1. (Fil français disponible aussi). I love #Montréal with all my heart. This thread is a series of 16 photos taken over the past 43 days of the pandemic.

#MtlMoments #polmtl #polqc

2. Before sharing photos, it is important to ground them in our concrete reality. I go for one walk a day. I keep my distance from others. I wash my hands before leaving and upon return. I now carry a mask in my pocket in the event I find myself in a more confined space.

3. These walks have a context: I have employment built on a lifetime of privilege (and hard work): white, male, a working family, my parents helped pay my education - I had the economic freedom to advance my pursuits. All of this led me to some sense of job security today.

4. Income puts me at some ease. It allows me to go for a beautiful, calm walk during the pandemic. What of the countless people in Montréal - and across the globe - who were struggling before? What of those thrown into uncertainty or worse now? These calm walks are a privilege.

5. McGill University principal Dr. Suzanne Fortier, technically my employer, posted a beautiful message to the McGill community this week that resonates far outside the Roddick Gates. She writes, in part:

6. “Reflecting on the growing inequalities in the world, which have been made even more obvious in this pandemic, Professor [Charles] Taylor shared the following thought”:

7. Taylor said, “Is it too much to hope that we might react when the pandemic is over, not just with relief that we’ve returned to normal, but also with a determination to address these inadequacies? The optimist in me thinks there’s a good chance we can rise to the occasion.”

8. Dr. Fortier echoed, “In difficult times, it is so important for each of us, particularly those who have the privilege to be part of an environment protected from the worst aspects of the crisis, to hear that inner voice that calls us to ‘rise to the occasion.’”

9. Let’s take those words to heart. Let’s rise to action, if we can. With that preamble, here are 16 photos of the most beautiful city in the world, taken over the past 43 days of the pandemic. Dr. Fortier’s statement can be read in full here: https://mcgill.ca/x/4or 

Incinérateur des Carrières in La Petite-Patrie neighbourhood near the tracks.

La Suite boutique on Avenue du Mont-Royal. #PMR. View list of open commerce on @AvenueMontRoyal.
Website: https://www.mont-royal.net/ 

My good friend @pat_lefebvre76 celebrating his first day outside in 45 days. Pat has spastic cerebral palsy and, more importantly, he has good ideas for how to improve assisted living. We had a beer in the sun, listened to some tunes, talked about life and the state of the world.

Thank you for the essential service to CBC Montreal journalists tagged in this photo, among many others! Thank you for your Twitter engagement, which lifts spirits! Fortunate to have public media with free service to the end-user. New CBC Montreal headquarters. h/t @katemckenna8

The Jacques Cartier Bridge.

The Big O.

A statue near the Big O.

"I've looked at clouds from both sides now" - Joni Mitchell.

#fnomtl @FNoMTL

No Twitter thread about Montréal would be complete without a pilon randomly placed somewhere for no reason, right @Ponto_mtl?

Two posts to go and this thread is done.

My housing cooperative. My coop contacted me before Day 1 to say they would cover my payments should I lose work . Housing is a right. Social, public and cooperative housing - to be called for as we discuss housing crisis in Montréal. Ça va bien aller, avec solidairté! Merci!