Montreal Together: About the journalists

Montreal Together is a collaboration between the Department of Journalism at Concordia University and CBC Montreal.

Undergraduate students and graduate-diploma students in amultimedia course found and produced original stories based onthe theme of Montreal's 375th anniversary.

Working in small teams, they spent the winter semester developing their stories in text, audio, video, photography, infographicsand maps.

OscarOcelotlAguirre

Oscar Ocelotl Aguirre is a graduate student in visual journalism at Concordia University.

He's a freelance photographer, actor, traveller and avocado lover.

He never intended to grow a 35-centimetrelong beard, but stranger things happen in this world.

He's a member of Collective Stock Photo.

Safia Ahmad

Safiahas just completed thegraduate diplomaprogram in journalism atConcordia Universityandaspires to become a sports journalist. Her work can be found in the Concordia student newspaper The Link, the Saint-Lambert Journal and the Eastern Door.

She has also co-hosted the Press Box Hat Trick sports podcast and CJLO 1690AM sports show while providing colour commentary for Concordia Stingers hockey games.

She is also the recipient of the Philip Fisher bursary and the Sportsnetscholarship.

As a Pakistani-Montrealer, Safia wants to see more women of colour across all multimedia platforms because she believes that diversity is an important part of journalism.

NahkaBertrand

Nahka Bertrand is a graduate student injournalism at Concordia University.

She is a freelance journalist and a member ofRicochet Media's Indigenous Reporting Fund editing team.

Bertrand has a background in English literature, creative writingand theatre.

She is interested in truth and storytelling.

Michael Boriero

Michael Borierohas just completed the graduate diploma program in journalismat Concordia University.

He is a freelance journalist with a passion for sports journalism and exploring the complexities and importance of sports culture. He has contributed to the Concordia student newspaper TheLinkand has covered Concordia Stingers football and hockey.

He was the 2016 recipient ofthe Enn Raudseppscholarship. He interned atCBC Montreal.

EtienneBriere

EtienneBriereholds aBA in journalism from UQAMand agraduate diploma in visual journalism fromConcordiaUniversity. He hasworked in sports journalism, writing and managing his owninternetsite as well as a radio show and apodcast.

He now specializes in visual journalism, mainly as a director and editor. He dreams of travelling the world for National Geographic,ESPNor the Golf Channel.

Pat Cahill

Pat just completed the graduate diploma program in journalism at Concordia University.

He focuses on visual storytelling, especially photography.

He has done a variety of freelance work for The Link and is interested in freelancing internationally.

Coco Caron-Delas

Coco Caron-Delas is a solar-powered storyteller with a penchant for interviewing.

She currently freelances about what fascinates her.

She's interested inthe arts, culture, health, lifestyle, traveland wellness.

SolneJonveaux

Solne Jonveaux is a graduate student in journalism at Concordia University.

She has a background in biology and environmental science.

She turned to journalism to share her interest and fascination about science.

StephaneLavoie

Stephane Lavoie was born and raised in Edmonton, Alta.

He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in human geography and political science from the University of Alberta in 2015.

Stephane co-authored Boom and Bust: A Guide (2016), the result of a year-long research project looking into resource dependency and economic volatility in western Canada.

This spring, he obtained a graduate diploma in visual journalism from Concordia University in Montreal, where he continues to live as freelance documentary filmmaker, writer and designer.

Aislinn May

Aislinn has just finished her graduate diploma in journalism at Concordia University. She enjoys writing articles on a variety of subjects,and she aims to have a career in radio and television.

She has done freelance work for Montreal Families magazine and written for Concordia'sstudent newspaper The Link.

She recently interned at CBC's Ottawa Morning and now works as a casual employee for CBC in Ottawa.

She hopes to travel around Canada working as a journalist while exploring the different places and people that make up this diverse country.

ElonoreRiffe

Elonore Riffe is a visual journalism student at Concordia Universitywith a background in fine arts.

She is passionate about photography and video, whichshe uses to bring attention to social and environmental issues.

She has a particular interest in long-form journalism and documentary.

NoSainderichin

No Sainderichin is a graduate student in journalism at Concordia University from France.

He studied history and is interested in international politics.

GethraaShan

Gethraa Shan is a graduate student in journalism at Concordia University.

She is passionate about music, science and politics.

She considers herself shy, but she enjoys public speaking.

She hopes to work in radio and television.

Kacim Azouz Steets

KacimAzouzSteets is an explorer. He has been a stonemason, a touring musician, a scientist, a director of photography, a producer, a director, an entrepreneur, a student, a teacher, a success and a failure.

Because of these experienceshe has grown, and with every twist and turn, he has carried a camera. He has learned to change lenses in order to see different perspectives.

After graduating with a physics degreefromMcGill University, Kacim created his own film production company where he completed thefeature film Alice in the Attic.

He is currently producing another feature film, Quand l'amour se creuse un trou, and he is directing a documentary episode of CBC's Firsthand.

AgatheTournoux

Agathe Tournoux is a graduate student in visual journalism at Concordia University, an elementaryschool cinema teacher for YouthFusion, a non-profit organization, and a camera woman working on manydifferent projects.

With her Frenchie accent, she likes to explore new universes, here in Montreal or wherever in the world.

Truth is always stranger than fiction. Just look around.