COVID-19 – The INSIDER

Arts

“That’s not 2 meters”

November 3, 2020November 3, 2020 newspaper COVID-190 comment

In Memoriam of the 2-to-3-year-old female humpback whale, who was first seen in the Saint-Lawrence river on May 30th, and who died due to a collision with a boat on the night of June 9th. In early October, Montreal artist Geraldine Laurendeau built a monument with the help of other local artists near the water in Bellerive Park (in the city’s east-end) to keep the memory of this creature alive. “They’re quite fascinating animals but behind that, there are a lot of things we can learn from them,”…

Arts

The man who lived

October 16, 2020 newspaper COVID-19, Short Story0 comment

To all the people that died during this time of pandemic The kettle was boiling in the kitchen, and Simon poured himself a cup of tea. Every morning, he drank from the same cup given by his sister, who had passed away. She was a wonderful girl; she always supported her younger brother in all his endeavors, often called, and worried about him. Unfortunately, she never had a family: she was a lawyer, loved her career, devoted all her time to work, and thought that everything was still ahead…

Voices

Properly wearing your mask means wearing it over your nose

October 8, 2020 newspaper COVID-190 comment

Montreal has now entered the orange zone* due to the growing number of daily Covid-19 cases. Things may quickly escalate from here with Montreal possibly entering the red zone very soon, which would mean another lockdown. These next few weeks are crucial, which is why it’s important, now more than ever, to not only wear a mask, but to wear one properly. Lately, it is very common to see people wearing face coverings under their mouths, hanging from the ear, and, the most popular, wearing it under the nose….

Voices

Loves and Laments from Self-Isolation

October 7, 2020 newspaper COVID-19, Quarantine0 comment

Cover: “Candid” Self-Portrait by Mel Spiridigliozzi It goes without saying that the past six months collectively make up the catalyst of a transformative experience, and I don’t mean this in that optimistic cliché-ed sense of “personal growth.” We’ve been, quite literally, changed by circumstance, as our very livelihoods, worldviews, and even some values, were inevitably altered to accommodate tHeSe UnPrEceDeNtEd tImEs. That being said, the purpose of this piece isn’t to harp on this all-too-common generalization of people’s trauma that has been floating around the media as of late, nor…

News

The Real Reason Tina Namiesniowsk, Former President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Resigned

October 2, 2020October 2, 2020 newspaper COVID-190 comment

Tina Namiesniowski, the former president of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), resigned on September 18th. This is 18 months after having been appointed to the job, and just as COVID-19 cases started to spike nation-wide. In a statement, she said “You really need someone who will have the energy and the stamina to take the Agency and our response to the next level.” She also added that the work the PHAC has done during the past months has had a personal toll on several people, including herself,…

Vanier Alumni Voices

Masks and Free Bus Rides Amidst COVID-19

June 23, 2020 newspaper COVID-190 comment

It was not too long ago when COVID-19 (the short form for “Coronavirus Disease 2019”) hit Germany. The current coronavirus pandemic has caused many restrictions worldwide. Let us have a look at Germany. In end-March, restaurants were banned from hosting dine-in clients and were only allowed to serve take-away. Citizens had to wear a mask on public transport. Supermarkets and other grocery stores were still open for business, but shoppers had to wear a mask and keep at a distance of at least 1.5 meters from each other when inside….

News

That One Gesture

May 29, 2020 newspaper COVID-190 comment

On the 13th of March, Vanier Students left the college’s campus to go on their Spring Break. What they did not realize is that they also left their normal student lives behind. COVID-19 has negatively impacted the lives of millions of Canadians: Students can no longer go back to their classrooms, people have lost their jobs and the government imposed social distancing rules. The 2019 Novel Coronavirus has also hurt many communities. One of those affected communities is Montreal. Once a beautiful city filled with people, now became…

Voices

Blood and Plasma Wanted Unless You’re Gay

May 26, 2020 newspaper Activism, COVID-190 comment

On May 17th, Quebec’s Prime Minister François Legault reminded us that we should “continue to denounce homophobia and transphobia.” Despite this statement, government-funded health institutions continue to have homophobic and transphobic rules. The discriminatory nature of these so-called “safety precautions” has been recently highlighted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the mounting number of cases worldwide, health organizations have been pleading with the public to consider donating blood and plasma. Montreal resident Adam Capriolo posted an image on his Instagram account which detailed his encounter with Hema-Quebec….

Entertainment Voices

Quarantine in the Time of Coronavirus

May 12, 2020 newspaper COVID-19, Quarantine0 comment

Day 1 (March FRIDAY THE 13th) : I have no classes on Fridays, but my comrades are forced to attend school, risking their lives for their education. Later, Legault announces that all schools are to be closed for two weeks. Day 2: I had insomnia last night, and I am awoken in the wee hours of the morning. I am unproductive, but I do an ab workout to stay fit. I listen to music all day, and I even develop a newfound obsession with sudokus. However, I soon experience a…

News Voices

The Covid-19 Pandemic: Racism in a Time of Mandatory Division

May 12, 2020 newspaper COVID-190 comment

This moment in time is marked by fear, as well as shrouded in confusion and uncertainty. What was once spring fever has now transformed into the stir-crazy feeling we’re all too familiar with as we begin to approach our second month of isolation. Yes, tensions are rising as the once-seemingly-harmless cough in line has now become reason enough to feel panic in one’s chest, resulting in possibly volatile reactions. However, a particular group found within society is on the receiving end of such external stressors. Hate crimes against East-Asian people…