This week on Focus Montreal: March 19

MONTREAL — Focus Montreal introduces Montrealers to people who are shaping our community, bringing their stories into focus.

It airs on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and at midnight.

Take a look at who we’re meeting this week on Focus Montreal:

7:57 Focus Montreal: Critiquing Quebec’s new history course

Quebec’s new history program under fire

A new two-year program, called History of Quebec and Canada, was created by the Parti Québécois under Pauline Marois.

But it’s being rolled out by the Liberals, who are currently piloting the course in a handful of high schools across the province.

Critics say the new content reflects a rigid nationalist ideology and diminishes the role and contributions of minority communities including Haitians, Jews and Anglophones in this province.

Global News senior anchor Jamie Orchard sat down with John Commins, a long-time history teacher and member of the review committee for the previous history program.

He says the new curriculum is intentionally one-sided,  even leaving out Jacques Parizeau’s famous concession speech blaming “money and the ethnic vote” after the 1995 referendum.

6:32 Focus Montreal: Depression among physicians

Depression among physicians

It’s a staggering statistic.  At least 40 per cent of doctors have symptoms of depression, compared to 27 per cent of the general population.

The phenomenon is the subject of a new documentary film Les Médecins Pleurent Aussi or Doctors also Cry, by Yves Bisaillon.

The woman responsible for the idea behind the film is a Montreal-based family doctor.

Dr. Banafcheh Hejazi dropped by Focus Montreal studios to talk about the project.

6:17 Focus Montreal: Hot Cities of the World tour

Hot Cities of the World tour

For eight years, a group of 40 McGill University  students and alumni have gone to countries of the world which are enjoying strong economic growth.

This year was no exception.

About 30 lucky students took part in the 12-day trip to Chile and Colombia for this year’s annual Hot Cities of the World tour.

Highlights including meeting the former head of the Bank of Chile, a visit to “Chilecon Valley”  and a coffee plantation in Columbia, not to mention hours of salsa dancing in the slums of Cartagena.

Professor Karl J. Moore of McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management and student Mackenzie Chisholm share their experiences and insights from their South American travels.