...this person, if you knew she was HIV-positive?

(that's Émilie Laliberté, from Stella!)

Brilliant new campaign from COCQ-SIDA... 

If not, you're not alone. Join, COCo - The Center for Community Organizations and hundreds of other Quebeckers to oppose the Charest government's regressive budget measures tomorrow at 11:45 am at the Conseil du Tresor, 500 Blvd Rene-Levesque Ouest. No to user fees and higher taxes, no to privatization of public services! No to Charest! Sign the petition for his resignation here, or email info@coco-net.org for more info.

That means Karkwa for the win for those not versed in innernetsspeak. You're welcome (Im looking at you Mom). Anyway, I kinda alluded to it yesterday, but Karkwa, the indie band from Montreal, won the Polaris Prize. Of course they did. Such a great prize, so authentic...

 Here is the band on Studio 12, playing Léger-Moi.

Here they are in a park, doing a "concert to go." They jam and talk and act natural at the outset... it's nice. Also, they are amazing live! Like more amazinger than recorded! I bet they'll be booked more now... I hope so at least. Coast to coast? Maybe among hipsters... maybe more...

And it will be great. It's already great to see the Canadian mass of journalists reflect a musical image of this country of ours — the great lakes, ocean whales, horsebacking terrain, coasts and ice dunes.

Polaris presents a special gala announcing the winners tonight. Six short hours from now, we will know who will be crowned Miss America. Best in Show. Prime Minister. The Polaris 2010 winner(s).

Of course artists of note are queer lesbian twin sensation Tegan and Sara, or again a favrit of mine Owen Pallett. I really like the Montreal band Karkwa too. And the Besnard Lakes.

You can listen live on Sirius 86, CBC 3 or online at 8pm EST on much music. Go gays go!

Marlo Ritchie (@marloritchie) is dancing for sex ed at the Ca Marche AIDS Walk for the Farha Foundation. In case you don't know, Marlo heads the awesome Head & Heads non-profit in NDG. It's like, really cool. They have lotsa programs, but mostly, they want to make sure sex ed (a sex-positive one) goes back into the Quebec curriculum. Sponsor her here!