CAMPUS
Rocky start
Animation students finally back in class after teacher abruptly quit last month. P2
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ARTS & LIFE
What's the Buzz New strain of deformed wing virus sweeping through local honeybee hives. P4
ONLINE SPECIAL
Sunset Thefts
A South Van neighbourhood has seen a spike in crime. langaravoice.ca
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R WA AA EDI E M E K LY G E E LL W | CO EAR Y CLE N A T WO PIN
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PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS | WWW.LANGARAVOICE.CA
Transit woes
Students and residents frustrated with No. 49 service
Homestays: haven or hell?
By ANDREA DANTE
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angara College students and residents are increasingly disappointed with the service of bus No. 49, and most say the attempted solutions to improve the service are so far ineffective. A 2021 review, TransLink identified the No. 49 bus route as the secondbusiest in Metro Vancouver. The route, which connects West and East Vancouver along 49th Avenue, averages 22,000 boardings on weekdays. The No. 49 is also ranked 11th among lines that cause the most delays in the region, according to another TransLink report from 2019. Crowded buses and long waits have some riders choosing different bus routes to avoid the No. 49 — and desperate to see changes to the service. Fran Ferrada, a health sciences student who takes the No. 49 every day, complained about wait times. “It takes too long,” Ferrada said. “Most of the time, buses pass by [because] they are full.” David Chin, who ran with Progress Vancouver for city council earlier this month, began a petition to increase bus frequency, provide shortened routes/loops, and introduce express bus services along 49th Avenue. “The capacity for those buses is never enough,” Chin said. Design formation student Leah Gies thinks the No. 49 route should have an express bus like on 41st. “It used to be very busy, but eventually they got the express bus and the service improved,” Gies said. Rod Anderson, a bus driver in Vancouver for 25 years and drives the No. 49, said the problem with the express service on 49th Avenue is that it’s mostly all single lane, so there is nowhere to pass. “If there is no way to get around, you do not benefit really by the express service,” he said. TransLink said via email, "our 10-year priorities commitment is to assess long-term capacity needs and evaluate potential rapid transit technology alternatives.” TransLink also said it made “minor adjustments" to route 49 last month to “address overcrowding,” such as adjusting frequency to every four-toseven minutes towards Metrotown Station from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekday afternoons. See langaravoice.ca for full story
OCTOBER 27, 2022• VOL. 56 NO. 1 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
A lock located on the outside of the door of a Langara student's previous homestay. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Hostile conditions scare one student into leaving homestay By JAY SCHNELL
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lood drops on the floor, external padlocks on doors and video monitoring were the last things one Langara student expected to encounter upon arrival at their homestay. The student, who asked to remain unidentified for safety reasons, booked the homestay last summer through Quality Homestay, a Vancouver-based agency that connects international students with host families. For students from another country, often without family or friends, finding a safe, comfortable place to stay can be a gamble. “The first day that I arrived, there was blood on the floor in the front,” the student said of the host family’s apartment. The student said the host told them the people who lived there before “were crazy.” Photos taken by the student showed cameras that monitored the premises inside. The student said one pointed
towards the bathroom and their students, then hung up the phone. bedroom door. On its website, Quality Homestay “If the bedroom or the bathroom states that “we look for homes where was open then the cameras could see a guest will feel welcomed and safe.” inside,” the student said. The Voice tracked down Quality Another photo showed locks on the Homestay, the agency listed on the outside of the doors and notes taped contract between the student and to a wall. One read: “has camera, Fernandez. However, a call to the we can see you, what you doing.” agency’s phone number went directly Another note to voicemail and read: “This is the primary “The first day that I not hotel.” email address arrived, there was blood was invalid and In addition to the bounced back. on the floor.” disturbing The company’s — LANGARA STUDENT conditions at office on Robson the homestay, Street was found the student said the host made fun of vacant, with people working in neighthem. One day, the student arrived bouring businesses saying they hadn’t in tears, and explained to Fernandez seen anyone for two months. they’d been followed home by a man. Opengovca.com — a site that According to the student, Fernan- provides access to data issued by dez made jokes about it, later asking, Canada government agencies — “oh, have you seen your boyfriend listed Quality Homestays as “gone again on the street?” out of business.” The Voice reached out to the Kimberly Liu, operator of the student’s Burnaby homestay host agency Homestay Vancouver, said it Elizabeth Fernandez, who initially is the agency's responsibility to mainstated she didn't have time for tain quality and check in with hosts
and students frequently. Liu said it is very important that the agency maintains an active relationship with the host families. “I visit every host family that registers with me,” she said. The Voice was unable to find the oversight body responsible for homestay programs in the province. Attempts to ask background questions to Langara Homestay have been unsuccessful. Tenancy B.C., which has laws and regulations regarding the relationship in a co-operative living environment, says “co-operative members are not tenants” and therefore are not under the B.C. residential tenancy act. The student advised other international students who are having a problem with homestays to take pictures and to talk to their agency regarding relocation. The student eventually sought a new homestay. “This homestay seems really cool,” they said. “They’re so nice to me.” For more photos, go to langaravoice.ca
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THE VOICE | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 | EDITOR MICHAEL SU
Campusnews
2D animation is a tight 15-month continuing studies program, and having one class delayed can be problematic to student like Camille Yancha. NICHOLAS NAYLOR PHOTO
Halted animation course resumes Students lost month of class following instructor's abrupt departure By NICHOLAS NAYLOR
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tudents in an animation course at Langara finally have a new instructor, four weeks after their initial instructor abruptly quit. Janos Sitar, who taught introduction to animation industry in continuing studies at the Broadway Langara campus, emailed students after class on Sept. 23, saying he was quitting after hearing students “badmouthing” the course. The month-long search for an instructor left students without a class, wondering whether the entire curriculum and learning outcomes could be covered in the remaining weeks so they can graduate on time. Policy outlining how continu-
ing studies instructors are hired in a who called the class “boring,” said short time frame or open information he would be fine making up for the regarding instructor pay-scales is not missed classes at a later date. publically available. “I’m OK with that, I think it’s Most continuing studies instructors gonna suck a little bit, but I think are not represented by a union such that’s all they can do,” Go said. as the Langara Faculty Association, Sitar sympathizes with those which represents students who “did most of the Langenjoy the “Why am I doing that actually ara regular studies course materials” when the pay isn't instructors. but stands by his Students asked He said good and the students decision. the college when preparing for the the animation three-hour classes are jerks,” course would was a “mental — JANOS SITAR, INSTRUCTOR resume but did drain,” and he not receive a was underpaid as response until an email was sent just a sessional instructor. before an Oct. 21 class, informing “Why am I doing that when the them a new instructor had been hired. pay isn’t good, and the students are Jordan Go, one of the students jerks,” he said.
When instructors cannot show up to classes within the Langara continuing studies department, it is unclear how or where students should voice their concerns. Brianna Bates, a continuing studies student, said only one of the three expected instructors showed up to a continuing studies program orientation for massage therapy, and she was concerned about missing out on course information. Magdalen Farley, continuing studies massage therapy instructor, said she has not been informed of any specific policy regarding student options when it comes to concerns about instructor attendance. “I’m not aware of any options,” Farley said, “I think they generally will try and find a place to get the
class done.” She said she makes her primary income outside of continuing studies, considering her teaching a passion rather than a wage. “We are not paid anything like what we are paid in our professional life,” Farley said. “We are here because we love teaching and we love education.” Pablo Vargas, dean of continuing studies, could not be reached for comment on policies on instructors quitting mid-term. In an email to the Voice, interim vice president academic Margaret Heldman said faculty sometimes leave without notice, but Langara is “committed to finding a qualified instructor to step into the classroom as soon as possible.”
Be hungry or on time? Staffing shortages cause endless line-ups at cafeteria By SETH FORWARD
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angara’s cafeteria is facing chronic understaffing problems, creating frustration among students and strain on employees. After a period of COVID-19 safety restrictions, Langara’s cafeteria was fully opened again in September 2021. However, staff shortages across the service industry have hampered hiring, and Langara’s cafeteria is no exception. Long queues have quickly formed. The Tim Hortons in the cafeteria is another point of frustration. Lines spill through the cafeteria doors, and students like Audrisse Fauni have claimed to wait for up to an hour. “I can’t wait that long,” said design formation student Semegne Atkinson, while theatre student Francis Santillan said the Tim Hortons lines are “ridiculous.”
Many students congregate in the cafeteria directly before and after their classes. Harpreet Kaur, general arts student and a Tim Hortons employee at Langara, is stuck on both sides of the fence. “It’s difficult for us to handle,” Kaur said. Some students complained about what they said were dysfunctional selfserve kiosks at Tim Hortons, making lines ev en longer. To Kaur, having additional staff seems impossible in the Tim Hortons, as the current staff is already crowding the limited work space. Chartwells Langara general manager Len Svensson has noticed a decrease in staff availability, with potential employees only offering to work at specific and limited times, something Svensson said hasn’t seen before in his 43 years in the food service industry. “They just don’t want to work,”
said Sashi Lehman, an employee at Langara’s cafeteria for 35 years. For Lehman, her patience and extensive experience are getting her through the extra responsibility staff shortages have forced her to undertake. According to Svensson, the starting pay is $16.74 per hour, though three months and countinuing employment will receive a bonus. Chartwells is also contracted to run the cafeteria at Douglas College, but staff shortages there aren’t as big of an issue. Dale Clarke, Douglas College’s cafeteria assistant manager, said they are “95 per cent staffed.” Compare to Langara’s cafeteria, the wait times in line at Douglas College are much shorter. Douglas student Callum Beaton said the longest he has waited in line is “approximately two minutes.” Emily Carr’s University of Art and Design’s cafeteria is a smaller operation compared to Langara. The
Queue builds up at Tim Hortons while staff struggle to handle the customer volumn. SETH FORWARD PHOTO
cafeteria staff is made up entirely of students and is independently run. However, head chef José Noriega said employing students comes with scheduling problems. “I have a hard time to match the schedules with the hours we need,” Noriega said.
Film and screen arts student Kimee Swartz, who also works in a restaurant kitchen, said the cafeteria’s staff is efficient, and not that many customers most of the time, “They go fast.” Emily Carr’s cafeteria deals with a smaller demand and less traffic than Langara.
CampusNews
THE VOICE | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 | EDITOR JUAN RAMIREZ
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Insane inflation
Students turn to charities, community cupboards, extra work to afford to eat
By SHASHI GOEL
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Barnside Brewing Co. employee fills a glass with beer. PHOTO: SAMANTHA HOLOMAY
Hopped up on feral brew Unique hops could change craft beer industry across B.C. By SAMANTHA HOLOMAY
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n their quest to breathe new life into the local B.C. hops industry, Langara researchers are brewing new feral strains they hope will be a hit on the craft brewing scene. Ji Yong Yang and Kelly Sveinson have worked on a ground-breaking project for five years. They first identified new species of feral hops in the wild, then grew them to establish their hardiness. “The ones that we’re working on will perform the same function as other hops, but we’re trying to develop hops that are from B.C.,” said Sveinson. Now, they are testing them for the first time to see whether they make good beer. If the beer is good, they hope to patent the hops and allow B.C. and Canadian farmers to grow them “to give them a competitive edge in this hop industry,” Yang said. Hops are the key ingredient in brewing craft beer and significantly impact the beer’s flavour and profile. The number of craft breweries in B.C. has almost quadrupled in the last decade, according to the BC Craft Brewers Guild. The explosion in the number of craft breweries initially led to many new hop farms emerging. However, because the Americans patented the most popular strains of hops, B.C.
breweries turned to the U.S. to source their hops. As a result, many of the province’s farms were forced to shut down. Ken Beattie, BC Craft Brewers Guild executive director, said producing beers with fresher ingredients is crucial to the success of the hop growing industry. “People will wait with bated breath to get the latest fresh hop beer,” he said. Since the craft brewery industry’s resurgence, the focus he says has been on brewing fresh local hops. He
suggested that B.C.’s hop farming market needs to attract interest by promoting local products. Josh Mayich, owner and operator of Island Hop Company in P.E.I. invested in the Langara feral hops project as a commercial partner.
Island Hop Company is presently growing the same feral hops from the Langara project on their farm. Mayich said he is waiting to see how the varying weather climate affects the hops growth and flavour profile. “In Canada right now, we don’t have a variety of our own that’s truly born and bred here. This will be a nice steppingstone to start getting it,” said Mayich. Ken Malenstyn, the co-owner of Barnside Brewing Co., said that as they brew larger batches of the feral hops in the future then they will have good HOW TO REACH US
The Voice is published by Langara College’s journalism department. Editorial opinions are those of the staff and are independent of views of the student
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Barnside Brewing Co. employee in the middle of the brewing process. PHOTO: SAMANTHA HOLOMAY
indications on how they perform. “You’re tasting a local flavour that’s developed by mother nature, by terroir, by the soil, by the climate,” he said. “That’s something that you’re not getting when you’re all buying ingredients from the same distributor.”
As B.C. approaches peak season for fresh hops, partners of the feral hop project, like Mayich, hope to keep the local beer conversation alive. “It’s a cool thing that we’re trying to do here, and I hope it works out,” Mayich said.
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ore Langara College students struggling with inflation are turning to campus and community services for food. According to Statistics Canada, prices for groceries have risen at the fastest pace since 1981. Compared to last year, Canadians have been paying 6.5 per cent more for meat, seven per cent more for dairy products, 15.4 per cent more for bakery products, and 13.2 per cent more for fresh fruit. In the current academic year, Langara College has 18,761 students. Of those, approximately 400 registered students are being helped with groceries on a first-come, first-served basis through the Community Cupboard. “Earlier, less students were coming for groceries, but now the student number has also increased, so the demand has increased,” said Arshpreet Kaur of Community Cupboard. When dealing with inflation, “students try to save as much as they can, and they can avoid buying many things,” said Abhilav Gulati, Community Cupboard employee. Khalsa Darbar Gurdwara, a South Vancouver Sikh temple that offers free meals to anyone every day from morning till evening, is noticing more students at the food service this year. “This year, we see more students coming, and we are trying to help them as much as possible,” said Sukhwant Singh, the manager at Gurdwara. Langara College students struggling with inflation might also find the upcoming new work hours limit changes as a solution. On Oct. 7, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser announced a new measure aimed to help with the labour shortage by removing the off-campus 20-hour work limit for international students from Nov. 15, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2023. Fraser also said that more than 500,000 international students already in the country would be eligible to work more hours. Tania Kaushal, an international student at Langara College, said despite the increase in allowable work hours, students should focus on their studies rather than working more. “There are two sides of the coin,” she said, adding some students overwork “for the sake of earning money” and “do not care about future careers. So, they will be working more hours.” Bryan Breguet, chair of the economics department, said inflation is at the highest level of all time. “I see this as mostly just freedom” said Breguet. “Why would we tell students how many hours they can work, that’s kind of weird to me, but that’s more like my libertarian side showing up. I think for them overall I would see it as a win.” WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Have a different point of view? Write us Journalism instructor Erica Bulman oversees The Voice. Email: ebulman @langara.bc.ca
CONTACT US Online at langaravoice.ca Twitter @LangaraVoice
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Arts&Life
THE VOICE | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 | EDITOR JORDAN COPP
Local honeybees entering and exiting their hive. RIVER KERO PHOTO
Beekeepers fight the mite Varroa parasite increases spread of deadly, mutated virus By RIVER KERO
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t might be a tiny parasite, but the Varroa destructor mite is an enormous problem for bees and their keepers — and now in more ways than one. Varroa mites have long been a major cause for honeybee colony collapse. But one recent study shows they are now transmitting a crippling pathogen: deformed wing virus or DWV. According to the study, a new and dominant strain of the virus is now spreading, one which is more virulent and contagious. Symptoms of this new variant (DWV-B) of this seasonal virus include: twisted wings, bloated abdomens, smaller bodies and discolouration. SFU researchers have been working on a chemical compound to kill the Varroa mites without harming the honeybees.
As the team studies the compound aren’t beekeepers anymore — they’re to understand fully how it works mite killers. before seeking federal approval, “The mites feed off of the bees and beekeepers must continue to use tradi- puncture holes in their exoskeleton tional methods to keep the scourge when they’re feeding on the bees. The under control. bees are [then] more susceptible to Varroa mites are miniscule, only diseases, viruses, things like that.” one millimeter long, but can propaHe concluded: “If you’re not gate and easily devastate beehives. doing that [killing mites], you’re not Steve Sandve of East Van Bees said it’s beekeeping anymore because you have the “number one” problem beekeep- no bees.” ers have to Testing for contend with. “If you're not doing that the mites is “It’s a little possible, but [killing mites] you're tiny mite tricky. Unless that’s pretty not beekeeping anymore the hive is large when tested in the because you have compared to right spot at the bee, like the right time, no bees.” having a large the cluster of — J CHANDLER, BEEKEEPER backpack on mites might be your back,” said Sandve. missed. J Chandler of Jane’s Honeybees, But there are a number of tools based in South Surrey said beekeepers beekeepers have at their disposal to
combat them. Sandve said he uses treatments that can be chemical or organic for his hives. Other times, he will confine the queen to stop her from laying so there’s no brood for the mites to infest. Chandler said he uses pharmaceutical plastic strips that beekeepers can put into the hives that are impregnated with mite killer. The bees can walk across the strips, and the medication kills the mites. “Sometimes they get resistant to the medication, so you’ve got to keep switching those up,” Chandler said. Hobbyist beekeeper Greg Joiner of the Riley Park area in Vancouver has also battled the Varroa mite. But he is optimistic about bee evolution. “They’re evolving this defence strategy,” he said. “It’s called hygienic behavior. They’re attacking the mite, they’re figuring out ‘okay, we’ve got to take care of this ourselves.’”
TOP HONEYBEE PESTS
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
» American Foulbrood A spore-forming bacteria which "caps" or covers honeycombs.
» Nosema
A parasite which feeds on the inner organs of adult honeybees.
» Small Hive Beetle
A pest originating from Africa, this beetle has been spread by humanassisted movement.
» Kashmir Bee Virus A virus brought from New Zealand in the early 1980s. Source: gov.bc.ca
Crew, the unsung heros of Studio 58 productions Backstage jobs play huge role By CHRISTOPHER HARCOURT
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ehind-the-scenes roles will play a huge part in the potential success of Studio 58’s final production of the year, according to the faculty and students involved in production. Crew roles were given out last week for the upcoming production, Metamorphoses, performing from Nov.17 to Nov. 24. The roles include marketing, sound, lighting and costumes. The critical and often invisible work done in pre-and post-production are
often as laborious and challenging as the performances audiences get to enjoy. The days have been longer for Studio 58 students as Metamorphoses will be performed off-campus at the historic East Vancouver theatre, The Cultch. Samuel Walmsley-Byrne, a student of the Studio 58 theatre program, said the backstage roles are the unsung heroes of play performances. “So much of the focus in the interviews is on the actors in film and TV,” he said. “When you see a show that you like, don’t just remember the faces of the people on stage — remember the people who worked on it.” Halla Bertrand, Studio 58 communications and marketing manager, said this upcoming off-site production affects the job of students on the marketing crew.
“I think it’s really important with were in “cue-to-cue” or “tech week.” this upcoming show to create a sense Cue-to-cue is a physical rehearsal of hype and to run through excitement the perforthat we are out mance with“The idea is that on the town,” out dialogue. everybody, whether said Bertrand. During tech “I think it’s week — a week you're in production or a really good prior to openacting, gets a really good ing night — opportunity for us to lights, sense of what it takes to sound, broaden our set, costumes community and makeup are do a play.” and the folks present for the - KEVIN MACDONALD, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR that come to first time in a see the show.” week. Ruth Bruhn, Studio 58 faculty Bruhn said the days are long, someand production manager said the times running 12–14 hours. 66 theatre students, who are in the “When you open a show on Saturprogram, go through a lot of work day then you do it for the next week, when wrapping up a production. and they’re still going to classes, Leading up to opening night, students people are very tired,” she said.
Studio 58 technical director Kevin MacDonald said the program makes sure students are well accustomed to the different roles in theatre — including the backstage roles. “The idea is that everybody, whether you’re in production or acting, gets a really good sense of what it takes to do a play,” said MacDonald. “What it takes to be an actor, a designer, a builder, stage manager and all those different roles.” Rachel Ross, a student who has worked as a stage manager for Studio 58 productions, said behind-thescenes work is “crucial” to a wellrounded production. “It’s what makes theatre magical. There are so many moving parts that people can’t even begin to imagine how much stuff goes on behind-thescenes,” said Ross.