Stephanie Azranhttps://www.themetropolitain.ca/articles/author/235enghttps://www.themetropolitain.ca/articles/view/1495https://www.themetropolitain.ca/articles/view/1495One of the latest petitions to hit activist website change.org is one that could affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of Quebecois and Quebecoises trying to keep warm. Solene Tanguay, a self-described single mother from the Quebec City area, mounted a petition demanding that Hydro Quebec freeze residential electricity rates. Since launching, the petition has attracted over 16,000 supporters and Tanguay is looking for almost 10,000 more.  To sign the petition, please visit change.org and search for Hydro-Quebec.Stephanie AzranTue, 03 Feb 2015 16:06:00 -0500https://www.themetropolitain.ca/articles/view/1492https://www.themetropolitain.ca/articles/view/1492Last week, #Je SuisCharlie became the anthem of artists, journalists and citizens who refused to back down in the face of violence. 12 people died in the attacks in Paris and several more French citizens were killed in the days following. In the initial affront, gunmen with Kalashnikovs went into the building during an editorial meeting and opened fire. On writers, editors, citizens of France who may have taken things too far, but for a real purpose. This isn't the first time the magazine has been under fire- literally. It was firebombed in 2011 for publishing an edition poking fun at Mohammed and Islamic law. Writers and the editor-in-chief were and are used to receiving death threats. Even after requests from the French government to temper their satire, the magazine refused. Stephanie AzranSun, 18 Jan 2015 10:16:00 -0500https://www.themetropolitain.ca/articles/view/1470https://www.themetropolitain.ca/articles/view/1470Margaret Atwood knows how to work a room- so long as the room is in darkness and the spotlight is on her. That's just what she did at a recent reading in Hudson, leaving the audience enthralled with her performance of the first few paragraphs from one of her short stories. Atwood recently appeared at Greenwood's StoryFest, a literary festival celebrating Canadian authours. The grand dame of Canadian literature was a major score for the Greenwood folk, who have also welcomed Michael Ondaatje, Romeo Dallaire and Atwood's husband Graeme Gibson. Stephanie AzranTue, 18 Nov 2014 08:58:00 -0500