29 November 2017

Editorial

The good old hockey game A farewell to the best game I can name

News

Speech from the throne

A preview of provincial government’s agenda for the next session Page 4

Page 8

news

Put on your creative hats Feds shine light on arts Page 6

Comment

Privacy in whose name?

Legislative reform is urgently needed Page 10

Vo l 1 0 4 · N o 1 5 · N ov e m b e r 2 9 , 2 0 1 7 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

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Index

VOL. 104 NO. 15 November 29, 2017

Editor-in-Chief Garett Williams

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

Business manager Sohni Tappia

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Advertising Coordinator Ryan Catte

ads@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Editorial

Managing Editor Malak Abas

me@themanitoban.com

News Editor Imreet Kaur

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

News Editor Shaden Abusaleh

shaden@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

Comment Editor Shawn Huberdeau

comment@themanitoban.com

arts & Culture Editor Olivia Michalczuk

arts@themanitoban.com

Sports Editor Ryan Stelter

sports@themanitoban.com

Copy Editor Evan Tremblay

copy@themanitoban.com

Design

sports

Design Editor Bram Keast

Highway series

design@themanitoban.com

Graphics Editor Kelly Campbell

Brandon basketball teams visit IGAC

graphics@themanitoban.com

page 16

photo@themanitoban.com

Photo Editor Asha Nelson Social Editor Carolyne Kroeker

social@themanitoban.com

Design associate Kellie Huynh graphics associate Ernest Zarzuela pHOTO associate Chantal Zdan pHOTO associate Quincy Houdayer

Reporters

General Assignment Qudus Abusaleh

General Assignment Diana-Abasi Ubokudom Columnist Levi Garber Columnist Kenny Ingram arts & culture Jen Doerksen Sports Jason Pchajek Copy Associate Matthew Doering

Volunteer Contributors

sports

Head Games

Arts

Researchers diagnose CTE in a living person page 18

Joe Oczerklewicz Will Gibson Anthony Labonté Michael Bell

Stephane Doucet Erin Meagan Schwartz

Hateful history

MANITOBAN

page 12

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News

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News Editors: Imreet Kaur & Shaden Abuselah Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Changes to Winnipeg Transit coming for January 2018 25 cent fare increase, route cuts proposed in preliminary city budget Shaden Abusaleh, staff

Winnipeg Transit faces budget shortfall, resulting in a 25-cent fare increase, reduction in service to 23 bus routes.

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he City of Winnipeg’s prelimiThe proposed increases follow the nary budget, tabled by mayor provincial government’s moves to end Brian Bowman Nov. 22, proposes the 50/50 transit funding agreement reductions to Winnipeg Transit ser- with municipalities and leave provinvice, including cuts to 23 routes and cial transit funding to the city frozen a 25 cent fare increase. at 2016 levels. This has resulted in Joseph Kornelsen, chair of a $10 million shortfall in Winnipeg Functional Transit Winnipeg, which Transit’s operating budget. 50/50 advocates for frequent, accessible, and transit legislation guaranteed proaffordable transit service, voiced con- vincial funding for municipal transit cern regarding the expected transit agencies in Manitoba, requiring the province to match municipal contrichanges.

“The changes are terrible,” he said. butions to transit agencies.

“It’s really hard to find any kind of The fare increase is expected to silver lining.” generate approximately $5 million Amalgamated Transit Union local for the city next year - half of the $10 1505 executive vice president Aleem million deficit.

Chaudhary echoed Kornelsen’s conThe 2018 budget also proposes cerns, saying the increase in fares “is spending $28.4 million to purchase outrageous for the public.”

40 new buses.

“It’s going to be very difficult for Kornelsen said crowding and long the public to deal with,” he said. “It’s wait times are evidence the service hitting the low-income, working- is already lacking adequate financial class people, unfortunately, because support. they need that bus service out there.”

“When you look at the reliability “We, as a union, have never been issues that we’re facing, when you contacted or consulted in any way, look at the pass-ups and you’re lookshape, or form on these issues,” ing at overcrowding, that’s what Chaudhary added. underfunding feels like,” he said.

The transit fee hike will increase “That’s the tangible experience bus fares by an additional 20 cents of a transit rider when funding is above the annual five cent inflation- not keeping pace with increase in ary increase, effective January - the ridership.” largest jump in transit fares since Winnipeg Transit also expects to 2008. Fares will increase from the reduce service on 23 routes starting current $2.70 to $2.95 per trip. The in June. A preliminary list of service full fare monthly transit pass is also reductions has been prepared by expected to rise nearly $10 from $90.50 Winnipeg Transit, with the 23 routes to $100.10. with the lowest ridership identified Fares will continue remain below for reduced service. the national average of $3.22.

Both Chaudhary and Kornelsen

said transit riders already face trouble accessing transit services, often waiting for prolonged periods of time due to delays or passings-by of overcrowded buses.

“Here if you miss a bus after offpeak hours, you could be waiting half an hour to an hour for the next bus, which is ridiculous,” Chaudhary said.

“We, as a union, have never been contacted or consulted in any way shape or form on these issues” - Ameel Chaudhary, executive vice president, ATU local 1505 Improving security on transit

photo by quincy houdayer

stabbed repeatedly in the early morning hours by a passenger who refused to exit a bus at its final stop of the night on Dafoe Road, directly across from Taché Hall on the U of M’s Fort Garry campus.

Chaudhary called the funding efforts to improve transit security a good start.

“We’re hoping that that money will be used wisely and not wasted,” he said.

However, Chaudhary expressed worry, saying the proposed changes could potentially increase the security risk to drivers.

“As a union we’re very afraid of the fact that as they decrease the service, there’s going to be more increase on assaults on bus drivers,” he said.

“So let’s say if I was the bus that passed you up and half an hour later another bus in the middle of winter comes - it’s minus 30 below - and you have to wait half an hour, you’re going to be very, very upset when the next bus arrives. Who are you going to take it out on? It’s the driver.”

What does this mean

The budget also includes an addi- for students? tional $460,000 earmarked for more The number of University of bus fleet cameras and shelters for bus Manitoba students who rely on inspectors, and $717,000 to support Winnipeg Transit has increased additional transit security. since the universal transit pass, or These investments will imple- U-Pass, was introduced in the fall ment the transit safety recommen- of 2016. Last year, more than 19,000 dations made following the death students were issued the discounted of a Winnipeg Transit operator in passes.

February.

UMSU president Tanjit Nagra Irvine Fraser died after he was said that the upcoming changes to

transit “could very well be impacting students.”

“Mainly if they are cutting routes, I would be very concerned about the students who are paying for U-Pass.

It’s unfair for students to be paying more for less service.”

Nagra said that UMSU is working on setting up a meeting with city councillors regarding the changes and their possible impact on students.

The U-Pass fee is $132.50 per term and is automatically assessed on U of M students’ Aurora fee statements.

Only students who live outside the city or those registered with HandiTransit can opt-out.

Kornelsen said the changes could affect the potential for U-Pass users to become long-term transit riders.

“The U-Pass was brought in with the expectation that it will create lifelong transit riders,” he said. “That if you give people that incentive to ride the bus, then they’re going to realize how how awesome transit can be and then want to be riders going forward.”

“You’re risking all the value that the U-Pass is supposed to provide,” he added. “The U-Pass will now teach students that actually transit is terrible.”

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News

News Editors: Imreet Kaur & Shaden Abuselah Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Provincial government moves to transform delivery of public services Throne speech announces aims to increase literacy through private sector partnerships, reduce number of children in care Imreet Kaur, staff

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he government’s speech from the throne opening the third session of the 41st legislature on Nov. 21 outlined the priorities of the government and indicated an overhaul in the delivery of public services.

M a n ito b a’s Progressive Conservative government plans to reduce public sector spending by cutting senior management in the civil services as a part of a “new public service transformation strategy,” to focus on new early learning strategy to invest in child-care spaces, and to reduce the number children in government care programs.

An overhaul of the delivery of public services

“A new public service transformation strategy will challenge public servants to better understand and meet the needs of citizens, question past practices and experiment with innovative ideas, and harness their collective talent,” reads the speech from the throne. This is in addition to the eight per cent cut in provincial civil service jobs over three years previously announced by the provincial government.

According to the speech, this transformation strategy involves collaboration with the private sector to build public infrastructure, including schools, to reduce the “costly prac-

cial government is not listening to ber countries of Organization health of children and youth,” reads Manitobans. for Economic Co-operation and the throne speech.

The throne speech also mentioned Development - Manitoba ranks secKinew said the high number of the government’s intention to review ond to last in science and reading and children in care is a “major issue” services provided by both municipali- third last in mathematics, when com- and that “no government has done ties and the provincial government pared to other provinces in Canada. enough” to address. to reduce overlap and streamline “When they talk about making delivery of services, including road the move from foster care to legal maintenance, snow clearing, and “What caught my guardianship, they missed the first water control and drainage. call to action of the Truth and attention is when Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman Reconciliation Commission’s final said the provincial government report,” Kinew said. they spoke about does not have the priorities of The commission, which invessocial impact bonds, Winnipeggers in mind and argued tigated Canada's residential school the streamlining of services will put legacy, issued a report with 94 calls the first area that an undue burden on the two-thirds to action to move toward reconciliof the provincial population living ation between Indigenous and nonthey are going to in Winnipeg.

Indigenous Canadians in 2015. move on is with kids “We don’t want to see decisions Recommendation one calls on dictated and downloaded to the City “the federal, provincial, territorial, and in care. That gives of Winnipeg and we have seen that Aboriginal governments to commit to me a lot of concern on matters especially outside of the reducing the number of Aboriginal basket funding,” he said. “We have children in care,” with a focus on because children seen that with transit funding, cerkeeping Aboriginal families together. in care should not tainly with the decision on ride for “So as they roll out the details on hire. We are ready to do our part and this plan we are going to be looking be profit centres”build the model.” to see that there is a firm commitment “But what we have seen is the to ensure that Indigenous kids can Wab Kinew, leader downloading in terms of the cost stay with Indigenous families,” said of the opposition of services that are outside of this Kinew. “If it’s just full steam ahead basket funding,” he added, “and so with opening up the process to legal obviously that is putting a squeeze guardianship without considering the on Winnipeg taxpayers.”

The exam showed that students importance of family and community The government recently ended in Manitoba are approximately a then we could be looking at a situaa 50-50 transit funding deal with year behind in reading and science tion where young kids in our province municipalities, leaving a $10 million and more than half a year behind in are reliving the ‘60s scoop .” deficit in Winnipeg Transit’s 2018 mathematics compared to Ontario, In an attempt to transition photo by miguel yetman budget. This resulted in a city budget Alberta, and British Columbia.

Indigenous children from manda“Our work will continue to improve tory residential school education into tice of project labour agreements that proposal that includes the reduction of service to 23 transit routes, a 25 cent outcomes in early years literacy and the public school education in 1950s force unionization of workers.” numeracy by refocusing resources and and 1960s, thousands of Indigenous Kevin Rebeck, president of the hike in bus fares, and job cuts.

“We also did not hear specific ref- enhancing the programming during children were taken from their homes Manitoba Federation of Labour, said erence to transit operational funding, this critical period of development,” and communities by child welfare he is disappointed with the speech. which, as you know, was recently cut the speech reads. service workers and placed with nonby the Province of Manitoba,” said Norm Gould, president of the Indigenous adoptive families or insti“They can keep trying Bowman. He added that there was Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS), tutionalised foster care. also no reference to any long-term said it is concerning the teachers “What caught my attention is when to make that claim. municipal funding policy. were not consulted before a part- they spoke about social impact bonds, But they got elected Manitoba NDP leader Wab nership with private enterprise was the first area that they are going to Kinew said the speech indicates fur- announced. move on is with kids in care,” Kinew on a promise to ther cuts to public services.

“I would think that educators, cer- added. “That gives me a lot of concern “We’re hearing them talking about tainly kindergarten teachers [and] because children in care should not protect and improve streamlining the relationship with Grades 1, 2, and 3 [teachers], would be profit centres.” public services and Minister of Justice and Attorney municipalities,” he said. “Sounds be able to bring something to the they are not living up to me like they are going to justify table and talk about the needs that General of Manitoba Heather more cuts to the city even beyond are necessary for students when they Stefanson, speaking to reporters, said to it” - Kevin Rebeck, what we heard in this past week in enter school,” Gould said. the government wants to move kids terms of cuts to transit [and] cuts to “The only information I have had out of government care programs and MFL president the infrastructure money that is going is from a news release and from what into guardianship settings. to the city.” was reported in the paper,” he added.

“We believe that they should be “So we haven’t been approached for- with loving families rather than in “That to me means more cuts are mally to participate in the process.” a hotel,” she said. “So that’s the kind coming to the public service and Early learning and of thing we are moving forward on. that’s not what Manitobans want child-care strategy This is an exciting initiative.” and that’s not what this government The provincial government Reducing children in care vowed to introduce new legislation The government plans to introgot elected on,” he said.

“They can keep trying to make to allocate additional resources, pro- duce an amendment “to the Child that claim. But they got elected on a gramming, and private partnership and Family Services Act to remove promise to protect and improve pub- to improve literacy and numeracy barriers to guardianship.” lic services and they are not living up skills among young children across “Moving children from governManitoba and to create new child- ment care to guardianship with adult to it,” he added. caregivers has been shown to provide Rebeck said the provincial govern- care spaces.

According to a Program for stable, healthy, and lasting relationment seems “determined to double down on cuts” and the throne speech International Student Assessment ships that greatly improve the long is an indication that the provin- report - conducted by the mem- term social, emotional, and physical

VOL. 104 NO. 15 November 29, 2017

News

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UMSU overhauls executive performance compensation process Nov. 23 motion moves incentives out of anonymous executive oversight committee purview Qudus Abusaleh, staff

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MSU council approved a motion The executive oversight giving the finance commit- committee tee the responsibility of rewarding The purpose of the committee, performance-based incentives to the which is comprised of three UMSU union’s executives at its regular meet- councillors chosen at random and ing Nov. 23. three students at large, is to ensure Previously, the reward of perfor- that executive members are meeting mance incentives was a function of time and workload commitments, the anonymous executive oversight investigating complaints from union committee’s quarterly reviews of the members, carrying out disciplinary operations and performance of execu- proceedings, and awarding perfortive members of council. A function mance incentives based on its perthat UMSU president Tanjit Nagra formance reviews of each executive. said was not adequately budgeted for.

“Thinking about how much they’re actually allowed to give totals up to “We had no idea this $15,000, looking at our budget, we do was coming, we had not have room for that,” Nagra said. no idea that they “Based on how auditing structures and things like that work, I don’t hadn’t budgeted think it's necessarily appropriate to for it, and we had have a group of anonymous people that can give out funding,” she added. no idea that they “I did have a discussion with finance, they also felt similarly but were going to be the biggest thing is that it wasn’t fischanging to the cally responsible for us to know we are going to go over budget with this.” finance committee” VP finance and operations Jehan Moorthy relayed to council his con- Mathew Scammell, cern with the executive oversight SESES councillor committee after initially noting it in his bi-weekly executive report to council.

UMSU’s Governance and “I didn’t believe that the executive Operation Manual specifies that oversight committee were in their the executive oversight committee right to be distributing funds of that is to submit written term reports to nature to the executive,” he said. “I council within seven days of the end believe that power should be resided of each performance assessment term. within the finance committee.”

Assessments of executive members are divided into three terms - May

to August, August to November, November to February - before a cumulative year-end assessment that concludes on the April 30.

These assessments lay out the number of received complaints and citations registered against each executive, an outline of the general performance of the executives, specific recommendations for each executive, and the percentage of performance incentives awarded to each executive backed by the committee’s reasoning for each.

The oversight committee can give up to $500 each at the end of each term, and up to $1,500 each after yearend assessments are completed. The committee then discloses all incentive award amounts to the council chair.

Motion 0383

Nagra said that although the executive oversight committee was not consulted when drafting this motion, the responsibility of UMSU to ensure a fiscally responsible budget necessitated moving this motion as quickly as possible.

Nagra suggested that the rewarding of performance incentives becoming the responsibility of the finance committee only makes sense, since the committee itself produces the annual budget.

“At the end of the day, the finance committee is the one looking over the budget, looking at the statements every month, and for us to be able to notify them that this could poten-

photo by chantal zdan

tially go over budget by $15,000. It was a decision made as a collective that it would make sense for us to change this,” she said.

To address concerns that the reporting duties of the executive oversight committee could be undermined with this motion, Nagra said that only the “financial pieces” of the committee will be eliminated.

The new process for regarding performance incentives will see the current three-term structure curtailed to allow only their distribution following the end-of-year assessment on the April 30.

Society of Earth Sciences and Environmental Students representative Matthew Scammell said he was concerned with the sudden emergence of the motion, given that there was no mention of insufficient

reserves to cover the full $15,000 in finance committee’s quarterly budget reports to council.

“Just the whole way it was presented, it was kind of a surprise to everybody. It was just a random motion,” Scammell said. “I would have been curious to count up the votes, it wasn’t very unanimous at all.”

“It just goes to show that everybody was really confused and wasn’t sure exactly how to vote, what they were even voting on,” he added. “We had no idea this was coming, we had no idea that they hadn’t budgeted for it, and we had no idea that they were going to be [making changes] to the finance committee.”

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News

News Editors: Imreet Kaur & Shaden Abuselah Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Creative Canada gives arts a shot in the arm Framework to support modernizing digital platforms Imreet Kaur, staff

Fine arts students work in the arts Media Lab.

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élanie Joly, minister of Canadian heritage, visited Winnipeg to promote the Creative Canada Policy Framework at a luncheon hosted by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Nov. 14.

After a year-and-a-half long consultation period with artists, producers, and stakeholders in the creative industries, Joly released the Creative Canada policy framework in September. The policy is the federal government's plan to support Canadian artists in the creative sector and promote the distribution of Canadian content in Canada and abroad. Under the framework, legislation such as the Broadcasting Act, the Telecommunications Act, and the Copyright Act will be re-evaluated to see how they might better suit the needs of the creative sector.

The framework also aims to invest in local broadcast companies and local news outlets, including through the Canada Periodical Fund, which assists Canadian magazines and newspapers financially.

“The Canada Periodical Fund ensures Canadians have access to diverse Canadian magazines, community newspapers and digital periodicals, and enables these publications to overcome systemic market disadvantages and to adapt to changing conditions, locally, nationally and internationally,” Joly said.

The minister said the framework will encourage collaboration between Google, Facebook, and Ryerson University to promote digital inno-

vation in news and give digital news platforms a boost.

The collaboration will also allow Canadian journalists and news organizations to be more competitive and “better positioned to succeed in offering Canadians local and regional news in the years ahead,” she said.

“It is really exciting to see Canada develop official policies to promote the creative sector”- Paul D. Stabell, fourth-year film studies student “We value the production of Canadian local news and, as such, we will work toward modernizing aspects of the program to ensure that it meets this goal and responds to industry needs,” Joly added.

Implications for new graduates?

Joly said significant investments under the framework will advance the creative sector and grow the economy.

“We want to help ensure that Canada’s creative industries, and individuals within and or entering these industries are well positioned to take advantage of the changing global economy, compete in international

photos by asha nelson

markets, and develop innovative solutions while respecting diverse and unique Canadian viewpoints,” Joly said in reference to students studying to enter the creative industries.

Paul D. Stabell, a fourth-year film studies student at the U of M welcomed the support.

“It is really exciting to see Canada develop official policies to promote the creative sector,” he said.

"We have an incredible country with so many talented people who want to work,” he added.

“Yet so often it seems people end up feeling discouraged by the lack of opportunities and leave, or at least go to major centres like Toronto or Vancouver, to find steady work.”

Stabell said the investment in new digital platforms will allow people to be a part of projects nationally and internationally.

“Technology has proven to be a decisive factor in shaping industry, and if professionals want to remain competitive in their field, not to mention part of a global workplace, they have to stay current with the tools used,” he said.

“Especially for my generation, young professionals who hope to work in the communications sector - I know it would be a great encouragement to know that every opportunity is being made to help us succeed,” he added.

Supporting reconciliation through art

In response to a question regard-

U of M student Alec Chamber gets ready for a shoot as a part of the Film Productions course, a class where students write and shoot an entire feature length film over the course of the year.

ing the role of art in reconciliation, public and private organizations Joly affirmed “the importance of including [APTN], CBC/Radiolinguistic duality, cultural diversity Canada, the Canada Media Fund, and our relationship with Indigenous Telefilm Canada, the Canadian peoples” in launching the framework Media Producers Association, and that dedicates resources to support the National Film Board, coming Indigenous art. together to showcase Indigenous creThe Truth and Reconciliation ators and address systemic barriers.”

Commission, which investigated the legacy of Canada’s residential school Preference given to Netflix? system, issued a report with 94 calls The Canadian Heritage departto action in 2015. Recommendation ment also negotiated an agreement 83 called on the Canada Council for with Netflix, which has agreed to the Arts, Canada’s public arts funder, invest $500 million over five years to make funding for “Indigenous and into producing Canadian content in non-Indigenous artists to undertake both English and French, and open collaborative projects and produce a production house based in Canada. works that contribute to the reconciliThis announcement has garnered ation process” a priority. mixed reactions from the industry “The Canada Council for the Arts and politicians, with critics questionis also building on its commitment to ing the government’s strategy to enter Indigenous artistic expression by tri- into an agreement with a company pling its investment in First Nations, that does not pay Canadian taxes or Inuit, and Métis artists and organi- abide by Canadian content quotas. zations through their new Creating, Knowing and Sharing program and other initiatives,” Joly said.

Joly added that initiatives such as the creation of an Indigenous Screen Office, a multi-organization engagement that supports the Indigenous screen-based sector, are important.

“It is a great example of a mix of

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Garett Williams Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

8

Poor skater, but fills the net Chronicling a below average hockey journey Ryan Stelter, staff

graphic by Kelly Campbell

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his is something I wish I never had to write. I don’t really have to write it, but I feel like I owe it to myself to write it down. Recently, I had my hockey career come to an unexpected end. You’re probably thinking, “this guy is some student journalist hack, how is his hockey career over?”

Good question. I guess you could say my competitive career is over.

However competitive you consider Junior C hockey to be. Regardless, it’s over. All I have left in front of me is a future of playing hockey with washed up, wannabe hockey players like myself in the beer leagues.

I’ve read cheesy Player’s Tribune articles about how hockey gives back whatever you put into it. While that seems intuitively true to me, I don’t really know what that means.

I’ve only ever wanted to be a hockey player. I never wanted to become a journalist. I’m not good at math - or anything useful - but I know an absurd amount about sports, so I figured I would try to become a sports journalist to stay close to the game.

I would much rather be off playing the game I love every single day, but I was not talented enough to ever pursue that dream. I love the game of hockey; like many Canadian kids, I dreamt of lifting the Stanley Cup after scoring the winning goal in game seven overtime.

Clichés aside, I had and still have

a burning passion for the game of hockey.

I love playing it. I love the rush of wind you get when you skate down the ice - albeit, in my case, not very well. I love the sound of skates digging into cold, hard, ice, and I love that feeling of scoring a goal.

I got into hockey in a different play hocket at Gateway Community way than most kids. I wasn’t thrust Centre on Saturday mornings. into Timbits at age five, progressing The first half hour was drills: one through the minor hockey ranks from side did skating for 15 minutes, the there. º other side did puck drills. I always I found the game on my own. I hung around to do puck drills for the don’t even remember the first hockey full half hour. My dad later told me I game I ever watched, or what even should be doing the opposite, probignited my passion for the game. I ably because he was sick of his son remember playing the game at school, looking like a punch-drunk moose I wish I had a chance in the courtyards of Calvin Christian out on the ice.

School, a stone’s throw from the high to say a proper school where I could never crack the farewell to the game Get ready for a huge hockey team.

I remember reading a Hockey of hockey before I cliché, but hockey Superstars 2002-2003 book and takdescend into beer is really so much ing a liking to Ryan Smyth, who was then playing for the Edmonton league madness more than a game Oilers, a team that has probably cut years off my life due to my following I remember scoring my first ever them. I remember flipping through The other half hour was a scrimgoal. It was the only goal in a miser- the pages and always gravitating to mage, where I really got to shine. able 12-1 loss. Yup, I know more about Smyth, wanting to know everything As I mentioned previously, I spent losing than I do anything else. I came I could about him. He had the same hours practicing my wrist shot, and down my off the wing and fired off birthday as my dad, as well as my spent even more watching games the hard wrist shot I perfected while name. That was enough for six-year- with my dad, so playing in a game putting dents in my garage door. It old Ryan: I was hooked. was heaven. I got so good at shootwent past the goalie’s blocker - but I The only time I was on skates was ing, I became known for my goal don’t even think I celebrated because, when I would skate during gym class scoring prowess rather than my well, we were down 12-1. on the rink at my school. I then got skating ability.

I can’t even remember my last into what I will call “Saturday mornI loved all forms of hockey: street goal. It’s sad, looking back on it. I ing hockey.” hockey, floor hockey, rug hockey; wish I had a chance to say a proper I used to play every second if there were a stick and a ball or farewell to the game of hockey before Saturday at the East End Arena in puck, I was in. I didn’t get into comI descend into beer league madness. Transcona. A rink that played out the petitive hockey until much later in I never found the beer league to be end of my minor hockey career with life. I started playing in minor banan attractive option: I’d much rather the River East Marauders in heart- tam, playing A3, the lowest level of wheel around the outdoor rink reliv- breaking fashion. A year later, my hockey you can play. I had a funny ing my “glory days.” dad started a group at my school to minor hockey career, bouncing

around to different levels, and succeeding - somewhat - at each one.

Some of my best hockey moments have come from off the ice in moments with my teammates, where we would exchange stories in the locker room and throw out our best chirps. Get ready for a huge cliché, but hockey is really so much more than a game.

Hockey is those days you spend with your brother and dad on a backyard rink. Hockey is that elation you feel after scoring a big goal for your team and being in the centre of that group hug. Hockey is the thing that will wake you up in the morning, or keep you up at night. Hockey is crashing down to rock bottom, but coming back even stronger the next night.

Hockey is not everything I expected, but it is the most beautiful thing I have ever come to know.

I want to thank the coaches I have met in my playing days, for teaching me life lessons and helping me understand different aspects of the game. I’d like to thank every coach that has told me “no” or has let me go, because you’ve made me a stronger person. I’d like to thank my dad for showing me everything about the game, and my brother for begrudgingly putting on the pads so I could practice on him. Lastly, I would like to thank the academy, for this award.

Jokes aside, I will miss the hell out of you, hockey.

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Comment Comment Editor: Shawn Huberdeau Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

Sale on the human soul: consumerism has commodified human relations Shawn Huberdeau, staff

Graphic by Scott Lercher

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is the season to be jolly: if you’re son? Young people aged 18 to 34, ping for Labour Day. The list goes on. sumer goods. Diamonds carry mean- spending seen as a status token or a capitalist, that is. according to an Ipsos poll: all while Our social practices have been ing between newlyweds, household the compulsive reaction one has to The National Retail Federation, an the average Canadian student debt hollowed out by the bottom of the appliances between friends. While the nihilism of a culture consisting of American trade association, reported passed $25,000 in 2015, with average bargain bin X-Acto knife of capital- some gift-giving practices of the lat- consumption for consumption’s sake. that the “holiday” shopping season American student debt reaching an ism. Traditions having to do with ter kind hold functional importance, Social gatherings once made - kicked off by Black Friday - can average US$37,000 in 2016. bonding between family and friends this is only so in a contradictory con- special by human company are now Two of the major so-called - sharing and caring with each other, text where deflationary - or stagnant constitute 30 per cent of a retailer’s qualified by corporate company. total yearly sales. Averaging upward advanced economies of the world so to speak - have had their emo- - wages are given out in inflationary While value is to be found in a mulover the last decade, total sales during have their citizens buckling under tionality crudely carved out in favour markets. titude of places, vesting it in cheap this shopping season are estimated to the increasing In other words, commodities uniformly churned out generate over six hundred billion US pressure of credit the only reason Social gatherings once made to the nth degree is an unlikely hardollars: the average shopper individu- built on the back some gift-giving bourer of meaning.

This is especially ally contributes just under a thousand of more credit. We serves practical special by human company are now dollars to this total. may soon see the purposes is when so when commodity presentation qualified by corporate company Statistics Canada has reported less straw that breaks individuals do takes on a necessary role in these not possess the very gatherings. severe numbers in Canada. Annually, the camel’s back. the holiday season brings in approxi- But at this rate, it income required Human relations have lost their mately 20 per cent of total retail sales. won’t be a straw: there’s a 20-pound of loonies and toonies, cheques and to fulfill their own necessary pur- meaning. If this meaning is to be Contextually, however, both North iron weight swinging down with our dollar bills. chases. What are friends for under found in today’s society, one should American countries are suffering simi- names on it.

Social gatherings of this kind, late capitalism? Buying dishware, of look first to the wrapped and ribFueling this spending spiral is the which preceded mass-consumer course. larly. Credit card debt in Canada masboned boxes passed between hands sively outweighs disposable income fact that consumption has become markets, now seem to live by their The commodification of meaning at gatherings; gatherings made up - where the average Canadian carries a staple social practice across these dictates. If it’s not material, it’s not is especially a problem of the bourof loved ones second only to loved over $22,000 in non-mortgage credit two North American countries. doable. Social norms are such that geoisie. Circumstances like these debt - while the average American Every major holiday is character- gift-giving is a knee-jerk reaction to have been functionally re-jigged by things. owes just over US$16,000 in non- ized by material items: presents for the prospect of celebration. those who fall on the lower end of Christmas, costumes for Halloween, mortgage credit debt.

Newborn children are brought the income stratum. Yet the more Who shops during the festive chocolate for Easter, beer for St. into this world, flanked by scores disposable income one has, the more feeding frenzy of the holiday sea- Patrick’s Day, back-to-school shop- upon scores of freshly purchased con- money is spent for spending’s sake:

10 Comment

Comment Editor: Shawn Huberdeau Contact: comment@themanitoban.com

Transparency around cases like Kirby’s needed to protect students The failure of U of M’s administration to respond appropriately to sexual harassment claims reveals a broken system Kenny Ingram, staff

An internal investigation at the U of M found that sexual harassment allegations regarding former Jazz prof. Steve Kirby hold merit.

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Photo from CBC News

bit of closure came about recently image. However, the administrafor those following the Steve tion has maintained that Manitoba’s Kirby story.

Freedom of Information and Kirby was on leave from the U Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) of M when an internal investigation does not allow it to disclose any inforconcluded that several allegations of mation regarding the investigation sexual harassment levied against him without the permission of the subject. were of merit. Kirby left the univerIn this case, the university requires sity with a suspicious lack of public- the permission of Steve Kirby to ity, going on to seek employment at release the details of its investigaBerklee College of Music in Boston. tion into his alleged sexual assaults.

He was only successful in his new The university, to this day, will not position for so long: Kirby’s time at discuss any details, even after dozens Berklee was rightfully cut short. of articles have been published. This When Berklee contacted the U is extremely frustrating. of M regarding Kirby’s status at the As a second-year student studying university, no mention was made of jazz in the faculty of music, I have a his gross misconduct. Nevertheless, closer perspective than many on how Kirby was placed on leave by Berklee music students felt and continue to College on Sept. 14, and eventually feel regarding this situation. Simply fired on Nov. 16. put, it has been nothing short of a This deservedly swift, decisive complete shit show. action was not exercised at the U of We were told Kirby was on leave M during the 2016-17 academic year. throughout the winter semester, For many students, the university’s which we later learned he had applied administration is especially blame- for six months in advance. After havworthy. Students say the failure of ing completed the semester, all stuthe administration to act was in the dents received an email on July 18 in interest of protecting the university’s which the dean mentioned that there

had been “significant staffing changes” to the jazz program, with no further elaboration. In early August, students then received an email detailing who would be teaching jazz bass majors: an email in which Kirby was never mentioned.

All of us music students were left completely in the dark in this equation - the same students who are paying close to $5,000 a year to be a part of the faculty. Bass students expecting to study with Kirby were taken aback when they were - less than a month before classes began told they would not be studying with the musician they had been promised.

With only a month before classes were set to begin, no other options for education existed for them.

Obviously, it is not an easy situation for anyone to handle - a professor with an immeasurable amount of power is alleged en masse to be sexually harassing students. However, this clearly underlines the importance of having far better fail-safes in place to protect students, and much more transparency surrounding the professors whose salaries we contribute to.

The aforementioned FIPPA can be seen as constricting public knowledge when dealing with delicate and personal data, because that is exactly what it was designed to do. But it does have caveats - over 40 - for situations where private information may be disclosed to the public.

One of those is in section 44(1), clause l, where it states information may be released “where necessary to protect the mental or physical health or the safety of any individual or group of individuals.” By not exercising this allowance, the university has essentially said sexual harassment of this kind is not serious enough to

warrant releasing information over.

The administration was in effect saying that it could not care less about protecting the health and safety of the music students at Berklee, who otherwise would have had Kirby as a professor this year. By not releasing this information, the administration not only allowed Kirby to “retire” in peace, but to be hired at another, more prestigious, institution at the drop of a hat.

It is obvious that both the university and provincial legislation failed students of the faculty of music Had CBC not obtained and published this otherwise private information, Kirby would have likely continued his predatory behaviour at Berklee. It is obvious that both the university and provincial legislation failed students of the faculty of music. The provincial government of Manitoba must take steps to address these failures.

If institutions will not exercise their right to allow the public to view information of this nature under the current system, major reform is needed. Other provinces have already adopted systems of greater transparency within their public schooling systems. British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan each have their own online teacher databases where anyone can enter a teacher’s name and can see if they have had any type

of disciplinary action taken against them by the province.

Manitoba legislators must implement a similar system - both for K through 12 teachers as well as professors - if they hope to revive students’ faith in the system. Had Manitoba already implemented a transparent system like this, the university’s conclusion to their investigation into Kirby would have been made public record, while still keeping victims anonymous: an investigation which found that every single allegation made against Kirby had merit.

In public institutions where professors are paid thousands of dollars every year, in part, by students, along with being subsidized by millions in tax dollars, the public deserves full and complete transparency. More than just holding teachers accountable, a more transparent system will empower teachers to always be performing at their best, and in turn better allow students and parents of students to honour those doing great work.

In the meantime, poor judgement and detrimental mistakes like the ones surrounding Kirby’s case will continue to happen if investigations and their results remain completely private: where very few will truly be held accountable for their actions.

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Diversions Graphics Editor: Kelly Campbell Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com

comic by scott lercher

comic by Stephane Doucet

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Olivia Michalczuk Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

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Final farewell 1971 plays their final shows for EP release after death of bassist Jen Doerksen, staff

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(From left to right) Jory Strachan, Garett Iverson, Cameron Cranston, and Tanner Neil

Photos provided by 1971

ocal punk band 1971 are saying farewell to fans at their EP release and final concert on Dec. 23.

The group decided to disband after the sudden death of their bassist Cameron Cranston in the winter of 2016.

“It’s been a pretty tough year. But we had those songs from the demo and we wanted to release them, get them out there,” drummer Jory Strachan said. “So we decided a couple months after he passed away, maybe even a few weeks, that we should do it.”

The band has been performing in southern Ontario and touring regularly since they formed in 2011, with some small breaks between writing and touring. They quickly found a scene in Ontario and Quebec.

“We would tour almost more than we would play in Winnipeg, just because there was more stuff in southern Ontario that fit what we were doing, and Quebec,” Strachan said.

1971’s legacy has made waves in communities all over Canada. Robert Boissoneau, a fan of the band, discovered 1971 when he was 14 and living in Sioux Narrows just outside of Kenora.

“It was the first kind of punk rock show I went to,” Boissoneau said.

“To me it was really [a] revolution.

It opened a whole new scene to me.

Like a young angsty kid, and these

guys just spoke the words that I was thinking.”

Boissoneau formed a band of his own after attending a 1971 show at the Park Theatre in Winnipeg.

“It was really different, because I was used to seeing these guys play in a little community club or in a bar tucked away in one corner,” Boissoneau said. “It was not strange, but really uplifting and new to see them up there on a stage with an actual stage and a sound set up and people moshing in front of them.”

“It’s been a pretty tough year. But we had those songs from the demo and we wanted to release them, get them out there” - Jory Strachan, drummer, 1971 Boissoneau is now 18 and attending college in Thunder Bay, and plans to attend the farewell show in Kenora.

Tanner Neil, the second guitarist for 1971, was a friend of Cranston’s since childhood. Neil currently lives in Vancouver, but will be returning

to Winnipeg for the farewell concert.

“We’re doing a Kenora show as well and his family will be there and that’ll be nice too,” Neil said.

Neil said he is looking forward to the final shows as closure. The first will take place at The Good Will Social Club on Dec. 23 in Winnipeg, and the second at the Kenora Curling Club on Dec. 29 in Kenora.

Strachan said each show will feature a number of different bassists filling in for Cranston.

“The idea behind the shows is we’re going to have something like 12, for the Winnipeg show, different people come up on stage with us, not at the same time,” Strachan said. “And they’re going to fill in on bass for different songs, and a couple other friends are going to sing a song.”

Boissoneau said he thinks the farewell will “make things seem like they’re not as bad,” but is still saddened by the loss.

“These three guys kind of opened a whole new thing to me, and they really inspired me,” Boissoneau said. “And they didn’t even have to be behind their instruments to do it, these were just three really great guys. Just one of them being gone so abruptly, I don’t know. It kind of just brought that world to a screeching halt.”

Illustrating hateful history Upcoming graphic novel Christie Pits tackles 1933 Toronto race riot Jen Doerksen, staff

Page from Christie Pits

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efore Dec. 15, local graphic novel author Jamie Michaels said he hopes to raise $2,500 to publish a graphic novel called Christie Pits that tells the story of a race riot in Toronto in 1933. The story is currently in the illustration phase, and will be ready

to print come March 2018 if Michaels meets his funding goal.

The true story of the 10,000-person Toronto race riot inspired Michaels to write the novel. The riot started at a baseball field when an anti-Semitic group unfurled a flag with a swastika

painted on it after the final inning of a game. The match was between a predominately Jewish team and a predominately Protestant church team.

When people rushed the stands to destroy the flag, supporters from both sides, plus members of an adjacent Italian neighbourhood, rioted for six hours in Christie Pits Park.

"It’s an amazing story, and as a Jew who is born in Canada but is the son of a father who immigrated, it’s a little personal” Said Michaels.

Michaels has written a previous graphic novel, Canoe Boys, that was published in 2016. He wrote the story for Christie Pits, and illustrator Doug Fedrau will bring it to life.

“It’s a fascinating story, and Jamie and I both agreed we’re surprised it’s not a more commonly known story. It kind of started the conversation about hate crime legislation in Canada,” Fedrau said.

Michaels wrote the novel before events earlier this year that have focused public attention on racism and hate speech, such as the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally that resulted in one death and nineteen injuries. He said that he revisited his writing after that event to add

nuance to his characters.

“I re-wrote 24 pages after the Charlottesville events because I thought, ‘Look at how prominent this is and look at how visceral this hatred is.’ Everything in history is nuanced, some things are less nuanced than others,” Michaels said.

“I had to look again at how I was doing nuance in this book and say some of these characters will have nuances, some of these people are from areas that are impoverished in the states, rust belts, they maybe don’t have the educational backing most of us are fortunate to receive, and differing factors maybe brought them out that day,” he said.

Part of Michaels' motivation in writing this novel came from seeing the similarities in treatment that immigrants receive in Canada, now and in the past.

“I think though in that general spirit of how immigrants are treated and how immigrants are treated now, maybe we’re not that far from 1933, and that’s why that story is pertinent today,” Michaels said.

“I’m thinking in North America in general, but also in Canada in particular, in terms of some of the reac-

tions experienced by Syrian refugees.

I think that we have a long way to go still as a nation in the way we theorize and represent immigration.”

The novel will follow a different character in each chapter, and Michaels says that as their stories intertwine, readers will get the sense of a whole neighbourhood of characters that were effected by ther riot.

Fedrau says he hopes the novel and its historic story can reach a broader audience because it’s a graphic novel, a medium he said is easier to digest.

“Its an important story that people aren’t really aware of, and it helps maybe engage the conversation with the different generations because it’s a medium that speaks to younger generations, and it could just help to encourage dialogue with them,” he said.

Christie Pits is expected to print in March 2018, provided that the Kickstarter campaign reaches its goal of $7,500 by Dec. 15.

VOL. 104 NO. 15 November 29, 2017

Arts & Culture

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’Toban turntable Want us to review your band? Email arts@themanitoban.com today!

Olivia Michalczuk, staff

Troy Rayner Demo*lition 4/5

who loved him in return. Moments of emotion can be heard in the song with quivering breaths and powerful and haunting notes. The lyrics Acoustic singer-songwriter Troy are heartbreaking and soulful.

Rayner, also known as Gentleman Across the four-song EP there is Ghost, released his second EP, consistent skill in both vocals and Demo*lition Day, on Nov. 7, three guitar. This small EP makes you years after the release of his first EP, feel like you are being shorted and Fin. Rayner’s lyrical honesty pulls ends entirely too soon. Rayner is at the heart strings and the EP is a not nearly as popular in Winnipeg fantastic resumé of Rayner’s talent as he should be with the talent disand his variety of styles within the played on the album, having only 134 likes on his Facebook page. folk genre.

The album starts with “The Rayner is definitely one to look out Kidney Song,” in which Rayner for in the folk scene in Winnipeg recites an exhaustive list of inju- and it is worth checking out a live ries to both body and spirit, includ- show based solely on the quality of ing getting beat up in a back lane these four tracks. and having no idea as to the size The recording and producing of of his ego. The density of the sheer the album is much better than some number of lyrics makes it difficult other examples of acoustic albums to appreciate all the subtleties and because it really is the perfect comhumour in the song, which serve bination of raw and clear, with a to keep the song light through its great mix of a man and his guitar. headfirst dive into Rayner’s diary of This album should be on the shelf faults and insecurities to which he of any local folk lover. sings “all of this makes me.”

The second song, “Ghost,” speaks to the ghost of a deceased person whom he loved dearly and

on some of the other subtleties in the rest of the album.

Clarke came out swinging with the hardship tale of a hopeless romantic jam-packed with perfectlytimed exquisite instrumentation

Roman Clarke Looking For Mine 4/5 Roman Clarke of The Middle Coast takes on his first solo effort with EP Looking For Mine which just proves that even individually the members of the trio have the Midas touch when it comes to banging out clean, catchy tunes.

Clarke impressively plays all parts on the album almost entirely on his own, aside from electric guitar, which was tackled by Ariel Posen.

The album was released at The Good Will Social Club on Sept. 21, with seven band members required to cover all the necessary parts.

A genre flip to the sweet R&B grooves of “Waiting,” with nostalgic vocal runs that are reminiscent of Boyz II Men with a bit of a disco Clarke’s vocal performance beat, further proves that talented shines across the entire album as musicians like Clarke can seamhe belts out astounding harmonies, lessly experiment with genre. The which come out on the pop love youth in Clarke’s voice is lost in song opener “Faithful Man.” Bee certain parts with a maturity that Gees-style 70s background vocals is not heard in the other songs, help set the stage for the melting which really emphasizes his vast pot of genres that are featured on and impressive vocal range. the album.

The album is very clean, with The gospel style of “Let You crystal-clear sounds and perfectly Fall” grabs the harmonies from polished mixing. Clarke came out “Faithful Man” and bumps it up a swinging with the hardship tale of few notches. The opening piano a hopeless romantic jam-packed melody picks up an organ groove with perfectly-timed exquisite that turns the sweet-sounding tune instrumentation. Though Clarke into a funky story about a pair that is a drummer in The Middle Coast, is not meant to be. Misplaced dis- this project allows his other taltorted vocals find the perfect spot in ents to shine, including vocals and the song, training the ear to focus composition.

Photo Recap Last week in photos By Jen Doerksen

Jim Compton, artistic director of the Adam Beach Institute, braids Cody Bighetty's hair before a TV interview on the red carpet for the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival. Bighetty plays the main protagonist in the youth-made film Forever Young that premiered on opening night.

(From left to right) Donna Dean, star of WAFF's opening night documentary, poses with Eric Ducharme, Cody Bighetty, Andrew Caribou, students from the Frontier School Division Film Collective, and Richard Murnick, teacher supervisor, at the red carpet for Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival on Nov. 23, 2017.

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Olivia Michalczuk Contact: arts@themanitoban.com

15

Sports Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com

Missed opportunity for Bisons in weekend split against Dinos Ryan Stelter, staff

photo provided by joe oczerklewicz

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n a battle for third place in the Canada West, it was the University of Calgary Dinos who prevailed, earning a split against the University of Manitoba Bisons.

The Bisons won 3-2 on Friday night, but fell 4-0 on Saturday afternoon, failing to hold on to third place in the Canada West.

Kamerin Nault tipped home a St. Croix shot from the top of the circle for his seventh of the campaign nine minutes into the first.

Logan Fisher answered back a few minutes later for the Dinos on a spino-rama shot from in tight, stunning Spriggs.

Manitoba started the second on the powerplay, but it was the Dinos Friday who struck shorthanded. Luke Led by Michael St. Croix’s two Harrison worked his way down the points, the Bisons edged the Dinos boards and squeaked in a wraparound 3-2 at the Wayne Fleming Arena on attempt.

Friday.

Manitoba drew level on the pow“It was a big game of course against erplay toward the end of the second Calgary, to find a way to win that’s a that has done them so well at home. huge two points for our hockey team,” A Channing Bresciani point shot was said Bison head coach Mike Sirant. tipped dead by Quintin Lisoway, but The first period was largely domi- Lisoway stuck with it and shovelled nated by the Dinos, forcing 11 saves the puck into a gaping net. out of Manitoba’s starting goaltender The third period had a next-goalByron Spriggs. Spriggs made a huge wins feel, with both teams playing a stop on a 2-on-0 when Manitoba tight checking game. St. Croix gave was on the powerplay early in the the Bisons the lead with six minframe. Despite Calgary’s dominance, utes to go when he came barreling

down the left wing and fired a shot high over Matt Greenfield’s glove.

St. Croix faked the pass across to Nault, but elected to shoot, and was rewarded.

“I always think pass,” he said after the game. “I definitely wanted to pass it over there initially, it kind of closed off fairly quickly so I decided to shoot the puck for once and it went in.”

Saturday

“We had some good puck movement, we had some good chances, we just needed more urgency on the powerplay,” Sirant said. “We didn’t do that, especially on the four-minute penalty that we had in the second period.”

“We had a chance at home after last night’s game to move ahead of Calgary and stay ahead” - Mike Sirant, Bison head coach

ted home a rebound in the bottom corner to make it 2-0. Robbie Fisher scored with eight minutes remaining to put the nail in the coffin of Manitoba’s chances.

“We had a chance at home after last night’s game to move ahead of Calgary and stay ahead,” Sirant said. “We missed an opportunity, we needed to score some of those goals early in the game, we had some powerplay opportunities in the game and we had some good chances to score […] but Calgary competed and had more effort than we had today.”

With the loss, the Bisons fell back to fourth place in the Canada West with a 7-5-2 record, sitting one point back of the Dinos.

Calgary’s explosive third period was the difference in a 4-0 win in the Saturday afternoon rematch.

The opening 40 minutes could be summed up by Manitoba’s squandered powerplay opportunities, failing to score on nine attempts. The herd had an extended 5-on-3 early in the first period and failed to capitalManitoba wraps up their regular ize. Zach Franko appeared to score Chris Collins of the Dinos scored season on the road in Vancouver one, but the referee deemed it a no the eventual game winner 30 seconds for two games against the UBC goal. The Bisons also had a four-min- into the third period on a partial Thunderbirds on Dec. 1-2. ute powerplay at the end of the second break, slipping the puck past Spriggs. period, but failed to convert again.

A few minutes later Drydn Dow slot-

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Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com

Bison basketball teams split the Bobcats Ryan Stelter, staff

Bison Taylor Randall (#3) drives past Brandon’s Keisha Cox (#8), Kinsley Ransom (#10), and Hailey Maas (#5) to the hoop.

Above: photo by Joe Oczerklewicz. Below: Photo by chantal zdan

that category and I would love it to be more consistent throughout 40 minutes but we’re looking for another two next weekend.”

Men

Bison guard Rashawn Browne goes for a layup against Brandon Bobcats in Friday night’s game which he also caused to go into OT with a three-point buzzer shot.

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he University of Manitoba Bison basketball teams hosted provincial rivals the Brandon University Bobcats. The women split their series after an 84-77 loss on Friday and a 90-74 win on Saturday. The men also earned a split, losing 88-85 in overtime on Friday, and winning 85-84 on Saturday.

and four rebounds and three assists. said Bison head coach Michele Sung.

Brandon’s depth came in big for them, “I felt the girls who did play in the scoring 33 points from players off the second half really mentally focused bench. on what we needed to do and what On Saturday, the Bisons scored the game plan was.” the second most points they have The Bisons have now won four out all season in the 90-74 win. Randall of their last five games to move their led the way for Manitoba, scoring 25, record to 4-6, matching their win with two rebounds, and six assists. total from last year.

Thompson was close behind her, “When we play well it surprises Women notching 23 points, four rebounds, everyone else but me, I’ve said that In the loss on Friday, Emma and two assists. since the beginning when we play to Thompson of the Bisons scored 29 “I would’ve liked to use a bit more our potential,” Sung said. points and five rebounds, with team- in terms of our bench but we made “Learning how to win takes time mate Taylor Randall putting up 16 an adjustment at half to shorten it,” and we’re finally starting to click in

think the basketball gods were shining on us because we’re playing the right way.”

“When we play well

The Bisons lost a heartbreaker on it surprises everyone Friday night after Rashawn Browne hit a three-point shot to tie the game else but me” at 76 with no time on the clock.

Michele Sung Bison Brandon had the last laugh, however, as a last second three-pointer from women’s basketball Tyvon Cooper sealed the overtime head coach victory for the visitors.

Fifth-year guard Justus Alleyn had 25 points, four rebounds, and one assist in the loss. James Wagner The Bisons were a bit banged had a double-double, with 19 points up heading into Saturday’s game, and 11 rebounds. missing starters Rashawn Browne On Saturday, the Bisons came out and Joey Nitychoruk, but Cameron and won a close game, snapping a O’Hara came in and finished with three-game losing streak and moving nine rebounds. their record to 6-4.

“Cam was phenomenal, that was An explosive third quarter for the probably the best game of his career,” Bisons had them outscore the Bobcats Schepp said. “We really played well 25-11, with Alleyn scoring nine of his off the bench and [Cam] was a big 33 points in the quarter. Wagner fin- part of our rebound effort, we domiished with another double-double, nated the game on the glass.” scoring 19 points and 16 rebounds.

“I’m proud of the guys because The Bison basketball teams head we’ve lost a few real close games,” said to Kelowna to play the UBC Bison head coach Kirby Schepp. “We Okanagan Heat on Dec. 1-2 to really stayed together and we played wrap up the first half of the season. team ball instead of getting selfish late, we moved it and moved it and I

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Sports

VOL. 104 NO. 15 November 29, 2017

Kelsey Wog cleans up at Canada West Swimming Championships Ryan Stelter, staff

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elsey Wog was the big story for the University of Manitoba coming out of the Canada West Swimming Championships.

Wog was named the woman swimmer of the meet after she collected six medals - three gold, two silver, and a bronze.

The breaststroke was Wog’s race, as she has now won the gold medal in the 50m and 100m breaststroke two years in a row. Wog won the 50m breaststroke with a time of 31.01 seconds, beating her next closest competitor by a second. Wog won the 100m breastroke with a time of 1:05.59, breaking the championship record and beating the closest competitor by nearly four seconds. Wog also collected the silver medal in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:27.86.

Wog was part of Manitoba’s bronze medal-winning 4x100m relay team that finished with a time of 3:50.14. She was also apart of the relay team that collected silver in the 4x200m relay. On the final day of the meet, Wog won the 200m IM with a time 2:09.29, breaking yet another championship record.

Other Bisons at the meet included first year swimmer Dora Modrcin, who won bronze in the 50m backstroke with a time of 28.34 seconds and bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Fourth-year Gio Wickett finished

Kelsey Wog wins gold at the 2017-2018 Canada West Champions in Victoria, B.C.

photos provided by armando tura

in seventh in the 50m backstroke.

Anthony Illiouchetchev just missed out on the podium in the 50m backstroke, finishing fourth with a time of 22.89. Illiouchetchev placed fifth in the 100m backstroke with a time of 54.68.

Both the men’s and women’s team finished in seventh out of the eight teams at the Canada West championships.

The Bison swim teams will be back in the water Dec. 14-17 at the Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg for the Man/ Sask Short Course Championships.

No-nonsense Nault Kamerin Nault is enjoying a breakout season offensively for the Bisons Ryan Stelter, stafft

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amerin Nault of the Bison men’s hockey team is having a breakout year.

Nault took a bit of an unconventional route to get to the University of Manitoba. He played B division high school hockey for the Garden City Gophers in his Grade 10 year after being cut from the Winnipeg AAA Hawks.

The next season, he tried out again for the Hawks, only to be cut again.

The Winnipeg AAA Monarchs offered him a spot, but Nault elected to stay with Garden City after learning they would move up to the A division his Grade 11 year. It all paid off when Nault was off playing for the Winnipeg Blues of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in his final year of high school.

During his two seasons with the Gophers, Nault played 43 games, scoring 31 goals and adding 30 assists for 61 points.

“I was a late developer, I was a small guy,” Nault said. “It seemed to work really well all in the end.”

Nault racked up 203 points (98 G, 105 A) in 208 career games with

the Blues, averaging just under one point per game. In 2014, he and teammate Byron Spriggs won the MJHL Championship with the Blues, and in 2016 Nault was named an MJHL Second Team All Star.

“I’ve always liked being out there in the last minute of every game to try and help the team win” - Kamerin Nault, Bison forward Nault played in 11 games last season for the Bisons, scoring only one goal. This season he’s blown those numbers out of the water. In 14 games so far this season, Nault has a team-best seven goals and five assists for 12 points. The Winnipeg native has found success centring a line of Michael St. Croix and Zach Franko, a line created when the Bisons were

across the pond in Scotland and Ireland.

“I was given the opportunity over in Europe to play with Zach and Michael and I think those two guys helped find my confidence and my scoring touch again,” Nault said.

“They make the game very easy to play and so I think that’s been a big key is my good linemates.”

After a forgettable rookie campaign statistically, Nault went back to his old habits in the off season.

“I did a lot more on-ice training, before my first year I came in really good shape I did a lot of off-ice training,” he said. “I decided I wanted to get back to how I used to train and the way I play is a more skilled game.

I decided that was more beneficial to me it seems to be working so far.”

Of Nault’s seven goals this season, a few of them have come at key times. Nault scored a crucial goal to tie things up against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Oct. 20 en route to a Bison overtime win. On Nov. 11, Nault scored the game winner in the second overtime against the Regina Cougars. The next week-

Photo by chantal zdan

end he scored with four seconds left against Lethbridge to send the game to overtime, a game the Bisons eventually lost.

“I’ve always liked being out there in the last minute of every game to try and help the team win so I think just given the opportunity I try to make the most of it,” Nault said.

Manitoba’s tough schedule to start the season has helped the team according to Nault, as the Bisons

were able to see where they stack up in the Canada West.

“I think it’s better for us in the long run. I think obviously at the time it’s a tough grind I think it lets you know where you stack up and what you need to improve on,” he said. “Obviously those are the two top teams, they always seem to be in the finals every year so those are the teams you want to measure yourself against.”

18

Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com

The Clock is Ticking The implications of new CTE research are too hard for leagues to ignore Jason Pchajek, staff

Implications for sport

graphic by ernest zarzuela

I

n November, an article was pub- tion evaluations to evaluate memory, the previous year due to heart failure. addictive behaviours seen in Boogard, lished in the medical journal depression, and anxiety.

Four months after Boogaard’s depression seen in Rypien and Belak, Neurosurgery by a team of researchFollowing McNeill’s death, a post- death, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak and sometimes violent outbursts like ers in the U.S. who reported a land- mortem autopsy was conducted and - fellow NHLers who played a simi- those of former wrestler Chris Benoit mark achievement in the quest for a found an increase in tau proteins lar enforcer style of hockey - both - who was also found to have CTE. method to diagnose chronic trau- throughout his entire brain, show- committed suicide. They were 27 and To date the number of athletes matic encephalopathy (CTE) in liv- ing degeneration.

35 respectively. The deaths of these affected by CTE is hard to pin ing patients.

The researchers concluded [F-18] players - who both exhibited men- down, but recent reports indicate “We present a modality that may FDDNP-PET may have significant tal health issues similar to Boogard that as many as 99 per cent of former, be instrumental to the definitive value in the ability to conclusively - raised serious questions about the deceased NFL players tested were diagnosis of CTE in living patients,” diagnose the accumulation of tau pro- role of enforcers, and more impor- found to have the disease. the researchers stated in the article. tein in diseases such as CTE in living tantly head trauma, in hockey.

It is also important to note that The paper carried forward research patients, and can detect distinct, difCTE does not only affect athletes published in 2013 in which the authors ferential distributions of tau proteins in contact sports. In 2012, former found patterns in markers seen dur- in the brain. They were also able to “I have no recollection Cincinnati Red and Toronto Blue ing MRIs, they used to presumptively tentatively confirm the distinct finJay, Ryan Freel, was found to have of anything that diagnose CTE in a living patient, gerprint of tau pathology left by CTE, CTE following his suicide. Freel was consistent with a probable psychiatric by comparing the brain scans and known for putting his body on the happened before diagnosis. Following the passing of post-mortem autopsy. The authors line, laying out to make catches and the patient, later revealed to be Fred said that these results, while only sacrificing his body to snag balls at game six, [in] game McNeill, a former Minnesota Viking based on a single individual, warrant the outfield walls. He was also known linebacker, post-mortem brain imag- clinical trials to confirm their find- six, game seven to have multiple concussions. ing confirmed that diagnosis. ings and develop diagnostic methods.

Then there is Dave Mirra, a fortwo days after” The researchers conducted an mer BMX superstar, who commitPaul Kariya, NHL [F-18]FDDNP-PET brain scan on The prevalence of CTE ted suicide in February 2016. Mirra McNeill about four years prior to his On May 13, 2011, Derek Boogaard was the first extreme sport athlete Hall of Famer death. The scan sends a molecular was found dead in his apartment after diagnosed with the disease, after his probe into the brain, which then a night out with his brother. The brain was tested by researchers from bonds with abnormal proteins, tag- six-foot-seven Boogaard, known by Neither Belak’s nor Rypien’s the University of Toronto. ging them to be seen through PET his well-earned nickname of “The brains were tested for CTE. There is currently very little scans. A similar technology has been Boogeyman,” had died from a mixResearchers have conclusively knowledge on how to deal with used to diagnose Alzheimer’s. In the ture of alcohol and oxycodone. He determined CTE is caused by CTE, short of removing players from case of CTE the molecules bind to was 28. repeated head trauma, often marked dangerous situations, and even less and tag the tau protein deposits charFollowing his death, research- in an athlete who has received numer- is known about identifying it. The acteristic of the disease. ers at Boston University’s School of ous concussions. The disease is caused only way to diagnose an athlete with Tau proteins are essential for Medicine studied his brain, diagnos- by the presence of hyper-phosphory- CTE is currently through posthunormal brain and nervous system ing the former enforcer with CTE. lated tau protein deposits in the brain, mous testing. However, new developfunction, but fold incorrectly and In Boogaard’s case, the disease was which primarily collects in the medial ments like those recently published accumulate in diseases like CTE in an advanced stage, far beyond temporal lobe. may have massive implications on and Alzheimer’s. what would have been expected for This area of the brain is responsible not only diagnosis in living patients They combined the results of the a 28-year-old at the time, and far for memory, impulse control, addic- and earlier treatment of the disease, brain scans with symptom reports beyond what was found in legendary tion, emotion, depression, and anxi- but the future of sport.

by McNeill’s wife, and brain func- enforcer Bob Probert - who had died ety. Trauma to this area causes the

Having a tool to reliably show the markers of CTE, diagnosing the disease years before an athlete’s death, represents a massive shift. It is something that could change the future of many sports, even signalling their demise.

Both the NHL and NFL have come under fire in recent years, with multiple lawsuits by former players cropping up, and the systematic denial of the link between head trauma from sports and CTE. However, in 2016, NFL senior VP of health and safety policy Jeff Miller acknowledged the link between the sport and CTE. The NHL has yet to make any such statement.

The 2016 decision in the classaction suit against the NFL was in favour of the players, resulting in a $1 billion settlement. This was a massive win that represented a huge blow to the pocketbooks of team owners.

A similar lawsuit against the NHL could sink the league if changes are not made.

If the lawsuits do not change anything, then the stars of both sports that are leaving in droves could do even more damage.

With the early retirement of NHL stars like Paul Kariya - recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame - due to head trauma, a simple and conclusive test for a deadly disease could push others to leave as well.

“I have no recollection of anything that happened before game six, [in] game six, game seven two days afterwards,” Kariya said in an interview with TSN regarding the famous hit in the 2003 Stanley Cup Final that left him with another concussion.

He was struck by New Jersey defender Scott Stevens in open ice, and was unconscious on the ground for 48 seconds. It was a hit immortalized in hockey history, as Kariya returned to the game, scoring the famous “off the floor, on the board” goal. Unfortunately it remains a moment in his career he does not remember.

Kariya retired from the game in 2010 following his sixth concussion, and reportedly took a few years to fully recover. Then there is Sidney Crosby - arguably the face of modern hockey and the greatest to ever live - having fans, former players, and doctors questioning his decision to continue playing after his fourth concussion.

The sports world is at a crossroads - or more aptly a breaking point - regarding head trauma and CTE. With conclusive evidence of a link between head trauma and CTE, and the potential for testing that could drive players into early retirement, serious questions need to be addressed.

VOL. 104 NO. 15 November 29, 2017

Sports

19

Gearing up for the fantasy playoffs - part one Michael Bell, volunteer staff

photo provided by eric drost

W

ell fantasy students, we're on the cusp of the fantasy playoffs.

If you're in, congratulations. If you're out, don't be that owner who starts injured players to mess with league competitive balance. Integrity in fantasy football, as in life, still stands for something.

Today's lecture is part one about the fantasy playoffs. If you're looking for secrets to winning championships, there are none. However, there are many paths to get to that fantasy title at the end of the rainbow.

For example, one of my championship teams had Kevin Kolb at QB. Anybody remember Kevin Kolb?

He was the backup QB to Michael Vick during his tenure at the Eagles.

Well, Kolb was so-so in the Fantasy Superbowl, but luckily I also had on my team Jamaal Charles in his prime

and Kenny Britt when he was able to In all seriousness, you can implecatch the forward pass. ment a strategy where your lineup There are many do's and don'ts for is a little more matchup-based. the fantasy playoffs. Here are a few Obviously, don't bench your studs, quick don'ts: but if your team is a massive underDon't start DeShone Kizer in any dog, and your opponent has many playoff match. more fantasy studs than you, take a Don't forget to start a lineup few chances on playing an offensive because you were out too late the player that goes up against a poor previous night... studying. Um yeah, secondary or rushing defence. If you let's go with that. don't have the horses, why not throw Don't start the backup running a couple cheetahs into the mix. back Akeem Hunt in KC instead of And if you're truly desperKareem Hunt. That would be bad. ate, there's always the jinx strategy.

But, believe it or not, there are During this technique, you talk and situations where you could start a text your opponent saying things like, Cleveland Brown in a playoff match. "you got this," "this is going to be an Isaiah Crowell could be serviceable in easy win for you," etc. This is called a pinch. Corey Coleman has a prime a reverse-jinx. There's a small chance matchup against the Packers porous fantasy karma may swing your way, secondary in week 14. And what will but use this strategy only as a last Josh Gordon do when he returns? measure of hope.

In my oldest and most competitive league, I have clinched a playoff spot.

If you recall a few lectures back, I mentioned I've been experimenting with streaming quarterbacks. So far, I've had surprisingly good results. I don't have a stud QB, so I just pick up and start the best signal caller with the best matchup available on the waiver wire. I don't recommend this strategy for everyone, but so far it has been working out. It also helps that I have Alvin Kamara. I drafted him in the 10th round. I practiced what I preached in this instance - reading, watching the tape, and researching.

I also have Doug Baldwin, and to be honest with you all, I may not be starting him in round one. He's been having an OK season, but he also faces Jacksonville in the first round of the fantasy playoffs. That could be a

recipe for disaster; the Jags secondary is nasty good. I may have to start a matchup player in that slot.

In summary, the journey to a fantasy championship is a road paved with many challenges. Some matches feel like your doing 100 on the Perimeter Highway. Some matches feel like you're doing 30 in a school zone. Unless you have all the good players - which rarely happens in competitive leagues - you need many things to break your way. In my final lecture, I hope I can provide some words of inspiration, à la Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday, to help fire up those fantasy players that can lead you to the ultimate glory - a fantasy football championship.