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n (Kwantlen), qicəy (Katzie), Semiahmoo, and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Peoples. Unceded means that this land was never surrendered, relinquished, or handed over in any way. We recognize that the unceded land that we occupy includes not only the SFU Burnaby campus, but extends to the land occupied by the Vancouver and Surrey campuses as well.
Canucks orchestrate
hierarchy overhaul
Following a challenging season, the Canucks prepare for the future
JONAH LAZAR STAFF WRITER
After nishing rock bottom in the NHL Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks are set to reshape their managerial team. The 2025/26 campaign saw the Canucks pick up 25 wins across 82 games, nishing 19 points behind the next worst-performing team in the NHL. This is following their 2024/25 season, when the team picked up 38 wins, and nished fth place in the Paci c Division — out of eight teams. Their 2025/26 season is regarded by many as the worst season in Canucks history: star player and captain, Quinn Hughes, was traded away, and the team then picked up their lowest points tally in a full season since 1998/99.
In the aftermath of these many setbacks, the Canucks team owner Francesco Aquilini has changed the personnel running the side. General manager Patrik Allvin was red from the helm of the franchise after four years in charge, and long-time president of hockey operations, Jim Rutherford, stepped down from his position.
The dissolved hierarchy will leave room for new leadership to take charge, with some familiar faces returning to Rogers Arena, where the team plays. Franchise legends Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who played together for the Canucks from 2000 to 2018, will take over as co-presidents of Canucks
SFU rejoins U SPORTS’
C
anada West in 2027
The Red Leafs are set to compete locally, following NCAA withdrawal in 2025
JONAH LAZAR STAFF
WRITER
Following SFU’s decision last September to leave the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the US’ premier collegiate sports governing body, the university is set to begin competing in Canada’s collegiate sports governing body, U SPORTS, starting in the fall of 2027.
On May 7, SFU was accepted into Canada West, U SPORTS’ western division, as a probationary member. SFU received probationary membership from U SPORTS at the U SPORTS annual meeting at the beginning of June.
In U SPORTS, SFU will compete in the Canada West conference against 17 other universities in Western Canada, including UBC, UVIC, and other universities in BC, Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
SFU’s decision to leave the NCAA championships last September was largely due to budgetary concerns. The university estimates they will save over a million dollars annually in fees and wages from the change in competitions. This is mostly due to softball, golf, and outdoor track and eld being cut, as U SPORTS does not o er these sports. These teams will begin to gear up for what will be their last season in action.
After this announcement, SFU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee published an open letter opposing SFU’s decision to leave the NCAA. They stated that leaving the NCAA
What stands out most about Manny isn’t simply his experience; it’s his ability to bring people together, establish accountability, and create an environment where players can thrive.
THE CANUCKS
hockey operations, in place of the departing Rutherford. Ryan Johnson will take over as general manager. Johnson has been working for the Canucks since the 2013/14 season, primarily in player development with the Vancouver Canucks. He was also general manager of the Abbotsford Canucks, a franchise operated by the Vancouver Canucks who compete in the American Hockey League.
Soon after taking charge, Johnson dismissed head coach Adam Foote and assistant coaches Scott Young, Kevin Dean, and Brett McLean. Foote was red after just one season coaching the team. Speaking to the press, Johnson thanked the coaching sta for their commitment during “a very tough and tumultuous year of so many variables.” He shared that their dismissal was “less about change in the past and more about implementing something for the future.”
Filling Foote’s shoes as head coach will be Manny Malhotra, who worked with Johnson at the Abbotsford Canucks, and was a player in the Canucks’ run to the Stanley Cup nals in 2011. In a statement sent out to Canucks season ticketholders, the Canucks stated, “What stands out most about Manny isn’t simply his experience; it’s his ability to bring people together, establish accountability, and create an environment where players can thrive [ . . . ] Today marks an important milestone in our journey forward.”
The Peak reached out to the Abbotsford and Vancouver Canucks for a statement, but did not receive a response by the publication deadline.
championships will “a ect students, alumni, sta , recruitment, institutional reputation, global partnerships, and the student experience at SFU.” They continued, “SFU has created a rare environment where Canadians and international students can access elite sports competition while obtaining a Canadian degree. That is something worth preserving.” This change will also a ect scholarships for some, as SFU will determine their athlete scholarship budget on a departmental basis.
Some users on r/simonfraser echoed the letter’s sentiment. u/Be Bezos shared, “NCAA inclusion was one of the only things SFU had going for it.” Others had more mixed opinions. u/canadahuntsYOU shared, “Makes sense, unfortunately. De nitely shit news for the NCAA students but constant cross-border travel and fees associated with that is an obvious choice for slashing. At least now we’ll see SFU regularly play UBC again?”
SFU will continue to compete in the NCAA championships for the 2026/27 academic year before leaving the competition. Prior to this withdrawal, SFU was Canada’s only NCAA university in an otherwise American program.
According to SFU’s media release, SFU believes that their admission into Canada West will “ensure long-term sustainability of varsity sport.” The university also believes that “competing against local Canadian universities will enhance
natural rivalries and the fan experience on campus for all SFU students, leading to a deeper sense of SFU community.”
The move to U SPORTS means policy for trans athletes will change. As of 2025, the NCAA banned trans women from competing in women’s sports, but allowed them to practice within NCAA teams. Under U SPORTS, trans athletes may practice and compete on the team that aligns with their gender. However, this doesn’t guarantee trans inclusivity for athletes. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s letter stated, “Transgender women are barred from participating in female competitions in Alberta. Teams in Canada West routinely compete against institutions located in Alberta.” Overall, the change means that Canadian trans athletes will lose the option to compete in the widely acclaimed NCAA.
As reported by SFU News, Canada West president Ben Matchett stated, “We are pleased to welcome SFU back into the fold. We were impressed by the commitment of SFU’s institutional and athletic leadership to this process, and we look forward to working with them on the transition process as we prepare for the Red Leafs to join competition in the fall of 2027.”
The Peak reached out to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, however did not get a response by the publication deadline.
ILLUSTRATION
IMAGE X / CANADA WEST
Low income transit pass moved by councillor Sean Orr
Despite demand for the low income transit pass, there are financial concerns
MAYA BARILLAS MOHAN STAFF WRITER
On June 3, councillor Sean Orr of the Coalition of Progressive Electors introduced a motion to create a low income transit pass to assist “those earning less than $40,000 a year” in Metro Vancouver, as stated in the motion. As a result, the City will engage in conversation with TransLink to gure out the feasibility of the pass. Additionally, the City and TransLink will lobby for funding from the provincial government. The Peak reached out to Orr to learn more.
Orr shared that the $40,000 gure came up repeatedly in his research. In Vancouver, “the median individual income is $46,000. So that’s why I choose it, because it’s the median: not the average, but the median,” said Orr. The median gure means half Vancouverites earn less than $46,000, while the other half earn more. In Vancouver, full-time hours at minimum wage comes in at less than $38,000 a year.
Orr said, although “a lot of people take transit already in Vancouver,” reducing transit prices forms a positive dual impact: it gives people more choice in how they commute, and it has environmental bene ts. “Anytime we can get people out of cars and onto transit, it’s good for the climate,” he said.
Expanding public safety to include gender-based violence
during FIFA
Two local organizations partner to provide resources
LUCAIAH SMITH - MIODOWNIK NEWS WRITER
Across Turtle Island (North America), the FIFA World Cup is well underway. While host cities have prepared for this major event by increasing police presence, two local groups are leading the e ort to expand community-based safety services during Vancouver’s football fever. Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) “provides support and advocacy for women who have experienced abuse, as well as community education and training about violence against women” and Good Night Out Vancouver focuses on “building community capacity to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual assault in all sectors, with a focus on hospitality, music, arts, and nightlife.” Together, the organizations are working to prevent genderbased violence during the FIFA World Cup in Vancouver.
In a public service announcement released on June 8, both organizations asked: “What would it look like if safer streets, safer nightlife, and safer homes were all part of the same public safety conversation?” While the City of Vancouver directs focus towards a myriad of safety issues ranging from riots to terrorism threats, BWSS and Good Night Out are taking action to prevent vulnerable populations from falling through the cracks.
In an e ort to support, the City informed The Peak, the Vancouver host committee has allocated funding to Good Night Out, as well as other organizations working to end gender-based violence.
Posters organized by Movement YVR around the city advertise petitions for the low income transit pass. According to their website, they are an advocacy group focused on unifying transit riders’ voices to “advocate for better, more equitable transit across Metro Vancouver.” The group is petitioning for the low income transit pass to be implemented before TransLink’s next fare increase. They state, “No one should be denied transit because they can’t a ord it.”
Transit fare increased 4% in 2025, and will experience another increase as of July 1. The Peak reached out to TransLink directly for a statement. They shared, “Transit fares will increase [ . . . ] on July 1 to help expand transit services throughout Metro Vancouver,” like bus service, new routes, and infrastructure. The increase will “help our revenues catch up, after fare increases were capped under the rate of in ation for ve years.”
The company has faced nancial challenges in previous years, due to issues in their nancial structure. The company announced a $72 million de cit in their 2025 budget. As reported by Vancouver Sun, they warned that bus services
would experience a “50% reduction in bus service and 30% cut in SkyTrain and West Coast Express service” without emergency government funding. Ultimately, in May 2026, the federal government gave TransLink $1.5 billion for 10 years of operations and developments.
Despite these challenges, Orr’s motion states, “A ordable transportation is linked to better social well-being and health outcomes.” Currently, transportation costs are rising and reduced fares are only available for some: people with disabilities or seniors aged 65 and older.
“The fact we don’t have a low-income transit pass, and cities like Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, New York, LA, Denver, and the list goes on,” Orr shared. “It’s something we absolutely need to be on par with those cities about.
“We can have it so that people aren’t choosing groceries over taking transit or they’re not missing job interviews or missing hospital visits with loved ones because they can’t a ord transit. So, I really think it’s just a matter of political will and really committing to a ordability across this province.”
As part of its increased service, the BWSS shared they “will temporarily expand its specialized crisis-line services to 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the six-week tournament period” to support those in need, at home or elsewhere. The crisis line will provide reliable “access to information, emotional support, safety planning, risk assessment, crisis intervention, and referrals” for survivors.
Additionally, the BWSS will hand out “FIFA Safety [Cards], a practical resource designed to increase awareness of available supports and provide accessible safety information to individuals who may be experiencing violence, coercive control, stalking, harassment, or other forms of abuse.”
To strengthen public-facing support, Good Night Out, “will have extra outreach teams in the downtown core” throughout June and July. These teams, dressed in peach shirts, are designed to create safer environments for “women, marginalized genders, and anyone feeling like they need support.” The announcement shared that Good Night Out teams will be working “directly within nightlife and hospitality settings” to help create atmospheres of safety. Good Night Out is explicit in that their services will be for “anyone in the public realm, including patrons, workers and people sheltering in the street.”
Regardless of whether it’s the heart of downtown or behind closed doors, the two groups are striving to help create a safe environment for all.
The groups note that “for many survivors, the risks associated
with major sporting events are not experienced in stadiums. They are experienced at home.” Studies suggest that there is “a strong correlation between major sporting events and domestic violence.” Both organizations noted that while “sport does not cause violence against women [ . . . ] periods associated with heightened emotional intensity, alcohol consumption, gambling stress, nightlife activity, and social gatherings can intensify existing patterns of coercive control and abuse.”
A look into Vancouver’s past sporting events illuminates such risks. As reported by City News, BWSS executive director Angela Marie MacDougall explained that during the 2010 Olympic games, the organization received more calls for support.
BWSS and Good Night Out are collectively pushing “for gender safety and violence prevention to be recognized as essential components of public safety planning during major international events.”
As part of this initiative, BWSS also released a short lm titled The Space Between, which chronicles the “coercive control and the realities many survivors experience” hidden from the public eye. In the video, they share, “Not all abuse is visible. Too often it is downplayed. Coercive control is abuse. Safety changes everything.”
PHOTO J.J. JANG / THE PEAK
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOD NIGHT OUT VANCOUVER
Workers should have the right to strike
Changes to Canada’s labour code could impact who is allowed to strike
MAYA BARILLAS MOHAN STAFF WRITER
Striking is an important part of negotiating fairer labour conditions. But for essential workers, striking is not an option as they provide a service that’s required by the public to keep those services accessible to the public. Canada’s labour code covers a wide range of areas including collective bargaining and some private workplaces that are federally regulated, like postal workers and ight attendants for airlines. Yet, recent consultations could recon gure what an essential worker is thereby removing the right to strike for more workers. For others, the minister of labour can invoke section 107 of the code to end strikes, forcing people back to work. The right to strike is crucial for a democratic and just society.
The labour program underwent a month-long consultation starting April 17. These consultations were with labour unions, employers, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, and others. This code a ects people in a union working in federally regulated private-sector companies like airlines and crown corporations: as of 2024, this was 1,060,000 employees, according to the federal government. The goal was to “strengthen labour relations” to protect and support workers. However, many of the agenda items open for feedback like who is an essential worker and when can the government stop a strike, make me question this goal. Strikes are a key negotiation tactic for unions as they disrupt an employer’s
OPINIONS
ability to extract pro t from their employees’ labour. If the government expands on who an essential worker is, especially around trade infrastructure like port and airline workers, then those people lose their right to strike. Governments should not be in the business of removing workers’ rights.
When the government changes who is an essential worker, preventing them from striking, whose rights are being protected?
Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code is also up for review. This section has been used by the minister of labour to interject in labour disputes by directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order strikers to go back to work. Since 2024, the Liberal party has used it at least eight times. It’s undemocratic as it overrides the voice of union members; without the ability to withhold labour, the employer still sets
FIFA’s corruption makes World Cup viewership ethically problematic
Our support funds FIFA and its quest to corrupt the beautiful game with its awful politics
JONAH LAZAR STAFF WRITER
Content warning: brief mention of genocide.
One of my earliest memories is my dad standing a foot away from the TV, yelling at Arjen Robben for having missed an open net in the 2010 World Cup Final. In 2014, I watched nearly every game of the tournament in the basement with my older brother, watching in horror as England crashed out in the group stage, and then going to the park and trying to recreate some of the iconic goals from the tournament. As I grew older, I became more aware of FIFA’s unethical apathy in selecting who hosts the World Cup. The 2018 World Cup in Russia was marred by the 21 preventable worker deaths and the nation’s anti-LGBTQIA+ policies. In 2022, Qatar admitted that 400–500 migrant workers died while working on World Cup related construction. Russia’s anti-LGBTQIA+ policies were echoed in Qatar which criminalizes homosexuality with nes, prison time, and even execution. Many queer fans skipped the tournament, fearing prison or abuse if they were to attend. The history of human rights abuses had been present long before these countries were selected as hosts for the games.
FIFA’s history of corruption and sportswashing, by using fan’s love of the game to wash over host country’s human rights abuses, is a tragedy for the sport of soccer. It has a monopoly on the world’s most popular sport, funding the national federations and setting codes of conduct for leagues all the way down to players. FIFA has taken the love of soccer that so many people share, and turned it into complicity for its harmful political agenda.
This year, FIFA has yet again been under scrutiny; the US’ attacks on Iran have been central to the backlash, especially
considering that the newly-minted FIFA Peace Prize was awarded to Donald Trump last year. The Palestinian Football Association demanded that Israel’s football association be banned from competing over the genocide in Gaza, for the murder of athletes. However, FIFA’s toothless sanctions on Israel amounted to just 150,000 Swiss francs (around $260,000 CAD) and permitted them to play in the qualifying process, which they lost.
all the terms. Last August, Air Canada employees went on strike to demand ground pay surrounding ights, and percentage increases in pay correlating to years of loyalty with the company. But less than 12 hours later, the minister used section 107 to try and force them back to work. The ight attendants de ed it and secured an agreement a few days later. After this, the Canadian Union of Public Employees led a court challenge about the constitutionality of the minister’s power, as they argued it violates their right to strike. Additionally, the New Democratic Party introduced a bill to remove the section from the labour code, which will be debated this fall. If successful, the government cannot force workers back to work and strikes will remain a powerful bargaining tool.
Students should care about changes to labour legislation. We all have the right to assemble, make decisions democratically, and collectively bargain to improve our working conditions. These changes could impact our friends, family, community members, and even ourselves so we should still advocate for fairness. When the government changes who is an essential worker, preventing them from striking, whose rights are being protected? When governments interfere in collective bargaining to force you back to work, then your right to strike is not real.
This year, FIFA has yet again been under scrutiny; the US’ attacks on Iran have been central to the backlash, especially considering that the newly-minted FIFA Peace Prize was awarded to Donald Trump last year.
Once every four years, this tournament feels like the centre of the universe for some, drawing attention to some incredible human stories of achievement. World Cup debutants Cape Verde held Spain to a 0-0 draw and Curaçao scored their rstever World Cup goal against Germany, prompting celebrations
across the nation. These moments have been orchestrated by players who have worked tirelessly to achieve their dreams of playing on the biggest stage, and have been watched by, quite literally, billions of people around the world. Yet, the enjoyment of watching our countries take on one another in a global celebration, invariably results in support for FIFA due to its monopoly. Whether it’s via streaming through a platform paying FIFA for television rights, buying stadium tickets, or even by consuming advertising at the free fan festivals, our turnout funds their politics.
For those of us who have grown up with soccer balls at our feet and jerseys on our backs, FIFA’s continual decision to turn our collective love for soccer to sportswash the host country’s history and actions is deeply saddening. Soccer fans deserve to be able to enjoy watching our beloved sport without having to wrestle with the morality behind our passion. Maybe it’s time for a new organization.
ILLUSTRATION: JACKIE PENG / THE PEAK
ILLUSTRATION: VICTORIA LO / THE PEAK
D ! . AMYN SAJOO SFYOU:
The SFU scholar on the importance of Islamic studies and his academic journey
ZAINAB SALAM · EDITOR - IN - CHIEF WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PETRA CHASE · FEATURES EDITOR
If you’re studying political science, international studies, or history at SFU, you’re likely to have had the pleasure of encountering this remarkable professor. Having taken a course previously instructed by him (IS 302: Humanitarian Intervention), I conducted a video interview with Dr. Amyn Sajoo last fall.
“It’s certainly been a very long journey,” Sajoo recounted during our chat, smiling. “I’ve been very fortunate.” The SFU lecturer and scholar-in-residence was referencing his over four decades of contributions to diverse disciplines. With a focus on human rights, he’s helped facilitate countless dialogues on an array of topics, including diversity and belonging. He’s also written and edited volumes of literary works, imprinting a mark on the academic memory.
Sajoo received his doctorate in international human rights at McGill University in 1986. Then, one winter in the early ‘90s, a turning point in his scholarly journey happened. He had been acting as a policy advisor in applied human rights at the Canadian Human Rights Commission in Ottawa. “Out of the blue, I won this competition to accept a fellowship in Southeast Asia,” he recalled, with gratitude. It was through this opportunity at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore that he was sent to do two years of field work in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The result was his foundational book, Pluralismin “OldSocietiesandNewStates:”EmergingASEANContexts,published in 1994.
Continuing his research focus on civil society — how people govern themselves and approach society, from non-government organizations to grassroots organizers to individual people — Sajoo was called to London. As a visiting scholar at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, he refined his focus, melding thoughts with other scholars on Muslim ethics and traditions.
These experiences helped him realize that “the secular approach to human rights in the West is not the only approach,” he explained. “It required me to take all my human rights background, and now apply it specifically to how Muslims were governed, and how they had their everyday existence — when you took Islamic thought, Islamic practice, and then the politics in its interplay.”
At SFU, Sajoo continues to bridge worlds. Between ethics and law, his lectures are committed to connecting scholarship with public discourse. In making complex ideas accessible to wider audiences, he demonstrates that research is not confined to academic spaces, but is deeply intertwined with lived experiences.
INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPERATIVE
Islamic studies involves theology, history, philosophy, literature, and political social sciences — all through the lens of Islam and its influences. For Sajoo, it is not a single academic discipline. “There’s no other way of looking at Islamic studies,” he said. “It is intersectional, interdisciplinary, and can’t be reduced to a single department where it’s put into a warehouse.” The key, he explained, is context: the issues being addressed shape which disciplines are brought together.
Islamic studies faces structural challenges in universities. Sajoo pointed to the rigid departmental division that defines academic life. Through the declaration of a major, people are “put into a particular disciplinary area. And this narrows the approach,” he said. Because of this, multifaceted topics in universities like refugee crises or climate change, issues that are very important to what is referred to as the Muslim world, have “very weak means of pulling in Islamic studies at large and bringing that into play.”
He continued, “We haven’t got the intellectual courage or the imagination to say, ‘Interfaith dialogue is a very exciting field to get into, even for universities. And it’s not just some pious thing that should happen in a church, or a mosque, or a temple.’” Sajoo believes it’s important to separate religion from state, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the influence of religion on politics and identity.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DIALOGUE
For Sajoo, the idea is clear: dialogue is not just a moral imperative, but an intellectual one. Engaging multiple perspectives — sectarian, national, and disciplinary — enriches all approaches to Islamic knowledge. After speaking fondly about intercultural exchange, he expressed excitement about how the digital age helps facilitate global dialogues.
At SFU, the Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies promotes scholarship in Islamic studies. Sajoo has been “hosting a conversation series to do with citizenship and identity” with them since 2018. One conversation he highlighted was with Dr. Wenona Hall, last year. Hall is Stó:lō from the Sq’ewqeyl First Nation and SFU’s chair of Indigenous studies. Sajoo spoke of the new terrain Muslims face as settlers on unceded land, as they “now have a relationship with Indigenous Peoples who feel very deeply connected to us on matters like Palestine, minority rights, gender equity.” He noted, “I think our dialogue with Indigenous Peoples [ . . ] is another thrilling thing to get into as a diaspora citizen.”
For Sajoo, Islamic studies must engage with lived experience. Turath (an Arabic word that means tradition) is dynamic, not static, and human beings navigate religion, ethics, politics, and all other facets of daily life in an intertwined reality. The idea of stewardship, which is present in many religions including Islam, is also crucial to the approach to human rights. It is the idea that “you are accountable, in a very deep way, for leaving the earth a better place than when you came,” he said.
RETHINKING HISTORICAL NARRATIVES
History provides remarkable feats of humanity, according to Sajoo. Upon insistence from me, (“It’s like asking a dad to choose his favourite child!” he protested) I had been successful at extracting some of Sajoo’s notable pages of history.
“To me, perhaps the most exciting era would be the 10th and 11th centuries in Cairo. When the Fatimids came from the Western part of North Africa [now Tunisia], they founded the city of Cairo,” he said. Cairo and Baghdad during this period became hubs for Islamic intercultural exchange and dialogue, where academics, artists, and even mental health doctors (the first psychiatric ward in the world) flourished.
Perhaps my favourite reference is to the Islamic Translation Movement which occurred in the 8th and 9th centuries. The movement set out to translate works from all the regions that Muslims, and those living in what was referred to as the Islamic world, had interacted with at that point. This initiative had proved to be incredibly valuable both within its temporal context, and to later generations; it led to preservation of various ancient texts and even helped activate the Renaissance period.
Sajoo is a careful communicator and he places an emphasis on the use of terminology. In our conversation, he expands on his critique of Samuel Huntington’s 1996 book TheClashofCivilizationsandRemakingofWorldOrder,emphasizing the dangers of reductionism — oversimplifying complex concepts — and determinism — the assumption of the existence of a causal relationship between one phenomena and another. He communicates that Huntington’s framework, which predicts inevitable clashes between a limited number of civilizations, oversimplifies complex histories and denies human agency.
He stressed that societies should be understood in a plural and dynamic manner — as collections of interacting cultures rather than isolated, static entities. This perspective is essential in contemporary discussions of identity and citizenship.
LITERATURE AS A LENS TO TRUTH
Sajoo also highlighted fiction as a vehicle for understanding human experience. While teaching in SFU’s liberal arts outreach program, he helped explore works ranging from South African apartheid, with André Brink’s ADryWhiteSeason to Kazuo Ishiguro’s KlaraandtheSun “Fiction contains a lot more truth sometimes than non-fiction does,” he explained. “It may not be about facts, but it’s about truth.”
He posits the importance of diaspora literature to hold particular significance, o ering insights into identity, belonging, and historical memory. Through literature, ethical and cultural questions come to life in ways traditional scholarship, alone, cannot achieve. The way Islamic history is often viewed through the lens of battles and sultans, or empires and elites, he highlighted, can be “reductive” as it overlooks the lives of everyday people.
PERSONAL PASSIONS
Beyond scholarship, Sajoo maintains deep personal interests, notably in literature and chess. Despite the rare spare time, he finds solace and intellectual stimulation in these activities. Chess, in particular, is a meaningful practice. He notes the Persian and Indian roots of the game. He argues that the game mirrors broader patterns of human ingenuity and creativity that was preserved through time.
Sajoo also remarked on the “role of art” in our human existence. “Art is a very powerful place. People let down their guard a little bit and are willing to dialogue a lot more when you share with them the beauty of art.” He includes various mediums of art, such as the visual mediums and poetics. “It breaks the barriers between people. There is a shared appreciation of the aesthetics.” He encourages exploring the Gibson Art Museum at SFU on The Mountain of Lhuḵw’lhuḵw’áyten (Burnaby Mountain) campus.
A subject of interest for Sajoo is the intersection of environmental ethics and Islamic heritage. “Climate change is such a big issue,” he noted. Sajoo hosted professor Peter Dauvergne from UBC for an interview, in 2018, where they discussed Dauvergne’s book: EnvironmentalismoftheRich
Sajoo is an encyclopedia. You can browse his extensive catalogue in the SFU library. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to witness him as a lecturer you can do so by watching his highly informative lecture on Populism,Citizenship,andReligion on Vimeo.
Mi’gmaq dancer Cheyenne Seary explores her artistic vision
Seary’s performance centers motherhood and community
NEJDANA HOUSHYAR PEAK ASSOCIATE
On June 5 and 7, Mi’gmaq dance artist Cheyenne Seary debuted her latest piece, “Casseiopia,” with the All Bodies Dance Project at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts at the SFU School for Contemporary Arts. The piece explores themes of love, aging, and grief. It follows a young mother navigating the trials of motherhood while following a community mourning two lost children. “Casseiopia” speaks from experience — a harrowing yet beautiful work that encapsulates Seary’s personal life. The Peak reached out to Seary to learn more about her life, her work, and the symbolism behind “Casseiopia.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and concision.
What made you want to become an artist and choreographer?
I have always enjoyed the arts, but for many years I never considered myself an artist. I believed that artists were people with exceptional talent, while I simply enjoyed being creative. Over time, I have come to realize that art is about expression, connection, and community.
My journey as an artist began 11 years ago when I joined my rst All Bodies Dance Project class. Being part of a community of engaged dancers has helped me embrace my identity as an artist. I saw that being an artist is less about performing perfectly and more about being open, authentic, and willing to create with others. Through movement, collaborative choreography, and celebrating our di erences, I also discovered that dance can look many ways and that every person’s story has value.
ARTS & CULTURE
As an early childhood educator, I am inspired by the quote, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Children creating, exploring, and expressing themselves without fear has in uenced the way I approach my own creative practice.
Why did you choose to call the piece “Casseiopia,” and how does the symbolism of a strong mother gure re ect your art?
In December 2024, All Bodies Dance Project presented Constellations the Roundhouse. For this production, I created a piece called “Casseiopia,” inspired by the constellation of the same name. I was drawn to her image because it re ected both the strength and vulnerability I associate with motherhood.
Cassiopeia explores the struggles, resilience, and joy of being a mother. The choreography began to take shape during 2020, when I was a new mom navigating the uncertainty, isolation, and grief of the pandemic, while also discovering the deep love and connection that comes with caring for a new baby.
For me, the piece is not only about motherhood, but also about the power of community, creativity, and collective care.
Nine minutes to celebrate a Canadian soccer star’s
inspiring life
Kind of a Big Deal explores Sinclair’s personal and professional journey to the top of the game
TOMOS LAND STAFF WRITER
Kind of a Big Deal, a short animated documentary recently released by the Knowledge Network, provides a brief but compelling overview of national Olympic champion Christine Sinclair’s soccer career. Directed by Eoin Du y and voiced by Ryan Reynolds, it explores the trials and tribulations of Sinclair’s journey from grassroots football to the top step of the Olympic podium. Touching on several key themes, including family, leadership, and gender pay disparity in professional sports, the documentary is both funny and thoughtful, helped by Sinclair’s insightful, albeit at times reluctant, commentary throughout.
From start to nish, Sinclair’s goalscoring record provides the backdrop for the documentary. With 190 goals scored for Team Canada, the Burnaby-born legend sits at the top of the leaderboard for most international goals ever scored. Sandwiched between animated clips of her rst international goal scored against Norway and her nal strike versus Trinidad and Tobago, the documentary masterfully weaves Sinclair’s personal and professional journey into one bite-sized story.
During her illustrious career, Sinclair was made captain of the Canadian women’s soccer team a role that she admits was at the beginning daunting. “For the longest time at the national team, I felt like I was such a failure as a leader, because I thought I had to become something that I wasn’t,” Sinclair said in the lm. However, after accepting that while her approach di ered from other leaders — who Sinclair noted are often louder — her approach to leadership was still e ective and she and her team soared, both nationally and internationally. At the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo, under her leadership,
Canada beat Sweden on penalties to win the nation’s rst ever gold medal in soccer.
Despite this success, the men’s national team were still earning more than their Olympic gold winning women counterparts. After tirelessly working to change this situation, Sinclair and her teammates prevailed, with a collective bargaining agreement securing a short-term equal pay reached earlier this year. As captain and a national icon, Sinclair was instrumental in this victory for her and her teammates, underlining her leadership qualities both on and o the eld.
It re ects my belief that dance can create spaces where our stories are witnessed, our challenges are honoured, and our shared humanity is celebrated.
Your piece also touches on a community’s mourning of two lost children. How does the contrast between birth and loss shape the meaning of your work?
The big, child-sized red chairs at the beginning of “Casseiopia” symbolize a connection I had with a young boy who lived where I grew up. One day, he saw me outside holding and rocking my baby. He found a small chair and a toy baby, sat beside me, and mirrored what I was doing. That memory stayed with me deeply, especially because he passed away only a few months later.
In the dance piece, the big red chair becomes a memory chair, carrying the presence of those we have lost. Each chair represents a member of the community supporting another. Together, they are like a sacred re, one that is lit when someone from my mother’s community begins their journey to the ancestors.
Keep track of Seary’s future works through All Bodies Dance Project’s Instagram account @allbodiesdance.
For the longest time at the national team, I felt like I was such a failure as a leader, because I thought I had to become something that I wasn’t.
to
Subtle references are
with
during the documentary. Animated clips of Sandra Sinclair, or “mom,” are interspersed
throughout the animation and her presence as a key gure in her daughter’s story is frequently alluded to. A segment shows a young Christine playing football in the park with her mom, and another reveals a picture of the pair in Christine’s locker during the 2011 World Cup. A nal sequence depicts the pair holding hands together in hospital, with the closing credits touching on Sinclair’s work now as a champion of multiple sclerosis research.
Overall, this short animated documentary is a brilliant synopsis of one of Canada’s sporting greats. The extraordinary directing skills of Du y are on display throughout, while Reynold’s narration balances lightheartedness with sincerity from start to nish. Neither, however, take the attention away from the unassuming Sinclair, who tells her story brilliantly. This is well worth a watch with the FIFA World Cup currently in town.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CARLA ALCANTARA
made
Sinclair’s mother and her battle
multiple sclerosis
IMAGE COURTESY OF KNOWLEDGE NETWORK / YOUTUBE
CHRISTINE SINCLAIR IN KIND OF A BIG DEAL
Soccer is the game of life: Carling Jackson’s “Uprooted to Unstoppable”
This Vancouver-based sports artist reflects on unity, refugeehood, and soccer
JONAH LAZAR STAFF WRITER
In light of the rst days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup getting underway, and to celebrate World Football (Soccer) Day, the O ce of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), unveiled a mural celebrating soccer players who came from backgrounds of displacement caused by con icts and disasters around the world. The mural “Uprooted to Unstoppable,” was painted by Canadian artist and former soccer player Carling Jackson. The Peak spoke with Jackson to learn more about this mural.
This interview has been edited for clarity and concision. Please can you tell us about your mural “Uprooted to Unstoppable?”
It’s a piece highlighting the identities and journeys of 11 international soccer players, seven of whom are playing in this year’s world cup. All of them come from forcibly displaced backgrounds; they were forced to ee due to con ict, civil war, climate change, disaster, or persecution, or their families were. A good number of them grew up in refugee camps, and that’s where their journeys started with the beautiful game.
This mural spotlights the children that all these players used to be. What capacity does football have in creating hope for children?
In creating hope, soccer is a great equalizer. On the eld it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic standing is. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or you’re poor, if you’re Black or you’re
ARTS & CULTURE
white. My best friend growing up was a refugee from the Congo, and all we did together was play soccer. We didn’t even speak the same language, but we both spoke soccer and that’s how we communicated. All you need is two pairs of socks rolled up in the ball, you can play on the beach, the grass, cement [ . . . ] it’s so popular for its universality.
No other sport has the capacity to unite people in this way, and soccer has the most powerful ability of anything in the world to bring people together.
Canada’s captain, Alphonso Davies, stands out as the UNHCR’s symbolic gamechangers captain, and features prominently in your mural. How important do you see him as being an inspiration and a role model for Canadians?
A shared self in Simorgh: a self-portrait
SFU graduate students reimagine a historic Persian poem at the Audain Gallery
JONAH
LAZAR STAFF WRITER
The art exhibit Simorgh: a self-portrait is currently on display at the Audain Gallery at SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts. This exhibit is a collaborative work done by SFU graduate students Wyldie Bracewell, Alex Calcagno, Carlo Marchet, Chris Outten, and Taha Saraei, as well as SFU faculty Andrew Curtis. Simorgh: a self-portrait is a modern reimagining of The Conference of the Birds, a poem written by 12th century Persian poet Farid ud-Din Attar (also spelt Farid Al-Din Attar).
This poem sees all the world’s birds undertake a long and arduous journey in search of the truth. Prompted by their elected wise leader, Hoopoe, the birds travel across seven valleys looking for a Messianic bird by the name of Simorgh, capable of accessing and speaking to the divine. During this journey, the birds in their masses quit, die, or settle down elsewhere to the point where just 30 continue to the nal valley, where they ultimately realize that Simorgh is nothing more than a shared self constructed by the unity of those who completed the journey.
The arts exhibition, Simorgh, does a good job of capturing this search for meaning and collective identity that Attar’s birds sought after. The pieces displayed in this gallery are crafted with a variety of media, including poems, sculptures, photographs, paintings, and video elements. Upon entry to the exhibition, Saraei’s photographic exhibit, Stilled, immediately caught my eye. This large artwork is a mural showing a collection of crumpled-up paper, tissues, soda cans, and leftover food scraps arranged to appear like renaissance-era oil
paintings of fruit. This piece captured my attention due to the oxymoronic nature of having essentially garbage photographed in such a beautiful, carefully constructed way.
A visit to this exhibition promises to make you ponder the power of community and collaboration.
However, the piece which I found the most compelling in this exhibition was a piece constructed by Marchet and Sarei, titled “Self Delay.” This piece featured two television screens mounted with cameras stationed on opposite sides of the gallery, facing one another. The TVs displayed a live feed emanating from the cameras opposite them, which gave the illusion of two mirrors facing one another, heightened by the mirror frames around the televisions. The cameras being routed to the “mirror” opposite meant that when I stepped between the two “mirrors,” all I could see was my back, and as I walked towards either mirror, all I could see was myself getting further and further away. While spinning around trying to see myself in the re ection, I pondered
He was born in a refugee camp in Ghana and then his family ed the Liberian civil war, before his family resettled in Edmonton, and then he came to Vancouver to try out as a prospect for the Whitecaps. I think he’s important because Canada resettles more refugees than any other country in the world. Davies highlights what is possible when people are given freedom, safety, and opportunity beyond survival. I think Davies is just a beacon of what Canada and humanity should stand for, and what’s possible when we support one another.
Something that’s been bothering me is this very individualistic mindset; people equate worth with nationality. Every single one of us should want every single person on earth to have freedom of opportunity and safety. We see a lot of anti-refugee sentiment and it frustrates the hell out of me.
Do you think football has the capacity to repair some of this divide?
Something cool that I’ve noticed about this World Cup is that it has been highlighting minority populations, and bringing everyone together; look at the attention that Cabo Verde and Curaçao are receiving. No other sport has the capacity to unite people in this way, and soccer has a powerful ability to bring people together.
the themes of the valley of knowledge in The Conference of the Birds, where the more the birds search for wisdom and truth, the further they end up from it.
As much as Simorgh’s individual parts were entertaining pieces, I found that they were far stronger as a whole, succinctly capturing the underlying messages of the collective self and resilience that Attar conveyed through his 30 birds over 800 years ago. A visit to this exhibition promises to make you ponder the power of community and collaboration, not only through the connectivity of the artwork, but also from the collaboration between the artists themselves.
Simorgh: a self portrait will be displayed at the Audain Gallery until July 18, be sure to drop by next time you’re downtown for a thoughtful moment of re ection.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACLYN LICHT
PHOTO: JONAH LAZAR / THE PEAK
In defense of the misunderstood, overly-hated, and elegantly useful comma
Dear TA,
I am writing to you in response to my recent feedback, though I am also speaking in defense of myself, and other like-minded students, to advocate for elongated sentences which exceed traditional boundaries of a single idea, because that’s how revolutionary some of my thoughts truly are. My long sentences are not a lack of respect for convention, but rather proof of an artistic and stylistic identity I seek to develop through my early academic career, as I hope to pilot a new style of fuid, poetically-oriented prose.
Further, in effort to respond to the assigned essay prompt as accurately, closely, and personally as possible, my ideas cohere so tightly it would be impossible, no, inhumane, to split them into smaller units, units that disrupt the fow of my words. I express gratitude and admiration for the contents of these assignments with a series of well-ordered ideas, represented as unbridled interest. Now, this style is not the resulting lack of inhibition necessary for enthusiastic writing; it is, instead, such a profound respect for the content I become inspired to intertwine multiple ideas into single sentences. By fourishing my sentences with an abundance of commas, I mimic the tone of a speech regaled to an adoring audience. Very unfortunate that as a TA, you are not a supportive member in the audience of those lucky enough to read my fuid, evocative, and articulate, prose.
If you require my sentences to be parceled out into more palatable units, I wish to ask a question, not to condescend, but to understand the value of your supposed, extremely real, academic credentials. If you require a sentence to contain one measly independent clause, then what is the point of doing, like, a billion years of school if you need information made “accessible?” Do you thumb through classic philosophy with a quizzical look painted upon your face, brow furrowed in contempt, red pen gleaming with ink to be peppered on the page in the shape of carrots and periods, to the ultimate conclusion of, “Wow, I wish this was easier to read?” You don’t, because then it wouldn’t be rewarding. My writing is ultimately, ineffaceably, and undeniably rewarding. I may be a mere undergraduate student, but I have lofty aspirations to be one of the literary greats, so I may as well start writing at the speed my brain generates ideas at, NOW.
I simply see no virtue in short sentences. Unfortunately, my recent “see me! C-” suggests this is a site of contention between you and I, and I possess no more rhetorical will to advocate for fve-comma sentences.
I will take this to the dean, her wise ways, and end this unfair, unjust treatment.
Sincerely,
A student with much to say (Maya Barillas Mohan • Staff Writer) Send >
I want to kick the Science World soccer ball
Collective action can change the future!
MASON MATTU HUMOUR EDITOR
“The next station is: Main Street-Science World. Doors will open on the right,” the SkyTrain’s voice-from-above announced as I rose from my seat. As I slid the strap of my tote bag onto my right shoulder, I saw it. Not the dude I saw last week who put his raggedy feet on top of the seat right beside me for some reason. It was something way scarier . . . . . . the frickin’ soccer ball that’s perched upon Science
World right now for the FIFA World Cup. It glares at me — no, taunts me — as I pass by on my way to school. Every. Single. Day. It’s not just your average soccer ball. It supports an organization that has literally led to the further marginalization of Vancouver’s most vulnerable communities. It’s a beacon for the ultra-wealthy. It’s also ugly as fuck. Not to mention the free clout it’s giving Adidas and FIFA (who literally never even asked for their logos to be up there).
When I see this ball, I think to myself: what did Mayor Ken Sim think when allocating funding towards this fugly-ass piece of art? Is it solving the cost of housing? Or promoting the work of local artists? Or how about more pressing concerns — such as the mayor’s receding hairline? What?! It doesn’t? THEN WHY WOULD WE PAY FOR IT?
I’ve even tried my best to !nd out how much the soccer ball installation costs so I could pay the city MORE to take it down. I would even give up my !rst born child so I don’t have to be bothered by this eyesore to humanity. However, the City kept on rejecting my freedom of information requests. Their loss, I guess.
Enough is enough. I can no longer stand being confronted by an ungodly combination of red, blue, and green. I can no longer stand idly by while tourists gawk at this pathetic excuse of a spherical shape. I have one thing to do — and one thing only.
I — no, we — have to kick the fucking soccer ball.
Yes, you read that correctly. Email a news tip to Global News, tell your neighbour’s dog, and bring everyone to Science World on June 20 as I lead an attempt to kick that ball. If Steven Guilbeault could scale the CN Tower in the name of climate justice, we can bring down the soccer ball as a signal to Ken Sim that enough is enough. That we want a city that works for us!
If I scale Science World and kick the ball on my lonesome, nothing would probably happen. I’d probably get a big owie on my toe. BUT if we all do it together, we could make a big dent in the soccer ball. Perhaps even send it ying over into the Paci!c Ocean. Please feel free to contact me for more information: onetiredvancouverite@gmail.com.
Editor’s note: Shortly after this piece was written, the author did indeed scale Science World and break his big toe from the kick. 10,000 people came to watch the kick, but did not participate. After seeing him fall down, they all proceeded to shrug and go back to watching the next World Cup game on their phones. The ball — and all that it represents — remains in place.
PHOTO ANTHONY MAW / UNSPLASH
A song of desperation set to “Homewrecker” by Sombr
“I don’t wanna be a benchwarmer!”
I sit on a very warm bench, That feeling is amplifed, By the pain of my team asking me for water to pass, (not a balllll)
The basketball coach is actually my dad, He just stares and looks at me, Says it’s very scary that I’m a Red Leaf. Oh daddddd.
Dad . . . COACH! SORRY . . . you have any plans for me?
‘Cause if not I’m gonna try out for ultimate frisbee, I wanna throw a basketball and be free. Don’t ask where I throw the b-ball, It’s defnitely where it’s meant to be, I’m a good player . . . I’m 6 ft!!
I don’t wanna sit on the sideline and play with a Transformer, I don’t wanna be a benchwarmer. I just know I can be better, be better, be better.
I don’t wanna trip over my own feet, I think it’s just the size of my cleats! Oh wait, wrong sport . . . I can still be better, be better.
My girlfriend’s only with me,
‘Cause I play for the SFU basketball team, Imagine the look on her face if she sees me in a tournie . . . oh nooo.
I’ve been too embarrassed for her to see, That I have a special jersey. That reads “WATER BOY” for all to see. OH DADDDD.
Do you have plans for me? If not I’m going to tell your wife (my mom) you won’t make me a nepo baby, Just let me play center, then you’ll see . . . oh, yeah.
With hope there is light, You give me a shot I won’t mistake the basketball for a strobe light, I’ll catch it with all my pride!!!
OOOOOOO . . .
I don’t wanna sit on the sideline and play basketball on iMessage with my brother, I don’t wanna be a benchwarmer.
I just know I can be better, be better, be better.
I don’t wanna create this big scene, But if you don’t, I’ll start a petition to the university Benchwarmers are meant to be temporary, temporaryyyyyyyy, temporaryyyyyyyyyyyyy.
A
student athlete with god-given diving capabilities
It’s harder than it looks, but they’re trying
- STUDENT ATHLETE INCOMING
Day 1
Dear Diary,
I’ve always wanted to try a sport where I could get over my fear of heights and gain some core strength. Skydiving was on my list, but I’m not sure it counts as a sport . . . because it’s not at the Olympics, and it’s usually advertised on tourist brochures at the airport as a sightseeing situation.
Day 2
Day 3
Dear Diary, I signed up for springboard diving lessons. So far so good . . . but I tried getting too fancy during the free jump at the end. Everybody else in my group just practiced “jumping like a pencil.” Not me — I’m afraid of pencils and scantrons after taking two summer semesters in a row.
Dear Diary,
The dive tank looks ridiculously inviting, but I’m learning the hard way that water hurts when you overrotate the hard way. Luckily, if you just smile really big when getting out of the pool, everyone assumes the CLAP of water surface tension breaking had nothing to do with me. It was applause!
Day 4
Dear Diary, I’m enjoying how niche this sport is because I TOTALLY sound like I know what I’m doing. Which I TOTALLY do. Know what I’m doing, that is. It takes me so long to trek up those wet stairs, and only a second to plummet down to water-level. If anyone sees me flop, at least it’s only a flash. Zero witnesses here. I’m starting to dread the sit-ups part of conditioning because my spine feels like it’s even closer to the surface of my skin than usual, but I’m pretty sure everyone thinks I’m all red from the sun!! No impact-redness here.
Day 5
Dear Diary,
I put “DIVING SFU” in my Instagram bio. SFU doesn’t have a diving team, but it’s a little sleight of hand to suggest I am part of something very, very special. It’s not stolen valour because I’ve invested so much time and even secured multiple accessories — including a participation award and a special quick dry towel. I guess it’s pretty awesome that I don’t need a swim cap or goggles. I AM the machine, baby!!!!!
Day 6
Dear Diary,
That 5 m diving platform feels like the CN Tower. Diving makes me look differently at all the skyrises populating the landscape on my commute to class. If I lived in one of those new Burquitlam condos, I’d probably be so bored of the view because I regularly reach such great heights at my local dive tank. My fear of heights totally dissolved, just like the huge splash pattern I used to make.
Day 7
ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak
Dear Diary, I wish there was an Olympics this year so I could chime in with my very executive two cents. Last summer, I was getting chip crumbs all over myself while critiquing an athlete’s form. To be honest, I will probably do that again this year, but with an insider understanding of how FRICKIN’ EASY it actually is. So easy that coach gave me the best rookie award. My own private Olympics is going to be cliff jumping this summer. Then, I’ll go to the actual one — wherever they hold them.
Mason Mattu • Humour Editor and resident nepo baby
