Quote of the week:

"It will be the death of taverns," predicts Côte-St-Paul bartender Philippe Lavallée in Tuesday's Journal de Montréal, on Quebec's impending ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, proposed for January.

Colonial quandary

While it may seem like the struggle against Canadian colonialism is an uphill battle, the folks over at the Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement (IPSM) and No One Is Illegal (NOII) are trying to prove that classic Yogi-ism, it ain't over till it's over.

From May 13–15, they're holding the "Land, Decolonization & Self-Determination" conference at UQÀM's Pavillon Hubert-Aquin (400 Ste-Catherine E.), Room A-M050.

This Friday, May 13, will feature a day of film screenings, starting at 11 a.m., followed by an evening panel, "Canadian Colonialism, Anti-Colonial Struggles & Resistance," at 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday, May 14, a day of workshops starts off with breakfast and registration at 8:30 a.m. and ends with the closing panel, "Decolonization in Practice" at 4:45 p.m. Panelists include Kukdookaa Terri Brown, a former president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, and Mohawk activist Shawn Brant.

Things wrap up on Sunday, May 15, with the Land, Decolonization & Self-Determination March beginning at noon from Atwater Square (corner Atwater and Ste-Catherine).

For info, go to www.decolonization.ca, or call 398-7432. All events are free. » Christopher Hazou

Trannie aid

Local transgender support circles have taken to tossing rockin' fundraisers to help men trapped in women's bodies make the medical journey to masculinity.

The main staple of female-to-male transformation is "top surgery," which, according to Project 10 co-coordinator Sarah Blumel, who helps confused 14- to 25-year-olds wrestle with their sexual orientation, is "chest reconstruction to give transsexuals a more masculine look - it costs about $5,000." Not only does the surgery give the new men glistening, beach-ready pecs, the operation also helps would-be men through the legal labyrinth of officially updating their gender identity. "In Quebec, to adopt a [male] name, you need two surgeries, top surgery and a hysterectomy, then you can apply for a legal name change," says Blumel.

I Want Your Sex, the next trans guys' surgery benefit party, is on tonight, Thursday, May 12 at

9 p.m., at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent). Expect entertainment by Ladies Luncheon and DJ Candace, among others, as well as a merch table featuring I Want Your Sex T-shirts.The cover charge is pay-what-you-can, but those who pay $7 or more will be compensated with tasty treats. » Kristian Gravenor

Disobedient dads

Some of Montreal's divorced and separated fathers are protesting what they see as federal foot-dragging over changes to child custody laws. Last week, they launched a month of pressure tactics by covering a Highway 40 billboard with a banner and protesting at Federal Justice Minister Irwin Kotler's local office.

"He's the one who can make a change but he put aside all divorce law reforms on his agenda and replaced it with gay marriage," says Benoit Leroux, local coordinator for Fathers 4 Justice. Leroux says the decision means it could take years before paternal custody is increased. "Our first objective is to change Canadian divorce law to allow for equality in parenting."

Other complaints include lack of government-funded men's resources and police enforcement of child custody. One member, Daniel Bonin, claims he and others have conducted sit-ins at police stations to protest inaction against mothers who refuse to allow court-ordered father's visits. "It's totally unjust," says Bonin. "Fathers all over Canada have suffered, and it's terrible for the children as well." » Kristian Gravenor

Building boom

The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) is giving Montrealers a chance to become better acquainted with their urban landscape. Over the next six Saturdays, walking tours will explore the iconic landmarks of the '60s, buildings we think we know so well, but often take for granted.

Complementing the CCA's current exhibition, The 60s: Montreal Thinks Big (1920 Baile, until September 11), the six distinct tours take on Place Ville-Marie, Place des Arts, Sherbrooke Street's apartment towers, Habitat 67, Westmount Square and Nun's Island, each with their respective historical context steeped in the optimism and innovative spirit of the '60s.

"The '60s was an intense period of development and transformation in Montreal," says CCA associate director of programs, Helen Malkin. "The tours are designed to educate locals and tourists about its major projects."

The tours take place every Saturday from May 14 through June 18 at 2 p.m. (except May 14, at 1 p.m.), rain or shine. Reserve $10 tickets by calling 846-8904 or visiting www.cca.qc.ca/WalkingTours. » Lorraine Carpenter

REAR-VIEW MIRROR

13 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
May 13–May 20, 1993

On the cover: A PVC-clad dominatrix wielding handcuffs, as the Mirror explores the wonders of S&M. Fetishes, discover Lucinda Catchlove and Cathleen Skidmore, can begin early. "If the first time a guy got laid he had a pair of high-heeled shoes floating around his head while he was knocking some girl in the leather backseat of a car, of course he's going to be into heels and leather the rest of his life," says Northbound Leather's George Giaouris.

• The fourth annual Best of Montreal results: Best Reasons to Live in Montreal: The nightlife; The womyn; The cold and the hot. Montrealer of the Year: Leonard Cohen; Jean Doré; Celine Dion. Best Local Group or Singer, Best Local Group Likely to Make It Big, Best Montreal-Made Video: Me, Mom & Morgentaler.

• "The British press fawns over any halfway decent homegrown guitar unit in its quest to answer a decade of dominance by American bands, and Radiohead are its latest heroes," Chris Yurkiw writes of Pablo Honey.

Angel >> Male sweat And just in time for summer! Championed in 2003 for reducing stress and triggering ovulation in women - leading researchers to juice men's pits in the development of new aroma therapies and fertility drugs - the scent of male made a comeback this week when a Swedish study concluded that gay men and straight women exhibit identical sexual responses to the odour, which seems to do nothing for straight guys except attract the ladies. Supporting the notion that sexual orientation is innate, this finding is bound to stick in the craw of those who insist that homosexuality is a choice, or the result of childhood abuse, or the result of watching too much SpongeBob SquarePants.
Insect >> Street performer prohibition Street musicians, mimes, caricaturists, tattoo artists and children's face painters were threatened with bans, fee hikes and relocations this week when the Ville-Marie borough launched three days of public hearings on proposals to reduce and regulate free outdoor entertainment. Borough Mayor Martin Lemay implies that his proposals were spurred by complaints from residents and merchants downtown and in Old Montreal, the same claim that led to the attempted banishment of the Ogilvy Spoonman last winter. In a city known for its innovative art, party atmosphere and (small L) liberal politics - not to mention Cirque du Soleil, whose roster is rife with former street performers - the mere notion of such restrictions, whether or not they're eventually adopted, is utterly absurd.