The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper and alternative press for the Fraser Valley. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting and is overseen by The Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority.The Cascade is published every other Wednesday with a print circulation of 800 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.
In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief and the corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length and will not print any articles or be a platform for any contributor or contractor who has shared racist, sexist, homophobic, or libellous content online in any form. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.
The Cascade is published on the traditional, unceded territory of the Stó:lō peoples. We are grateful to be able to work and learn on this beautiful land.
As we move into our last month of summer, we here at The Cascade are celebrating our final issue of the season.
Having recently returned from a three week trip to Rome, Italy where I was volunteering and consuming nothing but spritzes and pasta while basking in the blistering heat, it was a bit of a shock returning to my small town roots. But I found comfort in being back here at the paper, and finally settling into my new role as Managing Editor.
The experience of being in another country, immersed in a new culture, interacting with people from a different walk of life was a special kind of magic, one that I hope everyone is so fortunate as to experience at least once. However, if this isn’t in the cards for you right now, welcome to The Cascade! Here you can discover culture, art, news, diverse opinions, and more without leaving your home.
If you want to get involved in your own community, check out a list of volunteer opportunities right here in the Fraser Valley on page 19. And if you prefer to read about what’s happening in our local culture scene, find a piece discussing Abbotsford public art policy on page 19. Our Opinion section is alive with hot takes this issue. For a vibrant thought experiment you can visit page 8 to see what it would be like if aliens touched down. Or if you’re feeling especially nostalgic this summer, discover the science behind why on page 9.
As federal headlines continue to churn, our News section is brimming with the latest. Learn more about the newly assented Bill C-5 on page 4 with an article featuring two prominent local voices, Associate Professor Dr. Michael Batu and Anna Johnston, staff lawyer for West Coast Environmental Law. And to see how you can learn more about our world history and various cultures this fall at UFV, meet Dr. Katherine Godfrey on page 5.
If you’re looking to experience a new world from the comfort of your own home — or just escape temporarily — discover Split Fiction on page 22. For any thrillseekers out there, let the F1: The Movie review on page 23 inspire you to visit your local cinema.
If you want a change without major commitment, try spicing up your wardrobe for the last bits of summer with some inspiration from our fashion column on page 17 inspired by the infamous Vogue editor, Anna Wintour.
Then for all of you like me who are ready to sit back and tan with an ice cold drink, try one that matches your astrological sign with help from a special Madame LaCarte feature that you can find on pages 11-14.
Whether it’s booking a last minute getaway, updating your style, or trying a new summer activity, remember to take time for yourself before the fall semester rolls in. We hope that as you do, you can find some comfort within our pages.
Editorial // Postcard from The Cascade Cassie
B.C.// NATIONAL //
Purdys carried at local grocers in response to U.S. tariffs
NEWS BRIEFS News // Harvard vs. Trump: the battle between academia and power
On July 9, 2025, Purdys Chocolatier favourites hit the shelves in popular grocer Save-On-Foods. For the first time in the company’s 118 years of operation, customers can find a small selection of their popular products somewhere other than main retail locations. This monumental move comes off the back of the “Buy Canadian” movement, which began as a response to the tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump placed on Canadian goods.
In January, the Canadian company discovered a large spike in sales as buyers began to consciously seek out products made in Canada. This prompted them to respond by making their products more available to customers as explained by Lawrence Eade, president of Purdys Chocolatier.
“This heightened interest made it a natural decision to explore new retail avenues, allowing Purdys Chocolatier to be present in even more communities across Canada.”
As of right now, only Peanut Butter Bars, Mint Chocolate bars, Salted Butter Toffee bars and the famous Hedgehogs are being sold in grocery stores across Western Canada.
On June 3, 2025, the Liberal government brought forward their proposed Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act. This 16 part omnibus bill includes multiple goals focused on strengthening Canadian and United States border security measures with a focus on transnational crime, fentanyl flow across the border, and money laundering.
Critics such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, have called for a withdrawal of the bill, stating that it is a “multipronged assault on… basic human rights and freedoms.”
The bill would bypass authorities’ legal requirement for a warrant when collecting information from service providers during investigative measures surrounding border security. Some immigration experts have called it anti-immigration and anti-refugee because of the proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The bill also allows authorities to make immediate changes to immigration documents and applications and alter the timeline of a refugee’s ability to claim asylum in Canada.
Federal officials defend the bill, claiming that it is Charter compliant and is needed to keep pace with the changing crime landscape, enabling authorities to respond quickly in urgent circumstances.
Lena Metlege Diab, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, also defended the bill, claiming that it will help manage the large number of applications they receive.
How politics can affect the future of academic institutions.
PRATI KAPOOR
Dr. Noah Schwartz is an assistant professor in the Political Science department at UFV, with research interests in politics and social movements. In an interview with The Cascade, he shared his understanding on the political battle between Harvard University and the White House.
This past April, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, intensifying a political battle against the U.S. president over policies that threatened its federal funding, international student enrollment, and tax-exempt status.
Schwartz reflected on what made Harvard a perfect target.
“Harvard is seen as the symbol of American academia, alongside Columbia and Yale, and all these other Ivy League schools.”
international students are crucial for the university as they keep them afloat during inflation.
“Universities have used international students to make up for the fact that governments aren’t giving them enough money they need to operate.”
Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that the decision to remove Harvard’s tax-exempt status was justified.
“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!”
Schwartz commented that this clash is reflective of the divide between conservative political movements and academics.
Pride prohibited but not silenced
On Mar. 18, the Hungarian government banned Pride events stating the intention was to protect children, which has sparked both local and international outrage. Under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s leadership, a law was enforced that restricted public expressions of anything LGBTQ+, including the banning of the annual Pride parade. Many who opposed the law have argued they were part of a push to silence marginalized communities. This has led to public protests on the streets as well as parliament members enacting colourful demonstrations.
Despite this pride ban and several threats and attempts to discourage people, hundreds of thousands marched on June 28 in Budapest’s largest-ever Pride display, according to the President of Budapest Pride, Viktória Radványi.
“We believe there are 180,000 to 200,000 people attending … It is hard to estimate because there have never been so many people at Budapest Pride.”
In the face of the oppression and risking a year in prison, Hungarians attended and turned the parade into a peaceful protest against Orbán’s authoritarian government. This year’s parade marks its 30th anniversary.
The event drew support from EU officials, foreign diplomats, and human rights groups, highlighting growing resistance to Hungary’s suppression of LGBTQ+ rights and civil liberties.
SKY S. TERRONES
DARIEN JOHNSEN
A disaster prevented: Sumas Mountain fire
On July 8, a human-made fire on Sumas Mountain in Abbotsford spread rapidly, destroying a garage. However, a larger catastrophe was averted because of the aid of a ground crew and helicopters that BC Wildfire Service sent.
According to The Abbotsford News, around 0.1 hectares were consumed by fire. However, by the evening, the firefighters successfully contained it. They dropped buckets of water to help extinguish the flames as swiftly as possible, thermal imaging was used on hotspots to ensure public safety, and a full blown wildfire was avoided.
Abbotsford Deputy Fire Chief Brad Gaudette stated that the situation could have been much worse.
“We’re very lucky that it’s happened at a time when there’s not a lot of wildfires around the province yet, so we were able to get a quick response from BC Wildfire.”
Fortunately, no deaths were recorded during the fire and 12 people were successfully evacuated. While the investigation is still being conducted, it was confirmed that this was a man-made fire.
He added that this target was scrutinized when the former Harvard President Claudine Gay gave her congressional testimony on anti-semitism and faced backlash. Her testimony sparked criticism on Harvard’s ability to protect Jewish students on campus.
Schwartz further elaborated on the controversy with Gay.
“She gave a very legalistic answer to a question that was very emotional … They dredged up a whole bunch of dirt on her, passed plagiarism allegations, and she ended up having to resign because of it.
I think that also put a target on Harvard’s back, from the perspective of the Trump administration and the Republicans.”
It all began when Harvard turned down the administration’s demands for changes in their governance policies for continued federal funding. In retaliation, the government took multiple actions, including freezing around $2.2 billion in research grants and $60 million in multiyear contract value to the school. As universities like Harvard rely primarily on the government for their fundings, these freezes have forced them to halt valuable research in subjects including cancer and heart diseases.
Kristi Noem, United States secretary of homeland security, also removed Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program Certification, which takes away their ability to enroll international students and forces existing students to transfer schools, leave the country, or lose their legal status. Schwartz said that
“Trump is doing this because it will get his base excited, because they have been programmed over the past 40 years plus to think that academics are all … Liberals and Democrats that are brainwashing our young people.”
Schwartz added that Trump is using the feud for his political gain by distracting them from the fact that his economic policies aren’t going well and that his immigration policies are unpopular.
He also highlighted how the core mission of Harvard is at risk here.
“If universities can’t be places where freedom of speech is prioritized, where people have the right to assemble and protest freely, and where researchers and scholars have the opportunity to speak truth to power and not fear political repercussions for telling the government something that [it] doesn’t want to hear. If we lose that, then I think we lose something very important in academia and in society.”
Schwartz put emphasis on the extended consequences of the battle.
“It’s going to ultimately harm America’s ability to be the leader of science and innovation in the world, but it has been. And it’s going to hurt their university’s ability to retain the best talent in the world.”
Schwartz pointed out that Canada has the advantage as they are very well positioned to use the battle as an opportunity to bring in more talent from across the globe.
“This is an opportunity for us to attract the best and brightest minds in the world who want to find the American dream in Canada, where I think it’s actually easier to live [it] here than in the United States.”
ANNA MCCAUSLAND
GAURI SETHI
Canada // Constitutional showdown
First Nations and environmental advocates raise the alarm over the bill’s implications
SKY S. TERRONES
Dr. Michael Batu is an associate professor in the economics department at UFV and former economist for the Government of Ontario. Anna Johnston, LLM, is a West Coast Environmental Law (WCEL) staff lawyer.
On June 26, Bill C-5 — the “One Canadian Economy Act” — received Royal Assent, officially becoming law. Its sweeping powers to fast-track projects while bypassing environmental safeguards and Indigenous consultation have triggered backlash from First Nations and environmental advocates. The Cascade spoke with Johnston and Batu about the bill’s potential implications.
Bill C-5 both smooths out labour mobility across provinces, and gives the cabinet power to greenlight “national interest” projects — like pipelines and ports — without following certain federal rules.
Johnston commented that the bill dismantles environmental legal protections that have been fought for decades.
“We have been working for decades to build Canada’s environmental legal safety net, and Bill C-5 circumvents those laws that we’ve fought long and hard to secure for people.”
Batu stated that it’s essential to consider the context of the bill and argued that Canada’s slow approval process hinders productivity. However, Johnston said that Indigenous consultation and public involvement are a constitutional obligation and the foundation of good governance.
“The duty to consult that exists because of the Crown’s fiduciary duty and the constitutionally affirmed rights of Indigenous peoples, that’s not red tape. That’s a constitutional imperative …
World //
[and] it’s a pillar of our democracy for the public to have a say about major issues that affect them.”
She pointed out a 2024 study in FACETS that showed most delays in mining and infrastructure projects come from market forces, not government processes. Johnston argued there are smarter ways to improve efficiency — like expert panels or early public engagement — without gutting accountability.
“Bill C-5 takes a sledgehammer to a problem that needs a little bit of tinkering around the edges.”
Batu commented that trade between provinces has lagged behind international trade for decades, and mobility barriers remain. He believes these changes are long overdue and pointed out that the bill’s efforts to ease domestic trade are crucial, especially in a post-tariff, protectionist era. The bill aims to fix that by removing internal barriers and making it easier for workers to move between provinces without recertifying their credentials.
Johnston isn’t opposed in principle to breaking down trade barriers between provinces, but warns that automatically accepting different provincial standards could weaken protections for the environment, worker safety, and public health.
Most controversy has focused on the “Building Canada Act” portion of the bill, which bypasses environmental laws and Indigenous consultation. Batu acknowledged the tension and said he understands where the criticism is coming from.
“For me, as an economist, I see their point. I also see the point of development, because we really need it. So, we have to balance things.”
He reasoned that living in poverty isn’t an option for a wealthy country like Canada. He believes the key is finding
“Indigenous peoples have constitutionally enshrined rights that have to be respected.”
middle ground — investing in projects and setting aside part of the revenue to fund future innovations, especially technologies that support environmental sustainability.
Johnston doesn’t dismiss the importance of transformative investments that could shield Canada from economic pressures and sees opportunity in projects that grow industries, create jobs, and move the country forward. However, Johnston urged Canadians to consider the project’s long-lasting environmental, social, and economic repercussions for future generations.
On July 15, nine First Nations launched a constitutional challenge against C-5, and Ontario’s comparable Bill 5 — warning both bills threaten land, water, and treaty obligations.
Johnston emphasized how these bills undermine Indigenous rights.
“Indigenous peoples have constitutionally enshrined rights that have to be respected. One of the fundamental problems with Bill C-5 is that it allows [the] government to make decisions, and in fact, encourages government to make decisions without adequately consulting, let alone securing a free fire and informed
consent of Indigenous people.”
Johnston expressed frustration that Indigenous peoples are again forced to lead the pushback, rather than being meaningfully included by the government. She also criticized the rushed drafting of the bill, which was tabled, passed, and received Royal Assent within five weeks after the Liberals took office.
Batu agreed it was an unusually fast legislative process for a bill with such sweeping implications.
“This kind of law deserved a little bit of discussion, which I think was denied to some people.”
Chief Angela Levasseur from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation highlighted during a summit in Gatineau how Canada’s push to fast-track development contradicts the original spirit of the treaty relationships.
“We were promised a treaty relationship based on peace, mutual respect and the sharing of this land and its resources; instead, we are watching as Canada enacts new legislation to fast-track development on our territories while the promises made to us over a century ago remain broken.”
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
The 12-day Israel-Iran war — is it over?
UFV political science professor on Iran-Israel War
SKY S. TERRONES
Dr. Noah Schwartz is an assistant professor in the political science department at UFV, and author of On Target: Gun Culture, Storytelling, and the NRA (2022).
On June 12-13, Israel launched a surprise strike on Iranian nuclear sites and senior military officials, sparking a wave of retaliatory attacks. The 12-day war escalated quickly, leaving hundreds dead — mostly in Iran. Pakistan voiced
support for Iran, while President Donald Trump ordered U.S. airstrikes on Iranian targets. After nearly two weeks of intense exchanges, both sides agreed to a ceasefire on June 24. However, whether the truce holds is still up in the air. Dr. Schwartz shared with The Cascade his insight on the matter.
Reflecting on the conflict’s surprising yet unsurprising nature, Schwartz noted that these threats began during the Bush era. He commented that, despite the
sudden news of the strike, it was a logical move by Israel, given Iran’s longstanding ideological rhetoric portraying Israel as illegitimate and destabilizing.
“A red line for Israel for a long time is Iran attaining a functional nuclear programme, because the leadership of Iran has made it clear they’re committed to the annihilation of the State of Israel. So, if a state has said that their goal is to wipe you out, [then] them having a nuclear programme is not in your national
best interest.”
Schwartz also suggested that these strikes came at a fitting time, due to Trump’s lack of scrutiny toward Israel.
“Under Trump, you just don’t have those same checks and balances that you did under Biden, so I think [Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu saw that this was his opportunity to achieve this foreign policy goal.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 04
According to Schwartz, the war didn’t drag on likely because neither Iran nor Israel benefited from it. Schwartz also explained that Iran had already suffered significant military losses, and continuing the conflict risked turning public anger into regime collapse.
“Iran was getting pulverized, so they wanted the war to end as soon as possible, especially because the regime there has been increasingly unpopular.”
He added that Israel’s military success also came at a high economic cost. Schwartz emphasized that defending against thousands of rockets isn’t just dangerous but also extremely expensive.
“Their Iron Dome missile system and their other defence systems are just unfathomably expensive … Everybody involved had an incentive to stop fighting, and I think that’s why we saw the ceasefire happen so quickly.”
Regarding the stability of the ceasefire, Schwartz pointed out that Netanyahu’s
“Carney is playing a
delicate game”
leadership has shown to be unpredictable and politically fragile, which fuels the arguments that a prolonged conflict may serve as a strategic means to keep himself in power and avoid facing pending corruption charges — similar to Trump. Despite claims of the success of the operation, recent reports argued that it only stalled Iran’s nuclear program for months, not years. Iran also halted cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Schwartz said these factors could trigger a wider conflict.
“If there’s evidence that the damage
wasn’t that effective and that they’re able to reboot their program quickly, Israel will clearly want to make sure that that doesn’t happen, which could create an opportunity for further escalation.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged both sides to ease tensions, and encouraged peaceful negotiations.
“Canada reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself and to ensure its security. We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and move towards a diplomatic resolution.”
This sparked outrage and controversy as it shifted away from his previous condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Schwartz commented that Carney is walking a fine line — trying to win back Jewish support while not alienating Canada’s growing, pro-Palestinian Muslim population, all while shifting the Liberal Party back toward a more political centre. He added that U.S.-Canada talks might have also influenced Carney’s public stance.
“Carney is playing a delicate game
… Trump keeps trying to find excuses to break [negotiations] off in order to get more concessions from Canada. I think part of Carney’s calculation was, ‘Oh, is it worth risking antagonizing Trump over this when Canada realistically doesn’t have a huge role in this conflict.”
Schwartz said it was hard to judge whether it was the right move without access to the intelligence behind it and referred to it as playing high-stakes chess in fast-forward.
“I’m very happy that I don’t have to make that decision. Let’s put it that way.”
Being attentive to the conflicts can be debilitating, and Schwartz shared advice on how to avoid being brought down while staying informed.
“Treat reportage like your vegetables and commentary like chips — it’s ok to have some chips from time to time… but you want to make sure you’re eating your vegetables, too.”
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
UFV // Professor Profile: Dr. Katherine Godfrey arrives on campus
Get to know UFV’s latest Latin American history professor
CAITLYN CARR
Dr. Katherine Godfrey is an assistant professor in the history department at UFV.
As of September 2025, Godfrey will begin teaching courses in Latin American history at UFV. She spoke with The Cascade about her teaching style, her passion for travelling, and what she hopes to bring to UFV.
Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Godfrey eventually moved to Pennsylvania and received her doctorate from Penn State University (PSU) in 2022. When asked what prompted her decision to leave the United States and work in Canada, Godfrey explained that she was drawn to UFV’s more intimate class sizes and the idea of a new experience.
“I looked up the university [and] I was immediately attracted to the smaller size of it … It was this triple whammy of [a] new adventure, an institution that
“There is no one Latin America. There are many Latin Americas”
seemed really appealing to me in terms of its mission, and then [it being the] West Coast. I’ve never had a West Coast experience before.”
An avid traveller, Godfrey has been to several countries including Colombia, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, France, and Germany. Godfrey shared how travelling has not only benefited her academically, but personally as well.
“When I went and did research for the first time in Spain, I got to meet people from all over the world who were just really cool, interesting, and smart.”
Reflecting on what sparked her interest in Latin American history, Godfrey shared that her childhood environment mixed with her drive to learn new languages and see the world all played a part.
“Being from Florida, my earliest memories involve the Spanish language … I’ve been surrounded by Latin American history and cultures for as long as I can remember.”
Godfrey recently travelled to Seville, Spain, to work on an extension of her dissertation entitled, Matrilineal Routes: Indigenous Kinship Networks, Gender, and Mobility in Early Modern Colombia. She shared that the trip allowed her to examine the manuscript through an Imperial lens by exploring how Indigenous cities have paid tribute to the Crown and how Indigenous peoples
have adapted to and survived Imperial pressures since Spain’s colonization of Central and South America.
“It allowed me to gain a broader picture of what the historical and political context was for the questions that I’m asking in the book, which is about matrilineal kinship networks.”
According to Godfrey, a common misconception she often encounters about Latin America is the belief that all its countries are the same, explaining that this mindset overlooks the region’s rich cultural, historical, and political diversity.
“There is no one Latin America. There are many Latin Americas … You have to go region by region, country by country, ethnic group by ethnic group, racial group by racial group. It’s overwhelming, the way that I’m describing it, and that’s because it is, but just because it’s overwhelming doesn’t mean it’s not worth studying.”
When asked what students gain from learning about Latin American history, Godfrey emphasized the importance of studying topics such as how many Latin American dictatorships have both gained and lost their power, and how marginalized groups have struggled to achieve human rights. Additionally, Godfrey explained that students can learn much from Latin America’s unique environmental history.
“It can be a blueprint for dealing with
environmental disasters happening in Canada or anywhere else in the globe. So it’s looking at questions and problems in a specific place, but knowing that there’s a framework for how you can apply it to other regions.”
Regarding what students can expect when they walk into Godfrey’s classroom, she described her teaching style as quite informal, aiming to turn what might otherwise feel dull or tedious into something engaging.
“I want the classes I teach to be informative, to be useful, rigorous but approachable [and] I want students to feel excited to come to class.”
Godfrey is interested in one day introducing a Latin American film course at UFV and taking students on trips to Latin American countries, especially Colombia.
“Colombia is the most familiar to me, but I think [wherever] students’ interests lie, and where the university has an interest in forging more institutional ties, I’m your girl. I’ll do it.”
Students interested in learning more about Latin American history from Godfrey can take HIST/LAS 161: “Aztecs, Mayas, and Spaniards,” HIST/LAS 358: “African Slavery in the Americas,” and HIST/LAS 458: “History of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America” in the upcoming fall semester.
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Dr. Noah Schwartz on his new book
An in-depth look at gun control in Canada
RACHEL TAIT
Dr. Noah Schwartz is an assistant professor of political science at UFV. He has also written a book titled On Target: Gun Culture, Storytelling, and the NRA published in 2022.
Targeted: Citizenship, Advocacy, and Gun Control in Canada (2025), is Dr. Schwartz’s second book that delves deeper into the subject of gun control in Canada and its effects on gun owners and collectors. He spoke with The Cascade about the policies, writing challenges, and how the book is relevant to students.
What inspired this book?
I had been doing research on gun politics in the United States … and while I was doing that research, there was the horrific mass killing in Nova Scotia, which prompted a lot of discussions about gun policy in Canada. That got me interested in how Canada makes gun control policy, which voices are included at the table, and how different advocacy groups participate in the conversation..
What is Targeted about?
The book looks at the community of gun owners in Canada and the advocacy that they participate in. It looks at who owns guns in Canada [and] why did people in Canada own guns? John Tory, the former
mayor of Toronto, famously asked why does anyone in Canada need a gun? So I tried to answer that question in the book.
What did you find most interesting?
One of the most interesting things is getting the insider scoop on how lobbying works. I got to talk to lobbyists and find out how it actually goes down on Parliament Hill. But also at the individual level it was really interesting to understand how guns and the activities around gun ownership, like hunting, sport shooting [and] collecting, form an important part of these small communities that aren’t really visible to people like me who come from big cities.
What was the most challenging part of the process?
I think the challenge is that I’m speaking to two very different groups with the project. On the one hand, my research subjects are members of the community of gun owners. A lot of my readers and the people that I’m pitching the book to are in the academic community … It’s trying to speak across that divide and talk to both communities in a way that they’ll understand.
You mention the purpose of the book is not to argue against gun control. Can you expand on this point?
I talk about the North American model of Wildlife Conservation and how the
government got hunters and anglers to pay for conserving wildlife in Canada through licensing fees and things like [that]. This is a huge public policy success because you’re harnessing the self-interest of people who are going to use these resources to be able to pay to conserve and maintain them. I think the government is missing an opportunity to do something similar with gun owners and public safety because [they] are so highly regulated.
What are the differences concerning gun control in Canada versus America?
The biggest structural difference in the U.S. [is that] they have a really hard time passing federal gun control laws, but there are a lot more gun control laws at the state level.
In Canada, it’s the same everywhere. Since the 1990s, we’ve had a stringent licensing system, so anyone wishing to buy a gun has to apply for a license. There’s a waiting period built in there, and you have to take one to two classes depending on what kind of firearms you want to own. You [also] have to pass a series of tests with an 80 per cent threshold.
What is Bill C-21?
[Bill] C-21 formalizes some of the things that the government had done by executive order, including banning several thousand models of rifles that the government labelled assault style weapons, and then also freezing handgun ownership … The stated purpose of C-21 is to try to keep handguns off of the streets in major urban centres where we’re seeing a lot of gun and gang crime. But the people who are caught in the crossfire of this are collectors.
How is the book relevant to students?
I think students feel the issue of gun control is very relevant to them because they’re watching people the same age as them, with the same life experiences as them in the United States being killed in school, which is horrible [and] shouldn’t happen to anyone … I think they’ll gain an appreciation of a really important political issue in Canada and maybe more of an understanding of that issue.
When will the book be published?
August 26th. You can pre-order it directly from the University of Toronto press website, Amazon or Indigo. Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
You’ve just finished your first class of the day and your second one doesn’t start for another hour. Sure, you could find a spot on campus to lock-in and get that assignment done, or relax in the Student Union Building with some grub from Fair Grounds, but I bet there’s one option you haven’t considered — revisiting your Pokémon Go addiction. Back when it was released in 2016, Pokémon Go was all the rage. Even though I didn’t start playing it until seven years later, I instantly understood the hype and was soon hooked. Seriously, I was playing it so much that for a split-second I once thought that a white and blue fire hydrant was a reallife Quaxly.
You can imagine my excitement the first time I opened the app at UFV to find three Gyms, two Power Spots, and over 10 PokéStops there. Now, anytime I’m on campus, you can bet I’m either catching Pokémon or fighting Team GO Rocket — and you can too. Whether you’re in-between classes, waiting for the shuttle, or making that long trek to Building K, just remember to watch where you’re going and have fun!
BY CAITLYN CARR
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Photo submitted by Dr. Noah Schwartz
The Environmentalist: from guilt to action
You feel powerless about the climate crisis and that’s by design
SNAPSHOT
It’s a bus ride, not a burden
I rely primarily on public transportation to get around for work, school, social events, and everything in between. I have found that when this comes up with those I’ll call “car people,” there is often pity or the assumption that them offering me a ride is saving me from a horrid fate. While I do not want to sound ungrateful for all the rides I have gotten, I would like to clear the record: I enjoy using public transit. Sure, it is inconvenient at times, and especially within the Fraser Valley, it’d be nice to have more options. But it is a time where I can let myself relax, stare out the window, read, listen to music, and journal without a care for much else. After social events, I look forward to a long bus ride home where I can recharge before getting home where work is inevitably waiting for me on my laptop. For me, it is not just about getting from one place to another as fast as I can. The long way home can sometimes be the most peaceful. There is rest in the journey.
BY KARA DUNBAR
Welcome to The Environmentalist, your column for understanding the natural world. Today we will explore an increasingly severe mental health problem related to the environment: climate anxiety.
When I check the weather, I don’t just dress for the heat of the summer, I prepare for what it means. Recordbreaking temperatures, dying forests, another species gone. Is it normal to feel this worried all the time? Well, no. But it is a reflection of our current climate crisis.
Eco-anxiety or climate anxiety, is a constant worry about the effects of climate change, and even though it is not classified as a mental illness, the distress it causes can lead to illness. I think most of us are conscious about how serious climate change is and how its various complications can make us feel hopeless, but is that all there is to it?
A study by The Lancet discovered that 84 per cent of young people from the ages of 16 to 25 are moderately worried about climate change, while 59 per cent of the same demographic are extremely worried. This eco-anxiety manifests in our collective consciousness, for example the word “flygskam,” which means flight shame. It is a Swedish movement that turned the guilt that people feel when taking local or short flights due to their environmental impact, into more sustainable ways of transportation such as taking trains. In this case, we can see that some guilt can actually help us take action.
Let’s talk about carbon footprint. This is the measurement of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly or indirectly by a single person.
FABIOLA CRUZ ALDERETE
Daily activities such as driving your car may increase it, but so do things like using water to brush your teeth. Peculiar, don’t you think? During the 2000’s, oil and gas mega corp BP popularized the term as part of an approximately $100 million US dollars marketing campaign. By doing this, they shifted the responsibility for the damage they were causing onto the consumer. This led to the term being used in the same way for companies as it is for a single person.
Now we face a bigger issue; climate change is not our fault as individuals, but that also means we don’t have as much agency over it as we think we do. We shouldn’t take this as another reason to fall into despair and lose hope, but as a
way to shift our focus from individually-based initiatives to community-based interventions.
Easier said than done, but don’t let your climate anxiety freeze you into inaction, or use it as an excuse to take three hour showers and leave the light on all night. Small actions have an impact even if it is minuscule compared to corporations. Actions such as volunteering, talking to our government representatives, and participating as a community can lead us into a better future, and the more the merrier. As the Lorax once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.” So, let’s care.
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Illustration by Chidubem Ekere / The Cascade
Could I be a pet?
If the Green Beings came, would I eat kibble?
MARIE-ANGE ROUTIER
Thought Experiment // OPINION SNAPSHOT
Before I start down this road, I want to preface it with a disclaimer: I do not believe nor am I arguing on the topic of humans owning other humans. This article is a philosophical thought experiment reflecting on the rationale and justification of the domestication of animals, such as cats and dogs, through the means of a fictional alien invasion. So here it goes…
Let’s say the Green Beings came down and started to leash us up and bring us back to their homes to be cared for and pampered like we do with cats and dogs. Would humans be better off as Alien pets rather than continuing to be left to our own devices? And please, if so, let’s stick to good ownership. We can all agree that abusing animals, like beating a dog or neglecting your cousin’s hamster would be just as unpleasant for Alien pets as it is for human pets.
When it comes to justifying pet ownership, the first thing I hear is that our furry friends depend on humans for survival.
Without us, they would eat trash, get sick, be without shelter, etc. But are we not as bad at acquiring those things for ourselves than our pets? I write this as my dog stares at me, because it’s not his feeding time yet, where he will eat the same dose of nutritious kibble he gets everyday. Without me, I assume he would eat chocolate or trash and end up sick. I, however, am eating my fifth bag of chips, while waiting for my McDonald’s order to be delivered. My other dog is a rescue, and I proudly say so to any who asks — and even to those who don’t. She was saved from the streets, and now has a warm bed. But if I didn’t work, would there be a bed for either of us? After all, I was homeless once. Would I be healthier and more comfortable under the care of the Green Beings? Is variety of taste a good enough sacrifice? We all seem to know what we should do for ourselves, but how many of us actually have the resolve to do so?
The next justification I’ve heard is that ownership of animals prevents overpopulation, which can lead to disease, starvation, and ecological disasters. Along the same argument, I’ve heard that animals left unchecked can become invasive and destructive. Hmmm, that kind of sounds familiar. Are we as humans not ravaging the environment with our incessant overconsumption? Are we really better than animals in that regard? Do we not invade and destroy? Would the Green Beings be able to better regulate our impact on the planet? Would they regulate the distribution of resources better than us?
There are more selfish reasons for
ownership as well; like the argument that I’ve heard people say about how our pets help us with companionship, mental health, and bring joy to our lives. But then I’m left to wonder why most cat owners I know are depressed, lonely, and well … not well. Even more selfish is the argument that domestication has allowed us to farm animals easier, reducing the need to hunt for nutrition. Of course cannibalism is wrong, but are we really sure we wouldn’t be a good source of nutrition for the Green Beings?
Lastly, there is the argument of safety, protection, and love. If my cat was left on his own, an eagle could swoop him up and eat him. Animals kill animals. With me, Minou is safe. But, humans kill humans too; there are entire bachelor programs on the study of our doing so throughout history. I commend those who chose to major in history, as for me? I don’t have enough anti-depressants to get me through it. My point is, would the Green Beings keep me safe from other humans? Would the love and care they give me feel more satisfying than my cat’s cold shoulder?
Sunshine and suffering
Truth is, I don’t know. It’s honestly a thought I have been playing with and can’t make up my mind on. My brain screams for free will and a variety of flavours, but as I look at my furry friends I am left to wonder: are they screaming for the free will to eat trash? Do I really know best? How would I feel in their paws? If I had someone else making all my decisions would I finally get over eight hours of sleep? Would you?
Ah, summer. The grass is greener, the birds are singing, the sun shines down on me — and with its glorious radiation, my seasonal depression, aka Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is triggered. SAD is commonly discussed during fall and winter, with countless articles on “how to beat winter blues.” But summertime blues? Rarer, lesser known, and just as brutal. I feel miserable all the time.
People laugh, of course. How can such a ‘perfect’ season bring such woe? Let me tell you: overpriced sunscreen, bugs EVERYWHERE, skin allergies, and 30 degrees turning a bus into a mobile sauna DEATH trap — I legit crashed out and nearly vomited from the heat. At least in winter, you can layer up. In summer, you can get butt-naked and still wither away as you slow-roast. My boiling point? Two weeks ago, when the sun set around 10:30 p.m., and the sunrise greeted me at 3:40 a.m. What the actual [redacted]? My sleep schedule? Obliterated. Thanks, Mother Nature.
Unfortunately, I have no solid advice. Hydrate like your life depends on it — because it does. Olaf from Frozen (2013) may dream of summer, but I’ll be over here, vibing to girl in red’s “summer depression.” Good riddance.
BY SKY S. TERRONES
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Illustration by Marie-Ange Routier / The Cascade
SNAPSHOT
The extraordinary every day
We spend so much of our lives waiting — to take the perfect photographs, to wear new clothes, to indulge in delicious desserts — but if we keep waiting, we miss out on so much. I find that many of us forget to honour the beauty of ordinary days.
Having fun isn’t, and shouldn’t be, limited to a number of days on the calendar, as Joan Didion presented an important reminder when she claimed that “every day is all there is.” I think special events should be appreciated when they roll around, but we don’t need to put our lives on hold, waiting for a big day to arrive. We should write cards for our friends outside of birthdays and go out for ice cream on weekday afternoons, just because we can.
The ordinary of every day can become extraordinary if we stop waiting for ‘the right time’ to do the things we want to do. Go out there and run a 10 minute errand in your nicest clothes, because life is more fun when each day is treated as a special occasion.
BY JASLEEN SANDHU
Lifestyle // More than a sweet tooth
Not being careful when indulging in the sweet can turn sour quickly
PRATI KAPOOR
Consuming sugar in excess is a bad idea, and although this is common knowledge by now, I feel like it is harder to put a stop to it than it sounds. Personally, I have struggled a lot with sugary cravings throughout my life. Over time, this became my personal addiction and it got the best of me. It used to make me feel anxious if I didn’t consume it. This year it has gotten better, but in the past, I easily fell for every sugary craving. Understanding why sugar has the potential to affect people in this way changed how I tackled my cravings.
For me, it began as a fondness for cakes. As a kid, during my summer breaks, I baked every other day since it was fun and harmless — that is what I assumed. Celebrating good news with desserts was a norm in my household — perhaps another excuse for me to devour sweets. I could eat an entire cake or a whole pack of chocolate in one sitting without batting an eye. I never perceived it as concerning because it brought me joy. Gradually, it became a part of my sad days as well. Every time I got sad, I would start to crave sweets. I realized nothing else could uplift my mood except that chocolate brownie I relentlessly craved for.
Emotional and psychological distress is strongly associated with emotional eating and high-sugar food intake, as well as lower levels of healthy eating habits. The science behind this is that sugar can
Lifestyle //
release dopamine — a feel good chemical in your brain — which puts you in a loop of consuming sugar, experiencing the dopamine hit, coming down from the hit, feeling low without it, and eventually wanting more. Sugar is an especially strong craving for many because when the body is under the effects of stress, the dopamine release resulting from consuming sugar temporarily makes it all feel better. I used to get happy and an instant energy boost, promptly followed by sluggishness and irritability. I always felt it was satisfying my hunger but it never did. Rather, it was feeding my emotions and my body kept asking for more.
I’m not telling you this to feel bad for me, but instead to share what unhealthy and repeated sugar indulgence can do to your body. I have loved brownies and cakes all my life and I still do because more than sweet treats, they are my emotional attachments. To cut cake with a candle on it to celebrate my big achievements, to devour a whole chocolate bar when I am going through an emotional turmoil — they are part of my story, and maybe yours too.
But as the saying goes, anything in excess is poison. The dopamine hit might explain the joy sugar brings but it does not justify the harms that slowly creep in. There are too many risks to consuming sugar in excess.
I am not saying I have stopped eating sugar, nor I am advising you to. I still enjoy my brownies but also recognize when it’s for joy and when it is for dopamine. It is okay to have it in small quantities without depending on it. I am also trying to consciously listen to my body before it gives up on me. My joy and wellbeing should not be restricted to a brownie, after all.
Earlier this year, I started experiencing mild pain in my molar teeth, but I paid no mind and ignored it. I did not think it was concerning and I carried on with my life — consuming more sugar with a very happy heart and an aching tooth. After a month, the pain increased drastically, but I still did not care. I took painkillers and brushed the pain off. Before I knew it, I was rolling a hot water bottle on my cheek during class, very casually, and very irresponsibly. Two days later I was bawling my eyes out to the constant pain. Since I don’t have a family dentist, I called every clinic I possibly could to get the earliest appointment. To my dismay, the majority of them shut me off and told me they were overbooked. I eventually called one of the new dentists near where I live and requested them to take me in. The receptionist felt bad for me and I finally got a walk-in appointment for the same day. Turns out, I had a tooth infection which needed an emergency root canal. I somehow managed to land myself an appointment the same week — the outcome was very expensive. Needless to say, I learned a lesson about how consuming sugar in excess can do more harm than good.
The science behind nostalgia
Discover how memory induces emotion
VERONICA POWELL
I’ve had a lot of really memorable birthdays. I’m happy when thinking about each one because there are good feelings attached to them, like how I always spent it with my family and how my mom took the whole night before to make me a decorated cake from scratch. In June, I had yet another birthday, but I noticed something different this time about how it passed compared to as a child. I didn’t feel nostalgic about it, and I really hate to admit it, but I know why — I’m getting older.
One of the best ways to describe nostalgia is a yearning to return to something you’ve already experienced, because it’s something you remember fondly and
holds tender emotions. Nostalgia doesn’t have to come exclusively from an image of your past — a smell, taste, or sound you used to know. It’s a unique and powerful feeling, but why is it so strong?
Turns out, it’s partly due to nostalgia being a neurological response, rather than just an emotional one. The two areas of our brains responsible for this are the hippocampus and the amygdala; they connect the processing of memory with emotion. It makes our memories stronger because we’re not only remembering what happened, but how we felt about it too. For example, if you’re listening to a familiar song from your childhood, it releases an extremely intensified reaction of “feel-good chemicals” such as dopamine. Mixing the memory from the song
with something as potent as music itself is a recipe for ultimate nostalgia.
Another thing that makes nostalgia so strong is that our brains filter out the negative parts of a memory and therefore heighten the positive ones. My birthdays are heavily made up of positive emotions, and even though I didn’t remember any negativity from them, the nostalgia effect they had became weaker because I started questioning if what happened was really as good as I was remembering.
I’m not afraid to admit that I don’t want to grow up, and I wouldn’t say I’m afraid to… okay, maybe a little. I realized I started to embrace the anxiety and inevitable loss that comes along with it.
Illustration by Iryna Presley
OPINION
As a child, I just didn’t think about the future that far ahead, nor understand or worry about what could be. As an adult, I think I’m more prone to think about the undeniable stresses and daunting parts of life. So, I can’t look at turning a year older in the same way I used to. At the end of the day, I like to believe that, with a better personal perspective, nostalgia will do me a favour and overpower anything I don’t want to feel.
I often feel nostalgic about childhood — adulthood just doesn’t have the same kind of innocence and freedom. Sometimes I wonder if I feel too nostalgic, like it’s discreetly acting as a response or coping mechanism to help me feel better about where I currently am in life or what I’ve achieved. It makes sense considering all the health benefits nostalgia has, like enhanced self-esteem, belonging, psychological growth, and well-being. Nostalgia is like a warm hug from your favourite person; providing emotional comfort and
Mental
Health
a place we feel we can always return to. The act of nostalgia is much bigger than we realize, healing us just by seeing a poster from an old movie we loved, or that certain smell from our grandmother’s cooking. It’s all around us, not just within us — another reason it becomes so impactful.
Agatha Christie once wrote in At Bertram’s Hotel (1965): “the out-of-date returns in due course as the picturesque.” She implies that things or moments of the past, outdated or forgotten, will eventually be seen as pleasing. It’s a perfect example that proves how even though we move forward from a memory, they never become irrelevant because the emotions
stay with us. Due to nostalgia, those memories will return to us so we may look upon them in admiration. It’s such an important feeling, being a sign of maturity and of experience — for me, it means I’ve lived a little. So if you feel nostalgic, embrace it, because it’s what keeps you connected to yourself.
// Uncertainty has never been your true foe
Not having control is intimidating, but the right mindset can change that
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
Recognizing and accepting the limited control one has over life can be challenging, and to even say that is a massive understatement.
There are countless forces influencing any and all outcomes, and in the grand scheme of life, one’s input might feel insignificant. No one can know for certain how things will turn out, what will happen next, or even if they’ll wake up tomorrow. Very few things in life are certain, and
I feel like this can be extremely hard to accept at times. But, while accepting life’s natural uncertainty may sound helpless and pessimistic, it can actually serve as a tool that can bring peace of mind. Not knowing what will happen can be a good thing — the only thing that needs to change to transform uncertainty from foe to friend, is your mindset.
Learning the best ways to live life with a healthy mindset has been a lifelong journey for me. I struggled with an anxiety disorder and clinical depression, which
led me to find tools in therapy that helped me overcome these obstacles. Though I now handle anxiety better than ever, there are still thoughts that can trigger it. I find overthinking to be a slippery slope that can take my mind to ugly places, and I’m sure this isn’t something that happens only to me. When tackling a problem or facing a hard situation, one’s mind can flood with worries and confusion — frantically searching for a solution or scrambling to predict the outcomes, either bracing for impact or trying to see the invisible. What do they think of the situation? How will they react? What will they do? What if what I’m doing isn’t right? What am I doing? These are all questions I am all too familiar with, and they have uncertainty written all over them.
Accepting the uncertainty of what lies beyond our control is, in my experience, liberating. When I understood this, I was able to redirect the energy used to calculate the answers to unanswerable questions and instead use it to find reassurance within. I understood that when a person thinks someone is conspiring against them, then the person thinking that is casting a judgement upon the other person. We can’t read minds, so there’s no way to confirm if that person is conspiring against oneself or not. One simply can’t know. The person could just as well be thinking something else entirely. I discovered that when similar thoughts entered my mind, I was not battling against the ill will of a given person toward me, but rather my own narrative in
which that person conspires against me. Whatever they are up to, I cannot control, and I cannot know. What I can control, however, is what I choose to believe. In a sense, I feel like uncertainty is both ever-present and invisible at the same time. Its presence is everywhere because there are countless things one can’t control or know, and yet it’s invisible precisely because we can’t know if what we think is happening is even a reality — it is all just a thought in our minds up until the point where it actually happens. Uncertainty lives in the future and away from us. Whatever awaits tomorrow is a mystery, and if you can prepare for it in some capacity, then why worry? Same goes for the opposite, if you can’t prepare for it, then there’s ultimately no point in worrying either. As for what surrounds you, that’s already out of your control entirely. What other people choose to think or do is their choice, but we’re all allowed to choose what to think or do. Thinking or acting on behalf of others without consent is unfair for both them and you. What is certain is what you do with that choice, that’s all there is to it. Allow everything else that lies beyond you to flow; allow it to stay uncertain. Focus on what you can choose to control, and you’ll find that as long as you’re doing your part and seeking your own tranquility, whether it be by releasing, preparing, accepting, understanding, or something else, then uncertainty stops feeling like a threat and starts feeling like an open field of possibilities.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin stated that “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” You, my friend, take that human experience as a game. You get bored easily and are always looking for the next thrill. You’re the type whose friends have learned never to dare, because you will do anything if only for the lore. When you start a statement with “this one time I …” no one knows what will come out next. For your adventurous spirit, I say try a pineapple jalapeño margarita. After all, spicy people deserve spicy drinks.
You’re more set in your ways than a fossil is in stone. Expectations breed resentment and yet you expect everything to be the same as it was before. For someone like you who hates changes I suggest a classic. First published in 1876 in a bartender’s guide, the Tom Collins matches your simplicity and rigidity of spirit. Whether you like it or not the seasons don’t care if you enjoy change, and summer is coming to an end. Go ahead and give this Tom a try. Maybe after a few of these you’ll loosen up a bit. Who knows what it could lead to. Maybe you’ll relax, maybe you’ll laugh, maybe you’ll stop wearing that fucking shirt.
GEMINI - KIWI CAIPIRINHA
Cachaça, kiwi, lime, sugar
Everyone needs to know how cultured you are. You pride yourself on the two languages you speak and the handful more you know how to ask “where is the bathroom?” in. If only to get you to stop talking about your recent travelling experience, drink a Kiwi Caipirinha. It’ll give you the same amount of oh-you’re-so-cool reactions, without needing to listen to you talk for ages about yourself. It’s a charismatic drink for a charismatic character. You’ll have fun pronouncing it, and you’ll have even more fun correcting those who mispronounce it; you know, like you do when they say “eXpresso” instead of “eSSpresso”.
Illustration by Marie-Ange Routier / The Cascade
Illustration by Gabriela Gonzalez / The Cascade
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
CANCER - VODKA LEMONADE
Vodka, lemonade, lemon slice, mint leaves
You have watched Gilmore Girls (2000-2007) more times than you want to admit. You like the smell of old books, the beauty of a hand scripted letter, and the distant affection of cats. For the knitting-type who can’t wait for autumn to arrive, for seekers of coziness and comfort, for those who make plans out of a masochistic love for regret, I offer you the vodka lemonade. I know it’s not even remotely close to your beloved pumpkin spiced latte you’re anticipating eagerly, but it is seasonal. Grab your latest yarn project, sit on the front porch, and have a glass. I promise it will still feel homey and pleasant, and a little summery too.
LEO - PALOMA
Tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, soda water, agave syrup
You can’t bear the thought of being just another face in the crowd. That fear drives you to ambitions that don’t always match your talents. You want to stand out, so your actions are loud. You seek luxury, so you buy Gucci. If you want a drink that says “I am a Rolex among smartwatches” then the Paloma is the drink for you. You can drink it whilst claiming you discovered grapefruit cocktails before they were popular. You can even pair it with a bit of humour. In fact, here is a joke that matches your uniqueness. What do you call a hipster, who claims to be a hipster? A paradox my dear.
VIRGO - SEX ON THE BEACH
Vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, cranberry juice
Your natural state is to be as stressed as a nun’s lips in prayer. You spread yourself thinner than a hooker’s hymen. Your understanding of a relaxing afternoon is spending hours on Notion, going over your life with a colour code and numerical system. You need some time off. You need some self-care. Above all, you need sex … on the beach. You might not like the name, but you love how the taste reminds you of those Shirley Temples you drank in excess when you were 13. The nostalgia alone will be worth it, but if that doesn’t get you, the vodka will.
Everything with you becomes an internal philosophical debate. You like to consider all options. Often paralyzed by the presentation of multiple paths, you struggle to decide on anything. All 36 flavours of ice cream tickle your fancy, but no one has that much appetite. To fight your indecisive nature this summer I recommend the Rum Punch. It’s an easy choice that will get you to where you need to go. Have fun exploring other drinks as well, but if your inability to choose blocks the long line of patrons, default to this gem for a quick fix.
SCORPIO - BLACKBERRY BOURBON SMASH
Bourbon, blackberries, lime juice, mint leaves, simple syrup, club soda
Ah yes, the rebel without a cause. You need a drink that says I’m tough and love to argue. A drink that reflects your dry humour. A drink that provokes reaction and shocks those who think they know you. But, let’s face it, putting aside performance you secretly long for the fruity cocktails that just don’t match your ‘aesthetic.’ Have a drink that is different, have a drink that checks all boxes, have yourself a Blackberry Bourbon Smash. You’re sure to turn heads, and to your enjoyment, might even confuse a bartender or two. It’s the perfect drink for a hedgehog like you. Spikey on the outside, soft and squishy on the inside.
SAGITTARIUS - MOJITO
White rum, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, club soda, mint leaves
You need others to think you have strong opinions, but as soon as you see they disagree you make swift verbal maneuvers to make it look like your point was actually in agreement with them. You have such surgical precision that most don’t even notice how much you flip-flop between takes. Originality is not your forte; and you know what, that’s okay. Own it! Confidence comes from self-acceptance, not whatever tips those self-help books you love tell you. Be honest, be yourself, be basic. For a basic bitch like you there is only one basic drink for you this summer; the mojito. Its freshness will overpower your staleness on the upcoming hot days. Cheers!
Illustration by Gabriela Gonzalez / The Cascade
Illustration by Marie-Ange Routier / The Cascade
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
CAPRICORN - FROZEN STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI
White rum, frozen strawberries, fresh lime juice, simple syrup
Adultified children make childish adults. They used to say you had so much potential, but you have professionalized disappointment so much so that they settle for the minimum now. You love to remind people that laziness is indicative of intelligence, or any other bullshit you can cower behind to avoid personal accountability and development. For someone who was once taken too seriously and now just wants to have fun, a frozen strawberry daiquiri is the way to go. It’ll cool you on hot days, its sweetness will tickle that part of your brain that demands a treat after doing the most basic of tasks, and its boozyness will help you forget all that resentment you have with your mother — if only for an afternoon.
AQUARIUS - BLUE HAWAIIAN
Light rum, blue curaçao, cream of coconut, pineapple juice
Personality. That’s the word you want people to correlate with you. But really what they see is blue. It’s not because you dyed your hair blue, or because you feel blue, or even because you constantly talk about how your life blew up. It’s because of the song “Blue.” It’s the dichotomy between an upbeat tune and depressing lyrics. No matter what you want them to see, you’ll always be blue. And so, might as well lean in and make it your entire personality. The Blue Hawaiian can help with that. Just be sure not to skimp on the cream of coconut, else it’ll turn green. As the song says “I’m blue, if I was green da bu die.” Okay, so maybe I haven’t actually looked up the lyrics, but you get the gist.
PISCES - BAHAMA MAMA
Rum, coconut-flavoured rum, pineapple juice, orange juice
You are as in touch with reality as my childhood imaginary friend Gerald. He also would look at the leaves blowing by and see a sign from some ineffable magical voice of the universe. As a writer I get it, I also find life to be filled with wondrous stories I can tweak and exaggerate to edit into a masterpiece. After all, what’s the point of anything if you can’t romanticize it into a convenient narrative. The problem ensues when others don’t believe in that narrative. But it’s really more of an iss-you than an iss-them. So, drown out your issues this summer with the Bahama Mama. It’s the perfect drink for those who excel at fantastical delusions and want to slip into an illusion of fun times. Try ordering it five times fast, let me know how it works out.
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
Illustration by Marie-Ange Routier / The Cascade
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
Cascade Q&A: Rapid fire with coach Enevoldson
After conquering the CCAA, Cascades coach has sights set on U Sports glory
JEFFREY KENNETT
Joe Enevoldson is from Vernon, B.C. and has been the men’s basketball head coach at UFV since 2020. The Cascade checked in with Enevoldson this summer to profile his career to date.
How would you describe your college basketball career at UCC (now TRU) from 1997-2001?
I had some really good teams … Played against the UCFV team that back in those days were winning national championships. Langara won back-to-back national championships during my time frame as well. We were playing high-level basketball. It’s funny because a lot of friends that I have are from UCFV, from Langara, from those teams that [I] always played against.
What did you learn from Kevin Hanson early in your coaching career on his staff at UBC?
[I] got to learn the art of scouting from Kev, [he] was big on that. It’s a winning program, it was his second year at UBC … but we made the national tournament. [We] had a great group. Another learning experience under a national team guy. I’ve been pretty fortunate that I’ve coached with five or six coaches that have coached in the national team program.
What was it like returning to your alma mater in Kamloops as an assistant coach with the women’s team?
I was there for the transition from college to U Sports. I’ll always remember Ken Olynyk was the full-time head coach, I was the full-time lead assistant or apprentice and we beat SFU, who had just won the national championship … It was a pretty neat experience again coaching with a national team coach, a guy who was a scout with the Raptors.
How would you describe yourself when you took your first head coaching job at SAIT in 2006? Brash, foolish, all the above. I think you make a ton of mistakes, and you learn from it, you grow from it. I think ultimately, I’m a way, way, way better coach today than I was back then. And a lot of it was because of that learning experience.
What do you remember most about the following six years you spent with the MRU Cougars?
I was there during their transition phase to U Sports as well … From a college perspective, they were top notch, one of the higher end programs in the country. So, I got to experience a lot of highs, but a lot of lows too. The first year [in] U Sports was tough … but it was such a learning opportunity. I’m glad I went through it.
What brought you back to TRU the second time around as a coach on the men’s team?
It wasn’t working on the women’s side at the time. I was going back to do my master’s as well, so I went back to school [and] I learned from another guy who was a national team coach, Scott Clark. Scott took a chance on me, and I took a chance going back there to go to school, and it worked out really well for both of us. I think their program got better because I was there, and I got better because Scott took me under his wing for a year. I needed [those] two years to relearn the guy’s game.
After that, you had a wildly successful stint at Douglas College from 2016-2020, what made those teams so competitive?
We had some pretty good players, we struck rich. The summer of 2017 we had a run of three really good transfers come into Douglas and that really jump-started [us].
Paul Getz, Noah DeRappard-Yuswack, and Kameron Johnson from JUCO in California. I think those three were all within a week and a half, and we went from being a third, fourth place team in the PACWEST to having a shot at it. And then, success breeds success, and we just continued and skyrocketed from there.
What’s been the biggest challenge since joining UFV?
We want to have sustained excellence and I think that we’re building toward that. It’s taken longer than I expected it to, for sure. Douglas was very much a firecracker. You operate in two-year cycles. You try to win the conference in year one, you try to win a national championship in year two … whereas here it’s a bit more of a slow burn, we’re trying to get it so every single year we’re in a final eight, or we’re in a final four.
Where is this team in their competitive cycle?
I think that we’re on that top end of our cycle. We’ve got pretty good players in our program who are older guys, it’s time to take a run at it. And then, we might have to hit the refresh button and kind of start our process over again.
UFV Speaks : favourite summer activity as a child?
Find out what the UFV community’s most special summer memories are
VERONICA POWELL
In UFV Speaks, our intrepid reporters pick a topic currently relevant to UFV students or staff, and ask them for their heated opinions to get a real sense of how the UFV population feels about the facts. Some of my best childhood memories come from the summertime. It’s not just the s’mores by the fire, sleepovers, movie nights under the stars, or long days at the waterparks, but time with family and friends that makes anything you do special — that’s why it’s nostalgic. In thinking about my childhood summers, I was curious to know what others’ were like. I was glad I did because I discovered how much I had in common with my fellow UFV students.
Jasmeen Kaur / UFV International Student Relations:
“I would stay home with my parents and in the morning [we] would go grape harvesting. We had [vineyards] of grapes and then me and my father, along with my siblings, would go out and pick the grapes. We would come home, wash them, eat them together along with breakfast. Then in the afternoons, we’d go out for ice cream. It’s really close to my heart because it reminds me of the time I used to spend with my family.”
Anmolpreet Kaur / Associate of Science / first-year:
“...Water and Ice is a game that we [used to] play … I am so attached [to] this game because I used to play it with my cousins and my siblings and I miss them so much … I used to play that game three [to] four hours a day.”
Charlie Ball / Bachelor of Business Administration / second-year:
“I would probably say camping because [it] encapsulates a lot of activities … I
[went] hiking or fishing, maybe boating on the lake … that kind of brings together all the summer stuff into one nice, good family event..
Dadji Ariel / Computer Information Systems / first-year:
“Going to street fairs with my family, my cousins, and my siblings. It was [having] a picnic at the park in my home country, and all of these activities [kept] us really close together.”
Madison Stockford / History major / first-year:
“When I was growing up, I lived in Alberta and there was a playground and a big forest behind that playground, and my friends and I would go behind that forest [to] hang out. Sometimes we’d go up to the playground too and it was always fun. We liked to dig holes. Not really sure why.”
Reveena Randhawa / Administrations Office:
“When I was younger, growing up on the island, there’s not much you can really do there. So what me and my cousins would do is in our backyard we had a trampoline
and then we had a sprinkler. We would set that up underneath the trampoline, and [create] a makeshift water park pool area. So [it was] just creating that and enjoying company with my cousins and our neighbours.”
Tatiana Jackson / Nursing / second-year:
“I think swimming because I had a pool in the complex that I lived in growing up and I used to go swimming almost every day in the summer with my friends. So, that’s a very nostalgic and relaxing activity for me.”
Vincent MacDonald / Qualifying Studies / first-year:
“I used to live in Ontario, and the Rideau river was nearby where [my grandparents] lived, and there was a park called Baxter that had a public beach that they always [brought] us to in the summer. I remember a bunch of times going down there, and it wasn’t the fanciest or most picturesque beach, it was just a tiny little bit of sand on the edge of the river. It was a bit muggy and there [were] mosquitoes, but it was fun as a kid.”
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity
Photo by Larry Koester
Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Club Spotlight // Inside UFV’s Crochet Club
Born from one student’s love for crochet,
GAURI SETHI
What began as a search for fellow crochet lovers evolved into a welcoming club where students can relax, express their creativity, and bond over a shared hobby. In April 2024, Miyako Ando, a marketing student and now president of the Crochet Club, started the group with the simple objective of finding fellow students to crochet with.
“I just wanted to help someone to crochet together, because I’ve loved crocheting since I was a kid … My friends around me didn’t know how to crochet at all. So I was like, why not just find someone from this university?”
When Ando wanted to start the club she advertised through posters and social media. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Within a short period of time, the club grew from 12 to 60 members in its very first year.
The Crochet Club now hosts monthly meetings and themed events where students of all skill levels can drop in to crochet or relax. Ryen Lavoie, a visual arts student and the club’s secretary, explained
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club is a hub for friendship
SUS C&A Awards 2025 (Photo submitted by UFV Crochet Club)
that anyone can get involved, even if they simply want to hang around.
“You don’t need to have crochet experience to join the club. If you’re interested in learning to crochet, we have people who are willing to teach … We have the tools and the materials, and the stuff to teach crochet at those events.”
The Crochet Club has been actively trying to create opportunities where students can engage. In UFV’s Sustainability Market, they hosted a craft booth and have recently collaborated with other groups like the Hub Club and SUS. As Ando explained, the club also participates in decorating the Student Union Building (SUB) during the winter holidays.
“We crocheted some Christmas ornaments for… the huge Christmas tree in [the SUB] every year. So that was a collaboration for us.”
On Valentine’s Day, the club hosted a Barbie movie screening with pink food and crochet projects to add to the list.
Crochet is a hobby growing in popularity and trending all over social media. For those new to the craft, Ando advised
students to be patient, start simple, and focus on what excites them most. Lavoie repeated that advice, encouraging beginners to focus on projects they like.
“If you’re not interested in making a scarf a million times and you really want to make a plushie — and that would be more interesting to you — that is a way to keep yourself engaged.”
Over the past year, the club hasn’t just grown in numbers — it’s grown into a real welcoming community. It has become a space where students from any program and background can join in. It is not just to crochet, but to relax and bond over shared interests. Whether it’s learning a new stitch, or just chatting over movies and snacks, there’s always something to look forward to.
The team hopes to keep on building this sense of connection by continuing to host events in the future and welcoming even more students into the club.
As Lavoie said, “It’s a fun time … a great space for new crocheters and seasoned crocheters.”
Campus Fashion: dressing like a Vogue icon
Emulating Anna Wintour’s timeless style
This is Campus Fashion, your source of inspiration for seasonal trends, cool finds, and wardrobe basics to keep you looking stylish throughout the year.
On June 26, Anna Wintour, the editorin-chief of the American Vogue magazine announced that she was moving on from her position after 37 years of dedicated service. Part of why Wintour left Vogue has to do with her other work as the chief content officer at Condé Nast, an international media company. However, she will still continue as the global editorial director of Vogue. While this news does shake the fashion world, it is undeniable to say that Wintour is a fashion icon in her own right and has demonstrated her own unique style over the years. Let’s take a look at five of her most iconic looks to date that embody her fashion sense over the years.
Floral prints:
Wintour has been known to repeatedly
wear figure hugging floral prints, and it’s a classic style that can be worn all year round. For the summer, embrace your love for nature by wearing a fitted floral short sleeve dress, sunglasses, and kitten heel sandals to emulate Wintour’s elegant style.
Sunglasses:
Iconic dark sunglasses are another staple in Wintour’s sense of fashion, which have added a sense of mystery and edginess to her style. With the summer sun burning at full blast, why not add a pair of chunky black sunglasses to your own outfit. A great accessory and fashion statement, sunglasses are very versatile and look great with a trench coat, a tailored pants suit, and boots.
Bob hairstyle:
Elegant and timeless, Wintour sports a short bob that is iconic to her look and style, especially at Vogue. Bobs are a classic and easy to maintain hairstyle that come in different styles and lengths,
making them a great choice for the summer. You can try a longer, shoulder length bob if short hair isn’t for you, or mirror Wintour’s chin length bob with bangs.
Statement jewellery:
Accessorizing with standout pieces such as statement necklaces is another trend that encompasses Wintour’s signature style. Pair a red statement necklace or earrings with a tailored suit, white oxford button-down shirt, and heels.
Knee length leather boots: Who said boots are only for the fall and winter? Wearing black or brown leather knee-high boots is another way to emulate the editor’s elegant style. Pair tall boots with a floral fitted dress and a long camel wool coat for an elegant look. And there you have it, five iconic styles that Anna Wintour wears over and over again. While you may not be the editorin-chief of Vogue, you can still rock these looks all summer long!
Illustration by Marie-Ange Routier / The Cascade
RACHEL TAIT
Crossword // STUDY BREAK
Sudoku //
Horoscopes //
By: Madame LaCarte
Aries - Mar. 21 to Apr. 19
If you’re not the artsy type, now is the time to pick it up. If you are the artsy type then grab your pen, brush, or beat. There is so much beauty around you at the moment. Times like these don’t last. Stay in the now and enjoy it!
Taurus - Apr. 20 to May 20
You pride yourself on your ability to problem solve, but you lack the ability to adapt. You are an unmovable object, and what happens to unmovable objects when they are met with an unstoppable force? I think they just phase through each other, but I never paid much attention in physics class. In any case, phase out that shirt, pretty please.
Gemini - May 21 to Jun. 20
You’re spiralling dear. You were doing all right for a moment there, but somewhere in the balance of growing and healing you’ve fallen off the scale. Get off your ass and get back on.
Cancer - Jun. 21 to Jul. 22
I know you’re considering making some changes right now. Don’t.
Leo - Jul. 23 to Aug. 22
Things have been calm lately, and although for most that would be a blessing, for you it’s a curse. When everything quiets, your head gets loud. Have you dyed your hair lately?
Virgo - Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
You’re too generous with your stress, love. I know when someone gives you a gift, you’re supposed to just say thank you, but I’ll make an exception with you. No thank you, it looks so much better on you, you really ought to keep it.
Libra - Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
You know you belong when people start to depend on you. You believe your value lies in your usefulness, but that’s not how relationships work. It’s not give and take as in you give and they take. Be brave, and try being alone for a bit. Maybe it’ll give you time to find standards.
Scorpio - Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
Chill out. Take a beat. Fucking relax.
Sagittarius - Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
I just don’t have the crayons for this one. Try some self-honest reflection, and then we can circle back to you.
Capricorn - Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
You have a habit of filling your plate as soon as something falls off. Things are coming to an end. Let go of it and make an effort to not replace it with anything. Take space for yourself.
Aquarius - Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
You are someone who takes charge, who has initiative, and who leads; but, it doesn’t feel like anyone is listening. You’re a stage director with a whole bunch of actors over which you cannot control. You keep telling yourself that if they would just do as you say all will be well, but that’s where you’re wrong. You only have control over yourself. Step away from the stage and spend some time with the only person who will listen to you.
Pisces - Feb. 19 to Mar. 20
You’ve had a streak of good luck lately, but like anything else that flies up high, eventually you’ll have to come back down to the ground. Crash or land, it’s up to you.
Community // Art by community, for community
The City of Abbotsford moves into the next stages of its Public Art Program and Policy Review
KARA
DUNBAR
The Golden Tree in Abbotsford’s International Friendship Garden creeps up on you. Entering the garden, a reflection of light will catch your eye and draw your gaze up. While I worked at Clearbrook Library, I spent a lot of time in that garden and read the piece’s accompanying plaque many times over. It tells the story of three farmworkers, killed in an accident caused by unsafe working conditions. It encourages reflection on the necessary work that farmworkers do and how they have, many a time, been forgotten. It succeeds in its intent, I cannot walk through that garden without pausing.
Currently, Abbotsford is home to 32 city owned and publicly accessible art pieces and monuments and 40 community public art pieces and monuments. The Public Art Policy and Program Review seeks to provide direction, guide decisions, and promote public art development in Abbotsford. At a council meeting earlier this year, city staff were directed by council to undertake community consultation on the Stage 3 Key Directions Report which was done in the form of a public survey.
This report outlines that the vision for public art in Abbotsford is to act as a catalyst for community connection and creative placemaking. Furthermore, the report would mandate the city to integrate public art into city planning, foster community engagement, celebrate cultural heritage, and enhance both urban and natural landscapes.
As the program moves forward into Stage 4, it will include a draft of the new public art policy’s program plan. This plan would identify associated funding levels, and note any funding requests associated with the implementation of the program. It was noted to council during
Lifestyle //
the Jan. 21 presentation, that funding for the program would not take away from necessary municipal services.
The Key Directions Report defines five program areas including long-term acquisition, temporary public art, community arts, cultural traditions, and artist development. It also lays out site selection criteria and would standardize how the city goes about developing and maintaining public art. One of the site selection considerations noted in the report was how public art could be used to increase the visibility of under-used locales, as well as ensuring that the art is accessible through multiple modes of transportation.
These directions are informed by the Stage 1 Key Findings Report, where close community and stakeholder consultation and conversation was done.
In this report, they found that Indigenous stories were lacking and the art of Abbotsford didn’t currently reflect the diversity within the city.
“Indigenous and Indigenous allies in the community highlighted instances of systemic challenges and administrative barriers that can often create a gap between verbal commitments to Indigenous reconciliation and the ability to take substantive action, emphasizing the need for reviewing and revising City processes and policies.”
While there are plans for standardizing collaboration with different community members including the University of the Fraser Valley, students can currently get involved in Abbotsford’s public art scene with opportunities like Go Play Outside, Culture City Program Series, and Artist in Residence. Students from UFV have previously been involved in developing and creating public art including pieces such as The Wave Wall Mural at Matsqui Recreation Centre, the Cafe Wall Mural at Abbotsford Recreation Centre, the
CityStudio Project, and Exhibition Park Murals. It seems this collaboration will be set to continue.
On July 17, I attended the Arts and Culture Roundtable at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. This roundtable meets throughout the year to give a chance for interested parties to network, learn, and collaborate. The theme of this meeting was The Business Case for Arts and Culture, and featured a panel consisting of Teresa Pippus from Community Futures South Fraser, Kevin Orlosky who is an interdisciplinary artist that works to foster community connections through his work, and Sharon Nickel who works for the City of Abbotsford as a corporate sponsorship specialist.
Be the change in your community
A student guide for volunteering in Abbotsford
HARPREET SINGH
Helping your community can feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. As a student, time and resources might feel limited, but even small actions can create real change. Abbotsford is full of easy ways to get involved, whether you have an hour to spare or are looking for a regular commitment. You don’t need to wait to make a difference. Here are a few
ways you can get involved and give back to the community.
Ocean Wise
In recent years, there has been a surge in interest in protecting the environment and natural resources. This is where Ocean Wise comes in. They are a conservation organization, working to protect our waterways with initiatives such as seaforestation and waterway cleanups.
Individuals can volunteer and fight pollution, hands-on, by organizing a shoreline cleanup through the organization’s website. There are plenty of locations in Abbotsford, such as Mill Lake Park and Fishtrap Creek, where leaders can form a group in order to remove garbage and plastic pollutants near the water bodies.
Archway
While environmental action is important, human connection matters too. For
The discussion highlighted opportunities around entrepreneurship, business sustainability, and sponsorship in the arts and culture sector. The conversation centred on building relationships and using art as a means of community connections. The City of Abbotsford hosts multiple learning and networking events for the arts and cultural sector throughout the year, and any students interested in the sector are encouraged to attend. While Abbotsford’s public art currently lacks diversity, with community input integral to policy review, and opportunities available to students and diverse, emerging artists, Abbotsford’s public art scene is gearing up to tell the many vibrant stories this community has to offer.
students enthusiastic about social justice, Archway offers an immense number of volunteer opportunities. Volunteer openings consist of two categories: food bank volunteers and regular roles, like assisting seniors or organizing donations. Anyone over the age of 16 may apply to join their volunteer program, as individuals or in a group.
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Illustration by Chidubem Ekere / The Cascade
CULTURE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
Abbotsford Community Garden
Gardening is a common hobby among students. Did you know there is a place in Abbotsford where people can donate seeds? Students can reach out to the Abbotsford Community Garden (ACG) to dedicate some of their time. ACG reserves a plot for volunteers to grow vegetables which are later supplied to the food bank. You will be hitting two targets with a single arrow by volunteering at the Community Garden.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley
This is an organization that provides opportunities for students interested in mentoring young people. Volunteers offer
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guidance by sharing life experience and helping youth with day-to-day tasks. This can help to build confidence, and teach life skills such as communication, critical thinking, and self care.
BC SPCA
For those looking to help animals, the BC SPCA is a great place to start. They aim to protect vulnerable animals, as well as provide them with food, medical treatments, and safe homes. Individuals can get involved in a lot of different ways, including volunteering during adoption events for animals, dog walking, and caring for cats.
Small Acts
Small acts of kindness are not restricted only to established organizations; they
can also be done in our daily lives. Offering our seats on the bus to elderly citizens, helping the neighbours to cut their grass and helping them around the house, or paying for the meal of someone who deeply needs it but cannot afford it.
Connecting with religious communities can also be a great way to volunteer. Students can go to their respective religious groups, where they can assist in the day-to-day activities and events. For instance, I used to volunteer at the Gur Sikh Temple. I assisted in the regular functioning of the place and helped in wrap meals wrapping of food which were be supplied to the unhoused community of Abbotsford.
Another innovative way to brighten someone’s day is to start a “pay it forward” chain — repaying a person’s kind deed
What does it mean to be Canadian?
A reflection from Mission’s Canada Day celebration
KARA DUNBAR
In 2020 I learned about Canada’s Indian Act — which, when passed in 1876, carried the express intent of structurally eradicating Indigenous ways of life — and I haven’t really “celebrated” Canada Day since. I’ve turned it into an opportunity to do some reading, watch a documentary, listen to history podcasts, and give myself more context for my home country. This year though, I went to Mission’s celebration at Fraser River Heritage Park, with one question — what does it mean to be Canadian?
The celebrations started with a pancake breakfast put on by the Rotary Club. I got there with some family as it was starting. Paying $6 each and donating the change back to Rotary, we sat down to eat with an idyllic view. From Heritage Park you can see the Fraser River, into Abbotsford, and all the mountains beyond.
In this moment, to be Canadian was to wonder at the landscape in front of me.
We arrived early, so the activities and community organizations were still setting up. My aunt and I stared at bench plaques and the signs that previously held history write-ups, all holding placeholders, telling me that the history being told was being revised.
At 10 a.m., a brass band played as we wandered through some tents talking to community members like those that run Mission’s literacy bus Words on Wheels (WoW), Mission Community Archive, and the Child Care Resource and Referral Centre. We passed by a kids’ zone with a foam pit, face painting, balloons, and free caricatures.
In these moments, to be Canadian was to see how my community took care of, and found joy in each other.
It was a sunny day, so we found the food trucks and got a large lemonade to share before heading to the ceremony area, which was emceed by Mission Mayor, Paul Horn, and featured an array of speeches. Two MLAs, Lawrence Mok and Reann Gasper, both shared their experiences about coming to Canada and finding hospitality, opportunity, and a country that inspired them to pursue service to the public.
The speeches that made the deepest impression on me were from Sq’éwlets First Nation Chief Joseph Chapman and Leq’á:mel First Nation Chief Stacey Goulding.
Chapman spoke about how the very ground we were celebrating on had been the site of a residential school. He urged us to stick together, and create strong relationships as we continue to move forward as a nation.
“Because whether we like it or not, we’re all in this together.”
Goulding challenged the audience to see a Canada that lives up to its promises.
“A Canada that understands its greatness must include Indigenous voices, Indigenous rights, and Indigenous truths. Let today be more than a celebration. Let it be a commitment to justice, to healing into a better tomorrow for all peoples who share this land,”
As they spoke, to be Canadian was to listen.
After the ceremony, the West Coast Lumberjack Show performed and in another part of the park a dog show took place, and I watched as kids enjoyed the zipline and archery tag. For lunch we made our way to the firefighters association where we got hot dogs before exploring more community tents.
Throughout the day, I asked community members what it meant for them to be Canadian. There were similar answers, with a number of them half-joking about how they were thankful not to be American. From Canadian-born and new citizens alike, there was a resounding gratitude for being here. Themes of community, taking care of each other, and a warm welcome arose. Also highlighted was an ability to have a conversation with anyone no matter their background, and the knowledge that we are stronger when we stick together.
We left before the end of the celebrations, it was hot and it had been a long day. When the coolness of the evening came,
to you by being kind to someone else. A little goes a long way. For instance, as an example from my life: I was at a store that didn’t accept cards for payment, and I didn’t have any cash on me. A person there helped me by paying for my drink. Later, remembering their kindness, I paid it forward by paying for someone else’s meal.
Students are the future leaders of this country and if there is a moment to perform even a small good deed for somebody, they should do it. Ready to start? Pick one action today. Visit one of the organizations listed above, grab a trash bag and clean up your community, or perform a small act like paying for the person’s coffee behind you in line. Your community and your future self will thank you.
I went to the porch to review my notes. In the most standard of suburbs I heard fireworks and cheers from my neighbours in the nearby park. And I listened. What appeared in front of me was the picture of a country that now listens to both newcomers and the Indigenous community. A country that learns from our differences. A country where an individual lifts up the community and the community lifts up the individual. A country that knows it has a long way to go, but knows that we must go there together.
This year, to be Canadian was to wonder, to be Canadian was to be in community, to be Canadian was to listen.
“A country that knows it has a long way to go, but knows that we must go there together.”
Photo by Kara Dunbar / The Cascade
Books // Abbotsford’s own releases thrilling novel
Pushing Daisy brings horror to a familiar place
BRANDON GILL
Abbotsford local Christopher O’Halloran recently published his book Pushing Daisy (2025). While O’Halloran has had his short stories published before within anthology collections with other authors, this is his first novel and solo piece. Although his novel takes place in a fictional city, the inspiration is very clearly drawn from Abbotsford, notably the Clearbrook area.
From an enjoyment of telling stories and writing early in life, O’Halloran started with short stories then sent his work to indie publications and had a generally positive response. Steadily, he built momentum as more indie publishers picked him up as well as podcasts and artists for online comics and webtoons. During all this, he became a part of the HOWL Society, a web-based horror book club for readers and writers, where he eventually became an editor for the horror anthology, “Howl’s From the Wreckage.” Finally, he was picked up by Lethe Press and published his first novel.
As an Abbotsford local, a fan of horror books, and someone who gets curious about indie authors, I decided to give it a read. The story is about Daisy, a mistreated woman, whose vengeful spirit returns after taking her own life to prey upon the reason for her untimely and unfortunate death: her husband Roger. The book starts off as a slow-burn psychological drama as we follow Roger in his grief after his wife’s death. Gradually, elements of horror are sprinkled in, leaving readers with a feeling of unease and intrigue.
O’Halloran takes his time telling a story about human emotions and handles the development of these characters well,
Movies
exploring why they are the way they are. This was demonstrated particularly well in their interactions and relationships with each other. Ultimately though, I didn’t find myself rooting for any of the characters. They weren’t exactly enjoyable people to follow and were mostly negative — Roger in particular was revolting in almost every way — although this definitely created interest during the reading process.
I had a wonderfully visceral response to
the horror elements. Not only is it creepy and tense, it is bloody, gross, and satisfying. The book started off slow despite the plot moving quickly, and it steadily built momentum leading to a climactic finish. The book was highly engaging from start to finish, due to characters that were meant to not sit right with the reader while dropping hints of something bigger at play, like a slow-burning fuse you know will eventually explode.
I was lucky enough to be able to sit down
// “Hold on to your vaginas”
M3GAN 2.0’s
CAITLYN CARR
surprising message about the use of A.I.
As soon as M3GAN 2.0’s trailer played before Clown in a Cornfield (2025), my friends and I knew we had to see it. Not because we thought it would be good, but with its sassy one-liners and Britney Spears’ “Oops!...I Did It Again” playing in the background, we knew it would be fun — and we were right.
Two years after M3GAN’s (played by both Jenna Davis and Amie Donald) brutal rampage, Gemma (Allison
Williams) reluctantly teams up with her creation to take down a new and even deadlier android known as AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno), who was mysteriously built using Gemma’s designs. With plenty of bad blood between them (or whatever the robot equivalent is), Gemma and M3GAN must learn to trust each other for the sake of their one commonality: their fierce drive to protect Gemma’s niece, Cady (Violet McGraw).
If Arnold Schwarzenegger played a sassy robotic girl in Terminator 2:
Judgment Day (1991) instead of a macho sunglass-wearing bot from the future, you’d have M3GAN 2.0 (2025). Director Gerard Johnstone took what people loved about M3GAN (2022) and put it under the spotlight for M3GAN 2.0, which features even more iconic lines from our favourite mechanical girlboss.
For those expecting another sci-fi horror like the first film, prepare to be disappointed. While the advanced technology featured in the film still makes it a sci-fi, M3GAN 2.0 incorporates less horror
with O’Halloran to discuss his book and journey to becoming a published author. He mentioned that while the book and its characters are inspired from reality, he ignores certain traits or ideas to amplify others, making the characters work better within the context of the story, even if they may come off as unlikable.
“One of the things I like to do is pull from real life and then kind of adjust certain things and make them either a bigger part or a smaller part of the character.”
O’Halloran described Roger as being complex and an outlet for his inner thoughts.
“Roger Darling is a mixture of the tough, ornery people in my life and the impulses I choose to ignore. He’s the middle finger I sometimes wish I could give to strangers. He’s the horn I want to blare when I get cut off.”
O’Halloran wanted to create real and messy people while telling a story about and around those characters.When talking about what inspired the setting, he explained that pulling from Abbotsford was easy since he is very familiar with it. He zoomed in on why he chose a town house for the setting.
“When you think ‘haunted house,’ I think the image that comes to mind is a dilapidated, Victorian mansion. In reality, none of us are living in that kind of luxury. We’re all in condos and townhouses, so I wanted to find a way to make a rowhome spooky. It wasn’t that hard! Despite being sandwiched between other homes, I think living so tight together still carries with it an isolation that you’d get from a cabin in the woods or a mansion on the hill.”
When asked about his next steps, O’Halloran laughed and said, “Find a publisher for my next novel!”
and way more action. Given the plot and theme of this movie, the switch in genre makes sense and lets the film incorporate more of what M3GAN does best: kick ass and give absolutely zero fucks. With a budget of an estimated $25 million, but only making roughly $10 million in its opening weekend, M3GAN 2.0 undeniably flopped in the box office. Compared to the $30 million the first movie made during its opening weekend
Book by Lethe Pressbooks / Cover and interior design by Inkspiral Studio
- Anna McCausland
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with a budget of only $12 million, one can easily assume that M3GAN 2.0 is just another terrible sequel. However, as someone who’s seen both M3GAN movies, the sequel is arguably more entertaining.
Sure, the 2022 film’s hallway dance scene and rendition of David Guetta’s “Titanium” (ft. Sia) both have a special place in my heart, but M3GAN’s amusing banter with Gemma and complete lack of verbal filter in M3GAN 2.0 had me laughing the whole movie — not to mention the return of M3GAN’s spontaneous vocals. As for the box office numbers, I largely attribute that to the fact that people either a.) haven’t seen the first movie or b.) are simply too tired of sequels.
As far as acting goes, while Williams’ and McGraw’s performances weren’t horrible, they paled in comparison to M3GAN 2.0’s dynamic bot duo: Davis, who provided M3GAN’s hilariously callous voice, and Sakhno, who brought something uniquely chilling to AMELIA’s character. Known for Ahsoka (2023-) and The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018), Sakhno
shared in an interview with Creepy Kingdom that she spent years training herself to blink as little as possible for the role — detailing that she didn’t think it would make sense for AMELIA to blink unless it was for a specific purpose. Safe to say, her dedication to the role paid off.
While my friends and I ultimately enjoyed M3GAN 2.0, it was not without its flaws. Compared to the 2022 film, the C.G.I. used in M3GAN 2.0 looked less realistic, even with the sequel’s larger budget. Not only that, but a lot of the technical language used went right over my head. Normally, I would say this is a me-problem, but when the movie uses inaccessible language to explain the actual plot — non-tech-savvy viewers like myself are kept in the dark. Nonetheless, if you’re someone who knows all about computers, motherboards, and how A.I. works, M3GAN 2.0’s plot will likely make much more sense to you.
Given that both M3GAN movies are centred around killer robots, I went into M3GAN 2.0 assuming the film’s stance regarding A.I. would be simple: avoid it like the plague before it wipes us all
out. Surprisingly, this was not the case. Instead, the film encourages viewers to be kind to A.I., emphasizing that there needs to be effective regulations to ensure A.I. is being used responsibly.
Whether you’re for or against A.I., M3GAN 2.0 blends hilariously iconic yet thought-provoking dialogue to invite us to reflect on our positions with more open minds. As for me, if they end up making a third M3GAN movie, I hope Schwarzenegger has a cameo.
Video Games // Split Fiction : a love letter to creativity
Hazelight’s latest co-op gaming hit
REBECA MARQUEZ LOPEZ
Hazelight Studios, the team behind A Way Out (2018) and It Takes Two (2021), has released its newest co-op adventure Split Fiction (2025) reminding us of their reputation as masters of cooperative gameplay. This multi-genre 3D platformer takes players into the minds of Zoe and Mio — two struggling authors trapped in a virtual world where a tech corporation steals their stories and ideas. The story starts by showcasing the pair’s odd friendship but evolves into a critique of AI and corporate exploitation, all while jumping across different genres!
Every level of Split Fiction is built around teamwork. It takes both player’s brain power to solve puzzles or it splits players up by having one try to disable a phone from self-destructing while the other drives a motorcycle through the city avoiding bullets. From fantasy realms brimming with magic to sci-fi cities filled with neon lights, the mechanics stay fresh across all eight distinct worlds.
An impressive aspect of Split Fiction is how intuitive the gameplay feels; controls are responsive and puzzles escalate in difficulty without becoming frustrating. Frequent checkpoints and optional skips ensure less experienced players won’t hold back their team, making it perfect for mixed-skill duos. Very few other games shift genres this boldly. One hour you’re racing Tron-like lightcycles, the
next you’re in a 2D Metroidvania segment (think side-view platformer gameplay, where you explore by running and jumping, and unlock abilities and ways to fight!) or challenged with a big boss fight. Hazelight Studio’s genius lies in avoiding overuse of a gimmick — mechanics appear, make the game fun, and vanish before becoming tiresome.
Zoe and Mio function as archetypes: the bubbly fantasist and the cynical sci-fi nerd, which gets to evolve into a very authentic friendship. Their banter becomes heartfelt as the player uncovers how writing helps each character navigate personal struggles, reflecting their unique ways of facing life’s challenges. The dynamic feels a little cliché, and their early interactions can come off as a bit forced, but patient players get to see their friendship
deepen beautifully throughout the game. The antagonist’s AI-driven plagiarism scheme evolves into themes about artistic ownership, something very interesting when compared with the current real-life problems about AI generated content. His character is clearly meant to be a parody of the Silicon Valley excess, but he often lands into cartoonish territory. His dialogue sometimes turns into very on the nose lines about maximizing content and profits, which can minimize the game’s usual thoughtful and insightful critique of AI and corporate exploitation.
Split Fiction runs great on the platforms it’s available on which include the Xbox Series X, Playstation 5 and PC, with no bugs or frame drops even in the most chaotic scenes. The greatest aspect about Split Fiction is that it was made
with crossplay in mind — meaning that you can play on your Xbox while your friend plays on their Playstation. You no longer need to play on the same platform to enjoy the game together.
Even though Split Fiction addresses the fact that some player duos might have different skill sets and tries to avoid players holding back each other, there are a few instances where the game falls out of sync. There are rare moments where one player might get ahead during platforming sections, leaving their partner behind and stuck respawning repeatedly, killing the flow of the usual smooth experience. That said, these moments are infrequent, and the generous checkpoint system usually softens the blow.
Split Fiction is Hazelight’s most ambitious game yet, blending great co-op design with a funny and heartfelt story. For anyone tired of solo gaming, or just wanting to play with a friend, this is a must-play. Beyond refining Hazelight’s formula, the game delivers a timely message: its villain’s AI-driven plagiarism scheme mirrors the very real current world debate about art, ownership, and the cost of human creativity by the hands of tech’s hunger for content. In an era where algorithms and coding replace creativity, Split Fiction makes a compelling case for protecting what makes us human: our
Photo courtesy of Hazelight Studios & Electronic Arts
stories, our collaboration, and our messy, incredible, imperfections.
Illustration idea: For the illustration, I’m thinking of having both characters,
Zoe and Mio, facing forward, possibly in a bust-up portrait. To make it interesting, the illustration could have the right half of the face as one character, and the left half as the other.
In the original cover for the game,
there’s a division separating a fantasy and medieval world, and I like that concept. So, I thought a portrait of “one person” split down the middle, where half is Zoe and the other half is Mio, could look very cool.
Movies // How accurate is F1: The Movie?
A Formula 1 fan’s review on the newest action movie
ANNA MCCAUSLAND
One day, a year ago, I was sitting in the Dublin airport at a restaurant waiting for the bus to take me back to Galway. My friends and I were exhausted — we didn’t want to talk to each other and my phone was very close to dying. So, I took to watching whatever the television beside us was playing. That was the first time I’d ever watched Formula 1 (F1) and I’ve been absolutely obsessed ever since.
When I heard there was going to be a movie featuring the sport I love and that it was being produced by the Sir Lewis Hamilton, himself — I couldn’t have been more excited.
F1: The Movie (2025) follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) as he makes his return to Formula 1 to help his ex-teammate’s (Javier Bardem) struggling team — APXGP. He butts heads with his rookie teammate — Joshua Pearce — played by Damson Idris and forms a special relationship with Technical Director Kate McKenna, played by Kerry Condon. Everyone has to work together to get at least one race win before the season’s end to keep APXGP going.
If you’re an F1 fan, I’ll tell you this now — this movie wasn’t necessarily made for us. There are fan services like all the driver and team principle cameos or small nods to F1 history, but majorly this movie is for thrill seekers — the people who just love a good action movie.
The movie was shot during several Grand Prix and with Pitt and Idris
actually racing in Formula 2 cars. The filmmakers really pushed the limit when it came to capturing that perfect shot and it paid off big time. Rigging actual cars with cameras gives viewers a front row seat to all the action. The point of view is unique and makes for some incredibly cinematic shots.
The soundtrack in this movie absolutely goes off with “Just Keep Watching” by Tate McRae which has been trending on TikTok for a hot minute, with contributions from huge stars like; Ed Sheeran, ROSÉ, Don Toliver (ft. Doja Cat), and Hans Zimmer as composer. Classic songs like “We Will Rock You” and “Whole Lotta Love” bring a thrill that compliments the melodies of the V6 engines perfectly. It’s little things like that the movie-makers definitely took their time to make just right and it pays off. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, a place where the level of detail falls off is the plot. It’s incredibly basic. I could’ve told you exactly how it was going to end before it started. It doesn’t help that they publicly filmed so many of the scenes so any eagle-eyed F1 fan could easily put together what was going to happen. Personally I think the plot would’ve worked better within the context of an IndyCar championship rather than Formula 1. It would have been a little bit more believable, but probably wouldn’t have brought nearly as many people to the theatres.
The movie also did a poor job of letting women be good at their jobs. In a season
where we finally have our first ever female Race Engineer in Laura Mueller, we don’t also need a movie where the only three female characters either mess up, are overly protective of one of the male leads, or have random romantic tension with Brad Pitt. We can have witty banter without romantic tension, a loving mother who doesn’t villainize the main character, and I beg of Hollywood, let us have a woman whose entire storyline isn’t “I’m the only one here who can’t do my job.” I debated for forever on how absolutely pedantic I was going to be with this review, but for everyone’s sake I’ll keep it simple and say this: is this movie the most accurate representation of Formula 1? No. Is it close? To an extent. It’s Hollywood, everything is dramatized, bigger, and crazier than what a typical race season looks like. The movie also isn’t the best with continuity — it was filmed over two seasons and fans can tell.
Altogether was this film a five star movie? No, did I give it five stars on Letterboxd anyway… maybe. The joy I felt seeing Carlos Sainz in Ferrari red again, Checo Pérez back on the grid, and Lando Norris’ mullet made almost every blunder and inconsistency worth it for me. It’s fun, exciting, and action packed. What more can you really ask for from Brad Pitt? In the wise words of my friend, “Everyone should go see this film with their F1 friend.” I was probably more entertaining than the movie but we all walked out of that theatre laughing, which in my books makes a movie worth seeing.
Photograph: Warner Bros
Documented above is a community effort from the citizens of Abbotsford and The Cascade. During the Canada Day event in Exhibition Park hosted by Tourism Abbotsford on July 1, The Cascade had attendees of all ages colour individual squares that came together to create a colourful, community art mosaic. This collaboration showcases the diverse forms of expression that exist in our community.
