Martine St-Victor: Boasting isn't our style; maybe it should be

My objective here is not to dim the light on the U.S. Rather, it is to encourage Canadians to make ours shine brighter by borrowing some of our neighbour's salesmanship. That could come in handy, especially in this year of the shutdown, as we go about trying to reinvigorate our cities.

Martine St-Victor: Consultation, transparency and civic duty

Pandemic or not, I'm a homebody. However, when I do leave the house, it is often by car. I'm aware that saying so is blasphemous in certain circles. Nonetheless, I've never really complained publicly about Montreal traffic. When one chooses to live in a big city, such inconveniences are part of the deal.

Opinion: The jokes can wait. It's time for comedians to speak out

Because of the pandemic, this year's Just for Laughs festival has been moved to the fall . If it had been able to take place in July as usual, it would have provided a much needed collective morale boost, after months of uncertainty, anxiety and grief.

Opinion: Proposing a Lionel Groulx-Oscar Peterson compromise

Jérémie McEwen and Martine St-Victor * Special to Montreal Gazette Until the mid-1980s, when landing at what was then the only international airport in Haiti, one would do so at François Duvalier Airport, named after the dictator who ruled the country for over a decade.

Opinion: In 2019, older women will be leading the way

A few months ago, I had lunch with a wonderful woman named Louise. A mutual friend had put us in touch, and suggested that we meet. Louise had spent decades heading the communications departments of two very large Quebec institutions.

Opinion: Dominique Anglade is simply qualified, with no need for qualifiers

When Premier Philippe Couillard recently reshuffled his cabinet - a move some qualified as a simple game of musical chairs - he named Dominique Anglade as deputy premier. Anglade, a friend of mine, happens to be black. I was delighted to see no brouhaha was made about her ethnicity.

Martine St-Victor: Why I won't be writing on wine-making

Columnists have a duty to opine only about things they know and understand. I love wine, but there are limits to my knowledge. Martine St-Victor * Special to Montreal Gazette This is a new column by Martine St-Victor, a communications strategist and media commentator based in Montreal. Her column will appear on Thursdays.

Editor's notebook: fresh faces, old friends among new Montreal Gazette columns

You will find a new column by Martine St-Victor on our editorial page every Thursday. St-Victor is a communications strategist and media commentator who has written commentaries for us on occasion. I am pleased that she will be joining us on a regular basis starting this week.

Martine St-Victor: Boasting isn't our style; maybe it should be

My objective here is not to dim the light on the U.S. Rather, it is to encourage Canadians to make ours shine brighter by borrowing some of our neighbour's salesmanship. That could come in handy, especially in this year of the shutdown, as we go about trying to reinvigorate our cities.

Whisky is having its moment in the sun

Whisky is enjoying a renaissance. From Hollywood to your neighbourhood bar, the profile of the typical whisky drinker is evolving - and not just because of its distinctive flavours. "You drink Scotch?" U.S. President Fitzgerald Grant asks his press secretary, Abby Whelan, in a scene from ABC's politico-drama Scandal.