Protest on campus ensues following violence against students in Bangladesh
A protest ensued at the U of M Fort Garry campus on July 18 following the escalation of violence in Bangladesh. Large-scale protests demanding for quota system reform commenced in Bangladesh on July 1 which escalated to violence on July 15.
Members of the Bangla-
desh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party, “attacked student protestors… armed with rods, sticks, and clubs, and with some brandishing firearms,” according to a report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
“These attacks were report-
edly not prevented by the police, nor publicly discouraged by the government,” read the report.
The quota system was implemented in Bangladesh following its independence in 1971 and pertains to civil service jobs.
At the time of the U of M
campus protest, 30 per cent of civil service jobs in Bangladesh were reserved for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters – those that served in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Additionally, the quota reserved 10 per cent of jobs for women, 10 per cent for underdeveloped districts, five
per cent for minorities and one per cent for those with disabilities.
As a result of the quota system, 56 percent of civil service jobs were reserved for various groups. Conversely, 44 per cent of all civil service jobs
Cont’d p. 6 /could >
photo / Zulkifl Rafah / staff
Milan Lukes and Virinder Singh, staff
MANITOBAN
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U of M security services reveal security incidents on campus
Uof M campus security statistics and details of reported incidents for April and May are now available. These figures were published in Security Services Monthly, the university’s security services newsletter that provides insight into their daily operations.
April statistics
During the month of April, U of M security services responded to 82 suspicious calls. These include reports of suspicious people and vehicles located on campus. 61 safe walks and four safe rides were completed, described as rides or accompaniment during walks provided by security services. Additionally, security services responded to 13 medical emergencies and 218 alarms such as fire, elevator, code blue, emergency phones and panic alarms. 188 unscheduled access requests were received which comprised of assistance to students and staff seeking building or room access. Parking services was assisted through
one call for service.
The Fort Garry campus experienced 46 incidents that were reported to security services compared to seven incidents reported at the Bannatyne campus.
Of the 46 Fort Garry campus incidents, 20 were classified as thefts, followed by 11 individual accounts of trespassing and four accounts of mischief.
Items reportedly involved in campus thefts included laptops, bikes, tablets, keys and personal items.
Other reported incidents included a suspicious person, individuals intoxicated on campus, verbal aggression and a break and enter at the U of M cycle kiosk. One infraction each of the smoking by-law, skateboarding by-law and noise by-law was recorded. Four incidents under the highway traffic act were also documented, including vehicle damage sustained from a hit and run in B Lot on April 4.
Reported incidents at the Bannatyne campus were mainly classified as mis-
chief. These included reports of vandalism to vehicles, an electrical outlet and a window, along with an attempted vehicle break-in. The remaining incidents at the downtown campus comprised of a drink theft from a vending machine and stolen electronic equipment.
Gordon Perrier, director of security services for the U of M, indicated that statistics for April 2024 are comparable to 2023 and 2020. Security statistics for April 2021 and 2022 are deemed anomalous due to COVID-19 and remote learning, Perrier added.
May statistics
Security services received 221 unscheduled access requests and assisted parking services through two calls for service. Both of these figures were higher compared to April.
Responses by security services to suspicious calls, safe walks, safe rides, medical emergencies and alarms were down in May relative to the previous month.
Reported incidents at the
Fort Garry campus were also down compared to April.
These included 18 accounts of theft, half of which pertained to bicycles. On May 13, the theft of a vehicle was reported at the plant science field station. Other items reported as stolen during the month included personal items, cash, a vehicle emblem, passport, wallet and a credit card. The remainder of reported incidents are classified as a disturbance to public order, mischief, trespassing and accounts under the
highway traffic act. An assault was reported to security services on May 24 at Taché Hall. Five incidents of theft were reported at the Bannatyne campus. An attempted forced entry into a vehicle and a smoking by-law infraction were also documented at the downtown campus.
Security services can be contacted at 204-474-9312 for the Fort Garry campus and at 204-789-3330 for the Bannatyne campus.
U of M seeks input on formalizing freedom of expression guidelines
U of M aims to create guidelines following consultation
Sylvester Delali Agbado, staff
The U of M is asking for input from the university community to draft freedom of expression guidelines. This is in line with moves that many universities across Canada are making to strengthen their claims to free speech and the right to assembly through laws and prescriptive university policy.
Framework pillars have been established with the support of the university’s board of governors and senate to assist with formalization of the guidelines.
Michael Benarroch, U of M president and vice-chancellor, said that “this new statement is intended to guide us in protecting difficult debate in a way that advances knowledge and balances the rights of the broader community.” Benarroch stated that “our mission is to advance learning by creating, sharing, preserving, and applying knowledge in partnership.”
As the university affirms, it is committed to protecting the
right to express diverse opinions and perspectives. “This includes the right to express ideas, information, and opinions freely, and in practice, it means the university will not shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive,” stated Benarroch. As outlined in the draft guidelines, the university may restrict expression that violates Canadian or Manitoba law, university policies and those that contribute to a genuine threat, harassment, defamation or violate confidentiality interests.
The university recognizes in a statement the difference of academic freedom from freedom of expression, the former being an existing right as stipulated in the collective agreement between the university and the University of Manitoba Faculty Association.
The university’s academic freedom and responsibilities policy states that “persons engaged in teaching,
research and dissemination of knowledge are, therefore, entitled to freedom in carrying out teaching and in discussing their subjects, and freedom from institutional censorship.” The document adds that “academic freedom carries with it the responsibility to use that freedom in a manner consisted with the scholarly obligation to base research, teaching and the dissemination of knowledge in a search for truth.”
On the other hand, following consultation with the university’s board of governors and senate, freedom of expression has been established as a key pillar to “guide the development of a formal statement.” As it stands, “freedom of expression at UM includes the right to express ideas, information, and opinions freely through any medium, respecting the diversity of methods in which these ideas can be conveyed and debated.”
The statement pillars emphasize how the univer-
sity intends to navigate difficult conversations. “It is not the role of a university to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive,” reads one of the freedom of expression statement pillars.
“Learning requires exposure to a variety of different perspectives, and these perspectives will often and quite naturally conflict,” reads another statement pillar. The university is “committed to free and open inquiry in all matters.”
A statement pillar also addresses the topic of institutional neutrality. The university recognizes that institutional statements regarding local or global issues may provide a false feeling of consensus amongst the community and “can have the unintended effect of chilling the expression of contrary views or signaling that opposing views are unwelcome.” To this end, the university expresses that it is “committed to maintaining institutional neutrality as part
of its commitment to freedom of expression.”
Another statement pillar pertaining to education assures that “through workshops, seminars, and resources, UM aims to foster a community that understands and values the balance between free expression and mutual respect.”
The university welcomes community feedback on the drafted freedom of expression statement pillars through their website by Sept. 20.
“Once we have everyone’s input, we will incorporate that into a draft and share that for further consultation,” Benarroch said in a statement.
Feedback on the university’s freedom of expression statement pillars can be submitted to umanitoba.ca/about-um/ freedom-expression-statement-pillars-form by Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.
photo / Anthony Nardella / volunteer
Milan Lukes, staff
U of M Strategic Research Plan 2024-29 launched
Five-year strategic plan launched to guide university research
Milan Lukes, staff
The U of M launched a five-year strategic research plan in July to elevate the university’s research and global impact. As detailed in a 22-page report entitled Change Through Research, the mission of the university’s Strategic Research Plan 202429 is to “transform research culture, to advance understanding and create positive societal impact.”
A statement from Dr. B. Mario Pinto, U of M vice-president (research and international) said that “our institution has significant research capacity to solve complex economic, environmental and social issues. Our new research plan is a bold blueprint to position our researchers as leaders in these essential areas, at home and beyond.”
The plan recognizes that “supporting research through the 4 Ps” – people, partnerships, platforms and processes – will play an important role in embracing the mission statement.
The attraction and retention of talented people – such as graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, staff and faculty – is cited as a necessity. The plan mentions the need to create and maintain learning and working environments which are inductive of inclusion and respect. The plan also states the need to provide professional development, mentoring and social opportunities to early career researchers.
Fostering partnerships and collaborative relationships is cited as another means of fostering the plan’s mission. Initiatives are listed to broaden these relationships such as the University Indigenous Research Connect Program, Lab2Market and the university’s new entrepreneurship hub IdeaStart.
Enhancing platforms for research is further listed in the plan. This entails updating physical and digital infrastructure, ameliorating access to infrastructure fund-
ing opportunities, enhancing tools to allow for easier identification of research opportunities and facilitating the flow of people and ideas between the university and external communities. This also includes the need to grow opportunities that lead to social innovation and commercialization.
The plan’s mission statement is further embraced by the explicit intent to provide more efficient processes for research-related administration. Examples of this entail funding proposal submissions to research services, more support for developing funding proposals through the Major Projects Office and changes to the Research Administration System for Research Ethics Board protocol submissions and approvals.
Goals of the plan include elevating the U of M’s ranking in the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), with the hope of being amongst the top 200 universities in the
world and top 10 in the nation. The U of M presently ranks 282 in the world and 11 in Canada according to the CWUR. These current rankings are established based on measures of education, employability, faculty and research.
Aspirations for the university to rank in the top 251 to 300 in the Times Higher Education Rankings is also listed. Currently, the U of M ranks 351-400 amongst 1,907 universities across 108 countries and regions, while placing 15 amongst Canadian universities. These placements are realized according to institutional performance in the areas of teaching, research environment, research quality, industry and international outlook. Other goals include placing in the global top 100 in 10 subject areas in the Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects Rankings, as well as in the top 100 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
The Strategic Research Plan 2024-29 intends to reach these targets by “[embracing] the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and understanding the spectrum of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability and other identities and their interactions.”
Seven themes are detailed in the research plan: foundations; social justice and human rights; research by, with, and for Indigenous peoples; water and food security; health and well-being; climate action and sustainability; and Manitoba, Hudson Bay, arctic and the world. “The thematic areas are already strong and present, but a clearer focus will serve to elevate UM research, resulting in a greater external recognition and profile.”
The plan’s vision, “research grounded in relationships, committed to change,” aims to be achieved by “[fostering] research and scholarship into
innovative pedagogies and the broad education of [the] students.”
“Through diversification of our student population, UM will ensure that it educates global citizens, ambassadors of the future, who are equipped to improve life in an ever-changing, complex world,” read the strategic plan.
Undergraduate university research assistantships and unique classroom experiences were highlighted as research enrichment opportunities on campus.
The strategic research planning process commenced in Jan. 2023 and involved consultation with hundreds of researchers, innovators, staff and students pertaining to research excellence.
The university’s Strategic Research Plan 2024-29 is available online at umanitoba.ca/research/strategic-research-plan.
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
U of M students rally for quota system reform in Bangladesh
could be obtained solely on the basis of merit.
Riaj Rahman, a student onsite during the campus protest told the Manitoban that the unemployed residents in Bangladesh “face an unfair quota system.” He added that it is “very unfair to all of those unemployed people and students” and called for reform to restore fairness.
Another student onsite during the protest, Jannat Ferdous, expressed concern to the Manitoban over the lack of contact with family back in Bangladesh. That day, the government imposed a nationwide shut down of broadband and mobile internet, according to the OHCHR. “The server is down,” she stated. “We are not able to talk to any one of our parents – forget parents, our sisters, or anyone in Bangladesh.”
In 2018, similar protests transpired in Bangladesh which called for the termination of the quota system. Following this, the government issued a circular dismissing the quota system, however, the High Court of Bangladesh ruled in June this year that ending the quota system was unconstitutional.
Sudipta Dip described himself as one of the main organizers behind the campus protests and related activities taken by the Bangladeshi community and students. He also serves as the vice-president internal of the University of Manitoban Bangladeshi Students’ Association.
Dip stated that a smaller protest occurred the previous day on campus with very short notice. Protests have since occurred at the Mother Language Monument in Kirkbridge Park and the Manitoba Legislative Building. Gayebana janaza, an absentee funeral prayer, was also held for all the students who were killed in Bangladesh.
“We just want the government to simply apologize to the population of Bangladesh that this happened due to their negligence and they could’ve handled it in a better way and 400 students would not have had to die.”
When asked about the difference of opinions amongst Bangladeshi students on campus, Dip said “there are some students among us who have some really strong family background related to the government party and they are frightened to come forward, but they are still giving us support from the back end.”
“This is not a quota movement anymore”
— Sudipta Dip, campus protest organizer
celled or eliminated by simply reducing the quota that they had earlier. This is not a quota movement anymore after 400 students got murdered.”
UMSU has since made a
“We all believe in one thing, that we want justice, and what the government is doing right now is not justice,” said Dip. “The death of 400 students cannot just be can-
statement regarding the situation in Bangladesh on their Instagram. “We recognize that this period may be particularly difficult for many of you, and we want to assure you that UMSU is here to provide assistance and resources to help navigate through these uncertain times.”
On July 22, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh reapportioned the quota system,
allowing for 93 per cent of merit-based appointments in the civil service. The quota for freedom fighters’ descendants was subsequently scaled down to 5 per cent from 30 per cent.
A report by the OHCHR stated that more than 600 people were killed between July 16 and Aug. 11 due to the recent protests and unrest in Bangladesh. “Those killed include protesters, bystanders, journalists covering the events and a number of mem-
bers of the security force.”
Sheikh Hasina, then prime minister of Bangladesh, resigned on Aug. 5 after a 20-year rule. Hasina is reported to have since fled the country to neighbouring India.
Footage and interviews from the July 18 campus protest can be accessed on the Manitoban’s YouTube channel.
/ Zulkifl Rafah / staff
The realities of climate change
Exploring the impacts of climate change, heat waves and wildfires
Rhea Bhalla, staff
The State of Global Climate report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirms that 2023 was the hottest year in documented history. 2024 is predicted to be even hotter, with the hottest June on record and the 13th consecutive month to break temperature records, per the WMO.
According to the Canadian Climate Institute, an overheating climate is causing Canada to warm faster than anywhere else on Earth. A 2019 report by Environment and Climate Change Canada noted that Canada is warming twice as quickly as the global average, and Canada’s arctic is warming nearly four times as quickly, per a recent publication in the scientific journal Nature
Sarah Miller is a research lead at the Canadian Climate Institute. Much of her work focuses on adaptation.
“[Adaptation] is really interesting to me because, alongside the need to reduce emissions, there’s a lot that we can do here in the Canadian context to protect ourselves and to protect communities, alongside the need to really be ambitious about transitioning our economy,” she said.
This aligns with Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy which strives for equity, climate and environmental justice while upholding the rights of Indigenous people and prioritizing benefits to people, businesses and the environment.
mate change, even as we try to reduce the root causes of emissions,” Miller said.
The Canadian Government’s Adaptation Action Plan involves investing up to $284 million over a five-year period into protecting communities, advancing wildland fire knowledge and
Miller explained. “It results in heat waves lasting longer, and it also results in higher peak temperatures, and we know that those peak
terns of rainfall.
“These conditions come together to make the forest much more vulnerable,” she said.
Regardless of a wildfire’s cause, climate change leads to wildfires spreading quickly and uncontrollably. Climate change has also been shown to increase the frequency of thunderstorms and lightning strikes, said Miller.
Lightning is a
research and founding a Centre of Excellence for Wildland Fire Innovation and Resilience.
“There’s a lot that communities and that governments can do to protect people from the worst impacts of cli-
“There’s a well-established connection in the scientific literature between worsening climate change, worsening extreme heat and heat waves and worsening wildfires,”
temperatures can be extremely dangerous and very deadly.”
Climate change, Miller explained, dries out the vegetation and soil of the landscape. Simultaneously, it increases temperatures and results in more erratic pat-
common trigger of wildfires, and accounts for about 85 per cent of the area burned annually, according to data from the Canadian National Fire Database.
“The fact that climate change worsens these conditions overall — dries out the landscape, has higher temperatures, more erratic rainfall — means that wildfires, whatever the cause, are more likely to do worse,” Miller said.
Heat waves are also a major
climate change-related issue. Climate change leads to slower-moving heat waves and severe heat domes.
A heat dome is a weather phenomenon in which the atmosphere forms a high-pressure pocket which traps hot air beneath it. The pressure pushes the air into a hot, dome-shaped mass that stops the movement of milder weather systems. Heat domes create periods of extremely high temperatures that exacerbate heat waves.
Miller noted that a rapid weather attribution program by Environment and Climate Change Canada found that the 2024 June heat wave in central and eastern Canada was two to 10 times more likely due to climate change. During the heat wave, temperatures in Quebec and Atlantic Canada were over 10 C higher than normal.
British Columbia’s 2021 heat wave saw the number of active wildfires rise from six to 175. Fires that spread during the heat wave destroyed close to 79,000 hectares of land, which included the town of Lytton. Scientists studying this heat wave of unprecedented magnitude determined that anthropogenic warming of the planet exacerbated this event, as published in Nature. Heat waves also have devastating impacts on the economic sector and workforce. Seventy per cent of the global workforce are exposed to extreme heat and are at a greater risk for cancer, heart disease, kidney disfunction and injury, per the International Labour Organization.
A report by the Canadian Climate Institute estimated that Canada will experience costs of over $3 billion per year due to heat-related deaths and illnesses by mid-century.
“I think people understand the severity and the devastation of wildfires,” Miller said, “but extreme heat can also be devastating, just in a sort of less public way sometimes.”
Village Lab researches Indigenous experiences of HIV
Exploring the intersections of health and social sciences
Rhea Bhalla, staff
At the U of M’s Village Lab, which explores the intersections of health and social sciences with a focus on marginalized communities, the Gigii-Bapiimin study examined the impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The study’s name, Gigii-Bapiimin, is an Ojibwe expression that means “we survived.” For Ojibwe people meeting other groups in the spring, the term acknowledged survival of a long winter.
HIV is a sexually transmitted virus that, without treatment, may gradually destroy the body’s immune system and progress to AIDS. While the survival rate for untreated AIDS is around three years, early diagnosis and treatment allow most people with HIV/AIDS to live long, healthy lives.
More than half of those referred to Manitoba’s HIV Program are Indigenous.
The Gigii-Bapiimin study noted that “systemic racism, colonialism and historical trauma have created barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare, resulting in late HIV diagnosis and limited access to treatment for Indigenous people.”
Researchers from the Village Lab used Indigenous story-work methods to interview 51 Indigenous people living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
“We got to hear a lot of different voices from the community across both provinces, and people really just were grateful for having their story heard,” said Melissa Morris, manager of the Village Lab and co-author of the study.
tion and distancing negatively impacted their mental health and well-being, while also leading to increased substance use. Some participants noted difficulties accessing HIV care and medications.
“It’s an important study to just help address the needs,” said Morris. “If another intersecting pandemic occurs, how do we prepare ourselves properly and make sure that everyone has equitable access to services?”
The Gigii-Bapiimin study is only one of many research
he said.
One such study is the lab’s Migration and Health Study, aimed at using community-based research to better understand racialized migrants’ sexual health, as well as their susceptibility to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The study came to several conclusions.
“Our mission is to become a leader and catalyst in Manitoba for improving the health and wellbeing of key and priority populations”
— Rusty Souleymanov, director of the Village Lab
studies at the Village Lab.
The study found that many Indigenous people living with HIV drew on cultural ceremonies, practices and medicines to cope with the pandemic. Social isola-
“We want to make sure that the care we have in Manitoba […] is accessible for communities,” said Rusty Souleymanov, director of the lab. “How do we do it? We study different barriers and facilitators to care at the Village Lab,”
Migrants commonly have experiences with sexual trauma and therefore would benefit from trauma-informed care from service providers. Sexual and HIV stigma negatively impacts migrant communities and may be improved with public awareness destigmatization campaigns. Service providers should be able to provide referrals to sexual health clinics and organizations. Better access to sexual health information is needed, especially at community-based social service agencies. Addition-
ally, sexual health information provided in diverse languages is valuable.
The lab also aims to strengthen the communities it serves by involving them in research. The Gigii-Bapiimin project, for example, was gifted its name by Elder Albert McLeod, a two-spirit Indigenous human rights activist who guides much of the lab’s work. McLeod’s role is to ensure the lab’s work remains relevant to the communities involved in it.
Marginalized people and community members are also employed in the lab and provided with opportunities that can help their careers move forward. “Our mission is to become a leader and catalyst in Manitoba for improving the health and wellbeing of key and priority populations,” said Souleymanov.
Carolyn
Bolu
Prabhnoor
Rachhvir
The “right side of history” does not yet exist
A request
for activists to retire an idealistic, self-satisfied expression
Maggie A. Clark, staff
Shortly before the Nazi invasion of France forced him to flee Paris in May 1940, the German-Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin wrote a harrowing essay that I am certain will stick with me for the rest of my life.
“On the Concept of History” was Benjamin’s poetic condemnation of the idea of historical progress. He warned that all efforts to construct a shared cultural tradition rooted in images of the past face an existential threat — namely, “the danger of becoming a tool of the ruling classes.” To say that history follows an inevitable trajectory toward justice and prosperity is to endorse the victors of every past conflict and to trust in the good intentions of the powerful.
In other words, a belief in historical progress “invariably benefits the current rulers.” To the contrary, Benjamin implored us to recognize that “the ‘state of emergency’ in which we live is not the exception but the rule.”
Reading this burned a hole through my chest. Benjamin was writing in the context of the Second World War, but his words ring just as true today.
An article published last month in British medical journal the Lancet estimated that the current hostilities in Gaza have caused as many as 186,000 deaths, a figure that represents nearly eight per cent of the population in the Gaza Strip. Since October, Israel has bombed hospitals, schools, water and sanitation facilities, archives and refugee camps and has targeted health care professionals, aid workers and journalists.
UNRWA, the United Nations (UN) agency responsible for administering relief to displaced Palestinians, announced in June that over 50,000 children needed treatment for acute malnutrition. Overcrowding in shelters and diminished access to clean drinking water have produced 40,000 new cases of hepatitis A since the start of the war. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported that there are “substantiated reports of widespread abuse, torture, sexual assault and rape” of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. The daily atrocities being inflicted on a colonized population — not only for the last
10 months but for decades — are a testament to Benjamin’s suggestion that history should be viewed not as a simple “chain of events,” but rather as “one single catastrophe.”
institutions reveals that this is not the case.
Oppression should be opposed for its own sake, not because of some imagined future reward in the form of historical acclaim
And yet it is not uncommon at the many rallies I have attended in the past year for speakers to make rhetorical appeals to “the right side of history.”
The implication that to oppose a genocide is to occupy a historically favoured position — that is, to believe that this stance is so morally incontrovertible that its future success is predestined — is the height of wishful thinking.
The concept only makes sense if we take historical progress as a given. The fact that this bloodshed has been carried out with the complicity, indifference or outright support of Canadian government officials and public
Despite their professed commitment to truth and reconciliation, our leaders are very selective as to which colonial harms they are willing to recognize. Only once abuses have passed safely into the realm of history — once they can no longer be undone — does the ruling class finally acknowledge that anything was amiss.
This is why the same people can observe Orange Shirt Day in remembrance of residential schools, while supplying Israel with weapons and sending the RCMP to arrest Wet’suwet’en land defenders.
This is a clear example of what Benjamin meant when he reminded us that the “enemy has never ceased to be victorious.” There cannot be a right side of history if the catastrophe is still unfolding and the responsible parties continue to act with impunity.
More than that, the phrase strikes me as overly self-congratulatory. It is as if the
people saying it believe that historical change results simply from individuals holding the correct opinions or staging a few demonstrations. Our collective efforts to put an end to the suffering have thus far proven insufficient. Why are we declaring victory prematurely when we have accomplished nothing?
It is evidently a comforting thought that our righteous acts and beliefs carry eternal significance. It also misses the point. Oppression should be opposed for its own sake, not because of some imagined future reward in the form of historical acclaim.
History is an ongoing and complex process. Our efforts to intervene in it can only succeed with sustained effort and a willingness to engage the masses and develop a robust long-term strategy. My own activism in the Palestinian solidarity, trans liberation and labour rights movements has made me acutely aware of the enormity of our task to build a better world.
By expressing absolute certainty that our present efforts will yield a positive result —
which is what “the right side of history” implies — we run the risk of becoming complacent. If we have decided in advance that our decisions will be remembered fondly by future generations, then we have failed to acknowledge our shortcomings or allow for the possibility of improvement.
Activism requires humility and patience. The work it entails is often at once strenuous and boring. The future outcomes you hope to see are uncertain and may take many years or even a lifetime to achieve. Mistakes are inevitable.
This is why I refuse to say that I am on the right side of history. I will not hazard a guess at what the historians of centuries to come will think of me or the social movements in which I was involved — if they even think about us at all. I hope that one day I can claim to have played a small role in bringing about a world free from oppression and putting a stop to the historical calamity. But we are not there yet.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
Cozy to chaotic: My journey through the wild world of dating
How the pitfalls of modern dating reshaped my approach to emotional intimacy
India Schlegel, staff
After eight years in a cozy, safe relationship with my high school sweetheart, I plunged into the chaotic world of dating apps. We sat down together to create our first dating profiles, post-bar-drunk and giggling. Little did I know that this silly moment would be the gateway to a year-long journey through modern dating culture’s trials, tropes and heartbreaks.
I didn’t expect the culture. The secret dating culture that single people hid from those living under the relationship rock — customs, expectations and language — were all aspects that I had to learn, and fast. Navigating through ghosting, rosters and breadcrumbing, it felt like I was learning a new language, one spoken fluently by the single people around me but utterly foreign to me.
As I struggled with the ups and downs of dating, I found myself obsessing over every text and over-analyzing every interaction. My roommate noticed my distress and casually dropped a term that would change everything: anxious attachment.
After an explanation from my roommate and a halfread book on attachment styles, I was ready to face my next connection confidently, but immediately fell into the same pattern as I did with the last guy. And this time, I was ghosted… twice.
Ghosting, the abrupt severing of contact without explanation, is a common experience. According to Physcology Today, 20 per cent of adults have been ghosted before and the number is likely much higher for young people.
This experience made me realize the tumultuous relationship between connections, dating apps and attachment styles.
Attachment theory, developed by developmental psychologist John Bowlby, explains how children’s early relationships with caregivers shape their adult relationships. However, psychiatrist Amir Levine, influenced by further studies, expanded on the theory, linking childhood attachments styles to adult behaviours in relationships. The four attachment styles — secure, anxious, avoidant and disorganized — affect how individuals connect with others.
Anxious types crave emotional intimacy but fear losing it, tend to have low self-esteem and wind up becoming
graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / volunteer
overly needy. Avoidant types crave intimacy but feel quickly overwhelmed and smothered. They often push the connection away. Disorganized types experience a mixture of both anxious and avoidant styles. Finally, secure types don’t feel smothered or overcome and can move forward confidently, maintaining emotional stability and healthy boundaries. In the context of digital dating, these attachment styles can be amplified. Avoidants may find it easier to ghost due to the lack of face-to-face interaction, while anxious individuals may feel compelled to check in constantly. This feeds their fears of being ignored, ironically increasing their chances of being ghosted.
As an anxious attacher, I have fallen victim to feeling as though I should be constantly in contact with people I’m dating. And if we’re not texting every day, I would begin to panic. It became my cycle. I start talking to some-
one, invest too heavily too quickly without truly knowing them, and then pin all my hopes, dreams and self-worth on whether they text me back. And if I match up with an avoidant, a common pairing, my need to latch on and hold tight will inevitably make them feel smothered and crave independence, validating my fears and self-doubts.
The push-pull dynamic between anxious and avoidant individuals can create a toxic cycle, often referred to as the anxious-avoidant trap. As one partner seeks closeness, the other retreats, leading to a cycle of pursuing and distancing that can be difficult to break.
I’m emphasizing anxious attachment as it’s my personal experience, but I hold a deep empathy for those who are avoidant. Psychiatrist Amir Levine, who co-wrote the book Attached on the subject, states that avoidants have the potential to suffer more than anxious types, desiring deep
connection but ultimately pushing loved ones away and facing loneliness.
Luckily, cycles can be broken. It is possible to heal your insecure attachment style. And I know firsthand because I’ve begun. Through understanding attachment theory, understanding myself, working with my long-term therapist and finding a connection that feels stable, I’ve made progress.
You can work through attachment styles by building trust. Trust can be built by providing reassurance for anxious types, providing space with increasing emotional connection for avoidant types and ultimately being mindful of both your and your partner’s attachment style. Keeping open communication is vital.
In my most recent connection, I’ve built trust, worked through my texting anxiety and accepted that our connection is strong in whatever form it takes. This relation-
ship has been pivotal in helping me understand what it feels like to develop a more secure attachment to feel a sense of calmness.
Through this journey, I’ve learned to recognize my anxious patterns early on before diving in too deep. It’s been empowering to realize that I can approach dating with more self-awareness and emotional resilience rather than just reacting to every text or lack thereof.
I’ve come a long way from that drunken dating profile to now. Dating apps might have plunged me into a whirlwind of emotions, but also led me to a deeper understanding of myself. As dating continues to evolve, so does my approach, which is now grounded in a more secure sense of self. Ultimately, successful connections, whether online or offline, depend on understanding our attachment styles and finding connections that help us grow.
TikTok and the Kamala campaign: The intersection of pop culture and politics
Harris’s campaign raises questions about the role of social media in modern elections
India Schlegel, staff
Since President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, the Kamala Harris presidency campaign has made waves on the popular app TikTok. KamalaHQ, the official campaign TikTok, received over 232 million views and 33 million likes in its first week. The account’s profile picture mimics the pop music icon Charlie XCX’s album of the summer, Brat, and the posts engage in TikTok trends. Notably, one of the top posts features a series of photos set to pop singer Chappell Roan’s song “Femininominon,” garnering 56.8 million views and 7.4 million likes at the time of publication.
TikTok is overwhelmingly used by Gen Z, with over 60 per cent of users aged between 10 to 29. Gen Z makes up 17 per cent of the eligible voting demographic this year in the U.S. and will only increase as this generation ages into voting eligibility. Harris’s campaign is strategically tapping into this crucial voter base. KamalaHQ is reminiscent of former president Barack Obama’s use of Facebook to appeal to young voters, making the 2008 election the “Facebook election” and Obama the “first social media president.” The use of pop culture plays a significant role in campaign strategy, and it has been that way since the emergence of mass media and popular culture as we know it today.
Famously, in 1960, the first televised presidential debate aired, attracting over 65 million viewers. The debate was between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. The television has been credited for significantly influencing the outcome of the 1960 U.S. presidential election.
If you’re unfamiliar, it’s said that those who listened to the debate through the traditional medium, radio, felt that Nixon performed better. However, those who watched the televised broadcast felt Kennedy had performed better. Kennedy, the youngest elected president, appeared attractive and articulate, contrasting sharply with Nixon’s pale and sweaty demeanour. This televised appeal helped Kennedy secure a significant 43 to 48 per cent lead in the polls post-debate, marking a pivotal moment in political campaigning.
While this engagement is entertaining, it does not necessarily result in a net positive for democracy
Strategic use of pop culture
in the 1960 election didn’t end there. Televised campaign ads were an important strategy. Kennedy used endorsements of popular American actor Henry Fonda and commercials that demonstrated personality, emphasizing Kennedy’s likeability. Meanwhile, Nixon emphasized professionalism in his campaign ads. It comes as no surprise that Kennedy secured 54 per cent of the vote from ages 21 to 29. And as we know, Kennedy won the 1960 presidential election.
Another election, another platform. Barack Obama used Facebook to reach young voters and Donald Trump gained success in 2016 largely due to his use of Twitter (now X). And now, we have KamalaHQ. From television to Facebook, X and TikTok, the history of using popular platforms to boost a candidate’s likeability and display personality is long. We can see the same long-standing strategy with other mediums, such as campaign songs.
Harris’s Tiktok campaign is garnering loads of attention, and proving effective. Pop culture has the distinct advantage of increasing political
participation and in a way that is accessible and engaging.
While this engagement is entertaining, it does not necessarily result in a net positive for democracy. It often leads to a superficial understanding. People may think they know a candidate but might not be making informed decisions due to a lack of focus on the serious aspects of an election - policy. When a policy is highlighted, it’s often wrapped up in our preconceived opinion of the candidate proposing it.
The moral of the story is that entertainment is a vital and inescapable part of the political process. How do you get an entire nation or demographic to pay attention? How do you strategize to win? You graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
entertain and display likeability to your target audience.
Our tendency to find enjoyment through the political process shouldn’t come at the cost of critical thinking. We can continue to question our leaders and make an informed vote while enjoying the performance of Megan Thee Stallion at the Harris rally. As Canadians, let’s take this lesson from our southern neighbours to heart, ensuring that we balance our enjoyment of the political spectacle with a commitment to informed, critical voting in our next federal election.
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. In Straights, like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a “straight.” A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how “straights” are formed.
Arts & Culture
Island Falls is real and we all live there
Local writer’s novel raises necessary questions about class struggle under colonialism
Maggie A. Clark, staff
Hoping to do some light reading at Folk Fest, I brought Island Falls along with me.
Though I finished it over the course of an afternoon, I was left stunned. Its 122 pages and frequent line breaks make the novel a breezy read, but I would hardly call it “light.” The subject matters it explores are weighty and provoke a great deal of reflection.
I first became aware of author Owen Toews when a mutual follower on X (then known as Twitter) recommended his first book, Stolen City: Racial Capitalism and the Making of Winnipeg. Having found it an eye-opening account of racism, land use and class struggle in the city, I was excited for his follow-up effort. Published last year by ARP Books, Island Falls marks a stylistic — but not thematic — shift for the author. The new book is his first novel.
Set in New York, the story centres around an unnamed narrator and his new acquaintance Jan — a Canadian emigrant with “gorgeous red hair” and “piercing incisors.” The narrator takes an immediate and perhaps even romantic fascination in the enigmatic foreigner and his distressing stories about growing up in a town run by a pulp-and-paper company.
The book flits back and forth between a narrative about the writer’s interactions with Jan and transcripts from Jan’s avant-garde essay — or a “report, an anatomy of evil, or something,” the narrator isn’t quite sure which — about life in the titular town.
Many of the details ascribed to the fictional Island Falls will be immediately recognizable to any student of Manitoba history. For example, the mill’s Shantytown Wing — with its lack of in-home electricity or plumbing — clearly evokes Rooster Town, the Métis suburb whose residents were evicted by the City of Winnipeg in 1959. Their homes were burned down to make space for the Grant Park Shopping Centre and Grant Park High School.
Likewise, the North Wing, home to a “forced assimilation camp” and a separate hospital to keep its inhabitants out of the mill’s main facility, reads as an allusion to the Fort Alexander Residential School (in what is now Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation) and the nearby settler community of Powerview-Pine Falls.
In the 1930s, residents of Pine Falls raised complaints
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
about the presence of Indigenous people in the local hospital, causing the Department of Indian Affairs to build a separate annex in 1938 for the racially segregated Fort Alexander Indian Hospital. As historians Mary Jane Logan McCallum and Adele Perry uncovered, occupancy at Fort Alexander in 1960 fluctuated between 93 and 128 per cent, while Pine Falls Hospital never exceeded 43 per cent in the five years prior. This
produced a situation where “underserviced First Nations people were literally turned away from open beds next door.”
My awareness of this history led me to the initial assumption that Island Falls was a literal stand-in for Pine Falls — the site of the only mill in Manitoba to produce newsprint, as the novel’s mill also does — until Toews included Pine Falls in a list of the fake town’s sister communities.
It was then that I realized Island Falls was not meant to symbolize just a single place. It is a composite. Island Falls could be anywhere in the province.
Rest assured, however, that the novel is not a history lecture. Moments of levity are sprinkled throughout. References to fish fries, curling bonspiels and a “Stoic Reminder Banquet” make the fictional town seem downright charming and quaint.
All of it — the dispossession, the segregation, the recreational activities — is our cultural heritage.
But this makes the story more unsettling, not less. As the narrator points out, these things are inseparable from one another. Is it possible that our joys are always bound up in someone else’s misery — that of a stranger, an exploited labourer or an ancestor? What does this mean for our future? What would a truly decent
world even look like?
Overall, the novel’s tone is captured nicely by an early throwaway line. It likely only stood out to me because of my fondness for baseball, but it shaped how I understood the remainder of the text.
Jan and the narrator reminisce about I Had a Hammer, the autobiography of star slugger Hank Aaron, which they both read as children. The narrator notes that Aaron’s “God-given ability to wallop a baseball” was “a talent he always felt a melancholy ambivalence about.”
This melancholy ambiva-
lence seeps through the book. Toews’s anger and despair at the social crises he describes are readily apparent to any reader of his first book, but here there is a faint trace of hope and an overwhelming uncertainty.
Toews glances at his own vocation with similar ambivalence. As he mentions in the acknowledgments, the plot details of Island Falls emerged from the author’s postdoctoral research, which involved traveling across Manitoba and “talking to people about life in mill-like places.”
The main characters, mean-
while, are university students in a “small Marxist program.” By the end, Jan burns out of academia. When confronted by a university instructor about the unusual structure of his writing submissions, he responds that “people in my country like inquiries.”
Toews is pointing here to a genuine problem in our politics and education system. It is certainly important to seek historical knowledge, but it is not enough. What good is it to accumulate information about past injustices if not to actively confront them in the present? What would
it take for a university course or a public inquiry to produce a tangible improvement in social conditions?
True to form, Island Falls does not answer these questions, which only raises another. Why write this at all? Why format the novel as a winding, experimental metafiction only to fill it with obvious real-life parallels? Couldn’t a run-of-the-mill history book get the same point across?
I don’t know either, but the final page offers a clue. The narrator, after losing contact with Jan, realizes that his
strange literary concoctions were an effort “to make sense of what had been done to him and to the people he cared for” and “to make [his experiences] sing to us, the way they sang to him.”
Perhaps all writing is done as an exercise to purge some inner turmoil or to revolt against the cruelty of existence. That’s why Jan wrote his inquiry, I suspect it’s why Toews wrote the book and it’s why I write too.
“State-of-the-art” music hall to open on campus
Faculty of music’s concert hall slated for grand opening on September 5
Maggie A. Clark, staff
Three years after its construction commenced, a new music venue is about to open its doors to the public for the first time.
The Desautels Concert Hall will hold its grand opening on Sept. 5. Its premiere concert will be headlined by country-folk singer William Prince and feature the likes of acclaimed opera sopranos Tracy Dahl and Andriana Chuchman, the Borealis Piano Trio and the Desautels Jazz Faculty Quintet. Dahl and Chuchman will be accompanied by pianist Laura Loewen.
All performers have a U of M connection. Dahl, Loewen and the members of the piano trio and jazz quintet are faculty members or instructors, while Prince and Chuchman are alumni.
Edward Jurkowski, dean of the Desautels faculty of music, said the concert will offer a “variety of different musical experiences.”
Prior to the completion of the new venue, the faculty’s concerts had been held in a variety of locations on campus and around the city, including in Eva Clare Hall at 65 Dafoe Road. While the recital hall at that location could accommodate only a small number of musicians — “a piano and a singer or perhaps a string quartet,” according to Jurkowski — the Desautels Concert Hall has enough space for “a full orchestra and choir.”
The roughly 200 students in the faculty will soon
have access to the amenities of a “bona fide concert hall,” including a nine-foot grand piano and architectural design tailored to musical performance.
“The ability to perform on a concert grand [piano] in a state-of-the-art acoustic space […] [offers] the closest analogue a student is going to have to a real-world performance,” Jurkowski said. “To
have that as part of their performance experience here will mean everything.”
He added that “one of the exciting things about this hall is not just for what it will be for the students and the university, but for the Winnipeg community.” The Desautels Concert Hall is the only “true state-of-the-art” performance venue in the south end. Jurkowski expects it to “dramat-
ically change the dynamic of music-making” in Winnipeg and result in increased attention to the U of M’s arts scene. Music enthusiasts who are unable to attend the grand opening will still have a series of shows to look forward to in the coming months. These include performances by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra on Sept. 25, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra with Tomson High-
way on Oct. 19 and the vocal ensemble Dead of Winter on Oct. 20.
The Desautels Concert Hall grand opening takes place on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are now sold out but may become available based on purchased returns. See umanitoba.ca/ music/desautels-concert-hall for more information.
photo / Anthony Nardella / volunteer
Nigeria wins 2024 Manitoba African Cup of Nations Nigeria
wallops Ghana to emerge as champions
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
Nigeria emerged as the winner of the 2024 Manitoba African Cup of Nations after walloping their neighbouring country Ghana 4-0 in the final game at the Princess Auto Stadium on Aug. 4.
Nigeria and Ghana appeared in the game in their national colours. Nigeria wore green and white while Ghana wore red, gold and green colours.
The game commenced on a good note for both teams as
they exercised caution. Ghana had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 3rd minute, but the chance was blown wide by the attacker.
The teams kept stitching passes together in search of the opening goal and that was fulfilled by Nigeria, through a defense splitting pass to slot home the ball in the 17th minute. It was an easy task for Nigeria to open the score.
Two minutes later, Nigeria worked their way out of Ghana’s defense to tear it apart
and curl home the second goal in the 19th minute.
Ghana tried to half the deficit in the 33rd minute, but their player failed to put the ball into the net after succumbing to Nigeria’s goalkeeper. Ghana’s call for a possible penalty was swept aside by the referee.
The first half ended with two unanswered goals for Nigeria.
Both teams played their usual game pattern from the commencement of the second
half, but Nigeria intensified their approach to increase their goal tally to three in the 54th minute. It was a cool finish for Nigeria after one of their attackers intercepted a pass close to Ghana’s box and lofted it over the goalkeeper.
Trailing by three goals, Ghana tried to stage comebacks but were unsuccessful in those moments.
In the 75th minute, Nigeria compounded the woes of Ghana by capitalizing on a defensive blunder to score the
sports teams’ schedules
Canada West 2024-25 — Women’s Volleyball
Manitoba vs. Calgary
Manitoba vs. Calgary
October 18 – 6:00 p.m. MDT
October 19 – 5:30 p.m. MDT
Thompson Rivers vs. Manitoba October 25 – 7:45 p.m. CDT
Thompson Rivers vs. Manitoba October 26 – 5:45 p.m. CDT
Manitoba vs. Alberta
Manitoba vs. Alberta
Brandon vs. Manitoba
fourth goal.
The remaining minutes were reduced to a practice session for Nigerians as Ghana were left chasing shadows.
The game wrapped up with four goals for Nigeria, which propelled them to the winning seat as champions of the 2024 Manitoba African Cup of Nations.
November 1 – 6:00 p.m. MDT
November 2 – 5:00 p.m. MDT
November 15 – 7:45 p.m. CST
Brandon vs. Manitoba November 16 - 5:45 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Regina
Manitoba vs. Regina
November 29 – 6:00 p.m. CST
November 30 – 6:00 p.m. CST
Trinity Western vs. Manitoba January 10 – 6:00 p.m. CST
Canada West 2024-25 — Men’s Volleyball
Manitoba vs. Calgary
October 18 – 7:30 p.m. MDT
Manitoba vs. Calgary October 19 – 4:00 p.m. MDT
Thompson Rivers vs. Manitoba October 25 – 6:00 p.m. CDT
Thompson Rivers vs. Manitoba October 26 – 4:00 p.m. CDT
Manitoba vs. Alberta November 1 – 7:30 p.m. MDT
Manitoba vs. Alberta November 2 – 6:30 p.m. MDT
Brandon vs. Manitoba November 15 – 6:00 p.m. CST
Brandon vs. Manitoba November 16 - 4:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan November 22 – 6:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan November 23 – 3:00 p.m. CST
Trinity Western vs. Manitoba January 10 – 7:45 p.m. CST
Trinity Western vs. Manitoba January 11 – 5:45 p.m. CST
Canada West 2024-25 — Men’s Basketball
Brandon vs. Manitoba November 3 – 4:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan November 8 – 8:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan November 9 – 7:00 p.m. CST
Regina vs. Manitoba November 22 – 8:00 p.m. CST
Regina vs. Manitoba November 23 – 7:00 p.m. CST
Lethbridge vs. Manitoba November 29 – 8:00 p.m. CST
Lethbridge vs. Manitoba November 30 – 7:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Winnipeg December 5 – 8:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Brandon January 10 – 8:00 p.m. CST
Manitoba vs. Brandon January 11 – 7:00 p.m. CST
Team Canada excels in Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Canada bags 27 medals, better than 2020 Olympic performance
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
Canada put up a spirited performance to enjoy a successful participation at the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris, France. Team Canada signed off the competition with 27 medals.
The medals consisted of nine gold medals, seven silver medals and 11 bronze medals. Canada was ranked 12th on the medal table.
Athletics fetched three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal for Canada. In beach volleyball, one silver medal was won by Canada. Boxing came in with one bronze medal for the nation. One gold medal was brought in through breaking and another through canoe sprint. Canoe sprint also added a bronze medal to the Canadian medal table.
Diving and fencing each had one bronze medal while judo had a gold medal for Canada. Rowing and rugby sevens ended with a silver medal each. Canada made a major impact in swimming which was spearheaded by Summer McIntosh, swooping three gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals. Taekwondo, tennis and trampoline gymnastics had one bronze medal each. Weightlifting earned one silver medal for Canada.
Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh won four medals at the recent Olympics, tying her for the most medals won by a Canadian athlete at
one Olympic Summer Games. Out of the four medals won by the 17-year-old, three were gold, the most ever by a Canadian athlete at one Olympic Games.
“I can’t say thank you enough [to the fans] for all their support. It means the absolute world,” said McIntosh, in an interview with the CBC.
“We wouldn’t be here without them today. Even when we were over in Paris, we could feel their support.”
Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Andrew De Grasse emerged superior to win gold for Canada in the men’s 4x100-metre relay with the fastest time of 37.50.
Following the success by the relay team, De Grasse is tied with swimmer Penny Oleksiak as Canada’s most decorated Olympian with seven medals.
“These guys just motivated me. I was just trying to be Andre De Grasse, man. Just go out there and leave it all out there. That’s half the battle. I had a two-hour warmup just to get the hamstring ready,” said De Grasse to the National Post
In women’s soccer, Canada women’s team was deducted six-points over charges of a drone spying scandal on an opponent’s practice session following investigations by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA). Team officials were punished as well.
Following disciplinary action, there was “an automatic deduction of six points from the Canadian Soccer Association’s women’s representative team’s standing in group A of the OFT (Olympic football tournament), and a fine of CHF 200,000,” said FIFA in a statement.
Beverely Priestman, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander — each an official of the Canadian Soccer Association — were suspended from partaking in football-related activity for one year.
Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary Kevin Blue expressed disappointment over the decision and indicated the next step for the team.
“Canada Soccer is disappointed with the impact of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision on our athletes. We are exploring options to appeal on the basis that it is excessive punitive towards our women’s national team players - who were not involved in any unethical behaviour,” said Blue.
Disciplinary action was taken by Canada on head coach Priestman.
“The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed the Canadian women’s national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman from the Canadian Olympic Team due to her suspension by Canada Soccer. Assistant coach Andy Spence will lead the women’s national soccer team for the remain-
der of the Paris 2024 Olympic Game,” said the Canadian Olympic Committee in a statement.
Canada appealed the sixpoint deduction at the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) but was dismissed.
“The application filed by the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer (the applicants) in relation to the six-point deduction imposed on the Canadian women’s soccer team for the football tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 has been dismissed,” said CAS in a statement.
“The applicants sought a decision from the CAS ad hoc division either cancelling or reducing the points deduction imposed by the FIFA Appeal Committee in its decision of 27 July 2024 after it established that breaches of the FIFA regulations applicable to the Olympic football tournament concerning the prohibition on flying drones over training sites had occurred,” stated CAS.
Despite the six-point deduction, Canada women’s team maintained resilience and composure to qualify out of group A with three points alongside Colombia and France, the table toppers and host nation.
Canada booked a quarter-final clash against powerhouse Germany with the game ending goalless after regular and extra time. The tournament was a wrap for Canada
after losing 2 – 4 to Germany through penalty kicks.
Canada women’s soccer team won successive bronze medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games and recorded a superb and heroic finish at Tokyo 2020 with gold.
There were 317 athletes that officially competed for Team Canada in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with 81 topeight finishes. Canada bagged 27 medals across 15 sports. Of those medals, 17 originated from the women’s events, nine from athletes competing in men’s events and one from a mixed gender event.
During the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Team Canada came home with 24 medals, made up of seven gold, seven silver and 10 bronze medals.
In the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Team Canada departed with 22 medals, consisting of four gold, three silver and 15 bronze medals. Team Canada accumulated even less medals during the London 2012 Olympic Games, securing two gold, six silver and 10 bronze medals.
