Melissa Dawn
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Top 5 at Home Exercises That Aren’t Running to Get You in Shape

Top 5 at Home Exercises That Aren't Running to Get You in Shape

With the gyms being closed, many of us have found ourselves in a situation where we have to look for alternative ways to workout. Don’t get us wrong, running is a great exercise and workout but it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay! Whether you find it boring or you have leg or knee pains or are just looking for something different don’t worry we’ve got you covered. The article will also introduce ways in which you can maximize calories burnt while utilizing the exercises we provide. There are more options out there than you think that still abide by social distancing and quarantine rules. So let’s dive in and discover our top 5 exercises you can do that aren’t running! 

 

Here are 5 exercises to do if you hate running:

 

  • Skipping

    Guy holding a skipping rope

    Photo by Charlotte Karlsen on Unsplash

 

When we think of skipping our minds wander to our adolescent days or if you’re me, to the Rocky movies, but skipping doesn’t have to be so leisurely or so intense for you to make a difference. Skipping is a great way to exercise especially if you have knee and leg issues because it actually has less of an impact on them than running does. Skipping is also a full-body workout and according to a study by Shape America “After six weeks of daily 10-minute jump-rope exercises, participants demonstrated the same levels of improvement to their cardiovascular health as individuals who jogged for 30 minutes a day.” 

Skipping as you can see is also great for someone with not a lot of time on their hands and they can still make a bigger caloric impact than running can. Skipping really goes well if you look for a circuit or HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout that can really push you to the next level in a short amount of time. So what are you waiting for, get out there!

If you don’t have one, find one here! : https://amzn.to/2zPM72T 

Source:https://shapeamerica.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10671188.1968.10618043

 

 

  • Frisbee

 

Okay, hear me out, while we know you can’t really play frisbee by yourself unless you are freakishly fast if you’re at home with someone it’s a really fun exercise you can do together that can easily burn calories. While frisbee requires a little bit of running shorter distances, it is still less impactful on your joints than running on concrete for example. It also isn’t the first thing people think about while burning calories but trust us, there’s a lot more going on under the hood. What I especially love about it is the fact that you can run short sprints back and forth almost like suicides that really get the heart rate up. Mix this with some jumping catches and you’ve got yourself a tiresome workout that will shred those calories in no time. What I like to do especially is to tell my partner to throw it away from me so It forces me to be quick on my feet and run for it and keep the heart rate up. 

If you don’t have one, find one here!: https://amzn.to/2Tehif9

 

 

  • Orange Theory at home Youtube Videos

 

For those of you who don’t know what Orange Theory is, 

“Orangetheory is a science-backed, technology-tracked, coach-inspired group workout designed to produce results from the inside out. The hardest part of our workouts is showing up – we make it simple for you to push yourself, be your personal best and give you more. MORE results. MORE confidence. MORE Life. More than a gym. Because you shouldn’t live to exercise. You should exercise to live.” 

They currently have gyms in Montreal and surrounding areas but obviously they are closed for the time being. If its something you always wanted to check out or are new to it, they have started to put out free at-home classes on youtube that require little to no equipment for all of them. They are a good comparison to what you can get with the real gyms but these classes still provide great HIIT workouts that can be very challenging and you will definitely get your sweat on.

Find the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Otheoryfitness

Source: https://www.orangetheoryfitness.com/

 

 

  • WOD’s

 

This one is for all of you really looking to push yourselves to the limit. WOD or Workout of the Day is a term used in CrossFit and if you find that intimidating, you should because this really isn’t easy. However challenging it may be, the results you will get by doing these is hardd to argue with. They usually consist of full-body workouts so be prepared! They are an excellent and effective way to burn off calories and make you stronger at the same time.

As the name suggests, there are different workouts per day and also include male and female weight suggestions. While some of the workouts do need some sort of equipment you can look through to find some that have exercises with the equipment you already have. If you find them too difficult simply reduce the rep range to something that is doable but still challenging for you. Overall WOD’s can be an exceptional alternative to running but be prepared for a hell of a challenge.

Find the WOD’s at https://www.crossfit.com/

 

 

  • Hiking

 

Hiking or trail running can be a great alternative to running on concrete. Yes, trail running does include running but it is generally a little slower paced because you have to watch your footing and you are also running on the ground as opposed to concrete which helps reduce joint pains. While hiking, in general, is an incredible leg focused exercise, it really excels over running because of the constant shift of elevation and traversing through difficult terrain can really put in work for your lower body.  A hike is taxing on the body and what’s great about it is that you can get some great scenic views and a sort of freedom of exploration if you will whenever you go on a hike. 

Guy Hiking in Nature

Photo by Boxed Water Is Better on Unsplash

 

All you need to get started is a great pair of hiking shoes and you’re good to go!

Find some amazing shoes here 

Women: https://montrealtips.com/2020/05/16/best-hiking-shoes-for-women-in-canada-2020/

Men:https://montrealtips.com/2020/05/11/best-hiking-shoes-for-men-2020/

So there you have it, our 5 alternatives to just running! Remember, while all of these great exercises will help you burn calories and help you get into better shape, nothing beats out a good diet and healthy life choices. I tend to believe that to lose weight and make a difference in your body training and workouts only count for about 20% of the overall effort and the other 80% is about having a good diet to supplement those hard-earned workouts.

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Adriano Di Pancrazio
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The 5 best online cooking classes you can take in 2020

The 5 best online cooking classes you can take in 2020

Top 5 cooking classes to take online in 2020

The 5 online classes you can take in 2020 to improve your cooking skills.

This time off is a great time to work on some skills that you just didn’t have enough time during your usual busy days. Learning how to cook is an essential skill that is currently being exemplified by this quarantine. With restaurants closed, and having limited options for take-out we are starting to rely on our homemade cooking ability a lot more. Online cooking classes are a great way to start your journey to becoming a better cook. There is something fulfilling about trying to improve yourself and at the same time, you will also be able to impress the next time you host friends and family for dinner! It can be a great way to get inspired and stay busy during this quarantine and well…you can eat your amazing home-cooked meals at the same time, what’s better than that?

plate of vegetables and healthy food

Photo by Ella Olsson on Unsplash

Here are our 5 favourite cooking classes you can start taking right now!

 

1. Instructables

Instructables is a site that teaches you how to make a bunch of different things for free. But what’s especially great is their cooking classes are geared for beginners. It offers an accessible introduction to the world of cooking and how to make easy delicious meals. It also teaches you a variety of things from knife skills to how to properly bake, stewing, roast and more. It is a perfect entry-level online cooking class that you can start if you aren’t very experienced in the kitchen, so what are you waiting for? Sign up, get busy and get ready to feel accomplished!

https://www.instructables.com/class/Cooking-Class/

 

2 people cooking healthy food

Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash

2. Udemy 

Udemy offers a range of different courses for different fields but their cooking section is one of their more interesting selections. Their cooking section is divided into two. One contains free recipes and tutorials and the others you will have to pay for. The free recipes come with ratings and reviews so you can pick and choose which recipes you feel like making based on interest and user feedback. For their premium content, Udemy has certain cooking courses for different prices depending on which ones you want to sign up for. You can expect courses like “Essential Cooking Skills” and “Herbalism”(which is an awesome certificate to get) which really shows you the versatility of the site. Udemy is especially useful if you aren’t really sure what you want to make, or if you want to upscale yourself by completing their classes.

https://www.udemy.com/topic/cooking/free/

 

3. Masterclass

guy and girl cooking in kitchen

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

For something really interesting and unique, there is Masterclass which if you don’t know, is a new and different approach to online education for a variety of subjects. It is known as one of the best online cooking schools because the kicker is, is that the people teaching these classes are known celebrities and leaders in their respective fields. The best part about that is their cooking celebrities are really top tier. You can be taught by some culinary giants like Wolfgang Puck, Gordon Ramsay, and Massimo Bottura. They each have their own styles and ways to teach different things so you can see who is a better fit for you. There is also a useful trailer on the courses to get a good idea of what and how you are going to learn. Being taught one on one by these guys naturally doesn’t come free, as a single class can cost you about $120 CAD but keep in mind, these classes are extremely high quality and are made to feel very intimate in order for you to learn as if you were one of their students

https://www.masterclass.com/

4. Rouxbe

Rouxbe is probably one of the most well known online cooking courses you can enroll in right now. Rouxbe is welcoming to all different skill levels and is also a cost-effective entry into the culinary world. You can take on multiple courses like on how to cook and make pasta, how to master your fry pan or do the “The Cook’s Roadmap” which is a course that helps you gradually develop your skills over a set path that tests different skills. What’s especially nice about Rouxbe is that you can go at your own pace and make sure to properly learn what they are teaching you to receive the proper experience. Their membership is available monthly at an affordable $9.99 CAD or at an annual fee of $99.99 CAD. There is however a 30-day free trial which we recommend you try before you buy to see if Rouxbe is best for you!

https://rouxbe.com/

 

5. Thekitchn Cooking School

Thekitchn promises 20 lessons in 20 days for you to be a better cook than you are today for free. It is like a compilation of organized crash courses that are meant to have you learning quickly. The lessons themselves are extremely informative and go into detail about how to properly use the equipment, what to do, what not to do and what you shouldn’t learn for example. The lessons really come across as an honest and realistic approach to cooking at home and it really compliments how their lessons are structured. The lessons usually contain multiple assignments for you to practice what you learned and refine your skills. To us, it creates an almost class like atmosphere which can be a real motivator for some but also allows you to get a strong foundation of culinary knowledge.

https://www.thekitchn.com/

If you are in Montreal you might want to check these cooking classes.

If you want to more things from the comfort of your home, check out:

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Adriano Di Pancrazio
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Best Workout Equipment For Home Gym

Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash

Date: March 28, 2010 | Author: Adriano | Category: Health Recommendations 

The top 5 workout equipment to workout from home with

In-Home Fitness Equipment

(Opinion Article | Please note: Article includes Affiliate links to Amazon)

With the gyms being closed down it has become harder for people to stay active. While we can go for walks and runs sometimes it is not enough. While we are in quarantine it is important to, first of all, be safe but can also be a period for inner growth. Remaining active during this time is really important and can really be a morale booster for your physical and mental health. Looking good makes you feel good so we suggest picking up some home gym equipment to get you to stay active during these trying times.

TRX

The first option we suggest is the TRX which are suspension body-weight trainers. The great thing about these is that they are usable indoors and outdoors so you can complete a full-body workout wherever you have something sturdy to attach it to. The TRX is also beginner-friendly and a great addition for people with gym experience. It really shines as a product because of the versatility of exercises you can do with it. 

What makes the TRX a worthwhile investment is that it has a very healthy post-purchase support. They have a great app available but we also especially like the fact that it provides its users with free workouts for those who don’t really know where to start or for those who are new to the TRX. It is also space-efficient and is an overall great choice for anybody looking to stay active during the outbreak.

TRX

Photo by Matthew LeJune on Unsplash

 

You can find the TRX through its homepage at https://www.trxtraining.com/ or on Amazon.com. On the homepage, however, they have different options for the TRX and also have fitness bundles which can be an interesting option as well.

Price: ~$179 (depending on what package you get)

Door Frame Pull Up Bar

Attachable pull-up bars are a great way to keep active during the quarantine. The concept is simple as you can do only a couple exercises with it but are powerful ones as they are not for the faint of heart. The pull-up bar is a great upper body workout that is really challenging to anyone because you are lifting your own dead weight up. It is also one of the most effective exercises you can do as it hits a majority of your upper body. 

We believe that a door frame pull-up bar also has a psychological effect on some people. Seeing the pull-up bar acts almost like a reminder for you to get a few reps in whenever you pass by the door. If you manage to keep up with this you will see that your strength will increase very quickly. This could be a perfect fit for you if you’re having trouble staying committed to remaining active while you are at home.

Power Tower

A power tower is something that is extremely versatile when it comes to what workouts you can accomplish on it. It is basically like a station at the gym with multiple functions, for instance, there is a pull-up section, push-up station, a dip station as well as a knee raise station. 

The main muscle groups it targets are the arms, chest, shoulders, and core. You can really get a full upper-body workout because of the flexibility of a power tower. Keep in mind that for a Power Tower you will need some space in your house to set this up!

There are other options but here is where you can start your research. 

Find it at: https://amzn.to/3bukMki

Price: $157 

Kettlebells

Kettlebell’s for those who don’t know, are essentially an iron or steel metal ball with a handle on it. The beauty of a kettlebell is its ability to be used for a variety of different workouts, from the upper body to lower body exercises you can really get a high-intensity workout in. You can easily find kettlebell workouts online and are an easy way for you to stay active at home. Kettlebells are extremely easy to use and don’t need a lot of space to be used efficiently. You can also store a kettlebell fairly easily so there is no issue for them taking space.

Kettlebell exercises are known to improve flexibility, overall muscular strength, core strength and helps burn fat and keep muscle lean. They are a great tool in anyone’s fitness toolbox because of their flexibility.

Find some at: https://amzn.to/3bpCDJk

Price:~starting at $25 but price increases with heavier kettlebells

 

Photo by Jesper Aggergaard on Unsplash

Rowing Machine

Rowing Machine

Photo by Kyle Kranz on Unsplash

Many swear by rowing machines as they are a great way to engage your whole body and keep the calories off. It is something that you can do in a short amount of time as well like 15-minute workouts which are high intensity but deliver solid results. If you are someone who wants something simple that will challenge you every time you get on, a rowing machine can be perfect for you. It is an amazing cardio machine that has really outmatched the treadmill and exercise bikes because of its capabilities to be able to train more than just legs while keeping thew rhythm at a high tempo.

What’s great about a rowing machine is that you are able to challenge yourself without hurting yourself. It is a safe machine that minimizes injuries and you can really push hard to try and beat your previous rowing stats. A rowing machine excels when it comes to burning calories and building a good foundation for your muscles to be stronger and better defined. 

Like all the equipment on the list, you can easily find workout programs for rowing so you can try something different every time. Rowing machines don’t take up too much space and can be easily folded and stored for future use. While it is the most expensive item on our list it is definitely worth the investment because of the dividends it could pay off for you.

Find one at: https://amzn.to/2QOrEkV

Price: $900

 

 

Bonus: If you really want to challenge yourself try to pick up a weighted vest from Amazon. They add 20-50 pounds to your current weight. They are a relatively cheap expense that can bring out some big change as it really pushes you to work for that extra weight on you. It will make every single workout that much harder and can also be used as an additional accessory to every single piece of equipment on our list.

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Adriano Di Pancrazio

10 Stay-at-home Activities During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Top 10 things to do indoors in Canada

Top 10 Home Activities During the Coronavirus Outbreak

  1. Read that book you’ve been putting off

    Most of us have that book or series that we’ve been wanting to read forever but haven’t gotten the chance to do it for a multitude of reasons. Why not decide to go for it while you have the time? We know we have a few from our list that we’re getting to (or trying to do so, at the very least)!

  2. Create a list of movies and tv-shows you’ve been wanting to watch

    In the same space as reading that book, take this opportunity to finally get around to those movies and tv-shows that your friends have been begging you to watch, but have always been putting off to watch something else.

  3. Video chat with friends

    Use your Skype, WhatsApp, Facetime, Zoom or whatever app you use to stay in touch with your friends. Having face to face contact is sometimes better than texts, besides, who doesn’t like seeing their friends?

  4. Have a board game night with some close friends

    Speaking of video chats, Is there anything that brings you back to childhood faster than a board game night with friends? Make the effort and ask your friends to have a couple of games through video chat. Our favorite is Dungeons & Dragons which can easily be played over video or voice chat!

  5. Workout at home with yoga and bodyweight exercises

    With gyms being closed, it could be a good opportunity to keep up or start with bodyweight exercises. Some great programs can be found with a simple google search. Motivate yourself to take the leap! We also encourage you to try yoga as it is a great workout and a fantastic stress reliever.

  6. Get ahead on some spring cleaning

    This could be an opportunity to get ahead on something that we know is coming up for most, the dreaded spring cleaning. We suggest listening to podcasts or audiobooks while doing the cleaning to keep you interested for longer!

  7. Work on a new hobby

    Being indoors is a great time to try out a new hobby! Whether it is trying new recipes you’ve been wanting to do or a learning language on Duolingo to picking up a new instrument. Learning new hobbies can really be a fulfilling and rewarding experience.

  8. Do some home projects

    If you’ve been planning on moving furniture or wanting to repaint a room, now would be a great time to take advantage!

  9. Take online classes

    If you’re like us and love to learn, consider taking online classes when and where they are available. Usually, you can use your local university site as a starting point in your search for a course. They’re very informative and can maybe spark an interest you didn’t think was there.

  10. Start a journal

    We find journaling to be a very relaxing way to spend the time. So why not give it a shot? If you’ve had stuff on your mind, want to write down an epic story or you just want to organize yourself better, start journaling, it could be a cathartic outlet for you to put your ideas and thoughts on paper at this particular point in time.

Bonus: Google chrome has released the Netflix Party extension so you can watch Netflix at the same time as your friends, another way to stay contacted and do things together at the same time.

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Adriano Di Pancrazio
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Top 5 things to do this 2020 summer in Montreal’s East-End

After surviving another cold, long and relentless winter, Montreal always finds a way to bounce back come summer. It almost turns into a different city when the heat rolls around. As Montrealers, we want to use all the energy we’ve been conserving from our hibernation and take advantage of any half-decent weather.

That being said, while there is a plethora of things to do in the rest of Montreal this summer, there is a black-sheep among the neighbourhoods on the island: the East-End. The East-End often gets overlooked by visitors and locals alike because it doesn’t have the flash and glamour that downtown Montreal and Old Montreal has, but you know what, that’s perfectly okay with us because the East-end is about getting back to basics and enjoying the simpler things in life!

 

Here are 5 of the best things to do this 2020 summer in Montreal’s East-End

 

  1. Food truck festival “First Fridays” at the Olympic Stadium

 

As the name suggests, the food truck festival named First Fridays takes place every first Friday of the month between June 7th to October 4th (June 7, July 5th, August 2nd, September 6th and October 4th) and operates between 4:00pm to 11:00pm.

There are many ways to access the festival grounds as well. You can go by car and make use of the underground parking at the Olympic stadium, but travellers be wary – there will be a fee. You can also travel by bike or Bixi, but the easiest way is to take the metro (green-line) to either Viau or Pie-IX station and take a short walk towards all the hubbub.

First Fridays is one of, if not the biggest collection of food trucks in Canada. That being so, the crowds are big and some lines tend to require a patient constitution, but fret not, it is totally worth the wait. It boasts 50 food trucks from around the city and as Montreal is known as a food haven you can expect some amazing eats from every one of them. The site offers 500 spaces to sit around at themed terraces to eat with a total of 3,000 seats available around the entire festival site. Just when you think it couldn’t get better, there is no entrance fee to join the festival!

With 50 food trucks available at your disposal It has a wide range of food options to satisfy any of those knacking cravings. From poutines, tacos, burgers, Asian cuisine and desserts there is something for everyone here. Based on past years they’ve also had many vegan options as well! 

If the food wasn’t enough to entice you, there is also the SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) and a handful of microbreweries on standby that offer something to cool your throat to go along with the copious amount of food you definitely won’t be able to stop devouring. First Fridays are a perfect date spot or just a simple evening with family and friends. Eat drink and be merry we say and if that doesn’t call for a perfect summer evening in Montreal, we don’t know what does!

Food Truck in Montreal

Photo by Should Wang on Unsplash

2. Spend an afternoon or evening at Parc de la Promenade-Bellerive

Located in the Mercier-Est borough, Parc de la Promenade-Bellerive is one of the more unique parks located on the island. It is hard to believe that a park like this exists in the middle of Montreal. It really offers something for everybody and here are a couple of our favorite ideas on how best to spend your time here!

Biking

For those of you who want to take your bikes to the East-End make sure to take advantage of the bike path here. If you look at the park on a map, it doesn’t seem that you would be here long but it is bigger than the image suggests! The path is traditional in the sense that it circles the park but what sets it apart from the others is the incredible view as you bike alongside the St-Lawrence river. With boats passing by and the noises of it all, you can really get immersed in all of it. The park also has a lot of kite-flyers on nice days so you will have a great view for your entire bike ride. 

Picnic

For those preferring a more relaxing experience, why not spend the day outside and have a picnic! At the park, there are plenty of tables and gazebos in which you can bring a lunch or supper and enjoy it by the waterfront. You can eat and watch the boats pass by and enjoy some alone time and of course, you are encouraged to bring family and friends! 

Visit during the evening 

If you chose to go during the evening, you can sometimes catch local bands playing in the gazebos which can be a lot of fun as quite a bit of people end up showing up and having a good time. 

Park in Montreal

Photo by Krisztina Papp on Unsplash

  1. Take the Promenade Bellerive-Boucherville Ferry

If you’ve got more time on your hands and are looking for a bit more adventure, look no further! Bellerive park also provides you access to Charron Island!  At the southern edge of the park, you will find the ferry which will take you across. The ferry will run you about $10 Canadian and takes about 15 minutes to cross. Once on Charron island, you’ll have a few options on what to do! You can check out Longueuil Beach, A disk golf center or our top recommendation of visiting Îles-de-Boucherville National Park. 

Here you can really take advantage and do a ton  of different activities. From taking a picnic to biking, canoeing, and kayaking it can be a daunting task on what to do. Asking the friendly staff members or getting yourself a map of the island can help plan your day ahead. It also has quite a bit of wildlife to be found ranging from deer, birds, and beavers so if you have an interest in photography, this can be a great spot for you. The island is also big so be prepared with the essentials when arriving!

 

  1. Check out Village au Pied-Du-Courant

Village au Pied-Du-Courant is a very unique event that happens in the East-End during summer. It is located on Notre-Dame Street East, almost under the Jacques-Cartier bridge. The village started back in 2015 and was a creative way in which Montreal used its empty space. This reinvented public space was the product of many collaborators across the city that made this happen. It really has encouraged the communities to get together which creates a very attractive atmosphere to be a part of.

 

The village is a fantastic way to spend a day or evening, however, make sure to check the hours of operations as they still have not released the information. (Assuming they do the same hours as last year it goes as follows. Mondays to-Wednesdays they are closed. Thursday 4-9 pm, Friday 5 pm-12 am Saturday 4 pm-12 am, Sunday 3-11 pm). It is important to note that Pied-Du-Courant is absolutely free!

 

The village really has a beach-themed/boardwalk feel to it with features like (you are quite literally walking on sand) live music, barbeque, a bar inside, food trucks with various activities present on-site throughout the day. It is also very much a kid-friendly environment providing family spaces and activities for kids and family alike. During the day, it is generally accepted that it is for everybody of all ages as the vibe and environment changes a little as it gets later.

  

 During the evening you will have a bit of a different experience than earlier in the day. At night, the village slowly turns into more of a loungy party area, which is a great time if you are looking to let loose a little and have a unique date idea or outing with friends. A mix of the gathering people, the cool summer breeze, the atmosphere, and the view of the Jacques Cartier bridge, LaRonde and the St-Lawrence scream Montreal at its finest. If you truly want to round out your night out, plan to go on a Saturday night where LaRonde will have its fireworks show which is sure to create some great memories for Summer 2020.

P.S You are not allowed to bring your own alcohol and make sure to bring cash as they do not have debit or credit card machines on everything!

Village au Pied-Du-Courant

Photo by Jenns Johnssnon on Unsplash

 

  1. Saint-Leonard Cavern

For those of you wanting to do something different and adventurous have you ever thought of spelunking right here in Montreal, let alone right here in the East-End? That’s right, in the St-Leonard borough there’s a cave that was used as a weapons armory during the 19th century. It is now turned into an explorable cave in which you can visit and pay tour guides to take you around. 

The tour is short, but is very informative. It is something you never really think about doing, but once you actually try it out you realize how unique and enriching of an activity it could be. It’s a great experience for all ages and something else to knock off that bucket list. 

Here you have it, the 5 best things to do in Montreal’s East-End in summer 2020. As we all eagerly await another beautiful summer in Montreal, try to plan something new this year and come back to simpler times in Montreal’s East-End!

 

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