vol 107, iss 11, October 28, 2020

OPINION

Memories of 2016 strike loom JESSE BOILY, STAFF

On Nov. 1, 2016, the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) declared a strike when fair mediations were unsuccessful with the University of Manitoba administration.

The strike cancelled hundreds of classes and left approximately 30,000 students displaced for three weeks.

The talks in 2016 between faculty and the university caused disturbances for students in many ways — not only were their classes cancelled, but some also reported higher stress and anxiety.

Unions ensure that good teachers stay at the university by guaranteeing they are compensated properly and treated with the respect they deserve.

Currently, the U of M is facing a situation that could echo 2016.

A press release from Oct. 20 from UMFA said that the U of M administration had rejected UMFA’s proposal to settle salary contract negotiations through fair third-party arbitration.

A similar situation precipitated the 2016 strike.

See Provincial policies | Page 11

NEWS

UMFA coverage continues PAGES 3, 5

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Index

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VOL. 107 NO. 11 October 28, 2020

News PAGES 3-7 3

Research & Tech

PAGES 6-7

Circling the wagons UMFA-organized honk-a-thon applied pressure on U of M to begin negotiations

Easy access 3

Bannatyne campus opens clinic

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Provincial post-secondary audit released “Having strong governance is important to ensuring that we maintain that autonomy”

Editorial

PAGE 8

Arts & Culture

PAGES 12-15

13 House of Wonders

Winnipeg’s own new record label and studio 14 Manitoba musings

The WAG’s latest exhibit celebrates art

across decades

Diversions Comment

PAGES 10-11

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Request for proposals Pallister’s obsession with privatization seeps into our provincial parks

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A matter of life and death The provincial government is failing to take proper precautions with novel coronavirus

PAGE 16

Sports PAGE 15 COVID-19 campus update

From the start of semester to Oct. 20 there were 10 positive cases of COVID-19 reported on the U of M campuses. At the end of last week, two additional cases were confirmed in the faculty of science, one in the faculty of arts and one in the school of art.

Bison on break

Women’s soccer player pauses career to

focus on academics

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News

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

Honk-a-thon held after refusal to negotiate U of M turned down UMFA offer to settle agreement through arbitration AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) held a honk-a-thon rally Oct. 20 to protest the U of M’s refusal to participate in binding arbitration, hindering progress on a new collective agreement.

According to a statement from UMFA, “over 150 people in cars, on bikes and on foot” attended the rally that took place on the Fort Garry campus, with participants circling the administration building.

This closely follows a social media campaign by UMFA on Twitter pinpointing frustrations with working from home and a lack of support in doing so from the U of M administration.

UMFA and the university have had a generally contentious relationship in recent years, with a threeweek strike taking place in November

can settle this without any disruption.”

Large numbers of UMFA members attended the rally, including Michael Minor, an instructor in the faculty of social work.

“I want the corporatization that’s been happening at the university to stop,” Minor said.

“I want the faculty to get a fair deal and I want justice for the funny business that the university and the province have been up to for the last four years where they interfered with our fair bargaining process.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA “We want to make sure the impact of [the public services sustainability 2016 after contract negotiations broke act] aren’t felt any further than here, down between the two parties. and we want all the other public UMFA president Michael Shaw employees [and] unions that have said the association organized the been affected by this to get a fair deal, rally to put pressure on the U of M too,” he said. administration to negotiate with The public services sustainability UMFA through arbitration. act (PSSA) was a piece of provin“We’ve been in bargaining with the cial legislation passed in 2017. Never university with our salary reopener proclaimed into law, it affected over [period of our collective agreement] 100,000 public sector employees — since early August [and] [the U of M including UMFA members — by administration] haven’t moved at all,” freezing their wages for two years Shaw said. after the expiry of their existing “So, we’ve requested [during] these collective agreements. The act was last few meetings binding arbitra- declared unconstitutional in June tion,” Shaw said. “It’s a way that lets 2020, but it had already affected us both get in front of a neutral party, UMFA members — the existing coland so far [U of M president Michael lective agreement follows the terms of Benarroch] and this university board the PSSA after U of M administration withdrew a more lucrative deal of governors have refused that.”

Shaw said he wants the U of M to when the PSSA was passed. As the “reconsider their stance about not get- four years of the previous agreement ting us in front of an arbitrator so we comes to a close, the agreement is

currently due for renegotiation.

Bruce Ford, a professor in the biological sciences department, also attended the rally. Ford expressed his support of moving into binding arbitration and said he is “looking for dialogue between the administration and the union.”

“So far […] we haven’t even been able to enter into a reasonable negotiation and talk about things in a reasonable fashion,” Ford said. “Things have been stonewalled, I’d just like to see this thing open up.”

“I’ve been through three strikes at this university and there seems to be a pattern in terms of just not engaging with [UMFA], in terms of negotiations,” Ford said. “These are unusual times, [so] you have to resort to unusual means to get the attention of the administration.”

Minor said his frustrations lie with the university’s refusal to negotiate.

“They’ve just come forward and said they’re not willing or prepared to offer anything in this round of negotiations even though this round was specifically to take into account [the PSSA].”

Minor said he hopes the rally will allow UMFA “to be heard, to be seen, to show some support and solidarity for other union members and to let the administration know that they’re not the only people that matter at the university, they don’t get to call all the shots.”

— With files from Cam Cannon

Medical clinic opens on Bannatyne campus

Clinic to make accessing healthcare ‘less stressful and more convenient’ DAMIEN DAVIS, STAFF

care profession, Lach understands that “particularly, when you’re in the healthcare discipline, you spend a lot

PHOTO BY BASEL ABDELAZIZ

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s of Oct. 19, students on the U of M’s Bannatyne campus now have access to a new health clinic, a service they did not have prior.

With partnership between student affairs and the Rady faculty of health sciences, students can now visit the university health service clinic (UHS) at room P309 in the pathology building along with using services remotely.

Students on the Bannatyne campus will now have access to same-day medical care and a family physician on campus.

“It had always been the goal to

eventually have a clinic for students on that campus so that it’s easier for them to access healthcare,” said Lori-Ann Lach, director of university health service.

Lach said the opening of the UHS clinic will allow students to get medical attention while “minimizing any disruption to their studies.”

“This will make accessing health care much less stressful and more convenient for busy students,” Lach said in a statement.

Having been a medical student herself and working in the health-

“This will make accessing health care much less stressful and more convenient for busy students”— Lori-Ann Lach, director of university health service

quite a challenge getting things up and running,” she said.

The clinic needed to apply to and gain approval from the university’s COVID-19 recovery steering committee and establish its plans for what the screening protocol would be if patients from outside the campus were to enter the building, which Lach noted was “a concern” while opening the clinic.

Lach said that students having access to medical resources is “probably the most important thing” about having a clinic on the Bannatyne campus.

Before the clinic was built, Lach said students “didn’t have access to all the same services that the students at Fort Garry Campus had through no fault of their own, simply due to where they were going to school.”

She continued to say that “hopefully it will make life much easier […] for students on that campus now that they know that they have a place that they can go for their healthcare.”

of time at school.”

Lach added that the Rady faculty of health sciences “got really on board and excited about the idea,” and helped “provide the push” to get the clinic up and running.

Though the clinic is now open, Lach said there were some challenges that led to its delay.

“The reason that opening was The clinic is now open for bookings delayed had nothing to do with [the and can be reached both in person COVID-19 pandemic], but it was and by phone at (204) 272-3148.

Audit reveals ‘weak’ monitoring of institution expenses U of M working with province, other institutions to ensure proper governance processes

GILLIAN BROWN, STAFF

A provincial post-secondary audit released this month revealed financial and governance concerns at seven Manitoba institutions.

Post-secondary provincial audits are not routine, but rather are initiated after concerns are brought to the attention of the office of the auditor general.

The report, titled Audit of the Oversight of Post-Secondary Institutions, covering the institutions from 2010 to 2018, was initiated as a result of “several factors, including the mediareported issues at Red River College that had led to the departure of a former president in 2014,” in which Stephanie Forsyth, the president at the time, was found making “improper” expense claims and approving them herself.

The audit was initiated at the time where the responsible provincial government department was the department of Manitoba education and training. The audit found that, though there were concerns with the clarity of presidential and board spending, a larger issue was that of the government department, whose “monitoring of institutional performance was weak.”

See ‘Any conflicts’ | Page 7

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News

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

Socially-distanced solidarity ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA, STAFF

The All Eyes on Mi’kma’ki rally and march in Winnipeg proceeded along Portage Ave. Oct. 23. The group passed under the railway overpass where the “Never Forgotten” mural depicting 10 missing and murdered Indigenous women. The Sept 17. launch of an Indigenous lobster fishery by the Sipekne’katik First Nation in Nova Scotia has been met with violence, protests and attacks from non-Indigenous fishers.

‘Whose lands are being inundated for my convenience?’

Native studies seminar discusses colonial roots of land extraction DAMIEN DAVIS, STAFF

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n Oct. 21, people from all over a treaty with Luby’s ancestors. solutions to those issues. built on our territories? kept positive in all of this when “we Canada tuned in to attend a She shared how Anishinaabe famThe IJC’s recommendations and “Why is it that, constantly, our continue to see resource extraction free Zoom seminar as part of the U ilies were able to resist and to respond decisions work with a wide range of treaty rights are the ones we always projects […] stepping up during the of M’s Native Studies Colloquium to the economic loss. water uses, including hydroelectric have to give up so that Canada can pandemic.” series titled “The Politics of Loss and Luby said that education can “help power generation, along with drink- have this economy?”

“I think as a woman, as Survival in Anishinaabe Territory.” us understand that resistance is still ing water, fishing, agriculture and Sinclair, while mentioning how Anishinaabekwe, we are generThe seminar featured speakers happening today.” ecosystem health. “so many brilliant and incredible ally caretakers of a lot of things,” Brittany Luby, assistant history pro“It’s not only the historical activi“Every time I turn on a light in women in Treaty 3 have been fighting Cobiness said. fessor at the University of Guelph, ties that I talk about in the text, but Kenora, I place a demand on an elec- so long for water,” expressed how, at “We are the backbones of our comand Chief Lorraine Cobiness, board also […] the education that we’re trical grid that causes the periodic times, he felt it’s a “frustrating chal- munities […] We’re strong, we know, president and chief of Niisaachewan seeking today for our young people flooding of my ancestral home, so it lenge, because what we’re doing is and it takes a lot to be always continuAnishinaabe Nation. and also even this space,” she said. is my hope that the stories contained we’re constantly seeking peaceful ously […] hopeful, right?

The two, in conversation with Luby said the seminar “is a space in this book […] will cause you to means to what are violent imposi“And you do it because you think Niigaan Sinclair, an associate profes- of resistance and putting these stories ask, ‘Where is electricity being generabout [the Seventh Generation prinsor at the U of M, discussed Canada’s out into the world.” ated?’ It’s my hope that you will ask, ciple], you think about what you need history with the hydroelectric boom “I think that learning is also an ‘Whose lands are being inundated for “I think that learning to do. as well as current activism as exam- unlearning, which is part of that my convenience?’” Luby said.

“And a lot of times when you’re is also an unlearning, looking at being part of a solution, ined in Luby’s recent book published resistance movement,” she said.

Sinclair brought to light the stance by the University of Manitoba Press, Luby said the seminar had a that many people have taken “to say, there’s a lot of give and take as well. which is a part titled Damned: The Politics of Loss and diversity of listeners, including indi- enough is enough already.”

You have to be able to compromise of the resistance Survival in Anishinaabe Territory. viduals from the International Joint “Enough is enough with the conand look at things down the road for The book, through oral history Commission (IJC), an organization stant taking of our lands and our ter- movement” — the greater good and it’s not always along with archives and environ- that is “guided by the Boundary ritories,” he said. going to be things you’re looking at in Brittany Luby, author your lifetime. We’re looking at things mental observation, aims to explore Waters Treaty,” signed in 1909 by According to Sinclair, right now, how Canada’s hydroelectric boom Canada and the U.S. Indigenous people in Canada have way, way down.” in Kenora, Ont. and the Lake of The IJC takes approves projects only two per cent of their lands. the Woods area and hydroelectric- that affects water across the U.S./ He asked, “Why is it that pipelines ity, “designed to serve settler popula- Canada boundary, along with inves- always are built on our territories?” tions on our territory.” tions,” resulted in the undermining of tigating issues and recommending “Why is it that the dams are always He asked Cobiness how she

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UMSU board meeting update

UMSU opposes Respondus Monitor, supports UMFA CAM CANNON, STAFF

A

GRAPHIC BY JENELLE MCCANN

t its Oct. 22 meeting, UMSU’s board of directors received a presentation on the ongoing discord between UMFA and the university administration.

Also discussed were the provincial government’s efforts to implement performance-based funding (PBF) for post-secondary institutions. It also passed a motion to oppose the implementation of Respondus Monitor.

UMFA president Michael Shaw and vice-president Orvie Dingwall made a presentation to the board on the current state of negotiations between the university administration and UMFA. They also asked for UMSU’s assistance in pressuring the univer-

sity administration to accept binding arbitration.

“UMFA is ready to be at the bargaining table whenever the university is willing to be there,” Dingwall said.

“We will always say yes if they want to meet.”

UMFA’s main concerns centre around equity and compensation for faculty. The previously negotiated contract between the university and UMFA was created under the public services sustainability act, which froze public employee wages for two years and capped wages for the two following years.

The controversial provincial legislation — passed in 2017 and never proclaimed — was declared unconstitutional in June. UMFA said the

university is offering a zero per cent increase for the fifth year of the contract.

UMFA voted Monday to authorize a strike vote which will take place over the weekend. If UMFA votes in favour of a strike, a date will be set for its beginning and the university administration will have the opportunity to negotiate with UMFA up until that date to prevent a strike or lockout.

UMSU president Jelynn Dela Cruz stated that UMSU will be penning an open letter to students to assuage any anxieties students may have as a strike vote takes place.

The board also discussed the issue of PBF, which would see the funding of post-secondary institutions

tied to key performance indicators such as graduation rates, graduates’ incomes and employment levels post-graduation.

UMSU vice-president advocacy Kristin Smith said the strategy of the recently launched Manitoba Alliance of Post-Secondary Students — which counts UMSU, the Red River College Students’ Association and the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association as members — (MAPSS) is to not directly oppose the implementation of PBF, but to advocate for equity-based performance metrics to implemented.

Riley Shannon — a board representative from the Science Students’ Association — said it seems that thus far, the Manitoba government has not listened to stakeholders in decision-making.

Shannon mentioned the “Tennessee model” the Manitoba government recently revealed it is taking ideas from, saying the model has made it more difficult for “poor folks, low income folks, racialized folks, kind of those [individuals] from the margins to actually get to university and access this education.”

Smith said that MAPSS will be addressing those concerns and asking the provincial government to “ensure that the PBF formula includes strong equity incentives.”

“That means that a portion of their funding is directly tied toward, let’s say, Indigenous student graduation rates, Indigenous student acceptance rates.”

Smith said the provincial government has been “adverse” to working with student groups in some cases, but that communication has improved with this UMSU executive.

She said she believes the Canadian Federation of Students played a role in previously frosty relationships with governments.

“I think it’s no secret that I’m not a fan of the [Canadian Federation of Students]. I think that a reason why the provincial government doesn’t want to engage with students is because the [federation] is the main voice. I think they are incredibly antagonistic. They don’t look at relationship building, and I think if they’re trying to change that now […] they’ve done far, far too much damage.”

She said the method of “putting forward a number of recommendations and seeing what the government’s response to those will be is a responsible way to do this as opposed to just shouting against it and sidelining themselves.”

“If the government gives us […] a big fat middle finger, then […] I’m going to give it back.”

Honk-a-thon draws over 150 in support ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA, STAFF

With the U of M administration refusing to participate in binding arbitration, after having refused an offer put forward by the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA), UMFA held a honk-a-thon that drew participation from the membership of several local unions. See story on page 3.

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News

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

The art and science of making images from space

Using data points and algorithms to see the universe COLIN IJEBOR, STAFF

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ince the advent of space exploration, cosmic images have been a vital source of information for us.

Jayanne English, an associate professor in the department of physics and astronomy at the U of M, recently took second place in an international contest with her own depiction of a far-off galaxy.

English’s cosmic image, submitted to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s image contest, is a composite image constructed with data from the Hubble space telescope and the Very Large Array (VLA), a radio telescope. The image shows the extended magnetic field of the galaxy NGC 5775.

Many people may think cosmic images are simply photographs from space, but these images are actually

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAYANNE ENGLISH & YELENA STEIN

constructed from data. English said that and then joined with a line intethe public has trouble understanding gral convolution algorithm, which the information scientists collect in traces the change in orientation of its original form, so “space photogra- the magnetic field lines on the sky. phy” is more accurately a visual rep“So, it’s not a snapshot of the magresentation of that data rather than netic field lines,” English explained. literal pictures.

“It’s actually a tracing of the radio Light is understood as an elec- astronomy data — polarization tromagnetic wave. The electric and angles on the sky.” magnetic fields are perpendicular Interestingly enough, all the to each other, and the light waves data used is in black and white, and move perpendicularly to these fields. the image-maker is responsible for Sometimes, the waves may become assigning colours. slightly rotated. The radio telescope English is a member of the helps image-makers determine the C H A N G -E S consor t ium degree of rotation, which is called (Continuum Halos in Nearby the polarization angle.

Galaxies — an EVLA Survey), an To construct the images, these international collaboration using the polarization angles are drawn as vec- VLA telescope to study the evolution tors. A random noise field is put down of galaxies. and the vectors are placed on top of “Galaxies aren’t static — they

change with time, and we want to always had an impact on everyday know the role of magnetic fields in life. To her, experiments over the cenchanging galaxies over time,” English turies have been able to cause many societal changes as well as scientific said.

“So, we’re measuring, in an image ones.

“Our philosophy [and] our beliefs like the one I did, the magnetic fields [and] how they’re moving away from have become dynamic,” English said. the disc of the galaxy.”

“And I think that it’s when we To understand the role of mag- look around at the world around us netic fields, CHANG-ES studies and understand the world around us, their structures within galaxies. and we understand that the world “When we know what the struc- […] [and] the universe around us is ture is, that structure will constrain dynamic, then it allows our beliefs to the origin of the magnetic field,” be fluid and dynamic as well — they English said. can change with time.”

“So, we will be able to determine For those interested in exploring whether magnetic fields are formed in the concepts behind constructing galaxies due to, say, the galaxy rota- cosmic images like English’s, she tion, or whether magnetic fields were teaches a hands-on course called part of the universe and so galaxies “The Art of Scientific Visualization” are born with magnetic fields.” in the faculty of science. The course To generate magnetic fields on is open to students in their third year Earth, she explained, the protons and above regardless of faculty as a and neutrons in the molten core are 4000-level course with no prerequicharged and separated from each sites, but graduate students can also other. This generates an electric take it as PHYS 7440.

“It’s how to construct figures and current, and the rotation of Earth and other similar bodies generates a images that use human perception magnetic field. so that it’s supportive of the message CHANG-ES seeks to discover you want to get across to your audiwhether this is also the case with ence, either professional or public,” galaxies.

English said.

“As long as you have an electric “If people want to know how to current flow, you are going to gener- do this, or are interested in doing ate a magnetic field, and vice versa,” for themselves to promote their English said. own research or to communicate While the data involved with cre- more clearly with their colleagues, ating astronomy images is modern, then anyone from the university is English believes that astronomy has welcome.”

Alumni discuss Indigenous potential in co-op structure Report highlights common ground between co-operative principles and Indigenous values CAM CANNON, STAFF

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PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA

n Oct. 15, the Canadian Centre the history of Indigenous peoples for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) in modern-day Canada, interviews held a webinar and launched a report with key people including Elders and entitled Indigenizing the Co-operative activists and an Indigenous design Model, authored by Jimmy Thunder workshop. and Mark Intertas, two University of The co-operative model is a way Manitoba alumni. of governing businesses which are Thunder is an Asper school of owned by members — either conbusiness graduate and a co-founder of sumers or the workers employed by Reconciliation Thunder, a non-profit the business — collectively making that uses social media to educate on decisions through the principle of reconciliation, treaties and the history “one person, one vote” as opposed to of Indigenous-settler relationships in shareholders, whose say in decisions Canada. Intertas received his master’s is weighted by how many shares in degree in city planning in 2017 and the company they own. completed a law degree this year.

Generally, co-operatives are The report includes a literature viewed by proponents as enhancing review featuring an overview of democracy in economic matters and

a way of generally increasing the well- the co-operative model in practice not without controversy among being of communities. Profits are dis- can enhance Indigenous economic Indigenous people, especially around tributed to members and tend to stay self-determination. the concept of “red capitalism” which in the respective communities, rather The report further suggested suggests Indigenous people can than getting pocketed by sharehold- that the co-operative model would “Indigenize” capitalist structures ers and invested elsewhere, saved or enable communities to more consci- and make use of them for their own used to finance luxury consumption. entiously decide how their cultures purposes.

The authors acknowledge that “Some Indigenous people hate that, reality is more complicated in theory, and some [say] this is how Indigenous however. people can operate in capitalist soci“There’s no pan“We talk about how the co-operaety,” Thunder said.

Indigenous opinion “There’s a huge diversity, and there tive model is a magic bullet solution […] but in this case I can’t really see always will be this diversity, a real out there” — Jimmy how it would solve some of these very diversity of opinion. specific types of problems with spe- Thunder, co-author “There’s no pan-Indigenous opincific solutions,” Thunder said. ion out there,” he said.

The report also highlighted the Intertas and Thunder agreed that similarities between the Neechi even though many debates about best principles of community economic develop alongside economic devel- economic practice for Indigenous development, used by the Neechi opment, as opposed to the corporate groups still remain, the most imporFoods Co-Op and the government model of firms, pointing to the con- tant aspect is choice. of Manitoba, and the Rochdale stant tension between economic and “If Indigenous people take it and principles of co-operation, the set of cultural development and cultural bring it into their culture, and they principles originally adopted by the preservation. redefine it, and that becomes their International Co-operative Alliance In a discussion with the new culture, it’s still their culture,” in 1937 and which today guide the Manitoban, Intertas clarified that Thunder said. decision making of 315 co-operatives cultural change is an inevitable result “As long as they are the ones decidin 111 countries. of economic development, but with ing what is Indigenous, they deterThe overlap in these principles — the co-operative model as opposed mine that for themselves, then their such as local decision-making, con- to the corporate model, the people of self-determination is still strong.” cern for community, co-operation the communities impacted have more with other co-operatives and local control over said impacts. reinvestment of profits, among However, as the authors themothers — convinced the authors selves noted, their findings are

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Fixing the lack of pediatric cannabis research

Nationwide group seeks to establish data set to back up anecdotal evidence SARAH DORAN, STAFF

forms to ensuring all appointments are at a consistent time in order to make sure families can plan for the disruption to their daily lives.

Even so, cannabis researchers are running into issues academics studying other topics may not face. Many of the patients have had “horribly

W

ith growing acceptance of cannabis in a medical setting, the University of Manitoba is home to one of the major names in pediatric cannabis use.

Lauren Kelly, a pharmacologist and assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and child health, is the scientific director of the Canadian Childhood Cannabinoid Clinical Trial (C4T) program. Kelly also works as a clinical trialist at the George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation.

While led by academics, C4T also includes pediatricians, nurses and parents in an effort to gather knowledge useful in many contexts. The group was established in 2018 to rectify the almost total lack of pediatric research on medicinal use of cannabis.

“We had all been being asked the same questions as pharmacologists,” Kelly said.

“You know, ‘What do you guys

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LAUREN KELLY

know about using cannabis for epilepsy, or for pain, or for autism spectrum disorder or in cancer?’ And we all kind of said the same thing — we really don’t know. We have no answers. And it became very clear that this was an increasing area of interest from patients and families, so we really said, ‘If not us, then who?’”

In June 2018, Canada became the second nation in the world to legalize recreational marijuana, but a 2017 survey found that 50 per cent of pediatricians across Canada were already managing at least one child using medical cannabis, and 22 per cent managing five or more. Many of these patients had turned to cannabis as a method of pain relief, but others used it for epilepsy, anxiety or ADHD. Kelly is leading a number of C4T projects in hopes of gathering more precise information on how pediatricians should judge dosage and format

of cannabis when treating chronic headache, as well as any side effects patients may experience. Other teams led by members of the pharmacology department at the University of Saskatchewan are looking into the capability of cannabis as a treatment for epilepsy and cancer pain relief, as well as studying the effects of prenatal exposure.

Nearly every pediatric hospital in Canada is involved with C4T. Kelly said rethinking the format of clinical research and consulting potential participants for feedback on the design of the study is key for fostering trust.

One current C4T project works directly with children aged 14 to 18 with chronic headaches to determine what they, as patients, especially care about and what method of collecting data works best for them. This can range from asking whether patients give data via text message or written

“This was an increasing area of interest from patients and families, so we really said, ‘If not us, then who?’”

— Lauren Kelly, assistant professor negative” experiences with healthcare providers and health researchers, and others may simply be tired of playing guinea pig when they just want pain relief.

“A lot of the use is still stigmatized, so there’s a lot of parents who don’t necessarily want to disclose it or have had a negative experience — they disclose it to one care provider who says, ‘Oh no, you absolutely should not be doing that’ so then they just continue to do it but don’t tell anyone about it,” Kelly said.

Part of the push for more research involves helping ease that stigma, while also potentially providing evidence to back up the parents who say cannabis worked for their child.

“Parent advocacy groups have sparked up all over the place —

there’s lots of websites you can see and there’s lots of anecdotes, and while we can’t base clinical practice on anecdotes, they’re certainly not [something] that we should completely ignore,” Kelly said.

“So, I think if all of these parents are saying that there’s benefits, it’s really something we should investigate.”

However, Kelly said children already fight an uphill battle when it comes to medical research.

“Luckily, kids aren’t sick as much as adults, but that means there’s not as much incentive to study them,” she explained. “[Pharmacology] basically ignores them because there’s no money to be made.

“With 10 kids that have a rare disease, they’re not going to make any money to develop drugs for them, so it’s something I’ve always been passionate about, from a pharmacology perspective, of building that evidence that promotes safe and optimal pharmacotherapy for kids.”

As vital as pediatric cannabis research is, one of the biggest issues C4T faces is funding. Cannabis products are expensive, and it is important for C4T to remain impartial to guarantee the validity of its findings — meaning no relationships with the cannabis industry and no researchers with any conflicts of interest.

“I think it’s going to be really important as we move forward, because we can only answer as many questions as we have enough funding to do,” Kelly said.

“And so, I think as our question list grows, the resources may not mirror that growth.”

‘Any conflicts that may arise can and are managed appropriately’

Continued from page 3 The audit also found the department of education and training had failed to adequately monitor and oversee expenses and failed to establish protocols and strategies for institution accountability in using funds.

Twenty-seven pieces of advice were made to Manitoban post-secondary institutions regarding the auditor’s concerns.

These pieces of advice include examining oversight processes, the board committee and structure the training and development of postsecondary board members and the board committee and structure.

Since the beginning of the audit, the U of M had 14 out of the 27 advisements already in place 14, six were in progress and seven were unacted upon.

The U of M secretary, Jeff Leclerc, emphasized the importance of good university governance.

“I think, from the university’s per-

The U of M in recent months has spective, we welcome the audit,” said Leclerc. been no stranger to financial scandal.

“The recommendations they’ve This past July, a senior employee was given to us give us an opportunity to found to be misusing university funds, improve,” he later said. and “immediate corrective action” to According to the audit, the U of M internal financial controls had been plans to prioritize the recommenda- taken. tions of having regular interaction between the minister, board chairs and presidents to discuss accomplish- “Having strong ments and major issues at the U of M. governance is [...]

This would also allow the university to advise the province on the board’s important to unmet skillset needs and create a ensuring that we more “timely, transparent and collaborative process.” maintain that The university will also pay attenautonomy” — tion to the composition of the board to ensure the ability to appoint mem- Jeff Leclerc, U of bers so that “necessary skill sets” are M secretary in place.

Lastly, the U of M recommended that guidance regarding compensation provided to universities should be developed “in conversation with The annual report that disclosed the institutions” and “appropriate to the information was reported to the the sector.” auditor general, who, at the time, was

considering a potential audit. processes, important to ensuring that The office of the auditor general we maintain that autonomy.” failed to respond to multiple requests Through the department of ecofor comment. nomic development and training, the Leclerc said the university looks government has begun to implement forward to working with the govern- new strategies to monitor expenses. ment in setting and monitoring goals In December 2019, the departand objectives. ment issued its first-ever mandate Despite taking on most of the letters to share its goals, priorities audit’s recommendations, the U of and expectations, and adopted an M did disagree with the auditor’s “outcomes-based funding approach” concern about university presidents which works to focus funding based being voting members of the board. on an institution’s demonstration to “Having a president as a voting show “clear priorities, increase transmember of the governing board and parency and report on performance.” the senate is respectful of the bicamThe outcomes of the audit were eral nature of university governance discussed at U of M’s Oct. 7 senate and reinforces the complementary meeting, and the university is waitnature of the governing bodies,” the ing to hear back from the provincial university said in the report. government regarding its applica“Any conflicts that may arise can tion and proposal for the new funding and are managed appropriately.” approach.

Leclerc said the bicameral system that the U of M follows, consisting of both a board of governors and a senate, ensures the university’s autonomy.

“Having strong governance is, in

8

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Positives outweigh negatives in online class

Remote learning could bring greater discipline ISAIAH WAGNER, STAFF

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G

oing into the 2020-21 university academic year, many students, myself included, wondered how the semesters were going to be planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Would learning require small classrooms and social distancing protocols? Or would the more drastic measures of online learning be taken?

Everything seemed uncertain.

After some deliberation, the University of Manitoba decided that fall semester classes, and now winter classes, are going to be facilitated remotely through UM Learn and various web platforms.

Personally, I was excited by this news as it meant I had more flexibility to work more than I would have if I was commuting to class every day.

However, my excitement was coupled with some anxiety. This is a very new style of learning, and although the end of the 2020 winter term was online, it was simply too short a time to learn to apply it to an entire academic year.

As it turns out, adjusting to the online version of school has been rather difficult for me.

One of the problems with online learning is that not everybody learns the same way.

During in-person classes, students may be more focused with the vigilant presence of professors. However, during a Zoom meeting, for example, it can be a whole different story.

Now, students are sitting at home with a variety of distractions around them.

Whether it be the television, video games, a pet or their phones, students may be tempted to switch their attention to one thing or another.

When phones buzz, the embarrassment of interrupting the entire class is filtered through the mute option. Students have been collectively saved from the public shame of a professor stopping the entire lecture to wait for phones to stop ringing.

GRAPHIC BY JENELLE MCCANN

Instead, our phones have become enduring temptations.

With classes moving online, I immediately have to look at my phone if it rings. Even if I resist picking it up momentarily, the idea that I could answer without anybody knowing dis-

The more I grew to hate online school, the more I realized this might be what our generation needs tracts me enough to shake me from my task.

These distractions could lead to a harder time focusing, which could also lead to lower grades. But it could also be an opportunity for personal development.

The more I grew to hate online school, the more I realized this might be what our generation needs.

We have grown up with technology and distractions all our lives — maybe having school at home is a wake-up call for the real world after university. Maybe it is something we can learn from.

For me, online school has taught me to be more disciplined than I have ever been. I have made a schedule of what I have to do every day of the week, and I have made it a goal to complete it, something that I would have never done during regular in-person classes.

With phones being the main problem, online school forces students to try and pay attention during Zoom classes and maybe put their phone down, or even turn it on silent.

This is something that I did not think was

going to be a problem while learning, but I was very wrong.

Another reason online classes benefit students is the fact that they teach us to become better students on our own without professors telling us what to do. There is a larger degree of independence found in online classes compared to in-person classes. It has made me more disciplined, and more of an active participant in my learning than one who just goes to class, comes home, sleeps and repeats.

Maybe making online school our new normal would be beneficial.

With social distancing’s estimated conclusion in question, this could be the future of learning beyond this academic year. While this idea may torment many students’ minds, this is something that could be beneficial for our academic careers and our professional lives.

With all of the technological advances in the world, it is important that we understand that technology could very well be the future of learning.

We should get used to technology — it will likely become more necessary in the future.

Even as I work toward a career as a sports reporter, this is not done like it was pre-Internet — now it takes a relative savviness with online platforms of all sorts. Whether it be articles on the internet, Zoom calls online or even just typing on a computer, online schooling could actually help.

It causes people to be more aware of the way the world is changing. And for the better or for the worse, the world is no doubt changing.

When I reflect, I am grateful that we have online classes. It has come at a perfect time for me, a 20-year-old who needs to learn how to be disciplined and become smarter with technology and productivity in today’s world.

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

10

Province embraces finest in environmental negligence Privatizing provincial parks is short sighted LUCAS EDMOND, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY DALLIN CHICOINE

P

remier Brian Pallister and the structure for economic develop- private interest in our provincial Progressive Conservative Party ment as long as it does not disturb parks, your anxiety is well-founded. of Manitoba have issued a request the integrity of the park’s natural In May, the Wilderness for proposals (RFP) on how to start surroundings, can we really trust Committee discovered a mining privatizing Manitoba’s provincial private businesses to follow strict claim in Nopiming Provincial Park parks. regulations? Especially considering where mining and economic developAs of Oct. 13, the RFP is seek- regulations may be overseen by an ment was strictly prohibited. Areas ing to evaluate 76 of the province’s 92 austerity-driven government bent on had been subjected to destructive mineral exploration, which overprovincial parks and has emphasized cutting public necessities. public divestment.

Beyond this, private interest is lapped with hectares of protected The winners of the bid will also be wholly concerned with one thing forest that are home to threatened responsible for assessing the profit- — profit. populations of boreal woodland ability of the parks from a business This means that cutting both costs caribou and supposedly a rare pair perspective. and corners is inadvertently encour- of trumpeter swans who are formally The RFP calls for options to cre- aged by the ethos of business. classified as an endangered species in ate new tourist attractions such as Personally, I have always opposed Manitoba. water parks, amusement parks or conservationism. Conservation The mining claim would have seen hotels within the protected parks necessitates human desire to enjoy this habitat bulldozed for the extracthemselves. and exploit nature in various tion of plain rocks.Soon after, the The province seems to have for- capacities. committee called for all industrial gotten that provincial parks are not Instead, advocating for models activity to be banned in provincial businesses, and nor should they be. of preservation — which do not parks. And rightfully so.

Protected eco-zones such as our account for human desires, but rather Greed and profit have no place on provincial parks are meant to be places the integrity of habitats first — the little protected land we have left havens of nature buffered from, in should be the norm for our cherished — especially when that land is home most cases, potentially destructive provincial parks. to vulnerable populations or species. human development.

But now, under the Pallister govThe rights of private conglomerThis land is not simply idle wait- ernment, the principles of conserva- ates do not rule on common land. ing for private investment interest tionism seem like a dream lost to a There is no reason why we should — it is protected under principles of cold splash of water thrown over your allow our government to throw away conservationism. face mid-sleep — worse, perhaps a our collective responsibility to these Although many provincial parks scalding-hot cup of coffee. parks for a couple of bucks. entertain limited levels of infraIf you have your suspicions about Further, privatization of provin-

cial parks could throw consultations with Indigenous leaders, who typi-

If you have your suspicions about private interest in our provincial parks, your anxiety is well-founded cally play a central role in the direction of park policy, by the wayside.

The privatization of provincial parks resembles the historic enclosures of common land.

Everywhere from Mexico to Nigeria, Vietnam to New York, India to the Amazon, land and people have been subjected to the colonial method of common enclosures and the establishment of dispossessive private property rights.

In every example noted, Peter Linebaugh, a prolific historian, has outlined the principle tendency for planetary woodlands to be destroyed for commercial interest and the ten-

dency for Indigenous populations to be silenced as resource exploits are extracted.

Pallister’s move to privatize provincial parks embodies this history in many indirect, but nonetheless, concerning ways.

I cannot imagine that our parks will be protected when the government is actively advertising them as opportunities to make money. And I certainly can’t imagine private interest consulting with Indigenous communities before desecrating the parks in the empty name of development and business.

With the government in fiscal turmoil after the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pallister, and the provincial government, is looking for every opportunity to double down on his radical agenda to privatize and gouge public resources.

And, in this case, privatize and gouge a public resource that shouldn’t even be considered property in the first place.

This may be a harrowing lesson to our management of environmental policy — nature’s gifts are not our own just because we believe we own them.

VOL. 107 NO. 11 October 28, 2020

Comment 11

Too little, too late on COVID-19 response in Manitoba

Premier Brian Pallister and his government have played politics and now we are paying the price MATTHEW AVERBECK, STAFF

pushed their ill-conceived reopening plan to pretend that we are learning to live with this virus.

Now schools are cramped, students in cohorts — which were meant to curb the transmission of the virus

The rushed reopening plan and the #RestartMB campaign have proven to be irresponsible — are still interacting with other students outside of their cohorts. And on top of all this, teachers are struggling with their mental health.

While the province introduced further restrictions in schools in northern Manitoba and in Winnipeg GRAPHIC BY DALLIN CHICOINE this last week, there is still uncertainty about how the rest of the ith another week of increas- selves in. mind, they would have ensured that school year will fare and whether ing COVID-19 cases in the At the beginning of the sum- Manitobans were as protected and as these restrictions will be adequately province, particularly in Winnipeg, mer, Manitoba’s case numbers were prepared as possible before entering a implemented.

Manitoba now has the highest extremely low. potentially dark and challenging fall This will almost certainly increase active cases per 100,000 people in At one point in July, the province and winter. anxieties among teachers, parents and the country. In response, the pro- went two weeks without a single perTake, for example, the current students. vincial government introduced new son testing positive. situation in schools. Three schools Beyond the nightmarish situation restrictions in Winnipeg on top of In late July, communities in west- across the province have had out- in schools, Pallister has displayed the mask mandate put in place last ern Manitoba began to experience breaks in the last two months. irresponsibility with his confusing month — including, but not limited outbreaks and, instead of imposing Teachers are feeling anxious about public messages and his delayed to, new capacity limits on restaurants new restrictions to get ahead of the the added workload they have this implementation of mask mandates and museums and the closure of bars outbreak, the province decided to year, the uncertainty and the pos- in high-risk areas. and nightclubs. enter Phase 4 of the reopening plan. sibility of contracting the virus due In August, Pallister claimed that Premier Brian Pallister and the Pallister took this new phase to inconsistent implementations of mask mandates had become a “debate” Progressive Conservatives (PC) claim as an opportunity to launch his the regulations. and failed to explain why he was these new restrictions will help make #RestartMB ad campaign in August, The province had ample time this refusing to implement one.

Manitobans safer. However, they are in part to encourage Manitobans that summer to effectively prepare for the This is despite scientific research not enough, and they have come far we are “ready to live with COVID-19.” school year. confirming that they are extremely too late.

The rushed reopening plan and the This time could have been used effective and, most importantly, save The provincial government has #RestartMB campaign have proven to ensure teachers had the neces- lives. done nothing but play politics at to be irresponsible, nonsensical and sary resources and information they Proven scientific findings are not a a time when we desperately need were seemingly driven by economic needed. Most importantly, it could debate, but Pallister and his governleadership. and political incentives rather than have been used to ensure that the ment have managed to exploit public If the government had acted the safety of Manitobans. health of students and teachers was naivety and made it one. sooner, we might have avoided the If the provincial government really protected.

Pallister has shown a lack of leaddire situation we currently find our- had the health of Manitobans in Instead, the PCs irresponsibly ership on the issue. Even Health

W

Minister Cameron Friesen has given into anti-mask groups by stating that they make some “good points.”

There is still not a province-wide mask mandate, and Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Brent Roussin — currently the most visible public health official in Manitoba — has refused to adequately answer why mask mandates have not been implemented across the province.

It seems as though Pallister and the PCs have attempted to play politics with the health and safety of Manitobans.

To put into context just how poor the response has been, let’s take a look at what Ontario has done and how they have fared so far.

Mask mandates were introduced in regions of Ontario starting in June and, according to experts, these mandates may have reduced the number of weekly COVID-19 cases by as much as 25 per cent.

At the end of last week, Ontario, the most populated province in Canada, had roughly 43 active cases per 100,000 people compared to about 129 in Manitoba.

This brings into question where Manitoba would be if mask mandates and other sensible restrictions were adopted during the spike this summer.

Now we are left with uncertainty about our schools, our jobs and whether we’ll even be able to celebrate the winter holidays with our families and friends.

Pallister and the provincial government have done a poor job regulating this crisis, and now everyday Manitobans are dealing with the consequences.

Going forward, the government must act responsibly, communicate clearly and focus on the health and safety of all Manitobans rather than solely on their own political interests.

Provincial policies will harm students in event of UMFA strike Continued from front page

withdraw its salary proposal. like those before them in 2016 — in Now a similar situation could be fear of a strike.

In 2016, the U of M president at on the horizon.

A strike in 2020 has the potential the time, David Barnard, had said On June 11 the public services to hurt students more than it did in the university was in a stable financial sustainability act (PSSA) — the act 2016. position. With more than one-half of that guaranteed salary raises were This year, students and faculty the university’s funding coming from restrained — has been declared have faced many hardships as they provincial coffers, UMFA members unconstitutional by provincial courts. shift to online and remote learning took to the bargaining table to discuss The university is now offering union and the daily worries of living in a a wage increase proposal — one that members zero per cent increases in COVID-19 dominated world. was desperately needed considering compensation, which UMFA says is Beyond this, tuition has been U of M faculty salaries were among in line with an August government raised, and enrolment is up — the the lowest compared to all major uni- mandate. university is in a stable place finanversities in Canada.

In response, UMFA proposed cially, why not open discussions?

Premier Brian Pallister had a large arbitration to discuss a new deal — As important as it is for the facrole to play in this dispute — allega- the U of M administration has ulti- ulty to ensure their fair treatment, in tions of unfair labour practice arose mately declined. the end, it may be the students who when he had supposedly asked the The proposal’s rejection could genuinely suffer. university to resist mediation and leave many students in a situation The association held a honk-a-

thon on Oct. 20, where other union groups joined UMFA in solidarity.

It seems as though the many honks fell on deaf ears, as little concern can be seen across media platforms, but most importantly, the U of M administration has not budged in its position.

This year has been full of civil unrest as the Progressive Conservative (PC) government has been accused of strike breaking for pushing through legislation that has made it easier for employers to fire striking workers. The legislation was introduced Oct. 14 and has ridded requirements for binding arbitration that were established to protect workers’ rights.

Social issues rain high in Manitoba right now, and they need to be heard. Faculty seeking fair treatment and pay need to be given attention.

On the same side, students need to be treated with more respect as they are the most vulnerable in this situation.

It appears as though the U of M administration, who claims to put students first, need to start its negotiations much earlier to protect and put students first.

More importantly, the U of M needs to begin treating their faculty members with respect and afford them the right to fair arbitration.

12

Arts & Culture

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

Get your ghostly groove on this Halloween The Manitoban staff shares some spooktacular songs for your Halloween playlist

S

ince many Halloween festivities will be on a forced hiatus this year, the Manitoban’s arts and culture team is bringing the party to you with some of our favourite spooky tunes.

Whether you’re hosting a virtual get-together with friends or having a party for one, crank up the volume and enjoy the music.

“Voodoo Doll” — VIXX

Shaylyn Maharaj-Poliah, arts and culture editor When thinking about Korean pop music, or K-pop, the song most likely to come to mind is PSY’s 2012 mega-hit, “Gangnam Style,” or the more recent English-language single “Dynamite” from supergroup, BTS. Infectious beats, energetic dance routines and joyful lyrics are staples of the genre but, if you’re one of those naysayers who doubt K-pop’s versatility, then you are in for a rude awakening.

Back in 2013, K-pop idol group VIXX surprised fans with teaser videos for their first full album, Voodoo, and its title track, “Voodoo Doll.”

One of these videos was R-rated for body horror and gore. The beats were pulse-pounding and memorable, using scare chords and a ghostly chorus. When the full song was released,

it didn’t disappoint. There’s a reason creep factor, from the members this song deserve a place among your why VIXX is known as the “concept throwing Ken like a ragdoll to mim- favourite Halloween songs? Not to kings.” icking the torture endured by voodoo put too fine a point on it, but “Black The song starts out sinister with dolls, the group truly went all-in on Cat 13” is simply a great song. rapper Ravi’s deep, guttural growling, this concept.

Off of the 2018 album Gentle builds into the melody and ends with Perhaps too all-in, as the music Leader, this song is short, sweet and crisp falsettos from vocalists N, Leo video itself was rated R for graphic has the quintessential Peach Kelli and Ken. Hongbin’s rap parts, heavily imagery, which meant that Hyuk, Pop sound — best described as bubdistorted with autotune, sound like who was 18 at the time, was too young ble-gum punk with a hint of Japanese audio interference, similar to what to watch his own music video. pop. “Black Cat 13” offers a welcome would be heard through a spirit box This isn’t a trick — “Voodoo Doll” change from the clichéd songs norused by paranormal investigators. is a treat for the ears, whether you’re mally heard at this time of year but The haunting refrain from the teaser a K-pop fan or not. maintains the fun, Halloween vibes was provided by none other than the needed to get you through a night youngest member, Hyuk.

“Black Cat 13” — of trick-or-treating, pumpkin carvPeach Kelli Pop ing or socially distanced household Zoë LeBrun, arts and culture reporter celebrations!

Whether you’re The song that should be the next This high-energy song, with its addition to all of your Halloween racing electric guitar and clashing hosting a virtual playlists is “Black Cat 13” by Peach percussion, is sure to ramp up your Kelli Pop. Halloween playlist. get-together with It lives up to its title, content-wise friends or having a — the lyrics describe running into a “Halloween” — Siouxsie black cat on Halloween night and and the Banshees party for one, crank all of the omens and superstitions Kaelen Bell, arts and culture reporter up the volume and this encounter imposes on its viewer.

With guitars that shriek like This leaves you with a song that has Bernard Herrmann’s legendary enjoy the music spooky themes but isn’t outright scary, Psycho, strings and lyrics that evoke making this song kid-friendly and, the ancient terror lurking beneath in general, good for those who don’t our innocent trick-or-treat tradiYou don’t need to understand handle eerie sounds well — “Black tion, Siouxsie and the Banshees’ Korean to understand that this is a Cat 13” is entertaining, dynamic and “Halloween” is the theatrical height of seriously creepy song. about a cat. What’s not to love? goth rock — perhaps the most intenThe choreography enhances the You may be asking: Why else does tionally sinister, squirming song on

an album famously rife with dread.

One of the few songs on 1981’s landmark Juju with lyrics by bassist Steven Severin rather than frontwoman Siouxsie Sioux, “Halloween” overcomes its potential goofiness by sending the band swirling to its blackest pitch, a feverish dance of sickly noise and pummeling drums.

It’s Sioux’s immense gravity and John McGeoch’s peerlessly unsettling guitar that make lyrics like “trick or treat, trick or treat/The bitter and the sweet” sound foreboding rather than silly.

Sioux flies over the arrangement like a witch above suburbia, rising and diving with her legendary cool — rock music’s patron saint of Halloween, giving us an anthem of genuine fear.

It’s not necessarily party playlist fodder, but if you’re looking to access some of the black magic at the heart of Halloween, consider pausing the “Monster Mash” and letting your subconscious go unchecked for three minutes and 37 seconds of cold sweats and panic. Suddenly, all those kids in costumes won’t seem quite so harmless.

Check out these bewitching songs on your preferred music streaming platform.

VOL. 107 NO. 11 October 28, 2020

Arts & Culture

13

Big-budget studio quality that’s local and affordable Adam Fuhr’s House of Wonders offers Manitoba musicians mentorship, comfort and creativity KAELEN BELL, STAFF

PHOTO BY ALLY GONZALO

F

illed with instruments and of Wonders’ approach — an artistrecording gear, the floor strewn first perspective that attempts to priwith old rugs and ceiling lined with oritize comfort, creativity and low fairy lights, Adam Fuhr’s House of costs over corporate promotional Wonders is a world away from its tactics and major label pressures. namesake — the Zanzibari palace, “Every inch of every decision is but it feels just as rich with stories shaped by my experience as an art— and is probably better equipped to ist,” he said. capture them.

“Everything. I basically look at how The Yes We Mystic frontman I would have wanted things to be describes the small recording space — when I was starting out and then try and its sister label House of Wonders to find a way to make it happen now.”

Records — as the confluence of sev“I don’t feel married to any pareral dreams, both for himself and for ticular way of doing things because I a music industry that’s swallowing keep costs low and want to stay agile. artists and spitting them out faster Let’s just say that the experiment is than ever before. ongoing,” he said.

“Producing is something I’ve been For what it’s worth, that experiworking toward for a long time — my ment seems to be working. A steady band Yes We Mystic’s latest album, stream of local names — Virgo Ten Seated Figures, was where I took Rising, JayWood, Julien’s Daughter, off the training wheels and produced Amos the Kid, Laura Lucas and fully on my own,” he said.

Anthony OKS, among others — “The label comes from another have brought their songs to House place — I’ve been quite heavily of Wonders’ little palace. involved in the release plans of Yes “It’s been awesome to work with We Mystic music for many years, and Adam — he’s incredibly hard-workI wanted to share what I’ve learned ing and just knows a ton about the with artists I believe in.” industry,” says Amos the Kid, House Fuhr credits his experience on of Wonders’ inaugural signee. Amos both sides of the equation for House Nadlersmith’s debut EP as Amos

the Kid, Mountain View, generated a modest, well-deserved buzz outside of his home province — a buzz he partially credits to Fuhr and House of Wonders Records. “[Fuhr] also has contacts from all over the world, so he’s given my tunes a reach that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do,” he said, adding that

“We are together experimenting, trying to find moments that make us shake in our seats and holler at the sky” – Adam Fuhr, founder he and his band have recently finished recording his upcoming sophomore EP at House of Wonders.

Anthony Sannie, who performs as Anthony OKS, describes Fuhr’s approach as personal and seriously committed to the music.

“He’s super easy to work with, and

he’s patient with the music and the able, but with the sudden and essenprocess,” said Sannie. “You can tell tially total loss of paid performance that he wants to get your song right, opportunities — along with worrying too. industry trends decades in the mak“So, seeing that investment in an ing — many artists are facing a scary engineer is great.” financial future.

What started as a recording “We need to find ways to make space for Yes We Mystic has quickly music for the least amount of upfront become a hub for Winnipeg artists cost possible while still ensuring looking for an affordable middle- high-quality output,” said Fuhr. ground between home recording and “There are very, very few people for big-budget studios. whom recording for $600 a day at a “We’re used to just recording our big studio makes any sense anymore. songs on our phones, so working at If you’re not getting five million House of Wonders transcended our streams, you’re not even paying back music into so much more than we the money it took to make the thing.” ever thought it could be,” said Emily It’s no small battle, but House of Sinclair of Virgo Rising, who, along Wonders seems like a step toward with bandmates Jenna and Lauren a more professional and equitable Wittman, worked on their debut EP future for Winnipeg’s artists. And with Fuhr. with a new Amos the Kid EP on “He brought new ideas to the table the way — and new, as-yet-to-beand we were able to make so many revealed signees to the label — Fuhr stellar sounds with his equipment said he’s optimistic about what’s to and expertise.” come and excited to explore new It’s the affordable opportunity avenues of sound. to record in a professional setting “No matter the genre, the fundathat, more than anything else, make mentals are the same,” he said. “We spaces like House of Wonders feel are together experimenting, trying to vital. The financial reality of working find moments that make us shake in musicians has always been unpredict- our seats and holler at the sky.”

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Arts & Culture

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

Creating a sense of home

The Winnipeg Art Gallery offers a survey of Manitoba’s last 50 years through paintings, sculptures, installations and more ZOË LEBRUN, STAFF

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eginning Oct. 10, art lovers were gifted with a celebration of Manitoba at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) in the form of an exhibit titled In Place: Reflections from Manitoba. The exhibit is curated by Riva Symko, the WAG’s head of collections and exhibitions as well as the curator of Canadian art.

In Place features work from 58 Manitoban artists and reflects on the ways identity and culture are set in place — a concept even more relevant given the COVID-19 pandemic, which has kept many in-province over the past many months.

In Place was conceived while Winnipeg was quarantined in March

and Joseph Sanchez. tic community over the last 50 years.

At first glance, Cemetery could be While proceeding through In The Prairie landscape was, unsur- misinterpreted as a diagram of an Place, attendees will notice a large prisingly, prominent throughout In actual graveyard. However, upon furspace on one of the walls with a plac- Place but reimagined in the various ther inspection, fingerprints and lines ard next to it. Here, Symko describes works in a plethora of ways. Multiple made in charcoal betray its artistic her disappointment in the lack of artists took this plain setting and origins and triggers a line of quesrepresentation of Black artists in the found truly unique methods to por- tioning about people’s relationship to WAG’s permanent collection and her tray it, which is a testament to the way physical places, the afterlife and the plans to change this. spaces can be perceived and experi- ways we perceive spaces around us.

Symko also made space for Black enced by different people.

Thunderbird Woman, with its artists within this exhibition despite undulating lines and colours, appears not having many works by Black to move right before your very eyes From sculptures, Manitoban artists in the WAG’s — the longer you look at it, the more permanent collection. By physically figures emerge from its depths — creto paintings and PHOTO BY ZOË LEBRUN making space for Black Manitoban ating dark, cinematic energy. everything in artists, Symko shows that Black Whitehouse’s Look at Me feels to flatten COVID-19 infection rates. artists matter, and she is willing to like many spaces at once. As you between, the wide Symko was new to the city at the time make an effort to include and celshift your brain in and out of focus, array of mediums and could not explore it the ways ebrate these artists. This gives hope it seems to portray different things, newcomers usually might due to pub- for the WAG’s future representation making one realize the way that we displayed in this lic health restrictions. She turned to for Black artists. infer a work’s meaning based on what exhibition speak to the WAG’s permanent collection for The exhibition itself, which conwe are able to see through abstract both curatorial pursuits and to learn tains 126 different works, creates a real forms in space.

Manitoba’s diverse more about her new home. sense of place upon entrance. With When many people think about Some of the artists featured blue-painted gallery walls, the rooms Manitoba, they tend to view it as borartistic community include Marcel Dzama, Diana containing In Place gave the impresing, but In Place proves this wrong over the last 50 years and demonstrates the artistic ingeThornycroft, Lita Fontaine and Cliff sion of a wide-open prairie sky and Eyland. In Place also displays work provided both a sense of calm and nuity, humour and talent that our from five artists who established the excitement when moving through province provides.

Professional Native Indian Artists the space.

Some pieces of note from the From sculptures to paintings and exhibit are Steve Higgins’s Cemetery In Place: Ref lections from Inc. in the early 1970s, whose members include Daphne Odjig, Carl everything in between, the wide array (1991), Daphne Odjig’s Thunderbird Manitoba is on at the Winnipeg Art Ray, Jackson Beardy, Alex Janvier, of mediums displayed in this exhibi- Woman (1973) and Look at Me by Gallery until Jan. 17, 2021.

Norval Morriseau, Eddy Cobiness tion speak to Manitoba’s diverse artis- Diane Whitehouse.

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15

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

Former Bisons soccer Former Bisons basketball star inks new pro contract player offers advice to future players Brazil native Rebecca Wilson talks Bisons

Omoerah earns Euro deal in market affected by COVID-19 MATTHEW MERKEL, STAFF

ISAIAH WAGNER, STAFF

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ormer women’s soccer player Rebecca Wilson spent her rookie season last year playing for the Bisons, but unlike many other student athletes this year who’ve seen their seasons halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson decided on her own to pause her playing career. Competing athletically is something Wilson loved, but school came first for this student athlete.

“I really wanted to focus on academics,” she said.

“Even though I am not on the team, I still keep in touch with many of the girls.”

Before playing for the Bisons, Wilson played for her high school team Collège Beliveau and for the Bonivital Flames. Playing well for both of these squads resulted in her recruitment to the women’s Bisons team.

“It’s hard work and long hours, so you have to be disciplined in balancing academics and the commitment to the team” — Rebecca Wilson, former Bison Wilson has had a number of achievements in her career.

She was the Premier 2 Bonivital SC female soccer player of the year in 2014. The student in student athlete is also something she took pride in, as she was given the SCAC Scholar-Athlete Recognition award in both 2017 and 2018.

She is not like many student athletes that play for the Bisons, having

been born in Manaus, Brazil. Her family came to Canada when she was just two years old.

Wilson was one of just three players on the team from outside North America, the other two being from India and Colombia.

The national sport in Brazil is soccer, a fact which is not lost on Wilson.

“It’s more of a cultural thing in Brazil for sure, but I have always liked to be active,” she said.

“In addition to soccer I played school volleyball, hockey and was a competitive gymnast for 13 years.”

The ability to stay active and play different types of sports is beneficial no matter what type of athlete you are and what level you play at. It brings different strengths to players based on their previous activity.

“Even though I am small, I felt that I could hold my own on the field,” Wilson said.

“I’ve been playing soccer since the age of four, so I am able to read the plays well.”

The former Bison loved to play for the team. It is a great way for a first-year student to get to know other athletes and play the sport they love.

“It felt really good to be part of a team,” she said.

“It was a great way to stay in shape, that’s for sure.”

“It’s hard work and long hours, so you have to be disciplined in balancing academics and the commitment to the team,” Wilson said.

She offered some advice to future players on how to act and what to do when living as a student athlete.

“Be positive and coachable,” she said.

“Get to know your teammates.”

“Making connections off the field is important for making the connections on the field.”

PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA

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ormer U of M Bison Keith Omoerah has recently agreed to a new contract with MBC Mykolaiv of the Ukrainian Super League. The third-year pro makes his return to the club after splitting last season between the Iranian league with Exxon Sport Club and the Ukrainian Super League with BC Odessa. The Winnipeg native also has international experience.

Omoerah has been a regular member of the Nigerian national team since 2018, playing in FIBA events such as the African Cup. In the 2018-19 season in

Omoerah knows he was one of the lucky few to be able to get a contract this year, as many other ballers are left without contracts in a freeagent market filled with uncertainty Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Omoerah had one of his best pro seasons statistically, averaging 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 18 games. Over three games with Bipa Odessa in the 2019-20 season, the six-foot-four shooting guard averaged 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists before the team’s season was cut short due to the spread of COVID-19.

The shortened season meant

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KEITH OMOERAH

Omoerah had to come home to the keystone province. Although he had to forgo the rest of his season, Omoerah is thankful for the time he was able to spend with loved ones.

“As tough as this off season was, the silver lining in it is that I got to be home longer than expected and spend time with my family,” he said.

As the pandemic shut down professional sports leagues around the world, many athletes were left wondering what their future would look like. Financial ramifications from a season cut short and a damaged world economy have put pro sports leagues in a tough position.

Omoerah knows he was one of the lucky few to be able to get a contract this year, as many other ballers are left without contracts in a free-agent market filled with uncertainty.

“Due to [COVID-19], a lot of leagues had to shut down which obviously means a lot of jobs were lost,” he said.

“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of good hoopers out there still without a job. On top of that, a lot of players overseas had to take a pay cut as well. I’m thankful to be in the position I am being back in […]

Ukraine.”

The former Bison hopes to leave his mark overseas like he did in his hometown. The Grant Park High School graduate played four seasons for the herd in 2010-11, 2011-12, 2015-16 and 2016-2017. In his time, Omoerah was a Canada West conference all-star and helped lead the Bisons to the Canada West Final Four. After the season, he signed with Norwegian club Bærum

Basket for the 2017-18 season.

Omoerah had an incredible university career that was topped off by earning his spot in the professional ranks, something rare in collegiate sports.

The U of M alumnus knows the commitment and sacrifice a student athlete must make for their sport.

So, when Canada West announced that they were cancelling all winter sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he could not help but empathize with Bison athletes.

“I feel for the university athletes during this time,” Omoerah said.

“For me, playing at the University of Manitoba was the [most fun] basketball has ever been. So, for those players not to have the opportunity to enjoy this year is upsetting.

Understandable, but still upsetting.”

However, Omoerah knows that if any athlete wants to succeed, they need to make the most of any opportunity. Leaving a message for Bison athletes, he highlighted the importance of persevering through the difficulties of a cancelled season.

“As tough as this year might be, [Bison athletes] just have to stay the course,” he said. “Don’t cheat the game and the game won’t cheat you.”

This mindset is what has helped Omoerah find success on the court and in free agency. After a cancelled season, the former Bison heads back overseas with renewed optimism, in the face of COVID-19.

“I’m excited to be back playing in the Ukraine this year,” he said.

“With so much uncertainty in the world right now, I find it comforting to be back in a familiar place.”

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

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THE IVORY BUFFALO Monsters and ghouls take on a COVID-19 Halloween How have vampires, werewolves and zombies dealt with the pandemic?

JESSE BOILY, STAFF

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he pandemic has changed all our plans, including how we celebrate holidays, but it has not affected anyone more than Halloween’s ghouls and monsters.

Halloween is the one night of the year when vampires, werewolves and babadooks can freely roam the streets as if they were one of us normies.

Trolls who once lived under bridges have since moved on to damp, dingy basements with highspeed Internet.

Now they often lurk among boomer Facebook pages spreading fake news and cringy opinions, enraging the stereotypical “Karen.”

Vampires, best known for their blood-sucking escapades and high conceitedness, are now upset with the province’s latest restaurant rules.

Constrained restaurant hours have limited their deceitful forum for blood-sucking, and their victims are increasingly hard to come by.

Manitoba’s werewolf population is well known to keep to themselves, so social distancing from the populace has not been a problem.

The werewolf community feels exceptionally blessed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to their canine-like genes. They don’t display symptoms of the virus but still practice social distancing as they fear they could be carriers.

That being said, if you do go out this Halloween, be aware that it is a full moon.

The zombies groaned in unison in March as the possibility of their great upheaval was upon humanity and was subsequently put off.

COVID-19 did not turn out to be the pandemic

to lead to us all to become brain-thirsty living dead creatures.

Although not the living dead, many of us have spent so much time looking at computer screens that we all have a zombie-like gaze.

The zombie hunters and doomsday preppers have warned us the world would shut down — in

Manitoba’s werewolf population is well known to keep to themselves, so social distancing from the populace has not been a problem March, while many made the mad dash for toilet paper and hand sanitizer, the new age boy scouts sat back in their fortified bunkers with their crossbows and DVD collections of Survivorman and The Walking Dead.

Although they haven’t been heard from since, one must wonder if they are tired of their dehydrated food and boil-in-bag meals yet.

When they emerge from their bunkers, what will they think of our world as we pushed on through the pandemic? To their great disappointment, it will be a world without zombies.