Dividends Magazine

D I V I D E N D SJohn Molson Accounting Society Issue 09, Summer 2014

2 SUMMER 2014 DIVIDENDS MAGAZINE

LETTER FROMTHE EDITOR

The John Molson Accoun� ng

Society (JMAS) is proud to

present to you the 9th annual

issue of the Dividends maga-

zine, JMAS’ offi cial magazine. For nine

years, JMAS has been proudly producing

the Dividends magazine to help enrich

the academic and professional careers of

John Molson School of Business (JMSB)

students by providing a fun and engaging

read, as well as informing them of what

wonderful opportuni� es await them.

With this issue of the Dividends maga-

zine, I, the VP Marke� ng of JMAS and

Editor-in-Chief of Dividends, wanted to

shine a light on our wonderful city of

Montreal, as well as address the impor-

tance of giving back to the community

and ge� ng involved in extracurriculars.

As beau� ful, exci� ng, and vibrant as

Montreal is, it does need work, and I be-

lieve it is our responsibility as future busi-

ness professionals and leaders to stress

the importance of social responsibility

and give back.

JMAS’ members, along with a few friend-

ly contributors, have made the process

of making this magazine a wonderful

one. The writers of Dividends have put

forth a lot of their � me and energy to

produce informa� ve ar� cles that I feel

would be most interes� ng and benefi -

cial to JMSB students and more specifi -

cally, JMSB accountancy majors. It is with

much respect and gra� tude that I thank

our writers, contributors, and sponsors,

for making the release of this year’s Divi-

dends magazine a successful one.

I wish all JMSB and Concordia students

a successful academic year, and look for-

ward to seeing you all in class!

WILLIAM MACDONALDAKBARIVP Marketing , Editor-in-Chief

ContributorsEditor-in-Chief

William Macdonald-Akbari

Editors

Thomas Burelle-Tremblay Yanbo TangChris� na Venerio David Le Han

Writers

Thomas Burelle-Tremblay Tashi Alexander Ryan Showrav Das Christopher McGrory Bermet Marat-Kyzy Diana De San� s Nicholas Chin Izak Nagar Salar Molaei Lillian Di Girolamo Joseph Bartle� Isabella Nirchi Nikolas Chyzenski Anthony Nguyen Chris� na Venerio Erika Kinnear Eleni Panari� s David Le Han Melissa Paye� e Stephen Young Natalie Kellar

Photographer

Yanbo Tang

3SUMMER 2014DIVIDENDS MAGAZINE

CONTENTSFALL 2013 CONTENTS

PROFESSIONAL/ACADEMIC

07 Interview with Carly Stanway, Campus Recruiter Bermet Marat-Kyzy

12 Eight Steps to Acing Recruitment Diana De Santis

15 The Importance of Internships Nicholas Chin

18 Real Classrooms Don’t Have Four Walls Izak Nagar

22 Case Competitions Salar Molaei

25 Give Back to Your Community Lillian Di Girolamo

27 A Message From the Student of the Year Joseph Bartlett

28 How to Study Effectively Isabella Nirchi

31 Procrastination: A Student’s Worst Enemy Nikolas Chyzenski

LIFESTYLE 33 Adopt a Healthier Lifestyle Anthony Nguyen

37 Dress Code Christina Veneiro

40 First Year 101 Erika Kinnear

42 Planning the Ultimate Euro-Trip Eleni Panaritis

46 Food on Wheels David Le Han

48 Catching the Best MTL Music Melissa Payette & Stephen Young

52 MTL Night Life Natalie Kellar

SUMMER 2014

07 38

THE PRESIDENTS’’WELCOMEDear Readers,

The John Molson Accoun� ng Society welcomes you

to the 2014-2015 academic year by bringing you the

9th edi� on of the Dividends magazine. As usual we

would like to thank everyone who has supported us,

without you we could never have accomplished what we sought

out to do. We look towards another great academic year, as we

are excited to face new challenges and bring JMSB’s accoun� ng

student body to new heights. Already we have many new and

exci� ng ini� a� ves planned and we cannot wait to bring them

to frui� on.

Last year was one of our best years to date. Winning the 2014

CPA Student Commi� ee of the Year and CASA’s Associa� on of

the Year award honored us and this year we are looking to, once

again, surpass our accomplishments. We take being the voice

of JMSB’s undergraduate accoun� ng students as the highest

privilege and we will ensure that we con� nue to represent our

students to the highest level possible. We want to further con-

nect the accoun� ng student body at the John Molson School of

Business while increasing the career opportuni� es available to

them.

This year we are also commi� ed to showing our students all of

the op� ons available to them. This means both local and inter-

na� onal career opportuni� es within the accoun� ng fi eld. We

take great pride in this new ini� a� ve and we want to ensure that

upon gradua� on our students have a clear idea of which path

they need to take to achieve their career goals.

We would like to use this magazine as an exci� ng way to wel-

come you to the new academic year. We hope that the ar� cles

within these pages help kick start a great year for you as well

as for us. Together, let us make an eff ort to achieve great things

this year.

To another successful year to the John Molson Accoun� ng Soci-

ety! Dividends have now been declared!

Sincerely,

Thomas Burelle Tremblay Tashi Alexander Ryan



DEDICATION BREEDS E X C E L L E N C E

When we fi rst joined the John Molson Accoun� ng Society, we saw that our student associa� on was far from its po-

ten� al. In our fi rst year, we worked hard to build sustainable connec� ons with the internal community at JMSB by

ge� ng to know our fellow students be� er and making ourselves available to them for all their needs. By having an

open door policy, we quickly became close friends with all our colleagues and classmates, and they started seeing

JMAS in a new light. Following that successful change of image, we took on the reigns of co-Presidents and decided it was fi nally � me

for JMAS to make its mark on the John Molson School of Buisness and our external community.

As co-presidents, we a� ended several mee� ngs organized by various accountancy-related organiza� ons; we collaborated on events

and academic workshops with other JMSB student associa� ons and even other universi� es in Quebec. Our goal for the year was to

surpass the expecta� ons we had, and we did so by going out of our comfort zone and producing value added events and services for

our student body. Here are a few of our achievements in the past academic year:

1We revamped our CPA Mentorship program in order to be� er service accoun� ng students interested in becoming

management accountants in industry (as opposed to working in an audit/tax fi rm).

2We created a three-part “balanced lifestyle” series, where we invited students to come prac� ce yoga, listen to a pres-

enta� on on nutri� on and fi tness by Pat Owens (PhD from McGill University) and enjoy a session of Pilates with trainer

Mia Hollinger.

3We increased the par� cipa� on rate for our CPA Recruitment cocktail by 25%, where over 450 students were able to at-

tend and network with some of the top accoun� ng fi rms in Montreal.

4

We created a new event called the John Molson “Designa� on Expo”, where over 15 professional fi nance and account-

ing designa� ons were represented by their professional orders and members, and students were able to discover the

diff erent post-graduate diplomas and degrees available to them. This was the fi rst event of its kind to be introduced at

the university level in Quebec.

5

Following our successful Dividends Magazine launch, we created the “Dividends Cup”. This was a sanc� oned squash

tournament with some of the best players in the world playing in front of the students of JMSB at the pres� gious Atwa-

ter Club. The tournament was sanc� oned by Squash Quebec and counted towards the par� cipant’s overall rankings in

Canada. Following the 4 day tournament, we hosted a networking cocktail where students, sponsors and squash players

were able to share their experiences.


All this and more allowed us to stand out from the rest of the

accoun� ng student associa� ons in Quebec and merit the ac-

colades of our peers and the CPA Order of Quebec. On Satur-

day, March 15th 2014, the John Molson Accoun� ng Society was

named the 2014 CPA Student Commi� ee of the Year, by the CPA

Order of Quebec. Every year, the CPA Order of Quebec recog-

nizes the hard work put in by student associa� ons represen� ng

accoun� ng students all over Quebec. This is a great honor for

us, as the last � me such honors were a� ributed to Concordia

University was in 1994 (back when it was called the Order of

CA’s, and John Molson School of Business wasn’t yet a house-

hold name).

However, none of this would have been possible without the

support and sacrifi ces of the following students:

To the future of JMAS, we have raised the bar higher than ever,

and it is through your consistent eff ort and willingness to strive

for excellence that we will con� nue making JMSB and Concordia

University proud.

1. Christopher McGrory – Co-President

2. Showrav Das – Co-President

3. Alexey Oleshko – VP Finance

4. Lara Bohbot – VP Career Development

5. Joseph Bartle� – VP Recruitment

6. Jamar Sco� – VP Academic

7. Salar Molaei – VP Corporate Rela� ons

8. Sarah Wilson – VP Internal Aff airs

9. Thomas Burelle-Tremblay – VP Marke� ng

10. Stephanie Goodman – Director of Marke� ng

11. Tashi Alexander-Ryan – VP Projects

12. Juliya Regy – VP Projects

13. Melissa Greene – Director of Events

14. Bermet Marat-Kyzy – Director of Events

15. Gilbert Brophy-Cortez – Director of Events

16. Eleni Panari� s – First Year Representa� ve


INTERVIEWWITH CARLY STANWAYJMAS’ very own sits down with Carly Stanway, a recruiter for PwC, to get the insid-er’s look at what recruiters look for in a potential candidate!

Carly Stanway, a PwC campus

recruiter, quite elegantly took

some � me to sit down with

JMAS’ Bermet Marat-Kyzy to

fi nd out what really goes on behind the

scenes while students seek out their

most rive� ng summer internship. This

exci� ng interview brings you through the

very basics to the wi� y tricks -and eve-

rything in between- of the recruitment

process.

Can you tell us about yourself?

My name is Carly Stanway and I work

at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a

Talent Acquisi� on Specialist for campus

recruitment. I specialize in three lines of

service: Assurance, Tax and Consul� ng.

What are some tips for the recruitment process, from an insider’s perspective?

I’ve met many great people and some of

the things that I o� en no� ce-the impor-

tant aspects I can comment on- are the

following:

The most important thing is to just be

yourself- there is no point in trying to sell

yourself if it is not the real you. At the

end of the day, if you are given the op-

portunity to work at the fi rm, it is very

hard for you to backtrack on the person

you portrayed yourself to be.

Another � p is to meet as many people as

you can during recruitment, all the while

remaining genuine and true to your per-

sonal brand. Every person at the cocktail,

fi rm tour or seminar has knowledge and

advice to impart upon students. All of

these people will, somehow, help you in

the process and going through recruit-

ment is also about building and/or ex-

panding your network.

How would you suggest stu-dents approach recruiters?

Research and doing your homework

comes in really handy and plays a big

part in making a good impression. Think-

ing of some ques� ons you’d like to ask

recruiters ahead of � me shows that you

are prepared and are taking the process

seriously. Being truly genuine about the

ques� ons that you ask is just as impor-

tant as really listening to the answers

that are given. To ask a ques� on for the

sake of asking a ques� on can harm more

than help your brand.

How important is the first impression?

Certainly, fi rst impressions are very long

las� ng and, of course, someone’s fi rst

thoughts about you can change but it is

hard. I think that it is important and for

the sake of the restricted � me period

that is recruitment, to put your best foot

forward as soon as possible.

Bermet Marat-Kyzy


How do you determine who’s right for your firm- How do you choose candidates who “fit in”?

I think that there is a lot of intrigue sur-

rounding this ques� on and my answer

is that you will quickly no� ce that those

who really “fi t” into the company’s cul-

ture are those who share similar values

with the company and their employees.

It becomes a ques� on of values and indi-

viduals will do well in a company where

they feel that they can be themselves

and in an environment where they can

be comfortable in.

Again, it goes back to doing some re-

search beforehand about the company-

A� ending as many events as possible,

while mee� ng people who work at the

fi rm and having as many conversa� ons as

you can with them is crucial as it will help

students learn about the fi rm. Fit is a two

way street, going through the recruit-

ment process allows both students and

fi rms alike the opportunity to discover

the right fi t for them.

What is the process for CPA recruitment?

CPA recruitment for audit internships is

very specifi c to each fi rm. September is

chao� c and it is known as a recruiter’s

“busy season”.

First, students begin by visi� ng fi rms

during formal fi rm tours. CACEE seminars

and informa� on sessions are then held at

the university. Finally, the last and largest

event is the Recruitment Cocktail, where

fi rms and students both get one last op-

portunity to make a las� ng impression

before CACEE form submissions and

deadlines.

Once you’ve gone through the interview

process, fi rms really begin to make deci-

sions about whom they’d like to make

internship off ers to. Those who are going

to receive an off er are then invited to a

fi rm’s “closing cocktails”. There, students

will have a fi nal opportunity to network

with their poten� al future coworkers.

Candidates with mul� ple off ers should

use this as an opportunity to determine

where they would like to start their ca-

reers.

Do you have any guiding tips for writing the CACEE form?

The CACEE form is undoubtedly an over-

whelming document. I can defi nitely

agree with students on this one. I do

think, however, that there is a really great

way to approach it. I usually tell students

during winter recruitment to start think-

ing about it early on and to brainstorm

about things that they would want to put

in it. This way, if there are any changes

that students may decide to make, they

have the en� re summer to rearrange and

add in important details.

For example, if you think that you don’t

have enough experience with extracur-

ricular ac� vi� es, or if you’d like to take

part in some more volunteering, then

you s� ll have � me to get involved. The

trick is to prepare as much in advance as

you can- the earlier you start, the be� er

your CACEE will be. Unfortunately, it is all

too easy to spot a CACEE applica� on that

has been rushed the night before. Some

things to look out for are: Run-on sen-

tences, grammar, spelling and the ul-

� mate mistake of either underselling

of overselling yourself. Having a family

Carly Stanway, PwC Campus Recruiter


member or someone you trust proofread

through the applica� on is the best way

to achieve a well-wri� en CACEE. They

will be able to give you an outsider’s per-

spec� ve.

I think it is all about fi guring out how

you’d like to go about explaining your ex-

periences and expressing how they have

helped you gain valuable skills. The trick

is to be clear and concise while s� ll being

able to highlight important quali� es. Of

course, and it happens every year, make

sure to send in your CACEE to the write

fi rm.

How much value do extracur-ricular activities add?

When I was in university, I held a full-

� me job, took on a full-� me class load,

and was involved on campus all at once.

I understand that this is not everyone’s

case and recognize that not all have the

� me or desire for that kind of lifestyle or

the fl exibility in their schedules. I person-

ally think it’s about looking at the greater

picture of each candidate’s profi le.

Whether students work and go to school,

or a� end university and are involved in

extracurricular ac� vi� es, traits that fi rms

like to see are ones that display team-

work and communica� on skills that will

allow them to work eff ec� vely. This is es-

pecially important since it tells fi rms that

these candidates will be able to manage

and excel in work and school at the same

� me- much of what is expected of them

in the CPA program.

Ul� mately, I really do believe that volun-

teering or being part of a student group

is the best way to develop a sense of

leadership that can translate to the work-

ing world- it’s also the best way to get the

most out of your university experience.

What is especially interes� ng is that at

this level, working with your peers means

that there is a minimal hierarchical struc-

ture and learning how to achieve goals

in that kind of environment is highly re-

spectable. It is not only the valuable skills

that you get out of it but also the won-

derful friendships that I see develop in

these instances.

How should students approach the interview process?

Interviews and the interview atmosphere

vary between each fi rm. Something to

remember in any case is that you must

remain calm and be yourself. Unfortu-

nately, there are o� en candidates that

we are really keen about who have really

impressed us throughout the en� re re-

cruitment process but fall apart during

the interview. They are not sure of them-

selves enough- confi dence is a must. The

goal in interviews is to present yourself in

the best way possible and to do the best

you can- this should be enough for any

fi rm.

In my opinion, the en� re purpose is to

approach interviews with an open mind

and be able to answer truthfully. Prac� c-

ing poten� al ques� ons with a friend or

coworker makes a signifi cant diff erence

than just “winging” it and having a few

rehearsed answers in your back pocket is

never bad.

Of course, interview styles will be diff er-

ent in every fi rm but what is important is

that you don’t change yourself to suit the

fi rm. Firms really want a sense of who

you are and have a sense of how you

react under pressure.

Remember to breathe, arrive a few min-

utes early, review your CACEE applica� on

and stop by a coff ee shop before coming

Attending as many events as possible, while meeting people who work at the � rm and having as many conversations as possible you can with them is crucial.

to the offi ce. Being relaxed and as calm

as possible will help you get through your

interview successfully.

10 JUNE 2014 DIVIDENDS

What can students expect from a career in Accounting?

Over the years, the meaning of having a

career in accoun� ng has changed dras� -

cally- even from the � me that I started

at the fi rm. At fi rst, I wasn’t sure what I

was ge� ng myself into and I had a lot of

friends who had jobs in industry instead.

When I arrived, I realized that a career

in this fi eld meant mee� ng many diff er-

ent clients, working with diff erent types

of industries and overall entering into

a challenging but rewarding job that

off ers diversity and opportunity that are

maybe not always available in industry

or in other companies. There are many

perks of working in a fi rm versus an in-

dustry company and many people think

that working in a fi rm is an extension of

being in university - a fi rm is the best

school you can go to while studying and

even a� er receiving your CPA degree as

we have great coaching, mentoring, and

development resources available to all

our employees.

What is the atmosphere like once you begin work in a firm?

The offi ce atmosphere at accoun� ng

fi rms feels somewhat like home. Eventu-

ally, you begin to feel like a family during

busy periods, as employees o� en spend

a lot of � me together in order to meet

important deadlines. This is where the

idea of “fi t” really shows its importance

since you spend so much � me at the fi rm

or client. You defi nitely need to look for-

ward to every day and expect that it will

be both exci� ng and challenging.

Do you have any other com-ments or suggestions for stu-dents?

Just remember that there are certain

things that you will have to do on your

own. So be proac� ve as there is not

really any start or end date to the whole

recruitment process. Think of it like this:

the earlier you start your research and

learning about the profession, the be� er

of a posi� on you will be in to excel during

the peak recruitment season.

Don’t forget; a career in accoun� ng is not

all about the employer. Take some � me

to fi gure out if the accoun� ng profession

is right for you. Some students start in a

fi rm and realize that it is not for them-

which is fi ne- but had they done some

research ahead of � me, they may have

realized that accoun� ng was not the right

“fi t” for them.

To conclude with a few � ps: a� end

events, show up early, be genuine yet

professional, wear comfortable shoes,

dress appropriately (never wear jeans!),

and have fun! Be sure to show us your

personal brand. Bright colours make you

stand out at any event!

Not sure on how to

dress to impress?

Check out page 38!

Attending as many events as possible, while meeting people who work at the � rm and having as many conversations as possible you can with them is crucial.


NINE STEPS TO ACING R E C R U I T M E N T

Many people have this

misconcep� on that ac-

countants are intro-

verted people, who sit

behind a desk and number crunch all day

long. Li� le do they know that beyond

the numbers and fi nancial statements,

accountants are in fact business profes-

sionals, leaders and innovators! Account-

ing is a broad and dynamic fi eld that is

in demand and, consequently, it is full

of opportuni� es: one of the major ones

being recruitment. So what is recruit-

ment exactly? In September, many of

Montreal’s accoun� ng fi rms strive to re-

cruit Montreal’s future accountants for

both summer internship and full-� me

staff posi� ons. Recruitment can be quite

hec� c and cause a lot of stress for many

individuals. If you plan ahead however,

you can alleviate almost all of this stress,

and turn this September’s recruitment

into one of the best experiences of your

life. This ar� cle will help you prepare for

recruitment by providing you with nine

key steps to help you stand out from the

rest of the students and get no� ced by

the fi rms!

GET STARTED ON YOUR CACEE TODAY!

A CACEE form is a standardized resume

you must fi ll out in order to apply to fi rms

throughout September. Without going

into too much detail, you should note

that this form can take hours and hours

to fi ll out, so get started on it now! You

can fi nd many templates online to guide

you through wri� ng this resume, which

can really help you set you a solid foun-

da� on. It consists of 5 pages in which

you are asked to disclose some informa-

� on about yourself along with a sum-

mary as to why you believe you would

be a good candidate. Don’t be shy! Put

as much informa� on as you can, and be

crea� ve!

SHOW UP TO RECRUITMENT EVENTS

There are many recruitment events avail-

able to you in September. These events

range from fi rm tours, to informa� on

seminars and most importantly the CPA

cocktail. Show up to as many events as

possible so that you can get a taste of as

many fi rms possible and meet as many

recruiters from these fi rms. The more

events you a� end, the more people you

will meet or meet again, and the be� er

the chances that the recruiters will re-

LEARN HOW TO NETWORK

There are many students who showed up

to all the recruitment events but never

got any calls for interviews. The reason

for this is that even though they showed

up to the events, they never really spoke

to any recruiters and failed to network

with them. So the point is, you can’t just

show up! You need to network and leave

an impression on the fi rms. Take these

recruitment events to ask the fi rm ques-

� ons that you may have or simply get to

know the people. Networking isn’t just

key for the recruiters to remember you,

but also for you to get to know which

fi rms you feel you get along with best.

Remember to always be polite and re-

spec� ul as these traits alone will deter-

mine if you will get called or not!

SIGN UP TO THE JMAS RE-CRUITMENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

JMAS off ers students a mentorship pro-

gram tailored specifi cally for recruitment.

You will be paired up with a student who

successfully went through the process to

help you out with everything from writ-

ing up your CACEE to helping you make

your fi nal off er decision. Because this

program is in high demand, make sure to

sign up quickly, or else you risk losing out

on this great opportunity to give yourself

an edge on the compe� � on. Sign up for

the JMAS Recruitment Mentorship Pro-

gram through our website; jmas.ca.

Diana De Santis


BUSINESS CARDS

Having business cards is a way to stay

on top of things and look professional.

Recruiters meet many people during re-

cruitment season and consequently will

not remember every single person they

meet. Having business cards to hand out

can help you be remembered and stand

out from the rest of the candidates.

To step it up a notch you can even put

your picture on the business card! This is

not mandatory but can help for recruit-

ers who have a hard � me remembering

names!

DRESS SHARP

As your mother once told you, fi rst im-

pressions really do ma� er. The majority

of the recruitment events call for busi-

ness casual a� re. Even if the event is

not business casual, it’s always be� er to

dress up than dress down. Looking sharp

and professional is always a good thing

and the recruiters will take note of a well

dressed candidate.

FOLLOW UP EMAILS

Aside from the obvious post interview

thank you e-mail, it’s always nice to send

e-mails to recruiters following up a really

good conversa� on at a cocktail or event.

Don’t forget to ask for business cards so

that you can contact the recruiters you

have spoken to! If you fi nd you really

clicked with a certain person, send them

a follow up e-mail telling them exactly

that. Follow up e-mails are always be� er

appreciated when they are not generic

and more personalized following the

conversa� on you had with that specifi c

person.

HAVE FUN

Loosen up and have a li� le bit of fun

through out the process. Although re-

cruitment can be quite stressful it’s al-

ways nice to have a conversa� on with

someone who is no� ceably happy and

truly enjoying themselves. Hopefully

you’ll be able to land a top notch job at

the end of it all, try and have fun with

it as you will learn how to network in a

business environment and make friends/

connec� ons that will last you throughout

your professional career.

CPA Recruitment Cocktail 2013

LIGHTEN UP YOUR COURSE LOAD

To be able to do recruitment right, you

will have to dedicate a large por� on of

September and October to the process.

You will need to dedicate � me outside of

class to a� end the recruitment events;

you may also fi nd yourselves having to

skip a couple of classes to show up to

some crucial recruitment events, which

may take place at the same � me. Couple

this with the � me spent wri� ng up and

perfec� ng your CACEE, school will be

sure to fall onto your back burner, which

will only throw oil on the fi re that recruit-

ment has set. Try taking easier courses

or simply reducing your course load to

three or four classes. This can help a lot

to manage stress and make sure you re-

main successful in both your recruitment

and academic endeavors.


THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNSHIPS

Entering my fi rst semester of Uni-

versity was very in� mida� ng, I

had heard all about the account-

ing classes and the stress that

comes with obtaining the coveted B-.

When I walked into the lobby of JMSB, I

was surrounded by brilliant young minds,

many of whom would later become my

friends, classmates, and compe� � on.

There had to be a way to separate and

diff eren� ate myself from everyone, so I

decided that ge� ng an internship and

work experience would be the way to go

and I haven’t looked back since!

HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIPS

One of the easiest ways to get access to

employers looking for interns/students is

through Concordia’s Co-op program. The

Co-op program works like this: students

are given access to a list of job pos� ngs

where employers are ac� vely seeking

students for internships. You then apply

for the pos� ngs by sending in your cover

le� er, resume, and transcript. If you are

selected, you will be called in for either

an in person or phone interview. You

must complete three straight semesters

of school (Ex: Fall-Winter-Summer) be-

fore star� ng your fi rst work term, your

4th semester is a work term where you

do either a four or eight month intern-

ship. A� er your internship, you return

to school for a study semester, and then

alternate between work semesters and

study semesters. In total you complete

three four month long internships upon

comple� on of the Co-op program. Being

in the Co-op program defi nitely gives you

an advantage over other students who

apply from the outside for the simple

reason that employers have an incen-

� ve to hire you! Part of the salary of a

Co-op student gets reimbursed to the

employer making Co-op students very

cheap to hire. The downside to the Co-

op program is that you never truly have a

break because you’re always either doing

a work semester or a school semester.

For those who prefer to enjoy their sum-

mer break there are a ton of job pos� ngs

online through job searching sites such

as Monster.ca, www.workopolis.com,

indeed.com, etc. The easiest accoun� ng

related internships are the entry level

ones, which are bookkeeping, fi ling tax

returns, and Accounts Payable/Accounts

receivable. These generally require a

basic understanding of accoun� ng but

they are simple enough that you can be

easily trained. Although these are more

basic posi� ons they should defi nitely not

be overlooked, ge� ng your foot through

the door is a must, aiming for posi� ons

like auditor or tax analyst with 0 pervious

accoun� ng experience is tough. Book-

keeping, fi ling tax returns, and Accounts

Payable/Accounts receivable are great

star� ng points because you really get to

see the inner workings of a business. You

also gain a deeper level of understanding

of debits and credits which will provide

you with a solid base once you get into

harder accoun� ng posi� ons. The way I

see it is, any accoun� ng experience no

ma� er how minimal you feel it is, is al-

ways be� er than no experience at all.

Nicholas Chin


WHY ARE INTERNSHIPS SO IMPORTANT?

Internships are very important for a va-

riety of reasons. So many students start

university not having a clue what it is

they want to do as a career. Internships

give students unique opportuni� es; it

gives students a chance to test drive dif-

ferent posi� ons at diff erent companies

while le� ng them fi gure out what they

really enjoy doing. For some students,

their ideal job may not be as ideal as they

once thought. Another benefi t of doing

an internship is the ability to apply what

we learn in classrooms to a real world

environment. You really start piecing to-

gether the knowledge you learn in class

and develop a deeper understanding of

accoun� ng. Imagine having just taken

tax or audit classes and entering into

an audit internship. I can tell you from

personal experience you have so many

Ah-ha! moments where you fi nd the link

between what you learned in class and

real world problems.

Doing accoun� ng-related internships

also allows students to see the prac� cal

side of their studies. First and foremost,

I want to tell you that grades do mat-

ter. For many companies/fi rms, there

are simply too many applicants and the

quickest way to establish a cut off point is

through looking at one’s GPA. Of course,

grades aren’t everything. Comple� ng

mul� ple internships during and a� er an

undergraduate degree completely sepa-

rates yourself from someone who has no

relevant work experience.

Internship experience shows you are

trustworthy, reliable, and trainable. The

experience you gain from working in

teams and learning how to interact co-

hesively with coworkers of all ages and

na� onali� es is invaluable. One of the

most signifi cant perks of an internship

is the fact that companies usually retain

interns. It makes sense, why would com-

panies go through the trouble of retrain-

ing new employees and messing with the

team chemistry when they can retain in-

terns who have already bonded with the

team and know all the so� ware.

Learning how to dress professionally,

write emails, and interact with clients

are things that aren’t taught in school,

yet are skills that we don’t o� en think

about. You develop a level of poise, for

example, during an internship you might

have to present your report and analy-

sis that could save the company tens of

thousands of dollars in front of seniors

and management. That’s some scary

business, now fast forward a couple of

months and your back in the classroom

for a group presenta� on in front of your

classmates, you start to realize that may-

be presen� ng in front of classmates isn’t

all that in� mida� ng especially a� er pre-

sen� ng in front of seniors about things

that could actually impact the company.

Working as an accoun� ng intern you

might only expect to develop technical

skills but you learn so much in terms of

so� skills as well. As business students

no ma� er what major, we will always be

dealing with people whether it is clients

or team members.

The fi rst step to ge� ng your career

started is stepping through the door.

Your fi rst internship will give you an in-

side look at the environment you will be

working in without overwhelming you. In

other words, you will get the best of both

worlds: learning on the job. Moreover,

you will meet the people who will teach

you the ropes, you will learn to navigate

the halls, and see how your work impacts

the business and the people around you.

An internship is more than just a pay

cheque, it is an investment of a life� me.

17SUMMER 2014DIVIDENDS MAGAZINE are endless The opportunities

COME TAKE A BREAK,IT’S ON US.Meet the team.Get informed.Get involved.

Coffee Tuesday is hosted on the first Tuesday of every month, in partnership with our sponsors. Coffee is provided by Cafe Starbucks Coffee.


REAL CLASSROOMS DON’T HAVE FOUR WALLS

Extracurricular ac� vi� es are all

too o� en what makes or breaks

a university career. Many stu-

dents try scrambling through a

list of volunteering opportuni� es that

would take the least amount of eff ort

and � me, just to try and make their CV

look more clu� ered. Heck, many stu-

dents completely neglect extracurricu-

lars and rely mainly on work experience

and good grades to land that perfect job.

Many students perceive these types of

ac� vi� es as dispensable or even a waste

of their � me! This clouded percep� on

many students have on that subject can

easily be changed by simply taking ini� a-

� ve and experiencing what it’s all about.

The number of ways you can get involved

at JMSB is boundless, and your in-school

involvement can ul� mately make your

university career an unforge� able one.

For those who are skep� cal about get-

� ng involved in university, or are not sure

what the fi rst step may be; here is a list of

ways that will amplify your experience at

JMSB and these experiences can have an

extremely posi� ve impact on your career.

1 JOIN AN ASSOCIATION

Under the Commerce & Administra� on

Student Associa� on (CASA) umbrella lie

14 subsidiaries that con� nuously recruit

passionate and determined students

who look to get more than just good

grades in university. Ever thought about

organizing the biggest sustainability

conference in Montreal? If so, the John

Molson Sustainable Business Group (JSG)

might be for you. Last year, JSG brought

legendary environmentalist David Suzuki

to Montreal as part of their annual

Business Beyond Tomorrow Conference.

JMAS, which publishes the very magazine

you’re reading, organizes countless

events including their pres� gious fall

recruitment cocktail that benefi ts

hundreds of accoun� ng students.

Another cool opportunity would be

the John Molson Undergraduate Case

Compe� � on (JMUCC), a commi� ee I

recently joined, which puts together

the largest case compe� � on for

undergraduate students in the world.

Taking the fi rst step is not easy, and

fi nding something that you’re passionate

about takes � me. Do your research and

talk to people who are currently involved;

there is no be� er way to gain valuable

informa� on than talking to people who

experienced it for themselves.

Izak Nagar

Tale the fi rst step and visit www.casa-

jmsb.ca to fi nd out more!


2 CASE COMPETITIONS

JMSB is known for its con� nuous success in case compe� � ons

around the world. These compe� � ons challenge students to

apply their fi rst-hand experience and classroom knowledge

to solve real life business problems that real companies are

facing, and compete against other solu� ons from universi� es

worldwide. JMSB’s reputa� on is unparalleled, having placed fi rst

overall at the regional Jeux Du Commerce in 2014 (Quebec’s

largest case compe� � on) and 2nd at the Champion’s Trophy Case

Compe� � on, the world championships of case compe� � ons.

You can get a taste of case compe� � ons by applying to take

COMM 299B, also known as the “Winter Case Class”. This course

is a business elec� ve where teams comprising of 4 students crack

a diff erent business strategy cases each week of the semester. It

is defi nitely one of the most rewarding classes I have taken at

JMSB so far.

*Visit the JMCC offi ce at MB 4.445 for more informa� on on case

compe� � ons.

3 VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering is a crucial “fi rst step” in ge� ng yourself involved

at school. In fact, that is exactly how I did it. Having applied

as Team Ambassador for JMUCC two years ago, this was the

turning point that got me to realize what student involvement

was all about and landed me a posi� on on the commi� ee this

year. Every associa� on and commi� ee needs volunteers for

prac� cally every one of their events. Some of them include Casa

Cares’ Annual Fashion Show, FISA’s JMSX (Stock Exchange) and

countless events organized by our parent organiza� on, CASA.

Volunteering shouldn’t only be limited to school. You may decide

to help others and give back to your community in countless

diff erent ways. Just make sure that the benefi ts reaped from

such ac� vi� es you take on sa� sfi es you for the right personal

reasons.

4 GOING ABROAD

The benefi ts of going abroad as a university student can be

considerably rewarding for many who look for a new experience.

Although there is a minimum GPA requirement to study abroad,

one who has reached that benchmark (or has the poten� al to

achieve it) should jump on that opportunity in a heartbeat.

Exploring a new culture, learning a new language and mee� ng

new friends can all have a substan� al impact on your life;

experiences you may even tell your kids about in the future.

Concordia off ers a list of more than 170 universi� es around the

world as poten� al des� na� ons for your exchange. Aside from

all the life experiences this may provide, it will also allow you

to have something to talk about during an interview. Pu� ng

yourself out of your comfort zone and accep� ng new challenges

is something that will diff eren� ate yourself from other

candidates. Futhermore, it can be a great opportunity for you to

branch out of your comfort zone and explore the many wonders

of the world!

Visit the JMCC offi ce at MB 4.445 for more information on case competitions.


Don’t wait until it is too late. University is a temporary block in your life and you should do your best to remember those times you spend during your last academic milestone.

5 CONFERENCES

Business universi� es across the globe host conferences to

educate students on countless diff erent topics and disciplines.

Certain conferences, featuring guest speakers and workshops,

are concentrated on informa� ve content, while others include

social events such as networking cocktails and compe� � ons.

A wonderful perk of being a JMSB student is that CASA off ers

students the opportunity to apply and be sent to a conference of

your choice for free, via the External Conference Program (ECP).

A� er giving out a list of poten� al star� ng points that may benefi t

your university experience, I hope many more of you will take

advantage of these amazing challenges and opportuni� es. An

extracurricular ac� vity shouldn’t be a method to throw a couple

extra lines on your resume, but a form of genuine interest. The

ability to successfully juggle a set of tasks is one of the most

important skills that recruiters look for. A� er all, the individuals

who get involved are those who demonstrate passion and take

ini� a� ve, while inspiring others to do the same.


CASE

COMPETITIONS

One of the most important keys to success is “awareness”. You

need to know who you are, where you are, how you stand, and

why you are there. More o� en than not, students, such as my-

self, are unaware of the world of opportuni� es that surround us

and only realize how close we were to something when it zooms

past our eyes. We tend to focus on what is immediately placed

in front of us and we do not have the � me, the energy, and the

resources to know much more. I am here to tell you that the

rabbit hole is deeper than you think and the entrance is located

at your school. I was asked by a friend to compete as part of the

John Molson Compe� � on Delega� on of 2013. At fi rst, feeling

like a hot shot, I kindly refused the off er on the basis that I knew

everything. My friend, who knew me be� er than I knew myself,

signed me up and I was called to go in for a tryout. My ego told

me that I had nothing to worry about, and that I was a for sure

lock in the team. Well, my ego is a fool. I had to try out three

� mes before I was called to be a part of the team. I had just

entered the rabbit hole. Quickly, as if someone pulled the carpet

from under my feet, I found myself in the challenging and excit-

ing world of business case compe� � ons. Quickly, I realized that I

actually knew nothing about anything and that I stood amongst

some of the brightest students in Canada. I had to learn fast and

even that was not quick enough. Seeing as everything is about

lists nowadays, I will give you three reasons as to why you should

always take the red pill and see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Students seldom refer to each other as team mates. They view

each other as class mates and some� mes think of them as

hurdle to every group project. What baffl es me is when students

say “I hate dealing with other people” or “I hate the people in

my group project.” Do you realize that everyone in that group

says the same thing about each other? Do they realize that once

they enter into the real world they will have to learn to cooper-

ate and work within a team? Moreover, any Human resource

major will tell you that business is built on people. Your network,

be it social or professional, is the most powerful asset you own.

The case compe� � on will set the founda� on of your network.

Once you are put in a team of people whose existence was once

completely unknown to you, you will have to learn to work with

them in one of the most stressful environments. You will also

learn to network with professionals from all industries special-

izing in all sorts of interes� ng fi elds. I met an execu� ve from

Google, who introduced me to a consultant from BCG, who sat

next to the CFO of the Royal Bank of Canada. You should take

advantage of such an opportunity that exposes you to so many

important, well-respected people.

Salar Molaei


Your GPA does not defi ne you. As an accoun� ng major, that

statement would be considered blasphemous. However, I have

read all the books my teachers recommended, done all the prob-

lems that could prepare me for exams, and par� cipated in the

most mundane of classes. Yet, when I started doing case compe-

� � ons, I quickly realized how wide the gap between academia

and the professional world is, and that applying what you know

is not as easy as it seems. There is no magic formula or set of an-

swers that can save a company from bankruptcy. There is no list

of words you can memorize that could improve the work envi-

ronment of a company. There is no excel sheet that could boost

sales for a mul� na� onal company. More importantly there is no

marking key, which means you are le� to your devices to come

up with a solu� on to a real work problem. You will need to be

an expert in all fi elds of business from human resources to the

supply chain. The case compe� � ons help build your knowledge

base and give you a taste of what you will face once you get

your diploma. In addi� on, compe� ng builds your confi dence for

when you are faced with a challenge, which is something that

you will take with you everywhere you go.

There is always more to something than what meets the eye. Ed-

uca� on is not just about projects, assignments, and exams. You

need to learn if you want to succeed, but books can only take

you so far. The case compe� � ons will give you the experience of

a life� me. You need to realize that there is no other � me than

now to experience something of this nature and magnitude.

The impact the case compe� � ons will have on your career, your

knowledge, and your personal life is immense and long las� ng.

In fact, I do not remember who I was before I joined the delega-

� on. What my teammates and I accomplished, what I saw the

compe� tors do to succeed, and who I got to interact with has

forever changed me. There are not many opportuni� es that will

impact your life as much as being on the delega� on. If you truly

believe in challenging experiences that are far beyond yourself,

then you should sign up for the opportunity to compete in case

compe� � ons.


GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY

Have you ever thought about

giving back to your commu-

nity? If not, you might want

to give it a try. Volunteering is

a selfl ess act that can be easily engaged

in, here in Montréal. There are many

great organiza� ons that strive to improve

the lives of people inside and outside of

Montreal who need volunteers. The fol-

lowing non-profi t organiza� ons, The Old

Brewary Mission and the MUHC, are just

a small sample of great organiza� ons

that are in need of volunteers, and are a

great place to look if you are interested

in taking that fi rst step to be� ering your

community and yourself.

In 1889 The Old Brewery Mission was

founded by two wealthy women who

provided warm meals and shelter to

those less fortunate in their community.

Roughly 125 years later, the Old Brewery

Mission has grown to become one of the

most well-known and respected shel-

ters on the Island of Montreal. Last year

alone, they helped feed over 250,000

people and welcomed around 118,000

overnight stays in their emergency shel-

ters and transi� on units. The Mission

provides four varie� es of service; emer-

gency, transi� on, housing and services

for women. Seeing that the homeless

popula� on is con� nuously growing in

Montreal, a shelter such as this one is

crucial to those in need.

The Old Brewery Mission has a variety of

ways in which ci� zens can donate their

� me and money. Every dona� on helps

the shelter provide a range of innova� ve

and essen� al services. As a volunteer

you can take part in ‘The Supper Expe-

rience’, where you and your colleagues,

friends and/or family members can serve

supper to hundreds of struggling men

and women. An experience such as vol-

unteering at The Old Brewery Mission

would open your eyes to the importance

of giving back to the community. Taking

part in the Supper Experience will allow

for an immediate sense of fulfi llment due

to the hands on interac� on as well as

observing how your dona� on is posi� ve-

ly aff ec� ng the lives of others. No � me

or dona� on is too small, therefore I en-

courage you to inquire more informa� on

about how to get involved on their web-

page; h� p://www.oldbrewerymission.

ca/index_en.htm

Want to volunteer your � me by apply-

ing your interests? The McGill Univer-

sity Health Center (MUHC) is the perfect

place to give back to the community

while par� cipa� ng in your favorite hob-

bies. The MUHC is a leading organiza-

� on in providing specialized health care

to millions of pa� ents in Quebec. The

MUHC has mul� ple sites on the Island of

Montreal, which include The Royal Victo-

ria Hospital, The Montreal Neurological

Hospital, The Montreal Chest Ins� tute,

The Montreal General, Lachine Hospital

and The Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Each site has a variety of unique volun-

teer programs. Each program is designed

to provide pa� ents with comfort and

support to make their � me spent in the

hospital signifi cantly more pleasant. It is

easy to fi nd an accessible site close to

Lillian Di Girolamo


you that provides a program with your interests.

The MUHC off ers over 30 diff erent programs that you can take

part in. Are you interested in the arts? The volunteers in the ‘The

Arts and Cra� s’ program circulate to assigned units and bring pa-

� ents fun ac� vi� es that they can create together. In the ‘Humor

Program’, volunteers visit diff erent units in the hospital and chat

with pa� ents. They also provide the pa� ents with a television

and a selec� on of movies that they can watch. This is a great

way to bring happiness to pa� ents and distract them from their

illness and discomfort. If you enjoy working with children and in-

fants, then the ‘Cuddle Program’ is perfect for you. This program

involves spending � me with a premature infant who is in need

of some extra care and a� en� on. Volunteers rock and sing the

newborns to sleep. Volunteers can also par� cipate in the Emer-

gency, Friendly Visi� ng, Informa� on Desk, as well as Music and

Therapeu� c Recrea� on.

The applica� on process is simple and the hours are accommo-

da� ng to students and business professionals. The staff at all the

sites are warmhearted individuals who want to make your vol-

unteering experience as fulfi lling as possible. They provide you

with the right training to work with pa� ents of all diff erent ages

and illnesses. Taking the � me to improve the quality of life of a

pa� ent at the MUHC is a life changing experience. Your � me and

presence in the hospital is tremendously valued. You become

part of a community that strives to help others. For more infor-

ma� on you can visit their webpage; h� p://muhc.ca/

These are just two ways in which you can get involved in the

community. There are countless other organiza� on such as;

The Starlight Founda� on, Women’s Center of Montreal, Meals

on Wheels, Share the Warmth and the Salva� on Army. These

organiza� ons are always looking for new volunteers and do-

na� ons. Remember that no dona� on is too small, every dollar

counts. Do not underes� mate your ability to make a diff erence.

Volunteering can broaden your horizons and bring out undiscov-

ered quali� es within yourself, while primarily benefi � ng those

in need. In today’s society, we all move at such a fast pace and

volunteering can help you slow down and appreciate your sur-

roundings. You have the poten� al to change people’s lives and

make a posi� ve impact in your community. You can become a

part of something larger than yourself. What are you wai� ng

for? It’s � me to make your mark.

“Volunteering can broaden your horizens and bring out undiscovered quali� es within yourself, while benefi � ng those in need”


A MESSAGE FROM THE STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Who was I? A student who had spent a comfort-

able fi rst two years at JMSB. Studying hard,

working part � me, going out with friends,

and simply just going through the educa� on

system as most people do. It came down to my last year so I

asked myself, have I experienced all that my university and com-

munity has to off er? What else is out there? This was when I re-

alized there was so much around me that I knew nothing about.

I decided it was � me for me to experience new things.

I started by applying to the John Molson Accoun� ng Society.

Being accepted onto the 2013-2014 team as VP Recruitment

was just the beginning of my experience over the last year. This

posi� on opened up the door for me to meet the majority of the

accoun� ng students at my university as well as providing me the

opportunity to give back to my peers. I developed both analy� cal

and networking skills. Next I decided to volunteer at many local

events and organiza� ons throughout my community, which al-

lowed me to see the world through many diff erent perspec� ves.

I also registered to compete on behalf of JMSB through the John

Molson Compe� � on Commi� ee. This helped me develop my

public speaking skills. No ma� er what the experience was, each

act of involvement allowed me to develop as a person and learn

new things.

To sum it up, I was looking for anything and everything around

me that I hadn’t experienced with the hopes of learning from it.

These experiences whether it be an event, cocktail, commi� ee,

or simply mee� ng a new person allowed my fi nal year of Univer-

sity to be my best one. It changed who I am and I could not have

been happier with my decision to get involved.

By experiencing as many new things as possible while s� ll keep-

ing focus on the importance of my studies led towards me win-

ning the Student of the Year award from the CPA Order. It was

one of the most memorable and proud moments of my life, and

it was achieved just by taking that fi rst step of trying new things.

If you are reading this, it is very possible that you are as com-

fortable as I was, having fun with friends, studying to get good

grades and just strolling along. But what be� er � me than now

to take that fi rst step like I did and see where it takes you? Look

around at the thousands of opportuni� es around you, meet new

people, and experience new things. You will develop as a person

and achieve more than you could possibly imagine. Had some-

one told me one year ago that I would win Student of the Year

for Quebec, I probably would have laughed it off thinking that it

was out of my reach. All you have to do is remember that you

are just as close as the person next to you to reaching goals you

never dreamed of being possible. All you have to do is take that

fi rst step.

The 2013-2014 Student of the Year talks about who he was, what changed him, and how he excelled

Isabella Nirchi


HOW TO STUDY E F F E C T I V E L Y

Is the fear of not ge� ng that B- in your

ACCO classes keeping you up at night?

As an accoun� ng student, I can relate

to that, and trust me, we’ve all been

through it! From those late night study

sessions to those last minute grueling

cram sessions, it can all feel overwhelm-

ing. Hopefully I can help. Here are a few

� ps from myself and several accoun� ng

majors here at JMSB, which will allow

you to stay on track with your weekly as-

signments, projects, study schedule and

guarantee you an A (always aim high)!

1 STAY ORGANIZED

Staying organized and keeping track of

deadlines will help you make the most

of your � me. It will prepare you well in

advance for your classes so you don’t end

up cramming the night before and giving

yourself a headache, or a low grade.

Here’s what you should do. First, invest

in an agenda (or get one for free during

Welcome Week at JMSB!), write in all

your courses, ac� vi� es and social events.

Looking over your agenda daily will give

you a be� er sense of how your week,

month or semester will look like.

Also, blocking a few hours every week for

study � me is imperi� ve. Pick a � me when

your brain is the most alert. For example,

a good � me would be right a� er class

when the material is s� ll fresh in your

mind! Don’t plan on studying an hour

before the exam! If you have followed

your game plan throughout the semes-

ter, you should allow yourself an hour of

“relaxing” � me before that 3 hour exam.

2 HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

The right a� tude will put you in a posi-

� ve frame of mind, which will make you

more open to and excited about study-

ing. The wrong a� tude can make you

feel defeated before you even start and

will keep you from being focused and ab-

sorbing the material. Remember, you’re

not just studying to get an A, but to gain

knowledge. That’s why you’re in school,

isn’t it? And that’s pre� y cool.

It’s important to tell yourself that you

will succeed because of your hard work.

Even if you’re not expec� ng an A+, don’t

convince yourself that you’re going to fail

no ma� er how hard you study, or you

will. Stay posi� ve and don’t worry about

how others are studying. Don’t compare

yourself to your friend who studies for 80

hours a week, or your other friend who

seems to never study but always suc-

ceeds in school. Keep your focus on fi nd-

ing what works best for you.

Finally, don’t stress over what grade you

will get on the exam before the exam!

Save your energy to stay focused on your

studying.


3 PICK THE RIGHT STUDY ENVIRONMENT

Picking the right study environment

means picking a place where you feel “in

the zone” and free of distrac� ons. Some

people like to study with some back-

ground noise, while others need to study

in absolute silence. Pick a spot that really

helps you get in the zone and is free of

distrac� ons.

4 BRING ONLY THE ESSENTIALS

Once you’ve picked your ideal study spot,

you’ll need to bring all of your “essen-

� als” that keep you going.

• Obviously, bring all the material you

need to study. Bring your textbook, at

least two wri� ng utensils, a notepad,

fl ash cards, etc.

• Bring highlighters, mul� -colored pens

and/or s� cky tabs to make your note

taking more eff ec� ve by highligh� ng im-

portant parts of your notes.

• Bring a computer ONLY if you need one.

Your computer is full of distrac� ons like

email, Facebook, and other sites you like

to browse. Print out any notes you have

online and bring them with you.

• If you’re a caff eine addict, take a cup

of tea or coff ee with you, or study at a

place that can give you your caff eine fi x.

Avoid bringing energy drinks with you

when you study. They will keep you alert

for a while, but you will feel exhausted

and have trouble sleeping once you crash

from them.

•Bring headphones and your favorite

study music. This will help you get into

the groove.

5 STUDY WITH A VARIETY OF METHODS

Studying by using a variety of methods

will help you reach a deeper understand-

ing of the material and will also help you

mix up your studying habits and will keep

things interes� ng. Here are some ways to

study:

• Use fl ashcards. Write the most sig-

nifi cant terms on fl ash cards and quiz

yourself to see how many terms you’ve

memorized. Flashcards are especially

useful for theory-based classes such as

Accoun� ng Theory (ACCO 400) or Assur-

ances Services (ACCO 450). You can also

study with your fl ashcards wherever you

are, such as the bus or metro.

• Create clever acronyms. These are a

great way to remember a list of compli-

cated terms.

• Rewrite your notes. If you typed your

notes, handwrite them, or if you wrote

them by hand, type them up.

• Take prac� ce exams. If your profes-

sor has prac� ce exams for you, they can

really help you get into exam mode.

6 TAKE BREAKS

Remember that taking breaks is just

as important as focusing on your stud-

ies. Taking short breaks every hour has

proven to help you absorb material, de-

compress, and will get your mind feeling

fresh for more studying. If you study for

six hours without stopping, you will only

give yourself a headache. Don’t forget

to move around. Go for a short walk, or

be� er yet, get in line for a coff ee at Star-

bucks. This will keep your body moving,

will make you more alert, and will help

your body and eyes adjust from all the

� me you’ve spent si� ng in one spot. Use

that walk to get some fresh air. If you’re

cooped up in the library for too long your

energy and focus will begin to decline.

A� er ge� ng some air you will feel rein-

vigorated and ready for more studying.

Another very important point is to not

forget to eat. Though your snacks will

help you make it through a rigorous ses-

sion, don’t skip meals in favor of study-

ing more. Take a break to have a healthy

lunch or foods that will keep you going.

Avoid greasy or high-fat foods, they will

only slow you down. If not food, give

yourself small rewards from � me to

� me. Tell yourself that you can check

your Facebook account once you fi nish

reading Chapter 8, or that you can turn

your phone on a� er you’ve studied for an

hour. Do what you need to do to mo� -

vate yourself to fi nish.

Finally, know when to take a break. If all

of the words on the page are blurring to-

gether, or if you’re so distracted by some-

thing that you can’t read a sentence, it’s

� me to take a break. If your eyes keep

closing every � me you open your book

and they+ feel like sandbags, it may be

� me to go to sleep. Don’t force yourself

to study when you have passed the point

of produc� vity.


PROCRASTINATION A STUDENT’S WORST

ENEMY

One of the biggest diffi cul� es

for students in this day and

age is staying focused on

one task and one task only.

Distrac� ons fi ll our minds and they usu-

ally take place on our computer screens.

Social media websites, cell phones, video

games, are probably more “important”

than next week’s exam or that group

project that’s “only due in 2 weeks”. The

truth is, if you are unable to stay on top

of your work, things begin to pile up and

those deadlines come quicker than you

think. Luckily, you are reading this ar� cle

and you are about to take the fi rst steps

in bea� ng procras� na� on and becoming

more effi cient. All of which will be� er

prepare you for your midterms and fi nals.

The most important thing you want

to grasp going into university is how to

properly manage your � me. Everyone is

diff erent in the methods they use, so fi nd

out what works best for you and s� ck to

it.

One of the biggest problems I have no-

� ced around exam � me is “cramming”.

If you are not familiar with cramming, it

is essen� ally si� ng down for hours on

end learning all the material you need to

know for your exam one day to a week

before your exam. Cramming is a product

of procras� na� on and ineffi cient � me

management. Unfortunately, cramming

has become known to most students as

a normal part of the university lifestyle.

However, it is also one of the most inef-

fec� ve methods of studying. In 2012 the

University of California published a study

showing that students who gave up sleep

in order to study actually did worse aca-

demically then those who did not. Know-

ing this, it’s probably best that you listen

carefully to what I have to tell you.

USE YOUR AGENDA!

Few students realize how important of a

tool an agenda can be. At the beginning of

every school year, CASA hands out agen-

das to students as part of welcome week,

so go visit them and pick one up, it’s free.

However, if you’re not a fan of the tradi-

� onal organiza� on methods like wri� ng

in an agenda, technology has brought us

many solu� ons. You can use the calendar

on your computer, or download an app

for your tablet or smartphone that allows

you to schedule when you need to buckle

down, study, and complete assignments.

These methods are just as eff ec� ve and

can centralize all of your school work into

one loca� on.

Wri� ng all of your projects, quizzes and

exams down in your agenda, calendar

or task managing app ensures you that

nothing is forgo� en so you won’t miss

any due dates. An important thing to do

for each ac� vity is to add a reminder at

least a couple of days before for smaller

ac� vi� es and at least a week before for

more � me consuming ac� vi� es.

Nikolas Chyzenski Get your agenda at MB. 4.106


Wri� ng all of your pro-jects, quizzes and exams down in your agenda, calendar or task manag-ing app ensures you that nothing is forgo� en so you won’t miss any due dates.

MAKE A TIMELINE

Class work can easily pile up, especially

around midterms and fi nals. Most pro-

jects and exams fall within a two week

period so it’s important to get started

early and to keep up with your work. The

best way to do this is to make yourself a

� meline for all of your ac� vi� es.

To begin, take your project and break it

down into smaller more realis� c tasks.

This makes your work load seem more

manageable allowing you to focus on a

series of small tasks, rather than the pro-

ject in its en� rety all at once. Start off by

iden� fying all the major parts that will

need to be focused on, then take each

part and divide it into subsec� ons, these

will be your smaller tasks. Next, plot each

task out on a � meline and gauge out how

much � me each part may take. When

doing this, it is important to give yourself

a � me buff er, an� cipa� ng any roadblocks

or changes is key to staying organized

and on track. This method is not limited

to projects and can also be used when

studying for midterms and fi nals. The

most important thing is to s� ck to your

� meline and be disciplined.

Now that you’ve made your � meline,

here are some � ps to keep you mo� vated

and to rid yourself of procras� na� on.

Keep focused on the task at hand: Don’t look for the finish

line before you start the race. Keep your-

self concentrated on each individual task

as they come along and you won’t feel as

overwhelmed or unmotivated.

Prioritize: There will always be a

hierarchy of importance in your work.

Find out what needs to be done by

when, and prioritize your study session

in that way. Going into your study session

with your priorities in check will ensure

that you get the most work done in the

most efficient manner.

Don’t try and get every-thing done in one sitting: People lose focus pretty quickly, and

sitting down for 5-6 hours straight in

front of your computer or textbook can

drive any student insane and will only

lead to frequent unrelated browsing and

Facebook lurking. Instead you should

work in bursts, while taking small breaks

in between.

Reward yourself: We all know

that our phones and our computers are

our number one source of procrastina-

tion and it’s almost inevitable that they

will be used as a distraction. Replace this

thinking with a more productive one.

Don’t try and do the near impossible and

completely eliminate them, but rather

use them as a reward for productiv-

ity. For every two hours of hard work

accomplished, reward yourself with 15

minutes of Facebooking or use that time

to answer your friends’ text messages.

Don’t expect magic: For one,

your work won’t do itself. Don’t close

your eyes and hope that your 20 page

paper will write itself. Be disciplined

and realistic when setting expectations

for yourself. Secondly, if you are like

most students, procrastination has been

a part of our educational lives since high

school. Breaking a habit isn’t easy, so

take things slow at first and see what

works for you and what doesn’t. Work

your way up and soon enough it will

become routine.


ADOPT A H E A L T H I E R LIFESTYLE

What is a healthy life-

style? A healthy life-

style consists of many

elements such as a

healthy ea� ng habits, a consistent sleep-

ing schedule and ac� ve exercise. It’s very

easy to understand the concepts of ea� ng

healthy, sleeping well and exercise. How-

ever, what is diffi cult is being able to de-

velop a habit to achieve this consistency

over � me. If you sit down and take a bit

of � me to develop a plan and set goals,

you will recognize that with a plan and a

li� le bit of discipline that will be devel-

oped over � me, anything is possible.

Developing a plan is the most important

component of achieving your goals. One

simple structure of developing a plan is

to follow SMART goals. SMART is an ac-

ronym for goals that are specifi c, meas-

ureable, assignable, realis� c and � me

related. Of the criteria above, emphasis

must be put on a goal that is measurable

and realis� c. Do not expect to look like

Lebron James or Miranda Kerr a� er 6

months of training.

It’s easier said than done to not eat pro-

cessed foods and fast foods. It is indeed

� me consuming to prepare meals every-

day as busy students, especially during

exam period. However, all big things start

small and with one step at a � me, you can

slowly start cu� ng out foods that are not

healthy for you, such as deep fried food

and fast food. Ea� ng a healthy meals eve-

ryday is only half of the nutri� on because

ea� ng consistently at roughly the same

� me every day is equally important.

Ea� ng meals breakfast at 8am one day

and noon the next day causes your body

to become confused and release stress

hormones. For those of you who are in-

terested in losing weight, make sure to

eat light before workouts. That way, your

body will have less carbs to burn before it

starts burning fat. Consistency is key and

whether you’re aiming to gain weight,

lose weight or stay healthy, it is a central

component. One meal won’t make you

fi t, and one cheat meal won’t make you

obese.

Don’t be fooled by “fat

burning” heart rate ranges

on treadmills. Those are

rela� ve fat calorie burn-

ing rates to carb calorie

burning rates. For op� mal

weight loss results, be sure

to aim for high heart rates

such as 75% of your maxi-

mum heart rate or higher.

Always start where you’re

comfortable and make

small steps each week to

reach these heart rates

over � me.

Don’t be fooled!

Anthony Nguyen


Besides general diet, two meals are crucial to the results of

your gym and exercise sessions: the pre-workout meal and the

post-workout meal. Ea� ng before and a� er the meal is crucial to

ensure that your body has enough of the correct nutrients for

op� mal workouts as well as op� mal recovery.

Pre-workout and post-workout meals consist of two essen� al

nutrients; carbohydrates and proteins. It is especially impor-

tant to consume the post-workout meal immediately a� er your

workout (within 30 minutes a� er your workout has completed).

To keep things basic for starters, consume 0.25 grams of protein

and carbohydrates per pound of target body weight for your

post and pre workout meals. Be sure to consume easy to digest

carbs before workouts such as bananas and oatmeal. Consuming

heavy carbs such as French fries before workout out will force

the blood in your body to go to your stomach to digest the food

while the blood is trying to rush to your muscles for the workout.

Consistency in ea� ng must be matched with consistency in

sleeping. The ideal amount of sleep for every person varies.

Nobody can tell you how much sleep you need except yourself.

Being able to fall asleep easily at any � me throughout the day

is an indica� on of too li� le sleep. At the same � me, waking up

and lying in bed trying to fall asleep again is an indica� on of too

much sleep. Our bodies are � med with internal clocks called cir-

cadian rhythms, which dictate what we should be doing at each

� me of the day, o� en diffi cult to reset (jet lag). Developing a

consistent sleeping pa� ern and ea� ng pa� ern will contribute to

keeping your body in op� mal form. If you experience diffi culty

sleeping, try turning down the thermostat to approximately 20

degrees Celsius as this is the op� mal sleeping temperature.

Did you know?

During deep sleep, the muscles relax and blood fl ow is increased to the muscles. Hormones that develop muscles are released and the � ssues begin to strengthen and repair. Less sleep, less gains.


Exercise doesn’t have to be painful and boring. It can be fun and

social. Try combining interests such as exploring our beau� ful

city while biking or jogging on Mt. Royal while enjoying the sun-

rise or sunset. Even jogs around the park with our families can

be a great way to spend � me with our loved ones while encour-

aging our parents to exercise as well.

Sports are one of the most beau� ful things in the world that

brings together people from all cultures. Joining a recrea� onal

league at school or at a community center will make exercising

fun and exci� ng. Mee� ng new people and working with them

in teams to achieve a common goal can be exci� ng. Gathering a

friend or two to sign up for a recrea� onal basketball, volleyball

or squash league can be one of the best choices you can make

for your body. Surrounding ourselves with individuals who have

common goals and radiate with op� mism and encouragement

sets us up in a posi� on to only strive for more. This is how many

Olympic athletes fi rst develop a passion for their sport from a

young age, and this is also how many individuals use sports as a

way to enjoy while maintaining an ac� ve lifestyle.

While being strong and fi t is great for our health, many of us

are guilty of losing fl exibility; which is equally as important as

strength and cardio. Stretching all parts of the body is equally as

the fl exibility of the pelvic muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings and

hip fl exors are directly related to the stress levels on your spinal

cord. Maintaining a high degree of fl exibility will increase your

physical performance as well as signifi cantly reducing your risk

of injury. Remember to perform dynamic stretches before work-

ing out only a� er the muscles have been properly warmed up

and sta� c stretches at the end of a workout. Although being able

to li� large amounts of weights is great, without a large range of

mo� on; if there are lacking ranges of mo� on due to poor fl ex-

ibility, this will prohibit your athle� c performance.


D R E S S C O D E : DRESS TO IMPRESS

Cue a new year of cocktail

soirées — the ever-daun� ng

gamble of decoding the infa-

mous dress code mystery is

upon us, once more, with a brand new

set of fashion rules and trend alerts in full

force for the upcoming season.

Dress codes have become so ambiguous

that the o� en oxymoronic descrip� ons

may leave you wondering if you were the

only one who missed the memo on what

to wear to your tremendously important

business related event. Be wary of the

slight but piercingly dis� nct diff erences

between Business Professional and Busi-

ness Casual.

Don’t sweat it though, society has so

irrita� ngly—I mean, kindly—cleared up

all of the ambiguity surrounding busi-

ness a� re. I am incredibly pleased to

announce that when anyone asks what

they should wear to a business event, an

answer so clever comes to mind, that it

is so graciously unmistakable that any as-

piring business student must wear a suit.

Well then.

Fortunately, experience lends a hand at

understanding the diff erences between

the various dress codes, as well as rec-

ognizing what is appropriate to wear and

not. Luckily, the more o� en you a� end

business events, the be� er you become

at deciphering what is required to look

the part.

Business Professional does, however, re-

quire that one wear a full suit and a � e.

For women, dress pants or a pencil skirt,

a bu� on down blouse, a blazer and black

heels is a classic look. Business Casual

means losing the � e. Enter blue suits

with tan coloured shoes and belt, chif-

fon blouses for the ladies— sans blazer

Christina Venerio


to match.

On a more serious note, many business students who are new

to the networking scene may feel in� midated and some� mes,

choosing your a� re is not ideal when prac� ce is not on your

side. In this case, individuals would most likely adopt a basic

business style. Some may fi nd it intriguing, however, to learn

that this year’s fashion trends bring forth a modern twist to the

ever- elegant classy corporate look.

The runway promises an eccentric year for women, as previously

avant-garde fashion trends are moving toward business friendly

alterna� ves. Structures such as high necklines and s� ff shoul-

der pads add a fl are of classy chic, all the while remaining pro-

fessional and mainstream enough to wear off the runaway, as

well. Waistlines are shi� ing their way down this coming season,

where high-waisted pants and skirts are being replaced with

below the knee and midi length hemlines. This change comes at

a � me where a much needed comeback of the Turbulent Thir� es

and Flying For� es can be well embraced.

For men—there is something to be said about a man in a suit.

This look is classic and telling of someone with proper business

ambi� on. The intricacy in menswear is all in the matching. This

season, however, innova� ve frenzy is all about mismatching

when it comes to Business Casual. This means that diff erent fab-

rics, colours and pa� erns can all be assorted to create a unique

ou� it. An especially exci� ng trend is mixing up a suit—grey

pants and a navy blazer, for example.

When consul� ng the runway for a new perspec� ve on fashion,

try to keep an open mind. No ma� er how hard you try, certain

items are just not business appropriate. For instance, sheer and

dainty fabrics are always considered unsuitable. Be careful not

to wear anything that is linen, twill or polyester as these give the

impression of being too laid back and casual. Let’s not forget the

importance of a good shoe. Running shoes are formally prohib-

ited and a sleek dress shoe � es an en� re ou� it together. In much

of the same manner, ladies should equally opt for a sophis� cat-

ed op� on. Heels are at your discre� on but anything that hinders

your gait is probably out of place. Some trends are risqué and

business a� re has pre� y solid ground rules but if you are willing

to break away from the ordinary, feel free to do so but know that

those bright yellow socks paired with your freshly pressed suit,

unfortunately, may catch some people off guard.

Keeping it simple

Is keeping it classy

Structures such as high necklines and stiff shoulder pads add a � are of classy chic, all the while remaining professional and mainstream enough to wear off the runaway


A li� le a� en� on to detail can make all the diff erence in one’s ap-

pearance. Taking a minute to throw your hair up into a high-top

bun or to create loose curls shows that you’ve made an eff ort

to look put together and even a li� le fancy. This is no � me for

beachy waves and bed-head looks, business requires that you

look professional and primped. Gentlemen are also expected

to do away with a li� le � me to look sharp. Rugged appear-

ances are all the rage right now but this is a gentle reminder to

keep everything looking neat even if you like to sport a beard.

Makeup is not necessary but many enjoy a li� le opulence every

now and again. Corporate beauty is best suited to neutral col-

ours, coupled with a light hand; simplicity is defi nitely the secret

behind a tasteful look.

As painfully cliché as it sounds, the most important factor to

consider when preparing your ensemble is comfort. There is no

sense in wearing a colour that you are not at ease in or heels

that are too high to handle. Confi dence lies in fi nding the per-

fect fi t—that does not mean wearing clothes that are neither

too snug nor too loose, but fi nding the ones that are suited to

you and your personality. First impressions are crucial. Some-

thing of a bi� ersweet feeling lingers when you fi rst meet some-

one and there are incongrui� es that you just— can’t —quite put

your fi nger on.

I feel like a glamorous fashion quote is in order here, but the

truth is this: there are no fashion rules, trends come and go and

come back again and through the struggle of scavenging your

en� re wardrobe, wishfully scoping out the sales rack and reluc-

tantly se� ling for what you wore last � me... there comes a cer-

tain relief in knowing that we are not alone. That dress codes

are, indeed, ambiguous but the very ambiguity that drives us

to feel overwhelmed is the same ambiguity that may be used

to our advantage in breaking away from the norm that society

so o� en dictates. The most important thing, through all of this,

is to be you.

So, here it is: “Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the mad-

ness” – Allen Ginsberg.


Participating in a variety of the [frosh] events off er a great opportu-nity to get to know other students

FIRST YEAR 101

When I was in high

school, I remem-

ber idolizing my

older university-

aged cousins who

always seemed to be so mature and put

together. At family get-togethers, my

aunts and uncles would reminisce and

tell stories about their university days

and made it sound as if these were the

best days of their lives. From that point

on, I anxiously an� cipated the � me when

I too would be in university. Fast forward

a few years and there I was, beginning my

fi rst day of university at the John Molson

School of Business (JMSB). The fi rst

month or so fl ew by, and before I knew it,

I had four midterms within one week, all

the while working fi � een hours a week

as a lifeguard. Somehow, my aunts and

uncles had conveniently forgo� en to

prepare me for this reality when talking

about those good old days. It was at that

moment that I began to ques� on how

university could really be the “best days”

of my life.

I would be lying if I said that the next

few years as you work towards obtaining

your bachelor’s degree won’t require a

lot of hard work. There will be countless

12-hour long study sessions, group as-

signments that seem to never end, and

projects that take months of prepara� on

for a short 10 minute oral presenta� on.

This part of the university experience

is unavoidable. Despite this, making

the most of it in every way possible is a

worthwhile choice. The key is star� ng off

on the right foot. Here’s how.

WELCOME WEEK

The fi rst couple days of school are fo-

cussed on making the fi rst year students

feel at home and get to know the school

a li� le bit be� er. Some special events in-

clude free breakfasts and coff ee, open air

pubs, and meet and greet tables where

you have a chance to speak to students

from many of JMSB’s associa� ons and

commi� ees. By a� ending these events,

you will get to know students who, like

you, want to be involved in the school

community in one way or another. In

addi� on, during welcome week, many

of JMSB’s associa� ons and commi� ees

take the opportunity to set up informa-

� on booths in order to get the chance to

meet as many fi rst year students as they

can and promote their upcoming events.

Stopping by to say hi and showing some

interest in the school’s extracurricular life

is the best way to begin developing your

JMSB network.

FROSH!

For many, our fi rst impression of univer-

sity life is “frosh”, two weeks of events

and par� es for all fi rst year students.

These events are organized by JMSB’s

Commerce and Administra� on Students

Associa� on (CASA). They include diner

galas, boat par� es, island par� es, pub

crawls, concerts... Par� cipa� ng in a vari-

ety of the events off er a great opportu-

nity to get to know other students in your

program who, like you, want to make

their university years a memorable expe-

rience. Since the fi rst frosh events begin

right before your fi rst day of classes, the

fi rst day of school will already be free of

the stress of not knowing anyone since

you will have met a handful of people at

frosh.

Erika Kinnear

41JUNE 2014SENSATION

Associations and Committees

At JMSB, there is an associa� on to represent every major of-

fered to students as well as commi� ees comprised of business

students from a variety of programs. Both sponsor many events

throughout the year, where fi rst year students get a chance to

meet both other fi rst years and the execu� ves of the associa-

� ons and commi� ees. Following these events, towards the end

of the fall semester, fi rst year representa� ves are selected by the

organiza� ons and commi� ees to help organize upcoming pro-

jects with the other execu� ves.

5 à 7

As accoun� ng students, you will have the opportunity to a� end

many 5 à 7 cocktail par� es. While these events may be in� mi-

da� ng at fi rst, these will quickly become a common marking in

your agenda. The 5 à 7’s are held by associa� ons exclusively for

students, recruiters from various fi rms, and companies. These

events are held in the early evening and hors d’oeuvres. By at-

tending a variety of these cocktail par� es, familiar faces in the

room will turn into good friends. On top of that, you will have

the opportunity to get to know poten� al employers.

Integra� ng and fi nding your place in university isn’t always a

fl awless experience, but it is a worthwhile one to pursue as it

will make the following years much more enjoyable. That being

said, since experiencing those tough exam periods is inevitable,

you may as well make the most of it and do whatever is possi-

ble to make the best of your experience as you begin your fi rst

year of university. That way, in years to come, when asked by

your nieces and nephews about your university days, you too

will have great stories to share.

DIVIDENDS MAGAZINESUMMER 201441

Photos courtesy of CASA


You’ve just fi nished a year of in-

tense all-nighters studying for

all those ACCO exams along

with numerous case compe-

� � on preps and you’re about to start

work full � me in September (or perhaps

another long and harder year of school).

You have accomplished everything you

set your mind too, yet you’re missing the

last piece to complete your university ex-

perience, the ul� mate Europe trip.

A trip of this size can be an amazing ex-

perience; however the planning can be

quite overwhelming. So many countries

to visit, monuments to see, methods

of transport to use, the list of op� ons

is endless. Jumping right in and book-

ing the fi rst off ers you fall upon without

doing the proper research can be detri-

mental to your trip. A successful Europe

trip lies in the planning of the details.

Finding yourself stuck at the airport with

no place to stay in a city where you don’t

speak the na� ve language is last thing

you want to happen. Therefore, to make

the most of your trip and stay true to

your budget, you must to be extremely

organized and focused while processing

the vast amount of informa� on from

your research. Also, at the start of your

planning, it is best to ask yourself the fol-

lowing ques� ons so that you can have an

overview of your trip.

This is the fi rst and most important ques-

� on that you need to be asking yourself.

Se� ng a reasonable budget almost goes

without saying for a trip of this complexi-

ty. When planning your budget, you need

to take the following into considera� on:

accommoda� on, transporta� on, food,

a� rac� ons and miscellaneous. Booking

your trip months in advance and avoiding

peak-season (July-August) will certainly

PLAN THE ULTIMATE EURO-TRIP

help in ensuring you remain on budget.

In addi� on, it is a good idea to bring an

emergency fund of approximately 500€.

You must expect and be prepared for the

unexpected. Budgets will vary depend-

ing on an individual’s lifestyle, season of

travel and choice of des� na� on. None-

theless, you must be careful not to get

carried away. A� er all, it is very temp� ng

to buy and try everything in each city by

ra� onalizing “I’m in Europe, when is the

next � me I’ll get to do or buy this?”

WHERE DO I WANT TO GO?

The second important step is determin-

ing the ci� es you’ll be visi� ng as well

as the amount of � me needed for each

visit. With regards to selec� ng the cit-

ies, many websites have lists of the best

des� na� ons in Europe to help guide your

research. The list I believe is the most ac-

curate and the one I used to plan a Eu-

rope trip of my own is the list found on

Trip Advisor (h� p://www.tripadvisor.ca/

TravelersChoice-Destinations-cTop-g4).

To determine the appropriate length of

stay in each city, extensive research will

be required regarding events you would

like to a� end and monuments you wish

WHAT’S MY BUDGET?

Eleni Panaritis


since they may not cover all the costs of

the trains you wish to take. Moreover, if

you weigh the costs and benefi ts of other

alterna� ves (as I strongly recommend),

you may realize that it is more cost and

� me effi cient to part from the tradi� onal

Eurail pass.

Secondly, airfare within Europe is shock-

ingly aff ordable and for the most part

the same price as a train. Popular airlines

such as Air France may off er discount

fl ights for select ci� es when you select

the youth/young op� on. Other economi-

cal fl ights can be found on easyjet.com,

vueling.com and ryanair.com. I highly

recommend using the ‘Inspire Me’ tool

on easyjet.com. This will show you the

cost of all fl ights within a certain price

range depar� ng from your chosen city to

diff erent areas in Europe. Furthermore, it

is essen� al to be aware of the departure

and arrival loca� ons when using these

websites, in par� cular ryanair.com, since

the airports may be on the outskirts of

the city, thus requiring an expensive cab

ride to reach. Addi� onal hidden costs in-

clude baggage fees which, although can

be purchased on the website, are usually

forgo� en or avoided un� l arrival at the

airport when the fee has doubled. All in

all, transporta� on in Europe isn’t as ex-

HOW DO I GET AROUND?

When it comes to transporta� on in Eu-

rope there is an abundance of op� ons

and choosing the ones suitable for your

trip can turn out to be quite the dilemma.

The two most popular op� ons to reach

ci� es in Europe are by train or airplane.

With only these two op� ons, it is hard

to see where the intricacies lie. Both

methods of travel off er many op� ons in

themselves, thus rendering your task of

op� mizing your � me and money fairly

complex. Beginning with trains, websites

such as www.raileurope.ca and www.

eurail.com off er all the informa� on you

need regarding the purchase of your

� ckets. These websites also describe the

extensive networks of trains including

regional, high-speed, night and scenic

trains. To make your decision slightly

more complicated, four diff erent passes

can also be purchased off ering ‘unlimit-

ed’ travel within all of Europe or a select

few countries. Eurail passes are usually

the fi rst go-to op� on when planning a

Euro trip because of their convenience

and perceived savings. These are nor-

mally the best op� on if you’re planning

on doing the “as many ci� es as possible”

style of trip. However, much care must be

taken when booking one of these passes

to visit. Furthermore, you need to decide

the style of your trip, specifi cally if you

would like to fi t in as many ci� es as pos-

sible or if you prefer to concentrate only

on a few areas so that you can fully see

what each place has to off er. This will be

based on your preference; however, your

trip is most likely going to be a hybrid of

the two since there will undoubtedly be

a few ci� es that you will want to spend

more � me in.

WHERE DO I START IT?

Once you have fi ltered through all your

research and chosen the ci� es you wish

to visit, you can begin the fi nal stages of

your planning. Firstly, you need to outline

on a map your trip and choose the most

convenient loca� ons to travel to from

Canada. These would be either the most

northern or southern ci� es depending on

costs in order to prevent going in circles

throughout your travels. Secondly, you

need to research transporta� on within

Europe and accommoda� ons. It is impor-

tant to keep in mind that some ci� es in

Europe such as Paris, London and Geneva

have a higher cost of living compared to

the other ci� es.


pensive as it may seem; however, if you wait

� ll last minute to book, the cost will defi nitely

not be the budgeted amount you planned for.

ACCOMODATIONS

Similar to transporta� on, accommoda� ons in

Europe can easily fi t right into your budget.

The suggested op� ons are to book either a

hostel or apartment. Hostels, although they

may have a bad reputa� on, are very cost ef-

fi cient and the best choice for certain ci� es.

They are very popular amongst the 20 year

old age group so you’ll have the opportunity

to meet numerous people from all around the

world. Despite the low-cost associated with

hostels, it is important to constantly check the

prices since not all hostels will be off ering the

same inexpensive price. Apartments seem to

be the less popular op� on; however are slow-

ly staring to become the trend. They can be

booked for a few days on reputable websites

such as airbnb.ca and can prove to be more

cost effi cient depending on the size of the

group you are traveling with. Lastly, once you

have found all your accommoda� ons, the last

stages of your planning are complete and you

are ready to start booking.

A� er working out the details of your trip,

all you have le� to do is print everything. It

is important to have a paper copy of all your

bookings since you may not be able to obtain

Internet access. All in all there may be many

steps involved in planning a Europe trip, as

well as a great amount of organiza� on and

focus, nonetheless, it is most defi nitely worth

the experience. Pour yourself a glass of wine

and toast to an amazing summer up ahead.



As Montrealers, we love spending � me

on our streets -even with the never end-

ing construc� on season and detours - to

eat out on curbside terraces. This year,

food trucks will be lining the streets again

and so will we. A� er a slow but success-

ful fi rst year, food trucks are back and

hot to go; ready to quench thirsts, sat-

isfy cravings and add some extra spice to

Montreal’s already famous food culture.

Looking at this year’s truck lineup, no-

body could have guessed that only two

years ago the sixty-six year old ban on

food trucks was li� ed by mayor Michael

Applebaum. Today, there are more than

forty food trucks roaming the streets

from seven in the morning to ten thirty

at night serving anything from coff ee

and eggs to pou� ne foie gras. With more

food truck fes� vals/gathering events be-

ing organized and the introduc� on of all

new loca� ons that includes the planned

expansion for trucks to go outside the

city core and into the boroughs, food

trucks are a defi nitely here to stay.

For a city that claims to be “Canada’s

Cultural Capital”, Montreal lacked a

very important part of food culture un-

� l now - street food culture. Just about

every large metropolitan area has its own

unique twist on how street food should

be made and served and so will Mon-

treal. New York has its famous hot dog

stands and Beijing is famous for its va-

riety in street “chuanrs” (BBQ skewers).

Although Montreal’s street food culture

is s� ll very young, it’s already star� ng to

make a name for itself as regular every-

day food with more of a gourmet edge. In

given � me, it will fl ourish in its own way

and be large part of Montreal culture just

like dépanneurs and terraces.

Unlike New York, Beijing and most of

the world where laws regula� ng food

trucks and street vending are fairly leni-

ent and relaxed, Montreal forces its food

trucks to have a commercial kitchen and

a partnership with a restaurant or se� led

establishment in order to make sure that

sanita� on requirements are met along

with higher quality of food prepara� on

and cooking. This means that although

there are going to be less food trucks

in number due to the fact that not eve-

ryone will be able to get in on the food

truck business easily, it also means that

the food trucks that are around are less

likely to have ques� onable standards and

will generally have be� er food. Unfortu-

nately, Montreal food trucks do tend to

charge a bit more than its counterparts in

David Le Han


other ci� es, however the higher price is

defi nitely worth avoiding the risk of food

poisoning and an upset stomach.

What also diff eren� ates Montreal food

trucks from others and what makes ours

unique are the trucks themselves. Each

and every food truck looks drama� cally

diff erent from one another and are deco-

rated to match their theme. “Le Cheese”,

a truck that sells, you guessed it, cheesy

food, is drenched bright yellow as if it

were a block of cheese and “Alexis Le

Gourmand,” which sells turkey sandwich-

es and other delicatessens, has a cute pig

and turkey on a farm painted on its side.

Having gone to a few food trucks, “Cam-

ion au Pied de Cochon” is defi nitely one

of my favorites. The restaurant with

which it shares the same name is a must

go, but for those who love food and are

on a stricter budget the food truck is the

way to go. We s� ll all get to enjoy the

delicious foie gras but for less. The best

part is that the “gourmet” food makes

you feel as if you are a connoisseur of

fi ne cuisine. For a measly twenty dollars

you can get the Boite Gourmande #2, a

nicely packaged cardboard box that has

he� and doesn’t feel cheap. It includes

a brioche cochon, pou� ne foie gras, bri-

oche sucrée and a maple syrup soda. As

an ever hungry guy I was surprised as to

how fi lling it was.

The brioche cochon was defi nitely the

highlight of the meal. It’s fancy, it’s beau-

� ful, and it’s delicious. It’s no ordinary hot

dog that you’d order at your local belle

pro. The wiener is meaty, something that

you can actually sink your teeth into. It

was a bit oily, but I personally like it that

way. The bread was sweet and equally

delicious. The pou� ne foie gras will con-

vince even the healthiest eaters to con-

� nue to take bite a� er bite. Even though

this pou� ne obviously is very fa� y and

very oily, the taste is heavenly. Finally the

brioche sucrée, which is the dessert, was

comfortably sweet thanks to the banana

hidden inside that off ers a bit of balance.

It’s deligh� ul and thick, which I guess is

the theme of the box. The maple syrup

soda won’t be a big hit with many peo-

ple, but it’s an interes� ng soda that’s

really sweet with a strong syrup taste. I

defi nitely recommend it.


MONTREAL VENUES TO CATCH T H E B E S T M U S I C

Montreal has an inter-

na� onal reputa� on for

being a city of culture,

diversity and excite-

ment. In terms of music, the city’s mu-

sical landscape is parallel to none. On

any given night, our countless venues

may be playing host to the next Arcade

Fire, Supertramp or Sam Roberts, art-

ists who owe their earliest successes to

Montreal’s unique music scene. Whether

you’re looking for a night to remember or

a night to forget, your favourite interna-

� onal band or today’s ho� est locals, here

are some of the greatest Montreal ven-

ues that are not to miss.

This venue owned by Godspeed You!

Black Emperor founding member Mauro

Pezzente is an in� mate café on St. Lau-

rent in the heart of the Plateau. There’s

shows on most nights from pop to folk to

punk to indie, and it’s been the breeding

ground for some of the city’s best bands

including Arcade Fire, who threw their al-

bum launch for “Funeral” to a full house

of 50 all the way back in 2004. While

you’re there, treat yourself to the city’s

best vegetarian food; a menu equal parts

Spanish and fi nger foods accompanied

by a more than comprehensive list of

cra� brews and spirits.

One of the city’s bigger spaces, New City

Gas is ground zero for Montréal’s EDM

Melissa Payette Stephen Young

scene. This venue’s hosted a who’s who

of electronic music including � tans such

as Skrillex, David Gue� a and Calvin Harris.

New City Gas also plays host to some of the

city’s freshest talent, making this a not-to-

miss spot for anyone set on dancing the

night away.


Foufounes, colloquially named “Foufs”

by its regulars, is one of Montreal’s most

legendary bars. Nearing its 30th anniver-

sary, this punk bar has played host to the

likes of Nirvana, Green Day and Queens

of the Stone Age along the years. Even

if you’re not there to watch the variety

of punk, metal and hardcore bands that

grace its stage, Foufs off ers some of the

city’s best drink deals, including $6 beer

pitchers on Friday nights as well as $1

bo� les on Saturday. Just remember to

leave the collared shirt and slacks at

home for this one.

Birthed from the storage room of the

skateshop it took its name from, Un-

derworld has come a long way from the

punk rock venue it once was. With a full

liquor license and lounge, Underworld is

equal parts rocker bar and hip hop block

party. Most shows will run you under

$20, and drinks are reasonably priced

for a venue. Underworld fi ts roughly 300

people, so while you’re s� ll up and per-

sonal with the ar� st playing, it’s possible

to get a great view of the stage without

ge� ng far too familiar with those around

you. In the past year the venue’s brought

in ar� sts such as Joey Bada$$, Raekown,

Chance the Rapper as well as bands like

Mac DeMarco, Ten Second Epic and The

Flatliners. Underworld’s also got brag-

ging rights for hos� ng Blink 182’s fi rst-

ever Canadian concert back in 1995.

Olympia is one of Montreal’s bigger ven-

ues, but that doesn’t stop it from being

as in� mate as can be. Housed in a turn

of the century theatre, Olympia’s bowl

shape allows you great views from nearly

every angle of the venue. It’s located

in the heart of the Village, so if you’re

averse to paying concert hall prices for

your drinks, you can pregame at some of

the city’s most unique and vibrant bars.

During off nights, the venue doubles as

le Pe� t Olympia, a small barely-over-

100-capacity venue taking up a por� on

of the hall. The venue’s high ceiling and

natural acous� cs make Le Pe� t Olympia

the best small venue in the city in terms

of sound. While the smaller room leans

to the harder side of music, the big room

has been graced by the likes of Adele,

Sheryl Crowe, Ed Sheeran and Brand

New, among others.

Located just outside the St.Laurent metro

stop on the green line of the metro, Club

Soda has hosted well over 7,000 shows

since it’s opening in 1982. The venue re-

opened its doors a� er being refi nanced

in 2000, and has since become a prime

loca� on for up & coming musicians of

all genres to perform. Sized somewhere

between the cozy bars further along

St.Laurent and the bigger venues like

Olympia and Metropolis, Club Soda is

quite possibly the most perfectly sized

music space in the city. With a bar, balco-

ny, and stage you can comfortably lean

up against if you’re into the whole front

row thing, an evening in this par� cular

venue is bound to be a hot and sweaty,

but an in� mate great � me. You’d be hard

pressed to fi nd a musician or band that

didn’t make their Montreal debut here.

From the outside, the bar is a � ny space

further down on St.Laurent that you

might not look at twice; but once you’ve

experienced a concert there, you’ll be

looking for reasons to go back again and

again. They opened their doors in 2004

and have since become the prime loca-

� on for hundreds of amazing indie/folk

type shows. They’ve hosted ar� sts like

Patrick Watson, Karkwa, Fleet Foxes, and

so many more. You’ll o� en catch really

great Montreal acts performing, and you

can enjoy the great music and atmos-

phere as you grab a bite to eat or a drink.

Tickets are o� en somewhere around the

10$ mark, so it’s no wonder that the ven-

ue is a favorite for locals looking to enjoy

a late evening of music with friends. The

150-person space is one you’ll likely be

mee� ng tons of new people, especially

on one of the many nights where the

place is at capacity!

You can really get to know Montreal by checking out these music hotspots!


Everyone should have the opportunity

to experience a show at one of the many

rooms at Place Des Arts, because the am-

biance is truly half the fun and an experi-

ence on its own- despite the some� mes

pricier � ckets. Possibly the classiest and

most memorable venue for tourists and

locals alike, Place Des Arts o� en hosts

some of the more upscale concerts that

might be too small for The Bell Center,

but s� ll deserve the beau� ful seated

theater and gorgeous acous� cs the space

has to off er. The Salle Wilfrid-Pelle� er is

the largest performance hall in Quebec

with 2, 982 seats, and has welcomed

music legends from around the world

like Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, Charles

Aznavour, Bob Dylan, and hundreds of

others.

Parc Jean Drapeau is Montreal’s largest

outdoor venue, comprised of Saint Helens

Island, and the ar� fi cial island of Notre-

Dame. It has also become the home to

all the local music fes� vals that have truly

put our city on the map: Osheaga, Heavy

Montreal, and now Ile Soniq. There are

tons of other musical events hosted in

the wide open fi eld, from Vans Warped

Tour to Piknic Electronik. There’s just

something about spending a weekend

out in the PJD fi elds surrounded by noth-

ing but music that dis� nguishes it as one

of the greatest major venues in Montreal

worth trekking out to- even if it’s on the

dreaded yellow line!

From the grungiest but most beloved

bars to the more upscale theaters, Mon-

treal never ceases to stay crea� ve when it

comes to hos� ng concerts. For decades,

we’ve set ourselves apart as a city worth

traveling halfway across the world for, if

only to witness a par� cular show- and so

much of it is owed to the music culture

we have grown and fostered at each of

these venues throughout the years. Live

music con� nues to be one of the most

important industries in this city because

of fans’ support of their favorite ar� sts,

our strong local music scene, and the

care we’ve put into making each of these

musical spaces incredibly memorable

every night.



MTL

NIGHTLIFE

Montreal’s Nightlife scene

is a celebrity when com-

pared to other Canadian

ci� es. Its vibrant lights,

energe� c populace, and ac� on-packed

downtown area make it a must-see

blockbuster. However, the problem with

famous people is that it’s hard to really

get to know them and we all know you

can’t trust the tabloids. So, lets go celeb-

rity-hun� ng, and discover a few A-list Mtl

spots that make Montreal the scandelous

celebrity we’ve come to know and love.

You’re so Fancy, You Already Know

If you are the classy one in your group

of friends that actually cares about what

you drink, Montreal has lots of op� ons

for you including the Drake that is the

Dis� llerie, and the power couple of Jay

z’s lab aka Le Lab and Queen B’s Cham-

pagnerie.

Distilerie “Headlines” Mtl bars and

lounges, so if you are looking for a classy

but s� ll low key night out with good,

strong and aff ordable drinks, head over

to Dis� llerie. It is accurate to say Dis� ll-

erie “started from the bo� om” with the

original loca� on way down on Ontario E,

it has moved to the Upper Plateau and

Rosemont, ensuring people all around

Montreal can enjoy it. Represen� ng the

Drake of Montreal, Dis� llerie always has

a fun crowd being the perfect place for

a girl’s night, a drink with a friend, date

night or for a big crowd.

Le Lab. Jay Z has a “Public Service An-

nouncement”: You may have “99 prob-

lems” but here a drink ain’t one. Le Lab

is known for their incredible mixology, at-

ten� on to detail, and the best bartenders

in Montreal. You are almost guaranteed

a good � me. The bartenders are both

knowledgeable and entertaining, and

a� er fi nding your perfect drink they’ll

be sure to deliver it with quite the show.

With an elegant atmosphere it almost

feels like you have been taken back a few

decades, making it stand out from any

other bar in Montreal. Le Lab is the “holy

grail” of drinks in Montreal.

Champagnerie, the elegant bar

that should be considered the Beyoncé

of MTL. This place is “Flawless”. Known

for their incredibly bubbly champagne,

delicious tapas and a rus� c yet chic vibe,

the night you have at Champagnerie will

be “Irreplaceable”. This old port crowd

has a mature classy taste, however they

s� ll know how to have some fun. Wheth-

er I am in a group of “Single Ladies” or

“If I were a Boy”, I would defi nitely hit

this up for the good drinks, classy atmos-

phere and good people.

Natalie Kellar


The Trendsetters

Montreal is considered a very trendy city

from the fashion, food, music, people

and of course the bars. Montreal’s night-

life is not just on top of current trends but

is se� ng new ones. With Suwu refl ec� ng

Iggy Azalea’s recent surge in popularity,

we also have a lo� party at JT’s Appt 200,

a serenade for Mme Lees by Mr. John

Legend and the match made in heaven of

Katy Perry and Billy Kun.

Suwu- Represen� ng Montreal’s inner

I-G-G-Y, Suwu has become a favorite in

the nightlife scene. Mixing a “Fancy”

vibe where you can s� ll drop it on the

dance fl oor and have a late night snack,

Suwu has become the “Goddess” of St

Laurent. The interior design combines

a rus� c beach house mixed with almost

jungle like plants, making you forget for

a minute it’s -25 degrees Celsius outside

in the winter. Suwu’s crowd and beats

makes it the perfect place to unwind

a� er a long week of “Work”. Before you

head home be sure to pick up a mac and

cheese grilled cheese, you won’t regret

it.

Appt 200- Like Jus� n Timberlake

did, this homey place has brought “sexy

back” in a new way to Mtl nightlife. You

don’t need no “suit and � e”, just throw

something on and head over to Appt 200

for a great night. You can choose to linger

by the bar, hang around the arcade, chill

on the couches, dance in the living room

or even rent out the “bedroom” for spe-

cial occasions. Appt 200 is a great place

to go for a chill night out, with its good

crowd, awesome decor, and hip music;

you won’t be let down. If you think Appt

200 sounds almost too good to be true,

you would be right. The one downside is

the o� en long lines, so try and be nice to

the bouncer and see where that gets you.

Mme Lees is soon to be a Legend

of Montreal nightlife, similarly to John

Legend of R&B. It is s� ll “The Beginning”

for Mme Lees, only opening a short year

ago and already bustling with people

every night. Filled with good music, a

hip crowd, and an authen� c atmosphere

you will defi nitely enjoy your night here.

Mme Lees has a very modern vibe, fi lled

with an assortment of tables and chairs

to lounge on. It is a great place to go for

drinks, to dance, or both. The atmos-

phere is trendy and fi lled with lots of

young people from all over Montreal, so

you will likely run into many people you

know. I would defi nitely give Mme Lees

“All of Me” for “Tonight”.

Billy Kun- One of the most unique

bars, and you could consider it a local

Katy Perry. There may not be any “Pea-

cocks” here but there are some ostrich

heads on the wall and other trendy decor.

Billy Kun is a great spot whether it is your

“Birthday” or just about to become “Last

Friday Night”. Its awesome loca� on on

Mont-Royal makes for a great terrace in

the summer or a cozy spot in the winter.

Regardless of the season this place will

leave you feeling “Wide Awake”. Head

here for an a� er work drink, before

dinner drink, or just to go out. Basically

head here any � me of night and you

won’t be disappointed.

Mme. Lee is located at 151 Rue Ontario Est, Montréal, QC H2X 1H5


Stuck in the Millennium

For a throwback Thursday, fl ashback

Friday, or whatever day of the week it is,

you can take a trip down memory lane

to the Black Eyed Peas of our life that is

Korovas.

Korovas, like the Black Eyed Peas,

is something we love but o� en forget

about. So “Lets get it Started” at Korovas

where the beats are always a fl ashback

and you “Just Can’t Get Enough”. Koro-

vas always has fun music, an interes� ng

crowd, and cheap drinks making it the

perfect place to head with a big group of

friends for a fun night of dancing. Special

feature of Korovas is the some� mes func-

For the Sport Bros (and Broettes)

Spor� ng in Montreal has been famed

around the world. Whether it be our leg-

endary Habs, the grand prix, or Olympic

freestyle skiers, Montreal always seems

to excel. For us regular folks who aren’t

quite as athle� c but s� ll love to watch

and cheer on our athletes, where can we

do it?

Sports Station is our 1st round

pick for sports bars. The Paciore� y of

sports bars in Montreal comes with

cheap beer and food, and about 1000

TVs, Sports Sta� on scores the hat trick

of bars. However, if it is too full you can

always se� le for the next best across the

street at Cock ‘n Bull.

Cock and Bull is our 2nd round

pick being the one that gets the job

done, but just maybe not as pre� y. Cock

and Bull can be considered the Bourque

of Sports Bars, since it’s not the all-star

but s� ll a key factor to the sports society

in Montreal. Very similar to the all-star

Sports Sta� on it has cheap beer, TVs

and food (the food literally comes from

Sports Sta� on). Cock and Bull is defi nitely

a good fall back.

Bifteck is our Plateau pick. If you are

living in the Plateau, you are a li� le far

away on winter nights to venture over to

Sports Sta� on, so Bi� eck can be a great

alterna� ve. Bi� eck can be a li� le bit

rough around the edges, but it is eff ec-

� ve, aff ordable and surprisingly always

the fan favorite just like the Habs’ Bran-

don Prust. Also, with free popcorn it will

prac� cally feel like you are at the game.

Reggies is the Hall of Famer when it

comes to sports bars. I wouldn’t go as far

as saying its “The Rocket” of sports bars,

but it has defi nitely made its mark on

Montreal. Reggies was a great go to for

a game or just a beer, unfortunately, it’s

“under renova� ons”, so we hope one day

to see the rise of this legend again.

� oning photo booth. Snap a pic to re-

member the awesome � mes you’ve had.

Sports Sta� on is located at 862 Rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, QC H2L 2E3


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