Capilano Courier | Vol 55, Issue 5

CAPILANO COURIER

JANUARY 2023

VOLUME 55 |

ISSUE NO. 5

MATT SHIPLEY

(HE/HIM) Senior Editor

matt@capilanocourier.com

I’m on the recovery train from a major surgery - meaning that I have a) tons of time to write and b) absolutely no motivation to do so! Basically, I’m holding onto the holidays for dear life and waiting in fear of next semester…

Q: Describe your role in the Courier in 3 words or less.

A: Check your junk

Q: What song would you add to the staff playlist?

A: Couch - Still Feeling You

Q: Current Obsention

A: Minecraft, due to a Very Long surgery recovery

Q: Something you did over the holidays?

A: Drank an unholy amount of eggnog

Q: What’s your go-to winter cocktail or drink?

A: See aforementioned eggnog

Q: What is your favorite snow memory?

A: Backcountry skiing in late April with a big crew of great people

The Epics Of John Smith

The human race has always been obsessed with stories. Stories of grand adventures, of great peril, of swoon-worthy romance and heart-wrenching betrayal, of all that is inspirational, frightening, and droll. We see the characters as faraway heroes, of rare boons of (mis)fortune, or as untouchable reservoirs of hope and generosity; not as regular people we could meet on the street. Stories are to be read and enjoyed from afar, while constantly reminding us of the existential dullness of our own lives.

The reality is, though, that stories are all around us, swirling past us like invisible hurricanes, pelting between us in the form of words, smiles, waves. Every crowd is a tornado, every exchange a rainstorm, every word a drop of warm water on our skin. The person sitting next to you on the bus has a story as unique and interesting as yours. So does the person across from you. So does the driver.

Over my time searching for stories and pitches here at the Courier, I’ve realized that all stories, from the grandest to the smallest, are created equal. The richest person on earth may have a brighter story than a houseless woman on Pender Ave., but no matter how exciting the money sounds, neither story is superior to the other. You might be sitting on the bus next to Ryan Reynolds, pointedly looking out the window as you both suffer through rush-hour traffic in silent solidarity, but at the end of the day, you’re just as much of a person as he is.

Everyone has a story. You, me, the student doodling at the back of the class, everyone. Every single one of us is equally vital to the story of Vancouver, that of Canada, the world, the universe. Together, we all form the collective experience that drives us forward.

So be bold. Be brave. Be yourself. Be your own Ariadne, or Odysseus, or Harry Potter, or Percy Jackson. You are the main character, the proud hero of your own story.

So keep on fighting.

Hugs,

The Courier Crew

JAYDE ATCHISON

I have never been much of a holiday person since about 19 and realized how much pressure it actually is. I would much rather be on a beach in Mexico with a book and mojito in hand.

Q: Describe your role in the Courier in 3 words or less.

A: Journey of growth

Q: What song would you add to the staff playlist?

A: come clean - hilary duff

Q: Current Obsention

A: The beautiful people on Emily in Paris

Q: What’s your go-to winter cocktail or drink?

A: Eggnog with or without rum

Q: Something you did over the holidays?

A: Ate grapes under a table (iykyk)

Q: What is your favorite snow memory?

A: When it melts

jayde@capilanocourier.com

I’m an artistic individual who finds inspiration through nature and hiking. You can find me out taking photos in the forest or at home binging the twilight series for the 100th time.

Q: Describe your role in the Courier in 3 words or less.

A: Always Checking In

Q: What song would you add to the staff playlist?

A: New Gold by Gorillaz (ft. Tame Impala and Bootie Brown) Dom Dolla Remix

Q: Current Obsention

A: Tattoos

Q: What’s your go-to winter cocktail or drink?

A: Moscow Mule or a Dark and Stormy

Q: Something you did over the holidays?

A: Knit like crazy

Q: What is your favorite snow memory?

A: Building a 6’5 tall snowman at 8 years old

IMOGEN PETTYFER (SHE/HER)

communications@capilanocourier.com

Drifting through jobs and school at a rapid pace, never knowing when I can stop. In-between places I try to go out and take photos and take in the scenery but those instances are rare now.

Q: Describe your role in the Courier in 3 words or less.

A: Professional caption writer

Q: What song would you add to the staff playlist?

A: Backbone by KALEO

Q: Current Obsention

A: Chicken Wings… the bbq kind

Q: What’s your go-to winter cocktail or drink?

A: Cranberry Mimosa

Q: Something you did over the holidays?

A: Worked, A LOT

Q: What is your favorite snow memory?

A: Learning how to properly drive in snow (and drifting too of course)

Are you interested in volunteering for your campus paper?

Well, this isn’t the place.

Most student newspapers across Canada still follow an archaic volunteer system – yes, getting students to write and work for them for free. The Capilano Courier has long championed a format that allows us to pay our contributors for every article written

The easiest way to get involved with the Courier is by signing up to receive our online pitch doc!

or email us at editor@capilanocourier.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Contributing Writers

Lea Krusemeyer, Ren Zhang, Kirsten Wiltshire, Jasmin Linton, Emma Mendez.

Contributing Illustrators

Anais Bayle, Yohahnah Loker, Sarah Harley, Siobhan Barry, Lucy Benson, Laura Morales Padilla, Sharleen Ramos, Tiffany Zhong, Kelsea Vance, Arsheya Seraji.

Business Manager

Gaby Salas (She/Her) business@capilanocourier.com

Featured Artists

Tricia Tang, Valentina Kruglikovskaya, Ethan Woronko.

Cover Art

Anais Bayle

Staff Portraits

Anais Bayle

INTRO TO GEORGETTE REED

CapU’s new Athletic Director on life, inclusivity and the struggles of POC women in athletics

Matt Shipley - Co-Editor-In-Chief Anais Bayle - Illustrator

Georgette Reed was hired as CapU’s new Athletic Director in April 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position. As someone with a diverse background in sports, academia and municipal well-being, she has the experience to not only support and empower the Blues, but to look forward and foster positive change in the athletic community at CapU and beyond.

“It takes a lot of effort to build change,” said Reed. “We have the all-gender washrooms, you know, the ‘you are welcome’ stickers… I want to go deeper and actually work to create a space where everyone feels included, no matter their gender, their age, where they came from, or the colour of their skin.”

While many archaic aspects of institutional sport have been altered and improved over the years, there is still much to learn. Reed elaborated on this, speaking of past programs she had seen and participated in. “A lot of programs get stuck on tiny changes or none at all, but if you do that, the result doesn’t change. Stepping away from the status quo and building something better, you know, it takes a lot more effort, but that’s what makes it even more special, and that’s something we want to be a part of.”

While athletic performance is evidently a goal of Reed’s, she places more emphasis on the importance of welcoming and inclusion. In her office, she has a small, warmly lit meeting table, a Keurig machine for coffee and tea and a comfortable resting pad for her dog, Rudy, who has already become another smile-maker at the Centre for Sport and Wellness (CSW) and is an enthusiastic greeter for any who visit Reed.

“We have a lot of informal staff meetings, you know, just unplanned chats where we don’t have to have prepared notes or anything,” said Reed, speaking to the supportive work environment inside the CSW.

“We don’t clock in or clock out — I know when everybody comes and goes, of course, but if someone’s schedule means they come in at noon and leave at eight or nine p.m., that’s okay. If someone has to step out for half an hour, that’s fine — life happens.

“I have a firm belief in paying attention and doing the little things,” she continued, noting that showing up and being present is crucial to a positive student-athlete experience. “If you’re coming to practice, going to classes, doing the work you need to do, everything else will fall into place.” She explained that a fixation on one thing — whether it be classes, sports or anything else — tends to come at the expense of other facets of a student’s life, and that a welcoming environment dilutes much of the anxiety that students face in any particular area of their lives.

Today, while slow improvements have occurred, the athletic spectrum in Canadian grade schools is still dominated by Caucasian men and boys. Knowing this, Reed stresses the importance of community outreach and visibility: “Growing up, I rarely saw coaches or teammates who looked like me, who I could see as a role model. I think that’s one of my favourite things about this role — the ability to be a role model and someone people from not only the university, but the wider community can see and believe that anyone, no matter their race or gender or age, can participate and succeed in sport.”

One singular quote populates a whiteboard in Reed’s office: “Remember Your Why.” Reed touts it as a resonant theme in her life, and three words that everybody could benefit from, whether in sport or otherwise. “It’s just a reminder to remember why we’re here and what we’re here to do — to create change, to leave our places better than we found them.”

FEATURED ARTISTS

VALENTINA KRUGLIKOVSKAYA @valkreative

“PROFESSOR DOWELLS HEAD”

LOCAL THRIFTS

An overview of Vancouver’s eclectic secondhand scene

Lea Krusemeyer - Writer Yohahnah Loker - Illustrator

With clothing getting increasingly expensive and with a growing consciousness for the environment, the popularity of thrifting is going up. What once was looked down on as something only people from low-income families do is now a booming business, and people from all walks of life partake in it.

Here in the Lower Mainland, and particularly in Vancouver, there are hundreds of stores to choose from – some better and some a little disappointing. So, to help anyone out who might be eager to start their thrifting journey, here are a few of my favorite thrifting spots.

Depending on what you are trying to find, Wildlife Thrift on Granville might be the right choice for you. Wildlife Thrift does not only resell clothes but also furniture. From the selection of stuff that can be found here, one can furnish an entire apartment without breaking the bank. Wildlife Thrift is located on the corner of Granville and Drake and is open daily from 10am to 8pm. Another big reason this store landed on this list is that they donate: four times a year, they take a percentage of their sales and donate them to causes like the Covenant House, a program against youth homelessness. Not only does the store boast an impressive variety of vintage items — every purchase goes towards a venerable cause. Wildlife Thrift is a must if you are in the Downtown Vancouver area or have a car.

As we move outside the downtown core and into the suburbs, thrifting tends to become even more affordable. The Value Village in Surrey, located right next to the highway, is a huge building with a big selection of different clothes and jewelry to choose from. It also offers gift cards and therefore makes a great gift for birthdays or other celebrations. The gift cards can be redeemed at any Value Village location. This specific location is my favorite, because in the past I have managed to secure a few nice designer items such as a Dior blazer there. You can try your luck any day between 9am and 9pm. Fingers crossed that you will hit the thrifting jackpot too!

For anyone that is interested in this thrift spot, the address is: 6925 King George Blvd, Surrey, BC V3W 5A1

Last but definitely not least, the number three of top picks for thrifting spots is The Rag Machine on Main Street. The Rag Machine is mainly focussed on clothes and jewelry, and what makes them stand out are their “fill your bag sales”. As the name suggests, they do special events where you can grab anything that fits

inside your bag and only pay $10. For struggling students or just for people who enjoy the thrill of digging through a mountain of clothes, this is the perfect fit. Going to one of those special events could also be a fun idea for a date or just a hangout with friends. They are open any day of the week between 11am and 7pm, and more info, for example about their special sales, can be found on Instagram under @theragmachine.

Thrifting, while mostly known for its affordability, also encourages a circular economy - one where used material is recycled, fixed and reused. Take solace in your thrifting adventures, since not only are you saving money - you’re making a meanin ful contribution to the environment as well.

ARTS

AWL TOGETHER NOW

How Canada’s only femme, queer-owned leatherworking shop is changing the industry

Ren Zhang (they/them) - Writer

Sarah Harley - Illustrator

In hues of warm, blue toned light, Tess (she/her) and Ariss (they/them) tenderly survey a piece of leather on the table in front of them. They are the owners of Awl Together, a leatherwork and repair shop that deals with shoes, bags, clothing, and more in Vancouver. Young, femme, and queer, they create a warm and welcoming environment for all who come by, and in addition practice sustainability in a time where it is needed most.

Their paths converged as they met at a Vancouver boot-making factory, both having worked in related industries prior. The pandemic hit and Ariss’ proprietorship, BoundAries Leather, started to take off; they asked for help from Tess to complete the work, and business grew until BoundAries needed a bigger pot to blossom. They were faced with the choice of expanding or starting fresh, thus bringing Awl Together into fruition. “We decided to join heads and create something new,” said Ariss.

Awl Together was born with a focused lens on sustainability and uplifting queer and marginalized voices. “From the very first step in the door, every item that we repair is another item that, itself, didn’t end up in the landfill. That client also then does not have to go purchase a replacement, stopping the fast fashion cycle and promoting a circular economy. Nearly all of the soft goods that we sell on our website or in the shop are made from leather that has been diverted from a landfill. We see more people interested in repair as a mindset and happily further this by teaching DIY repair workshops, teaming up with Metro Vancouver Repair Cafes, and uplifting Indigenous voices

such as those taught in Fern & Roe’s Hide Tanning Courses, who have always led environmental sustainability,” explains Tess.

People in Vancouver who have a broken item are encouraged to check out professional services for repairs, or learn how to do it themselves. Diverting waste and devoting time to reduce and reuse instead of recycling is a big step in our personal climate responsibility.

In regards to their views on representation and the importance of ships such as Awl Together, Ariss shared: “The shoe repair and leatherwork industry have typically been dominated by male workers and owners - as young, queer, womanish* leaders, we feel very strongly that embracing diversity will better our industry. Across most industries, having skills and perspectives from different types of people expand the services you can provide and the values your workplace embodies. There have always been skilled female, queer, or BIPOC leatherworkers. Historically, being “out” has come with risks of violence or loss of business - and sadly, that struggle between visibility and violence still exists. Our positive experiences have far outweighed the negative ones, and we’d love to see more diversity enter our industry - and advance to ownership levels.”

According to WorkBC, 82% of the leatherworking industry is male and 82% are over the age of 45

It’s been proven time and time again that diversity in the workplace and respective industries drives

creativity and innovation; after all, we live in a diverse world with diverse problems. Diversity also matters in every level of a company. “Diversity hires” or those hired to fulfill a quota without working for true inclusion and safety for all members is a practice that carries the opposite of positive intention.

In the climate crisis, it’s especially important to consider multiple perspectives and form solutions that involve those who are affected. For example, marginalized communities are the hardest hit by climate change, and rapid, short-term solutions are excluding them. Grassroots organizations and local groups, Indigenous knowledge, and community building are some of the antidotes for this disconnection between humans and the earth.

When asked to expand on their favourite part of being in this space, Ariss said, “I particularly love working in our East Vancouver community, and

my favorite repairs/items are always the ones that come with sentimental stories. It always feels nice helping people. I also love being an owner as it ensures that my labor goes towards practices and values that I believe in.” Similarly, Tess’s favourite part of being in this space is that (pronoun) loves that everything they get to work on is a little different. “ I’m challenged all the time. The result of that is that I get to work collaboratively a lot, which is another favourite thing of mine. We have a fantastic, tight team and I’m so grateful that we all are able and willing to swap projects when it suits us.”

For anyone in the Lower Mainland, visit the team in person at 1183 Odlum Drive to witness their work firsthand. Additionally anyone can sign up for updates on their newsletter. Visit their various social accounts at @awltogetherleather, or reach them at their website, www.awltogetherleather.ca

TO DRIVE OR NOT TO DRIVE

Hell has frozen over on the streets of Vancouver, and nobody came prepared

Matt Shipley - Co-Editor-In-Chief

Siobhan Barry - Illustrator

It seems to happen every single year, and yet Vancouver is always ill-prepared. The worst weather always happens to tempt the worst drivers out onto the roads and, contrary to popular opinion, that’s no coincidence.

In reality, in conditions like what we saw in late December of 2022, prudent drivers don’t drive. The countless accidents, ambulance calls and social media tirades over the past weeks were not caused by people who understood the severity of the conditions — rather, they were born of people who decided to brave the conditions, not knowing the limitations of their tires or machinery.

There are, of course, exceptions. It would be insensitive not to mention the passenger bus crash east of Merritt on Highway 97C that hospitalized 53 people, four of which passed away following the accident. Certain roads on the North Shore (I’m looking at you, 27th and Delbrook) were positively undriveable, and residents of those streets were essentially confined to the walls of their homes unless they were lucky enough to own crampons. While most bus routes remained

operational, TransLink urged passengers to avoid non-essential travel, and the SkyTrain system was severely affected by the inclement weather. One bus crash near the top of Mountain Highway on the North Shore lost control on the steep slope, plunging into hydro poles and parked cars and damaging three residences adjacent to the road.

Due to the many different governing bodies across the Lower Mainland, the snow-clearing process differs slightly from one jurisdiction to the next, and road conditions could be expected to worsen significantly on the borders of certain districts. While most areas have a similar approach to snow-clearing, larger and less-organized districts had much more trouble clearing their roads in a timely manner, leading to delays and several accidents. During the final ten days of December, accidents occurred on nearly all highways and major arterial roads in the Lower Mainland, all the way out to Hope and (of course) the Coquihalla.

Do you prefer Vancouver in the rain or in the snow?

Let us know on our Instagram @capilanocourier

INKING CHANGE

As the Vancouver tattoo community expands, Pacific Rose Tattoo grows with it.

Pacific Rose Tattoo is a cornerstone of the Vancouver tattoo industry. The shop was established in 2011 as Gastown Tattoos by tattoo artist Mitch Kirilo and his business partner at the time. A decade later, Mitch and his wife Amanda took on full ownership of the shop and decided to rename the iconic spot. The original name came from a common practice in the tattoo industry; naming a shop after the neighbourhood in which it is located. Vancouver’s famed Gastown neighbourhood is named after local legend Gassy Jack, real name John Deighton, a mid-1800’s chatty saloon owner revered for his historical significance in the area.

In February of 2022, the John Deighton statue was pulled down during the Vancouver Women’s March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Documented in Vancouver archives and in the oral history of the Squamish (sḵwxwú7mesh) nation, John Deighton married a 12 year old Squamish girl named Quahail-ya or Wha-halia, who a few years later ran away. With this history in mind, Pacific Rose Tattoo was renamed to better represent the shop and its values. “We’ve got a lot of love and support for the people who were here first, the indigenous communities … it just didn’t feel right having that old name,” said shop owner Mitch.

The name Pacific Rose is an homage to traditional and classic tattooing with a nod to its coastal roots. The name change is a more accurate representation of the artistic talent and inclusivity the shop has worked to foster. Pacific Rose has a team of around 20 artists whereas most shops typically have a team of five to seven. In the last decade, Mitch has noticed a major shift in the tattoo industry. The mid-2000s was a time when Myspace was the social media platform of choice and tattoos mostly remained a somewhat fringe or hidden expression of identity, life and/or sacrifice.

Tattoo inspiration mainly came from magazines or limited representations in movies and TV. However, in the past

twenty years, the industry has changed. With popular TV shows in the early-ish aughts like Miami Ink or LA Ink, tattooing expanded to more people. Social media platforms have created vast accessibility to ideas, art and artists from all over the world. It has cracked open the tattoo industry, making it a more diverse and inclusive space for artistic expression. It has shifted from a fringe craft to an art form.

In the 11 years of Pacific Rose’s existence, Mitch has learned the importance and significance of connection in his work. Connection to the people he tattoos, works with, and the stories he hears. It is this that sets the shop apart from others. “We really like to make the place inclusive. We want everyone to feel comfortable here and I don’t think that’s really been a focus in any tattoo shops… there are a lot of really great shops in Vancouver that do put effort towards making a safe space but it’s really at the forefront with us”.

The tattoo industry now serves a much broader community than it once did. The team at Pacific Rose encompasses that progressive shift on all levels. By having a large team of people with different experiences and artistic styles, they set themselves apart by marrying creativity and collaboration of styles and stories with

Kirsten Wiltshire (she/her) - Writer Lucy Benson - Illustrator

FEATURED ARTIST

Ethan Woronko @epworonko_art “SAND HILL CRANE”

WHAT’S MY PRICE AGAIN?

Our wallets deserve better than this

Jayde Atchison - Opinions & Columns Editor

Laura Morales Padilla - Illustrator

I did everything I was supposed to – I signed up for the pre-sale notifications and requested to have access to the concert purchases the moment the option was offered. I was ready to live out all of Taylor’s eras, dance, cry and see Miss Swift for the third time – wherever I could snag a seat. I was prepared to fly across the continent if that’s what it took (having flight perks from work was an incentive to make this bold decision). However, when the day rolled around, I didn’t even get to participate in the anxiety-ridden activity of attempting to get a spot at The Eras Tour.

Even if I had the chance, and by some miracle it brought me to the holy grail for Swifties in 2022 – there is no way on God’s green earth I was willing (or able) to shell out the price of my rent on one ticket. The last time I took a peek at what it might look like to drive down to Seattle and see Taylor shake it off ranged from $855 to $21,753. When did going to a pop concert become an outing for the exclusively elite? I am all for spending money on memories, but if I am forking out nearly $1000, I am not settling for nose-bleed seats that are practically behind the stage. For that amount, I would hope I am

close enough to see the performers pores and maybe a piece of merch.

I understand that rent in big arenas costs a pretty penny, and the headliners, openers, dancers, backup vocalists, stage handlers and all the other people working the show need to get paid for their job (along with the stadium employees themselves), but for someone with the wealth and comfort of Taylor Swift, you would like to believe that her and her team would make this a more accessible experience for all her fans. Seeing shows like The Eras Tour and Blink-182’s World Tour make me want to cry into my 75 cent ramen noodles. I understand the idea of dynamic pricing, and that the demand to see artists will drive the prices up, but it makes me doubt if I’ll ever be able to afford a stadium concert without first selling my kidney on the black market.

Even if I had been one of Willy Wonka’s few special people to gain access to the Ticketmastergate ‘22, I don’t want to kid myself with the idea that I could have snagged one of the low end nose-bleeds that was included in the $49-$499 estimate that was speculated. I would have been comfortable spending something in the middle,

knowing that I would amass more prices with accommodations, flights, food, and the inevitable t-shirt or mug I would have bought — because I am nothing if not a sucker for concert merch.

Is this all just one big rant saying exposing me for my jealousy of Taylor’s favourite children? Yes. However, it is also an airing of frustrations for the corruption I am seeing in the Ticketmaster world. The fans broke the internet and the company went “ah shucks that sucks, well, no more tickets for you poor folks” and moved on with their life with no visible repercussions. Ticketmaster has such a chokehold on live performances that there is no way around it. Gone are the days of lining up at a ticketmaster booth the morning of a concert sale, and happily buying whatever tickets were either cheapest or available.

Online sales have taken the fun out of seeing your favourite artists live. Ticket resellers, buskers, and people mass buying tickets in hopes of gaining a profit based on demand have changed the scene for music lovers around the world. Until I win the next pre-sale lottery, or the actual lottery – I will admit defeat, embrace my FOMO and watch the story highlights and youtube clips of Taylor’s shows from the comfort of my couch.

TACKY IN THE TROPICS

If you’re not interested in the culture, maybe stay home

Jayde Atchison -Opinions & Columns Editor Sharleen Ramos - Illustrator

After spending 30 minutes floating in the warm ocean waves just off the shore of my resort in Puerto Vallarta, I went to grab a slice of pizza and a mojito and an older man struck up a conversation with me at the bar. He asked the usual questions asked at an all inclusive resort: where are you from? When did you get here? When are you leaving? I answered them all, and since he had been in Mexico a week longer than I had, I asked him for recommendations around town. This Walter White lookalike looked me dead in the eyes and exclaimed how much he hated Mexico and everything that came along with it.

I had to stand there and endure this man sharing his racist and ignorant opinions until his wife came to drag him away from the conversation. Before he left, I learned that he thought it was rude when people “spoke Mexican” and ignored him at the bar while trying to order another round of scotch, neat. The music they kept playing at the resort and the few restaurants or bars he ventured into was not what he wanted. Midwest Gary wanted good, old-fashioned hard rock to be playing at all times – none of this foreign business. The tequila tasting him and his group went on? Don’t even get him started.

I was sitting on the stool, watching him stumble away and all I could do was take a gulp of my mojito and wonder why on earth this man was in Mexico if he hated everything about the music, people, culture and general vibe? It was hard for me to separate myself from him, because I was guilty of staying in an all inclusive resort in a touristy side of Mexico – and if I hadn’t left the resort, I would have just remained in the same bubble that my new drinking buddy was trapped in.

I watched my best friend get questioned daily about why she was trying so hard to speak Spanish when “everyone spoke English”. It was maddening because she was making the effort to communicate with the people that were hosting us in their city, and honour their language as much as she could before resorting to an English word she didn’t know the translation for. There was a lot of sign language and giggles along the way, but ultimately she was showing a sign of respect for the people around her.

If someone is not willing to learn about the culture or attempt a few key phrases of the language, what is the point of visiting these tropical places? More often than not, these same people are complaining about the humidity, the strength of the sun, basically hating the fact that they left their home. It feels like these people like the idea of a place more than the reality. They want a tropical oasis without any aspects that will make them uncomfortable – like a language barrier. People seem to be shocked and confused when they arrive somewhere and English is not known by everyone in their proximity.

It is very ignorant to believe that English should be the official language across the world. I mean, haven’t English speakers done enough erasing of languages by this point? North Americans are not the center of the universe, despite what they might think. It’s time that everyone who decides to travel to places like Mexico, Hawaii, Thailand, Bali, and any other tropical spot to take a deep look into why they are going there – and whether they should be going there at all.

It seems like some people want to go on a vacation just to be able to say that they went. They can become world travellers because they spent a week in a different country (without ever venturing outside of the airport or resort, but that’s besides the point). It often feels like they want to go, simply to be able to complain about it all to Barbara from accounting when they get home.

If you don’t care about the language, traditions, culture or even the climate of a country, maybe just stick to visiting Florida – it has beaches, drinks and you can avoid annoying all the people around you that are trying to get more culture than an arrest warrant. Tacky tourist shirts are one hell of a vibe, but the tacky racism can stay home.

LET IT BE YOUR YEAR

Are you someone who finds themselves an avid thrift shopper and knows all the best places around vancouver?

Jasmin Linton - Writer

Tiffany Zhong - Illustrator

“‘I don’t see any reason to be optimistic. What do you think the new year will bring us?’ ‘I believe it will bring flowers.’

‘Really? Why?’

‘Because I am planting flowers.’”

- José Maria Nieto, Cartoonist

The new year can mean many things for different people. With everything that’s been going on in our society lately, it’s easy to expect the worst – pressures are building and a pessimistic outlook seems to be contagious. However, this time of year is also the beginning of so many possibilities and opportunities. Which side of the coin you are on depends on what kind of attitude you carry. Going into the new year, you may be carrying expectations and pressures from the world around you. Instead of feeling burdened by the new year, start this next chapter with a different outlook, be present in your day to day life and allow yourself to grow…like a flower.

With every new year comes the pressure of making goals and resolutions to set you up for success. Whether it’s to read more, take care of your health, or to stop that habit you’ve been trying to quit – without an insanely strong level of commitment and rigorous time management, resolutions can seem too intimidating to begin, let alone consistently follow through with for another 364 days. Strict schedules or habit trackers don’t work for everyone. To some, they can have the opposite effect.

If such strategies don’t fit, there’s no need to worry. The same method is never going to work for everyone, similar to the way the same size shoe is never going to fit. It’s all about finding out what you feel comfortable with and what is manageable in your life right now. Maybe that means forfeiting resolutions all together and entering the new year without any predetermined must do’s. Or deciding to still make resolutions but only prioritizing one or two main goals to work on. There is no one way to go about entering the new year; it’s about finding what fits best for yourself and what will have the best impact.

That being said, we tend to always focus on the future at this time of year. Our society is driven by the idea that to be accomplished, we must be as productive and proactive as we can. So, of course, planning our futures and trying to better ourselves is a priority. However, because of our concern towards our futures and the security they will hopefully bring, it’s easy to get caught up in work or school and forget about letting yourself breathe and take a rest.

It is important to have that breathing room, and it can be especially impactful during times of high stress. Your mindset is an important conductor for your motivation; it is important to be aware of the connection and plan accordingly. Feel present going into the new year instead of scrambling to implement goals. Even if you can only manage short breaks throughout the day, I guarantee such a mindset will change not only your outlook, but also attract a plethora of opportunities that you wouldn’t expect.

No one way is correct; we all walk along different paths, therefore we need different things to help us along. The pressures and excitement affects everyone this time of year, so it is no surprise that such things are on everyone’s mind right now. From personal experience, it’s important to feel content and secure going into the new year, whether that includes a long to-do list or none at all. This way we can start off on the right foot, leave room to grow from upcoming experiences and hopefully blossom into the new year.

WE WANT

Board of Directors

The CCPS is looking for more members!

What does the board do? Well, They meet once a month to overlook the Capilano Courier’s finances and operations! Fun stuff!!

Contributors

Are you interested in volunteering for your campus paper? Well, this isn’t the place.

Most student newspapers across Canada still follow an archaic volunteer system –yes, getting students to write and work for them for free. The Capilano Courier has long championed a format that allows us to pay our contributors for every article written

The easiest way to get involved with the Courier is by signing up to receive our online pitch doc!

YOUR HELP

Featured Artists

Are you a creative who would like to showcase your art? This is the place for you!

At Courier, we love to support local artists with all their creative endeavors. Whether that is photography, illustration, or anything design, we’d love to showcase your art in our issues!

If you are interested emai: production@capilanocourier.com

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MESSAGES FROM THE ISS –INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT

Lea Krusemeyer (she/her) - Contributor

Being an international student can sometimes make you feel like an alien. Everyone knows what is going on, but you just arrived from a different planet and are desperately trying to figure out what everyone else already seems to have mastered. I am here to help guide you through the process of decoding what is going on in that new world you just landed in.

Now that a new semester is about to begin, I want to offer advice I wish I had known when I first chose my courses. I remember how confused I was when I first tried to do my schedule. Still back at home in Germany at that time, I was sitting in my living room with a coffee and about 10 tabs open on my hard-working laptop. My three most used tabs were the guide to my degree, the course selection and, of course, Google so that I could put in hard words that sounded unfamiliar to me and get a translation right away. Jumping back and forth between those, I carefully selected five courses that would mark the beginning of my Canadian academic career. After shuffling around a little and comparing the teachers on ratemyprofessor, I had what I believed to be the perfect schedule.

Fast forward to when it was time to start my semester, I soon realized I made a few rookie mistakes. First, if it is possible – do not put all your main courses into one semester. If you have the choice, add a few electives in order to lighten the course load. I did not do that, and it ended up costing me not only financially, but mentally as well. The workload made me stressed and there was not much energy left to enjoy the first semester in Canada.

A big difference between Canadian universities and universities in Europe is that, in Canada, you have to pay tuition by course. Each class costs X amount of money and all classes together, plus a few added fees, make up your tuition. In Germany, the only other university system I ever experienced, there just is a set amount of money per semester and you can take as many classes as you care for. Assuming it would be the same here, I stopped attending one of my classes because, to me, it was obvious that I could just retake it next semester, as I already paid for it. This turned out to be a very expensive mistake that I warn you all from making – you will have to pay the tuition for that course again if you do not properly drop it as to university standards.

All of this could have been avoided if I had just reached out for advice earlier – or at all. Unfortunately, there was a certain level of pride that came with me moving here on my own that made me believe I could do it all alone. This is another thing I would like to stress – you do not have to do this alone! There are resources here at CapU and even if you do not want to reach out to those, you can Google or ask experienced students how they did it (just make sure they are international as well, because the rules are different). If you feel like reaching out, there is the CIE, the Center for International Experience, based in the library building that will help you with countless problems or any questions you might have. Do not be like me and feel too proud to walk through those doors and ask for advice.

I am now in the middle of my second year and the beginning of my studies feels like forever ago. I made friends, I finally figured out where all the buildings on campus are and stopped randomly ending up in Fir instead of Cedar. However, the one thing that still gets my adrenaline up is making the schedule. Just a few weeks back, I was sitting in my living room, which now is in Vancouver and not in Germany, with my cup of coffee going back and forth between multiple open tabs. This was my fifth schedule that I created and the first I felt confident in, because I emailed the school and asked someone to look over what I had created. It took a little while for an advisor to get back to me, as they are extremely busy during those times of the year but once I heard back, I knew I made no mistakes.

Hopefully this encourages some of you to reach out and ask for help, because Canada does things differently than the countries we are from and not having all the answers is okay. Decoding Canadian university systems takes a while, so stick around because I know you’ll get there

BROKE BUT BOUJEE

A travel girlie’s guide to a cute, yet affordable world

Jayde Atchison - Columnist

Starting in February 2022, I was privileged enough to be able to spend over 5 weeks outside Vancouver exploring different places around the world I had never seen before. I did a mix of travelling alone, with an acquaintance, and with two of my best friends. The experiences I gained helped me learn a lot about travelling on a budget, but not settling for less. I started truly travelling last winter when I was 29 and by that point I felt I had outgrown the hostel, shared bathroom life. That’s not to say that choice isn’t a valid and financially smart one, it’s just not the way I wanted to start off my travelling career.

The benefits of travelling with someone you know is that there’s safety in numbers – not just in the “we might not get kidnapped if there’s more than one of us” way, but in the “I don’t have to eat alone or feel friendless and awkward at a bar” way. You have a built-in buddy system that you can create inside jokes with, take photos of each other (that might even be flattering), and the instant lower prices of splitting accommodations in two. However, travelling with another person will never get you out of your comfort zone, or open up your possibilities quite like travelling alone will.

The top two things that stop people from travelling on their own are the cost of flights and the cost of accommodation. I know it might be tempting to hop on sites like Expedia and Cheapflights – the price seems too good to be true and it’s so easy to hit “confirm” and feel you’ve got everything sorted. However, when you book travel through a third party site, you run the risk of paying for a whole new itinerary or spending hours on the phone waiting for someone from the hotline to answer your cries of help.

What most travellers don’t know is that when you purchase a third party ticket, you lose the ability to change your flight times, you probably won’t get notified about any schedule changes or flight updates because the third party doesn’t pass on your email to the airline, and the tickets the site bought from the airline are typically the ones that don’t allow for any upgrades, seat changes, or free baggage. Even when you look at your crazyflytdealz receipt and see “paid for one bag”, you may have just been victim of paying too much outright, because that payment will not show up on WestJet’s reservation and you will be stuck paying once more.

I have seen travellers ahead of me in line being told their reservation was never purchased with the airline and when they’ve checked their bank statements, they realize they’ve been swindled by an anonymous company with spotty reviews. They end up paying double what they originally planned on a flight, or cancel their trip entirely. My recommendation is to always buy through the airline itself, to save yourself the hassle and cost of uncertainty –but if you’re truly enamoured by sites like Expedia, take some time out of your day to call the airline to confirm the reservation is up, your email is updated in their system and confirm what kind of ticket you have.

I took my first solo trip in February 2022, and found myself exploring Quebec City, Toronto and Niagara Falls. I had been on a plane by myself when I was a kid, flying to and from Calgary as an unaccompanied minor visiting my aunt and uncle each summer. Getting on the flight to Quebec City was the most liberating feeling I had in years. I only made plans two weeks in advance and I was ready to see what another side of Canada looked like. I booked my flights, hunted Airbnb for days to try and find something clean, close enough to walk to the activities I was most excited about, and most importantly, within my budget.

To help me decide what I was going to do while away, I took to social media a la Emily in Paris, asked friends, strangers and anyone in between what they thought the best parts of Quebec City and Toronto were. I compiled a list of the suggestions, chose the ones that piqued the most interest (and didn’t prematurely hurt my wallet) and made my own loose itinerary. My favourite thing about travelling alone is that I was able to spend five days of uninterrupted Jayde-esque fun. I didn’t have to compromise with anyone else that didn’t want to spend three hours looking at antique books and petting the bookshop cat. I got to try out a world that was entirely my own, and branch out to others on my own terms.

No matter where I have ended up in the last year, I have been able to grab the attention of someone in a shop, bar or simply walking down the street and spark a connection – when I wanted to. Travelling alone may seem scary if you’ve yet to do it, but it will open up a world you wish you had known about earlier. Like that TikTok sound suggests – money will come and go, but you’ll never be your age in a new city again. Get out there.

READ, REVIEW, REPEAT

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, by Laura Taylor Namey

Matt Shipley - Culture & Communities Editor

For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything—including Lila herself—fell apart.

Fans of cute young-adult romance will adore this quaint story of a Cuban-American girl’s journey through trauma, love and very English weather. This book, while aimed at a slightly older YA audience, reads like a bridge between middle-grade and YA fiction, making it a perfect read for anyone making that jump. It’s a quick read — doable in an afternoon — and it comes to life when paired with a steaming mug of earl grey tea on a rainy evening.

This was a delightful foray outside of my usual world of heavier tales, more grandiose worldbuilding and weightier subject matter, and given everything that’s happening in Canada and the world right now, it was exactly what I needed. Now, looking back, I get to see what I liked and what I didn’t.

FIRST OFF: this book is exactly as it seems. It’s a cute, quaint story about a girl who feels intensely un-at-home in a new place (insert past events here), and is slowly and reluctantly convinced to love it by a charming boy and his patchwork of friends. It’s warming, it’s quiet, and it’s small, but it’s also very formulaic. I love small stories, I really do, and this one came so close to hitting the mark for me.

THE GOOD: I actually think the best parts of this story revolved around the characterization of the side cast. Jules and Flora were great additions, as was Gordon, though I wish I got to see him more on the pages. It was the ragtag group of Orion’s friends that made this story feel better than just a shallow teen romance novel, the likes of which I’ve seen so many times. It gives Lila (our MC) more reasons to love her environment than just the

charm of one boy. I also like the flashes of strength that kind of hide behind Lila’s focus on her past - her excellence and determination in baking, her commitment to her running, etc. Those things give her purpose beyond her pain, and it was refreshing to read.

THE BAD: As I mentioned earlier, this novel is formulaic. It’s not quite as bad as tales like Breathless or (dare I say it) Twilight, but there were very few moments in the book that gave me that refreshing “Oh, I didn’t see that coming.” The goal of a romance novel is to make the reader feel, viscerally, throughout the whole book, but I don’t remember anything causing that signature pressure on my chest until around page 170 (more than halfway through the book.) I didn’t really feel a sense of tension and forward motion, and that kind of disappointed me.

All in all, I’d call it a very decent read for enjoyers of small-time narratives. I wish more page space was given to the way Lila’s past affects her present and her future outside of just running away from it, but I think that in general, the book was well done. I liked it. I’ll never have nothing bad to say about a novel, and I’ll never have nothing good to say, either. This novel gave me a healthy dose of both, and in a way, that was refreshing as well.

SIX OF CUPS

The Six of Cups for this month holds a possibility of answers and of revised meanings on past situations. Although a fresh start for the calendar year is often pushed in the first part of the year, the Six of Cups calls for a gentler and more compassionate approach to the year ahead. A new journey isn’t always so clear cut, and reflection on your approach to love (not only romantic) and the past is needed in order to be further in touch with your future goals, present life stage, and connections. Can the past or a nostalgia based relationship (of any kind) be holding you back or helping you move forward in confidence? An important question that could prove valuable to explore as you begin to attempt to see your horizons and as the mental fog lifting. Clarity can lie in the past but should not be at the expense of the ever-flowing cycles of life.

When it comes to searching for happiness, look no further than what simple pleasures brought you joy at the beginning of your journey, no matter what time that was. Allow yourself to think of the possibility that you can create moments of joy and peace even during the most harrowing storms. There is an opportunity to bloom in almost every waking and even seemingly dull moment.

Signs, symbols, and synchronicities to look out for in the next while are repeated songs, music, literature, or smells that remind you of your initial coming of age, or of a time that brought comfort in your life. Possibly relating to someone significant relating to your past as well. What they will mean will be unique to each person, but when they appear, consider your relationship to that situation, person, and or period of your life. What are you nostalgic for, if anything? What holds you there so strongly for better or worse?

Emma Mendez (she/they) - Tarot Reader Kelsea Vance - Illustrator

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