A Brief Year in Review: 2015

by Catlin Spencer

MONTREAL SEWAGE DUMP

On November 10th 2015, Montreal braced itself as Mayor Denis Coderre announced that 8 billion litres of raw sewage were to be dumped directly into the St Lawrence.

The dump was deemed necessary as part of work on the Bonaventure Express way.

After 89 hours and 4.9 billion litres of sewage, the dump was ended three days early.

CHARBONNEAU REPORT: COLLUSION, CORRUPTION

Quebec Judge France Charbonneau released her report detailing the collusion and corruption in Quebec on November 24th 2015.

In her report, Charbonneau listed 60 recommendations to help clean up the provinces way of handing out construction contracts.

The inquiry lasted over 30 months since it's beginning in the summer of 2012.

MUHC ROCKY START

Months after it's opening in April of 2015, Montreals MUHC Super Hospital faced multiple complaints and flooding problems.

Both patients and staff complained about long wait times, issues with the call centre, overcrowded waiting rooms, computers going down and doors that refused to open.

It also took until September to solve the hospitals flooding issue, which had black sewage backing up from the pipes due to debris in the pipes.

SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

It was reported by the United Nations on July 9 2015 that over 4 million refugees had fled from Syria to neighbouring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq.

Countries world-wide pledged to accept refugees who were fleeing the four-year long civil war back home.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE NATION-WIDE FOR USA

On June 26th 2015, the Supreme Court of The United States ruled in favour of same-sex marriage nation-wide.

The ruling won 5 to 4, establishing a new civil right and marking a historic victory for gay rights advocates.

PARIS ATTACKS

Paris faced terrifying and devastating attacks in 2015: first with the Charlie Hebdo shooting in January, and again in November with the terrorist bombings.

Twelve people lost their lives in the shooting at the satirical magazine office building and at least 128 people died in the bombing attacks throughout the french capital.