8 minute read
Arts & Technology pages 12 to
’Toban turntable
Noé Lira — ‘Latiendo la tierra’
ARTS & CULTURE
Kitty Kerr, volunteer
5/5 stars
Noé Lira’s debut EP Latiendo la tierra is an interdisciplinary symphony. The colourful record successfully holds trilingual lyrics, multiple genres, nature sounds, choral voices and a surprising array of rich and complex instrumentals. It embodies Lira’s interest in mixing languages and cultures and fusing different forms together, making for a listening experience that is both invigorating and emotional.
Lira’s ability to carry such multiplicity is unsurprising given her talents as a singer, songwriter, dancer and actor who works internationally. A first-generation Quebecomexican, she first began experimenting with music in 2018 at several creative musical laboratories in Europe and South America.
She performed in a touring production of a highly successful musical comedy, TIC-TAC, in Spain. The content of TIC-TAC reads much like the thesis of Lira’s body of work: it explores the need for fiction in our life and how art can change and transform lives. Following the tour, in 2019, she introduced her sound to the world with a series of pared-down performances — just her, an accordion and two musicians. Finally, she returned to Quebec and set to developing what would become Latiendo la tierra with a team of women, a conscious choice on her part.
The product is an invigorating and hopeful sum of astonishing parts, with Lira’s vocals being the focal point of the soothing arrangements. The manifesto that appears in the lyrics of “Ríndete” wholly articulates her intention and achievement:
“May we nurture care, love, unity/ Embrace the dance, life force, energy/ Surrender to the winds and bow before the waves/Be thankful for every breath that you take/Calling all hearts to seek for the light/And may in compassion be rooted the change.”
Latiendo la tierra feels like an invitation. The music invites its listener sonically and lyrically to breathe, to move and to reconnect to something greater — a powerful, feminine energy.
/ provided Baseline MUSIC image /
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All the world’s a stage
Theatre company mounts first in-person production in the great outdoors
ARTS & CULTURE
Shaylyn Maharaj-Poliah, staff Local independent theatre company Theatre by the River is thrilled to be presenting its first production in almost two years. Prior to the pandemic lockdowns last March, Theatre by the River presented a run of The Hours That Remain by Keith Barker but were unable to produce any further programming due to the increase in closures and tightening health restrictions.
Since 2005, Theatre by the River has been producing innovative, socially relevant theatre. The company makes a point of choosing lesser-known scripts to bring to life onstage and seeks to challenge not only their audience to think outside the box about theatre and theatre practices, but also themselves. Theatre by the River also encourages patrons of any income level to attend their shows by offering “pay what you can” price options for certain performances, meaning there is no set cost for tickets and customers pay what they can afford.
This week, the company is inviting audiences to Whittier Park — near the edge of the Red River — to experience a live, open-air performance of Meet Me at Dawn. Written by British playwright Zinnie Harris, the play opens with two women washing up on shore after a horrifying boating accident. However, as happy as their reunion is, something is amiss, and not all is as it seems. Described as a “modern fable of life, love and grief,” Meet Me at Dawn is unapologetic and a beautiful allegory for the difficulties of letting go of a loved one.
The play was directed by Cherissa Richards and features the acting talents of Alissa Watson and Theatre by the River’s own artistic director, Mel Marginet. The production also
features ambient music by prolific local soundscape artist Ali “Yoyu” Khan.
Theatre by the River’s upcoming programming includes a glimpse into the future of Winnipeg, tentatively titled #gladtobehere. A new work by Winnipeg playwright Ginny Collins, the production will physically take patrons through specific sites throughout the city and answer burning questions about Winnipeg
Theatre by the River by J Senft Photography / provided / photo
after the end.
Meet Me at Dawn runs until Sept. 18, with a Sept. 19 rain date. For more information, please visit theatrebytheriver.com.
U-Sports, Canada West mandate vaccines for members
Vaccine incentives, mandates increasing in Canada, internationally
SPORTS
Matthew Merkel, staff Across the sports landscape, the use of COVID-19 vaccines has become increasingly popular. Many fans across Canada and the U.S. hoping to watch their favourite sports have been required by their local governments to be vaccinated before entering arenas and stadiums.
Now, athletes are also typically expected to receive the vaccine.
U-Sports announced in a press release Sept. 9 that all members will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or provide a valid reason for not being able to get vaccinated, prior to arrival at any U-Sports national championship event. The mandate is effective Nov. 8.
This policy includes not only athletes and coaches, but also team support staff, athletic therapists, team medical staff, officials, event staff, technical delegates, event medical staff and travelling team delegates.
This announcement comes days after FISU, the International University Sports Federation that U-Sports is aligned with and operates under, announced that all attendees of the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade — a sporting event for university athletes from around the world — will be required to be fully vaccinated and undergo a PCR test upon arrival for the games in Switzerland.
U-Sports’ Nov. 8 deadline for double vaccinations of its athletes would allow its delegates to be able to attend the Lucerne games beginning Dec. 11.
For conferences of U-Sports, the decision by the governing body means that participants will most likely have to fall in line if they hope to compete for a title.
Prior to the U-Sports mandate, Canada West announced the adoption of a proof of vaccination policy that came into effect Sept. 3.
Similar to the policy released by U-Sports, Canada West requires all of its members to have at least one dose of a vaccine by Sept. 9 and a second dose by Oct. 17.
For participants unable to be vaccinated due to prior health conditions, or any other reasons, accommodations will be respected.
Ontario University Athletics has also mandated that its members follow a similar policy.
The Atlantic University Sport announced Sept. 9 that they would also implement a vaccine mandate for their athletes.
The Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) said it will not require athletes to be vaccinated, after rumours were circulating that a vaccine mandate would be coming into effect for their athletes. The majority of RSEQ schools are also not requiring their students to be vaccinated.
After the U-Sports announcement, members of RSEQ may now be forced to get the vaccine if they hope to win a national championship.
Back in Manitoba, the U of M has already taken a pro-vaccine approach, mandating that all staff and students be fully vaccinated if they plan on being on campus this school year.
Katie Chatyrbok, a forward with the Bisons women’s hockey team, is pleased with the safety precautions U-Sports and Canada West have implemented so far.
“I think that it’s been a really difficult time for everyone, but I think that they’ve done their best to keep everyone safe and that they’ve done the best of their abilities to make sure that we can play safely,” she said.
“Everyone has to wear a mask in the dressing room, and then once everyone is fully vaccinated then you don’t have to wear a mask on the ice when we are practicing or playing games […] then just social distancing whenever possible.”
Chatyrbok is excited that Canada West has a planned schedule. Midway through training camp with her Bison teammates, she is confident that they will find success this season.
“I’m just grateful to have any sort of schedule and play games this year after missing a full season,” she said. “It’s just so nice to have something concrete to work off [of] and know that we’re working towards games.”
“It’s been so fun to be back on the ice finally and have a regular schedule [and] be able to come to the rink every day.
“I think we look really good. Everyone is really talented. We have a big roster this year and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I think everyone is looking really, really good.”
Other sporting leagues in Canada have also adopted vaccine policies.
The Western Hockey League has mandated that all its members, including players, coaches, trainers and officials — as well as personnel that don’t work directly in game, like general managers, scouts and off-ice consultants — also be vaccinated.
In the CFL, as of early August, more than 79 per cent of players had at least one dose of a vaccine. While vaccines are not mandatory in the CFL, the league has introduced incentives for teams reaching an 85 per cent vaccination rate, allowing teams to go out to eat, meet in hotel rooms and not wear masks at practice or on the sidelines during games.
The NHL, NBA and MLB have not made vaccines mandatory for their athletes. However, all three leagues are encouraging their players to do so.
With the recent mandates by U-Sports, FISU and Canada West, vaccines are becoming increasingly a part of sport in this country. These new mandates show the commitment these organizations have toward safety, science and a return to normalcy while also telling athletes that they are entering a new era — an era where the decision to not get vaccinated puts not only their health and safety at risk, but their athletic careers as well.
graphic / Dallin Chicoine/
