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The Concordian •

From alternative to burlesque: All of Montreal’s roads lead to drag

How Montreal’s drag scene evolved into the lineage scene today.
In the 1940s, the drag scene started to bloom in Montreal as interest in drag queen performances drew the public’s interest. From drag queens performing at Montreal’s Black jazz nightclub, Rockhead’s Paradise, to others, down the line, competing on RuPaul’s drag race television show.

Popular performers at the time were Dick Montgomery, Malva Boda and Billie McAllister — all performing at the popular nightclub during the late 1940s.
The Concordian •

The Devil hands over her crown

Anna Wintour has been the editor-in-chief of U.S. Vogue and influencing fashion since 1988. Recently, she stepped down handing the job to Chloe Malle, formerly editor of Vogue.com and co-host of The Run-Through With Vogue podcast.

“[Anna Wintour is] such a figure of popular culture, which only amplifies her supposed impact and importance,” said John Potvin, a Concordia university professor of art history that specializes in design and fashion.

Wintour may no longer be the editor-in-chief, but her booming popularity beyond the fashion industry helps maintain her influence.
The Concordian •

Drinks, DJs And Art: Concordi’ART’s First Exhibition … | The Concordian

Concordi’ART ended the year on a high note with its first art exhibition, (Un)familiar Spaces, at the W.I.P. Works on April 3. The exhibition was a way to offer Concordian artists one last opportunity to foster connections with other artists, as well as professionally showcase their work in an English-speaking environment. 


“Who doesn’t want to drink and dance, look at art and have a little fun?” said Samantha Moffatt-Sanz, vice president of events for Concordi’ART.


The organization reache...
The Concordian •

Everything You Need To Know About Henna | The Concordian

On March 30 and 31, Muslims celebrated Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan. As part of the festivities, henna  — a temporary plant-based dye — is often applied to hands as part of their cultural traditions.


Sheneeza Husain, a henna artist and fifth-year Concordia student in commerce and marketing, explained how, as a Guyanese of Indian descent, henna has always been a part of her life. 


“When it’s Eid [or for] weddings and brides, we always get our henna done,” said Husain.


Husain expla...
The Concordian •

Concordi’ART Market Welcomes The Beginning Of Spring | The Concordian

On March 20, the Webster Library atrium was filled with Concordia students selling their art, from prints to dream catchers. Concordi’ART was hosting its first art market to offer art students an opportunity to showcase their work.


Neltje Green, a Concordia design artist, held a stand where she sold her acrylic paintings. She paints interior spaces on wood panels, playing with perspective and colours.


“I’m still trying to find the words to explain my art, but it’s like a mix of minimalism,...
The Concordian •

Sharing Black And Indigenous Agriculture Traditions | The Concordian

“I know my rights and responsibility to my ancestors,” said Brooke Rice, member of the Snipe clan of the Kanien’kehá:ka nation and founder of Tkà:nios (it Grows), where she promotes connection with food through workshops and events.


For its event on March 4, Sovereignty & Solidarity: Learning from Black & Indigenous Agricultural Traditions, the SHIFT centre invited Concordia students and faculty to join them for lunch to discuss food sovereignty with Hamidou Maïga and Rice.


“Always know th...
The Concordian •

Tina Turner Reincarnated In New Broadway Musical | The Concordian

“Being asked to walk hand in hand with Tina in the process taught me that it wasn’t about what she said, it was [about] what she was hesitant to say,” explained the musical’s playwright, Katori Hall, in an interview for The Tina Turner Musical website. “This was where the new part of the story was.”


The queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s unusual ascent to stardom has reached the Broadway stage. The story follows the singer as a young girl living in Nutbush, Tennessee, up until her iconic 1988 concert i...
The Concordian •

Blending Together Art And Psychology | The Concordian

“It’s not just what you paint but how you paint… it’s an expression of yourself as an artist, and it’s what makes the painting special because it’s yours,” said Isabel Yong, artist and Concordia student majoring in Honours Psychology and Painting and Drawing.


Yong has been drawing her whole life, but it wasn’t until she took a painting class back in 2020 that she decided to pursue art educationally and professionally. Since her only degree option after that class was a major in Painting and D...
The Concordian •

The Endless Art-oriented Careers | The Concordian

“I do regret giving so much space to self-doubt.” That is how independent curator David Liss described his early career at a recent Concordia panel presenting career options for art graduates.


Concordi’ART invited six artists to their recent panel, Creative Futures: Careers in Art, to discuss their artistic and professional paths in hopes of inspiring art students dreading graduation on Jan. 15. 


Jade Vinet Rocheleau, Concordi’ART co-president, explained that the idea for the panel came fr...
The Concordian •

Two By Two, Together Exhibition Forges Deeper Connections | The Concordian

The Museum of Fine Arts showcases pieces from its new collection in its latest exhibition, Two by Two, Together, to stimulate dialogue about the art’s themes, format, period, and interpretation.


“The concept is that the visit should be done with someone, either a relative or a friend,” explained security guard Ahmed Benkhalifa. “It creates a bond between two people that come to see the exhibition.”


The exhibition presents a collection of 80 art pieces the museum has acquired over the past...
The Concordian •

Next Time You Want To Try A Culture's Cuisine, You Know Where To Go! | The Concordian

Montreal is known for its diverse food scene, offering various choices from different cultural backgrounds, which makes deciding where to eat a workout. Picking an affordable restaurant as a student is an additional challenge. To make your life easier, here is a list of a few restaurants worth trying.


Maquis Yasolo ($$)


This Afro-Quebecer restaurant is 15 minutes away from Concordia’s downtown campus by transit. It has a variety of meals originating from different parts of the Afro-Quebece...
The Concordian •

From The Arctic To Polynesia, Panelists Shared Their Culture At Rock Your Mocs | The Concordian

Concordia has been taking steps to facilitate education for Indigenous students and spread knowledge of Indigenous cultures. Among these steps, the university hosts a yearly Rock Your Mocs event. 


Rock Your Mocs is a week-long event that celebrates Indigenous cultures through photos of moccasins. Each year, the panel invites Indigenous guests to share their stories and talk about Indigenous cultures and the fabrication of moccasins.


“The purpose is really to highlight and celebrate Indigen...
The Concordian •

Swifties Join Forces In Toronto | The Concordian

After touring worldwide for over a year, Taylor Swift finally made it to Canada. She performed in Toronto from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16 and Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, joined by American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams as the opening act. 


With no tour stop in Montreal, thousands of locals, including many Concordia University students, made their way to Toronto over both weekends, excited to pour their hearts out with Swift.


Daniela Orrego-Grosso, a second-year economics major, travelled by car with her...
The Concordian •

Silent Mourners Caught In The Crossfire Of Identity And Politics | The Concordian

As a child, Sarah Sokkar followed her revolutionary uncle through the streets of Cairo during the Egyptian Revolution. But it was only at the age of six that she first felt afraid and surveilled, at a border crossing in Gaza.


“It’s like constantly being worried about what you’re doing and who’s watching you because you don’t want to make [a] mistake,” she said.


This memory is a constant reminder of the complexities of her identity.


“Over the last year, it’s been a lot of crying in silen...
The Concordian •

The Fear Of Being Cancelled: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | The Concordian

The expression “cancel culture” has become popular in recent years, targeting many in the process. And for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), cancelling comes with even more layers of challenges and emotions.


Cancel culture is when someone deems an action immoral, so they shame and ostracise its perpetrator. It can be a trigger for people with OCD. Oftentimes, people on social media get cancelled over something they said or did years ago, which can scare people with OCD as it fe...
The Concordian •

Concordia Groups Continue Efforts To Decolonize The University | The Concordian

This semester is giving light to new progress and projects for Indigenous and Inuit students at Concordia. 


As the recent announcement of tuition waivers for Indigenous students from communities in Quebec made headlines, many other groups at Concordia continued their work to make the university a safe space for Indigenous students.


Announced in early 2023, the Kaié:ri Nikawerà:ke Indigenous Bridging Program is relatively new and still growing, with now seven full-time students, according t...
The Concordian •

Let's Talk About It: Borderline Personality And Bipolar Disorder | The Concordian

For at least the last decade, mental health awareness has been on the rise, with anxiety and depression being at the forefront. However, some more complex disorders, such as borderline personality and bipolar disorder, still carry various stigmas caused by misinformation and ignorance. 


These disorders, often confused for the other, have their own characteristics and causes.


Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder that makes it difficult to regulate emotions. It aff...