Category Archives: Social commentary

Cabot Square Redux: not quite paradise, kind of a parking lot…

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

After about a year’s worth of work, Cabot Square re-opened to the public on Wednesday July 8th. The major improvement involves two outreach workers who will now use the square’s renovated stone kiosk (vespasienne) as home base to provide services … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Commentary, Cultural commentary, History and Culture, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Scenes from the City, Social commentary, Urban Redevelopment, Worth reconsidering | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Tragic Mayorality of Jean Doré

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

Former mayor Jean Doré passed away on Monday, June 15th, after a seven month battle with pancreatic cancer. From 1986 to 1994 he was our geeky young mayor with the Magnum P.I. moustache and something of a breath of fresh … Continue reading →

Posted in History and Culture, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Perspectives on the City, Social commentary | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Royalmount Project and 24hr Shopping

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

Two big retail related stories from the past week. I’ll discuss in reverse order from the title above. First, the province of Quebec will now allow retail businesses in Montreal’s downtown core to set their own hours, the idea being … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Economic commentary, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Let's make this an election issue, Political commentary, Social commentary, Urban Redevelopment, Worth reconsidering | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mehta, Mahler and the Maison Symphonique de Montréal

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

Not Mehta or the OSM, but Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic. Close enough… Confession: I was neither familiar with Mahler’s Third Symphony, nor the city’s new concert hall, until last night. I know… for shame.* First off, seeing Zubin … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Arts & the City, Cultural commentary, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Scenes from the City, Social commentary, Urban Redevelopment | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Irony is Dead

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

I’m not sure who snapped this photo from a student anti-austerity demo a few days back, but in any case, chapeau Monsieur, whoever you are, for capturing the innate irony and hypocrisy of protest in Quebec. The cop and the … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Commentary, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Perspectives on the City, Political commentary, Scenes from the City, Social commentary | Leave a comment

Operation Gamescan 76

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

Operation Gamescan 76 by Michael Brun, National Film Board of Canada Operation Gamescan 76. Roll that around on your tongue for a moment. It was a thing. It happened here. And if you find the name as intriguing as I … Continue reading →

Posted in History and Culture, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Montréal on Film, Perspectives on the City, Political commentary, Scenes from the City, Social commentary | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment