Rachel McCrum, originally from Northern Ireland, finds a sense of familiarity in Montreal due to its cultural diversity and the influence of both English and French. Having lived in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and now Quebec, she appreciates the city's welcoming nature and the vibrant mix of cultures. McCrum's move was motivated by a long-distance relationship with a fellow poet from Quebec, highlighting the city's conducive environment for artistic collaboration. Despite her excitement, she misses the sea, her family, and the unique linguistic quirks of Northern Ireland.

Nabil Ahmed, a 27-year-old Pakistani aviation specialist, shares his experiences and impressions of Montreal after moving there to work for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Despite initial challenges with the cold and language, Ahmed has grown fond of the city, its skyline, and its cultural diversity. He hopes to continue his career at ICAO and explore more of the Americas. Ahmed highlights the difficulty of making friends in a new city but remains positive about his overall experience.

Montreal's Klingon community celebrated the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery at Broue Pub Brouhaha. Fans, including members of the Klingon Assault Group Rising Phoenix, praised the visual effects and progressive casting, particularly the inclusion of women of color in lead roles. The series, a prequel to the original Star Trek, features Michelle Yeoh and Sonequa Martin-Green in prominent roles, continuing the franchise's legacy of diversity and representation.

Stuart Milk, the nephew of the late Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay politicians in the United States, is a grand marshal of Montreal's Pride parade. Despite facing early criticism, Stuart has continued his uncle's legacy through activism and co-founding the Harvey Milk Foundation. The article discusses the balance between the commercial and political sides of Pride events, the message of inclusion sent by participating leaders like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ community.

Two Montreal sound mixers, Gavin Fernandes and Louis Gignac, have been nominated for an Emmy Award for their work on the HBO miniseries Big Little Lies, directed by Montreal native Jean-Marc Vallée. This marks their first Emmy nomination, and they are recognized alongside Hollywood-based mixer Brendan Beebe. The show, which has received 16 Emmy nominations, is a seven-episode miniseries about a homicide at an elementary school in Monterey, California, starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley. Fernandes highlights the strength and growth of Montreal's film production scene, emphasizing the local community's support for homegrown talent. The Emmy Awards ceremony will take place on September 17 in Los Angeles.

The article argues against Donald Trump's candidacy, highlighting his aggressive foreign policy stance, potential conflicts of interest, and controversial domestic policies. It criticizes his rhetoric, which has emboldened white supremacist groups, and questions his ethical standards. The author contrasts Trump with Hillary Clinton, acknowledging her experience and stability despite her neoliberalist policies. The piece also addresses Trump's treatment of various groups and his business practices, ultimately concluding that Trump is unfit for the presidency.

The article addresses misconceptions about safe spaces on university campuses, emphasizing their importance in protecting individuals from oppression based on various aspects of identity. It explains that safe spaces, such as the one at Queer Concordia, are not about limiting free speech but about fostering respectful conversations and educating on offensive language. The author argues that safe spaces are vital for marginalized students to develop and express their ideas, comparing them to 18th century French salons led by marginalized groups.

Concordia professor Homa Hoodfar has been released after 112 days of imprisonment in Iran, landing in Oman. Her release has been met with joy and relief from colleagues, friends, and family, despite the unknown charges and reasons for her release. Hoodfar, who suffers from a degenerative neurological disorder, was reportedly not receiving proper medication during her imprisonment. Her academic work focuses on gender and sexuality in Islam, and her trip to Iran was for personal and archival research. Diplomatic efforts from Oman, Italy, and Switzerland, along with widespread support from the Concordia community and beyond, were instrumental in securing her release. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Concordia University President Alan Shepard expressed their gratitude and relief. Protests and demonstrations were held in Canada and abroad to advocate for her freedom.

A student named Felicia filed a human rights complaint against Concordia University after claiming she was terminated following her efforts to seek help for sexual and gender-based harassment by a new employee. Despite her attempts to resolve the issue with her manager, Felicia's hours were cut, and she was eventually let go. The Center for Research-Action on Race Relations is representing her, and they are seeking mandatory training for managers on harassment. Concordia University's spokesperson stated that managers receive professional development training on workplace harassment. Felicia is also seeking $45,000 in damages.

A new environmental education center in Palatka, funded by Georgia-Pacific, aims to educate children about wetlands and wildlife but has faced criticism for its curriculum. Some scientists and former advisors argue that the curriculum, influenced by Georgia-Pacific, omits critical topics like climate change and sea-level rise. Despite these omissions, the center is seen as a valuable asset for the region, with expectations that the curriculum will evolve over time.

The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library is organizing a warehouse sale this weekend to raise funds for the city's public library. The sale features tens of thousands of books, records, CDs, and other donated items. Highlights include a $10 bag deal where shoppers can fill a grocery bag with as many books as possible. The event is set to take place from Friday through Sunday, with special deals for members and non-members.

The Jacksonville Public Library has opened a new space for start-up founders to collaborate, facilitated by the Jacksonville Community of Entrepreneurs. This group, formed from this year's One Spark, will meet bi-monthly to provide mentoring, networking opportunities, and workshops. Co-founder Raquel Steffens emphasizes the library's role in supporting local entrepreneurs by offering necessary resources and support.

A St. Augustine resident, John Mains, reports being targeted by a phone scam where individuals impersonate IRS agents, demanding payment for alleged back taxes. Upon investigation, a scammer admitted to the fraudulent activity, revealing a team of about 60 people operating from India. Local authorities and the IRS have been issuing warnings about such scams.

A new Florida law, sponsored by Jacksonville Democratic State Senator Audrey Gibson, aims to keep young people out of jail by allowing police to issue more civil citations for juvenile offenders instead of incarcerating them. The law provides police with greater discretion in handling nonviolent misdemeanors committed by minors, including the option to call a parent if deemed beneficial. The legislation is intended to prevent repeat offenses by giving young people a second chance and will take effect on October 1.

Nine teacher-residents are preparing for their first year of teaching through the Jacksonville Teacher Residency program, which held its inaugural Signing Day ceremony. The program allows new math and science teachers to co-teach in urban classrooms while working towards a master's degree in education from UNF. Participants like Tiffany Allen feel well-prepared and supported for the upcoming school year.

Several new members of the Jacksonville City Council, who support an expanded human-rights ordinance for LGBT protections, were elected. Advocates are optimistic about the ordinance's passage, which was previously voted down. Jimmy Midyette and Dan Merkan express hope for progress, though Mayor-elect Lenny Curry's potential veto remains a concern. The council can override a veto with a majority vote.

The Florida Folk Festival, held at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, Florida, is a long-standing event celebrating the state's diverse music, arts, and culture. Spokeswoman Andrea Thomas emphasizes the festival's role in showcasing Florida's unique cultural heritage, while State Folklorist Amanda Hardeman highlights its representation of the state's diverse communities beyond typical tourist attractions. The festival attracts over 13,000 attendees annually.

Tyanna Jones, a top-five finalist on 'American Idol,' returned to Westside High School in Jacksonville, reuniting with classmates and friends. Jones, who auditioned in San Francisco, impressed judges and viewers with her performances, advancing to the top five.

Three high school students from Northeast Florida are among the 1,500 finalists at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh. Carly Crump from Episcopal School of Jacksonville is researching dengue viruses, inspired by her uncle's diagnosis with West Nile virus. Ponte Vedra High School seniors Charis and Cassia Wang are presenting their project on antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The fair is the world's largest pre-college science competition, with participants from over 75 countries competing for more than $4 million in awards and scholarships.

The Florida Health Department is organizing town hall meetings across Northeast Florida to gather community input on healthcare issues as part of the Community Health Needs Assessment conducted every three years. These meetings aim to address diverse healthcare concerns specific to different regions. The department is collaborating with several local hospitals, including Baptist, St. Vincent's, Mayo, Brooks, Wolfson, and UF Health. The first meeting will be held at the Jacksonville Urban League.

The Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville is hosting an exhibit featuring Sue, the world's largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. The exhibit, which runs until mid-September, offers interactive components allowing visitors to explore the dinosaur's anatomy and behavior. Darcie MacMahon, the museum's director of exhibits and public programs, emphasizes the awe-inspiring nature of seeing the skeleton in person. Sue's skeleton, 42 feet long and 13 feet high, is 90 percent complete, providing scientists with detailed insights, although the gender remains unknown.

The creative sector in Northeast Florida contributes over $2 billion annually to the economy, with 27,000 people employed in creative fields across a seven-county area. From 2010 to 2013, jobs in the creative industry grew by 6%, with sound engineering experiencing the highest growth at 32%. Photography is the largest employer in the sector. A study by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville also found that the city's $2.4 million investment in cultural grants yielded over $70 million in economic impact.

Nationally syndicated radio host Tom Joyner, alongside Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Congressman Cedric Richmond, and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, led a 'Get out the vote' rally to encourage Jacksonville residents to vote and support the re-election of Mayor Brown. Joyner actively engaged with the crowd, urging them to contact potential voters directly.