Habfanman

Any street that existed in Montréal before 1900 wasn't designed for cars either. The "You can't compare Europe to here" argument is often false and leads to patterning after disasterous U.S. cities; Houston, Miami, Atlanta etc., rather than learning from European cities that have already dealt with many of the problems that we are now experiencing. It's 2009, time to stop thinking like it's 1959!!

Cataclaw, the Habs have won the most cups before expansion (14) AND after expansion (10). They're the only team to have won 5 in a row (before expansion) and 4 in a row (after expansion), so the 6 team argument doesn't stand up. We need to win one soon.. like NOW!!

As a Hab fan growing up in Onterrible, I had to listen to this crap all the time. Time to put an end to this MYTH for once and for all!! Stop believing all the bullshit you hear coming out of Toronto!! Only 3 players ever made it to the Habs because of this rule: Michel Plasse, Marc Tardif, Rejean Houle (no stars), and the rule was only in effect for 13 out of 36 seasons between 1936 and 1969. Debunking The Canadiens French Territorial Players Rights Myth http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2009/8/1/972138/debunking-the-canadiens-french There is a popular myth, longstanding in fact, and surely perpetrated by decades of Maple Leafs frustration that the Montreal Canadiens superiority from the early 1950's to the late 1970's was due to the simple notion that they had territorial rights to the province of Quebec's two greatest hockey talents annually. The myth has gained ground on the factual truth in many minds based on the coincidental perceived removal of such rights and the Habs descent down to normalness since the heyday of the dynasty years. But the myth, hockey fans, is complete bunk! The small sliver of truth and fact behind the one time territorial Habs clause fails to back up the claims of those who have cried "No Fair" like whining children for years. I first remember heading about this when I was all of seven years old. The myth was cemented into young impressionable minds in hockey rinks and schoolyards Canada wide by Maple Leafs fans needing a convinient excuse in explaining their own clubs decline. I grew up with kids who believed it then. I know some of them as adults who still believe it today. The twisted yarn is so maligned, it even now includes the drafting of Guy Lafleur first overall in 1971, as well as others, as part of it's Leaf derived legend. If the myth were true, the Canadiens would have also snapped up Jean Ratelle, Rod Gilbert, and Gil Perreault among others. The possibilities are endless - they would have likely never lost a game, nevermind the Stanley Cup. Looking back on it all now, on how the mistruth spread, it's become clearer as to why it would permeate logic, given the finger pointing nature of Leafs fans, who have consistantly failed to look in their backyard to explain their failings and past inferiorities. It's almost as if they agreed in unison that the myth would be their battlecry, their common shield of armour in the face of defeat. One day, somewhere in time, a little light went off in someones head. I can almost see it now. "Well no wonder the cheaters won all them damn Cups, the Kweebeckers got the two best Frenchman every year..." I've long known the truth is othewise, and have long sought out a source that would explain it best, with insightful completeness and perspective. With much talk of Canadiens drafts in the past few days, the old territorial rights rule reared its famaliar head in chat room talk, when somebody posted a link to hockey historian and trivia expert Liam Maguire's site. As a Canadiens fan himself, Maguire has also been confronted with this myth numerous times, and sets the record straight. He has interviewed many on this very subject, including Sam Pollock, Scotty Bowman, Dick Irvin, Marcel Pronovost, Rod Gilbert, Yvan Cournoyer and numerous others. It seems the origin of the rule is as old as the NHL itself, going back to wartime days when the fortunes and faith of franchises fluctuated annually. Contrary to popular belief, the NHL did not start out as an Original Six league. Many teams came and went, existing anywhere between two or three years up to a decade, including the original Ottawa Senators. Not unlike today's revenue sharing programs amongst sports teams, league members back in the day, found creative ways to assist in each other in the help for financial survival. Often this was done by way of player and monetary loans, but what team owners discovered back then was that locals stars filled seats to great capacity. This fact was evident even in pre-NHL days, and especially true in Montreal, where a rivalry was built up to fullfill a demand for a french team to compete against the english Montreal teams of the day, the Wanderers and Maroons. One year after the birth of the Montreal Canadiens, known then as Le Club Athletic Canadiens, it was decided that this would become the franchise that would cater to the desires of the french speaking clientele. Slowly but surely it filled it's roster with french names and proceeded to become semi-successful on the ice, but teetering financially off it. Over time, the Canadiens became the only Montreal franchise remaining, outliving the Maroons and winning Stanley Cups in 1916, 1924, 1930, and 1931. It fought on through hard times and financial up and downs, and during a spell in the late 1930's, the team was on the brink of folding. It was around that time, that the idea came up to offer the Canadiens the exclusive rights to two players per year as a means of maintaining interest and ensuring financial success. To quote Liam Maguire, "(It was) decided that the Montreal Canadiens could take any two players from the province of Quebec in a special draft. There was one rider however. None of these players could have already been previously signed to a C form (confirmation form) with any other club." "At this time in the NHL and right through the late 60's amateur players were signed by NHL teams to C forms and then placed on their appropriate junior clubs or minor pro clubs depending on their age. The most extreme case of this was Bobby Orr. Orr signed a C form three weeks before his 12th birthday with the Boston Bruins. He was so young his parents signature was required. When he turned 14 he began playing for Boston's junior sponsored team, the Oshawa Generals. That's how Orr became a Bruin." "From 1936-1943 Montreal protected 14 players through this special draft. Unfortunately none of them ever played a minute in the NHL. Reason being, anybody who could tie their skates and chew gum at the same time were already long signed by other NHL teams including the Canadiens who certainly wern't going to survive solely with this rule." "The hope was that there would be a spark from signing a French Canadian kid, even better if he could play a bit. The thought was that this could help attendance and thereby help Montreal. It never did. What really helped Montreal at that time were two shrewd moves. One, a trade with the Montreal Maroons which brought them Toe Blake and two, the signing of Elmer Lach to a C form, who was from Saskatchewan by the way. He was signed after the Rangers passed on him. Lach attended their camp first." The root of the myth may lie in the fact that just prior to the Habs landing Blake and Lach, the Canadiens first two stars were Edouard "Newsy" Lalonde and Aurel Joliat, both owners of French sounding names. Along Georges Vezina and the Cleghorn brothers, these two succeeding hero's, who were at one time traded for one another, were important facets of the Canadiens success in the 1920' and 1930's. What many may not know, is that neither Lalonde or Joliat was a home grown talent. Lalonde was billingual, and was born in my hometown of Cornwall, Ontario (a great source of pride!), and Joliat was an Ottawa born player, of Swiss descent. In the excellent book "Lions In Winter", by Chris Goyens and Allan Turowetz, Joliat comments on his being aquired from the Saskatoon Shieks for the popular Lalonde in 1922. As Habs fans were upset at seing a french speaking player leave, Joliat adds, "Still, it was easier for (GM Leo) Dandurand to trade for me than for a Dick Smith." The Canadiens other big star of the time, possibly the first true superstar of hockey, Howie Morenz, also has a Swiss background. Maguire further clarifies the myth's mystique by stating that the reasons the Habs survived the 1930's doldrums had nothing to do with the territorial rule, and everything to do with Lach and Blake working out brilliantly with a player the Habs didn't have in their future plans. "The rest of the league passed on Montreal GM Tommy Gorman's offer of a trade for what seemed to be a very brittle but explosive goal scorer named Maurice Richard. Richard had suffered injury after injury in his first three years of pro. Gorman tried to unload him but nobody wanted him." "Needless to say Richard's coming out party in 1943-44 and the subsequent effect he had on the game in the next 17 years has been well documented but suffice to say, these were the three major reasons (Lach, Blake, Richard) for the success of the Habs over a nearly two decade span - not some bullcrap rule that although was well intentioned did nothing to extend Montreal's stay in the NHL at that time. In fact they were even worse in 1940 than they were in 1936." Bolstered by the "Punch Line", the Canadiens would win the Stanley Cup in 1944 and 1946, but Maguire states that there were two other pieces to the puzzle that would ensure Canadien supremacy for the coming decades. "It happened in 1946 and 1947, respectively. With the French Canadian rule now rescinded and Montreal rolling with two Cup victories in a three year span something else was going to be needed for the franchise to rise to the extreme greatness they would see in a few short years." To the distress of Maple Leafs fans, they unwittingly assisted the Canadiens a second time, and in similar fashion. The first had been the firing of coach Dick Irvin Sr. years earlier, who continued to be as successful with Montreal as he'd been with Chicago and Toronto. "Toronto owner Conn Smythe fired Frank Selke Sr. and Montreal quickly hired him. Selke had a vision about a series of teams in the minor leagues that would be stocked with players that Montreal would sign to C forms. These minor league teams and the players on them were soon to be known as a farm system." "This was the origin of the farm system as we know it today. It took the rest of the NHL 2-3 years to catch on to this idea but they did and they've all benefited from it but Montreal had a tremendous head start and in some instances they purchased the rights to an entire league to get a certain player." "They did this for Jean Beliveau and Bobby Rousseau. In Beliveau's case it didn't matter because he told the Habs to get stuffed anyway. He was happy in Quebec and there were only two players in the NHL making more money than Jean who was in the QSHL. That was Rocket Richard and Gordie Howe. Finally Selke was able to sign Beliveau in 1953 when as he put it, " I opened up the vault and said help yourself Jean!" Great quote" "The move in 1947 was the hiring of Sam Pollock. Pollock came under the tutelage of Selke and finally in 1963 became his successor as GM of the Canadiens." "In 1963 the NHL finally realized there were a glut of players, post second World War 2 births, that were coming of age to play in the NHL and even with the C form system, stones were being left unturned. For the first time a draft was implemented. There was never any thought that this would one day become the life blood of the NHL." "In 1963 the NHL finally realized there were a glut of players, post second World War 2 births, that were coming of age to play in the NHL and even with the C form system, stones were being left unturned. For the first time a draft was implemented. There was never any thought that this would one day become the life blood of the NHL." "At the time the six NHL teams would draft in a rotating order any player who had not signed a C form. Ken Dryden was a draft pick of the Boston Bruins. Boston traded Dryden to Montreal. In 1963, the French Canadian rule was brought back for the Montreal Canadiens. It was not necessary, no question about it but Selke and Pollock worked a sweet deal and got it back on the books however the same rules applied. The player could not have signed a C form with any other team." "From 1963-1967 none of the players Montreal selected played one minute in the NHL, ever. Finally in 1968, they drafted their first live one. A goalie named Michel Plasse." "In 1969, it was determined that this would be the final year of the draft in this manner and the sponsorship of Junior A teams would cease to be. All players were to be 20 years of age or older and they would be eligible for a Universal Amateur Draft. Montreal was given one final kick at the French Canadian can and they made the most of it by selecting Rejean Houle and Marc Tardif. That was it for the French rule." "By then Sam Pollock or Trader Sam as he was known, was working magic year in and year out on draft day and by flipping players in Montreal's farm system that had been so expertly set up years before by Selke and ran by Pollock, for draft picks. Players like Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Mario Tremblay, several others, were selected with picks that Pollock acquired through trades." This should clear up any misconception about this long believed fallacy, born primarily by frustrated anti-Montreal fans who for decades suffered through parade after Stanley Cup parade.

The Sky is cool, the rest look like evey other car on the road. No big loss except for the people that will lose their jobs and businesses. I feel sorry for them.

I love our skyline because it consists of buildings from the last 4 centuries, not just a bunch of boring slabs from the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's. Blue glass ceased to be cool about 10 years and 1000 buidings ago.

J'ai pris quelques photos pendant la Fête des Neiges l'hiver passée. Le brouillard était magnifique!

steve, I moved here from Halifax but I only lived there for 2 years. I grew up in Ontario; London, Sarnia, Toronto. I also lived back and forth between Vancouver/Banff/Calgary, spent a couple of years in the U.S.; Texas and Tennessee, and a year each in Australia and Scotland. I've pretty much done the English-speaking world, I guess I got tired of eating too much bad cheese! I love Americans, they're some of the friendliest, most open and generous people I've ever met. I have many friends in the U.S. and I always feel bad for them when they travel because they always take a lot of unecessary criticism for some of the dubious activities of their government, yet they never get any thanks for the far more numerous, great things that the U.S. has given to the world. The U.S. is often put in an impossible position: if something bad happens in the world, they are criticised if they don't get involved, yet if they do get involved, they get criticised for... getting involved! They can't win! My problem is not with Americans, but with the mega-corporations (Canadian, American, whatever) that are turning every city into the same fast-food, big-box, chain store infested copy of every other city. It doesn't matter where you go; you can be in Cleveland, Toronto, Houston, Calgary.. you could be dropped into any of those places and see the same fucking stores, same fucking shitty restaurants, same architecture. Everyone's dressed the same, has the same tunes on their iPod, they're talking about the same TV show, drinking the same Starbucks, buying the same beer, eating the same food, shopping at the same MegaMart, living in the same blue-glass condo.. ugh! It's like a Borg invasion! The same forces are at work here in Québec, but at least there seems to be an awareness of and a resistance to the process, and there aren't nearly as many of those franchise hellholes here as in places like Toronto or Vancouver. (for an example, go to any website like Starbucks, check the 'store locator' and see the results you get for different cities. In the case of Starbucks, there are 36 in metro Montréal, 232 in metro Toronto, 283 in metro Vancouver) Language is a huge factor, but there is also a genuine lack of interest in 'getting' another Best Buy, Taco Bell, Burberry's, Jack Astor's etc. People seem to be more interested in creating their own styles like Kanuk, Première Moisson, Simon's, Schwartz, St. Viateur etc. etc. It's much more interesting here and there's never any mistaking that you're in a truly unique place (at least in the city, suburbs are the same everywhere!). Oh, and I've also had that stupid 'American/United Statesian' conversation with a couple of dipshits. There was even a thread about it on SSC. When Americans hear stupidity like that, they must think that we're all boderline retarded up here!

Year: 2007 Local productions Feature films: 3 saisons Adam’s wall Babine Bluff Borderline Cadavres C'est pas moi j'le jure Comme une flamme Cruising Bar II Dans une galaxie près de chez vous 2 En plein coeur Flagrant délit Grand départ, le Ligne brisée, la Lost Song Magique Ma mère est chez le coiffeur Némésis Piège américain, le (Rivard) Sans dessein Serveuses demandées Story Of Jen Suzie Inc. Timekeeper, The Tout est parfait Truffe Un capitalisme sentimental Un cri de bonheur Un été sans point ni coup sûr M.O.W.: Black Swarm Cutting Edge III Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Grave Obsession Hatching, The (They're Among Us) Mistaken Secret Past Stick And Stones Summer House Swamp Devil Voices TV Series: Annie et ses hommes VI Bob Gratton, my life, ma vie II Boys – la série, les C.A. III Casino II Cœur a ses raisons III, le Destinées Étoiles filantes (les) Galère, la Hauts et les bas de Sophie Paquin II, les Lavigueur, les Miss Météo – la série Promesse III, la René-Lévesque II Rumeurs V Sœurs Elliot, les Sophie Parker Taxi 22 Tout sur moi II Virginie XI Foreign productions Feature films: Afterwards (Coproduction France/Canada) Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, The (Paramount Pictures) Dead Like Me (dvd) Death Race 3000 (Cruise/Wagner Productions) Get Smart (Warner Bros) Let The Game Begin (Twisted Light Productions) Martyrs (Coproduction France/Canada) Mesrine : L'instinct de mort (Remstar) Mr. Nobody (Coproduction Belgique/France/Canada) Mummy, The : Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor(Universal Pictures) Picture This (dvd) Punisher, The : War Zone Restless (Coproduction France/Israel/Canada) Shoe At Your Foot (France/Canada) Whiteout (Warner Bros) TV Series: The Dead Zone season VI (CBS Paramount Television Network)

Year: 2006 Local productions Feature films: À vos marques ! Party ! Âge des ténèbres, L’ Brunante, Le Burning Mussolini Capture, La Continental, Un film sans fusil Contre toute espérance Génie du crime, Le Guide de la petite vengeance Lâcheté, La Ma fille, mon ange Ma tante Aline Nitro Nos voisins Dhantsu Prom Wars Ring, Le Roméo et Juliette Still Life Sur la trace d’Igor Rizzi Surviving My Mother Toi Trois p’tits cochons, Les Who is KK Downey M.O.W.: Abducted : Fugitive For Love Blind Trust Circle Of Friends Legacy Of Fear Life Interrupted, A Millenium Project, The Thrill Of The Kill TV Series: Annie et ses hommes V Bob Gratton, my life, ma vie C.A. Cœur a ses raisons, le Durham County Étoiles filantes, les François en série II Hauts et les bas de Sophie Paquin, les Invincibles II, les Lance et compte : la revanche Minuit le soir III Moose TV Négociateur III, le Petit monde de Laura Cadieux III, le Promesse II, la Pure laine II Race To Mars, the René-Lévesque Rumeurs V Septième Round, le St-Urbain’s Horseman Taxi 22 Tout sur moi Virginie X Foreign productions Feature films: 300 (Warner Bros Pictures) Blades Of Glory (Paramount Pictures) Dennis The Menace Christmas, A (Sneak Preview Entertainment) Emotional Arithmetic (BPR Productions) I’m Not There (Killer Films) Journey 3D (New Line Cinema) Steak (Coproduction France/Canada) Spiderwick Chronicles, The (Paramount Pictures) Toubib, Le (Coproduction Maroc/Canada) War Games II : The Dead Code (MGM) TV Series: Killer Wave (Muse Entertainment) Sous les vents de Neptune (Coproduction France/Canada) (France 2 FR2) Superstorm (BBC Worldwide)

Year: 2005 Local productions Feature films: 1st Bite Belle bête, La Bon Cop, Bad Cop Boys IV, Les Cheech Congorama Coupure, La Délivrez-moi Dans les villes De ma fenêtre sans maison Imitation Maurice Richard Point, The Rage de l’ange, La Secret de ma mère, Le Tous les autres sauf moi Vie secrète des gens heureux M.O.W.: Fatal Trust Forbidden Secrets (Drowning) Flirting With Danger Last Exit Living With The Enemy Marie-Antoinette Miss Météo Platinum Rush TV Series: 3 X rien IV Annie et ses hommes III Annie et ses hommes IV Au nom de la loi Bougons III, les Casino Cover Girl II François en série Homme mort, un Indian Summer : The Oka Crisis Invincibles, les Minuit le soir II Naked Josh II Naked Josh III Négociateur II, le Petit monde de Laura Cadieux II, le Promesse, la Pure laine Smash II Tournament II, The Vice-Caché II Foreign productions Feature films: C’est beau une ville la nuit (Coproduction France/Canada) Covenant, The (Lakeshore Entertainment) Fountain, The (Warner Bros Pictures) Last Kiss (Paramount Pictures) Lucky Number Slevin (MGM) Secret, The (France) (Europa Corp) M.O.W.: 10,5 Apocalypse (NBC) Banshee (Brainstorm Media) Fratelli (Italie) (Lucio Tamaro Enterprises) Time Bomb (Coproductin USA/Canada) (CBS Television) World Of Trouble (pilote pour NBC) TV Series: Dr. Norman Bethune (Coproduction Chine/Canada) Human Trafficking (Coproduction USA/Canada) (Muse Entertainment)

Year: 2004 Local productions Feature films: 3 Needles Aimants, Les Amnésie : l’énigme de James Brighton Audition, L’ Aurore C.RA.Z.Y. Cœur à bout Familia Horloge biologique Idole instantanée Maman last call Mémoires affectives Neuvaine, La Saints-Martyrs des Damnés Sans elle Steel Toes Survenant, Le Vie avec mon père, La Woman Of AHHS, The M.O.W.: Crimes of Passion Deadly Encounter Deadly Isolation False Pretenses Hunt For Justice: Louise Arbour Story Lies And Deception Montréal Planète Foot One Dead Indian Tripping The Wire : Stephen Tree Mystery Trudeau II TV Series: 15-Love II Annie et ses hommes II Bougons II, Les Casting Cover Girl Détect inc. Ex, Les Héritière de la Grande-Ourse, L’ Histoire de famille Minuit le soir Naked Josh II Négociateur, Le René Temps dur Tournament, The Vice-Caché Vie rêvée de Mario Jean, La Foreign productions Feature films: C’est pas moi c’est l’autre (Coproduction France/Canada) Greatest Game Ever Played, The (Walt Diney Company) Guy-X (Coproduction UK / Islande / Canada) (Film and Music Entertainment) Jacket, The (Warner Bros. Pictures) King’s Ransom (New Line Cinema) Passenger, The (Coproduction Japon/France/Canada) M.O.W.: Baby For Sale (Lions Gate Films) I Do (but I don’t) (Warner Home Video) When Angels Come To Town (CBS Television) Wool Cap, The (Turner Network Television)

Year: 2003 Local productions Feature films: 1er juillet le film Camping sauvage CQ2 Daniel et les Superdogs Dans l’œil du chat Dans une galaxie près de chez vous Dernier tunnel, Le Elles étaient cinq Eternal Going The Distance Golem de Montréal Incomparable Mademoiselle C., L’ Jack Paradise Je n’aime que toi Littoral Lune viendra d’elle-même, La Ma vie en cinémascope Monica la mitraille Nez rouge Peau blanche, La Pinocchio 3000 (animation) Problem With Fear, A Pure Vengeance d’Elvis Wong, La M.O.W.: Deception Last Casino, The Student Seduction View Of Terror Vues de l’est Wall of Secret TV Series: 11, Somerset 15-Love Annie et ses hommes II Aventures de Jack Carter, Les Bougons II, Les Cauchemars d’amour III Ciao Bella Emma III Félix Leclerc: le fou de l’île Fortier V Fungus the bogeyman Hommes en quarantaine II Il Duce Canadese Lance et compte : la reconquête Macaroni tout garni Naked Josh Poupées russes II, Les Smash Super Mamies, Les Tribu.com IV Foreign productions Feature films: Aviator, The (Miramax Films) Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen (Walt Disney Pictures) Day After Tomorrow, The (20th Century Fox) Different Loyalty, A (Lions Gate Films) Gothika (Warner Bros. Pictures) Head In The Clouds (Coproduction USA/UK/Canada) (Sony Pictures Classics) Last Sign, The (Coproduction UK/France/Canada) (First Look International) My First Wedding (Coproduction UK/Canada) (Cinema Libre Studio) Noel (Neverland Films inc.) Nouvelle-France (Coproduction de 8 pays) (Lions Gate Films) Secret Window (Sony Pictures Entertainment) Slow Burn (DEJ Productions) Taking Lives (Warner Bros. Pictures) Terminal, The (DreamWorks SKG) Triplettes de Belleville, Les (Coproduction France/Belgique/Canada) (Columbia TriStar Homevsdeo) Wicker Park (MGM) Woods, The (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) M.O.W.: Bad Apple (Turner Network Television) E.D.N.Y. (pilote) (NBC Studios) Going For Broke (Lifetime Television) See Jane Date (ABC Family) TV Series: Dawson’s Creek (Sony Pictures Television) Reagans, The (Sony Pictures Television)

Year 2002 Local productions Feature films: 100% bio 20h17 rue Darling Book of Eve, The Dangereux, Les Espérance, L’ Gaz bar blues Grande séduction, La Hatley High Invasions barbares, Les Ma voisine danse le ska Mambo Italiano Silent Love, A Sur le seuil Vendus M.O.W.: Case Of The Whitechapel Vampire, The Choice : The Henry Morgentaler Story Deadly Betrayal Nightwaves Scent Of Danger Silent Night Wicked Minds TV Series: Annie et ses hommes Big Wolf On Campus III Bougons II, Les Cauchemars d’amour II Dernier chapitre, Le Emma II Fortier IV Grande ourse, La Harmonium Hommes en quarantaine Music Hall II Petit monde de Laura Cadieux, le Plateau, Le Poupées russes II, Les Real-TV II Simone et Chartrand Tag II Tribu.com III Un gars, une fille VIII Foreign productions Feature films: Beyond Borders (Paramount Pictures) Blue Butterfly, The (Coproduction USA/UK/Canada) (Galafilms Productions) Catch Me If You Can (Dreamworks SKG) Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind (Coproduction USA/Australie/Allemagne/ Canada) (Miramax Films) Human Stain, The (Miramax Films) Levity (Sony Pictures Classics) Père et Fils (Coproduction France/Canada) Shattered Glass (Lions Gate Films) Timeline (Paramount Pictures) M.O.W.: Gleason (Coproduction USA/Canada) Jean Moulin : une affaire française (Coproduction France/UK/Canada) Just A Walk In The Park (Coproduction USA/Canada) Obsessed Rudy : The Rudy Giuliani Story TV Series: Galidor Defenders Of The Outer Dimension (Coproduction USA/Canada) Liaisons Dangereuses, Les (Coproduction France/UK/Canada) Veritas : The Quest

Year: 2001 Local productions Feature films: Ange de goudron, L’ Collectionneur, Le Comment ma mère accoucha de moi… Favourite Game, The Histoire de pen Kart Racer Marais, Le Mystérieuse mademoiselle C, La Odyssée d’Alice Tremblay, L’ Québec-Montréal Savage Messiah Secret de banlieue Séraphin : un homme et son péché Squeege Punks in traffic (S.P.I.T) Station Nord Turbulence des fluides, La Vénus de Milo Yellowknife M.O.W.: Aftermath Agent of Influence One Way Out Rendering, The Royal Scandal, A Stork Derby, The Summer TV Series: Asbestos Bunker, Le Cauchemar d’amour Dernier chapitre, Le Emma Fêtes fatales Fortier III Jean Duceppe Lance et compte : la nouvelle génération La vie, la vie Music Hall Si la tendance se maintient Tabou Tales from the Neverending story Tribu.com II Un gars, une fille VII Vampire High Foreign productions Feature films: Abandon (Paramount Pictures) Aime ton père (Coproduction France/UK/Suisse/Canada) Au plus près du paradis (Coproduction France/Canada) Chasing Holden (Lions Gate Films) City Of Ghosts (MGM) Feardotcom (Warner Bros) Federal Protection (DEJ Productions) Lost Junction (MGM) Mallory Effect, The (Indican Pictures) No Good Deed (Kismet Entertainment Group) Steal (Miramax Films) (Coproduction France/UK/Canada) Sum Of All Fears (Paramount Pictures) $windle (DEJ Productions) M.O.W.: After Amy (Lifetime Television) Dr. Quinn Medecine Woman : The Heart Within Hysteria : The Def Leppard Story Lathe Of Heaven (Coproduction USA/Canada) Redeemer Their Last Chance TV Series: Dice (Coproduction UK/Canada) Largo Winch (Coproduction USA/France/Allemagne/Canada) Napoléon (Coproduction France/USA/UK/Allemagne/Canada

When I moved here in 2006, I was astounded at the quantity and quality of Québec cinema and TV. Previous to 2006, I had only really been aware of Denys Arcand and C.R.A.Z.Y., and TV was a big mystery. I was even more astounded that people here actually watch their own movies and TV! This doesn't happen in English Canada, it's 99% American content. I've now watched over 30 Québec movies and there are TV shows that I never miss like Laflaque, Tout le monde en Parle, C.A., Tout sur moi, Infoman, Les Boys, Les Bougon... that's more domestic content in 3 years living here than in my entire lifetime living in English Canada! The advantage that we have in Québec over ROC is that we have a strong domestic film and TV industry and aren't as reliant on foreign production. We can go into a slump in American production and still maintain a strong local industry. Not so in English Canada where there is very little domestic film or TV content (that people actully watch), they watch virtually 100% American shows and that makes Toronto and Vancouver almost totally dependant on luring U.S. production. In a good year here, up to 25% of screens can be showing Québec made films (even a bad year is about 10%, ROC is less than 1% in any year), and TV shows like Tout le monde en parle, Star Académie (Ok, it may be cheesy, but at least it's OUR cheese!) etc draw over 2 million viewers whereas in English Canada, the only shows that draw those numbers are American Idol, Grey's Anatomy, CSI Miami etc., all American. It makes a huge difference culturally as people here share common bonds by viewing themselves while in ROC, the shared experience is almost always foreign made, mostly American. Is it any wonder that ROC has such a difficult time 'defining themselves' when the talk around the water cooler is always about whatever American show/movie they watched the night before? Anyhow, here goes. I'll do a seperate post for each year. Note: MOW is 'Movie of the Week', usually some crappy, made-for-TV movie. Montréal Film and TV Year: 2000 Local productions Feature films: Boys III, Les Café Olé Crabe dans la tête, Un Crème glacée, chocolat et autres consolations Danny In The Sky Des chiens dans la neige Femme qui boit, La Hochelaga Jeune fille à la fenêtre, Une Life In The Balance Loi du cochon, La Karmina II Mariages Nuit de noces Planque, La Protection M.O.W.: Dead Of Night Hidden Agenda Hound Of The Baskervilles, The Nowhere In Sight Sign Of Four, The Stiletto Dance Trick Or Treat Xchange TV Series: Are You Afraid Of The Dark VII Caserne 24 Deux frères, La suite Diva III Fortier II Haute surveillance Live Through This Macaroni tout garni IV Or, L’ Retour, Le Rue L’espérance Tribu.com Un gars, une fille VI Watatatow Willie Foreign productions Feature films: Adventures Of Pluto Nash (Warner Bros. Pictures) Dorian (Coproduction UK/Canada) (Moonstone Entertainment) Driven (Warner Bros. Pictures) Heist (Warner Bros. Pictures) John Q. (New Line Cinema) One Eyed King (Lions Gate Films) Rollerball (MGM) Score, The (Paramount Pictures) Wrong Number (Coproduction USA/Canada) (Tsunami Entertainment) M.O.W.: All Souls (pilote) Blind Terror Diva’s Christmas Carol, A Growing Pains: The Movie Killing Yard, The Love Song Snow In August Tunnel Varians’s War Warden, The WW3 (World War III) TV Series: All Souls Further Tales Of The City Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis

Jeudi soir: aRTIST oF tHE yEAR + Payz Play Samedi soir:

Somewhat related, from a couple of years ago: TOP 11 UNDERGROUND TRANSIT SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD http://www.virgin-vacations.com/site_vv/11-top-underground-transit-systems-in-the-world.asp When you're traveling around the world, it's good to know that there are public transit systems available to help you get where you want to go. Underground subway systems offer the convenience of getting where you want when you want without the hassle of having to flag down a taxi or rent a car. In just about all cases, it's the most cost effective option. There are some beautiful, modern, and vast rapid transit systems throughout the world. The most popular and diverse international underground transit systems are listed below, but are merely a sample of the quite eye-catching transit systems that exist throughout the world. 8. Montreal, Canada The Montreal Metro is a modern system that was inaugurated in 1966. It is a small (37.8 miles reaching 65 stations on four lines) yet unique and modern system that was inspired by the Paris Metro. Highlights: Diverse, beautiful architecture and unique station art (each station is designed by a different architect). Pleasant riding experience (smooth rides: the trains run on a rubber surface to reduce the screech of train cars). Trains are frequent and fairly comfortable. Magic in the Metro How cities all over the world make important public works of art out of their underground mass-transit systems http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/nov2006/gb20061117_008728.htm Montreal In 1966, just before Montreal hosted its World’s Fair, Mayor Jean Drapeau ordered that art should be integrated into all the stations of the new metro. Today there are more than 150 sculptures, murals, and mosaics featured throughout the system. The abstract stained-glass window shown here, designed by Mario Merola and Pierre Osterrath, brightens up rush hour for Montreal commuters at Charlevoix. Station.

Bravo Frontenac! I really don't understand the attitude of some people in this city. Things such as this happen everywhere in the world practically every day. Since May, 2 entire buildings, 5 and 4 floors tall, have collapsed in NYC. In 2006, a tunnel in the Big Dig in Boston collapsed and killed a woman. In Toronto, concrete has fallen from the Gardiner Expressway 3 times since 2007, a marble slab fell off the BMO building in 2007, Union subway station flooded in February and had to close, 2 giant sinkholes, 5 metres wide by 14 metres deep, opened on Finch Ave last weekend... do you hear about any of this in Montréal? No, people here are too busy bitching as if nothing ever goes wrong anywhere else. What a loser mentality! Seriously, the next time I hear anyone on the street say "Only in Montréal/Only in Québec" when something happens, I'm going to punch them in the fvucking head!!

I couldn't agree more Steve, but I'd like to add that I find it particularly hypocritical when these sentiments are expressed in the ROC. I've had this discussion many times in Ontario, Alberta, BC and I've always had people say things like "I love Canada, I hate the States", yet when I've asked that same person what their top 10 TV shows, movies, books, bands etc. are, guess what country 90% of their favourites emanate from? Then they invite me to their Super Bowl party, grab a Starbucks, pick up a case of Budweiser, stop at Wal Mart, Blockbuster, and order a pizza from Dominos just in time to watch the NCAA game between Duke and Gonzaga, all while explaining how much the U.S. "sucks" and how lucky they are to be so "different" from them! Part of the reason that I moved to Québec was to get away from that nonsense. Sure we have a lot of the same crap here but there is much less of it, and it is counterbalanced by our own TV shows, cinema, music, literature, food, stores etc. I have nothing against the U.S. or Americans and I love many of their movies, shows, authors but I refuse to shop in their big box stores, eat in their crappy chain restos or fast food joints, buy any of their garbage mass produced beer etc. Why would I when I can support local businesses and restos that are usually much better quality? And Québec beer rocks! It's not Americans that I hate, it's the creeping monoculture that's taking over most of the continent that I hate. Hopefully Québec will continue to resist.

I live on 6e between Laurier and Masson and Technopole Angus is somewhat suburban compared to the rest of the area, yet it is only for a couple of blocks on either side of Loblaws. It is very urban though and an interesting conversion of the existing historic buildings. There is also a very cool park along Molson and don't forget; it was one of the first neighbourhoods in the world to acheive LEED ND designation outside of the U.S. after the Beijing Olympic village. http://biz.branchez-vous.com/communiques/detail/communiques_117589.html A good location for CLSD Rosemont, better than that ugly building it's in now!

This is such a fantastic project and it will be one of the top facilities in the world. The added bonus: Kent Nagano is pretty much guaranteed to renew his contract with l'OSM.