Category Archives: Lifestyle

Walking the Aisle Parallel to Cirque/MJ Marriage

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By Jason Menard

Some people dream of running off and joining the circus; in my case, the circus is following me and — the Cirque de Soleil, that is. And for an unabashed Michael Jackson fan, the upcoming King of Pop-themed show is a match made in heaven.

Cirque de Soleil and I both hail from the same home town — Montreal, QC. I’ve watched its growth from a gaggle of supremely talented street performers to the international success story is continues to write today. I’ve seen shows both at home, on TV, and abroad, culminating with my last experience in Las Vegas at the Criss Angel/Cirque performance at the Luxor. Continue reading →

At What Cost Idealism?

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By Jason Menard

Heritage advocates in this city can’t not pay for their cake and expect not only to eat it, but for the baker to decorate it in exactly the fashion they want. At some point, we have to put our money where our ideals are.

I think you would have a hard time finding people who would oppose a City of London with full-capacity commercial towers, restored and vibrant heritage buildings that pay homage to their legacies while serving to build our city’s future, and fully protected green spaces representative of the beauty of our community’s soul.

I also think you will have an equally hard time finding people who are willing to pay for it. Continue reading →

Blackface a Black Mark on Montreal

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By Jason Menard

The world’s greatest city just got one heck of a black eye thanks to a bunch of allegedly smart kids parading around in blackface for the world to see.

The idea that a bunch of white kids would engage in this sort of activity in the first place is inane; the fact that they didn’t think that it would end up on YouTube for the world to see? That’s just mind-numbingly stupid. Continue reading →

Finding the Right Steps in the White Guy Linguistic Jig

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By Jason Menard

I’m all in favour of using appropriate language. I also strongly believe that the words we choose can harm – and that we should never be careless with our speech. Unfortunately, I hate the White Guy Linguistic Jig that it can sometimes create.

It’s not restricted to white guys, of course. But we’re just so darn good at it! Continue reading →

Is Well-Intended Anti-Bullying Pledge Just Empty Words?

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By Jason Menard

The old adage states that actions speak louder than words. Until schools, police, and parents are willing to get tough on bullies, I fear that this latest anti-bullying endeavour – the Pledge to End Bullying – will amount to nothing more than empty words.

Essentially, the pledge states one’s belief that everyone in the community has a right to feel safe and that “I pledge to be respectful of others and stand up against bullying whenever and wherever I see it.”

Nice words. Great sentiment. But the ones who most need to follow those rules won’t be the ones lining up to take this pledge. If this sounds familiar, perhaps because it’s very similar to a piece I wrote in the Ottawa Citizen in May regarding a much-more graphic anti-sexual assault campaign. Continue reading →