Aclinical psychologist hired to care for sick youths is suing the U of M and Shared Health, claiming that she was wrongfully dismissed after she made a complaint relating to patient care.
In the lawsuit filed in the Court of King’s Bench on Nov. 7, Dr. Michelle Keiski said that she was “pressured to engage in misconduct and other violations of professional standards.”
According to the lawsuit, Keiski filed a complaint with the Psychological Association of Manitoba in September 2022 to raise concern over issues at the Max Rady college of medicine, including the clinical health psychology department. These issues
included the misreporting of studies and data, employees providing services they are not qualified to deliver and other issues impacting patient care.
One month after filing the complaint, Keiski was placed on administrative leave without cause, according to the statement of claim.
“The only reasonable explanation she was aware of was that she was being terminated for fulfilling her professional and ethical obligations by making her complaint,” states the lawsuit.
“The decision to terminate her employment was retaliatory,” claims the lawsuit, and that the employers’ conduct was “harsh, vindictive, reprehensible, malicious and
deserving of judicial condemnation.”
Keiski holds a PhD in clinical psychology — specializing in neuropsychology — and was recruited from Kingston, Ont., to jointly work as an assistant professor with the university and as a psychologist for Shared Health. Her term position started in October 2021 and was to end in June of this year.
At the U of M, Keiski was to teach at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She was also responsible for administrative roles pertaining to governance, policy formation, curriculum planning and program implementation. With Shared Health,
U of M begins search for next chancellor
Nominations open for the position of chancellor
Ngozi Okose, staff
The U of M has officially opened nominations for the position of the office of chancellor. Nominations are being accepted from Nov. 4 until Nov. 26, 2024 at 4 p.m.
The chancellor search committee was established under the 2011 election of the chancellor policy which oversees the nomination process and recommends a candidate to the committee of election for final approval.
The chancellor search committee comprises of the chair of the board of governors, the university president, vice-president (external), secretary, three elected members of the senate (non-students), two elected members of the board of governors, one undergraduate and one graduate student elected by the senate and two members of the U of M alumni association nominated by the alumni association. The new chancellor will begin a threeyear term on June 1, 2025,
succeeding Chancellor Anne Mahon, whose tenure ends on May 31, 2025, after two terms of service. Chancellor Mahon has previously announced that she will not be seeking another term.
The chancellor, a volunteer role at the U of M, is the ceremonial head of the university, confers degrees and participates as a voting member of the board of governors and the senate. The chancellor represents the university, provides advice, leads and contributes to its governance and development.
Under the University of Manitoba Act, the chancellor is elected by the committee of election and serves for a three-year term initially, after which one can seek for re-election as there is no limit on the number of terms a person may serve as chancellor at the U of M. The committee of election is composed of all the voting members of the board of governors and the senate. Nominators for the chancel-
lor position include members and assessors of the board of governors and the senate, students, academic and support staff, alumni and the chancellor search committee.
Nomination forms are available online and must be signed by five eligible nominators and submitted by the deadline. Candidates must also provide a curriculum vitae and a brief biographical sketch of two pages or less.
After nominations close, the search committee will evaluate submissions and make a recommendation. The committee of election will select the chancellor through a secret ballot, with the results announced after the nominee accepts the role.
For more information on the chancellor nomination process, contact Jeff Leclerc, the university secretary, at 204-474-6167 or via email at Jeff.Leclerc@umanitoba.ca.
University reviews Bisons and recreation brands
Taycie Adeoti, staff
The U of M announced a major initiative to re-evaluate its sports and recreation brands, including the Bisons — which have not been updated in nearly 25 years, Mini U programs, junior Bisons and U of M recreation services. According to a university-wide email that was sent to the community on Oct. 23, the review process will assess the relevance of the sports and recreation brands to today’s students and the university’s community, while ensuring alignment with the institutional brand introduced in 2019.
Douglas Brown, dean of the faculty of kinesiology and recreation management stated that the reason for this initiative “is because the university as a whole has gone through a brand reimagining, renewal over the last three or four years.”
However, he clarified some confusion surrounding the topic. “We are not changing the brand,” Brown said. “You can’t simply change a brand, overnight, so we’re really viewing this as a sort of an exploration of how impactful our current branding is.”
He continued, “I don’t want people to be confused that the Bison logo is the brand — the brand is about the people, the values and about what we do.”
Brown also addressed certain perceptions surrounding the renewal.
He said, “I’d like the renewal to make sense, if there are adaptations or changes to the current logo or other symbols associated with it — I’d like it to make sense within the context of what the university is doing as a whole.”
Furthermore, Brown expressed that he recognizes the strong bond that current students, alumni and sport members have built with the current Bisons brand and
logos.
He added, “our alumni are very important, and we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors, so any renewal has to make sense within that historical context.”
However, the reality is that symbols associated with sports change consistently.
He said, “if you look at [professional] sports and the iconography around them, it’s always evolving in some way or another, and that would be my goal, is to see our brand evolve, not stop and start.”
Brown hopes that the renewal of the brand is embraced among students, staff and the overall university community in their environment. He said, “I’d like students to go, ‘I love the way the University of Manitoba is being represented. I love this, or I love that, or I feel connected to this.’”
When asked how he would measure the success of the new brand, Brown said “it will be a measure that we get from the community, people who are either thumbs up, ‘we like that,’ or ‘we don’t get it,’ or ambivalence. I think the worst thing would be ambivalence, that people [have] no reaction. It’s hard to work with ambivalence.”
An online survey that closed on Nov. 3 was conducted to gather insight about the university’s sports and recreation brands.
To stay up to date with the brand review initiative, visit umanitoba.ca/about-um/ brand/reimagining-umsport-and-recreation-brands during the upcoming months for updates.
Cont’d p. 4 / Keiski <
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Asper school of business Associate Achievement awards
Impactful faculty members celebrated at the annual Associate Achievement awards
Iyanda Ajuwon, staff
The associates of the Asper school of business celebrated excellence in research and teaching at its annual Associates Achievement awards celebration on Nov. 1.
The Associates Achievement award celebration is an event that brings together community members and members of the associates and the young associates of the Asper school of business to honour outstanding faculty contributions.
At this event, the associates offer research fellowships to encourage the intellectual contributions of Asper faculty members.
Each awardee earns the title of associates fellow and funding of $10,000 annually for three years to further their continued excellence in research, teaching and professional service.
In addition to the associates fellow award, the associates also presented Associates Achievement awards in teaching worth $5,000 to two recipients — Dan Shin and Sean Buchanan — for their exceptional teaching contributions.
Four new associates fellows were honoured at this year’s Associate Achievement awards.
The new fellows are ShiuYik Au, Narendra Malalgoda, Kiran Pedada and Wei Wang.
Shiu-Yik Au
Associates fellow in finance
Shiu-Yik Au is a professor in the department of accounting and finance.
He expressed that this is wonderful recognition from students, faculty and donors to the school of business, and it is a great honour because there are not many similar awards.
Au completed his PhD in finance at York University, where he received numerous scholarships and awards and holds two MBA degrees — one from Cornell University and another from Queen’s University.
Additionally, he has a broad interest in research on corporate finance, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), finance and innovation, social finance and financial ethics.
His research on EDI investigates the impact of sexual harassment and discrimination on firm value and profitability. His research on innovation includes investigating aspects that affect innovation, such as the number of patents that are being produced, the
money spent developing new technology, automation and other things that might affect innovation.
In terms of social finance, he explores how the social connections between various directors, areas and companies impact a firm’s performance.
Narendra Malalgoda Associates fellow in supply chain management
Narendra Malalgoda is an assistant professor of supply chain management at the Asper school of business.
He earned his PhD in transportation and logistics, along with an M.Sc. in international agribusiness from North Dakota State University.
Prior to his current role, he completed post-doctoral training at the U of M’s department of agribusiness and agricultural economics.
Malalgoda’s achievement as an associates fellow in supply chain management follows his earning of the associates fellowship for teaching award in 2022, further highlighting his continued dedication to academic excellence.
According to Malalgoda, this award has been one of his key targets in his career and receiving it signifies a new responsibility for him to achieve his project goals.
He stated, “what it means to me is that I now have the responsibility of getting all our associates together and work as groups in terms of achieving the many goals that have been targeted through
my projects.”
Malalgoda has also worked on various research projects, with his research interests involving transportation economics, logistics and supply chain management and rural transportation.
His current research project explores agricultural transportation supply chains, which focuses on finding sustainable solutions in agri-food supply chains.
Wei Wang
Associates fellow in leadership and ethics
Wei Wang is an assistant professor in the business administration department at the Asper school of business.
For Wang, this award is an opportunity to strengthen his connection with the associates’ community by leveraging his expertise in organisational behaviour. He said, “I think I can start some more research projects with them, continue getting their support and also return back to their business community.”
In 2019, he was recognized as the Society of Business Ethics emerging scholar, and in 2022, he received the Anne Tsui Dare to Care research award for his impactful research on employee well-being.
Kiran Pedada
Associates fellow in marketing and inclusive business
Kiran Pedada is an assistant
professor of marketing at the Asper school of business who was recognized for his teaching excellence.
His achievements have earned him numerous awards, including the Teacher of the Year award at the Indian School of Business for two consecutive years and recognition as one of the MBA Professors to Look Out For in 2020 by BusinessBecause.
Reflecting on his journey, Pedada shared that the Associates Achievement award is great motivation and encouragement to continue working on his interests, and he feels grateful that his work is being recognized.
Pedada’s influence extends beyond the classroom. He has contributed case studies on marketing and digital transformation to Harvard Business Publishing, and his work has been featured in leading academic journals and highlighted by major media outlets such as Forbes and CNN. His recent research investigates the role of rural women micro-entrepreneurs in India and their impact on consumer value, underscoring the transformative potential of empowering women through entrepreneurship, suggesting that such initiatives can drive meaningful social change.
Dan Shin
Associates Achievement award in teaching
Dan Shin is an assistant professor in the department of supply chain management, who joined the Asper school
of business in the fall of 2023.
Shin expressed that this award is quite a surprise for him given the fact that he is a new professor.
He stated it was a big honour to receive the Associates Achievement award in teaching. According to Shin, this recognition tells him that the content he teaches and their contexts are sticking to students.
Sean Buchanan
Associates Achievement award in teaching
Sean Buchanan is an associate professor in the business administration department, and he also holds the position of the associates fellow in business administration for 2022.
His students praise him for his humour and ability to simplify complex concepts to create an enthusiastic learning environment, according to student testimonials.
This year, students voted for him to receive the Commerce Students’ Association Golden Shovel award for his significant impact on their education.
Additionally, Buchanan also coordinates a core bachelor of commerce course, which involves mentoring new instructors and supports graduate research as a committee member.
photo courtesy of / University of Manitoba
Michelle Keiski alleges she was fired after raising concerns about patient care
< Cont’d from front page
Keiski was to conduct research and provide neuropsychology services to youth with neurologic illness or injury, including for epilepsy surgery patients, according to the lawsuit.
Keiski’s contract indicated that either party could terminate the terms of the agreement by giving the other six months written notice.
During her employment, the lawsuit states that it “became increasingly appar-
ent” to Keiski that issues within the Max Rady college of medicine and the department of clinical health psychology had impacted the epilepsy surgery services that were provided during the past decade.
Keiski raised her concerns with the department head, Dr. Lesley Graff, who indicated that “she was aware of the long-standing issue visà-vis misrepresentation of qualification and/or services,” according to the lawsuit.
“Nevertheless, there were indications of intent to persist with these and other concerning issues,” the lawsuit alleges.
The document states that Keiski was told “there were concerns” that she may express criticism of the university and Shared Health, and that “her employment might be contingent upon her refraining from expressing any such criticism.”
In November 2022, after filing her complaint with the
Psychological Association of Manitoba, her employment was terminated “on a without cause basis” and she received six months pay in lieu of notice, according to the statement of claim.
“Keiski had a professional and ethical obligation to make complaints to the regulatory body where misconduct occurred, or could reasonably believed, to have occurred.”
The lawsuit states that while Keiski was employed, she “provided high quality
care to all of her patients, performed her duties competently as an assistant professor and consistently met and/ or exceeded her employment obligations.”
Keiski is being represented by lawyers Greg Bartel and Abram Silver of Myers LLP. None of the lawsuit allegations have been tested in court.
As of Nov. 15, no statements of defence have been filed by the U of M or Shared Health.
photo / Nischal Karki / staff
Exploring MAiD practices and policies on Canadians
Study examines reasons why patients request medical assistance in dying (MAiD)
Sylvester Delali Agbado, staff
Canada reports the largest number of deaths by medical assistance in dying (MAiD), surpassing all other countries for yearly assisted deaths.
Salina Pirzada, a PhD candidate at the Max Rady college of medicine, is conducting a study which investigates the implications of evolving MAiD practices and policies on vulnerable Canadians.
Pirzada is supervised by Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, a distinguished professor of psychiatry at the U of M and a pioneer in dignity therapy for endof-life patients, and Dr. Christine Kelly, an expert in Canadian disability movements.
Pirzada said “as the federal government continues to broaden access to MAiD, there is an urgency to understand the gravity and impact of evolving MAiD policies on vulnerable populations who may experience disempowerment, stigmatization and inequities in health outcomes and access to services.
“Though assisted dying may be appropriate in select patients, timely and accessible state-supported health care and community support should be available to all Canadians, especially in response to severe and intolerable suffering.”
According to Pirzada, given
the rapid uptake of MAiD in Canada and the fact that the country is on track to have one of the world’s most expansive assisted dying programs, she wanted to examine the link between social determinants of health and the construct of dignity in the context of MAiD.
She explained that patients requesting MAiD in Manitoba continue to be an understudied population. This study amends for this by being the first Canadian study examining motivations for MAiD from patients themselves in the context of social determinants of health and dignity related distress. She continued that this patient-oriented, integrated knowledge translation approach ensures that knowledge is relevant to the lives of patients and addresses the “know/do” gap of health research.
“Again, the study is not yet complete, but we are seeing that factors like living in chronic poverty or suffering from a mental illness may contribute to this feeling of no longer wanting to continue living,” said Pirzada. “Patients have described a type of psychosocial suffering that might be remedied with access to appropriate and timely supports and services.”
Pirzada stated that determining whether MAiD is eth-
ically right or wrong is subjective, “but what can perhaps be agreed on is that at present, several safeguards — many of which were intended to prevent avoidable and wrongful deaths for those who met initial criteria — are being lifted, making it imperative to examine whether MAiD puts vulnerable Canadians at risk. And if so, create policies to ensure MAiD is not the answer to systemic inequality.”
She added that MAiD for mental illness, which will be legal in 2027, continues to be a topic of heated debate.
“Those living with mental illnesses are often at an increased risk of experiencing inequalities such as socio-economic hardship, discrimination and stigma, violence and abuse,” stated Pirzada. “As such, it is critical to understand whether expanding eligibility is respecting their autonomy or increasing the risk of harm. The Canadian healthcare system does not have equitable access to clinical services for all patients, questioning whether a MAiD request for ‘irremediable’ psychiatric suffering is primarily due to a lack of available supports and resources.”
She said that a patient’s inability to access timely support could also be a contributing factor for a MAiD request, as MAiD continues to become
more accessible and can be obtained within 90 days or less. Pirzada stated that “other supports such as home care is often not as easily accessible as MAiD.”
She disclosed that she received over $40,000 in grants and scholarships for the study, with her primary funder being Research Manitoba who awarded her $35,000. The remaining funds came from various departmental awards. This funding has enabled her to make the study more patient-oriented, addressing a gap in previous MAiD literature that has not been focused on patients’ experiences in the context of social determinants of health and dignity related distress.
Pirzada stated that her research, in particular the
mental illness component, will provide critical insight for policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, patients and their families, given the legislative changes in 2027. She is focused on publishing her findings before MAiD for mental illness is in practice in hopes that the knowledge she acquires will inform decision-makers on how to improve equitable access to care for societies’ most vulnerable.
Sharing her thoughts about the impact her research will make, she said she hopes that her research as a whole can protect vulnerable Canadians, help healthcare providers better understand their patient’s motivation for MAiD and impact health policy at the national level.
Medical researchers awarded grant over $1 million
Rady researchers receive funding to support breastfeeding initiatives
Iyanda Ajuwon, staff
Two researchers from the Max Rady college of medicine, Dr. Nathan Nickel and Dr. Garry Shen, received a sum of $1.1 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to support their breastfeeding programs.
Nickel, an associate professor in the department of community health sciences, and Shen, a professor in internal medicine at the Max Rady college of medicine, are leading two significant projects to support breastfeeding practices through various healthcare related strategies.
According to Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean of the Rady faculty of health sciences, these projects aim not only to advance research but also to foster inclusive and culturally sensitive care.
The received funding is part of the CIHR operating grant: National Women’s Health Research Initiative (NWHRI)
innovation fund which supports innovative applied health research focused on improving health outcomes for women, girls and gender diverse folks across Canada.
Nickerson emphasized the importance of this funding to UM Today, stating that it is “vital for enhancing healthcare services to address breastfeeding challenges new mothers may face wherever they live.”
Nickel was awarded around $600,000 over three years for his project called THRIVE: Transforming Healthcare through Research to Improve Breastfeeding and Advance Women’s Health. Shen also received a similar amount over three years for his project called Protecting and Supporting Breastfeeding and Lactation Equity in Manitoba through Community-Integrated Education and Care Using Culturally Safe and Gender-Affirming Care.
Nickel and his team seek
to expand the baby-friendly hospital initiative (BFHI) into community health centres across Canada. Although BFHI has been instrumental in improving breastfeeding support in hospitals, Nickel’s project aims to adapt these successful practices for community settings.
His initiative will implement a coaching and mentoring program that is designed to assist healthcare centres in enhancing their breastfeeding support services.
According to Nickel, the received funding will enable them to create a comprehensive support network for breastfeeding in community health centres.
“Adapting the babyfriendly hospital initiative to these settings is key because it ensures that women who want to breastfeed get the support they need, no matter where they are receiving care,” said Nickel to UM Today.
Shen’s research, on the other hand, focuses on closing the gaps in access to breastfeeding support across Manitoba, for First Nations families, 2SLGBTQIA+ parents and other underrepresented groups.
According to Shen, the reason for this project is because recent studies showed that the breastfeeding rate is very low in rural regions, particularly in First Nations groups.
He emphasized the urgency, stating that “we think it’s kind of urgent to promote breastfeeding at this moment because during COVID-19, the breastfeeding rate [was] reduced in this province and particularly in First Nations groups.”
He also explained the importance of breastfeeding to First Nations groups, stating that in recent years, research from his group and other university institutes indicates that breastfeeding is an effective way to prevent diabetes,
obesity, cardiovascular disease and chronic renal disease among First Nations people.
The main objective of Shen’s project is to establish a culturally competent and gender-inclusive network that ensures parents have access to appropriate resources and support.
The initiative will include culturally respectful referral processes, a province-wide course on infant feeding and expanded peer support programs such as the local Milk Mentors program.
Shen concluded, “by building a culturally competent and gender-inclusive network, we want to make sure that parents not only have access to the supports they need — especially in remote or underserved areas — but that the services are appropriate and affirming.”
photo courtesy of / Salina Pirzada
New digital health scholarship open to students
Connected Care Clinical Student Scholarship for students in health programs
Ngozi Okose, staff
The Infoway Centre for Clinical Innovation in Digital Health has launched the Connected Care Clinical Student Scholarship — a $5,000 scholarship aimed at advancing healthcare transformation in Canada.
Those interested can submit their applications by Nov. 22, 2024, and successful recipients will be notified in December.
Dr. Rashaad Bhyat, senior physician leader for Canada Health Infoway, said “the Connected Care Clinical Student Scholarship is a response to our rapidly digitalizing world. Canada Health Infoway
wanted to invest in the next generation of clinical leaders in digital health and encourage students to think critically about the challenges of healthcare interoperability.”
Bhyat continued by highlighting that the “scholarship represents a promising investment in Canada’s healthcare future. By supporting students in digital health, Infoway aims to shape a generation equipped to address healthcare’s digital transformation, bringing benefits not just to the healthcare community but also to Canadian patients.”
The initiative focuses on fostering the adoption of
interoperability in healthcare systems and engaging clinical leaders and learners to spearhead digital health advancements.
Students in fields like pharmacy, nursing and any clinical programs focusing on digital health are eligible. Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in interoperability, digital health innovation and the skills necessary to navigate clinical health technology spaces.
Applicants with a clear vision for how they intend to apply digital health to realworld challenges, especially those with experience in community service or prior digital
health projects, tend to stand out. It is about students who can think about the future of healthcare and are passionate about their role within it, said Bhyat.
Many clinicians, particularly family doctors, face substantial administrative burdens linked to digital technologies. The scholarship aims to support students who can contribute to a more efficient, integrated system. The goal is to improve the experience for both healthcare providers and patients.
Apart from financial support, one of the exciting aspects is the chance for recipients to network with
other digital health innovators and potentially gain practical experience. “It’s a unique opportunity to be a part of a pioneering cohort,” said Bhyat.
He concluded by saying “as this is the inaugural year, recipients will be the first to set the standard for future applicants. We’re looking forward to seeing the impact this scholarship will have as it grows.”
For more information and to apply, visit infoway-inforoute.ca/en/digital-health-initiatives/connected-care-clinical-student-scholarship.
photo courtesy of / Canada Health Infoway
Awakening Spirit exhibition at U of M’s art gallery
Student-led exhibition features Indigenous artwork
Taycie Adeoti, staff
The Awakening Spirit exhibition is being hosted for the first time at the university’s school of art gallery from Oct. 30 to Nov. 22.
The exhibition is a showcase of contemporary art, featuring a range of Indigenous artwork that was selected and purchased by the 202324 committee members of the Indigenous Student Led Indigenous Art Purchase Program (ISLIAPP).
This exhibition is funded and supported by the office of the vice-president (Indigenous), through the Indigenous initiatives fund and it is organized by C.W. Brooks-Ip and 2023-24 ISLIAPP committee coordinator, Jory Thomas. Approximately $16,000 worth of art was purchased for the exhibition, but unfortunately not all purchased pieces will be in this exhibition due to shipping issues.
According to Thomas, the artworks were purchased over the course of the summer and framed by Sapphire Moroz.
He also emphasized Moroz’s contribution saying “she does deserve significant credit.”
Thomas also shared that the artworks were selected by committee members based on personal interest, availability and promotion of diversity.
“They all had different things that they would really advocate for,” he said. “It’s kind of a range, and it’s nice to see all the different communities represented, but also different types of work.”
The showcase assembles a collection of traditional and contemporary paintings, beadwork, sculptures, drawings and prints. Each piece serves as a reflection of Indigenous values and the community.
Thomas stated, “we had seven amazing Indigenous students that were advocating for these pieces and that picked these pieces, and they’re almost like reflections of themselves showing in these spaces, but also reflections of other people that will be going through these spaces.”
The director/curator at the school of art gallery, Blair Fornwald, expressed her thoughts about the importance of art in institutional spaces.
“I think that art could be a really important way to sort of provoke conversations and encourage people to think about different points of view,” she said.
The artworks will be displayed around campus for students and faculty members after the exhibition ends. The committee members for the ISLIAPP 2023-24 include Mackenzie Anderson, Danielle Hart, Ciara McLeod, Aimée-Mihkokwaniy McGillis, Jessica Tylor Canard, Jory Thomas and Payton Whitehead.
The school of art gallery, located at 180 Dafoe Road, is open from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. The Awakening Spirit exhibition has free admission photos / Nischal
Karki / staff
Bisons football player Maya Turner makes history
The kicker becomes the first ever female Canada West All-Star
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
Bisons football kicker
Maya Turner has made U-Sports history as the first female to be named a Canada West All-Star.
Turner stated that her motivation for playing football has been her love for the sport. She noted that achieving this milestone was not something she expected.
The kicker enjoyed an enviable accomplishment in the season as she churned out 75 percent of field goals in Canada West and placed 10th in U-Sports.
She achieved 12-for-16 overall on field goal attempts during the recently concluded season.
Turner has amassed 21 regular field goals, the seventh most in the university’s history. Following her incredible display, she became the first player since Scott Dixon from 2007-08 to hit at least 75 percent of her field goals in back-to-back seasons.
In a video news conference, Turner commented on her football journey and aspirations to members of the press.
The Press: What motivates you to play football?
Turner: Honestly, I just love the game. I love kicking. So that’s what got me started playing. You know, after I quit soccer, I wanted to see what I could still do with my athletic talents that I had. And I’d always loved watching football. I’d always wanted to play, but I never thought that that was something that would be realistic for me to do. And, when I started kicking, I just found out that I loved it. I loved being part of a football team, the environment surrounding it. It’s just such a fun experience being able to be a part of a football team at this level.
P: I’m just wondering, how are you preparing for the next season with the team?
T: The off-season is a lot of lifting, working out, speed work, working on explosiveness, stuff like that, like in the weight room and on the track. And then in a couple of months, we’ll start practicing kicking again, working with the other specialists on our snap, holds and the kick. That’s definitely something that’s a huge thing. Especially right before the season and during the season, just working on my focus and
just trying to keep my mind focused on the specific parts of the kick and what I need to be thinking about.
P: When you started your football journey, could you imagine yourself being an all-
not something I anticipated. Our team played really well this year throughout the season and just really set me up for success and allowed me to have this opportunity.
“Being able to have achieved this in my second year of playing in university is not something I anticipated”
— Maya Turner, kicker of the Bisons football team
star one day?
T: It seemed like a farfetched goal. Of course, I wanted to do the best I could at kicking. But being able to have achieved this in my second year of playing in university is
P: In terms of goals looking forward, is the CFL or the NFL something that you are hoping to play in one day? What are your goals for the future?
T: I still have two more years left to play here. I’ve gotten that question a lot in the past year or so, like what my goals are after this. And I’ve kind of just said I want to just keep playing, see how much I can improve and then after
that just try to play at the highest level that is, whether that’s on some sort of men’s professional team or just play at the highest level I can. So potentially, yeah.
P: How does it feel to be a superstar? You know, you’re doing that right now. You’re doing interviews. People run to see you after a game. It’s got to be special for a girl who was in Minnesota a couple of years ago. Now you’re a superstar in Canada.
T: It’s definitely not something I really anticipated going into this. Like I said, I started just because I wanted to play football at a high level. And it just happened to be on a men’s university team. And so, I think when all this first started, it was definitely a bit overwhelming with all the
stuff like that. I’ve learned to just try to embrace it […] it is an honour. And the people are really interested in my story and are inspired by it.
P: What would be your message to those who will be looking up to you to also play football?
T: I’d say if you have a goal and it’s what you really want to do, there’s nothing that’s stopping you from achieving that. If you have the determination and the work ethic and the mindset just to put everything you have into it and have nothing to lose. I just think it’s important to know that if you want it, if you want it bad enough, it can be done.
photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff
Engineering meets medicine to tackle health challenges
Innovative research advances diagnostics for sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s
Divyata Gosai, staff
Biomedical engineering combines engineering concepts with medical sciences to enhance human health through inventions such as better medical devices and diagnostic equipment.
Zahra Moussavi is a professor, a Canada research chair and former director of the biomedical engineering graduate program in the U of M’s department of electrical and computer engineering.
She was born in Iran and aspired to become a nuclear physicist. Her viewpoint changed, however, when war broke out in Iran.
Despite her background in math and physics, she realized she wanted to work in the medical field after seeing the devastating effects of war injuries in hospitals.
Her journey into biomedical engineering research started with a specialty in signal processing and instrumentation as a young assistant professor.
However, since 2006, her research interest has moved to signal processing for sleep apnea.
people who have sleep apnea have not been diagnosed, and that causes a lot of issues and burden costs,” she said. “For example, a metro driver got off the rail and killed a woman […] and then they found that the driver had severe sleep apnea, undiagnosed.”
Moussavi explains that sleep apnea and its severity can be predicted in a five-minute process, which involves testing during wake time by analyzing respiratory sounds and modelling the upper airway.
scope while asleep to determine which region is collapsing.
Moreover, Moussavi runs a unique program for Alzheimer’s disease patients that treats affected individuals daily and offers
the disease.” Moussavi said that there is no cure or medication for Alzheimer’s but researchers can still work to slow its progression. “In fact the medication effect is very low, the efficacy is 2.5 per cent [which] means one in 40 patients respond […] to the medication.”
that we can help, and over the years, we have shown that we can slow the
longitudinal treatment every four months.
“About 80 per cent of
Currently, Moussavi is working to convey more information through the sounds without employing images. Imaging the respiratory system is difficult because it involves inserting an endo-
“I’ve had patients — the longest who have been with us has been nine years, which is [a] pretty long time for an Alzheimer patient,” she said. “It seems that longitudinally, over the years, we have been able to slow the progression of
progression,” she said. “That’s the main thing that we do, and I use different treatment modality, including virtual reality cognitive training — just cognitive exercises paired with electrical simulation as well as magnetic simulation.”
Moussavi shared that the gratitude of patients and their caregivers motivates her.
“We had a 90-year-old gentleman whose children wanted to put him in the nursing home and the last stage of decision making, they brought him to our treatment program, and he improved so significantly, to the extent that that decision, [was reverted],” she said.
Moussavi noted that hearing these remarks and observing his progress encourages her to continue her research even in the most challenging situations.
“All people are smart,” she said. “Everybody can learn anything. All you need to have is to have a passion and desire to learn […] I highly recommend students to continue their studies on something that they are passionate about, whatever it is, and pursue it.”
“The patients who come to us at earlier stages, at mild stages, it seems graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / staff
Battling blood cancer
U of M researcher works to treat chronic blood cancers
Rhea Bhalla, staff
ver one million people
Oworldwide are diagnosed with blood cancer every year, causing 720,000 deaths annually.
Blood cancers begin when cells in the bloodstream or bone marrow mutate, allowing them to multiply excessively and have abnormally long lifespans. When cancerous cells rise in number and monopolize space and nutrients, there may not be enough normal cells to carry out essential tasks such as carrying oxygen through the bloodstream, fighting infection and controlling bleeding.
Versha Banerji is an associate professor of internal medicine in the U of M’s Max Rady college of medicine. Her research aims to provide effective and safe treatments for patients with blood cancers.
“The work that I contribute to, whether it’s clinical, or basic sciences, or translational or clinical trials, ultimately touches people’s lives,” Banerji said. “I’ve seen that firsthand, how treatments that get implemented in their
care can improve their quality of life and their survival.”
Banerji’s research examines patients with a variety of chronic blood cancers. Hairy cell leukemia is a type of cancer that begins in white blood cells, which normally fight infections, leading to an oversupply of mutated white blood cells with tendrils that give them a “hairy” appearance. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia begins in the bone marrow. Small lymphocytic lymphoma begins in the lymph nodes and spleen.
received chemotherapy-based treatments. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cells that are in the process of multiplying. Though this targets cancerous cells, which multiply excessively, healthy cells can be caught in the crossfire.
While effective at eradicating cancer cells, chemotherapy’s side effects — which include nausea, fatigue, hair loss and pain — can severely
sine kinase inhibitors that have been clinically tried and become available for safe use in clinics.
“We started to see the patients who had failed one to eight lines of therapies starting to become responsive to these new oral treatments,” Banerji said. “We went from patients succumbing to their cancer to ultimately surviving even to this day, years out.”
“We know we can’t cure it, we know it comes back and so we need to help them live with it as best as they can”
— Versha Banerji, associate professor in the U of M’s
“I also take care of some patients who are kind of in a gray zone where they don’t really meet criteria for the cancers, but they may suffer the same immune complications associated with them,” Banerji said. “They’re still at risk for other problems, which include infections or other cancers, and so we tend to keep a very close eye on them.”
Traditionally, patients
Max Rady college of medicine
impact patients’ quality of life. Many patients simply do not respond well to chemotherapy.
For much of Banerji’s training, she never had the opportunity to see patients survive past a certain point in the treatment, as they would eventually run out of therapy options. There are however, compounds called tyro-
Newer generations of treatments include BCL2 inhibitors, which reactivate cell death pathways that may be deactivated in cancer, causing cancer cells to die. Much of the work Banerji had done studying the pathways of cell survival and cell death, ultimately led to drugs being designed to target these crucial processes.
Recently, Banerji and her colleagues recorded a report on how various treatment eras have affected the survival and wellbeing outcomes of all the
patients within the clinic.
“It comes around full circle,” she said. “Now that we can see what these drugs are doing […] the goal is to use this to try and find newer treatments and hopefully achieve similar results, especially in patients who are resistant to the treatments that we have.”
The next stage of Banerji’s research will incorporate the ways mental and gut health impact patients’ disease progression or response to therapies. Through collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, she hopes to develop a more holistic approach to understanding cancer as a chronic disease.
“We’ve traditionally had a model of cancer as a battle, something that we have to conquer, something that we have to cure and something that we have to defeat,” Banerji said. “But my patients have never had that opportunity, because they’ve always had a chronic cancer.
“We know we can’t cure it, we know it comes back, and so we need to help them live with it as best as they can.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
Kindness must be radical
True kindness is unconditional and political
Harmatpreet Brar, staff
W
hen I heard about atrocities happening in the world, I would look around at my community taking wonderful actions and feel proud to be Canadian. As a kid, I believed little acts of kindness would coalesce to save our world.
Now I am not so certain.
I grew up in spaces where people were more well-off than I was. But I was never made to feel like it. Even when kids were not nice to me, adults were. They strived to be helpful, offered immense praise and acted courteously to a fault.
This kindness manifested in many ways, but it was recurrent when it came to rides. With shift work and multiple jobs, my parents were rarely available to drive me to activities. Thankfully, neighbours were happy to take me to gurdwara — a Sikh place of worship, teammates and coaches volunteered to carpool before I could ask and strangers would pause at bus stops during days with poor weather.
I grew up in areas where I trusted that strangers were people with good nature and warm hearts. Even before I understood English, my kindergarten classmate whose name I could hardly pro -
nounce — and who could barely pronounce my name — gave my mom and I rides during formidable snowstorms.
I use cars as an example of kindness because they are a capitalist hellscape, yet the good people around me converted them into genuine vehicles for connection and community. Despite traffic, carsickness and construction, some of my favourite memories with my favourite people happened in cars.
tional barriers” and is distinct from “situational, random or relational acts of kindness.”
Radical kindness is unconditional, yet the kindness in my life had always been conditional. Strangers who were quick to help me failed to respect homeless people sleeping in bus shelters. The teammates, liberal with their rides, were the first to make jokes at the expense of
Community becomes a sorority if we only offer it to those who are like us. Community cannot survive without the glue of radical kindness.
Community becomes a sorority if we only offer it to those who are like us
With the kindness I was shown, I predictably became, well, a kind person. I love to drive people around, so I do it often. I happily carry the mantle of overly polite Canadian by acting friendly and saying sorry a lot.
But the aspect not entrenched in my Canadian upbringing was radical kindness.
The United Kingdom’s Belong Network defines radical kindness as “acts and activities that intentionally seek to build bridges across differences, develop solidarity and shared ground and promote social connection between different groups and communities.” It addresses root “structural and institu-
gay people. And the generous neighbours driving me to gurdwara promoted racist ideologies about Indigenous peoples.
Luckily, I met the conditions for the kindness I received. I offset my brown identity with my Canadian upbringing. Thus, I fit in and thrived in my predominantly white community. But it is nauseating to consider those who cannot do that with their identities and do not receive the grace that they deserve. Winnipeg is a place where it takes minutes for someone to tell me about my defective headlight. Yet it can take hours for someone to give a dime to a homeless person.
Hence, the comfort I used to find in disconnected acts of kindness, I now find in the transformative impact of radical kindness. Radical kindness is action-based, deeply political and unconditional. Thus, I foster it by contributing to mutual aid campaigns, striving to be an ethical consumer, educating myself on social issues and actively holding space for politics within my life. My goal is to take these actions from personal objectives to ingrained reflexes.
I have only been working towards this goal for a few years, partly because it was never a skill that was emphasized in my Canadian upbringing. Up until 2020, I likely believed that the world functions as a meritocracy and would have claimed to be a “non-political” person. It terrifies me that I accidentally came upon my current beliefs due to guidance from exceptional friends and mentors and a progressive algorithm.
We cannot keep waiting for people to stumble upon radical kindness as I did. The way we immortalize “treat others the way you want to be treated” and “loving thy neighbour” is the commitment with which we must pursue radical kindness as a society.
The alternate can be events like that of Donald Trump’s 2024 U.S. election win. When our kindness is not radical, we are susceptible to exploitation via the fault lines of how we treat others. When we embrace radical kindness, we take autonomy over our politics and actively resist falling prey to fascistic tendencies. We can wake up and smell the roses to avoid getting pricked by thorns.
After all, how can we hold elected officials accountable if we cannot even do it for ourselves? The discomfort of taboo breeds evil. When good people do not actively engage in our democracy, we begin debating fundamental human rights instead of policies. When the extent of our political dialogue becomes voting and the limits of our social circles stay homogenous, something needs to change.
This is 2024 Canada, and it’s time to Make Kindness Radical Again.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
We should incorporate ungrading into more classes
Ungrading fosters a space where learning can be desired, not forced
Samantha Glesby, volunteer
I had never heard of the concept of ungrading until last year.
At first, it made me skeptical. I thought, “why am I paying so much money for a pass/fail course?”
But ungrading is not simply a pass/fail method. In my experience, it levels the playing field for all students, encourages purposeful connection with course content and builds confidence in students.
Ungrading is the embodiment of what universities should encourage — a genuine desire to learn, not to simply get As.
In my ungraded classes, we first talked about ungrading as a rebellion against a colonial system — that a university itself is based on colonial traditions. In their article
“On Grading,” Vineeta Singh writes that students’ “ability to conform to racialized, gendered, classed and neurotypical standards of behaviour still shapes grades today.” In other words, students’ ability to pass as conforming is represented via grades.
My experience with ungrading requires students to meet base expectations and then receive a “complete” or “full credit” on the assignment. And if they don’t, they can revise and resubmit the same assignment until the criteria are met. This method removes inequality and reliance on dated, colonial systems.
Ungrading is even more than this overt rebellion of colonial systems. For me, it is a whole new level of personal. My whole life, there has been something inherently shameful about receiving any grade lower than an A. The B scale feels like the end of the world. A C? Forget about it. Ungrading removes that shame, that feeling of inadequacy and the pressure that it necessitates entirely. There is no shame in not getting an A because no one is getting an A.
During the academic year, my body remains in survival mode. The pressure and constant stress to achieve good grades triumph over anything and everything. Before every large paper, my hair begins to fall out. I sleep less. I eat less. I clench my jaw. Sometimes I wake up to it being so tight that it feels like I can’t open my mouth. From September to April, I exist in a cycle of lectures, coursework, assign-
ments, job and repeat. In those eight months, there is little to no reprieve.
I am currently an honours student in the English program. However, I spent the first three years being streamlined into the honours psychology program through the faculty of arts. Although I
There is no shame in not getting an A because no one is getting an A
loved what I studied and felt like I had been waiting my whole life to talk about behaviour modification and child development, I hated the tests. The pressure to memorize
word for word what the professor said during lectures was overwhelming and remote learning felt impossible. I understand the necessity of aspiring psychologists being able to properly label parts of the brain and know their functions, but there is something so demoralizing about repeating by rote. Regurgitating information made me feel like a puppet on strings, entirely at the mercy of an outside force. After every test, I would let myself forget everything that I had just spent days cramming. There was no sentimentality, no attachment to the content
outside of understanding that if I was able to repeat enough of it, it would earn me an A on the test. Two years down the road, and I can’t remember most of it. That is how our brains work. What doesn’t get transferred into long-term memory stays in short-term memory, in a sort of purgatory state. And then it gets booted. Ungrading undoes all of this loss. It makes us want to engage with the course material and properly engaging with information helps it get processed into long-term memory. Then, the information is more likely to stay put. I’m still thinking about theories and concepts from my ungraded classes a
year ago because there was the opportunity to create an attachment and sentimentality to the content. Professors who use the ungrading model in their classes have shown me that my education can be more — is more — than just writing an essay based on what they want to hear. There is something so empowering and autonomous in that. This is the final year of my undergraduate degree. There is no ungrading in the workforce. But experiencing the joy that can come from the absence of grades is life changing. I will take it with me wherever I go.
Getting enough sleep is not optional
How sleep deprivation may be affecting your health
Thandeka Katsika, staff
The world we live in seems busier than ever. Most people feel like there is always so much to do and rarely ever any time to spare for rest.
For university students like me, with only 24 hours to cook, clean, work on assignments, study for quizzes and balance having a job, it can feel like every second of the day is accounted for by one task or another.
Faced with so many responsibilities, it may seem easy to forget about the importance of sleep, neglecting it to get more work done. Studying or doing assignments through the night and into the morning can seem like a reasonable idea to get all your work done. However, every hour of rest you steal from your mind and body could have severe consequences on how they function.
Continuing to get inadequate sleep can have very negative effects on a student’s academic performance. It may cause a decrease in attention span and impair problem-solving skills. This is because when we sleep, toxic cellular molecules are cleared from the brain by the glymphatic system.
If a person does not sleep, then these toxic materials remain in the brain and build up. This build-up of toxins affects reasoning in the brain and the ability to concentrate. Depriving your brain of rest can make focusing and processing information difficult.
Additionally, lack of sleep has very serious consequences on physical well-being. Extreme sleep deprivation can increase the risk of strokes and heart disease.
During the day, blood pressure is high. The heart has to pump blood to the rest of the body to support all the activities the body does throughout the day. At night, when the body takes a break from the movement, the heart does not need to pump blood as fast or as hard as the rest of the body so blood pressure drops. If a person does not sleep, then the blood pressure remains high for extended periods of time which could lead to heart disease and strokes.
Sleep is not just an expendable part of the day, but
rather an integral activity for the optimal functioning of the body.
The way in which people sleep affects how they work when they are awake, so to increase productivity in most areas of a busy
life, sleep is absolutely necessary.
In general, researchers agree that for a young adult (18 to 25 years) anywhere between seven to nine hours of sleep is enough for the brain and body to rest and clear our toxins. It is not just the quantity of sleep but also the quality of sleep that affects our bodies and brains.
To improve sleep quality and quantity, it is important to start by establishing a sleep schedule.
Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. This will help maintain the body’s internal clock and make it eas-
ier to fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning.
Limiting the use of electronic devices right before bed could also be helpful in relaxing the eyes and brain. The blue light from screens not only causes damage to the retina but also suppresses sleep-regulating hormones which can make it harder to fall asleep and make for lower quality sleep.
Good sleeping habits can positively impact physical health by improving muscle recovery, reducing the risk of chronic illnesses and preventing infections by strengthening the immune system. It also enhances concentration and cognitive thinking which could greatly improve academic performance. In addition, getting enough sleep reduces anxiety and depression.
I know sometimes it may feel like in the business of life, almost everything is more consequential than sleep, but the way in which people sleep affects how they show up to every other task they have. I have given you plenty of evidence of the importance of sleep for your well-being. I believe instead of sacrificing it, students should view sleep as a top priority.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
I am your equal
Consider your vote when it comes to the well-being of the women around you
Quinn Mayhew, staff
I am sorry. To all the women and girls who woke up to see Donald Trump had won the 2024 U.S. election. America has once again chosen a convicted felon and accused rapist to run the country, instead of defending your right to decide what to do with your body.
My heart goes out to those who voted for human rights above gas prices. To every person who convinced themselves there was no way that Kamala could lose, I am sorry people chose a reduction in taxes over the well-being of other people.
To every cis-man who voted against women’s reproductive rights, I would say to you, “no uterus, no opinion.” But even with me saying this it won’t stop cis-men from having their view on women’s reproductive rights, despite never personally having the right to
choose stripped from them.
For those saying “the world will keep spinning,” it won’t.
For all the women and girls who will die trying to perform back-alley abortions, there will be no tomorrow.
To the women who will be sexually assaulted and forced to carry to term, my heart shatters for you.
As I write this, I am still in shock despite the election results being announced over a week ago. I was in my first year of high school when Trump was first elected, and now I am graduating from university within the year he will be inaugurated.
Despite the vast difference in my age from when Trump was first elected to office, my view stays the same.
Women, girls, POC and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals were failed that day. The system that was supposed to protect them from injustice and harm
failed them. America elected a president who has and will continue to bring detrimental harm to the citizens it’s supposed to be protecting.
Even though we live in Canada, these political decisions will directly affect how we govern our country and influence our politics despite people saying it won’t.
Your mothers, sisters and daughters will suffer from this injustice. Even though we don’t live in the U.S., as a fellow woman, I see the pain on the internet, in articles, from family and friends of the loss for every woman hoping it won’t be her rights taken next. We mourn the loss of this basic human right stripped from the women in America.
Despite Trump being found liable for sexual abuse, there are plenty of other factors that should have immediately disqualified Trump from running at all. The inciting of an
insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th, 2021, resulted in a violent mob leading to five deaths.
A total number of 34 felony counts are imposed on Trump. With all these felony counts he was allowed to run in the 2024 U.S. election.
As a woman, we are taught to quiet ourselves to protect ourselves instead of teaching boys not to assault us.
Trump being elected is doing the opposite. It is teaching men and boys to take what they want — women’s rights, safety and identity — as the world will allow them to.
Trump being elected teaches boys that it’s okay.
To all the men who agree with Trump’s morals or standpoint, I am not asking to stand as your equal — I already am. I am asking you to see and acknowledge that everyone has the right to their bodily autonomy, even if you dis-
agree with abortion. Your disagreement doesn’t give you the right to eradicate it. I am simply asking you to acknowledge women as your equals and acknowledge their right to choose.
I have one message to women and girls — fight. Fight like your life depends on it. Speak louder, stand taller, take risks and do everything you can. Even if you fail, know there will always be a woman somewhere cheering you on in the silent battles you fight every day.
I am begging you to please carefully consider your decision before voting. Especially in the upcoming Canadian election, vote for human rights, not just a tax cut. Consider your sister, mother or daughter when choosing how you vote. Ultimately trust women with the right to choose what to do with their own bodies.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
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.
formed.
by: Teegan Gillich
Ian Kennedy releases new book, Ice in Their Veins
The Hockey News writer shares stories from the history of women’s hockey
Carrington Dong, staff
Ian Kennedy has loved hockey for almost as long as he can remember. His love for the sport began in Grade 1, when he began to play.
“I think it was something that I saw friends doing and saw on TV all the time, so it was just something that I fell in love with pretty quickly,” he recalled.
Kennedy played hockey until his early 20s, when he transitioned to coaching girls’ hockey. This shift sparked his interest in women’s hockey and opened his eyes to inequities in how female players are treated.
At the same time, Kennedy found himself struggling to enjoy men’s hockey to the degree he once did due to “locker room culture.” The term refers to behaviours and language often associated with male-dominated spaces, including prejudiced humour.
“Some toxic aspects and the misogynist ideas and the locker room culture, things like that — I just didn’t feel comfortable and I wasn’t enjoying it, and I thought at some point, as an adult, it should just be about the enjoyment and the social aspect,” he said.
While Kennedy loved playing hockey, he no longer wanted to be in the locker room. He found a renewed love for the game through women’s hockey, which he said felt more inclusive and enjoyable than men’s hockey.
community. From the outset, he aimed to provide equitable coverage.
“Eventually I just wanted to go further with it, so I started pitching out articles, and The Hockey News liked what I was pitching,” he said. This led him to writing for their website and magazine.
Two years ago, Kennedy had a desire to make a full transition to covering women’s hockey. He found a void in the market, with no outlets providing daily coverage of women’s leagues, compared to dozens covering men’s hockey.
“I asked if [The Hockey News] could start one, and the answer was ‘yes,’ as long as I ran it,” Kennedy said. “So, here we are, a couple years later, providing as robust and in-depth and comprehensive of coverage for women’s hockey as men’s hockey gets on a regular basis.”
Kennedy has acknowledged his own biases and has worked to unlearn them by listening to voices from underrepresented communities in sports narratives.
“I think it’s really important to tell diverse histories, and I […] can help amplify
of women on the ice, and the many off-ice battles they have endured to receive the same recognition and support as male hockey players.
“I […] can help amplify the voices of people that have traditionally not been heard […] I’ve really found a passion in that”
— Ian Kennedy, author
the voices of people that have traditionally not been heard […] I’ve really found a passion in that.”
As a long-time subscriber to The Hockey News, combined with his love for writing, he began running online blogs and a local news outlet in his
Kennedy’s second book, Ice in Their Veins: Women’s Relentless Pursuit of the Puck, was released in Oct. 2024. It covers the overlooked history
Kennedy said the inspiration for the book came after learning about Marian Coveny, the first captain of the Canadian women’s hockey team and a native of his hometown. Despite her achievements, Coveny’s contributions to the sport are largely unrecognized.
“I thought, you know, if she was a man, not only would [Kennedy’s hometown arena] be named after her, we’d have a sign entering in our town recognizing her, and
she would probably be in the Hockey Hall of Fame […] that struck me as so incredibly wrong,” he said.
The book follows the long history of women’s hockey from its beginnings all the way until January 2024 — the first game of the groundbreaking Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Kennedy had originally completed the book prior to the announcement that the PWHL had been founded.
“I figured, let’s collect all the stories up until [the start of the PWHL], because new history is going to be written every day from now on,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy is thrilled that women’s hockey has been given a larger media coverage through the PWHL, with records being broken for turnout and increased interest in the
game.
Women are now coaching more frequently at higher levels as well, which he sees as important to the future of the sport. More recently, Hockey Canada has released a paper with the goal of reducing barriers for women in hockey.
Kennedy looks forward to seeing where women’s hockey goes from here, and especially to the day when there are no more records to break. Lastly, he urged all readers to educate themselves so that everyone has the same opportunity to play the sport.
Ian Kennedy’s new book, Ice In Their Veins: Women’s Relentless Pursuit of the Puck, is now available through Tidewater Press.
photo courtesy of / Ian Kennedy
Ian Kennedy with his new book Ice in Their Veins: Women’s Relentless Pursuit of the Puck
The Washboard Union celebrates new album and tour
Juno-winning band set to travel across the nation in support of latest album
Carrington Dong, staff
The Washboard Union’s beginnings can be traced back to a union between two families. When Chris Duncombe was 13 years old, his father met future bandmate Aaron Grain’s mother, and the two parents soon began dating. Duncombe and Grain, who would eventually become stepbrothers, developed a bond of their own.
“We knew we had music in common right away, so we were writing music together from the time we were kids,” Duncombe recalled.
The pair later moved to Vancouver, where they met David Roberts. The three began singing and eventually moved in together. The band’s name originated from an unusual feature in their home.
“There was an old washboard that hung on the wall in our rehearsal space,” said Duncombe.
Duncombe described harmony as the band’s defining characteristic, with their three voices blending into one. Drawing inspiration from diverse groups across genres, they mixed these influences
to create their unique sound — a formula that has led to significant success.
In total, The Washboard Union has won 35 awards, including a Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year, and nine Canadian Country Music Association awards, including three for Group of the Year.
“I think we’ve been blessed to receive the awards from the industry that we have over the years,” Duncombe reflected.
“It’s always a nice thing to have happen after you’ve put out a project […] it’s great to have that recognition and be part of that family of contributors to Canadian music.”
The band has experienced many proud moments throughout their career. Duncombe highlighted performing across the world and hearing fans sing their songs back to them, describing it as an “incredible feeling.”
Duncombe also noted the connection he has with Grain and Roberts and their longevity as a group.
“When you get to [perform around the world] and look over and still see the same two guys that you met when you
were a kid […] I think those moments stand out for me as something that I will cherish forever,” Duncombe said.
The group’s latest album Westerly, was released this past July. Duncombe described the album as a “diverse” record. One track, “New Paint,” about a romantic experience that makes everything seem brighter, gained attention from CBS and will feature in an episode of the American television series Tracker
Other songs Duncombe highlighted included “Good Me Bad” and “Heartbreak Hall of Fame,” but he said that his favourites on the album change all the time.
The Washboard Union are currently on their Grab the Wheel and Go Tour. Their desire for the tour was to play in smaller towns, places they had never played before and personal favourite tour stops that they could not wait to get back to. According to Duncombe, these shows will allow fans to get to know the band better than ever.
The band performed in Winnipeg on Nov. 15. Winnipeg holds a special place in the band’s heart as it was in
the dressing room at Princess Auto Stadium (then IG Field) where they opened for the Zac Brown Band that they were discovered and signed to their management company.
“After Winnipeg and Manitobans gave us a standing ovation, that’s where really things kicked off for us,” Duncombe said. “I will always hold Winnipeg in such a special place.”
After Christmas, the band will be travelling to Australia in 2025. They have no plans of slowing down from there — new music and festival appearances are in the works for the remainder of that year.
Duncombe promised that The Washboard Union will be returning to Manitoba in summer 2025 and looks forward to performing here again.
“Manitoba has been so good to this band, it’s such an important place for us, and we just can’t wait to bring this tour to Winnipeg,” he said.
The Washboard Union are currently touring across Canada with the Grab the Wheel and Go Tour until Nov. 22. For more information on upcoming shows, visit thewashboardunion.com.
Conclave explores secrecy in the Vatican (spoilers ahead)
Latest drama-thriller questions the papal election and ruffles feathers
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
When a pope resigns or dies, a papal conclave is held to gather cardinals from around the world to elect a new pope. This is a secretive process — it is imperative that the cardinals are cloistered in the Vatican without any access to the outside world until a new pope is elected. What happens during the conclave is strictly confidential.
The mystery of this sacred election is investigated in Conclave, a drama-thriller based on Robert Harris’s 2016 novel of the same name. Intrigued by the trailer, I was eager to watch the film, which premiered in theatres on Oct. 25. My high expectations were met.
The movie tells the fictional story of Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), tasked with overseeing the election process. As he navigates the process, sinister secrets and rumours about the candidates emerge. Determined to prevent dangerous men from becoming pope, Lawrence works to expose their hidden flaws.
The plot is gripping and does an excellent job carrying tension all throughout the
film. There is tension between Lawrence’s struggle with his faith and duty of being the dean of the cardinals, but also between the different political, ethnic and cultural factions within the college of cardinals. After the new pope is elected, Lawrence discovers he is intersex — a revelation that raises a moral conundrum, as the Catholic church’s doctrine dictates that the pope must be male.
Timothy Penner, who teaches courses in Catholic film and literature at U of M, enjoyed the film for its riveting plot.
“I liked [Conclave] a lot. It reminded me of a lot of these kind of 70s political thrillers, things like All the President’s Men […] where you have obviously a very cloistered group, as you have in this movie, and sort of these highstakes and investigations,” he commented.
Penner points out that the film is also interesting because it portrays the complex relationship between a religion, its institutions and the world.
“I use that term ‘messy’ [to describe the film], and I think that’s what makes films that deal with religious institu-
tions and Catholicism in particular very interesting, is that, these are two very different worlds,” he said. “[There is] the high-minded church where it’s full of rules and regulations […] And then the reality of the world, which is very different.”
According to Penner, the cardinals are sequestered in the Vatican and faced with the pressures of the Church to be holy men, but they never escape worldly events — in one scene, a bomb literally busts through the walls of the Sistine Chapel from above, which also acts as a metaphor for Lawrence’s internal struggles.
Unsurprisingly, Conclave received backlash from the Catholic community because some saw the film as a mockery of the papal conclave and a jab at Catholicism. However, Penner points out any religion is made up of flawed human beings, and human flaw is what makes film possible.
“You don’t have to go too far into any particular faith, tradition, or political ideology, or anything like that to realize [that it] is made up of human beings who are flawed, right? And who are political, and
who are ambitious […] So to portray that on screen would be an attempt at trying to get at the reality of it […] And it’s how you make a movie,” he said.
“If this was about a bunch of perfect cardinals carefully weighing out all the options, then you wouldn’t have a movie to begin with, but to me, that is the most interesting part, is that you have imperfect people in charge of
this thing.”
Ultimately, Penner said the film reflects the human condition, even within religious institutions.
“Any religion is a human construct, and as much as it may strive for some sort of ideal, communion with God […] ultimately, it’s at the mercy of the humans who are controlling it, and that’s what we see in this movie,” said Penner.
photo courtesy of / Cory Osborne
Photography
photo courtesy of / Focus Features
The Washboard Union
Ralph Fiennes in Conclave
Kelly Bado performs African fusion music in Winnipeg
Local artist combines West African, French and gospel music in concert
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
B
orn in the Ivory Coast, Kelly Bado was exposed to a wide variety of musical styles growing up, from American gospel to French Canadian pop music by artists such as Celine Dion and Lara Fabien. Her mother, a church choir singer, introduced her to music, and that is where Bado began her musical journey.
“[The church choir] is where I started learning about music and singing. Actually, maybe I was listening, but when I started doing choirs, the singing part came to play,” Bado said.
Bado’s music evolved further when she moved to Winnipeg to attend the Université de Saint-Boniface. Feeling isolated after leaving her homeland, Bado turned to her passion for music and looked for community church choirs to find her place in the city’s French quarter.
Now an accomplished singer-songwriter who performs across Canada, Bado has won numerous awards such as the Western Canadian Music Award for Francophone Art-
ist of the Year in 2021 and the People’s Choice Award in season six of La Voix Quebec. Bado’s diverse influences can be heard in some of her latest works. “Belles âmes,” for example, is reminiscent of slow French ballads but embellished with African gospel harmonies. On the other hand, her afro-pop song “Typical” is energetic and catchy. Despite her versatility, Bado emphasizes that her music always retains an African essence.
“I don’t box myself in a certain category. But I will say, though, that African sound and world sound is always part of my music, whether I’m doing folk or pop […] The connection is that African element. It will always be in all of the songs,” she says.
On Nov. 10, Bado partnered with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra to perform some of her songs in her concert Mama Hé in the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain. Bado explained that the concert’s name is the title of one of the songs she wrote about Africa in her album.
“[Africa] is where humanity started […] It says that it all started there. So, I place myself in that position, and I encourage Africa and I say, ‘you are the mama. You started everything.’ But yet with history […] we know there was a lot of things that happened. And then we are where we are now,” she said.
“So the song is really about wanting to hope and calling that mama to wake up. You know, it’s like that’s why I say ‘Mama Hé.’ ‘Hé’ is just a shout.”
Bado first began collaborating with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra in the summer when they invited her to perform some of her songs. Wanting to incorporate different instrumentations and world music into her songs, she requested a collaborative concert performance. According to Bado, this collaboration is the most exciting part about Mama Hé
“It’s incredible how a song could sound different, like it can be made in different ways. Even two different producers can reproduce a different ver-
sion of the same song,” she said.
“So, a song is never done to me. It’s like you have your interpretation of it, which is great, but there is so many ways that the song could be done, and this would be one way just to hear it,” she added.
“I’m looking forward because of the richness of the instrumentation, right, and how everybody comes together in parts. I feel like a child waiting to hear [the music]. I’m very excited.”
This interview was conducted before the concert took place. Bado would like to credit Chris Burke-Gaffney, Musicaction and Manitoba Film and Music for making her songs possible. For more information about Bado’s performances, visit www. kellybado.com, follow her on Instagram at @kellybado, or on X at @KellyBado1. Support her new album through her GoFundMe page.
Winnipeggers win Governor General Literary Awards
U of M professor Sinclair wins for non-fiction, Undi claims the poetry prize
Peace Ifeanyi, staff
Niigaan Sinclair, an Indigenous writer, activist and professor in the U of M’s department of Indigenous studies has won the prestigious 2024 Governor General’s Literary Award for non-fiction. His book Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre earned him a place among the 14 winners announced by the Canada Council for the Arts on Nov. 13, 2024.
Sinclair’s book explores Winnipeg’s past, present and potential, examining its relationship with Indigenous peoples and the crucial role they play in addressing issues like climate change, economic development and reconciliation. Wînipêk highlights the challenges and solutions found within the city and its surrounding watershed, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the region and its people.
In an exclusive interview, Sinclair expressed his surprise and delight at winning the award. “I’m very happy, very excited, very surprised,” he shared. “I didn’t have any visions of winning an award for this book.” He acknowledged the support of his publisher, McClelland &
Stewart, who believed in the book’s potential and helped it become a national bestseller.
Sinclair, who began writing actively during the Idle No More movement in 2012, reflected on his journey as a writer. He emphasized the importance of practice and dedication, stating, “writing is muscle [...] nobody starts out being an excellent writer […] with dedication and with time, anybody can be an excellent writer.” He credited his academic career, particularly a professor who challenged him with rigorous writing exercises, with honing his literary skills.
Sinclair recalled that this award is an encouragement for him to do and achieve more with his writing. He has already signed with McClelland & Stewart to write his next book about love.
“But I’m talking about love as a duty, as reconciliation […] How Indigenous peoples are talking about love when we talk about rights, and responsibilities, and relationships. And so that’s my next book.”
This year’s Governor General’s Literary Awards saw over 1,500 books nominated, with 70 finalists vying for the top honours in seven categor-
ies. Sinclair’s win marks the significance of Wînipêk contributing to the national conversation about Indigenous rights, reconciliation and Canada’s future.
Another Winnipeg writer, Chimwemwe Undi, also received a Governor General’s Literary Award this year in the poetry category for her collection Scientific Marvel. Although the Manitoban was unable to reach Undi for an interview, the collection speaks of history, race, gender and colonialism, offering a striking reflection on Winnipeg and the prairies from the perspective of those often
overlooked. Infused with rhythmic drive and wit, Undi’s work also tackles topics like queerness, climate rage, decolonization and personal identity.
Undi’s poetry remains deeply rooted in lived experiences, addressing intimate themes like self-expression, art, relationships and pop culture alongside broader societal critiques.
The Governor General’s Literary Awards, founded in 1936, are among the oldest and most prestigious literary prizes in Canada celebrating outstanding literary works in both English and French languages.
Winners receive $25,000 each, while publishers earn a $3,000 grant and finalists are awarded $1,000 per book.
Sinclair and Undi’s win mark a significant achievement for Winnipeg’s literary community and solidifies the city’s growing prominence in Canadian literature.
For more information on the Governor General Literary Awards guidelines, eligibility and deadlines, please visit canadacouncil.ca/funding/prizes/governor-generals-literary-awards.
photo courtesy of / Misfit Music Management
photo / Ebunoluwa Akinbo / staff
photo courtesy of / University of Manitoba
Niigaan Sinclair
Chimwemwe Undi
The Bisons defeated back-to-back by the Cougars
Men’s hockey lose 4-3 and 4-1 during weekend games to the Mount Royal Cougars
Israel Adeogo Abejoye, staff
The Bisons men’s hockey team lost two consecutive games in their encounter with the Mount Royal Cougars on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16. The Bisons lost 4-3 and then by 4-1, respectively.
The Bisons were stronger in the first game, outscoring the Cougars in both the second and third period, however, the huge lead possessed by the visiting team in the first period made it impossible for the Bisons to make a comeback.
The tension started building up early, and just a few minutes into the game, the Cougars’ forward Robbie Anhorn scored the first goal at 2:19. The Cougars did not stop and kept dominating until their forward Connor Bouchard scored their second goal at 7:36. The Bisons tried to retaliate but could not get the puck into the back of the net. In the final minute of the first period, just when the fans thought that they could make it to intermission without another goal, defenseman Clay Hanus scored, further extending the Cougars’ lead to make it 3-0.
After winning the first period by three goals, the Cougars entered the second period with a great deal of confidence. The second period began with another early goal, but this time it was for the Bisons. At 3:35, the Bisons forward Jonny Hooker scored an incredible power play goal, and the score stayed the same until the 14th minute. The Cougars forward Josh Tarzwell killed the Bisons’ hope with a goal that put the visiting team in the lead by three goals again.
To close out the second period, the Bisons responded with a goal from their forward, Grady Lane, bringing the score to a promising 4-2.
The Bisons then started strong in the third period with a goal from forward Hayden Ostir in the 4th minute, keeping the team’s hopes high. This early goal in the final period brought a lot of action to the game, leaving the Bisons one goal from tying the score with the Cougars. Both teams played aggressively for the remaining 16 minutes of the match to avoid giving up any more goals. As a result, the final score ended up being 4-3.
The following day, on Nov. 16, both teams continued their aggression on the ice. Again, the Cougars scored the opening goal with forward Dawson Milliken after 10:43 into the first period.
As the game proceeded, it seemed like more goals were
on the horizon in the period, but despite the great intensity, the first period ended with the lone goal by the Cougars. In the second period, Hooker scored for the Bisons to close the lead at 9:44 during a power play to put them back in the game. No goal was scored afterwards, making the score 1-1 at the end of the second period. Both teams came into the third period with great determination, with the Bisons try-
ing to revenge their loss from the previous day’s game and the Cougars looking to get a back-to-back win on the home ice of the Bisons.
The game’s deciding third period started with the most ferocity. Justin Lies, the Cougars’ forward, scored a power play goal at 2:18 to gain the lead early in the third period, continuing their outstanding play. The Bisons had a chance to tie the score, but all their efforts were in vain, and the
Cougars were able to increase their lead despite the Bisons efforts. At 14:18, defenseman Remy Aquilon gave the Cougars a 3-1 lead.
Despite the two-goal deficit, the Bisons persisted to score a goal against the Cougars. Spencer Moe scored the Cougars’ fourth goal at 17:15 — just three minutes after the third goal was scored — and the game ended with a 4-1 victory for the Cougars. With 10 games already
completed, the Bisons are in fourth place with six points on the Canada West East standings. They are four points ahead of Regina, who have already played 12 games, and 16 points behind Alberta, who leads the region’s table with 12 games played.
The Bisons’ next games are both in Calgary against the Calgary Dinos on Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23.
Bisons narrowly defeat the Brandon Bobcats
The Bisons men’s volleyball team rises as the successor after a close match
Faiyaz Chowdhury, staff
The Bisons men’s volleyball team defeated the Brandon Bobcats 3-0 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre with set scores of 26-24, 27-25 and 25-23 on Nov. 15.
The Bisons took the first set 26-24, with Karil Dadash Adeh leading the charge offensively for Bisons. Despite a strong performance from Liam Pauls and the Brandon Bobcats’ higher attack percentage of .381, the Bisons overall consistency gave them an edge. The Bisons offence, led by Dadash Adeh, Spencer Grahame and Jordon Heppner helped them defeat the Brandon Bobcats.
The Bisons continued their momentum in the second set, winning 27-25. The Bisons produced 19 kills in this set, with Dadash Adeh once again contributing a significant amount of points. As Dadash Adeh dominated, the match commentator, Ben Little, could not help but emphasize his sheer power on the court by saying, “Adeh, too hot to handle!”
Alex Witt’s playmaking was crucial, as he contributed assists, helping set up the offence for the Bisons. On the Bobcats’ side, Chris Bryant and Pauls combined for a lot of kills, but the Bobcats struggled with errors, which allowed the Bisons to maintain control and close out the set.
The Bisons closed out the match with a 25-23 victory in the third set. Despite a strong all-around performance from Philipp Lauter, who contributed kills and blocks for the Bobcats, the Bisons’ defence, led by Jonah Dueck and Witt, kept the Bobcats at bay. The Bisons capitalized on the Bobcats’ errors and maintained their offensive consistency, securing the sweep.
In a tightly contested volleyball match, the Bobcats and the Bisons displayed fluctuating performances across all three sets. The Bobcats started strong with a hitting percentage of .381 in the first set, maintained consistency in the second set with a .323 percentage, but dropped significantly in the third set with a .129 percentage. The Bisons mirrored this trend, opening with a .320 percentage in the first set, followed by a .297 in the second set and struggled with a .074 in the third set.
Despite the Bobcats’ efforts, the Bisons led in kills with 40 compared to the 35 from the Bobcats. The herd had a dominant second set, giving them the advantage in this intense matchup. Errors proved costly
for both teams.
The Bisons showed a strong performance overall but faced significant challenges as the Bobcats mounted comebacks in each set. Early on, the Bisons dominated offensively, quickly establishing leads in the first and second sets.
However, in both the first and second sets, as they moved into the later stages, the Bobcats mounted a comeback, closing the gap and
the Bisons demonstrated composure and mental toughness when it mattered most. In the final moments of each set, they managed to switch gears and secure the crucial points. The Bisons’ ability to tighten up defensively and capitalize on key moments in the late stages allowed them to edge out each set. While the herd was dominant at the start, it was their resiliphotos / Keji Preston / volunteer
putting significant pressure on the Bisons. The Bobcats’ offence, led by Bryant and Pauls, found a rhythm and started to exploit openings in the Bisons’ defence, narrowing the leads in both sets. This shift in momentum highlighted a slight inconsistency in the Bisons’ play, where they struggled to close out the sets cleanly and allowed the Bobcats to get back into the game. Despite the Bobcats’ fight,
ence and focus in the final moments of each set that ultimately sealed the victory.
The Bisons played against the Bobcats the following day, on Nov. 16, and were defeated in each set.
The Bisons men’s volleyball will face off against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Nov. 22 in Saskatoon at 7 p.m. CT.
