16 October 2019

NEWS

A new Canada Trudeau keeps position, but under new minority government PAGE 3

VO L 1 0 6 · N O 1 0 · O C TO B E R 2 3 , 2 0 1 9 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

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Index

VOL. 106 NO. 10 October 23, 2019

NEWS

Building bridges

Kid-Netic Energy introduces girls to engineering

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Malak Abas

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BUSINESS MANAGER Alice Teufack

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EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Doering

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NEWS EDITOR Garett Williams

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NEWS EDITOR Ty Brass

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ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Grace Paizen

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DESIGN

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NEWS Gillian Brown

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NEWS Damien Davis COLUMNIST Meagan Hughes COLUMNIST Cam Cannon ARTS & CULTURE Zachary Sigurdson ARTS & CULTURE Kaelen Bell

Cracking the armour

Bisons hand Calgary first loss of the season PAGE 20

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

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News

News Editor: Garett Williams and Ty Brass Contact: garett@themanitoban.com ty @themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Federal election inspires hope, concern on campus

Mixed house draws mixed feelings from University of Manitoba student groups MALAK ABAS, STAFF

PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER

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anada woke up to the same prime for Consent Culture’s (SFCC) Sanderson said he sees the split as While voter turnout in 2015 minister but a new parliament #VoteWithSurvivors campaign. an opportunity to get “a lot of listen- jumped to 68.3 per cent of registered Tuesday, with Justin Trudeau holding Now that campaigning is over, stu- ing ears” and that the union is “excited voters — the highest it had been in his position as leader despite losing dents are looking ahead to the next to get in and talk with all parties.” decades — voter turnout dipped to the popular vote to the Conservative four years.

While, according to the UMSU 65.95 per cent this year, not includparty.

In the midst of shakeup, UMSU president, the union saw “a lot of stu- ing voters who registered Monday.

The Liberal Party of Canada, president Jakob Sanderson sees dent interest in voting” and “a lot of Data on youth voter turnout in 2019 which has governed with a strong opportunity. student interest in getting to learn compared to 2015, which also saw a majority since 2015, was demoted to “I think what’s considerable leap a minority in the House of Commons, encouraging for compared to 2011, “I think that this presents an opportunity for was not available where Conservatives were elected to myself and for 121 seats to the Liberals’ 157. anyone in this our Parliament to, frankly, look more like the as of press time.

Other changes include an uptick student group and “I think somein support for the Bloc Québécois, across the coun- country” — Jakob Sanderson, UMSU president times not every who won 32 seats, and a drop for the try is that we’re student is going New Democrats, who lost 18 seats to going to have an to want to walk finish with 24. opportunity here coming up where more about the issues,” there were by a table in the middle of [UMSU Several student groups on cam- the parties are going to have to work some challenges with engagement University Centre], and not all of pus took on federal advocacy dur- together,” he said. that will be more closely examined them follow us on social media,” ing the election. Among those “We want them to work together in the coming weeks.

Sanderson said. were the Canadian Alliance of around progressive issues that are “We have to find creative ways, “So how do we reach out to stuStudent Associations-led Get Out going to improve the quality and especially on a commuter campus dents in more creative ways […] the Vote campaign, which UMSU accessibility of education for students like the University of Manitoba, to There’s always ways for improvement, participated in, and the Students across the country.” reach out to students,” he said.

I don’t have all of the answers in terms

of how we’re going to be able to do that, but I think we can look at what are the types of students we’re not reaching well enough, and how do we try to go where they’re going.”

Sanderson said the next four years of heightened bargaining will be a chance for student issues to make their way to the forefront of the conversation, and said the onus will be on student leaders to hold Parliament accountable when those issues arise.

“I think that this presents an opportunity for our Parliament to, frankly, look more like the country,” he said.

“This is a country that has a wide array of views, and I think the U of M campus is a microcosm of that.”

Other students involved with federal advocacy work on campus were less hopeful.

See Election | Page 4

News

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News Editor: Garett Williams and Ty Brass Contact: garett@themanitoban.com /ty @themanitoban.com / 474.6770

SFCC co-ordinator criticizes candidates’ ‘surface-level’ approach to issues of sexual violence Continued from page 3.

SFCC advocacy co-ordinator Karan Saxena, who worked within the #VoteWithSurvivors project, said the future seems unclear.

“It was worrisome that not a lot of issues relating to survivors was brought in the forefront,” he said.

SFCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to anti-sexual violence initiatives. The #VoteWithSurvivors campaign included four recommendations to federal leaders, including committing to the calls to justice released by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), implementing independent oversight services for students seeking accountability in cases of campus sexual violence, mandatory sensitivity training for

federally-appointed judges and pro- really hard to tell where we’re going Another concern was the pos- that, and there was not a lot of comviding additional abortion services, to be, what we’re going to be seeing.” sibility of additional restrictions mitment put toward not reopening Saxena noted a particular dis- being placed on reproductive rights this issue,” Saxena said. supporting sexual health education Both campaigns had found similar and investigating forced sterilization appointment for SFCC was what in Canada. he called a “lack of real commitIn an Oct. 2 debate, the Liberal, ground in several areas — Saxena said of Indigenous women.

Saxena noted that there was not as ment from a lot of politicians” on Bloc Québécois and NDP lead- the #VoteWithSurvivors campaign ers a r g u e d gathered a lot of interest from students much discussion Conservative “and a lot of student activists throughon these issues “Even with Indigenous issues, we saw some leader Andrew out post-secondary institutions.” during the camScheer would not Accountability from the new paign as SFCC party leaders barely scratching the surface” support women’s House of Commons is another had hoped for.

— Karan Saxena, SFCC advocacy co-ordinator rights should he mutual goal for both groups post“Even with become prime election season.

Indigenous issues, minister. Scheer “I think a lot of what is going to we saw some maintained that while he remains come next is going to be based on our party leaders barely scratching the Indigenous issues.

“We were still disappointed with personally opposed to abortion, he demands,” he said. surface by talking about these issues “I think, going forward, we’re going in a very surface-level sort of way,” he the amount of regard shown toward would not vote in favour of reopening Indigenous issues, especially with the debate. to be looking at what politicians are said.

“There’s a lot of grassroots activ- allies and what politicians need to be “They didn’t really dive too deep missing and murdered Indigenous into how they were going to rectify a women and girls, after we have read ists trying to bring these issues to the held accountable for the things that lot of the harms that are being created the report, we know what the calls to forefront so we don’t have to reopen they have proposed to combat sexual the abortion debate again and all of violence, and even colonialism.” by neo-colonial policies […] so it’s justice are,” he said.

Student union urges students to go to the polls UMSU president says voting ‘integral’ to placing student issues on the political agenda AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

dents do not all think alike.

“It’s kind of a narrative I’ve pushed back against a little bit — that student voters are this homogenous bloc that all think the same and all have the same issues,” he said.

“I think we need to treat students — and treat young voters, generally — the same way we treat the whole population [in] that they are an informed voter base, they’re a passionate voter base, and they’re also not one that has all the same opinions and the same priorities on everything.”

Sanderson said despite differences in individual opinion, the power held by young voters this election was a fact that could not be ignored by political parties, noting parties and governments both tend to neglect young voters.

He added that casting a ballot is “absolutely integral” for students and young people “to establish themselves as a really active voter base so that when governments are making their policy decisions, they have to come to students and they have to ask us, ‘What do you think we should be doing?’”

“What I think what’s most important is that students make their voice heard in this election by voting” — Jakob Sanderson, UMSU president PHOTO BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

U

MSU had a simple message for students this federal election cycle — get out and vote.

Part of a larger effort led by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), the Get Out the Vote campaign had student volunteers canvassing the main floor of

UMSU University Centre for vote pledges from Oct. 15 to 18. While not an official member of CASA, UMSU joined the effort to encourage students to exercise their right to vote in Monday’s federal election.

According to an open letter signed by members of the Undergraduates

of Canadian Research-Intensive Universities (UCRU), there are more than 2.5 million voters on postsecondary campuses, representing a significant voting base.

While UMSU president Jakob Sanderson said the potential impact is consequential, he emphasized stu-

“They have to be considering us in their actions not only in election time, but in the rest of their [time in] government.”

Speaking to UMSU’s priorities this election, Sanderson pointed to the open letter sent to party leaders

by UCRU — which counts UMSU

among its members — that listed concerns such as post-secondary job creation and education accessibility and affordability.

While outlining a range of issues, Sanderson stopped short of naming a top concern and instead encouraged students to highlight their own with their ballot.

“I’m not going to put forward any most important issue that I think should be the most pressing to students,” he said.

“What I think what’s most important is that students make their voice heard in this election by voting. I think that’s a great way for students, individually, to put their own most important issues at the front of mind of politicians in the next government.”

Sanderson stressed the importance of voting as a means of expression and change, saying “If you have an opinion on the direction in which this country should go, voting is the simplest way to express it.”

Kadeyn Labossiere, a second-year history student, was so excited to vote in his first federal election he cast a ballot at the advance polls.

He said he felt the student vote would have an impact this election, and expressed the importance of voting and the negative effects of the lack of student participation in past elections.

According to Elections Canada, voter turnout in the 18-24 age group was at 38.8 per cent in 2011. It jumped to 57 per cent in 2015.

Labossiere said he wants to see apathy toward the electoral process among young people fade away with larger numbers attending the polls.

“Voting is important, especially for young people, because young people especially don’t vote and because they don’t vote, politicians have no incentive to work for their trust,” he said.

“So that’s why I feel that it’s important in order to get our demographic represented in our government.”

VOL. 106 NO. 10 October 23, 2019

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Campus power outages subject of senate meeting discussion University signs letter of intent with MB Hydro to address power issues MALAK ABAS, STAFF

PHOTO BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

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s a heavy snow blanketed Manitoba starting Oct.11 and continuing well into the following weekend, many buildings across the province were hit with power outages.

The U of M was no exception, with many buildings on the Fort Garry campus experiencing an outage that day. Biological Sciences, Max Bell, IGAC, Education #3 and Migizii Agamik all lost power, and power had to be shut down at St. John’s College, St. Paul’s College,

the Wallace Building, 55 Chancellor, Education #1 and #2, Helen Glass and the parkade.

Power had been restored to all buildings by just past 6 p.m., but power outages on campus are not a rare occurrence, with recent outages happening in July and May. U of M spokesperson John Danakas said the university was taking note of the power outages and had plans to address them.

“There have been a number of

power outages over the last few years on the Fort Garry campus, for example, and there is a need to address infrastructure, and there is a plan,” he said.

Power outages on campus can be attributed to three different concerns. Problems with the incoming Manitoba Hydro lines at the Mohawk power distribution station on Bishop Grandin Boulevard and along the transmission route result in one third of the outages, and the

other two thirds are caused by aged ject starting in 2016 and ending in infrastructure at the university sta- 2018, which included a new transtion on Freedman Crescent and former and capacitor bank and yard across buildings on campus. expansion.

At the U of M senate meeting held In the meantime, students and Oct. 2, power outages were discussed, faculty who are particularly affected including solutions. There are plans in by power outages — for example, place to add a third distribution line researchers on campus whose work to the university in the 2020-21 school relies on power remaining stable — year and to replace “suspect and aged” should work with the physical plant distribution equipment. to ensure losses are minimized, Danakas said.

“They can work with physical plant, “There have been a here specifically at the University of Manitoba, to make sure that they’ve number of power taken as many precautions as possioutages over the ble,” he said. “So the university works with researchers and departments to last few years [...] help facilitate minimizing the impact and there is a plan” of power outages.”

— John Danakas, U “There are many cases that I’m aware of where physical plant has of M spokesperson helped ensure that, in the case of refrigeration and so forth, that there’s A letter of intent has also been backup,” he said. signed with Manitoba Hydro to While he did not say whether data replace the university power distri- was being collected by the university bution station with points of delivery on losses to research that occurred on campus at a higher voltage, which due to power outages, Danakas said the agenda calls a “major advance- these situations were being “moniment to working collaboratively with tored closely.”

[Manitoba] Hydro on ensuring a reli“In the normal course of operations, able supply of electrical service to the researchers who rely on power are campus.” advised to take precautions so that Mohawk station was the centre power outages don’t have a negative of a $19.7 million expansion pro- impact on their research.”

Conservative campus free speech pledge criticized by faculty reps Grant program mistakes discourse for discrimination: UMFA president GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

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Conservative campaign pledge ment with discrimination. publicly funded colleges and univer- vigorous debate of ideas. that would have attached fed“I think they like to create a per- sities implement a free speech policy While some Ontario universieral grants to Canadian universities ception that they are being persecuted that “meets a minimum standard pre- ties had established free speech to a commitment to free speech is for those ideas,” she said, “when, in scribed by the government.” Alberta policies before the legislation took little more than an ideological “dog reality, I think that any debates can post-secondary institutions have hold, Robinson said the Alberta whistle” and “a solution in search of a and should be held on university until December to establish policies policy is more troubling, noting that problem,” according to faculty critics. campuses and if people are disa- conforming to the so-called Chicago American principles of free speech In his campaign for leader of the greeing with them, it’s not a ques- principles. and Canadian principles of freedom federal Conservative party, Andrew tion of persecution — it’s a matter of of expression — which place more Scheer committed to withdrawing legitimately disagreeing with those strict limits on hate speech — do not “Having political federal grants to universities that have viewpoints.” evenly align. not expressed an explicit commitRobinson also questioned the Robinson also accused the parties talk about ment to protecting free speech on messaging of flyers that were disConservatives of inconsistent regulating speech campus. tributed by the Conservative party appeals to free speech, noting that Scheer reiterated his position at around the York University campus while they defend the likes of notorion campus is very a press conference two weeks ago in Toronto in September that read, ous University of Toronto professor when he said a Tory government “Because you can only hear the same Jordan Peterson and Wilfrid Laurier disturbing” — David would establish a regime that prior- left-wing talking points from your teaching assistant Lindsay Shepherd, Robinson, CAUT itizes federal funding for universities professors so many times.” they also seek to limit debate surthat “have taken concrete measures to “Having political parties talk about rounding the Israel-Palestine conflict. executive director protect free speech on campus.” regulating speech on campus is very “Their focus is on those rare David Robinson, executive direc- disturbing,” he said. “It threatens the instances in where there is a controtor of the Canadian Association of principle of institutional economy. It versy over a conservative speaker,” University Teachers (CAUT), called threatens the principles of academic The Chicago principles, adopted he said, “but they don’t want to deal the proposal “red meat” for the con- freedom and free speech on campus.” in 2015 at the University of Chicago, with any of the more complicated servative base and criticized it as The federal government trans- hold that debate may not be sup- and nuanced controversies that come electioneering. ferred nearly $4 billion to post-sec- pressed even if most of the university from the left.”

“There is no real evidence that ondary institutions in 2017-18, mostly community finds the ideas “offensive, In September 2017, CAUT critithere is any kind of clampdown on through research granting programs. unwise, immoral or wrongheaded. cized Ryerson University after a free speech on campus,” he said.

Provincial funding, which makes up It is for individual members of the scheduled panel discussion titled University of Manitoba Faculty the majority, is primarily directed to university community, not for the “The Stif ling of Free Speech on Association president Janet Morrill operating and capital budgets. university as an institution, to make University Campuses,” featuring agreed the proposal politicizes the Legislation came into effect in those judgements for themselves.” Peterson and far-right commentator issue and argued it conflates disagree- Ontario in January mandating all The policy instead calls for open and Faith Goldy, was abruptly cancelled.

Robinson said CAUT also defended the University of British Columbia for not relenting to public pressure to cancel a speaking event by antisexual orientation and gender identity speaker Jenn Smith this summer.

He said that while a university does not need to open its space to every speaker, they cannot bow to public pressure once an engagement has been scheduled.

While the U of M does not have an explicit free speech policy, the office of human rights and conflict management’s respectful work and learning environment policy designates a work and learning environment that is free from discrimination, harassment and sexual assault.

Morrill argued that university campuses do not need legislation to foster debate, saying it “can, should and does [already] happen.”

“It is unfortunate when you can have people who are saying things that people find to be so objectionable and it’s hard to tolerate those things on campus, but you have to let that debate take place,” she said.

“And, in some ways, having those uncomfortable conversations that some people find objectionable maybe is the best way to have those viewpoints change.”

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News Editor: Garett Williams and Ty Brass Contact: garett@themanitoban.com /ty @themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Outreach program introduces girls to STEM fields GILLIAN BROWN, STAFF

Instructors would check and make sure that everyone is on the right track.

F

or many young girls, engineering does not seem like an accessible career path.

Women in Science and Engineering’s (WISE) Kid-Netic Energy is an outreach program working with the University of Manitoba to help girls in the province change their minds.

Indigenous youth recruitment and

outreach officer Michelle Carriere said the program aims to have different perspectives in the field of engineering, as it has traditionally been a male-dominated area.

“We need more diversity [and] not only gender diversity but also different people [who] have different backgrounds as well,” she said.

For the past three years, the

Teams worked collaboratively on their projects.

organization has hosted a program at the Fort Garry campus called Go Eng Girl, led in part by female undergraduate engineering students who work with the girls to build a project throughout the day.

Gender bias in the engineering profession is something that Robyn Grahame, a third-year civil engineering student and mentor to girls who attended this year’s program Saturday, has experienced firsthand.

“When I was in high school, I was invited to go to an engineering outreach day, but it was only me and other boys were invited. I was the only girl invited,” she said.

“Obviously I didn’t feel comfortable as the only female, so I chose not to go, but if I wasn’t the only girl invited, I might’ve chosen this path earlier, which is interesting.”

Grahame began her post-secondary career studying medicine before moving into engineering.

Kid-Netic Energy is geared toward girls in Grades 7 to 9 and aims to spark an interest in the field at a young age so students begin along the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) path through high school, even if there are few other girls doing so.

At the beginning of Saturday’s program, Lisa Stepnuk spoke about

her own career as an engineer and stressed the importance of proper representation.

She discussed Joy Buolamwini, a coder and engineer who discovered the racial bias in facial recognition technology.

As a woman of colour, Buolamwini was unable to have her face recognized by the technology, while the margin of error for a white male was less than one per cent.

Stepnuk said the bias was not intentional but a reflection of the people who helped develop the technology.

This year, organizers partnered with the Neil Squire Society and its Makers Making Change program to host a make-a-thon.

The society’s mission is to help improve the lives of people living with disabilities through technology.

One of its creations, the LipSync, is a mouth-operated computer controller that allows people with limited or no use of their arms to operate touchscreen devices.

On Saturday, Go Eng Girl participants made their own LipSync devices. Through the Makers Making Change program they will be delivered to people who need them.

The girls were split into groups of two or three and assigned a mentor

to assist them in building the devices.

Jodie, a Grade 8 student who attended the program, said she found engineering “really intriguing.”

“I was worried that I’d have to come up with something to build,” she said.

“Because I don’t know the first thing about engineering.”

Jodie was one of the many girls eager to learn about engineering as a potential career.

Sometimes, girls will come back for another year to try other programs that WISE offers, like Go Code Girl or All Girls Robot Fight Club.

This was Grade 9 student Aseel’s second year with the program, and her sister Leen’s first. Both girls are considering careers in medicine or engineering.

According to program administrator Jill Lautenschlager, with the knowledge that the girls are thinking like this, the program is doing exactly what it should be.

“I hope that they realize that there is more to engineering than just building bridges and roads and buildings and stuff like that,” she said.

“It really is a helping profession and they can make a difference in the world.”

PHOTOS BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

VOL. 106 NO. 10 October 23, 2019

Volunteers help young girls explore prospects in STEM fields.

Volunteers helping test their team’s work.

One of the teams soldering components.

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Supplies and parts used in the workshop.

Everyone who attended the workshop learned about work they would do in STEM fields and had a good time.

PHOTOS BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Malak Abas Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

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Time to re-evaluate phones at concerts

Audience members must exercise better judgement and respect performers’ wishes KENNY INGRAM, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY BY ERNEST ZARZUELA

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eople are glued to their phones and live music is suffering because of it.

A few weeks ago, I was at Bell MTS Place for Elton John’s final Winnipeg performance. The concert was, of course, outstanding, but as I watched his performance I couldn’t help but notice a troubling trend from some audience members.

The trend is the constant and conspicuous use of phones throughout the entire concert.

People were either attempting to film or stream a majority of the concert — to of course be posted to social media — or simply scrolling social media as if the concert were not happening at all.

Imagine spending hundreds of dollars on tickets to a concert just to do this. Ridiculous.

Not only is it a waste of time for those specific audience members, but it affects others as well. Especially for performances at concert halls or

stadiums where audience members Although not always obvious or members at all.

In this situation, especially when are sitting in rows potentially right intentional, much of what is done on beside or behind someone on their a phone can come across as inconsid- confirmed with the artist, a short phone, it is incredibly distracting to erate or rude to performers and other recording posted online could go a anyone around them just trying to audience members. long way and be a compliment to the watch the concert they paid for.

This is clearly not a black and performer.

At the same time, there are times If those issues weren’t bad enough, white issue, and no single cookiethink of it from the performer’s point cutter solution will solve the problem. when the opposite may be true. of view.

It is incumbent on audience members Audience members must be respectPeople — including the head- to exercise better judgement when ful of the performer’s wishes. liner, their band and Progressive rock the sound and lightguitarist Francis At the end of the day, a live ing crew — have Dunnery is very clear spent countless hours about this. He does performance is just that — live rehearsing only to not allow any photo have a notable numor video recording ber of people on their phones or dis- dealing with this incredible new during his house concerts at all. tracted by someone else’s. technology.

Audience members are expected This can ruin a performer’s flow When dealing with a local artist to respect this. and kill a venue’s vibe. or group — especially one looking to Similarly, when a rarely-seen act Simply put, as a performer, it is get exposure — this can be an entirely comes to town and is in an intimate incredibly insulting. This trend is separate situation. venue where audience members are obviously problematic.

Often times these types of perfor- in the dark and sitting in rows, vidIt’s clear that many people need to mances are in smaller venues where eos and photos should be taken with re-evaluate their outlook on how to someone recording with a phone may caution since this could detract sigview a performance. not be distracting to other audience nificantly from the performance for

other audience members.

It’s clear that there can be a happy medium somewhere in between never pulling the phone out and never being able to put it down.

As a performer, it’s fairly clear where that happy medium is.

If someone wants to record a song or two — because it’s a favourite of theirs, especially toward the end of a concert — that is totally appropriate.

However, if someone cannot stop looking down at their phone and is clearly in the middle of an endless scroll through social media or ordering their dinner, it is entirely unacceptable and they should just leave the venue.

At the end of the day, a live performance is just that — live. It should be enjoyed for the moment.

With the advent of so much new technology, it is important that it is used in a positive way that encourages performers, rather than distracting them.

Comment Comment Editor: Kenny Ingram Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

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It’s time for Canada to make election day a holiday Progressive leadership must fight for working-class interests and make voting more accessible KENNY INGRAM, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

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anada’s abysmal voter turnout can only be addressed with a universal solution that respects the plight of working-class people.

It’s no secret that Canada has an issue with democracy. In the past eight federal elections, voter turnout was below 70 per cent. Just over 10 years ago it hit a near-historic low of 58.8 per cent.

In 2015, it was seen as a major achievement when a Liberal majority garnered a 68.3 per cent turnout.

Flash forward to today, where a Liberal minority drew nearly a 66 per cent turnout.

Despite this number being strong when compared to recent years, it is still worth discussing how to further improve that percentage. However, it seems that no government will even go near the issue. It was never even discussed in this past election cycle.

Regardless of whether this dilemma is acknowledged by the mainstream, corporate-friendly parties like the Liberals and Conservatives, it is incumbent on Canada’s progressive parties — like

the NDP and Green parties — to which states that employers must give accept the role of bringing this issue employees three consecutive hours off into the mainstream. work in order to vote on election day.

This issue clearly unites people However, this rule ignores the reality along class lines because voter turn- of many working people. out is very closely correlated with a family’s income. Simply put, there It’s clear that Canada are many barriers that prevent poor people from voting. It is abundantly needs a universal clear that in order to vote, you must have a certain amount of time to do solution that so. It also means having the corwill make voting rect documentation so that you are granted your right once you arrive at easier for those the polling station. at the bottom While driving 10 minutes to your assigned polling station, licence in hand, may be extremely easy for a middle- or upper-middle-class famFor instance, if someone from ily, this reality is not the same for Winnipeg works a 9-5 shift, then has someone who does not have a car and a second part-time job to immedihas to walk or bus to their assigned ately get to, this provision would not station. apply because the first shift would This is assuming that they can have ended over three hours before make it to polling stations while they polls close (8:30 p.m. in Manitoba). are open on election day or on the few Unfortunately, this hypothetical is advance voting days. the reality for all too many working The Elections Canada Act cur- people. In Canada, over one million rently has a half-measure provision people — 17 per cent of the work-

force — are working multiple jobs just to get by.

It’s obvious that there are financial barriers to voting that will disproportionately affect the vote of Canada’s poorest and half-measures will not solve them.

This problem inevitably leads people to propose solutions like mandatory voting which would only make the problem worse. Mandatory voting specifically places a fine on those who do not participate in the electoral process.

This approach targets those at the bottom of society.

Not only because they are the most likely not to vote, but because they are the least likely to be able to afford a financial penalty.

It’s clear that Canada needs a universal solution that will make voting easier for those at the bottom.

The solution is to make election day a holiday.

This would no doubt afford those who are working several jobs a chance to exercise their constitutional right to vote without placing any undue

burden on them.

Of course, this would not come without a cost. Whenever a new statutory holiday is proposed, owners of large businesses fear-monger over the loss of billions of dollars in productivity.

Unfortunately for them, that sentiment is fundamentally incorrect. A price cannot be put on an increased participation in democracy.

Further, a holiday on election day would only have about a quarter of the impact on businesses that a typical statutory holiday has, since federal elections only happen once every four years.

A proposal such as this requires a strong leader who is willing to fight for the interests of working-class people rather than the corporations whose interests are often prioritized.

It is now, more than ever before, incumbent on Canada’s progressive parties to demand change that will positively affect the working people they represent.

VOL. 106 NO. 10 October 23, 2019

Comment 11

A vote in the federal election a vote for an unjust society The promise of a democratic process rings hollow for those excluded from the spoils CAM CANNON, STAFF

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Strikingly, voter turnout among Indigenous people living on reserves has consistently been lower than the overall rate for Canada.

If you don’t see your interests as being represented in society, what difference does it make whether you vote?

The facts simply do not support the idea that not voting is a position taken up by the privileged. Overwhelmingly, those who are worse off in society are the people who do not vote. In contrast, those who are more privileged, in terms of education, employment and housing are the most likely to vote.

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closed doors, everything that hap- them. They will feel excluded from pens. Rather, there are people who, the good life promised to others and by virtue of their position in society, even view society in general as being reap massive benefits from the cur- against them. rent society and use the power that Using Gramsci’s concept of comes with such benefits to continue hegemony is useful in understandthis cycle. ing low voter turnout among those In general terms, consent is won less well-off in society. If you don’t see through making participation in the your interests as being represented in society as it exists appealing to most society, what difference does it make whether you vote? people.

There are benefits that come with This understanding also lends itself helping society run smoothly, such to a more conscious rejection of votas good jobs, high standards of living ing, especially for Indigenous people and an otherwise reasonable expecta- like me. tion of living a good life.

Despite the ongoing process of Societal coercion is closely asso- reconciliation, Canada is built on ciated with prisons, police, military a foundation of settler colonialism. intervention (like that seen at the With the continuing disastrous treatpipeline protests at Standing Rock ment and displacement of Indigenous and the Unist’ot’en blockade) and people — demonstrated by the recent poverty. Those who are coerced face incidents of militarized intervention exclusion from the good life prom- on Unist’ot’en territory, forced steriised to others, but have no choice but lization of Indigenous women and to exist in the society. Rather, it is the ongoing crisis of access to clean imposed on them. water on reserves — consenting to Those who experience coercion current Canadian society by voting will not see society as being run for in elections is unthinkable.

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Those who are worse off in society arguably stand to gain a lot from the election of politicians who can improve their situations with favourable policy. They also stand to lose the most from austerity policies that promise to dismantle what support is available to them. So it may seem strange to some that as a group these people don’t vote.

The ideas of Italian politician and intellectual Antonio Gramsci — who produced his most influential works while imprisoned by the Benito Mussolini regime during the 1930s — help make sense of this phenomenon.

Gramsci is most famous for his writings on the concept of hegemony — the idea that the ruling class of any given society maintains its position and ensures the continued operation of society through a combination of consent and coercion.

For Gramsci, as part of the tradition of Marxist thinking, every society does indeed have a ruling class. It likely doesn’t take the form of conspirators determining, behind

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n Oct. 21 millions of Canadians headed to the polls to vote in the 43rd federal election, while millions justifiably did not.

For many, current discourse around voting rings hollow. While many believe that the act of voting is a moral imperative and a civic duty, others feel that the right thing to do is abstain.

As is often seen around elections, the idea that those privileged enough to be unaffected by the outcome of the election are the same people who don’t participate has become widespread on social media.

An examination of exactly who is not voting quickly paints a picture contrary to this discourse.

Factors such as education and economic well-being play a significant role in who votes. For education, voter turnout is lower among those with a high school education or less. In terms of economic well-being, those who rent their homes as well as those who are unemployed are significantly less likely to vote.

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Comment Editor: Kenny Ingram Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Mental health care an underrated campaign issue Government-funded support for Canadians should play a bigger role during election cycles MEAGAN HUGHES, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY BY ERNEST ZARZUELA

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anada needed more reassurance 2018, NDP MP Charlie Angus pro- health care budget to mental health face when it comes to tackling our ness to mental health issues and that the governing party follow- posed a motion calling on the federal under the Liberal government. nation’s mental health needs. It does allocate funding to relevant causes, ing Monday’s election would fulfill government to build a national suiThe Green party also made a lot of not address any specific issues. This is but if the Canadian government had the nation’s need for better mental cide prevention plan, which was voted promises to reform Canada’s health a clear indication that mental health already implemented a better plan for health resources. in favour of by all parties. care and promote mental health is not a priority. managing these issues, the efforts We are in a mental health crisis. coverage. The party has pledged to There has been an obvious lack of corporations would be irrelevant.

Suicide is the second leading cause expand the Canada Health Act to of discussion about the damaging The limitations of this model are Mental illness is of death among children and young include more coverage of mental stigma associated with mental health evident in the fact that Bell has had adults aged 10 to 29. LGBTTQ* health and rehabilitation services and issues and how much this further its share of accusations from its own not just a health youth are four times more likely to to increase support and funding for contributes to mental illness. employees regarding a lack of adeattempt suicide than their heterosex- issue, it’s an LGBTTQ* mental health programs.

Liberal party leader Justin quate mental health support. ual peers. The rate of suicide among However, it did not propose any Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Mental illness is not just a health economic issue Indigenous people is at least three budget or timeline for implementing Singh were the only candidates to issue, it’s an economic issue. Lack of times higher than the suicide rate of these changes during the campaign. bring light to this issue during this adequate treatment for depression non-Indigenous people.

The Conservative party’s policy election cycle. and anxiety costs Canada’s economy The 2019 New Democratic The federal government is not on mental health is essentially nonDuring their statements released upwards of $49.6 billion annually.

Party (NDP) platform proposed required to act on private motions, existent. The party did not make any on World Mental Health Day, they This is due to factors such as employee including mental health services so there is no certainty when or if this major campaign promises regarding both addressed the stigma that sur- absenteeism and decreased productivin Canada’s Medicare program to plan will be implemented. mental health except to reduce the rounds mental illness. ity at work due to untreated or inadallow free access to such services for The Liberal party has promised number of hours required to be spent With so many unclear and missing equately treated mental illness. all Canadians. But it failed to reveal to boost health care funding by $6 in therapy to qualify for the Disability details regarding how our nation’s In order to keep our economy specific details on how it intended to billion over the course of four years Tax Credit. mental health care epidemic will be healthy, we must keep our citizens implement this plan if elected. to invest in services including mental It has advised that if elected, the handled, it’s no wonder that — just healthy.

If history is any indication, the health care. But the party has not hours required would drop from 14 to three weeks before the election — Mental illness can affect anyparty will stay true to its word. specified how much of these funds 10 hours per week. This is the most over 10 per cent of voters were still one at any time, regardless of their NDP members of Parliament will be allocated to mental health disappointing proposition made by undecided. background. As a country, we need (MPs) have taken previous action in services, and, as of last year, Canada any party thus far, given the fact Charitable campaigns such as Bell to make sure that we are prepared the House of Commons. In April dedicated only 7.2 per cent of its that it does not even scratch the sur- Let’s Talk have helped bring aware- when it does.

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Diversions Graphics Editor: Evan Tremblay Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

Features Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

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“A people united will never be defeated” LUCY PAVEZ

Chilean Winnipeggers and allies gathered at the Manitoba legislature to stand in solidarity with protesters in Chile. Protests broke out after metro prices spiked in the nation’s capital of Sanitago. This follows a long-simmering tension over economic inequality in the country. The Chilean government responded with an increased military presence, water cannons and calls for national unity.

WINNIPEG’S DEFINITIVE HALLOWEEN EVENT Come into our haunted corridors where you’ll walk though the most frightening 45,000+ square feet you’ve ever encountered. Or linger outside with your fellow scaredy-pants, where there’ll be food and photo ops.

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Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Grace Paizen Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

The construction of fact in memoir

Winnipeg author Jenny Heijun Wills talks truth at book launch GRACE PAIZEN, STAFF

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innipeg based author and University of Winnipeg professor Jenny Heijun Wills relaunched her first memoir to a packed McNally Robinson atrium on Oct. 8.

First released in mid-September, Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related.: A Memoir is written in short vignettes that document Wills’s memories both growing up in small-town Ontario as a Korean adoptee of a white family and her experience reuniting with her birth mother and father in Korea as an adult.

The evening began with readings from up-and-coming Winnipeg writers Brenden Gali and Tayler Buss, followed by Wills reading three excerpts from her memoir.

A conversation between Wills and Canadian author Sally Ito about truth in memoir and the Korean adoptee program was the main feature of the evening.

“You say […] it is not just your personal story, but also the story of so many other transnational adoptees,” Ito said at the launch.

Ito also quoted the memoir’s preface, which mentions many of the stories are made “out of half facts, wishful thinking, and out-

right lies,” to which Wills noted that she believed truth to be “elusive and temporal, and nothing that can be held onto.”

“When one does life writing, the reader expects you to be able to tell the truth and to know about your life […] so, it’s a strange fit working within memoir and then also always trying to invent yourself out of these fragments of often lies,” Wills said.

Ito agreed that in life writing, there are facts, but there are also stories “and you don’t always know what things are true.”

“Facts are such a privilege,” Wills said.

“If you know when your birthday is, remember how privileged that is.”

Ito then asked Wills about her family reunification process, citing the experience in Wills’s memoir of staying at a Korean guesthouse.

Wills explained these guesthouses are designed to host adoptees in search of their birth families, but that some of these guesthouses are also held at adoption agencies.

“These adoptees would be invited to stay at these guesthouses while people were there to pick up new children,” Wills said.

“It’s this complicated situation where people are working through the trauma of cultural alienation and kinship alienation while seeing that it’s still ongoing.”

The conversation shifted to what Ito called “the whole corporatization” of the South Korean adoption system.

“My colleague Kim McKee,” Wills said, “calls it the adoption industrial complex,” adding that it’s a “multibillion-dollar industry.”

Wills added that only after North Korea called out South Korea’s adoption practice during the 1988 Seoul Olympics, “the [South Korean] government started to frame international adoption as an example of satellite kids, or cosmopolitan kids, parachute kids programs with the expectation that some of them would return to Korea and improve its economy or its social-ness, and so that also feels exploitative with the expectation that you would go and be raised in the West and then come back and contribute to a society that, in some cases, sold you.”

The conversation then changed to Wills’s struggle to learn the Korean language later in life.

“It’s just part of the loss,” Wills said.

“I feel sad about the Korean language and the fact that the older I get, and the more I want it, the further it seems out of reach.”

“If you know when your birthday is, remember how privileged that is” — Jenny Heijun Wills, author

an act of survival.”

“I grew up in the assimilation era of transnational, transracial adoption,” Wills said, “where it was seen as the greatest gift my parents could give me [was] to erase […] any familiarity with Korean food or culture.”

The structure of the memoir was discussed. Wills elaborated that the vignettes explicitly addressed to her older sister were in second person so that she could “say things that [she was] afraid to say in the first person.”

“It’s in those moments that I express the greatest traumas with my family,” Wills said.

During the audience question segment that concluded the evening, when asked what advice she could give to aspiring writers under the black, Indigenous and people of colour umbrella, Wills said “read ethnic literature, period.”

“Read it, all of it,” Wills said.

“Look at ethnic art and representations.”

Wills admitted that “some things can’t be communicated through language,” making it easier to “focus on other things [with her Korean family] than being distracted by the mundane things.”

When asked by Ito if she felt “colonized by English,” Wills acknowledged that she “definitely wouldn’t say that [she’s] been as victimized[…] by the English language as many Older Sister. Not Necessarily other people have been in devastat- Related.: A Memoir is available ing and callous ways.” at major retailers and is currently However, Wills admitted that nominated for the Hilary Weston learning the English language “was Writers” Trust Prize for Nonfiction.

A snowstorm for the ages hits Manitoba ALLY GONZALO, STAFF

Ice, snow and sleet battered Manitoba after a snowstorm passed through Manitoba Oct. 11 and lasted into the weekend. Manitoba Hydro has estimated the damage caused by the storm may cost over $100 million.

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Grace Paizen Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

A dive into Manitoba’s urban legends, horror lore ‘Haunted Manitoba: Ghost Stories from the Prairies’ equal parts history and hauntings ZACHARY SIGURDSON, STAFF

The book is not terrifying, at least not until you start thinking about the places mentioned — some of which you may be well acquainted with.

In this context, Haunted Manitoba is an excellent book of Manitoban history.

PHOTO BY ALLY GONZALO

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aunted Manitoba: Ghost Stories from the Prairies is a fascinating but sometimes frustrating read.

Written by Matthew Komus as an informal sequel to his previous work Haunted Winnipeg: Ghost Stories from the Heart of the Continent published

in 2014, Haunted Manitoba tracks various local legends, reports and paranormal events that can be found throughout our province, expanding the province’s haunted literary catalogue to include a variety of Indigenous hauntings.

When diving into this short read, check your expectations. This is not a nail-biting horror novel where you are terrified to turn each page. Instead, this is a catalogue of the creepy places, unfortunate accidents and disturbing events found in Manitoba’s history.

The book also recognizes Manitoba’s colonial history. Terrible things have happened throughout our history, and some of those events have led to very specific legends and seemingly impossible reports in the book. Indigenous ghosts ask settlers to take care of their family graves, trappers see ghostly dog-sled teams and the legend of the White Horse An excellent book of details the story of a spectral white Manitoban history steed that still walks the Prairies carrying the soul of its slain Assiniboine princess rider. These stories remain a Komus is simply fantastic at com- piece of our history, and Komus offers bining historical facts and social a unique window into the past. trends into a tension-building narraWhile perhaps better tailored tive throughout the book by weaving for those interested in local history, the sometimes textbook-like narra- Haunted Manitoba can be a useful tives with eye-witness reports. guide for Halloween plans. Even a From an asylum in Brandon to old cursory read can lead the reader to colonial lodges and various museums their own local hauntings, which may where students keep hearing voices literally be just down their street. that aren’t there, there is enough A recitation won’t scare anyone creepiness to remain engaging around the campfire, but the power between historical anecdotes. of suggestion and human imaginaThough, the author seems to be tion could very well haunt readers for more interested in the history of our years to come if they stumble through province than offering genuine scares. the right local sight one quiet night.

Structurally, the chapters are separated based on geography. Winnipeg, Haunted Manitoba is currently the Interlake and Northern Manitoba available at major retailers and the all have their time to shine, with their official book launch is Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. topographic and historical informa- at the Grant Park location of McNally tion put in context before Komus Robinson Booksellers. dives into the terrors specific to each region.

‘The Third Colour’ wraps up first run at Prairie Theatre Exchange Local playwright Ian Ross balances humour, drama and Canada’s colonial past ZACHARY SIGURDSON, STAFF

exciting about the process of making The Third Colour, Ross answered that “at times it seems like I didn’t write it.

I’m sitting there in the audience kind of shocked by some of the things I see and notice.”

“I think clowning and buffoonery can be used in a lot of really amazing ways” — Ian Ross, playwright

PHOTO PROVIDED BY IAN ROSS

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he Third Colour from Manitoban ing and often conflicting conceptions playwright Ian Ross just finished of how to view Indigenous-settler its first run at the Prairie Theatre relations.

Exchange (PTE).

The Third Colour poses integral In an “absurdist dramedy” using questions of the Indigenous expericlown-style comedy to discuss heavier ence: “How did we get here?” and topics of colonialism, trauma and rec- “What’s next?” onciliation, The Third Colour sees two “Do we work within the confedprotagonists, two spirits in the form eration of Canada? Do we still try to of Indigenous women, reflect differ- make things happen there, or do we

go on our own? That’s the question the play asks,” Ross said.

“I hope [audiences] look at themselves and their attitude and position within the country. Many of us are citizens. As First Nations people, we’re always kind of unique citizens because we didn’t see ourselves as being a part of Canada.”

When asked what he found most

Balancing humour, absurdism and the grim reality of Canada’s history can become a high-wire act for some, but Ross embraces it as the very medium that allows him to have open discussions about important topics.

“I for one have never had the problem of disliking clowns that other people seem to have,” he said.

“I think clowning and buffoonery can be used in a lot of really amazing ways, especially when it comes to politics.

“It’s also something I use to disarm people,” Ross continued.

“I don’t want them to come to the show [thinking] ‘Oh god, this is going to be such a drag and heavy

and blah blah’ […] To me, theatre should still be entertaining.”

Ross said part of the joy in creating art was the ability to connect with others.

“If you’re really specific in your art, you become more universal,” Ross said. “Art is something, I would argue, if it’s really good, it’s universal, because you can show it anywhere in the world and people will connect with it.”

The Third Colour ran from Oct. 2 to 20, and starred Kathleen MacLean as Head Full of Lice and Tracey Nepinak as Agatu. The creative team featured director Thomas Morgan Jones (PTE’s artistic director), set designer Andrew Moro and costume designer Brenda McLean. Lighting and sound design were done by Leigh Ann Vardy and jaymez, respectively.

Brenda Watt was the Cree translator on staff.

Ross’s professional repertoire includes the plays The Gap, Bereav’d of Light and others, including the Governor General Award-winning fareWel. He is also the creator and performer of the popular CBC character “Joe from Winnipeg.”

Ross’s next projects include plays discussing 9/11 and missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Arts & Culture

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY PATRICK WATSON PHOTO PROVIDED BY MICAH ERENBERG

Micah Erenberg — ‘Love Is Gonna Find You,’ 3.5/5

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esides heartache and whiskey, one of the tent poles of classic country and folk music is a sense of humour.

Love Is Gonna Find You is literary folk at its core

There’s often a playfulness to these stories of lost love and lonely travels, a winking eye from beneath the brim of a drooping cowboy hat.

Though Micah Erenberg’s latest record veers boisterously from his quieter folk and country roots, Love Is Gonna Find You, released Oct. 4 via Sleepless Records, carries on this tradition of good humour in the face of bad luck.

Despite its crunchy guitars and brash, saturated sound, Love Is Gonna Find You is literary folk at its core.

Packed with dense lyrics and witty turns of phrase, there’s a clever playfulness to these songs and a willingness to expand the comparatively subdued pallet of Erenberg’s 2016 debut album, Poor Mic’s Toe. This new set of songs moves and shakes in ways his previous songs did not.

From the sunny, string-soaked opening track to the beachy, drum machine-led “What Am I Doing Here” and the blown-out crunch of “Somewhere Beyond the Ocean,” there’s a sense that Erenberg is dipping his toes in new waters.

Erenberg also allows for moments of genuine disorder to creep into his pop-indebted writing.

At the end of the aforementioned single “Somewhere Beyond the Ocean,” the song deteriorates into waves of distorted feedback and alien vocal manipulation.

However, beneath all the playful experimentation and wry humour is a record unafraid to indulge in real, bruising sadness.

It’s the simplest songs here that hit hardest.

The penultimate acoustic ballad “Bored” is an affecting dissection of depression and lost love, harkening back to that other tent pole of country and folk — good ol’ fashioned heartbreak.

But it’s the warped-piano title track that takes the cake, a perhaps unintentional homage to late underground hero Daniel Johnston, who’s own “True Love Will Find You in the End” shares the spirit, and some lyrics, of Erenberg’s open-hearted pep talk.

Love Is Gonna Find You is the sound of Micah Erenberg stepping into a brighter world, one where heartbreak and humour can live in tandem.

Patrick Watson — ‘Wave,’ 3.5/5

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s the musical monoculture continues to swallow every genre and subculture in its maw, it can feel exhausting — and increasingly pointless — to try and trace an artist’s precise influences.

However, every now and then, an album will come along that is interesting for how it reinterprets, or fails to reinterpret, a particular microcosm of music history.

Patrick Watson’s Wave, released Oct. 18 via Secret City Records, is one of those albums.

Feist-ian lounge? Grizzly Bearesque baroque beauty? A Bon Iver one-man choir? Beach House guitar tone? A Dirty Projectors-style flirtation with programmed beats and R&B? Wave has got it all.

Written in response to a year of immense loss for Watson, the album plumbs a certain mid-2000s strain of heart-on-sleeve indie rock, perhaps in an attempt to conjure the era’s particular brand of bloodpumping catharsis.

Wave is an overwhelmingly pretty album, overflowing with twinkling keyboards, rolling strings, processed guitars and romantic melodies.

Watson’s gently wavering voice calls to mind a simultaneous flurry of sad men before him.

It’s an album rich with melody and lush arrangements that never veer towards being baggy or overworked.

It’s also an overwhelmingly tasteful album.

Despite all its aughts influence, Wave lacks the flirtations with danger that made those “classic” indie records so invigorating at the time.

There is nothing uncomfortable or dirty about Wave, as Watson is clearly interested in exploring the softer edges of his particular tapestry of influence.

That isn’t to say the record is quiet — it often swells with deep washes of strings and synths, as on the moving quasi-title track — but it always retains a glowing patina.

The trap-lite drums of “Turn Out The Lights” and the stuttering, electronic “Wild Flower” are perhaps the most experimental moments on the record, though both are tempered by mournful live instrumentation and chest-swelling melodies.

It’s a sign of our current genre-less cultural moment that such songs can exist on an album so indebted to the music of 10 years ago and not stand out like sore thumbs.

With that in mind, it’s hard not to appreciate what Watson has done on Wave.

As it becomes increasingly difficult to do something truly new, sometimes it’s enough to do something well.

Wave is a lovely record that benefits from beautiful orchestration and a clear knack for melody and structure.

Is it particularly exciting? It’s hard to say.

But as the swinging strings of the album closer “Here Comes The River” gently saw upward, you might forget about all the talk of influence and interpretation and simply allow yourself to be taken away.

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VOL. 106 NO. 10 October 23, 2019

Sports Sports Editor: Jason Pchajek Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

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Breaking hearts and taking names Bisons end playoff hopes for Alberta opponent

Bisons Briefs JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

Women’s hockey comes 4:45 into the final frame, to out even with Calgary give Calgary a 2-0 lead.

PHOTO BY DAVE MAHUSSIER

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ith the playoffs already a lock, the U of M Bisons women’s soccer team played host to a pair of Alberta clubs, fighting for the final postseason spot in the Prairie division. Manitoba came away from the weekend with a pair of wins, locking down third in the division in the process.

Friday

Davis notched the insurance marker in the 72nd minute for a 3-1 Bisons win.

With the loss and a Lethbridge draw against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Friday, the Cougars sat five points behind the Pronghorns for the final playoff spot. With just one game remaining and a maximum of three points available, the Cougars were eliminated from the playoff hunt.

side the penalty area and sent a strong shot just outside the right post.

“It’s the first time in program history […] that we finished with eight wins in a season” — Vanessa Martinez Lagunas, Bisons women’s soccer coach

Hopes were dashed Friday night, as a 3-1 Bisons win mathematically eliminated the Mount Royal Saturday University Cougars from playoff A cold drizzle fell over West contention.

Turf Field Saturday, and the prodNicole Davis continued her uct on the field was similarly cold stellar offensive season with her between the Bisons and University seventh goal of the campaign late of Lethbridge Pronghorns. Once in the match. Meanwhile, pow- the sky cleared, the heat grew and Manitoba finally broke through erhouse rookie defender Stefanie Manitoba snagged a 2-0 win. late in the match off the foot of Young got on the score sheet in Bisons head coach Vanessa Celeste Gallego. Dalima Chhibber the wrong way, committing a foul Martinez Lagunas was very happy picked up the ball in the penalty which led to the lone Cougars tally. with the win, which was a historic area, spun and passed it to Gallego.

Gabrielle Clark also had a strong one for the program.

She paused and fired the shot just performance with two goals on the “It’s the first time in program his- inside the right post for the 1-0 night, including the game winner. tory […] that we finished with eight Bisons lead.

First, Clark had to open the wins in a season,” she said.

“I got in and I wasn’t really thinkscoring. After Davis drew a penalty “So it’s a great, great forward step ing about anything, as soon as I was kick, the third-year midfield took for us.” in front of the net and I got the ball her place on the spot and cashed After a scoreless first half the it was just ‘Finish,’” Gallego said. in for a 1-0 Bisons lead in the 12th Bisons got plenty of chances in Gallego was not done there, minute. the second. Manitoba’s three best finding space just over a minute The misplay by Young set up a chances of the second half all came later to score again. penalty kick for Mount Royal in from Young.

The Lethbridge defence was too the 37th minute. Quinn Hardstaff First, the rookie defender slow, and Gallego broke through rifled a shot off the post and in to danced her way past a pair of the line. Gill came up to challenge, knot the game 1-1 in the first half.

Pronghorns defenders and rifled but Gallego ripped a shot top corThe tied score held until the 70th a shot just wide. The herd then ner for the 2-0 Manitoba lead in minute, when Clark gained back collapsed on the Lethbridge goal the 87th minute, which was all the lead for her team. Off a Jessica and Young sent a header on, but Manitoba needed for the win.

Tsai corner kick, the ball landed Pronghorns keeper Erin Gill Manitoba will now wait to find at the feet of Clark, who wasted punched the ball clear. out its post-season matchup, with no time roofing a shot on Cougars Shortly after the header, Young the Canada West play-in games keeper Katrina Greenley. found herself with space just out- slated for Oct. 25.

After a split series with the Mount Royal University Cougars over Thanksgiving weekend, the Bisons women’s hockey team travelled to Calgary to face the University of Calgary Dinos, earning another split.

Manitoba got back on the winning track Friday, picking up a 2-0 win over the Dinos thanks to a pair of late goals.

The two sides battled through the first 40 minutes of play, with Calgary outshooting Manitoba in the second period 10-5.

It was in the third period when the Bisons took over, outshooting Calgary 8-2, with two shots finding the back of the net.

Emilie Massé picked up her fourth of the year, with assists

by Megan Neduzak and Chloe Snaith to make it 1-0 Bisons.

Then, Sheridan Oswald notched her first of the campaign for the 2-0 Bisons win.

Erin Fargey stopped all 16 shots she faced in the Manitoba crease for her first win of the season.

The herd had less luck Saturday, as Amanda Schubert took to the crease for a 2-0 loss to split the weekend series.

Fans in Calgary did not have to wait long to see a goal in game two of the weekend, as Dana Wood scored her first of the season 10:46 into the opening frame.

Despite firing 10 shots on goal in the second period, the Bisons came up empty-handed and Calgary pounced in the third.

Annaliese Meier also picked up her first goal of the season, assisted by Brooke Dennett

Snaith scored late for the herd, but Manitoba could not draw even as Calgary took the game 2-1.

Men’s volleyball sweeps southern opponent in tune-up

The Bisons men’s volleyball team rounded out the preseason schedule with a set of exhibition games against the University of Jamestown Jimmies.

Friday was a lopsided affair, with the herd coming away with a dominant 3-0 win over Jamestown.

Manitoba opened the match with a swift 25-17 opening set win, with Jamestown giving the home side some trouble in the second, battling to a 25-20 Bisons win.

The final set was not even close, as the Bisons cruised to a 25-12 win to take the match.

Kevin Negus led the way for Manitoba with nine kills, followed closely by Ben Carleton with eight. Carleton also had a game-high seven digs for the herd.

Jamestown came out with fire to start game two, but fell 3-1 to Manitoba to close out the exhibition series.

The Jimmies battled to a 27-25 first set win, but from there the Bisons took over the match.

A 25-21 second set win tied the game for the herd, with a 25-23 third set and 25-18 fourth being all Manitoba needed to sweep away its American opponent.

Negus again led the way for Manitoba with a whopping 25 kills in the match.

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VOL. 106 NO. 10 October 23, 2019

Sports

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Manitoba hands Calgary its first loss of the season

Skoleski and Henry the heroes of Bisons men's hockey weekend split with Dinos JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

PHOTO BY DAVE MAHUSSIER

O

ne of the best ways to show you belong in sports is by knocking off the top dog.

The U of M Bisons men’s hockey team did just that on the weekend against the Canada West leading University of Calgary Dinos. In a series where the club was outshot 99-26, it still managed to pull off a two-game split.

Friday

What was a special night for one Bisons player was a nightmare for the team as a whole Friday, as the herd was dominated in a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Dinos.

While Josh Tripp picked up his first Bisons goal, Manitoba was outshot heavily in the tilt, with netminder Riley Lamb being shelled by 50 Dinos shots. The third period was the worst, with the home side being outshot 25-1.

This did not prove to be an issue for Bisons coach Mike Sirant, who thought the lopsided shot total masked a quantity over quality approach.

“We’re not so concerned with how many shots are on the scoreboard, as long as we’re trying to keep it to the outside,” he said post-game.

“I know in the third period we gave Calgary too many quality shots and [Lamb] was really good in net, he really battled to the end there. We’ve got to eliminate the quality shots, and if we’re giving them some shots from

the outside we can live with that.” lead.

The Dinos conference-best offence Elder’s first goal came after a took no time to get on the board with strong individual effort by Matt a goal by Coda Gordon just 1:12 into Alfaro, fighting off a Bisons defender the game, but the Bisons rebounded in the slot and getting two shots on quickly and came out of the opening Lamb. The Bisons keeper stopped frame ahead 2-1. both, but the second shot rebounded Tripp evened the score, picking right to Elder and he made no misup his first career U Sports goal off a take, tying the game 2-2. clean passing play.

He struck again late in the secManitoba entered the Calgary ond period, sending a shot through zone and Dylan Thiessen sent the a screen and five-hole on Lamb to puck to Ben Dalke, who went cross- give the Dinos a 3-2 lead entering ice to a streaking Tripp. the third period.

Tripp snapped a shot top corner, Mitch Cook scored to make it 4-2 blocker side on Matthew Greenfield, Calgary early in the third, and Elder sending his water bottle flying to tie completed the hat trick late as the the game 1-1.

Dinos claimed a dominant 5-2 win.

“It was awesome,” he said of the goal.

Saturday “To be honest [I] don’t know if I A sense of déjà vu fell briefly over really aimed it, I just knew I had to Wayne Fleming Arena Saturday, as it put it on net and I got the water bottle looked like a repeat of Friday’s result so that made it feel a little bit better.” was on the way. But Manitoba flipped Bisons forward Geordie Keane got the script and came away with a 4-3 on the board 44 seconds later with a overtime win to split the weekend goal scored on the powerplay to give and hand Calgary its first loss of the Manitoba the 2-1 lead. season.

A Colton Veloso shot from the “It’s confidence and belief,” Sirant slot went in and out of Greenfield’s said post-game. glove, right onto the stick of Keane “We had a really good weekend who rifled it home. last weekend in Mount Royal […] we “Keane has been outstanding for went in there, played well and won a us every game,” Sirant said. game. We felt that we could do that “He’s a heart and soul player, he again here.” leaves it out there every game.”

Like Friday’s action, the openThe second period was all Calgary, ing frame was lopsided on the shot as Kaden Elder picked up back-to- counter in favour of the Dinos, but back markers to give the Dinos a 3-2 it was Manitoba again escaping with

the lead.

Jonah Wasylak broke into the Calgary zone and fed the puck to Jeremey Leipsic cutting toward the goal. Leipsic went right to left and tried to tuck the puck past Brodan Salmond in the Dinos goal, but was stopped.

“We’ve got to eliminate the quality shots, and if we’re giving them some shots from the outside we can live with that” — Mike Sirant, Bisons men’s hockey head coach

The puck rebounded out to Keaton Jameson who snapped a shot home to give Manitoba a 1-0 lead in the first period.

The second frame again was all Calgary, starting with Alfaro tying the game 1-1 with a goal, followed closely by Graham Black getting the Dinos in front.

On the powerplay, Gordon sent a pass to Jordan Xavier and he found

Black on the backdoor. Black snagged the puck and hammered it home for the 2-1 Dinos lead in the second.

Devon Skoleski scored early in the third to bring the Bisons even, but Logan Fisher responded for Calgary soon after to snag the lead back at 3-2.

Then came captain Adam Henry with his biggest performance of the season.

Late in the final frame, Henry broke into the Calgary zone with Thiessen.

Henry cut to the net and redirected a shot by Thiessen past Salmond to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Not content with just the goal, during the second overtime Henry entered the Dinos zone with speed on a 2-on-1 with Skoleski. The Calgary defender dropped to take the pass, but Henry got it through and Skoleski banged home the 4-3 game winner.

“He’s a leader on and off the ice and he’s a guy that can make things happen out there,” Sirant said.

“He showed today why he’s one of the elite players in U Sports.”

The Bisons now sit tied with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns for fourth in Canada West with six points on the season.

The Bisons will back in action Oct. 26 and 27 to host the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. Game one begins at 7 p.m. CDT and game two at 2 p.m. CDT.

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Sports

VOL. 106 NO. 10 October 10, 2019

Bisons make a statement in regular-season home finale U of M downs University of Calgary in football rematch, sets tone for playoffs JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

Dinos behind 23-7.

Riley picked up his fourth — and longest — field goal of the game less than two minutes later, putting a 48-yard kick through the uprights to expand the Bisons lead to 26-7.

Then it was Michael Ritchott’s turn to get on the scoresheet, as Catellier gave the running back the ball two yards out and Ritchott broke into the endzone for the touchdown.

Riley knocked down the conversion and Manitoba went into halftime up 33-7.

PHOTO BY DAVE MAHUSSIER

W

ith a playoff matchup loom- running — in the first quarter. The in the second quarter with another ing, the U of M Bisons football Alberta native got the herd to the red conversion in the red zone. This time team defended its home turf for the zone and converted on a five-yard run Catellier went with the pass, findfinal time in the 2019 season with a for the touchdown and 7-0 Manitoba ing Abdul-Karim Gassama with a huge 43-29 win over the University lead. seven-yard dart for the touchdown Matt Riley knocked down a pair and 20-1 lead. of Calgary Dinos.

Calgary did not look its usual of field goals from 47 and 46 yards Riley picked up another field goal gold-standard self in the opening half, respectively, before Niko DiFonte to make it 23-1 Manitoba before the as the Bisons controlled play and ran picked up a rouge to get the Dinos Dinos put up more points. Dallas up the score leaving little room for a on the board. Entering the second Boath snagged a five-yard pass from comeback. quarter, the herd had built a respect- Adam Sinagra for the touchdown, Quarterback Des Catellier got able 13-1 lead. but the two-point conversion attempt the ball rolling — or more accurately, Manitoba built on its lead early by Calgary was stopped, leaving the

With the win the Bisons clinched a playoff spot, setting the stage for a playoff rematch with the Dinos Calgary showed its experience in the third quarter, trying to grind out the comeback. Sinagra went long with a 26-yard bomb to Nathanael Durkan for a Dinos touchdown to make it 33-15 and give his club some life.

Shae Weekes had other plans.

Sinagra got the Dinos to the Manitoba 26-yard line and set up

for another pass. He let go of the pass, but Weekes was waiting at the Manitoba 21-yard line.

The second-year defensive back grabbed the interception and took off down the field, carrying the ball 89 yards to the house for the touchdown.

Riley picked up the convert and Manitoba took a massive 40-15 lead.

The Bisons kicker scored his fifth and final field goal of the game early in the fourth quarter, this time from 27 yards, before Calgary went on a late charge.

Josiah Joseph darted into the Bisons end zone with just under four minutes to play, and Jalen Philpot pulled down a 20-yard Sinagra pass in the dying seconds, but it was too late as Manitoba claimed the 43-29 win.

With the win, the Bisons clinched a playoff spot, setting the stage for a playoff rematch with the Dinos. In 2018 Manitoba was thumped 37-13 by Calgary in the opening round of the Hardy Cup playoffs, and will look for redemption this season.

The Bisons will have to play away from IG Field, where the club has gone 4-0 in 2019. On the road, Manitoba has gone a dismal 0-3.

The Bisons will finish the season on the road in Regina, Sask. to take on the University of Regina Rams Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. CDT.