Quote of the week:

"Go ask the nigger the people just elected." - Jean-Paul Carrier, an adviser to defeated Saint-Lambert Liberal MP Yolande Thibeault, after he was asked for an interview following her election night loss to the Bloc's Matta Kotto, who was born in Cameroon.

Looking back on Guindonville

Rich people's leisure wins out over the needs of the poor - so learned Guindonville residents a year ago when their seven tiny, low-cost houses were demolished to make way for a hotel parking lot. The project was later cancelled, but former inhabitants were left in the lurch. The local mayor's social housing promises for the displaced have still not been kept.

"We have the impression that the housing crisis is just a metropolitan phenomenon," says François Saillant, co-ordinator of housing advocacy group FRAPRU. "But it exists in this area as well. The difference is that there are so few places to rent. When you don't find something, you are obliged to leave the town."

Named after one of the village founders, Yvon Guindon, Guindonville was a small area in the Laurentian town of Val-David that offered one of only few opportunities to rent a house for $300 a month. After the homes were destroyed, one woman had to move two hours away from Val-David, while another had to live in a costly tourist chalet for several months while searching for a home that could accommodate her wheelchair.

"We have lost low-cost housing in Val-David," says Saillant. "We have destroyed a community for nothing. A municipality like Val-David must take responsibility for these citizens and provide social housing."

Former residents and FRAPRU will hold a commemorative march and picnic in Val-David on Saturday, July 10. All are welcome. Transportation from Montreal will be provided. For more information or to reserve a seat, call FRAPRU at 522-1010. » Shannon Devine

Bowl against AIDS

In 2000, David Lee left the law trade in his native Montreal to discover the delights of Calgary, but "I realized Montreal is still one of the best places to live," he says. He returned, however, with an unexpected fever - bowling fever.

"I told myself if I ever returned to Montreal it'd be to set up a bowling league," and true to his word, the Rainbow Bowling League of Montreal was launched, growing from a mere four gutter-ball tossers to 40 exquisite pintumbling marksmen of the hardwood. On Friday, Lee is going to exploit the earning potential of the pastime to help battle and deal with AIDS in Montreal.

For 25 well-spent dollars, bowlers can get into Lee's bowl-a-thon, which gets rolling at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 9, at the Salon des Quilles Internationale (6590 Parc, near Van Horne), as a benefit for AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM), a local AIDS resource centre. DJs Mark Anthony and Mat Ste-Marie will oversee the turntables as the party goes on until 3 a.m., with a hoped-for turnout of up to 300 bowlers.

"People think bowling is an older person's sport but I'm trying to make it so people can understand young people can play also, and can use it as a way to meet outside the clubs," says Lee.

The ACCM is highly appreciative of the fundraiser for their cause. "We're ecstatic," says office co-ordinator Brett Shymanski. For further info, call 884-0256. » Kristian Gravenor

Ziba remembered

This July 11 marks the first anniversary of Montreal photojournalist Zahra Kazemi's death while in government custody in Iran. This Friday, July 9, Kazemi's friends and family will gather to remember "Ziba," as she was known, and hold a benefit for the fledgling Zahra Kazemi Foundation.

"‘Ziba' means ‘beautiful' in Farsi," says event organizer and foundation vice-president Shahrzad Arshadi. "For me, it's very important we don't forget her." The foundation, created earlier this year by Kazemi's son, Stephan Hachemi, aims to raise money to support the work of visible minority photojournalists and documentary filmmakers.

Ziba: Je me souviens, will include an exhibition of Kazemi's photos, as well as dance, poetry and music performed by a host of international acts.

Kazemi's case remains open. An Iranian Intelligence Ministry agent faces a charge of "quasi-intentional murder," but many believe he's being made a fall guy. "This poor guard is a scapegoat. The one responsible is free on the streets," says Arshadi.

Arshadi doesn't believe that justice can be done in Iran, and that despite initial pressure from the Canadian government, Kazemi's case risks falling through the cracks.

"I'm not optimistic at all. The international community, and especially the Canadian government, has to step forward to bring this case to an international court," she says. "In Iran, nothing will happen."

Ziba: Je me souviens takes place Friday, July 9, at Concordia's D.B. Clark Theatre (1455 de Maisonneuve W.). The show begins at 7 p.m. and admission is free. For more info call 274-1286. » Christophe Hazou

REAR-VIEW MIRROR

19 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
July 4–July 18, 1985

On the cover: Pablo Picasso, as an exhibition on his work opens in Montreal. While Marcela Toro writes that the "exhibition is good," she is annoyed that the artist's political and intellectual context is ignored.

• Five people are homeless following a suspicious fire on Prince Arthur and Coloniale. "If history in the Plateau is any indication, the landlord will collect the insurance and sell the building," writes Peter Kuitenbrouwer.

• The Third International Conference on Popular Music Studies opens in Montreal, with invitees including Village Voice writer Robert Christgau, Greil Marcus and Beau Dommage's Michel Rivard.

• John Huston's Prizzi's Honor "makes the viewer aware of how good actors and directors can really be when they are able to present one piece of material while simultaneously giving it several layers of significance," writes José Arroyo.

• In its second issue ever, the Mirror publishes its first two corrections, regarding the ownership of Place Ville-Marie and loans the Royal Bank hadn't made to the South African government.

Angel >> Shelving Suroît The controversial South Shore power plant's future has been put on hold this week following the provincial government's decision to rethink the project, saying the possible environmental consequences need more studying. The natural gas plant had many critics, from Greenpeace to nuns to hunger-striking students, who feared that its creation would blow Quebec's commitment to Kyoto emission reduction pledges. The provincial mandarins at the Régie de l'énergie said the plant was desirable but not indispensable, but Thomas Mulcair, the Environment Minister, said a committee has to look into Quebec's energy security needs first. In the meantime, the government is telling Hydro-Québec to boost wind power.
Insect >> Our exploding infrastructure A burst water main in Dorval rendered the water undrinkable. Over 200,000 people lost power for several hours. A gas leak on Laurier. Another burst water main on Laval. Signs of the apocalypse? Not quite, but a pretty bad 24 hours spanning between Monday and Tuesday morning this week. The city administration and the province have both promised to tackle the issue of the city's creaking and wasteful infrastructure but many problems remain, thanks to decades of neglect. These kinds of mishaps happen in every major city, but the sorry coincidence of these multiple incidents is exasperating.