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.
Editorial // Fault lines of fall
What does it mean to be scared?
For me, it means to be uncertain. To feel lost and hopeless. I’ve never been a fan of uncharted territory. I like knowing what I’m doing and when. Anytime, all the time. But every now and then things can get a little too chaotic and I’m left in the lurch, swallowed by the chaos and unable to seize control.
When this happens, I like to do something wildly out of character and, gasp, go off-schedule. Often that comes in the form of watching a show I’ve seen 12 times already, or going for a walk, but sometimes it just means taking a damn break.
If you’re like me and you’re one to keep a packed agenda, but relish in a small pause every now and then, join me as we journey through this latest issue of The Cascade.
You can find out more about what it means to be scared and why we seem to like it on page 9. Featuring a commentary on why we crave that all-too-familiar rush of adrenaline from doing something on the edge.
From potential doomsdays to AI replacing artists and hockey scandals, this issue’s got it all. We cover the controversy of AI art on page 6, then on page 10 find a bilingually-written piece that explores the controversy surrounding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance announcement.
Did you know UFV used to have a campus pub? Dive into the history and (potential) future of Abbotsford’s nightlife on pages 11-14 and why students hold the power to bring it back.
As the weather gets darker, often so do our moods. With October nearly over, midterms in full swing, and the sun setting before dinner, it can be hard to keep our spirits up. So what’s the cure? Doing something that you enjoy.
Now it doesn’t have to be anything big, but there are lots of capacities in which you can do small things and be active in your community. Whether it’s getting out of the house or staying in with a good movie — hey, did you check our list of ideas on page 20? — it’s important to take time to enjoy ourselves.
Maybe you’re interested in politics and learning more about world events. Our article on page 4 explores the PoliTalk lecture series free to attend right here at UFV.
And if you’re not quite ready to give up patio season yet, check out how Old Yale Brewing is keeping the summer spark alive on page 16.
UFV Cascades home games are free to all and a fun way to cheer on your peers from our own turf. Check out their schedule on their website to find out when they’re playing, and read more about one of our golfers, Brett Bateman, also on page 16.
If you’re feeling desperate to do something aside from school or stress, flip through our pages to discover something local to enjoy, or simply decompress with a nice drink and some light reading.
I’ll leave you with the wise words of Dr. Noah Schwartz, one of our featured interviewees this issue.
“Doing something is the ultimate antidote to that feeling of hopelessness.”
Cover Photo The Cascade Crew
NEWS BRIEFS
INTERNATIONAL // PROVINCIAL //
Peru’s political crisis deepens as new president takes office
On Oct. 10, Peru swore in its eighth president in less than a decade, Congress leader José Jerí. Former President Dina Boluarte, who has one of the world’s lowest approval ratings of under five per cent, was successfully removed from office after Congress’ ninth attempt to impeach her. The timing and the prolonged decision has created widespread skepticism, with many Peruvians asking why lawmakers waited so long.
Jerí was sworn in as interim president and will serve until the next elections scheduled for April 2026. This has sparked outrage as he was recently the subject of a rape allegation — archived just days before his rise to power. Feminist collectives said this demonstrates a broader culture of misogyny and impunity among Peru’s political elite and society itself.
“This indicates that there is social tolerance [with those accused of sexual violence], which is also reflected institutionally — posing a serious risk to the prevention of this crime.”
Nationwide protests erupted on Oct. 15, with thousands demanding Jerí’s resignation and deeper institutional reform. Clashes with the police left Eduardo Ruiz Sanz dead and over a hundred injured, resulting in growing frustration and a call for accountability.
Tentative deal struck to end Vancouver Symphony Orchestra musicians strike
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s (VSO) musicians returned to work on Oct. 10 after reaching a tentative agreement. The deal was mediated by the B.C. Labour Relations Board, between representatives of the Vancouver Musicians’ Association Local 145 AFM, and the Vancouver Symphony Society.
After 107 years of service, the VSO gave their first historical 72-hour strike notice in September after working under an expired contract since July 1. One of the orchestra’s 70+ members highlighted salary disparities as one reason for the strike on the VSO Musicians Instagram account.
“The fact is, our salaries aren’t competitive. A musician in the Toronto, Montréal, or Ottawa symphonies makes 30 per cent more than a musician in the Vancouver symphony.”
Their strike led to the cancellation of numerous performances, including a sold-out showing of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert
VSO posted an official statement on their Instagram page reflecting on the new agreement, which remains classified.
“This agreement is the product of our commitment to the VSO and its place at the heart of our community. We are grateful for the patience, understanding, and support shown by our musicians, directors, patrons, subscribers, donors, and the broader Vancouver community throughout this process.”
Canada // Your morning pick-meup just went up in price
Tim Hortons tries to keep up with demands, but their value remains
VERONICA POWELL
On Oct. 5, Tim Hortons announced that there will be a slight increase in their coffee prices at approximately 1.5 per cent or the equivalent of three cents per cup. The brand hasn’t changed its coffee prices in three years, but factors such as Canada’s consistent food inflation issues, and the hiked prices of coffee beans that are over double the amount in 2022 have all contributed to this change.
According to the National Post, Tim Hortons said in an official statement that this increase was a logical step, and it still fell under the average national inflation rate. In a Global News report, a Tim Hortons spokesperson added that the company doesn’t base its decisions on isolated issues that may affect pricing.
“Our approach to pricing in our restaurants does not reflect any single event, but rather is designed to stay roughly in line with inflation over time.”
producing smaller yields in coffee-growing regions around the world. Three years ago, consumers were only paying $2.21 CDN per pound of coffee, which has now increased to $5.45 per pound.
Additionally, supply complications with the application of U.S tariffs haven’t helped. Major suppliers of Canadian coffee include Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia, to name a few, but Canada’s roasted coffee is imported from the U.S. With 50 per cent tariffs put on Brazil specifically, it means that Canadians are paying 1.9 per cent more since 2025. Overall, Canadians have had to pay the “counter-tariff,” an extra 25 per cent on imported coffee to Canada since Mar. 3.
Brands like Folgers and Keurig increased their prices of roasted or ground coffee, meaning that brewing it at home and purchasing it at a cafe are making drinking coffee a more expensive habit.
Conversion therapy ban put before Supreme Court
On Oct. 7, the United States Supreme Court heard the case of Chiles v. Salazar, which argued against the Colorado law that bans conversion therapy for minors.
Kaley Chiles, a licensed Colorado counsellor, and the Alliance Defending Freedom stated that the ban is an unconstitutional regulation of free speech. Lawyer James Campbell, representing Chiles, contended that she is prevented from serving those that voluntarily seek the treatment. Conservative justices also questioned whether conversion practices were harmful enough to constitute banning them.
Colorado’s officials said that the law regulates conduct and that overturning it would undercut the states’ ability to protect patients from harmful professional practices. Conversion therapy seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexual. The treatment has been denounced as ineffective and hurtful by international professional and health associations. State Solicitor General Shannon Stevenson stressed that the law still permits patients to discuss uncertain feelings around sexuality and gender.
The oral arguments on Oct. 7 show that justices may be inclined to rule against Colorado law, a decision that would invalidate similar laws in over 20 states. The decision is expected by June 2026.
$450,000 awarded to Abbotsford-based dietitian
Clinical dietitian Courtney Wedemire recently received the Michael Smith Health Research BC Health Professional-Investigator award of $450,000. Wedemire currently works at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and wants to use the money to further her research on a disease known as sarcopenia and help those affected by it.
According to Wedemire, this illness usually affects the elderly, targeting the muscles and making them weaker. She wants to utilize the money to further study this disease in the hopes of aiding patients who suffer from it, which includes looking at malnutrition in the elderly.
The hefty award will be given to Wedemire over the next five years which will aid in her endeavours to find a breakthrough. She shared how this monetary award will benefit her goal to help others in the long-term and she is grateful for the doors this has opened up for her research.
Wedemire expressed her gratitude in receiving the award money in an article from The Chilliwack Progress.
“This award gives me the time and capacity to grow my research program and answer questions that matter to patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.”
The company also stated that they don’t plan to be completely coerced by inflation, and will strive to keep the value of their food and drinks at low prices for customers in the future, but did not explicitly specify how at this time.
The price of coffee in grocery stores experienced an inflation rate of 27.9 per cent this August compared to last year. The change in price is partly due to climate change, with a warmer climate
Food agriculture Professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Michael von Massow, told CBC News that coffee consumers will notice the change, but it likely won’t stop them from drinking it.
2.7 cups of coffee per person are consumed daily, and Canada remains on the list of top 10 countries for drinking the most coffee. However, this price increase may deter consumption slightly because coffee is more than a drink; it’s a part of a food culture, especially for the younger generation.
SKY S. TERRONES
NATIONAL // KARA DUNBAR
peanutian,
The World in Turmoil: behind the scenes
UFV Panel tackles global instability and student empowerment
SKY S. TERRONES
Dr. Noah Schwartz is an assistant professor in the Political Science department at UFV, and author of Targeted: Citizenship, Advocacy, and Gun Control in Canada (2025).
On Oct. 1, UFV’s Political Science department hosted an interdisciplinary panel entitled “The World in Turmoil” at the Abbotsford campus in room B101. It brought together faculty and students to discuss global instability through diverse academic perspectives. Schwartz, who helps organize the PoliTalk series with department head Dr. Edward Akuffo, shared with The Cascade that while Akuffo is in charge, he often works behind the scenes.
“Even if I’m not one of the speakers, I’ll sometimes be doing the intro or something like that — make his job a bit easier.”
Schwartz spoke about how events like these help bring life back to campus, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the PoliTalk series began long before he arrived at UFV, and emphasized Akuffo’s role in giving it new energy.
“Professor Akuffo has really reinvigorated the series — he’s the driving force behind it.”
Schwartz commented that some views don’t get the attention they deserve in mainstream platforms, and these events give them room to be heard. The panel featured six faculty members from different departments who explored the forces driving today’s global conflicts: Dr. Opeyemi Adesina (Computing), Dr. Zoë Francis (Psychology), Dr. Michael Batu (Economics), Dr. Joy Enyinnaya (Communication), Dr. Keziah Wallis (Culture, Media, and Society) and Akuffo (Political Science).
Schwartz remarked how this panel helped create a space for complex, sometimes contradictory perspectives
— encouraging students to think critically rather than accept a single narrative.
“None of this is intended to force a certain viewpoint down someone’s throat. We just want to expose people to the diversity of ideas that are present in a university.”
When asked about how the topics for The World in Turmoil were chosen, Schwartz explained that generally, the PoliTalk series aims to stay connected to current events. He added that the goal was to link people’s research and work with what students are seeing in the headlines.
“It helps spark conversation … and helps them make that connection between what they’re learning at university and why it really matters.”
Schwartz added that this panel was designed to reflect the unease many feel
about the state of global politics — from wars in the Ukraine and the Middle East to political instability in the United States. He described it as the world shifting in a potentially wrong direction.
Schwartz expressed his own feelings of helplessness in global challenges like youth unemployment, democratic decline, and the climate crisis — even as someone with experience and stability in academia. He acknowledged that he couldn’t imagine the stress that must be affecting students. Schwartz said talks like these are invaluable because they help students connect what they’re learning to real-world challenges — especially when the world feels overwhelming.
“We want information and knowledge is power … Covering topics like these can help put the power back in students’ hands,
“We want information and knowledge is power … Covering topics like these can help put the power back in students’ hands, and I think what we heard from a lot of our panellists was pretty empowering.”
and I think what we heard from a lot of our panellists was pretty empowering.”
While Schwartz wasn’t a panellist, he shared in the interview that one of the students’ questions resonated with him: “What can we do?” — a question born from the overwhelming sense of doom and gloom in today’s news.
In response, Schwartz encouraged students to take action in whatever way they can. From joining a group to writing to their MP, these steps can help influence change.
“All the big changes that have happened in society and in politics have really been driven by civil society. All politicians want to get re-elected. They don’t necessarily like to rock the boat. They have to be pushed to do things, and that push comes from ordinary people acting collectively.”
For Schwartz, taking action is the most effective way to counter feelings of helplessness and despair.
“Doing something is the ultimate antidote to that feeling of hopelessness. In my experience, at least.”
Schwartz shared what students can expect from future events. On Oct. 29, he’ll host a celebration for the launch of his new book, Targeted, featuring a reading by Associate Professor Stanislav Vysotsky. Then, on Nov. 19, the PoliTalk series continues with a discussion on Canadian politics. Schwartz also emphasized its relevance for all students — not just those in political science.
“This is the system that you live in and that in a few years [you will] be graduating into … I think it’s so important that people get an understanding of what’s going on and these factors that are going to shape [their lives].”
With more events on the horizon, PoliTalk continues to offer UFV students a space to engage critically with the world — and with each other.
Professor Profile: Dr. Alexander Ferguson and the world of theatre
On teaching, performance, and finishing his first film
RACHEL TAIT
Dr. Alexander Ferguson is a sessional instructor in the Theatre department at UFV, the artistic director for Canadian performance company, Fight With A Stick, and works as a devising instructor at Glitch Theatre. He has a PhD in Scenography and Embodied Cognition from UBC.
Ferguson has been teaching at UFV since 2016. His career spans from acting to teaching, he currently assists students to meet their potential both on stage and in the classroom. Ferguson shared his journey in acting, working at UFV, and current projects with The Cascade Ferguson spent a year studying Fine Arts at Langara College, however he found the practice too solitary. He decided to switch to theater acting after being inspired by a production of Creeps, by David Freeman, which was put on by Langara College’s Studio 58.
“I auditioned, and switched from fine arts into a full three-year theatre acting program. It was a great journey [and] I learned a ton in all kinds of ways. By the time I graduated, I had an agent, and I was getting hired immediately.”
Years later he realized he needed a more stable income to help support his family and decided to go back to university. Ferguson ended up going to the University of British Columbia for both his Masters and PhD. While studying for
the latter, he was also one of the directors of a documentary play entitled Nanay: A Testimonial play, which was put on globally by a non-profit organization — The Philippine Women Centre of BC — in Berlin, Manilla, and Vancouver.
“It was part of a national advocacy campaign to end something called the Live-In Caregiver Program, which the United Nations called Indentured Servitude … Eventually, we were successful in helping to end that program.”
He expressed that from his experience being an instructor, he is happiest when he can work with his students and offer them opportunities in the classroom to enjoy themselves and socialize with others when they may not get a chance anywhere else.
“I talk to so many students who go to school, and they don’t meet anyone or [they] don’t have a social life at school … human contact, sometimes that’s a lifeline for people”
Ferguson has also enjoyed witnessing students grow as individuals and discover what careers they want to go into, often changing their initial preference of acting to other roles like costume design, art installation, lighting design, etc.
Ferguson shared that there are many projects he is working on, one of which is the Trans: Experiments in Living film that is set to be finished soon.
“We’re in the final stages of editing our first movie from my company. We
shot it with people from UFV. Parjad Sharifi was the cinematographer [and UFV alumni] Artyom “Arty” Urdabayev was the sound and technician person. They were both fantastic … It’s a live action movie, but it goes in and out of live action and animation.”
Ferguson also hosts a podcast called The Refrain: Getting in Sync with the World that is produced by the company Fight With A Stick. He has three episodes completed so far and enjoys putting them on.
“It’s a podcast about our interconnectedness with the world around us … Every
episode is also about art and performance, and about how my company Fight With A Stick tries to “collaborate” with non-human materials such as architecture, set pieces, light and sound, and not assume mastery over them.”
He also mentioned that one of his current projects includes writing a textbook that focuses on scenographic devising.
“It’s intended to be a practical book that students and artists can use to help themselves make decisions when they’re creating something.”
He encourages students to pursue what makes them happy in the long term. He acknowledged that while it is important to have financial stability and people do chase after material wealth and comfort, there is the danger that their spirits can be crushed if that’s all they are working for. Instead he encourages students to follow their dreams.
“Don’t lose sight of [what you love], and keep finding a way to do it.”
In the future, Ferguson would love to see the Theatre incorporation of disability aesthetics in mainstream theatre so that actors with disabilities on stage will be normalized and given the opportunity to reinvent how theatre is put on a wide scale.
“I think what we’re doing at Glitch Academy is really innovative … in a sense, we’re just exploring theatre aesthetics in a new way … I’m hoping we can expand that out so it doesn’t just become a niche situation. I’d like to see what we’re doing there and what other people are doing in that field to expand out into all of theatre.”
Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Photo submitted by Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson painting gold dust onto the nose of Makailla Pallyaguru in Trans: Experiments in Living (Photo submitted by Alex Ferguson)
Artificial Intelligence // Making a living off art made by the living
of the AI debate
ZACKERY FITZPATRICK
It’s hard enough to sustain oneself as a creative. A tale as old as time: what use is that liberal arts degree going to do you? Everyone wants to be famous, successful, and recognized for their work, but the fact of the matter is that many fields are just too saturated with artists for everyone to stand out. Those that do stick to it dedicate their lives to improvement, often left high and dry for their efforts. It’s only by some fluke of nature, networking, and narcissism that new artists gain the attention and acclaim they deserve.
Lately, it’s been especially hard for visual artists. For many, these pursuits are merely a pastime, and though more creatives are gaining exposure than ever, there are also more people pursuing these passions than ever before. So imagine the sense of defeat and helplessness that these artists feel, pouring their hearts and souls into trying to take their art from hobby to career, when OpenAI released Sora 2. Social media feeds have become flooded with AI-generated slop content. AI generated art has been around for awhile now, but in terms of social media presence and popularity, video and animation has attracted the masses more than ever before.
Whether digital or physical, artists labour to perfect their craft. Technique doesn’t come easily and the work, materials, and time that go into a piece of artwork only add to how dauntingly impressive the final product can be. But, in the past
Screenshots of Sora by OpenAI
couple months, many other media and tech companies have unveiled services of their own, similar to Sora including Meta’s Vibes, YouTube’s Veo 3, xAI’s Grok Imagine, and TikTok’s Symphony. Users have flocked to these services in droves, raising important questions about the demand of such things, whether artists themselves will be slowly replaced, and whether the perceived value of these products is worth it, given their potential drawbacks.
Whether rendering animation or perfecting brushstrokes, the amount of knowledge and expertise contained within such fields are extensive and require patience and talent to learn. But no matter how passionate, many such artists will still struggle to make a living off of their work. It’s not just about the money, it’s feeling their work is becoming devalued. With the popularity of image generation, anyone can “be an artist”, but calling generative AI a medium for a new sort of creator is a bit of a misrepresentation. In July, Brandon Sanderson,
author of the Mistborn (2006-) series and The Stormlight Archive (2010-), spoke out while presenting an illustration created by Ben McSweeney for one of his novels, saying that so-called AI artists (sometimes labelled prompt engineers) are little more than art directors commissioning a piece of work.
“I would never put my name as the artist on this piece of art … He did the art. Now, I gave him the prompt, yes. I asked for it, I commissioned it, I pushed him on it, but it’s his art … Being an art director does not give you ownership over the piece … no matter how good your prompts, no matter how much you refine — you aren’t making the art.”
So, cut and dry then? AI content will gain popularity and novelty, but surely folk are in the Sanderson camp and don’t genuinely believe generative AI will replace artists wholesale? Though debate around the merit of AI art is inevitable, are there any indicators beyond conjecture? Should artists be fearing job insecurity more than they already have to? According to investors and users, there is reason to be concerned, but given the backlash and short-lived media spotlight of the platform, it seems it will still be a while yet before companies like OpenAI will manage to jump the many hurdles in their way.
Electricity use alone has already become a bit of a roadblock, and consumers aren’t pleased with the burden being offloaded onto their shoulders. And even with their hastening growth, OpenAI struggles to profit. It turns out even at these scales, it’s hard to convince people to buy your art. That’s not to mention the challenges these tools pose to politics, enabling hate speech, copyright infringement, misinformation, other creative fields like stand-up comedy, and the status quo of the internet itself.
I think AI poses too many questions, morally, legally, and logistically, for it to continue advancing at its current rate. So artists may still yet hold out hope that proper legislation will come for image and video generation before creatives are made obsolete (an eventuality I am optimistically certain will never come to pass). In a perfect world, these are problems that will be solved and AI will be put to some good use, rather than threatening to drain the human soul from all artistic endeavors. But for now all we can do is continue to rebel, speak out, and appreciate the little wins where they come.
SNAPSHOT
The
story of Skyler the Spider
Illustration by Iryna Presley
There’s a spider that’s been sitting in a web outside my window in the exact same position for at least three days straight. Naturally, this means that instead of studying, I have to make up a story about her.
Skyler the Spider’s two hundred siblings had gone and weaved their own webs long ago, and her father was off fighting in a war between the local spider species, leaving Skyler and her mother alone to wait for his return.
Skyler dreamed of following in her siblings’ eight-legged footsteps, but her mother needed her. Who else would repair the web when a rude human broke it, or catch flies and mosquitos for her?
Then, one day, Skyler saw it from across the street: the most beautiful window she’d ever seen. With its turquoise curtain and clean glass, Skyler could tell that the human who owned it had impeccable taste.
But her mother refused to relocate, claiming that they must stay and wait for her husband, who could return any moment. Tired of never choosing herself first, Skyler trekked toward that magnificent window.
Finally in a web of her own, Skyler the Spider has happily sat outside that beautiful window ever since.
BY CAITLYN CARR
Sora 2.0 raises alarm on both sides
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
Leftovers for life SNAPSHOT
by Iryna Presley
I know people that love leftovers, and people that hate leftovers. Fall leftovers, however, just hit different. After Thanksgiving, I have stacks of containers with stuffing and cranberry sauce in my fridge, which only happens once or twice a year. I find the color palette consisting of browns and dark reds that flourish on my plate very satisfying. The day after Halloween, it’s leftover candy still packed in goodie bags that trick-or-treaters never came to the door for. Regardless, fall leftovers invoke a special, feel-good sensation inside me.
Although I don’t get to experience it as much during busy semesters, eating leftovers makes me want to sit on the couch and watch movies while rotting in my sweatpants. Perhaps that’s why they taste so much better the next day, because it’s like entering recovery mode. While in school, that’s a feeling that seems so far away, but so worth it when I get there. For one day, while eating leftovers and absorbing into a good movie (especially Halloween themed), all seems right in the world.
BY VERONICA POWELL
Column // THE ENVIRONMENTALIST: The ghosts of pumpkins past
The secret afterlife of Halloween pumpkins
FABIOLA CRUZ ALDERETE
Welcome to The Environmentalist, your column for understanding the natural world. This edition of the column is a horror story few ever talk about. How pumpkins are haunting the planet!
Fall, one of the best seasons for spooky activities. From taking a walk around the neighbourhood to see the slowly falling leaves, to enjoying a cup of apple cider in a witchy orchard. Autumn is always dear to our hearts, but have you ever stopped to think about what happens with all the pumpkins we see everywhere once October passes?
First, we need to understand the history of pumpkins. It all started in Central and South America where the first widely spread harvest of pumpkins was grown. They arrived in Europe around the 16th century and became an autumn kitchen staple — not for decoration, but for delicious meals. In the 19th century an Irish folktale began to print the legend of “Stingy Jack.” With time, it started to be known as “Jack of the Lantern” or simply Jack O’ Lantern.
Nowadays, pumpkins are a fall staple. Approximately 87,000 metric tonnes of pumpkin were produced in Canada in 2022 alone, the dollar amount nearing $37 million. Even though pumpkin is a nutrient dense food with lots of vitamins, minerals, and low calories, most of it is disposed of after October. This contributes to Canada’s food waste problem, with more than 50 million tonnes of food that is lost or wasted yearly.
Approximately 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills every year in the United States. This without considering the amount of water, soil, fertilizer, equipment, transport, refrigeration necessary only to grow them. Now take in account all the methane and carbon that will be released by those 1.3 billion pounds rotting in a landfill. Enough! What can we do about it? Pumpkins are edible (and quite yummy)! So here are some ideas for what to do with your pumpkin after the season ends. Compost it, bury it (be aware that you might have a spooky sprout next year), roast the seeds, purée the flesh, use it for broths and soups, leave pieces outside for the local wildlife, donate it to the zoo or local farms! The key is to have fun with it, always remember to remove all the paint and decorations, don’t leave it in public spaces where it might attract animals or an unknowing by-passer. Lastly, before we all head out trickor-treating, remember that buying mindfully, knowing the place that everything we have comes from, and where it will eventually end up is the best way to have fun in any season. 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
Photo by Daniel Dan on Unsplash
Tier List //
More doomsdays, please!
At least the world didn’t end in 2000, 2012, 2015, and 2020…
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
Every so often, it feels like somebody comes up with a new end of the world scenario. I get bits and pieces of some prophecy over here, some prediction over there, and a whole lot of confusion and intrigue. Heck, the most recent world-altering event was September 2025 with the rapture that was supposed to happen! This got me thinking, what are the most memorable “end of the world” events that I remember experiencing or hearing about? Esteemed readers, I proudly present to you: my doomsday podium.
4. Worthy of mention, I give the “coming of the new ice age” fourth place on this ranking! It started in the 1970s with the prediction of a new ice age coming 50 years from then. It spread mainly because of a global cooling trend happening around that decade, with newspapers sensitizing the public to this phenomenon, and scientists stating the world could enter a new ice age should the cooling trend continue. It had enough impact that it made its way into my life as a kid in the 2010s. I remember hearing about a supposed “ice age” approaching soon — a terrifying prospect for a young girl living in a hot climate city. As far
as end of the world vibes go, it had solid word of mouth reach and prophetic-like predictions from years ago that were supposedly based on science.
6/10, bone chilling, would be intrigued to see another prediction like this.
3. In third place and taking home the bronze medal, we’ve got 2015’s “Super Blood Moon eclipse” doomsday! Following a series of three lunar eclipses, the fourth and final one in the lunar tetrad was believed to announce the world’s end, according to religious groups. Part of why it was so scary was that, in addition to being eclipsed and turned red, the moon was also at its closest position to Earth, making it appear larger. In my experience, it was interesting to witness how glued everyone’s gaze was to the moon when the eclipse happened — some because of its rarity and beauty, and others anxious about the world possibly ending.
7/10, would’ve definitely hit harder if not opaqued by another recent doomsday… had me terrified still. Bonus points for the moon looking so badass and scaring me poopless.
2. For the silver medal in this doomsday podium, I present to you the great, the mighty, the unparalleled “Y2K” bug! By the end of 1999, people feared for the
world’s collapse because of a computer glitch known as the millennium bug, or Y2K. It was believed that computers were not equipped to handle the digit change to indicate the start of a new millennium, and that this would cause the collapse of any computer dependent systems. Transport, banks, schools, businesses, governments, nuclear facilities, you name it — all to come crashing down because of computers going haywire. I’m convinced this end of the world single-handedly gave the generations above me the biggest scare of their lives as far as doomsdays go. I didn’t personally experience it, but trust me, I’m certain it was a big event. So big in fact, that when little me first asked about the world seemingly ending soon, my parents attempted to soothe me with “don’t worry, it was supposed to end on new year’s day in 2000, and nothing happened.”
9/10, perfect coincidence to change millenium amid the booming of the internet, powerful legacy, would have loved to see it in person.
1. Lastly, there’s one doomsday that, in my opinion, did it better than all of the rest. I present to you, the winner of the gold medal, 2012’s “Mayan Calendar” apocalypse! This one had the whole world on the edge of their seats. People believed the Mayans, notorious for their extraordinarily precise astronomy knowledge, had accurately predicted the end of the world to be Dec. 21, 2012. This story became so big thanks to the internet’s capability to spread information rapidly, leading to the sensationalization of the end of the Mayan calendar. The endless stream of content online and how much people were talking about it only made it seem more catastrophic. I remember hearing about how the world would plunge into darkness for three consecutive days and how we would be supposedly visited by strange beings in the dark. I was horrified. My sister and I were so terrified in fact, on the day of the end we bid each other farewell at sundown and couldn’t sleep all night. The amount of content we got from it was crazy, too. Movies, news, videos, claims, blogs, game content, it was everywhere! To this day, that was the biggest, baddest, scariest end of the world I’ve lived through.
10/10, peak content, marked a generation, what all ends of the world should aspire to be.
SNAPSHOT
Lazy day democracy
Believe it or not, you can support the preservation of democracy from your bed.
Petitions communicate that voters are paying attention past election time, as well as what they are paying attention to.
Petitions are also a chance to remember that members of parliament are tasked with serving their communities, not just their parties. I’ve found petitions sponsored by members from the party I usually vote for that I wouldn’t sign, and petitions by members from a party I tend to disagree with that had my full support.
Now — the downside is that while petitions above 500 signatures warrant government response, they are not obligated to take action regardless of if there are 500 or 500,000 signatures. Their usefulness and strength only grow if we make use of them. Large gestures can be powerful, but our everyday consistent habits are just as powerful, whether we build up or ignore systems of democracy. Regardless of the resulting words or action, this habit lets those in power know that the people they serve are watching.
On ourcommons.ca you can find e-petitions open for signature. If you take a few minutes to browse through, you can read through them and add your name to the ones you support.
BY KARA DUNBAR
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
Go to the movies alone SNAPSHOT
I didn’t know what I was missing out on until I went to the movies by myself. I got to choose what I wanted to watch, where to sit, and the snacks, too.
It’s not the fact that I didn’t have to share popcorn, but going to the cinema alone allowed me to absorb what I watched and reflect on it without external perspectives impacting my impressions. Plus, going solo means I don’t need to sheepishly smile at my friends as they gush over a movie I just didn’t like.
I’m not suggesting going to every movie by yourself. I think a blockbuster hit is more fun to watch with others, but if there’s a low-budget indie film you’re desperate to watch and no one you know has heard of it, try going alone! Doing it for the first time is like breaking in new shoes: it’s a little uncomfortable at first, but you get used to it.
If you haven’t done it before, take this as your sign to buy a ticket for one. Who knows, maybe watching movies on your own could become your favourite thing to do.
BY JASLEEN SANDHU
Spooky // Terror, unleashed
Why fear permeates our society (and we love it)
DARIEN JOHNSEN
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”
― H.P. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature
I pushed my way past the dark curtains, gripping my friend’s arm as we shuffled along the dimly lit halls. The air was cool against my cheek and my nerves tensed with anticipation. Axes, chainsaws, and torn fabric hung from the walls; we rounded the corner and I held my breath. Suddenly, a disheveled and bloodied man opened his mouth in a roar and lunged toward us. My friend and I both jumped back in fright before continuing to inch our way through the rest of the haunted house, full of thrill and pure enjoyment as we reached the end.
I’m a halloween enthusiast, a lover of all things spooky, weird, and downright terrifying. From an early age, I watched gruesome horror movies with my dad that most definitely left me with nightmares which plagued me for years. To this day, I am a big fan of scary stories, always hoping that the next one will give me that itchy feeling that I’m about to get got. But why? I know I’m not alone in my quest to be terrified, to make myself scream, or give myself the heebie-jeebies when I’m alone in my apartment.
An article from The Guardian explains that we get an adrenaline rush when the fear centres in our brains are activated. One study found that there’s a sweet spot for fear, a place when — just after being scared — we experience a rush
of endorphins and dopamine, giving us a satisfying buzz of feel-good chemicals.
Fear reactions are hardwired into our brains, and scary stories are enmeshed in our collective consciousness. In the 1800s, the Brothers Grimm famously collected an ambitious work of German oral tales as a way to preserve these fantastical stories. They mostly centred around the concerns and history of German society, but are meant to invoke universal feelings of fear. Hansel and Gretel spoke to the harsh reality of poverty caused by the Great Famine of 1315-1317 in Europe, sometimes forcing the elderly to either starve or abandon their children. The Pied Piper is speculated to have spoken to fears around migration, the Crusades, or even collective mania.
In this same vein, zombie narratives can be traced back to African myths about colonization and slavery, fears of vampires can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when the bubonic plague left victims with bloody mouth lesions and porphyria was thought to be cured by ingesting blood. Religion and spirituality are constantly used in horror films, playing off one of the most ancient and universal experiences of human kind.
Horror, in its entirety, raises the fear of being out of control and not knowing if the universe is really on your side. We are subjected to fate in these questions and the fear speaks to a sense of powerlessness. Modern horror has increasingly centred around technology, familial trauma, racism, gender and sexual identity, and pandemics showing that horror is an outlet for our societal concerns.
As horrifying as they may be, these stories could have some benefit in bringing people together. The fear of danger is a universal emotion, after all. Writer Sarah Dobbs explains in an article from “Den of Geek” that the Grimm Brothers added to a larger political movement in Germany that sought to re-unite the country in a time of fracturing identities.
“To that end, many writers and thinkers were turning to traditional folk tales to explore (or maybe define) a kind of German national identity. The theory was that these stories, passed down from one generation to the next, contained the collective hopes, fears, and morals of the German people.”
There is of course a line, when horror is abused to curate a “fear of the other,” but when used responsibly it can be of benefit in teaching us something about a place, a people, and a period in time. And when done properly, horror can make a bold statement against division and hatred.
These macabre narratives make us ask questions about ourselves, our culture, and the world around us. Moreover, the feeling of fear is immersive — it’s a puzzle that we have to solve in real time and demands our full and complete attention. It is a feeling that compels and captivates us, brings us to awareness of our bodies and surroundings, and stimulates our minds to ask questions about reality. And while we may not agree on much in our society, I think we can all agree that being chased through a corn field by a chainsaw-wielding serial killer is pretty damn terrifying.
Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
El Conejo Malo vs. MAGA America: a bilingual rant
Because I can — a reflection on language, identity, and the Super Bowl
SKY S. TERRONES
On a brisk Sunday night in late September, an announcement exploded MAGA brains. No, it wasn’t Congress finally releasing the Epstein files — they blocked that, again. It wasn’t even the looming U.S. government shutdown. It was something far more sinister… a bunny. Or rather, a Bad Bunny.
That’s right, folks. The announcement that “El Conejo Malo” would perform at the most red-white-and-blue, eagle-screeching, wing-devouring American spectacle of the year — the Super Bowl — sent shockwaves through the Trump cult. Because Bad Bunny isn’t American… right?
Except he is. Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917. They carry American passports, serve in the military, and pay taxes — yet they can’t vote for president nor have voting representation in Congress. So, when a Puerto Rican artist takes centre stage at the Super Bowl, it’s way more than a performance — it’s a spotlight on a contradiction: a country that prides itself on freedom and inclusion, while still holding colonial control over millions of citizens who are denied full democratic rights.
Bad Bunny’s presence at the Super Bowl forces that paradox into focus.
What’s in a language? What does
it say about belonging? Would you call a French-speaking Québécois less Canadian, or someone who only speaks English more so? Some people treat language as a test of loyalty — but it shouldn’t be. Language is a reflection of culture, history, and identity. In a country built by immigrants, multilingualism isn’t a threat; it’s a truth.
El Conejo Malo es puertorriqueño, pero también es American citizen. Y habla tanto Inglés como Español. Pero nada de eso importa, porque él no es el tipo correcto de americano. No es blanco, su primer idioma es español — igual que el mío.
¿Cuál es la relevancia de un idioma? ¿Cuánto poder existe en rehusarse a seguir estereotipos? ¿Qué poder hay en desafiar una narrativa colonialista y fascista impuesta por aquellos en privilegio?
Por supuesto que esto enojó a los conservadores. Sus mentes están haciendo overtime para siquiera procesar que Estados Unidos es — y siempre ha sido — un país de inmigrantes.
El Super Bowl no tiene como requisito presentar a un artista estadounidense. Paul McCartney, U2, e incluso Shakira, son solo algunos ejemplos de artistas internacionales que han encabezado el show de medio tiempo. Pero solo ahora se ha convertido en un problema. ¿Por qué?
Porque Bad Bunny no encaja en la fantasía
blanca de lo que “América” debería ser.
Bad Bunny ya ha demostrado ser una figura controversial en estos tiempos de autoritarismo. En 2025, canceló todas sus fechas de tour en EE.UU. porque le preocupaban las redadas de ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) cerca de los conciertos. Dijo que no quería que sus fans — especialmente aquellos con estatus migratorio precario — se sintieran inseguros.
Back in 2020, Bad Bunny showed up on national TV wearing a shirt that said “Mataron a Alexa, no a un hombre con falda.” It was his way of honouring a trans woman murdered in Puerto Rico and calling out the toxic masculinity behind it. In 2024, he backed Kamala Harris for president, standing with pro-immigrant and progressive causes.
La resistencia no debería caer únicamente en los artistas, pero son ellos quienes muchas veces lideran partes esenciales de la lucha. Desde la música, desde el escenario, desde el idioma.
You might be wondering why I’m writing this in Spanish. And the answer is: porque puedo.
Bad Bunny appeared on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and addressed the controversy, saying:
“Más que un logro mío es un logro de todos demostrando que nuestra huella y nuestra aportación en este país nadie
nunca la podrá sacar ni borrar… and if you didn’t understand what I just said, you’ve got four months to learn.”
Escribir en español no es solo una elección — es resistencia. Es decirle al lector: si quieres entenderme, aprende mi idioma. Por siglos, nos han dicho que el inglés es superior. Hoy, decimos lo contrario, hoy decimos if you guys want to understand, I hereby invite you to learn.
When someone asked me how this article could be relevant to Canadians — why it mattered when it was the U.S. being, unsurprisingly, xenophobic — I felt profound sadness. I told them it had already spread. That rejection of immigrants? It’s here. It’s growing.
I see it every time people stare at me and my sister when we speak Spanish in public.
I see it in the comment sections of immigrant-related news — and I mean Canadian blogs, Canadian posts. I wish it weren’t as relevant as it is. But it is.
I don’t particularly like Bad Bunny’s music, but when I see him on stage, I see more than an artist. Veo a alguien que habla como yo, que piensa como yo, que no pide permiso para existir. And that, to me, es una revolución worth celebrating.
Photo by Jorge Rojas on Unsplash
FEATURE
THE RISE, FALL, AND FUTURE OF UFV’S CAMPUS PUBS
Could UFV have a nightlife again?
PRATI KAPOOR
After a long day of classes, you might be tired and just want a cold beer with your friends. Not too long ago, you could have had that at UFV’s campus pub, AfterMath Social House, or a short walk away at the Phoenix Ballroom and Finnegan’s Pub. But today? They’re nowhere to be seen and everything on campus winds down early. What happened to UFV’s nightlife? Or Abbotsford’s for that matter? Should a campus pub be a priority right now? And if this is the case, where can students go if they want to revive UFV’s once thriving nightlife?
PHOENIX BALLROOM AND FINNEGAN’S PUB
An adjoining pub and restaurant, Phoenix Ballroom and Finnegan’s Pub were once located in what is now UFV’s Building K. Owned by the Esposito family — Paul Esposito Sr. specifically — the space first opened at Kings Crossing in 1983, but had to be rebuilt after burning down in 2005. After reopening in 2009, the Espositos eventually sold the property to UFV for just under $10 million in 2018. Esposito’s son, Paul Esposito Jr, reflected on his family’s decision to sell in an article by UFV Giving.
“It is an important life lesson that when your passion for something begins to fade it is best to move into a new direction.
Having originally entered the hospitality industry to better our community, it brings great comfort that UFV bought the property and it will continue to be used to positively contribute to our community.”
FROM CASEY’S TO AFTERMATH
Previously located in Building E, which is now home to the Athletics and Campus Recreation department, AfterMath echoed with student camaraderie. The closure of the campus pub in 2016 didn’t just take away a place to grab a drink, but a hub to build community.
Before it became AfterMath in 2011, the pub went by Casey’s on Campus and operated typically between 10:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. As the former President of the Computing
Student Association (CSA), Derek Froese, explained, Casey’s was a place where students could feel at home on campus. Since there was no Student Union Building (SUB) at the time, Casey’s provided a gathering space for students to hangout with their peers and build networks outside of their classrooms.
“People were social, [and] the environment was really cool. There was cool stuff on the
walls, the students were working there, it had comfortable seats, and there was power everywhere for laptops. It was really set up well as a place where you could hang out.”
According to CIVL campus radio station Manager Aaron Levy, AfterMath was more than a campus pub, it was a space where students had the opportunity to stay back after their classes
Illustrations by Chelsea Isbister @chelseaji.art
and have a good time. It also acted as a free bookable space for clubs and associations.
“It encouraged students to communicate, share, [and] study on campus in a friendly, fun, presumably safe environment.”
Levy shared that for nearly a decade, Casey’s supported the national arts community by being a host to hundreds of concerts by CIVL as they invited talent from all across Canada to perform. The pub witnessed a myriad of open mic nights, student run events, drag shows, and club nights on weekends.
“We had a band from Cuba … We’ve had Juno award winners, the people who [the] Canadian entertainment industry has awarded with the best records in their genre, the best albums in their genre that year from local artists, and also up-and-coming young artists.”
Before David Eby became premier, he gave a presentation at Casey’s about how his legislation would improve student life. Levy recalled how Casey’s further brought UFV into the national limelight for its scaling music events.
“We were so frequently using Casey’s on Campus that in 2013, the CBC had a campaign and a contest for individuals to vote on what campus was the best campus for music in Canada, and UFV was in third place … So I was interviewed for that on CBC and it was very
exciting to me. And that was made possible because of the Casey’s on Campus space and because of the students who volunteered there.”
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO MONEY
Despite adding value to student life, in 2012, AfterMath was facing severe financial constraints and there was a constant decline in the Student Union Society’s (SUS) financial reserves. The student employees even offered to have their hourly salary forfeited to help the campus pub survive until SUS’s general meeting at the end of November, but the plan was never implemented.
According to an article from The Cascade from early 2013, the SUS Board in 2005-2006 had formed a capital fund which generated income for SUS, through investment. According to Shane Potter the interim SUS president in 2012, nearly $300,000 from this fund had been depleted since 2009, with just over $15,000 left in November 2012. The money was used to cover any budget overages including AfterMath.
As SUS’ then bookkeeper, Darlene Turnbull, explained in the 2013 article, the SUS Board also had to take money from the student Health and Dental reserve to keep the pub going, leading to a domino effect.
“It encouraged students to communicate, share, [and] study on campus in a friendly, fun, presumably safe environment.”
“We got to the point where we had to pay the Health and Dental [costs] and we didn’t have this money … We ended up going back and ended up finding out that money had been taken out of there.”
According to the article, Froese presented a multi-sectioned motion to save the pub. The motion relocated about $40,000 from a number of SUS’ budgets including events, retreats, cell-phone allowances, conference
Illustrations by Chelsea Isbister @chelseaji.art
funds, accessibility funds, and board members’ honoraria to fund AfterMath till the end of fiscal year in 2013. Froese’s motion passed with 47 for and 18 opposed.
This worked for a while, but AfterMath eventually encountered financial difficulties again. According to Associate Vice President Kyle Baillie, the building itself started facing issues which included the ventilation system and fryers coming to the end of their lives. All in all making it too costly for SUS to run AfterMath, leading them to discontinue their lease in 2016.
“There [were] some kind of facilities slash infrastructure issues, and then on top of that, there comes cost, right? Replacing a ventilation system is really expensive these days and those days. So there was a combination of issues that led to a decision made by SUS whether or not they wanted to continue that.”
REMEMBERING AFTERMATH
With the shutdown came the loss of opportunities for student growth and learning. The pub had allowed student executives and volunteers to have hands-on experience in running a business — teaching them everything from budgeting to coordinating events. Levy shared that student employees were able to find new work partly because of the skills they acquired from working at AfterMath.
“Many of the students who worked there ended up becoming Cascade editors, staff members with local arts organizations and events, and CIVL because of their engagement and their work through Casey’s on Campus and their connection with [CIVL]. So there’s many different ways that it was incredibly valuable.”
Levy further explained that the radio station lost a consistent venue for its events and had to resort to 20 different alternatives across Abbotsford and Fraser Valley, making events more difficult to promote and costly.
“It’s really been difficult for our members and our volunteers and our students who are involved in local music … After Casey’s On Campus went away … we did a couple hundred at my home in between 2016 and the pandemic in order to fill the gap of not having a campus pub. [But] that was immense stress and responsibility, obligation and conflict on me … [so] that’s just not something I can take on anymore.”
Froese remembers AfterMath as more than just a pub. When comparing AfterMath to UFV’s cafeteria, he claimed that AfterMath offered a stronger sense of belonging.
“You want to have a bit more comfort [to] relax. [The cafeteria] wasn’t a place that was designed for connection or community, it was a place that was designed to give you somewhere to eat and then leave, and maybe open your books and do a little bit of work … but it just didn’t facilitate human connection.”
He acknowledged that despite not being highly profitable, the gains it offered were more valuable than the lost money.
“AfterMath, from a business perspective, was technically losing money … but I always thought the investment was well worth it and the gains that were had in community and culture were worth much more than the small investment that the student union was making to keep it going.”
As per Froese, there isn’t anything on campus that has the vibe that AfterMath did.
“SUB is good but people sit there and work by themselves. They’re not talking to each other, they’re not connecting, the restaurant there [seemed] all right but people aren’t connecting with new friends and across tables.”
SHOULD STUDENTS HAVE A NIGHTLIFE?
Nightlife can have a complex dynamic in a student’s life. It can be exciting and glamorous, but can also come with its own share of challenges. While it could lead to distractions and drift focus away from academics, it also helps students to engage with each other, build connections, and foster a community beyond classrooms. Often, concerns about the risks of alcohol consumption arise in conversations about nightlife. According to criminologist and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Wade Deisman, creating a culture of safety is important for pubs and bars to have a beneficial effect and not be dangerous. He shared taking precautions, such as having a buddy whenever you go out so you have someone looking out for you and vice-versa.
“If communities respond collectively, and individuals are empowered with things like safe drinking tips, the buddy system — then you get people in much less risky positions.”
Deisman also feels there is a lack of community ambition, sharing that he has seen students struggle to find a sense of belonging and make connections.
“There’s a kind of anomie, or normlessness. Icebreakers don’t melt the ice.”
In contrast, a lack of nightlife can have its fair share of benefits when it comes to risk management, especially when it comes to drinking-related problems. According to Cactus Club Cafe Manager Jordan Reimer, the restaurant usually experiences fewer guest-related issues with Abbotsford’s less prominent nightlife.
“A typical example: If someone has had too much to drink and we cut them off, they might get frustrated or confrontational. 95 per cent of guest incidents happen between 9 p.m. and midnight. So in a way, lower late-night traffic has reduced those risks.”
According to Sociology Professor Dr. Hassan Javid, how nightclubs are regulated matters more than their mere existence.
“You might argue that having too crazy [of a] nightlife can lead to associated problems involving crime, drugs and assault, But again, that’s more an issue about policing and regulation than it is about the absence or presence of nightclubs.”
Along the same lines, School of Culture, Media, and Society Professor Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains believes that while maintaining a vibrant nightlife can come with challenges, it’s better to foster local engagement than send community members outside of Abbotsford to enjoy a night out — especially since incidents still have the potential to happen elsewhere.
“They’re gonna go somewhere else to go find it. So why not keep the money in Abbotsford and keep our communities in Abbotsford? Keep our children in Abbotsford, keep our young people in Abbotsford and make [it] an attractive city to come to as well.”
Beyond these, a campus pub provides space for important conversations. Levy believes that when students gather outside their classrooms, it helps spark creative ideas which can lead to meaningful change.
“If students gather and communicate and congregate at a communal place on campus, that will lead to students sharing information and wanting to … make change on campus.”
NIGHTLIFE AS AN INDUSTRY
Beyond UFV’s campus, Abbotsford’s nightlife might be approaching a slow comeback by opening two new evening venues — Night Owl in Downtown Abbotsford and the Tipsy Barrel Pub. However, Abbotsford still often winds down early as these spots turn off their lights by 11:00 p.m., except for Fridays and Saturdays when they’re open until 1:00 a.m.
Even for restaurants like Cactus Club Cafe, the decline in the after hours traffic has been significant. Reimer explained that staying open late doesn’t look like a profitable choice with late night sales down all across the industry.
Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
“If Cactus could stay open till 1 or 2 o’clock and it would make financial sense for us as a business, we would do that. The reality is that the demand isn’t there for us to be open that late, where we are starting to spend more money than we’re earning.”
Reimer emphasized his point by highlighting the closure of Townhall, Abbotsford’s only nightclub in October 2024, due to excessive debt and pending interest.
“Ultimately, Townhall is closed now, right? So the market’s speaking, the people are speaking. These businesses are very difficult to run.”
Townhall, owned by the Joseph Richard Group, operated as a pub/bar during the day and then was used as a club in the evening. By mid 2023, the company owed Canadian Western Bank a total of $34.4M, as well as $2.3M to the Bank of Montreal. The Tipsy Barrel has since opened its doors in the space where Townhall used to operate.
In this economy, not everyone has enough disposable income to splurge at a club every weekend. Even if someone does, maybe spending it in a club isn’t a priority. For a student like myself, as much as I would love to have a place to party, I cannot do it every week. It isn’t feasible and scheduling time to party is hard.
“Everything is so expensive. Gas is expensive. Groceries are expensive. School is expensive,” emphasized Reimer.
OBSTACLES TO CONSIDER
Considering multiple factors, it’s unlikely that UFV will initiate the conversation of operating campus pubs themselves.
According to Associate Vice President Kyle Baillie, even if UFV were to think about re-introducing nightlife on campus, it’s very expensive and is a trade-off with building resources for students.
“When you look at the current situation of universities and colleges across Canada, [they] are cutting budgets across the board … Our priority is education, our priority is in the classroom, our priority is supporting students. Our priority at the moment is not to create a pub.”
According to Baillie, the UFV student community has changed over time and with it, the way they make choices about their social life.
“Our students are busy. They come here for specific purposes to go to class or participate in really specific things and then they tend to go back. I don’t think it is because students aren’t lacking a social life. They just have a social life elsewhere.”
Culturally, we’ve also seen a lifestyle change; since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, more people are spending their time online. The rise in technology and the ability to meet your loved ones in the comfort of your
home using video calls could be making the comeback of campus nightclubs less prevalent. According to Reimer, spending time with friends in a virtual setting, like Discord, is a lot cheaper than going out and spending over a hundred dollars on a night out drinking.
There is also the lack of commuter services after hours for students to go back home. On a brighter note, the Abbotsford City Council has been working on expanding routes and service hours with the transit authorities, but it is a time-consuming process for services to start being effective.
UFV’s proximity to universities in Vancouver and other big cities is a notable aspect. Vancouver, just being one hour away and having a very promising nightlife, makes for a solid alternative to UFV’s missing nightlife. Even if UFV tries to run a campus pub again, they likely won’t compare to bigger universities like the University of British Columbia or Simon Fraser
“Our priority is supporting students. Our priority at the moment is not to create a pub.”
University, that have more established campus infrastructures and student bodies.
THE LEGACY OF UFV’S CAMPUS PUBS
Many newer UFV students like me have never known what an on-campus pub looks like and can’t imagine that the campus once screamed with social buzz, or music streaming across a pub. However, for the staff and students who once enjoyed it, including Levy, AfterMath’s closure has left a void.
“[The pub] encouraged students to participate in community and in engagement on campus … And [I] wish there was something like that now.”
Should UFV prioritize a campus pub? Is having a nightlife important for students, or a disaster waiting to happen? Ultimately, the students themselves hold the key to the future of campus nightlife. Real change at UFV has always begun from the ground up. Froese emphasized that SUS’ real power lies within students and not the administration themselves. If students want to have a campus pub again, the possibility lies within them making a choice and effort to build it.
“You have the power as a student. So if you can get enough people to agree with you, you could go to an AGM and you could say, SUS, you’re going to make a pub.”
Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
Sports Editor - Jeffrey Kennett
Community //
Best seat in the house: a peak into sports broadcasting
Dom Vallee & Brett Lubkiwski bring their passion to every game call
ETHAN PAULSON
Behind every sports team is a group of people that bring the action directly to the fans at home. Often taken for granted, the role of being a sportscaster is not one for the faint of heart. It takes time, preparation, and dedication to the craft of having your voice heard through the microphone.
What do an associate producer for CTV and a Nike store retail manager have in common? They both work for the UFV Cascades, providing play-by-play commentary for our soccer programs!
Dom Vallee and Brett Lubkiwski have been manning the microphones together at Rotary Stadium ever since Lubkiwski joined the broadcasting team in 2023, solidifying the voices of Cascades soccer.
Both Vallee and Lubkiwski grew up in the province of Saskatchewan. Playing soccer did not lead to a career on the pitch for either of them, but it did instill a passion for the game that continues to exist to this day. The two sportscasters attended different post-secondary institutions, but both of their roads led to the Fraser Valley through similar opportunities.
Before taking his talent to Abbotsford, Vallee studied broadcast journalism at BCIT and was offered a position casting for UFV while still a student. Lubkiwski took a different route, staying closer to his home province at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, earning a degree in broadcast news. He later landed a position at UFV through a connection via his wife’s cousin, former UFV women’s soccer player Amy Connorton.
Despite most recently calling UFV soccer during the 2025-26 season, both men credit the sport of ice hockey as being an integral stepping stone to their careers as sportscasters. Like countless other Canadian kids who grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada, Vallee and Lubkiwski both acknowledged legendary hockey commentators Jim Hughson and Bob Cole as inspirations to their careers. Lubkiwski named Verne Lundquist as another pillar in the sports broadcasting community that taught him how to let the moment speak for itself.
“[Lundqvist] definitely had a way of being able to read the moment, and it was the guys who knew when to not say anything during a broadcast who I could really get inspiration from.”
Now that the pair has been at UFV for a few years, they have been able to see several great athletes evolve from promising rookies into superstars on the pitch. Vallee and Lubkiwski marvelled over the skills of Ebi Igali and Michael Beecroft, respectively, as their favourite Cascades to watch. Igali and Beecroft are also the sportscasters’ picks for unsung heroes of a Cascades team that is looking for redemption in the Canada West playoffs. With growth in the program comes increased expectations and attention from fans, as well as potential recruits. Vallee looked back on how the UFV programs have evolved since he joined the booth five years ago.
“Both teams have been progressing since I got here. It’s been really cool over the last five years to watch the growth of the program.”
Fan experience is essential to gameday presentation. Players feed off the atmosphere created by the home crowd, adding to the old adage of home field advantage. While winning always helps, a true test to a sportscaster is keeping fans entertained during a blowout game. Lubkiwski expressed that there is much more of a story to these athletes than what we see on the score sheet.
“It’s about trying to find things that go beyond the game, and remind people that they are humans more than athletes. It’s not so much about the score at the end of the day.”
With microphones, stories, and fun statistics at the ready, Vallee and
Can you quit breaking my heart? Hockey: still as toxic as ever
Nothing quite says National Hockey League like five men being acquitted of sexual assault and 32 teams licking their chops to offer them their next contract. Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, and Cal Foote were all banished from the NHL after being accused of sexual assault in 2018. The wheels of justice in Canada turn ever so slowly, and with a not guilty verdict officially determined by the Canadian judicial system, the five men are free to sign with any NHL team willing to offer them a contract. Here’s the hitch: while teams were free to flirt and negotiate with the idea of signing any of the five hockey players, they couldn’t officially put pen to paper to ink a new deal until Oct. 15, 2025. The Vegas Golden Knights were clearly foaming at the mouth waiting for their chance to add Carter Hart to their squad, and promptly signed the Canadian goaltender as soon as the clock struck midnight on Oct. 15. However, Hart won’t be able to join his new team until Dec. 1. Hopefully that’s not long enough for a background check.
BY JEFFREY KENNETT
Lubkiwski continue to bring their passion for soccer to the masses. With the rise of Cascades athletics, it might not be long before we see these two sportscasters up in the big leagues — but for now you can catch them on CanadaWest TV on game night.
Watching sports is a roller coaster of emotions. When the good times are rolling, I feel on top of cloud nine. On the other hand, the teams that I root for love to toy with my emotions. No matter the result at the end of the game, the feeling of my heart palpitating out of my chest sticks around for hours after each game has concluded. Being a Seattle Seahawks fan is synonymous with impending heartbreak — especially when lingering around every corner is an opposition team’s fan that loves to bring up when Marshawn Lynch didn’t run the ball at the 1-yard line in Super Bowl XLIX. The result of one tilt does not mean that the sky is falling, because in every game only one team gets to go home happy. But why do they have to make it so stressful? I guess that stress is just the cost of being a fan. Pouring your entire personality into a team and delicately balancing your whole emotional state on the outcome of one game may not be the greatest thing to do to your heart, but nobody will ever say that you lack passion.
BY ETHAN PAULSON
Photo submitted by Brett Lubkiwski
Illustration by Iryna Presley
SPORTS
Golf //
Playing for the home greens
Bateman fits in as a key piece for a talented Cascades program
ETHAN PAULSON
Fresh off the heels of an impressive showing at the 2025 Waterloo/Laurier Invitational where he shot three under par on route to tying for second place in the tournament, third-year golfer Brett Bateman joined The Cascade to discuss golfing, teammates, and his secret weapon — Google Earth.
How did you start playing golf?
I played golf when I was a little kid with my dad and my grandpa, and then I didn’t really play for the rest of my childhood. I started playing high school golf when I was in grade eight and nine, then started taking lessons in grade 10, and playing tournaments in grade 11. I didn’t expect to play university golf at all until grade 12.
What drew you to the UFV golf program?
[Connor O’Dell] was my golf coach, he always said [UFV] would have been an opportunity for me … I just decided that that’d be a pretty fun thing to do if I was gonna go to school anyway.
CULTURE
Event Coverage //
Do you have a pre-round routine?
Nothing really set in stone. Pre-round, I usually hit balls first on the range, but I’ll hit balls for probably half an hour, 45 minutes, and then just do putting. I always use the same ball marker, and I usually keep the same amount of tees in my pocket when we play.
How did you prepare for the Laurier/Waterloo invitational?
We do quite a bit of study … We used Google Maps, Google Earth, or golf apps, and we looked at the course from aerial footage, got numbers to different targets, and then you do one practice round. So that helps you hit different clubs off different tees, and chip and putt around the greens to get familiar with the course. You shot a 71 in your first round and a 69 in your second round in Ontario. Were you more used to the course in the second round? Or did you change something in your game?
We [played] at two different courses. So the first round we actually had a practice round, [but] the second round, we didn’t get a practice round at all. We relied
on the work we put in [prior] to know the course a little bit. It’s hard to see on Google Earth what the course looks like, so a lot of the holes that we thought about looked a lot different … I’ve never really played a tournament where I haven’t seen the course before.
How does your mindset differ when shooting a good round vs. a bad round?
A good round, you feel like you’re in the zone, so you don’t really think too much about it. I’d say you just keep doing what you’re doing. And then when playing bad, I always look at just trying to save it. If you start bad, you can always come back. Or if something bad happens, I believe in my skill to come back from that.
Who is your favorite teammate to play a round with?
Probably Mac Smith. He’s really funny. We have a lot of common interests with sports, he’s a big basketball guy, and I like to watch basketball. So we talk a lot about that.
What has your coach and former
teammate Eli Greene meant to you? It’s pretty cool having him as a coach. He’s very detailed, and he knows us as people, which helps because we’ve had [him] as a teammate for two years, and now a coach. He’s able to help in ways that other coaches haven’t, because he understands us.
What are you looking forward to most at the Canada West Championship on your home greens?
Just that, looking forward to playing at a course where we play so often … I think it’s going to be good for us. Home course advantage is definitely a thing in sports. Over the next week, we’re going to keep playing there and it’s nice because we’ll be able to understand the course in all different conditions, so we kind of know how it plays.
Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
culture@ufvcascade.ca
Patio season extended by Back Porch Music
Yale Brewing provides platform for local musicians
ZACKERY FITZPATRICK
Patio season comes to a close as summer turns to fall. But that doesn’t mean that music and merriment need to end, and Old Yale Brewing agrees! When better to cozy up with some comfort food, a drink to warm the stomach, and local musicians playing through the night? Old Yale started up in Chilliwack, B.C., but quickly became a favourite in Abbotsford, hosting themed trivia, Oktoberfest, and of course, their Back Porch Music series, offering a chance to sneak in some patio festivities as spooky season — alongside the scary skeletons — threatens to send shivers down your spine.
Joel Willoughby played the Chilliwack location out on Thursday, Sept. 25 — their last live music event before closing for renovations until spring 2026. But as promised, the music isn’t going anywhere, despite the onset of autumn’s chill. Willoughby returned to Old Yale last Thursday, Oct. 16, to play the Abbotsford location, and The Cascade sat down with him for a few words about how the venue
uses the space to platform musicians.
“These kinds of shows are great … they have a budget to pay pretty well for artists to come in … Sometimes you get nights where everyone’s kind of rowdy and drunk, watching the Jays’ game, which is fun. I mean, I love the Jays … but some nights people are listening more than others.”
I’d be remiss if I left out that it was not actually on the back porch, much to my surprise. This music series is more a spiritual extension of patio season, in name alone, as Old Yale has a rustic interior complete with fake grass, cornhole, and more, helping to emulate the summer time revelry. Willoughby had nothing but enthusiasm for this, commenting on how the layout helps to foster community.
“It’s always fun to play at a place that has a stage … every musician has had a nightmare where you show up and are like ‘where am I playing’ and they’re like ‘move tables in the corner behind the fridge or something.’”
Willoughby also spoke on the differences between playing the two venues,
and how the Abbotsford location is trying to find ways to incorporate more outdoor events now that the Chilliwack location is closed.
“The Oktoberfest was the first time they set it up … they cordoned off part of the parking lot … they set something up for a stage and covered area.”
As the seasons change, things tend to focus more on the holidays, with fewer and fewer shows put on in the fall and winter. So for artists juggling day jobs and other commitments, finding ways to share their music gets harder. Willoughby assured that Old Yale stands out amongst other breweries.
“They’ve been awesome … Old Yale does a really great job of doing events … it’s a great space … They’re doing some kind of Christmas thing [on Nov. 28th] that they’ve asked me to play at too.”
With live music events getting more intermittent, the Back Porch series is evidently serving as a recurring opportunity to keep things rolling for performers in the meantime. Willoughby voiced some insights about the role of the musician in
community spaces, and how event culture is changing.
“I do like outdoor shows a bit better, but this can hold more people, which is cool. It gets a bit noisier … here you can actually watch a game and hang … you’re not the focus … that’s the deal when you’re a performer doing these kind of shows … It’s almost like we’re becoming the live Spotify, you know, I’ve been specifically asked by some places ‘make sure you play at least 80 per cent covers,’ cause they want people to know the songs.”
Even so, Willoughby and many of the musicians playing Old Yale bring a folk pop charm to an already stellar venue. Check out Willoughby on instagram @ joelwilloughby for any upcoming shows in the meantime, and if you want a great time with food, drinks, and a lively atmosphere, the Back Porch Music series continues this upcoming Thurs., Oct. 23rd with Kyler Pierce performing.
Culture Editor - Elyssa English
Old
Crossword //
Sudoku //
Horoscopes //
By: Minerva the Mystic
Aries - Mar. 21 to Apr. 19
You are under no obligation to carry the burdens of the world alone. If you want balance in your life, you will need to learn to share what troubles you. Those who love you, would love to help you.
Taurus - Apr. 20 to May 20
Don’t let others make choices for you. You can’t make everyone happy all the time. Trying too hard to do just that is going to burn you out eventually. Here’s a hard truth for you: sometimes you won’t know the “right answer” when you make your decision. You just have to leap and see where you land. Others be damned.
Gemini - May 21 to Jun. 20
Are you forgetting to make student loan payments? The stars are telling me that you may be incurring debts or unpaid favours. There’s a power imbalance brewing in your life that you might want to take account of.
Cancer - Jun. 21 to Jul. 22
Oh, now this is interesting. You’re on a new journey. In your search for your inner self, you are making progress. There is light up ahead, shining bright upon your path. Things might feel a little gloomy right now, but clarity is on the horizon.
Leo - Jul. 23 to Aug. 22
The lion does not concern itself with the expectations of others. When you find yourself doubting your abilities, stop. Being too self-critical and not giving yourself enough grace isn’t doing you any good. Remember who you are.
Virgo - Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Just in case you need the reminder, patience is a virtue. Even when you’re buzzing with energy, full of ideas and inspiration, being able to reign yourself in and take the time to work through your plans thoughtfully is important, lest you be at the mercy of petty whims and shallow desires.
Libra - Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
You might need a Virgo in your life right now. If you’re feeling tired, unmotivated, or full of despair, seek companionship. Isolation will not solve all of your problems. I’d recommend reaching out to a friend who has a habit of being too cheerful and see if they’re able to share some of their joy.
Scorpio - Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
You know what you want — what you really, really want. You just need to go after it. The approval of others won’t make it easier. Look inwards and find that special zigazig ah.
Sagittarius - Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Can you even hear yourself think? There is chaos within and without, and trying to just logic your way through the noise isn’t working. Put your headphones on, drown out the raucous, and focus on what really matters.
Capricorn - Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
Hey now, Negative Nancy, settle down. Just because life isn’t going your way right now, doesn’t mean that you can’t turn things around. You might just need some help with directions.
Aquarius - Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
Have you ever noticed that you tend to hold on really tightly to what you have. Perhaps it’s out of fear of losing things that are important to you. This isn’t always bad, but keep in mind that if you spend too much energy trying to conserve and to protect, you may become a prisoner of your own possession.
Pisces - Feb. 19 to Mar. 20
You may be familiar with the saying “curiosity killed the cat,” but are you aware that it isn’t the whole story? “Satisfcation brought him back.” Think on that.
It was when I was confronted by an eerie creature in the dark, looking like a bat with no wings, that I felt my heartbeat was too loud. I feared Dracula might be close by. Others might say I was “hooked,” but I was bitten –– and so were many others –– by the Newbury Art Concepts theatre show Dracula (2025), held for ten shows at the Chilliwack Cultural Center this October. This immersive, intimate show was no stereotypical vampire “bla-blabla” story. Sure, a long cape billowed behind the Count, and fog curled over the stage’s steps at his entrance, but after leaving I was pleasantly surprised and dying to see it again.
Written by Susan E. Newbury and directed by her husband Randy Newbury, Dracula is a theatrical adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula (1897) with clear inspiration from the horror film Nosferatu (2024). Taking place in London of 1893, the story follows one lonely, intimidating vampire attempting to find love while maintaining his bloodthirsty tendencies. It is three hours of seduction, fright, and superstition.
The Cascade was lucky enough to speak to R. Newbury right out of the backstage madness after the show, and turns out, a dark twisted vampire story is far from what he and his wife are familiar with.
Event Coverage //
“My wife and I’s company always [does] very musical, happy, jazz-hands kind of shows. [But] we’ve always loved a show with a dark side to it … this is something that we’ve always wanted to do but never really had a chance.”
Going from musicals to gothic dramas is quite the change, but R. Newbury had one goal in mind that would be the formula to attract audiences and make them thirsty for more.
“I wanted the audience to be uncomfortable. I didn’t want them to be complacent. My main goal was to not have anybody laugh. Sometimes when you see things that make you uncomfortable, a nervous reaction is to laugh about it. I didn’t want people to laugh. I wanted to make sure that [the cast] presented it in the most non-comedic way possible.”
I feel confident they achieved it. I don’t know about the rest of the audience, but I was on the edge of my seat. Randy even mentioned how they purposefully dropped the theatre’s temperature because it would keep the audience’s attention more. It’s safe to say I was definitely awake and taking notes. It shows his great passion and dedication to the work and it’s inspiring to understand why it’s all done in the first place.
“We do it for the people in the theatre. We do it for the community, sure, but all those people out there love theatre so much. They thrive on it. These people are
putting hours and hours of time into this thing ... for the love of the craft, for the love of the art. And that, to me, is incredibly heartwarming.”
I was impressed by the acting, especially from the vamp, played by Anatole Smith, and even more so after learning that, for around 80 per cent of the cast, they had never even read or watched any Dracula storyline before. Compared to R. Newbury who lives for the Dracula story, for most, Hotel Transylvania (2012) was strange territory.
Another notable characteristic was the inclusion of the Southern character, Jack
Morris, played by Luke LeClair, who was initially an odd pairing with the British community of the story, but blended quite well in part due to the stellar acting. I also loved the allusion of the Romeo and Juliet (1996) story that added layers to the main love interests with a smoky romance that played out.
Without letting my own fascination with vampire folklore take over, this theatre production of Dracula was a show worth seeing even if you don’t like vampires or dark things –– but especially if you do.
Taking terror more (and somehow also less) seriously
Tanglebank
ZACKERY FITZPATRICK
the right notes with haunted woodland attraction
before sitting through those conversations around the family dinner table?
With Halloween just around the corner, it feels terribly un-festive of me to admit that I’ve never been an incredibly celebratory person. I’ve never carved a pumpkin, I hardly ever put much effort into a costume — if I dress up at all — and I oft’ pass up going home for Thanksgiving in favour of spending the long weekend at home in bed. But fret not, high and low I’ve scoured for events, traditions, movies, and more to get in the spirit (pun intended) for All Hallows’ Eve. I figure, to kick things off, a good scare is in order if I’m going to properly throw myself into October. It’d serve to get a jolt of fear in as practice before visiting home over the winter break. Y’know, microdose terror
With that in mind, the labyrinthine woodland fog of Tanglebank Estate called to me. Their haunt runs until the end of October with a number of time slots available. That scheduling flexibility was a big pull for me, as I am indecisive when it comes to these things. For my personal first swing at something like this, the vibe they’ve got going at Terror at Tanglebank did not disappoint. From fog machines to nearly daily operation, from themed food and beverages to scare actors lurking in the shadows, my expectations were sated through and through.
Their menu was brief but efficient, some vegetarian options and then “gourmet” sausages and buns. Now, I’m no
expert, but that’s a hot dog — a very tasty hot dog, certainly, but still. It was also during this time that I was informed their “Bloody Mary” was in fact one of the options for their sausage toppings, and not the alcoholic beverage I thought they had cleverly chosen so as to stay on theme. A lesson here folks: read more thoroughly.
A friend and I splurged on the full $55 on their R.I.P. Access tickets, which let us skip lines, get discounted merch, and of course a free themed cocktail (we knew we’d want to try them either way)!
The syringe-stuffed blood moon elixir perfectly encapsulated the energy I was seeking from my Halloween festivities this year, much like the attraction itself: sweeter than expected but silly and fun nonetheless. Even without the extra
accoutrement, at $27 general admission seems a steal for a night out like this. Or if you’ve got little ones you want to enjoy the season with without too much of a scare, they have family hour, actor-free tickets to take in Tanglebank in a more child friendly environment.
Silliness in mind, I’ve never usually been one for amusement parks, or thrill seeking. Scary movies need to be the right kind of scary, or I get squeamish and hide my face. Rollercoasters are an exercise in flexed abs so that my stomach doesn’t do flips. It’s a thin line to walk when it comes to entertainment for me, so maybe it was the companionship I brought along — the knowledge my friends would be subject
Photo by Boris Ðetvaj @borisdphotography
Estate hits
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
to the same fate — or maybe it was the alcohol, but I definitely got less a sense of “terror,” as much as some shock value followed by laughter.
The scare actors are having fun and you get to be in on it too! It was a weird, exciting, collaborative bit of jump-scaring, without crawl-out-of-your-skin-and-shityour-pants level fright, which is just about where I normally tap out. Ominous but grounded, what Terror at Tanglebank lacked in immersion, it made up for with special effects and dedication. Though never wandering too far, the ever-present shroud did craft a compelling illusion of a more distant and stranded place, something most haunts lack due to crowded spaces and glaring exit signs. Tanglebank benefits from being widespread and outdoors, but is hurt by the whimsy that their theming (and my friends) brought to the attraction.
I am taking this year to become the cool, spooky, Halloween-enjoying version of myself I always should have been, and Tanglebank was a phenomenal
Column //
place to start. If you’re looking for a good time it has my recommendation! How should I sign off on such raving reviews? Zack the Pumpkin King? Fitzpumptrick? Fitzenstein(‘s Monster)? Regardless, a Zack O’Lantern stamp of approval.
Campus Fashion: falling in love with make-up
How to look chic this season
This is Campus Fashion, your source of inspiration for seasonal trends, cool finds, and wardrobe basics to keep you looking stylish throughout the year. What make-up people wear has the power to make a statement or blend in neutrally with an outfit. Finding the right foundation for your skin is as essential as hunting down the perfect red lipstick for date night. However, it’s also important to choose a company that uses quality ingredients as well. Let’s take a look at five tips for choosing excellent make-up that is good for your skin!
Research brands
Some brands are healthier and more equitable than others because of the ingredients in their products and how they’re manufactured. Many brands will have a sustainability page on their websites to share their values. Looking for brands that are made from vegan ingredients, or for sensitive skin are hypoallergenic, is a better way to avoid destroying your skin or prematurely aging it. Examples of make-up brands that are hypoallergenic and/or vegan include e.l.f, Annabelle, Almay and Marcelle.
Colour matching
Too often people end up with the wrong shade of foundation or lipstick that is brighter or darker than expected. Look for companies that have trained customer service representatives who know how to properly colour match you. Some brands like M.A.C. can offer paid consultations or you
can get colour matched by an expert who determines what colours work best on your skin. If the price tag is too high, you can always take a photo of the make-up and the shade to find a good dupe that is more affordable.
Testers
Not a lot of places give testers out anymore. However, if you find a place that does, it doesn’t hurt to test out products that you’re thinking about purchasing beforehand. Sephora often offers customers free samples as well as allowing them to choose a couple to try out for every order they make. This is a good way to find out what works best on your skin and what to avoid.
Reviews
YouTube and TikTok are examples of quick ways to find out more about a product. While there are paid promotions done in collaboration with influencers and companies, there are also honest reviews of products. One way to determine if a product is being promoted is to see if the influencer thanks the product’s company for sponsoring the video. If they make it clear that it is not a sponsored ad, there’s a higher chance that the review will be more accurate. Watching a lot of reviews and checking if they all agree on certain points is a good way to determine what a product is truly like.
Go with your gut
Sometimes, the most risky play of all is to try the product and see for yourself if it works. If you have a good feeling about a product, you’ve done the research and
you want to try it, then maybe it’s meant to be. Some make-up products offer different sizes — purchasing a smaller size can reduce how much you spend on make-up that may not work out for you. Also, double check with the sales representatives about the return policy to avoid wasting money on make-up you won’t use. Alternatively, if you feel the product has too many red flags, go with your gut and don’t buy it. Waiting to find a similar product that checks all the boxes ends up working better in the long run. When in doubt, save your money!
There you have it, a guide to choose make-up with wisdom and care. Often, people can get caught up in the latest trend on social media or society, However it’s important to find what works best for you and your skin. May you find the make-up that’s right for you!
Image by Linnaea Mallette
RACHEL TAIT
Photo by Gabriela Gonzalez
PEAK: cheaper than therapy, better than a study break
MADDI MERCER
With midterms approaching and the days getting colder and shorter, you would probably love to take a break and go vacationing somewhere warmer! Luckily, BingBong Airlines is a great solution to all your wants and needs! Well… if you don’t mind virtually crash-landing onto a tropical island.
Welcome to the world of PEAK (2025), a recently released game by Aggro Crab and Landfall that’s been very well received. The objective of the game is simply this: mountain climbing. Sounds fun, right? You’ve just crashed onto a tropical island where your main goal is to climb to the highest point, where sweet rescue is. Along the way, you’ll have to navigate a variety of terrains as conditions become harsher and more dangerous the further you climb.
The most important resource in PEAK is your stamina, which depletes the more
you climb. However, other factors also affect your stamina bar, like hunger, extreme temperatures, and the weight of your backpack. Be careful not to get hurt because your injuries also restrict your available energy. Luckily, there’s luggage scattered across the land with food and climbing gear to help you on your ascent. If you can’t find any food in the luggage, there are also some natural food sources in the wild, but make sure you don’t eat anything poisonous.
PEAK provides a great challenge for any player brave enough to face it alone, but it also allows up to four players to play at once, offering great co-op focus that heavily emphasizes teamwork. You can rely on your friends to hoist you up steep climbs, throw down ropes, share resources, and even revive unconscious teammates at rest stops. Proximity chat adds to the chaotic experience. The further away your teammates are, the more their voice echoes. So, don’t stray too far away
Video Games // Movies // Climb higher than your GPA
from your friends. Rule number zero in Scoutmaster Myre’s guidebook is to never abandon a friend in need… or else.
Unfortunately, because of the heavy focus on co-op, playing PEAK solo can be quite difficult and sometimes frustrating when you are carrying a limited amount of resources to help you. Though that doesn’t seem to scare away any players brave and skilled enough to take on the challenge.
PEAK has some head bobbing and camera movements that can be intense and potentially cause motion sickness. There’s also some creepy crawlies and effects that will probably turn off players with phobias or other sensitivities. Luckily, the game developers thought ahead and provide great accessibility options you can toggle on and off, such as reduced camera bobbing, bug phobia mode, and colour blindness mode. Anyone, despite any sensitivities or abilities, can all play together and have fun!
Because PEAK is such a new game, there are a limited number of maps. However, the biomes switch every 24 hours, encouraging you to try new attempts and different strategies daily. Plus, the developers are constantly working hard with the intention of adding even more maps in the near future! With that in mind, and a simple mod support integration you can install, PEAK is not going to get old anytime soon!
In short, PEAK is praised as an excellent, simple, and hilarious co-op experience that perfectly executes its core climbing mechanic and thrives on chaos. PEAK delivers maximum value for minimum cost, perfect for a student budget! So go get PEAK now if you’re looking for some cheap thrills! But remember Rule zero in Scoutmaster Myre’s guidebook: never abandon a friend in need, or be prepared to face the consequences of your actions…
Don’t dream it, stream it: spooky in six-inch heels
SKY S. TERRONES
At last, it’s that spooky time of year — when the nights grow longer, the shadows get sassier, and looking fashionably undead is socially acceptable. As the full moon rises and the gays come out (again), your trusted rainbow dealer is back to queer up your Halloween with a list of films that slay, scream, and sparkle like a disco ball in a haunted house.
6. ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction (2009)
So what if the name screams ridiculous? This indie zombie comedy is legit gay as fuck and an underrated gem. A small town’s zombie outbreak exposes the bigotry and xenophobia lurking beneath its red-white-and-blue façade? Yes, please.
To be fair, it’s been a hot minute since I first stumbled on it years ago, and its weird title was enough to hook me. But I’m forever glad that it piqued my curiosity enough for me to give it a chance. Despite leaning into a few stereotypes, it remains a bold, political satire that criticizes systems of oppression as well as religious fanaticism with camp, guts, and unapologetic queerness.
5. Slay (2024)
Bikers, vampires, and drag queens — need I say more? Honestly, that should be enough to sell anyone. When four queens accidentally book a gig at a redneck biker bar, things go from awkward to apocalyptic as bloodthirsty vampires crash the party. But fear not — while the stakes are high, the heels are higher, and these girls did not come to play, they came to slay.
This movie is so campy it should come with glitter warnings — and yet it delivers unexpected depth that hits you right in the feels. The vampire references are endless, so yes, expect Buffy the Vampire Slayer
(Buffy) (1997-2003), Blade (1998-2004), and Twilight (2008-2012) nods.
If you’re craving a low-budget, action-packed, laugh-out-loud Halloween slasher, look no further. Slay is a serious contender for the next cult classic, and I only wish more people knew about it.
4. Jennifer’s Body (2009) Honestly? If a wannabe rock band sacrificed my girlfriend for their own fame-chasing, satanic nonsense, I’d be cheering her on as she devoured every man in sight. Step up, Needy — a full belly makes a happy heart, and your girl’s
got cravings.
“I go both ways” shall forever be etched in the queer horror hall of fame.
A cult classic finally getting the love it was always worthy of.
3. I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
This movie follows two teens who bond over a supernatural TV show — one that slowly begins to blur the lines between fiction, identity, and reality. And it absolutely earns this spot if only for the Buffy love alone.
But beneath the neon glow and eerie nostalgia lies a haunting exploration of queer identity, using elevated horror to channel the ache of growing up outside of society’s norm.
Fair warning: my sister left the theatre in tears. So, while this is a fantastic and very much queer film, it’s as cathartic as it is crushing.
2. Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Is it fair if I sneak three movies into one slot? Well, life ain’t fair, and the cursed residents of Shadyside know that better than anyone. A centuries-old curse haunts the town’s queer, working-class side, and shockingly, only a love story has the power to break it.
The Cascade gets campy, creepy, and queer in this fabulous Halloween movie list
It’s rare to see a queer romance not just included, but driving the entire plot — and Fear Street delivers that with full-on lesbian drama and gruesome deaths.
Before we get to our top pick, let’s pour one out for the legends: The Hunger (1983), A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985), Scream (1996), Interview with the Vampire (1994) — all
bedrocks of queer horror history. And if curious about our legacy in horror media, Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror (2022) is a must-watch four-episode docuseries.
1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) I mean, was anyone truly surprised? Queer, horror, and a musical? That’s the holy trinity right there.
A stranded couple stumbles into a castle of queer chaos, where a sweet transvestite from Transylvania leads a musical night of liberation (as life should be). Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, this iconic masterpiece still makes me feel like I’m tripping in a safe and good way.
I could rave about this film for days, because this wasn’t just a movie then, and it still isn’t now. It was (and remains) a community experience: a shared,
supportive, and celebratory space where everyone tuned into the same gloriously bonkers wavelength.
Watch it with friends. Watch it in a packed theatre. Watch it with toast in hand, newspaper to cover from the rain, and your pelvic thrusts ready to do the “Time Warp” again. And remember, don’t dream it, be it.
Music // Good music doesn’t always have to be sad
A Swiftie’s take on The Life of a Showgirl
CAITLYN CARR
Taylor Swift released her newest album, The Life of a Showgirl (TLOAS) (2025) on Oct. 3, and to the surprise of no one, the internet has some very big feelings about it. The usual haters are claiming that this is Swift’s worst album yet, but there’s also Swifties who enjoy the album for what it is: a fun time. As part of the latter category, here’s my take on some of its most notable tracks.
My personal favourite TLOAS song is its opening track, “The Fate of Ophelia.” Arguably the song that the whole album revolves around, it’s also the only one off the album to have its own music video. By drawing parallels from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1600) and Sir John Everett Millais’ famous “Ophelia” (1852) painting to her own life, Swift adds an extra layer of depth to the deeply romantic and catchy song via these allusions, making it the strongest song on the album from a lyrical standpoint.
“The Fate of Ophelia” is presumably about Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce, a football player for the Kansas City Chiefs. The song’s opening lyrics, “I heard you calling on the megaphone / You wanna see me all alone,” match the beginning of Swift and Kelce’s relationship perfectly, which started after Kelce lamented on his New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce (2022-) podcast about not being able to meet Swift after a Kansas City performance of The Eras Tour.
If “The Fate of Ophelia” isn’t the album’s central song, a close runner-up is its title track, “The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter),” Showcasing Swift’s storytelling skills, the song tells the tale of a showgirl named Kitty who warns the speaker against pursuing a life in the spotlight. My favourite part of this song is definitely the satisfying way that Carpenter’s crisp voice compliments Swift’s softer vocals.
Ironically, my second favourite song off the album is also its second track.
“Elizabeth Taylor” is an undeniably strong song from a musical perspective, featuring heart-pounding drops and satisfying rhythms. Given the return of Max Martin and Shellback as producers for the album, who also worked on Swift’s tracks “22” from her Red (2012) album and “Blank Space” from her 1989 (2014) album, it’s unsurprising that TLOAS would include such strong songs rooted in pop.
As for which track is third place in my heart, that goes to “CANCELLED!” Seriously, this song is so hard-hitting that fans have speculated that it’s secretly a vault track from Swift’s reputation (2017) album.
Regardless, “CANCELLED!” proves yet another example of the kind of addictive music that can come out of Swift’s work with Martin and Shellback. And from a vocal standpoint, Swift’s hypnotic voice when she sings “I like ‘em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal / Like my whiskey sour, and poison thorny flowers” just perfectly scratches an itch in my brain.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the track that most listeners are talking about, and that’s “Wood.” With NSFW lyrics like “His love was the key that opened my thighs” and suggestive wordplay like “cocky,” “hard rock,” “your magic wand,” and “New Heights of manhood,” the immature child in me absolutely loves this song.
While I do consider myself an avid Swiftie, that doesn’t mean I think Swift’s music can’t have flaws. As vividly addictive as “Wi$h Li$t” is, one lyric has bothered me since the album’s release: “I thought I had it right, once, twice, but I did not.” Even though I know Swift was looking for a rhyme for “hot,” the redundant “I did not” sticks out like a sore thumb and makes the Creative Writing student in me cringe.
Following in the footsteps of others including “All Too Well” from Red and “Dear John” from Speak Now (2010), “Eldest Daughter” from TLOAS sticks true to Swift’s pattern of having her albums’ fifth tracks be the most emotional. The song features a powerful bridge with impactful piano ballads conveying true vulnerability, but more than that, Swift’s lyrics simply punched me in the gut from the first chorus to the final line.
As usual, whenever Swift releases an album, the internet is divided on its quality. This time, the criticism seems to largely stem from the album’s lyrics, claiming that Swift isn’t as good of a songwriter when she’s happily in-love. Look, as someone who was there when Swift’s arguably most depressing album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY (2024) was released and also got a bunch of hate, I think it’s safe to say that no matter what Swift does, she’s going to get backlash for it. While haters are busy hating, I’ll be over here shamelessly jamming to Swift’s discography for about the hundredth time.
Growing up I was a complete scaredy-cat — still am — and even the beloved live action ScoobyDoo(2002) movie gave me nightmares. This means I didn’t grow up on horror classics like Scream (1996), Saw (2004), or The Blair Witch Project (1999) like the rest of my peers. Instead I’ve spent the last 15 Halloweens watching and rewatching the epitome of Halloween without the jump scares: Halloweentown(1998).
Marnie — played by Kimberly J. Brown — knows she’s not normal, much to her mother’s (Judith Hoag) chagrin. Marnie’s obsession with witches, monsters, and magic sets her apart. When she and her siblings — Dylan (Joey Zimmerman) and Sophie (Emily Roseke) — follow their grandmother Aggie (Debbie Reynolds) to Halloweentown they find out that in this new dimension everyone and everything is magical. Even Dylan — a non-believer — has a twitch of magic.
I instantly fell in love with the whimsy of Halloweentown. Who wouldn’t want to be whisked away by a flying bus to a town that has a werewolf hairstylist, a dentist for vampires, and a skeleton taxi driver who can’t stop cracking terrible jokes. There’s something so comforting about the bright 90s colours and long velvet, star-studded cloaks.
The giant jack-o’-lantern in the centre of town, with its crackling smile, always feels welcoming no matter what age you are.
Young Phillip Van Dyke — who plays Luke, at first a villain but then becomes Marnie’s friend — being one of my first crushes also helped feed the obsession. There is a world where Luke and Marnie are endgame, unfortunately I don’t live in it. With the banter, the way Luke believes in Marnie so completely and the way he looks at her when she isn’t paying attention, he at the very least deserved to be in the third installment. Love interest or not.
Now I have to address the giant pumpkin in the room that is the fourth movie. Personally, I operate as if it was never made, but when I decided to write this article I knew I unfortunately had to revisit it. Not only did they — for absolutely no reason at all — change the actress portraying Marnie to Sara Paxton, but they also completely missed what makes the first three movies so magical; the familial tension that everyone can relate to.
The idea of a magical college seems like a natural next step for the series especially coming off the success of the third installment Halloweentown High (2004). But this new setting not only severed us from our favourites, Aggie and Sophie, but also completely lost the family-focused atmosphere the first two movies spent so much time building.
Rewatching all three movies now I see the series for what it really is: not just a feel good coming of age story, but movies that preach the destruction of the patriarchy. Halloweentown is a place where diversity and harmony is almost constantly under threat by men who are very black and white and think they alone hold power. And who stops them? Three generations of women from an incredibly powerful line of witches that show empathy to every creature and human. Each movie works toward unifying everyone under the belief that love triumphs all. I don’t know about you but I feel like this world could use a few more people who still believe that.
Creative Corner showcases original creative work from UFV students. Content warning: This poem mentions suicide
Evesdropping
I tried to kill myself last October.
I feel as though a saint in wretch’s skin, a sinner without sin, all perilous piety and legs dangling in the wind. Freedom 5 stories ‘low.
Cowardice and bike tire array and cold steel all hallowed.
I tried to kill myself last October, two weeks before my sister walks, by my side, as I reassure her that— life is less than divine, best taken in stride(s)— but I’ve never really felt fraternity.
My hypocrisy fails too often to mask my pride.
I tried to kill myself last October, optimism be damned about a costume. Don’t talk to me about masks when my identity already feels posthumous, consumed by a sense of self ripped in two, and incompleted by promises of next year, and of June.
As I rot I spin my hagiography, dwelling only on ideas of who I’m supposed to be, but I tried to kill myself last October… and I didn’t, for fear of committing some grand trespass of ego.
But, as far as hallowed eaves go.
ZACKERY FITZPATRICK
SHUFFLE
AARON LEVY
CIVL’s Aaron Levy brings you the most shuffled song of all time, in addition to some songs he’s ready to move out of the attic in his head after a big year!
Tracy (Jordan) Morgan“Werewolf Bar Mitzvah”
My all-time favourite Halloween song, and one of the truly transcendent pieces of novelty-oriented, mid-20th century referential television, presenting a parody music video of Saturday Night Live legend Tracy Morgan, playing Tracy ‘Jordan,’ almost pastiche-ing Monster Mash, into a cultural mashup of potentially insensitive but certainly hilarious and epic proportions. It slaps.
Lily Wood and The Prick with Robin Schulz - “Prayer in C”
The lyrics are dark, moody, and prescient, but the music is slick, designer, catchy and whimsical, almost. A German pop-dance impresario takes this originally acoustic finger picking tune with orchestral flourish, from an Israeli singer, and turns it into an eloquent and elegant elegy to peace and connection. And C.
Noah Kahan - “Stick Season”
A song about the variety of reasons a relationship can go wrong; at the same time soothing, at the same time splitting the mind between accountability and escape, Kahan declares that he’ll drink alcohol until his friends come home for Christmas. Not a bad bender if it starts around Halloween.
Dermot Kennedy - “Blossom”
I learned how to play this song on guitar, and memorized the lyrics, and internalized the cadence, and considered the metaphors and circumstances of the singer’s experience and intentions. It’s a beautiful song with powerful imagery, and romantic suggestions. At the same time it holds and inspects love carefully. Kudos.
QWETÓ:LLHMELHET
—Nikki LaRock—
Qwetó:llhmelhet (Nikki LaRock) has been doing her art for over 20 years, but has been exploring more of her modern art within the past 10 years, doing fashion designing, murals, and logos.
Maternally, Nikki is from Yakweakwioose and paternally she is from Sts’ailes First Nation. Nikki has three children
and three grandsons, and many adopted children and grandchildren that she has claimed as her own, as she has worked with youth for about 15-20 years.
Nikki strongly believes in her culture and cultural ways of healing as this is what helped her over the past 22 years to beat her own mental health issues, seasonal depression, extreme panic and anxiety, and PTSD. Nikki went on a mission to learn everything she could about herself, in order to change the things she did not like, and to mould herself into the person she wanted to become. Nikki has always had a passion to do all kinds of artwork which also became one of her healing methods. Nikki has turned her own healing journey into a program that she now teaches, healing through art and culture.
Despite having many life challenges, it did not change the love I hold in my heart. Love is the greatest strength that I carry, I
see art on everything, everyday. I love it because I get to fall in love everyday by seeing what I see. I’ve learned to be in the moment when I am creating my custom pieces, I go with the flow of energies in that moment, this is how colours are chosen and I let the energies guide me and that’s how the designs come out. I never know what I’m going to create when I start. The story comes to me as I am creating each piece which makes the design even more special because it was made specifically for you.
PERSPECTIVES ON CLIMATE ADAPTATION (https://pressbooks.bccampus. ca/indigadapt/)
The beautiful artwork in this resource was created by Nikki LaRock. You can find her work on Instagram (https://www.instagram. com/nikki_larock/).
