an interview with Jjanice le Sonneur, the artist behind Jjanice+

in this interview we hear about the context and inspiration behind EP Pierrot Couleur and also about the role of storytelling in this creative process. specifically this interview highlights the role of Montreal as a city with global identities in shaping the sound behind this project, while we also hear about the upcoming Jjanice+ album that is inspired by storytelling with roots in both the Caribbean and Montreal.

this interview was recorded for broadcast on CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon on Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org

listen to an in-studio discussion recorded live at CKUT radio in Montreal looking at the systemic street-level repression facing independent journalists covering protests in the city. this discussion is with William Ray, a contributor to 99media.org and Tom Henheffer from Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, who both speak on a recent report outlining the treatment of independent journalists by the Montreal police.

specifically this segment looks at the treatment of journalists during the student strike in Quebec that took place in 2012.

read the full letter / more information : http://www.99media.org

this interview was recorded live on CKUT fm during Free City Radio, a program produced by Stefan Christoff @spirodon info http://freecityradio.org

photo by thien v. of police helicopter in montreal.

listen to an in-studio discussion recorded live at CKUT radio in Montreal looking at the systemic street-level repression facing independent journalists covering protests in the city. this discussion is with William Ray, a contributor to 99media.org and Tom Henheffer from Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, who both speak on a recent report outlining the treatment of independent journalists by the Montreal police.

specifically this segment looks at the treatment of journalists during the student strike in Quebec that took place in 2012.

read the full letter / more information : http://www.99media.org

this interview was recorded live on CKUT fm during Free City Radio, a program produced by Stefan Christoff @spirodon info http://freecityradio.org

photo by thien v. of police helicopter in montreal.

listen to an interview with scholar, researcher and community activist Emilie Nicolas speaking out against anti-Black racism in Québec society. Emilie specifically speaks out on the recent opinion expressed by Radio Canada personality Louis Morissette who lamented a decision taken by the Radio Canada administration to ban the use of Blackface in the context of the year end review program « Bye bye » .

Emilie coordinated a letter of protest against Morissette's opinions and also took aim at systemic anti-Black racism in Québec society. the letter and signatories were titled « Les #Moustiques »

In this interview Emilie also speaks out against systemic anti-Black racism and discrimination in Québec society within a broader context, giving a historical lens to the current discussion around Blackface as rooted in a history of oppression toward Black communities, a process rooted in slavery and colonialism.

Emilie Nicolas bio:

Originally from Lévis, QC, Emilie Nicolas is a Vanier Scholar and Ph.D. Candidate in Linguistic Anthropology at the University of Toronto. Using the context of Francophonie, she researches the role of a shared language in social inclusion and international solidarity. Emilie’s academic interests are directly connected to her engagement with public affairs. More specifically, her involvement in youth politics led her to coordinate a provincial consultation on cynicism and democracy and to act as policy director and spokesperson for a political convention on Quebec identity and cultural diversity.

Since that time, she has contributed to various non-profit organizations in Montreal and Toronto, and has completed an Action Canada Fellowship. She is also a founding board member and the President of Québec Inclusif, a movement that unites active citizens from across the political spectrum of Quebec society to promote respect for religious diversity and intercultural understanding. Currently a Junior Fellow at Massey College, Emilie holds a Harry Jerome Award for Leadership along with a Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case. She speaks French, English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

this interview was recorded for broadcast on CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org

accompanying art by kaie kellough from the "erasures diasporas" series : http://kaie.ca/erasures-diasporas

listen to an interview with scholar, researcher and community activist Emilie Nicolas speaking out against anti-Black racism in Québec society. Emilie specifically speaks out on the recent opinion expressed by Radio Canada personality Louis Morissette who lamented a decision taken by the Radio Canada administration to ban the use of Blackface in the context of the year end review program « Bye bye » .

Emilie coordinated a letter of protest against Morissette's opinions and also took aim at systemic anti-Black racism in Québec society. the letter and signatories were titled « Les #Moustiques »

In this interview Emilie also speaks out against systemic anti-Black racism and discrimination in Québec society within a broader context, giving a historical lens to the current discussion around Blackface as rooted in a history of oppression toward Black communities, a process rooted in slavery and colonialism.

Emilie Nicolas bio:

Originally from Lévis, QC, Emilie Nicolas is a Vanier Scholar and Ph.D. Candidate in Linguistic Anthropology at the University of Toronto. Using the context of Francophonie, she researches the role of a shared language in social inclusion and international solidarity. Emilie’s academic interests are directly connected to her engagement with public affairs. More specifically, her involvement in youth politics led her to coordinate a provincial consultation on cynicism and democracy and to act as policy director and spokesperson for a political convention on Quebec identity and cultural diversity.

Since that time, she has contributed to various non-profit organizations in Montreal and Toronto, and has completed an Action Canada Fellowship. She is also a founding board member and the President of Québec Inclusif, a movement that unites active citizens from across the political spectrum of Quebec society to promote respect for religious diversity and intercultural understanding. Currently a Junior Fellow at Massey College, Emilie holds a Harry Jerome Award for Leadership along with a Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case. She speaks French, English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

this interview was recorded for broadcast on CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org

accompanying art by kaie kellough from the "erasures diasporas" series : http://kaie.ca/erasures-diasporas

listen to an interview with independent researcher and writer Miriam Fahmy speaking about ongoing struggles against neo-liberal austerity measures in Quebec. Miriam places contemporary struggles against austerity in Quebec within a historical context, specifically highlighting the sustained attempts by the Quebec Liberals to enforce neo-liberal economic policies dating back to the first mandate of Jean Charest in 2003.

also within this interview Miriam highlights specific struggles against austerity measures taking place in Quebec, like the moves by the Quebec government to cut funds to the Centres de la petite enfance et garderies, while also the moves by the Quebec state to force non-profit organizations and unions to face the same bureaucratic system as corporations in relation to the "Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Act," forcing many organizations with limited resources to engage in a level of work that is beyond their organizational capacity.

this interview was recorded at CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for broadcast on Free City Radio, info : http://freecityradio.org

photo taken at a night protest against austerity in downtown Montreal, spring 2015, photo by stefan christoff.

listen to an interview with independent researcher and writer Miriam Fahmy speaking about ongoing struggles against neo-liberal austerity measures in Quebec. Miriam places contemporary struggles against austerity in Quebec within a historical context, specifically highlighting the sustained attempts by the Quebec Liberals to enforce neo-liberal economic policies dating back to the first mandate of Jean Charest in 2003.

also within this interview Miriam highlights specific struggles against austerity measures taking place in Quebec, like the moves by the Quebec government to cut funds to the Centres de la petite enfance et garderies, while also the moves by the Quebec state to force non-profit organizations and unions to face the same bureaucratic system as corporations in relation to the "Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Act," forcing many organizations with limited resources to engage in a level of work that is beyond their organizational capacity.

this interview was recorded at CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for broadcast on Free City Radio, info : http://freecityradio.org

photo taken at a night protest against austerity in downtown Montreal, spring 2015, photo by stefan christoff.

listen to an interview with community activist & legal researcher Sameer Zuberi, a board member of the Quebec section of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association, speaking out against systemic racism in Quebec. Sameer outlines intersecting examples of systemic racism in Quebec society, speaking out against the utilization of culturally racist language by the Parti Québécois surrounding the so-called Quebec "Charter of Values," during the last PQ electoral mandate.

extending from Sameer highlights the ways that systemic racism impact both the Muslim community and Black communities in Quebec, pointing to the the recent text written by Radio Canada personality Louis Morissette lamenting that the Radio Canada admin wouldn't allow Louis to use Blackface in a year end program for 2015. Sameer is a signatory to a letter of protest that challenged Morissette, lead by Black community activists in Quebec.

this interview was recorded live on Free City Radio on CKUT fm in Montreal, conducted by Stefan Christoff @spirodon being uploaded for archiving purposes here on Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org art work by Fatima Travassos.

listen to an interview with community activist & legal researcher Sameer Zuberi, a board member of the Quebec section of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association, speaking out against systemic racism in Quebec. Sameer outlines intersecting examples of systemic racism in Quebec society, speaking out against the utilization of culturally racist language by the Parti Québécois surrounding the so-called Quebec "Charter of Values," during the last PQ electoral mandate.

extending from Sameer highlights the ways that systemic racism impact both the Muslim community and Black communities in Quebec, pointing to the the recent text written by Radio Canada personality Louis Morissette lamenting that the Radio Canada admin wouldn't allow Louis to use Blackface in a year end program for 2015. Sameer is a signatory to a letter of protest that challenged Morissette, lead by Black community activists in Quebec.

this interview was recorded live on Free City Radio on CKUT fm in Montreal, conducted by Stefan Christoff @spirodon being uploaded for archiving purposes here on Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org art work by Fatima Travassos.

listen to an interview with poet, educator and musician jason blackbird selman speaking on working as a public school arts educator, working on poetry with both secondary and primary school students.

jason also speaks on the kalmunity vibe collective and the importance of that space as a safe space and cultural context for black cultural expression in montreal all year around.

this interview was recorded for broadcast on ckut fm in montreal by stefan christoff @spirodon being uploaded here for public archive, info http://freecityradio.org photo taken during a kalmunity word sound system performance at "intifada unlimited" in 2004, photo by aaron lakoff.