for me to refuse when they asked me to pen an op-ed on Michelle Obama: their [...]

It’s been 5 days since the earth has rocked my ancestors’ land. Far away, in the Maple Leaf, I feel helpless, restless but also hopeful because I know that like before, Haiti will rise from its ashes. Over 40 years ago, my parents left this Pearl of the Antilles to start their young lives in [...]

* Painting is by Heavyweight I was just reading journalist Mike Doherty’s article entitled “Too many Miles” inquiring “At what point does the constant paying of tribute turn into fixation? And furthermore, is there a danger that in looking back at the career of someone who was always looking forward, the jazz world is ignoring [...]

On Friday, October 30th the King of New York graced Montreal with his presence, his repertoire and with his place in pop cultural history. After a 10-year absence, Jay-Z was finally back in a City where he is deeply loved, despite the obstacles. I could speak of the man’s excellence or of his accomplishments but [...]

If you live in Montreal, you are a Montrealer no matter where you were born. Montrealers have the same religion: hockey, no matter the name of the God they worship. The City’s hockey team, The Canadiens (also called the Habs), are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. The Habs made it to the playoffs and [...]

On Friday night, I was one of the 20 000 believers who gathered at Montreal’s Bell Center to be part of Britney Spears’ Circus. I left the show early and opted for an overpriced burger instead. Once at the restaurant, I was already doodling down ideas for this post which had all the makings of [...]

Sterling Downey, Montreal | Sure, you’ll first notice the imposing body art but Sterling Downey is before anything else, a pioneer who’s brought cool to Montreal with his Under Pressure Festival, exhibits, magazine & merchandise. The man who should be played by Anderson Cooper should a movie on his life be made, enters The Confessional. [...]

In Montreal, the main newspaper is La Presse. Main because it more or less equally covers the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, International and Business. La Presse boasts excellent journalists and if a time capsule of Montreal were to be built, a copy of it should be included. One of La Presse’s famous or infamous and popular [...]