The Ontarion - 199.4

3. Meet Rene Van Acker, U of G's new president Human Rights Day 4. World AIDS

5. Keeping wild birds and cats

6. International Day of Persons with Disabilities 7. Opening new doors at the University of Guelph Lang Students’ Association members busy fundraising this holiday season

8. Remembering Canadian soldiers

Fair trade on campus: A guide to ethical coffee choices

10. ‘Bright Nights’ evenings in Guelph just got a bit more magical

11. Misinformation is spreading around Guelph–but don’t fear, they sound amazing

12. The rise of Substack

13. Hold my phone, the digicam is having a moment December 2025 music guide

14. Meet Islamic Relief Guelph

15. University of Guelph’s Akedo Festival

16. Guelph Spoken Word celebrates 17 years of poetry slams held rain, pandemic or shine

17. The Athletic Centre introduces new Irish dance class

18. Busy Reading: Tales of a local bookseller

19. How fitness can change your life

20. Toronto’s impossible October

21. Staying active over winter break Is co-op worth it?

22. Taking care of your mental health over the winter break

23. Conquer exam season scaries with The Ontarion

24 & 25. FEATURE STORY: Crowd-pleasing recipes to make holiday hosting simple

26. A cookbook that holds five decades of food and friendship

27. The marketers’ lie in making friends

28. Anti-Indigenous racism hidden in the cracks of Canadian patriotism

29. Bad Bunny is the perfect choice for the 2026 Super Bowl

31. A not-so-merry vibe reader Christmas

32. A brief history of mall Santas Gryphons give back

33. The heart of the holidays

Remember when Christmas was actually "the best time of the year”?

34. Why you should send holiday cards this year The psychology behind Christmas spirit

35. Celebrating Hanukkah this December A very cheesy Christmas

36. Cozy winter reads

37. Celebrating Yule

38. Holiday treats tasty enough to make it through exams

39. Whimsical homemade gifts for the holiday season

40. Volunteering during the holidays

U of G installed its 10th president this October. Here’s what The Ontarion has learned

ABBY COUNAHAN

This past summer, the university’s Board of Governors unanimously appointed Rene Van Acker as U of G’s 10th president. On Oct. 18, an installation ceremony was held, and Van Acker officially stepped into his new role as president.

Van Acker is a globally acclaimed scholar as well as a longtime alumni of the University of Guelph. He attended the university over 40 years ago and has spent nearly 30 years in academia since. His leadership roles include professorship, Chair of the Department of Plant Agriculture, Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) and Vice-President Research and Innovation (VPRI).

Van Acker began his journey at U of G in 1985 where he would go on to complete a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and Master of Science in crop science. In a press release, Van Acker related to many of today's students by recalling his experience as a student painting the cannon, wandering the Arboretum

Meet Rene Van Acker, U of G's new president Human Rights Day

and being inspired by the beauty of campus.

Following his education at the U of G, Van Acker pursued his PhD in England and then returned to Canada to teach at the University of Manitoba. He eventually made his return to U of G in 2006 and has taken on many roles since.

In a press release, Van Acker described some of the crucial components of his past roles on campus. He says that in 2008 during his role as a department chair, the university was experiencing a “major financial crunch,” and feeling “ill-equipped” during this time was the beginning of his journey.

Also in this release, Van Acker said he has given extra attention to the operating environment and budgetary concerns since coming into his presidency role, and that his diverse range of administrative experience has helped him to understand the inner-workings of a university. He specifies that he has done a lot of work in fundraising, and this experience has helped him

understand what it takes to be successful in large-scale projects. Van Acker’s fundraising initiatives have raised over $100 million for OAC.

Van Acker co-founded the Arrell Food Institute and the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming, and was a contributor to major projects such as the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre and the Honeybee Research Centre. He has also published over 160 peer-reviewed works and persists as an active faculty member.

In the same press release, Van Acker shared that the university

had its highest philanthropic donations last year, while also securing its place among the most prestigious universities in the world according to the 2025 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings. He said that these factors signify that the university has proven potential for further success and this success will lead to improved ways of thinking in the future.

Van Acker is optimistic about expanding opportunities for students. He plans on doing so with a “dual mindset” that will dedicate equal attention to the university’s academic and enterprise missions.

He says that one of the most important functions of U of G is training highly qualified people who fuel the economy on both a national and global scale, and emphasizes the university’s role in driving research and innovation. Van Acker was asked about the future of higher education in the face of rising issues such as AI, climate crises and an increasingly polarized world. He did not specifically address any of these issues, but emphasized his optimism about the future of higher education as it persists as increasingly demanding.

Nelson Mandela, the famous South African civil rights activist, once said:

“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.”

FATIMA ASKARY

Dec. 10 marks the globally celebrated day for International Human Rights. Human Rights Day commemorates the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly. Observing this day reminds us to uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms that every human on this

planet deserves.

Every year, the United Nations commemorates Human Rights Day with a different theme that highlights an important aspect of human rights. The United Nations has declared this year’s theme is “Our Everyday Essentials,” and stated that: “Through this campaign, we aim to re-en-

gage people with human rights by showing how they shape our daily lives, often in ways we may not always notice. Too often taken for granted or seen as abstract ideas, human rights are the essentials we rely on everyday.”

Discussions surrounding human rights may cause people to think of issues removed from our daily lives: global news, stories we hear only in passing or issues that only affect underserved communities. But the reality is that human rights are applicable to every single person. Many ride the bus to campus, fill water bottles with clean drinking water, express opinions online and pursue university educations. Such simple actions are made possible because the rights to mobility, water, education and freedom of expression are globally recognized and protected.

The UDHR was the first

universal and international document to declare that all human beings have inherent rights. The document outlines that individuals everywhere—regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion or any other status—deserve dignity and freedom. Though the UDHR is not legally binding, the document has guided the implementation of over 60 human rights instruments, which together form a strong international standard for lawmakers. It has been translated into 500 languages and holds the Guiness World Record title for the most translated document.

Canada played a pivotal role in the creation of this document.

Montreal-born lawyer John P. Humphrey was the human rights secretariat of the United Nations at the time and authored the first draft of the document. The prin-

ciples of the UDHR have since inspired Canadian legislation, including the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Though this document has set the international stage to establish seminal legislation, significant challenges remain. Recognizing Human Rights Day also means acknowledging the rights that remain unfulfilled both locally and abroad. As of the time of writing, over 38 First Nation reserves in Canada have drinking water advisories. In Gaza, all schools have been closed for two years, leaving over 600,000 children without access to education. These examples are only two of many. The United Nations marks this day as a reminder of the collective responsibility to ensure every individual has access to an equitable and dignified life.

Rene Van Acker is the new president of U of G. Photo provided by Kim McCaughan

World AIDS Day

Raising awareness and honouring lives lost

NED BARR

One of artist Keith Haring’s most famous paintings is Unfinished Painting. It features Haring’s usual characteristic style—looping and squarish geometric doodles, the occasional humanoid, squiggles, circles and lines, all in a bright contrast of black and white against a royal purple backdrop. But the picture is not complete the way one would expect. It takes up the upper left corner of a massive canvas while long purple drips of paint run down into the blankness; a desperate fading burst of energy that melts into nothing.

Unfinished Painting was done in 1989. Haring would die a year later. Like many other gay men in the 1980s, the cause of Haring’s death was AIDS.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is the most advanced stage of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is believed to have originated in primates, and is a lifelong condition that weakens the body’s immune system and creates a unique and dangerous vulnerability to illness. It is transmitted through bodily fluids: sexual discharge, blood and breastmilk.

Presently in Canada, an HIV diagnosis does not mean death— many people diagnosed with HIV undergo treatment and live full and meaningful lives, and in most cases, long-term medication use reduces their risk of transmitting HIV to zero, regardless of an exchange of fluids.

But this has not always been the case and for many in the world today, it still isn’t.

AIDS originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

in 1920 and remained relatively low-lying across Africa and the Caribbean, unrecognized as a disease. What is known as the AIDS epidemic began in 1981, when the United States’ Centre for Disease Control began noticing that the gay male community was experiencing atypically high numbers of various rare diseases.

So prevalent was this health crisis among gay men that it began to be referred to as gay-related immune deficiency, even as it became clear that HIV/AIDS could be contracted by anyone, including people using injectable drugs, blood transfusion recipients and women who were engaging in sexual relations with men who had HIV/AIDS.

Cases soon spread to every continent. Despite this, the issue was not given a spot on the front page of a newspaper until 1983, though by then more than 1,000 Americans had contracted HIV/AIDS. The stigma of AIDS was only perpetuated by the American government’s gross mishandling of the crisis.

Though it was prominent in other groups, AIDS predominantly affected young gay men due to a combination of scientific and social factors. Hundreds of thousands of queer people, particularly gay men, would die excruciating and lonely deaths as they were victimized in tandem by their illness and the inaction of their government.

The stigma that surrounded AIDS created a sense of hostility and fear among the public towards the dying, with funeral homes refusing to handle patients’ remains and some doctors refusing to treat patients with AIDS. In 1987, a quilt with panels bearing the names of

AIDS victims was unfolded on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It weighed 54 tons.

At the peak of the AIDS epidemic, Princess of Wales Diana Spencer broke boundaries by shaking hands with an AIDS patient at London's Middlesex Hospital, despite rumours that the disease could be spread via skin-to-skin contact.

When asked about her decision to touch the man with her bare hands, Spencer replied: “HIV does not make people dangerous to know. People can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it.”

Spencer’s act was a groundbreaking gesture that would work to fight the stigma and denounce misinformation spread about individuals with AIDS.

Since the epidemic, advance-

ments in medicine have been made that allow for individuals with AIDS to live long and healthy lives, and most patients are completely unable to transmit the disease to others.

Despite these advancements, hundreds of thousands of people still die each year of AIDS-related diseases—in fact, it is the leading cause of death in many sub-Saharan African countries. In these cases, it is a general lack of sexual education and poor sexual health infrastructure (e.g., access to condoms and testing clinics) that propel what is termed the “new AIDS epidemic.”

In Canada, there are still hundreds of deaths attributed to the disease each year. This is attributed to a combination of late diagnoses and various socio-economic circumstances surrounding

the government’s treatment of intravenous substance users and Indigenous communities—the two communities most impacted by AIDS in Canada.

AIDS-related deaths are substantially declining worldwide as access to antiretroviral therapy is expanding, but various circumstances continue to halt its progression.

World AIDS Day is represented by a red ribbon, serving to remind people of the history of HIV/ AIDS and that it remains a very impactful and deadly disease in our modern global context.

Dec. 1 denounces the inaction of world governments, celebrates the resilience of affected communities, honours the heroic work of medical professionals and commemorates lives lost or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Keith Haring was a celebrated artist and advocate for safe sex and HIV/AIDS awareness. Photo: Rob Bogaerts/Anefo/ Nationaal Archief (CC0)

Keeping wild birds and cats thriving

A recent study highlights the effect of outdoor cats on wild bird populations and what owners can do to keep both species healthy

CAITLIN BUCK

It may not be shocking to hear that cats and birds don’t always live in complete harmony, but it might come as a surprise to learn about the numerous misconceptions there are when it comes to outdoor cats and their impact on bird populations.

A study published this year by PhD candidate Jonathan Chu, ecologist Ryan Norris, and adjunct professor Elizabeth Gow examines the number of wild birds killed by outdoor cats in urban areas, in an effort to update an estimate from 2013. The earlier study estimated cats to kill between 105 and 348 million birds each year in Canada, while the new study found that bird mortality is actually 71 per cent lower, between 19 and 197 million birds per year.

The study was a joint project between the University of Guelph and Environment and Climate Change Canada. Scientists used data on the number of cats across Canada over 10 years and compared that data to predation rates of birds by cats from across the world.

Gow, a research scientist

involved in the study, highlights that the new findings give a more accurate representation of predation rates and do not show that numbers have decreased over time. She hopes that this study will help to bring awareness to cat owners by bringing a shift in how cats are viewed and kept to promote their wellbeing, while also being aware of the wellbeing of wildlife.

“It comes down to creating behaviour change and shifting societal views in people and not the cats themselves,” Gow said.

There are some misconceptions when it comes to outdoor cats and how they are viewed.

According to Gow, cats are commonly thought to have domesticated themselves. However, they were likely domesticated 10,000 years ago in Egypt for their predatory habits to kill mice and other pests.

“People benefitted from the rodent control and also found companionship from cats. These same hunting instincts that cats had 10,000 years ago they still have today,” Gow said.

That predatory instinct is now used by cats to kill populations beneficial to ecosystems. These include wild bird populations within their reach such as song sparrows, cardinals and robins, as well as small mammals like voles, moles, rabbits and chipmunks.

Cats may bring home one or two birds, but will likely kill more birds that are left outside and unnoticed. This gives owners a false impression of the number of birds actually killed.

“Many people have a hard time understanding how the one or two birds they see their cat bring home can impact birds,” Gow said. “It’s cumulative, we may not think that a single cat is the problem, but a single cat times 3.5 million, the estimated number of outdoor cats in Canada, adds up to tens to hundreds of millions of birds each year.”

The team is currently working on a study where they equip cats with cameras to get an even more accurate picture of their impact on wild bird populations.

Cats are not to blame for bird killings as they only follow their

natural instincts. Rather, the emphasis should be placed on how they are kept. Cat owners have a big impact on the safety of wild birds and other wildlife populations, along with the health of their cats.

“Cats are often thought of as disposable, when in reality, cats are now more family pets than pest controllers and should be treated with similar respect as other domesticated pets,” Gow said.

There are numerous ways that people can help keep bird populations safe and cats happy as family pets. The Guelph Humane Society (GHS) and Gow recommend the following:

• Keep your cat indoors—they don’t necessarily need to roam free. When cats are young, it is easy to get them used to being indoors by not allowing them outdoors unsupervised. Even for older cats, a transition is possible. If you are keeping your cats indoors, scratch posts, window perches, toys and interactive play are great ways to enrich your

beloved pets.

• Enrich your cat through leash-walking and catios. Contrary to popular belief, this is possible with training. It is a good way for cats to be stimulated and exercise in a safe manner, and it is also fun for the owner. Catios are small enclosures where cats can get fresh air and exercise while staying safe close to your house. Catios can be built in a variety of sizes and can be placed on a back porch.

• Supervise your cats when they are outdoors. If you do choose to let your cats outside, it is important to make sure they don’t stray too far. Not only do they kill birds, but cats themselves are exposed to numerous threats including diseases, vehicle collisions, fights with other animals outdoors and getting lost. According to the Guelph Humane Society, in 2024, only one fifth of the cats brought to GHS were able to be reunited with their owners. This shows the importance of watching for your cats and keeping them safe. The study’s authors hope their work will bring awareness to cat owners about how they can keep their cat healthy while contributing to thriving bird populations, and emphasize the impact of proper cat handling to increase bird populations.

While your cat may stare longingly at the outdoors, letting them explore may be doing more harm than good. Photo provided by The Guelph Humane Society

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

How can you contribute to a more inclusive society?

ERIKA BEKKERING

Established in 1992, Dec. 3 marks the 33rd International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). IDPD raises awareness about the exclusionary aspects of society and advocates for the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities all around the world.

One in six people experience a significant disability, which is defined as a condition of the body or mind that impairs, interferes with or limits a person’s ability to do certain tasks or participate in certain activities and interactions. It can be mental or physical, acquired or congenital, and short-term or long-term.

Discrimination and bias against people with disabilities is called “ableism,” and is rooted in the belief that disabilities are inferior and undesirable. There is a long history of institutionalization, segregation, abuse and infanticide and neonaticide of people with disabilities, and these kinds of discrimination are still prevalent today.

The effects of such discrimination linger in the institutions and behaviours of our society that favour “typical” abilities, and IDPD looks to bring attention to this systemic imbalance.

A way to combat ableist behaviour and attitudes is by using inclusive language. “People-first language” is when the person is put before the disability in speech (e.g., “person with a disability” instead of “disabled person”), as to not define an individual by their condition. It is best practice to follow the lead of people with disabilities in how they refer to themselves.

Additionally, educate yourself on disability-related terms and recognize how using them as insults, self-deprecating jokes or in a generally negative context actively reinforces the idea that disabilities are something to make fun of. Using outdated language perpetuates the idea that people with cognitive disabilities are lesser than and that being associated with them is an insult.

It is important to recognize that language is impactful. Even if certain words are not said with the intent to cause harm, language can continue the cycle of the lack of awareness and respect for this community.

Another way to combat ableism is to be aware of the inequities and inconsistencies in accessibility that make it harder for persons with disabilities to participate in society.

These inequities may include buildings that have ramps but are missing au-

tomated doors, or automated doors that are out of reach to people with mobility aids, and even buildings with automated doors that are not in working condition and have no other accessible entrances to the building.

Noticing and addressing these partial attempts at accessibility works to raise awareness of how people with disabilities are underserved in society, ultimately encouraging action for change.

It is also important to consider how intersections with other minority identities further hinder those with disabilities. Intersections between race, gender and sexuality further marginalize people with disabilities and make it more difficult for them to fully participate in society.

While being aware of these issues may not seem like much, awareness encourages conversations that work to drive change and create a more empathetic society; factors that are key to building a solid foundation for a more accessible future.

Persons with disabilities are often overlooked and ignored, and this day encourages us to focus on them, recognize the issues in our society and understand the need for change in behaviour, attitudes and actions towards persons with disabilities.

IDPD is a call to action as much as it is also a time to celebrate personal and historical achievements. This year on Dec. 3, the Guelph Public Library in partnership with Community Living Guelph-Wellington is holding their annual event for IDPD where people will come together to celebrate the achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities, promote inclusion, raise awareness and educate the community on the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.

IDPD raises awareness of accessibility issues and urges action against ableism. Photo: Unsplash

ICON BY FREEPIK

Opening new doors at the University of Guelph

SANA GURUNATHAN

For the first time since 2006, the University of Guelph is opening the doors to two new colleges: the College of Engineering (CEO) and the College of Computational Mathematics and Physical Sciences (CCMPS).

This expansion introduces new programs in both colleges, such as the Masters of Engineering Management, and an undergraduate major in mechatronics engineering. These programs hope to continually support students through their journey and provide them with immediate benefits for their future careers.

U of G is also expanding the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

U of G opens two new colleges with extended program offerings and OVC partnership with Lakehead University A look into the fourth annual

(DVM) program to train more veterinarians in partnership with Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus. This new partnership is aimed at training passionate veterinarians to address workforce shortages, particularly in rural, northern and Indigenous communities, as well as underserved areas.

The new DVM program will train 20 additional students each year, with its first northern cohort welcomed this fall. The Fall 2025 cohort includes Shanelle Berthier, Paris Fuzy, Julia Heyder, Aiden Lehto and Emily Van Rassel. These students will have the opportunity to engage in experiential learning,

collaborate with local veterinarians and complete coursework tailored to northern veterinary practices. Workforce shortages in the field became prominent during the pandemic, and this collaborative program addresses such shortages with an emphasis on utiliz-

Lang Students’ Association members busy fundraising this holiday season

ABBY COUNAHAN

From Oct. 17 to Nov. 21, the Lang Students’ Association (LSA) held their fourth annual Langsgiving fundraising initiative. The month-long initiative featured various weekly fundraising events and activities, and 100 per cent of Langsgiving proceeds were donated to Chalmers Community Services Centre.

In an interview with The Ontarion, Vice President of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Community Engagement Max Newson spoke about the initiative.

Newson’s role in Langsgiving has been focused on planning, organization and coordination. His responsibilities include preparing and operating donation tables, volunteer management, corresponding with local vendors and promoting the initiative across campus. New-

son has also been doing hands-on work at the donation tables selling goods, engaging with students and collecting donations.

This year, Langsgiving is partnered with Chalmers Community Services Centre, a local charity that is focused on food accessibility and support for individuals and families. This is a change from the LSA’s previous partnership with the Guelph Food Bank, and Newson called this decision a “thoughtful switch” made in effort to introduce a new charity to campus, who he says also has an “incredible mission and a strong local impact.”

“Chalmers’ focus on providing low-barrier food access, community support and dignity-centered services really resonated with us and aligned with our values,” Newson said. “Bringing a new charity into

Langsgiving helps broaden student awareness of the different organizations working hard to address food insecurity in Guelph, and it allows us to strengthen connections with multiple community partners over time.”

The LSA ran donation tables on campus three days a week and alternated between Branion Plaza and Lang Plaza to expand the initiative’s outreach to different parts of campus. Each table featured items for purchase such as baked goods, hot chocolate and merchandise. The LSA also hosted activities for students to participate in and collected food donations to help stock the Chalmers pantry.

When asked about the success of this year’s Langsgiving, Newson said that while the final totals are still being counted, the impact in

ing Indigenous culture to enrich learning. Lakehead’s community outreach has created more than 120 active initiatives between the university and Indigenous partners, and students at Lakehead are required to enroll in courses that focus on Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

The goal of OVC’s DVM curriculum is to provide student veterinarians with various courses, workshops and tutorials to equip students with the skills to identify, understand and address systemic challenges in the profession.

terms of awareness and participation has been a tremendous success so far.

“The response has been incredible. We have had strong student turnout at our tables, enthusiastic volunteers and a lot of engagement from faculty and staff,” Newson said. “We’re seeing consistent donations and great conversations around community involvement, which is really what Langsgiving is about.”

Newson said that the initiative reflects the LSA’s commitment to using their platform to create a positive social impact.

“It shows students that business isn’t just about numbers and strategy. It’s about people, community, and making choices that improve life for others,” Newson said. “Through Langsgiving, we’re able to demonstrate that even small, student-led efforts can make a meaningful difference.”

The overarching aim of Langs-

giving for the student body is “to give students a hands-on way to put ‘Business as a Force for Good’ into action, which is central to Lang’s mission,” and that it “creates opportunities to develop empathy, social responsibility and community awareness: qualities that define ethical, purpose-driven business leaders,” Newson said.

“Langsgiving is one of those initiatives that truly brings the Lang community together. It’s rewarding to see students step up, donate their time, and support people in need. It’s what being a part of Lang is all about.”

The LSA is also running their Movember campaign which is focused on raising awareness and funds for men’s mental health, suicide prevention and cancer research. The LSA plans to continue exploring additional community-focused projects throughout the year to propel the momentum of giving on campus.

The OVC's new DVM expansion creates opportunities for northern veterinary medicine. Aditya Parameswaran/THE ONTARION

From left to right: Chrystal Rodrigues, Luca D’Addio, Rachel Alden, Rahul Sati, Erin Leyland, Vanessa Kernohan. Abby Counahan/THE ONTARION

Remembering Canadian soldiers

Local war historian Ed Butts shares his insights

ELYSE ARMSTRONG

Remembrance Day is a time to honour the services and legacy of Canadian soldiers. Though many people are conscious of the contributions of Canadian veterans, local services often go unknown. This is something war historian Ed Butts is changing. Butts is a Guelph author and historian who has published over 30 books and written many articles for publications such as Guelph Today, The Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star.

One of his books, This Withering Disease of Conflict: A Canadian Soldier’s Chronicles of the First Word War, is a compilation of real letters written by a First World War (WWI) soldier from Guelph during his time in the trenches. When soldiers would go overseas, they would write letters home to families who would often publish them in the papers. One name Butts saw repeatedly while looking through microfilm of Guelph Mercury was Herb Philip.

Philip was a Guelph soldier and son

of a music teacher. He had gone overseas for the war when he was 25, but Butts saw through the letters that Philip clearly had the writing skills of a journalist.

“That title, This Withering Disease of Conflict, those are his words,” Butts said.

Many soldiers didn’t have reading or writing comprehension past grade six, so Philip’s skills were significant. Philip was in Europe for the entire duration of the war, and when he returned home, he got an editorial job with Guelph Mercury. Philip unfortunately passed soon after due to war-related health problems.

Butts knew Philip’s story needed to be compiled, and said, “I just thought this is sort of a look into the First World War from a Canadian soldier’s perspective that has been buried for 100 years.”

In great detail, the passages in the book lay out the everyday life of a soldier in the Great War. From simple things like going to

the canteen and doing laundry, to captivating in-action moments like bombardments and trench warfare, the letters say it all.

Butts has also written a young adult novel, This Game of War, in which a young boy is originally disinterested in Remembrance Day, but then gets transported to the WWI trenches after encountering a magic poppy. The idea for this novel came to Butts when he was attending the Remembrance Day observance at the Guelph arena.

“The place is always full of high school kids because they have to go. And I’d always thought that they look so bored…a lot of them would probably rather be just about anywhere else,” Butts said.

The novel offers an informative history lesson in a format digestible for teenagers.

Over a decade ago, Butts began writing a series for Guelph Mercury which discussed profiles of Guelph veterans.

“In 2014, which was the 100th anniversary of the First World War, I was looking at the downtown cenotaph with all the names on it, and I just had the idea that there is a story behind every one of those names,” Butts said.

Within two years, he had written over 50 profiles.

Guelph’s own involvement in the world wars is something that many are unfamiliar with, but it is quite an interesting one.

One of Butts’ books, titled Wartime: The First World War in a Canadian Town, discusses the role of cities around Canada in WWI, using Guelph as a model to compare them. This publication discusses a particular incident that occurred during WWI. At the outskirts of town there is a novitiate which was used to train men who wanted to become priests.

However, Butts said, “In the First World War they were suspected of harbouring what they then called ‘conscription evaders.’”

Because of this, there was a military raid of the building which caused a citywide scandal.

Not only was the city involved, but the University of Guelph was at the centre of some of their own war-related controversies. Most U of G students are familiar with Zavitz Hall, but the name comes from a former professor who served as the acting university president during a period of WWI. Professor Charles Zavitz was a pacifist and a Quaker, so when the city wanted to set up a military cadet school at the college, Zavitz refused, causing an uproar.

“There were a lot of people in Guelph who got all up in arms about it, [saying] ‘he’s a German sympathizer,’” Butts said.

The university would go on to have a radio bomber training school during the Second World War.

Remembrance Day comes around every November, with many people unsure of how to properly commemorate soldiers.

As someone who has spent much of his life studying history, particularly the world wars, Butts shared his insight on how veterans should be honoured: “I think they should be looked after financially with their pensions and medical care. That should always, I think, be first and foremost…Buy a poppy, I always do…They should simply not be forgotten.”

It’s important to recognize local history and appreciate that the soldiers who went overseas were everyday people like you and me.

“They lived here; they went to school here. If you’re in the older part of Guelph, they walked on those streets, they went to Riverside park,” Butts said.

Butts read excerpts from his book, This Withering Disease of Conflict, and discussed a few of the names on the Guelph cenotaph on Nov. 6 at the Guelph Public Library. Books are available at The Bookshelf in Downtown Guelph.

Guelph has an intruiging history of involvement and controversy surrounding the World Wars. Photo provided by Ed Butts

Fair trade on campus: A guide to ethical coffee choices

Your coffee can fuel more than just your morning classes

In 2012, the University of Guelph became Ontario’s first university to be certified as a Fair Trade Campus. You may think that your on-campus coffee orders are all ethically sourced because “fair trade” rings sustainable bells in your mind—but do you actually know what the Fair Trade label entails, or where your coffee on campus comes from?

What is fair trade?

Fairtrade is a certification system by Fairtrade International, who refer to themselves as an umbrella organization that aims to make global trade fairer for farm ers and food pro ducers.

Fairtrade International sets a mini mum price on goods like cof fee to ensure producers are protected if the price drops in global markets. Farmers also re ceive a Fairtrade premium on top of their sale price, which is in vested in commu nity needs. This premium may go towards providing a community a new well, advanced farming tools or im proved education for the farmers' children, as reported by Food Unfolded.

dren aged 13 to 17.

While Fairtrade standards appear to support food producers, the system is not without faults. Some smallholder farmers argue the costs associated with mandatory certifications are too high for smaller coffee producers to support.

Additionally, exploitation still takes place in “fair” coffee businesses.

According to a 2023 article from Fairtrade International, “Studies have shown that producers typically retain around one percent of the retail coffee price which, for a $4 USD cup of coffee,

THUSHANI WIJESOORIYA

Unlike how Fairtrade certifies sustainability from bean to roast, Enveritas can only verify if farms meet their ethical and sustainable standards. Enveritas offers this information to the entire coffee sector but does not result in a label.

Starbucks

Starbucks also uses a third party verification system separate from Fairtrade. According to a 2024 NBC investigation into Starbucks, the world's biggest coffeehouse chain created their own Coffee And Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) practices to oversee its sourcing in over 30 countries.

its sourcing process.

Planet Bean & Campus -wide Coffee

Planet Bean claims 100 per cent commitment to fair trade standards and additional sustainable programs, making it likely to be the most ethical coffee location on campus.

The University of Guelph even has their own Fairtrade beans, thanks to a partnership with Planet Bean Coffee. The Gryphon Blend is harvested through the Café Femenino program, a non-profit that directly compensates women farmers in the Peruvian Andes. A percentage

sity of Guelph?

The Ontarion sat down with Sadaf Mollaei, an assistant professor and the Arrell Chair in the Business of Food at Guelph to answer that question.

“We do see this trend of GenZ’s on campus caring about where their food comes from, the labour force and wages, all the different aspects surrounding their food,” Mollaei said.

These worries are suspended when students see a fair trade sticker on products around campus. However, these stickers come with an increased price tag—one that may deter students from reaching for the sustainable option.

Fairtrade producers must abide by set standards for workers rights, sustainable production and environmental criteria. The “fairness” of fair trade doesn’t just apply to the farmers. Rather, all hands that touch a Fairtrade product—from exporters to manufacturers and buyers to sellers—must be Fairtrade certified.

Certification has documented benefits for food producers. A 2018 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that areas in Costa Rica with a higher concentration of Fairtrade-certified coffee growers were associated with a 3.5 per cent increase in the average income for households in that area. These changes also brought an increase in the probability of school enrollment in chil-

That’s like the final few drops of coffee left inthe cup when you throw it away.

The process of Fairtrade certification is rigorous for a reason: it attempts to ensure that certified products are ethically sourced, guaranteed. That leads us to ask, how does your campus favourite spot source its coffee?

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons, with its four locations on campus, is the classic Canadian option for students in need of a quick caffeine fix. Tim Hortons is not Fairtrade certified, but is partnered with Enveritas, a non-profit that independently evaluates producers’ sustainability and labour practices for coffee and chocolate companies.

They are also partnered with the Rainforest Alliance to maintain an ethical tea and cocoa supply chain.

Starbucks used to boast a “100% ethical” sourcing commitment in its marketing, bolstering faith among consumers that they could sip guilt-free. However, the corporation was sued in 2024 by a consumer advocacy group that alleged Starbucks misled the public in their marketing, due to “human rights and labour abuses” in

of each sale from the Bookstore or Planet Bean also goes towards supporting the Guelph Gryphons female athletic scholarships.

The U of G Bookstore also sells another Fairtrade certified blend, the Gryphon ‘64, with a portion of proceeds donated to the Guelph Student Foodbank.

As a Fair Trade Campus, Fairtrade certified products are available at all non-branded hospitality services locations on campus—from Windows to the Bullring and Mack’s Coffee to Eastside.

Why should you care where your coffee comes from?

Why should coffee beans harvested thousands of kilometers away from campus matter to students at the Univer-

Having fair trade products on campus is only effective if the options are easily accessible and well-promoted.

Mollaei said, “sustainability has to be integrated and embedded into all different activities taking place on campus,” about the university’s commitment to sustainability. The results speak for themselves.

“When people feel that they are involved in a positive initiative, it makes them feel much better about themselves and the choices that they make, and it creates a source of pride and community. Then students will try to convince other students to be a part of that initiative,” she said.

The effects of supporting ethical coffee ripple beyond a singular purchase. Thoughtfully choosing where to buy your coffee demonstrates care for farmers you’ll never meet and may help entire communities leave the cycle of poverty.

How you spend your dollars on campus matters, Mollaei says, since “Students are the university’s most valuable resource.”

Photo by Aditya Parameswaran/THE ONTARION Information graphic by Paige Stampatori

‘Bright Nights’ evenings in Guelph

just got a bit more magical

A permanent installation of twinkle lights brightens Guelph’s downtown core, and there’s more to come

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY MADISON BOUTILIER

The first installation of over 5,000 twinkle lights lit up downtown Guelph on the evening of Nov. 15 with the mission to beautify its streets. The project, given the name Bright Nights, was hosted by the Downtown Guelph Business Association (DGBA) with inspiration from neighbouring town Elora’s Village of Lights.

The installation started the buzz of a lively evening in Downtown Guelph, with live music in St. George’s Square and the Sleeman Centre whirring with hockey fans for the Guelph Storm versus Kitchener Rangers game at 7 p.m.

With growing anticipation, a crowd gathered in the Square awaiting the illumination of the downtown core. The installation was accompanied by live music, with local artist Harry Lee Follon bringing warmth to a rainy evening and a hint of nostalgia for all who listened.

Shortly after 6 p.m., the lights flickered to life down Quebec Street and the Square, and heads turned to take in the town in the new light. In a conversation with The Ontarion, Sam Jewell, event manager for the DGBA, looked out at the lights, noting that the first installation looked even greater than expected.

“It’s classy, I think it’s perfect for the market that we’re going to have happening.”

A small crowd lingered in

the square upon lighting to soak up the magic of the evening. The atmosphere resembled the beginning of a Christmas classic, with families dancing and couples swaying to the rhythm of Follon’s music.

Community members appreciated the work done by the DGBA, with some saying the lights added new life to historical features of many buildings in the downtown core. The lights also help to create a safe and inviting atmosphere as the days grow shorter into the winter season.

“We want to make sure that Guelph becomes a destination for people,” Jewell said, hoping that the installation sparks conversation within the community and on social media.

Quebec Street is a hub for local businesses in Guelph, and the lights aim to attract residents and newcomers to visit and support small business owners.

The opening night was only phase one of the Bright Nights installations as more are planned to illuminate the streets throughout the next three to four years.

“I think you could look at [the town] on the socials and go, yeah, that’s a place I want to come and visit.”

For the latest updates on events in the city, follow @downtownguelph on social media.

Even the Old Quebec Street Shops were lit up for the occasion.

The installation seeks to beautify Quebec Street and attract new and returning customers to the businesses there.

Guelph’s downtown was aglow with twinkle lights. Setting the tone for the coming Christmas Market.

The Christmas mood and the twinkle lights made it the perfect event for couples to attend.

The DGBA installed the lights to coax more people to visit Quebec Street and support small businesses.

Harry Lee Follon performs for the crowd.

ARTS & CULTURE

Misinformation is spreading around Guelph–but

don’t

fear, they sound amazing

From covers to originals, this student band is bringing people from across the city together

ARTICLE

&

PHOTOS BY SOFIA KUPKA

Misinformation is a student-formed band that began here at the University of Guelph.

While they typically perform covers, they are also introducing music of their own. The band is made up of six members: singers Gabriella Hooper-Lavoie and Matt Shelley, guitarist Ethan Emes, bassist Jaden Himell, pianist Evie Prosperi and drummer Stephen Haronitis. While these are their primary roles, the band members like to switch and play different instruments or sing.

The band formed last January with a shared love for music.

“Kim Francis, head of the music department, got us together,” said Haronitis.

Agreeing, Hooper-Lavoie said, “We met on the first day of class and decided to stick together after that.”

The meaning behind the name Misinformation is as playful as it is interesting.

“Jaden had a list of names on his phone, they were all really funny. We were trying to figure out which one was good, not just funny,” Haronitis said. “After some thinking, we settled on Misinformation.”

The band's sound and style doesn't fit into just one genre. It's diverse and reflects each of the members' unique tastes.

“We don’t make [only] one genre of music because all of us like different genres and we've respected that and just combined everything together,” Hooper-Lavoie said.

Similarly, Haronitis said, “we just play around with the melody and lyrics."

Misinformation’s influences range across different bands and

artists, primarily indie bands like Peach Pit, Mustard Service and Couch. Hooper-Lavoie mentioned that soul and funk artist Stevie Wonder inspired their song “Crazy Stupid.”

Sometimes, the group likes to experiment with genre—Himell described that for their song “Brazil” they “just wanted to write a bossa.”

Their song writing process is interesting, with three members describing different approaches. Haronitis described that the band first makes a melody and then, they all close their eyes and ask where the melody takes them. Emes said that other times, the band tries to start writing a song, but they end up “having a conversation about the world and that kind of leads to an idea for a song."

“Sometimes we start with a vibe and then we picture a scene and take that scene and then decide what we can say with it and what’s a fun way to say it,” Himell said.

For Misinformation, performing is a thrilling experience that allows them to better connect with the crowd.

Haronitis said his favourite part about performing is bringing people together.

“Getting a bunch of people in one room to forget about what's going on in life and to just enjoy the moment. It's something I struggle with a lot, so it's nice when I put my energy out for people they give it back to me and everything just becomes like a really nice vibe.”

Similarly, Hooper-Lavoie said that she really loves feeding off the energy of the crowd.

“If you're performing in a dead space it feels unsatisfying,

like ugh, I’m performing. Our gig at Brothers before Halloween, when the whole crowd was into it and everyone was just singing, was so fun.”

Emes compared the experience of performing to watching sports: “The energy I felt watching the World Series. I get that same feeling when I'm on stage.”

The band describes music as an escape and a way to put yourself out there. When it comes to creating new music, the band's advice was sweet and simple: “Do it, make it.”

Haronitis suggested that it's mainly just getting involved and being out there. Don’t feel too afraid to release music—Guelph has a great music scene, so if you want to start playing something, come out and play.

Hooper-Lavoie described the importance of networking in the

music fields.

“Network, network, network. Go show up to gigs and introduce yourself or talk to people and opportunities will get thrown at you.”

Emes thinks when making music you should be open to discussion and feedback. “For our last set, there was a harmony that I was doing, and Gabrielle was like, ‘Yeah, I don't know if I like that.’

So it's just evolving and not letting your feelings get hurt,” she said.

As for the future of Misinformation, their plans seem promising, yet realistic.

“Five years from now we'll all be graduated, so who knows what will happen,” Hooper-Lavoie said.

“Maybe we won't be gigging like we are now, but I'd love to get together once in a while and just play.”

“I'd love to still be playing. If I could be playing music instead

of working a desk job where I'm coding, that would be amazing. If we're not playing at 25 that's my quarter life crisis,” Himell added.

The band hopes to keep growing, even aspiring to embark on a tour around the province.

“We've gained a lot of momentum now, so if we do what we say we want to do and release one of our songs, and it’s well received, we could definitely have a solid thing in our hands and go around different cities in Ontario,” Haronitis said. “I’m intending on doing music for the rest of my life in some capacity.”

With their new song “TV Static” coming out soon, Misinformation shows no signs of stopping. Whether they are singing their own songs or bringing people together through covers, this student-made band is helping keep Guelph's music scene alive.

The rise of Substack

What does sharing your artwork on social media say about you?

VALERIE MONTERROZA

Everyone seems to have a Substack these days. This once-underestimated publishing platform has slowly risen to become the forefront of the freelance creative industry. But why has it become so popular? What’s behind this sudden uptake in so-called Substack “journalism”?

Substack is an online publishing platform for writers and creatives to build and monetize a subscription-based audience through newsletters, podcasts and videos. Creators can offer content for free or charge a subscription fee, with the platform taking a percentage of paid subscription revenue. Some have noted similarities to other platforms such as Tumblr or Reddit. Where Substack deviates is by delivering content directly to subscribers’ inboxes.Features like comments, chat and forums allow creators to interact with their audience, building their own virtual community.

With its swift and steady rise in popularity, the platform is beginning to be associated with other forms of social media. People tend to use social media as a highlight reel or a curated magazine of their lives. The same can now be said for Substack. It’s like the same way people become snobbish about what they repost on social media or their top four movies on Letterboxd.

Can sharing on Substack signal a sense of subconscious superiority? On top of its aesthetic

appeal, there is something to be said about choosing to endlessly scroll through educational forms of social media.

On TikTok, scrolling through educational media has become a trend glamorizing “educational scrolling.” The trend titled “Media I’ve Consumed This Week Instead of Scrolling” features users highlighting articles they’ve read, research about topics they discovered interest in, and documentaries or long form content they engaged with instead of mindlessly scrolling on social media. Does mindlessly scrolling educational content make us feel better about the time we waste on social media? Many creators have taken to sharing their own “personal curriculums.” With curated lessons, this type of content is delivered more often than a typical blog post here and there, centered around specific themes or skills within the creator’s interest areas or expertise. But why should we value the opinions of influencers or social media personalities? Should they have the ability to dictate what people should listen to or learn about?

Having this form of online education readily available allows it to be individualized to the person seeking it. It can allow them to have a more flexible schedule that meets their needs. It cuts through the often cumbersome bureaucracy involved with academia. Learning about topics that

interest you at your own pace can be extremely beneficial for people who learn better when creating their own structure. It can also be a platform for people to connect with others who share the same interests.

But what about group-based, alternative education through book clubs, library programs or skills programs? In a time where hyper-individualism is on the rise and young people are yearning for community, could individualized learning replace the need for the community found in group-based education?

The hyper-individualism young people are experiencing has led them to seek out community through social media. Rather than attending a workshop at the local library or events in their own communities, young people go online instead. With individu-

al writing platforms like Substack becoming more popular, creative writing could slowly become more of an individual activity. The same could soon be said for different types of learning. When creative outlets transform into aesthetic signalling or curated depictions of ourselves, it takes away from the educational aspects of creation. Without the support and peer feedback or even a safe space to make mistakes, people may not be able to reach the potential they might have otherwise, had they been a part of a group setting where they could flourish. When education becomes hyper-individualized, the learning experiences provided from practicing a skill in real time are taken away, and key insights from a real teacher could be missed.

Substack’s rise to fame has captured a generational shift.

It has created a pull towards self-motivated education. While also create a desire to curate what we consume but how we present ourselves on the internet. The platform has various benefits, such as accessibility and flexibility. However, its popularity risks overshadowing the importance of communal learning. When education becomes something we use to perform, we lose the value of collaboration and the connections that come from it.

Substack and similar platforms aren’t inherently harmful, but their influence raises important questions: What do we sacrifice when the importance of community is lost? And how do you balance the appeal of individualized learning with the immeasurable value of collective spaces, where ideas are shaped, challenged and expanded together?

Personal curriculums and Substack blogs may not be mindless scrolling, but they lack the benefits of communal learning. Aditya Parameswaran/THE ONTARION

Hold my phone, the digicam is having a moment

Gen-Z has brought back the digital camera

EMILY SCOTT

Y

ou might have noticed a trend around campus and in downtown nightlife: a big flash from a small piece of vintage tech. The digital camera has resurged among Gen Z, with more and more people grabbing their early 2000s family

vacation cameras to capture and document their university experiences. But why are these forgotten relics suddenly trendy, despite the high-definition quality of the smartphone cameras in our pockets?

December 2025

music guide

What to listen to when the weather gets cold

MADELYN YOUNG

It is difficult to approach the cold weather with a positive mindset when the pop and country music that filled headphones and speakers all summer long doesn’t feel quite right. There is something unsatisfying about putting your favorite jacket on, brewing a warm coffee and listening to the same playlist you enjoyed at the beach. With that being said, December is a fantastic time to diversify your playlist, before data collection for Spotify Wrapped resets for 2026. Here is a list of underrated albums to create a great ambience for background music, whether you are locked in at the library, tidying your room, or making your

For one, Gen Z is searching for nostalgic and authentic experiences, think more hands-on and crafty hobbies. We've seen this nostalgic trend as clothing, music and technology gravitate towards the 90s and 2000s eras. This marked a simpler time for Gen Z, where everything seemed a little more magical. A digital camera captures those genuinely fun and real moments. The compact, point-and-shoot style of many digital cameras makes them easy to carry for events and everyday use. But nostalgia isn't the whole story.

There is a desire to be more present in daily life and to take a break from constant phone addiction. A digital camera helps people stay present without the distractions their phone brings.

When was the last time you looked at the random pictures you take every day on your phone? Probably less than you realize. But

Blinded By Fame by Dutch Interior

how many times do you go back to look at digital camera pictures that your friend captured on their old camera? Chances are, you’ve revisited them often and shared them with friends too. Digital cameras make taking photos more intentional. You only capture the meaningful moments instead of the endless archive of your life in your photos app. Next time you're out and about, count how many digicam flashes you see in a night. The digicam aesthetic is also a factor in the resurgence. Many people say they look significantly better in digital camera photos than in smartphone photos and prefer digicam pictures of themselves. With the longer focal length and fewer megapixels, digital camera photos capture a softer, more natural image of yourself. The quality blurs imperfections and generally, people like taking pictures of themselves more if they can't see every pore on

their face without editing. It makes photos more natural and intuitive, like they used to be before social media.

If you're looking to hop on the bandwagon of the digicam trend, beware of “scameras.” Scameras are fake camera sellers looking to capitalize on the growing digicam trend and seeking to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers. These scammers will attempt to sell high-resolution point-and-shoot digital cameras at extremely low prices. Many of these scams are happening on online retailers like Amazon. Remember to be safe when purchasing products online and to do your research on the seller before buying any second-hand cameras.

Embrace the imperfect photos and go against the polished digital life of social media. Go touch some snow and bust out that old digicam this holiday season. Happy picture taking!

favorite winter recipe.

The Art of Loving by Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving is an incredible, thoughtful album that captures the essence of love in so many ways. The album takes a creative mix of R&B, pop and jazz, offering the perfect music for a calm, everyday listen. For more mindful listeners, Dean stands out for her powerful lyrics, painting pictures and stories of her own life throughout the album. The Art of Loving will be your best friend if you are looking for an album to enjoy while reading your favorite romance novel or journaling.

Blinded By Fame is a sweet, genuine album peering into the folk and indie genre with an intimate feel, having literally been created in a garage. If you are a fan of Alex G or the growing sub-genre of dreamy alternative music, this is the album for you. Whether you are taking a late night walk in the snow or cleaning your room, the beats of “I’ll Be Damned” or “The Man Can Dance” are hard not to fall in love with.

Twenty Twenty by Djo

If you too are anticipating the finale of Stranger Things releasing this December, you may be pleased to know that artist Joe Keery, the man behind the role of Steve Harrington, is a multitalented man. Twenty Twenty, Djo’s first album, is psychedelic and groovy, putting a unique twist on the alternative genre. The guitar and bass-dominant expression of many of the songs provides an upbeat and almost transcendental feeling to the album. Many of the tracks set the tone for each one that follows, cre-

ating an almost story-like energy. If you enjoyed the sound of hit song “End of Beginnings,” which reached many top 100 charts this year, Twenty Twenty is a perfect gateway to Djo’s earlier music.

Angel Face by Stephen Sanchez

If you find yourself thinking you were born in the wrong generation and wishing you could be transported back to the 50s and 60s to enjoy the music scene, then Sanchez may just make that possible. Angel Face is a perfect compilation of retro pop-rock and sweet lyrical melodies. Sanchez creates a story throughout his album, painting himself as a character in his own tale. You have likely heard “Until I Found You,” Sanchez’s hit song in late 2022 and early 2023, and the remainder of this album embraces that same romantic feel. Whether you are on the bus or need a good album to dance around to, Angel Face is perfect for just that.

One Wayne G by Mac DeMarco

As midterms pass and final

season quickly approaches, and daily stressors increase, there is a growing need for calming background music. One Wayne G, a nine-hour long intricate composition, may just fill that void. Mac DeMarco, a popular Canadian artist known for his soft-rock and indie music, steps outside the box with One Wayne G. It is certainly an abstract album. The lo-fi and seemingly endless length of the album make it an easy and unique option for a study session.

Oncle Jazz by Men I Trust

If a nine-hour artsy track does not appeal to you, try listening to Men I Trust. With similar lo-fi songs consisting of calming melodies and hints of jazz and dream-pop, Oncle Jazz is a wonderful compilation of some of Men I Trust’s best pieces. Based in Montreal, Men I Trust incorporates both English and French lyrics into their music, adding a distinctly Canadian touch on many songs. This album maximizes the ambiance of reading in the library or trying to stay calm while cramming at home.

Digicams coming in all shapes and sizes have been flying off the shelves, mostly on account of the ‘vintage’ look that they impart onto their photos. Aditya Parameswaran/THE ONTARION

Digicams create softer more ‘dreamlike’ images than the sharper images that conventional cameras and cell phones produce. Photo provided by Emily Scott

Meet Islamic Relief Guelph

The new U of G club brings attention to humanitarian causes through engaging initiatives like matcha sales and outdoor hikes

REMA ABDULLAH

I

slamic Relief Guelph (IRG), a new club on campus and chapter of Islamic Relief Canada, has gained plenty of attention through their tables in the University Centre (UC) courtyard, items for sale, and initiatives.

The group was started in January of 2025 by two sisters with a passion for service, change, and encouraging young leaders. Emaan and Inayah Butt, the co-presidents of Islamic Relief Guelph, spoke to the mission of the club.

“Islamic Relief at U of G is a chapter of the Islamic Relief Canada organization, which is a humanitarian organization, and they focus on issues around the world, and countries around the world that are suffering,” Emaan said.

“What makes them different is that they invest in community sustainability so that [communities] don’t have to rely on humanitarian organizations for aid, and be self-reliant,” Inayah said. “We strive to keep their mission, morals, and values.”

“The point of introducing Islamic Relief on campus is because you have such untapped potential, and we want to see more youth leaders. When we advocate about causes around the world, it will inspire people to do more within their community but also globally,” Inayah said.

The journey to start the club came through a shared experience that inspired a passion project by the two siblings.

“IRG in general would not have started without an Inspire trip,” Emaan said.

“That’s a travel-abroad program that helps orphans and refugees around the world. They take on majority youth because they want them to become changemakers. When they come back, they implement a Passion Project in the community, and this project allows them to bring whatever they learned abroad to their own borders,” Inayah said.

“We want to push youth to go on these

team

year

trips and expand, to show them there’s so much more in the world than what they’re used to,” Emaan said.

“The main takeaway from our trip was ‘Yes we’re helping these people’, but there's always a smile on each kid’s face. [It] was ultimately a trip for yourself—to reflect on yourself. After the trip we wanted to do our best to make IRG the best club it can be,” Emaan said.

“When we came back, that’s when we decided on the goal for IRG—to raise $50,000 and host over 50 events. We already hit the ground running,” Inayah said.

The sisters share that they feel IRG is unique because it encourages students to apply based on their humanitarian interests. They hope to attract members with a passion for serving others.

“So even when me and Emaan are no longer co-presidents it will continue,” Inayah said. “Our team members want to continue this and ultimately that’s the goal we wanted.”

While the club is not faith-based, it “is based on the morals and values of Islam, but we strive to help all people around the world.”

The five values of Islamic Relief are: Sincerity, Custodianship, Excellence, Compassion, and Social Justice.

Initiatives

Each month, the group focuses on a different country. In September, the focus was on Sudan, in October, Palestine, and in November the focus was Yemen.

“So every month we pick a cause and dedicate all our efforts to them,” said Inayah.

Another initiative is during Ramadan, a holy month in Islam meant for self-purification and discipline.

“Every Ramadan, we aim to build wa-

ter wells. Last year we were able to build a waterwell in Pakistan,” Emaan said.

Their goal is to fundraise $12,000 over the month, and add an engraved IRG and U of G plaque on the well.

“So we have a lot of big goals this year—we’re setting up the club for success. We wanted to get IRG out there, and tell people about our goal and our mission, and allow it to continue for years to come,” Emaan said.

The club is also proud of their work during Charity Week, an intense one-week fundraising event.

“IRG’s team this year has been amazing. They have the passion, the motivation, and yes there was a lot of stress,” Emaan said. “But we endured to work hard and do the best we can, and that has never failed us. We raised over $40,000 over the week!”

Matcha For a Cause and ethical consumerism

One of IRG’s more well known initiatives supports a cornerstone of Islamic Relief’s goals. Their popular weekly matcha sales can be found every Friday in the UC Courtyard, in collaboration with Salam Sips, Muslim women-owned business that aims to raise funds for orphan sponsorship.

“We got a student who started a business, and she reached out over the summer and said that she heard we were interested in having matcha every week,” Emaan said.

“She is so supportive of our initiatives and we hers, that’s why I think it works because we both want each other to succeed,” Inayah said.

“Because of all the boycotts happening, her logo is ‘Peace in a Cup’, and so she shares that same vision with us and pushes people to pick the better option,” Emaan said.

IRG hosts Matcha for a Cause in the UC to encourage people to choose a locally-made, fresh and handmade option as opposed to the Starbucks nearby. From Salam Sips alone, IRG plans on raising $2,160 to support two orphans throughout the year.

The future

IRG is known for the variety of events they host, from matcha sales, and outdoor hikes, to selling henna art, and are excited for new community initiatives in the year.

“One event we do plan on having is a hygiene packing event,” Emaan said, “we want to put together 100 to 200 hygiene kits for the winter.”

“We try to really cater these events to the student body and to the audience we have–there's something for everyone,” Emaan said.

Get involved

IRG also encourages advocacy and education for causes around the world.

"A lot of people don’t know what’s going on around the world—they know people need water, people need food, but they don’t actually know the reason behind these issues,” Emaan said.

“Whenever a new month starts, we talk about the issues in the countries we’re focusing on. So normally we post on our Instagram. For example, in October we posted about Palestine and we gave a little history on what is happening and why it's happening.”

“We’re always open to new ideas. There are multiple different issues around the world that need help and there are multiple different people that can help,” Inayah said.

To learn more about IRG’s mission, you can find them on Instagram @ir.guelph

"IRG's

this

has been amazing," said Emaan Butt, a co-president of the club. Photo provided by Islamic Relief Guelph

University of Guelph’s Akedo Festival

The event celebrated a community of like-minded

people

ARTICLE BY FAUSTINE LIU & PHOTOS BY ADITYA PARAMESWARAN

On Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., students, artists and anime enthusiasts gathered in the University Centre (UC) to participate in the Akedo Festival, a convention celebrating Japanese pop culture.

Organized by U of G clubs and student volunteers, and sponsored by KW Creators, Wooacry and The Dragon Guelph, this year’s festival included activities ranging from experiencing artistic work to participating in workshops and competitions.

The festival’s main attraction was the artist alley, which commenced at 11 a.m., showcasing rows of tables containing artistic creations from student vendors and local artists. Art-related merchandise included keychains, stickers and posters, which were available for purchase as a show of support to the artists.

The prize counter was a system that rewarded visitors for their support. For every $10 spent at the artist alley, attendees earned a ticket that could be exchanged for prizes any time during the event. Prizes were located at the main entrance counter and included collectibles such as individual stickers, postcards and sticker sheets. The artist alley was a fan-favourite part of the event.

“Being able to support local artists and getting more posters for my dorm is cool,” one attendee said. “Plus, the keychains are so cute and good for backpack accessories.”

Many people attending the event also arrived in cosplay, dressing up as their favourite characters from shows, anime and video games. For many, the Akedo Festival was not only a place to display their artistic skills, but an opportunity to connect with people with similar interests and hobbies.

At 12 p.m., the first stage performances opened with a warm welcome from the event organizers. Around 1 p.m., the Idol Rush Toronto Random Dance workshop began on stage in the Peter Clark Hall, as instructors from the Idol

Rush Toronto danced and taught choreographed routines from J-pop and other pop music. Participants either watched or danced along them, learning more about idol culture.

At 2 p.m., the cosplay competition commenced in the UC basement, which brought together many talented cosplayers who showcased their outfits on stage one by one while striking poses that suit their portrayed characters. For instance, one participant cosplayed as a Minecraft Frieren, which combined two fandoms: the video game, Minecraft, and the anime, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Winners were determined by a voting poll from the audience.

Besides performances, the Akedo Festival offered many workshops and activities. At 5:30 p.m., the Akedo Festival anime trivia event started. The trivia encouraged friendly competition between casual viewers and dedicated fans who showcased their anime-related knowledge and expertise.

The Anime Deco Keychain workshop was hosted in collaboration with Ichigo Mart. For $15, attendees could craft their own decorative keychains using custom designs or by inserting their favourite character images. People dropped in anytime between 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., creating handmade keychains which served as a great memento from the event.

The Maid Café served hungry attendees seeking a café experience. Inspired by Japan’s themed cafés, VIP guests were treated to meals that were composed of one omurice (a Japanese omelet dish), a maid café sticker and three out of ten possible collectible photocards. Other items on the menu included Tonkatsu sandwiches and Tonkatsu curry, which were served by volunteers dressed up in maid-inspired outfits.

. For many attendees, the Akedo Festival was an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who shared a passion for Japanese pop culture and art. For students, it also served as an event to hang out with their friends and escape from academic stress.

The winners of the cosplay contest pose for the cameras.

The Artists Alley vendors provided all sorts of knick-knacks such as stickers and prints.

The Artists Alley was the first thing one would see after getting your pass.

The Maid Cafe was a good place to take a break and get some refreshments before going back to indulge in Otaku culture.

The free drawing posters attracted artists of all stripes to doodle.

The MC for the contests introduces the winners of the cosplay contest.

The winner of the cosplay contest, dressed as a Minecraft rendition of the titular character of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, shows off their cosplay for the paper.

UoG’s Photography Club was out in force to photograph the various cosplayers, such as this person cosplaying Jinu from Kpop Demon Hunters.

Guelph Spoken Word celebrates 17 years of poetry slams held rain, pandemic or shine

Artistic director and slam champion

Truth Is … describes poetry as a force for connection

ANDREEA BURLACU

Since being founded by Beth Anne Ellipsis in 2008, Guelph Spoken Word has hosted poetry slams every third Saturday of each month. Even during the COVID-19 lockdowns, they pivoted their slams to be held virtually–although artistic director Truth Is … much prefers the energy of in-person events. With an open mic segment and a competitive slam, feelings are voiced into spoken word that gets audiences snapping, stomping and clapping.

Slam poetry originated in Chicago in the 1980s with a construction worker named Marc Kelly Smith who wanted to “put poetry back into the hands of average, regular people,” Truth Is … described. Truth Is … started performing in the Toronto slam poetry scene around 2003. Upon meeting Ellipsis, they were encouraged to come to Guelph more regularly. She had initially “never even heard” of this city, but she took strides to put it on the map.

“I was involved in organizing, booking features, just connecting with the community,” they said. “That was about 17 years ago… and I’m still in love. In all the ways. [Beth and I] are married now as well. We joke that the poetry slam was like our first child–a lot of care and attention has gone into raising it and making sure it connects with the community that it serves.”

Truth Is … described the importance of creating a space where people feel safe enough to be vulnerable and take a chance on expressing themselves. This allows for relationships to build between a poet and their audience, as well as within local and national communities. The Guelph team even won the national competition in Winnipeg in 2016.

Spoken word brings out the “breadth of the human being”–the funny, the quirky and the awk-

ward, alongside “heartbreaking, downtrodden trauma that needs to be unearthed.”

At Guelph Spoken Word’s October slam, poets discussed diverse subjects: a letter to one’s abusive father, advocacy for Palestine and against gender-based violence, “We are all enough and worthy”, “On Nakedness”, and even a manifestation the Blue Jays would win their next game.

Since discovering slam poetry, Truth Is … considered it to be “the cheapest form of therapy.”

“It helped connect with all the issues–making friends, finding place and value, being heard–and it was available to everyone,” they said.

Here is how the monthly events work: people can sign up to perform online or at the door, with a certain amount of slots available for both the open mic and the slam. In the open mic, performers can “share anything within five minutes.” Then comes the first round of the slam.

“What differentiates the poetry slam from an open mic is that there are more rules that make it exciting and competitive and bring out that challenge,” Truth Is … said.

Participants can present original poems only, with no musical accompaniment, no costumes or props, and they must abide by a three minute time limit.

Five randomly selected audience members judge the poems from zero to 10 with decimal points–“zero being the absolute worst poem you ever heard in your life, you just threw up out of your ear, and then 10 being multiple eargasms,” Truth Is … said.

The lowest and highest scores are dropped, and the three middle ones are added up. Whoever gets the highest out of 30 moves on to the second round of the competition. Then, the winner receives a

$100 prize.

“In Chicago, it was like $10,” Truth Is … said. “Because it was never really about winning, it’s about the poetry. The points are never the point. The poetry is the point.”

The poetry slams also have a feature poet, which changes monthly. For their upcoming slam on Dec. 20, the feature will be Dan Murray, whom Truth Is … called “a funny-ass poet and a really great vibe to have.” The December slam is their annual “Funny Slam”—it gives people a light in an emotional time, especially for those who do not get to make it home for the holidays.

In choosing a feature poet, Truth Is … said she ensures there are diverse perspectives being brought to the stage so everyone can see themselves represented.

Truth Is … also described what makes a great slam poetry performance for those that might be interested in performing. Slam poetry involves building a relationship with the audience using bravery, trust and cleverness. The poet must ask themselves: “Who needs to hear this?” and “Why does this need to be said out loud?”

“It’s not just a journal entry, it’s not just a rant, it’s a call to connect,” Truth Is … said.

Some more advice is to play around with cadence, delivery and rhyming schemes. Also, look at the depth of poetic devices and truly examine your own perspective to create a more original piece.

“You’re talking about your feelings. There are words for those feelings… don’t give me the dictionary definition. Give me yours,” she said.

Once poets have been as creative as they can, Truth Is … said that they have written the work that’s meant to be shared.

Poetry is a call to connect, but it can also be a call to action, with many slam poems invoking political expression. Truth Is … described that one’s individual issues are important, “but so is being human and connecting with humanity, which involves relating to the outside world.” When performers voice concern about political and ethical issues, they encourage audiences to connect with their humanity and relate to others.

“The beautiful thing about art is that an artist can speak in

ways that make you realize things you didn’t realize, or take in things in a way you didn’t understand before,” Truth Is … said.

Apart from the poetry slam, Guelph Spoken Word offers a more “demure” writing environment with “On the Page, Off the Page.” This writer’s circle is held at The Cornerstone on the first Tuesday of every month. Writers are given a prompt to expand upon, and then there is a relaxed open mic segment afterwards for those keen to share.

Seventeen years into Guelph Spoken Word, Truth Is … said that they cannot imagine their life without slam poetry.

“I am happy to listen, to clap, to snap, to stomp, to make some noises for noise’s sake, whatever, I am here for it,” she said. “That’s what I get up every third Saturday of the month to enjoy… I like looking out into the world and connecting with my fellow humans. Beautiful.”

For more information on these events, or to learn more about Guelph Spoken Word in general, you can check out their website guelphspokenword.org, as well as their Instagram @ guelphspokenword.

“The beauty of community is powerful,” Truth Is … said. Andreea Burlacu/THE ONTARION

The Athletic Centre introduces new Irish dance class

Exploring Irish culture and heritage through dance

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY SARAH D’AVILA ALEMAN

Canada has welcomed many Irish immigrants throughout the centuries, which has left a lasting impression on the cultural mosaic that makes up this beautiful and diverse country. Although Irish heritage is especially prevalent in the Maritimes, Irish Canadians can be found all over the country. Their culture shines through their cuisine and folk music, and in their shared values of community and generosity.

Irish culture can also be seen through dance. Irish dance has a long history believed to have its roots in Celtic Ireland, with pagan rituals and festivals. In the 17th century and onwards, many travelling masters visited various villages and taught the style. During this time, influence from other traditional dances such as English country dances and French quadrilles started to be combined. By the end of the 19th century, Irish dance had been standardized into a version that is more recognizable to how it’s known today, and has persevered as a distinguished dance form beyond its home country. As you might have guessed, one of these places is Canada.

The Ontarion sat down with Erin McCabe to gain insight into the world of Irish Dance. McCabe is a U of G student and the instructor and choreographer for the Athletic Centre’s new Irish dance class.

As a decade-long competitive Irish dancer, the idea to start the class came from McCabe herself.

Having started dance as a young girl, she grew to love the dance form and eventually grew to miss it upon starting university.

“Now being more grown up, I definitely miss it a lot,” McCabe said.

Seeing last year’s dance recital inspired her to suggest the class as a way to encourage others to try this style of dance, as well as to continue her personal journey of dancing.

Despite having some prior assisting experience at her studio, this is McCabe’s first time leading a class as the sole instructor. Inspired by encouragement of her former instructors, it is obvious that she has cultivated a positive and uplifting environment where her dancers feel part of a community, however large or small.

The Irish dance world is international, with global competitions being held in various countries, including Canada, Scotland, England, the USA, and of course, Ireland. However, as a recreational pastime, the community is still fairly niche. Many might recognize the style from the 1995 musical Riverdance or from general performances, but there is still some mystery surrounding it. McCabe shares that this was part of the reason that led her to propose the class—to help demystify and expose more people to this distinct style.

“It is a small community, but for it to grow would be amazing,” McCabe said.

She has been successful in this so far. Out of all those who signed up for this class, over half had no previous experience in this style of dance. McCabe finds that this “good mix” of levels makes for a rewarding opportunity to teach. The class is mainly made up of young women eager to immerse themselves in a new experience.

“There was a lot of quick progress made,” McCabe said. “Every week, I had something new to teach them because they were picking it up so fast.”

Some students shared their reasons for joining the class. Many were drawn to the crossover between athleticism and art, but the music spoke to them as well. A few students also had previous experience in highland dancing, a Scottish dance form. While there is a lot of crossover between the two, which can be attributed to shared Celtic roots, there are elements that distinguish each one.

Despite finding the class challenging at times, the experience has been rewarding due to the welcoming community, which makes it exciting to progress, the students shared.

“We’re all at different levels and not necessarily moving towards the same specific goals, but everyone is progressing, which is great,” one dancer said.

Many look forward to taking the class again.

While there are endless amounts of well-known reels–or variations–in Irish dance, McCabe has found a way to innovate within this relatively traditional dance style. Rather than teaching one of these standardized reels, McCabe has “decided to do it completely from scratch.”

“It has Irish elements built into it but it is something that works for all the dancers at different levels,” she said.

Another way McCabe has been able to innovate is by using

a more modern take on traditional Irish dance music. This makes the dance form more appealing to those who have never been exposed to it before without diluting its true spirit. McCabe expressed that her first time choreographing something from scratch was challenging at times, but using prior knowledge and trusting her vision, the result has been rewarding.

While the class has exposed more people to Irish dance, the fall dance recital will certainly make Irish dance known amongst hundreds of audience members. McCabe shared her excitement to see her final product take the stage after witnessing her students’ improvement from the first class and onward throughout a 10week period.

This is an opportunity that McCabe does not take for granted—she aspires to become an officially certified Irish dance teacher. A major goal McCabe plans to achieve in her lifetime is to open her own studio and further inspire more people to explore this

style, along with her sister. In the meantime, however, she hopes that this Irish dance class at U of G has another shot next semester, with the possibility of even more new students.

All in all, it’s safe to say that this community of dancers has shared positive outcomes and a memorable experience. Their experiences demonstrate why this is such an amazing opportunity for those who decide to join the class, but it also highlights the importance of keeping traditional art forms alive and sharing different cultures. Highlighting global dance styles promotes a vibrant mosaic of cultures and a welcoming space for Guelph students to express themselves through dance.

The 2025 fall Dance Recital will take place on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Athletic Centre. Hundreds of dancers, including the Irish dancers, will display their hard work and artistry in a diverse range of choreographed numbers.

A pair of dancers show off their dancing shoes.

The dance students line up in front of the mirror and get ready to practice.

The dancers show off their complex formations as they speed around the room.

Busy Reading: Tales of a local bookseller

Kieran Dunn, owner of Janus Books, on the life-changing gift of books

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY EMMERSON JULL

Welcome back to Busy Reading, a monthly column for bookworms and library lovers. Each month, our Associate Editor shares the joy of reading by profiling local writers, exploring emerging genres and compiling book reviews. Don’t forget to check out the Busy Reading Book Club’s monthly pick!

Scrawled across a yellow sticky note, pasted behind the desk at Janus Books, are the words: “This bookstore is a weapon! Use it wisely.” It’s a creed that far outweighs the tiny paper it’s written on.

Kieran Dunn, the owner of Janus Books, came to bookselling honestly. He skipped his university classes to frequent used bookstores, and preferred to read from his own syllabus rather than following another’s.

After dropping out from his computer science degree, Dunn decided the time was right. He opened Janus Books in 2012.

The store’s location is cozy, nestled in the corner of The Shops at Paisley plaza, right beside Market Fresh.

It’s stocked wall-to-wall with wooden bookshelves cast in yellowed fluorescent lighting. The store’s sections are designated with printed paper labels, and cat stickers accentuate the table with new arrivals.

Multiple Planet Bean varieties teeter beside the coffee pot

in the back room, which is impressively crammed with duplicate books and those deemed unshelveable.

Meanwhile, a cart in the front boasts pay-what-you-can reads to benefit local charities, including the Royal City Mission and Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis.

Half of the charm of Janus Books is its familiarity—the feeling of walking into a store where the staff remember your purchases and can recommend the perfect book to gift your great-aunt.

The other half of the bookstore’s magic comes from that post-it note slogan, and Dunn’s belief in the Buddhist principle of “right livelihood.”

“There’s things that I won’t do to make a living because they’re bad and they hurt people,” Dunn said. He believes books are different. “I like to think of them as little crystals of knowledge that can spark something. They can change somebody's life.”

Not many are neutral. Their moral and political value is inextricable from choices about whose stories to write, publish, stock, read and discuss in the public sphere.

What is put on the shelf may be understood as a censorship issue. Books can be violently censored; like the piles of books burned in roaring fires in Germany in 1933. Recently, Edmonton Public Schools proposed to ban 226 books from library shelves, including titles from Maya Angelou and Aldous Huxley.

Janus Books isn’t immune from the problem. “We struggle constantly with this concept of censorship,” Dunn said.

Bookstores are run by people who have their own views and understandings of the world. Customers can have diverse political leanings, and in theory, those opinions shouldn’t be alienated or censored on the bookshelf. But some books may be more harmful than others.

For example, Dunn won’t shelve Mein Kampf, and he’s only ever sold one copy—to a history student working on a project. He’s

not trying to censor historical research or learning about the past, but he’d rather other books take up his valuable shelf real estate.

“As much as we have a kind of ‘no censorship’ policy, we also have a ‘we’re humans who live in the world’ policy, and we sometimes make decisions based on that,” Dunn said.

Of course, Dunn doesn’t only stock books he adores.

While customers at Janus Books have an equal chance of finding The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown; the second book is shelved in the “Revolution” section and purchasing it might earn you a heartfelt smile from your cashier.

Dunn says that books can do a lot of things for a lot of people. He finds it most sad when the books aren’t memorable: “When people come in, they look at a book and they say, ‘I don't know if I've read this. I love the author, but I don't know if I've read this.’”

At the very least, books should make an impression, even if they lean towards lighthearted entertainment rather than spellbinding prose.

So, what does the bookseller suggest for a good read? Dunn confesses he has a recency bias when it comes to choosing favourites.

Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These, Sally Rooney’s Normal People, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe have all left recent impressions on Dunn’s reading list, despite the little amount of time he has to read (he acknowledges the irony of a bookseller too busy stocking books to read them).

For customers looking to gift books this holiday season, Dunn is happy to give personalized recommendations, as long as the giver has an idea of what the recipient might enjoy.

Those who like classics should definitely browse the shelves of clothbound and Folio Society editions lining the front of the store. Mysteries can lead towards cozy and comfortable to dark and gory, so choose accord-

books to. He reminisces on the couple who decided to open their own cheese shop after purchasing a book from the cheese section.

It’s these impromptu moments of community that demonstrate what Dunn has worked so hard to build in his little corner of Guelph. Watching friends and customers enter their next chapters is a greater pleasure when he stocks the books that inspire such journeys.

ing to your loved one’s vibe. Simply answer a few questions about their reading preferences and interests, and Dunn is prepared to slide the perfect book right into your hands.

“Some people might want some Murakami, and some people might want some Emily Henry, and some people might want some Jack Kerouac, who knows?”

Not all readers will enjoy all three of these authors, but Dunn muses, “it could happen.”

After 13 years of owning Janus Books, Dunn finds himself moved by the off-page stories that take place in the store.

Like the time a distant friend lost her job and found comfort as she cried amongst the books—and then, by chance, her other friends came by the store, giving her a show of love and connection. He’s always pleased to see young professionals who have grown from the kids he used to sell picture

Dunn isn’t worried about AI, audiobooks or ebooks jeopardizing physical book sales. His store is named for the Roman god of duality, doorways and gateways; meaning Dunn insists the business should always look forwards and backwards.

While the store will continue to be stocked floor-to-ceiling with pre-loved books, Janus Books modernizes in other ways. The store’s website, which came alive during the pandemic, is now updated multiple times a day. Online sales account for nearly 20 per cent of the business. Not to mention that Dunn built the code himself for digitizing the store’s inventory, with those computer science skills he cultivated long before his bookstore was a reality.

Like cheese, books only get better with age. Physical books are here to stay, and Dunn hopes to help his customers find those life-changing stories, year after year.

“I think in 100 years, people will still be reading books and collecting books,” Dunn said. “There's something about them.”

Busy Reading Book Club: Reader’s choice!

Welcome back to the Busy Reading Book Club! Featuring monthly reads with an emphasis on diverse voices and thoughtful stories, we hope to connect with fellow readers to share the joy of great books.

Happy December! This month, we encourage you to choose your own adventure and get busy reading a book of your choice during the winter break. Take this opportunity to cross something off your “to be read” list, or head to a local bookstore and pick something fresh!

Janus Books is offering all high school and postsecondary students 10% off their in-store purchase when they show valid student ID at checkout. Head to Janus Books to grab your book club pick for December, do some holiday shopping and enjoy perusing their selection of gently used books.

The book club will return to regularly scheduled reads in January, so make sure to catch our first selection of 2026 in our January issue. Tell us if you’re reading along by emailing ae@theontarion.com, or stay tuned via Instagram, @ontarionupdates, for updates on our monthly meetings.

“As someone who loves books, reading them, collecting them, talking about them, you know, it's a wonderful job for that,” Dunn said.

Janus Books has over 70 sections to browse.

How fitness can change your life

The power a lifestyle change can make on both your mind and body

ABBIE SAKAMOTO

Ever since I was in elementary school, I’ve hated fitness…especially gym class. My peers and I learned during our youth that some people were jocks and athletes, and some of us were not. Gym and fitness, in my experience, grew a negative connotation and brewed feelings of rejection and ostracization—mixed with burning lungs from running laps, rules I didn’t understand and dodgeballs to the face.

It wasn’t until high school that I began considering myself an athlete. While I had been riding horses for 14 years, I felt like I didn’t earn the label until I began wrestling for my school’s varsity team. Yet I still dreaded going to gym class and lifting weights. It felt like a chore that only ever ended in me feeling inadequate and deflated. I didn’t understand the “gym rat” and the endorphin rush while working out. So, really, what was the hype all about?

Another reason I hated fitness was because I hated myself. My body has always been one of my greatest opponents in life. I never thought being fit was in the cards for me, especially with my crippling gym anxiety and the lack of instant results, which made me quit after a month. After I finished my first year here at U of G, I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I was living in a body and mind that didn’t feel like my own—one I had no control over. That’s when I finally decided to make a change for good. To invest in the betterment and longevity of my body and mind.

So, for anyone who’s thinking about making a lifestyle change, and for whatever reason, haven’t made the leap yet, I guarantee you that fitness will absolutely change your quality of life. Additionally, it’ll improve your outlook on everything else—a statement that many of your fellow fitness enthusiasts at U of G attest.

Confidence

In my experience, and for other fitness lovers, no matter their experience (from beginners to body builders), you gain a greater sense

of confidence once you begin your journey. One of my favourite professional men’s physique competitors, Shun Kaneko, has said that when you lift and push yourself, whether it’s hitting a new PR or sometimes just making it to the gym, you gain a greater sense of self. You stand a little taller and feel a sort of pride and purpose.

The lessons and strength you gain in the gym are transferrable to other aspects of your life. Knowing that you carry both physical and mental strength, in my opinion, allows you to feel safer and more stable in the world. Overcoming the challenges of starting a new routine, gym anxiety, learning new exercises and staying consistent improves both your body and mind. Telling yourself “I’m showing up” and “I’m better than I was yesterday” helps you realize your capability to move through obstacles and be stronger than your deterrents.

Community

As someone who struggled with crippling gym anxiety that put off my start to fitness for years, I at first made assumptions about gym culture. I thought certain types of people, particularly athletes, were the only ones who belonged in the scene. I felt like I was being judged because I was a beginner and didn’t look like them. I thought I would never be a part of that world, even if deep down, I longed to be included. I was afraid to draw attention to myself or make a mistake out of the fear of embarrassment.

However, the more I went to the gym, I realized that everyone is also there to better themselves and they aren’t out to get you. Once I mustered up the courage to ask for help once, my anxiety began melting away. Bit by bit, I would ask for tips and spots, or ask how many sets they had left without fearing judgement or rejection. As it turns out, a lot of people want to help you and are friendly. I’ve learned that this tight-knit community even transcends cultures. Not only do people develop a routine and camaraderie with each other here at U of G, but at other gyms, too, even as far as Ja-

pan. Seeing the same people often, you inevitably build a rapport with them, resulting in acquaintances and even friendships. Maybe you’ll see them around campus or in one of your classes, connecting dots and bridging the relationship. In fact, that’s how I met some of my closest friends to this day—many of whom are still my lifting buddies, keeping me accountable.

Discipline & routine

The discipline you acquire from lifting, or from any other sport, results in a long lasting productive mindset and routine. Eventually, fitness will be a part of that daily ritual. When I first started (or attempted) the whole fitness thing, I dreaded going to the gym and it felt foreign making space for it. Now, after about two years of consistency, missing a workout feels strange. It’s a lifestyle I once had never imagined, since I had this narrative in my head saying it just wasn’t for me. However, through fitness, I learned this lifestyle is for everyone. It’s just a matter of finding what works for you and becoming comfortable being uncomfortable. Often, people wait for motivation to hit them, or rely on it alone to keep them going. While I wish I could say you will always be motivated, I can’t lie—there will be days you don’t want to show up. There will be days you’re tired, sad, angry or swamped with a million other pressing tasks. While academics, jobs and rest come first, it is also important to build a routine that includes your daily movement. It doesn’t neces-

gain respect, discipline, and kindness for myself both mentally and physically.”

“I have been into fitness since grade six, or from about the age of 14, on and off. Though, I didn’t start to workout consistently until I was 16,” said Kiara Gyomorey, a second-year Justice and Legal Studies student. “I began my fitness journey to improve my mental health and enhance my performance in school, sports and extracurriculars.”

“I’ve been working out for just over three years now, however, I started taking my fitness journey seriously after my first year,” said Cameron Melbourne, a fourth-year psychology student.

sarily need to consist of two hour intense lifts, but setting aside time a few days a week for movement is crucial for self-improvement. Finding a way to balance all essential components of life into a schedule is a super important skill to acquire. Fitness itself subsequently helps you build this structure, not only in terms of your workout split, but because it encourages time management and prioritization.

Hear it from U of G fitness enthusiasts

Whether a varsity athlete, athletic centre staff or your everyday U of G student, there’s room for anyone in the fitness space. It doesn’t matter if you’re in first or fifth year, in CJPP or neuroscience. People fall in love with fitness for a variety of different reasons, but we all lift to become the best versions of ourselves. Take it now from your fellow Gryphons:

“I have been training at the gym for my whole undergrad, so almost five years now,” said Lexi Runstedler, a fifth-year English student. “I started working out in fitness classes before I started doing independent workouts. I wanted to find a way to be able to turn my mind off for a short amount of time, and that’s exactly what those fitness classes did for me. For that one hour my focus went entirely to the workout class and immediately after the class, I felt infinitely better than I did before. Working out and exercising has become my escape and brought a lot of peace and focus to my life. It has allowed me to

“I started getting into fitness because I wanted to become the best version of myself. I believe that there are very few ways to improve upon yourself but fitness in my opinion is the factor that plays many roles in your life. It not only benefits you physically, but it builds discipline, it builds my confidence, and it improves my resilience. Over time, I realized that it's not just about looking better, it's about feeling better, performing better and pushing yourself past limits you didn't think were achievable. Fitness has become a lifestyle for me, and it’s the defining factor that helps me grow in every area of my life.”

Each one of these individuals show that anyone, no matter their academic background or age, can enter the fitness scene. We do it not just for the physical benefits, but also to strengthen and quiet the mind.

One day, or day one? The hardest part is starting

There will never be a perfect day to start or make a change. We often get into this mindset that we should wait for the winter arc and get that summer body, or wait until school is over or until your schedule lets up. But life never slows down to allow you to perfectly allocate time for fitness—it’s about prioritizing and making the time.

When exercise isn’t in your routine yet, it can feel easier to procrastinate. It’s the same dread of starting an assignment you really don’t want to touch. You know the due date is coming up, but you keep pushing it off, telling yourself you’ll get to it tomorrow. But it just takes one day to start—that’s what all people in fitness relate to. Eventually, on no special day, we just start. You put on your runners or pick up a dumbbell for the first time…and never look back.

GGAC Fitness Centre staff Kennedy Peters (left) and Olivia Van Kessel (right). Photo provided by Abbie Sakamoto

Toronto’s impossible October

Against every prediction, the Blue Jays stunned the league and pushed the Dodgers to the brink—only to lose a World Series that will haunt generations of Jays fans

The Toronto Blue Jays weren’t supposed to make the World Series. In fact, before the season had started, sportsbooks had given the Jays odds of 14-1 that they would win the American League East.

The Jays would, of course, defy these odds and go on to have the best record in the American League. But according to the sportsbooks, this success was an anomaly and the Jays were playing on borrowed time.

When the New York Yankees came to town, the Jays won emphatically. After that, a hardfought seven-game series would be won at home against the Seattle Mariners. Suddenly, the Jays made it to the World Series—a goal they were given a 3.85 per cent chance of achieving at the beginning of their 2025 campaign.

Their opponents, the Los Angeles Dodgers, were always supposed to be in the World Series. Before Spring Training had begun, the Dodgers were handicapped at -600 odds to win their division. In other words, the Dodgers were given an 85.71 per cent chance of accomplishing the same feat that the Jays were given a 6.7 per cent chance of doing. Additionally, the oddsmakers gave the Dodgers a slightly less favourable chance of making the World Series than winning a coin toss.

So, when Game 1 began, it again seemed that the Jays' magic was coming to an untimely end. Throughout the beginning of the game, it even appeared that way. Up until the sixth inning, the score was tied at two runs apiece— then the doors were blown wide open.

After a Bo Bichette walk, a base hit from Alejandro Kirk, and Daulton Varsho getting hit by a pitch, the Jays were primed to deal some serious damage. Ernie Clement cashed in one run for the Jays and kept the bases loaded. Then, after a bases-loaded walk, an Andrès Gimenez hit brought the lead to 5-2. With the

bases loaded and one out, Addison Barger cracked one deep into right field that carried for a grand slam, the first-ever pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. Kirk would top off the inning with another home run to centre field. In just 20 minutes, the Jays had devastated the Dodgers.

Game 2 didn’t continue this trajectory, as the Jays were unable to present any answer to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s pitching, only recording one run in four hits throughout his nine innings pitched. The series would head back to Los Angeles tied at 1-1. Although it had been made clear by this point that the Jays had not made it this far just to be rolled over with ease, like the Milwaukee Brewers or Philadelphia Phillies before them.

Game 3 made history by tying the record for the longest game ever in the World Series. Offensively, both teams were fairly well matched, with the only major difference being Shohei Ohtani’s stellar performance. In his first four at-bats, Ohtani would get on base twice with doubles, in addition to hitting two home runs. One of these home runs—a shot to left centre in the bottom of the seventh—would be the last run scored by either team for the next 10 innings. The tie was finally broken in the bottom of the 18th inning when Freddie Freeman walked off the game with a 406-foot homer to center field, closing out a historical six hours and 39 minutes long World Series game.

Despite their exhaustion and limited rest between games, the Jays bounced back in Game

4. Ohtani took the mound for the first time in the series, coming off a historic outing in which he struck out 10 and homered three times to eliminate the Brewers. Ohtani would not have quite the same performance this time around, giving up four runs in six innings pitched, including the only home run of the game

to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In contrast, Shane Bieber pitched well through five and one-third innings, giving up only one run on four hits and leading the Jays to a series-tying win.

Game 5 got off to a thunderous start when Davis Schneider, hitting for the injured George Springer, sent the first pitch of the game sailing over left field into the stands. Then, in the next at-bat, Guerrero Jr. hit one to the same spot, giving the Jays a 2-0 lead to start the game. Then came what is undoubtedly the greatest performance ever by a rookie pitcher in the World Series, with Trey Yesavage recording 12 strikeouts through seven innings pitched and allowing only one run off three hits. Not only is this the most strikeouts ever by a rookie in the World Series, but it is also the most strikeouts ever in the World Series by any pitcher without allowing a walk. Yesavage did this all in just his ninth start in the Majors.

The concluding two games of this series got murky for Jays fans. There were plays and calls

that will outlast the players and the umpires; now forever fodder for old men to discuss over their fourth Creemore lager in some dusty dive bar on King Street.

Game 6 was played in Toronto, and again Yamamoto had a solid outing on the mound. Not quite reaching the high watermark of his game two performance, he put up an impressive start nonetheless. From the fourth inning onwards, the Dodgers led 3-1, and it would remain this way for the entirety of the game, despite a major controversy in the bottom of the ninth.

With Barger at the plate and one man on, he made hard contact and sent a rocket over left centre. In a strange turn of events, the ball got lodged in the wall padding, and the Dodgers' outfielders did not retrieve the ball. Barger and Miles Straw both rounded the bases and crossed the plate, which should have tied the game 3-3, except it didn’t. The play would be ruled an automatic double and no runs would score.

The next game became an instant classic, a winner-takes-all

game that went 11 innings and ended in bitter heartbreak for Jays fans. In the third, Bichette opened the scoring with a 442foot three-run shot to centre field. The Dodgers managed to close the gap and by the eighth inning, it was a one-run ballgame. What happened next will surely haunt Jays fans for generations to come. Jeff Hoffman, who had been exceptional for the Jays all season, was two outs away from closing Game 7 of the World Series. Then he gave up a solo home run to Miguel Rojas, his only home run this postseason. In the bottom of the ninth, the Jays came an inch away from walking the game off because Will Smith’s foot was briefly lifted while fielding a throw to home. Of course, in an almost serendipitous way, Smith scored the winning run on a solo homer to deep left field. The Jays went on to lose in the bottom of the 11th from a broken bat grounder into a double-play. The Blue Jays' underdog run ended at home in Game 7, in a heartbreaking and unforgettable close to a historic World Series.

BEN SEATON

The World Series brought Canadians together from coast to coast. Lucca Maggiolo/THE ONTARION

Staying active over winter break

Missing the fitness centre? Try these four ways to get moving at home

MAGGIE ABRADJIAN

With exams looming on the horizon, so is the long awaited winter break. Whether you’re a student athlete, a “non-athletic regular person” or somewhere in between, daily movement is important for both mental and physical health.

While the university facilities like the Fitness Centre, running track, indoor rink and NRG zone make it easy to stay active on campus, campus closures and moving back home over the break can be a challenge for many.

Here are some ideas to stay active over the break, even if you have minimal time, space or resources!

YouTube workouts

If you have access to a device and the internet, YouTube is your best friend. At-home workouts are a great way to keep up with your

activity when you have a little free time and don’t feel like leaving your house.

There are videos for essentially any style of workout. Want a low-impact option? Yoga videos calmly walk you through poses and salutations to get your body moving and clear your mind—all you need is a mat. Higher-impact workouts, like high-intensity interval training (HIIT), have options for both weighted and bodyweight exercises, depending on the equipment available to you.

Dancing

When you need to get your mood and heart rate up, dance workouts are the perfect solution. Experiment with your own choreography by dancing around the kitchen to your favourite songs, or let someone else put in the work so you can just dance—no pun in-

Is co-op worth it?

tended.

The game Just Dance is a fun and competitive way to get your cardio on if you have an Xbox or PlayStation. Some YouTube users even upload Just Dance gameplays if you don’t have a gaming system to participate from. YouTube also removes the game’s scoring aspect, leaving an exciting and tension-melting way to get your movement in. Grab your roommates or a few friends to make exercise a fun hangout for everyone. Seasonal songs are also available to get into the holiday spirit!

Skating

For those who aren’t mourning the loss of 20 degree days, or those who want to acclimate to the cold temperatures, there are several options for outdoor activities, like ice skating.

Outdoor skating rinks are available to the public, often for free. Throw on an old pair of hockey skates, borrow some from a friend or rent a pair! Skating with friends, family or a partner is the perfect way to spend a frosty winter day.

Guelph has many outdoor skating rinks and skating trails to choose from. The Riverside Park skate trail is a downtown staple, featuring a leisurely, winding skate alongside the river. Though outdoor rinks and trails are largely

ATHAVI NISHAANTHAN

I remember opening my University of Guelph acceptance email and feeling immensely grateful to have been accepted into the Coop Experiential Learning stream. At the start of my postsecondary journey, I was hesitant and petrified that I was making a mistake going into psychology. Although I was fascinated by the subject and drawn to helping others, I was unsure how stable my future career pathways would be—that is, if I managed to stand out amongst the highly competitive, talented crowd striving for the same goals as me. I was deeply thankful to have the opportunity to gain some hands-on experience in the field, which would not only distinguish me from the many in my program, but would also prepare me and show me a glimpse of what

my future could hold.

It was not until I started my job search that I began to doubt how useful a co-op position would be for me. Through the thousands of job postings I sifted through each day, I struggled to find a position remotely related to my career aspirations. As time moved on and my job search remained unsuccessful, I met more and more psychology students who claimed that experiential learning did not work and was not worth it for our degree because most co-op job postings were not relevant to our program and interests.

While I can understand and relate to their frustrations, I beg to differ. Although I agree that having an experiential learning experience within the psychological field would be the most benefi-

maintained by volunteer citizens, they’re a great option if there are any in your area and you’re up for making a day or evening trip.

Hiking

Another way to enjoy movement outdoors is hiking—why let snow on the ground keep you from the great outdoors? With a pair of sturdy winter boots, you can do anything.

Visit a popular hiking trail or take a walk around a nearby nature reserve, like the Arboretum, to get your lungs pumping fresh air and keep your legs moving. If

take away from the agri-business industry that would push me further in the psychological industry?” On the surface, this work term had nothing to do with my degree.

transportation is an issue, simply taking a long walk around your neighbourhood will suffice. Getting outside, no matter how briefly, will encourage you to remain active and will also help relieve some of the tension that visiting home inevitably incurs.

Even though the cold weather and being away from campus can stall your fitness journey, there are plenty of ways to stay active on your own. Some of these options also make it easy to connect with your family, friends and community, leaving your body relaxed and your mind clear for a peaceful break from classes.

cial, it is unfortunately unrealistic to expect such a position at a stage where one is yet to have adequate credentials and qualifications. And although that information is a reasonable deterrent from wanting to enroll in experiential learning, I would still argue that a co-op work term experience, regardless of how relevant it is to one’s career goals, is beneficial.

Over the fall 2025 semester, I had the opportunity to work as a customer sales intern for Farms. com, where I assisted and represented AgCareers, FoodGrads and CareersinFood. Although I was grateful to be selected amongst many candidates, in all honesty, I had low expectations for how applicable this experience would be in the long-run. At first glance I thought, “what could I possibly

I can happily attest that I was severely mistaken. Through this role and the extremely supportive, welcoming team at Farms.com, I learned about the weight of transferable skills. While I was not acquiring new skills on therapeutic methods, I was instead strengthening foundational skills that are necessary and practical for multiple areas in life. As a customer service intern, I was developing my communication, time management and multitasking abilities as I was constantly connecting with agri-business professionals and using a variety of tools such as Microsoft Office and Salesforce. I was building my professional profile so I could be prepared to work in any fast-paced environment.

Additionally, as a co-op student, I was required to create a list of learning goals to strive to accomplish during my work term. With these goals, I decided to challenge my critical thinking by pitching article ideas to the Farms.com team for their newsletters on topics that bridged a

connection between agriculture and psychology. This goal gave me the chance to use the knowledge I have learned in the classroom and apply it to other sectors of life while making this work term more relevant to my program and interests. It is with the Farms.com team’s support that I was able to achieve this goal and contribute to their newsletter by creating a piece, “The psychological benefits of food,” that applied Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and explored how food impacts one’s mental health. Overall, by forcing myself to take initiative and to be optimistic, I was making the most of my co-op experience. To the many co-op students experiencing disappointment and frustration at the lack of handson opportunities within their preferred field, I understand what you are going through. However, I highly recommend looking past the surface and evaluating if there are at least opportunities to grow as a professional and develop transferable skills that will equip you for the future, before deciding to opt out of experiential learning. Initiative and optimism are skills that are learned. They are skills that set one apart and make all the difference in whether or not a co-op work term is truly worth it.

Hiking routes change a lot during the winter. Get out there and see what they have to offer. Aditya Parameswan/THE ONTARION

Taking care of your mental health over the winter break

How to relax to your full potential at home for the holidays

AVA VENDER

The long-anticipated winter break that indicates the end of the fall semester is quickly approaching University of Guelph students. Whether you are plowing through your first year of university finals, or have a few years of experience in your pocket, all students look forward to the hard-won break from classes.

After exams, students may go through a process of decompressing from the semester. This tends to include extended time with family members—another transition in itself, especially for students who moved from their hometown to Guelph for the semester.

a day—even something as small as cleaning your room or walking your dog—it can help you get back into the groove of productivity and fun without being at school.

Take care of your mental health by reassuring yourself that you are not alone in facing these uncomfortable transitions. After living your life in a specific rhythm for four months, of course it takes time to get back into the flow of life, apart from academics.

HOLIDAY GIVING GUIDE

The transition is more challenging if you are finishing up your first semester of university. It can come as a shock to go from living independently—in a dorm or a house with friends, where you get to choose what to do, what to eat and where to go— then, all of a sudden, you’re back to your old life, under your family’s roof and rules once again.

Then there is the aftermath of exams. After spending months racing towards the end of classes, the sudden ending of it all can feel eerily quiet. You may find yourself feeling as though there is something that you should or need to be doing, but really, there isn't. Sometimes, this can feel a little restless. But it is crucial to give yourself a break to rest your brain and recharge before you start all over again in the winter semester.

“Bed rot” is a popular term online to describe how one spends most or all of their time staying in bed, not accomplishing anything productive. Doing nothing in bed is a common way that students spend their time after winter break. But bed rotting doesn’t tend to make you feel better— it’s just the easiest way to pass the time, especially if you are experiencing burn out.

How can you avoid the bed rot trap? Make plans that excite you. Having lots of free time on your hands may sound like a luxury right now, but when all of your commitments pass, all this free time can feel bland.

Instead, fill your day with activities and events that make you feel accomplished or happy. Try out a new recipe, go for a winter hike, meet up with hometown friends or make festive decorations. Even if you can only get yourself up to do one thing

Alleviate this discomfort by talking about it: with your friends, who may be struggling through the same thing, or with your family members, co-workers or whoever you have around. Don't keep those feelings in. Saying aloud the words that weigh on your mind can bring newfound clarity to whatever issues you are battling. Perspective isn't something that you always have to work super hard for because the truth is—perspective is always present, just waiting for you to find it.

While this advice may work for some, it is important to remember that every person processes things differently. Each of us require different lengths of time to rest, and to feel like we’ve returned to full academic potential after a particularly difficult semester.

The University of Guelph has many mental health resources available to students if you would benefit from extra support. The Student Wellness Services website (wellness.uoguelph.ca) directs students to a variety of mental health support options, which vary based on what you are looking for. Options include group wellness sessions, one-on-one counselling sessions, 24/7 hotlines and more. Take care of yourselves, Gryphons, but also don’t forget to have some fun over the break!

Winter break is the perfect time to rest and recover from the semester. Aditya Parameswaran/THE ONTARION

Conquer exam season scaries with The Ontarion

Study and stress management tips to survive exam season

If you’ve woken up in a cold sweat after dreaming that you slept through your 8:30 a.m. biology final, you’re not alone. Read on for The Ontarion’s tips for surviving your first exam season!

Master time management

Effectively managing your time to prepare and study for multiple finals is the first secret to surviving exam season.

Plan for your exams by listing your courses and the exam format for each one, then make note of the content that will be covered in each exam. Set your study priorities by identifying the courses and concepts you struggle with the most.

Once you have an idea of where to start, use a calendar to devise a study schedule. Your schedule should account for the amount of time required to study for each subject and when your exams are scheduled. Your strongest subjects may only require 20 minutes of revision each day for a week, but be sure to dedicate more time to study tricky subjects or for cumulative exams.

Try the Pomodoro technique to avoid study fatigue during grueling revision sessions. The method involves blocking your time into short working and resting intervals that are repeated until you earn a longer break. The standard “pomodoro” involves 25 minutes of focused work followed by a five-minute break. Rinse and repeat until you’ve completed four pomodoros, then revitalize with a longer, 20 to

30 minute break.

Study smarter and beat the “forgetting curve”

Studying by reading and re-reading your notes is a “textbook” mistake. Instead, use active studying methods that improve your ability to retrieve information from deep in your mind.

The key to active studying is engaging with course material through various methods that require you to solve problems, analyze and synthesize information, and evaluate and reflect on what you know. Make sure to choose your study strategy carefully, according to the content you’re reviewing, and you’ll be studying smarter in no time. Here are some of the methods we recommend:

Blurting: Choose a unit or chapter and read your notes until you feel comfortable with the material. Then put your notes away. On a piece of paper or whiteboard, write down as much information as you can remember. Once you’re done, compare your earlier notes with the information you were able to recall while blurting, and add what was missing in a new color or in the margins. Keep trying until you are confident in your recall!

Teach it: This method requires you to find a clueless pupil—a friend, parent, pet or even a stuffed animal—and explain the material out loud. By teaching someone with no prior knowledge of the subject, you’re forced to simplify the information and answer

EMMERSON JULL

questions they may have. Verbalizing allows you to effectively communicate what you know and realize where gaps lie in your understanding.

Summarizing: Summarizing is a great way to get everything you know down on paper and there are many ways to do it! Mind maps allow you to simplify concepts down to a few words and draw connections between ideas, illustrating where the units in your course overlap or build on each other. Or challenge yourself to create a onepage cheat sheet where you cover all the material you’ll be tested on in the exam. Colour coding and drawing lines, symbols or illustrations make this studying method even more engaging.

Test yourself: Practice questions are a studying method as old as time. Attempt answering questions on old tests or midterms, solve problem equations, or work out solutions to the questions at the end of textbook chapters, without relying on your notes. Take it up a notch by brainstorming questions that might appear on your exam and then try to solve them.

Flashcards: Hello, Quizlet! A beloved. Studying pre-made flashcards can be a valuable time-saver for covering a ton of content, but writing your own flashcards is far superior. Write a question or concept on one side of an index card and jot the answer on the other. You can even include diagrams or illustrations where applicable. Flashcards are king because they allow you to review anywhere, so you can study while riding the bus

or eating breakfast.

SQ3R: The SQ3R method is a top-notch way to increase comprehension while reading textbooks or research papers. First, skim the text by glancing at headings, summaries, abstracts or conclusions. Then, brainstorm questions based on the text and how it relates to your course concepts. Next, as you fully read the text, locate answers to your own questions. Recite what you learned by writing down the answers or verbally summarizing it without looking at the material. Finally, review the information often over a longer period of time using one of the other recall methods above.

Part of studying is overcoming the “forgetting curve,” which is essentially a hypothesis that states you forget information quickly after first learning it, but with spaced repetition of the material, you will retain information for longer.

Spaced repetition alone may not be enough to increase comprehension and memory. By implementing active study strategies over a period of time, you get the best of both worlds and set yourself up for success once the exam begins.

Manage stress and make it fun

Managing your stress is essential to mitigating burnout and staying sane!

During study sessions, take short breaks often and use

them wisely. Make the most of your breaks by stretching, taking a walk or snacking (popcorn, grapes, peppermint tea and Twizzlers are some suggestions). Try to avoid your phone during breaks because it can be difficult to re-focus after scrolling.

Making your study space enjoyable can help you romanticize even the driest study sessions. We recommend clearing clutter from your desk and keeping a few of your favourite objects in sight. A nearby notebook is perfect for writing down ideas before they turn into distractions, and a lit candle or plush blanket can help keep you cozy.

Don’t forget to switch up your external stimuli too. Seek out a new study spot on campus, invite a friend to cram with you, or listen to a new instrumental playlist to keep your mind fresh and inspired during the exam season.

Post-exam reflection

Great work—you made it to winter break! Now that it’s over, reflect on how things went for you and make note of changes you can make for next semester. If you’re looking for more resources or study support, the U of G library offers one-on-one appointments, workshops, supported learning groups (SLGs) for notoriously difficult subjects and other studying resources to help you ace your exams.

Good luck and study hard, Gryphons!

Don't sweat exam season. Study smarter with active recall methods. Aditya Parameswaran/THE ONTARION

Crowd-pleasing recipes to make holiday hosting simple

Have a delectable December with savoury dates, spiced cocktails and cookies, umami dip and sweet iced matcha

RECIPES & PHOTOS BY EMMERSON JULL

Spiced blood orange gin fizz

Surprise your friends with an irresistibly warm and lightly spiced cocktail that might just land you on the naughty list. Making your own vanilla cardamom syrup and fancy ice cubes might seem like overkill, but ‘tis the season, right? I chose to use Dillon’s Distillery’s Dry Gin 7 for its herby, botanical and juniper notes. This recipe makes one cocktail, so double or triple it to serve others.

Ingredients:

• 2 blood oranges, juiced and strained to remove pulp, plus another sliced for garnish

• 1 ½ oz gin

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• ½ cup water

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tsp ground cardamom

• Ice

• Tonic water

Directions:

1. Make ice cubes for garnishing the cocktail by placing a small blood orange slice inside each square of a large ice cube tray. Fill with water and freeze.

2. Prepare the vanilla cardamom syrup by combining the water, sugar and ground cardamom in a small pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and let cool. The syrup can be stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

3. Add one of the prepared ice cubes to a coupe, lowball or wine glass.

4. In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz blood orange juice, gin, 1 oz vanilla cardamom syrup, and top with ice. Shake until frosty. Strain the mixture while pouring into the glass.

5. Top the cocktail with tonic water and serve.

Sugar cookie iced matcha

For a nonalcoholic crowd or hosting friends for a holiday “craft-ernoon,” whip up these Starbucks-inspired sugar cookie iced matchas. Bright green and topped with sprinkles and the sweetest cold foam, these matchas are sure to energize your holiday shopping or tree decorating. Again, batch this recipe as needed to please your crowd.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 cup water for the syrup + ¼ cup hot water for the matcha

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tsp almond extract

• 2 tsp matcha, any brand (we used Kato Matcha Ceremonial Summer Harvest)

• ½ cup milk, any kind (we used Earth’s Own Barista Soy)

• 5 tbsp whipping cream

• Ice to fill glass

• Sprinkles, optional

Directions:

1. Prepare the sugar cookie syrup by combining the sugar and 1 cup water in a small pot over medium heat and bringing to a simmer, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and almond extract and let cool. The syrup can be stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

2. To prepare the iced matcha, sift matcha into a large bowl and add hot water. Use an electric whisk or bamboo whisk (chasen) to whisk the matcha until frothy.

3. To prepare the sugar cookie cold foam, combine the whipping cream and 1-2 tbsp of sugar cookie syrup (to taste) in a small glass. Whisk until thick and foamy.

4. Fill a glass with ice. Add 1 tbsp of sugar cookie syrup and milk of choice, then stir. Pour in the matcha and top with cold foam and sprinkles if desired. Serve immediately.

Goat cheese-stuffed dates

Serve these savoury dates on your nicest holiday platter—your guests will have to adore the fine china when the dates are inevitably devoured before any other dishes. Sweet medjool dates are stuffed with creamy goat cheese and topped with a trifecta of nuts, thyme and hot honey, then baked until gooey and warm.

Ingredients:

• 12-15 medjool dates, sliced lengthwise and pit removed

• ½ cup goat cheese

• 3 tbsp walnuts, chopped

• 2-3 tbsp hot honey

• 2-3 fresh thyme sprigs, chopped

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet or oven-safe dish with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

2. Stuff each date with goat cheese using a small spoon.

3. Sprinkle the chopped nuts on a plate. Gently press the stuffed dates into the nuts, cheese side down.

4. Lay the dates out on the lined tray. Drizzle them with the hot honey and sprinkle the chopped thyme over top.

5. Warm the dates in the oven for 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve warm.

• 4 tbsp white miso paste, or to taste

• 4 tbsp rice vinegar, or to taste

• 3 tbsp truffle oil, or to taste

At a restaurant I once worked at, this spread was never on the menu, but it often blessed my staff meals: flatbreads spread with this umami mixture and topped with prosciutto, cheese, dried figs and balsamic dressing, to be exact. Serve as a breaded, cheesy, garlicky dip or spread over a baguette like garlic bread. It’s the perfect appetizer to get your mouth watering for the main course, if you can save enough room.

Ingredients:

• 2 heads of garlic

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• 125 g cream cheese

• Panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, for topping the dip

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.

2. Keeping the garlic unpeeled, slice the top from each head to expose the cloves inside. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

3. Wrap the heads of garlic in tinfoil and place on a baking sheet, or place in a covered baking dish. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes, or until the cloves are golden inside.

4. Remove the garlic from the oven. Let cool for about 10 minutes before careful-

ly squeezing the cloves into a small bowl.

5. In a food processor, combine the roasted garlic, cream cheese, miso pate, rice vinegar and truffle oil. Process until the mixture is smooth and spreadable. Taste and adjust the miso, vinegar or oil as desired.

6. The mixture is now ready to be served as a spread on top of pitas, pizza crusts, flatbreads, baguettes or anything else your

heart desires. Continue to the next step to serve as a warm dip.

7. Add the mixture to an oven-safe dish and top with shredded parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs, if desired. Bake at 350 F until warm throughout and golden on top, about 10 minutes.

8. Remove the dip from the oven and serve immediately with crudités, crackers or a baguette.

Mexican hot chocolate cookies

These cookies are a simplified version of the famous NYT Cooking recipe by Vaughn Vreeland. They’re named for the warm and spicy hot chocolate enjoyed during the colder months in Mexico. The cookies are a chewy, almost fudgy texture, with the sweet melted marshmallows balancing a gentle kick from cayenne pepper. I’ve made these for the last two years, and tried (and failed spectacularly) to not eat more than five a day, but they’re irresistible.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• ½ cup cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-processed (I used red cocoa powder from Bulk Barn)

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp kosher salt

• ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon for cookie dough, plus 1 tsp for topping

• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 ½ cups light brown sugar

• 1 large egg, room temperature

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• ¾ cup mini marshmallows

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

Directions:

1. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, cayenne pepper and 2 tsp cinnamon to a medium-sized bowl.

2. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3

minutes on medium speed.

3. Add the egg and vanilla to the creamed butter and sugar. Beat for another minute on medium speed until well combined.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients in two parts, mixing (on low) after each addition, until just combined and some spots of dry flour remain. Do not over mix.

5. Add mini marshmallows and stir for about 30 seconds or until just combined. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.

6. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before shaping. Combine the granulated sugar and remaining cinnamon in a small bowl.

7. Using a small cookie scoop or about 2 tbsp of dough for each cookie, roll the dough into balls. Roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar before placing on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, placing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Keep in mind that the marshmallows will spread, so attempt to tuck them into the dough, and keep any marshmallows peeking out near the top of each cookie dough ball.

8. Bake for 9-10 minutes, removing from the oven when the cookies are firm and marshmallows have melted. Set on a wire rack to cool. Enjoy once cool and store leftovers in an airtight container for two to three days.

Mouthwatering umami spread (or dip)

A cookbook that holds five decades of food and friendship

Discover the heart of CFUW with their 50th anniversary cookbook

ALYSSA CUNNINGHAM

Tucked away in the University of Guelph’s Archives and Special Collections is a well-loved community cookbook. On its opening page, a handwritten note reads: “Merry Christmas Beth… welcome to your first Christmas in your new home. Much love, Aunt Noreen.”

The cookbook, titled 50 Years of Food and Friendship, was published in 2006 by the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) in Aurora/Newmarket to mark their 50th anniversary. The CFUW has roots stretching back to the early 1900s, beginning at the University of Toronto as a community for women enrolled in universities. Local chapters, like the Aurora/Newmarket branch, soon formed across the country.

“The main overall ideal of the club is to promote education and well-being for women and children,” said Laura Robbins, who chaired the club’s 50th anniversary committee. “And of course, women at university in those days must have been extremely rare. They wanted a place where they could meet together, where they could promote education and help other women get into education.”

The Aurora/Newmarket branch was founded in the 1950s and remains active today, with monthly meetings, social groups like book clubs and walking groups, and scholarship fundraising initiatives.

“Last year, we raised $35,000,” Robbins said. “We weren’t raising this much in 2006…but the cookbook seemed like a good fundraiser.”

The idea to create a cookbook that celebrated half a century of community came from a desire to do something inclusive within the organization. “We decided that for our 50th anniversary, we would raise money to give to a student,” said Valerie Hume, who was club president in 2006. “One of the ways to do that was to do this cookbook. We thought the cookbook could get everybody

involved, because we only had about 120 people in the club.”

“They asked all the women of the club to submit a recipe that you know works and that you like and are familiar with,” Robbins said. “It’s a very homey cookbook… a lot of them in there are things that were served at book clubs and bridge groups and things like that.”

The end result of the cookbook became both practical and deeply personal, where recipes for potluck staples like “Jaunters June Finger Food” sit beside must-have cocktails like the “New Year’s Eve Gals Get Together.” As you flip through the pages, it’s undeniable that you can feel the traces of a close-knit group that poured their love into each page.

Not only does the cookbook offer a glimpse into the wellloved community the CFUW built, but it also opens a small window into the past, including a section titled “The Good Wife’s Guide,” tucked among the 1950s recipes. The section, taken from the CFUW’s 25th anniversary cookbook, lists expectations for women of that era. For example, the guide includes tips on how to greet your husband, how to serve dinner promptly and how not to ask too many questions after your husband gets home from work.

When asked about its inclusion, Robbins felt it was both humorous and historical.

“I think by 2006, we were finding this humorous,” she said. “However, many, many, many of us were children in the 50s and had mothers who very much believed in this ethos. The 50s were an extremely conservative decade, more so than the 30s and 40s and 20s. The 60s were all about peace, love and drugs. It was a reaction to the extremely conservative way of society in the 50s in North America.”

Robbins continued, “There were a lot of rules you had to live by. You don’t want to do that. What will the neighbours think?

What will the church think? What will your father say when he gets home? So I think they put it in there for two reasons. One, to remind people how much we had changed, society has really evolved, particularly the role of women, and two, because some of them had a little bit of nostalgia for some of those recipes.”

This blend of reflection and community is what gives 50 Years of Food and Friendship its character. While its main goal was to raise money for scholarships, it also became a time capsule; almost like a way of documenting not just how the members cooked, but how they lived and changed through the decades.

When Robbins and Hume learned that a copy had found its way into the University of Guelph’s archives, they were both surprised and pleased.

“I bet that’s Noreen Hashem,” Robbins said, recognizing the inscription. “A long-time member, retired math teacher and bridge player. I knew her well… now that I know how it got to Guelph, it’s really neat. It comes full circle.”

The women speculate on exactly how this particular copy came to the U of G archives, but The Ontarion and Robbin believe this copy was first purchased at CFUW for the scholarship fundraiser, then gifted to Beth—possi-

bly by a niece or daughter-in-law of Noreen Hashem—and finally found its way into the U of G archives for us to discover.

Maybe what makes this cookbook feel so special is that the book carries the story of a small chapter of CFUW, an organization of women who built something meaningful together, and now it sits preserved in a university archive, quietly continuing that legacy.

For an organization that began as a network of university/ educated women striving for connection and opportunity, CFUW is a fitting place for a book of friendship, food, and the belief in advocating for women.

Women's groups have long been curators of community history, and CFUW's cookbook is no different. Alyssa Cunningham/THE ONTARION

28 | INDIGENOUS

The marketers’ lie in making friends

Advertising for events says that by joining clubs you can make a friend

Congratulations! You’ve been accepted into the University of Guelph, but do not know anyone there. Now what? Well, your email is bombarded by Student Experience and Student Housing urging you to get involved on campus to make friends. You do as suggested, but you are still all alone. Did they lie? No, because the word friend is very loose and has many definitions.

What the marketers omitted is that what you will most likely make is an acquaintance, a type of friend, which involvement on campus earns you many of. There is also what has come to be called the first-year friend, the person with whom your relationship declines or ends by the end of your first or middle of second year. Then there are those who do make long-lasting friends. This is because there is a lot packed into the word “friend,” and I will be looking specifically at how marketers use the word to understand why you do not make friends as advertised.

I will begin by defining the word friend as most people tend to understand it, through the Oxford English Dictionary definition: “A person with whom one has developed a close and informal relationship of mutual trust and intimacy.”

This, at best, is what people expect to achieve out of getting involved on campus, and is even how I define a friend. However, what instead happens, is the acquaintance, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as: “The state of knowing someone slightly, without the depth or intimacy of a friendship.”

To understand how these terms apply, consider the following scenario: you are walking down the second floor hallway of the University Centre. On one of the boards is an opportunity claiming “come volunteer with us” and one of the motivating reasons put down is “you can make friends.”

Now, likely, you see “friend”

and think of someone you will get to connect with, as per the earlier definition. You go and that does not happen. But you run into someone you saw there before, and you know each other, so you engage in small talk before breaking off.

Congratulations! You made an acquaintance, and you can make a lot of those by getting involved. However, to make the friend you expected, you need what was omitted: social skills, or some variance of such, and likeability.

Now, these advertisements may attract individuals with low or nonexistent social skills looking to make a friend. If that was not complicated enough, in socializing, there also exists psychological barriers that influence friend making.

The first is the phenomena where certain individuals are more attracted to each other than others. It is the idea of how walking in a room can change its atmosphere. Secondly, is the phenomena of how humans split into an “us vs. them” dynamic. Following a Psychology Today article by Soren Kaplan, “us vs. them” stems from a need of belonging, control and meaning. It tends to be used to describe and understand how people take sides in political debates. Yet it can be used to analyze a situation such as this one.

If you were to go to an event or opportunity with the hope of making a friend, if there is a friend group that you want to join, then you now become an “us” and the friend group the “them.” There will thus be resistance from the friend group in allowing you to join their circle, but this will not get in the way of simple communication between each other. Depending on your social skills and how well you are able to connect with this group, you may become part of their circle and begin hanging out regularly. Regardless, members of that friend group are now acquaintances of yours and hence, you have made

a “friend” as advertised, but in the loosely defined acquaintance instead of, likely, what you wanted.

Having given this perspective, I will give my argument to the opposing side, where the marketer is in fact not lying. Here are two perspectives I want to address. First, if it is a oneoff event or involvement, then of course there may not be enough time for a friendship to foster. Here, the marketer is aiming to have people create acquaintances from which long-term friendships further develop outside the involvement.

My response is that, for this to occur, the individual still requires decent socializing skills, or if that is not applicable, the successful individual is most likely one with whom others connect easily thereby seeking them out to hang out. This ties back to the psychological factors I discussed above.

What if the marketer solely intends to mean acquaintance and uses friend because it is more recognizable? Then that simply returns to being a lie because no

one who sees such slogans has the expectation of just making acquaintances. They expect to make a friend in the sense of a long lasting connection and if that is not so, then they are seeing the word friend in its acquaintance definition. Therefore, it all returns to acquaintance.

The second perspective is the opposite, that has to do with long-term events, such as those that repeat, like weekly meetups. Here it is more complicated because with time, those psychological barriers may melt down, and if there are people with whom you have been connecting, the space can foster an actual friend. However, this then is dependent on that likeability factor, namely how well others feel around you. It is that idea of how the atmosphere changes when you enter the room.

It is also worth considering how many people would be there for the purpose of the event against those there for that—plus hoping to make a friend. In this, the “us vs. them” issue comes up again and though it can be broken down, that proves to be difficult to

achieve if the likeability factor is low or just not there.

In the end, the majority of the time, the word friend is used to mean acquaintance by the marketer. This is because it is effective, and especially so when it comes to first-year students who are unsure how to proceed in getting to know people. Should this mean that there is no value in getting involved? No, of course not, it just means the next time you see such advertising, do not be surprised when you end up being part of those who make no true friends from such involvement. Friendship-making is complex. Looking at the etymology and meanings of the word, there is indeed a lot packed into it, far more than I can explore in this opinion piece. The point of this then, is to give voice and reason to people who may have read such slogans and ended up making no friends, without ever figuring out what went wrong. It is also to prepare those looking to get involved as to what to expect when meeting with people if their goal is to make a friend defined as a longterm connection.

AMIR BENKELAI

Making new friends is a challenge for most incoming university students. Photo: Unsplash

Anti-Indigenous racism hidden in the cracks of Canadian patriotism

What Canada has yet to accomplish on the path to reconciliation

SIENNA GEISSLER

Canadian patriotism seems to be on the rise in pursuit of seeming superior to the United States. With the devastating news coming out of the U.S., it is easy for us as Canadians to forget our own violent colonial history. The word “history” implies the impacts of European colonialism are no longer felt, however, that is far from the truth.

The last residential school closed in 1997, not even three decades ago. But the closing of those schools, which were designed to violently erase the culture of Indigenous people, did not end the

racism towards Indigenous people in Canada. Today, the Canadian government still fails to honour and respect their promises of reconciliation.

Many Indigenous reservations still lack clean water, affordable food, adequate housing and proper education. Yet, ignorant claims by politicians are rampant in Canadian politics. For example, in June 2025, Premier Doug Ford made insensitive comments about Indigenous people continuously going to the government “hat in hand” for more money despite allegedly being “treated like gold.”

In the most recent federal election, Conservative Party candidate Pierre Pollievre publicly stated that as Canadians, we should be "proud of our country and unapologetic about our history,” despite the fact that this country was founded on violent colonization, discrimination against Indigenous people and the blood of innocent Indigenous children. To this day, Canada lacks the necessary urgency towards Indigenous issues, including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Indigenous women in Canada have around a 50 per cent chance of being sexually and/or physically assaulted, compared to one-third of all non-Indigenous women. Yet Indigenous victims are far more likely to have their cases dismissed by law enforcement. Thousands of Indigenous women and girls have gone missing since 1991 but the RCMP has not appropriately responded to the issue, leaving the whereabouts of these women and girls unknown.

Earlier this year, Bill 5 and Bill C-5 were passed, both dismissing Indigenous land rights and utilizing similar language to the Indian Act, which forced Indigenous children into residential schools and led many to their death. Both bills put colonial and economic interests over the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples and land stew-

ardship, threatening their rights and our earth’s climate.

The bills enable Ontario’s Ring of Fire, a region in northern Ontario, to be mined for its rich minerals, without concern for Indigenous treaty rights and for the harmful environmental impacts it will have. The mining is said to make billions of dollars for the Canadian economy and create tens of thousands of jobs, proving that capitalist interests have yet again been prioritized over the health of the environment, and the promises Canada made to the Indigenous population that the government continues to ignore and disrespect.

These bills fail to honour Call to Action number 92 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which calls on Canada to “commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects.” These bills are proof that there is still much reconciliation to be done in Canada.

Sept. 30 should not be the only day we remember the victims and survivors of the residential school system. We as Canadians should constantly reflect on Canada’s colonial history and all the change that still needs to take place. The horrors of residential schools still impact the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities of Canada today and significant evidence of unmarked burial sites from residential schools continue to be discovered across the country.

It is only once we acknowledge Canada’s genocidal history that we can begin to make a meaningful future. A future where Indigenous knowledge is implemented in every aspect of Canadian life, and Indigenous voices are given the respect they deserve.

Recently, when speaking about the fact his own father did not have the right to vote less than a hundred years ago, an example of the country’s racism against Indigenous people, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew was interrupted by Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Jeff Wharton who disrespected not only Kinew, but the entire Indigenous community of Canada by mocking the racism Indigenous people experience with a sarcastic crying sound, implying his lack of care for non-white people and their rights. This sentiment echoes throughout the entire Canadian government—especially with these new bills that put the ecosystem and Indigenous rights in danger.

Bad Bunny is the perfect choice for the 2026 Super Bowl

Contrary to right-wing

criticism, the reggaeton star

will unite NFL fans in a much needed burst of energy

ANDREEA BURLACU

On “NUEVAYoL”, the jubilant first track on Bad Bunny’s latest album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, he makes a strong case for himself as the next King of Pop, promising to earn it with reggaeton and dembow.

His stardom backs up the title—Bad Bunny has been Spotify’s top global artist for three consecutive years (2020-2022). Bad Bunny’s songs meld genres including bachata, salsa, trap and merengue, all crafted to make listeners’ hips move as much as possible. As a mega-fan, I was delighted to see him announce that he will headline the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show. Surprisingly, online discourse did not share in my excitement.

Bad Bunny has one of the strongest voices in music today. He speaks up for LGBTQ+ communities and against gender-based violence, showing up against machismo in vibrant outfits that oppose gender norms.

He proudly advocates for his native Puerto Rico by protesting its gentrification, colonization and the government’s inaction in recognizing its locals. The booming “El Apagón” is a call to action against devastating blackouts and displacement from outside investors, who buy up Puerto Rican properties to receive tax breaks, driving up prices for locals. The ending of “El Apagón” asserts, in Spanish, “I don’t want to leave here. They’re the ones who should leave…This is my beach. This is my sun. This is my land. This is who I am.”

Apparently, being proudly Puerto Rican makes Bad Bunny “not American enough” to perform at the Super Bowl.

Trump said it was “absolutely ridiculous” to choose Bad Bunny as a headliner, downplaying his artistry by saying, “I’ve never heard of him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s like, crazy.”

Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser at the Department of Homeland Security, moped that the NFL is too “woke,” and that Bad Bunny “seems to hate America

so much.”

Not only have many non-American artists, including The Weeknd (from Canada), Rihanna (from Barbados) and Paul McCartney (from England), performed on the Super Bowl stage, but Bad Bunny is very much American. Puerto Rico is an American territory, so all Puerto Ricans hold U.S. citizenship.

Sure, Bad Bunny sings unflinchingly in Spanish—but this is the second-most spoken language in the United States. In his October SNL monologue, Bad Bunny lightheartedly noted that viewers still “have four months to learn” to understand his Spanish lyrics. And really, music transcends language–everyone can enjoy Bad Bunny’s energetic, upbeat rhythms.

So what’s the real reason behind the controversy?

For starters, Bad Bunny has vocally criticized Trump, especially outspoken against the U.S. president’s increased immigration raids and his expansion of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In support of DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Bad Bunny held a 31-day residency in San Juan and featured no U.S. dates, afraid that his fans might be targeted in Trump’s push for deportation. His precaution seems justifiable—Lewandowski threatened that at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show, ICE will find, apprehend and detain “people who are in this country illegally.”

In November 2025, ICE’s detainee population reached a record high of 66,000 people. This is truly a new low. Trump desires to “Make America Great Again” while dehumanizing the immigrants that make it great. In a 2024 speech, he said immigrants were “animals” and “not human,” and in his 2016 presidential debate, he equated them with criminals, “drug lords,” and “bad hombres.” This hostility heightens structural racism, racial profiling and hate crimes against all Latinos, immigrants or not— two-thirds of Latinos in the United States are citizens that were born there.

The controversy surrounding

Bad Bunny’s show reflects a fear of people perceived as “other,” despite America being built by people of colour and underrecognized immigrants. I am passionate about this as I was born in Oakland County, Michigan to immigrant parents fleeing the political hardship and lack of opportunity in Bucharest, Romania. My mother worked as a live-in maid while my father washed floors in a restaurant. Immigrants make up a significant portion of hospitality, food service and cleaning jobs—necessary work that is unglamorous and underappreciated. My parents prayed that they could build a better life in the American dream. They have so many stories, and I hold my breath in gratitude thinking of their faith, patience and resilience.

In this hostile political climate, Bad Bunny will deliver a brilliantly resonant display of hope, dance and letting loose. Latino fans deserve to be represented on such a huge stage. Hispanic culture is a quintessential part of America— you can hear the Spanish in city names like Los Angeles, San Anto-

nio, Santa Fe and Las Vegas. The same Americans refusing to look up to an artist rapping in Spanish eat up Taco Tuesdays, reggaeton music and margaritas. Why does it become controversial to put a face to the Latino culture they love appropriating?

Thankfully, the NFL is continuing to back up their choice for Bad Bunny as headliner. The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he was confident the show would be an “exciting and uniting moment.” A National Public Radio article writes that the NFL is trying to shift its perception from American pride and militarism to global inclusivity and community values. Their choice of Bad Bunny as a headliner clearly aims to reach more international fans—especially their growing market in Mexico and other Latin American countries. I also think Bad Bunny caters to female audiences, another demographic less likely to tune in to the game.

Still, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance should not be seen as a compromise of American values.

If anything, such an aspirational show revels in the American dream of hard work and measurable individual success. In turn, Bad Bunny wants to share this achievement with all Latinos, proud that the show will highlight their inerasable contribution to America.

Besides, mixing politics and performance is essential. When art is made to voice the times, it holds distinct weight in its message. Last year, Kendrick Lamar’s iconic halftime performance drew similar complaints for being “too woke” and highlighting Black culture. Lamar created a huge cultural moment, and he currently has the most-watched halftime show of all time. I feel bad for his haters, who missed out on an amazing performance.

When Bad Bunny takes the stage this February, intolerant critics should tighten their lips and loosen their hips. It is time to let other cultures shine. Not only should those behind the backlash learn to think beyond themselves, they could even pick up some Spanish in the process.

Illustration of Bad Bunny by Paige Stampatori

Neuroscience of nostalgia

Enjoy holiday

cheer with evidence-based tips

PIA MAMGAIN

Nostalgia is a feeling found in every culture across all seven continents. It is a tender, reminiscent feeling that surfaces when a familiar song is heard, a scent is recognized, a place is revisited, or a beloved food is tasted.

Interestingly, nostalgia was once believed to be a neurological disease, associated with depression and fear. However, it is now understood as a feeling associated with positivity that many people experience around the holiday season. But how do simple things like festive lights, the smell of cinnamon and pine, and the jingling of bells affect us so deeply?

It is all happening through the release of neurotransmitters and activation of circuit systems in the brain. Music, in particular, is a powerful neural trigger that

activates areas in the auditory cortex, hippocampus and amygdala, which all play a part in auditory processing, memory retrieval and emotion. The predictable yet emotionally rich chord progressions of familiar songs amplify the response of the neurotransmitter dopamine released in the striatum, producing feelings of nostalgia and euphoria.

Holiday traditions such as decorating a tree, baking cookies and lighting candles serve as ritualized behaviours that regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis—the body’s main stress system. These predictable, repetitive rituals reduce uncertainty, which down-regulates amygdala activity and lowers cortisol release, promoting a feeling of calm. The brain interprets these familiar

sensory experiences as safety signals, which explains why familiar smells like pine and cinnamon can immediately induce comfort. Olfactory pathways are particularly potent because they connect directly to the limbic system—the brain’s emotional centre—bypassing the thalamus for a stronger and faster emotional response.

One of the more surprising findings in holiday neuroscience comes from a study conducted in Denmark: A group of people who routinely celebrated Christmas and a group who did not were shown Christmas-themed images while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. The Christmas-celebrating group showed significantly higher activation in a cluster of brain regions— the somatosensory and parietal

cortices, as well as the premotor areas, when viewing festive images. This neural activation explains the familiar nostalgic feeling that many experience during the holidays. The researchers labelled this the “Christmas spirit network” of the brain. This network represents context-dependent neural priming—the process by which repeated associations between sensory cues, such as lights, sounds and smells, and positive experiences strengthen synaptic connections with repetition. Each holiday season, those familiar cues reactivate well-worn circuits, triggering changes in mood and motivation.

Now, the question comes down to this: “Can you ‘induce’ the feelings of holiday cheer?” The answer is yes! Here are five evidence-based nudges:

A martian Christmas

I1. Play familiar holiday music: This triggers autobiographical memories and reward circuits.

2. Engage your senses with familiar stimuli: Smell pine, taste cinnamon, light scented candles. The multisensory input triggers memory and emotional centres in your brain.

3. Give gifts, even small ones: Generosity activates rewards and boosts the mood beyond just the social obligation.

4. Follow a routine: Small, repeated routines such as decorating and baking help your brain sense stability and community.

5. Connect socially: Meaningful interactions activate the social binding circuits with the release of oxytocin.

Science research on campus could lead to growing dinner on Mars

magine celebrating Christmas Eve on another planet. Instead of turkey and mashed potatoes, this Christmas dinner comes from an indoor farm on Mars.

At the University of Guelph, Thomas Graham, a plant and environmental health researcher, along with his team, is exploring how to make this concept a reality. Using controlled environment agriculture (CEA), they’re figuring out how to grow fresh, nutritious food that can sustainably feed astronauts and maybe even future civilizations on Earth.

CEA is a method of growing crops within a specially designed container, in which the temperature, air pressure, nutrients, humidity and light are tightly controlled. This system allows for produce to be grown year-round, but as Graham emphasized, CEA is not a replacement for traditional farming.

“We’re not going to grow all our wheat and corn indoors,” he said. “That just doesn’t make any sense.”

It’s a way of supporting traditional farming. By moving specific crops indoors, CEA frees up field

space for others.

Challenges of farming in a box

One of the main challenges of growing plants on Mars isn’t the plants themselves, but the environment surrounding them.

When asked how growing plants in space differs from Earth, Graham said, “If we have the technology and do it right, in terms of the plants themselves, nothing, really.”

The real difficulties come from Mars’ thin atmosphere, radiation and the logistics of transportation.

For comparison, on Earth, farmers rely on open air, sunlight and soil to grow crops, none of which exist on Mars. Aside from the planet’s thin, carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere and extreme temperatures, sending supplies there is incredibly expensive, especially for heavy equipment.

“Mass and energy are the currency of space,” Graham said. “You can throw as much money as you want at it, but if something’s too big or too heavy, you just can’t take it.”

Because of this, Graham and

NETA SHOICHET

his team have been looking into ways to make the boxes smaller and lighter, while experimenting with various conditions to find the ideal balance between nutritional value and keeping the system efficient.

Closing the loop

Sustainability and circularity are the most important parts of CEA, especially in space.

“On Mars, there is no waste. Everything has to go back into the system,” Graham said.

Water is collected, purified and reused, while any unused portion of the plant is composted and used as soil nutrients. Even the oxygen they produce becomes the life support of astronauts.

“Their waste product is our life support, our waste product is their life support.”

Every input and output is perfectly balanced, like a miniature Earth inside a box. Building these systems forces researchers to rethink what “waste” means, testing new ways to grow plants not just off-planet, but also in vulnerable regions on Earth.

Earthly applications

“It’s one of the pillars of our program,” Graham said.

Regions experiencing food insecurity and even in more remote communities, already benefit from controlled environment agriculture, though on a much smaller scale. In areas where farming is limited by extreme climates or poor soil, CEA offers a way to grow fresh produce year-round, without depending on long, expensive supply chains.

He points out that most produce will lose nutrients after harvesting and will continue losing nutrients the longer they sit out.

Local indoor farming can shorten that gap, keeping food fresher and more nutrient rich.

“It’s not the whole solution, but it’s part of it,” Graham said. By moving food production closer to consumers, controlled environment agriculture can ease the pressure of long-distance supply chains. It allows communities to be less reliant on imported produce, whether that's in northern Canada or halfway to Mars.

A martian Christmas

For now, the idea of a martian Christmas remains science fiction, but every experiment within the University of Guelph’s Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility brings it closer to reality. Graham and his team aren’t just studying how to grow plants in space, they’re learning how to build sustainable food systems that can be used anywhere. If that day ever comes, the University of Guelph’s research facility may be the reason humanity’s first Christmas on Mars tastes a little more like home.

32 | MALL SANTA

A not-so-merry vibe reader Christmas

Finding the worst Christmas books Kindle Unlimited has to offer

ALEX GRANT

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Snow is falling, knitted sweaters are all the rage, and ‘tis the season for “vibe readers” to curl up with a Christmas-themed book.

As a vibe reader—someone who chooses books based on their mood or the season—my mission this December is to find the worst Christmas books Kindle Unlimited (KU) has to offer, and rate them according to the following Hallmark movie trope checklist:

1. A cozy, small town setting, 2. A light-hearted romance at its centre, 3. A strong sense of community and tradition, and 4. Is it formulaic, and can it be read with your brain turned off?

The books that I have chosen were in the top 10 when I searched “Christmas Book”’ on KU. I will be rating them based on how many tropes from the above checklist they have, how well they executed those tropes, my overall opinion of the book and how “Christmasy” it made me feel.

To preface before we get started: this is all just my opinion! You might adore these books and that is okay. Just respect that I did not like them.

Book One: A Scottish Christmas Hideaway by Ellie Henderson

The book is set in Rowan Bay, a fictional village on the shores of Loch Lomond and follows Jessica, the hard-working London lawyer, as she comes home for a break over the holidays. Whilst finding comfort, joy and a new sense of self in the community, she begins to fall hard for her brother's best friend Reuben, the hot architect.

Beginning with the Hallmark trope checklist. Small town setting? Check. Light-hearted romance? Check. Sense of community? Check. Sense of tradition? Not so much. Formulaic? Very much so!

Rowan Bay felt very homely and real, the sense of community well portrayed through their Christmas fair, the wine tombola and Jessica’s mum, Catriona, having her nose stuck in everyone's business and every crafting club.

But Jessica and Reuben's romance had me saying “what?” more times than “aww!” As kids, Reuben used to tease Jessica relentlessly, including calling her Jessie, a nickname she hates and asked him not to use anymore, which he proceeded to use for the rest of the book.

Reuben was also married, which created less tension than it should.

How Christmasy did the book make me feel? Not very. Any sense of Christmas is overshadowed by how much I disliked Reu-

ben and Jessica’s relationship. There was very little sense of holiday tradition outside of the town events, so the book could have been set at any time of year and very little would change.

My overall opinion of the book? Not good. It has a good setting but boring characters and it keeps trying to deal with serious issues that all magically fix themselves.

4/5 stars on the Hallmark trope checklist. 2/5 stars from me.

Book Two: The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

I was not excited for this book, as I did not enjoy the first two books in the series. So, why not make it happen at Christmas, which must make everything better, right?

The book follows Kira, the new owner of a run-down Christmas tree farm, and tech-bro Bennett, who is only visiting for the holidays but is sent by townies to drag Kira out of her shell. Bennett loves to take care of people and Kira believes she does not deserve to be taken care of. It’s easy enough to see where this goes.

Once again, we’ll start with the Hallmark trope checklist. Small town setting? Check. Light-hearted romance? Nope. Sense of community? Double check. Sense of tradition? Half check. Formulaic? Definitely, yes!

The small, quirky coastal town of Dream Harbor seems like a nightmare to live in. Everyone is all up in everyone else's business, and even if you do not want to be involved, they force you to be.

However, there is a strong sense of community among the town members, and they look out for each other and love Christmas, which makes for a good small-town setting. Just do not send me there. But Bennett and Kira were in love with each other faster than I pack up at the end of a lecture, and I knew far too much about their bedroom habits for me to consider it a light-hearted romance.

How Christmasy did I feel after reading it? Despite being set on a Christmas tree farm, Christmas mostly happened off the property, including a tree lighting ceremony and a secret Santa gift giving. It had me more excited for snow and fluffy socks than Christmas music and mince pies.

Overall, what did I think of the book? There were some comedic scenes and a few moments that made me laugh, but I just do not think Laurie Gilmore and the town of Dream Harbor is for me. I respect my boundaries and privacy too much.

4.5/5 stars on the Hallmark trope checklist. 2.5/5 from me.

The

Oh boy, was this book a journey. From nearly giving up eight pages in, to finding some parts of the relationship quite sweet, to crashing out over not one, but two, thirdact breakups, this book made me feel every emotion but joy.

The book follows Christmas-lover Cassidy, who has just opened the chocolate shop of her dreams in Maple Falls, and enters the town’s Christmas display competition. Complications arise from an unplanned romance with Liam, who owns the farm shop across the street and hates Christmas, a vandal dubbed the “Gingerbread Jerk.”

You know where this starts, the Hallmark trope checklist. Small town setting? Check. Light-hearted romance? Half check. Sense of community? Half check. Sense of tradition? Check. Formulaic? Check!

Maple Falls loves Christmas, which makes it a perfect setting. They seem to have a Christmas event every day of December, from snowman building competitions to tree decorating fairs, and the main event of the best decorated shop. It was nice when the town made “Team Cassidy” and “Team Liam” jumpers, but I felt bad for the other two competitors because they had absolutely no chance, so the sense of community gets a half-check for that.

There was nothing light-hearted about the multi-page fantasies I was forced to endure between Liam and Cassidy, but I can

admit that some of their moments together were sweet, so I give their romance a halfcheck.

However, if you have multiple inclusions of some variation of the line “it was more than lust” about the characters’ attraction, I do not believe it is actually more than lust.

How Christmasy did it make me feel? Admittedly, pretty Christmasy, but not because of the main characters. The town’s frequent events did make me want to check what is happening around me for the festive season.

My overall opinion of this book is solidly okay. I never laughed aloud, I made plenty of confused faces and I complained a lot, but after the first three chapters, I no longer wanted to give up reading.

4/5 stars on the Hallmark trope checklist. 2/5 from me.

So, there we have it! My review of three “bad” Christmas books! Remember that this is all just my opinion and that there are plenty of people out there who like these books. Except for The Christmas Tree Farm (which has 3.67 stars), these books have over four stars on Goodreads, which some of my own five-star reads do not even have. If you are looking for a book approved by me, I recommend It Happened One Christmas by Chantel Guertin. Whichever books you decide to read this December, enjoy them! Life is too short to read bad books.

Book Three:

Spiced Cocoa Cafe by Harper Graham

The Christmas Tree Farm checks off most of the Hallmark movie tropes. Aditya Parameswaran/THE ONTARION

A brief history of mall Santas

Discovering

how Santa

first arrived at the mall and never left

MADISON WOLF

The annual tradition of visiting Santa Claus in the mall began almost two centuries ago. The concept has evolved over the years and has eventually morphed into the experience we know today.

In 1822, Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore, reimagined Santa Claus as a jolly fellow in the narrative poem he wrote for his daughters titled An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, known today as Twas the Night Before Christmas. Prior to this, the folk tales of St. Nicholas and Kris Kringle gave the character a creepy appearance.

Christmas shopping began in the mid-to-late 1800s, when stores began marketing their products as presents. Parents would buy toys and confections for their children to give them as gifts on Christmas. The first recorded Santa actor came in 1841 when Philadelphian James Parkinson hired a man to play Kris Kringle in his confection and dry goods store. By 1846, several other Philadelphian merchants had their own Santa Clauses. In this time, Santa was more common in smaller stores, but by the 1860s and 70s, American department stores were gaining popularity and widely incorporating Santa Claus into stores during

While the holiday season seems to arrive faster every year, it remains a beautiful time to cherish the joy and warmth that come from taking a break to cozy up inside with loved ones.

The winter holidays are a time for people of all walks of life to come together in the name of generosity, gratitude and giving. Among the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, trees plastered with bright lights and shiny ornaments, the holiday season offers each of us the chance to be the light in someone's darkness—the shining star on top of the tree that makes everything feel that much

Christmastime.

James Edgar is often credited with bringing this tradition to department stores in 1890 when he put on a Santa costume to appeal to the children in his store. During this period, department store Santas did not have their own workshops or special settings, but instead were commonly used as “roving greeters.” Other department stores used Santas as part of a window display or to sit in the toy aisle so children could easily point to the toy they wished Santa would bring them on Christmas.

By the 1900s, visiting Santa Claus was considered a Christmas retail tradition. Festive decorations were being taken more seriously, and theatrical Christmas parades were held by large department stores. Santa was an important part of these parades, often given the job of master of ceremonies or grand marshal. The first Christmas parade was held by Gimbel’s in Philadelphia in 1920, followed by Hudson’s in Detroit in 1923, and Macy’s in New York City in 1924.

Santa’s image was becoming more standardized in the 1900s due to special Santa Claus schools. In these schools, potential Santas

would learn how to act, dress and apply makeup to be the most realistic Santa possible. One of these schools, created by Charles W. Howard, just outside of Rochester, New York, was opened because Howard was upset by the lackluster Santa Claus impersonators he was seeing. The Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School was made to put an end to cheap beards and

fraying costumes.

Taking pictures with Santa became tradition in 1943 when Seattleite photographer Art French took several photos of children sitting on Santa’s lap. He sold these photos for one dollar each, earning himself $10,000 in just five weeks.

In 1956, the first shopping mall opened in the United

Gryphons give back

How U of G students can spark joy this holiday season

more complete.

Each holiday season gives us a unique opportunity to extend kindness beyond our typical circles and make a difference for members in our community, yet few actually recognize it. It is easy to be overwhelmed by stressful final exams, culminating projects and the busy campus, which leaves many students unaware or unsure of where to start giving back.

Giving back during the holidays does not have to be grand to be meaningful. Even small acts can bring hope, stability and joy to those who need it most. Giving back doesn’t just bring good feel-

SOPHIA PHILBERT

ings, it builds habits of empathy, kindness and compassion that contribute to a stronger community.

One tried and true way to give is to physically donate items. What better way to clean out your closet before going home or make space for incoming gifts than by donating things you no longer use! Winter clothing, toiletries, non-perishable food items and toys are always in high demand.

The holiday season is one filled with connection and thoughtfulness. It takes time and effort to get the perfect gift you know your loved ones will treasure. Another way to give back

is by shopping locally! Check out various craft shows, Christmas markets or stores offering holiday sales across Guelph. Spending money locally is a great way for students to give back this holiday season, as purchasing from small business owners promotes sustainability, builds connection and supports the greater Guelph community.

Giving is not only about donations or dollars, it's about taking time to intentionally impact your community for the better. Another way students can give back is by donating their knowledge or skillsets! Offer time and expertise

States: Southdale in Edina, Minnesota. A “Winter Wonderland” display was hosted the year it opened, and it showcased Santa in his wondrous environment interacting with children and drawing foot traffic to the stores. This version of Santa, in his red and white attire, is the festive character we have grown to know and love in malls today.

to help your community by taking the opportunity to tutor or mentor other students, or you could offer advice and share experiences to make other students feel a little less alone this holiday season. Finally, giving a compliment, smiling at a stranger and taking opportunities to pay kindness forward keeps that giving spirit going all year round. The warmth and sense of community we feel during the holidays isn’t limited to a cold winter stretch, but instead is something that can easily be practiced every day of the year. This holiday season, be a giving Gryphon!

Santa Bob at Stone Road Mall. Aditya Parameswaran/THE ONTARION

The heart of the holidays

can't access the joy everyone else seems to have. His turning point comes from friendship. Charlie Brown’s peers may tease him, but they ultimately rally to help transform his small, drooping tree, which reminds viewers that community and kindness matter more than any shiny display.

certainty, The Polar Express urges us to leave room for possibility, reminding us that belief—whether in magic or in the goodness of people—is a gift we give ourselves.

Love and compassion in Love Actually

A closer look at classic holiday films reveals the themes that keep audiences coming back year after year

EVA GALAN

Every December, familiar stories fill our screens: snow falls, carols play and someone learns what the holidays really mean.

Holiday movies are more than lighthearted entertainment; they often explore universal human themes like love, compassion and belonging. Whether it's an ensemble romance, an animated classic, or a comedy about a misplaced elf, these movies continue to resonate—not just because they’re nostalgic, but because they explore the emotional

themes that define this time of year. Even Hallmark movies tap into those same timeless ideas. A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Polar Express, Love Actually, and Elf may seem widely different, but they each reveal something lasting about love, friendship, belief and belonging.

Friendship and authenticity in A Charlie Brown Christmas

Surrounded by holiday commercialism, Charlie Brown feels strangely lonely, unsure why he

Remember

Plus, Linus’ iconic message cuts through the noise even further, grounding the story in authenticity instead of material expectations. In a season often overwhelmed by pressure, Charlie Brown's journey is a reminder that the people around us carry the true meaning of the holidays.

Belief and generosity in The Polar Express

Where Charlie Brown seeks meaning, The Polar Express asks viewers to believe. The film follows a boy who has begun to doubt the magic of Christmas, only to embark on a train ride that challenges his skepticism at every turn. The famous silver bell, audible only to those who believe, becomes a symbol of holding on to wonder even when logic or age threatens to erode it.

The movie also emphasizes generosity, with the conductor's guidance, in the children's acts of kindness and in Santa's gentle reminders about faith in the unseen. In a world that often prizes

At its core, Love Actually is a tapestry of relationships that show love in all its messy and imperfect forms. Through David and Natalie's shy flirtation, and Jamie and Aurelia’s improbable bilingual romance, the film highlights how unexpected romantic connections can reshape our lives. But it doesn't stop at romance. Some of the film's most moving moments come from familial bonds: Sam and Daniel’s blended father-son relationship, or the odd yet heartwarming friendship between rockstar Billy Mack and his manager Joe.

The movie also dives into the pain of unrequited love through Mark's complicated feelings for Juliet, revealing how honesty and restraint can coexist. And then there's Sarah, whose entire storyline is an act of compassion. Despite longing for a life with Karl, she chooses to prioritize caring for her brother, demonstrating that love often looks like sacrifice. Love Actually suggests that compassion—quiet, unglamorous and

when Christmas was actually "the best time of the year”?

During the hustle and bustle of December, try and remember what the holiday season is really about

MADELEINE ESSERY

Christmas is advertised as the best time of year, but lately, the holidays consist of last-minute shoppers fighting for the Christmas edition Labubu while drinking their Starbucks sugar cookie iced latte out of a “limited time only” bear cup. The holidays seem devoid of all the nostalgia that most of us crave. And in its place: capitalism and overconsumption.

I’m not saying that everyone has become a mindless late-stage capitalist zombie, but I do think that the values have shifted. As kids, the holidays were about getting time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living to relax and spend time with your family. The aroma of grandma’s roasted turkey would bring warmth to those frigid winter nights. With rosy cheeks, we would sip on hot

chocolate after spending hours sledding down pillowy mounds of snow. Now, it feels like to bring that same happiness to the people you love, you must buy them the best piece of technology or the silliest food-shaped candle at HomeSense.

I’m not saying that we shouldn't give gifts, but maybe we should shift the intention behind it all. The best gifts I have ever gotten were a couple of scrunchies, a really nice lip balm, fuzzy socks and a sweet homemade card. It was the little details the giver paid attention to, the thought behind the present that made it so special. The care and love wrapped underneath the shiny paper is what I really treasured.

But what if your love language is gift giving? If the itch

to shop is all-consuming, why not try thrifting your gifts this year? Not only is it much more cost-effective, but you can get really creative. The items are so unique at second-hand stores and everything in there needs loving homes.

Purposefully seeking out these items is way more thoughtful than going to the store and guessing what your dad wants. You can buy baskets and fill them with cozy cashmere sweaters, old books with worn-in spines, crystal candle holders or artwork that reminds you of your loved one.

Thrifting Christmas gifts really makes you consider what you are buying and if the receiver will actually enjoy the item.

Thrifting your gifts will keep you from plunging into

constant—is just as central to the holiday spirit as love.

Belonging and hope in Elf

Elf brings humour and warmth to the idea of belonging. Buddy the Elf has never fit in, as he is too human for the North Pole and too odd for New York City. However, Buddy’s unwavering optimism becomes transformative. His belief in the good of others softens his father's cynicism, brings confidence to Jovie and reawakens the Christmas spirit across the city.

Underneath its jokes, Elf is about the universal desire to find a place where we are understood and valued. Buddy's hope lifts those around him and shows that the holidays can be a time of reconnecting and rebuilding bonds, even when families or friendships feel strained.

Together, these holiday films reveal why we return to them year after year. They offer comfort and remind us of what truly matters: love that takes many forms, friendships that stand by us, belief in things bigger than ourselves and the hope of belonging somewhere. In a season that can be overwhelming, these movies invite us to slow down, feel deeply and reconnect with the values that carry us through the darkest months of the year.

trendy TikTok presents and Amazon storefronts. Just because someone with 150 thousand followers says “cool girls” need a purse with a beaded sardine design, doesn't mean it’s true. Unless that is truly something your 90-year-old memaw will enjoy.

Following trends during the holiday season will take away the thought behind a truly special gift. I think because our world is so focused on money and owning stuff, we’ve forgotten that volunteering is another way to bring meaning back to the holidays. The holidays may not be “the most wonderful time of year” for those struggling. While many of us expect feasts waiting for us on Christmas Eve, others can only dream of this luxury.

If you plan on staying in Guelph over the holidays, there are many ways you can get involved with the community. The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington has an Adopt-A-Family program that connects donors with families who need support in getting gifts under the tree and enough food on the table. Hope House Guelph requires volunteers for their Affordable Gift Market, which helps community members purchase gifts for friends and family, no matter their financial situation. The Guelph Food Bank also provides a gift-wrapping service at Stone Road Mall, where volunteers wrap gifts for patrons who make a donation. None of these efforts cost anything but time. Everyone deserves a bit of the holiday magic, so make it you who helps spread the cheer.

The holidays are so special for many reasons. It brings everyone together so that more people can experience some warmth in the winter. While gift giving is part of the holiday cheer, make sure that it isn’t your only priority this season. Make some room in your crazy student schedule for some quality time with the people you love most. How can you call it the most wonderful time of the year without them?

Why you should send holiday cards this year

In the age of digital overload and the season of overconsumption, going back to the basics has never sounded better

JESS DETWEILER

When was the last time you received a piece of mail that wasn’t a grocery flyer destined for the trash can, a junk coupon book for a restaurant you never go to, or a letter from your insurance provider explaining why payments have gone up once again? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Can you remember how you felt the last time you received a handwritten card or letter from a friend or loved one? Sometimes, a few heartfelt words from someone you care about can be extraordinarily uplifting. Perhaps it’s your turn to raise someone’s spirits with a thoughtful message or two this festive season.

Here’s why a handwritten card is the greatest gift you can

give this holiday season: It’s the thought that counts

A handwritten card is a simple way to share a meaningful, genuine gesture to someone you care about, maybe a friend, sibling, coworker or classmate. Sending a card in the mail is a touching way to remind someone who you haven’t seen in a while that you miss them and care about them.

A simple yet heartfelt greeting card may be the key to reconnecting with a friend who moved far away for school. If you would personally appreciate receiving a letter, imagine how much it might brighten someone else’s day if you try sending one yourself.

Save your coins

If you’re looking for budget-friendly gifting options this festive season, sending holiday cards might be a smart move. Whether you decide to design your own greeting cards or purchase them from the store, it’s an inexpensive way to give personalized gifts. Plus, stamps typically cost $1 to $2 each, so sending cards by mail is also an affordable option. Although it may seem that traditional letter mail is a thing of the past, sending a letter can still be a fun and unexpected way to connect or reconnect with your loved ones this season.

Experiment with your creative side

Dust off those watercolour paints or calligraphy pens you’ve been meaning to use, or make a collage-inspired card by cutting and pasting from magazines and

scraps. Include a pressed flower or two, or even enclose a small trinket or photo in the envelope. Spray a spritz of your perfume on the card…because why not? Okay, perhaps we’re losing the plot. Not so confident in your artistic abilities? The Guelph Tool Library has a Christmas rubber stamping set you can borrow, along with a variety of other craft supplies to try out. Creating feels good and you might just surprise yourself with what you can come up with.

Support local

Opting to shop rather than making a card yourself is still a great opportunity to support Canadian businesses and local artists. You can find uniquely artist-designed greeting cards at the Art Gallery of Guelph, conveniently located next to campus, as well as at Guelph Artisans in

Shoppes in the heart of downtown.

If you’re looking to support local businesses, explore the greeting card collections at Sunday Blooms, a cafe, florist and general store all in one; Rumours Vintage & Consignment, owned by a former U of G student; or even The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore, cinema, restaurant and bar…an excellent combo! Exploring Guelph might be exactly what you need to escape exam season for a moment and chase away those wintertime blues.

A gift that gives both ways

Expressing gratitude to the most important people in your life is not only an act of kindness to them but also to yourself. Try something new this year and send a holiday card to someone you care about. You never know—

The psychology behind Christmas spirit

Why the holidays bring out the Grinch in some and joy in others

PAIGE FIRMAN

December signals the end of the year: the semester is wrapping up, students are heading off before the inevitable return to work in the new year, and holidays of all kinds are celebrated. One of these holidays in particular, Christmas, comes with either a lot of love or a lot of hate.

The psychology behind why the Christmas spirit is so polarized is interesting. The Ontarion sat down with Associate Professor Orion Neustifter, in the Master’s of Mental Health program at the University of Guelph, to understand the science behind the holiday spirit a little better.

To begin to understand, we must start by looking into how our childhood might impact how

we view this time of year, since our upbringings shape so much of our lives. It’s easy to get stuck in the way we were raised.

Neustifter said, “We can use our past experiences as a learning tool to develop different traditions and feelings that serve us better as we grow.”

With time, even the biggest scrooges may change their ways if they break free of this internal cycle.

Tradition is a big part of the holiday season. Whether it be religious traditions, family traditions or watching holiday romcoms with your friends every year, these things impact how we feel about the holidays.

Neustifter said, “Do our tra-

ditions honour the way we really want to feel during the holidays, or were they a requirement that didn’t match or feel right?”

Alignment matters, and doing things that do not align with our hearts can really bring out that Grinch-like feeling. Creating your own traditions might help make the holidays a little more enjoyable.

“If you engage in Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa or other special Winter days of celebration from a cultural or spiritual approach, then it can help to consider what parts might help you feel authentically connected to those traditions, and invite others to help you put more focus and joy there,” Neustifter

said.

Another thing that can have a big impact is how our friends and family feel about the holiday season. If your loved ones are stressed, hate the rush of the season or avoid it altogether, this can affect how you respond to the holidays as well. With that being said, loved ones who truly enjoy the holidays can spread that cheer, too.

Community and the people we keep close to us have a big impact, Neustifter explained, saying that “whether the focuses include spirituality, culture, community, personal space, sacrifice, sharing or new explorations, it will always feel better if it feels true to us.”

If we feel welcome and seen,

we are more likely to enjoy the holidays a lot more than when we are hiding ourselves.

The holidays can be a tricky time of year when it comes to feeling like we can be our true selves. For many people, having to hide parts of ourselves leaves a bitter aftertaste from what others may find a sweet time of year.

Many other factors impact whether we feel the Christmas spirit: capitalism, social standings and more come into play, and often fall outside of our control. Holidays like Christmas have much potential and can be incredible for our well-being, but only when we honour what looks healthy for us while taking care of ourselves.

Handwritten cards are a simple and inexpensive way to share good tidings. Illustration by Paige Stampatori

Celebrating Hanukkah this December

Traditions, food and family

AVA VENDER

“Hanukkah” is the Hebrew word for “dedication,” and is also known as the Festival of Lights. Its namesake comes from the miracle that Jews still celebrate to this day. One small jar of oil was predicted to provide light for only one day after the revitalization of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, but ended up burning for eight days.

This light is symbolized by the Menorah, a candelabrum with nine arms, holding eight candles—one for each night of Hanukkah—plus the “shamash,” or “helper” candle which is used to light the others.

On the first night of Hanukkah, only one candle is lit and added to the Menorah. Each evening, family members gather around the dinner table and light a new candle while reciting

With the holiday season dawning on us, we can expect many televisions to be set to the W Network as their annual Countdown to Christmas premiers and brings holiday cheer— largely to those who find comfort in guilty pleasures. The Hallmark Christmas movies are a staple in my family’s home, and even though I cringe and flee every time I hear the mediocre acting, my mom truly enjoys them.

Once these movies graced the screen this year, my mom replied to my complaints by defending how they are meant to be “mindless, cheesy, fun shows.”

Her defense urged me to dive into the reasons why Hallmark Christmas movies are so beloved by millions of loyal viewers each season, and my findings have changed my mindset on this cheesy holiday genre.

First of all, many find com-

blessings before eating a big meal. Food is a core aspect of Hanukkah, the main way that Jews show their gratitude for the resources that they have access to now, and for many, is a way to connect to the memory of their ancestors.

Many components of a traditional Hanukkah meal are cooked in oil, with the intention of commemorating the miracle of oil, as well as taking comfort in the fact that there is an abundance of it to be used for cooking in the present day.

One of the most famous traditional Hanukkah cuisines is the latke, sometimes referred to as the “potato pancake.” Shredded potato, eggs and matzo meal are formed into a round, flat pancake and fried in oil until crispy on the outside, but still soft on the inside. Latke is often served with

cool apple sauce and sour cream. This dish is symbolic of the privilege of abundant oil for cooking.

Another fried food tradition is “sufganiyot,” or jam filled doughnuts.

A very cheesy Christmas

Why Hallmark Christmas movies connect with so many

fort in the predictable nature of Hallmark movies. They often follow similar plots and are set in small towns where the main characters discover the “true meaning of Christmas.” The cheesiness and predictability presented by Hallmark movies can lower anxiety for viewers in a generally stressful time, especially those who bear the weight of Christmas shopping and preparing Christmas dinner.

Second, I can acknowledge how these movies’ wholesome atmospheres create the perfect opportunity for escapism. The films create idealized worlds for viewers to be immersed in where problems are easily solved, violence is nonexistent and the holiday season always seems to bring family and lovers together. Who wouldn’t want their life to be that easy?

Similarly, their settings are often romanticized places, like Scotland (A Merry Scottish Christmas)

KARYS CROOK

and the American midwest (A Wisconsin Christmas Pie). This tells me that many viewers find foreign locations, especially where nature is abundant, to be more magical than their everyday cities or suburbs.

My third explanation revolves around the uplifting feeling of hope that often arises after watching. At their core, Hallmark movies are about connection, reconciliation and discovering purpose. Although these movies are silly, the main character always finds their way—whether that be in love, family or their career.

Themes of change, healing and forgiveness spark hope in viewers and resonate deeply during the holidays: a time where love and family come first. The “everything will work out in the end” trope may be unrealistic, but it allows viewers to feel positive and optimistic heading into the

Another Jewish dish that is popular around Hanukkah is matzo ball soup. Although this dish is traditionally served for Passover, it is served by many Jewish families for Hanukkah as well, due to its popularity and comfort. It is composed of chicken broth, pieces of chicken, carrots, celery and matzo balls.

Matzo balls (similar to meatballs) are made primarily of eggs and matzo meal, made from unleavened bread. Matzo is a significant Jewish food because it represents inventiveness—by using only flour and water when yeast was considered a luxury. Others consider matzo a symbol of freedom from servitude. Often, Jewish families didn't have access to an abundance of meat and vegetables to add to their soup broth to make it very filling or flavourful, so they made use of what they had—crushed up matzo formed into balls.

Overall, Hanukkah celebrates the power of family and resilience, and the persistence and strength they bring to communities. It represents making something out of nothing, which will one day prove itself to a beloved tradition that people celebrate each year. Hanukkah is highly anticipated for its food and family traditions, and the cozy comfort that it brings during the cold time of year. This year, the eight days of Hanukkah are Dec. 14 to 22.

darker months of the year.

Lastly is the aesthetic, seasonal atmosphere. For many, being immersed in the Christmas feeling is more important than the film’s story itself and luckily for them, the Hallmark channel is like a cozy holiday book come to life.

In almost every Hallmark movie I have seen, there are plenty of fireplaces, mugs of hot chocolate, plaid scarves, twinkly lights and truck loads of fake snow. The warm lighting of candles and glowing lanterns alongside classic holiday music creates an ambiance of comfort and safety. Many, like my mom, put the Hallmark channel on the TV, regardless if they are watching or not, to bring Christmas vibes into their home.

Regardless of whether Hallmark is in need of new writers and casting directors, its Countdown to Christmas remains a fan

favourite for a reason: the stability and comfort found in simple plots, the cozy and festive atmosphere, and the sense of hope ignited in viewers all work together to create something special during the most magical time of the year. Streaming until Dec. 21 and ending with A Christmas Flame, Countdown to Christmas brings festivity and joy to millions and leads up to Christmastide, which comes to an end on Jan. 5. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

ICON BY JESUS CHAVARRIA

The menorah symbolizes the light that burned for eight days in the Temple of Jerusalem. Illustration by Paige Stampatori

Cozy winter reads

Stories to bring you comfort and warmth this December

MANZIL GROVER

It is that time of the year when the lights are dimmed, a million candles are lit, placed on vintage candlesticks, and you gently wait for the darkness to creep in, sparking a need to visit or revisit literary worlds that feel like home. You crawl under your cozy blanket, knowing you are about to be consumed by pages of pure comfort and words that wrap around you like a warm hug.

Here are the top five cozy winter reads that will awaken your soul from the winter slumber:

1. Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

Two of Bardugo’s modern classics that feel like a perfect combination of comfort and adventure are Six of Crows and its sequel, The Crooked Kingdom. This duology takes place in Bardugo’s Grishaverse set in the eerie, snow-laden city of Ketterdam, and centres on a group of outcasts led by the criminal prodigy, Kaz Brekker. The group, each with their own secrets and wounds, shares a variety of skillsets and ventures through danger and deceit, bound by shared trust and survival.

Bardugo’s writing blends warm and cold intimacy, making the duology a perfect winter read. The storyline is brimming with the warmth of friendship and love and the feisty emotions of redemption, all while taking place on the icy streets and dim taverns of Ketterdam.

2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Set in the heavy winters during the Civil War era, the novel shares a warm essence of familiarity and trust with its readers. It connects hearts and homes, sharing the stories of the four March sisters as they navigate the challenges and victories of growing up in their mother’s bubble of affection and away from their father’s protection as he serves in the war. Leaving her indelible mark, Jo March embodies a dilemma between freedom, love, ambition and responsibilities.

Away from the humdrum of the city, reading Little Women by the candlelight under the shield of comforting covers offers more than nostalgia; it brings you closer to your family, and most importantly, companionship for people looking for solace between the timelessness of words and pages.

3. Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

As temperatures fall, the perfect moment arises to immerse yourself in stories brimming with intrigue and comfort—the perfect set up for reading dark romance. The Dead Beautiful trilogy is a combination of gothic mystery with a serene and misty aesthetic.

The series starts with Dead Beautiful and continues with Life Eternal and Love Reborn, offering the perfect mood for a romantic, mysterious and supernatural my-

thology in a setting that reflects solitude and quiet.

Themes of mortality, identity and destiny are drawn across the three books. The Gottfried Academy’s tall and dark halls, gothic architecture, foggy, misty grounds and dimly-lit libraries make the trilogy a perfect winter read.

4. Devotions: Selected Poems by Mary Oliver

The anthology, spanning more than 50 years of Oliver’s writing, includes collections of poetry sharing the themes of spirituality, nature and the romanticism of daily life. Her language focuses on seeing the beauty in

the little things. The texture of the snow, the shape of the leaves, the smell of the rain and the hush of the morning in the dawn, her works remind the readers to live every day and seek solace in everything that the world has to offer. Oliver’s writings, like "Rain," "October," "When Death Comes," "Varanasi" and many more, provide the readers with a refuge amidst the cold of winter. The poems reflect Oliver’s vision and the incredible imagery that helps us visualize the magnificence of the flowers, trees and bees she would witness and the spiritual connection with Lord Shiva at the Ghats of Varanasi.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling Lastly, a classic that cannot be left out of the list. As winter deepens and the magic of the snow unfurls, it becomes the perfect season to awaken the young, festive spirit inside each of us and feel the ambience of winter at a place many readers call home: Hogwarts.

Harry’s first Christmas at Hogwarts, showered by gifts, warmth and friendship inspires magic in the readers themselves. Hogwarts is not only a place readers know they can go back to, but an escape from the delusions of the Muggle world.

Escape the snow with a cozy read this December. Lucca Maggiolo/THE ONTARION

ARTIST

ARTIST 1. EXCUSE ME.** Time and Place (Self-Released)

VIVEK SHRAYA* New Models (Twin Fang)

ANDY HAAS & BRIAN g SKOL* The Honeybee Twist (Resonantmusic)

ELISAPIE* Inuktitut Remixes (Bonsound)

BABYGIRL*

Here Where It’s Warm (Arts & Crafts)

THE DEEP DARK WOODS* The Circle Remains (Victory Pool)

DAVID OCCHIPINTI* Camera Lucida (Elastic)

5.

Celebrating Yule

A short history and how it influenced modern traditions

ASHLEY MAROZSAN

Many different holidays are celebrated in December, but a lesser-known one is Yule. Yule was originally celebrated by Germanic people thousands of years ago, but has had a resurgence in the last century and is celebrated by many neo-pagans and Wiccans today.

Yule is traditionally celebrated on the winter solstice–the shortest day of the year–which falls on Dec. 21. Yule is not just a holiday of the past; its traditions live on today through modern Christmas and holiday customs.

Being as old as it is, the exact roots of Yule are difficult to trace, but it is known that Yule is a pagan holiday that predates Christianity in Europe. Although the winter solstice was celebrated by many cultures across the globe, some of the most well-known traditions come from the ancient Norse people. Common themes exist across cultures and their celebrations of the winter solstice, such as light, fire, rebirth and indulgence. However, for many colder countries, such as those in northern Europe, the tone of the holiday was set by the cold, hard winters that people needed to endure.

In Norse mythology, Odin would ride across the sky, leading the Wild Hunt followed by many dead hunters. The Norse people would leave out food and offerings to appease them, as well as sacrificial animals for the gods. Survival was difficult in these times; people would feast and keep the fire warm both in reverence to the cycle of the year as well as in hope of surviving until warmer days. Other regions had their fair share of traditions, such as the Celts with their midwinter celebrations, the Romans with Saturnalia and ancient Egyptians with the return of the sun god, Ra.

For many years, these celebrations dominated the wintertime in Europe and the Mediterranean. Over time, however, Christianity spread throughout Europe, replacing pagan practices. This eradication of the “old ways” would not come easy to feudal and religious leaders, and some may argue it did not come at all, as old traditions were infused into new ones.

Churches were built on pa-

gan worship sites, and Christmas was celebrated near the end of December to absorb or completely replace old celebrations, even though many scholars agreed that the birth of Jesus–the foundation of the Christmas holiday–actually took place in April.

Modern Christmas celebrations are an amalgamation of many different traditions, some of which are pagan in origin.

Ancient Norse people decorated a Yule tree, which was later adopted into the infamous Christmas tree. In addition, the Norse people would light a Yule log, a tradition kept by many today, also inspiring the Christmas “Yule log cake.”

Many Norse people ate roast ham to honour Freyr, the god of fertility and peace, and they celebrated for 12 days; the origin of the “12 days of Christmas.” All in all, the heart of these holiday traditions remain: people want to celebrate, feast and spread joy during a time that is otherwise harsh, cruel and unforgiving.

If you feel connected to the spirit of Yule and wish to celebrate it, you’re in luck, as many people still celebrate Yule. The festive spirit of Yule largely remains alive in Wiccans and neo-pagans, which is a term to describe people who practice paganism in its many forms. In its modern form, Yule is not a very strict tradition, but rather a celebration of surviving the darkest day of the year.

For many Wiccans and neo-pagans, Yule celebrates the rebirth of the sun or the Sun God as the shortest day passes and the days begin to grow longer. In this respect, Yule is typically celebrated by honouring the sun and the element of fire, as it is symbolic of rebirth. Celebrations may include having a bonfire or lighting candles. One of the most popular traditions is the lighting of the Yule log, which is often lit by a remnant of the previous year’s log to symbolize continuity.

The fire symbolizes abundance going into the new year, and the fire is kept alive as long as possible, with more abundance and luck the longer the log is burned. This fire acts as a beacon of hope going into the new year on the natural calendar, and ashes were often kept and spread

Many modern Christmas traditions stem from Yule celebrations. Photo: Unsplash

to ward off evil and malevolent spirits.

For some, particularly Wiccans and Celtic pagans, Yule marks the defeat of the Holy King by the Oak King, who represented the “dark half” of the year, when sunlight decreases,

and the “light half” of the year, when sunlight increases. These two kings are symbolic of the seasons changing and are personifications of winter and summer.

The reign of the Oak King is typically celebrated by inviting light into your home and rejoicing in the spirit of hope.

All in all, Yule is about celebrating light, life and hope as the wheel of the year continues to turn. Like any holiday, the best way to celebrate is to surround yourself with loved ones, feast and be merry.

Holiday treats tasty enough to make it through exams

Guelph students share their favourite holiday cultural foods as the winterbreak anticipation begins

The holidays are a meaningful time for many Guelph students here. Whether it’s celebrating Christmas, New Year’s, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Bodhi Day, annual traditions are brought out across households for everyone to enjoy. Some of these traditions are enjoyed in the form of delectable treats and feasts.

Christmas is celebrated in households around the world, often including a night-before or dayof grand meal. Dinner is not the only heavily anticipated tradition, with loads of different Christmas cookies hidden in shiny, colourful tins; those who celebrate the holiday look forward to popping them open as soon as the season allows.

With the importance of community being a focus of many December holidays, eating as a family is often prioritized in many cultures. Fourth-year biomedical sciences student Hayley Deschenes

looks forward to heading home for the holidays and enjoying her festive favourites, including a homemade turkey dinner. Deschenes’ extended family usually gathers at her aunt’s house for Christmas Eve, where a big meal is cooked for all of the guests.

Christmas Day is when Deschenes’ immediate family enjoys a smaller dinner, often making a charcuterie board together; this latter element is a new tradition for the Deschenes, who mix Catholic traditions with familial favourites.

Deschene said, “Although the food is random, there is something special about gathering everyone's favourite foods and snacks onto a board for us to all share at the dinner table.”

Traditional Christmas foods vary greatly from culture to culture. Much different from Deschenes’ turkey dinner, student

Kassi Malhotra celebrates the holiday with foods from her mother’s Slovak culture.

On Christmas Eve, Malhotra’s family starts their evening meal with a special Slovak tradition. Handmade wafers called oplátky are eaten with honey and walnuts during the family’s premeal prayer. Malhotra explained the food’s significance.

“The wafers represent the body of Christ,” she said.

Christmas desserts such as medovníky, a spiced honey cookie, allow all family members to help out in the kitchen. These treats are often decorated with icing, allowing for many childhood memories to be made during the holidays.

One of Malhotra’s favourite dishes is a sauerkraut soup called kapustnica—often containing ingredients like smoked meat and mushrooms. With the Malhotra’s home being far from Slovakia,

they eat their Christmas dinner as a family and do their best to maintain meaningful Slovak traditions here in Canada.

Other students at Guelph travel far in order to celebrate the holidays with their immediate families.

Navya Setia comes from an Indian family and has lived with them in Dubai for most of her life. With Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights taking place in the middle of the fall 2025 semester, Setia was unable to spend the holiday with her family in Dubai. However, there are still many holiday traditions she looks forward to celebrating this December. Although they are Hindu, the Setias also celebrate Christmas because they love the cheer of the holiday.

For the Setia family, New Years Eve brings a grand barbecue feast in the desert. Mutton chops, paneer and chicken kebabs are of-

ten enjoyed around the campfire. Some of Setia’s personal favourites are dum biryani, a tender and flavourful slow-cooked meat and rice dish; spinach pakoras; and chicken lollipops, which are marinated and then pressed, resulting in a soft and flavourful appetizer. Setia explains that these holiday mealtimes bring the family together.

“We all try to eat together as a family of four as much as we can. Especially after coming to university, my family loves eating meals together even more,” she said.

With different holiday traditions around the world, many families find December to be a meaningful time of year. Mixing old and new food traditions makes the holidays unique, bringing all types of families together at the table, no matter what is being served.

Sharing cookies creates sweet holiday memories. Photo provided by Kassi Malhotra

Food is a significant aspect of holiday celebrations across cultures. Photo provided by Hayley Deschenes

Whimsical homemade gifts for the holiday season

Your how-to guide to create memorable presents for your loved ones

‘Tis the season for giving!

Giving loved ones gifts is a joyous occasion, but one that can cause a lot of stress, too. Homemade gifts are a great way to infuse a little love and creativity into your holiday gifts this year while being budget friendly.

The Ontarion is here to provide you with festive bath, beauty and tasty homemade recipes, because everyone will enjoy a little self-care for the holiday. So here are some tried-and-true DIY ideas to add some magic to this holiday season.

BATH

Festive Epsom Salts

Epsom salts are one of the easiest homemade gifts that are great for last-minute gifting emergencies.

All you need are plain Epsom salts and any dried herbs you’d like. Epsom salt is pretty easy to come by and is available in most pharmacies and bulk stores. For the herbs, you may need to venture out to a natural health store or a farmer’s market. Combine the salts and herbs in a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio, depending on how potent you’d like the herbs.

Pro-tip: A lot of herbs are available in loose-leaf or bagged tea at a reasonable price. Some herbal blend ideas include calendula with chamomile and dried orange peel, pine and juniper, or lavender and rose.

You can also add a few drops of essential oil to your DIY bath salts. To prevent chemical burns

it is important to dilute essential oil in a bit of carrier oil first, such as sunflower oil, before adding it to the salt. Put all of the ingredients into a cute jar and give it a good shake. You can even decorate the outside of the jar with festive accents, like twine, handmade labels or holiday-themed stickers.

Instructions for use: Put a few spoonfuls of the salt mixture into a small cloth bag, a cheesecloth pouch or a clean sock. Place in warm bathwater and allow to dissolve. When finished, discard remaining herbs.

Bath Melts

Bath melts are a lovely bit of festive fun that feel very whimsical. Adding one to a bath will leave your skin feeling smooth and luxurious. All you need is cocoa butter, coconut oil and an essential oil of choice. Most pharmacies and natural health stores carry these products.

On low heat, warm up 100g of cocoa butter and 2.5 tbsp of coconut oil in a double boiler. When the oil and butter are melted, add a few drops of your essential oil of choice. To complement the natural aroma of the cocoa butter, try something earthy, like cinnamon. Once everything is combined, pour the liquid into festively-shaped silicone baking molds to set. Allow the melts to cool in the refrigerator for a few hours before removing them from the moulds and individually bagging them. These will melt easily, so

ASHLEY MAROZSAN

keep them somewhere cool until they’re ready to be gifted. Instructions for use: Place a bath melt in warm bath water and allow it to melt. The oils in these bath melts can be slippery, so you may want to wipe down the tub after use.

BEAUTY

Whipped Body Butter

Whipped body butter is always a hit. It requires a little more care and patience than the other recipes, but the payoff is definitely worth it.

For this recipe, you will need ¼ cup coconut oil, ¼ cup jojoba oil, ¼ cup cocoa butter, ¼ cup shea butter and a vanilla bean (you can swap this for vanilla essential oil or any other essential oil).

Over low heat, add the coconut oil, cocoa butter and shea butter to a double boiler. Once melted, remove from heat and add the jojoba oil. If you’re using essential oils, add those now as well. Let cool for a few minutes and then let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for an hour to solidify.

If you have an immersion blender, add the oil mixture and the vanilla bean whole and blend for 5 minutes or until fluffy. With a hand mixer or a lower-quality blender, finely chop the vanilla bean first. Whip the oil mixture until light and fluffy, and then add the chopped vanilla bean and briefly mix again. Whipped body butter should be stored away from sunlight for up to a year.

TREATS AND EATS

Tea Blends

This is the perfect gift for any tea lover in your life who would enjoy a little holiday magic infused into their daily ritual. There’s lots of room for creativity and personalization, and you can even branch out and make multiple different blends!

Each type of tea has a unique flavour profile. Here are a few favourite blends for each of them: Black tea: Cacao nibs + vanilla bean, vanilla bean + rose, cocoa powder + peppermint, dried orange peel + cinnamon.

Green or Oolong tea: Jasmine + rose, lemongrass + dried orange peel, lemongrass + blue pea flower + calendula.

Herbal tea: Chamomile + lavender, chamomile + calendula + dandelion, hibiscus + raspberry leaf, chamomile + lemon balm + calendula.

The individual quantities of each herb are subjective, so have fun with it! If you are making a blend with a “base tea,” such as black or green tea, aim for a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio of base tea to other ingredients.

Infused Sugars and Salts

This is a great gift for any aspiring chefs or kitchen geniuses you may know, and may even provide inspiration for future recipes!

To make infused salts, there are a few different types to choose from, including sea salt, kosher

salt and pink Himalayan salt. When choosing the herb and spice blends, you can get creative and choose herbs you think the recipient would like, or you can stick with a theme instead.

Some possible themes include Thanksgiving dinner (sage, rosemary and thyme); or take inspiration from regional flavours, like French (thyme, rosemary, tarragon, marjoram and savoury), Italian (basil, oregano, parsley, garlic and thyme), or Chinese (star anise, fennel seed, peppercorn, clove and cinnamon).

Add 1 cup of salt to a container and 2 tbsp of each seasoning. If there are any large chunks, consider blending for a few seconds before storing in a food-safe jar.

Alternatively, you could try creating an infused sugar for bakers or those with a sweet tooth. There are a couple of ways to make infused sugar. First, you can add the ingredients into the sugar and blend it. This works with easily edible ingredients, such as lavender, rose or citrus peel. If you have more difficult ingredients, like coffee beans or vanilla beans, you may want to pour the sugar over the ingredient in a container and allow it to infuse for at least a month before removing. Transfer the sugar to a food-safe container, decorate, and gift!

Now that you know a few fun, festive recipes, you’re ready to share the magic this holiday season with some whimsical homemade goodies!

DIY bath, beauty, treats and eats make perfect stocking stuffers. Photo: Unsplash

Volunteering during the holidays

Tis the season to get involved

HARSHINI HARI GANESH

The holidays are a special time of year when everyone’s spirits seem high, and the excitement of the season melts away negative feelings. However, everyday struggles are still prevalent this month, regardless of surrounding cheer.

What if we could spread good tidings to others through more than just our greetings? Whether you’re staying in Guelph or travelling back home, volunteering is a great way to pass the time and bond with your community in the process. Here are some opportunities to get you started!

Christmas Kettle Campaign

The Salvation Army runs year-long events for volunteers to take part in, but some branches have a little something extra for this holiday season. The Christmas Kettle is an Ontario-wide event that also runs a chapter in Guelph. The 2025 Campaign is running from Nov. 13 to Dec. 24, and volunteers can take part any day in between!

You can help out by signing up to be a bell ringer alone or as a group. Volunteering involves standing near the Christmas Kettle (in various locations such as malls and participating stores) and ringing the bells, reminding passersby to donate whatever they can. All proceeds will go to those in need during the holiday season.

Visit the Salvation Army Guelph Citadel website to learn more and sign up! This event is a nice way to hang out with friends while raising money for a charitable cause.

Affordable Gift Market by Hope House Guelph

Another great opportunity for those staying in Guelph this December is the Affordable Gift Market from Dec. 1 to 11. This event gives opportunities for shoppers to buy gifts at pay-whatyou-can prices during the holiday season, eliminating the stigma of not being able to afford presents

The Ontarion's Holiday Playlist

for close family or friends. This volunteer-run initiative is a great way to ensure that everyone can participate in holiday traditions, which often includes buying gifts for loved ones.

As a volunteer, you will register shoppers, restock gift tables, or help customers checkout. Visit Hope House Guelph’s website and sign up for timeslots with friends or family! Seeing the bright faces as families pick out affordable gifts for their loved ones is a sure way to raise your spirits.

Santa’s Warehouse

Are you looking for holiday volunteer opportunities in the GTA or other places outside Guelph? Santa’s Warehouse has volunteer slots in the GTA, Hamilton, York and Durham.

The event is run by a charity called Holiday Helpers, and they collect donations and deliver relief packages to low-income families during the winter season. Volunteers will have various roles,

OUR STAFF PICKS

including sorting donations, packaging them and readying packages for delivery. You can even sign up to be a delivery elf! As always, doing this with a friend can make the experience more enjoyable. Volunteer shifts are available on the Holiday Helpers website start-

ing late November, and there are flexible timeslots to choose from. If you love wrapping presents and deciding which gift goes to whom, this might be the perfect holiday event for you!

Whether you volunteer to stave off boredom, to enjoy the feeling of giving back, or even just to hang out with friends, know that every volunteer effort is greatly appreciated by the charities and families that you help. Hopefully, some of these opportunities speak to you or inspire a spark to look for events in your own community. Happy volunteering!

ICON BY POJOK D

What wintery animal are you?

This cold season has many cute critters. Which one best represents you?

1. What’s your favourite thing about the holidays?

A) Enjoying a tasty, filling meal, like pot roast or prime rib

B) The festive spirit in the air

C) Hopping around town to see winter festivals and markets

D) Making memories with loved ones close to you

E) Seeing snow cover the ground in a sheet of white

2. Pick a winter activity:

A) Polar plunge in the lake

B) Decorating with twinkly fairy lights

C) Foraging for mosses and lichen

D) Sledding down snowy hills

E) Nesting in bed with a great novel

3. Pick a food group:

A) The more meat, the better!

B) Sugar cookies left behind for Santa Claus

C) Winter berries and leafy greens

D) Seafood: fish, shrimp, tasty calamari

E) Snacks scooped up from the pantry

A's

B's

e's

4. What are your thoughts on resting over the break?

A) No hibernating needed! You get your 8 hours and are up and at it the next day

B) Why sleep when you can be up celebrating?

C) You love short naps, burrowed up into blankets and pillows

D) Cuddling up with others is the best way to stay warm and cozy!

E) Your sleep schedule is so unpredictable – you could call it a night at 12 a.m. or 12 p.m.

5. Your friends would describe you as:

A) Sporty, strong

B) Bright, joyful

C) Curious, outgoing

D) Playful, loving

E) Wise, analytical

6. You’re hoping in the new year you can:

A) Hit a new personal record at the gym

B) Leave your seasonal decor up as long as possible

C) Get some nature walks in, enjoying the pines and firs

D) Find a mate (potentially for life)

E) Learn new things and ace your classes

7. What’s at the top of your holiday wishlist?

A) Fresh new sneakers that still shine white

B) Anything seasonal – hot chocolate, plaid PJ sets, gingerbread houses

C) A fluffy fur coat to keep you warm

D) Anything if it’s gifted with love – even a pretty pebble or rock!

E) A stack of books and a sweet space to enjoy them

8. What are you watching over the break?

A) Do NHL games count?

B) ‘Tis the season for holiday classics!

C) Nature documentaries or sometimes just the bunnies and squirrels outside your window

D) Love, Actually; The Holiday; anything Hallmark

E) The Harry Potter marathon is already queued

9. Pick a completely, totally random song lyric:

A) “Harder, better, faster, stronger” from Kanye West’s “Stronger”

B) “Run, run Rudolph! Santa’s gotta make it to town!” from Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run”

C) “You know I love to make it jump, jump, jump, jump, jump” from Tyla’s “Jump”

D) “You got me slipping, tumbling, sinking… Clumsy ‘cause I’m falling in love” from Fergie’s “Clumsy”

E) “I’m like a bird, I’ll only fly away” from Nelly Furtado’s “Like a Bird”

You are strong, majestic, and ready for any challenge that could come your way. Polar bears are unstoppable. They travel long distances and powerfully claw out their prey as the largest land carnivore. Like them, you stay active and love a good gym sesh, and the protein-rich holiday feasts can be good for your gains. Be sure to find moments to rest and recharge during this break. Even these great hunters need to relax sometimes!

You are a huge fan of the holidays. You love every ornament, fairy light, gingerbread house, and carefully wrapped gift under the tree. Reindeer like Rudolph and Frozen’s Sven get people into the festive spirit, just like how your bright and sparkly personality lights up the season. Their cloven hooves help them enjoy the snow, and their iconic antlers can grow up to 1.4 metres long. For you, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

You have been hopping around all year. Every day is an adventure, whether it’s spending time with friends, exploring the city, or hiking amidst flora and fauna. Arctic hares also move fast – they can run up to 60 kilometres per hour and jump up to two to three metres high – but they also love loafing into a spherical shape to rest and stay warm. Like them, you might enjoy spending time outdoors. Make sure to admire the evergreen trees and wintry landscapes!

You are cuddly, romantic, and fun-loving. You might find your winter adventures are best with a partner by your side. Although not all penguins mate for life, they are known to huddle for warmth and for their elaborate courting rituals, like dancing, loud vocalizations, and nest-building. Penguins are fun animals; sledding down icy mountains, waddling through the snow and socializing with their colonies. You might take the break as more time to spend with friends, family, and those closest to you – the warmth of these connections can always heat up the cold.

You are smart, thoughtful and mystical, and you love admiring the world perched up high from a window or in the vast worlds of books. Owls have long represented wisdom, with their astute, all-seeing eyes and their watchful nature. Unlike other owls, snowy owls are diurnal; they are largely active throughout the day. But sometimes, they are up at night hunting – just like you up reading past your bedtime.

HOLIDAY HOROSCOPES

ARIES LEO SAGITTARIUS

Aries, if your friends choose ice skating rather than a Hallmark movie marathon, don’t feel frosty. The ice rink is the best place for a holiday meet-cute!

Leo, keep one eye on the Santa tracker and another on your grandma’s eggnog consumption. Keep her inside when reindeer are near.

TAURUS VIRGO

Taurus, you’ll be roped into endless dreidel games this season. Good luck, and don’t let the holidays send you into a tailspin!

Virgo, you have generous neighbours, so you’ll receive no less than four panettones this month. Hopefully you like raisins!

GEMINI

Gemini, you asked Santa for a light blue convertible, a yacht, AND the deed to a platinum mine? No wonder you’re on the naughty list!

LIBRA

Libra, you’re sure to get caught under the mistletoe with your crush this month. Pucker up, and don’t forget the peppermints!

(March 21 - April 19) (July 23 - August 22) (Nov 22 - Dec 21) (April 20 - May 20) (Aug 23 - Sept 22) (Jan 20 - Feb 18) (May 21 - June 20) (Sept 23 - Oct 22) (Dec 22 - Jan 19) (June 21 - July 22) (Oct 23 - Nov 21) (Feb 19 - March 20)

Sagittarius, gift shopping is sending you into a holidaze. Have you tried making a list and checking it twice?

CAPRICORN

Capricorn, exams right before the holidays might leave you feeling like the Grinch. Feel your heart grow three sizes by not angrily emailing your professor.

AQUARIUS

Aquarius, baby, it’s cold outside! Surprise your roommates with an impromptu snowball fight—they won’t mind, right?

CANCER SCORPIO PISCES

Cancer, if your family drives you crazy over the holidays, challenge them to a board game night. No one will be talking after four hours of Monopoly.

Scorpio, your song of the season is “A Nonsense Christmas” by Sabrina Carpenter. Ho, ho, ho!

Pisces, your New Year’s Eve will be a night to remember, so go easy on the party’s punch bowl; otherwise, your only midnight kiss will be your cat—again!

BECAUSE WE ASKED...

What is your holiday tradition?

"I build gingerbread houses with my neighbours every year."

Emily Donovan 2nd year, Biomedical Toxicology

DECEMBER

DEC 2 & 3

Exam Study Break - Take a Paws

• Dec 2 / 5 - 6 p.m. & Dec 3 / 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

• Location: Athletic Centre, Gryphons Lounge 131

Take a "Paws" from studying and hang out with therapy dogs from St. Johns Ambulance

• There are limited spots per session, so make sure to register ahead of time There will be walk-ins if there are no shows

VARIOUS DATES

Outdoor Christmas Marketplace

• Dec 5 & Dec 12 / 4 - 8 p.m.

• Dec 6 & Dec 13 / 11 - 8 p.m.

• Dec 7 & Dec 14 / 11 - 5 p.m.

• Location: St George’s Square

• Enjoy a winter wonderland with the square decorated with lights while you walk around, taking in all the talented vendors

SAT DEC 6

SHREK THE HALLS Drag Brunch

• 1 p.m.

• Location: 1881 Guelph / 72 Macdonell Street

• A Very Swampy Drag Brunch performed by Anne Tique Doll and Ultraviolet Tickets: $15

"On Christmas morning, me and my brothers all line up at the top of the stairs and go down in the order of youngest to oldest to see the Christmas tree."

Sofia Smintich

2nd year, Neuro Science

TO-DO LIST

SUN DEC 7

Christmas at the Farmers' Market

• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Location: 2 Gordon Street, Guelph

• Get your gifts and decorations while supporting local artists

Guelph Celtic Orchestra

2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Location: Red Chevron Club / 34 Elizabeth Street, Guelph

• This isn’t your typical Christmas concert— it’s a Celtic celebration with a seasonal twist. Expect toe-tapping reels and jigs, with a few familiar melodies woven in for good measure

Ticket prices: $20

THURS DEC 11

Gingerbread decorating with the OAC GSC

• 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

• Location: Bovey Cafe / 601 Gordon St, Guelph, ON

• A cozy night of decorating gingerbread and socializing

• The gingerbread house, icing and decorations will be provided

• Get in the holiday spirit and meet your fellow OAC graduate students

"Every winter on the Christmas break my family and I skate on the pond."

Voros 2nd year, CJPP

MON DEC 15

Jazz Jams @ The Cornerstone

• 6 - 9 p.m.

• Location: The Cornerstone

• Great chance to immerse yourself in Guelph's music scene and connect with the @guelphjazzsociety

• Pay what you can to listen or play along with the house band

• Bass (lefty), drums, piano, amps provided

DEC 19 & 20

Candlelight: Christmas Special Featuring “The Nutcracker”

• 8:45 p.m.

• Location: Royal City Mission Church

Discover music inspired by the winter and the holiday spirit at Royal City Mission Church under the gentle glow of candlelight

SUN DEC 21

A Very Charlie Brown Concert 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Location: River Run Centre

• Celebrate the season with Vince Guaraldi’s beloved soundtrack of the 1965 Emmy Award-winning film, A Charlie Brown

Christmas Ticket prices:

• $25.00 Regular

• $23.00 Over 60

• $20.00 Under 30

• $10.00 Under 14

• 10% off for groups of 10 or more: (use promo code GROUP10)

Vincent

Holiday bingo

If you’re looking for something fun to do this holiday season, give our Holiday Bingo a try! Once you have completed a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line, send a photo of it to us at outreach@theontarion.com to be entered in a draw for a chance to win a prize! Happy holidays!

Left out milk and cookies for Santa

Went ice skating

Donated a toy, clothing or food item

Built a snowman

Made a snow angel

Ate a candy cane

Wrapped a present

Decorated for the holidays Baked cookies Read The Ontarion’s December issue

Watched a holiday movie Went sledding or tobogganing

Made a homemade ornament

Sang or listened to carols

Took a picture with Santa

Started or finished reading a book THE ONTARION FREE SPACE

Spent time with a loved one Built a gingerbread house

Put up a mistletoe

Played a boardgame

Bought a gift from a local store

Drank hot chocolate

Built a snow fort

Lit a candle

Elevate your holiday decor with ribbon Classic finishing touches to add warmth and charm to any space

BY LUCCA MAGGIOLO

PETS OF THE MONTH

MEET MERLIN!

Breed: Irish SetterPoodle mix

Photo: Sarah D’avila

Age: 1

Fun Fact: He barks at motorcycles and cars with really loud engines but not at anything else.

MEET MAXWELL!

Breed: American shorthair black and gray tabby

Photo: Ava Vender

Age: 6

Fun Fact: Racoons fear him.

MEET OLLIE!

Breed: American short hair orange tabby

Photo: Ava Vender

Age: 2

Fun Fact: The silly orange cat genes are very prevalent in him.

MEET ROSIE!

Breed: Calico

Photo: Steve Donnelly

Fun Fact: Rosie loves sitting on her tower, watching squirrels feed at the window and falling asleep on Jemma humans’ tummy.

University

CROSSWORD

Across

1–Resistance units

5–Lower limb

10–Alfonso's queen

13–Actor Julia

14–Bathhouse

16–Bit of film, to a photog

17–Voluntary movement

19–Simian

20–Cooking herb

21–Executioner

23–Frequently, in verse

24–Formerly, once

26–Grasp

27–Richards of "Jurassic Park"

29–Region in NW Italy

32–Town near Santa Fe

33–Flowing water

36–Inexplicable

41–Shelter, for an American boat

42–1972 Kentucky Derby winner ___ Ridge

44–Well-proportioned figure

48–Momentarily

50–I could ___ horse!

51–Bananas

53–Blasting stuff

54–Artisan

58–I'd hate to break up ___

60–Air defence abbr.

61–Compulsion to steal

64–Southern constellation

65–Boards

66–Actor Beatty and others

67–X

68–Vast extents

69–"___ Tu": 1974 hit

Down

1–... ___ mouse?

2–Housewife, in Berlin

3–Process of changing

4–Trudge 5–Biol., e.g.

6–Clock pointers

7–Red as ___

8–Mission control gp.

9–Work with needles

10–Inspire love in

11–Kathmandu resident

12–To-do list

15–Shade of grey

18–Sharp

22–Moo ___ pork

23–Muesli bit

25–Mischievous person

28–Cool ___ cucumber

29–Carson's successor

30–Medical

31–"Today" rival, briefly

34–Whig opponent

35–Massage

37–Friend of Fidel

38–Breast-supporting undergarment

39–Auditor

40–Evening

43–Theatrical unit

44–Attacks

45–Zimbabwe's capital

46–Cossack chief

47–Launch site

49–Linguist Chomsky

51–Slip

52–Dominant

55–Heart chart, for short

56–Hill toy

57–Give (out)

59–Having all one's marbles

62–Switch positions

63–Donkey's uncle

BOB'S DOGS CROSSWORD CONTEST

For your chance to win two Bobs dog’s and two pops, just complete the crossword, snap a picture, and send it to puzzles@theontarion.com by December 4 at 3 p.m. Winners are announced in each issue and can arrange a pickup of their voucher by emailing the same address.

Last issue’s winning puzzle was submitted by Holly McClelland!

SUDOKU

519-824-4120

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Advertising: x 58267

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EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor-in-Chief

Rachel Fioret

Associate Editor

Emmerson Jull

News Editor

Abby Counahan

Arts & Culture Editor

Andreea Burlacu

Copy Editor & Fact Checker

Carlota Sousa

Digital Editor

Alyssa Cunningham

PRODUCTION STAFF

Graphic Designer/Art Director

Paige Stampatori

Photo & Graphics Editor

Aditya Parameswaran

OFFICE STAFF

Executive Director

Patrick Sutherland

Accountant

Laurie Arnold

Marketing Coordinator

Lucca Maggiolo

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair

Katelynn Huong

Vice Chair

Paula Henry-Duru

Treasurer

Denver Bubelich

Secretary OPEN POSITION

DIRECTORS

Mariana Erazo

Oliver Bullingham

Simran Aujla

Maia Galletta

CONTRIBUTORS

REMA ABDULLAH

MAGGIE ABRADJIAN

ELYSE ARMSTRONG

FATIMA ASKARY

NED BARR

ERIKA BEKKERING

AMIR BENKELAI

MADISON BOUTILIER

CAITLIN BUCK

KARYS CROOK

SARAH D’AVILA ALEMAN

JESS DETWEILER

MADELEINE ESSERY

PAIGE FIRMAN

ELISE FREDERIKSEN

EVA GALAN

SIENNA GEISSLER

ALEX GRANT

MANZIL GROVER

SANA GURUNATHAN

HARSHINI HARI GANESH

SOFIA KUPKA

FAUSTINE LIU

PIA MAMGAIN

ASHLEY MAROZSAN

VALERIE MONTERROZA

ATHAVI NISHAANTHAN

SOPHIA PHILBERT

ABBIE SAKAMOTO

EMILY SCOTT

BEN SEATON

NETA SHOICHET

AVA VENDER

THUSHANI WIJESOORIYA

MADISON WOLF

MADELYN YOUNG