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,
Editorial // Community in times of crisis
I write this crammed into a booth at Brown’s Socialhouse with five other members of The Cascade team, working diligently to prepare this paper rag for publication tonight. One thing I’ve come to appreciate during my time at The Cascade is the intimacy of our community. Sometimes we show up messy, bitchy, or grieving, but when that happens we are always supportive of each other. This past semester, our team has been diligently following the budget crisis that has hit UFV. And this hasn’t just been an ongoing story about finances, social policy, or federal budget impacts, but one about grief. There is grief for our international students who have been hit with higher rates of tuition both before and after the deficit, who have been made to feel unwelcome by immigration policies and U.S. sentiment creeping over the border, but also for the UFV faculty who are mourning the loss of their positions, and the cuts to valuable programs.
There’s no doubt that this year has been a trying one. Ongoing wars, toxic politics, and the onslaught of AI and resulting existential crisis it’s spurred, have put us all on edge. But this is a time when connection, empathy, and understanding matter the most. To be in connection, in proximity, to hold each other through the grief, to allow our friends, colleagues, professors, and fellow students to show up messy and irritable without judgement. All this makes a world of difference for those impacted the most by budget cuts, immigration policy and sentiment, or political turmoil.
This isn’t an excuse to bury our heads in the sand and avoid the hard news, it’s a reminder that these challenging scenarios can be faced together, as a community. So for those aware of professors or staff who have been impacted by budget cuts, of international students struggling with skyrocketing tuition and anti-immigration sentiment, and those who might be impacted by ongoing wars or the onslaught of AI, check in with them. Make time for those you care about, because assignments and work obligations come and go, but at the end of the day the one thing that can bring us comfort in the chaos of the world is each other.
NEWS BRIEFS
Abbotsford Regional Hospital lockdown
On the afternoon of Mar. 16, 2026, the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre went into lockdown after the Abbotsford Police (APD) were alerted that there was a man at the hospital carrying a gun.
A thorough search was made by approximately 30 APD officers, where they looked for the suspect on every floor and room at the hospital. Police were able to determine who the suspect was after confirming with witnesses and looking over security footage.
Abbotsford News also reported that the suspect was no longer on the hospital grounds when he was apprehended by the police.
“It was determined that the man had left the hospital in a vehicle … officers located the man at 2:49 p.m. in the area of Simon Avenue and Cruickshank Street, where he was arrested without incident.”
Once the danger was over, the lockdown was officially lifted by 3:15 p.m. that day. According to Global News, Sergeant Paul Walker of the APD confirmed that there have been no reports of anyone being injured in the incident, and the suspect did not open fire. Global News also reported that the hospital returned to normal operations.
Ride-hail drivers struggle with gas prices
Fellow B.C. drivers have been experiencing a surge in gas prices, recently due to the U.S. air strike attacks on Iran that resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Anyone in the Lower Mainland who drives gas-fuelled vehicles are being affected. However, it’s hitting especially hard for ride-hail drivers, contractors such as Uber drivers, who use their vehicles for work.
On Mar. 17, the cost of regular gas climbed to $187.3 cents per litre, but the following Monday, it surpassed $2 per litre in Vancouver. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) determined that the median cost of gas across Canada was around $164.1 cents per litre.
Ride-hail drivers are finding it harder to survive. Kuljeet Singh, a Vancouver Uber and Lyft driver, and the director of Ride Hailing Driver Association BC claimed that he pays an additional $20-25 per visit to the gas station. This amounts to $150-200 more for gas over a period of three to four days a week.
Both the provincial governments of B.C. and Ontario have passed laws to better support affected workers, including set minimum wages, WorkSafeBC coverage, and the right to join a union. However, advocates say that benefits don’t go far enough.
Joe Calnan, vice president of energy for the Global Affairs Institute, said that the gas prices in Canada will continue to increase as long as the war between the U.S. and Israel progresses.
UFV // March 2026 Senate recap
Discontinuation of programs and budget consolidation
been created for the program to include Indigenous ideas and beliefs.
AI generating fake Indigenous content
According to a CBC news article, experts are concerned that Indigenous content generated by AI may create problems for Indigenous language revitalization efforts. AI can invent words in languages such as Halq’eméylem, perpetuate stereotypes, and mislead people seeking to reconnect with their culture.
CBC consulted Dr. Michael Sherbert, a member of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation and an expert in AI ethics. Sherbert explained that AI generated Indigenous content is drawing attention away from authentic Indigenous context due to the flood of misinformation AI can generate.
“You could say that the AI is inadvertently colonizing and hurting Indigenous language revitalization because [people] are taking information generated by an artificial intelligence and putting it out there for people to read.”
Furthermore, AI programs such as ChatGPT utilize guesswork and they will often make content up to produce an answer if they cannot find a real one. As the information on Indigenous cultures and languages is limited on the internet, AI will often generate false content including elder teachings, language, culture, and history. While there are teams dedicated to making AI models that are more ethical, there is no governance system in place to monitor AI behaviour and usage to ensure ethics.
Canada to continue supplying IDF with weapons through U.S.
loophole
On Mar. 11, Bill C-233, also referred to as the “No More Loopholes Act,” was defeated in the Canadian House of Commons by 295 to 22 votes. The bill was proposed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) on Sept. 19, 2025, and it aimed to close a loophole in the Export and Import Permits Act that enabled Canadian arms manufacturers to supply the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) with military goods by shipping them through Washington.
The United Nations (UN) stated in a 2024 press release that any weapons and ammunition sent to Israel will likely violate international humanitarian law — failing to prevent that from happening does not align with the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
However, a report from Arms Embargo Now revealed that hundreds of Canadianmanufactured parts used for military equipment have been sent to Israel through this loophole over the last two years. Some of the companies listed include: HérouxDevtek Inc., Magellan Aerospace, and Cyclone Manufacturing.
The official death toll in Gaza since Oct. 2023 from Israeli attacks is currently more than 75,000, according to an article by the CBC — not including the 16,300 indirect killings from attacks.
The Cascade will continue to report on this story as updates continue.
Senate serves as UFV’s academic governing body, making decisions that shape the daily experience of students and faculty. It advises the Board of Governors — responsible for the university’s business affairs — on matters of shared interest. Monthly public meetings are open to all members of the UFV community. This article will recap key agenda items of the hybrid Senate meeting held on Friday, Mar. 13, 2026.
Dr. Tracy Ryder Glass, provost and vice president academic, motioned for the discontinuation of the Anthropology extended minor. According to a memo from Ryder Glass to Dr. James Mandigo, president and vice chancellor, this decision was made because of a decreased interest in students pursuing the program.
“The proposal notes that this discontinuance is requested due to a consistently low student enrollment since 2019. There are no students currently enrolled or declared. No concerns were noted from any of the consultation areas, including the budget office.”
This motion was voted on and carried, and will be effective May 1, 2026.
Ryder Glass also made a motion for the Liberal Arts Diploma to be discontinued. According to her memo to Mandigo, the program removal will have very minor, to no impact on the budget. Her memo also listed additional reasons for the removal of the diploma.
“This discontinuance streamlines course delivery as there is overlap with the Associate of Arts degree which is a widely recognized articulated credential. All students currently in the program will be supported through to completion.”
This motion was voted on and carried, and it will be implemented starting Jan. 1, 2027.
David Johnston, registrar and associate vice president, motioned for Senate to approve changes to the Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate. His memo outlined that the main changes are for the entrance and program requirements.
“Entrance requirements for those without business office training have been changed to accept work experience within the past four years (rather than two years) and to no longer require a resume or letter from an employer. The CGPA required for graduation has been changed from 4.00 to 3.67.”
New course modules have also
“Program outcomes have been developed in alignment with UFV’s Institutional Learning Outcomes, and the program now integrates principles of Indigenization.”
This motion was voted on and included some abstentions.
Dr. Mandigo’s President’s Report provided an update on the review of the sector sustainability report as it is ongoing, and the report is expected to be made public later this spring.
He also discussed his attendance, representing UFV, at the 2026 BHER Executive Summit.
“They brought together leaders from industry and business together with leaders of post secondary across Canada…
“When you hear some of the business leaders talk about the kind of change they want to see, particularly around AI, they aren’t talking about it in years or months. They’re using days to quantify the type of change that they’re seeing. It’s quite daunting, but exciting at the same time, in terms of the opportunities, how business and industry are turning or seeing post secondary playing a major role in the new economy across Canada.”
Ryder Glass’ Provost report covered UFV’s community engagements and the ongoing events occurring around campus. She commended the International Women’s Day celebration and the March for Sustainability event.
Mark Brosinski, UFV’s director of budgets and resource planning, reported on the budget and introduced the draft consolidated budget which detailed how
Illustration by Eseniia Bondar
JASLEEN SANDHU
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
the decreasing number of international student enrollment is changing UFV’s landscape.
“UFV saw a significant drop. The number of new international students, from 23/24, where we welcomed over 1,500 new international students, dropped to just below 350 new students this past
year. Roughly, a 79 per cent drop in our international students.”
Brosinski went on to explain how this population change is influencing UFV to be more conscientious with budgetary restrictions.
“UFV took a balanced, multi-stated approach to budget reductions, reduced spending by about $15.6 million. First focusing on non-salary, discretionary expense budgets, such as travel, supplies,
miscellaneous, and hospitality. Then also looking at our course plans, and by ways to streamline our course delivery, our reducing the total number of sections that we would be delivering in relation to the number of students that we aren’t expecting for next year.”
However, the university is still in a deficit.
“Despite all the reductions, UFV is
UFV // University FAS president sheds light on UFV layoffs
An in-depth look at how layoffs are affecting the UFV community
On Mar. 12, 13, and 16, a total of 45 employees, consisting of six teaching faculty members, four non-teaching faculty members, and 35 staff were laid off at UFV, in efforts to mitigate a deficit of over $20 million. Greg Mather, the president of the UFV Faculty and Staff Association (FSA) spoke with The Cascade about their recent press release concerning the impact of the layoffs, the remaining $2.4 million deficit for 20262027, and support services available for affected employees.
“Decisions were made on positions that were either not going to be filled … as well as some other roles that they’ve identified [as] redundant, or no longer necessary because of the budget crisis.”
Mather explained that UFV has a Senior Resource Allocation Committee (SRAC) that is composed of senior administrators. They consult the current budget to help determine what can be cut. He added that despite the difficult situation, the university was considerate while informing employees of the layoffs.
Mather explained that the personnel were told by their supervisors an hour or two prior that they were going to have a meeting about their jobs, but they had a pretty good idea of what it was about.
“I think most people entering that space had a good sense of what the news would be, but it still comes as a shock when you actually hear those words.”
As a union member, UFV employees have different options after a layoff, Mather explained. This includes a bumping option where if a qualified employee is laid off, they have five days to decide if they want to bump someone with less seniority, but who holds a position within the same pay range that they qualify for. If this happens, the bumped employee is then either laid off, able to bump someone else, or is presented with other courses of action such as taking vacancy positions.
He clarified this further in a follow up email:
“Every permanent employee laid off during this round had the choice of recall or severance, with most being offered a bumping option.”
Mather shared that UFV employed different strategies to help reduce the deficit and number of layoffs such as cutting incidental spending, and tasking the SRAC with approving purchases over a certain amount. They also offered an early retirement incentive, which about 40 employees agreed to.
While UFV has managed to lower their deficit considerably, they still have to deal with $2.4 million. Mather clarified that so far, there have been no concrete plans or decisions made about how this will be resolved, and worries that any further cuts could affect core services that the University provides.
“We’re doing some surgery... we’re
into the skin, into the flesh. This next round will be into the bones, so it’ll be the core services we provide. I think it’s gonna be a challenging year for us.”
For affected employees, support services were available, such as the member support sessions that were offered alongside the budget meetings, town halls, and the layoffs.
“It was just a space for folks to come ask their questions. We had people who were not impacted by layoffs, but were just really feeling it, or were worried about their colleagues. We had other folks that attended and asked their questions, not knowing that the next day they were going to be laid off. So, I’m really proud of the community coming together and offering that support for folks.”
Mather added that as a union, all employees have access to Homewood health, which includes professional counselling, financial services, and more.
still presenting at $2.4 million deficits, for 26/27.”
Brosinski emphasized restructuring within the budget.
“If we were to make deeper cuts at this stage, it would likely jeopardize some of our core academic programming, student support services, and impact our ability for long-term enrollment of the institution. So, litigation work, deficit mitigation work will continue on through 26/27.”
“We provided a package to all the layoff employees that gave information on BC211, which is a non-profit that offers similar services that Homewood does, but in the community, [it] gets you access to supports that are available.”
Employees also were able to speak to an on-site counsellor during the layoff period with drop-in availability.
Layoffs, Mather said, may also affect students’ tuition. While the domestic tuition has a cap of 2 per cent increases per year for now, it’s the international students who are not afforded the same luxury, and their fees have increased over the past year. At the budget town hall on Mar. 5, it was announced that for continuing international students, fees have been raised by 4 per cent and new international students will pay 6 per cent more.
Mather also pointed out that with all these layoffs, it remains uncertain how the level of education that is given to students will be maintained, especially when fees remain the same or increase.
Mather said that FSA is advocating to the provincial and federal governments to support the post-secondary educational system and there is a petition letter that people can fill out and/or sign.
Mather requested that students be empathetic to employees affected by the layoffs, especially those who have worked at UFV for decades. Mather also encouraged students to be bold and find out more about the deficit as events unfold.
“I would ask students [to] raise their voice and ask for information from the institution about budgets, and if there is another round of layoffs, or budget cuts, how is the university going to ensure that our quality of education, the services we provide, and the small class sense of community that UFV is, is maintained?”
For students that want to show their support, Revolutionary Communist Party will be hosting a town hall for students and faculty on Apr. 2 from 3:30-5 p.m. in A233 in response to the layoffs.
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
RACHEL TAIT
UFV //
UFV parking lot to be converted into habitable community hub
Plans underway to convert underutilized land into recurring revenue
On Mar. 12, 2026, the UFV Properties Trust project received an update featuring Jackie Hogan, UFV vice president administration and one of the project’s board directors. She talked about UFV’s plans to develop more housing and a community hub within the Abbotsford campus.
The project, called Campus Communities, seeks to foster a more vibrant atmosphere for UFV’s students, employees, and faculty by establishing multipurpose spaces on campus surrounding grounds both in the cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack. The project will see the development of habitational units and multi-use spaces that will provide long-term revenue for the institution.
The UFV Properties Trust was first introduced in 2023, with the goal of developing under-utilized lands owned by UFV, creating communities that are socially sustainable, and using Community Design Guidelines that offer a coherent sense of principles to abide by.
The developmental plan will transform land currently designated as UFV parking space into a liveable community area, which will include high priority amenity spaces such as community rooms and gardens, multi-use spaces, shared office workspaces, small gardening nodes, fitness facility, a book library, and more.
In a report covering November 2024 to September 2025, UFV surveyed students, faculty, alumni, and broader community members from Aug. 18 to Sept. 23, 2025, to analyze and take into consideration the communities’ priorities and expectations
for the project. The survey gathered general information on demographic, transportation and access, and amenities and services.
They found that the most requested amenity was parking, followed by food and dining, then study and work spaces, with housing and services at the bottom. 68 per cent of those surveyed listed parking near campus as the main priority, emphasizing the need for sufficient parking space to be provided before starting operations on the current land being used for parking. The desire for accessible parking spaces outweighed the desire for housing.
Additionally, the survey revealed the need for more clarity about how the project will develop, as the participants were confused by how the Properties Trust works and what it will mean for UFV’s community. It also raised questions about how Indigenous communities are being meaningfully and respectfully involved.
Campus Communities listed the planned steps forward being environmental and rezoning assessments, applying the rezoning strategies and listening to further community feedback, preparing the land with a development firm, designing the new spaces to build, coordinating and completing the construction, and integrating new residents and community members.
Hogan mentioned that the current stage the project is at is the initial planning and risk mitigation, which is in line with the initial assessments needed prior to beginning any rezoning or land development.
In light of UFV’s $20 million deficit,
UFV is looking at long-term solutions to provide them with sufficient funding to cover capital projects, scholarships, and research. UFV Today explained that an asset UFV has in their favour is land, and that they are proactively looking into leveraging that to turn it into recurring revenue in the future.
Campus Communities stated that the goal is to ensure a financial return on investment, the minimization of debt, matching costs to revenue by phasing the development, exploring diverse revenue and housing methods as well as rental buildings for recurring income, and that any resulting financial gain can benefit students.
Information on the budget planned for the development is still to be released, but the Government of British Columbia offers a glimpse into a fraction of the costs for such a development, as they revealed they provided UFV with $70.3 million Canadian dollars to aid with the construction of the new student housing facilities, stated to cost $82.3 million. This means
Politalk: Africa’s expanding economy
Dr. Hippolyte Fofack speaks to Africa’s economic future
On Mar. 18, UFV and the Department of Political Science welcomed Dr. Hippolyte Fofack as a guest lecturer for the Political Science department’s Politalk series. He spoke about Africa’s expanding economic footprint and the potential for a trade relationship with Canada. The talk also marked the 10 year anniversary of Politalk, which has brought knowledge and expertise from all over the world to
UFV. This latest talk drew in not just students, but members from Abbotsford and the broader community.
Fofack described an Africa that is economically fragmented, with only around 15 per cent of Africa’s total trade being intracontinental, meaning that very little is exchanged between African nations.
Furthermore, Fofack explained that the continent’s global manufacturing contribution as a whole stands at just
1.5 per cent, with most industries being focused around resource extraction and exportation.
“Most of [the] value creations [and] value additions happen outside the African continent under that colonial development of resource extractions.”
“Where [are] bicycles coming from? We see China, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore. So even the bicycle, which is not high-end technology, you don’t see a single African in bicycle
approximately 85 per cent of the cost of the brand new student housing was covered by the provincial government.
Dr. James Mandigo, UFV’s president and vice-chancellor, mentioned during January’s Budget Town Hall that the B.C. government is not going to increase funding for post-secondary education, and is instead looking for areas where costs can be reduced.
“They were very clear in their communication to the sector through the sustainability review that’s ongoing right now that there is no new money in the system.”
Hogan mentioned that UFV is looking to be proactive and not rely on government funding to proceed with the operation whose end goal is to ultimately provide UFV with more recurring revenue.
“What we have is land, and it comes with the added benefit of building community near campus. We are trying to be proactive, instead of just waiting for government funding to come our way.”
manufacturing. They’re excluded from low end and of course also excluded from high end [manufacturing]. Where does Boeing come from? We see Canada, which is wonderful, but we do not see a single African country in high-tech manufacturing. This is part of Africa’s colonial legacy, where global systems are designed to extract resources and Western countries such as Germany,
Photo courtesy of UFV Properties Trust
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
LIAM PYPER
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
United States, and Canada benefit more than Africa because of it.”
Fofack explained that Africa’s growth is stunted because of its consistent operation at the bottom of global chains due to colonial development resource extractions that have taken place since the 1970s, which has contributed to a widened income gap compared to the rest of the world.
However, Fofack was confident that Africa is capable of breaking out and becoming an economic powerhouse.
“The challenge, however, is transcending that resource extractivist model to establish a new partnership.”
Fofack also mentioned that Africa’s planned African Continental Free Trade Agreement could transform the continent’s economy, generating $450 billion for the continent by 2035, which will
improve their quality of life. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’s principal blueprint to transform Africa into a future global powerhouse. It would help simplify access to the African market, making it easier for Canadian and African companies to exchange business.
“You see the impact in Nigeria and the African Continental Free Trade Area agreements, which establish the largest free trade area. The membership has been held as a gamechanger with the potential to address fragmentation risk, and essentially, boost the diversification of source of growth across the continent and expand Africa’s global economic footprint.”
Africa’s marginal position in the global economy is not due to a lack of resources, ability, or potential. Fofack explained that it is due to Africa’s systematic position on the global market. However, this is not a permanent position. A key driver
of Africa’s future growth, according to Fofack, lies in its demographics. He explained the continent is projected to account for a significant portion of the global population in the coming decades, with a rapidly expanding and youthful workforce.
This stands in stark contrast to countries like Canada, which are experiencing aging populations and labor shortages. Fofack described this as a form of demographic complementarity, where Africa’s growth can help offset economic stagnation elsewhere. In this way, Africa’s rise is not just a regional development, but a global economic necessity.
“As other regions such as Europe and Asia confront aging populations and diminishing labor forces, Africa is expected to emerge as a significant contributor to global labor supply. A demographic advantage that could
position the regions as a pivotal driver of worldwide economic growth.”
Throughout the lecture, Fofack emphasized the opportunity that this potential for growth presents an opportunity for Canada. The Canadian government has increasingly sought to diversify its trading partners, especially as the United States has become an unreliable trading partner. His lecture comes at a time when that choice is fast approaching. As the African continent continues to coordinate its economies and generate more value, it remains a key ally to consider.
“Deepening economic ties with Africa is not merely an act of opportunistic expansion. It is a strategic imperative for Canada. Long-term growth and resilience. Africa is set to become the inevitable path to resilient growth.”
Canada // Canada and Norway collaborating on military support, AI, and research
Both Arctic countries interested in strengthening transatlantic relations and security
On Mar. 10, Mélanie Joly, Canada’s minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, issued a joint statement with Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway’s ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasizing the excellent relations that exist between both countries, and their dedication to global regulations and order.
The statement reinforced their commitment to values such as human rights, equal gender promotion, democracy, and the protection of minorities’ rights including those of Indigenous peoples. Both nations stressed their desire to support Ukraine’s people, territories, independence, and integrity in light of Russia’s inexcusable invasion, which violates international law.
On Mar. 14, Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, announced that during his visit to Norway as prime minister, he and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre met in Oslo and shared their countries’ goals. They also reconfirmed both countries’ interest toward developmental sustainability, the longevity of the Paris agreement, Arctic security and defence, providing military support for Ukraine, industrial cooperation to help strengthen the supply chain, and fighting climate change in the Arctic.
A strong focus was placed on fostering durable and resilient transatlantic relations that can help provide security at a global and Arctic scale. They also stressed their dedication to free and fair
trade in addition to the other commitments outlined by Joly and Huitfeldt. Both Prime Ministers confirmed their countries’ intent of abiding by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) structure to keep strengthening their Arctic security.
They also mentioned that they are open and welcoming of NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity with the Arctic Sentry initiative, which began operating in February 2026 with the purpose of ensuring security for the Arctic and the High North. More cooperation related to security and the military was affirmation of their continuing support of Ukraine, by providing means of reconstruction, military aid, and by looking into implementing restrictions aimed at limiting Russia’s war funding through the Kremlin’s oil and energy exports.
Norway’s opportunity to join the Sovereign Technology Alliance, which seeks to strengthen the relations and cooperation for new technologies between the alliance’s members, was also discussed. Norway and Canada are both interested in using AI to maximize their capabilities and therefore mitigate technological reliance in key sectors. They also want to advance quantum technologies and develop AI in different key industries. A joint statement on Sovereign Technology and AI was issued by Evan Solomon, the Canadian Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, and Karianne Oldernes Tung, Norway’s Minister for Digitalisation
and Public Governance. In the statement they confirmed their desire to explore the expansion of access to environmentally responsible AI, advocating for the integration of AI in the government and across different industries.
On Mar. 24, Joly and Norway’s Minister of Research and Higher Education, Sigrun Aasland, met in Ottawa to discuss areas in which joint research efforts could be further explored. They identified areas where research could be accelerated in quantum technologies through existing initiatives such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and Norway’s quantum strategy. They also looked into increasing security and the training of the next Arctic explorer
generation to conduct research in the Arctic, continuing scientific collaboration through Horizon Europe and Eureka, and conducting further research related to marine biology, oceanography, and hydrography.
Norway and Canada’s shared ambitions are helping to pave the way for strong transatlantic relations and cooperation, with both countries’ ministers welcoming further joint work and interest in keeping communications open.
“Recent global events underscore the need to invest in partnerships with close and trusted partners. We welcome the opportunity to increase and expand the cooperation between Canada and Norway in the years to come.”
Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
Opinion Editor — Natalia Toscano Murua
SNAPSHOT
Dance alone in your room more
Presley
There are a lot of reasons to dance alone in your room.
It is good cardio and can be as intense or mild as you make it — and what a whimsical workout that is.
It’s a reminder to not take yourself too seriously; to keep humble with the goofiest of moves.
When my head feels full and tired from homework or writing, it works almost as well as a coffee for waking me up and being able to sit down for another leg of work.
It’s a good reset when I am stuck in a negative loop, and it has saved me from time spent wallowing. It can be a good way to make your head a nicer place to live.
Lastly and most importantly in my opinion, it is fun. So maybe it’s time to turn on that stupid happy song you loved in sixth grade and host a dance party for one.
BY KARA DUNBAR
THE ENVIRONMENTALIST: pocket-sized rewilding
Seed shakers and seed bombs in the Fraser Valley
FABIOLA CRUZ ALDERETE
Welcome to The Environmentalist, your column for understanding the natural world. Spring is here and today we are going to talk about seed shakers and seed bombs.
Restoring habitats does not always require heavy equipment or large-scale projects. Sometimes, it can begin with something as simple as a jar of seeds or a handful of clay and compost. Seed shakers and seed bombs are small, accessible tools that can help reintroduce native plants into the landscape, especially in places like the Fraser Valley — supporting local biodiversity matters. While both are easy to make and use, their success depends on choosing the right native species and avoiding generic seed mixes that may contain invasive plants.
To create a seed shaker, native seeds are mixed in a container, such as a spice jar, with dry sand and shaken gently over prepared soil. The sand helps prevent tiny seeds from clumping together, giving them a better chance to spread out and grow. Seed bombs take a little more effort but are still straightforward: combine about one cup of seeds with five cups of peat-free compost and two to three cups of clay powder, then add enough water for the mixture to hold together. Roll the mixture into small balls and leave them to dry.
Most of the materials can be found at craft stores or garden centres, but the most important ingredient is the seed itself. In the Fraser Valley, local native seeds and plants are the best choice because they are adapted to the region and more likely to support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. The Fraser Valley Conservancy is one useful local source for info on appropriate native
plants and seeds, and it is important not to remove plants directly from the wild.
Choosing what to plant depends on the site. In sunny, open spaces, native species such as Douglas’ aster, nodding onion and coastal strawberry are good options. Shadier or moister areas are better for plants like fringecup, Pacific bleeding heart, and false lily of the valley.
Tree species depend even more on location: Douglas-fir does well in drier sites, while western red cedar, western hemlock, and bigleaf maple prefer areas with more reliable moisture. In general, seed shakers and seed bombs are best suited for herbaceous plants and wildflowers, while shrubs and trees usually establish more successfully when planted as young, locally grown plants rather than from seed alone.
To give these plants the best chance of survival, the site matters just as much as the seed. The goal should be to match the plant to the conditions of the place by considering sunlight, shade, soil, moisture, and existing vegetation. Bare or lightly raked soil works best, and weeds should be removed before planting. Fall and early spring are ideal times to sow because seasonal rainfall helps roots establish. Make sure to water during dry periods, control weeds, and be patient after planting.
In the end, rewilding is not just about tossing seeds into the landscape. It is about giving native plants the best possible chance to grow, thrive, and restore ecological balance. As the Lorax once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.” So, let’s care.
In buzzness with bees
Here’s to the Fraser Valley’s smallest vital workers
KARA DUNBAR
While studying abroad in Manchester, I am constantly encountering bees. As the city’s mascot for over 150 years, the worker bee represents the work ethic of the residents and hive of activity that the city tends to be. I see them on every bus, garbage can, and souvenir. When I return home, I will have to look a bit harder to find bees, but they are nonetheless integral to the Fraser Valley’s ecosystem and economy.
British Columbia holds 42.8 per cent of Canada’s fruit farms, with blueberries being Canada’s largest fruit export, bringing in about $400 million in revenue annually. These berries, alongside other produce, rely on pollination for a reliable fruit set. Abbotsford has been nicknamed the “Raspberry Capital of Canada” and it could not be without the bees’ hard work in the region.
Wild bees play a vital role in preserving biodiversity as they facilitate numerous plant species’ reproduction
through pollination. A loss of wild pollinators would mean a loss of native plant species and farmers would potentially face higher costs in growing crops dependent on pollinators.
According to the summer 2025 edition of BC Honey Producers’ Association seasonal magazine the BeesCene, control of the Varroa mites is a high topic of concern. The mites cause bees significant weight loss, impaired flight performance,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Illustration by Iryna
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
reduced lifespan, difficulty feeding, and the transfer of various viruses that impact bees’ health. The magazine encouraged increased self sufficiency and a reduction of imported bees to protect from the introduction of exotic pests. The trade
magazine highlighted that the spring season presents the principal risk factor of Small Hive Beetle coming in from the United States (U.S.) to disrupt Canadian bee colonies that contribute to blueberry pollination near the Canada-U.S. border in the Fraser Valley.
The Township of Langley has made a definite commitment to these hard working insects. They recently became an official Bee City, with the promise to dedicate more median roadways with additional plantings that will support local habitats and increase native bee populations. Bee City Canada has programs for cities, universities, and schools to become a Bee Community. All participants in the program must commit to developing and maintaining pollinator habitats, educating their community members about the vitality of pollinators, and celebrating bees during National Pollinator Week or at another time in the year.
If you are interested in helping out our bee friends, you can start in your own backyard. The main contributor to pollinator decline is habitat loss. If you have a lawn, you can introduce wildflowers alongside the typical grass, and plant native, pollen rich plants in your garden. To maintain the health of these gardens for the bees however, avoid the use of chemical products. If you have money to spare, you can adopt a bee at $20 for one or $50 for three through the Native Bee Society of BC.This initiative helps their educational and research work around native bees.
These little guys are a key part of upkeeping our healthy food and ecosystems. It is a reciprocal system, our health and the bees’ health are not disconnected — we take care of the bees, and the bees take care of us.
Media // Misinformation, AI, and you
Understanding how misinformation spreads and how to spot it
Have you ever been scrolling through social media and you see something that makes you pause, for example: “Breaking: Carney announces southern border wall!” Well that’s a little strange isn’t it? Could it be true, if you can’t beat them, join them? You get a rush of anxiety, dread, worry. I feel that for a lot of us, we feel a need to immediately share this bit of information. Then it turns out it’s actually not true, and we shared and contributed to the spread of misinformation, something that is on the rise within the world of social media.
But what is misinformation, and how is it different from disinformation? The Canadian Museum for Human Rights explains that misinformation is false information shared without the intent to manipulate or deceive, whereas disinformation is intentionally misleading and often has an underlying objective.
Misinformation is everywhere. I could be scrolling through TikTok, and find over a dozen pieces of misinformation in less than an hour. I know that most of it is fake
but when my emotions are high, or if I am following events that are still developing, these videos, with their attention grabbing captions, can feel like an answer. If I saw a video of Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing that Canada was building a wall across our border with the U.S., given the current state of the world I might just believe something like that since nothing surprises me anymore.
Studies show that users are often misled when the emotions are involved. When you hear a triggering piece of news, or if a political figure you admire states something, it can be easy to take it at face value. Fortunately, the UFV Library has a page dedicated to information about misinformation including a list of fact checkers, which often check major news stories and what our leaders are saying.
Ground News is a great tool I frequently use and it makes this information easier to find and more accessible. You can see how many news outlets have covered a certain topic, what political spectrum they lean towards, and whether they are an independent outlet or part of a conglomerate. The American Psychological Association also provides a free course on identifying false information, and when I checked it out, it replicated much of the advice that I had already found. It’s a beneficial course and provides a strong foundation for figuring out what’s real and what’s not.
Let’s go back to that hypothetical video of Carney. When I see it, I can tell if it’s authentic by checking off a few boxes, most of which just take a second glance. First, am I getting this info from a verified source? I know how easy it is to miss who is posting something on social media
and instead be drawn in by the content, but checking if a user is verified can help you identify what might be fake info. If my source comes from a verified news account, and I can find it widely reported by reliable news outlets, then it’s probably accurate. But in our scenario, I find that the account that posted the video is called “user2459069583205” and has a single video uploaded. If you wanted to dive deeper, you could also check comment sections to see if there’s a discussion surrounding the event and what more you could glean from it — but take everything you find there with a grain of salt.
However, it’s not just on social media platforms where misinformation exists and disinformation is practiced. When a government or organization produces misinformation, it is more likely to be proffered by verified media outlets, making it harder to identify whether it’s false. It’s important to know why an article is being written, who is writing it, and who is funding it. Multiple trustworthy media outlets are owned by conglomerates, big corporations, or billionaires. While this doesn’t make a source completely untrustworthy, it can influence what the media covers and what it chooses not to.
Before generative AI burst onto the scene, the internet was still full of misinformation, but now that we are constantly flooded by “AI slop,” well-crafted pieces of disinformation can sneak by. As AI becomes more advanced, misinformation and disinformation will be even harder to identify. This is why it’s increasingly important to train yourself and critically think: is that really real?
SNAPSHOT
We’ve all heard it before, “UFV’s a commuter campus” and “there’s nothing to do here,” but guess what? You can change that reputation. Yes, you! For those grumbling about the lack of social life here, I need to ask: have you put in the effort to reach out and engage? If yes and the effort didn’t produce the results you imagined, try again!
I completely understand wanting to go home so you can study, run errands, etc., especially for those of you that live further away, but why not make the most of it while you’re here?
It’s worth inconveniencing yourself once in a while. Stay an hour or two after your class has ended. Grab a coffee, talk to your classmates. Who knows, you could make a friend or find a place on campus that becomes your go-to study spot.
There are a plethora of clubs and associations you can join. If you don’t want to commit to a community, you can attend singular events. Make friends, make acquaintances. Don’t be afraid of trying. None of us will be here forever, but we have to make the time that we have count.
BY JASLEEN SANDHU
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
LIAM PYPER
Illustration by Iryna Presley
SNAPSHOT
Unions are cool, and you can’t change my mind
I’m pretty inflexible in my pro-union stance. I believe all megacorporations and government bodies are inherently corrupt, and unions are self-defence against exploitation and ensure fair compensation for the working class.
I’ve heard the critique that unions destroy the opportunity to “reward” workers with pay raises, and strip competitive people of their competition. Honestly, that seems like an easy price to pay. Find other ways to be competitive that don’t involve fighting your peers for fair payment.
I’d be more concerned about not being able to advance up the corporate ladder if our current job and housing market wasn’t already an issue. People I know who are experts in their fields can’t find work anywhere — some have resorted to jobs below their skill-set that barely cover their living expenses.
Even the idea of “living wages” irritates me. A just society should not demand that its people beg for survival. It’s harder to be upset about not being “rewarded” with pay raises if you are already being paid fairly in the first place. Perhaps instead of judging one of the few things that protect workers, I think people should ask why they have to demand equal treatment in the first place.
BY ABBY HANSEN
Lifestyle // The impact of fast fashion
Learn how we can help the earth (and still feel good about our look)
VERONICA POWELL
H&M. Zara. Nike. Lululemon. Adidas. These are all brands people love and, for many, stores they frequently shop at, right? Get this: these brands are among some of the worst to buy from because they produce fast fashion. But what is fast fashion? Let’s get into it, and prepare to think twice when shopping at these stores.
The term “fast fashion” was first coined by The New York Times in the early 1990s when they described Zara’s mission to speed up the transport process of clothing items, wanting them to go from production to making sales in stores all within 15 days. The design, production, and marketing process is more about driving low prices to capitalize on fashion trends, in an effort to stay relevant and financially well as quickly as possible. By keeping prices low, more quantities of the products are distributed and with higher variety because they can produce more. Options, trendy, and cheap? Sounds like a good deal, but that’s before considering how our Earth and people are sacrificed. Garment manufacturers often experience unsafe conditions and unfair wages amongst others, and while labour rights are a major problem in the world of fast-fashion, my focus lies on the environmental impact of the industry.
Fashion in general is the third largest contaminating industry, emitting 10 per cent of global greenhouse gases. That’s more than the aviation and shipping industry together, which introduce 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into our air every year. Fashion production produces 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, and 85 per cent of that is textiles just going to the dump which pollute our rivers and streams. Make no mistake, I love fashion, but I don’t want to harm the Earth by contributing to its pollution. It’s hard because we all need clothes on our backs if we’re fortunate enough to have access to them, but I’m stunned at how big of a problem that has become.
Besides our water, microplastics are another element that significantly impact our world through fast fashion. Microplastics are pieces of non-biodegradable plastic that are found in our oceans and 35 per cent of them come from materials like polyester and nylon. Those are two materials you likely see clothes made from the most in your regular shopping mall brands. The bigger problem is that each year the world consumes 80 billion new pieces of clothing. That’s a lot of waste.
I believe fashion has become such an integral part of our culture and society
that I have my doubts people are going to stop shopping at fast fashion stores. For many, clothes are a way to express oneself socially, artistically, and career-wise, making the choice to stop consuming fast fashion a challenging one for consumers. To put it bluntly, I don’t think that sacrifice is nearly as detrimental as killing our Earth though. I mean, we would literally need to live in our birthday suits to really achieve a solution to this problem, but one step in the right direction is thrifting. It’s become quite a popular activity instead of shopping till you drop at busy malls. If we look at the lifetime impact of buying second hand, the difference we can make is insane.
If every single one of us bought just one second hand item, it would save 8.41 pounds of carbon dioxide, 16.48 kilowatthours of energy, and 88.89 gallons of water. If 100 people do that, we’re saving 841 pounds of carbon dioxide, 1,648 kilowatthours of energy, and 8,889 gallons of water.
Even though thrifting can be beneficial, it’s far from the best option. I was shocked to learn that 700,000 tons of used clothing are exported overseas on average and 2.5 million tons are recycled. Out of all that, 10 million tons are sent to landfills. So even if we donate clothes to thrift stores or buy from them, there’s still items that get thrown away. It feels like a hopeless situation, but perhaps slow fashion could be our saving grace.
Slow fashion is a manufacturing process based on quality, where designers spend more time on each step of the design process to ensure the clothes are made sustainable for the environment, people, and animals. Essentially, it’s about input not a trend or design, and in prioritizing that, the output will come. Slow fashion clothing isn’t necessarily cheap because of this quality, but it will last you much longer than a fast fashion piece. I can already hear the environment thanking us. Some Vancouver-based brands that are committed to maintaining a slow-fashion –– and their clothes still look cute –– are Anián, Beaton Linen, Decade Studio, and Buo Jewelry amongst (to my surprise) many others.
Other ways to avoid investing in fast fashion is to repair and upcycle! Don’t throw away damaged clothing, instead make old jeans into an art project or turn that shirt into a towel. I suggest getting your friends together and swapping clothes which actually sounds really fun. Most importantly, take care of your clothes and find new ways to style your pieces.
Whether it’s thrifting, slow fashion, upcycling, or donating clothes that you don’t need anymore instead of throwing them away, avoiding fast fashion is possible. What I’ve learned is that the impact of what we do and how we live has a big negative effect on the world, but the impact of what we can do to help the world is even bigger.
OpiNews //
Floundering through the AI arms race
An update on the corpocratic hellscape we live in
ZACKERY FITZPATRICK
It’s like a poorly performed stand-up routine, trying and failing to land a punchline. Oh, you might ask, what the hell am I talking about? Excellent point.
Observe:
You’re in the middle of what is perhaps the most important arms race of the century. Your top domestic AI company — the first one trusted with classified military networks — signs a $200 million contract with your “defence” department. They ask for two conditions: don’t use this to build fully autonomous weapons, and don’t use it for mass domestic surveillance of the population. You say no to the conditions and ban the company instead.
This is how the U.S. military’s been moving in the year of our Lord 2026.
In February, the Pentagon decided to sever its relationship with Anthropic, the company behind the AI assistant Claude, over the company’s refusal to sign an “all lawful purposes” contract that would remove all restrictions on military use. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared that any contractor or supplier doing business with the U.S. military is barred from commercial activity with Anthropic. But this is a designation that has historically only been used for foreign adversaries, not domestic companies. Especially a domestic company that I’m sure was (until recently) considered a crown jewel of American AI.
And to me, the logic immediately falls apart here. The decision seems puzzling,
given that the administration had previously threatened to invoke the Defense Production Act to force Anthropic’s compliance, a tool used to compel companies to serve national security needs. You cannot simultaneously argue something is so necessary it requires the Defense Production Act, and so dangerous it warrants a foreign adversary designation. Make it make sense.
Then, Claude was used in U.S. military operations against Iran, after the ban was announced. Way to stick to your — and pardon me here — guns.
Now, Anthropic isn’t innocent either (I’d argue no AI company ever will be, but regardless). The framing of their stance as some brave moral line needs unpacking. Firstly, those surveillance restrictions only cover American citizens; there’s nothing in the policy about anyone else. Which makes sense as an American company… signing with the American military… in the name of American best interest. But if that’s the case, doesn’t the whole point of taking a moral stance kind of fall apart if it’s selective? Anthropic somehow presents itself as governed by firm ethical constraints, yet available to do almost anything the Pentagon needs outside of them, regardless of ethics.
The idea that this is a company with deep reservations about military applications can be tested, and it doesn’t seem to hold water. Sure, they were the first on classified networks, embedded with Palantir, already marketing Claude as a national security tool before this dispute started, with CEO Dario Amodei writing publicly about the existential importance of using AI to defend the United States and other democracies. But in the end,
really, they had two specific conditions that the Pentagon didn’t like — which to me reads differently than meaningfully opposing military demands, even if the press has largely treated it as such.
So, both sides don’t abide by any real principles, and in the clusterfuck of it all, capitalism swoops in to secure relations with the government. OpenAI, Google, and xAI have all agreed to lift standard guardrails for Pentagon use, accepting broad terms with no hard restrictions.
As the industry walks its safety commitments back, Anthropic isn’t the only one getting burned. Other consequences could include Palantir’s Maven Smart System, a weapons-targeting platform with more than $1 billion in Pentagon contracts, facing a costly and time-consuming rebuild because it was built in part using Anthropic’s Claude. And whether or not you think Anthropic’s two conditions were reasonable, this response does not work as a serious strategic position. To me it’s clear it’s a pressure campaign dressed up as policy, and the people who will feel it most aren’t executives, they’re analysts and contractors who actually used these tools to get things done other than just earning a buck off it all.
AI may have many genuine problems, including moral and ethical dilemmas and environmental impact, but even just as a data analysis tool, there is no closing Pandora’s box. It’s a part of a technology arms race that can’t just be ignored. Learning to navigate AI legislation, ethics, and praxis (or even just establish them in the first place) is an ongoing battle — one you don’t win by shooting yourself in the foot to prove a point.
SNAPSHOT
Chai
I carry one of Chai’s whiskers with me everywhere I go.
Out of the things that were the hardest for me to live far away from, Chai is definitely at the top of the list. No amount of words could describe our bond, but it is undeniably special. The tactile memory of my hand caressing her is engraved in my mind. Her deep, soul-soothing purrs are recorded on my phone, and I often sleep listening to them. My family tells me how she rests near the door to my old room, as if waiting for me. We’re connected to one another.
Living far away from her hurts, even more so when she’s unwell.
Last week upon remembering her recently diagnosed chronic kidney disease, I emotionally collapsed sick with worry. I cried and hoped with all my might she was doing okay. She was hospitalized two days ago, as of writing this.
I had no way to know she had relapsed. But I felt it. I confirmed with my family that it happened at the same time she started deteriorating. I think Chai knows I felt it too.
I’m convinced our energies are connected, so I’m giving her all of mine so she may recover.
BY NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
feature@ufvcascade.ca
Features Editor — Caitlyn Carr
THE PRESERVATION OF CI NE MA
Movies and theatres are dying and it’s up to us to save them
VERONICA POWELL
As someone who could live in a movie theatre, it breaks my heart to see that the appeal of cinema has changed. The value of films and cinema runs deeper than just what we see. It’s separate from the visual allure of the starring actors or actresses, costuming and set design, and even the genre, plot, dialogue, and other foundations to a story. It’s about the feeling, the connection, and the lasting impact it leaves on the world and us as people.
I believe the level of impact a film has on a person is measured not by how many times you watch it or what you take from it, but how you are subconsciously influenced after watching it. As time moves forward, the opportunity to experience this in the same way is fading. Cinema is an art form slowly losing its purpose because of an imbalance in representations, lack of originality and cognitive interaction, film studios hunger for money, and the swarm of streaming services.
MONEY MELTS CINEMA
Walt Disney once said “We don’t make movies to make money. We make money to make more movies.” I love his perspective, although I don’t think the film industry has quite taken that approach.
I think many of us are forgetting why movies are even made. Film studios frequently seem to be sacrificing story for viewership and sales, so Hollywood films are increasingly made with less complexity and are often not as unique as what an independent film might be. In doing this, movies can become less meaningful. Assistant Professor Darren Blakeborough from the School of Culture, Media, and Society shared his insight on this.
“The smaller films, the independent films, that’s where you can work outside of [the mainstream] system. You can take chances, you can experiment … but for the most part, Hollywood in a major way doesn’t do that
just because it’s the logic of capitalism. [Producers] need the most people possible to watch this, and so [they] tend to make it a little less complex. It’s entertainment. ‘I want to turn off my brain and watch a spectacle, and not have to think.’”
Just look at how many sequels and spinoffs released in 2025 alone — over 40. I’ll admit I was all for some of these releases, like Jurassic World: Rebirth, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Black Phone 2, and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — but is it really necessary?
This year Marvel is releasing a new Spider-man film, Spider-man: Brand New Day (2026), even though there’s 10 Spider-man films collectively already. Not to mention the second WandaVision spinoff supposedly releasing this year, VisionQuest (2026-). I’ve watched WandaVision (2021) – the ending was complete and
there’s no need for more. I also thought the original Frozen (2013) movie was really satisfying as a single film, and yet Disney’s making a third film — Frozen 3 (2027). An Aladdin (2019) spinoff from the perspective of Prince Anders is also reportedly being made. When will it end?
Sometimes it’s better to just let a good film live alone, because after a while, sequels start to feel monotonous and repetitive. Films feed too much off the other, having a lack of originality. The movie becomes formulaic, requiring very little energy, commitment, and investment to watch. As a result, they don’t stand out and don’t give us anything fresh to think about or take with us, which in my opinion, is not what cinema should be — cinema needs to stay interesting and relevant for people.
Illustrations by Chelsea Isbister @chelseaji.art
ORIGINALITY IS KEY
Taking it from a filmmaker’s perspective, Professor in Graphic Design and Art Direction, filmmaker Matej Balaz suggests that it comes down to how often filmmakers actually step outside the box and write original screenplays rather than just making adaptations. Balaz used Bugonia (2025) as an example, but there’s so many more, from Twilight (2008), and Wuthering Heights (2026), to Colleen Hoover movies like It Ends With Us (2024), Regretting You (2025), and Verity (2026). Although there are some fantastic adaptations out there that I love and am happy they brought to life, it’s become a habit to pick from a story that we already know and bring it to life — which Balaz suggests is a way for filmmakers to prioritize and boost their reputation.
There’s not enough risk-taking anymore … It’s become an industry of nostalgia … The status of [being] a filmmaker is now bigger than trying to make films.
“There’s not enough risk-taking anymore … It’s become an industry of nostalgia … The status of [being] a filmmaker is now bigger than trying to make films.”
Balaz believes movies’ layers are being more simplified, resulting in the story having little detail, claiming this has evolved from a laziness within the filmmaking process.
“Back in the day … you did everything for the image. You did everything because film is a subliminal medium … [Making a film] is like trying to date your audience. You’re making sure that the candles are just right, that the music is just right … you’re making sure that everything matches … Nobody really puts that much effort [or] energy into things [anymore].”
The approach to making a film must have authenticity and the passion to build a connection between an audience and a story. Sometimes that means being less
comfortable and more innovative, maybe even unconventional or weird. Not having that approach affects how viewers see it and therefore how they feel about it. It all leads to one conclusion that Balaz makes clear.
“There’s no risk, there’s no reward.”
LESS ATTENTION MEANS LESS RETENTION
Speaking of reward, I get a tear in my heart everytime I walk out of the movie theatre and no one says a word about the movie afterwards. Everyone just moves on, and it’s like the movie didn’t matter. The lack of discourse can be frustrating because unpacking a film creates a secondary bonding experience which makes me want to see more movies. It’s fun to share the emotion, thoughts, and theories about the story, and it’s part of why movies should always be important to us.
“I love a movie that makes me laugh so hard it hurts, or that makes me sob-cry in a theatre with people around me … [because] it was crafted in such a way that I haven’t felt like that for so long,” said Blakeborough.
Along with this, watching movies has increasingly become more of a task for some rather than a way to experience something memorable. It can be difficult to get emotional gratification from them now, nevermind the opportunity to learn something new, or witness something phenomenal that impacts viewers in a positive way.
Balaz confronted the harsh reality of people’s attention span, explaining that this often clashes with how and if people truly involve themselves in a movie.
“How many films have you actually seen where you didn’t look at your phone in between? You actually stopped it when you went to the bathroom? … How can [we] expect the cinema to live when watchers don’t even give it the proper attention?”
A generational problem is that our attention spans are also getting shorter everyday. Focusing on an hour and a half long movie can be quite a difficult job, for young people especially — which could explain why reflecting on a movie after watching it is less common. Many movie-goers are not truly giving the film their undivided attention because their minds are naturally in many places at once — a sad reality, since the movies are supposed to be where we can escape reality and live in a world where we don’t have to be overwhelmed. Balaz
shares a piece of advice on what we can do to challenge this.
“If you want to save [cinema], watch it.”
SERVING TRENDS OVER STORY
The presence of social media is a problem in and of itself. I can think of so many movies that received a high level of viewership and popularity just because it either fit or sparked a trend in pop culture. Balaz explained that the online performance and marketability of a film often matters more to studios than the movie’s actual quality.
“We’re creating a system where every film has to have a little pinch of salt, little pinch of smile, little pinch of laugh, a little pinch of romance, [and] unless it gets 99 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, [or] the moment that film gets below 70 per cent, most people won’t even watch it. We’re not independent filmmakers and independent watchers anymore. We’re just part of the waterfall of mainstream cinema. Everybody just consumes what we’re all saying.”
Take Challengers (2024) for instance; a movie that propelled the world into tenniscore. The movie was released and everyone started playing tennis and wearing skirts and sneakers. Many people today have major FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and only watch the movie to follow the trend, rather than because they appreciate the sport or value the storyline. It represents the glamourization of a movie rather than the actual culture of the sport that people should care about. We’re still supporting cinema, but we’re also feeding the side of cinema that’s encouraging an artificial experience — meaning we’ll just keep watching movies without actually connecting to them in the way we should.
IS INNOVATION BREAKING THE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE?
Movies cannot be as impactful or successful without quality communication. Blakeborough discussed the translation of film from the screen to viewers, explaining that even screen-size can impact our experience and how we understand the film we’re watching.
“I have students all the time that watch everything on their phones. I’m like, ‘so you’ve never really seen a movie then.’
Because what you’re seeing there isn’t what you’re going to see [in the theatre] … There’s things in some movies that you need to see as part of the narrative that you can’t see when it’s on a small screen.”
We’re just part of the waterfall of mainstream cinema
We’ve seen a significant evolution of projector and sound systems quality in the 21st century, going from grainy displays to the 4k magic. As Blakeborough explained, this innovation has made a difference in how we see movies because we can watch them at home with better quality.
“It’s a completely different experience. We can replicate a movie theatre in our home a lot easier now, with projectors or even just big screen TVs and amazing sound systems.”
However, Blakeborough also believes that, because technology is so innovative and constantly improving, it’s also allowed us to neglect the ways we socially engage with cinema.
“Even if you’ve got [those innovations], you’re still missing out on that communal aspect of it — watching it with other people. I love going to films and seeing … how other people react to it, and to see what works. Film is amazing. It tells us so much about ourselves and each other that we should watch it together.”
The communication of good cinema comes, in part, from the initial outlet you are watching it from, and the environment we’re in. Nowadays, we can have an at-home setup if we have the appropriate funds and space to do so, and even if we have an 82-inch plasma screen in our living room that gives us a similar quality to the theatre, it is not the same. Blakeborough emphasizes that going to the theatre to watch a movie is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
“There’s still something about going to [the] movie theatre … it’s a ritual, [and] has meant a lot traditionally, and it’s sad to me that we’re going away from that … When I was a teenager, [I wanted] to go to a show and [sit] in the dark and eat popcorn, watch a movie … it was such a meaningful rite of passage. I don’t know if that exists in the same way now, because everyone has a movie theatre in their pocket.”
THEATRE VS. STREAMING
Theatres are struggling to compete with streaming services as they become increasingly popular due not only to accessibility, but also profitability.
Streaming is a giant consuming the theatre experience, and it starts with the competition between subscription prices versus theatre prices. Amazon Prime Video charges their viewers $9.99 a month for a subscription, and their student membership is $4.99 a month. Plus, you automatically get Prime Video included in your regular Prime membership. As of Jan. 28, 2026, Disney+ made changes to their subscription plans and pricing, charging $15.99 a month without ads and $8.99 per month with ads.
For theatre prices, a general admission ticket at Cineplex is usually between $12-18, but I’ve noticed that it depends on the class of theatre you’re sitting in (Regular, IMAX, AVX, D-BOX, or VIP). For example, tickets for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026) — released on Mar. 6 — were $17.75 for a regular theatre showing without any special qualities, totalling $18.64 with tax. Even minus the $1.50 online fee, it’s still a $17.14 ticket — still more expensive than paying for a Prime Video or Disney+ subscription that lasts an entire month. That’s one movie at the theatre for the price of an entire catalog of old and new films accessible through streaming — and that doesn’t even include movie snacks, which can easily be another $20.
Theatres have been hit even harder since film studios decided to start battling the online beasts by producing their movies and releasing them directly to streaming companies at the same time they are released in theatres. Streaming services have the upper hand in our society. It doesn’t help that major film studios are swallowing other studios making an already huge streaming platform even more dominant, like Paramount, who recently merged with SkyDance before also acquiring WarnerBros. Paramount offered $31 a share which brings WarnerBros’ value to $77 billion — and WarnerBros itself includes HBO Max as just another big streaming service.
“It’s going to be just more and more streaming and again, not wanting people to go and see movies elsewhere,” Blakeborough says.
Doing so makes it feel like film studios are encouraging the death of cinema, rather
Film is amazing. It tells us so much about ourselves and each other that we should watch it together.
THE FUTURE OF CINEMA IS IN OUR HANDS
It’s hard to see the future for cinema as bright rather than bleak, but Blakeborough gives me hope that the future generations of filmmaking are promising as he tells of the high school students he’s met who have produced student films as part of their enrollment in a film program.
“Every year [I’m] just like ‘Okay, we’re gonna be okay.’ These kids are twisted … they’re taking chances, and they’re getting inspiration from this and using a piece of this [and] trying to change it and make it their own, and it’s amazing. So those are the moments when I always think film is going to be okay.”
than working to counteract it and keep the traditional cinema experience relevant. However, some specific filmmakers out there do actively work to save the places where the true theatre experience originates. Blakeborough used the Rio Theatre as an example, which was set to be torn down, but it was ultimately saved by filmmakers like Osgood Perkins, director of Longlegs (2024), and Kevin Smith, director of Clerks (1994).
“These guys all stood up and put their money where their mouth was, and these places are still going to be around showing different experimental movies because they believe in them. And there is a small group of people that want that, but now we have to prove it by supporting it.”
There is one thing that theatres don’t have which can make streaming services arguably more frustrating: an algorithm. Blakeborough explained that services like Netflix have ways of catching their viewers in an endless cycle of consistently having access to movies that attract them based on their watch history, which means many of them are the same. That also deters consumers from finding content outside their personalized algorithms.
“If you decide three or four times in a row … ‘I want something fun and light,’ you’re only going to get fed fun and light, and you’re not even going to have the option to watch the other stuff. So unless you know what you want to watch, and you can go do a name search to find it, it’s not going to hand it to you.”
Theatres not having an algorithm means we see movies in a variety of genres, rather than getting stuck in these cycles.
If there’s anything I want to leave with you as someone who truly believes that movies can change our lives, it’s to ask you to imagine life without movies. Without that communal experience. Without stories that we can see and hear and feel. I can’t imagine it, and I don’t want to. I implore you to leave your phone at home (or at least shut it down), go to the theatre with family or friends, and watch a movie. Talk about it afterwards, share your thoughts, ask questions, and search for the answer. Invest in them all the way because they are not just something to occupy our time, but something to transform us by propelling the world with hope, strength, wonder, and purpose.
SLAPSHOTS
Please
come back home!
Recently, the NBA voted to approve bids and investors to bring expansion franchises to Seattle and Las Vegas for the 2028-29 season.
On one hand, bringing a franchise back to Seattle makes total sense for the NBA. The Seattle SuperSonics were moved from the Pacific Northwest to Oklahoma City in 2008, leaving behind a passionate fanbase that has been chomping at the bit to get their team back.
On the other hand, my NBA fan heart broke a little when it was Las Vegas and not Vancouver that was announced as the other candidate. I never got to see the Vancouver Grizzlies play as they left town after the 2000-01 season, but there is no doubt that I would have been a die-hard fan. I think the past decade or so has been more than enough proof that Canada can support another basketball team. From the Toronto Raptors NBA championship in 2019 to the WNBA introducing the Toronto Tempo as an expansion team for the 2026 season, basketball in The North is booming. And while the time is not now for the Grizzlies to return to Vancouver, hopefully one day Canada will welcome their second franchise back home with open arms.
BY ETHAN PAULSON
Emerald city route artist stays put in Seattle
With the NFL’s free agency period having opened on Mar. 11, there have been some serious moves made. My beloved Super Bowl LX champion team, the Seattle Seahawks, have kept my pulse elevated since these floodgates opened.
While the Hawks may have taken some hits with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III leaving for (shudder) the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as Coby Bryant and Boye Mafe parting ways, one thing makes it all okay. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) inked a multi-year extension with the Seahawks.
This record-setting contract of $168.6 million over four years, makes JSN the highest-paid wide receiver in the history of the NFL. But what else should be expected from the Offensive Player of the Year, Seahawks record-setter, and All-Pro player? Not to mention the franchise record he maintains of 119 catches for a total of 1,793 yards.
After a dominant season, JSN shared one goal of what’s next as he extends his term with the Seahawks:
“The only thing better than one Super Bowl is two.” Amen.
BY CASSIE WILLIAMS
Baseball // ‘Scades split season opener
Baseball
is underway in the Fraser Valley
Spring has sprung in Abbotsford, and that means Cascades baseball is back for another season! With the basketball and volleyball seasons coming to a close, UFV baseball brings the Cascades spirit back into the warmer weather.
The Cascades baseball program, also known as the ‘Scades, is one of the most storied programs in UFV sports history. After joining the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) in 2017, the ‘Scades have taken home two Canadian College World Series titles in 2019 and 2024.
The 2025 season was a great run for UFV as they finished atop the CCBC standings with a record of 21-11 and went into the playoffs as the number one seeded team. Unfortunately, the ‘Scades’ quest for a third championship would fall short as they would lose to Thompson Rivers University by a score of 17-2 in the semi-finals.
Now in 2026, UFV is looking to take back their rightful place at the top of the CCBC standings and go for their second championship in three seasons. The ‘Scades first opponent of the year was the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks. The Hawks struggled in 2025, finishing second-last in the CCBC standings with a record of 12-20. And while Edmonton’s record last year was not impressive, they should not be taken lightly as an opponent as the ‘Scades learned the hard way on opening weekend.
In the home opener, UFV ace Kam Sparrowhawk had a tough start to the season. Sparrowhawk started strong and tossed three scoreless innings before Edmonton Collegiate would put up seven earned runs on the ‘Scades starter, ending his night in the fourth inning as the Hawks would go on to add two more runs to take a 9-0 lead.
Despite a three-hit performance on the day from Nicolas Cleland and a fourrun seventh inning, the ‘Scades would not be able to overcome the fourth-inning deficit and dropped the opener of the fourgame series by a score of 11-5.
Coming off a disappointing start to the season, the ‘Scades would turn the tides in the series with elite performances in Saturday’s double-header.
UFV pitchers Mathew Picheniuk, Wyatt McKeen, and Jayson Tamayo shut down the Hawks with 10 strikeouts while
holding them to just two runs in the first game of the double header. In what was a low-scoring affair, the ‘Scades capitalized on a three-hit game from Keegan Drinkle and a pair of doubles from Logan Rodgers to propel UFV to a 3-2 victory.
In the second half of the double header, the ‘Scades bats came to life. Led by a two-hit performance from Chase Martin that included the first homerun of the season for UFV, and three hits each from Cleland and Carson Chan, UFV cruised to an easy 11-3 victory and led the series two games to one against the Hawks. UFV went looking for a series win on Sunday, and it was a slugfest early on. Both the ‘Scades and Hawks put up three runs in the first frame before Lucas Geisler hit a solo shot in the top of the second to give the Hawks a 4-3 lead. Both offences would go quiet until Devon Pennington would mash a two-run homerun to put the ‘Scades up for the first time all game at 5-4. That lead would be short-lived however, as the Hawks countered with three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-5 lead. While the ‘Scades did claw back and score one more run to make it 7-6, that was all the offence could muster as the Hawks held on and ended the series with two wins apiece.
While a 2-2 start to the season is most likely not how the ‘Scades would have liked to start their 2026 campaign, their offensive performance over the weekend shows the rest of the CCBC that the ‘Scades are just as good as advertised. Watch the ‘Scades take on the TRU Wolfpack at Fairfield Island Park in Chilliwack on Apr. 5 at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Photo by Jordie Arthur / UFV Cascades
ETHAN PAULSON
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Basketball // SPORTS
Jr. All Native Basketball Tournament 2026
U17 Boys Final Ts’ap (Prince Rupert) VanCity Warriors 77–71
U17 Girls Final At’maakw Tla-o-qui-aht West Coast 60–58
U13 Boys Gold Final Sons of Gingolx G aw Tlagée Jr. Raiders 48–43
U13 Boys Silver Final Skidegate Saints
U13 Girls Gold Final Snuneymuxw Islanders Mini Mystics 69–22
U13 Girls Silver Final Maaqtusiis Suns (Ahousaht)
Photos by Anjali Randhawa / The Cascade
“THE CANNIBAL WOMAN & THE CHILDREN”
A RETELLING BY SEABIRD VITALIZATION, 2025 Based on sx wōx wiyám shared by Nancy Phillips, Amelia Douglas, and Wendy Ritchie
One sunny day, the kids were at play, splashing and swimming the hours away. But one boy watched with eyes so wide — He saw a shadow on the tide.
“Th’owxeya! Th’owxeya!” he cried with fear, The chil-dren ran, but she drew near. She was fast, with a basket so wide. She scooped them up and strode with pride. Up the river she marched with might, The children trapped, their hearts held tight. But one brave girl had a shell so keen, she started cutting, sharp and clean. A hole appeared, just big enough,
The kids slipped out—though the path was rough. Each time a twig or rock would snap, Th’owxeya paused in her long, strong lap. “What’s that?” she asked with a growl and frown. “You stepped on a rock,” they said, looking down. She grumbled and walked, not sensing the trick, The children were clever, and oh, so quick! But one small boy with a hump got stuck, The hole was tight—he’d run out of luck. The older kids knew what she would do, She’d pitch their eyes shut, sticky like glue. “Close your eyes tight!” the big kids said, “So the pitch can peel off, not stick like lead.” The younger ones didn’t heed the call, And soon their eyes were sealed with gall. Th’owxeya danced by the fire’s light, “Drum for me.” “Sing for me.” “While I dance.”
One child whispered, “Here’s the plan: We’ll push her in on the third round, we’ll end this fight!” “What are you saying?” she asked with fright. “We’ll drum and sing so loud for you, “Grandmother, your dance is good!”
She danced so light. The children waited without a sound. Once, then twice, then round once more— The children shoved her in with a mighty roar!
Once, then twice, then round once more— The children shoved her in with a mighty roar! The sparks flew up, the air grew thick, Mosquitoes formed, their wings beat quick. Th’owxeya burned in flames.
The children were playing and singing and running away.
The end of the sxwōxwiyám.
TH’OWXEYA
QAS YE STA:XWELH
swí:wel te swáyel, ye sta:xwelh te hélme’als lhellhéltest qas kw’e t’ítsem qe léts’e swíweles xlhám í thehó:lesem kw’étslexwes te qéyqeyxelà li th’ōwxeya! th’ōwxeya! qesu í sí:sem ye sta:xwelh tl’ó xwemxálém, í th’ol tqátes th’ol xwemxálém, í lhq’át te sí:tel q’pétóles qas te éy i:mex títexel éyem i:mexes thúth’ò kwólòmèt ye sta:xwelh. th’áles lá: kwelát osu eyem lólets’e q’ami tsel kwá welh me xà:m. yálhò t’eqw’ótes. me me pélekw te sqweqwá, e hí:kw xwela ye sta:xwelh qéyqex em – te xáxlh qwlímó:les tetem te sts’á:xt qe smált t’wa tl’ám th’owxeya tl’eláxw
“stám te’í?” petámetes í xéytem. “ímetemchxw siq te smált,” petámetchet kw’ókw’etset tl’ép xéytemes thútl’o qas te imex, ewe is qétxmel te qelstelaq
ye sta:xwelh schewót, qas kw’e osu xwém lólets’e axwíl lekwewíts swíweles te t’elém sq’áq’eth’ te sqweqwá - ôwkw’ te eytémex ye sétl’atel lheq’él:exw stámes í thútl’ó
“kw’els e qw’eyíléx” lhálheqet te lólets’e méle, “ ikwelo te stélmel.” slhxwálhx-wems tháxtset, hoytset te iyó:tel xwe’ít kw’a’ sqwóqwel? th’owxeya petá:met q’ewételhtstset, t’íltset xwela ts’elts’el sthí:qelthome
selsila, ey ta’ sqw’eyilex qw’eyilexs th’utl’ó
tl’elxwí:wsem ye sta:xwelh lets’áxw, themá, qelát lets’áxw te xelxálqem ye sta:xwelh xthét í sáyém kwótxwem!
lets’áxw, themá, qelát lets’áxw te xelxálqem ye sta:xwelh xthét í sáyém kwótxwem!
lets’áxw, themá, qelát lets’áxw te xelxálqem ye sta:xwelh xthét í sáyém kwótxwem!
spá:yts’em, qweqweqwtí:mxel, qéx te qwá:l iyá:q, xwem lhólhekw’ th’owxeya kw’ás í héyeqw.
wiyóth í:wólems kw’es te stá:xwelh, t’ít’elem kw’es tl’ítl’ews esép’ te sxwōxwiyám
Photo: KoKweit, Darryl Splockton, III
Crossword // STUDY BREAK
Ringing in Spring!
Horoscopes //
By: The Bitch Witches
Aries - Mar. 21 to Apr. 19
Energy vampires are all around you, eat them and spit their bones out before you to pave your path to greatness. In the words of Colin Robinson, from the epic Canadian (support CanCon!) mockumentary series What We Do In The Shadows (2019-2024): “I wish you nothing but continued success feeding on the addle-brained cattle that waste their lives around us.”
Taurus - Apr. 20 to May 20
Perhaps the most insufferable philosopher in human history could help you today. Nietzsche, the father of obscuring the boundary between right and wrong in his infamous work, Beyond Good and Evil (1886) may have been onto something. You’ll probably have to take a page from his book to make a paper airplane. Toss it and see where it lands, then dig for treasure there (maybe bury that dumb book while you’re at it).
Gemini - May 21 to Jun. 21
Old man yells at cloud! It’s not a good look.
Cancer - Jun. 22 to Jul. 22
In 1983, the CIA released a memo on a project called the “Gateway Experience.” Basically, they funded some guy to experiment with quantum reality and astral projection. Apparently it’s possible if you just listen to some weird tonal sounds or something like that. Also you gotta meditate. Clearly you already know this since it seems that all you do lately is astral project into your own dreams and bring back all sorts of oogie boogies who are destroying your (present) reality. Leave ‘em! In the words of Niels Bohr: “No, no, you’re not thinking; you’re just being logical.”
Leo - Jul. 23 to Aug. 22
What does God know anyway? It’s time to shirk the shackles that confine you and build your own golden calf! Maybe 70 upon 70 golden calves! Build a herd! Surely, nothing could be wrong with that!
Virgo - Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
“I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour / I was looking for a job and then I found a job / And heaven knows I’m miserable now!” The Smiths knew what was up, amiright? The best progress is no progress, amiright? Just let the AI do it.
Libra - Sept. 23 to Oct. 23
We get it. You’re a badass bitch and this world isn’t fabulous enough for you, but maybe it’s time to take stock and refocus your priorities before you destroy the world.
Scorpio - Oct. 24 to Nov. 21
Warning! You have impending yuck coming your way! Time to recharge and avoid pizza with anchovies.
Sagittarius - Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Ok, mom. Time to take yourself into account and look at your priorities. We get that you’re “holding everyone else together” and that’s super cool of you, but wake the fuck up and take care of your own shit.
Capricorn - Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
Sounds like someone’s failing to plan ahead and chooses to smoke weed over caring for the actual important people in your life. Guess what? It’s caught up to you. Time to re-evaluate before everyone who loves you leaves.
Aquarius - Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
Get your head out of your ass and stop counting all your gold shillings. We get it. It’s calming, but they’re worthless now anyway.
Pisces - Feb. 19 to Mar. 20
Shawn Hatosy isn’t going to show up outside your bedroom window in the middle of the night with a boombox over his head proclaiming his long suppressed love for you. I’m sorry. It’s time to move on and stop giving your all to an ultimately unreciprocated relationship. Let it rest in peace and let your heart beat for yourself.
CULTURE
Steveston Village offers a seaside escape for a slow-paced weekend
From fresh seafood to heritage museums, Steveston is an understated gem
MARIA SYLVESTER
Steveston Village in Richmond is the kind of town that makes you slow down in a positive way. With salty ocean air, local fishing, and the delicious smells of fresh seafood and restaurants floating through the neighbourhood, it’s hard not to be enthralled by its small town charm.
I found out about Steveston through the community at the UFV dorms and thought it would be a good place to explore on a Saturday. UFV housing hosts trips throughout the semester and this was the first one I participated in this spring. The Steveston trip was organized by the Campus Living Team and residents paid a $15 fee while guests paid $20 for the bus ride. The trip takes about an hour and a half through the countryside and while I
did get car sick from the bus ride, I appreciated the fact that travel was arranged through the school and I didn’t have to spend money on gas.
Steveston was founded in the 1880s, and was built on farming, fishing, and boatbuilding. It still has an active fishing community today, with the daily catch sold directly at the dock on Fisherman’s Wharf. Before European settlers arrived, the site was a centuries old summer fishing ground for First Nations. Steveston later attracted Japanese settlers who were drawn by the abundance of fish, especially salmon since the town is located at the mouth of the Fraser River. The community suffered financial loss during the Great Depression and World War II when Japanese residents were forcibly removed and placed in internment camps,
but the village still managed to survive and is now recognized as a heritage site.
Today, Steveston is a quiet neighbourhood, at least before the spring and summer season, with many dining locations and small shops. The area is quieter in the off-season, but picks up from April through the summer months with events like whale watching and the fishing season.
Steveston is worth visiting yearround for its food, shopping, and relaxed atmosphere.
When I visited Steveston on a Saturday in mid-March the waterfront was full of families and dog-walkers enjoying the neighbourhood. I tried salmon and halibut at Dave’s Fish and Chips and it was some of the freshest and crispiest seafood I’ve ever had. I also browsed through the local
Campus Fashion: dressing for the Oscars — student edition
Award-winning evening wear
This is Campus Fashion, your source of inspiration for seasonal trends, cool finds, and wardrobe basics to keep you looking stylish throughout the year.
The 2026 Oscars have come and gone, however, what the actors wore on the red carpet remains memorable. From dramatic and eye-catching, to demure and elegant, there were many iconic looks at the historic 98th awards ceremony. Let’s take a look at seven of the most iconic styles worn that evening.
Old Hollywood glam
A common theme that was at the Oscars this year was old Hollywood glam, which was a popular style of dress during the 1930s to the 1950s. This style consisted of silky floor-length gowns, floral appliqués, and elegant hair styles. Stars such as Elle Fanning and Jessie Buckley owned this look, bringing an ethereal and glamorous style to the party. For a fun night out, wear a champagne coloured long sleeve silk gown, nude heels, and a beaded clutch purse. Complete the look with your hair parted to one side in soft, cascading waves.
Florals
Florals are feminine, beautiful, and dainty. During the Oscars ceremony, actress, Anne Hathaway, wore a strapless black and white floral gown,
and Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of Vogue, sported a white floral gown under a black lace blazer. To recreate this look, opt for a cream floral gown, chandelier earrings, a matching necklace, strappy heels, a clutch purse, and a blazer, ideal for garden parties and weddings.
Sequins
Glamour and sparkle are good ingredients for making waves on the red carpet. Several stars such as Goldie Hawn and her daughter, Kate Hudson, wore sparkly, sequined gowns to the event. For a fun night out, pair a navy blue gown with sequins, navy pumps, a silver clutch bag, and a navy blue wrap.
Red
A daring and bold choice, many in attendance opted to wear red gowns to the awards ceremony. Celebrities such as Mikey Madison wore a dark red velvet number, and Li Jun Li turned heads in a dramatic, bright red gown. To emulate this bold look, try wearing a deep red dress with a gold statement necklace, a gold and crystal appliqué clutch purse, and gold heels to a formal date.
Feathers
This year, feathers were another recurring trend at the Oscars. Stars such as Nicole Kidman, and Teyana Taylor looked elegant and beautiful on the red carpet, dressed in exotic feathers. For a themed party, pair a baby pink floor
shops and found interesting places like the Moncton Crafthouse jewelry shop that specializes in pearl jewelry, Nikaido Tea, a Japanese tea and stationary store, and the Steveston Bookstore, along with gift shops, cafes, and many ice cream shops and restaurants.
Sometimes it’s therapeutic to take a break from school and visit the coast on a Saturday. If you want to explore shops and walk around with the smell of delicious food and feel the ocean breeze in early spring, Steveston Village is a lovely neighbourhood with activities for everyone year-round. Steveston is a low-key and relaxing place to visit if you have been stuck in a work and school grind and need a place for some relaxation and a little refreshing excursion.
length gown with white feather embellishments, nude heels, a floral diamond necklace, and matching earrings.
Little black dress (LBD)
Always there when you need it, the LBD is versatile and elegant. Actress, Zoe Saldaña, wore a black lace gown at the Oscars, looking both elegant and demure. For a black and white event, wear a black floor length ball gown with a pearl necklace and earrings, a black pair of heels, a black clutch purse, and a swept up chignon bun for the full effect.
Black and white tuxedo
Timeless and versatile, the tuxedo was worn by many at this year’s Oscars award ceremony. Celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Shaboozey pulled off the look effortlessly while posing on the red carpet. Wearing a classic black and white tuxedo with black dress shoes, and a black bow tie are sure to turn heads at any formal event.
There you have it, seven ways you can emulate the Oscars during special occasions. May your evening wear shine as brightly as the Oscars while you celebrate your life and the lives of those you love on or off campus.
RACHEL TAIT
Cascade Rewind: the fashion world is as enticing as ever
20 years later, this aughts classic remains devilishly good
Some movies define an era so well that they become cherished, nostalgic classics. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) is one of those films, its influence permeates throughout popular culture.
The story begins with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a humble, aspiring journalist, who settles for a receptionist job at the fashion magazine, Runway, where she learns harsh lessons about herself and the people around her.
During the film’s runtime, we see how the world of fashion changes Andy. Her employer, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), pushes her relentlessly — almost to a fault. Working under the tyrannical Miranda takes a toll, but Andy convinces herself it’s worth it: she gets to flirt with different parts of the fashion world — clothes, events, even people — and she doesn’t have to commit to anything except her boss’ vision. Andy gets to explore the world of couture and her sense of self evolves. I’ll admit, each time I watch this movie, I find myself getting annoyed at Andy. But honestly? I also empathize with her. Is the real betrayal how everyone judges her? Sure, some of her work may seem superficial, but Andy’s simply exposing herself to new experiences. The devil may tempt her with couture and Paris, but the people who claim to love her are the ones insisting she stay exactly where she started.
Setting and aesthetics play a major role in shaping the film, but what remains most compelling is the iconic cast.
The characters make the film what it is. Andy and Miranda’s tense dynamic propels the plot, while other characters provide dimensions to the fashion industry — Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), whose haughtiness is almost admirable, and Nigel (Stanley Tucci), who is unexpectedly laid-back for a man who dresses half of Manhattan.
David Frankel’s film can serve as a cautionary tale about those getting wrapped up in an illusory world of glamour. The film provides an insight into human malleability based on one’s circumstances. Where our protagonist was once complaining about her toxic workplace, she undergoes the quintessential 2000s makeover to fit in and begins defending her boss, who is loosely-inspired by Anna Wintour.
The film doesn’t merely depict the high-end fashion industry; it often feels like a love letter to the labour behind it. Despite several comments about size zero being the ultimate body type — lines that, without fail, make my eyes roll — the film takes care of how it presents the hectic, yet beautiful work of fashion itself.
Sure, Miranda seems like an awful boss to have, but her cerulean monologue shines a light on her keen knowledge of the fashion world. Clothes and accessories aren’t something we just put on; they present something about ourselves to the world. While Miranda’s monologue humiliates Andy for her unseemly behaviour, it also relays a truth about fashion’s cultural prevalence and power whether we want to admit it or not.
Another aspect of the film that’s handled with care is that no matter who seems to be the villain or
hero, it’s never as simple as that. Each character is complex, driven by a variety of motivations: some are so ambitious that they knock others down, like Emily, and some want to forge their own paths in life, but succumb to the pressures of their work, like Andy.
Emily is barely helpful and she judges Andy throughout the film, yet when we see her excitement about wanting to go to Paris — the trip she’s earned through years of work — we can’t not root for her.
Even Miranda’s circumstances tug at our heartstrings. She may be presented as cold-hearted, but beneath the icy exterior is ultimately a woman who loves her family and struggles as her demanding work pulls her away from them.
The hustle and bustle of New York’s fashion scene is overwhelming, yet entertaining. No matter the fact that I know exactly what happens in the plot, I find myself looking forward to each re-watch.
Over the years, as social values and fashion tastes shift, it’s fun for me, as a viewer, to observe and judge for myself the choices characters make — morally and fashion-wise.
If you want to explore the motivations of complex characters, get a taste of New York’s fashion scene, or simply take a trip back to the mid-2000s, The Devil Wears Prada is the movie for you.
If you’re a fan like me, I’m sure you’re anticipating the sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026), which is set to be released on May 1. Who knows what could happen this time — has Miranda softened her edge? Unlikely. Will Andy and Emily finally become friends? I wish. We need to know, and soon we will!
Video Games // Leon Kennedy, my beloved, look what they did to you babygirl
Resident Evil Requiem earns every second of your attention
ZACKERY FITZPATRICK
There’s a specific kind of story that leaves you feeling like you’re losing a part of yourself when you finish it, and putting it down and walking away is hard to convince yourself to do. That’s been many franchises for me — long, winding narratives carved across multiple entries — only for a new installment to release (or God forbid a final one). And again, the idea of waiting for the next chapter, or the fear of what might happen to your favourite characters, almost acts like a mental block, inhibiting you from fully appreciating the story, whether a book, show, or game.
Resident Evil (1996-) (RE ) has always been one of those franchises for me. And Resident Evil Requiem (2026) (Requiem) is very much one of those games. It feeds an appetite for exploration and rewards curiosity in a way that’s hard to achieve while still maintaining the tension and dread you expect from the genre. As you clear one room, the urge to satisfy the question of “what’s behind the door I passed 10 minutes ago” arises — a format I find personally intoxicating. Part of this
is pacing, but the other is how the gameplay is delivered. When playing as one of the two protagonists, Grace Ashcroft, it feels like a cross between RE7 (2017) and Alien: Isolation (2014) — mostly slow-crawling traditional horror. And when playing as the other, Leon Kennedy, things transition to violence and action. Areas you anxiously snuck through as Grace are recontextualized when you play through them as Leon, achieving the feel of a New Game+ run before you’ve actually replayed the game — which, as a recovering completionist, scratches an itch I didn’t quite know I had.
This isn’t just for pacing or game design’s sake, though. It’s an issue RE has been trying to solve for almost 20 years.
RE6 (2012) hit a rough patch that almost ended the series. RE7 successfully redeemed it by pivoting HARD back into first-person horror. Requiem took inspiration from what worked in previous installments, piecemealing the horror and action elements that fans did resonate with. RE4 (2005), after all, wasn’t nearly as poorly received as RE6 Whether by luck or design, they finally figured out the formula — striking a
balance in Requiem that marries the two genres without alienating fans of either type of RE installment. And of course, with the protagonists personifying these genres not just in gameplay, but in theme and narrative, the relationship and dichotomy between them stands out to me as the most fascinating part.
Grace is frightened, methodical, and out of her depth; Leon is a glimpse into her future. He is the same sort of person — but he has survived long enough to stop being scared. Capcom handles their relationship so thoughtfully, that this duality has been praised to death since the game’s release. But what those conversations often miss is that the importance and intentionality behind this isn’t just about storytelling or gameplay styles. It also acts as a passing of the torch. In a meta sense, sure — Capcom introducing a new protagonist — but also in the emotional payoff of grizzled Leon, who has endured several of the previous games, meeting the brand new, up-and-coming fan favourite that is Grace, who unavoidably reminds him of a young version of himself. Much of the discourse also overlooks the wildly varying reception of the series leading up
Movies // Hide, seek, and sign your soul away in a sequel that delivers
All hail this delightful bloodbath in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
SKY S. TERRONES
It’s not spooky season yet. Regardless, the eldritch cosmic forces have granted us an early treat: a delightful bloodfest of slasher horror and dark comedy in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026) (RoN2).
After the first film’s cult-classic success, the sequel had some pretty big sunflower-yellow Converse sneakers to fill. So… did it manage?
Ready or Not (2019) ended with Grace (Samara Weaving) surviving her in-laws’ satanic family tradition and walking out of a burning mansion like the patron saint of “I want a divorce.”
RoN2 picks up right where we left off — Grace alive, traumatized, and very much not free of the Le Domas curse. Instead of the well-earned rest she
(L-R) Kathryn
and
to this point, but to me, Requiem benefits from that history. It is an entry that feels confident — like both an ending and a clean slate for the series.
I’ll obviously be revisiting this entry, but in the meantime I almost grieve how complete an experience it feels, as though I have left part of myself behind with its ending. I’ve tried to avoid spoilers here, but suffice it to say: strap in. Requiem comes for your heartstrings in the most devastating and beautiful ways.
in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (Searchlight Pictures)
thoroughly deserves, she’s thrown into a new iteration of the game: double or nothing.
The game begins in Hunger Games style, as we see a filmed, ritualistic hunt featuring a roster of wealthy psychos and, unexpectedly, Grace’s estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton).
Unlike the first film, RoN2 delves into Grace’s backstory. We finally see the fractures between her and Faith — resentment, abandonment, and the kind of unresolved tension that only a demonic blood pact can bring forward, am I right, sis? Their dynamic becomes the emotional spine of the movie, grounding the chaos in something surprisingly tender despite its rocky journey.
Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, absolute legend Elijah Wood, (The Faculty (1998), The Lord of the Rings (2001)), plus the iconic queen Sarah Michelle Gellar, (Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Scooby-Doo (2002)). Add in the one and only Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt (2025-), Animal Kingdom (2016-2022)) and you’ve got a lineup that feels almost unfair. Each of them brings such a unique flavour to their role that the ensemble becomes unforgettable — and a genuine delight to watch. Am I biased because this top-notch cast feels like it was assembled specifically to target my millennial horror heart? Hell yeah. Does that make the movie any less good? Not at all.
Where the first film was tight,
Media Care Package//
contained, and wonderfully claustrophobic — all creaking hallways and quick, satisfying deaths — RoN2 expands the arena. The scale is bigger, the traps are more elaborate, and the kills are more… fun, let’s go with that.
Don’t get me wrong, this is nowhere near close to Saw (2004) or Final Destination (2000)’s levels of gore, but some deaths are creative, and people exploding never seems to get old.
Whether this expansion of the logistics works depends on what you loved about the original. If you were there for the intimate cat-and-mouse tension, this sequel’s go-big-or-go-home approach might feel like a departure. If you wanted more lore, more chaos, and more rich people exploding, you’re in for a feast.
Faith is a fantastic addition to the franchise, offering a sharp, complicated
contrast to Grace — the kind of sibling dynamic that shows how strength can look wildly different depending on who’s holding it.
Also, billionaires selling their souls? Absolute cinema. Any movie that depicts them as people willing to literally sacrifice their humanity to the devil is a win in my book. RoN2 doubles down on the satire — old money, cultish, dynastic, ritual-obsessed families — all of it lands with a sharp, self-aware bite. Considering how scarily close it sounds to reality, it makes one wonder if this is one of those cases in which fiction isn’t exaggerating so much as gently tapping us on the shoulder and whispering, “This is already happening, babe.” How it’s all explored is cathartic and thus therapeutic. Whoever knew a mental health day could come so cheap?
Time for a trip to the ballet?
Put ballet on your radar with these resources
KARA DUNBAR
In a Variety and CNN Town Hall, Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet, had a conversation about shrinking attention spans and the pressure to keep movie theatres full.
Chalamet said he admires people who advocate to “keep movie theatres alive,” but argued that real audience desire — like the boom around Barbie (2023) and Oppenheimer (2023) — is what actually fills seats. He added that he doesn’t want to work in an art form that needs to plead for relevance, giving the example of opera and ballet.
This sparked a wave of online criticism, with many taking offence to the statement that “no one cares about this anymore.” It prompted enough buzz for a joke to be made about it at the Oscars ceremony.
Regardless of your opinion on Chalamet’s comment, it did turn some attention on these art forms, including my own, especially toward ballet. I have not danced myself, but because of family and friends who have, I’ve held a long standing appreciation for the craft. Still, I’d never sought it out of my own accord — so when Chalamet’s remarks, and the internet’s reaction reached my feed, I got curious. It’s worth noting that many classic ballets have long been critiqued for racial caricatures and cultural appropriation — a conversation that continues on today. With that in mind, I went in wanting to understand the form rather than romanticize it.
As a student, I didn’t presume live ballet was in my budget, so I started my search with what was accessible and free online. One of my favourite free resources
is Kanopy, available with a public library card. I found they had an entire section dedicated to the performing arts and more specifically, ballet. This included recordings of live performances, documentaries, and even fictional movies built around the world of dance.
I particularly enjoyed checking out a performance of Don Quixote. Based on the early-17th-century Spanish novel, the ballet follows the adventures of an aging man of low mobility who, after reading one too many adventure tales, decides to revive chivalry and serve his country.
Watching it, I learned how a ballet can be called a comedy, and what a comedy it was with its overarching playful tone and repeated bits that brought out a chuckle.
I also found the movie Billy Elliot (2000) on Kanopy. This coming-of-age drama follows 11-year-old Billy as he discovers his passion for ballet while his family navigates the 1984-1985 miners’ strike in North East England. This movie offers an interesting look at the era, as well as how difficult it can be for the working-class kids to break into the fine arts.
And the music. Holy [REDACTED]. The needle drop of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” during one of the film’s most chaotic sequences is so absurdly perfect that I had to fight to bite back a laugh. I’d rewatch this film solely for that scene. RoN2 is messy, ambitious, and gleefully unhinged — a sequel that knows exactly what it is and refuses to apologize for it. The only thing that could’ve made it better is a gay proposal scene (you’ll see what I mean if you give this movie a chance), but alas, we can’t have everything.
There’s much mystery left to unravel, and if the box office is any indicator, this franchise is far from over.
Bear in mind: if you didn’t like the first one, you probably won’t like this one either. But if you did? This sequel is a bloody, chaotic, devil-blessed delight.
If you end up getting hooked by ballet and want to regularly support the art, streaming services like Marquee TV, Royal Ballet and Opera Stream, and Ballet On Demand, might be worth looking into. Marquee TV offers ballet, theatre, opera, and other fine arts performances and documentaries from multiple companies worldwide (including from B.C.), plus a seven day free trial. The Royal Ballet and Opera Stream shows performances from the British Royal Ballet and Opera as well as behind-the-scenes content and new titles regularly added. Ballet on Demand from the English National Ballet offers short term rentals of performances on demand with no recurring payments to keep track of.
If you do have some time and money to spare, Ballet Kelowna, Ballet BC, and Ballet Vancouver, have performances in and near the Fraser Valley. Prices vary, but in my experience they tend to be cheaper than an average Vancouver concert. Tickets from Ballet Kelowna’s most recent tour range from 35 to 55 dollars, Ballet BC’s upcoming performance tickets range from 19 to 157 dollars, and Ballet Vancouver’s tickets go from 25 to 133 dollars.
Ballet has been said to be foundational to many forms of modern dance, and a key discipline to many dancers regardless of what style they pursue long term. Most ballet companies are non-profits, relying on philanthropy and government support. Interest in the craft — and the willingness to back that interest — only increases the money these companies are given. So if you want a hand in preserving this classical art form, maybe it’s time to acquaint yourself with the ballet.
ARTS
Television //
The Hellmou th is open, so we made a list
Still fighting the good fight with these Buffy episodes worth rioting for
THE CASCADE
These past few weeks have felt like living through our own personal Hellmouth opening. Between the reboot cancellation news and the loss of Nicholas Brendon — not to mention Michelle Trachtenberg’s passing last year — the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) fandom has been grieving in waves. It’s been a lot, like season six levels of “walking through fire.”
And yet, if Buffy taught us anything, it’s that grief is something you face as a team. Around The Cascade office, the heartbreak has been real. This show has always been more than a cult classic. We adore it — we quote it, cling to it, find ourselves in it.
Riot with us as our very own Scooby Gang protests this cancellation by sharing our favourite episodes:
Caitlyn Carr, Features Editor
“Becoming: Part 2” (S2. E22)
Whenever I’m feeling low, I watch the season two finale of Buffy. Not because it’ll cheer me up, but because if Buffy can keep from crumbling after the events of this episode, I can certainly deal with my own relatively mundane hardships. I can still remember the exact moment I realized just how strong Buffy really is: when she’s about to be struck down by the love of her life, and she utters my favourite line in the entire series.
Angel: “No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what’s left?”
Buffy: “Me.”
As I write this, I’m doing what all Buffy fans should do in times of hardship: rewatching my favourite episode. Buffy and Spike are teaming up for the first time, Sarah McLachlan’s “Full of Grace” is gracing my ears, and Buffy is telling her mom she’s a slayer in one of the best coming-out metaphors I’ve ever seen. Even if Hulu is abandoning Buffy, Buffy will never abandon us.
Jasleen Sandhu, Staff Writer
“Prophecy Girl” (S1. E12)
We could’ve had a whole new generation introduced to Buffy! The Hellmouth is waiting for whoever cancelled the reboot. I wanted to see what Buffy’s been up to and how Sunnydale has changed — or stayed the same. Chloé Zhao’s envisioned Buffy… what could’ve been. At least we’ll always have the original to return to, and all our favourite episodes.
The episode “Prophecy Girl” means a lot to me. Whenever I think about the
series, I always reflect on this episode. Not only am I an absolute sucker for the high school seasons, but this episode highlights the life Buffy must lead. It emphasizes her resilience and reminds me why she’s one of my absolute favourite characters ever. And of course, it gave us some excellent quotes, including “you have fruit punch mouth.” Buffy’s an icon.
Sky S. Terrones, Arts Editor
“Family” (S5. E6)
As my all-time favourite series, I debated for ages over which episode to choose. In the end, I had to go with “Family.” Not only does it put my favourite character at centre stage, it captures what I feel is the spirit of the entire show. There’s strength in each of us — even alone, we carry that power. But sometimes, when you feel like you don’t have it or don’t belong; when you’re at your weakest and convinced you don’t deserve help, you look up and realize you’ve gathered people shaped by similar shitty situations — bonded to you for life — choosing to stand by you through the good and the bad.
Family is far stronger than blood. Family is choice.
Mr. Maclay: “This is insane. You people have no right to interfere with Tara’s affairs. We are her blood kin! Who the hell are you?”
Buffy Summers: “We’re family.”
Darien Johnsen, Editor-in-Chief
“Who Are You?” (S4. E16)
During a period of depression a few years ago, my friend dropped off a stack of DVDs for me, including the first season of Buffy. It was certainly not my first choice, but once I finally dove in, what I thought was just a silly teen drama became something that changed my life forever. And there is one episode that shattered my heart into a thousand pieces.
“Who Are You?” explores what happens when someone stops trusting love — and how, when faced with it for the first time, it nearly breaks them. Perhaps the executive who cancelled Buffy has never truly known love; if they were ever confronted with the depth of comfort, truth, and righteousness packed into this glorious series, they’d crumble under the weight of its beauty, demanding in glorious, broken confusion, “What do you want from her!?”
Only then would they feel, for the first time, the extent of the pain they’ve caused.
As for long-time fans, we know evil is nothing new, and we’re prepared to fight it.
CHARTS SHUFFLE
Cam The Man, back with another shuffle! This shuffle contains more independent artists who are either charting, or on the cusp of charting on the CIVL Top 30.
SonReal - “Already Won”
SonReal is an ascending B.C. hip-hop artist who brings heartfelt lyrics to his music. My favourite song from his 2024 album All Things Aside is “Already Won,” a song about overcoming barriers and highlighting personal success.
LOV - “M A T R I A R C H”
LOV is a fast-rising, Indigenous, Neo-Soul/R&B artist from Alberta who brings old-school vibes to her music. My favourite song of hers is “M A T R I A R C H,” because it shares a powerful message about womanhood. She has a debut album coming out later this year!
Alessia Cara - “Slow Motion”
Alessia Cara is a popular Canadian Artist who hit top 1 on the CIVL Top 30 on Apr. 1, 2025. My favorite song from the album Love & Hyperbole (2025) is “Slow Motion” because it’s about being so deeply in love that the world seems to slow down.
Pony Gold - “Wait for Me”
Pony Gold are a B.C. county duo who are gaining popularity with their 2025 album High Road Reverie. My favourite song from the album is “Wait for Me,” because it’s a track about unconditional love, patience and resilience, as well as recovery and healing.
01. SLIP-ONS Overtime
02. DAVID IVAN NEIL
I Can Still Hope
03. THE SYLVIA PLATTERS Will Tomorrow Be Enough [Ep]
04. VIA CASTELLO
She’s My Type (Single)
05. DOMINIQUE FILS-AIMÉ
My World is the Sun
06. CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON Patchwork
07. RAQUEL COLE Fire Child
08. SEYBLU Day Dream
09. SAVANNAH JADE
Savannah Jade
10. MIKE VAN EYES BAND
Ain’t That Loving You, Baby
11. PONY GOLD High Road Reverie
12. KATIE TUPPER Greyhound
13. PEACHES No Lube So Rude
14. COOTIE CATCHER
Something we all got
15. BOY GOLDEN
Best Of Our Possible Lives
16. ORA COGAN Hard Hearted Woman
17. SARAH KINSLEY Fleeting EP
18. MARIA BC Marathon
19. DANA SIPOS Golden Molten
20. KUMO 99 PULL!
Where your music taste matters by CIVL’s Music Director, Stephen Munga.
