David Leitch in talks to direct 'Gears Of War' movie
Washington [US], May 16 (ANI): Filmmaker David Leitch is in talks to direct a feature adaptation of the hit video game 'Gears of War' for Netflix.
Jon Spaihts is writing the script for the feature for which Netflix has partnered with The Coalition Studio, the Canadian game developer behind the franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Leitch and his wife and producing partner, Kelly McCormick, will produce the feature via their 87North banner along with The Coalition.
The game is set on a planet on the brink of societal collapse when a monstrous threat in the form of underground creatures known as the Locust takes humanity to the verge of extinction, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
He made his directorial debut on the action film John Wick (2014) with Chad Stahelski, though only Stahelski was credited. He later also directed the films Atomic Blonde (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Bullet Train (2022), and The Fall Guy (2024).
Leitch, who established himself as a major action filmmaker with films like 'Bullet Train', 'Deadpool 2', and 'Atomic Blonde'.
Now, he is gearing up for his next project, 'How To Rob a Bank', which stars Nicholas Hoult, Pete Davidson, and Anna Sawai, has a plot that's largely under wraps, but it involves smart bank robbers who share their heists on social media while evading police.
The film Leitch is directing will be released in theatres on September 4, 2026. (ANI)
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Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Tony Hawk, Mark McMorris help open skateboard park expansion in Smithers, B.C.
Published May 30, 2025 • Last updated 4 minutes ago • 3 minute read Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk high-fives young fans during the grand opening of the expanded Smithers Skate Park in Smithers, B.C., in this Thursday, May 29, 2025 handout photo. Photo by handout/Erica Chan / THE CANADIAN PRESS Tony Hawk and Mark McMorris wanted their presence at the Smithers Skate Park expansion unveiling to amplify skateboarding's importance in the remote, northern B.C. community. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Skateboarding icon Hawk and Canadian snowboarding star McMorris travelled to the town of 5,000 people for Thursday's opening. They lauded the community's pluck in raising $1.8 million to increase the size of the street park and build a bowl for skateboarders next to the Yellowhead Highway that runs from Winnipeg to the West Coast. 'I don't go to many grand openings, to be honest, but this seemed like a really unique situation,' Hawk said. 'I don't want to say it's the most remote area, but in remote areas, skateboarding is still a valid option for kids to choose, and they want to do it. We need to provide facilities for them.' McMorris, a three-time Olympic slopestyle bronze medallist whose 24 X Games medals is the most among snowboarders, has a special place in his heart for skateboarding. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The first board I ever got on was a skateboard,' McMorris said. 'It's been so important in my life. That's how I made a lot of friends. It's where I spent a lot of time at the skate park in Regina. 'I can just only imagine what it would be like if Tony Hawk came to Regina to open a skate park when I was a kid. Some kids' minds are going to be blown, and some new skateboarders are going to be born from this event.' Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk stands in front of fans during the grand opening of the expanded Smithers Skate Park in Smithers, B.C., in this Thursday, May 29, 2025 handout photo. Photo by handout/Erica Chan / THE CANADIAN PRESS The expanded street park cost $1.2 million and the bowl another $600,000 to build, said Smithers Skate Park Society vice-chair Christy Sawchuck, who is also known around town as 'Rad-Mom' because of her love of skateboarding. 'We don't have the municipalities that can fund something like this. We're doing it all on our own,' Sawchuck said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We had local non-profits and foundations that got us started with large donations. We had many local companies that gave us discounted materials and services.' The Power To Give Foundation contacted McMorris, who in turn reached out to Hawk. The two men have crossed paths in the action sport community and in Encinitas, Calif., where both have homes. 'He is an extremely large figure. Larger than life, larger than the sport itself, so for him to agree to do this is very special,' McMorris said. Hawk's Skateboard Project in the United States helps build parks for underserved communities, so what Smithers has done aligns with his beliefs. 'To see this in Canada makes me feel inspired. I hope that the city takes pride in a project like this,' Hawk said. 'A lot of times facilities like these are uphill battles and there are tired stigmas that are associated with our sport, skateboarding especially. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I feel like skate parks can save lives and they can enhance a community beyond anything that they might imagine. I feel like Smithers will be an example of that.' More improvements are in the works for the Smithers' park including a pump track that's easier for beginners, lighting and accessible washrooms. Admission to the skate park is free. 'For free unstructured play that reaches everybody and every demographic, I think it's imperative to have,' Sawkchuck said. 'Not everybody can afford to do huge recreational sports and have parents that can travel.' Sawchuck also believes travelling families will see the park from the highway and make it a stop for rest and recreation. 'It runs right along Highway 16. We have a lot of people that travel the North, anywhere from the Lower Mainland, from the United States, travelling up to Alaska,' she said. 'It ends up being like a rest-stop station and a central hub for people to let their dogs out, grab something to eat, go to the skate park, chill out for a little bit and carry on on their travels.' Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Crime Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls Toronto Raptors
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
the Influencers Toronto's top 10 of 2025 This isn't just a list — it's a celebration of the local content creators who are shaping how Toronto thinks, eats, dresses, speaks out and shows up. Together, they have nearly 13 million followers, almost double the population of the GTA. Here, we celebrate the social media stars behind the screens. keep scrolling to read more
01 Lisa Corbo This is an example of an image caption Pierre Dunnigan/Makivik TikTok: 453K followers @lisa_corbo Instagram: 318K followers @lisacorbo fashion beauty When asked about her future plans, Lisa Corbo fires back: 'Do you have all day to hear about my career goals? I might be 64 but trust me when I say I'm just getting started.' Corbo already had one legendary career in fashion: She presided over high-end Yorkville boutique George C. for almost two decades and is a longtime fixture on Toronto's sartorially savvy society scene. In 2021, she segued into her next act online, proving via her fabulous 'fits that style is truly ageless — and that individuality rules above all Age ain't nothing but a number, as Lisa Corbo so beautifully proves with her captivating content showcasing perfect outfit after perfect outfit. Age ain't nothing but a number, as Lisa Corbo so beautifully proves with her captivating content showcasing perfect outfit after perfect outfit. 'Over the many years I fell in love with helping my loyal clientele find confidence through fashion and embrace their own personal style,' she says. 'Now, as a digital creator, my goal remains the same. If I can help someone starting out, at any age, to find their style, their esthetic, through my content, that's my reward.' Next up? Corbo has Fashion Week front-row seats, a book and a new Substack on her to-do list. She's determined to do it all: 'I realized over the last few decades that life is no dress rehearsal!' ' I may be 64, but trust me when I say I'm just getting started.' Fashion credits: Dries Van Noten dress, at SSENSE; Chanel necklace, at Mine & Yours. 02 Spencer West This is an example of an image caption Pierre Dunnigan/Makivik TikTok: 4.4M followers @Spencer2TheWest Instagram: 449K followers @Spencer2TheWest YouTube: 270K subscribers @Spencer2TheWest Disability LGBTQ+ First, Spencer West conquered Facebook, using that platform to document his quest to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2012. Then, he tackled Instagram, filling his grid with behind-the-scenes footage of his gig as an opening act on Demi Lovato's 2014 tour. In 2017, West mastered YouTube, creating videos about his adventures as a motivational speaker and lived experienced as a gay disabled man (his legs were amputated due to a congenital condition). Finally, in 2021, he triumphed on TikTok, where a pair of viral videos sent his follower count from 20 into the millions, leading him to take the plunge into creating content full-time. Spencer West makes accessibility not accessible but fun with videos about the nuances of his life as a disabled dude. Spencer West makes accessibility not accessible but fun with videos about the nuances of his life as a disabled dude. West is working on a book (his second), and he's parlayed his social success into a recurring role on Canadian institution 'Murdoch Mysteries.' But he says he'll always cherish his social media work as a prime platform for his advocacy work. 'I give people a glimpse into how I navigate the world, showcasing the barriers I encounter, challenging conventional narratives and promoting inclusivity,' he says. 'My hope is by sharing my journey, it will not only inspire others but educate and advocate for systemic change.' ' My hope is by sharing my journey, it will not only inspire others but educate and advocate for systemic change.' Even though he's been a social star for more than a decade, he's still humbled by the daily messages he receives from followers: queer and disabled folks thank West for improving representation; others tell him he changed their perspective or empowered them to start advocating for inclusion in their community. 'Anytime someone says they feel seen or that they learned something and felt empowered to take action,' says West, 'I know I've done my job.' Fashion credits: Libero shirt; Patrick Assaraf T-shirt, at Harry Rosen. 03 Abdullah Zaidi TikTok: 1.2M followers @thisguyabdullah Instagram: 677K followers @thisguyabdullah beauty comedy The beauty industry can take itself way too seriously, according to Abdullah Zaidi, so he's happy to have some fun with the occasionally self-important sector. 'As a straight man in a traditionally feminine space, I use satire to poke fun at the quest for perfection, which is unrealistic for anyone, let alone the young girls and women that are usually targeted,' he says. ' I use satire to poke fun at the quest for perfection, which is unrealistic for anyone.' Zaidi started his channel less than two years ago 'as a playful jab at influencers' glamorous lives.' It's since become 'a way to embrace imperfection, tell jokes and have fun.' That down-to-earth perspective resonated immediately: His second video — a tongue-in-cheek take on an influencer's cooking video — went viral with 10 million views. 'That's when I realized I could have fun sharing my humour on this platform,' says Zaidi. While others may showcase a glamorous lifestyle, Zaidi highlights the humour in things like deciphering ingredients or elaborate beauty routines. One of the best parts of the gig is the friendships he's forged with fellow content creators: 'It's incredible that some of my close friends now are people I once admired as a fan.' If you told someone 15 years ago that people would be recognized for creating from home, it would have been unthinkable, he says, and he remains grateful for any fan interactions. 'Whether it's someone asking for a picture or just a smile on the street,' he says, 'it's always incredible.' Fashion credits: Jacquemus jacket, at VSP Consignment; Bottega Veneta shirt, at Holt Renfrew; Kotn tank top. 04 Emily Durham This is an example of an image caption Pierre Dunnigan/Makivik TikTok: 691K followers @ Instagram: 474K followers @ career Feeling truly empowered at work can change your life, says Emily Durham. 'For most of us, our job isn't just a job — it's where we spend the majority of our time, where our identity is shaped, and where so much of our confidence either grows or shrinks,' says Durham. 'Helping someone land a new role, ask for a raise, or even just feel less alone navigating workplace politics? That's the best feeling in the world.' Building a solid career can be stressful, but Emily Durham's tips and tricks make things like salary negotiation and networking a breeze. Building a solid career can be stressful, but Emily Durham's tips and tricks make things like salary negotiation and networking a breeze. Durham worked as a recruiter for years, where she witnessed firsthand how access to career education and mentorship directly impacted interview results, promotion rates and salary — and how a lack of support disproportionately affected women and under-represented groups. She wanted to talk about it. In 2020, Durham launched'The Straight Shooter Recruiter' podcast, then started making career guidance videos, which quickly went viral. 'When I think about my purpose online, it's really to empower people in their careers and democratize access to the kind of information that's so often gatekept,' she says. 'My goal is to help people feel confident, satisfied, and — above all — get paid.' Achieving success in the crowded social world also allowed Durham to make one of her cherished childhood dreams come true: her first book, a career guide for Gen Z women entitled 'Daddy's Not a CEO,' comes out next year. Fashion credits: Tiger of Sweden dress; Biko earrings and ring; Alexis Bittar necklace; Bottega Veneta heels, at Mine & Yours. 05 Brendan Carpenter This is an example of an image caption Pierre Dunnigan/Makivik TikTok: 265K followers @brecarperuns Instagram: 62K followers @brecarperuns fitness mental health Growing up, Brendan Carpenter was a big kid who yearned to see bodies like his represented in media and online: 'I didn't really know where to look or have anyone to turn to on the internet.' When he started running in 2016, Carpenter decided to document his weight-loss journey on social media to help others feel less alone. 'It turned out people did care,' he says. That support offered more than motivation: it gave him purpose. 'I wanted to keep working at it as I shared my ups and downs.' ' Over the years I've learned that all bodies are runners' bodies.' In the nine years since, Carpenter has branched out into all manner of lifestyle content, from mental health and men's fashion to cooking and cleaning. 'I'm a larger-bodied human, so I love to show that we aren't confined to being pigeonholed into one space,' he says. Carpenter's inclusive, feel-good content has led to partnerships with brands like Air Canada (he took his dad to the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals with the airline), and to shooting a running commercial with SportChek. 'I always thought you had to be skinny and model-like to be included in something like that, but over the years, I've learned that all bodies are runners' bodies,' he says. 'It showed me that anything is possible.' Fashion credits: Carhartt jacket at SSENSE; BOSS T-shirt at Harry Rosen; Christian Louboutin sneakers. 06 Tara Sigari This is an example of an image caption Pierre Dunnigan/Makivik TikTok: 504K followers @tarasigari Instagram: 809K followers @tarasigari beauty As a teen, Tara Sigari was fascinated by how flawless celebrities appeared on TV. How did they look so good? She vowed to learn their beauty secrets. After high school, Sigari studied Chinese medicine, but she had this nagging feeling: 'If I didn't take the risk and give (full-time) content creation a real shot, I'd always wonder, What if?' she says. 'I knew I had to try, even if it was scary.' In 2018, Sigari committed to creating videos breaking down celebrity makeup artist secrets, making the tips and tricks accessible to everyone. Her risk paid off, big-time. Now, if she wants to know how a Jenner or Kardashian — or even Beyoncé — achieves a look, she can simply contact their makeup artist and get the goods. 'Then I'll come back and teach it in a fun, digestible way that anyone can understand,' she says. Tara Sigari demystifies the beauty world, sharing hacks, tutorials, and dupes to help followers look their best, no matter their budget. Tara Sigari demystifies the beauty world, sharing hacks, tutorials, and dupes to help followers look their best, no matter their budget. What makes her content different? 'I'm a researcher at heart. I do the legwork so my audience doesn't have to.' I want them to feel like they're getting the same beauty tips celebrities pay thousands for, for free.' Sigari is eager to become one of the top creators in the beauty space and represent both Canada and her native Iran on the world stage. She also plans to expand into longer-form content, sharing deeper tutorials, behind-the-scenes moments and more of the heart behind the glam: 'I want my audience to not just learn techniques but to connect with the 'why' behind them.' Sigari may be a burgeoning global sensation, but she hopes to always call Toronto home. 'This city is such a beautiful mix of cultures, voices and stories. It's a place where individuality is celebrated, not silenced. Being surrounded by that kind of energy constantly inspires me to create with pride and purpose. Honestly, I wouldn't want to create anywhere else.' ' I'm a researcher at heart. I do the legwork so my audience doesn't have to.' She may be a burgeoning global sensation, but she hopes to always call Toronto home. 'This city is such a beautiful mix of cultures, voices, and stories. It's a place where individuality is celebrated, not silenced. Being surrounded by that kind of energy constantly inspires me to create with pride and purpose,' she says. 'Toronto is where I was born and raised, and honestly, I wouldn't want to create anywhere else.' Fashion credits: Balmain dress and Alaïa shoes, both at Holt Renfrew; Alexis Bittar bracelet and cuff. 07 Jacob Balshin This is an example of an image caption Pierre Dunnigan/Makivik TikTok: 93K followers @dinkbalshin Instagram: 94K followers @jacobbalshin comedy toronto The first video Jacob Balshin ever posted was a love letter to Bathurst Station, a frequent transit destination for the comedian, as he bussed into the city from his parents' place in Thornhill. He's been making videos for just over a year; each one is an ode to the struggle he faced as a broke comedian trying to make ends meet in Toronto. His popularity on social spiked, however, when he debuted his apartment tours of places like, as he puts it, 'the windowless, rat-infested basement I once called home.' His sweet spot is the sides of Toronto that people don't typically highlight, he says: 'From resilient family businesses that don't have advertising budgets to broken-down apartments where people are struggling to make ends meet, it's my goal to highlight the experience I've had living in Toronto, instead of a glamourized version.' Famed for his bone-dry delivery, comedian Jacob Balshin (a.k.a. Dink) explores the stranger side of Toronto, including the terrors of our rental market. Famed for his bone-dry delivery, comedian Jacob Balshin (a.k.a. Dink) explores the stranger side of Toronto, including the terrors of our rental market. Thanks to his social-media stardom, he's doing a little better these days: Once he had to beg people to come to his standup sets; now, his shows regularly sell out. His influence grows daily, too; one day he walked past an Ali Baba's location that had started selling spaghetti, so he made a video saying, 'They should call themselves Al Babino's.' A few days later when he walked past, the sign for Ali Baba's had been taken down — replaced with a sign that said Al Babino's. Fashion credits: Kotn jacket; Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt, at Mine & Yours. 08 Reni Odetoyinbo This is an example of an image caption Pierre Dunnigan/Makivik TikTok: 73K followers @xoxoreni Instagram: 46K followers @xoreni YouTube: 36K followers @xoReni finance Reni Odetoyinbo still remembers the message. In 2020, a person from her Don't Go Broke Collective financial accountability group told Odetoyinbo that she went from being terrified of money to investing her first $10,000 after following the finance creator's content for a year. 'She said no one had ever explained money to her in a way that actually made sense before, and she felt confident about her financial future for the first time,' Odetoyinbo says. 'That meant so much to me because this is exactly why I create content: to make finance feel doable for people who've been shut out of the conversation.' ' I create content to make finance feel doable for people who've been shut out of the conversation.' Other followers have told Odetoyinbo they used her advice to get out of credit card debt or take their dream trip without going broke: 'Those moments remind me that this work is changing lives in ways I can't always see online.' Odetoyinbo's stock-in-trade, she says, is personal finance content that's simple, practical and relatable, that helps people understand how to budget, save and invest, but to enjoy their money, too — like having a financially savvy best friend break things down in plain language. She was adamant about showing not just the wins but her challenges along the way as she first bought stocks at 18 and purchased a house at 23. She was only a year and a half into making content when she decided to go pro. How did she know she was ready? The money coming in from making content matched the income from her full-time job. Ka-ching. Fashion credits: COS suit jacket; Reformation top; Biko earrings and rings; Jenny Bird bracelet. 09 Clement Leung TikTok: 3.3M followers @ Instagram: 721K followers @ YouTube: 1.1M subscribers @InstaNoodls food It was mid-pandemic and Clement Leung was bored. Inspired by folks like Anthony Bourdain and YouTubers Mark Wiens and Sonny Slide of Best Ever Food Review Show, he decided to point the camera at himself while he ate at home. At the time, he was eating a lot of instant noodles; soon, people started suggesting instant-noodle recipes to try. He did — and they went viral. Two years later, Leung was laid off and started making food videos full-time, racking up millions of followers across multiple platforms who delight in the sense of fun and joy he brings to eating out. 'One of the important missions of my channel is to shine a light on food I feel deserves more attention, like sharing hidden gems and local mom-and-pop eateries,' he says. 'My hope is that my platform can be a blessing to others, as it has been a blessing to me.' Clement Leung's cheery demeanour and deep knowledge of all things noodle make him a fun tour guide through the culinary scenes of Toronto and beyond. Clement Leung's cheery demeanour and deep knowledge of all things noodle make him a fun tour guide through the culinary scenes of Toronto and beyond. His content has taken him around the world — he recently spent several weeks on a foodie tour of New Zealand — but Leung believes Toronto is the best food city anywhere. 'You can find any country's cuisine here and it's done well — sometimes even better than back in the home country,' he says. 'I feel like more people need to know about the food in Toronto.' Recently, he met a follower on the subway who shared how much they loved a local restaurant. They were so passionate about the place that the pair talked about the food for the whole TTC ride. Then, video camera in hand, Leung went there, too. Fashion credits: Frame shirt, at Holt Renfrew; Robert Barakett T-shirt, at Holt Renfrew; Kotn trousers; Martin Margiela sneakers, at Holt Renfrew. 10 Shriya Agnihotri TikTok: 43K followers @missfoodieto Instagram: 124K followers @missfoodieto food lifestyle Shriya Agnihotri started small, by posting her favourite vegetarian and vegan food on her personal social media accounts. Then the requests started rolling in: friend after friend asking her where to eat because, as Agnihotri puts it, 'They knew I was vegetarian, and they were surprised the food looked good!' Her coworkers encouraged her to go pro, and in 2019, Agnihotri create her own food-focused accounts. Now based in Markham, she's a go-to source for all things vegetarian in the GTA and beyond. (She's even been stopped in Japan for meatless recos.) Shriya Agnihotri is a proud ambassador for delicious vegetarian eats in the GTA and beyond. Shriya Agnihotri is a proud ambassador for delicious vegetarian eats in the GTA and beyond. 'I grew up in a Hindu Punjabi household where making food and serving it is a deeply ingrained cultural practice and emphasizes tradition, hospitality and a sense of community,' says Agnihotri. 'I grew up in a community of chefs, so at all of my family parties, everything was homemade but tasted like restaurant quality, if not better. It turned me into a person who loves and appreciates food on a deeper level.' She particularly enjoys sharing veggie suggestions with fans. 'I've had a lot of people DM me saying, 'My boyfriend or girlfriend is vegetarian and I want to plan a nice date for them. Where should I take them?' To me, that's the sweetest thing ever, when someone is planning an evening out for their loved one and thought of asking me to contribute. I take it very seriously!' Fashion credits: Proenza Schoulder dress, at Holt Renfrew; Biko earrings; Jenny Bird necklace.
Montreal Gazette
4 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
Drimonis: Devenir Keb puts human face on immigrant experience
I've written two books and countless columns on migration and the politics of 'belonging' — and I still sometimes feel like I'll never fully understand the complex, challenging, sometimes lonely and almost always deeply hopeful process of leaving everything you know behind for the promise of something better. Immigration isn't and never has been one size fits all. One's integration can vary considerably based on individual motives, personality, expectations, tolerance for change, ease of language acquisition, ties to motherland and ability to adapt to a new reality. How newcomers are perceived and welcomed by their new society and how quickly they're given essential integration tools (think francization in Quebec!) also are key in their successful immigration. Immigrants are not a monolith. They're unique human beings who shouldn't be expected to seamlessly fit into clichéd or antiquated notions of what makes a Quebecer or Canadian or how they're expected to behave, talk, look or think. Neither are immigrants all that different from the rest of the population. We all pretty much want the same things: peace, prosperity, opportunity, a better life for oneself and loved ones. Those currently being welcomed into the fold will influence and continue to shape Quebec's ever-evolving society, and they, in turn, will be influenced by everything that embraces them. Done right, immigration is a culturally enriching and mutually beneficial exchange. Which brings us to a new French-language docu-series that broaches the topic of Quebec immigration. Created, directed and hosted by real-life partners Noémi Mercier and Philippe Desrosiers, Devenir Keb (Becoming a Quebecer) explores the topic of Quebec identity by giving immigrants the mic — and a voice. We meet Naoufel, a teacher from Tunisia; Rosa, a single mom and dentist from Cuba; Stella, a nurse from Cameroon; the Kachiche family from Lebanon; and many more. All six episodes focus on economic and humanitarian immigration and are primarily stories of resilience, with each respective title focusing on an integration stage and the challenges that come with it: Arrive. Speak. Work. Heal. Grow. Put down roots. What I appreciate most about the series is how it profoundly humanizes immigration for those who may not have a first-person experience of it. It also serves as an important reminder of the many everyday Quebecers working hard to help integrate newcomers into our society with kindness and a helping hand, easing them into our collective 'we.' In her moving 2020 essay 'Qui ça, nous ?', Mercier — whose Haitian mom arrived here in 1965 at age 20 — notes: ''We' is more than a cocoon, it's a boundary; it excludes at the same time as it envelops. With tangible consequences for those kept outside.' The sixth episode of Devenir Keb explores exactly that — how 'othering' affects immigrants' sense of belonging and often prevents them from identifying as Quebecers. The series' resident immigration expert, Mireille Paquet, director of Concordia University's Institute for Research on Migration and Society, is someone whose expertise I've sought often. Her insight is invaluable in dispeling popular, often damaging, myths around immigration and the process of asylum. Mercier says the best way to overcome our preconceived ideas about strangers we might distrust is to be in contact with them. But, as she points out, not all Quebecers have the same opportunities to be around immigrants. 'The only representation they have,' she tells me, 'is what they see in the media, and that's necessarily reductive.' At a time when too many governments continue to treat immigration as a liability and a threat to the host society, Devenir Keb reminds us that the best way to make someone part of our 'we' is to fundamentally not treat them like an 'other.'
