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Desautels professor charged with historical sexual assault
Assaults took place off campus from 2007-2010
Mikaela Warkentin, staff
Professor Oleg Pokhanovski has been charged with sexual exploitation and sexual assault following a historical sexual assault investigation taking place outside of Winnipeg.
Police reports indicate that the timeframe for these crimes was from Dec. 17, 2007 to March 11, 2010. The then15-year-old teen was receiving private lessons from Pokhanovski at the U of M campus, where he began grooming her.
Sexual assaults took place off campus, WPS reported, and once the young woman ended the relationship Pokhanovski repeatedly attempted to remain in contact with her via email. Following investigation, Manitoba Prosecution
Services authorized the charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation. Pokhanovski turned himself in, and was subsequently arrested, on July 29th, 2025 at the Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters.
Pokhanovski is currently on leave according to the U of M Desautels Faculty of Music website.
Those who wish to speak with an investigator can contact the sex crimes unit at 204-986-6172. On-campus resources that are available include the Sexual Violence Resource Centre at 537 UMSU University Centre, where appointments can be booked via email at svrc@umanitoba.ca or by phone at 204-474-6562.
Campus faith community remains steadfast
Faith spaces across campus offer comfort amid troubling headlines
Jesse
Brogan, staff
In a year where stories of violence against places of worship have unsettled many, the U of M’s campus faith communities continue to offer comfort and connection.
Earlier this year, a local priest at Holy Ghost Parish was attacked during a service by a man with a knife. Though no one was injured, the attacker was later found not criminally responsible. Not long after, All Saints Church downtown was vandalized and robbed of $18,000 worth of sacred items. South of the border, news spread of a church-shooting in Minnesota that claimed the lives of two children.
For people of faith, these headlines can feel heavy.
Edgar French, U of M’s coordinator of the Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre, offered the space to spiritual students. “The Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre has and continues to aspire to be a space where students, individually and communally, can voice their views, feelings, hopes and fears concerning their spiritual journey and lives.” French explained that the centre’s role is not only to connect students with their own traditions, but also to create an environment where they can engage across differences.
That sense of welcome is further confirmed by Father Mark Filips, a Catholic chaplain at St. Paul’s College. Filips said that while students are aware of recent incidents in Winnipeg and beyond, they continue to treat the chapel as “that oasis on campus.”
“We had so many students coming that they were overflowing the small chapel,” said Filips, describing weekday services that recently had to move into the larger sanctuary. “Throughout the day, we keep the chapel open and we do have students continually coming in and looking for […] that quiet.” He added, “It’s a peaceful place.”
Filips acknowledged that the knife attack in Winnipeg sparked conversations among students.
“We tend to think of Winnipeg as this untouchable place […] but obviously it does [happen], right?” said Filips.
Filips emphasized that students have not expressed feeling unsafe and that the chapel focuses on respect and openness.
dents’ Council (HSC), says recent headlines are unsettling.
“We tend to think of Winnipeg as this untouchable place […] but obviously it does [happen], right?”
— Father Mark Filips, reverend at Christ the King Chapel
Ashish Charaya, a secondyear student and president of marketing for the Hindu Stu-
“These spaces are often supposed to be the safe heavens where people can gather in peace and have some sort of connection with God,” said Charaya. He added that these acts of violence in places of worship
are “unsettling to even hear about.”
At the same time, Charaya said that the HSC works to ensure safety and inclusivity at its events. The group hires security and maintains close contact with police during large gatherings. But beyond physical protection, the HSC tries to make every student feel welcome.
“Even if a person is not Hindu and still wants to come explore our event, we actually look forward to that,” said
Charaya.
French says the role of the chaplain on campus is to nurture these “sacred things” students carry — their hopes, fears, doubts and dreams — in a space of trust and safety. Those leading faith communities at the university insist their spaces remain sources of openness and safety. Whether at Christ the King Chapel or a student faith group, finding peace is possible, even in difficult times.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY UMANITOBA.CA
PHOTO BY JESSE BROGAN / STAFF
“No reasonable grounds” to hold officer accountable in the 2023 death of U of M student
Report from Alberta response team clears WPS of wrongdoing
Mikaela Warkentin, staff
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has decided that there are “no reasonable grounds” that an offence was committed by the WPS officer who shot Afolabi Stephen Opaso in 2023. Opaso was shot three times by an officer following a well-being call on Dec. 31, 2023, with friends of Opaso worried about his mental health the day leading up to the 911 call.
Opaso, a 19-year-old U of M student, had been staying with friends in an apartment building on University Crescent and was showing signs of mental distress while acting erratically. A civilian witness stated that Opaso had a kitchen knife and had threatened him before 911 was called by another roommate while the witness left the apartment. Upon WPS’s entry to the apartment, Opaso had been seated 12-15 feet away from the officers holding two knives, and did not comply when asked to drop them. Opaso was then
shot three times, once in the back, in rapid succession.
Acting executive director of ASIRT, Matthew Block, stated in the report released on Aug. 27, 2025, that the officer’s lethal actions were proportionate to Opaso’s actions, citing section 25 of the Criminal Code, and that Opaso proved an “imminent” threat to the officers. Section 34 is also cited in the understanding that the officer was entitled to defend himself against Opaso in the manner that he did.
The investigation was transferred from The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba in 2024 following concerns over a conflict of interest in the case, as an officer involved in the shooting is a close relation to an employee of Manitoba Justice.
Students seeking mental health services can visit the Student Counselling Centre at 474 UMSU University Centre or call 204-474-8592 for more information.
New dental clinic opens in University Centre
On-campus services return after years without a dental office
Roy Albright Obah, staff
Students at the U of M can now access dental services without leaving campus, thanks to the opening of University Centre Dental. The clinic offers routine checkups, cleanings, diagnostic x-rays and individualized treatment plans for students, staff and the broader university community. The clinic is located at Room 118, University Centre, and appointments are already open, with services officially beginning on Sept. 8“ “[It’s the] exact same as any other [private] dental office off campus […] we accept all forms of insurance […] and are officially open to book patients, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” said Nagra.
The clinic restores a vital service that was missing on campus for several years. The
previous dental office, which had served the University Centre for many years, was destroyed by a fire in 2020 and never rebuilt. Nagra, who first worked at the campus dental office after graduating in 2011, stayed connected to campus business administrators and was eventually able to secure a space for a new office.
“I always thought […] there was such a big need for it on campus,” Nagra explained, describing his motivation for reopening a dental service at University Centre.
University Centre Dental is equipped to serve a wide range of dental needs.
The office includes treatment operatories, a consultation room and an X-ray/ imaging room, allowing the clinic to provide both preventive and diagnostic care. Servi-
ces are offered under the same insurance conditions as private dental offices off-campus, with many students having coverage included as part of their tuition. For students, this offers both convenience and reassurance that their oral health can be managed without leaving the campus.
Nagra said his roots at the U of M inspired him to bring dental care back to campus.
“Being born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, I spent my entire education at the U of M […] I have a deep connection with the U of M community and the University Centre in particular,” he said.
Opening the dental office also reflects the broader issue of accessibility to healthcare services for students. University campuses often lack comprehensive in-house medical
or dental care, forcing students to navigate off-campus appointments that may conflict with their busy schedules. By situating the clinic within University Centre, Nagra aims to bridge this gap and make routine dental care as convenient as possible for the campus population.
Dr. Nagra emphasized the collaborative effort behind the project. “There’s a lot of people that helped make this happen,” he said, acknowledging Amanda Johnson from UMSU for her instrumental support during the process.
Nagra encouraged the community to visit the clinic as doors are open for questions, concerns, or appointments.
“We’re here for you. We’re here to […] help with all your dental needs,” Nagra said.
As University Centre Den-
tal opens its doors this fall, it restores a long-standing service but also shows the university’s commitment to student health and accessibility, setting a new standard for on-campus care.
Booking an appointment is flexible. Students can call 204-275-8402, visit Room 118, University Centre in person or message the office via Instagram @university_centre_dental. The first 50 students who book cleanings and checkups will receive U of M backpacks, and during the Sept 2. Bison Bash, daily draws for electric toothbrushes will take place at the campus booth.
PHOTO BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF
A VIGIL WAS HELD IN JANUARY 2024 TO HONOUR OPASO AT ST. JOHN’S CHAPEL ON THE U OF M CAMPUS.
Fall orientation welcomes new grad students
Workshops, networking and student voices feature at the graduate studies fall event
Roy Albright Obah, staff
The U of M’s faculty of graduate and postdoctoral studies welcomed newly admitted graduate students to its annual all orientation on the Fort Garry campus. Held at the St. John’s Robert B. Shultz Theatre, the event served as both an official welcome and a resource hub, equipping students with the tools they need to begin their new academic journeys.
The day’s program opened with remarks from Kelley Main, dean of graduate studies, who stressed the importance of the supports available to students as they navigate graduate life. Timilehin Oluwajuyitan, president of the Graduate Students’ Association, also addressed attendees, outlining the value of the orientation. “Today’s orientation is to shed more light on what we do at [the University of Manitoba Graduate and Postdoctoral Society] and also the kind of opportunities new graduate students get,” he said.
Workshops formed a central part of the orientation, offering students practical advice on topics such as completing scholarship applications, working effectively
with advisors, understanding student rights and career networking. According to Oluwajuyitan, the sessions were meant to be transformative. He explained that the workshops provided opportunities that could be impactful for both returning and new graduate students.
While the orientation conveyed important academic information, it also created space for students to connect with one another and begin building their community. Among those in attendance was Andrea Chandler, an incoming student in the biological sciences program. “I’m pretty excited to be here,” she said.
Chandler described her first impressions after arriving in Winnipeg. “So far, it’s really beautiful here […] very vibrant.” For her, the U of M stood out because of the faculty she wanted to work with. “I actually found my advisor, Dr. Ken Jeffries, before I found the school,” Chandler said. “I really liked [his research], and he had funding.”
Chandler encouraged prospective graduate students considering the U of M to visit the campus before commiting. “It was really use-
ful in gauging what the campus looks like [and] the general atmosphere,” she said. She also urged international students to plan ahead. “Get your study permit figured out early,” Chandler advised.
Another new graduate student, Avni Samuel, who is starting her master’s program this fall, also found the orientation to be a valuable experience. She described the event as “helpful,” particularly because of the chance it provided to meet peers.
For Samuel, the orientation was not only about information but also about motivation. Sharing her aspirations, she said, “I would like to meet deadlines […] learn new things and make my advisor proud.”
The event’s organizers acknowledged that not all incoming students could attend. For those who missed the session, the Graduate Students’ Association committed to ensuring they would not be left behind. “For those that registered and couldn’t make it, we are definitely going to send all the slides of each of the presentations,” said Oluwajuyitan. He added anyone who did not register or attend this event is welcome to come to the winter orienta-
tion.
In addition, speakers mentioned the importance of balance in graduate life. With the demands of research and coursework often intense, Oluwajuyitan encouraged students to prioritize well-being.
“As much as you get involved in your research, we also want you to have fun,” he said. By the close of the orienta-
tion, the atmosphere reflected both the weight of the academic journey ahead and the excitement of new beginnings
For more information about graduate studies, students can visit the faculty of graduate and postdoctoral studies office at Room 500, University Centre, or online at umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/
Research & Technology
Newborn’s first breath and the fight for oxygen
Physiological insight into circulation changes at birth, to improve survival
Mansura Akter Meghla, staff
T he moment a baby is born, their body undergoes one of the most significant transitions in human life. Oxygen supply shifts from the placenta to the lungs, which must inflate and begin working for the first time.
Shyamala Dakshinamurti, a professor of U of M’s pediatrics and child health department, studied what happens when this transition does not go smoothly. Her work is focused on pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, a condition where blood vessels in the lungs remain constricted, preventing oxygen from reaching the bloodstream.
“Anywhere between one to six per thousand babies is enough short of oxygen during delivery to develop […] pulmonary hypertension of the newborn,” Dakshinamurti said. Even if the baby breathes, the blood does not reach the lungs to pick up oxygen.
Dakshinamurti works in the neonatal intensive care unit, where she regularly treats newborns with oxygen problems. Early in her training, she was frustrated by how often physicians had no clear answers for worried parents. This inspired her to become a researcher.
Her personal connection to the disease deepened years later, when she learned she had a cousin in India who had died as a newborn from pulmonary hypertension. It made her realize “how frequently it occurs and how unlikely we are to hear it talked about within our families.”
For her, “it was a greater impulse to keep doing the research because this is so little appreciated and understood.”
pulmonary hypertension do not respond to it. Even when it works, nitric oxide can also cause changes that limit its own effectiveness over time.
“The very drug we’re using to treat the disease can increase the likelihood of the enzymes not working,” Dakshinamurti said. “In other
of blood vessels in the lungs. One focus is on an enzyme called adenyl cyclase, which plays a role in dilating pulmonary arteries.
“One to six per thousand babies, is enough short of oxygen during delivery to develop […] pulmonary hypertension”
— Shyamala Dakshinamurti, professor in the U of M’s Max Rady college of medicine
A common drug used to treat pulmonary hypertension is nitric oxide gas, which relaxes blood vessels through a different pathway. But about a quarter of newborns with
words, the treatment itself limits its own efficacy over time.”
Her lab studies pulmonary constriction and how oxygen controls the relaxation
The team discovered that under low-oxygen conditions, the enzyme becomes chemically modified in a way that prevents it from working. This finding opened the door to seeking to design drugs that can reactivate the enzyme and restore normal circulation in the lungs.
“We currently have a few […] very promising molecules,” Dakshinamurti explained. The goal is to make the drug specific for the lung enzyme, so it can improve treatment
without harmful side effects, she added.
Another area of her research examines how too much oxygen can harm newborn lungs. While oxygen is essential for survival, her lab found that even two hours of exposure to 100 per cent oxygen can increase the “constriction activities in the lung and a loss of the relaxation activities in the lung blood vessels.”
“I thought […] two hours of 100 per cent oxygen […] was going to be a control condition,” said Dakshinamurti. However, “two hours of too much oxygen will hurt you,” she added.
According to Dakshinamurti, researchers often base their work on what communities identify as important. But she noted, “the voices we don’t hear are the voices
of the dead and the voices of the people who are so traumatized by that experience [death of a newborn].” Dakshinamurti hoped her research will help mitigate the side effects of nitric oxide and will help reduce mortality from pulmonary hypertension, which remains around 10 per cent even in high-resource settings. Her lab is now studying promising drug molecules that may reactivate enzymes in the lungs, with potential applications beyond pulmonary hypertension in newborns.
Dakshinamurti advised students to embrace uncertainty. “You learn more every day. Every day I learn all the things I didn’t know yesterday. I’ve come to realize, feeling stupid is a really good feeling because you’re about to learn something,” she said.
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
Unlocking precision medicine through genetics
How genes shape the way medications work, with the goal of safer treatments
Mansura Akter Meghla, staff
W
hen we take medicine, we expect it to help but the same drug that eases one person’s symptoms might not work for another.
Abdullah Al Maruf, assistant professor of clinical pharmacogenomics at the college of pharmacy, studies this difference. Maruf said, “I am a pharmacist by training. It struck me early in my career that there are significant differences in how we respond to medicines.”
His research examines the impact of genetic variation on how people respond to medication, particularly drugs prescribed for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
“We want to make sure medicines are [...] safe and effective,” said Maruf. Pharmacogenetic testing can help us predict whether a person will likely benefit from a drug, or whether the dose needs to be adjusted, he explained.
In Maruf’s Pharmacogenomics Knowledge to Action (PGxK2A) Lab, the team works to “facilitate” the evaluation and implementation of evidence-informed genomic precision medicine.
More recently, he launched the Precision Medicine Research and Education Hub (PRECISE CARE HUB), dedicated not only to advancing pharmacogenomics, but also to engaging the public and health care providers in conversations about mental health and medication.
“Mental health itself has stigma, so nobody wants to talk about it. Nobody wants to share which drug they are taking, let alone [inquire] if it is working or not,” Maruf noted.
and their caregivers with lived or living experiences with mental disorders […] is an eye-opening experience, as patients or the public can give us input and share perspectives that, as researchers, we commonly miss,” Maruf observed.
PGx-SIMBA is another ongoing study that is recruiting participants between ages 6 and 24.
“We are investigating whether interindividual gen-
these drugs and subsequently personalize their treatment plan.”
“We want to make sure that medicines are […] safe and effective”
“So, we are trying to build a research hub where the purpose is not only to do research, but also to educate people.”
— Abdullah Al Maruf, assistant professor in the U of M’s college of pharmacy
PRECISE CARE HUB is envisioned as a provincial resource and a space where patients, families and clinicians can learn, ask questions and feel supported. Advisory councils made up of people with lived experience help shape the research by identifying priorities and barriers in treatment.
“Collaborating with youth
etic variation can explain why some children and youth develop antidepressant-induced behavioral adverse effects while others do not,” he explained. The study compares genomic profiles between those who respond well to medication and those who do not. The aim is to provide “a genetics-based tool to aid clinicians in identifying the kids at risk of developing these adverse effects from
Another initiative by Maruf and his team focuses on communication. His team found that patients often have unrealistic expectations and receive unclear explanations about genetic testing. In response, they developed the Pharmacogenomics Communication Tool, which will be published soon. The tool contains best practices for health-care practitioners on how to discuss testing processes and results with patients before and after testing.
Maruf wants to see pharmacogenomic testing become routine in health care, such that test results stored in medical records follow patients across the province.
Right now, it can take approximately 20 years for discoveries to reach the clinic. He highlighted that his team is “among the few groups in Canada working to bring this innovative approach, ‘geneguided medication therapy,’
to daily clinical practice.”
Maruf explained that he regularly receives emails from patients who have used the testing. Many shared that it helped them select the right medication or dosage, while others expressed relief at finally understanding why a particular drug was not suitable for them. “For a scientist, it is a dream come true to see you facilitating something that has made a real impact on patients,” he said.
For Maruf, the research is ultimately about making medicine more personal and precise. “I hope one day we can all have the option to have our genomes sequenced after birth, and the results (with updates) can be stored in our medical records to guide medication therapy when we need them,” he noted.
Encouraging student researchers, Maruf said, “reach out and ask questions [...] If you are interested in pursuing graduate studies in pharmacogenomics, reach out to professors who work in this area (like me).”
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. In Straights, like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a “straight.” A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how “straights” are formed.
Looking at an uncertain future in education
I love learning, but does it love me?
Mikaela Warkentin, staff
A round September every year, my dad often sends me a photo of myself. In the picture, two-yearold Mikaela at the kitchen table, gripping a pencil, with a giant toothless grin, writing something in a notebook. It’s an image that has withstood the test of time— I have always loved to write, and I have unwittingly recreated this image thousands of times from age two to the present day.
This love for writing eventually carried itself into a love for school, and as I grew older, a love for publicly funded education. Living in rural Manitoba, public school bridged the physical gaps between myself and my peers, offering opportunities that would have otherwise gone unexplored. Being in a smaller community presented rich learning opportunities that tended to offer a balanced approach to academia. It might not be for everyone, but it was always an option.
So, when presented with the infinite future that graduating from high school offered, I began university with the intention of becoming a high school teacher. This goal has become flexible over time, with a summer job at the local library expanding my interests to general public education and information. However, regardless of how I want to work within my rural community in the field of public education, shifts in the current cultural and political climates leave me with more uncertainty than answers.
spent a summer working in the library, working with kids and families to make reading a habit over the summer months. This reached a boiling point, to where a petition was passed around the community that outlined that the content the library had on
for public education of every degree, and this discussion and eventual petition left no room for nuance. .
“How can a community that extended such opportunity and warmth to me as a student offer stark vitriol when I stepped into a role enabling education?”
One such worry stems from the ever-looming idea of book bans— The library I worked at for four summers was under fire in the summer of 2022 for books on its Junior Nonfiction shelves relating to sex education and topics relating to 2SLGBTQIA+ identity. At that point, I had already
its shelves constituted “pornography”, and a clear call to action to remove tax dollar funding to the library. Living in a smaller rural community, recognizing names on the petition (which is still public) gutted me. With my time at the library, I had been able to hone in on my passion
Honestly, I developed an aversion to Southern Manitoba in the months following my return to Winnipeg for school— how can a community that extended such opportunity and warmth to me as a student offer stark vitriol when I stepped into a role enabling education?
The same feeling in my gut rises when I examine trends across Canada and the United States in the defunding and chronic underfunding of education systems. This past March, Donald Trump issued an executive order outlining exactly how the American
Department of Education will be dismantled. Specifically, the order pointed to bureaucracy and the Federal student aid program as being proof of a failing education system.
The aftereffect of this decision may be too soon to realize in its entirety, but countless supports and protections in American classrooms relied on the same bureaucracy that Trump claims is ruining education. Looking from the south of the border, and I see a mirrored cultural shift take place in rural Manitoba to remove federal regulation and funding from education.
Seeing similar attitudes toward public education playing out in my hometown is not a surprise, particularly with the rise of homeschooling and private school educations.
Following a drop after the pandemic, homeschooling has been popping up across
Manitoba with a 1.8% raise in the 2023-2024 school year. In the Pembina Valley where I grew up, new private schools are offering a “faith-based alternative” to public schools. When it comes to education, there are as many opinions as there are people you ask about the topic.
Maybe this is pessimistic, but I am afraid for the future of education in the long run.
Cultural shifts in both America and Canada seem to disregard the benefits of standardized education. This is even more scary considering resistance and scrutiny for systems like public libraries that serve everyone. While right now, I’m comfortably in the system of education as a student, I worry about a future where I can return the favour.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MIKAELA WARKENTIN / STAFF
When will I graduate?
The endless pursuit of a degree
Quinn Mayhew, staff
G
raduation — a constant source of misery and concern for me. The idea of needing to have your life figured out enough to know exactly what you want to do after university frightens me.
I have always been a ‘jump first and ask questions later’ kind of person. I often take life one day at a time, never really planning.
Even when I went to Ireland, I never planned out which hostel or hotel I would stay at more than 1 day in advance. Now I know this may give people who like to plan a tad bit of anxiety. But, in all honesty, I have always lived my life in the moment.
When we were young, our parents told us to reach for the
stars, our interests were often encouraged, and the belief that we could do any job we wanted was a supported ideal.
Now, what’s encouraged is to dream realistically and pick a safe career path – one that offers some stability and security, rather than a passionate but risky pursuit.
My problem has always been that I have never had anything figured out, including my schooling. My journey with school has always been unnavigated. Imagine you’re a sailor, but you have no compass and no map and are blindly trusting your instincts.
Due to my own self-destructing habits of never planning, I have trudged through university with a mentality
of figuring out life as you go, which, in retrospect, has definitely led to my extended time at the U of M.
Even though my long sentence served at the U of M has been self-imposed, I always feel disappointed when I see my graduating friends waving on stage while I sit in the sea of people watching, feeling like I am never going to graduate.
It is okay to take a little longer to finish your degree. I’d like to make that clear. There is a misconception that you should finish your degree within four years, and I know a lot of people still believe you should.
In all honesty, it’s challenging to take five classes every semester, as people often opt
to take four to reduce their course load.
According to Statistics Canada, in the 2014-15 school year, 137,271 students between the ages of 15 and 19 years old were in the studied cohort, with an average time spent in an undergraduate program of 4.72 years.
Despite the average time for Canadian students finishing a university degree being closer to five years, there is still an expectation that an undergraduate degree should be completed within four years.
There might be multitudes of reasons why someone may not graduate within the allotted four years. It could be mental health issues, high financial need or family issues. There are varying circum-
stances may prevent someone from finishing a degree in the expected four years.
Maybe expectations are unrealstic because some people view getting a university degree as a twisted form of competition, even though there’s absolutely no award for finishing a degree faster than everyone else.
I think it’s okay not to know exactly where you’re headed in life. Maybe it’s the unpredictability of where you’re heading that makes life so interesting. My advice to anyone reading this column would be to pursue your degree at your own pace, never try to fit into the expectations that others have for you and lose track of what you really want, both in life and in your degree.
GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF
Reclaiming heritage with traditional art
Victoria Day presents Two Ways in Winnipeg studio
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
This Friday, Toronto-based artist Victoria Day will unveil her latest exhibition, Two Ways, in Winnipeg’s Martha Street Studio. The show exhibits Day’s mirrored renditions of traditional Korean art, made to reclaim her heritage and explore what it means to be a visible minority in Canada.
Day was born to a Korean mother and a British Canadian father in England, but she spent most of her life in Canada without being in touch with Korean culture. Her experience as a visible minority in a White community was anything but easy.
“I grew up in entirely White neighbourhoods. In elementary school, I was in a neighbourhood where it was predominantly Polish and Ukrainian,” said Day.
“My brother and I were the only kids in the school, not in our grades, that had black hair. It was a lot. I was ‘China girl’ for the first two weeks.”
“It took until COVID for me to actually start unpacking what it means to be in the diaspora in Canada, but then also to be a visible minority, and then also to be mixed, because there was such a rise in antiAsian sentiment here, Day explained. “That really was the catalyst for a large shift in my practice and what it was about, and now it’s a comfortable way for me to connect to my heritage.”
For Two Ways, Day created mulberry paper screenprints based on Korean dancheong, which are patterns typically used to decorate the roof structures of temples and palaces. Dancheong is an art form that dates back centuries, and it prominently features bold colours such as blue, red, yellow, white and black.
However, Day wanted to
add her own twist to the tradition to reflect her experience as a half-Korean Canadian.
“Everything in the show is displayed in a way where the viewer is forced to use a mirror to properly view it, or to view an aspect of it. There is also a large piece where there’s a mirror involved with the piece itself,” Day said.
“If you have any sort of dysphoria in terms of your body, not just culturally like it is for me but in any sort of way, the mirror becomes an interesting object where it is a love-hate relationship, and it’s an interesting tool to examine the difference between how you see yourself and how other people see yourself, and how you are internally versus externally.”
Lastly, Day reflected on how art can be a therapeutic tool for her to connect with her roots. For example, she pointed out that the meticulous process of dancheong affirmed her cultural identity, and that perhaps her Korean heritage drew her to such detailed, labour-intensive work.
“It’s very cathartic. I think because the work is so personal to me. It is a benefit and it is necessary that I take the time to make it because it allows me to process the idea [and] the emotion behind the work while I’m working on it so that by the end of it I can potentially talk about it,” said Day.
The opening reception for Two Ways will take place at 11 Martha Street at 5 p.m. on Sept. 5 with an artist talk and demonstration on the following day at 1 p.m. The exhibition will conclude on Oct. 10, 2025. Admission is free and open to the public. Follow Victoria Day on Instagram at @artistvictoriaday.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARTHA STREET STUDIO
Getting to know U of M’s Grandmother-in-Residence
Karen
Courchene
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
S tarting in September,
Karen Courchene, also known as Kookum Karen, will lead a series of drumming circles at Migizii Agamik. As U of M’s Grandmother-in-Residence, Courchene also provides students with support to help them navigate university life.
In the drumming circles, Courchene said students will have the opportunity to learn Anishinaabe ceremony songs, such as those sung at sweat lodges and memorials.
“I’m just inviting anyone who wants to come and learn ceremony songs. They are specifically Anishinaabe songs, only the songs that I know,” Courchene said.
“[To] anyone who wants to come and listen [or] learn, you don’t have to have a drum. You just have to have a desire to learn the songs, and then you might find out, ‘hey, I’m a good singer,’” she explained.
Courchene added she did not start the circle because she was a good singer, but it was part of her duty to connect students with traditional teachings. She commented
shares insights on traditional teachings
that Indigenous students often enter U of M without a connection to their cultural identity due to Canada’s colonial history.
“I share teachings that I have learned in my life […] If you don’t have your own sense of your identity, then the narrative that’s built by others becomes your narrative, and often the narrative that’s been built in Canada is not a good one around Indigenous people. If you’re not rooted in your traditional teachings, then Canada is telling you who you are.”
Courchene, whose traditional name means Blue Thundercloud, moved from a reserve to attend U of M in 1979. During her studies, she met a student advisor who helped her find her voice.
“I was just a little 18-yearold girl who didn’t have a voice, and the only thing I had was a belief that I was smart, and then I found the student advisor ,” said Courchene.
“He helped me to be okay with being smart, first thing and foremost, and [to] be okay with raising my voice. And then in the hard moments,
just to be there and listen to me when I vented […] Often I was the only Indigenous student in those classrooms, so it was often lonely and could be difficult.”
Courchene returned to U of M last year to help students succeed, now with firsthand experience of being an Indigenous university student. In addition to drumming circles, the Grandmother-in-Residence lives up
to her title by being an encouraging voice to students.
“[I am] a support person, someone you can come and talk to, someone you can find comfort [in]. Maybe even a cheerleader, because that one person who made a difference for me, gave me a sense of my identity, a sense of what I was capable of. He cheered me on,” Courchene said.
Courchene takes on the role of a grandparent for students
at the U of M. “If I think of my grandmother and what she did for me, I’m hoping I can do a little bit of that for the students here.”
The first drumming circle of the academic year will take place on Sept. 19 in Migizii Agamik’s Circle Room at 2 p.m. Contact isc@umanitoba. ca for further information.
PHOTO BY MIKAELA WARKENTIN / STAFF
Bisons women’s soccer and men’s football teams
Both teams opened the 2025 season with losses
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The Bison’s women’s soccer team opened the 2025 season with a 3-1 loss to MacEwan Griffins.
MacEwan Griffins made an early attempt for goal, with Alyx Henderson firing a shot in the sixth minute [6:59] that was stopped by Bisons goalkeeper Holly Dyker.
Nearly four minutes later, MacEwan Griffins got on the board as Raeghan McCarthy converted a penalty in the 10th minute to open the scoring.
The Bisons came close to equalizing in the 15th minute when Breyanna Johnston-Krulicki’s shot struck the crossbar. At 19:59, she had another opportunity, but her shot went higher.
Taryn Cabak tested MacEwan Griffins goalkeeper Sabrina Alexander with a shot in the 21st minute, but Alexander was equal to the task. Six minutes later, Bison’s Mia Fonseca’s header was also denied by goalie Alexander, keeping the Bisons off the scoresheet.
At the half-hour mark [30:28], Brynn Hobal tested the Bisons goalkeeper Dyker with a shot, but Dyker made the save. About a minute later, at 31:59, with Hobal’s assist, MacEwan Griffins doubled their lead and McCarthy found the back of the net — her second goal of the match and season. MacEwan Griffins intensified their offensive push between the 38th and 43rd minutes, with several attempts on goal. Despite the pressure, the Bisons stayed composed and successfully kept them at check.
In the final two minutes of the first half, both teams pressed for a breakthrough, but their efforts were denied. The half ended with MacEwan Griffins holding a 2–0 advantage.
In the early stages of the second half [50:00 to 58:38], both the Bisons and MacEwan Griffins showed attacking intent, creating chances. However, several shots were either wide or blocked by defenders.
In the 59th minute, MacEwan Griffins extended their lead to 3–0 as Henderson found the net, finishing off an assist from Paige Colby.
Following the goal, both teams made a series of substitutions in an effort to adjust tactics and introduce fresh energy into the match.
For the Bisons, Tabata Bravo came on for Taleesa Minnaar in the 63rd minute and later delivered a consolation goal in the 81st minute,
with an assist from Sydney Arnold.
MacEwan Griffins maintained their composure to secure a 3–1 victory to close
out the game.
In the second game of the series on Saturday, Aug. 30, the Bisons fell 3–1 once again to the MacEwan Griffins.
Football
The Bisons men’s football team (0-1) was defeated 21-9 by the UBC Thunderbirds (1-0)
in the season opener.
Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the first quarter, which ended scoreless at 0-0.
In the second quarter, the UBC Thunderbirds took a 7-0 lead at the 10:19 mark when Edgerrin Williams-Hernandez caught a 12-yard pass from Drew Viotto. They extended their advantage to 14-0 with just 20 seconds remaining, as Williams-Hernandez had a 37-yard pass from Viotto.
Bison’s Maya Turner connected on a 23-yard field goal late in the third quarter, putting the team on the board and narrowing the deficit to 14-3 for the Bison’s at the 0:56 mark.
At the 9:10 mark of the fourth quarter, Jackson Tachinski made a one-yard run to set the score at 14-9, but the Thunderbirds extended their lead to 21-9 after Trey Montour received a 4-yard pass from Derek Engel at 04:58.
The Bisons soccer team will play Regina Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7 in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The Bisons football team will play Calgary Dinos on Friday, Sept. 5 in Calgary, Alberta.
Alex Minor completes double Ironman
Racing to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
A lex Minor has stated that he took on the double Ironman challenge to raise both funds and awareness for mental health.
“I just wanted to challenge myself and showcase it can be done,” said Minor. His race is raising funds for Movember, a men’s mental health charity, and there will be a documentary following his journey. He added, “I’m really interested in […] the mental journey that a man has to go through.”
Minor commented on the current state of mental health. He highlighted its growing importance and the need for greater awareness. “Lots of men struggle with it and nobody talks about it […] This is just showcasing that a little bit more.”
Minor outlined the starting and finishing points of the event, providing a clear overview of the route he completed. His race was “a double Ironman-distance triathlon throughout all of Manitoba, trying to showcase the beauty of Manitoba and some of the landmarks and highlights in Manitoba and the city of Winnipeg.”
He continued, “First, it was a 7.6 kilometer swim. It started in Lake Winnipeg. So, that was hard.” Next, he biked for 360 kilometers, passing through Selkirk, Beausejour and Steinbach. The bike portion ended with laps on the TransCanada Highway. Afterwards,
Minor ran around Winnipeg for 84.4 kilometers.
He broke down the time it took to complete the double Ironman. “It took me 36 hours and 47 minutes. It was a nonstop event […] The swim took me 3 hours and 17 minutes, and then, we went right into the bike, which took me 17 hours and 36 minutes. And then, the run took me […] 13 hours and 42 minutes[…] And the other time I counted for in the 36 hours and 47 minutes was just the transition between the swim to the bike and then the bike to the run. So, yes, it took a long time. Not fast, but got it done.”
He recounted his experience participating in the double Ironman triathlon, reflecting on the physical challenges he faced throughout the event. “It was frustrating at times. It started with the swim. — in other triathlons and Ironman events, you’re in there with hundreds of people in the water, so it’s pretty chaotic. In this swim, it was in Lake Winnipeg in the morning. Nobody was there. It was pretty peaceful, actually. So, I really enjoyed that. I had a lot of time to think. So, that was nice. But then the bike was frustrating because we were into a headwind for the first nine hours, and it was just frustrating going so slow.”
Despite the challenges, Minor stated that he has no plans of slowing down, revealing he wants to embark on
a 100-mile race and climb Mount Everest in the future. “I want to do more of these [challenges]. I don’t know if I’ll do a double Ironman again. People think I’m crazy. I want to do more. I want to do maybe a tri-
ple, maybe a quadruple Ironman, see what I can’t do. But what next I want to do is a 100mile race, which is very popular, [and] one day I do want to climb Everest […] I’m just looking to challenge myself in
any way possible.”
Alex Minor’s Movember donation page can be found online at ca.movember.com/ mospace/15362751.
