Celebrating Black heritage
Call for Black contributors
February is Black History Month and The Peak is seeking to amplify the voices of Black students at SFU.
Whether you’d like to write an article relating to Black history, cultures, and experiences, or simply have an idea for what we can cover to commemorate Black History Month, send an email to eic@the-peak.ca.
BC Black History: Eleanor Collins
Happy Black History Month! For the month of February, The Peak is highlighting Black figures in history in the masthead every week.
Eleanor Collins (1919–2024) was known as Canada’s “first lady of jazz.” Originally from Alberta, Collins moved to Vancouver in the late 1930s where she “sang on the radio with the gospel group Swing Low quartet.”
Collins was no stranger to fighting racism. When she and her family moved to Burnaby in the 1940s, they were the
“first Black family in the neighbourhood.” White residents started a petition before they moved in calling for them to be barred from living there, but they decided to stay. On a quest to destroy the stereotypes about the Black community, Collins began volunteering at her children’s school and taught music.
Beginning in 1955, Collins became the first Black woman singer in North America to “star in her own television series.” Despite many opportunities presented to her to move to the US, Collins stayed in Canada.
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Gursha galore at Fassil Ethiopian Restaurant
SOCA kicks off Black History Month with ceremony
The theme of the event was Black Canadian history and leadership
Editor’s Note: C Icart, humour editor at The Peak, was a panelist at this event. He was not involved in the production of this article.
On February 3, a snowy afternoon on Burnaby Mountain coated the campus in a blanket of reflection. Inside, SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) held their Black History Month kickoff ceremony. Formed in 1994, SOCA “is an equity-seeking constituency group focusing on raising awareness on issues relevant to people of Black, African, and Caribbean descent on campus and globally.” They also provide community and a safe space for Black students on campus. The event, themed “From Past to Future: Black Canadian History and Leadership,” began with a slideshow on the history of Black Canadian influence, hardship, and success. It was followed by a musical performance from local artist TKID, a speech from SFU sociology professor Prof-Collins Ifeonu, and a panel of Black speakers working to make change. The panel was moderated by SFU Student Balqees Jama. The Peak attended the ceremony.
Professor Ifeonu’s speech recognized the complexities and importance of defining Blackness from a Canadian perspective. “Blackness in Canada, it struggles for visibility,” he said. “It’s always articulated as what I would call an ‘elsewhere identity.’ Something that exists outside of Canada.” Yet, this “couldn’t be further from the truth,” Ifeonu explained, acknowledging the kickoff’s theme of history and leadership. “Black history is Canadian history,” he said, quoting Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament who served multiple roles.
The Peak also spoke with SOCA’s president, Adanna Nduagu. She discussed how the ceremony not only touched on the past but highlighted the history of tomorrow for Black Canadian leaders: “I’m seeing Black people aspire to leadership positions [ . . . ] irrespective of the systemic barriers they encounter in the way. So that was my goal — to inspire whoever attended.”
The panelists spoke to a variety of questions about their work and the impacts they’ve made. A common thread between them all was their commitment to building community. One of the panelists was recording artist, educator, and SFU alum Ndidi
Cascade. Cascade has opened shows for stars like Wu-Tang Clan and also led “youth empowerment workshops and hip-hop education school programs.” Cascade spoke about her love for cyphers within the Canadian hip-hop scene as one example of building community. Cyphers are gatherings where performers “rap, break, [and] beatbox tightly together in a circle where each person just might get a moment in the spotlight.” Another panelist, Sosa Eweka-Valentine, a registered nurse and mental health advocate, founded Talks with Sosa, “a public speaking platform that seeks to bring experts to discuss issues from social justice to mental health.” She discussed how her platform works to end the negative stigma around mental illness.
I’m seeing Black people aspire to leadership positions [ . . . ] irrespective of the systemic barriers they encounter in the way. So that was my goal — to inspire whoever attended.
ADANNA
NDUAGU PRESIDENT, SOCA
Naa Sheka Riby-Williams spoke via Zoom. Riby-Williams is a clothing designer and founder of NaaSheka Fashion, a streetwear brand inspired by and produced in Ghana. She spoke about how her brand works to showcase authentic Ghanaian fashion and provide jobs and education to Ghanaians. For one, Riby-Williams helped build libraries for students in Ghana. She is also the creator of this year’s Canucks’ Black Excellence Night logo. Another panelist was Brian Seremba — co-founder of the BC Community Alliance (BCCA). The BCCA is a non-profit focused on “addressing the structural inequities created by racism” in educational settings. The organization “advocated, organized, and collected community data” for the Anti-Racism Act, which requires the Canadian government to develop an action plan to confront
systemic racism. The BCCA also created the BC school racism tracker, allowing community members to report incidents of racism to address harm and provide healing support for those affected. C Icart, humour editor at The Peak, SFU teaching assistant, and communication PhD student studying “Black Twitter meme culture as a form of political engagement,” also spoke as a panelist. He discussed the importance of representation in developing a sense of community, discussing how many students may have never had a Black TA before.
The panel also explored the ongoing Black Class Action discrimination case. Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) alleges that the Public Service of Canada “has failed to achieve equality in the workplace” for Black Canadians. Nicholas Marcus Thompson, a human rights advocate and the leader of the BCAS, told Amnesty International that the Canadian government “repeatedly acknowledged the existence of antiBlack racism in its institutions but has failed to take real action in response.” He stated that “Black public service workers deserve better and expect no less.”
Icart expressed how first reading about the case felt like reading a lot of stuff that they already knew about, stating that “if you’re Black in this country, you’ve experienced it or you know someone who has.” He also spoke to the dangers of the recent anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion push in the US and the abundance of misinformation about minority groups online that can convince people that “this is not happening.”
This employment-related discrimination case against the federal government is the “largest and most high-profile” of its kind in Canada. Currently, the class action is awaiting certification from the court. To be certified, the lawsuit must be found to have a “legally valid claim” and must apply to at least two individuals with common issues, known as a class.
After the event concluded, Nduagu shared she was “grateful that we had this amazing set of panelists who could come speak to us and share their journey, share knowledge, share why it’s important to always be rooted in community.”
For more Black History Month events from SOCA, see their calendar on their Instagram, @sfusoca.
PHOTO: LUCAIAH SMITH-MIODOWNIK / THE PEAK
LUCAIAH SMITH-MIODOWNIK · NEWS WRITER
Long-time Vancouver tenant fights bad-faith eviction
Abby Leung believes her landlord of 17 years tried evict her in bad faith
LUCAIAH SMITH-MIODOWNIK
· NEWS WRITER
For one long-time Vancouver tenant, the future is uncertain. Abby Leung has lived in Kensington-Cedar Cottage for over 17 years. She told CityNewsVancouver that she’s never been late to pay rent and has “maintained a good relationship with her landlord.” This includes taking care of her landlord’s dog, according to the Vancouver Tenants Union (VTU). Now Leung, who shared she is elderly and has a mental and physical disability, faces eviction from her basement suite. The VTU is currently helping Leung with collective action as they are “committed to educating renters on their rights and standing up to landlords and developers.”
To understand how the situation progressed, it’s necessary to take a few steps back. According to the VTU, Leung’s landlord originally suggested eviction “so that family members or homestays could move in.” Then, in November 2023, the landlord told Leung that her rent would be increased by 42% beginning in March. This suggested increase was 12 times the “legal provincially regulated allowable rent increase,” which was 3.5% in 2024. Leung told her landlord the increase would be unjust, but ultimately agreed to a 24% increase, feeling pressured. The VTU stated the landlord then grew angry with Leung. “I was so anxious and nervous, and so depressed. I stayed home and cried,” she told CityNews.
Come September 2024, Leung’s landlord served her with an eviction notice. Section 49 of the Residential Tenancy Act refers to “landlord use” evictions, stating “a landlord may end a tenancy with four months’ notice if the landlord or their close family member intends to occupy the rental unit.”
“Eviction with the ‘landlord use’ is rising,” Leung told the VTU in an interview on Instagram. “A lot of landlords use this excuse
COLONIALISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE
to evict long-term tenants, particularly the vulnerable, people just like seniors.” Artemisia Yang, a volunteer with the VTU, told CityNews, “We see across Vancouver, which is the eviction capital of Canada, where landlords will use all sorts of bogus reasons — not just landlord use, but damage to property — to evict the tenants in order to raise the rent.” The rental increase limit does not apply between tenancies, except for single-room units in Vancouver.
According to a 2023 story from Global News, “BC seniors who face eviction from long-term, affordable rental housing face ‘catastrophic’ consequences.” They reported that “there’s been an ‘uptick’ in the number of people over 60 in homeless shelters, and even single-room occupancy buildings are now financially out of reach for many.”
The Residential Tenancy Act also includes a good faith clause, which “requires honesty of intention with no ulterior motive” for the eviction. Leung believes her landlord may have intended to re-rent the apartment at a higher price. “We need a system to protect the tenants, and not provide the loophole for the landlord to abuse,” she told the VTU, referring to how landlord-use evictions are too easy for landlords to carry out.
Leung says she’s reached out to her landlord on multiple occasions. “I honestly want my landlord to sit down with me and find a solution that’s good for us together, then I don’t need to leave,” Leung told CityNews. “I have written a letter, texted her, and emailed her, and also [reached out] verbally to ask her to
The intersections of colonialism and the climate crisis in Western Sahara
The SFU event highlighted how corporations aid in greenwashing the region
KIANA MONTAKHAB · SFU STUDENT
On January 17, Embark Sustainability, the Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies, and Spheres of Influence e-zine hosted a presentation titled “Western Sahara is a Climate Justice Issue” on the Burnaby campus. The talk focused on the intersections of climate justice and the ongoing struggle for self-determination of the Sahrawi people. Parsa Alirezaei, an SFU research assistant, managing editor at Spheres of Influence, and former intern at the International Court of Justice, was the event’s featured speaker. He highlighted Morocco’s exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources and its contribution to climate injustice.
Western Sahara is a long-disputed territory in North Africa. It not only has the largest phosphate reserves in the world but also some of the richest fishing waters globally, making the region highly valuable for its natural resources. This has made Western Sahara a focal point for colonial agendas, starting with Spain in the 20th century.
In 1973, the Polisario Front started to rise. Primarily composed of the Sahrawis, the Indigenous people of Western Sahara, the organization initially sought to liberate Western Sahara from Spanish colonial control and establish self-determination. After Spain withdrew in 1975, the territory became occupied by Morocco and Mauritania through the Madrid Accords. The situation escalated with the launch of the Green March, as 350,000 unarmed Moroccan civilians marched into Western Sahara and claimed the region as part of Morocco. This pressured Spain to cede control, marking the start of Morocco’s illegal occupation.
The Polisario Front shifted its focus to opposing Moroccan dominance, resulting in a 16-year-long guerrilla war that displaced thousands. Many Sahrawis remain in refugee camps in Algeria’s Tindouf region. According to the UN Refugee Agency, “more than 173,000 people need humanitarian assistance in five camps” and economic opportunities available to Sahrawi refugees are “extremely limited.” Alirezaei explained that the jobs available are “low-wage labour jobs in agriculture,” small-scale “illicit trade,” and refugee tourism. He said that despite a 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire promising a self-determination referendum, it has “never came about.”
Alirezaei also explained that since the Green March, Morocco has sponsored settler colonial schemes, wherein Moroccan citizens relocate to Western Sahara under the promise of “economic incentives” and “national conquest.” In the process of greenwashing the land, he said Morocco has invested heavily in infrastructure projects, such as “wind farms and solar panels,” exploiting the region’s resources.
“With the help of North American, Chinese, and European corporations,” Morocco has illegally exploited Western Sahara’s abundant natural resources, said Alirezaei. According to estimates from the Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW), Morocco’s revenue from Western Sahara’s phosphate reserves alone could have reached as much as $655.5 million USD in 2022.
Canada is deeply established in this extraction enterprise. According to WSRW, from 2013 to 2017, Canadian companies Agrium and PotashCorp accounted for “49.5% of the total
have a conversation. Unfortunately, she ignores all my requests,” she told the VTU. CityNews was unable to receive a response from Leung’s landlord.
Given her rent was originally raised illegally by 24%, Leung filed a dispute with the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) with the assistance of the VTU, claiming the eviction was in bad faith. The branch sided with the landlord. The VTU said Leung “plans to continue fighting” and pushed for the BC Supreme Court to conduct a Judicial Review to determine whether or not the RTB acted fairly. VTU organizer Alex Werier told The Peak a date for the Judicial Review has not been set. He also stated that on January 30, one day before Leung’s scheduled eviction, she attended court and “was granted a stay of her eviction until March 31.” Leung’s stay may “be extended if necessary until a date [for review] can be scheduled and attended.
“While we are very glad to have received a stay of the eviction, Abby’s housing is still uncertain, and that has been very hard for her, both because she is still facing the threat of being kicked out of her home, and because of the uncertainty of not knowing when her court date is,” stated Werier. “At the moment, the stay is not indefinite.
“This is a good reminder that there are likely thousands of people throughout the city going through similar hardships without this support. These systems can be quite opaque, and landlords will almost always have more resources at their disposal to navigate them,” Werier continued. “The VTU plans to
trade” of phosphate rocks from the occupied Western Sahara. After merging in 2018 to form Nutrien, the company ceased importing phosphate from Western Sahara due to international pressure and criticism over supporting Morocco’s occupation. Alirezaei stressed, “People who are least responsible for the emissions and climate change itself are most vulnerable to its consequences.” He said that “the particular region that the Sahrawis are living in, and trying to make their living in, in this hyper precarious circumstance, is one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change in the world.”
Struggles of minority groups across the world continue to share patterns of colonial expansion, exploitation, and displacement. At the end of the presentation, Alirezaei stated, “There’s no way that you look at Palestine and then you look at Kurdistan and then you look at Western Sahara as completely discrete events happening, separate from common historical critical junctures.”
PHOTO: COURTESY OF VANCOUVER TENANTS UNION
IMAGE: GUDRUN WAI-GUNNARSSON / THE PEAK
The importance of revitalizing Africville
From coast to coast, Canada benefits from racialized expropriation
Content warning: forced displacement and racial violence are central topics in this story.
Imagine sitting at home one day and looking outside your window. There, you see a garbage truck parked outside. A city employee raps loudly on the door and demands you leave your home. This home has been in your family for generations and is a cornerstone to your connection to your heritage. It would probably be one of your worst nightmares; your entire livelihood taken away from you. For the residents of Africville, who were forced from their homes during the massive destruction of the neighbourhood, this nightmare was reality.
Africville was a “close-knit Black community” established in 1848 on Mi’kmaq territory at what is colonially known as Halifax, Nova Scotia. Following the American Revolution and War of 1812, Canada experienced a large influx of Black British loyalists — those who had fought for Britain in the War of 1812 and were promised freedom in return. Canada was supposed to be a “haven.” When they arrived in Nova Scotia, however, they arrived to white settlers who didn’t think them worthy. Black Canadians then settled into an area together to produce collective security.
For more than 120 years, the community served as a cultural hub for Black Nova Scotians; to thrive, live, and work in an environment where they were equally appreciated by members of their own community who understood the challenges they faced. After World War II, upwards of 400 Black Canadians lived in this community, and the Halifax municipal government treated them as subhuman. They refused to provide basic amenities like “access to clean water and garbage disposal,” and functional sewage.
In 1964, instead of improving infrastructure and providing necessities to residents of Africville, the Halifax City Council voted to relocate residents to supposedly “improve [their] standard of living.” To the very few residents who were able to prove a land deed for their home, the city paid them the value of their houses. However, many residents did not have any proof and were offered a measly $500. The last house was demolished in 1970.
Residents of Africville and their descendants are alive today and harmed by the dissolution of their community, and it is up to the sitting City Council and impassioned allies to purposefully hold space for Black Canadians.
Let’s call this what it is. The painful loss of Africville paints a broader picture of the patterns of expropriation of racialised peoples and their communities. Losing Africville was not isolated or accidental. Vancouver’s very own Hogan’s Alley, a community that was home to a prominent immigrant and Black population, was continuously destroyed beginning in 1967 to make room for a freeway that was never built. From Vancouver to Halifax, institutionalized racism has deprived Black Canadians of their individuality, communities, and right to life.
Nearly 55 years after the last home in Africville was destroyed, conversations about revitalization have just started to
begin. The City of Halifax is in the midst of phase one of their community revitalization plan. Earlier in 2024, public open houses were held to “focus on topics such as active transportation, land use, and possibilities for the future.”
It is absolutely essential that these revitalization plans do not fall out of focus, and that the voices of former residents of Africville are heard. In an interview with CBC, a former resident called for the community church to hold faith services once again. The original church was demolished one night in 1967, and the rebuilt standing building is used as a museum. Other community members have alternative perspectives on land use which are equally important and pertinent to the future of Africville. For instance, Irvine Carvery of the Africville Genealogy Society suggests returning the land that was made into the national historic landmark “Africville Park” and letting former residents determine the future of developments. “They’re the ones who are going to tell you what it was, what it could be, and what it should be.”
As for funding, it is essential that the City of Halifax and even the Nova Scotian governments remain a key role in keeping the community alive through funding. For many years, Black Canadians in these communities paid income tax to the government and saw no returns. It is now time for money and support to be promised and secured for revitalization in Africville so that it does not become a bygone historical artifact. Residents of Africville and their descendants are alive today and harmed by the dissolution of their community, and it is up to the sitting City Council and impassioned allies to purposefully hold space for Black Canadians.
For more information about Africville and to make a donation to their museum, visit africvillemuseum.org.
PHOTO: HALIFAX MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
MASON MATTU · NEWS WRITER
The Green Party is missing in action
A reality check for the Green party
In 2019, I watched Green Party leader Elizabeth May stand her ground in the Federal Leaders Debate and thought to myself, “Wow, she is on fire.” This feeling has since dissipated. It’s clear the current Green Party is no longer a viable federal option and needs to completely reform their identity, leadership, and organization. If they want to stop being a failure of a political party, it is time for some changes.
The Green Party of Canada was once a champion of local activism and politics, encouraging grassroots candidates to make their mark in their respective federal ridings. When May declared her retirement just after the 2019 federal election, we began to see the decline of the Green Party as we know it. Once a party with spirit and impassioned environmentalism, the Greens have faced an identity crisis ever since. Under new leadership in the 2021 federal election, the Green Party received a miniscule 2.3% of the federal vote. This election result was so painful that May had to come out of leadership retirement to try and save them.
Even with an experienced leader, the Green party faces immense challenges with their party’s identity. Environmentalism, a topic once neglected by Canada’s big three political parties, is now recognized by the NDP and Liberal parties. Though they haven’t prioritized the environment at a level sufficient enough to actually save it, Canadians are no longer under the impression that climate issues deserve a party of their own.
Let’s face it. Canadians are struggling to put food on the table and pay for bare bone essentials. They care about
Although climate is an important issue, let’s face it. Canadians are struggling to put food on the table right now and pay for their bare bone essentials.
policies such as healthcare reformation, a way to lower the cost of living, and to create an equitable future for their children. The Green Party of Canada follows Green politics, a concept which approaches policy through “sustainability, non-violence, social justice, respect for diversity, ecological wisdom, and participatory democracy.” Are Canadians hearing anything other than climate, though? In the last provincial election, the BC Green party led by political superstar Sonia Furstenau proposed policies such as free transit, approaches to foster walkable/liveable cities, and more support for people experiencing mental health hardships. The best thing about this? These policies were detailed with a transparent budget and actually achievable.
It is time for a new vision for the federal Green party that looks to take the NDP’s shortcomings and create a bold, progressive outlook for Canadians. This will include creating an actual costed platform that is backed by economists, something that the Green Party lacked in the last federal election.
Part of this reformation of identity will have to come from the top — a new, bold sense of leadership. Returning Green co-leader and former human rights investigator Jonathan Pedneault is a visionary voice for the party who could bring a new generation of Greens onto the ballot in the looming spring election. Pedneault should take over leadership immediately if the Green’s wish to stand any chance in the next election, however, the rest of the party must re-organize too. As of July 2024, they had yet to shift away from an online-based approach to organizing membership and advocacy efforts. They’ve got to go in person, they have to organize, and they have to actually show up in the ridings that they want to win.
A new leader could encourage those willing to stand up and join the Green party as candidates. For BC, the party has only confirmed only four candidates to run in the next election, as of writing this piece. This is likely a result of disengagement from Canadians, from both climate issues and politics, as well as a lack of organization from the party. If the Greens can complete the tasks that I have outlined, they might have a chance of surviving future federal elections. They can organize, they can show up, and although they still have a very low chance of winning new seats, they can make a mark. Until then, voters like myself will continue to ask: where the heck is the federal Green party?
ILLUSTRATION: CLIFF EBORA / THE PEAK
MASON MATTU · NEWS WRITER
The “right” has the wrong ideas about sexual health
The obsession with purity and reproduction is constructed as a hidden attack on women’s sexual autonomy
Whether it’s blocking contraceptives, stigmatizing or removing abortion, those who are the most impacted by the right’s attack on sexual health are often left out of the conversation, and decisions are made for them. The right wing’s attack on sexual health is not exactly overt, but it is rooted in old Evangelical Christian values about the morality of sex. While there is nothing inherently wrong about religious values, right wing politicians want to enforce their interpretations of faith onto others while completely neglecting that their actions are discriminatory, controlling, and have serious negative implications. They have shifted from outright shaming of what they deem “impure” as an attempt to distance themselves from the blatant ideological roots of conservatism, and instead resort to being as vague as possible to further their agenda.
An early North American example of the right wing’s attack on sexual health was the Comstock Act of 1873. The act is named after Anthony Comstock, “a devout Christian” man who pushed an anti-sex agenda in America during the 1870s. He began by supplying the police with information on what he deemed as obscene or immoral, including sex work, pornography, and contraceptives. He drafted his own law outlining the “obscenity” of contraceptives for Congress, and they passed it in 1873 — a law that is still brought up by the US Supreme Court today. So much for a party “free from ideology.”
The right’s attack on sexual health is not only a problem in America, but one that presents itself in Canada as well. Abortion is not regulated by a law, but part of the Canadian Healthcare Act, which ensures that access to abortion is a human right. However, this does not mean that Canadian right wing politicians are obligated to care about sexual health or bodily autonomy; in fact, they are unclear about their sexual health agenda here.
They have shifted from outright public shaming of what they deem as impure as an attempt to distance themselves from the blatant ideological roots of the party, and instead resort to being as vague as possible to further their agenda.
During May of 2024 Pierre Poilievre was criticized by Leah Gazan, an NDP member of parliament, for voting “against free birth control for nine million Canadians.” This willingness to police contraceptives is hidden from Poilievre’s agenda. While he tirades about making Canada a free country, he seems to have some inconsistent stances when it comes to controlling sexual health and bodily autonomy. He’s suggested that he is pro-choice, but his actions are contradictory. In 2012, Poilievre voted in favour of motion 312, which The Abortion Rights Coalition described to be anti-choice, as it would redefine the term “human being,” roping fetuses into the definition. This type of redefinition has been consistently used to justify controlling abortion. Poilievre, despite apparently being insistent on individual freedoms, also claimed that “pro-life Canadians are welcome in [the Conservative] party,” a group which actively tries to take away an individual’s right to choose. Poilievre’s actions raise some serious alarm about the access to sexual health freedoms.
Albertan premier Danielle Smith has also raised some serious concerns when it comes to accessing safe abortions in the province. In September 2024, the premier expressed interest in moving some of Alberta’s healthcare away from the responsibility of the provincial government. This would instead allow private companies with their own terms of service, like Covenant Health, to take over. Covenant Health is a Catholic health provider and notably does not perform abortions, provide emergency contraceptives, or gender affirming care. Rural communities could specifically be impacted by this, as Smith claims “we just need different operators in the smaller communities so that we can get back to delivering that level of care.” While abortion is a human right in Canada, provinces are allowed to outsource healthcare to faith based organizations even if their values reject certain life-saving procedures.
Through vague stances and subtle interests in shifting policies, the Conservative party manages to dodge an explicitly “prochoice party” label while pretending to care about the health of constituents. The Conservatives will not advertise their disregard for sexual health, instead they will claim they have people’s interests in mind as they slowly begin to block access to adequate sexual health care. While not every Conservative member or voter may necessarily be against proper sexual health, it is important to note this rhetoric runs rampant within the party. There should be no room for political leaders to project their own personal values, especially if it is rooted in faith, onto an entire population filled with diverse people with different needs. Do not be fooled; if the party cared about such a crucial right, especially the disproportionate amount of women it affects, they wouldn’t hide behind unclear positions and feel the need to avoid the issue.
ILLUSTRATION: VICTORIA LO / THE PEAK
MICHAEL MORRIS SFU STUDENT
As long as fossil fuel companies exist, we are all vulnerable to wildfires
It’s time to point fingers at polluters
We are all susceptible to the volatility of the climate. January 7 marked the beginning of one of the most devastating wildfires that would eventually grow and spread across Los Angeles. Starting in the Pacific Palisades, the climate disaster displaced more than 100,000 people. While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, experts claim it was the result of hydroclimate whiplash — worsened by climate change. Hydroclimate whiplash occurs when a period of heavy rain, which leads to the growth of more vegetation, is followed by long periods of drought which kills the vegetation. When there is a large amount of dead vegetation, then there is an increased likelihood that vegetation is more vulnerable to catching and spreading fire. Along with this phenomena, the Santa Ana winds made the fires more uncontrollable, as they resemble the effect of a light hurricane. Fighting fires with such wind present is not only difficult but dangerous, as the winds cause the fire to spread further.
These wildfires are a bleak, yet urgent reminder that climate issues are a lot closer than we think they are. It’s not just LA that has seen a devastating wildfire season, but BC as well. The scale of destruction from the 2023 wildfire season rivals that of the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire, marking it as one of the most catastrophic in recent history. There are many compelling aspects such as burning of fossil fuels and a lack of preparation that could potentially cost many communities within the province their livelihoods.
Wildfires are already an issue in BC BC’s wildfire season in 2023 was the province’s most severe. Over 2.8 million hectares (or 28,000 square kilometers) were burned during this period and tens of thousands of individuals were displaced.
The largest wildfire the province has seen, which happened that year, took place in Donnie Creek. The fire spread rapidly and ended up being the same size as Prince Edward Island. The fire was supposedly started by a lightning strike, becoming visible on May 12. The night time usually cools down wildfires, but in this case, it was a warm night. Aside from being the most devastating period for wildfires, 2023 was also the province’s hottest and driest year on record. This factor intensified the grounds for wildfires, causing them to spread more quickly, and allowing for more dead vegetation to pose a risk of catching fire.
While not every single part of the province was directly impacted by the wildfire smoke, there was a lapse in air quality, and the smoke from the fires spread across closer regions. According to the government of BC, wildfire smoke affects every
demographic as “during wildfire conditions producing heavy pollution, everyone is at risk regardless of their age or health.” It can cause inflammation in the lungs, which weakens the immune system, and breathing in the smoke can make a person more prone to “eye, throat, and nose irritation.” Headaches are also a symptom of inhaling too much smoke. People most at risk from wildfire smoke include those with pre-existing heart conditions and asthma, seniors, and pregnant individuals.
Although 2024 was not as severe, there were still over one million hectares burned in the province, making it the fourth largest season for wildfires. The constant occurrence of larger-scale wildfires indicate they are no longer a lingering threat. They are unpredictable, difficult to manage, and often exacerbated by components of climate change. Wildfires have become an issue of the present day.
How does the burning of fossil fuels tie into all this?
Climate change plays a significant role in shaping the severity of wildfires. While wildfires can occur naturally, such as those caused by lightning, climate change has pushed them to the extreme. Wildfire seasons have increased in length and frequency between 1996 and 2013 compared to 1979–1996, which “amounted to a doubling in the total global burnable area affected by long fire weather seasons.”
The government can prepare all they want for mitigating wildfires, but their actions clearly outline their priorities are not the people.
It is well documented that fossil fuels are the largest contributor to climate change. The burning of fossil fuels (which include coal, natural gas, and oil), produces greenhouse gases which then trap heat in the atmosphere. This results in the climate heating up. Climate scientist and activist, David Suzuki states, “Fossil fuel funding is an investment in disaster.”
Canada’s oil and natural gas industry contributes over $70 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), with just three oil and gas reserves (Kearl, Montney BC, Spirit River) alone contributing to over 50 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions. According to Statista, the top 10 fossil
fuel companies in Canada alone have a carbon footprint of 135 million carbon dioxide equivalents of greenhouse gases emitted in 2022. To put this in perspective, “One million metric tons is roughly equal to the average annual emissions of 35 commercial airliners, 216,000 passenger vehicles, and 115,000 homes in the US.”
While large fossil fuel companies like FortisBC continue to pollute — promoting natural gas through misleading greenwashing campaigns — the government stays silent. These companies do not take accountability for their actions, nor do they listen to research for more sustainable energy. Instead they dodge accountability and spread misinformation about their actions. One way they spread misinformation is through rebranding their practices. For example fossil fuel companies brand natural gas as the “cleanest fossil fuel,” an attempt to placate the public into thinking these are eco-friendly practices. However, that might not be the case at all. Natural gas is actually made up of methane, which can trap 84 times as much heat than carbon dioxide within a 20 year span.
Imperial Oil (owner of the Kearl site) was responsible for a toxic wastewater spill in Alberta’s oil sand. There were over five million metric tonnes of toxic wastewater spilling into local Indigenous communities. The spillage affected “members of the Mikisew Cree, the Athabasca Chipewyan and Fort McKay First Nations, the Fort Chipewyan Metis, and other downstream communities all the way to the Northwest Territories.” The company hid this from the Indigenous communities for nine months, putting entire communities at risk — an action which should be grounds for closure. Instead, Imperial Oil is only facing nine charges for failure to report the spill and take reasonable cleanup measures, causing a major impact on the environment, and for “causing the loss or damage of public land.” For a similar incident involving waste water they were only charged with $50,000. Imperial Oil is worth over $35 billion, so this fine is the equivalent of ticketing someone for arson. In 2023, the federal government invested $18.6 billion into the fossil fuel industry. It is clear the government would never let Imperial Oil or similar companies take such hefty penalties for putting people’s lives at risk.
The government can prepare all they want for mitigating wildfires, but their actions clearly outline their priorities are not the people. While firefighters risk their lives to stop the flow of fires, and many communities are displaced, millions of dollars and property damages are lost, and many fossil fuel companies continue to operate in Canada, evading any form of true punishment for their actions. Unless the federal government truly prioritizes the adequate punishing of fossil fuel industries, they will remain complicit in prioritizing profits over people. Until the interest of people and not revenue is prioritised, then the population of BC as
Yildiz Subuk Staff Writer
PHOTO: Joanne Francis / Unsplash
Tezeta, a dive into Ethiopia’s music scene and its Armenian influences
The power of nostalgia and the love for music are on full display in the film
YILDIZ SUBUK · STAFF WRITER
Content warning: brief mention of genocide.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) film festival, held at the VIFF centre, has had an expansive catalogue of unique films and documentaries which capture stories from these regions. Tezeta, directed by Aramazt Kalayjian and Garegin Papoyan, unveils the rich contributions that Armenians have made to Ethiopian history. The film focuses on the power of nostalgia, and how music evokes longing emotions that connect them to their identity.
The filmmaker’s journey starts with an obsession with a picture. In the photo are 40 Armenian orphans, survivors from the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian genocide, who were adopted by an Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie, to start an orchestra. While the film seems like it may explore the lives of the orphans, the unheard testimonies of their relatives, or their history, it instead uses it to set a tone. Audiences see the story of one of the last Armenian artists in Ethiopia, Vahe Tilbian, unfold. The brief use of the photograph sets a powerful narrative in motion.
Tilbian’s story is one of personal conflict. He struggles with identity and a drive to keep making music despite loving the art. While Tilbian was born and brought up in Ethiopia, his Armenian pigment is much lighter than those around him.
IRRESISTIBLE INJERA
Since much of the Armenian community in Ethiopia left for North America and Europe after the Derg military took over in 1974, Tilbian is one of a few still left. He loves the culture and music scene, and his concern has less to do with entering mainstream charts and more to do with reaching a point where he doesn’t feel out of place with his identity. Audiences are presented with three stages of the musician’s career, seeing his personal conflict unfold, but also seeing the profound ways in which he navigates his goals through music.
As the filmmakers journey through Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, audiences discover the story of a jazz club that united many musicians like Alèmayèhu Eshèté (dubbed as “Ethiopian Elvis” in the film) and Mulatu Astatke, the man known as the creator of “Ethio-jazz,” which blends the melodious symphonies of traditional Ethiopian music with jazz. We see these musicians perform and cherish the space before it unfortunately burns down in 2015. The musicians talk about the experiences of performing in the jazz club, expressing their
A taste of Ethiopia in Vancouver at Fassil Ethiopian Restaurant
Indulging in smooth injera and partaking in Gursha
Last week, I had the chance to visit Fassil Ethiopian Restaurant, home to warm meals and located not too far from the hustle and bustle of the Commercial-Broadway skytrain station. It’s named after King Fassil (Emperor Fasiladas), who founded Gondar, a city in Ethiopia, after “tiring of the pattern of migration that had characterized the lifestyle of so many of his forefathers.”
As soon as I entered, I was greeted by a neat interior gracefully filled with paintings ranging from everyday Ethiopian landscapes to portraits. There were only two staff on the floor on that snowy Thursday night, and both of them welcomed me enthusiastically as soon as I entered. I was immediately entranced by the traditional Ethiopian music that played constantly from the two speakers right above the cashier corner. From the start, it felt like a warm visit to your grandparents’ house.
Once I sat down, I was given a menu and ample time and space to decide on what to get. Soon, the chefs themselves came out to greet all the tables. When I admitted this was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine, huge smiles dawned on their faces. I was recommended to get a taste of everything, so I ordered a veggie combo, a serving of siga keye wot (beef stew with spicy sauce), and doro wot (chicken thigh stew with boiled egg, onions, garlic, and spices).
The food arrived — unexpectedly, in a huge silver platter with all my orders on it. Accompanying this platter was a plate of injera (flatbread) that was supposed to be eaten together with the stews and veggies. One thing I noticed once all the food arrived was there were no utensils. Fassil encourages the Ethiopian tradition of Gursha, which is the practice of eating using your bare hands. Understanding my unfamiliarity with Ethiopian cuisine, the staff, with their ever-appreciative courtesy, came up to my table and helped me figure out how to eat the other dishes with injera. Eating with bare hands was definitely a fun experience, and brought back many memories
from my childhood back in Southeast Asia. I never thought a visit to an Ethiopian restaurant would open my eyes to the similarities in cultures and traditions from across continents.
The food itself was scrumptious, and the soft, slightly-tangy injera paired perfectly with the rich, spicy stews so much so that the plate emptied before I realized it.
The food itself was scrumptious, and the soft, slightly-tangy injera paired perfectly with the rich, spicy stews so much so that the plate emptied before I realized it. But fret not, the silver platter earlier came with its own huge portion of injera. My favourite was the doro wot. The onion and garlic base of the stew stood in contrast to the otherwise light accompaniments of vegetables, making an interesting but suitable match.
Getting the combo was a great idea. I was able to try out so many different pairings between the veggies and the two meat dishes — the combination of beef stew and chickpeas comes in a close second. Both meat dishes were unbelievably tender. The tiniest of pressure from your hand will break the chunks apart. Overall, the flavours were rich, spice-heavy, tangy, and heartwarming. My only regret was not being able to try their asa tibs (fried spiced basa fillet), mostly because the portions
grievances. Through this space, they channeled memories in the form of their music. While this story is not directly related to Tilbian’s, it’s a great way to explore another avenue of the grander narrative, shifting from a personal story to one about community and space.
As the documentary reaches its final chapter, the theme becomes clear. Without giving too many spoilers, the conclusion is a rewarding testament to Tilbian’s devotion to his craft, as well as a poignant reminder of the meaning music scenes take on over the years.
While Tezeta is an ambitious depiction of the Ethiopian music scene, it left me yearning for more information about the history of the Armenian orphans seeking refuge in the country. Ethiopia’s first national anthem was written by Kevork Nalbandian, who is of Armenian descent — which would have been a great addition to this documentary. Although the film had some great narratives about the current music scene, more
were already pretty huge even without it. Their menu also has a wide variety of drinks so don’t forget to grab a beverage to wash it all down! And the best part? You won’t have to break the bank. The combo with two meat dishes only came down to $50, and I got both dinner and takeout for days.
Fassil is an ideal place, whether you want to have a quiet dinner trying out a cuisine you have never had before, or want to split a huge meal with your friends. I do recommend going with friends though, because you are definitely going to need help breaking down the huge portions of food. I found this out the hard way. Plus, it is more fun when everyone is digging into the same platter recommending radically different combinations to each other — truly practicing Gursha without having to visit Ethiopia (yet). Dining at Fassil was such an unforgettable experience, and I can’t wait to go back.
IMAGE: COURTESY OF AHURA MAZDA AND I. C. PENGUINS
PHOTO: PHONE MIN THANT / THE PEAK
PHONE MIN THANT STAFF WRITER
Need to Know, Need to Go
Black History Month events
SFPIRG Movie Night Screening
SOCA Lounge, SUB 1430 (SFU Burnaby)
Monday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Price: free
Enjoy an evening of lively discussion as SFU Students Of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA), Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR), and Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG) present a screening of Black August (2007). This movie follows the journey of prison inmate, George Jackson, as he becomes a political activist for prisoners’ rights in San Quentin prison during the 1960s. Be sure to RSVP for this event at the link in SFPIRG’s bio (@SFPIRG on Instagram).
MUSICAL MASTERY
Sounds and Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land Series
North Vancouver City Library, 120 W 14th St.
Wednesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.
Price: free
Sounds and Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land (2024) is an anthology consisting of five short films. The National Film Board of Canada has put this series together to showcase the talent of some of the best Jamaican artists as they take Canada’s music scene in the reggae genre by storm. Don’t miss out the chance to view this free screening of this musical collective at the North Vancouver City Library! If you aren’t able to make it to the screening, be sure to watch the films online for free at nfb.ca.
SUB Community Kitchen, room 2125 (SFU Burnaby)
Thursday, February 27, 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Price: free
Embark Sustainability’s Community Kitchen, located at the SFU Burnaby campus, is a great place for students to connect and learn to cook healthy meals. It is also where SFU SOCA members, Stacy and Mekeil, will be coming by to teach delicious and easyto-make recipes. Take this cultural dive into Jamaican steamed callaloo (leafy green side dish) and Kenyan ugali (cornmeal porridge) as you learn how to make various foods while learning about the diverse flavours of East Africa and the Caribbean.
Travel the world in music with International Guitar Night
The tour lends its resonant rhythms to the art of this instrument
IZZY CHEUNG · ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
When one mentions the guitar, you may think of it as an accompanying instrument — a twinkle in the background of a singer’s vocals. But as proven on February 1 by International Guitar Night’s stop in New Westminster, there’s more to this instrument than what meets the eye. The 25th annual tour, which will be making stops all across North America until the end of March, features the string-based artistry of Latin swing guitarist Lulo Reinhardt, romantic musician Alexandra Whittingham, the Soukous sound-inspired Niwel Tsumbu, and the enchanting Sönke Meinen and his folk-based ballads.
“The idea behind this festival — it’s such a beautiful thing — is trying to get together four musicians from very different musical universes,” Meinen told The Peak prior to their first concert.
This is Meinen’s first time on the tour, as well as his first time meeting his fellow performers. Despite not working together before, their sounds have been seamless, weaving together as artfully as the threads of a large tapestry.
“Niwel is doing his traditional African influences. You hear the classical music of Alexandra in the other corner of the room, and then Lulo is playing his Latin swing. I think it will be very inspiring.”
Inspiring, it was. I entered New Westminster’s Massey Theatre with no expectations, as I’d never been to a show that strictly focuses on one instrument. Upon sitting in my seat, I noticed that the stage looked simple, hosting only four chairs, four guitars, and a few microphones scattered around. Nothing else.
The show began with a dramatic ballad by Reinhardt, written for an old friend he met on tour who he exchanged letters with before she passed away. The deft plucking of the strings wove the smell of burnt oak wood through my nostrils, creating the visual of a desolate plain where I was the only visitor. This was quickly followed up by Whittingham’s solo set, which reminded me of walking through Van Dusen Botanical Garden during the spring. Hearing her guitar’s delicate, harp-like preens made
me want to put on my cutest summer dress and have a picnic among pink-petaled tulips.
Meinen started the second-half of the solo performances by perching himself atop his trademark wooden stool. He knocked his hands against the guitar with poise as he drew the audience into a fiery performance reminiscent of crackling flames. Startlingly, he followed this up with a composition best suited to stories of a faraway island home to graceful mermaids. With ripples like those from a lyre, he conjured the feeling of cold seawater and thick fog amid an audience dressed for the snow.
It’s just a wooden box with six strings. It’s such a simple concept, but there are so many different musical universes in there.
SÖNKE MEINEN · GUITARIST AND COMPOSER
Tsumbu wrapped up the solos with songs that whisked the audience away to a beachfront vacation. I felt the mist of the salted ocean splash against my face as he lulled the audience into singing “na na na” alongside him. If I closed my eyes, I would have imagined I was sitting in a wooden boat while being serenaded with the rich tunes of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
VIFF Centre, 1181 Seymour St., Vancouver Dates throughout the month
Price: ranges from $11–16
If you are interested in broadening your knowledge of Black history, the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF Centre) is presenting films throughout February as part of a collective called “African Cinema Now!,” created by Akojo Film Collective. This collection will feature films such as Atlantics (2019), Chez Jolie Coiffure (2018), Dilli Dark (2023), and Tori and Lokita (2022).
“Music is there to tell stories, and that’s what we do onstage. If people are touched by it, then we achieved everything we wanted to achieve,” Meinen told me.
As a finale, Tsumbu took the helm by teaching the audience some lyrics to an African song that he said would take us to a jungle in Congo. Guitar strings reminiscent of the beats of steel drums echoed throughout the small theatre as every guitarist contributed to the song. Along with the hums of “ma ma ma” from the audience, every person in attendance seemed to be part of the lush, inspiring peace.
When I settled back down at home, mind still churning in a sea of musical mastery, I thought back to something that Meinen had told me about the guitar a couple of weeks before. “It’s just a wooden box with six strings. It’s such a simple concept, but there are so many different musical universes in there.” As a settler in kʷikʷəƛəm, I experienced how Latin, British, German, and Congolese influences can take you to a completely different world of musical complexity with just one instrument.
PHOTO: IZZY CHEUNG / THE PEAK
MANAL KASHIF · SFU STUDENT
Community Kitchen: Celebrating Black Heritage with SOCA
African Cinema Now!
PHOTO: ALEX NITVIN / UNSPLASH
Facts about your SFSS Health & Dental Plan:
• The last time the SFSS held a successful referendum to increase the Plan fee by more than 5% (for inflation) was 10 years ago in 2014.
• In the December 2024 Health & Dental Plan Survey, 84% of surveyed students said they would support increasing the Plan fee to prevent benefit cuts.
increase referendum: Feb. 27 - 28
Thierry Henry, an Olympian with the talent of scoring
A perspective of by someone not too fond of Arsenal
YILDIZ SUBUK · STAFF WRITER
I’ve never been fond of Arsenal as a soccer club. I don’t know if it’s the jerseys, the fanbase, or the team’s ability to have remarkable seasons before “blowing it” when it matters most. However, there is one player I will always respect and admire, Thierry Henry.
As a child, watching footage of Henry play felt like witnessing a superhuman compete against a team of athletes trying to keep up. His pace was unbelievable, to the point where he could make headlines at the Olympics for sprinting competitions. His accuracy, dribbling, and ball control were impressive, especially when considering the top speed he reached was 39.2 km/hr, the fastest recorded in a major soccer league. That would mean that Henry was about 10 km/hr short of the speed limit for most towns, but he was also balancing a ball with his feet while moving past a team’s defence and deciding how to line up a shot.
I got into soccer during a time when Henry was out of his prime. It was 2013, and Henry had gone from playing in the top leagues in Europe, to the MLS, a place where many legends now go to retire. At the time, Henry was playing for the New York Red Bulls, with many other remarkable players dominating the headlines. FC Barcelona was a force in major sports. I thought I knew a good amount about Barcelona until a clip of Henry came up. I had never seen or heard of Henry before. The clip was an interview with him after Barcelona won the Champions League finals in the 2008–09 season against Manchester United. As he spoke, he teared up. Little did I
know, this was Henry’s moment of realization — he’d finally won the last major trophy he had yet to win in his career.
Henry was about 10 km/hr short of the speed limit for most towns, but he was also balancing a ball with his feet while moving past a team’s defence and deciding how to line up a shot.
This was also towards the end of Henry’s remarkable career playing in a top-five league. He had reached the fastest speed ever recorded on the pitch, became Arsenal’s top scorer with 228 goals (a record he still holds today), and won the World Cup and the Euro, along with many domestic trophies. Henry also played a crucial part in Arsenal’s historic unbeaten season in 2004 and is often considered one of the best players to never win a men’s Ballon d’Or, which is awarded yearly to the best player.
Opinion: BC not free from culture wars as trans VIU athlete harassed on and off the court
How the Mariners and Bearcats game added to the ongoing, exclusionary debate
KAJA
Content warning: descriptions of discrimination and harassment.
On October 30, 2024, Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners women’s basketball player Harriette Mackenzie posted a video to her Instagram account, alleging targeted verbal and physical harassment from Columbia Bible College (CBC) Bearcats players and coaches. This came after the Mariners hosted the Bearcats in Nanaimo, where the Vancouver Island team won both games on October 25 and 26.
Mackenzie, who is a trans woman, drew ire from CBC’s coaching staff for simply existing on the court. After the game, Mackenzie alleged that CBC head coach Taylor Claggett cornered a member of the VIU athletic staff and “went on a tirade” about Mackenzie’s involvement on the team.
Throughout the next game, Mackenzie was targeted by the opposing CBC players with increasing violence — including a moment in the third quarter when Mackenzie was dragged onto the hardwood court by a Bearcat. While Mackenzie was still on the ground in pain, Claggett could be seen on the bench applauding the action from her team.
CBC later released a statement supporting Claggett, claiming that she was “concerned about the safety of the female athletes.” However, it’s more likely that trans women face harsher violence in sports compared to cis women due to discrimination and “gender policing.” The Pacific Western Athletics Association (PACWEST) then began an investigation, which was concluded as of February 4, 2025. While the conference itself did not disclose its decision, VIU released a statement saying they were “pleased with the results of the investigation.” In response, CBC expressed their disappointment with the results: “We do not
believe that a proper process was followed or that the results were fair. As a result, we are taking steps to have PACWEST’s decision reviewed.”
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport commissioned a scientific review on trans participation, which found that biological data gathered on the topic was limited and “often methodologically flawed,” and the trans-exclusionary policies continue “a long history of exclusion of women from competitive sport.”
The Mariners were due to play two games at CBC’s Columbia Place this January, though the games were postponed after all 13 VIU women’s basketball players signed a letter claiming their team felt “unsafe” competing at the Abbotsford institution. CBC disputed the letter, claiming that accusations of CBC-affiliated teams, coaches, and fans creating an unsafe environment are “untrue and misinformed.” On February 10, it was also announced that CBC would no longer be hosting the PACWEST women’s basketball provincials.
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport commissioned a scientific review on trans participation in sports, which found that biological data gathered on the topic was limited and “often methodologically flawed,” and that trans-exclusionary policies continue “a long history of exclusion of women from competitive sport.” For example, these studies incorporating biological data
Watching Henry often reminded me that there are some players who everyone wishes they played like, and whose ability seems impossible to reach, despite the practice. While many noticeably talented players can dribble well and shoot on target, not many can sprint across the entire pitch so effortlessly. At times, clips of Henry seemed almost edited. After a stellar career, Henry retired in 2014. While I always viewed him as someone with exceptional talent, a recent interview shed some light on the fact that Henry did eventually burn out and reach his limit.
“I wanted to run. I couldn’t,” he told the interviewer, as he described how his daughter wanted to play tag with him one day, but the pain in his leg restricted him from getting up and chasing her. He elaborated on how he had been feeling pain in his achilles for nearly 10 years, but continued playing. While this information saddened me, it was a stark reminder of the fact that despite your physical capabilities, you will reach your limits. Despite reaching his limit, Henry became a legend — someone who, for a moment in time, made his own soccer clips seem like they were moving at twice the speed.
ILLUSTRATION: BITHI SUTRADHAR / THE PEAK
often approach the topic with an essentialist ideology, which does not consider the proper measurement of sex chromosomes. Despite these findings, there is still a push to restrict trans athletes from athletic competitions, further marginalizing trans and gender diverse individuals in a society that already favours cis and heteronormative structures. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are 53 bills attacking trans inclusion in school sports across the US alone.
This incident is just one localized example of the ongoing culture war involving trans athletes in sports. The Government of Alberta put forth a bill last fall, named the “Fairness and Safety in Sport Act,” which specifically looks to bar trans women and girls from competing in sports with cis women and girls. This bill, which Premier Danielle Smith’s government looks to enact in fall 2025, would create issues for USports and CCAA competition. This would require collegiate organizations to create divisions with “biological female-only” stipulations, rather than keep their own respective policies regarding trans athletes.
The argument that these restrictive policies are “protecting” women and girls in sports by limiting competition based on assigned sex at birth is unfounded at best and massively harmful at worst. Moreover, there is little concrete evidence proving that individuals assigned male at birth are better at sports, as athletic prowess varies from person to person. Canadian Women & Sport argue that removing trans and gender diverse athletes from women’s sports does not address any of the actual barriers that prevent girls from continuing in sports.
ILLUSTRATION: ABIGAIL STREIFEL / THE PEAK
ANTIC SPORTS WRITER
ROCKY ISLAND WATERS
Don’t judge me for looking for a silver lining
Kendrick performed at the Super Bowl last week, and while I didn’t watch the performance (I refuse to watch men crash into each other for fun), that didn’t mean I was exempt from seeing all the whining about it online. Some called it a “DEI halftime show,” while others complained, “DEI only goes one direction.” All this is code for, “I saw too many Black people on my TV, make it stop.” As you know, racists are hardwired to get suspicious and jumpy when they see more than five Black people in the same space. Which is something I rarely get to experience since I moved here. Did you know only one percent of BC’s population is Black? That basically makes me a mythical creature when you think about it. But it’s not all bad. There are, in fact, benefits to being Black in a mostly non-Black community.
No matter how often I explain that my hair does just grow out of my head like that, people are still staring in awe and asking me what I did to it. I can keep my braids in for too long, and people will still be wowed. Apparently, non-Black people almost never change their hair (not sure why, seems like a sad way to live), so it’s always so notable to them when I sport a new hairstyle. Once, I was getting off an airplane and a bald white man, who I assume was the pilot standing at the entrance, stopped me to tell me he wished he could have his hair like mine. I laughed, pretending it was the first time I’d ever had an interaction like that with a bald white man. I’m pretty sure the lady who searched my fro at the airport security also told me she liked my hair.
People always tell me I should do stand-up. Which I’m not gonna do. I’m a grad student. I’m already getting screwed over financially, why would I try to get other poorly paid gigs? So instead of impersonating people on stage for very little money, I do it for free every time I get mistaken for literally any other Black person. Once, a Black girl came up to me in a café like, “Are you (random name)?” and I said no and she looked at me in shock and said, “What are the odds there’s more than two Black people in here!” Homegirl didn’t even know what the person she was looking for looked like. She just assumed she would get to the location and whichever Black person was there would be the one. I was attending a keynote last year and one of the organizers thought I was the guest speaker. I should’ve committed and claimed the real speaker was impersonating me!
Welp, that’s it! What? You thought the list would be longer? There’s only so much I can say when the Caribbean food here is lacking, the DJs are playing god knows what in the club, and seemingly only a handful of salons will accept to do my hair. At least I can count on always having people reach out to me to organize Black History Month things! And sometimes they even pay!
C Icart • Humour Editor
February 17–23
your weekly horoscopes
The stars have assigned you an Onijah Robinson quote
Aries
March 21–April 19
“It’s private, but no.”
The stars think you should spend more time telling nosy people to mind their business, and then still answer their questions.
Cancer
June 21–July 22
“I would like to clear the air. Anything that you hear that’s not true, that’s not true. OK? Thank you.”
The stars need you to know that haters will make up lies about you, but you shouldn’t pay attention to them at all. It’s all a distraction, and you’re too booked and busy to pay attention.
Libra
September 23–October 22
“I demand from the government more than $5,000 USD to make Pakistan a better place. Goodnight.”
Libra, your assertive era begins today. You know what you want and it’s time to go demand it from one branch of government at a time.
Capricorn
December 22–January 19
“I don’t live here, I’m chilling. It’s none of your business. Now, go home.”
Have you been getting an increase in scam calls recently? Well, if putting your number on a Do Not Call List does not work (it doesn’t we tried), consider answering the phone with this quote moving forward.
Taurus April 20–May 20
“Um, Shabana. Would you like to speak, Shabana?”
You are the centre of attention whenever you walk into a room, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be humble. Behind every great woman, there’s a Shabana. Don’t forget to shout out yours.
Leo July 23–August 22
“I’m here to open up real estate and build houses in the back and pools for the people.”
Did you know there’s an atrocious amount of brokerage reality TV shows? The stars call it the Selling Sunsetification of Netflix and they recommend that you tune in. You won’t learn anything about real estate, but once in a while someone wears a cute outfit.
Scorpio
October 23–November 21
“I’m from here, now.”
Identity, citizenship, and belonging are all deeply personal and complex things. You know where you’re from and you know where you’re going. Don’t let anyone use your passport against you ever.
Aquarius
January 20–February 18
“I’m asking for $100K or more. I need $20K by this week, in my pocket, in cash.”
Manifest that money Aquarius! If you do not ask, you will not receive. Ask your boss for a raise, ask your mom for allowance, ask your little sister for her piggy bank, or more!
Gemini May 21–June 20
“I’m launching a Bitcoin under Onijah Styles LLC.”
The stars foresee big financial success for you. Once you lose all your money buying meme coins, you’ll have no choice but to learn financial literacy!
Virgo
August 23–September 22
“I’m getting my Pakistani passport and Pakistani ID. I’m getting it. Do y’all agree?”
Interacting with literally any government agency is a pain in the butt, but not for you. The stars predict you will get every document you need with ease. You just need to walk in there and tell the employee you’re getting it.
Sagittarius
November 22–December 21
“I’m Muslim and it’s against my religion to tell you my business. Have a nice day.”
Regardless of your religion, the stars do advise that you stop telling people your business. You’re not famous enough for it to ever come back and bite you, but still, spare us.
Pisces
February 19–March 20
“I’m not talking, unless y’all giving me land and $2,000 or more every week. You hear me?”
The stars need you to know your worth, Pisces. The spirit of collaboration is OUT! That guy who never comes to class is asking you what he missed in yesterday’s lecture? Don’t give it for free! NAME YOUR PRICE!
