Renowned philosopher, academic and political commentator Tariq Ramadan appeared at the Palais des Congres in Montreal on Sept. 8 to discuss the implications of the recent mass murders in Norway. 

As the Islamic thinker and Oxford professor addressed the crowd of several hundred, it seemed as if there were just as many tourists in attendance as Montrealers for a presentation that coincided with the end of Islamic evening prayer held inside the hall.

Summer is just around the corner in Montreal; springtime is here, and with it the annual literary gathering known as the Blue Metropolis Festival, which recently welcomed to its stage renowned author, essayist and liberal activist Gore Vidal to set the tone for the literary happenings to come.

As the octogenarian was wheeled on to the dais, he paused, as if to announce himself to the crowd, and was overcome by the appreciative applause from the 600-plus crowd.

Before the night was over he was labelled as "cantankerous" by one young student, held up as the greatest U.S. president they never had by another, and would thoroughly entertain, if not enlighten, the congregated mass, though a dozen or so walked out before his talk had concluded.

The humanitarian relief effort to support Palestinians in Gaza got a boost at an event in Montreal on Thursday afternoon which confirmed the participation of a Canadian ship as part of the 15-vessel international flotilla, Freedom Flotilla II.

Quebecers from all political, cultural, social and religious backgrounds launched a united call to join the flotilla to protest the restriction of Gazans to imported goods and resources by the Israeli blockade, which is deemed illegal by a wide international community.