President and York’s Board of Governors: Architects of Academic Betrayal
By Anonymous
On February 14, the Board of Governors at York decided to leak to the press plans to defund and bar fall-term student enrollment to the following programs: At Glendon: English, Sociology, Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures, Global History and Justice.
At Keele: Spanish, Gender and Women’s studies, Classics and classical studies, East Asian studies., German studies, Hellenic studies, Italian studies, Indigenous studies, Jewish studies, Portuguese and Luso-Brazilian studies, Religious studies, Biomedical physics, Environmental biology.1
This was obviously not in the spirit of St.Valentine’s Day. February 14 marks the anniversary of the Women’s Memorial March honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMWG) in Canada. York University’s stated commitment to upholding reconciliation efforts is false in acknowledgement and false in practice.
Attack on Culture and Diversity Education
Cutting and grandfathering these programs out for students who are currently enrolled is shameful and sends the message that Indigenous, Hispanic and Latinx, Portuguese and Luso-Brazilian, German and Jewish students are not welcome, are not valued, are not worth investing, and do not belong at York University. These programs create spaces of belonging that celebrate diversity, welcome non-parlants of their languages, keep their languages alive for first and second generation immigrants wanting to develop a stronger relationship with their family heritage. They also educate students about culture, history, and the issues affecting their social groups, lands and political landscapes.
It is inconsistent of York to divest from these programs while maintaining multiple international campuses, notably in Costa Rica and in India. The decision to discontinue cultural programs such as Spanish and East Asian studies conveys a concerning message: York is willing to accept the tuition money of Hispanic and East Asian students without a reciprocal commitment to invest in their cultural education and opportuni-
ties. This approach suggests that while York readily accepts the tuition of East Asian students on the Schulich Indian campus, they are not committed to investing and not create a space that celebrates, researches, and teaches East Asian culture courses in Canada. Likewise, maintaining a campus in Costa Rica while eliminating Spanish programs in Canada highlights a contradictory stance that underscores a disconnect between York’s international presence and its support for Hispanic cultural and linguistic education at home.
Eliminating the Indigenous Studies could not be a clearer indication of York’s overt epistemic racism against the knowledge and academic scholarship that students and professors in the department perform. The move is indicative of where York’s administration truly stands, damaging its reputation for inclusivity, anti-colonialism, and celebration of diversity. Known for being a leader in anti-racist and decolonial academic scholarship in Canada, this action moves against their own reconciliation goals. Graduation is approaching and it will blatantly be clear that whoever reads the land acknowledgement acts performatively for an audience that thinks lowly of them for the entirety of their speech because they know the truth. It’s on paper, it’s exposed, it cannot be taken back.
The decision to defund academically and democratically significant programs such as
Global History and Justice, as well as Gender and Women’s Studies, sends a deeply concerning message. It implies that feminist and 2SLGBTQIA++ studies are not deemed worthy of investment, that education surrounding their complex and intersectional issues is not a priority, and that there is no longer a dedicated academic space for these critical disciplines within the institution. Cutting Women and Gender studies means York is backtracking on a committment to promote gender equality and tolerance in on-campus spaces for those who are vulnerable. Moreover, the History program at Glendon stands as the sole department offering courses focused on African content. Dismantling this opportunity not only diminishes the breadth of educational offerings at a bilingual campus but also constructs a tangible barrier against Black and non-Black students. This decision risks marginalizing these students further by erasing an academic platform that acknowledges, explores, and elevates African histories and perspectives, ultimately hindering the university’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and equity.
A university that does not invest in the liberal arts or diversity education is not a real university, and it is not a real one offering fulfilling or quality higher education. It reduces their competitiveness against other institutions for future students and reduces the selection of gen-ed and elective courses for current students. Eliminating
spaces of diversity in academia at York University also places the pressure of recreating or maintaining these spaces onto student clubs, organizations, and associations.
Mourning Glendon’s Multilingualism Status
York University’s program cuts are the result of a neoliberal approach to debt management, disproportionately targeting liberal arts and diversity education. The administration cites low enrollment, yet these programs are essential for a decolonized, inclusive, and intellectually rich environment.
Glendon once offered Spanish, Latin, and Ojibway alongside French—now, classrooms will sit empty, offices cleared, and course diversity slashed. This raises fears that Glendon itself may be at risk, forcing students to Keele or Markham, a campus that was a costly mistake to begin with.
Student unions: where are you? YFS? GCSU? YUGSA? Graduating students: will you sit silently at in your ceremonies or will you take a stand while the land acknowledge is being said? Student clubs: where are you? Where is your fight to protect and stand up for those affected and your student electorate? Silence is compliance and silence is acceptance. You march for diverse causes but remain passive and inactive on rampant epistemic racism and the biggest LA&PS and Glendon brain-drain. What makes you think Lenton is stopping at 18 programs? Fight for the students! We are stronger and united together!
As a proud York graduate, I once believed this university was the best in the world, despite its strikes. Now, I don’t. To the professors affected: your work, your impact, and the spaces you created for learning will not be forgotten. While York repays your dedication with cuts and layoffs over the news, we, the students, will fight for you! Fight to one day bring these departments back and to restore true diversity, equity, and inclusion to York’s research and academic offerings.
York is choosing to be a university without a heart.
photo: Wikimedia Commons
EDITORIAL
PRO TEM
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Letter From The Editor
Letter from the Editor
What a year it’s been at Pro Tem. I don’t think I fully understood what this paper meant until I had to sit down and write this—my last letter as Editor-in-Chief. How do you say goodbye to something that has shaped you, challenged you, exhausted you, and, at times, completely consumed you? This paper has been more than deadlines and layouts; it has been a space of resistance, creativity, and relentless pursuit of truth.
Cette année, nous avons fait entendre nos voix avec force. President and York’s Board of Governors: Architects of Academic Betrayal n’était pas seulement un article, c’était un cri de protestation, une preuve que nous refusons de détourner le regard. À travers chaque enquête, chaque témoignage, chaque texte poétique ou éditorial incisif, nous avons affirmé que Pro Tem est un espace où les mots comptent, où le journalisme étudiant fait trembler les certitudes et éclaire l’invisible.
Pero Pro Tem no es solo sobre las historias que contamos, sino sobre las personas que hacen todo esto posible. A mi equipo: ustedes son el corazón de este periódico. Cada noche de edición interminable, cada discusión sobre una coma, cada esfuerzo por hacer justicia a nuestras palabras—todo ha significado algo. Han demostrado que este trabajo es más que tinta sobre papel: es impacto, es comunidad, es legado.
To our readers: Whether you picked up an issue religiously or just stumbled upon an article that caught your eye, you were part of this, too. A newspaper means nothing without its audience. Thank you for engaging, for challenging us, for reminding us why we do this.
Et maintenant, au moment de tourner cette page, je ressens un mélange étrange de fierté, de gratitude et d’incertitude. Fierté de ce que nous avons bâti. Gratitude envers ceux qui ont rendu cela possible. Et incertitude, car l’avenir de Pro Tem, comme le mien, reste encore à écrire. Mais s’il y a une chose dont je suis sûre, c’est que ce que nous avons créé ici compte. Et continuera à compter.
Así que brindemos por cada edición, por cada historia que dejó huella, por cada noche sin dormir asegurándonos de que todo estuviera perfecto. Brindemos por las voces que nunca se callarán. Brindemos por Pro Tem.
Thank you—for everything. | Merci—pour tout. | Gracias—por todo.
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&
Cinq souvenirs de mon enfance
Par Christina Savoiardo English Journalist
C’est le mois de mars, qui signifie le mois de mon 20ᵉ anniversaire. C’est difficile de croire que le temps passe tellement vite! Parfois, je me vois encore comme une ado de seize ans, qui a moins de responsabilités et mon seul souci, c’est de continuer mes dessins après avoir fini mes devoirs! Quelques années plus tard, et tellement de choses se sont passées et changées dans ma vie et dans le monde. J’ai presque terminé ma deuxième année à l’université, je commence à me découvrir de plus en plus et j’apprends de nouvelles choses tout le temps. En faisant ces réflexions, je pense à mon enfance, à mes passe-temps et à tout ce qui me passionne. Dans cet article, je voudrais mentionner certaines choses, que ce soit mémoires, loisirs ou autre, qui me tiennent à cœur dans ma vie pendant toutes ces années. Préparez-vous pour un voyage dans la nostalgie!
1.Party Tyme Karaoke :
Quand j’avais environ 7 ou 8 ans, j’ai reçu une machine de karaoké avec plusieurs disques de Party Tyme Karaoke de mes parents. Au moment où j’ai allumé le micro, j’avais inexplicablement hâte de commencer à chanter. Je me souviens d’avoir chanté avec ma sœur pendant des heures, chaque jour, au point où les paroles des chansons deviennent mémorisées. Le karaoké m’a aussi aidé avec mes compétences de chant (qui étaient un de mes grands loisirs comme enfant), mais sont malheureusement diminuées après avoir arrêté il y a quatre ans. Depuis ces moments, le karaoké devient une de mes passions et je suis toujours contente d’y participer à chaque moment où j’ai la chance!
2. Les music countdowns :
J’espère que je ne suis pas la seule qui se rappelle, mais pendant les années 2010, il y avait toujours des programmes de télé avec un countdown des top 30 chansons du mois. Pour une certaine raison, ces programmes me rendaient tellement heureuse puisque j’avais la chance d’écouter mes chansons préférées de ces temps et de découvrir de nouvelles chansons ou de redécouvrir des anciennes chansons que j’avais oubliées. C’est un peu plate que ces programmes soient moins populaires aujourd’hui, mais ils prennent toujours une place importante dans mon cœur.
3. Le Rainbow Loom :
Je me souviens que quand j’étais en troisième année (2013-2014), les trousses de Rainbow Loom étaient très populaires dans plusieurs classes de mon école. Il s’agit d’une boîte avec des petits élastiques colorés, un crochet en métal, une planche à tisser et des clips. Tout le monde faisait des bracelets ou des décorations pour leurs sacs, les échangeait et les fabriquait les uns pour les autres pendant la récréation, mais bientôt les enseignants ont décidé d’interdire le Rainbow Loom à l’école, croyant que ça causait trop de dégâts et de conflits. Même si ces trousses ont causé plusieurs problèmes, elles feront toujours une grande partie de mon enfance.
4. Les planches à dessin magnétique :
Quand j’étais très jeune, j’avais plusieurs de ces planches, où il y a un stylo fait en métal avec lequel tu dessinais et pour effacer, il fallait glisser un curseur à travers. C’est un jouet très simple, mais ça me faisait beaucoup de plaisir comme quelqu’un qui aime dessiner. Ces planches existent certainement encore aujourd’hui, mais puisque les jeunes ont accès aux électroniques dès un très jeune âge, ces planches sont (malheureusement) diminuées en popularité.
5. Les Orbeez
:
Au début des années 2010, les Orbeez sont devenues très populaires, surtout à mon école (comme presque tous les jouets en tendance pendant ces temps). Ce sont des billes gélifiées qui grandissent dans l’eau et qui peuvent être utilisées comme décorations, pour le massage des mains et des pieds ou pour jouer avec. Sachant que les Orbeez se font activés dans l’eau, il est facile de deviner comment elles sont devenues interdites à l’école. Je crois aussi qu’il avait des gens qui voulaient les manger, alors qu’elles n’étaient même pas comestibles! Alors que j’ai seulement pu prendre soin d’environ 2 ou 3 Orbeez, c’est quelque chose qui me donne plusieurs souvenirs.
photo: Christina Savoiardo
photo: Christina Savoiardo
photo: Christina Savoiardo
photo: Christina Savoiardo
« Je me souviens » : le Québec, une province pas comme les autres
Par Iris Capron Journaliste Français
« Québec » du mot algonquin signifiant « passage étroit », correspondait à l’origine au rétrécissement du fleuve Saint-Laurent près de la ville de Québec. Au début, ce terme désignait uniquement la ville de Samuel Champlain, mais c’est ensuite vu utilisé pour nommer la seule province francophone d’Amérique du Nord.
En 1534, le fameux explorateur français Jacque Cartier arrive sur le territoire canadien et y déclare la souveraineté française. Du Québec à la Louisiane en passant par l’actuel Ontario, la Nouvelle-France domine le territoire nord-américain. Cependant, à une époque de fortes rivalités entre les pays européens, les Français ne restent pas longtemps en position de force. Alors qu’un grand nombre de militaires français quittent le Canada pour se rendre dans les Caraïbes, les Britanniques en profitent pour conquérir le Québec et les territoires alentours. Par le traité de Paris de 1763, le roi de France cède la Nouvelle-France à la Couronne d’Angleterre, mais les québécois n’ont pas dit leur dernier mot. Dès 1774, l’Acte de
Québec est signé, permettant à la population d’exercer librement le catholicisme, de parler français et d’utiliser le droit civil français. Par la suite, la fédération canadienne est mise en place, créant quatre provinces dont celle du Québec.
Aujourd’hui, le Québec mêle encore tradition française et influence britannique. Le fonctionnement de son parlement reprend le système britannique, et le code civil napoléonien cohabite avec le common law. La francophonie est toujours aussi importante dans cette province, même si certaines expressions font rire plus d’un Français de l’autre côté de l’Atlantique.
Unique en son genre, le Québec est parfois vu comme une province qui devrait s’indépendantiser. Le courant politique du souverainisme met en avant le fait que la province québécoise devrait quitter la fédération canadienne pour devenir un État indépendant, avec ses propres lois, règles et décisions politiques. Cette idée se base sur la vision du Québec comme société à part entière, différente du reste du Canada, dont les intérêts divergent avec ceux des autres
provinces au point que certains choix du gouvernement fédéral nuiraient directement aux québécois. En 1995, un référendum a été tenu dans la province francophone, mais la proposition de souveraineté-association n’a pas su convaincre la population qui l’a rejetée. Actuellement, le Bloc québécois est un parti important au Québec qui gagne de nombreuses voix. Cependant, les rêves indépendantistes de certains ne semblent pas encore être prêts à se réaliser.
The Elimination Chamber Shocks Fans at Toronto’s Rogers Centre
By Nicholas Malcolm
The night WWE fans had been waiting for finally arrived… On Saturday, March 1st, WWE fans from around the world tuned into Netflix, and Canadian fans to the Rogers Centre to discover who would be facing Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania. A packed Rogers Centre cheered loudly in anticipation to see who was going to come out on top of the Elimination Chamber, a match in which six superstars fight to be the last person standing in the ring; two wrestlers start off the match, while the four other wrestlers stand in pods designated at the corners of the ring, each of them being released, at random times, to join the fight. I had the pleasure of attending this event in person, and all I can say is that it was a true rollercoaster of emotions. I have been a wrestling fan ever since I was a kid, so there was no way I would pass up an opportunity like this. To see John Cena, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and even hip-hop superstar Travis Scott on the same night
was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As I arrived at my seat at the top of the Rogers Centre, I gazed at a fully packed stadium of wrestling fans like myself, who could not wait for the action to begin.
Cheers broke out whenever John Cena appeared on the jumbotron. Cena, a fan favourite for almost two decades and one of the heroes of the WWE is on his final retirement tour. Fans have loved Cena for decades, and he has always been the “good guy” of the WWE. However, that was about to change. As I waited in anticipation, the usual routine of sporting events began, starting with the national anthem. As the US anthem began to play, however, loud boos started to drown out the singing, and honestly, I can’t say I was surprised. With the looming threat of tariffs, 51st state threats, and US-Canada relations at an alltime low, Canadians have had no trouble making their voices heard.
The booing of the American anthem has been a common occurrence at many
Canadian sporting events against USA teams. Fans of Canadian teams like the Raptors, Maple Leafs, Senators, and Flames have ensured Americans know how they feel. However, the most significant example of booing during the national anthem was at the NHL 4 Nations face-off, with the US and Canada facing off directly in this tournament; boos from Canada filled the Bell Centre in Montreal, with Americans responding at TD Garden in Boston with boos of their own for the Canadian anthem. Even though Canadians have been happy to express their feelings during the anthem, many have been against this, especially Americans. Former NFL player and WWE commentator Pat Mcafee stated that “This is the most stacked Elimination Chamber that the WWE has ever had, kinda sucks that it’s in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing.” Probably not the smartest thing to say to a majority Canadian audience.
The Elimination Chamber Shocks Fans at Toronto’s Rogers Centre
By Nicholas Malcolm
At the time, however, I was not focused on politics; I was ready for the Wrestling to get underway. The night started with three exhilarating fights before the main event. The first match was a women’s elimination chamber match, which Bianca Belair won. This match was followed by the Women’s tag team match, in which Tiffany Stratton and Canadian Trish Stratus won. These were great matches to start the night and showed the proper strength and passion of the female wrestlers on the WWE roster. The third fight of the night was easily the most brutal and shocking, an unsanctioned bout between two Canadians, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. An unsanctioned bout means that the wrestlers can use any object or way to attack their opponent; you probably know where this is going; tables, chairs, barbed wire, and even a good old-fashioned Canadian hockey stick were used by the two fighters in this match; ouch!! Kevin Owens ended up winning after nearly 20 minutes of intense fighting.
Finally, the time had come, the Elimination chamber. The main event started with Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. The other four superstars were randomly released, including Damian Priest, Logan Paul, CM Punk, and finally, John Cena. After over 30 minutes of fighting and five eliminations, the people’s champ and fan favourite, John Cena, came out with an impressive submission over CM Punk. This win was not very surprising to many, as it is Cena’s retirement tour; for him not to fight at Wrestlemania would be unfortunate. However, the night was not over yet. Do you remember I mentioned Cody Rhodes, The Rock, and Travis Scott? Following the elimination chamber, the current WWE champion Rhodes came out to set up the excitement for the next Wrestlemania. However, The Rock, a known WWE antagonist/anti-hero, was ready to throw himself in the middle of this, accompanied by Travis Scott on the way to the ring. This was the most exciting, tension-filled moment of the night. The Rock and John Cena are arguably the two biggest stars the WWE has ever had; the two have also been notorious rivals for almost 15 years. Having the two superstars in the same ring is unique and does not happen often.
With Cena, Rock, and Rhodes in the same ring, many expected the usual good guys, Rhodes and Cena, to fight back against the Rock. This expectation was undoubtedly not the case. After Rhodes refused to team up with the Rock, Cena turned on Cody Rhodes, kicking him to the ground and taking his WWE belt, totally out of turn for John Cena, whose motto is “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect”. After Cena shockingly turned on Rhodes, that was it. The credits started to roll, which was a shocking and gut-wrenching ending for any John Cena fan. I sat there in my seat, thinking, is that it? I sat in my seat for 20 minutes, waiting for something to happen. However, that was it; fans started leaving the building, so I did too.
Social Media fans were shocked by Cena’s “Heel turn,” a term used in Wrestling to describe a WWE “hero” turning into a “villain.” When I checked my Instagram after the event, I saw post after post describing the craziness of this moment from people all over the world. I sat looking at my phone, just so surprised that I got to see this event live. This moment perfectly set up Wrestlemania in Las Vegas, taking place April 19th and 20th. This event was fantastic from start to finish. I was constantly on the edge of my seat and deeply impressed by everything the WWE could put together. Despite my tickets being reasonably expensive, they were worth it for the price. This event was a wrestling match for many people, which is perfectly fine. However, this event had a much more significant impact on Canada than we might think. Canada is in a unique position right now, thanks to President Trump’s constant threats, belittlement, and tariff scares. Even though Canadians are certainly scared and nervous about what the future holds, we have still been highly patriotic and proud of this country. We saw this, especially at the Four Nations tournament and now with the Elimination Chamber. Canadians don’t boo the US national anthem because we hate America or Americans; that is anything but the reason. Rather it’s because the US government has threatened our sovereignty as a nation and as a people. Even though Canadians are known as “nice people”, and we certainly are, we are not one to back down from a fight, especially from foolish public
figures like Pat Mcafee and Donald Trump. Let me put this in a way–this is connected to the events we witnessed in Toronto and worldwide. Canada is Cody Rhodes in this situation, while the US is John Cena. The US has made a complete heel turn on Canada; it has turned from a relatively liked figure on the world stage to a more disliked figure due to its ego and self-interest, just like John Cena. Except wrestling is not real life; it’s a very entertaining show, but just a show. Our current situation with Donald Trump is as accurate as possible, which is a concern. This event shows that Canadians will always show up, and it is an event that will go down in Canadian sports history. This event, especially Cena’s heel turn, is one of the most iconic WWE events and moments we have ever seen. I think that with time, we can hopefully say that this will go down in Canadian sports history with events such as Bautista’s bat flip, Kawhi Leonard’s bouncing buzzer beater against the 76ers, Crosby’s golden goal, Joe Carter’s walk-off homerun, and now, hopefully, Cena’s heel turn. There was no better time for this event to happen for Canadians, and hopefully, we can see more groundbreaking events come to this beautiful country in the near future. In the next couple of months, make sure to buy Canadian products, stand up to leaders who threaten our sovereignty, and, most importantly, be a proud Canadian.
Marshmallow
By Leanne Eyre Section Editor
Fresh, pristine, soft as a cloud, Golden dreams whisper loud. It edges closer, tests the heat, The tender warmth is oh so sweet.
The flames flicker; they crackle and roar, Inching closer, it twirls; it glows. The marshmallow stays, ensnared by its call, Until the moment it gives it all.
Charred, then burnt and swallowed whole, Tossed aside, the embers smoulder. Consumed, devoured, forgotten by the flame, Its sweetness gone, its story over. Burnt out.
Yet the bag overflows; countless others await, Eager and ready to replace. A cycle fed by all who burn, A lesson too late for some to learn.
day by the sea
By Anonymous
catharsis
bogged down in self-pity
eyes half-open mind half-empty
I yelled at the sea take me away
I want to go home
I need to go home
Poseidon’s wave rose up to the depths of the refreshing abyss swallowing me
I became a spectre— a space between opened
I drank the nectar of the sky the warmth of its glow in my stomach
I moved onward
FrAm blAAd tA bAnes
By Anonymous
Poetry is the rainbow from blood to bones of a pigeon fallen dead in the street, coloured from the inside, alcohol tastes even better sugar more sweet love easy—
Follow the recipe or cook authentically
Oh my, feminine
By Anonymous
Oh my, Persephone;
Why
Why don’t I feel—
Why are my tender breasts too small and your seed so big
That plants its root in each thing yet I am so small I crawl
I crawl on bare knuckles to inch towards your perfection
My body aches with bloodied fingertips
Yet you still take me
Tying my hands with gauze
You are spellbound to make trees grow into forests
And I am the bird that laid its nest and egg for you to eat
My bowels left ruptured by vibrations of deafening hunger
Fullness is barbaric but wanting is never enough
You seep into me you forest dweller—
You kill me without hands without touch
By Anonymous
What once was just okay, satisfactory, and appetizing for lunch is now bland. It doesn’t spark anything; it finds itself relentlessly trying to be something that it can’t, though the taste is good, the seasoning is perfect to my taste, the overall dish is subpar to these much higher standards. So, how can we make it better?
Well… we could add a few more ingredients, chalk up a new recipe, and perfect the presentation. Yes, yes. That would make it work. That would make it enough.
But then… Someone out there wouldn’t like it, for no sensible reason; they just wouldn’t like the ingredients, or maybe they’re allergic, or the taste itself isn’t to their calibre of fine dining. Or, maybe, what they got wasn’t what they ordered.
Now we have a real problem.
How can we please them all?
The critics, the street food vendors, the mothers, the grandmothers, the royal families, the children—
How would we feed them if our dish doesn’t suit their preferences?
A List of Goodbyes and One Hello
By Sathana Muraleetharan
Your breath crystallizing in the air, your puffy coat out of hibernation from the back of your closet, the mittens your dear friend crocheted in your favourite shade of red, a nonstop soundtrack of assignments with a chorus of stress and a bridge with brilliant notes of passion reminding you why you’re here, the tiny pawprints next to the imprints of your shoes over Glendon’s trails, the wind biting your cheeks, nose, and ears red, the unyielding misery of each day’s early sunset, winter’s quiet apology in the night sky’s glow following a brutal snowfall. Every heavy step you’ve had to take in the snow. Every heavy step you’ve had to take since this long, cold season began. And finally, the wind has turned. The sunlight will be wonderfully blinding. Look ahead and see.
Spring’s outstretching her hand. She missed us too.
photo: Pixabay
photo: Wikimedia Commons
photo: Roxanna Khosravi
photo: Roxanna Khosravi
photo: Roxanna Khosravi
VIE ÉTUDIANTE
What a year it’s been at Pro Tem: our shared space of creation
By Flo Tierra Chief of Operations
Here I am again—same screen, same night sounds, same tangled thoughts begging to be unraveled into something brief, something digestible. But we both know that won’t happen. It never does. The editors will carve away at this, and they’ll be right to. My unfiltered words have always been for me alone.
Pro Tem, you’ve been the keeper of my most public confessions, the architect of the narrative outsiders use to understand me. I’ve fed you the essential plot points, withheld the rest, and made peace with the gaps. But in those carefully chosen words—those cornerstones of my shifting selves—there’s a thread, a trail of breadcrumbs. I’ve left clues in my columns, fragments of something whole, waiting for someone to piece them together. Maybe then, they could tell me who I am.
In my first year, I thought I held a piece of you, painting your walls with my voice like graffiti on a train. Three thousand words every other week, a photo spread when I had the time. It felt like I was leaving my mark, but really, I was just searching for a place to be heard— somewhere other than in texts to a lover who saw no value in my ramblings. What
a laughably low bar to clear.
Writing wasn’t just expression; it was a way to hold myself accountable to the act of creating. Pro Tem, you were my destination, my willing recipient. You let me pour myself out for a community that actually listened. I loved you for that. I always will.
But this year was different. I stepped away from the bylines, traded in my voice for spreadsheets, meetings, and endless emails. I became a caretaker instead of a contributor. Chief of Operations—that was my new title, my new role. Less ink, more logistics. Less storytelling, more survival. I caught up on three years’ worth of neglected paperwork, fought through bureaucracy, and held it all together so you could keep existing. And I did it with pride. But who was I doing it for? The writers? The readers? You? Myself?
Somewhere along the way, my perspective shifted. I no longer obsessed over the details of your content; I saw the full picture—your infrastructure, your sustainability, your very heartbeat. I didn’t know it then, but I was built for this. Every challenge, every mistake, every hard-won lesson confirmed it. I belonged here. I made sure you survived.
And I get to do it all over again.
Reelected. Another year as your Chief of Operations, another year of plans, ambitions, and a hard-earned sense of purpose. This time, I have experience. I know the struggle now, and I welcome it. I’m grateful for the setbacks, the sleepless nights sifting through archives, the hours spent volunteering for other clubs just to get your name out there.
I’ve given so much to you, Pro Tem. And yet, I can’t help but feel like you’ve given me more.
&
SANTÉ BIEN-ÊTRE
Biscuits pour Pâques végétaliens
Par Geneviève Stacey Journaliste Bilingue
Pour environ 48 biscuits de 2 pouces.
Ces biscuits sont idéaux pour Pâques, ou littéralement tout autre événement qui nécessite des biscuits colorés ; il suffit de changer la couleur des bonbons de type m&m.
Ingrédients
Pour la croûte :
1 tasse de cassonade
½ tasse de sucre blanc
1/3 tasse d’huile de canola
½ tasse de lait d’avoine non sucré (ou votre préférence de lait non laitier)
2 cuillères à soupe de fécule de maïs
4 cuillères à thé d’extrait de vanille pure
3 tasses de farine tout usage
1 cuillère à thé de bicarbonate de soude (ou 3 cuillère à café de levure chimique, ce qui est ce que j’ai fini par utiliser, parce que je n’avais pas vérifié le grade-manger avant de commencer les biscuits)
1 cuillère à thé de sel
½ tasse de choses végétaliennes qui ressemblent à des M&M; il y a plusieurs marques disponibles
½ tasse de grandes guimauves hachées ou de mini guimauves
½ tasse de pépites ou de morceaux de chocolat
Instructions
1. Préchauffer le four à 175°C. Tapisser une plaque à pâtisserie d’un papier sulfurisé en silicone (ou la graisser légèrement)
2. Mélanger les sucres et l’huile. Fouetter pendant environ deux minutes.
3. Ajouter le lait, la fécule de maïs et la vanille.
4. Tamiser ensemble la farine, le bicarbonate de soude et le sel. Ajouter le mélange au bol d’ingrédients humides.
5. Incorporer les morceaux de chocolat, les guimauves et les bonbons qui ressemblent aux M&Ms.
6. Déposer la pâte, 1 cuillère à soupe à la fois, sur la plaque à pâtisserie préparée. La plaque devrait en avoir environ 12.
7. Cuire au four pendant 11 à 13 minutes ou jusqu’à ce qu’elles soient dorées. Retirer du four.
8. Laisser refroidir pendant au moins le temps de cuisson, puis transférer sur une grille de refroidissement jusqu’à ce que les biscuits soient complètement refroidis.
Finding Destiny in France: Last Confessions
By Destiny Chan English Editor
“Confession is everywhere in our culture. It drives banal social media posts, salacious reality television shows, and revolutionary social justice movements alike,” says Glendon English Professor Myra Bloom in her recent lecture at McGill University.1 Bloom specializes in modern and contemporary Canadian/Québécois and confessional literature and is currently working on a manuscript on confessional Canadian women’s writing titled “Evasive Maneuvers”.2
In her recent talk titled “Canlit and the Culture of Confession,” which can be found on YouTube, she explains how confession is used as a vehicle from where truth emerges and is exalted for it. However, since “confessional practices have been proliferated wildly, they have become suspect,” blurring the lines between self-promotion, profit and protest. On one hand, “confessional platforms are the battleground on which women, racialized and other marginalized individuals have fought to be heard.” On the other hand, “the word ‘confessional’…is a put down. It implies that what these women are doing is just sort of spilling out whatever they have in their guts and that there’s no craft involved in the writing.”3
As a result, women writers are often discredited for being too personal even when it is a complete work of fiction, whereas male writers are praised for drawing from their
lived experience. Bloom calls this the “Confessional Impasse,” where women are encouraged to confess but punished when doing so because they will be seen as narcissistic and unliterary or be disbelieved, retraumatized or blocked from professional opportunities.
Ultimately, Bloom draws her conclusion by supporting contemporary Canadian writers who “harness the rhetorical and political power of confession while steeling themselves against its dangers” and how they “use confessional disclosure in full awareness of its potentialities and pitfalls,” which “actually drives their experimental literary approaches.” She hopes that her work “can highlight the calibre of the literary innovation in this country, that it can connect contemporary Canadian writers to the transnational conversations that are already underway and that it can usher in a new wave of thinking about women’s life writing in Canada.”
My name is Destiny Chan, and I’m a Glendon student currently taking a gap year in the south of France as an au pair. For those unfamiliar, an au pair is an after-school babysitter who helps care for their host family’s kids in exchange for room, board and pocket money. As this is the last issue of the school year, I have written 10 columns and poems, each surrounding different topics exploring new experiences, culture shocks, travel, self-de-
velopment and more.
Throughout my time at Glendon, I have had the pleasure of taking three of Dr. Bloom’s courses: Reconciling Literature (Indigenous Literature), The Lives of Girls and Womxn: Feminist Writing in Canada, and Beyond “Two Solitudes”: The Contact Zones of Canadian Literature (Texts from Québec by anglophone, francophone, and Indigenous writers). After each lecture, each book and each course, I would be left with my mind blown and my thoughts spinning. Many texts were confusing. Many were so experimental and unlike any text I had studied before. Many reshaped my ways of thinking about: what could be a book? What constitutes good writing? Who can it come from? What shape and form could it take? and more. Some of my favourite texts include “How Should A Person Be?” By Sheila Heti, “Cockroach” by Rawi Hage, “A Mind Spread Out On The Ground” by Alicia Elliot and “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice. If you are looking for some torturous fun, “Mauve Desert” by Nicole Brossard was by far the most confusing book that left even the students doing their seminar on it extremely lost! Needless to say, I have greatly enjoyed studying Canadian literature with Myra at Glendon and it opened up my eyes to what kind of a writer I could be.
image:
Pexels
HEALTH WELLNESS
&
Finding Destiny in France: Last Confessions (continued)
By Destiny Chan English Editor
When starting this series of contributions titled “Finding Destiny in France,” I was aware of how it could be easily dismissed as too frivolous, personal and egotistic. Yet, I knew I wanted it to be so much more than that and that there were many things I wanted to say with the time and passion to say it. While not wanting to sound too pretentious or like I need to justify my own work, I have not only shared personal anecdotes and emotional poems but have also conjured up informative pieces on au pairs, French food and etiquette, living abroad, female solo travel, screen addiction, inner child theory, work/life balance, self-healing and development and more.
And with that, here are my last confessions. I came here under the guise of becoming an au pair, travelling in Europe for the first time and improving my French, but really, it was to escape the city I’ve lived in my whole life. The city that’s too expensive to afford a place with a window. The city with its unforgiving, cutting cold that grips you for most of the year. The city that broke my heart. The city I couldn’t bear to be in anymore.
With six and a half months passed and five more months to go, it’s just hitting me now that only half of my time has passed. Some of my favourite things here include raclette, the beach, Mediterranean sunny weather, the tropical palm trees, cacti and plants, the high quality of the fresh produce, meat and food, the architecture, the work/life balance, the chill drinking culture, the close proximity to other countries, the Erasmus Life Montpellier community, the three-course family meals, Alban’s smile, etc. I came here with the public purpose of becoming an au pair, travelling to Europe and improving my French, but really, I came in search of family, whether I knew it or not.
Resurrection
On a new high
A new vibe
Won’t let anyone
Take it away
Or kill my spirit again
On a new high
A new vibe
Weekend in Toulon
Now Monday is mine
The sun feels like summer in Canada
But it’s February
And everyone back home is seasonally depressed
Time to get out of bed
Spring is here
Did enough rest
Time to take back what’s mine
Conquer the places
Piling up my lists
See the sights
I never thought I’d see
My time, my time
To reclaim back what’s mine
My time, my power, my energy
Not yours, but mine
Sun on my face
Snow under your heels
How does it feel
Knowing you made someone die inside
And now doesn’t exist
In your mind’s eye
Oh, but she died
And then she came back to life
After the deepest sleep
After crying so many times
She’s still scared
Still cautious
Still fearful inside
But now she’s stronger
More sure
Just glad she’s still alive
Cause she has a wonderful life to build
And that wonderful life she will live
Despite all that has happened
She’s happy
She survived
Like intrusive thoughts
She gets invaded from time to time
Of him inside her
Of a time stuck in a small room
Of the childhood she left behind
But she’s turned those memories in her mind
Over and over again
Time after time
Nothing left to ponder
Nothing left to wonder
Story’s done
Chapter’s closed
Didn’t even get to say goodbye
So now I’ll say it
Goodbye goodbye goodbye
The love of my life
Of that lifetime
Goodbye goodbye
She loved you till her last breath
And then she died inside
The new her
Looks the same
But would never even give you a second try
She walks
She talks
She thinks
She eats
She smiles
She laughs
Like before
But different
This time
Because she won’t let anybody take away
Her ability to do those things again
No sir
Nice try
Get your disgusting hands off me
I’m not anybody’s prize
So goodbye goodbye
Goodbye goodbye
To the beautiful boy
I let inside
That Destiny is gone
Crumpled crushed died
This Destiny is new
New person, new lifetime
Pressed reset
Start over
Retry
23
Would have been happy to be married with a child inside
But New Destiny is single
Unattached
Maybe for a decade this time
Waiting till the right one
The right time
When life is stable
On one continent
Country, city
For new life
To start and survive
So hello hello!
To this New Destiny!
In this new life!
What a pleasure to meet you
To greet you
To welcome you outside
As you can see
The sun is shining bright
The weather is warm and nice
And we couldn’t wait for your arrival
We’re glad you made it here alive
Deep breathes
Take it in
So happy to hear
How you’re feeling better now
We see that
You’re ready
So
Let’s
Begin
&
ACTUALITÉ OPINION
La montée de l’extrême droite en Occident : « La folie, c’est de faire toujours la même chose et de s’attendre à un résultat différent » (Einstein)
Par Iris Capron Journaliste Français
11 septembre 2022 : choc dans les pays nordiques. Alors que beaucoup pensaient que l’extrême droite n’atteindrait jamais les pays scandinaves, les Démocrates de Suède ont réussi à défier les idées reçues et à se hisser à la deuxième place des élections législatives. Conséquence ? Le gouvernement suédois est aujourd’hui obligé de gouverner avec l’appui de ce parti extrémiste, sans pour autant lui accorder des positions au sein des Ministères.
30 juin 2024 : la douche froide pour de nombreux Français. Après des élections européennes qui donnent confiance au Rassemblement National, le premier tour des législatives finit d’achever les espoirs de l’antifascisme français. Avec 29,25 % des voix, le parti d’extrême-droite de Marine Le Pen arrive en tête des élections législatives françaises, partant ainsi avec un avantage pour le second tour.
23 février 2025 : les Allemands nous font comprendre que le fascisme n’est pas enterré aux côtés d’Hitler et Mussolini. Le parti d’extrême-droite Alternative pour l’Allemagne fait une percée spectaculaire lors des élections fédérales, raflant 152 sièges du Bundestag.
Depuis quelques années, l’Europe connaît un tournant majeur, avec une montée des extrêmes. L’Italie est aux mains d’une Première Ministre admirative de Mussolini ; les femmes hongroises doivent écouter le cœur du fœtus avant d’avorter dans le pays de Viktor Orbán ; le cordon sanitaire n’est plus qu’un lointain souvenir en Belgique ; l’Autriche se voit accueillir l’extrême droite au sein de la coalition au pouvoir ; la France se souvient encore des élections législatives de l’été dernier où le Rassemblement National était aux portes de l’Élysée ; et les pays scandinaves doivent
gouverner avec l’appui de partis anti-immigration, souverainistes et conservateurs à souhait.
Les exemples ne manquent pas et inquiètent une partie de la population européenne qui voit l’extrême droite aux portes du pouvoir européen. Mais comment l’expliquer ? En Allemagne, les récents attentats ont poussé la population à blâmer l’immigration et l’islam : raccourci entre terrorisme, islam, immigrés et arabe, soutenu par l’AfD. En France, ce discours gagne également de la voix, donnant lieu à des actes de racisme nombreux. Par exemple, en 2024, 173 actes antimusulmans ont été recensés. La médiatisation de plus en plus importante de la violence est également une donnée à prendre en compte pour comprendre cette tendance des Européens à se tourner vers des partis promouvant l’ordre et la sécurité avant tout. Avec les réseaux sociaux, les vidéos d’actes violents sont de plus en plus virales et touchent un grand nombre d’individus de tout âge. À cela s’ajoute le partage de propos racistes qui apparaissent comme normaux, faisant maintenant partie du paysage politique et médiatique ordinaire.
La négation des droits des femmes semble aussi devenir monnaie courante dans nos sociétés. Le 19 janvier dernier, une « marche pour la vie » a eu lieu dans la capitale française, rassemblant des milliers de personnes, des milliers de jeunes. Alors que l’on pensait les nouvelles générations comme rebelles, les valeurs conservatrices ont aujourd’hui tendance à gagner du terrain chez les jeunes. En Pologne, 30 % des électeurs de moins de 30 ans ont soutenu le parti d’extrême-droite Confédération, contre 18,5 % en 2019. Entre dédiabolisation sur les réseaux sociaux et miroitage d’un futur chatoyant, les partis d’extrême-droite ont su séduire la génération Z qui oublie
l’histoire des générations passées. « La folie, c’est de faire toujours la même chose et de s’attendre à un résultat différent. » Notre monde est alors devenu fou. Ses sages mots prononcés par Einstein semblent avoir été oubliés tout autant que l’histoire de notre continent. Très souvent, les gens vous diront que l’extrême-droite n’a jamais été au pouvoir et que « tant qu’on n’a pas goûté, on ne peut savoir si on aime ». Pourtant, l’extrême-droite a été au pouvoir plus d’une fois en Europe. Avez-vous déjà oublié Pétain et le régime de Vichy ? Hitler n’était-il pas un nazi convaincu blâmant et exterminant une partie de sa population pour les problèmes du pays ? L’Espagne franquiste n’a-t-elle pas participé aux violences continuelles faites aux femmes et à la propagande promouvant la famille patriarcale ?
L’histoire sert à se rappeler pour ne pas reproduire les erreurs du passé. Alors n’oublions pas de regarder derrière nous.
CRA Spokesperson Answers All Your Tax Questions
By Leanne Eyre Section Editor
It’s mid-March, which means it’s not only exam season, but also tax season! With the April 30th deadline fast approaching, balancing finals, job applications, and filing taxes is naturally overwhelming–especially considering taxes aren’t something we’re taught in school. Where do you even start? What resources are available? What’s new for the 2024 tax season? How do you handle tax slips, reporting income, credits, deductions and scams?
To get all these answers and more, I interviewed Daria Askerko, a communications manager at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and T1 filing seasons spokesperson for individual income tax returns. I divided our discussion by headings so you can quickly find the answers you need.
What tax changes should students be aware of?
1. New Reporting Requirement for Platform Economy Incomy
If you earn money through app-based work (such as Instagram, UberEats, DoorDash, YouTube, etc.), platform operators are now required to report that income to the CRA. Since this income is taxable, you must ensure it’s included in your tax return.
2. Extended Deadline for Claiming Charitable Donations
Typically, charitable donations can only be claimed for the tax year in which they were made. However, for the 2024 tax return, donations made up until February 18, 2025, can still be claimed.
3. Increased Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit
If you’re a volunteer firefighter, the amount you can claim on your tax return has doubled from $3,000 to $6,000—provided you completed at least 200 hours of eligible volunteer service during the year.
Common tax slips and where to find them?
Tax slips are issued by the organization responsible for the income or expense in question. Tax slips should be available in your CRA My Account, but if you’re still waiting on a slip, you’ll need to contact the issuer directly. Here’s some common tax slips for students:
- T4 (Employment Income) - issued by your employer
- T2202 (Tuition Fees) - provided by your university or college
- T4A (Scholarships and Bursaries) - issued by the scholarship provider
- T5 (Investment Income) - sent by your bank or financial institution
If you’re unsure what applies to you, the P105–Students and Income Tax is a great resource, outlining everything students may need to file their taxes correctly (additional resources and information on tax clinics to come).
What income needs to be reported?
If you’ve been juggling a part-time job, a paid internship, or even earning money through scholarships or side gigs, you might be wondering—what actually needs to be reported on your tax return?
The short answer: Most income is taxable. This includes employment wages, tips, investment income, payments from a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), and most scholarships, bursaries, and grants. If something isn’t taxable, you’ll usually be informed. Also don’t forget to report any income earned through platforms and apps (like UberEats, DoorDash, or even social media monetization). If you made money from it, the CRA wants to know!
If you’re ever not sure if something counts, play it safe–call the CRA contact center at 1-800-959-8281 or chat with an agent through My Account. It’s always better to check than to run into issues later!
image: Statista
ISSUES IDEAS &
CRA Spokesperson Answers All Your Tax Questions (continued)
By Leanne Eyre Section Editor
What tax-free payments or benefits could students be eligible for?
There are several, here are a few to keep in mind: - GST/HST Tax Credit: a tax-free payment to help offset the taxes you pay on everyday pur chases
Canada Carbon Rebate: formerly known as the Climate Action Incentive Payment, this is another taxfree benefit.
- Canada Child Benefit: if you’re receiving it, good news, it’s not taxable and doesn’t need to be reported on your tax return.
- Scholarships and Bursaries: some may qualify for the scholarship exemption, meaning they aren’t taxable. In this case, it will typically be noted on the slip you receive from the issuer.
- Lottery Winnings: if you’re a lucky winner, you’re in luck again! Any lottery winnings are not taxable in Canada.
- Gifts and Inheritances: most are tax-free, so you don’t need to report them on your income tax return.
What tax credits and deductions should students know about?
These are some tax credits and deductions you might not even realize you can claim. They can help lower your tax burden or even result in a refund:
1. Tuition Tax Credit: This credit reduces the amount of tax you owe based on the tuition you’ve paid to an educational institution. If you’re not working yet, or don’t owe a lot of taxes, you can choose to carry forward this credit to future years when you start earning a higher income. Even if you plan to claim the credits against your income in the future, it’s good to file every year to keep track of the tuition you’ve paid. Alternatively, you can transfer the credit to a family member, so they can claim it on their return instead.
2. Disability Tax Credit: This non-refundable tax credit can reduce your taxes and is quite common in Canada for individuals with a disability. If you’re under 18, you may qualify for an additional amount, and any unused amount can be transferred to a supporting family member.
3. Moving Expenses: If you moved at least 40 kilometers closer to your educational institution, you could potentially claim moving expenses. Just keep in mind that you have to have earned income and paid taxes on it to receive these income deductions.
What about international students?
International students are also eligible for certain credits and benefits from the CRA. Firstly, you’ll need to obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada, before applying for the benefits and credits that you’re eligible for, such as the GST/HST credit, the Canada Carbon Rebate, or the Canada Child Benefit. It’s important to note that during your first year in Canada, you can fill out special forms to begin receiving these tax credits, even before having filed your first tax return. For more details about how to apply for a SIN, contact Service Canada, and to learn more about which benefits and credits you’re eligible for as an international student, contact the CRA at 1-800-959-8281.
What resources can students turn to for help?
The CRA is committed to helping Canadians do their taxes on their own, especially those with a moderate income or students, who often have a simple tax situation. Here are several key resources available on Canada.ca that Daria highlighted in particular:
- Get ready to do your taxes: A great starting point for first-time filers, offering essential guidance on how to file your tax return.
- Q & A about filing your taxes: This section outlines what’s new for 2024 and answers common questions to make the process smoother.
- Learn about your taxes: A free online course designed to help students and taxpayers understand personal income taxes. It’s perfect if you want to confidently tackle your tax return for the first time.
- Taxology Podcast: For podcast enthusiasts, the CRA’s podcast is an engaging and informative way to learn about taxes.
- Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP): Volunteers across Canada offer free tax clinics for individuals with simple tax situations. To find a clinic near you, visit the Free Tax Clinics or the CVITP page on Canada.ca.
What are common errors students make when filing?
These are some tax credits and deductions you Here are some of the most frequent errors, so you can avoid them:
1. Not reporting all income: It’s essential to report every source of income, including tips and income from working for a platform or an app.
2. Late filing or payment: If you owe taxes, filing late can result in a penalty. Filing online is the quickest and easiest method, and it minimises penalties. Even if you can’t pay the full amount, don’t delay! File online by April 30th, so that you will avoid the late filing penalty and only incur interest on the balance until you pay it.
3. Not Keeping Records: Always keep track of supprtorting documents for your claims as a student such as tuition fees, moving expenses, and medical costs. Make sure you have all the necessary receipts and forms filled out before claiming any credits or expenses, and keep backups for at least six years (in paper form or saved on your computer). Even if the slips are available on My Account, it’s possible the CRA could ask for additional information, in which case you want to be prepared.
How to avoid tax scams?
Tax scams are becoming increasingly common. If you receive a suspicious call, email, or message from someone claiming to be from the CRA, keep these things in mind:
- No aggressive language: The CRA will never use threatening language, demand immediate payment or threaten to arrest you.
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- No prepaid credit card or cryptocurrencies: The CRA doesn’t accept payments by gift cards, prepaid credit cards, or Bitcoin. If someone asks for payment this way, it’s a clear sign of a scam.
- Legitimate CRA emails: The CRA does send emails, but only to notify you to log into My Account to check for messages. There would never be a direct link asking for financial information or offering refunds or deposits.
- SMS/Text scams: The CRA will never ask for personal or financial information through text.
- Verifying a phone call: While the CRA does contact taxpayers by phone, it’s always okay to be cautious. If you’re unsure about a call, note down the name and location of the person claiming to be from the CRA and reach out to the CRA’s contact center to verify it’s legitimate. Alternatively, you could check My Account to see if there’s a balance owing.
If you were a victim of fraud, report it to your local police service. There are many resources on Canada. ca to help you easily detect and avoid scams and frauds. So stay informed and be cautious
What is My Account and what are its benefits?
My Account is an online portal in your CRA account, offering a user-friendly way to manage your tax information. If you haven’t yet registered, it’s now easier than ever. Simply upload a government-issued ID (passport, driver’s licence or provincial ID), and you’ll get instant access. Over 1 million people are already enjoying this service!
No one likes spending time on hold, especially during the busy filing season. With My Account, you can skip the wait and chat directly with a CRA agent to ask questions about your personal income tax, benefits, payments, and more. You can also access your income tax slips, check the status of your assessment, track the status of tax returns, benefits and credits, and even submit an adjustment request (if you need to correct something from previous tax returns). Lastly, My Account allows you to check your TFSA and RRSP contribution room, helping you stay on top of your savings and investments.
Final Advice?
Everyone is encouraged to file online by April 30th and register for My Account. You should also ensure your address, marital status, personal and banking information are up to date before you file. This can all be done using My Account. For more information, head to the Tax Literacy section on Canada.ca for resources to guide you through the tax filing process and make sure you’re prepared for filing season.
I hope you found this article helpful as you prepare for tax season. It was an honor to interview Daria Askerko as part of the CRA’s annual campaign to promote income tax filing and financial literacy. After receiving advice from a trusted professional, I know I feel more confident and well-equipped with the resources and guidance to get started. Wishing you the best as you tackle your own tax filing. Welcome to the responsibilities of adulthood!
Dear Pro Tem—MY Pro Tem,
How do you say goodbye to something that has been your home, your challenge, your inspiration, and your greatest friend? Maybe this isn’t goodbye. Maybe it’s just a “see you later.” I don’t know what the future holds, with graduation on the horizon and life waiting beyond it. But I do know this: no matter where I go, you will always be a part of me.
Three years. Three years of stories, of late-night edits, of frantic WhatsApp messages, of moments when it felt like we were holding the paper together with sheer willpower (and maybe a little caffeine). Three years of growth, of leadership, of learning what it means to have a voice and to use it. I started as a section editor, became a bilingual journalist, returned to section editing, and finally took on the role of Editor-in-Chief. Through it all, Pro Tem, you held me. You challenged me. You gave me space to rise.
Thank you for giving me my Gilmore Girls Rory Gilmore moment—minus the whole dropping out of Yale downfall arc (to be determined). Thank you for seeing something in me before I saw it in myself. Thank you for letting me lead, letting me stumble, letting me grow.
To the writers who poured their passion into every article, to the editors who shaped raw words into stories, to the readers who reminded us why we did this—thank you. You are the heart of Pro Tem, and you always will be.
No matter where life takes me, I will always be yours. My bylines, my memories, my heart—they all belong to you.
With all my love, always,
Amie Sosa (Editor-in-Chief)
Signing off.
Cher Pro Tem—MON Pro Tem,
Comment dire au revoir à quelque chose qui a été mon refuge, mon défi, mon inspiration et mon plus grand ami ? Peut-être que ce n’est pas un adieu. Peut-être juste un « à bientôt. » Je ne sais pas ce que l’avenir me réserve, avec la graduation qui approche et la vie qui m’attend au-delà. Mais je sais une chose : où que j’aille, tu feras toujours partie de moi.
Trois ans. Trois ans d’articles, de révisions nocturnes, de messages frénétiques sur WhatsApp , de moments où on avait l’impression de tenir le journal avec de la volonté pure (et peut-être un peu de caféine). Trois ans de croissance, de leadership, d’apprentissage sur ce que signifie avoir une voix et l’utiliser. J’ai commencé comme rédactrice de section, je suis devenue journaliste bilingue, je suis revenue à l’édition, et enfin, j’ai eu le privilège d’être rédactrice en chef. À travers tout cela, Pro Tem, tu m’as portée. Tu m’as mise à l’épreuve. Tu m’as donné l’espace de m’élever.
Merci de m’avoir offert mon moment Gilmore Girls à la Rory Gilmore—sans l’arc tragique de l’abandon de Yale (ça reste à voir). Merci d’avoir cru en moi avant même que je ne croie en moi-même. Merci de m’avoir laissée diriger, trébucher, grandir.
Aux rédacteurs qui ont mis leur passion dans chaque article, aux éditeurs qui ont transformé des mots bruts en histoires, aux lecteurs qui nous rappellent pourquoi nous faisons tout cela—merci. Vous êtes le cœur de Pro Tem, et vous le serez toujours.
Peu importe où la vie me mène, je serai toujours à toi. Mes signatures, mes souvenirs, mon cœur—ils t’appartiennent.
Avec tout mon amour, toujours,
Amie Sosa (Rédactrice en chef)
Je tire ma révérence.
By Amie Sosa Editor in Chief
Par Amie Sosa Rédactrice en chef
drawing: Christina Savoiardo