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Couple claims they were driven out of workplace for being ‘too gay’

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A lesbian couple says they were driven out of their jobs as a paramedic and firefighter in a small Alberta town for being « too gay. »

Sheri and Alyssa Monk say they were discriminated against and expected to follow different rules than their heterosexual colleagues, saying they were told not to talk about their personal lives at work and that the word « wife » was off limits.

The women have filed a complaint with Alberta’s Human Rights Commission about how they were treated while working in the emergency services detachment in Pincher Creek, a town of 3,700 people about two hours south of Calgary. 

The Monks met on the job in 2014, but didn’t come out to coworkers until after they moved in together a year later. (Submitted by Alyssa and Sheri Monk)

« There’s just this consistent double standard, » Sheri told Go Public during an interview. « If you are not in the closet and hiding it, you are seen as flaunting it. »

According to a woman who counsels workplaces on sexual diversity, employees who live non-traditional lifestyles are sometimes considered outsiders and isolated — especially in small towns or in traditionally masculine jobs.

« There’s lots of places where we continue to struggle, » says Pam Krause, who works at the Centre for Sexuality in Calgary.

‘This isn’t because you’re gay, but…’ 

The Monks were one of five married couples working at the detachment in May 2017, when they say they were called into the office of then deputy chief Margaret Cox, who has since retired. 

« The conversation started with, ‘This isn’t because you’re gay, but there are some people that will never accept same-sex marriage and are offended by the use of the word wife, » according to Sheri.

She worked as a firefighter and her spouse was a paramedic and volunteer firefighter. 

They started dating in 2014 but didn’t come out to their colleagues until after they moved in together a year later. They married in 2016.

Conversations recorded

Sheri Monk worked as a firefighter in Pincher Creek. Her wife Alyssa worked at the same detachment as a paramedic and volunteer firefighter. (Submitted by Alyssa and Sheri Monk)

The couple says Cox told them to stop talking about their personal lives at work. 

« We asked would this apply to everybody … this manager said, ‘No, because you’re the only couple we’ve had complaints about.’ We were also the only gay couple, » Sheri said.

« We approached people and apologized for being too gay. We wanted to know what we had done wrong. »

After the conversation with Cox, the couple started recording meetings with managers. 

In one recording, the women’s direct supervisor seems to admit there is a double standard.  

« You’ve been very open in sharing your relationship and coming out, » EMS Capt. Jennifer Fisher-Sundberg can be heard saying on a recording. « So, um, and I think public displays of affection, whether it’s physical or verbal stand out more — because you’re both women — than it does in the heterosexual population. »

The Monks recorded a meeting with their supervisor who told them colleagues had been complaining about them. 0:34

‘We dropped F-bombs’

The couple says no topic was off limits at the detachment — until they came out to their colleagues. 

« Have we dropped F-bombs and made inappropriate jokes? Yes. But I can say with absolute certainty that was not out of place in that workplace culture, » Sheri said. 

The Monks don’t deny making inappropriate comments at work, but say it was in line with what other co-workers were saying. (Submitted by Alyssa and Sheri Monk )

The women turned to the deputy chief’s boss and the head of the detachment — Chief David Cox, who is married to Margaret Cox — to ask if everyone could get diversity training and for clarification on the rules. 

« When we asked if everybody would be getting the same set of rules we only met resistance, » Alyssa said. 

They also turned to Pincher Creek’s mayor, Don Anderberg, and council members for help, but were told to take their complaint to the Pincher Creek Emergency Services Commission instead. Anderberg, and David and Margaret Cox were all members of the commission. Attempts were made to contact Anderberg, but he did not respond by deadline.  

Both women say they realized nothing was going to change. Sheri quit her job on May 31, 2017, and Alyssa resigned a month later. They weren’t fired and didn’t face disciplinary action.

« We were working at a place where we weren’t allowed to acknowledge our marriage, our personal lives or our family lives and we were the only ones that had to live and work that way, » Sheri said.

‘Religious sentiments being offended’

According to a copy of their human rights complaint provided to Go Public by the couple, one co-worker objected, in part, to the pair’s « public displays of affection, » to their use of the word « babe » with one another, to conversations « suggestive » of their sex life, and to another colleague’s birthday card signed, « your favourite lesbians. » 

Another coworker raised concerns about comments including, « how much they love each other and how wonderful the other person is. »

Former coworker James Raffan says the Monks behaved no different than any other couple and he has « no doubt » they were singled out because they’re gay. 

James Raffan, who worked with the Monks in Pincher Creek, says colleagues regularly talked about their personal lives at work. (Rosa Marchitelli/CBC )

« There was — and presumably still is — a very strong conservative bent within the department itself … It’s a small southern Alberta town. It’s to be expected, » he told Go Public. 

He says staff often talked about their personal lives, religion, politics and sex and it wasn’t an issue. Nor was it a problem when his wife would visit him at work and they would talk about their personal lives while making breakfast together. 

What he did hear, he says, were complaints about the Monks.

« Their being a lesbian couple became the centre of conversation more often … them being in the workplace and other people’s religious sentiments being offended by their presence became more of a source of conflict. »

Department denies discrimination

The Monks filed a human rights complaint against the Pincher Creek Emergency Services Commission alleging discrimination. (Justin Pennell/CBC)

Chief Cox declined to answer Go Public’s questions about the case saying it is now before the human rights commission. His wife did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

According to the human rights complaint, the emergency services department, « denies any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or other protected grounds pursuant to the Alberta Human Rights Act as alleged or at all. » 

The department’s response to the complaint also seems to indicate things got worse after the deputy chief’s first meeting with the couple. 

In a letter signed by Margaret Cox, dated June 22, 2017, Alyssa is told her employment is in jeopardy because some coworkers were feeling bullied because her « silence, disrespectful actions and lack of team participation at work exude open hostility and anger. » 

Alyssa says the first time she saw the letter was after she quit and filed the human rights complaint. 

Pam Krause helps companies develop inclusive policies. She says her work isn’t about changing people’s minds, but making people aware of human rights laws. (Rosa Marchitelli/CBC)

Financial struggles

Krause says it’s not uncommon for people in Sheri and Alyssa’s situation to feel they have no choice but to leave their jobs. 

« The problem is how long can you go on, fight, or just feel excluded … eventually you’re just gonna leave and that to me is the saddest part, » said Krause, whose organization is hired by companies to do diversity training. 

« We don’t want to ever interrupt people’s religious values or whatever the values that drive belief, but you actually can’t openly discriminate against LGBTQ people in Canada. »

Alyssa and Sheri Monk are now thinking about restarting their lives in another town and have put their home up for sale. (Justin Pennell/CBC)

After quitting their jobs, the Monks say they struggled financially for months. They’ve had to put the Pincher Creek house they live in with their two teenaged sons up for sale and are considering relocating.

« Even though gay marriage is legal in Canada … you can still lose your job and your savings and your house for loving who you love, » Sheri said.

She got a full-time job in October and is now commuting to a city three hours away for work.

If the women win their case at the human rights commission, they could get a financial settlement, but it could take years for a decision.

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We tell your stories and hold the powers that be accountable.

We want to hear from people across the country with stories you want to make public.

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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