News stories tagged with "montreal"

(05/15/12) Austerity measures in Europe have sparked protests and political chaos. But belt tightening has also sparked unrest closer to home. In the province of Quebec, a plan to hike university tuitions has led to weeks of violent rallies, civil disobedience, and clashes with police.

As North Country Public Radio's Brian Mann reports, the US Consulate in Montreal has issued a security warning to American travelers in the city. more

(07/18/11) We heard St. Lawrence Seaway Administrator Terry Johnson talk about bringing "containers" into the Seaway. Those are the norm of international commerce - all-purpose boxes that fit on ships, trucks, and trains. They can carry anything from paper clips to teddy bears to computers.

Seaway officials have trumpeted container traffic as a huge growth opportunity for the better part of a decade. Yet the infrastructure's still not in place. Few, if any, Great Lakes ports have the cranes to off-load containers.

Todd Moe reports at least one industry analyst is skeptical. more

(03/31/11) Last week, the first freighter of the year rumbled up the St. Lawrence River. That marked the 53rd season of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a man-made channel linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

The Seaway's billion dollars of commerce is mostly an economic conversation between Canada's southern coast, America's Midwest, and the far-flung ports of the world.

But it's caused vast environmental damage in the North Country and across the Great Lakes, largely via invasive species.

David Sommerstein went to the Seaway's opening ceremony last week in Montreal. He sends this report on the Seaway's delicate balance between the economy and the environment. more

(03/24/11) St. Lawrence Seaway officials are forecasting a cargo increase over last year. The first freighter of the 2011 shipping season rumbled through the locks in Montreal on Tuesday. David Sommerstein reports. more

(12/28/10) Twenty-two Chinese seamen are resting up in Montreal after a harrowing Christmas journey through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The crew aboard the German-owned Hermann Schoening became violently ill after phosphine gas leaked into the living and working spaces. The gas is used regularly as a fumigant to kill pests in the cargo hold. The freighter is carrying 19,000 tons of midwestern corn bound for Algeria.

The crew was treated at a hospital in Ontario. But the ship then continued on with windows open to air out the gas.

Don Metzger piloted the freighter from Lake Ontario through the St. Lawrence River to Massena. He's been a Seaway pilot for more than 30 years. He told David Sommerstein he's never seen anything like this happen before. Metzger says the crew was sick and cold, and unprepared for winter weather.
Carolyn Osbourne of the Mariners House of Montreal says the crew spent yesterday recovering after being sickened by phosphine gas. She says they received a second hospital checkup, as well as warm coats, gloves, and Christmas gifts while in port. The ship was scheduled to resume its travels this morning.

An official with Transport Canada says the incident is under investigation. The shipowners could be fined if violations of the Canada Shipping Act are found. But the gas leak is so far being considered an anomaly.

(07/14/10) Emergency response teams continue to clean up a fuel spill in a canal of the St. Lawrence River near Montreal. A Canadian ship leaked at least 50 tons of bunker fuel when it ran aground Monday night. Environment officials say they believe most of the oil has been contained. But it's unclear exactly how much leaked into the waterway. It's the second time in as many weeks a ship has run aground on the St. Lawrence Seaway. David Sommerstein reports. more

(03/01/10) Canadians celebrated the thrilling gold medal victory across the country last night. On Rue St. Laurent in downtown Montreal, cars paraded uptown with Canadian flags flying. The party spilled out of Champs Sports Bar for today's Heard Up North.

(08/05/09) One of the region's largest seasonal employers says the struggling economy and this summer's wet weather triggered a dramatic decline in revenue. Six Flags, which operates the Great Escape theme park in Lake George and La Ronde park in Montreal, says revenue last quarter was down 13%. Brian Mann has details.

(02/10/09) In winter, northern peoples gathered around a fire to exchange stories and experiences. Mohawk poet, Peter Blue Cloud, shares his voice on paper, in a new collection of poems, Winter with Crows. Betsy Kepes has this review. more

(01/30/09) Take four very talented young vocalists, all women, add an expert percussionist and you get "Chic Gamine". The Winnipeg/Montreal-based quintet brings its brand of gospel, soul, doo-wop and blues to Lowville this Saturday night at 8 pm. Their concert is part of the Black River Valley Concert series at the Lewis County Historical Society. Todd Moe has a preview.