Chilling in Montreal
Young people and public spaces in four stories
Under the direction of Valérie Amiraux
A multidisciplinary team of geographers, anthropologists and urban studies specialists conducted an in-depth investigation by surveying the various neighbourhoods of the Quebec metropolis in order to observe young people of all ages. From Montreal North to Pointe-aux-Trembles, day and night, the experts strove—through the prism of their respective academic practices—to better understand the notion of behaviour in public spaces. The result of this collective work is four richly illustrated Montreal stories, all conducted beyond prejudices about urban youth.
The University of Montreal Press, September 25
Gaza before the 7th
Notebooks of a siege
Guillaume Lavallee
Triggered by an unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, the war in Gaza has claimed tens of thousands of lives. The conflict that threatens to spread throughout the Middle East region continues to bring its share of tragedies. Drawing on his experience as director of the Agence France-Presse bureau in Jerusalem in 2019, the Quebec journalist Guillaume Lavallee returns to the daily reality of the inhabitants of Gaza before its total destruction. In the heart of this enclave struggling with repeated blockades, the author went to meet the Gazans in an edifying inter-war period.
Boreal, September 24
A country in conflict
The tumultuous Canadian election of 1917
Patrice Dutil and David McKenzie
What was so special about the 1917 federal election that it deserved an entire essay? Canada was at war, and this volatile period was marked by the deaths of countless soldiers on the battlefields, including those at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, and the famous Battle of Passchendaele. Patrice Dutil And David McKenzie shine the spotlight on a highly tense election campaign, where Canadian democracy is faltering. The two political experts immerse us in this chaotic era by addressing themes that are still relevant today, such as nationalism and imperialism, coercion and voluntarism, ambition and resistance, and war and peace.
North, September 24
The motherland
Maxime Blanchard
After his first opus, Quebec does not exist (Varia, 2017), which caused a lot of noise when it was released, Maxime Blanchard returns in force with his acidic and uncompromising view of Western society, particularly on the cultural and political situation in Quebec. Absorbed by his nostalgia and his anger against provincialism, Jérôme, the author’s alter ego, indulges in reflections on the world around him, against a society that he considers insipid and arrogant. The professor at the City University of New York offers a book that is a bit provocative and full of erudition.
VLB, September 25
The art of not always being right
Martin Desrosiers
Martin Desrosiers is a philosophy professor at Jean-de-Brébeuf College. In his first essay, he makes a damning observation: the promise announced by social networks at the time of their launch — to serve democracy, to encourage exchanges — has so far proven to be a failure. On the contrary, they serve to reinforce opinions rather than to confront them with other ideas. Contrary to Schopenhauer’s famous treatise, The art of always being rightthe author wonders how to find the conditions for a healthy and constructive dialogue in a context of strong polarization and cultural war.
Leméac, September 25
Mines and empires
Michel Jébrak
Since the dawn of humanity, the need for metals of all kinds has been at the heart of trade. The search for precious metals has punctuated our shared history for 5,000 years, helping to define and redefine many borders, landscapes and civilizations. Michel Jébrak, Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at UQAM, recounts this fascinating saga of the subsoil, from the Roman Empire’s need for lead to the gold rush of the pioneers of the American Far West. The great connoisseur of metallic mineral resources completes this journey to the modern era by focusing on the question of new metals, such as rare earths and lithium.
MultiMondes, September 26
Focus on 4-year-old nursery schools
Yolande Brunelle
Last April, Quebec Minister of Education Bernard Drainville announced significant delays in the opening of 4-year-old kindergarten classes. However, the idea of establishing such a program is the result of a long process on equality in the school environment. As early as 1964, the Parent report recommended the development of such a network in public schools. In his essay, Yolande Brunelle, lecturer in primary education at UQAM and former member of the advisory committee of the Quebec Ministry of Education on 4-year-old kindergarten, paints a complete picture of the situation. The author spoke with leading figures, such as Pauline Marois and François Legault, but also with researchers, teachers and parents.
XYZ Editions, October 3
Do that!
Political engagement in the era of the unheard
Alain Deneault
The disruptions of our times are at the heart of the new essay byAlain Deneaultprofessor of philosophy and sociology at the University of Moncton. The prolific essayist, to whom we owe, at the same publisher, the fascinating Mediocracy, This time, the author opens the discussion on possible solutions to the disasters that have been announced, such as the rise of extremes, threats to biodiversity or the rise in inequalities. Whether ecological, economic or social, the issues are numerous, so why not seize the opportunity to explore a new mode of political engagement, suggests the author, who calls for action rather than shock.
Lux, October 3
This is unfair!
Amélie Chanez and Anne-Marie Le Saux
Why doesn’t climate change have the same consequences for everyone? they ask in their essay Amélie Chanez And Anne-Marie Le Saux. Sociology teachers at Collège Maisonneuve in Montreal are looking at the increasingly glaring inequalities in the face of the risks posed by climate change. In 2023 alone, more than 3,800 cases of environmental injustice were recorded worldwide. The joint essay dissects the issues and blind spots related to the impact of climate change on the poorest or most marginalized populations.
Ecosociety, October 8
PQ and QS: Enemy brothers?
History of the independence convergence
Marc Desnoyers
The work of Marc Desnoyers presents a narrative of the Quebec independence convergence by providing an original and little-discussed perspective. Indeed, it focuses on the reasons that led to the successes and failures of the convergence between the Parti Québécois, Québec solidaire and civil society organizations. To achieve this, it traces the historical, activist and media facets of the sovereignist quest and the dynamics that fueled the movements of the last twenty years. The book, which contains interviews with political figures, is also intended to be a behind-the-scenes look at several pivotal moments through the reflections of the author, who himself was involved for thirteen years in the Parti Québécois.
All in all, October 22