vol 107, iss 05, September 16, 2020

NEWS

New reason to stretch gaming muscles 3D-printed devices give affordable options for physical rehab

COMMENT

SPORTS

Football futures

Bursting bubbles

Rookie Bison talks

COVID-19 puts Canada’s housing market at risk

training

PAGE 12

PAGE 7

ARTS AND CULTURE

Layers of blue Gabriel Roberts Manitoban winner of BMO 1st Art! competition PAGE 9

VO L 1 0 7 · N O 0 5 · S e p t e m b e r 1 6 , 2 0 2 0 · W W W.T H EM A N I TO B A N .CO M

PAGE 4

Index

2

VOL. 107 NO. 05 September 16, 2020

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matthew Doering

editor@themanitoban.com / 590.6446

BUSINESS MANAGER Alice Teufack

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Diego Castro

ads@themanitoban.com / 881.0663

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Ty Brass

me@themanitoban.com

NEWS EDITOR Amira Tekle

amira@themanitoban.com

NEWS EDITOR Gillian Brown

gillian@themanitoban.com

COMMENT EDITOR Lucas Edmond

comment@themanitoban.com

ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Shaylyn Maharaj-Poliah

arts@themanitoban.com

SPORTS EDITOR Isaiah Wagner

sports@themanitoban.com

RESEARCH & TECH EDITOR Sarah Doran

research@themanitoban.com

COPY EDITOR Ursula Chojko-Bolec

copy@themanitoban.com

DESIGN

DESIGN EDITOR Joshua Wesey

design@themanitoban.com

GRAPHICS EDITOR Jenelle McCann

graphics@themanitoban.com

VISUAL COMM. DEVELOPER Evan Tremblay

evan@themanitoban.com

NEWS

School’s out

Professors join Scholar Strike Canada teach-in, strike for racial justice in academia

AUDIO AND VIDEO

PAGE 5

PHOTO EDITOR Alex Decebal-Cuza

visual@themanitoban.com

AUDIO EDITOR Tino Hove

audio@themanitoban.com

VIDEO EDITOR Nish Joshi

video@themanitoban.com

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Kathy Dinh

social@themanitoban.com

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS

Zoe LeBrun, Volunteer Staff Claire Pankiw Dominique Wightman

A “volunteer staff” member is defined as a person who has had three volunteer articles, photographs, or pieces of art of reasonable length and/or substance published in three different issues of the current publishing year of the Manitoban. Any individual who qualifies must be voted in by a majority vote at a Manitoban staff meeting. Elected representatives and non-students may be excluded from holding votes as volunteer staff members in accordance with the Manitoban Constitution.

The Manitoban is the official student newspaper of the University of Manitoba. It is published monthly during the summer and each week of regular classes during the academic year by the Manitoban Newspaper Publica-

tions Corporation.

The Manitoban is an independent and democratic student organization, open to participation from all students. It exists to serve its readers as students and citizens.

The newspaper’s primary mandate is to report fairly and objectively on issues and events of importance and interest to the students of the University of Manitoba, to provide an open forum for the free expression and exchange of opinions and ideas, and to stimulate meaningful debate on issues that affect or would otherwise be of interest to the student body and/or society in general. The Manitoban serves as a training ground for students interested in any aspect of journalism.Students and other interested parties are in-

vited to contribute to any section of the newspaper. Please contact the appropriate editor for submission guidelines. The Manitoban reserves the right to edit all submissions and will not publish any material deemed by its editorial board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or transphobic, ableist or libellous. Opinions expressed in letters and articles are solely those of the authors. Editorials in the Manitoban are signed and represent the opinions of the writer(s), not necessarily those of the Manitoban staff, Editorial Board, or the publisher.

All contents are ©2020 and may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Yearly subscriptions to the Manitoban are available for $40.

MANITOBAN 109 HELEN GLASS U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A N I TO B A WINNIPEG, MB R3T 2N2

GENERAL INQUIRIES & ADVERTISING Phone: (204) 474.6535 Fax: (204) 474.7651 Email: manitoban@themanitoban.com FREE MEDIA: CAMPUS PLUS MEDIA SERVICES Phone: 1.780.421.1000 Email: advertise@free-media.ca

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #589160

3

News

News Editors: Gillian Brown and Amira Tekle Contact: gillian@themanitoban.com amira @themanitoban.com

Faculty of health sciences approves anti-racism policy Trailblazing policy sets out framework for anti-racism education AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA

T

he U of M’s Rady faculty of health the U of M’s office of human rights sciences (RFHS) approved the and conflict management. first anti-racism policy of any kind The policy defines racism in its to exist in a Canadian post-secondary various forms and offers commitinstitution on Aug. 25. ments and requirements for educaThe creation of the disruption of tion and learning within the faculty all forms of racism policy was led by to curb racism.

Brian Postl, dean of the RFHS the faculty’s office of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) anti-racism and vice-provost (health sciences), said in a message posted online that working group.

The working group included Delia “each of us needs to recognize existing Douglas, RFHS anti-racism prac- racism within our faculty and to take tice lead; vice-dean (Indigenous) responsibility to eliminate all forms Marcia Anderson; director of EDI of racism, to promote safe work and Jackie Gruber; members from learning environments free of racism Ongomiizwin, RFHS Indigenous and to intervene when witnessing any institute of health and healing; the racism.”

Douglas helped create the policy RFHS’s office of professionalism and

as the faculty’s anti-racism practice lead. She began working in her current position in September 2019.

She said the groundwork on the policy began about a decade ago with “a study on the experiences of Indigenous learners.”

“Over the years, there has been consultation with Indigenous learners — and in my 11 months I met with Indigenous learners, members of the Black medical students’ association, racialized learners and the student governance and senior sticks from the various colleges of [RFHS],” Douglas said.

“Discussions with Indigenous, Black and racialized learners reveal how racial discrimination, harassment, vilification and racism are manifest in the organizational culture, hidden curriculum, policies and processes, bystanders and educators.

“The creation of this policy is based on the fact that Indigenous, Black and racialized learners do not feel safe accessing current structures.”

She said the creation of the policy shows that the U of M is prioritizing anti-racism work.

“The creation of an anti-racism policy signals that racism is a key concern of the university and evidence of its commitment to building an inclusive and [safe] community that has zero tolerance for racism, and where all are valued equally and treated with

dignity and respect.”

The policy is far-reaching and addresses reporting mechanisms for incidents of racism and historical injustices that have been enacted upon Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC).

“Crucially, the policy is an affirmation of the humanity, rights, dignity and safety of BIPOC students, staff and faculty” — Delia Douglas, RFHS antiracism practice lead “The disruption of all forms of racism policy outlines the myriad manifestations of racism that exist in the RFHS and outlines procedures for the reporting and disruption of racism,” Douglas said.

“In addition, the policy is an affirmation of the histories of dispossession, enslavement, genocide and their legacies and ongoing settler-colonial projects.”

“Crucially, the policy is an affirmation of the humanity, rights, dignity

and safety of BIPOC students, staff and faculty.”

Training and education are an integral part of the implementation of the policy. This includes the launching of an anti-racism website in the future.

“We are beginning with an online module that offers an overview of the policy, and this will be followed by a module on receiving disclosures,” Douglas said.

She said that racism is a problem not only at the U of M and within the RFHS but a problem that permeates post-secondary institutions across Canada.

“The prioritization of racism is important because racism is entrenched in our day-to-day lives, including in our policies and practices at the university,” Douglas said.

She said she would like to see more policies like the one at the RFHS enacted at other schools and faculties.

“Given that there is no place to stand outside of racism, I hope to see other faculties and universities follow the Rady faculty’s lead, as the widespread creation and implementation of anti-racism policies would be an important step in support of ongoing struggles for social change and social justice, of which the university is but a part.”

Part-time enrolment spikes despite fee hike, pandemic

Supports in place to help new students begin studies remotely GILLIAN BROWN, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY JENELLE MCCANN

D

espite the increasing tuition costs and shift to remote learning amid a pandemic, a preliminary 2020 fall term report states that the U of M has seen a sharp increase in enrolment compared to the 2018 and 2019 fall terms.

Total enrolment this year saw a 3.7

per cent increase from 2019 following a 2.3 per cent increase the year before.

Undergraduate enrolment in fall 2020 saw an increase of 4.2 per cent, 1.9 percentage points greater than the increase in 2019, but the sharpest increase is part-time enrolment at 18.2 per cent higher than last year, bring-

ing the number of part-time students at the university to 4,828.

These enrolment numbers follow the university’s decision to increase student tuition by an average of 3.75 per cent beginning this fall for both domestic and international students.

The tuition plan was developed about a year earlier by Todd Mondor, deputy provost (academic planning and programs), who, after the one per cent reduction in the university’s operating grant from the province, said the increase was a necessary step.

Executive director of student engagement and academic success Brandy Usick said that while remote learning “can be challenging for some, for others it’s quite welcomed” because of the increased accessibility for those who may struggle balancing classes with other commitments.

She said many students have been taking longer to complete their degree programs, and that may be connected to the ongoing increase in part-time enrolment.

“It might be that [students] choose to take a reduced course load because of other commitments, or because they want to get their footing before

they take on a full course load to see if they can make that transition successfully,” Usick said.

a “huge collective effort is being made to deliver the best possible learning under challenging circumstances and to align opportunities for students with labour market needs.”

“From our perspective, it’s wantThe sharpest ing to ensure that we’re here to proincrease is partvide support to students — whether they’re full time or part time and time enrolment at whatever their personal situation 18.2 per cent higher is — in terms of helping them with that traditional transition from high than last year school to university, but also given [COVID-19], helping them with transitioning into that remote learnWhen looking at enrolment, ing environment,” Usick said.

Usick said the university’s traditional She said that in efforts to provide demographic is recent high school support for new students, the univergraduates and students aged 17 to 21, sity 1 first year centre has been able because for many students, “it’s just to transition all programs online. the normal trajectory, or what they The centre has done additional see to be their trajectory.” work through UM Commons and University of Manitoba presi- through new programs like prep week dent and vice-chancellor Michael designed to familiarize new students Benarroch said “even during these with the university. uncertain times, more students are registering for courses because they want to secure a meaningful future for themselves.”

He continued to say that the U of M is prepared for the challenges, and

4

News

News Editors: Gillian Brown and Amira Tekle Contact: gillian@themanitoban.com amira@themanitoban.com

Research and technology

Video games are the future of telerehabilitation

New devices track physical therapy progress from a distance SARAH DORAN, STAFF

working on larger arm movements.

“The computer games are actually assessment tools,” Szturm said.

“When you’re doing movements in a computer game, I’m capturing your movements in the context of what they’re supposed to do, and I can come up with all kinds of motor

not available for general sale. Szturm, while adamant that the motion mouse is a medical device, explained that affordability was a driving force in the mouse’s design.

“The therapy has to be effective,” he said.“But the critical issue is — how much would it cost to give them tools that they can take home to do these effective exercises? […] These “The computer robotic devices and these sophisticated Kinect programs, they’re 10, games are actually 15, 20, 40, 50 thousand dollars. How assessment tools” — many people, the average stroke cliTony Szturm, physical ent, are they going to be able to afford that for their home?” therapy professor Working with Nariman Sepehri of the U of M’s mechanical engineering department and a team of and cognitive outcomes. graduate students, Szturm has also PHOTO PROVIDED BY TONY SZTURM “I can see what they’ve done, I can created a manipulandum — an object see how well they did it and if they that is manipulated physically while Inexpensive options to monitor physical rehabilitation progress, like the movement-tracking manipulandum, allow physical therapists to provide at-home care. are progressing.” testing motor skills— that looks Szturm recently worked exten- like an orange box a little smaller he rehabilitation and physical to attach to anything from the brim amplitude, some small amplitude sively with Sanjay Parmar of the than a box of tissues with prongs therapy process is difficult for of a hat to a modified game control- — the game activities are going to SDM College of Medical Sciences for attachments on the top and sides. long-term patients. Appointments ler, depending on what the physical be randomized. I can add precision and Hospital in Dharwad, India to The team can attach a wide variety can number in the hundreds and the therapist wants to track. While the by decreasing the paddle size, so the trial the motion mouse with 80 chil- of 3D-printed handles specific to the cost of care is often steep — not to patient completes what Szturm calls beauty of a computer game is that not dren between three and eight years kinds of exercises the patient is doing, mention the mental aspect of strug- “game-assisted repetitive task practice,” only are you doing movements, you’re old, but Szturm and Parmar’s work as well as adjusting the resistance to gling with repetitive, uninteresting the motion mouse records how fluid doing precision movements.” is not the first to link video game the patient’s needs. exercises. the action is and how long it takes He added that while any game technology to telerehabilitation. The The two devices are used sepaThe U of M’s Tony Szturm, a pro- to complete. can be adapted as an exercise, differ- Xbox 360’s Kinect — which uses the rately. The motion mouse collects fessor in the Rady faculty of health Some 500 games have been tested ent games will be more appropriate player’s physical movements in the data on the patient’s movements sciences’ department of physical ther- with the motion mouse, and the to the different skills patients want real world to control their avatar in while attached to something else, apy, has developed a device to solve availability of video games makes to restore. Szturm works with many a game — has been repurposed for while the manipulandum allows the those problems. He and his team rehabilitation more engaging for patients looking to improve their remote observation as well. However, use of a specifically designed object have created a miniature motion- the patient while also generating a fine and gross motor skills, but also Szturm argued that having real- to interact with. Together, the two tracking wireless mouse that provides lot of data. patients with cognitive, balance and world objects to grip and manipulate devices represent a major step forward real-time data to physical therapists “In three minutes of playing a com- visual tracking impairments. Some is much more useful to the patient’s in at-home care. while the patient plays video games puter game, they’re going to make patients may benefit from practicing progress than reacting to the screen.

The manipulandum will soon enter at home. hundreds and hundreds of move- dexterity and tracking in games like At $400, the motion mouse’s price clinical trials before it is approved for The motion mouse is the size of a ments,” Szturm said.

Bejeweled, while others find joystick is broadly comparable to current general physical therapy use, with an “Some fast, some slow, some large games like Pac-Man more useful for major video game consoles, but it’s estimated cost between $500 and $700. flash drive, which means that it’s easy

T

UMSU offering subsidy to offset transit costs The U-Pass program is not in effect during the fall term AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

Eligibility requirements to access the subsidy include proof of financial need and demonstrated need to attend campus regularly for mandatory in-person classes PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA

U

MSU is offering a transit subsidy to some students who purchase a post-secondary pass for the fall semester.

No U-Pass is being offered this fall term due to the majority of courses

being offered remotely. A minority of classes and labs are being offered in person on U of M campuses.

Given that no U-Pass is being offered this term, UMSU is seeking to bridge the financial gap between

the cost of the U-Pass and the cost of a post-secondary pass.

The U-Pass comes at a cost of $200 per term, while the post-secondary pass costs $278 per term. Typically, the U-Pass is mandatory for most

students and included in each term’s fee statement.

In a statement posted on social media, UMSU said the transit subsidy has been “created to assist stu-

dents in need.”

“With the majority of the upcoming term proceeding remotely, UMSU recognizes that there remain students who are burdened by the $78 and have no other reasonable way to attend their academic commitments which remain in-person,” UMSU said in a statement.

Eligibility requirements to access the subsidy include proof of financial need and demonstrated need to attend campus regularly for mandatory in-person classes.

For graduate students, the U of M graduate students’ association states on its website that it is “currently looking into how to assist students who may not be able to afford the extra cost [of a post-secondary pass].”

Application information for UMSU’s transit subsidy will be made available online in the coming weeks.

VOL. 107 NO. 05 September 16, 2020

News

5

Some classes cancelled for virtual scholar strike

Calls to action include BIPOC representation, mentorship in academia GILLIAN BROWN, STAFF

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KELECHI (K.P. OBINNA) ASAGWARA

Earlier this year the Black Lives Matter movement, which includes events like the June 5 rally in Winnipeg pictured, began drawing attention to systemic racism. The scholar strike, held virutally Sept. 9 and 10, saw some classes either cancelled or replaced by in-class discussions. The strike movement began with University of Pennsylvania professor Anthea Butler who tweeted Aug. 26 “I would be down as a professor to follow the NBA and Strike for a few days to protest police violence in America.”

U

nderrepresentation in academia among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) students and faculty is nothing new, but last Wednesday and Thursday, academics across Canada and the U.S. took a stand against it.

Either by in-class discussion or striking, several U of M professors and faculty participated in Scholar Strike Canada, a two-day virtual teach-in created to protest “racist, carceral, institutional and systemic forms of violence” that affect BIPOC scholars in academia.

The campaign originated from a tweet by Anthea Butler, a professor in the department of Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania calling for labour action similar to the recent striking of professional sports players in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

One of the faculty members at the U of M who signed an online statement of support for the strike was labour studies professor Julie Guard, who emphasized the importance of the virtual campaign held in Canada.

“We have a tendency to think about ourselves as immune to racism

because we compare ourselves to the movements, there needs to be both Indigenous faculty in all Canadian you.”

[U.S.], but certainly, as a Canadian broad support from people and a “sus- institutions” and “supporting mean“As a Black person myself that historian, it’s pretty clear to us that tained life” of the movement. ingful efforts to recruit, admit, retain has been through academia […] we’re not immune,” she said.

The organizers of the strike cor- and mentor” racialized undergradu- sometimes I am not sure [if I want The Canadian strike, like its roborate this, maintaining that “state- ate and graduate students. to finish my degree] because of the U.S. counterpart, calls for an end to ments of solidarity, while important, At the U of M, that’s what assis- barriers I know I will face when facanti-Black police violence, but has are not enough.” tant professor in the school of art ing anti-Blackness from not only my a specific emphasis on colonial vioIn the effort to end violence Daniel McCafferty has been trying classmates but from the very people lence against Indigenous people in against BIPOC in academia, the to do with his Indigenous design in that are supposed to be educating me,” academia. strike urges participants to commit residence program, which he hopes Cuff said.

Guard said that since the pan- to supporting demands to defund will show students that “personal valCuff was one of the leaders of demic “the ues [and] personal Justice 4 Black Lives Winnipeg, the online prespolitics can align organization that led the rally in sup“As a Black person myself that has been through with ence just got their practices.” port of Black lives on June 5 which a whole lot academia […] sometimes I am not sure [if I want “It’s important to garnered more than 15,000 supporters more active.” have such models, at the legislature. to finish my degree] because of the barriers I Online because they’re not Guard said events like that are activism is the dominant mode how change is made. know I will face when facing anti-Blackness not new to of practice in the “Ordinary people have to impel our from not only my classmates but from the very world — they are political leaders, our legislators, our Canada, but in the time not easy to support community leaders and so on, to take people that are supposed to be educating me” or of social dissustain.” the action that we want them to take — Mahlet Cuff, activist and U of W student tancing, “it’s University of […] That’s how politics works, right? a lot more Winnipeg student That’s how legislation works.” necessary,” and activist Mahlet “It just enrages people,” she said. according to Guard. police and redistribute the funds to Cuff can attest to the underrepresen“Sometimes, for inexplicable rea“We can only use the tools we marginalized communities and to tation at the U of W. sons in history, the stars just kind of have to hand, and one of those is the remove campus police.

Cuff said that “to be a BIPOC align, and people are ready to take a internet.”

Calls to action also include person within a white institution is stand on something and just say, ‘This She said in order to turn single addressing the “historic and current terrifying because […] you will most is enough,’ and I think this looks like events like the strike into social underrepresentation of Black and likely not see people that look like it’s one of those moments.”

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Matthew Doering Contact: editor@themanitoban.com

6

Inclusivity suffers when laptops banned in classrooms

Professors should not mandate a no-computer clause in their classes SARAH DORAN, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY JENELLE MCCANN

F

all classes have kicked off the The study suggested that the use of University of Manitoba’s aca- laptops results in a shallower underdemic year once again, but this standing of lectures due to a tendency semester looks a bit different — pro- of students to take notes from a professors are going over syllabi using fessor’s lecture verbatim instead of Cisco Webex and Zoom instead of in being forced to adapt notes in order lecture halls, students are griping over to take them down more efficiently. unmuted mics instead of crowded This is nonsensical. buses and the normally bustling camAs anyone who’s ever tried to puses are unusually quiet. take detailed, verbatim notes in a One of the most encouraging university-level lecture can testify, changes, however, is less dramatic the rate at which professors speak than the rest. far outpaces the rate at which most For once, not a single professor people can type. has banned the use of laptops in their In fact, when the U of M’s Student classes. Admittedly, that’s because Accessibility Services office hires laptops and computers effectively are transcriptionists to provide wordthe classrooms now. for-word transcriptions of lectures, Even so, making laptops a more they are usually assigned in pairs permanent education tool when and switch off. This is because typclasses return to campus would be a ing that quickly is exhausting and one welcome development. person alone simply cannot manage Professors often cite a 2014 the speed. study by Pam Mueller of Princeton In addition, many professors use University and Daniel Oppenheimer PowerPoint as a visual aid while of the University of California, Los delivering their lectures.

Angeles as precedent for requirWhen students taking notes by ing students to take notes by hand. hand are presented with a summary

of a professor’s lectures and have limited time to write down information, what motivation do they have to use

Sure, a student can get their instructor’s permission to use a laptop anyway, but it comes at the cost of being noticeably different from the rest of their classmates their own words?

Laptop bans are also unnecessarily ableist.

The U of M prides itself on supporting students who need academic accommodations, but it’s hard to see this as anything but lip service when

professors are allowed to forbid com- considering this from their own puters, which are a vital part of many perspective, not the perspective of students’ accommodation plans. Sure, other students. At the end of the day, a student can get their instructor’s students pay a lot of money to attend permission to use a laptop anyway, classes. The goal is to pass the course. but it comes at the cost of being If a given student chooses not to pay noticeably different from the rest of attention during a lecture, that’s their their classmates. problem. It will no doubt show in Is an opinion about learning styles, their final grade. however well-researched, more To denounce the misuse of comimportant than a student’s right to puters during class time is one thing, privacy? No one should be put in the but to ban computers altogether position of having to disclose dis- alienates students who rely on them. abilities without their consent.

There is no logic in penalizing entire Professors who follow accommo- classes, present and future, for the dation plans while instituting policies misbehaviour of previous students. that all but announce any deviation With the COVID-19 pandemic from the abled neurotypical norm are pushing at least the fall 2020 semester essentially telling students from the online, the U of M should take this very first week that they matter less opportunity to put an end to laptop than the professor’s feelings. bans.

But wait, professors cry — what After all, the alternative is once about students who play games, more forbidding students to type watch videos and message people their notes after months of requirduring class? Surely even other stu- ing a computer to attend class. If the dents can understand how that would university really wants to be front and be distracting. centre, now is not the time to take a The problem is, professors are step back.

7

Comment Comment Editor: Lucas Edmond Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

Canadian housing market’s foundation is cracking Universal housing voucher program provides path forward for low-income renters LUCAS EDMOND, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY JENELLE MCCANN

P

rovincial eviction bans across ers in a highly precarious leveraged more livable cities have been able to that they have relied on since the Canada have begun to end. The position with big banks. maintain payments on their leases first imaginings of private property bans were initially adopted as a Canadians owe over $2 trillion in with the help of the CERB, many — a system that makes it remarkably response to the economic shut-down consumer debt and since 2008 our renters in high-cost cities like easy to evict tenants who have made induced by COVID-19. debt spending has risen 80 per cent. Toronto, Ont. or Vancouver, B.C. a home out of a rental property. So, These bans, along with income The housing market was not have fallen behind on payments due expect landlords to act on eviction support from the Canadian excluded from this spendthrift. to unsustainably high rental costs that when they can.

With an economic outlook as disEmergency Response Benef it Landlords from across the country the CERB simply cannot account for.

(CERB), have maintained the integ- took out loans to expand the quanIn this scenario, many tenants mal as this, it is time to re-imagine rity of the housing market during the tity of their rental properties, thereby have been left to the mercy of their housing as a fundamental human pandemic. inflating the housing market, rents landlords.

But with COVID-19 still in full and mortgages and effectively conAs debt deferrals end in October, swing and eviction bans being lifted, tributing to unsustainable growth in just as most eviction moratoriums With an economic it could spell bad news for low- the housing sector. And now, more will have ended, landlords will likely outlook as dismal income renters and potentially the than ever, the Canadian economy be less willing to understand a missed Canadian economy. is reliant on its housing market for payment under the pressure of their as this, it is time to While the U.S. was plunged into a growth. mortgages. re-imagine housing housing crisis in 2007 — which subThe real estate sector took up Even more nerve-racking, a recent sequently turned into the financial approximately 15 per cent of Canada’s report published by the Canadian as a fundamental crisis — Canada had a slightly dif- annual gross domestic product in Alliance to End Homelessness sugferent experience.

2019 — this does not include the gested one in four Canadian renters human right and Although Canada certainly felt collateral industries involved in are worried about affording rent. entrench with it reverberations from the financial making the housing market’s gears But evicting tenants could very collapse — after all, when the U.S. turn. Industries like nail production, well undermine landlords’ means to mechanisms to sneezes, the world catches a cold — lumber for framing or minerals for afford their mortgage. protect the most our housing market was relatively foundation rely on growth in the real A large chunk of renters nowadays unscathed. estate sector in order to maintain their includes young workers in precarious vulnerable sectors The U.S.’s housing market simply economic integrity — and so does a employment scenarios — the very of society and acted as the catalyst for a more severe vast labour market. demographic that has been most financial meltdown.

Considering how indebted the affected by lost hours or work from the economy As a result, when the financial housing market is at the moment, if COVID-19. And in this unique collapse was felt across the border, individuals stop paying rent due to scenario, there may not be enough Canada looked to monetarily stimu- unemployment, Canada could be in demand to meet the supply of dwelllate the economy by lowering already for a massive economic meltdown ings that will be made available when right and entrench with it mechaincredibly low interest rates. These that sends shockwaves throughout evictions begin. nisms to protect the most vulnerable lowered interest rates increased bor- the country.

Nonetheless, landlords have a sectors of society and the economy. rowing but effectively placed borrowAlthough many renters in smaller, playbook of judicially backed power Establishing a universal housing

voucher program would be a solid place to start and could bring an equilibrium to the private housing market.

This system suggests that anybody under a baseline income level would be eligible for subsidized rent to live anywhere. Under such a system, government administrators would set fair rents based on the quality of the home to prevent landlords from exploiting renters. Tenants would be expected to dedicate 30 per cent of their monthly incomes to rent with government vouchers subsidizing the rest.

This program would effectively provide security to renters, affordable housing in high-cost areas and would regulate the greed of the private housing market. Evictions would become an abnormal occurrence and the precarity of an increasingly volatile market would be stabilized by guaranteed payments.

The Canadian housing market is treading dangerous waters with COVID-19.

If landlords want to maintain their privileged position in the economy, they would do well to exchange a piece of their profit for stability with the universal housing voucher program.

Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Shaylyn Maharaj-Poliah Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

8

Local theatre festival resumes performances Enhanced safety procedures in effect for FemFest 2020 live performances SHAYLYN MAHARAJ-POLIAH, STAFF

abide by the province’s health and safety procedures.

One such event includes livestreamed screenings of Montreal

The goals of the festival include showcasing women playwrights and emerging theatre artists as well as providing a platform to address femalecentred social issues

W

ith the fourth phase of Manitoba’s pandemic plan for restoring safe spaces allowing for live stage performances to resume with limited capacity and physical distancing measures, the show will go on for Sarasvàti Productions’ annual feminist theatre festival, FemFest, one of the first live theatre events to occur in Winnipeg since the March closures.

While having humble beginnings back in 2003 as a small event meant to showcase female playwrights and their work, FemFest has grown into a

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SARASVATI PRODUCTIONS

full-scale festival, garnering national attention and featuring diverse lineups of female and non-binary theatre artists from across Canada and all over the world.

The goals of the festival include showcasing women playwrights and emerging theatre artists as well as providing a platform to address female-centred social issues through performance art, installations, music and dance.

The theme for this year’s festival is “engaging community,” which the

biographical show that provides commentary on Canada’s multiculturalism. Through incorporating dance, song, projections and audience participation, the audience joins the protagonist on her journey of selfdiscovery. The piece stars Waisvisz as herself and was directed by Eleanor Crowder. The performance will be streamed from Sept. 23 to 25.

In addition to providing different viewing options for events to adhere to health and safety protocols, Sarasvàti Productions is also implementing a digital self-declaration form for guests to fill out if physically attending a performance.

Other measures include timed arrival slots, so as not to exceed lobby capacity for indoor performances, a new refund policy to allow for lastminute ticket cancellations if guests are experiencing symptoms, mask requirements for all staff and volunteers as well as cashless concession and ticket sales.

Tickets for this year’s festival are $15 for single shows and $50 for festival passes.

organizers aim to do through workshops for novice and veteran thea- playwright Alexandria Haber’s Alice tre practitioners to hone their skills, and the World We Live In, starring develop new projects and attend local powerhouse performers Elena lectures delivered by experts in the Anciro and Ray Strachan. The play field. These events are not limited to chronicles a woman’s struggles as she theatre folk, however, and Sarasvàti tries to cope with the loss of a loved hopes for everyone to enjoy the magic one. Screenings will take place both of theatre safely, despite these unpre- online and in a socially distanced dictable times. manner at Assiniboine Park on Sept. FemFest 2020: Engaging What’s different about this year’s 23, 25 and 26.

Community runs from Sept. 19 to offerings is that the festival is adoptAnother show featured via lives- 26. For more information on the ing a hybrid approach and advertises treaming only, Monstrous, by Sarah festival schedule and COVID-19 both in-person and online events to Waisvisz, is a one-woman auto- protocols, visit sarasvati.ca.

New Indigenous series premieres this fall Manitoban songwriters, directors and stories featured in several documentary episodes CLAIRE PANKIW

“By narrowing that story and those big ideas down to a single person, then you’re now feeling that this work and these ideas are not just stats,

A

PTN’s original documentary series Amplify aired its pilot and second episode Sept. 11. Pre-filmed in the spring and summer of 2018, new episodes will air weekly in English and Ojibwa.

This new show provides a platform for some of the country’s most innovative rising Indigenous singersongwriters to combine their personal stories with Indigenous history and culture and showcase the music that comes from it.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TAO PR

Each episode of the creative anthology invites an Indigenous songwriter to write a song about something inspirational — such as an art piece or belief — and ends with a music video of the finished song.

The series was created by Ottawaborn Shane Belcourt, a Métis musician and filmmaker known for his feature films Red Rover and Tkaronto.

Since, in Indigenous cultures, traditional songs pass down histories, life lessons and philosophies from previ-

ous generations, Belcourt believes music is the glue that holds these communities together.

Belcourt tapped into songwriters he believes are open, articulate and fearless storytellers. The audience gets the opportunity to see how these songwriters view a particular Indigenous issue.

“We called it ‘Amplify’ because the series amplifies Indigenous music, Indigenous stories and Indigenous perceptions,” Belcourt said.

Film Co., each highlighting a different artist and director from the same regions and backgrounds.

Shot in numerous locations throughout Ontario and Manitoba, episodes seven through nine were filmed on location in Winnipeg and “We called it feature local Indigenous artists and ‘Amplify’ because directors.

The seventh episode, titled the series amplifies “Enfolding,” airing in English Oct. 16, features U of M alumna Tara Indigenous music, Williamson, a Cree songwriter whose Indigenous stories songs self-examine truths that hurt before they heal. and Indigenous In the episode, directed by perceptions” — Winnipeg filmmaker Madison Thomas, Williamson tries to make Shane Belcourt, sense of losing her infant son while creator examining the power of art to encapsulate loss.

The series gives voice to they’re not figures, they’re not prob- Indigenous worldviews on various lems to solve, they’re specific human unique topics, many rooted in pain. beings in all our communities.”

However, Belcourt says, “through This enables every viewer to relate music, there is inevitably a hopeful to the issues, regardless of ethnic outlook.” community.

Amplify currently has 13 epi- Amplify airs on APTN in sodes lined up from Wolfwalker English on Fridays and in Productions and Wabung Anung Ojibwa on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

VOL. 107 NO. 05 September 16, 2020

Arts & Culture

9

U of M student wins big in Canada-wide competition Gabriel Roberts discusses inspiration, rationale behind his award-winning art installation ZOË LEBRUN, VOLUNTEER STAFF

G

abriel Roberts, set to graduate A Closet Painted Blue’s core concepts Painted Blue without any context working toward the goal of using from the U of M’s school of art because of the numerous steps that about Roberts’s work, the first thing different pieces of furniture […] next summer, has been named the have to be undertaken to produce the most viewers notice is the predomi- the hangers are a small nod to the Manitoban winner of the 2020 BMO image and the automatic reflection nance of the colour blue throughout closet […] and I chose to experi1st Art! competition. that comes with engaging with my the piece itself. ment with leather because of the His winning piece, A Closet images physically.”

The abundance of this colour is a denim and leather subcultures in the Painted Blue, is a multimedia instalThis brings him even closer to the direct result of the cyanotype process, [LGBTTQ*] community.” lation work that explores his own subject matter and artwork as it is yet this colour represents much more The assemblage aspect to A Closet sexuality within the confines of a slowly created, step by step. in the piece.

Painted Blue’s installation very much closeted relationship.

In addition, Roberts also com“Firstly, blue is associated with sadInspired by the work of artists mented on how A Closet Painted Blue ness, so I was attributing the colour such as Joe Sinness, Aaron Skolnick, was an important venture into a being with my feelings in my relationship,” “I had promised John Dugdale and Ivan Forde, more vulnerable in his artwork.

Roberts said. myself to create a among others, Roberts has always “It was the first time that I made “Secondly, we all currently live sought out opportunities to experi- work about my sexuality,” Roberts in a society that associates people personal piece for my ment with alternative photographic said. assigned male at birth immediately honours year, and processes. This has led to continual “I had promised myself to create a with the colour blue. experimentation with these mediums personal piece for my honours year, “As a person who continues to part of that promise throughout his artistic practices and and part of that promise was to step identify myself as male […] it seemed is especially relevant in his work A outside of my comfort zone to share appropriate to express the work was to step outside Closet Painted Blue, which was the it with others.” through the context of blue.” of my comfort zone very first piece in which he used the Sharing this subject matter is Another intriguing part of A Closet cyanotype process. important to Roberts for many rea- Painted Blue’s installation is the pres- to share it with “I love the physical nature of expos- sons, including but not limited to ence of various objects and items of others” — Gabriel ing and processing images manually,” connecting with other gay artists. clothing, all of which hold special Roberts said.

“I created A Closet Painted Blue as significance in the piece for Roberts Roberts, artist “For me, it is the most rewarding a contemplative exploration into my and were yet another place of experimedium and I plan to continue using sexuality within the constraints of a mentation in cyanotype’s versatility alternative process photography as my closeted model,” Roberts said. as a medium. main medium.”

“This project allowed me to be “My goal for the year was to fill Roberts also spoke about how the meditative, vulnerable and honest a ‘bedroom’ with cyanotypes,” said drives home the idea that the piece nature of cyanotypes supports the while exploring the consequences of Roberts. we are viewing is made up of a multicore concepts of A Closet Painted Blue. a closeted relationship and the preva“I was slowly experimenting with faceted experience — one where “I wanted to use cyanotype pho- lent fear of coming out.” the process of printing images onto memories and emotions become tography as my medium to express For those approaching A Closet a variety of objects and ultimately tied to the things around us that we

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TOUCHWOOD PR

see and interact with every day. In this way, A Closet Painted Blue also imparts the idea that a self-portrait or time capsule of experience can be found in the most mundane of objects throughout our daily lives.

On being named Manitoba’s winner of the BMO 1st Art! competition, Roberts was ecstatic.

“It felt incredible and empowering to be recognized by an esteemed selection committee outside of my community.”

Roberts also expressed gratitude.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the faculty and staff at the [school of art] for all of their support and behind-the-scenes assistance that allowed me to create A Closet Painted Blue,” he said.

“I would also like to thank BMO and the BMO 1st Art! team for their support.”

“Leaving art school, this award will allow me to continue to create meaningful artwork.”

Gabriel Roberts’s artwork A Closet Painted Blue is available to view in the first-ever virtual BMO 1st Art! exhibition from Sept. 15 to Oct. 16 at artmuseum.utoronto.ca.

10

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Shaylyn Maharaj-Poliah Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

American awards show acknowledges Canadian talent Su Rynard’s documentary nominated in two categories at the Jackson Wild Media Awards DOMINIQUE WIGHTMAN

IMAGE PROVIDED BY FILMS A CINQ

D

irector Su Rynard’s documen- roughly 620 entries from over 30 dif- ferent countries, the film has been ta r y R eef nominated for two Rescue has been awards in the long Selected by more than 150 international declared a finalform categories of ist in the Jackson best conservation judges from roughly 620 entries from Wi ld Media film and best sciover 30 different countries, the film has Awards (JWMA). ence in nature film.

Selected by Produced by been nominated for two awards more than 150 Merit Motion Pict ures in international judges from Winnipeg, Capa

Presse/Films à Cinq and ARTE, in Within her filmography, Rynard association with the CBC and Vulcan has established a respected portfolio Productions, Reef Rescue follows an with a breadth of genres, including international team of scientists as dramatic, experimental, documenthey utilize the new revolutionary tary and installation. technique of “assisted evolution” to Rynard is no stranger to the reproduce super coral. wildlife film award circuit. In 2015, By reproducing super coral, these her documentary The Messenger scientists hope to resurrect coral reefs garnered critical acclaim and was that are already decaying or dead. granted numerous awards. Her 2017 Reef Rescue documents the process documentary Mosquito was met with of assisted evolution on super coral similar acclaim and distinction, most reproduction and seeks to apply its notably the Golden Sheaf Award for subjects’ knowledge to the global best documentary in the research effort of coral reef revitalization. and science, nature and technology Based out of Jackson, Wyo., the categories.

JWMA is considered to be “the highThe JWMA are part of the est bar of achievement in the natural Jackson Wild Virtual Summit, which history filmmaking industry” and has will be held online from Sept. 28 to been dubbed “nature film’s equivalent Oct. 1. to the Oscars.”

The summit will host event Reef Rescue is up against stiff com- speakers and delegates including “innovative filmmakers, conservapetition in both categories.

In best conservation film, Reef tionists, photographers, scientists Rescue is nominated alongside Corona and thought-leaders from across the — The Pandemic and the Pangolin, Jane globe, all engaged in conservation, Goodall: The Hope and The Story of nature, wildlife and media.”

Plastic.

The JWMA winners will be In best science in nature film, Reef announced digitally on Oct. 1.

Rescue is nominated alongside My Octopus Teacher, The Age of AI: Saving the World One Algorithm at a Time and For more information on Reef Rescue, visit the film’s respective The Deep Med. Reef Rescue is the fifth feature in producers at filmsacinq.com/en/portSu Rynard’s filmography and expands folio/reef-rescue and vulcanproducher earlier work’s exploration of art, tions.com/reefrescue/thefilm. More science, ecology and the relationship information on Su Rynard and her work can be found at surynard.com. between man and nature.

OCTOBER 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 29 • 6:30 PM–MIDNIGHT OCTOBER 11, 18, 25 • 6:30 PM–11:00 PM OCTOBER 23, 24, 30, 31 • 6:30 PM–1:00 AM Archangel fireworks and unlimited re-entry to all mazes.* *SELECT NIGHTS ONLY

Free hot chocolate and free Heebie Jeebies face masks every night!

FOUR INTENSE MAZES – ONE PRICE

SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PLACE Physical distancing is mandatory. We have over 70,000 square feet for everyone to safely social distance. All lines will allow for 2m/6ft distance between each guest/group. Markers will be placed in all lines for mazes, food trucks, merchandise, and at the ticket booth.

PAY TO GET IN .

PRAY TO GET OUT. WINNIPEG’S MOST TERRIFYING HALLOWEEN EVENT

All visitors must wear a mask. FREE souvenir HEEBIE JEEBIES mask will be provided.* *For more information about our COVID-19 policies, please visit our website.

This is an intense haunt experience and is not recommended for those under 13 years old.

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY H E E B I E - J E E B I E S.C A

11

Diversions Graphics Editor: Jenelle McCann Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com

Sports Sports Editor: Isaiah Wagner Contact: sports@themanitoban.com

12

Vaccaro excited about future with the Bisons

National Hockey League moves up the entry draft date

Being part of the team ‘a great experience’ ISAIAH WAGNER, STAFF

First round to begin Oct. 6

ISAIAH WAGNER, STAFF

T

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MATTEO VACCARO

T

hough the U of M Bisons football team has been able to practice, the cancellation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic has left many first-year players ready to make their rookie season debuts waiting for another year to get their shot.

One of those players is first-year offensive lineman Matteo Vaccaro.

Vaccaro has played football for many years, previously at St. Paul’s High School and with Team Manitoba before suiting up for the Bisons. Vaccaro credits great coaching with the improvements his football skills have seen over his career thus far.

“The coaching staff that I was around for my high school football career played a huge part as to how I was able to bring my game to the next level,” Vaccaro said.

“Furthermore, being able to play on both the [under 16] and [under 18] provincial teams, I was exposed to the best coaching in the province which helped elevate my game to get to the next level.”

Quarantine can be tough on

many athletes due to the struggle to remain on an elite level of

“Being a part of the Bisons football team has been a great experience for me.

The team is very welcoming and the group of guys that I am around every day brings a lot of energy to my day” — Matteo Vaccaro, U of M Bisons

athleticism.

Vaccaro has remained in-shape with a mix of at-home workouts and team practices that have fol-

lowed safety precautions, and he is amazing.” is determined to be ready for the Vaccaro described a close team next season. when speaking about the Bisons, a “During quarantine, I have been trait that is necessary to the sport able to do some weight training at because of how important teammy house,” he said. work is on the field.

“Also, the team has been able to “I enjoy being a part of a team practice every Tuesday, Thursday environment where every member and Sunday at the east turf near the has to work together, allowing the soccer complex while following the team to succeed. university’s COVID-19 protocol for “I enjoy the bonds that are cresafe training.” ated on the team that carry out Going to a new team can be a further than football. hard process, but Vaccaro has had “Furthermore, football provides an easier time adjusting, which he me the opportunity during the day attributes to the team itself. where I can drop any thoughts dur“Being a part of the Bisons foot- ing the day, good or bad, and work ball team has been a great experi- on my craft alongside my teamence for me,” he said. mates and coaches,” Vaccaro added.

“The team is very welcoming and A unique challenge facing stuthe group of guys that I am around dent athletes is the necessity to balevery day brings a lot of energy to ance school with sport, something my day.

Vaccaro is aware of.

“The coaching staff is amazing “My intentions for school are to and are driven to help shape who pursue law,” he said. we are as a team,” he added.

“My future goals for football “The team has really prided would be able to play out all of my themselves on creating a brother- eligibility with the Bisons and to hood amongst every member of the secure a starting position with the team where no one is left out, which team.”

he NHL has announced that they have moved up this year’s entry draft to Oct. 6 and 7, a few days earlier than the original dates of Oct. 9 and 10.

The draft, which was supposed to be held in Montreal, Que., will now be held virtually for the fans to watch due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be no in-person attendance at the draft as it will all be done online. Despite this, the draft remains an exciting time for teams, players and fans as the spotlight is shone on some of the best hockey prospects in the world.

A virtual draft isn’t unprecedented this year, with the National Football League having held their own entry draft virtually earlier this year.

The New York Rangers will have the first selection in the draft and are projected to select Canadian Alexis Lafrenière.

Lafrenière scored a total of 112 points in 52 games last season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Rimouski Océanic.

Other notable potential first-round picks are Canadian Quinton Byfield and Winnipegborn Seth Jarvis.

Both players are projected to be top 10 picks and can be expected to make an impact for their respective teams immediately.

The Winnipeg Jets will be drafting at number 10 this year and will have plenty of options to choose from when its name is called.