Latest news with #CBCMontreal
CBC
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
How learning to bike can lead to more peaceful roads
Social Sharing This story is a collaboration between Concordia University's journalism department and CBC Montreal. On a frigid Sunday afternoon in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, a dozen women hopped on bikes for their first winter ride ever, helped by experienced trainers from Vélo Québec. Apart from ice and snow, the biggest challenge participants faced was sharing the space with other road users, especially cars. Zineb Bettayeb was one of the winter workshop attendants. Through the workshops, Bettayeb has not only learned how to navigate the streets as a cyclist. They have also made her a better driver. "Being a cyclist, I try to be more responsible when I drive," Bettayeb said, explaining that she's now more conscious of pedestrians and other vulnerable users on the road. Vélo Québec, an organization that promotes cycling in the province, launched a pilot project called Toutes à vélo in 2021. The program helps women — who are less likely to cycle than men — learn how to ride a bike. Participants and organizers say that Toutes à vélo has the added bonus of promoting awareness when it comes to sharing the road. A booming demand for bike lessons The program has proved popular, with a waitlist of nearly 1,200. Earlier this year, the federal government invested almost $900,000 in funding to Toutes à vélo. Magali Bebronne, a director and trainer with the program, had been hoping for the extra funding for a long time. She said the program would use it to "offer this whole variety of complementary activities so that participants can move further in their path towards adopting cycling as a mode of transportation." WATCH | Workshop teaches hundreds of women how to bike: The program is most popular in Montreal. In summer, it includes 11 hours of instruction over the course of a month. Organizers have held winter biking workshops for the past two winters. While the goal of Toutes à vélo is to teach women how to bike for the purpose of leisure or transportation, it also has an impact on cohabitation between car drivers and cyclists on the road. There have been long-standing tensions between bicycle users and car drivers in Montreal, which have only heightened under Mayor Valérie Plante. Residents have voiced their frustration, especially at the loss of parking, while others praised the rise in dedicated bike infrastructure. Social media has been the epicentre for displaying polarization between road users. During last winter's snowstorms, for instance, there were an immeasurable amount of comments on social media that blamed the bike paths for the slow removal of snow. Marianne Giguère, the Projet Montréal city councillor responsible for Montreal's cycling plan, said that one of the solutions to this polarization is to make people understand the reality of both groups. "The minute you've ridden a bike, on a country lane or a city road, you understand how nice it is when someone goes around you," Giguère said. "When someone slows down, when someone gives you space while overtaking you, when someone looks in the mirror before opening their door." Learning to be a biker — and better driver According to a 2024 Toutes à vélo survey, 52 per cent of the 120 participants they polled used a car as their primary mode of transportation. But through their workshops, Toutes à vélo increases the proportion of drivers who are also cyclists. One of the founders and instructors of Toutes à vélo, Catherine Plante, believes the program contributes to a better understanding of cyclists' reality. As a trainer, she said she has seen it with her own eyes, with some participants saying "I understand now why the bike paths are large!" and "I understand now why people want more cycling infrastructure!" Aissata Bangoura, another participant, drives every day to her job in downtown Montreal. She said she's more careful now. "There are other road users that have the right to be there." Originally from Algeria, Bettayeb achieved a life-long dream by learning how to bike with Toutes à vélo. "I come from a society where there isn't really a cycling culture, so I couldn't bike, especially as a woman," she said. "When I moved to Canada, I found that everyone was biking and it really made me happy." Since completing the cycling program in the summer, Bettayeb has started to commute to work every day by bike. Now, Bettayeb said, she knows not only how to ride a bike, but to do so "in a safe way while sharing the lane with motorists."
CBC
19-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Montrealers are taking on climate change with cookies and community
This story is a collaboration between Concordia University's journalism department and CBC Montreal. Once a month, 20 to 30 Montrealers gather in a small chalet in the middle of the Notre-Dame-de-Grace Park to take on a monumental task: tackling climate change. In March, one of the attendees was 19-year-old CEGEP student Kianna Staniforth, who is concerned about what's to come. "I want to see my grandchildren live and not have to wear a mask to breathe the outside air," she said. "[Climate change] is real, it's happening and people need to pay attention." Staniforth is not the only one who feels this way. Each month, Resilience NDG, a grassroots environmental group in the west of Montreal, hosts a series of workshops called the Climate Café, where people concerned about climate change meet to discuss the crisis. Since its inception a year ago, the Climate Café has organized a dozen workshops. They delve into a variety of topics, from how to talk to kids about climate change, to understanding COP-29. In mid-March, the group gathered to learn about economic degrowth. Attendees sipped on herbal tea and leafed through pamphlets about moving toward more ecologically sustainable economies. The group discussed how to implement concrete actions to combat climate change in their daily lives. In addition to their in-person meetings, the group hosts online sessions called "Resilience and Reconnection." These zoom meetings, which typically see five to six participants, are a more intimate format, offering participants a chance to talk about difficult emotions brought up by climate change. Climate on the brain Indeed, almost half of people in Quebec experienced climate anxiety in 2024, according to a report published by Université Laval. In addition to mental health concerns, over two-thirds of Quebecers suffered physical disruptions to their daily life — such as extreme weather events, impacts on their physical health and property damage at the hands of climate change. Judith Gulko, clinical psychologist and a facilitator of the sessions, hopes to help people understand their negative climate emotions in a new way. She encourages people to fully experience their climate change despair, before taking action. She wants to normalize the feelings of anxiety and depression that the climate crisis can bring. People often ask her how they can "possibly make a difference." "It's easy to feel collapsed — that's fine! Collapse today, but you don't have to stay collapsed," she tells them. Researchers have found that seeing others take action against climate change can provide what's called " constructive hope" — inspiration for those struggling with climate anxiety. Kara Johnston, a lead organizer of the Climate Café, said there's power in bringing people together. "It's not so much about that facilitator," she said. "It's really about all the expertise in the room." Along with the lively discussions, the group sometimes organizes informal activities such as book exchanges. Activities that are "purely connective and pure fun" balance the anxiety and frustration people can feel about climate change, Johnston said. Promoting social connection For Roksana Bahramitash, a regular Climate Café participant, attending the group has become a way to break isolation. "Being with people who are like-minded and engaged in action is a way that has become very nourishing," she said. The social connection offered by the Climate Café has helped long-time environmental activist Jane Barr stay motivated. "My heart is full of connection and togetherness. Knowing I'm not alone, that there are people who feel like I do, think like I do," she said. "You don't go away defeated." Barr, who has been attending these sessions since they started, said that the cafe reminds her of her civic power. "I really believe that individual actions can make a difference. A thousand miles starts with one step. A million dollars starts with one penny, so we can all do something," said Barr. The events mostly attract older adults, the majority of them women. Johnston hopes the cafes fill up with a younger and more diverse audience in the future too. For example, Johnston hopes to invite Indigenous knowledge holders to future Climate Cafés to expand the group's group has booked workshops on topics suggested by attendees until November 2025, according to Johnston. However, the group has learned that they will no longer be permitted to use the chalet in the park. The borough stated in an email that the group was asked to leave as a result of construction in the NDG community centre. Activities that were typically hosted there have been relocated to other locations, among them, the NDG chalet. Johnston worries that it will be difficult to find a space in NDG to accommodate the group. With no public funding and most expenses out of Johnston's pocket, the group is now searching for a new home for the Climate Café. WATCH | Some practical advice: Longtime climate activist shares advice on how to stay hopeful 5 minutes ago Duration 0:56 Jane Barr has been a dedicated environmental activist for more than 50 years. She says there are real ways you can lower your climate footprint. As a former consultant to the United Nations Environment Programme, Barr is now a regular attendee of Resilience NDG's Climate Café, a community group for climate-concerned residents. Emotion as fuel Wherever the Climate Café ends up, Gulko hopes that participants come away with the understanding that despair about the climate crisis is a normal part of fighting against it. She reminds people that feeling excitement and hope one day, and then despair and discouragement the next, is normal. "We're not failing in any way if we don't always hold on to gratitude and perspective," she said. She believes that those who want to stay in the fight against climate change must allow themselves the time to fall apart. "It makes total sense if you're not fine. It means you care. Your heart is open and not," Gulko said. Staniforth, who was participating in her second Climate Café and aspires to work in an environmental field after she graduates, said she'll be back. "It's nice to be around other people who are paying attention."
CBC
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
CBC Montreal at the 2025 Dynastie awards
Congratulations to the three CBC Montreal journalists who have earned nominations for the 2025 Dynastie awards. Now in its ninth year, the event rewards creators from Quebec's Black communities who work in the cultural, entertainment and media industries, all of whom project a positive image and act as role models for the generations to come. The Bridge host Nantali Indongo has been nominated as radio host of the year. Kwabena Oduro and Mélissa François have been nominated as television/radio reporters of the year. The Gala Dynastie media awards will be handed out on April 26. You can read more stories here.
CBC
05-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Who's That One Teacher who positively impacted your life? We want to hear from you
CBC Montreal has been keeping an eye on the state of our schools in Quebec — and how Quebecers are feeling about them. In a recent conversation with community members in Montreal, the value of teachers emerged as a key theme. Some pointed to how teachers need more support to do their jobs well, others voiced what they think needs to change in the classroom. But throughout those conversations, many also spoke to the importance of That One Teacher: one teacher who recognized their potential; one teacher who supported them; one teacher who had a positive impact on their lives. CBC Montreal now wants to hear from more people: who is That One Teacher for you? If you're interested in sharing your story with us on our audio or video platforms, please fill out this Google form. If you'd prefer to submit your response via voice memo or video, please send your attachments in an email to mtlcomm@
