The Carillon Volume 65, Issue 1

the carillon vol. 65, issue 1

week of june 30, 2022

carillonregina.com

abortion access p. 4 summer transit p. 5 FAB opportunities p. 10 u-pass perspective p. 15

the carillon the staff

editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com

holly funk

executive director business@carillonregina.com

jacob nelson

production manager production@carillonregina.com

shae sackman

advertising manager ads@carillonregina.com

vacant

technical editor tech@carillonregina.com

thomas czinkota

multimedia/graphics editors multimedia@carillonregina.com graphics@carillonregina.com

safal gangwani rooky jegede

copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com

aurel dumont

news editor news@carillonregina.com

gillian massie

a&c editor arts@carillonregina.com

sarah nakonechny

sports editor sports@carillonregina.com

vacant

op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com

hammad ali

distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com

chandra wassill

staff writer

amina salah

staff writer

victoria baht

staff writer

bodie robinson

news writer

syd mcwilliams

a&c writer

jorah bright

sports writer

vacant

contributors damanpreet kaur, ayodipupo adetola board of directors holly funk, jacob nelson and honourary members: shiva souri, cassandra byblow, jorah bright, hammad ali, and shae sackman

vol. 65

the paper

227 Riddell Center University of Regina - 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2 www.carillonregina.com Ph: (306) 586 8867 Printed by Star Press Inc, Wainwright, AB The Carillon welcomes contributions.

Opinions expressed in the pages of the Carillon are entirely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Carillon Newspaper Inc. Opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in the Carillon are those of the advertisers, and not necessarily of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. or its staff.

The Carillon is published no less than 11 times each semester during the fall and winter semesters and periodically throughout the summer. The Carillon is published by the Carillon Newspaper Inc., a non-profit organization. land acknowledgement The Carillon is written on treaty four territory. As such, the staff recognize that we are living, working, and telling stories on and of Indigenous lands. We recognize that we are on the traditional homelands of the Nakota, Lakota, and Dakota peoples, along with the homeland of the Métis nation. The Carillon understands that it is pointless to acknowledge the land on which we work without speaking to our commitment to telling stories and prioritizing voices that further the return of the land to its place sacred place in the cultures of those that live here. the manifesto In keeping with our reckless, devil-may-care image, our office has absolutely no concrete information on the Carillon’s formative years readily available. What follows is the story that’s been passed down from editor to editor for over sixty years.

In the late 1950s, the University of Regina planned the construction of several new buildings on the campus grounds. One of these proposed buildlings was a beltower on the academic green. If you look out on the academic green today, the first thing you’ll notice is that it has absolutely nothing resembling a belltower.

The University never got a belltower, but what it did get was the Carillon, a newspaper that serves as a symbolic bell tower on campus, a loud and clear voice belonging to each and every student.

the people’s friend; the tyrant’s foe

The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper Since 1962 june 30 - july 27, 2022 | volume 65, issue 1 | carillonregina.com

news

In a province with sparse and inconsistent contraception and abortion access, underresearched and underfunded sexual health education, and no less than 14 MPs who are staunchly anti-choice, the overturning of Roe v. Wade should not be taken lightly.

Despite the shock a ruling like this may elicit there should not be surprise; these shifts do not come without warning. There have been rumblings for decades.

We would recommend that instead of brushing this off as an American problem or being swept away from action by concerns, you treat this as a wake up call. While we are not in such dire circumstances here in Saskatchewan there is the potential. Now is not the time to lose your nerve.

What would RBG do?

Abortion acces

news

p. 4

In light of the overturning of Roe v.

Wade, Gillian Massie covers the current state of access to legal and safe abortions in Saskatchewan.

sports

Summer transit

arts

p. 5

For the first time ever, students at the UofR through spring and summer are eligible for a U-Pass through those terms; Syd McWilliams addresses the pros and cons.

Punk post-pandemic

p. 8

Bodie Robinson covers the latest show at The Cure, featuring headliner Wine Lips and an interview with their local openers, Passerby.

op-ed

op-ed

Holly Funk Editor-in-Chief

photos

cover ................................. safal gangwani news ....... Benjamin Moss via Unsplash news .................. Johnnyw3 via Wikipedia a&c ................................. Bodie Robinson sports ........................... Ingrid Van Opsal op-ed .......... Maria Lysenko via Unsplash op-ed ................ Johnnyw3 via Wikipedia

FAB opportunities

p. 9

The organizer behind Regina skateboarding group Femmes Across the Board is seeking to pass on their leadership role, and discusses recent growth alongside future opportunities.

All hail AR-15

p. 12

Contributor Ayodipupo Adetola digs into both gun laws and culture in America and Canada, analyzing the tool’s idolatrized form.

U-Pass perspective

p. 13

Amina Salah covers her concerns around the spring/summer U-Pass, the campus parking situation, and where the students’ union fell short in providing for its members.

news

3

editor: gillian massie news@carillonregina.com the carillon | june 30 - july 27, 2022

Living wage still not being met, despite minimum wage increase Is the minimum really the bar we want to be aiming for?

holly funk editor-in-chief In early May of 2022, the Saskatchewan government announced plans to increase the province’s minimum wage from $11.81 per hour – the lowest in the nation – to $15 per hour by October of 2024. While this increase would move our minimum legal pay rate to a mid-range in national ranking, slightly below the west coast and just above the east, it may not alter the status quo by as much as it may first appear.

A report titled Making a Living by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) Saskatchewan Office was published on data from 2021, and details the income a family of four (two adults employed full time, with two children) would require to meet their basic needs. A living wage in Saskatoon in 2021 was calculated to be $16.89 per hour, and in Regina it was $16.23; both the current minimum wage and the planned increase rate fall below these numbers. The Director of the CCPA Saskatchewan Office, Simon Enoch, sat for an interview on the contents and implications of the report.

Can you explain what a living wage is and how it differs from a minimum wage?

A living wage is a calculation that we make to sort of determine how much a family of four, with two young children, would need to meet their basic needs in a certain city [...] A minimum wage is sort of a floor below which it is illegal for an employer to pay you, but a minimum wage doesn’t usually take into consideration what it costs to live. The minimum

wage is the same whether you live in La Ronge or Estevan, whereas a living wage is going to try to take those more regional costs into consideration.

When it comes to a living wage, you propose a Bare Bones Budget in the report.

What goes into that, and what is exempt?

Obviously, the sort of basic necessities that any family would need, whether that’s shelter, transportation, and once again that one is going to depend. The

Another thing I noticed in the report was information on childhood developmental factors and how those can improve as a family’s income does. Could you talk a bit about that relationship?

The evidence is pretty robust now. Families that can give them time, whether that’s helping with homework, whether that’s being able to take them to a sports league, whether that’s being able to enroll them in an art camp; if

Saskatchewan regularly ranks lowest or second lowest nationally on minimum wage rate. Why do you think that has been so consistent?

We’ve been very curious as to what was it that made them

“

The minimum wage is the same whether you live in La Ronge or Estevan, whereas a living wage is going to try to take those more regional costs into consideration.

– Simon Enoch

family always has a used car, but then when we did a Weyburn calculation there’s no transit system there, so you have to factor in taxis. Other necessities like food costs, being able to buy your kids clothes, a very basic healthcare plan [...] things like that. Obviously, the childcare fees, which we think is hugely important, and then of course there’s household expenses which is a kind of grab bag of everything from personal hygiene to internet.

We don’t factor in what it costs to pay down on credit cards and things like that. Savings for retirement, owning a home, saving for your kids’ future education. You have a little bit of a cushion for emergencies, but not much.

you’re working 70 hours a week, you’re not going to be able to do that. So, it’s not only about money, it’s also about the time that that money can give you with your family to develop those sorts of relationships. That has shown to be, unequivocally, a net positive for child development.

The income amount that was required in the 2016 report was slightly higher than the amount in the 2021 report, which was credited to increased government assistance. Could you explain how that comes into play?

As you sort of see the transfers increase, then [working individuals] don’t have to earn as

Why work on reproductive rights when you can schedule more maintenance on this aging building (and the outdated systems it promotes)?

Rooky Jegede

much money in the private labour market. So, I think it really shows the positive impact that social programs can have on working families, and shows that when governments make these sorts of things priorities, they can change people’s lives.

We’ve had living wages that have been instituted around the world, so we have fairly robust evidence as to what the impact is. What businesses that pay a living wage discover is they have much less turnover, people aren’t constantly out there looking for a higher wage job, therefore they don’t have to retrain. They have much less absenteeism, people aren’t taking the day off to go look for more work or things like that, and they tend to have much higher customer satisfaction. People – when they’re paid a decent, dignified wage – they tend to have much higher morale, they tend to be better employees.

There was also mention of benefits for businesses that advocate for progressive policy changes to balance with that living wage.

How would that look?

make this decision now. I wonder if they’re having trouble attracting labour, and sort of realized that if we don’t bring our minimum wage at least somewhat into equivalence with Alberta and whatnot, we’re just not going to be able to attract people to these lower wage jobs. That’s my suspicion, I have no evidence to prove it, but yeah. I think it’s a grudging recognition that having a low minimum wage, as much as the business community will say it’s attractive, it’s not attractive to workers.

Unfortunately, business usually lobbies against increased social spending on programs and whatnot, but what we’re sort of showing here is that when you have a program like the Universal Child Benefit, the amount of money that workers need to meet their basic needs from their private labour market becomes less.

Granted, living wage isn’t instituted within Saskatchewan, but nevertheless it shows that your employees will benefit from these sorts of social programs, and it means that the wage packet or maybe the benefits don’t need to be as high.

One section of this report was on the benefits to businesses that pay a living wage. Could you expand on what they experience?

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The “Making a Living” report can be downloaded at policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/ making-living.

june 30 - july 27, 2022

carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4

news

Sask. residents assess local abortion access An overview of what you can do if you’re feeling adrift post-overturning We might not be in a worst-case scenario, but Sask is far from fine.

Benjamin Moss via Unsplash

gillian massie news editor While rights may now be restricted in the United States, many people in Saskatchewan are looking to strengthen abortion services.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a 6-3 vote on Friday, which previously protected the right of Americans to access safe and legal abortions.

Following this ruling, 14 states pushed through legislation that criminalized everything from accessing to providing abortions.

The decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion in the United States has sent shock waves across the world.

Jenelle Lippai, a journalism student who focuses on women’s health, was “disgusted” by the Supreme Court’s decision. “I think that this decision is a giant step backwards for women everywhere,” said Lippai. “I think that it really represents the lack of respect and compassion for women, especially in moments where things are really hard, and decisions aren’t easy to be made.

I think that this infringes on a women’s right to able to decide whether they want to receive an abortion or not.”

Lippai also expresses concerns that criminal penalties of getting an abortion will not stop individuals from seeking abortions. She says people will continue to pursue abortions in unsafe and uncontrolled environments.

“I think that it could be life threatening. I think for a lot of women this could be fatal. The mental distress that I’m sure goes along with a decision could lead women

and people with uteruses down a really scary, bad road.” Lippai goes on to explain the barriers to receive an abortion in Saskatchewan can lead people with uteruses to conduct unsafe abortions.

While many people in Canada have protested anti-abortion laws in the US, they are also highlighting some of the issues with abortion access in Canada. Particularly in Saskatchewan, limited abortion services are available in rural and northern communities.

Abortion clinics are only offered in two cities: Regina and Saska-

tion services up to 24 weeks.

Kasia Wicijowski volunteers with the Saskatchewan Abortion Support Network (SASN), a prochoice organization that helps individuals overcome abortion barriers. The abortion care services can provide individuals with transportation and temporary housing while they receive medical services. They even provide a support partner to attend the appointment with them if the patient wishes.

Wicijowski said her first reaction to Roe v. Wade being over-

they receive the proper funding to continue to with efforts to help individuals overcome abortion barriers. SASN’s services work in partnership with the Saskatoon Sexual Health clinic (otherwise known as OUTSaskatoon). The Saskatoon Sexual Health clinic also provides education on sexual health, drop-in clinics, contraceptive referrals, and many more things to improve sexual well-being.

Wicijowski said the implementation of more abortion centres in northern communities

“

Saskatoon is the northern most community in Saskatchewan that you can actually get an abortion, which I think is ridiculous, especially since there’s not many ways for people in marginalized communities to travel that far.

– Kasia Wicijowski

toon, with Saskatoon being the most northern place in Saskatchewan to access abortion services.

From the North-West Territories to Saskatoon, it is 1569km, or 2013km of roads.

This could mean someone attempting to access abortion care may be faced with over 24 hours of total driving time, or almost 6 hours of flying. With travel and hospitality expenses combined, this can make it unfeasible for individuals to access abortion services. There are also limits as to when someone seeking an abortion can be given one. Saskatoon offers abortions up to 12 weeks after conception (roughly 8 weeks past the pregnant person’s first missed menstruation), and in Regina it is extended to 18 weeks.

Many other provinces offer abor-

turned made her feel nauseated.

“It was just an immediate reaction of disgust and fear and grief. I just have so much empathy for them. I fear for them, I’m so, so worried, and I feel like there’s not a ton that I alone can do to help them.”

To Wicijowski, aiding individuals’ sexual health rights means implementing services that overcome abortion barriers. “It’s definitely concerning,” said Wicijowski.

“I’ve always been concerned with the access of abortions, and the lack of access, that is, especially for people in northern communities. It definitely is worrisome, especially since there hasn’t been much done for access as is.”

Wicijowski explained that organizations like SASN are vital for individuals who need to receive an abortion, but it is essential

would greatly cut down on travel times. “Having a little bit more flexibility and when you’re able to get abortions would be helpful,” said Wicijowski. “[Including] programs that will help northern communities, since Saskatoon is the northern most community in Saskatchewan that you can actually get an abortion, which I think is ridiculous, especially since there’s not many ways for people in marginalized communities to travel that far.” Right now, Wicijowski said SANS are trying to create a better way to transport people from Prince Albert to Saskatoon to access abortion care. Private transport services to assist abortion services may exist through healthcare systems in Regina, but there is not an organization like SANS stationed in

Regina or the surrounding area.

Talking to your local representatives is another good way to protect and strengthen abortion services. “I’m definitely concerned with seeing how many MLAs and people in political power have anti-choice beliefs,” said Wicijowski. At current count, there are 14 MPs that hold anti-choice beliefs in Saskatchewan.

Lippai said abortion services are still available but hidden in urban settings. Encouraging uncomfortable conversations will help people better understand abortion processes, and build a broader network for people to get services they need. “Even something as small as talking about it more and letting women know the choices they have, and the closest region to them where they can access abortion services, would make a huge deal of a difference […] I don’t think that it’s talked about enough. Women don’t know where to turn to in a situation like that. They don’t know where the closest places that they can go to for help. I think opening up that door for discussion would give them the knowledge to know these are their choices.”

No matter what the reasoning behind the decision for an abortion, Lippai said it is up to the patient to be able to receive an abortion in a safe environment. “Regardless of what you would choose for yourself, the decision isn’t yours to be made if it’s not your body. So, even if you choose to never receive an abortion, that’s okay. But that’s not your decision to make for other women, uterus or not. I think it has to be a very independent and individualized choice.”

june 30 - july 27, 2022

carillonregina.com | the carillon |

news

5

U-Pass available with flat rate fee for spring/summer High gas prices may have more students than ever riding the bus syd mcwilliams news writer This spring, students at the University of Regina had the option to activate their U-Pass for May through August for a flat fee of $87.60. This option gave students a cheaper way to get around for the summer at a discounted rate compared to what the City of Regina currently charges. However, to activate the pass for the season, students had to go to the students’ union desk to purchase and activate the pass instead of automatically adding it to their tuition payment.

The Carillon spoke with several students to see why they chose to use the pass this summer, and what their experience with it has been like.

“I activated my U-Pass because it seemed like the most cost-effective solution for transit,” said Computer Science major Mohammad Zafar. “Gas prices definitely played a role in my decision, but I think I would have gotten a U-Pass regardless due to other expenses relating to vehicles. I frequently use the U-Pass throughout the entire year but I sometimes use another vehicle if there is a time sensitive matter I

have to attend. Overall, I’ve had great experience with the U-Pass and it helps me save money.”

Most of the reviews for the spring and summer U-Pass option were positive, but Ala Eisa, a Psychology and English student at the university, said otherwise, voicing concerns over the frequency of transit routes in Regina.

“I regret getting a U-Pass for

right now so I have to use transit frequently, and the U-Pass has made it really easy for me,” said Nanndani Bhatt. “When filling up my car runs me upwards of $80, getting around for the entire summer for $87.60 almost seems too good to be true.”

Another concern is how much it costs to park a car on campus.

“I was more concerned with prices to park on campus rather than gas prices,” said Eisa. “I usually have to drive a lot anyways, regardless of gas prices, so that wasn’t really on my mind too much. Something that I’ve been more conscious Johnnyw3 via Wikipedia about lately, though, is carbon emissions. So, I figured that by I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... bussing I’d be doing at least a small good thing for the earth.” the spring and summer semesMohammad Zafar also menRegardless of whether ters,” said Eisa. “I didn’t realize tioned some critiques: “What I or not it was due to gas prices, inuntil after I got the pass that my would like to see changed is hav- flation, convenience, or trying to bus wouldn’t swing around every ing the option to select a spring or do something good for the planhour like it does during fall and a summer term.” et, having the option to opt into winter. I used my U-Pass mayCurrently, the only option for the U-Pass for the summer has be twice, but only on days that I students is to opt-in for the whole worked for a lot of students at the had a reason to be hours early for summer or not at all.

UofR. The process of having to class. Otherwise, I just drove. But, The rising cost of living go to the student union doesn’t otherwise, the process of actual- has made an impact on people’s seem to have made the situation ly getting a U-Pass at URSU was choice to use the U-Pass. any more difficult than having it seamless and easy.”

“I can’t afford my own car added to the tuition.

Abortion restriction takes for Freedumbies

Nothing quite like a freedom-fighter to tell you you’re wrong holly funk editor-in-chief

A common refrain in Canada, spoken with emotion as heartfelt as some recite the anthem, is “at least we’re not as bad as America.” Now, while we at the Carillon staunchly believe that simply attempting to be better than America places the bar despondently low, in the spirit of objective journalism we decided to interview some locals on their opinions. A group by the name of “The Freedumbies” from Lake Muchleft T’bedesired was contacted, and agreed to a group interview.

Questions were primarily centered around the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in the US. Being a teacher, pro-life supporter Ilene Wayright believes it essential that children are protected. “What most people don’t take seriously enough,” she claimed, “is that children really are the future. You don’t know which baby might be the one to cure cancer, to solve global warming, and to end their life just because the pregnancy isn’t convenient for you is one of the most truly selfish acts.” Wayright was not interested in commenting on the five DUIs she has on record – four of which occurred in the same Cathedral area school zone where she teaches – or on her decision to disown and dishome her 15-year-old child last June when they came out as non-binary.

The founder of “The Freedumbies,” Chris T. Weeps, ref-

erenced a recent tweet by his favourite twitter account @CanDayConvoy that went out at 5:31 p.m. on June 24, 2022, and he said sums his approach better than he ever could: “Abortion is MURDER. If you support abortion, you will burn in hell for all eternity. Praise God for the righteous judges in the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

God Bless!” Weeps was unable to grasp the irony of the convoy carrying the name “Freedom,” despite the inherently anti-choice base of this legislative decision.

Perhaps “Freedick” would be a better title for a group that perfectly fills the Venn diagram of incels and fundamentalist evangelical Christians.

“Playing God is one of the most dangerous gambles you can engage in,” stated the constituency’s MP, Jim Inycrickets. “It’s not up to us to decide who lives or who dies, who gets a chance at this crazy thing called life, or what that life looks like. We get the bodies we get and they do what they’re meant to do – God made each of us perfect and we are not to interfere. What’s important is that we learn how to band together as a community, to make sure everyone has the best possible chance in their life, and that we take this example seriously and realize the power an organized group of people can have.” Inycrickets vehemently refused to engage with questions on how his use of hair plugs, bifocals, Viagra, or a quintuple bypass surgery could be framed as choosing what his body should do and who

should live or die.

Yugoda B. Kiddingme, Chief of Police in Lake Muchleft T’bedesired, backed Wayright’s concerns with the added perspective that this is a matter of integrity. “My pastor always says when he’s talking about evangelizing, he says, ‘If you saw someone about to be hit by a truck, would you let

them get hit or try to save their life?’ It’s the same in this situation – we’re just trying to save as many lives as we can in our short time here. A surefire way to damn your soul is allowing life to be destroyed, especially when you created it.” Kiddingme had no professional or personal comments to make when asked about the deci-

sion of Uvalde law enforcement to allow a gunman with an AR15 at the 22nd American school shooting this year to obliterate 19 children while they tackled, pepper sprayed, and handcuffed the parents of the children being slaughtered.

“

Wayright was not interested in commenting on the five DUIs she has on record - four of which occurred in the same Cathedral area school zone where she teaches - or on her decision to disown and dishome her 15-year old child last June when they came out as non-binary.

– Holly Funk

Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Just in case it wasn’t clear by now, we know that “what about the children” is your refrain, and is nowhere in your legitimate response.

arts & culture

6

editor: sarah nakonechny arts@carillonregina.com the carillon | june 30 - july 27, 2022

Pride month in the prairies

How pride was celebrated in Regina, Saskatchewan, and Brandon, Manitoba

jorah bright a&c writer Happy Pride Month! During the month of June, we celebrate Pride Month with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Held yearly in June to honour the Stonewall Riots of 1969, Pride is a time when 2SLGBTQIA+ people gather and celebrate. A variety of events are held throughout the month with the most popular being the Pride parade. During the parade, people take to the streets to march and celebrate, and sometimes protest depending on current events.

In June of 2022, many places were having their first Pride parades and other events since the start of the pandemic. A lot of people came out to experience the festivities after the initial lockdowns were lifted after spending their time alone, reflecting on themselves. I was one of those people, and this year was my first Pride.

Regina, home of the Carillon, was one of many places around the world that celebrated Pride this year. However, I was not at Regina Pride; I was present for Brandon Pride in Manitoba. I learned that different cities do different events, and they market them differently.

As a disclaimer, I am not trying to say here that one city does Pride better than the other or that one city needs to change to be more like the other. It is important that we are celebrating Pride in different places across the prairies, and that we can do so safely and happily.

To start, let’s talk about the parade. Regina’s Pride parade was on June 11, and Brandon’s was on June 18. I was unable to find an exact number of attendees for the Regina Pride parade, but someone who was there estimated hundreds to thousands and that the group of participating people was at least a mile long. The Brandon Pride Instagram page states that they estimate over 1000 people. One of the biggest differences between the two cities were the floats in the parades: Regina had floats and Brandon did not. Both parades ended at a park where there were events, booths, and performances.

The biggest difference I found between the two cities’ Pride events was how they were marketed online. Both cities had a Pride week full of events for people to go to, but I found it difficult to find out what they were in Regina. I had to go to the Queen City Pride web-

site, find the festival information, and then look at a guide. Brandon Pride advertised heavily on social media the plans for Pride week.

It was easy to see what was happening, where, and when. On the other hand, once I was able to find Regina’s Pride Week events, there were a lot more happening during the week.

Regarding events, Regina had a lot of workshops and panels. Almost every day during Pride week had a workshop or panel taking place that you could attend. There were several events occurring each day in Regina. Meanwhile, Brandon had fewer events taking place with some days only having one and others a maximum of three. Regina had a good balance between activities for teens and adults. Frequently there were late-night club activities for adults and art activities for younger people. All of Brandon’s events seem to be for all ages, outside of the trivia night at the brewing company. Both cities had Pride Sunday services, but Brandon didn’t advertise theirs on social media, while Regina had theirs detailed in the Pride

Guide.

No matter where you were this Pride Month, I hope you were able to enjoy some of the activities taking place in your area. It’s important to be able to go out and celebrate who you are. It’s important to be able to look around and see people that are like you and be around

others who may understand some of the struggles that you know.

Pride Month is important and it’s important to see and recognize how far the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has come and where they’ll go from here. Happy Pride Month.

Stavrialena Gontzou via Unsplash

your design is so last year...

Summer Solstice at the German Club Highlights from the German Club’s Second Annual Summer Solstice event sarah nakonechny a&c editor

On June 25, 2022, the German Club located in Regina hosted their second annual Summer Solstice festival. This years’ event included traditional dancing and singing, a variety of vendors, along with traditional food and drink.

Regina’s German Club was formed in 1955, and the current gathering location for the German community opened in 1968 which is located on the 1700 block of St. John’s Street. Today, it is not just open for those who are a part of the German community, but

for anyone from any background to come and experience the culture of Germany in the heart of our city. The club’s main objective is to promote the mutual understanding of German and Canadian cultures, and to promote other associations whose objectives are to further the German language, culture, traditions, and heritage.

Although the event was originally scheduled to take place in and around the German Club, with activities and entertainment available both indoors and outside, our weather had other plans for Saturday’s event. As Saskatchewan’s weather decided to be as

Just floating like a butterfly, baby.

Sarah Nakonechny

spontaneous as always, the outdoor festivities were cancelled or moved indoors.

Upon entering the front doors to the club, you had the option of staying on the main floor or heading down to the basement. On the main floor, you could sit and watch the entertainment provided by the traditional dancers. There was a feature provided by one of the Ukrainian dance groups in the city, showcasing some of their senior male and female dancers.

Following them were the female German dancers who began their performance with a well-known ribbon dance which involves var-

ious braiding sequences, after which they continued to their other prepared dance sequences.

While the dancers were between sets, you could enjoy a wide variety of vendors that had settled around the outer edges of the main upstairs area. There, you could purchase different items from many of our local business. Some of these items included twisted chain jewellery, baby jumpers, and hand-carved signs.

If all the upstairs excitement made you hungry, there were traditional food options to choose from: bratwurst and sauerkraut, roasted pig on a bun, and sides of coleslaw

or potato salad. For those in need of something a little sweeter, they also had traditional cakes and pies available by the slice. You haven’t had cake ‘til you’ve had a real German cake.

Now, if all of this was not enough and you were still in the mood to enjoy some other festivities, you could find your way down to the basement of the club. Once you were down there, you could saddle up to the bar and enjoy a cold glass of beer or find your way to one of the tables to enjoy a nice cup of coffee. While enjoying your choice of refreshments, the clubs affiliated choral group accompanied by a piano could be heard serenading the sitting area.

Spending the afternoon enjoying the festivities allows for those in Regina and surrounding area to become more aware and appreciative of the German culture present in Regina. The Summer Solstice festival is a newer addition to the annual festivities that occur in Regina. As this is only their second annual presentation there are still many more additions that will continue to be made as the event grows in popularity. The Summer Solstice brings forth excitement for everyone as it acts as the official signal for longer, warmer days. This event provides an opportunity for celebration and allows for us to connect with the important meanings that the solstice has had for many different groups, and appreciate the good fortune that will come in the summer months.

june 30 - july 27, 2022

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arts & culture

7

From the living room to Massey Hall Interview with Canadian singer-songwriter Royal Wood

sarah nakonechny a&c editor For those not familiar with his work, Royal Wood is a Canadian singer-songwriter from outside of Toronto, Ontario. Three of his albums have debuted in the Top 30, he has been nominated for multiple JUNO and Canadian Folk Music awards, and has had his music featured in shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Throughout his career he has headlined in iconic venues all over the world and has toured with countless artists, like Bonnie Raitt.

This spring, Royal Wood toured Saskatchewan, his first tour since the COVID-19 pandemic began over two years ago.

While on his tour, I had the pleasure of diving deeper into who he is as a person and performer during an interview.

Wood started playing music at the age of four where he began with piano. Eventually, he progressed to playing a wide variety of instruments including but not limited to the guitar, harmonica, bass, drums, and a plethora of woodwind and brass. To go along with the wide repertoire of instruments that he has learned over the years, he also developed the skills needed to sing and compose his own music. Although he has the ability to be the entire band with the skill he possesses with every instrument, he admits that the piano holds his heart.

Being the first instrument that he picked up, the memories of sitting down at a keyboard and feeling

Please hold me like a double bass and tell me everything will be okay.

Sarah Nakonechny

the music come alive beneath his fingertips has been with him the longest. “Playing the piano allows me to be the whole band,” Wood conveyed when discussing his preferences. There, he has the widest range and the ability to be everything that is needed for a piece to feel whole.

None of this would have been possible if it was not for the

“

beginning portions of his career.

Of course, most don’t make it far if not for the support and care of their mother, and Wood is no exception. Throughout it all, his mother has been there to cheer him on, attending shows, collecting every news clipping, and continuing to provide the support needed to push through difficult times. Each member of his family

TV and the radio.

Why has someone with so much success decided to do a Saskatchewan tour as their first introduction back to playing for a live audience since COVID-19 started? Well, his career before COVID began with his family, and his career after COVID will begin with family as well.

During the unexpected break that

Be focused on making yourself better, the rest will always come to you.

– Royal Wood

support and inspiration brought forth from his family. Growing up with a large household consisting of his parents and five siblings, quiet moments were rare occurrences. Together they would fill their home with singing and instrumental accompaniment that was fostered by their father.

Later in life one of Wood’s older brothers provided him a place to stay in Toronto while he was in the beginning stages of getting his career off the ground, allowing him the means necessary to move from Quebec back to Ontario while he experienced the

has had a role to play in fostering and supporting Wood throughout his career.

He has experienced a very full career, but there are a few moments that hold a special place in his heart. Having the ability to tour all over the world, playing for crowds of people who all came out to see him perform. The most monumental of these experiences was headlining Massey Hall. Not only are people coming out to see him perform, but people have been enjoying his music so much that he has been able to experience hearing his own music on

COVID brought forth, Wood was able to begin a new chapter of his life as him and his wife were fortunate enough to have two children, one two-year-old and one at just three months. With little ones now in the picture, the idea of taking off on a large and far away tour did not seem to be the best idea. Keeping that in mind, Wood decided to bring his wife and kids back to her home province. As she was raised in Saskatoon, coming to Saskatchewan to tour was the perfect way to stretch his legs and get back on stage while also ensuring that they would have extra

hands to assist with the kids, all while seeing some faces that they haven’t been able to in a while.

Wood has not let any of his fans down. Taking the unexpected halt in touring, he has been able to put more time and energy into the production of his next album and is more than ready to keep stepping out onto stage after stage to entertain. If his Saskatchewan tour was an indication of the heart and soul that he puts into his music, then there is no question as to why he has been able to achieve the success that has come his way.

One important thing that Wood believes every performer should keep in mind as they move forward is to not be in a hurry for the rewards and success: “Be focused on making yourself better, the rest will always come to you.” Even though dealing with rejection can be hard and the politics can get messy, by continuing to strive to make yourself better and enjoy the moments as they come, you will have everything you need.

june 30 - july 27, 2022

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arts & culture

8

We need to talk about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella

The tales of woe and mistreatment of performers in this telling of Cinderella jorah bright a&c writer The musical theater community has several composers who are household names. They will always have a show on the West End and Broadway. There has probably been a movie or two made based on their shows. These are people like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, and the man of the hour, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Andrew Lloyd Webber (ALW) has written 21 musicals, including Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Cats (yes, the musical that inspired the 2019 film). His show ‘Starlight Express’ was found to be the most dangerous production on the West End in the 90s because the performers were on roller skates. On average, each performer sustained three injuries. Most recently, ALW has written his own version of Cinderella.

ALW’s Cinderella opened in August 2021. It portrays Cinderella as a more outspoken and rebellious character, prone to vandalism and considered to be “Bad Cinderella” according to a song.

It has a more modern feel; instead of having magic, the Godmother is a plastic surgeon. Cinderella and the Prince are friends before the ball, but he doesn’t recognize her at the ball. The story gets a little complicated, but the couple ends up together in the finale.

The show was supposed to open August 2020 but had to be cancelled due to COVID, and was rescheduled for July 14, 2021. In a statement, ALW said he was devastated that the show could not go on. Prior to this, ALW stated that the show would “open, come hell or high water.”

He was willing to be arrested, so long as it meant Cinderella would open. He went as far as to say that the cast had “no chance of infection being passed” so long as they followed protective measures.

ALW was willing and ready to do anything to make sure the show opened on July 14, but it didn’t.

Eventually, the show did open, but that doesn’t mean ALW was happy. By November of 2021, problems arose again for Cinderella. Following a poor review written by a journalist from the New York Post, claims have been made that ALW just screamed at the cast of Cinderella. According to these claims, ALW was concerned about the musical being able to go to Broadway. Over the loudspeakers of the Gillian Lynne Theatre where the show is performed, a phone call from ALW scolded the cast. ALW did not deny this incident but said that it hadn’t happened previously. Instead, he said in an interview that “nobody has a right to be on the stage,” and that younger members of the cast did not know that.

Despite what ALW said after the fact, reports said that his words over the phone left many

cast members in tears. Performers at the time were doing everything possible to keep the show going with constant closures because of COVID. In addition, ALW said during that interview that the performers worked in a “service industry.” By that standard, wouldn’t ALW also work

Tickets went on sale for productions up until this time.

On May 1, 2022, the Cinderella Twitter page announced the final performance to be June 12.

The cast performing on May 1 found out that day following the matinee. Carrie Hope Fletcher, the star of the show and the ac-

the Queen, wrote an article in the Guardian detailing how she found out. She stated that she first learned of the closing through a text message from a friend. Half an hour before the message from the friend came, Strallen’s agent had an email telling them about the closing. The email arrived

When the day of closing finally came on June 12, ALW did not show up. He wasn’t there. Instead, during the final bows Connor read a letter ALW had written. In this letter, ALW called the show a “costly mistake.” Videos show Fletcher shaking her head at the comment and the crowd

not only past 6 p.m., but during a long weekend. The director of the show, Laurence Connor, found out in a similar manner; ALW told Connor through a voicemail while he was in Australia. By the time Connor was back

booing loudly once the letter was finished being read. In response, ALW released a statement to Twitter saying that he was “devastated to have been reported to have said [....] Cinderella was a ‘costly mistake.’” Except, it wasn’t just reported that was what he said, it is what he took time to put in writing. ALW continued to apologize “if [his] words have been misunderstood.” This apology feels very ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’ instead of truly apologizing for what he said and did to the cast and crew. This statement was not shared to his Instagram, and his Instagram shows very little to do with Cinderella, as does his Twitter outside of the statement.

ALW’s Cinderella is planning to open its doors again in 2023, but this time on Broadway. Maybe it will face the same struggles the West End run did, but only time will tell.

Are we slandering the cast or just pretending the whole thing didn’t happen this time?

Qwertyytrewqqwerty via Wikimedia

in the service industry? Yet, he never included himself in that statement. He said that he doesn’t “have a right to have [his] musicals in the theatre,” even though he currently has his shows playing in 21 different places around the

tress playing Cinderella, was not there to find out on May 1. Instead, in a tweet she has since deleted, she stated other cast members told her and that was how she found out. The replacement cast for the 2023 run found out in

“

When the day of closing finally came on June 12, ALW did not show up. He wasn’t there. Instead, during the final bows Connor read a letter ALW had written. In this letter, ALW called the show a “costly mistake.”

– Jorah Bright

world, including tours, and his net worth is a cozy £820 million.

Cinderella came to a close in June of 2022, but it wasn’t always supposed to have closed then. In February of 2022, it was announced that the show would continue into February of 2023.

similar ways.

Daisy Blanche Twells, who was going to be a member of the replacement cast, found out through social media even though she had already signed a contract. Summer Strallen, who was supposed to take the role of

in London, it was Sunday night and social media had already announced the closure. It appears that not one person was given proper notice beforehand, and where effort was made to communicate there was almost no time to see it.

june 30 - july 27, 2022

carillonregina.com | the carillon |

arts & culture

9

Post-pandemic punk rock: Passerby and Wine Lips at The Cure

A staff member’s evening experience of local punk in Regina bodie robinson staff writer I headed downtown to see a punk rock show at The Cure the evening of June 22. I arrived around 8:30 and the sun was still blaring down my neck. Thankfully, The Cure is dim and cool. Inside, there’s a sizeable crowd of maskless faces. I pulled up a stool at the

bar and made the acquaintance of an exceptionally jovial, welcoming, and loquacious patron sitting beside me. We made some moderate, merry small talk and discussed the music scene in Regina, allegedly toxic amounts of irradiation in the cannabis supply, and the nonfiction writing of

Aldous Huxley. After a couple of icy ciders – which, note to self, the Carillon does not consider a legitimate business expense – sound checks began.

The rollicking drums and hissing cymbal crashes produced a sudden and complete mood shift in the bar. The older patrons, palpably irked, sighed in chorus. A cacophony of shifting

plates and pint glasses signalled the imminent arrival of servers with bills. Around the same time began a procession of younger characters donning spiky leather jackets, rugged vests adorned with iron-on patches, and handsomely imposing black boots. It was time.

Passerby took the stage first.

The punk trio is one of Regina’s own - Mikey sings, plays guitar, and writes the lyrics; Colin plays bass; and Cullen plays drums.

Pensive but erratic, Passerby delivered a distilled punk performance. Authentically angsty in a characteristically punk way, but without any of the exhausting affect that becomes the bane of any

live show. Rugged vocals had the charming tendency of soaring in long-held notes, left chillingly suspended in the bar’s air. Bassist and drummer played tightly enough. Cullen is an impressive and high-energy drummer, while Colin fulfills his role strongly and without ornamentation. Alto-

gether, Passerby is a quintessential and unpretentious punk experience.

The headliner, Wine Lips, hit the stage running and did not miss a step for the next 30 minutes. Dynamic was the word that kept entering my mind while watching them. Relentless and whimsical, it was clear that Wine Lips has expert control over their craft. The band consisted of three: guitar/vocals, bass, and drums, just like Passerby. Wine Lips’ chemistry is undeniable. The vocals were strong, whiny, and meandering. The bassist effortlessly strolled up and down the fretboard. The drummer had magnificent dynamism that inexorably rolled the rhythm along. The band’s manic energy made Passerby seem a bit sleepy by comparison. Importantly, the two bands had quite divergent styles. Different strokes for different folks.

After the music had finished, Passerby was gracious enough to sit for a brief interview - in a side alley only metres away from an array of dumpsters; it was all very punk rock. Here are some salient moments from the conversation with Mikey.

What are some of Passerby’s musical inspirations?

Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil [...] and Jason Shevchuk of None More Black, and Kid Dynamite.

I think he has some of the most interesting melodies and word schemes that anyone’s ever come out with, and he’s probably one of the most underrated writers of the last few decades, I think.

How long has Passerby been a band?

I wrote most of the songs and I was really close with Colin, and we started getting together and figuring things out. You know, it could be a better part of ten years that the songs have existed. But the core part of the band has existed for about three years or so.

It was nearing midnight and The Cure was beginning to look bare. I managed to briefly ask another local musician his views on the post-pandemic live music scene. Justice Ausum – the mastermind of Regina’s pre-eminent shoegaze project, Celia’s Dream – bestowed on me a world-weary quip. He says it’s good to be back and that he’s nearly forgotten what it’s like “to make $200 a show, split it three ways, and then have five people tell you ‘good show’ and then immediately try to bum a smoke off of you.” I’m inclined to agree with Mr. Ausum.

It is very good to be back. You can find Passerby on Instagram: @ passerbyandby. They play next at O’Hanlon’s on July 15. Wine Lips is on Spotify and Instagram as @ winelipsband.

The Big Book Sale returns

The importance of this summer-long project and its impact on the community holly funk editor-in-chief Following a two-year hiatus, The Big Book Sale sponsored by the Seniors’ University Group will be switching back into gear this summer. Their 115 volunteers have put over 10,000 volunteer hours into the event, which will be held at the Highland Curling Club on August 18 and 19 from 11 a.m.8 p.m., and August 20 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Maria Reardon, a member of their publicity committee, explained that the sale started back in 2007 at the Mackenzie Art Gallery. Though they were grateful for the space there was not much to go around, and their stock overwhelmed their indoor capacity. “Outside for a book sale is not necessarily the best place to be, but we had lots of volunteers who would carry books out and then back again if it happened to rain.”

The sale was later moved to a location on Scarth Street where space was still a concern. “We still had a few books,” Reardon noted, “so some very enterprising ladies - and its always ladies, I must admit, that sort of take the bull by the horns - they moved into the Tartan Curling Club. We had half the ice space there, and we did very very well.” Not long af-

terward that location closed, and the group found themselves between homes yet again, but found a lovely place to lay roots in the Highland Curling Club where they remain at present.

All materials available for

purchase at The Big Book Sale are donated. “We will accept materials for all ages, fiction and nonfiction, graphic novels, comic books, games, puzzles, CDs, DVDs, and LPs.” Reardon noted, following up their wishlist with an outline of what they cannot

accept: “Cassettes, VHSes, manuals, textbooks, encyclopedias, reader’s digests, condensed books, we won’t accept that. For magazines we only accept National Geographic and childrens’.”

All proceeds from The Big

would like to take a class but can’t afford it.”

This aligns well with the intentions behind the sale, as Reardon outlined that their “reason for being is to supply funds for the Lifelong Learning Centre. We are going to celebrate our 45th ann i ve r s a r y this AGM in June, so we’ve been around for a while.

I’ve been a member of the Lifelong Learning Centre since 1997, so that’s history for you. And Clem Onojeghuo via Unsplash that’s only Judging books by their covers since 1997. a part of my life, but Book Sale go to the Lifelong it’s been a wonderful, wonderful Learning Centre on College Av- place for me.” enue “to help reduce the cost of In keeping with their vision the classes so people can afford to of provision, books leftover at take part, and we also have bur- the end of their sale are donatsaries.” Reardon added. “The ed to other organizations. Over bursaries go to seniors - or, well, 25 separate charities and groups could be anybody over 50 - who have received these donations

in the past, which Reardon explained includes groups like “the Aboriginal Grandmothers who also have a home in the Lifelong Learning Centre, or we can go to Carmichael Outreach or YWCA. It always depends on the number of books we have left over, and if they approach us. So, we might say ‘Okay, we can give you 500 books this time, but maybe not next year.’ so we spread our wealth.” Approximately 8,000 books per year are donated to The Book Project, Saskatchewan Jails.

While there is still some time until the sale itself begins, volunteers are already hard at work getting the word out, coordinating the event, and planning how they’ll sort through all the donations to come. Reardon, a former donation sorter, said that “I used to do that, and it was fun, you know, because we’re all book lovers. We don’t get paid but we have first dibs, so we buy them and then bring them back the next year - I already have two boxes to take back!” If you, like Reardon, have a horde of books and the like, the group will be taking donations at the Highland Curling Club between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. starting on July 19.

sports & health

10

editor: vacant sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | june 30 - july 27, 2022

Femmes Across the Board seeks fresh faces

With current leadership stepping down, continued community is critical holly funk editor-in-chief

In an effort to meet the need for affordable and sober activities in Regina, and to increase opportunities for women, girls, and non-binary people to learn how to skateboard, Alejandra Cabrera started Femmes Across the Board (FAB) in May 2019. Though the role of the person who gets an organization’s ball rolling is heavy, Cabrera was encouraged then by “the great response from my post and then seeing so many people answer, and then of course going to the skate park that very first time and not knowing what to expect, but then seeing people show up. That’s what kind of lit a flame under my butt, just to get over the fear and then continue to do something because it was just so rewarding to see that community come together.”

Skateboarding has long been considered a straight cis-male dominated sport and recreational activity, but Cabrera suggested that the tides may be shifting on a larger scale. “I think with the rise of social media and some stuff within mainstream culture, skateboarding with women and with diverse groups have become more prominent, like you see more of it.” Those who attend their 1-5 p.m. Sunday skate sessions at The Heritage Skatepark range from parents and their non-binary kids to groups of 20-somethings, creating a collaborative environment where those of any skill level can have a good time.

This indoor location is relatively new to Regina, where the previous indoor skatepark was demolished nearly a decade ago, leaving skateboarders out in the drifts in a province with roughly half a year of snow. Cabrera worked alongside others on the Regina Skateboarding Coalition to organize the location, and claims that “there’s a lot of space which is perfect for people who aren’t very experienced with doing tricks and obstacles, things like that, so they can just practice pushing around and not feel intimidated. But if you are wanting to learn more or want more challenging obstacles, there’s those options.” The entry fee for one day is $5 for those under age 17 and $10 for anyone over, and Cabrera noted there may be passes available for frequent skatepark attendees at a reduced price in the future.

Through donations from companies like Tiki Room and Vans, FAB is able to bring skate-

boards and safety equipment to sessions and lessons for those who may not have their own.

“Colonialism Skateboards also had donated some skateboards, which was awesome, and then we also had Right to Skate who had purchased a few completes, I think about eight of them for our group.” These donations come in especially useful when members

in getting some experience teaching, and also earning a decent income from that gig, but also to invite younger folks to also learn in a safe space.”

Over the past three years, Cabrera has seen the group through literal blood, sweat, and tears, but is looking to bring fresh faces into the group as they plan to step down from their leader-

“

were building lives of their own.

“It’s a lot to take on a group and then be the one that’s organizing the meetups, bringing all the supplies, doing all that [...] The first year was great because it was pre-pandemic, but then with everything kind of at a halt, people’s lives and their interests had to change. Naturally, I’m totally fine with that. Lots of people

Lots of people had settled down, bought houses, started families, things like that, and so some of those participants or people who helped out are no longer at the capacity that they were in 2019 - that goes the same with me.

– Alejandra Cabrera

of the group have opportunities to facilitate workshops.

FAB worked with University of Regina’s Dr. Charity Marsh on her recent project titled “Take Up Space, Your Voice Matters!,” which Cabrera explained is “basically in response to COVID, creating workshops around connecting with other young folks and in-person physical activities.

So there’s dance, there’s music, and then there’s skateboarding.

GRR!, Vibes YQR, and FAB are a part of that, and so it’s an eightor ten-week workshop for youth, and it’s about 10 youths that get together for an hour each week and do different activities.” They went on to state how valuable the experience was “for some of the folks that are involved with FAB

ship role shortly. “I don’t think I have to be the sole person that maintains this, like it should be turned over!” they noted with enthusiasm. “You can pass the torch and it’s okay, like you want that community to grow. I have been in talks with one individual who is interested in taking over. I would still be a participant, just not at the same capacity because I do love the projects, but I’m excited to have someone younger and who is also super excited and feels passionate about the project to take over. I can’t wait to see what they do with it.”

This decision was not made lightly, but Cabrera outlined that running this style of group is no simple task when most of the members worked full time and

Watching each other’s backs since 2019.

Ingrid Van Opsal

had settled down, bought houses, started families, things like that, and so some of those participants or people who helped out are no longer at the capacity that they were in 2019 – that goes the same with me.”

Fortunately, whoever takes up the FAB torch will have many shoulders to lean on should they choose to truly engage with the community that’s been built.

“There’s been a lot of great collaboration when it came to being involved with the Regina Skateboarding Coalition,” which Cabrera claimed has been consistent. “They made a good effort to reach out to us, to make sure that there was always a representative of FAB to be there, because they do want to have the skatepark be accessible to more people than just cis-hetero men. They’ve always included us in the conversation which is really great, and have been supportive.”

As a final note, Cabrera described the types of people they think would both do best in the environment, and be the best for the community: “You gotta have passion, like you have to be interested in what it is that you’re getting involved in, and ambitious. So, you know, being able to put something out there and whether it’s well received or not, just doing it. And then also willing to kind of take the lead in that role, showing up. A lot of people want to participate but don’t want to lead because it can be kind of intimidating, but someone who’s willing to do that work, and it not being about you but for the community.”

june 30 - july 27, 2022

carillonregina.com | the carillon | 11

sports & health

Staying active in a Saskatchewan summer

Whether you’re roasting alive or being physically blown away, there’s never a dull moment

amina salah staff writer Heat, windy days, and sunny days are all reminders that summer is indeed upon us. As the weather warms up and the sun graces the Earth each day, it becomes significantly difficult to stay active, especially in the heat. The best thing to do is check the weather every day to see if it will be windy.

I prefer to go out when it is windy due to the simple fact that it will be much cooler.

Many people love going to the gym or working out by following videos on social media platforms.

While these are all convenient ways to stay active, sometimes it is important to venture out and look at working out as something that is not a duty, but something enjoyable that allows you to interact with your neighbourhood and community.

It is important to remember the special land we live on and how sacred it is. As the weather warms up, it is even more important to reconnect with the land.

It is important to appreciate the beauty in it, and how magical it is when seasons change before our own eyes. We are too pre-occupied with life and adulting that we forget to take a step back and smell the roses every once in a while. Before we know it, it will be fall, and snowy days will be following shortly after.

The easiest way to stay active is to simply go on walks and get to know certain neighbourhoods.

Going on walks is an easy-going

Amina Salah

Saskatchewan’s so flat that if you squint, you can watch students run from their obligations for three days straight.

form of working out. It is great for the simple fact that it does not feel like a chore or a nuisance. Rather, it is enjoyable, and it can be quite therapeutic for nature lovers. The best place to go on walks is usually in your neighbourhood; however, I prefer the university’s area the most. The trail from Luther College to the First Nations Univer-

Another way to stay active during the summers is counting your steps. In my personal experience, this is easier for cities that are walkable. Having lived in many parts of the world, this is an issue I am slowly working through here in Regina. Walkable cities are sustainable for so many people and it is easy to get from one

enjoy such as going on walks with a good podcast playing through my airpods, just basking in nature.

It helps me stay connected to my neighbourhood, my neighbours, and my community. It is also something that helps me appreciate the land we live on and how special it is. It instills gratitude in me. It is an introspective ritual

the potential of freezing to death.

Outdoor summer activities such as going on walks, going to the beach, or hiking are enjoyable because they are things that you could do with your friends, colleagues, or loved ones. It is a perfect way to bond with people.

And, because you might be walking with someone else, it doesn’t

“

The trail from Luther College to the First Nations University of Canada is so breathtaking during the summer. This is especially convenient for those who are already on campus and need a break from their classes, studying, or even finals.

– Amina Salah

sity of Canada is so breathtaking during the summer. This is especially convenient for those who are already on campus and need a break from their classes, studying, or even finals. Victoria Park is another fantastic spot for walking.

Furthermore, another way to stay active during the summer is outdoor yoga. Wascana is big enough and there are areas that are secluded where many people are not nearby. Another alternative to yoga is using jump ropes.

It is fun and it doesn’t draw much attention from strangers. The more you do jump ropes, the more you can train your body to do it for longer periods of time.

location to another. I’ve found that the more I would walk, the more toned I would become. On the other hand, activities such as swimming or going to the beach are perfect during the summer as it gets hotter. Pilates is an excellent activity to do at the beach. There are also many videos online that can serve as guidance.

The reality is that exercise and fitness is personal for everyone. It is not one size fits all. Everyone is different and everyone has their own preferences, unique to them and their fitness goals.

My philosophy is to not make it difficult for myself or view it as a chore. I do this by doing things I

that gives me the space to clear my head and just think about my own well-being.

The biggest task is trying to make the time to do it. There are those who work out five days a week, however, that is not sustainable for a lot of people. Thus, I use walking as a way to get my cardio and my steps in every day, especially on days where I am not working out at the gym. Although I don’t particularly enjoy the heat, I can appreciate the change in seasons, and I try to use this as an opportunity to do things that are difficult to do in the winter months. This is, of course, going on walks as often as I can without

feel like a chore or a difficult task.

Rather, it just feels like a conversation, an opportunity to catch up.

At the end of the day, we are all trying to do our best with the resources that are available to us.

The most important thing to remember is that health and wellness is a journey. It is a chance to nurture and nourish your body.

It should be something you enjoy doing, something that brings you joy, and something that is a reminder that our bodies are important. They are there to not only serve us, but also work with us.

june 30 - july 27, 2022

carillonregina.com | the carillon |12

sports & health

John Daly’s debauchery par for the (dis)course Once again, if you’re surprised you’re really not paying attention

It’s John Daly’s world, and we’re just livin’ in it. The golfer made headlines in May for his incredible on-course diet at the Professional Golfers’ Association’s (PGA) Championship, which included about 21 cigarettes, 12 diet Cokes, and six packs of peanut M&Ms – the superior M&M. Then Daly spent the evening dining at Hooters, whom he is appropriately sponsored by, followed by a visit to the casino. He is professional golf ’s bad boy, notorious for hammering out birdies after a

your judgment for a while, and consider the following: John Daly and the sport of golf are doing everything correctly. Yes, within the demented and inhuman logic of consumerism, few do it better.

Forget the ethical, ecological consumer horseshit. It’s a fool’s errand. A diet of nicotine, M&Ms, and strolling fairways of lush invasive grass species; there is no better representation of a stimulated economy and happy consumer. Mammon craves blood, and he will feed.

golf courses in the United States together, they take up a land area approximately the size of Delaware, which is 5,133 square kilometres. For reference, Prince Edward Island is about 5,660 square kilometres.

Now, let’s take a brief look at golf ’s demographics. About 25 million Americans played at least one round of golf in 2021. The average golfer is about 54 years old, White, and identifies as a man; about 75 per cent of American golfers are men. The average

to the destructive capacity of the Anthropocene: revelling and awash in putrid decadence without a single forethought.

It reminds me of an evocative passage in David Wallace-Wells’ beautifully alarmist book on climate change, The Uninhabitable Earth. He writes, “The California fires of 2017 burned the state’s wine crop, blowtorched million-dollar vacation properties, and threatened both the Getty Museum and Rupert Murdoch’s Bel-Air estate […] On local golf

“

On local golf courses, the West Coast’s wealthy still showed up for their tee times, swinging their clubs just yards from blazing fires in photographs that could not have been more perfectly staged to skewer the country’s indifferent plutocracy.

– David Wallace-Wells

long night of drunken debauchery.

Perhaps we gaze at John Daly’s life in grotesque fascination.

Perhaps we envy such a fast and loose lifestyle. Nevertheless, Daly and golf itself faithfully live by the prevailing consumerist ethos: “You are obliged to enjoy!” The ancient Greeks had a god of wine and ecstasy; his name was Dionysus. We have a goddess of beer and blackouts; her name is America.

Do you scoff at such heedless excess, such improvident consumption? The psychological term for what you’re feeling, if memory serves me correctly, is projection. But, please, suspend

If Daly’s diet alarms you, wait until you learn how much the average golf course must consume to function. In the United States, there were about 16,000 golf courses in use by the end of 2021. There are more golf courses in the United States than Starbucks or McDonald’s franchises.

In warm and dry climates, like the southwestern United States, a golf course can use up to 4.5 million litres of water each day.

Recent data from the United States Geological Survey showed that the state of Utah uses almost 173 million litres of water on golf courses every day. That’s nearly 58 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day. If we put all the

American golfer’s annual income is between $80,000 to $100,000, well above the typical American’s annual income. And one last factoid for you: roughly nine out of ten Fortune 500 CEOs play golf.

Okay, so, golf courses use unfathomable amounts of water to maintain fairways and greens and take up enough land to occupy a small state. So, most avid golfers are old and chronically-inflamed White men, managers of capital, people who actually own their homes. Golf, on the whole, is an egregious waste of water and land. These courses, some of which have lawns manicured enough to make Louis XIV do a double take, are monuments

courses, the West Coast’s wealthy still showed up for their tee times, swinging their clubs just yards from blazing fires in photographs that could not have been more perfectly staged to skewer the country’s indifferent plutocracy.”

As T. S. Eliot writes in The Four Quartets, we have become “distracted from distraction by distraction.”

So, why scandal and shock at John Daly’s on-course diet?

As I’ve argued here, Daly is doing nothing out of the ordinary.

A bloated gut stuffed with peanut M&Ms and diet Coke? A gambling addiction that, allegedly, has cost him millions of dollars? It’s the American way. And if you’re

bodie robinson staff writer too poor to afford the American way, you still wish you could.

Remember that the majority of people who win the lottery quickly burn through all of their winnings, with many declaring bankruptcy shortly thereafter.

Daly simply represents our milieu with the mask off. Superfluous consumption, golfing with the boys in a simulated environment while the biosphere collapses – it’s all par for the course. And why should we blame him or anyone else? It’s too easy to become despondent and scandalized when we see a true accounting of the facts. Eliot, again: “tumid apathy with no concentration.”

“But, Bodie,” you may cry, “golf is a fun and physical hobby. Can’t people just enjoy things?” Yes, they can. And they will. And that’s exactly my point.

The Hegelian philosopher Slavoj Žižek remarks that the postmodern capitalist condition is constantly enjoining everyone, everywhere, all the time, to enjoy.

“We are obliged to enjoy. Enjoyment becomes a kind of a weird perverted duty. The paradox of Coke is that you are thirsty, you drink it, but as everyone knows the more you drink it the more thirsty you get.”

The unending pursuit of enjoyment is what we are obliged to do. The reality of our situation here, at the so-called end of history, is so unnerving and horrid that we feel ruthlessly scolded by mere facts. So, perhaps, stepping back and refusing to enjoy this cascading phantasmagoria of futile, cheap pleasures is an authentic act of resistance. It’s an act of compassion for oneself and for others. I oblige you not to enjoy!

Robert Ruggiero via Unsplash

Mind your Ps (putts) and Qs (quite abhorrent waste of resources).

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editor: hammad ali op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | june 30 - july 27, 2022

Gun culture: the worship of a work tool

Freedom is more than owning a gun

Maria Lysenko via Unsplash

Shooting a bullet from this sculpture would have more range than most comments from pro-gun advocates.

As of the time of writing, the most recent gun tragedy (most of which come exclusively from our neighbours to the south) is the Uvalde mass shooting. This case was unique in that, despite gulping 40 per cent of the town’s yearly funding and having done shooting drills in Robb Elementary School less than a year previous, the police force somehow managed to do less than nothing and actively prevented stopping the shooter – or at least, not until 21 lives (19 children and 2 adults) were taken, countless others fractured in the aftermath.

In short, the “good guys with guns” failed.

One could ponder the reasons for this devastation: mental illness, terrorist plots, internet radicalism, too many doors, or not enough Jesus. But the most practical is this: a man with a history of instability and violent urges was able to purchase a gun.

He shot his grandmother, went to a school filled with children, and shot 21 people until they were dead, injuring another 17.

Despite this, it is unlikely that much will change. Thoughts and prayers, maybe. But nothing tangible that might possibly prevent another such occurrence.

In fact, after these events, Republican states are 115% more likely to loosen gun laws.

There is a peculiarity to the American psyche when it comes to guns; they symbolize freedom. I have always pondered this. Why do guns have this particular chokehold on Americans?

Indeed, guns are mentioned in the American Constitution, but that is in the 2nd Amendment which states “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” For context, that means that this was not even in the original Constitution.

It was added in and could, in theory, be

amended right out. The likelihood of that is near to nil, but I digress. In the end, there is only one reason to buy a gun: to destroy something. Be that a target, a deer, or a six year old.

Some pontificate that more guns are needed to protect the citizenry from crazed shooters. The United States is the only country in the world with more guns than people. There are an estimated 393 million guns in the US, compared to their population of 330 million. That’s about 120 guns for every 100 people in the coun-

“

people. This is the fifth highest rate of guns per person in the world. There may well be a correlation, but I am no statistician.

There is no provision in our Charter of Rights for guns nor their ownership. When 22 people were murdered in Nova Scotia in 2020, the government took the opportunity to toughen laws against assault-style weapons in order to reduce such incidents.

Our gun laws prohibit automatic weapons and sawed off shotguns, save for the police and militia. Handguns are restricted in that one needs both a registration and

symbol of their country and its freedoms.

The gun in American culture is a sort of holy totem that differentiates them from other, lesser countries that lack the “freedoms” that they have. In Canada, it is necessary to have a license to buy and own firearms and ammunition. Comparatively, in over 80 per cent of states it is unnecessary to have a license to own or purchase a firearm – which puts into question the common argument that only illegally-obtained guns are used in crimes, seeing as it is easier to buy one legally. Which freedoms they

There is a peculiarity to the American psyche when it comes to guns: they symbolize freedom. I have always pondered this; why do guns have this particular chokehold on Americans?

– Ayodipupo Adetola

try. Interestingly enough, data shows that in the US, “two-thirds of gun owners own more than one gun, and nearly a third own five or more guns.” Perhaps if each American owned at least five guns, the good guys could suppress school shooters by sheer numbers. It has already been suggested to arm teachers, which is…certainly an opinion. In the end, the defense of gun ownership is in the name of some nebulous concept of freedom, which in the US apparently means it doesn’t matter if kindergarteners are mowed down in their classrooms so long as it means it is possible to have n+1 guns in one’s possession.

In contrast, Canada has considerably stricter gun laws, and 35 guns per 100

a permit. Felons who commit serious or violent crimes, or people with mental disorders, are prohibited from receiving permits. Third-party character witness statements are taken. Finally, there is a 28-day waiting period to receive a permit. This is not terribly restrictive. But I suppose anything that resembles regulation of a deadly weapon stinks of communism, which must be battled against at all times.

From responses to events and general sentiment, it seems that the difference between Canada and the US is how guns are viewed. In Canada, they are seen as a tool of sorts; for hunting, for a job, for entertainment, or even for self-defense. In the US, they are seen as an inalienable right; a

have that guns provide, I am yet to personally witness, but I’m sure they exist, at least in some people’s minds.

If freedom means being 25 times more likely to be murdered by a gun than in countries of comparable income, knowing at least one victim of gun violence in my lifetime , or possibly being one of 110 people in a day (41,000 in a year) to be killed by gun violence , then I’ll pass.

ayodipupo adetola contributor

june 30 - july 27, 2022

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carillonregina.com | the carillon |

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Balancing rights with responsibilities

Does the right to handle a gun come with the responsibility of keeping society safe? damanpreet kaur contributor It was an ecstatic day when our parents used to load our trolleys with toy guns, and we would mimic shooting like we would have done in a war. Whenever we came across the toy shop in the market, my eyes would stick on the fighter guns in the shops and I would long to handle a gun. Boasting in front of my friends about the number of guns I had was fun and exciting. Even after growing up, the craze for guns never faded and social media replenished the vibe for guns further.

Posting a story with a gun in hand is cool, but it doesn’t hide the violence that it encompasses. The same violence that has made people lonely has led them into guilt, and has also pushed them into years of depression. This is something that today’s world has taken for granted. Losing someone is heartbreaking, but losing someone to gun violence is devastating. Do we really need to be okay with violence? Do we really need a gun to protect ourselves and harm other people in the name of rights?

I would say no.

My heart was heavy when I heard about the mass shooting in Texas. 19 children and their teachers were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. It was not the first such incident reported, but recurring mass shootings in the US have become a carnival of violence in recent years. It would have only taken one second to pull the trigger to silence the smiles of those glad faces; the laughs on their faces would have turned to a dead, gloomy sight. It signifies a lot about the current state of law and law enforcement authorities which makes it so easy and accessible to buy guns in the United States.

In Japan, the process for buying a gun requires an interview with the police about why you need a gun and a psychological evaluation followed by three different background checks, including interviews of family and neighbors. It is simply not that easy to have a licensed gun in most parts of the world. In contrast, most Amer-

Folding hands while on bended knee and praying only means so much when you continue to perpetuate the situation as soon as you stand.

Heather Mount via Unsplash

icans have guns, which cast clouds on the freedom and fundamental rights of the citizens.

Who would have imagined that a semi-automatic rifle in the hands of a young boy would cause a menace in the lives of their parents and the whole community with this inhumane killing spree?

Legal access to weaponry at such a young age is questionable and must be given a second thought in a country like the United States, where the Statue of Liberty is held high to celebrate freedom but not to put an ending on the liberty of others. According to Hinduism, Lord Krishna says that “killing somebody must be the last resort in life, as we are not killing a single person but all the human connections that the person has.” This signifies that with handling a gun comes the responsibility of protecting everybody. The influence of mass shootings and gun culture is contagious. These kinds of incidents have caused debate in

other cultures about whether guns should be accessible to youngsters or not.

Analyzing the situation, it is clear that racism is one imperative factor behind the killings. People of colour have hearts and minds which are no different from people with white skin. Then why are people of colour killed often? Even in Canada, there have been two random killings in Toronto this year, provoking fear in the minds of people. The killer had a stash of guns which highlights the accessibility of the guns. This is an alarming and frightening situation for our generation, who must view these killings as a hurdle for a progressive society.

“Free-to-carry-a-gun” culture in the United States needs to be rectified on the grounds of fundamental rights of all people who favor peace above all. There is no benefit of modernization if we still have to rely on weapons to protect ourselves. The advances in science and technology don’t

force us to make use of weapons in our daily lives. So, what do we needs guns for?

Being an international student and a visible minority, I live with an unknown fear of being killed someday while buying groceries at Walmart, or waiting for a bus near the university. Do I really need to carry a gun for my self-defense?

Or, do I continue to live in this state of fear. That’s perplexing, but I have an answer. Human lives are important and they matter irrespective of age, caste, creed, race, or ethnicity. Guns do not belong in a world which wants to thrive in tranquility and peace. Everyone deserves to live freely without the fear of getting killed off in a random place by a stranger. Killing children who have no animosity, anyone at such a budding stage of life, is not acceptable. Shooting for rights? It is unacceptable.

Crafting > completely needless murders.

Joanna Nix Walkup via Unsplash

june 30 - july 27, 2022

op-ed

carillonregina.com | the carillon |

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The summer of sweet tooth

Cool down and treat yourself this summer in one of these spots victoria baht staff writer In the month of June, living in Saskatchewan commonly means two things: that it is finally nice outside, which means it is sunny and usually above 20 degrees Celsius; with that heat comes humidity. Now, what is a common cure for those sunny, muggy days?

The obvious answer is ice cream! Today, you are going to read about my opinion of different types of ice cream and where to find them. This way, you know where to get those summery goods all summer long.

Now, each of these opinions about ice cream are going to touch base on the number of flavours that are available as options, and of course the best part, the taste and the refreshing feeling of the ice cream.

The first one we are going to talk about is my personal favourite, soft-serve ice cream. To me, soft-serve ice cream is the most refreshing as it tends to melt in your mouth as you eat it, compared to hard ice cream where you commonly have a crunch or bite to ice cream. And let’s be real, if you bite your ice cream, you are eating it wrong. So, getting back to the best place to get soft-serve ice cream in the city. I would personally have to say that is a little store placed in Cathedral called “Dessart.” This little cute candy and ice cream shop is located on 13th avenue in Regina and is colored baby blue and pink.

Now that you know where to head, let’s talk about the ice cream. Dessart has some unique flavours of ice cream, and some of my personal favourites are the “spiced” ice creams. Some prime examples off this list which are a must try are London Fog, chai, pumpkin spice, birthday cake, matcha, and pistachio. Not only does Dessart have amazing ice cream flavours, they also have

lots of candy options! This way, if one of your kids is more of a candy kid compared to an ice cream kid, you get a 2-for-1 package!

Now, another main type of ice cream we must touch base on is hard ice cream. I know I said that your ice cream shouldn’t have a bite to it. But let’s be real, for those of us who are big chocolate bar people, the best part is when the two come hand-inhand. I personally find the best place to find a good hard ice cream is a well-known place in Regina; Milky Way is located on Victoria Avenue. Milky Way is well known for having a variety of Chapman’s ice cream flavours. Some of my favourite goto flavours are chocolate brownie, chocolate peanut butter, New York style cheesecake, and cookie dough chunks. The way these ice creams make you just want to take a bite as you see chunks of cookie dough, chocolate, or cheesecake in your face is the real treat.

On the topic of treats, I have recently discovered a new personal favourite ice cream. Now, this type of treat honestly truly does have the two best combinations.

What you do is you order ice cream, and you get an espresso shot to go with it as well. Yes, you heard that right! A sugary enjoyment with caffeine on top – what could go wrong? The answer is nothing!

The place to get this delicious combination is Dandy’s Artisan Ice Cream. A few combos that I think would be great with the espresso shot would be vanilla bean, toasted coconut, or salted caramel.

Do you dare dabble in double scoops?

Ian Dooley via Unsplash

Now, today’s discussion and opinion mostly focused on special types of ice cream to find throughout the city to make that tasty treat extra special. If you are more of a basic person looking for simple ice cream, make sure to hit up the classic ice

cream stores in the city like Dairy Queen, Marble Slab, and The Moo Shoppe. Now that you know where the tasty goods are, go make sure you try them and see what they are all about!

Spring forth with the U-Pass

For the first time ever the U-Pass is being offered in the Spring/Summer term amina salah staff writer

For the first time ever, the University of Regina Students Union (URSU) is offering their subsidized student bus pass program in the duration of the spring and summer semesters. Furthermore, the costs have managed to stay at the same amount as the fall and winter semesters. U-Pass is something that is crucial to the survival of many students. Not everyone wants to pay $300 for parking when it is significantly cheaper to take the bus. The U-Pass system is sustainable for many students at the university.

I normally drive everywhere outside the university. However, when I’m going to the university, I prefer to take public transit because I don’t want to deal with parking tickets and being watched like a hawk by parking enforcement. U-Pass not being available in the middle of the pandemic was difficult seeing as many students still relied on the university for many services.

As someone who can only really study in Archer Library, I was unable to go to the library as often as I normally would have.

U-Pass not being offered made no sense because there were many random costs that were suddenly added to the tuition that most students could not opt out of, aside from paying the hefty tuition prices already.

U-Pass being available in the summer is perfect for me because I am taking summer classes and there have been times when I needed to go to the university. I was able to go this time around which is something I took for granted during the pandemic.

Not all students have cars, and U-Pass being unavailable even after lockdown passed was quite difficult even for some of my colleagues who attend the university. Furthermore, students not only use U-Pass to go to the university, but also to do other errands that need to be done. They use it to get groceries, to get across the city for work, and travel back and forth for many other reasons. Some of my colleagues had to find other means to get across the city over the two years and this was incredibly difficult and quite expensive. It only made the lives of many of my colleagues much harder.

The reality is that URSU should have implemented an alternative during the two years that U-Pass was not offered. As a students’ union, it is important to ensure that services many students rely on do not disappear during crucial times; and if they do, then there must be an alternative put in place to target the removal of these socalled services.

After a very long and difficult pandemic, it is great news that U-Pass is finally being offered through the summer. Students who are taking summer classes might need it to utilize the many services offered by the

university. Those who are not enrolled in summer classes might still need it in order to get across the city. It is a perfect way to be able to enjoy the summer. Moreover, it is also great that the price for U-Pass in the summer is not more expensive. Although the reality is that in a perfect world, I feel that the price would be reduced seeing that not many students sign up for it in the summer semesters in comparison to the fall and winter semesters.

Maybe Regina transit wouldn’t look like this if busses came more often than once an hour?

Johnnyw3 via Wikimedia