WHAT MAKES
A MAN?
NEWS
November 9, 2026
NEWS
It’s so fulfilling as a former actress to feel like I helped create a character that was meaningful to people. E M I LY PE R K I NS · ACTOR
NEWS
We think it’s vital that we do as much as we can to record and preserve as much of our history as we possibly can because no one else is going to do it. J O NATH AN NI E M CZAK · FO U N D E R O F CA N A D IA N P R ID E H ISTO R ICA L S O C IE T Y
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OPINIONS
Opinions Editor Maria Fernanda Osorio Arredondo · opinions@the-peak.ca
SPORTS & SCIENCE
November 9, 2026
THE SCIENCE BEHIND
JO N A H L AZA R STA FF WR I TER
THE SALMON RUN While fall tends to drum up images of birds migrating south for the winter, it is also a season of return for one of Northwest Turtle Island’s (California through Alaska) most important animals: salmon. The Pacific salmon run is one of the greatest migrations in the world, with five salmon species returning from the ocean and swimming upstream to their natal freshwaters from late summer to winter: Chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, and pink salmon. They reproduce and lay eggs in these safer, oxygen-rich environments to increase the probability of their offspring’s survival. The fast currents supply the eggs with oxygen, which they need for development, and the shallow gravel beds in which the eggs are laid protect them from potential predators. These salmon eggs hatch sometime between late winter and early spring, and the young fish make their way downstream to the ocean where they will benefit from the rich food supply to grow and mature into adults. It’s still scientifically debated as to how salmon manage to return to their birthplaces. Scientists have proposed that they likely rely on a combination of smell and detection of the earth’s magnetic field to find their way back home. The impact of this migration on the Pacific Northwest region is immense. The majority of salmon die after spawning because their energy reserves are depleted after the arduous migration and reproduction. The salmon run sees millions of fish who have loaded up on nutrients in the open ocean and swim deep into the forests of the area, leaving their nutrient-rich carcasses in the forest. These dying salmon are a crucial element of the ecosystem, feeding a plethora
of animals, such as wolves, coyotes, bears, and eagles. The decomposing carcasses are also an incredibly important fertilizer for the flora (plants that have come to naturally inhabit a region over time). These carcasses bring nutrients like nitrogen deep into the forests. Nitrogen makes up the proteins, chlorophyll (pigments), and DNA that support plant growth and maintain plant health. Salmon have such an effect on the area that a University of Victoria study found that some forests in the Northern Pacific region receive nearly 80% of their nitrogen from salmon. Despite how crucial salmon are for the region, their numbers have been sharply declining for some time due to climate change and habitat loss from colonial industrial activities, including mining, dam projects, and overfishing. 2025 saw an uncharacteristically strong sockeye run in the Fraser River made possible by efforts led by First Nations in collaboration with the government Despite this, two-thirds of the region’s salmon populations are in decline. This is having a negative effect on many Indigenous communities, who rely on salmon for food security and cultural ceremony. Scientists and conservationists are working hard to protect the salmon, yet with mixed results. In the US, hatcheries have been commonplace to try and make up for dams obstructing waterways, however many populations are still in decline. Northern Turtle Island’s (Canada’s) main conservation effort is through the federal Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, launched five years ago. The program funds habitat restoration, hatcheries, research, and enforcement against illegal fishing. It also aims to empower Indigenous and community
PHOTO: LINE KNIPST / PEXELS
groups to carry out many of the projects. Warming water is one of the main stressors affecting salmon spawning along the West Coast. Indigenous communities are planting trees near rivers to create cooler, shaded areas, demonstrating how Indigenous ways of knowing are crucial in restoring salmon habitats and populations. One way you can support Indigenous ways of knowing is by educating yourself. Check out sfu.ca/about/truth-reconciliation/ways-tolearn.html to learn more about how resources on upholding Indigenous ways of knowing and working towards reconciliation.
Mastering the Basics: Cricket Learn about bowlers, batters, and wickets Cricket is the second most popular sport played and viewed worldwide, with over a billion fans. It’s most popular in South Asia but has a large presence in the Caribbean, Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), the UK, and South Africa as well. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has 111 participating countries. The ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2026 final between India and New Zealand had over 600 million viewers. It’s far less popular in Turtle Island (North America), especially outside of diaspora communities. So what exactly is cricket, and how do you play? Cricket was played to represent and reinforce British culture in colonized regions, particularly the Indian subcontinent. During the struggle for independence, however, the game was also used as a symbol of resistance. Many colonized populations began reclaiming the game despite its exclusionary imperial legacy — traditionally nicknamed “the gentleman’s game.” Today, the far-reaching universality of cricket allows the sport to be used for unity, solidarity, and diplomacy. It’s played with a bat and ball, with the objective being to score the most runs. There are two teams of 11 players. The fielding team can have all 11 players on the field and can stand anywhere, as long as it’s not on the pitch. The batting team has two players on at a time. The field is usually shaped like an oval, with a patch of grass (the pitch) in the middle. The pitch has wickets at each end. Wickets consist of three stakes called stumps and two bars called bails. An inning, or full round of batting, involves bowlers from one team and two batters — a striking batter and a non-striking batter that are on either side of the pitch — from the opposing team. From the pitch, the bowler bowls
the ball to the other team’s batter. Each bowler only bowls the ball six times before being replaced, known as an over. After hitting the ball, the batters and non-batters run between the wickets at opposite ends of the pitch, switching places to score a point, known as a run. The goal is to run from one end of the field to the other as many times as possible before being out. An inning can also end after 10 wickets fall, whatever comes first. Batters can also score runs through hitting the ball down the ground to the boundary line which equates to four runs in addition to hitting the ball over the boundary line which counts for six runs. An out, also known as a wicket or dismissal, means the batters must leave the field. An inning ends when 10 (out of 11) batters are out. A common way to get out is for the wicket to be broken (the bails falling off), either by the bowler bowling or another player throwing the ball. Some forms of cricket have a specific number of overs — the most commonly played professional version is Twenty20 with a maximum of 20 overs per inning. Most forms have just one inning per team. Other forms include One-Day International with 50 overs and one inning, and Test with 2 innings each. Test Cricket has unlimited overs, with matches lasting up to five days! Despite its widespread popularity, cricket has not been in the Olympics since 1900. However, it will be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in the T20 format. SFU has a Cricket Club with drop-ins every Monday. If you’d like to try cricket, you can register on the SFU Recreation Cricket Club webpage. You can also follow them on Instagram at @sfucricketclub.
CAZZY L EWCHUK STA FF WR I TER
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HOW TO BE A REAL MAN
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ARTS & CULTURE
Arts & Culture Editor Phone Min Thant · arts@the-peak.ca
November 9, 2026
ARTS & CULTURE
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HUMOUR
Humour Editor Mason Mattu · humour@the-peak.ca
November 9, 2026
HUMOUR
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DIVERSIONS
Business Manager Yuri Zhou · business@the-peak.ca