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201.2 | OCTOBER 2026

THEONTARION.COM

ELECTION PREVIEW ON PAGE 12 & 13

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS 3.

Tenant rights for new student renters

A fetching day for dog lovers

Introducing your new CSA executives Guelph Butter Tart Festival comes back for seconds

Conservation efforts at the Arboretum

ARTS & CULTURE 7.

Jazzing up Guelph’s local music scene

Sharing Mohawk stories on the Mtigwaaki trail

SPORTS & HEALTH 9.

Prevail at the potluck

10 & 11. Gryphons sail to a 47-22 victory over the Waterloo Warriors on homecoming 14.

Upcoming mental health events at the University of Guelph Could Guelph’s rugby champs secure another national title?

FEATURE STORY 12 & 13. What you need to know about Guelph’s municipal election

OPINION 15.

Don’t sleep through the pep rally Print your photos GOLD AWARD WINNER for Favourite Moving Company

SPOOKY PAGES 17.

Tarot 101

18.

Fall for our favourite cozy books

19.

October to-do list

20.

What is The Ontarion scared of? Spooky pets of the month

21.

Horror-scopes

22.

Because we asked

23.

Puzzle page

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4 | DOG PROMENADE

6 | ARBORETUM EXPO

Tenant rights for new student renters What you can do, what your landlord can’t do and who to talk to NED BARR

inding a rental is a ruthless pursuit for students year after year. Learning your rights and obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) can improve your life in student housing. As early as September the race begins to hunt through listings on Facebook Marketplace, The Cannon and beyond in search of the perfect accommodation. In this search for housing, plenty of students sign leases without doing adequate research into their rights as tenants in Ontario. Most students’ rental agreements are protected under the RTA, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords in Ontario. There are options for recourse if a landlord is found to have violated the RTA. If issues arise, University of Guelph students can seek advice from the personnel at the Student Help and Advocacy Centre (SHAC), a service under the Central Student Association (CSA). SHAC provides peer-to-peer tenancy support and referrals to free legal advice from the Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington

County. They can also provide students with assistance on a variety of other academic, financial and legal issues. Hope MacPherson, SHAC coordinator, discussed her experience assisting student renters through SHAC. “We're able to help students navigate [services], like here's this service that exists that you might have not known about that can help you,” said MacPherson. “But when it comes to the actual legal services, that's when we send them to the Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County.” MacPherson also spoke about the common misconceptions new renters may have. Commonly, students misunderstand the difference between an individual tenancy and a joint lease. If one person breaks off a joint lease, it ends the old agreement and a new lease must be signed with updated tenants. The agreement is then considered a “new” lease, allowing the landlord to increase the rent to any amount they wish. If someone on a joint lease

breaks rules in the lease or causes damage, the other tenants can still be held financially responsible given that their names are on the lease. The same applies if a tenant’s unit is occupied by a subletter—the tenant is still legally responsible for any damages the subletter may cause. The protections of the RTA are also not applicable when a tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with the landlord or immediate family of the landlord. MacPherson explained that students might believe it’s better to rent from a friend whose parents own the unit. “Because you live with the child of that landlord, that's an immediate family member,” she said. “So if something goes wrong, they're actually not legally responsible [for following] what is outlined in the RTA.” Other tenancy misconceptions include all types of deposits. A rental deposit—where a landlord asks for a month of rent in advance—is legal, so long as it doesn’t exceed the cost of one month’s rent. A refundable key deposit is another legal charge.

Damage deposits are strictly illegal in Ontario. Also note that landlords cannot deny a tenant housing because they have pets, although they are allowed to refuse applications including pets. The legal limit for rental increases in 2027 is 1.9 per cent, which applies only to rental units occupied before 2018. In a brand-new apartment, rent may be permitted to increase by any amount the landlord chooses—but increases may only happen once per year. SHAC encourages students with urgent tenancy issues to reach out to the Landlord and Tenant Board, a government body that can assess the conduct of landlords and issue fines for those ruled in violation of the RTA. SHAC also offers free lease reviews to ensure that the lease provided by a landlord is an Ontario standard-form lease, which provide tenants with adequate tenancy protection. MacPherson advocates for students to try these lease reviews, especially for anyone new to renting in Ontario. “A lot of the time it is [an]

The Student Help and Advocacy Centre is a CSA service providing tenancy support and referrals to U of G students. Nahomy Katuk Sequeira/THE ONTARION

ICON BY MAGNIFIC

unfortunate reality that landlords will take advantage of the fact that [for some] students, maybe English isn't their first language or they're in a totally new country… and they’ll create all of these fake rules,” MacPherson said. Instead of offering itself as a catch-all solution to every issue that could arise from the student housing crisis, MacPherson emphasizes that SHAC exists to provide students with legal information rather than advice, and sees the organization as a “bridge to connect [students] to places that can help.”

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | NEWS

THE ONTARION

A fetching day for dog lovers Pawsports and pup cups abound at the fourth annual Downtown Dog Promenade HANNAH DICKHOFF

ave you ever seen a fourlegged taco? How about a floppy-eared butterfly? At the Downtown Dog Promenade, the streets of Guelph flood with wagging tails and smiling faces. The fourth annual Downtown Dog Promenade took place on Sept. 26, hosted by the Downtown Guelph Business Association (DGBA). With pet-friendly stops, games, souvenirs and an adorable costume contest, the Downtown Dog Promenade was enjoyed by many and their furry friends. Many local businesses contributed to the event by offering dog-friendly products and activities, all mapped out on the year’s “pawsport.” The pawsport contained a map and directory of all the nearby participating businesses, each with their own unique quirks. DGBA Events Manager Sam Jewell explained how the pawsport worked. “We tell [attendees] to go to ten of the businesses, give the pawsport back to us and they’ll be entered in a draw. There’s 30 plus businesses on the pawsport, and we found that people were going to all of them,” she said. The Dog Promenade lends itself to the exploration of the downtown area, providing opportunities to discover the city of Guelph in a new way. Baked goods and treats for dogs were available, as well as “puppicinos” and a free professional photo booth. There was also a stick library stocked with sticks for the dogs to chase and chew. Two new additions to this

year’s event included a free agility course at Hope House, and a free caricature booth at Millenium Clothing. The costume contest was one of the most anticipated activities of the day. Jewell recounted costumes from previous years, including a slice of pizza, an airplane and superheroes. The event is “a must-see…even if you don’t have a dog, just come along! It’s wonderful, just a really feel-good event,” Jewell said. The categories in the contest included Best Trick, Best Dressed and Twins, in which people dressed in matching costumes with their dogs. The idea for the Dog Promenade came from DGBA board member Isidé Dallan, who owns Apple Salon on Wilson St. As a downtown business owner and dog lover, Dallan’s vision was to give pups a fun day out while creating opportunities for local busi-

nesses and community growth. After four successful years of the event, it seems that her idea has been achieved. One of the main charities present at the Dog Promenade was the Guelph Humane Society. “If you’re going to do an event with animals, it's really important to have someone like them on site. They’re a huge part of our community too,” Jewell said. A portion of the proceeds from the Dog Promenade was donated to the Guelph Humane Society, supporting their mission to provide health, compassion and loving homes to animals. The Downtown Dog Promenade offered a day of tail-wagging fun and exploration. Dog lovers who missed this year’s event should not fret—the Downtown Dog Promenade will return in 2027.

A butterfly, clown, and Spiderman all walk into a bar... Photo provided by Downtown Guelph Business Association

All smiles at the doggy photo booth! Photo provided by Downtown Guelph Business Association

We're pawsitive this pup had a great time downtown. Photo provided by Downtown Guelph Business Association

WHAT MATTERS MOST TO STUDENTS

Students are an important part of Guelph’s community — and their voices should be part of the conversation about our city. RELIABLE TRANSIT

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

WALKABLE GUELPH

SAFE CYCLING

STUDENT VOICES

CARING FOR OUR CITY

Frequent, accessible service that gets students where they need to go. Pedestrian-friendly streets and routes that work in every season. Meaningul opportunities for students to participate and be heard.

More housing choices students can realistically afford. Better connections and separated bike routes. Good stewardship of parks, facilities, infrastructure and natural areas.

CATHY DOWNER

Re-elect

Ward 5

OCTOBER 26

cathydowner.ca Committed

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Connected

ISSUE 201 . 2 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

Introducing your new CSA executives Recapping the winter 2026 election results as the CSA prepares for its byelection THUSHANI WIJESOORIYA

he winter 2026 general election brought forth an all new executive team at the Central Student Association (CSA). Elections commenced in March 2026, appointing Emilie Dudgeon as CSA president by almost 400 votes. The fourth-year commerce student previously worked in the business office at the CSA. The new vice president internal, Sydney Hooper, received almost double the votes of her competitors, securing 1298 votes. Hooper aims to “make campus feel like home,” according to their campaign statement. The elected vice-president academic, Kennedy McGregor, received 1499 votes. McGregor previously served two years as the CSA’s SafeWalk coordinator. Ash Ames was the only candidate running for vice president

external and received 1928 votes. Ames previously served on the OPIRG Guelph board and with the CSA board of directors. All executive positions were filled, a change from last year when no one was elected for vice president external. Beyond the core four positions, Dudgeon explained how the CSA has been "restructuring the organization internally to better serve students.” Over the summer, a new executive director position was created with the intent of mitigating responsibilities within the executive team. “We’ve heard feedback that the CSA does not do as much as it could,” she said. “[The executive director] should make the transition a lot easier for the executives,” which provides “more time for the

The CSA's 2026 executive team, from left to right: Ash Ames, Sydney Hooper, Kennedy McGregor and Emilie Dudgeon. Photo provided by the CSA

executives to do the things in their campaign.” Positions for college directors were also filled, including for biological sciences, engineering, social and applied human sciences, computational, mathematical and physical sciences, and the Ontario Agricultural College. Voting for the fall 2026 by-election will begin on Oct. 19 to fill vacant positions on the board of directors for the 2026-2027 academic year. These include the atlarge directors for College of Arts, College of Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences, Lang School of Business, and the

Ontario Veterinary College. Overall voter turnout for the winter general election was 14.4 per cent, and voting quorum was met for all four executive positions. This means that at least 10 per cent of the University of Guelph student population voted in the election. Dudgeon said that reaching voter quorum was “always a concern,” but that the CSA achieved a successful turnout in the winter election and intends to build off of that momentum this fall. You can expect to see more CSA tables around campus leading up to the by-election. “We want all of our faces to

be familiar on campus,” Dudgeon said. “[We want] everyone at the University of Guelph to know what the CSA does and what we offer.” With a new executive director, full executive team and plans to increase outreach, Dudgeon calls the 2026-2027 year “exciting.” “If you ever have any questions, please come to our office and talk to us and we will be able to connect you with the right people,” she said. The CSA office is located in room 274 at the University Centre.

Guelph Butter Tart Festival comes back for seconds Try more than 20 different variations of butter tarts in the University Centre SARAH D’AVILA ALEMAN

n Oct. 8, Canadian businesses will be stationed throughout the University Centre to offer up their takes on one of the nation’s most-loved desserts. Since being introduced last year, the Guelph Butter Tart Festival has established itself as a fall bucket list item for people all across Ontario. Carolyn Walker organized the festival to allow students and families to enjoy a variety of local tastes and get in a cozy Thanksgiving mood. The essence of this festival is, of course, the Canadian butter tart. This year, more than 17 vendors will come to the University of Guelph to share their delicious,

handmade desserts. These Canadian businesses stretch from Niagara Falls all the way to outside Ottawa. The vendors’ diversity is reflected in the wide range of flavours available. You can try anything from your classic raisin or pecan, to sweet coconut or a salty bacon surprise. Even those with allergies or dietary restrictions can look forward to trying sweet treats with vendors such as Molly B Gluten Free and Gluten Free Girl offering gluten-free, nut-free and sugar-sensitive options. If butter tarts aren’t your thing, you will be glad to know that some vendors will have alternatives available including mini cakes, strudels and more. There

will also be vendors bringing some non-sweet goodies, like hummus. This festival is increasingly making a bigger name for itself across Ontario. People from beyond east of the Greater Toronto Area are travelling all the way to Guelph just to try tarts. With this in mind, it is recommended to show up early. “Last year, [the vendors] started at 10 a.m. and they sold out in about two to three hours. Several of them, if they were close enough, went back to their bakeries and were sold out again at around 2 p.m.,” said Walker. Some vendors sold over 3000 butter tarts in less than three hours.

More than 17 vendors will be dishing out this classic Canadian dessert. Andreea Burlacu/THE ONTARION

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | NEWS

THE ONTARION

Conservation efforts at the Arboretum The eighth annual expo featured beaver brainpower and monarch research ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LANGDEN F. PEOPLES

n Sept. 12, the Arboretum held their eighth annual Arboretum Expo. Students, faculty and Guelph residents gathered at the Arboretum centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to enjoy live music at the pergola, food trucks and a large plant sale that offered more than 2,000 plants of 200 species. The Expo also included many educational opportunities, like monarch tagging, the elm tree recovery documentary and environmental activist tents. The tents informed visitors about various environmental issues, some of which surround the Guelph and Waterloo area. Beavers Canada One booth of note was hosted by Beavers Canada. The organization’s founder and co-president, Julianna Van Adrichem, was at the event to meet visitors. The booth facilitated discussions about the environmental

benefits that Canada’s national animal has on our ecosystem. Van Adrichem described beavers as “ecological engineers,” who help the environment by creating dams. Beavers can create natural firebreaks across landscapes, help resist drought by making new roots for drying rivers, resist flooding with their natural dams and create new habitats for other animals, increasing biodiversity. With the rise of AI data centres increasing consumption of clean drinking water, in addition to growing concerns of water drought in the Guelph and Waterloo region, Van Adrichem stressed the importance of beaver conservation. Since the Guelph and Waterloo region relies on underground aquifers—which are replenished through beaver dams redistributing the water into the ground—conservation of this species is particularly important to humans and the environment here.

Plant lovers' paradise at the Arboretum Expo.

Monarch tagging One event of interest was monarch tagging, taking place on the outskirts of the exposition. Guests arrived in groups to watch the process of monarch butterflies being tagged by university students and researchers before they were released for migration. The researchers at the event described the butterflies as a “super generation,” a term used to describe any butterflies seen past mid–August, with special genes allowing them to live longer than their parents and migrate to Mexico for the winter. In the spring, the butterflies will return to Canada to hatch their babies. Before the tagging could begin, the monarchs needed to be captured in the Arboretum. Each butterfly was observed individually to ensure the monarchs were safe to be tagged, looking for any injuries on the wings or signs of aging, Researchers stressed that the process of catching the monarchs does not harm them, as the nets used were specifically designed to ensure the insects’ safety. Once the butterflies were determined to be fit for tagging, a sticker was placed on the wings to mark the butterfly’s sex, if it

was wild or captive, and their respective number. The researchers explained that these tag numbers were submitted to Monarch Watch, which will track each butterfly for research purposes. The tagging will allow researchers to determine if larger wing size influences success, the butterflies’ male to female ratio and other aspects that could help them better understand migration patterns. After each monarch was tagged, the researchers picked a volunteer to release the monarch. Then, the butterfly would be placed on their hand, waiting a few moments before flying off. Once they reach Mexico, researchers will locate the tagged monarchs with these tags and report back to Monarch Watch. The tagging event ended with an explanation as to why butterfly migration research is important. In Ontario, monarchs are considered a species of “special concern,” meaning they could become threatened or endangered in the future. With the appeal of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act in March 2026 and its replacement by the Species Conservation Act, researchers hope their work will benefit broader conservation efforts in the province.

Monarchs were measured and tagged before being released.

ARTS & CULTURE

THEONTARION.COM

8 | STORYTELLING SERIES

7 | JAZZ FEST

Jazzing up Guelph’s local music scene Creativity blossoms at the annual Guelph Jazz Festival ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY ASHLEY MAROZSAN

cornerstone of Guelph’s local music scene, the Guelph Jazz Festival, returned this year from Sept. 11 to 13 to reunite musicians, genre enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. Jazz has long maintained its presence in the Canadian scene and continues to influence Canada's music culture, nearly two centuries after the genre’s inception in African American communities. Since 1994, Guelph’s annual jazz festival has celebrated the genre with indoor and outdoor shows at venues across the city. This jam-packed musical event can be enjoyed by anyone, jazz lover or not. Characterized by on-the-fly improvisation and a swing rhythm, the listening experience is sure to be different at every concert.

Jazz is unique in the sense that a single artist’s live performance can be drastically different from one day to the next. Since the genre is largely improvisational, the artist’s vision is persuaded by their environment, audience, other musicians and any combination of outside influences. Jazz is a genre about relationships, like a real-time musical conversation. Joe Sorbara, artistic director of the festival, described the sound as a leap of faith followed by trust in your creative partners. "Like anything you've ever learned, you jump off a cliff and figure it out on the way down," Sorbara said. The Guelph Jazz Festival aims to highlight unconventional artists and sounds, reflecting the diversity of jazz among local and

international artists. Many of the performers in the festival’s repertoire travelled from across the continent, and even some from across the globe. The audience was equally diverse, with some loyal fans crossing borders year after year to witness what is new and exciting in jazz. Groups like Plastic Waste Band served as an introduction to the genre, keeping the core sound of jazz while still being upbeat and palatable to the uninitiated. Other artists, like the Nicole Mitchell and SlowPitchSound set, challenged listeners to expand their tastes to more experimental music. Both performances were very much rooted in jazz but interpreted in the artist's style. Chelsea Masse, general director for the festival and University

of Guelph alumna, curates the festival with this in mind. Nearly a year of planning goes into each festival, with arrangements being set up for the next year as soon as the event has concluded. One of Masse’s goals is to curate an experience that is accessible to newcomers while still being fresh and inspiring for loyal patrons. She aims to facilitate relationships within the community while broadening the festival’s horizons. Community is not just forged with the audience, but between artists, encouraging collaboration. The bass choir included numerous bassists borrowed from other sets to work as a unit, including Ethan Cohn, bassist for the Plastic Waste Band. Nicole Mitchell, who played earlier in the evening

as part of a duet, made a surprise appearance in The Secret Lives of Colour set, which was chalked full of celebrated jazz musicians. The Guelph Jazz Festival aims to reinvest in the community by supporting youth jazz in the city. The Guelph Youth Jazz Ensemble participated in a community parade from the farmer's market to the main venue, Royal City Mission, inviting locals to listen in on the fun. This opportunity provided professional development for many of the young musicians, as well as an opportunity for mentorship with more experienced artists. For anyone looking to deepen their relationship with jazz and connect to other Guelphites, the Guelph Jazz Festival returns every fall.

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | ARTS & CULTURE

THE ONTARION

Sharing Mohawk stories on the Mtigwaaki trail Host Cara Loft reveals the importance of Indigenous land-based teaching Cara Loft leads participants through the Mtigwaaki trail. Photo credit: Cara Loft

SIENNA G. GEISSLER

his fall semester, learn about Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing by attending the Fall Storytelling Series led by Cara Loft. Hosted at the Arboretum on the last Friday of each month from September to December, each session follows a Mohawk story told by Loft as she leads participants through the Mtigwaaki trail. Traditional song keeper, storyteller and hand drum carrier, Loft is a Wolf Clan Mohawk woman from Tyendinaga First Nation. “Storytelling has always been a part of my life,” Loft said. “It is within my family that we’re storytellers.” Loft said her grandparents and her father were storytellers before her, and she describes herself as a “lifelong storyteller.” When asked about her inspiration behind the Fall Storytelling Series, Loft said she was inspired by the “land as a teacher, as a guide.” She explained how she “wanted to show the University of Guelph and the broader Guelph community that the Guelph Arboretum is a beautiful space that we can learn from.” “I noticed that at the University of

Guelph, there weren’t many opportunities for faculty, students and staff to experience land-based teaching,” Loft said. “So I wanted to offer a space where we could come together in a very good and kind way and create a community where we could all learn together.” At the first session, Loft told the Mohawk Creation Story. The session began in the J.C. Taylor Nature Centre, opening and closing with song where Loft uses both her voice and grandmother drum. Loft then moved on to smudge. The grandmother drum is used throughout the practice to help tell the story as participants walk the Mtigwaaki trail, allowing them to engage with the natural world and one another. “I tell the story, but I tell it in a very different, experiential way, so that folks can not just hear the story, but experience the story in a relational way,” Loft said. “Although I am telling a story, at the same time we are learning so much from the walk that we do, the visitors, our other relations, the animals we see on our walk, and I interweave it with

Indigenous worldview and Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.” When asked about the benefits of engaging in Indigenous practices such as storytelling, smudging and song, Loft explained that “individual benefits will vary based on where people are at in their decolonized journey.” “It’s not just about what we’re learning,” said Loft. "It's about what we’re doing together, and so the benefit is that it allows people to be their whole selves. It can help with personal decolonizing journeys but it can also help bridge understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.” Throughout the first session, Loft referred to the Earth as our first mother. “We are in the midst of a climate crisis right now, and it’s really important to consider how we are treating the land, our first mother, the Earth,” said Loft. “In thinking about the land, not as a resource but as a relative, we can then begin to take more personal responsibility. We can begin to relate to the land in a very personal way.” “It is through capitalism, neoliberalism

and these policies that see land as an infinite resource that we can infinitely extract from, that is causing the climate crises that we see today,” she said. “By changing the narrative around the story we see land as, we are able to better understand our relationship with her, and better able to support.” Loft suggested that taking “direct action,” through activities like picking up garbage or planting pollinator gardens, could be a step towards organizing larger groups of people to advocate for policy change. Loft’s work is motivated by her goal to create positive change for Indigenous people. “I see storytelling as a small stepping stone to helping others better understand Indigenous peoples and our ways of knowing, being and doing.” Loft invites Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike to come to the storytelling series and learn more about the land and their connection to it. “We are all land-based people…But Western society has removed us from and severed that relationship with the land,” Loft said. “In bringing people onto the land and talking about their first mother, the Earth, my hope is to reconnect people, and for them to see that much of the issues that we deal with as Indigenous folks are issues that we all deal with as people of the Earth.” There are still three sessions remaining in the Fall Storytelling Series: • The Story of the Flying Head – Friday, Oct. 30 • Story of the Three Sisters – Friday, Nov. 27 • Story of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – Friday, Dec. 11

LEANNE CARON for Mayor of Guelph TO BUILD A CITY WE CAN BE PROUD OF

Guelph Guelphis isgrowing growingand andchanging changingfast. fast.The Thechoices choiceswe wemake make now now will shape our city for generations to come. will shape our city for generations to come. Leanne Leanne will will champion champion aa more more affordable affordable and and liveable liveable Guelph, Guelph, with with affordable housing, better public transit, access to nature, vibrant affordable housing, better public transit, access to nature, vibrant arts a caring caring community, community, and and aa arts and and culture, culture, strong strong climate climate action, action, a City that affect affect City Hall Hall that that gives gives residents residents aa voice voice in in the the decisions decisions that their their lives. lives. With decades decades of of community community service and With experience on City Council, Leanne is and experience on City Council, Leanne ready to bring people together and build a is ready to bring people together and city we canwe becan proud build a city be of. proud of.

Learn more at LeanneCaron.ca

MONDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER 26, 26, 2026 2026 VOTE VO TE MONDAY,

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SPORTS & HEALTH

14 | RUGBY

10 | HOCO

Prevail at the potluck Three simple recipes to try this Thanksgiving to impress your friends ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY STEPHEN DOIG

Almond roasted asparagus

hough the goal of a Thanksgiving potluck is to leave with a belly full of food, ready for a turkey-induced nap, picking an appetizing meal that brings people back for seconds will make you a true winner. Here are a few easy recipes to try if you want to break outside the typical mold of turkey, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes.

A quick and easy way to dress up plain old asparagus. We only had it one Thanksgiving at my house, while my allergic sister was away at university in Ottawa. It may have been a decade since then, but it left such an impression that I still haven’t forgotten about it. Ingredients: • 350g asparagus (one bundle), trimmed • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 cup almonds, sliced • 2 1/2 tbsp salted butter • Grated parmesan to serve

Mushroom risotto A simplified version of a classic recipe. It is fragrant, savory and certain to warm you on a cold October night. While it may not look all that colourful, the dish makes up for it with its rich and creamy taste.

Carson’s cheese dip An old friend of mine used to bring this to every party he went to and it was a showstopper each time. I was one of the lucky two to inherit the recipe. Since then, I’ve brought it to nearly every potluck I'm invited to and have received nothing but good reviews. Ingredients: • 200g grated cheddar cheese • 200g grated mozzarella cheese • 2 cups low-fat mayonnaise • 2 sticks of cream cheese • 1-2 tbsp parmesan and herbs seasoning • 1 tbsp onion powder • 1-2 tbsp dill • 1-2 tbsp lemon and herbs seasoning Preparation: 1. Using a fork, mix and soften the cream cheese and mayonnaise. Add in the grated cheese and spices to taste, mixing thoroughly. 2. Place the cheese mixture in a 9 x 9 baking dish and bake at 350ºF until lightly golden brown on top. Once cooked, remove the dip from the oven, cool for 5 to 10 minutes, and enjoy. 3. The dip is best served with Tostitos scoops or cubed pieces of French bread. It’s best if you prepare the dip ahead of time and warm it at the party to ensure it doesn’t arrive cold.

Ingredients: • 1 lb risotto rice (Arborio or Carnaroli) • 4 sticks celery, diced • 1 large white onion, diced • 2 cloves of garlic, diced • 8 cups vegetable or chicken stock (from concentrate is fine) • 3 cups brown mushroom, diced • 9 tbsp salted butter • 1 cup dry white wine • Ground pepper to taste • 1 tbsp thyme leaves • 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated • Juice of 1 lemon Preparation: 1. If you’re using stock from bouillon cubes or concentrate, prepare the stock in a saucepan and let simmer. 2. In a large frying pan, melt 4 tbsp butter on medium-low heat. Add your diced celery, onions, mushroom, garlic and thyme and cook until soft, occasionally stirring to avoid browning. 3. Increase the heat to medium and add the rice. Immediately pour in the wine and stir. After the wine is absorbed, turn the heat back down and add the stock in half-cup increments to ensure that all the liquid has been absorbed. Alternate between stirring and covering the rice with a lid. This process takes a long time, but it will pay off eventually. Test the rice when you have added half of the stock. It should be al dente, or soft with a little chew to the middle. 4. If the rice is still firm or crunchy, lower the heat, cover the pan, and wait longer before adding more stock. If the pan is getting too full, transfer the risotto to a large stove pot. By the end, your rice should be soft but not mushy. 5. Season with pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and mix in the rest of the butter, lemon juice and parmesan.

Preparation: 1. To trim the asparagus, flex the bottom portion of the stalk until it snaps. Discard the lower ends into the compost or freeze for future use in a vegetable stock. 2. Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add in the asparagus and let cook for two minutes. Remove and submerge the asparagus in a bowl of ice water. Pat dry and set aside. 3. Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium heat, then turn down the heat slightly and add in the almonds. Stir until lightly toasted. After a minute or two, add in the blanched asparagus and garlic, then cover with a lid, stirring occasionally. Once the garlic has lightly browned and the almonds are fully toasted, turn off the heat and serve. Best enjoyed with a generous helping of freshly grated parmesan.

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | SPORTS & HEALTH

THE ONTARION

Gryphons sail to a 47-22 victory over the Waterloo Warriors on homecoming Gryphons shine in front of a sold out homecoming crowd BEN SEATON

ith time winding down in the final moments of the fourth quarter, Alumni Stadium rumbled and heaved with each stomp and clap from 8,500 roaring fans. The Gryphons lined up in a wildcat formation on the one-yard line. Defensive lineman Andre Thompson took a direct snap and rolled out to his left. Instead of carrying the ball in himself for a touchdown, as he had done twice previously in the game, he took a step back and lobbed a short touchdown pass to first-year offensive tackle Justin Van Der Kooi. The final nail in the coffin was hammered. Guelph had capped off a dominant performance against Waterloo on homecoming.

PREGAME INSIGHTS Gryphons head coach Mark Surya was 1-1 in his first two homecoming games before this week. In his first season as head coach, the Gryphons rallied from a first half deficit to a 42-25 win over the Waterloo Warriors. He would go on to lead Guelph to a 7-3 record with a flawless 5-0 streak at home. Surya spoke to The Ontarion ahead of this year’s homecoming about the last time the two teams faced off on homecoming. “We were down at halftime… everybody thinks the big bad Gryphons are going in there against a team that hasn’t had a ton of success in the past few years. I try

Aditya Parameswaran

to remind our guys that definitely isn’t the case," Surya said. "They have a great squad, and if we take them lightly that will happen to us again. Experience is a great teacher…and this is one of those situations where you try to remember the past to help it inform the future.” His second season would fall short of the success he had the year prior. The Gryphons finishing the season with a losing 4-6 record and a heartbreaking loss to the Queen’s Gaels on homecoming. The Gryphons have appeared in the OUA semifinal round, in each of Surya’s first two seasons as head coach, only to fall short of a Yates cup game in each appearance. “The biggest thing for us is figuring out how to replace experience, because in college football you are always replacing the players, so you may not get that many opportunities to make it to the big game," Surya said. "So anytime somebody gets here for the first time, their nerves are through the roof, and then the more they are put in those situations…the more they get [used to] being in big moments.” This year, the Guelph Gryphons took on the Waterloo Warriors on homecoming for the second time under Surya’s tenure as head coach. The team entered the game 2-2, fresh off the heels of a close victory against the GeeGee’s in Ottawa, bringing them to a two-game winning streak after starting the season 0-2.

FIRST HALF Homecoming started slowly, with Guelph’s first drive ending in a failed third-down conversion, and Waterloo’s defense appearing poised to challenge Guelph in the early moments of the game. However, the failed conversion did not deter Guelph. “We’re a pretty aggressive team, so we don’t do a lot of punting…[we’re] okay with accepting some of those risk decisions, knowing [we’re] not going on third down in every single situation,” Surya said. And while the first attempt on third-down ended in a turnover on downs, Guelph’s defense put up a strong stand to force a punt in only three plays. Then the story of the game started to emerge. Tristan Aboud, fourth-year quarterback for Guelph, began to scramble out of pressure and connect with receiver William Arseneau, exploiting a gap between Waterloo’s secondary in the middle of the field. Combined with strong passing chemistry developing early in the game, Guelph established a strong running game, primarily utilizing third-year back Kanye Nethersole, who inherited a stronger workload after Guelph’s primary back, Caleb Sargeant, went down with a season ending injury last week. Nethersole saw the majority of touches, in a game where first-year back Massimo Ferrone-Byrd also shared carries. Nethersole would factor into the game early, after a huge goalline stand by Guelph stuffed Waterloo on three consecutive rushing attempts from the one-yard line gave Guelph possession on their own one yard line. Nethersole carried the ball, breaking loose early and running up the sidelines for a monumental gain of 45. Guelph’s first touchdown came soon after in the second quarter, as Aboud connected on a 29-yard pass to wideout Monroe Corniffe. Corniffe beat his man and created space behind Waterloo’s secondary, while Aboud waited patiently in the pocket thanks to a solid rush-defense by Guelph’s offensive line. After opening the scoring, Guelph refused to let up. The very next drive, after another big reception from Corniffe got the ball to the one-yard line, Guelph

came out in a wildcat formation. A direct snap to Thompson led to a quick rushing touchdown, his first of many this game. Thompson, who finished the game with three total touchdowns —two on the ground and one in the air,—“We go out there and lay it all on the line, and when I get a chance, I just got to make a play. So that’s what I’m out here to do.”

SECOND HALF Guelph entered halftime up 23-8, and despite Waterloo’s first drive of the second half ending in a touchdown, Guelph immediately regained control with a touchdown of their own. In what could have been a momentum shifting drive if Waterloo’s defense produced a stop, Guelph completely knocked the wind out of their sails. A few strong rushes by Nethersole, followed by an Aboud-Arseneau connection on a seam route began a drive that ended in a receiving touchdown for first-year back Ferrone-Byrd. From there on out, it was more of the same for the Gryphons. A strong defense cut Waterloo in their tracks, leading to Guelph’s offence to take over, often with solid field position. If Aboud was given time in the pocket, he would find a receiver open downfield, typically Arseneau over the middle of the field, or Nethersole open in the flat. If the pocket collapsed, Aboud scrambled out of trouble, unable to be contained by Waterloo’s pass rush. Then from outside of the pocket, he was comfortable to sling it on the run, or opt to carry it himself for solid gains. When Guelph had a third down, they came out in a wildcat formation and snapped directly to Thompson. Waterloo had no answer for Guelph’s third down gameplan, converting on three of four attempts and netting two of two field goal attempts. By the time the clock hit zero, Guelph had cruised to a comfortable 44-22 win over the Waterloo Warriors. Aboud ended the game 25-35, passing for 377 yards and two touchdowns. Arseneau finished with eight receptions for 144 yards. On the ground, Nethersole had 11 attempts for 94 yards, averaging eight and a half yards a carry. Ferrone-Byrd also was a contributing factor in both the running and passing game, getting 88 hard-earned scrimmage yards

and a receiving touchdown. Constantly evading tackles or fighting through contact to turn what otherwise would have been loss of yards into short gains. Nethersole spoke about the victory to The Ontarion after the game. “We had a good gameplan to start out the week. We had the fans’ energy getting us going…and we dropped all their guys. They left in body bags,” Nethersole said. Though it was a dominant performance, it was not without its own struggles for Guelph. A string of penalties given up late in the game allowed Waterloo to gain field position in what was an unfortunately sloppy display by a defense that had been airtight up to that point. Of the penalty yards, Surya commented: “They’re horrible… We have to decrease our penalties, that’s our number one takeaway from this game.”

WHAT'S NEXT? Moving forward, The Gryphons take on University of Toronto’s Varsity Blues on Oct. 3, before heading into their bye week. Following the bye week, the team will take on the Queen's Golden Gaels in Kingston, before heading back home to Guelph to finish their season against Windsor. Surya instills in the team the effect of hard work and camaraderie over personal talent when it comes to winning in big games. “It’s not about talent when you get to those levels. It’s the team that’s the most together, the team that can function as a unit, and the team that is the closest that ultimately wins in those big moments,” Surya said. At this point in the season, Guelph looks strong. They are now riding a three game winning streak and head to Toronto next week as certain favourites in their matchup against the Varsity Blues team that hasn’t scored a touchdown in over three games. There’s no telling what the future will hold, but the creative play-calling and a risk-taking mindset have paid off in their favour up to this point. It seems as if the Gryphons are poised for a strong finish to the season. The only question left for Guelph to answer is whether or not they can carry this momentum into the post-season.

ISSUE 201 . 2 | SPORTS & HEALTH

THEONTARION.COM

Morgan Jefferis

Aditya Parameswaran

Morgan Jefferis

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | FEATURE STORY

THE ONTARION

What you need to know about

The Ontarion interviewed three Gryp

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Voting information When and where? Voting day is Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advanced voting is available at the University Centre on Oct. 16th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Oct. 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Can I vote? To be eligible to vote you must: • Be at least 18 years of age; • Live in Guelph or be the spouse of a Guelph property owner; • Be a Canadian citizen; • Not be prohibited to vote, as declared by Section 17(3) of the Municipal Elections Act. What is the voters list? How can I get on it? The voters list simplifies the screening and eligibility process at the voting centre. A physical card is mailed to those already on the voters list. You can register online at guelph.voterservices.ca to check and add yourself to the list. What kind of ID can I bring? Identification that includes your name and city of Guelph address. You can present multiple pieces of ID to demonstrate

your eligibility. Personal identification can include mail with your name and address, an Ontario driver’s license or photo card, or any government documents that display your name and address. What kind of election is it? The municipal election includes the mayor and the city council. Two city councillors will be elected per ward. The University of Guelph is in Ward 5.

Gryphons on ballots Three Guelph city council candidates are very familiar with campus—one is even a current University of Guelph student. Mustafa Zuberi, Owen Martens and Michael Agueci are among the youngest names listed on the ballot. The Ontarion asked the alumni how the campaign period is going for them.

What issue do you feel most concerns univers students, and how do you intend to address i elected?

Answers

List of Mayoral Candidates

I think affordability is one of the biggest conce facing university students today. Tuition is only o part of the equation. Property taxes, rent, grocer transportation and the general cost of living c make it difficult for students to stay in Guelph a build a life here after graduation.

This election is likely to spark change within Guelph as it will introduce the city’s first new mayor since 2014. Incumbent Mayor Cam Guthrie announced in March that he would not be seeking re-election after serving three consecutive terms. Guelph’s mayoral candidates for the 2026 election are: • Leanne Caron • Ken Yee Chew • John Edward Krusky • Ryan Meunier • Evaristo Ramos Jr • Rajee Sinha

Questions

Mustafa Zuberi, WARD 1

As a councillor, I would focus on the municipal side that problem. That means supporting responsible ho ing growth, making it easier to open a business, enco aging more opportunities for young people to remain Guelph and improving transit so students can get wh they need to go reliably without having to depend o car. I want students to feel that Guelph is a city they afford to live in and eventually call home.

Accountability, specifically holding City Hall countable to students. Affordability, city servic taxes, and the cost of living impact the daily lives each and every student. When you attend a unive ty, you become a part of that city.

Owen Martens, ward 1

If elected, I will make sure students are kept in loop and given a voice on council. If students intentionally involved in discussions about the traj tory of Guelph, [they] are more likely to pay attent to local politics. I will accomplish this by regula visiting the university throughout my time on cou cil, and give students the opportunity to engage w the community whenever I can...through hands roles in local projects or by [hearing] from as ma residents as possible before a big decision.

The bus. It's the part of city government students d with every single day. U of G students pay milli of dollars a year into Guelph Transit through the pass in their student fees. We deserve a bus they actually get on.

On council, I'll fight to put longer articulated bu (the "accordion" kind) on the 99 and on the ot routes that fill up. I'll also push for more frequ service on routes that come too rarely or too unr ably to count on, especially in the first few week each semester, when demand peaks. Running m buses costs money. Running a system students s trusting costs more.

Michael Agueci, WARD 5 Photo credit: City of Guelph

ISSUE 201 . 2 | FEATURE STORY

THEONTARION.COM

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Why do you feel that you are the best candidate for your ward?

Experience is important to many voters when considering a city councillor. As a recent graduate, how would you address voters' concerns about your amount of experience, compared to other candidates?

How did the University of Guelph support and shape your career in politics?

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I’ve lived in Guelph for over 12 years, grew up in Ward 1, attended school here, played sports here, went to the University of Guelph and built my life in Guelph. Running as the youngest MPP candidate in the 2025 provincial election gave me the opportunity to speak directly with thousands of residents, understand the issues affecting different parts of Guelph and learn firsthand how different levels of government actually work together.

I understand why experience matters, but it’s important to distinguish between being new to City Hall and being new to public service.

The University of Guelph gave me much more than a degree. Studying political science helped me understand how our institutions work, but being part of the university community gave me a much better understanding of the people and issues that shape Guelph.

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I’ve worked with countless local businesses and several community organizations, volunteered, helped promote local events and initiatives, while building relationships with people across Guelph. I’m also a young person who plans to stay in this community. I got married last month and instead of going on a honeymoon, I’ve spent time knocking on doors and advocating for the community I call home. Having lived in Ward 1 for my entire life, I bring deep community roots and a younger perspective to the table. I attended every public elementary school in Ward 1 and earned my Political Science degree from the University of Guelph. I have worked numerous jobs in the East End and I have accumulated a wide range of knowledge and experience in a short period of time. This combination of experience, understanding, and connection to Ward 1 provides me with a perspective council doesn’t currently have: someone young carrying a quarter century of growth and knowledge…I am not going anywhere, and I want to work hard for the residents of Ward 1.

Students are one of Ward 5's greatest strengths, and the city should really start to plan around them rather than looking at them as a problem that needs attending to. When a city doesn't build enough homes that meet [their needs], students spread into family neighbourhoods and compete for the houses available, and everyone pays more. The answer is to build more dense housing where students actually want to live: near campus and along the main bus routes. That gives students better options and takes pressure off the housing market around them. It's a plan that works for students and year-round residents at the same time.

I’m a recent graduate, but I’m not new to Guelph or government. My political science degree gave me an academic understanding of how government works, while running for MPP gave me practical experience engaging with residents, navigating a campaign and understanding how different levels of government intersect. I have also worked for the City of Guelph’s recreation department for over 3 years. This experience gave me a great understanding of how city departments, programs and staff are operated. I deliberately worked in a wide range of fields while I was young. I wanted to gain an understanding of the vast number of opportunities out in the world, and each one taught me something I will bring to council. At the Guelph Waste Facility, I saw firsthand how city services are run from the inside. At the Guelph Lake Conservation Area, I learned how tax dollars are put to use by boards and organizations. At Domino’s Pizza, opening and closing duties taught me to be careful with money, and I learned the value of interacting with the public. And through building fences, I experienced the permitting processes firsthand. Experience is not just about age and time spent on council. Experience comes from learning on purpose, in and out of the classroom, and then combining it with a technical understanding. Every councillor was new once. I'm on track to graduate with distinctions this December in Government, Economics and Management, and what I've learned about economics and planning is as up-to-date as it gets. Being a good councillor isn't only about what you know or what you care about, though. It's about the relationships you build and your ability to work with others. No idea helps anyone unless it gets a majority support of the council, and that means finding common ground with at least seven other people around the table. I'll be the first to admit I don't know everything, and I think that's an advantage. A councillor who's willing to listen and learn with colleagues, staff and residents is one who can actually get things done.

University was also where I became more interested in public service and community leadership. I had the opportunity to rebuild the Guelph Young Liberals after COVID, which ended up being the largest political club on campus at the time. This experience helped me meet people from different backgrounds, engage in discussions about public policy and develop the confidence to get involved.

After my first year of university, I discovered that politics were more important than I ever realized. The decisions made today will impact us for generations, so it is crucial that we all pay attention. [The] university allowed me to explore exactly how to get more people interested in politics. In one of my third-year local government courses, I started seriously thinking about how much local government matters, and how few people have an incentive to engage with it… [Politics] is about the vision you bring forward and how residents receive it. Voters respond to candidates who bring energy and new ideas to the forefront. This is exactly how the University of Guelph shaped me: I am enthusiastic, I will always present new ideas and I will always make sure residents feel included, seen, and heard.

In my first year, when I was enrolled as a Management Economics and Finance student, I was randomly placed on a cluster floor in Johnston Hall full of Criminal Justice and Public Policy students, and their interest in politics was contagious. What really changed my path was the business and consumer law course [that] I took with Professor Hai Tran. I'd always thought law was a little out of reach for me. By the end I not only realized how good I was at [law], but how much I loved it. [At the same time,] the U.S. election was underway, federal politics in Canada was shifting fast, and people were talking about an economist, Mark Carney, possibly stepping in. Between that class and everything happening around it, I was hooked. I switched into the sister program of Government, Economics and Management, and I haven't looked back.

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity. For full interviews and updates on the upcoming municipal election, visit theontarion.com.

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | SPORTS & HEALTH

THE ONTARION

Upcoming mental health events at the University of Guelph Learn tips for stress management and sleep hygiene in the fall workshop AVA VENDER

ampus’ mental health leaders have planned numerous programs designed to target these uncomfortable, and stressful feelings. In a conversation with The Ontarion, Kathy Somers, head of the Stress Management and High Performance Clinic, shared some of her thoughts on the best ways to tackle stress management. In her Better Sleep Program and Stop Worrying! workshop, Somers aims to eliminate some of the discourse on mental health treatment circulating the internet. “There is an expectation that there will be one thing that will work perfectly, and that it will

work instantly. Finding a strategy that effectively aids with stress management varies from individual, although it requires patience. Repetitive practice is required for any strategy in order to calm one's busy brain, just like how you need to study a subject repeatedly to learn and retain knowledge,” said Somers. Somers’ programs are focused on experiential learning, where the participant will fully submerge themselves in the work and information in order to adopt an idea of mind-body strategies. The programs are provided in a group environment, including both hands-on individual activi-

U of G students can access mental health support and resources at the Student Wellness Centre. Rachel Fioret/THE ONTARION

ties, integrating group work that students can participate in if it suits them. This group work is a way of sharing one's individual experience with others, to connect and learn from peers who are dealing with similar challenges. The Better Sleep program is a five session workshop that will

begin on Oct. 7. It is designed to target issues that people encounter when trying to fall asleep, and to promote deeper sleep. The Stop Worrying! workshop will be a single session held on Oct. 26, and it will provide participants with a range of strategies to cope with worry and stress.

The programs are open to University of Guelph students who are committed to learning about mental health, and by learning strategic coping strategies to improve it. The Stop Worrying! program is $5 for U of G students. The Better Sleep program is $20 for U of G students.

Could Guelph’s rugby champs secure another national title? With a roster of new recruits and new league rules, the Gryphons men’s rugby team has their work cut out Gryphons took the gold at last year's OUA Men's Rugby Championship game. Photo provided by Gryphon Men's Rugby

MARTIN LIMA PEREZ

ast year, as they huddled together on a cold November night, the Guelph Gyrphons men’s rugby team prepared for finals by bonding over personal stories. Facing a stadium of passionate Québécois students, the Gryphons treated that game like any other, but the final whistle marked history as the team won U of G their first men’s national rugby title. Replicating that success in this season’s finals will require some insightful evaluation. Cory Hector, who has been the men’s head coach for more than 10 years, has put a great deal of effort into cultivating a championship team. Rather than focus-

ing on technique alone, coaching staff emphasised on building connections between the players. “It's not necessarily that the rugby changed, just the mentality,” Hector said. “We used a lot of storytelling from new players [and] older players.” The team understood what they were playing for besides the straightforward goal to win. As they prepared for the national final, the team didn’t talk about rugby. “We just talked about all the guys’ stories,” Hector said. Hector even recalls some teammates crying while sharing their family histories with each other.

Winning with a final score of 18-13 against the École de Technologie Supérieure, the Gryphons enjoyed only a short celebration before returning to the reality of their exam seasons. Meanwhile, when the final whistle rang, Hector said he felt a burst of excitement followed by an unnerving relief. What he'd spent almost 16 years nurturing had finally come to fruition. Oddly enough, though, he thought he would feel more elated. “You're relieved because you put so much importance on the winning aspect. And then when you did it, it's like, well, I actually really cared about getting there,” he said.

Last year’s roster featured graduating veterans who have since been replaced with a batch of 14 new recruits. The biggest challenge facing the team this season will be working on technicalities and building new relationships. “We can't be the exact same team because we're not the exact same team,” Hector said. The introduction of new league rules has also complicated the path forward for this year’s team. Effective July 1, professional rugby leagues redefined the maximum tackle height to below the sternum. These new regulations have caused the team’s key strategy—slowing the ball down

via tackles—to become nearly obsolete. “We had built our defense in a manner that no longer works,” Hector said. Taking the good parts of last year while embracing the new season is the path to potentially securing another national title. Besides, as Hector puts it, “Everybody always wants to beat the champion.” If the Gryphons are successful on their path to nationals, this season’s final is scheduled to be hosted in Guelph. Until then, the men will play one last home game in the regular season on Oct. 9 against the Laurier Golden Hawks.

OPINION

THEONTARION.COM

Don’t sleep through the pep rally An upper-year student’s reflections on what they’d do differently in first year SARAH D’AVILA ALEMAN

he biggest piece of advice I’d give to my first-year self: “Don’t sleep through the pep rally.” I slept through it and later found out that my residence team ended up winning in the best dance category. I think that encapsulates my experience in my first year at the University of Guelph. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t all bad. I made friends who are still part of my life, discovered interests I didn’t know I had and learned so much cool content in my classes. But I would often miss out on events that could have been great experiences because of

insecurity, stress or many other reasons. First year is a unique time in your life. You go from being a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a rather large lake. University offers the promise of an amazing, unforgettable time that comes in the form of funny and crazy stories that you’ll tell when you’re older. It also promises you’ll meet lifelong friends and find a general sense of belonging. However, it would be silly to think that this is everyone’s first-year experience. It wasn’t necessarily mine, and in hindsight, there are some things that I would do differently. Maybe

this will help any first years who might be struggling with finding themselves and their place here. The biggest piece of social advice I would have given myself is to go to the events that you’re not sure about. I’m not saying you should deliberately insert yourself into spaces you know aren’t for you, or ones that might put you into unsafe situations, but that different and new events might surprise you. Go to karaoke night even if you suck at singing. Go to the Stampede Ranch even if you’ve never tried line dancing before, or join a club that you have no experience in. Second guessing

every setting you place yourself in and staying in your comfort zone can quickly become debilitating because it can hinder growth and self-exploration. Academic advice I would have given myself in first year would be to block time in your day to keep up with classes. A major issue I ran into first year was thinking I had all the time in the world. Since your days are scheduled so differently from high school, you can have huge gaps in your day. It opens up a lot of free time but can lead to a rabbit hole of procrastination. Learn from my experience by blocking time in your day to work productively so that you can have relaxing weekends with your friends and family, rather than staying up until 11:59 p.m. scrambling to meet deadlines. Your academic and social life are crucial to making your time here a memorable one, but it’s also important to give yourself opportunities to do the things that spark your interest, bring you joy and disconnect you from everyday stresses. That means having hob-

Print your photos Move beyond social media and explore a new avenue for creativity ADITYA PARAMESWARAN

rinting out photos is superior to simply posting or storing them online. Social media sites are designed to treat every photo identically—from a photo of someone’s lunch, to your most cherished memory—treating every photo as equally forgettable as the viewer scrolls away. In contrast, prints are a physical object that take up

real space, making them harder to neglect and forget. Meta and X make most of their money by encouraging users to scroll through advertisements. This means every picture is as irrelevant as the last. And digital photos have few options for display, especially on social media. Printing photos allows people

Get your photos off your camera roll and onto the wall.Photo credit: Krystabel Harris/THE ONTARION

to highlight and present memories that are important to them in a way that is hard to ignore. They benefit from a centuries-old legacy of displaying pictures and paintings, providing options from gilded, luxurious frames to coffee table

books. The ability to select a bespoke frame or to pair a print with other photographs in a book is something that social media sites and digital file repositories do not offer. With numerous display op-

bies!

In university life, these usually take the form of clubs and activities. As someone with a wide variety of interests, I can safely say I joined more than 15 clubs in my first year. This was obviously overkill, and I didn’t end up committing to much. But the important thing is that I tried and I showed up for the ones that felt most like me. Remember that people want connection. Finding spaces where you are bound to have something in common with others is a great way to do something you love, surrounded by people you like and who like you. Though your first year in university is a unique and challenging time in your life, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, you should see it as a time to “restart” and explore yourself, because it’s a moment that offers so much possibility. You don’t have to live the “normal” university experience. You just need to try and make the best of it because making an effort is one thing you won’t regret. tions, printed photos should be considered for the memories that are too important to scroll away from. From prominently framing a wedding photo in a bedroom, to creating a book of photos to leave on a coffee table for guests to peruse at their leisure, printing provides people with a host of options to decide how prominently a photo is displayed—rather than leaving it up to the algorithms. Printing photographs provides options that digital platforms simply do not. Of course, prints aren’t free (though they are usually inexpensive). Still, the cost is worth it because the world of print provides a creative outlet for people to show off photographs that they are truly proud of.

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TAROT 101 Is a tarot reading in the cards for you? ASHLEY MAROZSAN

arot is much more than a spooky party trick. It is a historical metaphysical practice that incorporates symbolism to deliver messages.

TAROT STRUCTURE For those who are unaware, tarot is a form of divination that uses a 78-card deck split into two main groups: the major arcana and the minor arcana. The major arcana has 22 cards, beginning with The Fool and ending with The World. Each of these cards have different archetypes assigned to them that can vary with context. The minor arcana are split into four suits: pentacles, chalices, swords and wands. Each of these suits contain 14 cards, numbered from one to 10, plus four suit cards: knave, knight, queen and king. Each suit is often connected to an element: earth, water, air and fire, respectively. These elements have traditional associations, like emotions to water, or air to logic. The card’s number or position also creates an added layer of meaning. Number one, for example, may indicate novelty or solitude, whereas ten might mean something is fulfilled. Together, numbers and suits add to tarot’s symbolism and can be the difference between the way you might interpret the one of chalices versus the one of swords, for example. The meaning of a card can change if the card is inverted. If the upright card is typically associated with innocence and optimism, the inverse could be naive and air-headed. Context and surrounding cards are very relevant in interpreting the individual meanings of cards.

HISTORY OF TAROT If the structure of a tarot deck sounds similar to that of a playing card deck, you would not be far off. Tarot finds its roots in trionfi or tarocchi, Italian playing cards that date back to the 14th century. Tarot began to evolve into its more familiar form in the 18th century thanks to the occult revival taking place in Europe at the time. Trionfi's adoption from playing cards to a cartomancy tool can be linked to 18th century France, with major arcana cards understood to refer to major life events and items of spiritual significance, whereas minor arcana referred to day-to-day items and mundane events. This style of storytelling and divination has been seen many times over human history. Archetypes are a widespread phenomenon present in almost every culture across the globe. Having figures with broadly understood traits, such as the Sage

or the Trickster, helps to deepen people's understanding of certain ideas and create more dynamic mental associations with them. Archetypes can be expressed in many ways, like in religion and folklore. Grand, elusive ideas can be better understood through humanistic storytelling, putting the focus on the journeys and lessons experienced by archetypal characters. These complex notions are interpreted through a cultural lens, adding relevancy and context to the specific ideas for people within a society.

METAPHYSICS Many would argue that, if forms of divination are so ubiquitous across the globe, does that not lend it some credit to its accuracy? Whether or not someone believes in a greater cosmic force or strict, scientific matter is their own prerogative. Every individual diviner has their own interpretations of the universe and justifications for their practice. Some popular understandings of tarot believe that the cards being pulled are sent from a spiritual source, whether that be ancestors, divinity or pure energy. Many believe that the tarot cards themselves act as a guiding force. Others think that the cards on their own are not influenced by any metaphysical means. Rather the individual's interpretation of a card reading is its own form of self-analysis that unveils truths already understood on a deeper level. Regardless of individual belief, the truth of the matter remains that tarot, like many forms of divination, can offer insight and comfort to the seeker. Expression and emotional fulfillment are just as important as the answers themselves.

ask a question and shuffle the cards until they are intuitively drawn to a card, or a card pops out of the deck, almost of its own free will. By interacting with the cards more, you will begin to understand more of the nuance imbued in each card and develop your own personal associations. This, as well as developing an understanding of the relationships two or more cards may have with each other, is known to many as personal gnosis. Personal gnosis does not often develop until someone is well into their journey with tarot, and for some people, not at all. Interpretations of card meanings do not have to be the same as someone else's—that

is where the highly personal aspect of tarot comes into play. There are no wrong ways to interpret a card, just like there are no wrong ways to interpret a story or a poem. A peer might have a different understanding of the same card, or one theory may be better supported by symbolism and imagery, but one does not delegitimize the other. At the end of the day, if a card’s meaning makes sense and your intuition is telling you that it feels right, listen to your gut. The whole point is receiving messages, so use your intuition as a tool just as much as the cards. The most important part of the equation is the reader. The rest are simply instruments.

THE FUNDAMENTALS Tarot is a very subjective practice with no wrong way to do things. Generally, there are widely accepted and revered methods that are often used, like the use of tarot spreads. Spreads provide structure to a tarot reading, assigning each card position to a topic. A common spread is known as a past, present, future spread, where the leftmost card indicates the past, the middle card the present and the rightmost the future. This doubles as a way to gain a more profound understanding of the cards by interpreting them in different contexts. Other people prefer to have a more free-form approach, much like having a conversation with the tarot deck. They may

Together, the major arcana's archetypes and minor arcana's numbered suits can reveal messages about a person's relationships or career. Ashley Marozsan/THE ONTARION

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | SPOOK Y

THE ONTARION

Fall for our favourite cozy books Take a page from The Ontarion's autumn reading list

KIERA SCHARF

Stephen King's classics lean towards creepy rather than cozy, but they make for exciting fall reads. Photo credit: Pexels

THURSDAY OCTOBER 8TH 10AM-5PM (or earlier if sold out)

University Centre, University of Guelph

FREE ADMISSION

all is officially here, and what better way to celebrate the cozy season than to snuggle up with a good book? Whether you’re reading a horror novel, a thriller, a fantasy or a romance, the perfect time to read is now. The weather is cooling down and the leaves are falling, so light a pumpkin-scented candle, make a warm cinnamon latte, sit down with your softest blanket and grab your favourite book. To begin with what may be the most obvious fall reading recommendation: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. The novel is set in the gloomy, isolated town of Forks, Wash., where it is always raining. The story about vampires and werewolves is weaved with tons of romance, setting the tone perfectly for a spooky fall read. There are four intriguing novels in the series and you will have no problem devouring them by winter. On the more whimsical side, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery is a wonderful read for this season. Its vivid description of Prince Edward Island beautifully captures the cool air, the vibrant maple trees, the return to school and cozy home life. “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” is quoted directly by Anne Shirley in the novel. It beautifully captures the transitions between seasons, as this is a prominent theme in the coming-of-age novel that takes place over the years. If you are having a hard time with transitioning from summer to autumn, this book will help you find the beauty in every season—warm or cold. Stephen King’s It is a much creepier fall read. The novel is suited for the spooky season, and Pennywise the clown is a staple horror character in pop culture. Despite the novel’s long length, it is engaging enough that you can complete it before fall ends. It explores the small town of Derry as it gets haunted by a recurring killer clown—perfect for the Halloween season. Never Lie by Freida McFadden would be a wonderful addition to your autumn reading goals. In fact, any of McFadden’s novels would make for a fantastic read in this season. She writes captivating thrillers that continue to gain popularity by the day. Never Lie is reportedly one of her best thrillers, including many plot twists, tense scenes and creepy circumstances. The final recommendation is Bram

Stoker’s Dracula—a must-read classic. Published in 1897, it is a gothic horror about an ancient vampire named Count Dracula. He moves from Transylvania to England to spread his undead curse, and a group of heroes team up to try to stop him. The book is an epistolary novel, which means it is entirely told through diary entries, ship logs and newspaper articles, making for an interesting read. The novel is another vampire story; again, excellent for Halloween. If you finish all five of the novels above, there are hundreds of other beautiful stories to read during October. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronté, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Edgar Allen Poe’s poetry collections, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott are all fantastic autumnal novels. You can find many of them at the Guelph Public Library, the University of Guelph’s McLaughlin Library, local book stores, Indigo and Amazon. As autumn begins, reading is a must. There is no better time to lose yourself in a captivating story while drinking a steaming mug of tea. The books highlighted in this list offer the perfect escape for the crisp, cool days and the long, dark evenings. Whether you’re searching for a spine-tingling thriller to match the spooky vibes of fall, or a comforting romance that feels like a warm hug, be sure to grab your bookmark and a warm beverage. Your next read is waiting!

ICON BY SMASHICONS

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THEONTARION.COM

OCTOBER TO-DO LIST THURS OCT 1

THURS OCT 15

SAT OCT 24

Gryphons Read 2026: A Creative Writing Event • An evening with authors Catherine Bush, Lawrence Hill, Canisia Lubrin, Alicia Elliott, Blain Watters and Carrianne Leung • Doors: 6:30 p.m., Event: 7:00 p.m. - 9 p.m. • Location: Room 113 in the Arts Research Centre. The performance wing of the MacKinnon Building • Admission: Free, RSVP

Wander and Wonder: Pond Life • Join ISC and Arboretum staff members to explore wildlife in ponds and water • 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. • Location: Arboretum Kiosk • Admission: Free, RSVP

Market Haunt • Guelph Farmers’ Market will be transformed into a lively, 19+ Halloween party with local music, dancing, costumes, food and drinks • 7 p.m. - midnight • Location: Guelph Farmers’ Market • Admission: $20 (sliding scale tickets available)

SAT OCT 3 ABBA Drag Brunch Live in Guelph • A live ABBA themed drag brunch • Doors: 12:30 p.m., Event: 1 p.m. • Location: The Cornerstone • Admission: $20

SUN OCT 4 CIBC Run for the Cure • Join the CIBC Run for the Cure in Guelph to support breast cancer research • 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. • Location: The Arboretum • Admission: Free

OCT 6 & 7 Arts and Science Connections Conference • An annual conference is created in collaboration with the College of Arts and Experiential Learning Hub for all Bachelor of Arts and Science students • Oct. 6: 10 a.m. - 3:50 p.m. • Oct. 7: 11:30 a.m. - 3:50 p.m. • Location: Virtual • Admission: Free, register on Experience Guelph

WED OCT 14 Black-owned Vendor Market • Shop from small Black-owned businesses from Guelph and surrounding areas • 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. • Location: University Centre, University of Guelph • Admission: Free

OCT 16 - 18 Guelph Psychic and Crystal Fair • 20 vendors, including mediums, psychics, tealeaf reading, astrology, clairvoyants, crystals and handmade jewelry • Oct. 16: 2 p.m. - 10 p.m • Oct. 17: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m • Oct. 18: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Location: Royal Canadian Legion 234, 57 Watson Pkwy S • Admission: $10

SAT OCT 17

MON OCT 26 STOP Worrying Workshop from the Stress Management Clinic • Techniques to curb worrying, and how to address pitfalls that get in the way • 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. • Location: Virtual • Admission: $5 U of G students, $20 for members of United Steelworkers Local 4120, $37 all others

WED OCT 28

The Guelph Poetry Slam • The monthly Guelph Poetry Slam happens every third Saturday of the month • 7 p.m. • Location: The Round Table • Admission: $15 for audience, $10 for poets

Craft Night at the Movies: Halloween Special • A cozy evening of crafting paired with a nostalgic Halloween movie. This event is BYOC (bring your own craft) • 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. • Location: Bookshelf Cinema • Admission: $10

SUN OCT 18

FRI OCT 30

Rocky Horror Drag Brunch • A Rocky Horror themed Drag Brunch starring Anna Tique Doll and Ultraviolet with Peach Blossom • 12 p.m. • Location: Royal City Brewing • Admission: starting $15

Truth & Reconciliation Day After-School Event • Through land-based and Indigenous teachings, there will be a sacred fire, indoor and outdoor activities, and a special raptor presentation • 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. • Location: Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street • Admission: Free

THURS OCT 22 Blend and Brew Local Teas with Alicia Hamilton • Join herbalist Alicia Hamilton at the Indigenous Student Centre to learn about harvesting, blending, and brewing your own tea • 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. • Location: Indigenous Student Centre • Admission: Free, RSVP

SAT OCT 31 The Fright Crawl - Guelph’s Halloween Bar Crawl • Throw on your costume and crawl through the city • Doors 7:30 p.m. • Location: TBD • Admission: starting $25

Note: Some events are only open to U of G students. Please check ahead and plan accordingly

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | SPOOK Y

THE ONTARION

WHAT’S THE ONTARION SCARED OF? Thushani, News Editor

Carlota , Editor-in-Chief

Mottephobia (moths)

Ranidaphobia (frogs and toads)

Paige, Graphic Designer & Art Director

Patrick, Executive Director

Claustrophobia (small spaces)

Aerophobia (flying) Ben, Sports & Health Editor

Nahomy, Marketing Coordinator

Ophidiophobia (snakes)

Mysophobia (germs)

Oliver, Archival & Office Assistant

Laurie, Accountant

Acrophobia (heights)

Arachnophobia (spiders) Sedona, Arts & Culture Editor

Hannah, Digital Editor

Emetophobia (vomit)

Cleithrophobia of elevators (being trapped)

SPOOKY PETS OF THE MONTH

MEET TIMMY!

MEET WRIGLEY!

Breed: Morkie

Breed: Schapendoes

Photo: Abigail Ley

Photo: Emma Seaton

Age: 4

Age: 9

Fun Fact: He is a very particular gentleman, he will only drink water out of a specific bowl even if another already has water in it.

Fun Fact: He was born just after the Cubs won the World Series, and is named after Wrigley Field in Chicago.

MEET CARDAMOM! Breed: Domestic short-hair Photo: Carlota Sousa Age: 5 Fun Fact: She has a little mouse toy that she takes and leaves in different spots around the house.

MEET SCOOBY! Breed: Cockapoo Photo: Thushani Wijesooriya Age: 4 Fun Fact: Affectionately named Scooby because he is scared of everything and will do anything for a Scooby snack.

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HORROR-SCOPES LIBRA

AQUARIUS

GEMINI

September 23 - October 23

January 20 - February 18

May 21 - June 21

Libra, skip pumpkin carving this month. How would you like your head cut off and your guts scooped out?

Aquarius, you’ve heard of the monster mash. Now this month you’ll enjoy a monster smash. Use protection!

Gemini, it’s a horror movie marathon this month. You’re cursed to re-watch your high school Snapchat memories from dusk until dawn.

SCORPIO

October 24 - November 21

PISCES

February 19 - March 20

CANCER

Scorpio, don’t get caught in the cobwebs of the past. Peer deep into a crystal ball to catch a glimpse of what’s next.

Pisces, when you walk into Value Village on Oct. 30, you’ll find an entire costume waiting for you. Go win that costume contest!

Cancer, cauldron boil me! There’s a morally grey, tall, dark and handsome Fae warrior asking after you. Don’t fear their shadows.

SAGITTARIUS

ARIES

LEO

November 22 - December 21

June 22 - July 22

March 21 - April 19

July 23 - August 22

Sagittarius, if you keep getting tricks instead of treats, turn them into a job opportunity and pursue your dream of becoming a magician.

Aries, enjoy your last PSL! You’ve been cursed to nothing but black coffee for a month. Ghastly!

Leo, be very kind to your TAs this month. Sleep-deprived graduate students look a lot like Beetlejuice under the right lighting, and you don’t want to get on their bad side.

CAPRICORN

TAURUS

VIRGO

December 22 - January 19

April 20 - May 20

August 23 - September 22

Capricorn, you’ll endure more than a few sleepless nights this month. It’s just your past decisions coming back to haunt you.

Taurus, if Dracula invites you to his lair, don’t be afraid. We’d take a chance on being bitten by a centuries-old vampire any day.

Virgo, close the Tinder app right now. You do NOT want a situationship with the siren you swiped right on. Let her go!

THE OCTOBER ISSUE | SPOOK Y

THE ONTARION

BECAUSE WE ASKED... What is your favourite scary movie?

Scream

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Conjuring

Maya A.K 1st year, Bio-Med Eng

Basim Ibrahim 2nd year, Psychology with a Marketing minor

Roya Shiekho 2nd year, International Development

Sinister

Obsession

Jake Billinkoff 1st year, Commerce Management

Daniah Mahdi 2nd year, Biomedical Science

Robin Nandi 1st year, Bioscience

ISSUE 201 . 2 | SPOOK Y

THEONTARION.COM

PUZZLE PAGE

The Ontarion Inc. University Centre Room 264 University of Guelph N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca

CROSSWORD 1

21 24

11–Rice-shaped pasta

45–Watchful one

12–Some digits

46–Erin

13–Other name for taro

47–More wise

27 31

48 51

Across

50–Beat it!

1–Blend

52–Encounter

5–Mozart's "___ Kleine Nachtmusik"

54–Mediterranean arm

9–Penned

60–Screws up

57–Defunct airline

14–End in ___ (draw)

62–Releases

15–On the peak of

64–Free from

16–Biblical king

66–Fair

17–Check the graduation of 19–Seeped

68–Old French expression meaning "goodbye"

20–Pollen producer

69–Boxer Spinks

21–Able was ___...

70–Put down

23–Barcelona bear

71–Bit of wisdom

31–Queue before Q

57–Pitfall

32–Yes, there is ___!

58–Broad

33–Tuneful Horne

59–1998 Sarah McLachlan hit

34–Slothful

61–Hook's helper

35–Eye sore

63–Cutlass, e.g.

36–Garment of ancient Rome 38–Puccini classic

65–___ the ramparts we watched...

40–"Cheers" regular

67–Captive soldier

28–Actress Berger

Down

30–Pertaining to the skin

1–PC alternatives

34–D-Day craft

2–Les ___-Unis

37–Powerful defoliant

3–Light purple

For your chance to win two Bob's dogs and two pops, just complete the crossword, snap a picture, and send it to puzzles@theontarion.com by October 22 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 Kaitlyn Rumford!

39–Like ___ of bricks

4–Moon of Mars

41–Altar answer

5–Meriting

42–In a minute

6–Call ___ day

43–Formation of a zygote

7–Don't look at me!

48–Palm Pilot, e.g.

8–Fencing blades

49–Every 52 weeks

9–No matter who

SUDOKU 1 8

R E

R M

T 31

T E

O R R

H D

N G

U G

N O C A 35

T I

A G

A C C H

O O

E M P

C N N

M A

S 43

A G A

I T

21 25

A M A

E 24

56 60

E W S W R

E R 18

R T E

T M A

D O

CROSSWORD

2 8 1 6 4 5 7 2 6 9 3 8 5 3 2 9 8 1 9 4 7 4 6 3 9 2 8 7 1 6 4 5 3 7 5 1

7 5 9 3 1 4 6 7 5 2 8 1 3 6 2 8 4 9

SUDOKU

4 3 9 6 8 1 2 7 5 1 4 8 7 6 3 9 5 2 5 1 4 3 9 7 8 2 6

9 5

1 4

1 2

ANSWERS FROM ISSUE 201.1 O V

7 6

9 1

EDITORIAL STAFF Interim Editor-in-Chief Carlota Sousa Associate Editor Emmerson Jull News Editor Thushani Wijesooriya Arts & Culture Editor Sedona Smoke-Jorgensen Sports & Health Editor Ben Seaton Digital Editor Hannah Dickhoff PRODUCTION STAFF Graphic Designer/Art Director Paige Stampatori

BOB'S DOGS CROSSWORD CONTEST

73–Slaughter of baseball

26–Golf’s Ballesteros

56–Marsh of mystery

72–Obscene

24–Smelting residue

55–Laotian, continentally

29–Aconcagua's range

53–Run of bird-song

25–Had dinner at home 27–Historical times

519-824-4120 Editorial: x 58250 Advertising: x 58267 Accounts: x 53534

51–Spunk

22–Make over

18–Kentucky college

41 44

44–Merry

28 34

10–Rock's ___ Speedwagon

Fill in the empty squares so that each of the digits 1 through 9 appear once in each row, column, and 3-by-3 block.

OFFICE STAFF Executive Director Patrick Sutherland Accountant Laurie Arnold Marketing Coordinator Nahomy Katuk Sequeira Archival & Office Assistant Oliver Heathcote-Diletzoy BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Katelynn Huong Vice Chair Paula Henry-Duru Treasurer Denver Bakhareva Secretary OPEN POSITION DIRECTORS Simran Aujla Oliver Bullingham Nathaniel Diamant Mariana Erazo Maia Galletta Marah Husien Huda Shoaib CONTRIBUTORS NED BARR SARAH D’AVILA ALEMAN STEPHEN DOIG SIENNA G. GEISSLER KRYSTABEL HARRIS MORGAN JEFFERIS MARTIN LIMA PEREZ ASHLEY MAROZSAN ADITYA PARAMESWARAN LANGDEN F. PEOPLES KIERA SCHARF AVA VENDER

The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since The Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work , the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Ontarion staff and Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2026 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify The Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by Master Web, Inc. Funded in part by the Government of Canada

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