Black Rock Commerative Stone

The Irish community has gathered for a walk to the Black Rock on the last Sunday of May since the 1880s. They gather in memory of the Irish who were evicted from their homes by their aristocratic landlords during the potato famine, lured by the promise of payment onto ships bound for Canada, endured a three- to six-month passage in fetid cargo holds, contracted typhus, were dumped in what was then called Goose Village, died, and were buried en masse and unmarked.

The Warlus magazine

Typhus epidemic

Windmill Point was a quarantine area where between 3,500 and 6,000 Irish immigrants died of typhus or “ship fever,” in 1847 and 1848. The immigrants had been transferred from quarantine in Grosse Isle, Quebec. Due to a lack of suitable preparations, typhus soon reached epidemic proportions in Montreal. Three fever sheds were initially constructed, 150 feet (46 m) long by 40 to 50 feet (15 m) wide. As thousands more sick immigrants landed, mored sheds had to be erected.

The number of sheds would grow to 22, with troops cordoning off the area so the sick couldn’t escape. Grey Nuns cared for the sick, carrying women and children in their arms from ships to the ambulances. According to Montreal journalist and historian Edgar Andrew Collard, thirty of 40 nuns who went to help became ill, with seven dying. Other nuns took over, but once the surviving Grey Nuns had convalesced, they returned. Priests also helped, many falling ill after hearing the last confessions of the dying. When a mob threatened to throw the fever sheds into the river, Montreal mayor John Easton Mills quelled the riot and provided care, giving patients water and changing bedding. He died in November, serving less than a year in office. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Montreal urged French Quebecers to help their fellow Catholics. Many travelled to Montreal from the countryside to adopt children, in some cases passing their land on to them.

The Black Rock

A large black rock was erected in 1859 by workers to honour the victims, whose remains were uncovered during the construction of the Victoria Bridge Its official English name is the Irish Commemorative Stone, but it is more commonly referred to as The Black Rock.

Wikipedia

Mutek is an international festival of electronic music and digital creativity, which is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year from May 27 to 31 in Montreal, Canada. To say that Mutek is innovative is a huge understatement. This organization has been presenting the most forward thinking electronic music festival in North America since it’s inception. While showcasing well known artists such as Ricardo Villalobos, Atom Heart, Monolake, Pole, and Matthew Herbert, they also played a huge role in introducing and developing Canadian artists such as Akufen, Deadbeat, The Mole, Mathew Jonson, Pheek, and many more. The full list of artists who have participate in Mutek over the past 10 years is truly mindboggling, and can be found on their Myspace page. Mutek is a lot more than a music festival though, putting an incredible amount of care and attention into the visual presentation of the events, and providing panels and forums for attendees and participants to share ideas and meet like-minded people. Discovering Mutek was truly a lifechanging event for us, and we’re hoping to convince more of Brooklyn to head up to Montreal this year to check it out by bringing a small piece of the festival to you for one night only.

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/03/mutek_2009_mont.html

Astroday excitement

The International Astronomy Day in the International Astronomy Year is fast approaching.

Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, 2009 – 8:00 p.m. – midnight

The RASC Montreal Centre and the Montreal Planetarium team up for a Star Party at the Morgan Arboretum

Should the skies be overcast, there will be astronomy presentations in the Arboretum’s Visitor’s Centre.
Location: Morgan Arboretum, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue

Saturday, May 1, 2009 – 12 noon – 6:00 p.m.

For and afternoon of creative fun, bring the family to the Visual Voice Art Gallery and participate in the Painted Universe

ocation: Visual Voice Art Gallery, 372 Ste-Catherine Street West, space 421, Montreal

Both events are free

Posted by: BettinaForget in RASC Montreal Centre IYA events

The RASC Montreal Centre has been very actively participating in the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009).

he International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) is a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, highlighted by the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. The aim of the Year is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science under the central theme “The Universe, Yours to Discover”.