Updates from June, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Kate 20:00 on 2023-06-06 Permalink | Reply  

    Fascinating Radio-Canada piece on the lost village of Côte‑des‑Neiges, delimited by Decelles, Gatineau, Swail and Jean‑Brillant, not a big piece of land, but one demolished in the Jean Drapeau 1960s like other parts of town deemed to contain “constructions de peu de valeur.” The area is now a park.

    Like all the photos from the neighbourhoods Drapeau felt were of little value, they show familiar types of Montreal domestic architecture like those now bought and sold for millions in the older parts of town.

    The Maison de la culture in CDN (in the library beside the metro station) has an exhibit about it till the end of August.

     

    • shawn 20:04 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

      Cool. I’m from CDN originally but was too little to remember any of this.

  • Kate 15:03 on 2023-06-06 Permalink | Reply  

    Some explication here, possibly, on Monday’s killing of Francesco Del Balso who must have known there was a price on his head. That Del Balso had changed allegiance from the Rizzuto faction to the Hells Angels is mentioned here and elsewhere, but not explained.

    Del Balso couldn’t leave the country because his passport was confiscated in March, but that makes me wonder about two things: he was born in Italy, so did he also have an Italian passport and, if so, could Canadian authorities take that away too?

    Also, if the authorities are aware that a man is under threat, but they limit his exit options by taking his passport, are they not implicitly throwing him to the wolves? A person on parole and/or facing charges is not normally allowed to leave the country, but this man was under a well‑defined threat.

    I suppose he could have worn a disguise and gone to live quietly in some suburb – but he didn’t.

     

    • dhomas 17:52 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

      Italy stripped emigrating Italians’ of their citizenship (and usually of their passports, too) when they received Canadian citizenship, up until 1992. This was because Italy at the time did not recognize dual citizenship.

      https://consvancouver.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/cittadinanza/

      My parents both lost their citizenship when they became Canadian citizens. The Italian consulate in Montreal would help immigrants to integrate in Canada and help them acquire Canadian citizenship, but once they got it, they lost the Italian citizenship. To hear my dad tell it, the person working at the consulate literally took his passport out of his hands to destroy it when he visited the consulate and it was known he was now Canadian.

      Since 1992, it is possible to regain citizenship, but it’s complicated and Italy’s bureaucracy is a nightmare. It requires multiple forms and a paper trail going back to the municipality (“comune”) of birth in Italy where the records might be difficult (or impossible) to find. My mom regained her citizenship in 1997. My dad still doesn’t have his back (he didn’t try very hard, though). I applied for myself and my kids earlier this year because I’m a little concerned that if I don’t do it now, the current government might take this right away (they’re a little bit “touchy” when it comes to foreigners and immigration).

    • Kate 18:20 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

      Interesting, dhomas. Thank you.

      It’s harsh for a country to take away people’s birth nationality, I think. You’re wise to act on it now, as you say, since politics around citizenship are subject to change.

  • Kate 14:49 on 2023-06-06 Permalink | Reply  

    An offer made by management at Notre‑Dame‑des‑Neiges cemetery has been turned down by the unions as insufficient.

     

    • Kate 10:01 on 2023-06-06 Permalink | Reply  

      A large but temporary work of land art has been created on the eastern side of Mount Royal park by the French artist Saype, who travels around doing pieces like this. I’m not sure how you can get a good view of it without a drone, though.

       

      • Latour Roger 10:16 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        Yes… I don’t have a drone so the whole thing is pretty useless. Great to add to his website I guess.

      • walkerp 10:18 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        It’s kind of neat to see close up, actually.

      • Kate 10:19 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        Interesting to know, walkerp.

      • Marco 10:56 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        I thought there had been a grass fire. Looking at it from the wrong angle I guess.

      • Joey 11:10 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        Yeah up close it just looks like they painted the grass dark grey. The overhead visual is impressive. Not sure who exactly this is for, to be honest.

      • Shawn Goldwater 11:34 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        Ok THAT’S what it is. Yes I had thought that it was reseeding. Yes, totally useless for Montrealers, imo.

      • walkerp 13:27 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        Jesus what a bunch of entitled whiners you all sound like. Oh boo hoo this doesn’t immediately entertain me perfectly so I will act all snide and superior. It’s a field that never gets used in the summer, this project turned it into at least a curious destination and got some media attention for Muralfest.

        Maybe you all would like it better in Calgary. Sheesh.

      • Spi 13:55 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        I wouldn’t say it’s a field that never get’s used. I see plenty of people sunbathing there and even having a meal. .

      • Martin - ProposMontreal 16:28 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        I went and filmed. it’s actually quite interesting, even from up close. You can actually see it a bit when you go up the hill. Quite the work.

        It’s not useless for Montrealers like some of you are saying, it’s putting the city on the art map beside great cities part of the artist’s project.

        If you want to see what I filmed with a drone
        https://www.youtube.com/shorts/thYWcWCDdF0

      • Kate 18:27 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        Thank you for showing us that, Martin.

      • Meezly 09:46 on 2023-06-07 Permalink

        Was this filmed on Monday late afternoon, Martin? We were there checking out the art and saw a drone hovering above.

    • Kate 09:19 on 2023-06-06 Permalink | Reply  

      The smog warning continues Tuesday under a gray sky. The Journal warns of the health issues that can be caused by so much smoke in the air.

      It’s definitely smelling more smoky in Villeray today.

      CBC with a discussion of the effects on our health.

       

      • DeWolf 11:03 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        The cool breeze and acrid smell is making me nostalgic for those chilly winter days in Hong Kong when the north wind blew all the pollution down from mainland China…

        (Only half-joking. The smog really enhanced the Blade Runner effect!)

      • Kate 15:07 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        If anything, it’s been getting steadily smokier here through Tuesday.

        I’ve always lived in older buildings and been keenly aware of the threat of fire. My instincts keep being rattled by this.

      • MarcG 15:24 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        DIY air filter that’s good for Covid and smoke, parts costs about $160, filter replacements ~$90. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIuH-2naozI.

      • Kate 18:28 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        Ah, a Corsi-Rosenthal box.

        Which always sounds like something out of William Gibson to me.

      • shawn 19:28 on 2023-06-06 Permalink

        Taking the bus just now I saw joggers. I cannot understand these people. Air quality is “unhealthy.” Even tomorrow is supposed to be markedly better. Sitting at home with the windows closed is healthier than running in this.

      • MarcG 08:30 on 2023-06-07 Permalink

        @shawn: They are evidence of our failed public health and education systems

      • Daisy 10:32 on 2023-06-07 Permalink

        Do you think people run only for their physical health? I can assure you that is not the case.

    • Kate 09:17 on 2023-06-06 Permalink | Reply  

      The arson squad is investigating the firebombing of the old location of the Time Supper Club early Tuesday. La Presse says it had only just reopened as the Terrasse Maya. This was pretty severe damage, not an admonitory squib.

       

      c
      Compose new post
      j
      Next post/Next comment
      k
      Previous post/Previous comment
      r
      Reply
      e
      Edit
      o
      Show/Hide comments
      t
      Go to top
      l
      Go to login
      h
      Show/Hide help
      shift + esc
      Cancel