15 January 2020

Remembering Flight PS752

VO L 1 0 6 · N O 1 7 · J A N UA RY 1 5 , 2 0 2 0 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

PAGE 5

2

Index

VOL. 106 NO. 18 January 15, 2019

3

News

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

UMSU VP attends anti-racism conference in Ontario Nation-wide working group to combat racism on Canada campuses in the works AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

versity administration officials and a UMGSA representative attended the conference on behalf of the U of M. “The majority of the room was administrators, and there were only about 30 students in attendance,” said Dela Cruz.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Malak Abas

SPORTS

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

A family affair

BUSINESS MANAGER Alice Teufack

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Burkes join forces at Spengler

ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Pauline Calinisan

ads@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

PAGE 20

EDITORIAL

“The majority of the room was administrators, and there were only about 30 students in attendance” — Jelynn Dela Cruz, UMSU vice-president student life

MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Doering

me@themanitoban.com

NEWS EDITOR Garett Williams

garett@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

NEWS EDITOR Ty Brass

ty@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

COMMENT EDITOR Kenny Ingram

comment@themanitoban.com

ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Grace Paizen

arts@themanitoban.com

SPORTS EDITOR Jason Pchajek

sports@themanitoban.com

COPY EDITOR Matthew Doering

copy@themanitoban.com

ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR Megan Pietrus

megan@themanitoban.com

COPY ASSOCIATE Ursula Chojko-Bolec

DESIGN

DESIGN EDITOR Joshua Wesey

design@themanitoban.com

GRAPHICS EDITOR Evan Tremblay

graphics@themanitoban.com

DESIGN ASSOCIATE Kellie Huynh GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE Ernest Zarzuela

AUDIO AND VIDEO

VISUAL CONTENT EDITOR Quincy Houdayer

visual@themanitoban.com

AUDIO EDITOR Joseph Gonzales

COMMENT

audio@themanitoban.com

Nurses under pressure

PHOTO ASSOCIATE Alex Decebal-Cuza PHOTO ASSOCIATE Ally Gonzalo

Government meddling making a hard job harder

VIDEO ASSOCIATE Nish Joshi VIDEO ASSOCIATE Paul Stabell

PAGE 10

AUDIO ASSOCIATE Tino Hove

REPORTERS

NEWS Gillian Brown

NEWS Damien Davis NEWS Amira Tekle NEWS (INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS) Kayla Lariviere COLUMNIST Cam Cannon COLUMNIST Meagan Hughes ARTS & CULTURE Kaelen Bell ARTS & CULTURE Zachary Sigurdson SPORTS Isaiah Wagner

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS

A “volunteer staff” member is defined as a person who has had three volunteer articles, photographs, or pieces of art of reasonable length and/or substance published in three different issues of the current publishing year of the Manitoban. Any individual who qualifies must be voted in by a majority vote at a Manitoban staff meeting. Elected representatives and non-students may be excluded from holding votes as volunteer staff members in accordance with the Manitoban Constitution.

The Manitoban is the official student newspaper of the University of Manitoba. It is published monthly during the summer and each week of regular classes during the academic year by the Manitoban Newspaper Publica-

tions Corporation.

The Manitoban is an independent and democratic student organization, open to participation from all students. It exists to serve its readers as students and citizens.

The newspaper’s primary mandate is to report fairly and objectively on issues and events of importance and interest to the students of the University of Manitoba, to provide an open forum for the free expression and exchange of opinions and ideas, and to stimulate meaningful debate on issues that affect or would otherwise be of interest to the student body and/or society in general. The Manitoban serves as a training ground for students interested in any aspect of journalism.Students and other interested parties are in-

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

All contents are ©2020 and may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Yearly subscriptions to the Manitoban are available for $40.

MANITOBAN 109 HELEN GLASS U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A N I TO B A WINNIPEG, MB R3T 2N2

GENERAL INQUIRIES & ADVERTISING Phone: (204) 474.6535 Fax: (204) 474.7651 Email: manitoban@themanitoban.com FREE MEDIA: CAMPUS PLUS MEDIA SERVICES Phone: 1.780.421.1000 Email: advertise@free-media.ca

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #589160

PHOTO BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

U

MSU vice-president student life Jelynn Dela Cruz attended the two-day ConversAction: Race Matters conference in November, an anti-racism conference hosted by

Renison University College and the University of Waterloo, hoping to return with new ideas to implement at the U of M. Dozens of delegates including

students, faculty and administrators representing 22 different institutions attended the conference.

Dela Cruz, U of M vice-provost (students) Laurie Schnarr, other uni-

The conference consisted of a keynote talk delivered by University of Alberta professor Malinda Smith, several discussions and roundtables, and panels led by experts, students and administrators.

“A main concern that was brought up at this conference was how a lot of post-secondary institutions bring in task forces and critical working groups that have to do with equity, diversity and inclusion but within these working groups, race is often pushed to the side in order to talk about gender or in order to talk about accessibility needs,” said Dela Cruz.

A nation-wide anti-racism working group was discussed and is in the works, according to Dela Cruz.

Such a working group exists within the university on an administrative level as well.

“This year, myself and Alicia

Kubrakovich [UMSU Indigenous students’ representative], the two of us were invited to sit on the president’s [David Barnard] task force on equity, diversity and inclusion,” said Dela Cruz.

“Over this next year until September, we’ll be in consultation and helping collect data for this campus-wide equity, diversity and inclusion strategy that will be launched on a timeline of mid to the end of September [2020].”

“One of the things that I do want to recommend moving forward is that, during that, running parallel, some kind of equity, diversity and inclusion working group be struck at the largest student body level, so through UMSU,” Dela Cruz added.

Dela Cruz also mentioned upcoming initiatives tackling the issue of race on campus grounds, including this year’s Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visiting Lecture at the U of M — titled “White Fragility” — to be given

by Robin DiAngelo, an education professor whose research focuses on “Whiteness Studies and Critical Discourse Analysis” according to her website.

UMSU, in conjunction with some student groups, plans on holding a “debrief ” for interested students after the talk.

“We will be planning some kind of debrief for students in order to unpack all of the heavy content that gets spoken about during her lecture.”

The “White Fragility” lecture will be held on Feb. 6 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Investors Group Athletic Centre at the U of M Fort Garry campus.

UMSU sifts through participatory budgeting suggestions Inaugural year saw funding directed to financial, mental health supports AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

U

MSU vice-president finance and operations Mbuli Matshe is spearheading an ongoing initiative to incorporate participatory budgeting into the students’ union’s finances, holding three days of tabling in UMSU University Centre to ask students “What would you do with $20,000?”

The first participatory budgeting exercise was held in the 2018-19 academic year. This year’s tabling was held from Nov. 5 to 7, 2019.

“Participatory budgeting is a democratic mechanism where the population in a community gets to decide how money is spent, or a portion of money or fees they contribute to that society is spent,” Matshe said.

“We had over 1,000 suggestions —

over 1,000 students submitted differ- going to scholarships and bursaries, and spaces is going to charging ports their money would be spent,” said ent suggestions,” he said, noting that $3,000 being directed to mental in the UMSU businesses.”

Matshe does not include online submissions. health resources and $1,000 being The idea sprouted from an ini“After running the first trial in Through the initial round of earmarked for “places and spaces.” tiative undertaken by Matshe and ASBC and the arts faculty and it tabling, students submit suggestions “The scholarships were immedi- UMSU president Jakob Sanderson had gone super successfully, when regarding where a when they were we [himself and Sanderson] ran for portion of UMSU executives on the UMSU in our first year we decided funding should be Arts Student Body ‘Why can’t we do this on a bigger “We had over 1,000 suggestions — over directed. council (ASBC). scale with all the students and sort 1,000 students submitted different The suggesThey have since of allow them to have a say in how tions are priorimplemented it on a their money is spent?’” suggestions” — Mbuli Matshe, UMSU itized by UMSU’s larger scale with the In the first year, the exercise was participatory entire student body limited to the Fort Garry campus. vice-president finance and operations budget commiton two campuses In 2019, an additional $10,000 was tee and sent back through UMSU. earmarked to bring the program to to students for a “The idea behind the Bannatyne campus. final vote online. ately implemented,” Matshe said, “the participatory budgeting was to allow A date has not yet been set for the In the year of its inception, a money that was allocated to mental the students in our faculty to have a electronic vote. majority of the funding was set aside health is being utilized this particular voice and a say as to how their money for financial supports, with $15,000 semester, and the money for places would be spent, or how a portion of

4

News

VOL. 106 NO. 17 January 15, 2020

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

News

5

Winnipeggers demonstrate against mid-east violence Community unites to organize rally protesting imperialism both within Canada and worldwide GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

the basis for imperialism.

“Anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism are a united struggle,” Wolfe said.

PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER

C

lose to 100 demonstrators gath- rialist war against the nations of Iran, ered outside the U.S. Consulate Iraq and their people.” in Winnipeg Saturday to protest The rally was planned followescalating tensions and imperial ing the U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. violence on Iran.

Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3 by Undeterred by temperatures fall- an unmanned aerial drone attack. ing below -20 C, organizer Esther Additional reports have suggested Wolfe said the demonstration was that the U.S. targeted another senplanned by a number of community ior military official the same day in organizations to “protest the recent Yemen. escalation of an ongoing racist, impe“This is an egregious and crimi-

nal act of war against two sovereign nations and it is only the latest in what has become decades of imperialist aggressions and war in the form of sanctions, active invasion and occupation [and] bombing,” Wolfe said to the crowd.

Wolfe connected the struggle against imperialism globally to movements against colonialism within Canada, calling settler-colonialism

for a foil to explain a military budget in excess of $680 billion in 2019.

“They have to have a bogeyman,” he said. “They have to have Americans scared. They have to scare them.”

“They have to have a Acknowledging the unintentional shooting down of Flight PS752 by the bogey-man” Iranian military last week — which — Terry Nelson, killed 5 U of M community members, including alumni, a graduate former grand chief, student and an International College Southern Chiefs’ of Manitoba Student — Nelson said he feared the incident marked the Association beginning of “a lot of innocent people dying.”

Fariba Eghtedari, an Iranian who has lived in Canada for years, spoke “We stand here today with all peo- in honour of “those who will never ple and nations oppressed by Western return home, those who will never imperialism and colonialism. Iran, embrace their loved ones.”

Iraq and the Indigenous people and “We also extend our deepest symnations of Turtle Island are not our pathy and condolences to the people enemy — our enemy is colonialism. of Iran and especially to the families Our enemy is imperialism. And our of the victims of this horrific incienemy is capitalism.” dent,” she said.

“This tragedy should not have hapOther speakers included organizers with Winnipeg Police Cause pened,” she told the crowd.

“This is the bitter taste of what Harm, Manitoba Youth for Climate Action and former grand chief of the we’ve come to know from our previSouthern Chiefs’ Association Terry ous experience during the eight year war between Iran and Iraq in the Nelson.

Nelson — who said he visited 1980s in our country. This is a glimpse Iraq and Iran while they were under of the ugly face of war.

“Yes, we fear it is coming back.”

American economic sanctions and saw firsthand their impact — said he does not condemn all Americans but pointed to the administration’s need

Campus mourns victims of Flight PS752 Iranian Students’ Association leads memorial remembering alumni, students GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

F

riends, family and colleagues gathered on the Fort Garry campus Friday to mourn the loss of U of M community members who were on board a Ukrainian jetliner that crashed near Tehran, Iran, Jan. 8, killing all 176 on board.

The campus community has been reeling since learning three U of M alumni, a graduate student and a student of the International College of Manitoba (ICM) were among the 57 Canadians aboard Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 that crashed minutes after takeoff.

U of M graduates Pedram Mousavi, Mojgan Daneshmand and Forough Khadem, graduate student Amirhossien Ghasemi and ICM student Amirhosein Bahabadi Ghorbani were all aboard the aircraft.

Jude Uzonna, associate dean of research in the Rady faculty of health sciences and associate professor of medical microbiology, was a close friend and colleague of Khadem, who earned a PhD in 2016.

Through tears, he described sharing meals with Khadem and said he

was texting with her while she was in Iran.

“Humanity has lost one of its best,” he said.

The ceremony was followed by a those Canadians would be right now candle-lighting for each of the vic- home with their families.” tims and a song delivered by a U of Speaking Sunday at a vigil M student playing a tar, a traditional in Edmonton, Trudeau said Iranian instrument.

Canada would seek “ justice and U of M cultural teacher and accountability.”

Aboriginal student advisor Carl Fariba Eghtedari, an Iranian “Humanity has lost Stone offered a drum song “in the who has lived in Winnipeg for years, one of its best” hopes that it will lift that grief, that spoke at a rally Saturday and called burden, a little bit and to remind us for a reigning in, rather than an esca— Jude Uzonna, that we all carry that, we all share lation, of tensions. friend and colleague that with each other.”

“This is a sample of what is to come “We share in the sadness and the if we stand idly in silence,” she said. of Flight PS752 victim grief that we’re all feeling,” he said. “Therefore, we call upon all the free“I feel that too. In times like this we dom-loving and peace-loving forces do come together like this as a com- across the world to further their Mehrnaz Sadroleslami, president munity to talk about those loved ones efforts to organize public opinion of the University of Manitoba Iranian that we lost.” against [the] escalation of tensions Students’ Association, which took a Shortly after the ceremony, the and lethal conflicts in the region.” lead role in organizing the memorial, Iranian government acknowledged it said that for students so far away from had mistakenly shot down the aircraft home, the university community fills amid escalating tensions between in as family.

Iran and the U.S. after Iranian gen“Our friends become our family,” eral Qassem Soleimani was killed by she said. “We live with them, we an American airstrike Jan. 3. laugh with them, we go around with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau them. We have everything with them told Global News Monday that “If so that is the most important reason there were no tensions, if there was why we are so close to each other.” no escalation recently in the region,

Among the 176 passengers who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed, a number had ties to Manitoba.

Amirhossein Bahabadi Ghorbani Amirhossien Ghasemi Forough Khadem Farzaneh Naderi Noojan Sadr Farhad Niknam Mohammad Mahdi Sadeghi Bahareh Hajesfandiari Anisa Sadeghi Pedram Mousavi Mojgan Daneshmand Daria Mousavi Dorina Mousavi

6

News

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

Community group challenges transit safety study

Winnipeg Police Cause Harm calls for funds to be re-directed to local supports GILLIAN BROWN, STAFF

A

City of Winnipeg request for Tonnellier. proposals to examine transit He noted that Winnipeg transit safety issued this month is drawing inspectors, who respond to incidents criticism from a community group on busses, do not have the authority that argues the study’s premise is to detain individuals and instead have flawed and the funding should be to involve police in cases of violence. redirected toward reducing fares.

He said inspectors and transit police Commissioned by the city’s transit in other cities have the authority to safety committee — which includes make arrests. representatives from Winnipeg Anecdotally, Tonnellier said the Police, the Amalgamated Transit meth crisis the city has experienced Union, city council and other stake- in the last few years has made safety holders — the study will examine an important topic for many people. transit safety models from six similar He said violent incidents and cities and compare them to Winnipeg. criminal activity occur regularly “At the end of the day, we’re enough on transit busses to warrant really asking what sort of security a response. model would be most effective here “It happens enough that it’s conin Winnipeg for transit,” said tran- cerning to all of us,” he said. “We sit manager of operations Randy want to have the best safety and secu-

tion is decreasing — and eventually opposed to lower fares and more abolishing — bus fares altogether. accessible transit, would basically be He noted that cities like Kansas denying the people who need access City, Mo., and Dunkirk, France, have to employment, food, healthcare, all eliminated fares entirely, increasing these kinds of things they need most,” efficiency and lowering assault rates arising from fare disputes.

“We think this is an “We’re not pretending that it’s onefor-one, that they cancel the study opportunity for the and therefore they have enough city to decide on a money to fund reduced fares and eventually free transit,” said Wilt. different direction “It will take a number of differfrom which it’s going” ent policies and revenue-generating devices to get to that point, but we — James Wilt, WPCH think this is an opportunity for the city to decide on a different direction from which it’s going.”

Wilt added.

Wilt also pointed to the negaNone of the student transit tive impacts of recent increases of users who spoke to the Manitoban security in liquor stores and at the reported safety concerns while riding Millennium Library.

Winnipeg buses, but U of M instruc“Based on what we’ve seen in tor Michael O’Brien-Moran said he PHOTO BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA terms of escalation in security, it supports the study. would mean more racial profiling rity model that we possibly can.”

“Even if we have a handful of inciWinnipeg Police Cause Harm of Indigenous and black peoples, it dents,” he said, “we have a signifi(WPCH), a community organization would mean more denial of service to cantly greater number of people who focused on negative impacts of city people who can’t pay, denial of service are going to be concerned about their policing, is calling for a cancellation to people who are using substances safety and it should be determined of the proposal altogether, primar- or exhibiting mental health issues,” on the basis of how many vulnerable people are worried about travelling.” ily opposing prospect of increasing he said.

Wilt added that WPCH will be the power of transit officers and the “It would mean more people stuck lack of community involvement in out in the cold in terms of having to continuing to organize around this the proposal. walk places instead of having to catch issue, including taking its concerns WPCH organizer James Wilt the bus, which in a city like Winnipeg directly to the committee.

“There will be a number of oppordisputed that most of the violence is is a huge public health concern.” rooted in substance abuse, arguing it Other initiatives proposed by tunities for us to speak at council and is fare-based.

WPCH include funding increases committee [meetings] and so we will “We think that by increasing secu- to public housing, safe consumption very likely take those and remind our rity it’s going to crack down on people sites, stronger resources addressing elected officials that this issue isn’t who need help and reduced fares the substance use and mental health going to go away,” he said. most,” said Wilt. issues, food justice programs and “We’re not going to let it happen Wilt said rather than increase income supports.

— not quietly.” security measures, a stronger solu“Having increased security, as

Student groups collaborate on sexual violence resource UMSU, Justice for Women and Robson Hall Feminist Legal Forum behind colouring book AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

U

MSU, the U of M Justice for Women student group (JFW) and the Robson Hall Feminist Legal Forum are collaborating for the third

ate a collection of art and a resource guide to serve as an information hub for survivors of sexual violence and their supporters,” said JFW president Vatineh Magaji.

“It uses art as a medium to empower, heal, de-stress and foster self-love while also providing valuable knowledge about what to do in the case of an act of sexual violence and how to respond to disclosures of sexual violence.”

UMSU vice-president community engagement Kyra Fanning and UMSU vice-president advocacy Sarah Bonner-Proulx are also closely involved with the project through their respective offices.

“Colouring can be very calming and therapeutic and coupling this PHOTO PROVIDED BY JUSTICE FOR WOMEN with information [about] on/off campus contacts all across the province time on “Your Voice Matters,” a and sections that break down reportcolouring book created in solidarity ing, disclosers and survivor rights with sexual violence survivors. allow for students to have access to “The goal of the project is to cre- information all in one place,” Bonner-

Proulx said in a statement.

“Oftentimes information on this

“It uses art as a medium to empower, heal, de-stress and foster selflove” — Vatineh Magaji, Justice for Women president

mitted for last year’s edition, and the remainder of the book contains resources.

Organizers said the response from the U of M community has been overwhelmingly positive over the past several years and the books have been in high demand.

“We are able to bring the books to events like socials put on by different student groups and ‘Slamming the Patriarchy’ from UMCraft,” said Magaji.

“This gives people a chance to cool down and have some time away from potential stressors.”

topic can be challenging to find or difficult to understand, especially in a Once complete, the book will be time of crisis, and this book combines available through various JFW essential information and messages tabling events in UMSU University of support that help educate, inform Centre, or by contacting JFW and reinforce and survivor-centric on Instagram (@justiceforwomnarrative.” enMB) or via email, justiceforTwelve pieces of art were sub- women.manitoba@gmail.com.

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

8

Canada must reconsider its relationship with the U.S.

2019-2020 EXECUTIVES

America’s erratic behaviour should prompt a strengthening in relationships abroad TY BRASS, STAFF

Mahder Teffera

Okechukwu Efobi

HSGSA President

VP Services & Support

Tanjit Nagra VP Academic

GRAPHIC BY ERNEST ZARZUELA

W

ith a standoff between the them into wars, we maintain the order just waiting to collapse. This is U.S. and Iran winding down, world’s longest uninterrupted border, a risk Canada cannot afford to take. it would appear another war has and they are our largest trade partner Economically, we are far more been avoided after a tense week of by a massive stretch. Culturally, we reliant on America than on the rest uncertainty. can be difficult to distinguish from of the world. Canada’s largest trading Unfortunately, uncertainty has one another. The leaders of our two partner is the U.S., which accounts become a defining trait of the U.S. on countries have historically main- for 75 per cent of our total trade value. the world stage in the past three years. tained warm relationships, despite Second is China, with just under five Any number of actions by occasional rough patches between per cent. Our economic future is President Donald Trump come to prime ministers and presidents. intertwined with that of America’s mind. The pulling out of the Paris Canada and America are tied to an arguably unsafe extent.

Agreement, the decision to pull U.S. together, perhaps tighter than any Canada must immediately faciliforces out of northern Syria and other two sovereign nations in the tate stronger economic ties with other abandon its Kurdish allies and the world. But the recent volatility of U.S. nations — a diversification — so pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal decision-making raises the question that any rapid American downturn — a deal that saw Iran stop producing of how tightly bound we should con- or even a use of the relationship as nuclear weapons and, by any measure, tinue to be. political leverage would not cripple made the world safer. The president’s Ideally, the uncertainty of the Canada’s economy. decision to order the assassination of Trump administration is a temporary Geopolitically, Canada has never an Iranian military leader is just the issue that will be resolved by future been in a stronger position, in part most recent in a long line of sudden administrations. It may be a speed due to America’s stepping back from decisions seemingly made with little bump in history, with the election of its role as western leader. But if this consideration of their effect on the the current president being a mistake American isolationism continues larger world. that won’t be repeated. to the extreme, it is likely to leave a As the premier global superPerhaps that is true and, perhaps, vacuum that no other single western power with unprecedented influence, come the 2020 election America democracy is prepared to fill, potenAmerica’s actions are felt worldwide. will see a string of more stable gov- tially leaving eastern Europe at the But no other nation is so entwined ernments that will generally move mercy of Russia or an increasinglywith the U.S. as Canada. toward an era of renewed prosper- powerful People’s Republic of China.

We have had a close bond with our ity and global peace. What’s more While the North Atlantic Treaty southern neighbour for most of our likely is that President Trump is a Organization acts as a deterrent history as a nation. We’ve followed symptom of a broken unipolar world against aggression against the West,

it too is dominated by the United States.

A multinational, multicultural, western-focused organization with free trade and a defensive alliance is exactly what Canada should be looking for Canada should develop trade relationships and strengthen political ties with countries whose ideals and interests generally align with its own.

The nations of the European Union (EU) fit these specifications perfectly.

A multinational, multicultural, western-focused organization with free trade and a defensive alliance is exactly what Canada should be looking for. EU membership does not require a nation to be situated in Europe geographically — Cyprus

is a member of the EU — and it is unlikely that Canada’s entry into the union would be strongly opposed by the members. The entry of Canada could even pave the way for other states who are distant from Europe such as Australia and South Africa.

Even with the United Kingdom set to exit the union in just a couple weeks, the EU will remain a significant force — one which maintains a defensive alliance and many of whose nations have integrated military structures.

It might not have the power projection the U.S. currently possesses, but an EU further bolstered

by Canada would be a powerful deterrent against America’s erratic imperialism.

Canada’s relationship with America should not be abandoned, but it cannot be relied upon to the extent it is today.

If the U.S. is to remain mired in an indecisive, back-and-forth government for the foreseeable future, we must look to form other economic and political ties to both protect Canadian interests and help in maintaining the period of uninterrupted relative peace we reside in.

Cody Ross VP Finance & Administation

Carl Neumann President

Ehsan Tahmasebian Senator 2

Julia Minarik Senator 1

10 Comment

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

S

VOL. 106 NO. 17 January 15, 2020

Comment 11

Manitoba nurses have ample reason to strike

Propaganda campaign needed to fight climate change

Drastic measures are necessary when dealing with irrational actors

Time to act is running out and previous education campaigns have proven ineffective

KENNY INGRAM, STAFF

EVAN TREMBLAY, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY ERNEST ZARZUELA

N

urses in Manitoba are feeling aggrieved, and for good reason.

Particularly at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) hospital, nurses are facing serious issues that are making an already difficult job more difficult.

Because of an adversarial management, nurses are being forced to deal with mandatory overtime shifts and understaffing due to high vacancy rates.

More than this, nurses at the HSC have noticed an increase in the volume of patients overall, as well as instances of violence since the destruction of Manitoba’s healthcare system began in 2017.

More than just being grossly understaffed, the HSC is facing shortages in other spaces — in order to accommodate the influx of patients and alleviate stress, the hospital is in need of new beds in the emergency department.

All of these issues together have contributed to the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) considering “greylisting” the HSC. Greylisting is when union leaders recommend that union members or prospective members do not take jobs at a hospital due to poor working conditions.

The union has only employed this tactic three times in recent years — in 2001, 2004 and, most recently, in December 2007, when it greylisted the Dauphin Regional Health Centre

for many of the same issues seen at HSC today — short staffing, safety concerns and abusive managers.

The tactic worked. By April 2009, the union felt the situation had adequately improved and no longer considered it greylisted. But it’s important to remember that all three times the union greylisted hospitals in recent memory, it was during the tenure of a New Democratic Party government — a government that generally cares about unions and public employees and does not dismantle public health care.

But there’s reason to believe that this off during the closures of three emer- nurses and registered nurses, as well will not work with Manitoba’s cur- gency rooms in Winnipeg. This has as the creation of nursing advisory rent government. led to a situation where nurses are committees — with a mandate speWhen the University of Manitoba leaving the province or workforce cifically designed to deal with nurses’ Faculty Association began the medi- entirely, with a decrease in 550 nurses staffing, workload, practices and ating process for collective bargain- in Manitoba between 2017 and 2018. functions. ing during its 2016 strike, the current The issues at HSC are not an The MNU is in a perfect position government took it upon itself to anomaly. It seems nurses around the to strike. Nurses around the provviolate labour law by siding with the whole province are being forced to inces haven’t seen a wage increase in administration and meddling behind deal with many of the exact same three years and their jobs are getting the scenes to undermine university problems that nurses at HSC are harder and harder. faculty. having to deal with — more mandaWith an adversary, waging a war When it comes to a union-busting tory overtime shifts in exchange for on nurses, in control of the legislature government, a fair collective bargain- less compensation and worse working and hundreds of nurses fleeing the ing process between labour and man- conditions. province, now is the time to stand agement is never to be expected.

With detrimental measures and together and demand that — not The government may also use the a failure to respond to substanti- just at HSC, but in the province as a union’s greylisting as an excuse to ated criticism from an irrational whole — nurses are treated with the The PC-led further ramp up its use of privately- actor like Pallister, drastic action is respect they deserve and their grievgovernment is contracted agency nurses in order to necessary. There are many parallels ances are addressed. fill positions that union nurses will between the austerity of former preGreylisting the HSC alone will at the centre of not take. mier Gary Filmon and the current not fix the systemic, province-wide In April 2017, the province spent premier, Pallister. problems that affect every nurse in so many of the $15,097 on agency nurses. In January In 1991, during Filmon’s tenure Manitoba. current issues that 2019, the province spent over eight as premier, Manitoba nurses went Nurses are some of the hardesttimes that amount. on strike for 31 days — the longest working people and have one of the nurses are forced There’s no reason to believe that strike of nurses in Canadian history most difficult jobs of any profession. to grapple with a government so fond of privatiza- — in response to Filmon’s crushing The last thing they need is external tion would not use any opportunity austerity. They protested deteriorat- pressures like austerity-driven proto further privatize health care and ing working conditions and, in turn, vincial governments making it harder.

A greylisted hospital under a find permanent replacements for a deterioration in patient care, and It’s time for nurses to call for soliBrian Pallister-led Progressive unionized nurses. demanded more power, an improve- darity and tackle the root of their Conservative (PC) government is The PC-led government is at the ment in working conditions and issues head on. uncharted territory. centre of so many of the current issues higher wages.

During past greylistings, the that nurses are forced to grapple with.

The strike was incredibly sucunion has worked hard with a mediaThe government is solely respon- cessful, leading to significant pay tor to solve issues within the hospital. sible for the hundreds of nurses laid increases for both licensed practical

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

T

he Australian bushfire crisis provides a window into a terrifying future.

Accompanying elements which are immediately understandable within a framework of traditional values — the horror of the destruction of human and natural systems by fire on a vast scale — we see an emergence of a powerful and malign assemblage of fossil fuel industries, concentrated media ownership and politicians in the pocket of these industries deploying a modus operandi of insidious disinformation campaigns.

In the case of the bushfire crisis, this has taken the form of baseless claims that the primary cause of the fires is arson, and that Greens politicians have actively worked to hamper fuel-clearing efforts prior to the fires, redirecting public anger from a political class responsible for decades of inaction on matters of great concern to public well-being.

Spread by bots over Twitter, such claims are echoed by credulous, partisan human users and then amplified

by right-wing news outlets like Fox societies to combat the worst effects needed. The result of such is seen in a need for their sacrifices.

News, which aim to control, rather of climate change. The eventual recent survey of Canadians conducted In our own time, in order to ensure than inform, popular opinion in a victory of the Allies in the Second by CBC News — many Canadians our survival, propaganda must again formula which has been established World War was accomplished not who list climate change as a top con- become an accepted tool of governas ruthlessly efficient — such as the only by a concentrated marshaling of cern are unwilling to sacrifice even $9 ance. We cannot wait for people to make sacrifices for the greater good infamous internet campaign concur- the physical infrastructure of entire a month to combat it. rent with the 2016 American presi- nations — in this context, the refusal on their own because they will not. dential election. of Morrison and his ilk to even admit We must actively seek to remake our society on a plan that is sustainable This disinformation campaign that unprecedented climate-related We cannot wait dovetails with a political media-rela- disasters require a change in alloand equitable so as to avoid complete for people to make tions campaign of an odious brand of cation of resources or government and total collapse. This entails the politician — in this case Australia’s policy should be an evident red flag need to remake public opinion. sacrifices for the prime minister, Scott Morrison — — but through concentrated propaTo deny ourselves the tools which who serve the entrenched interests ganda campaigns. those seeking to destroy us have greater good on of fossil fuel extraction. It is these It was recognized then what begun to wield with ruthless effitheir own because same interests, through ecocidal pil- we must come to recognize now: ciency is to doom ourselves to extinclaging of resources, which cause the because victory is deemed necessary tion. Disinformation campaigns will they will not very crises they exploit. A positive for survival, collective support for become increasingly sophisticated, feedback loop is established, whereby those actions necessary for victory politicians and oligarchs will be bolthe sowing of terror and confusion cannot be solicited or left to chance, stered by the confusion and lies they in a population serves to tighten the but must be as aggressively, skillfully By comparison, rationing of sta- spread and the endless terror of biostranglehold on power held by those cultivated. ples was widespread across whole sphere collapse will be weaponized who are the root cause of the terror This is in stark contrast to the societies for years during the time — and this will be successful because and confusion. It is an evil system, strategy of environmental groups over when constant propaganda cam- it is not opposed on its own ground. and not less efficient for it. the past decades, which has relied on paigns reinforced the necessity of sacIt is a grim future, and one certain The Second World War is fre- educating people in the hopes that, rifice for victory during the Second to come to pass unless a wholesale quently invoked as an example of out of enlightened understanding, World War. Populations were skill- societal effort is made to use all tools the level of mobilization required by they will modify their behaviours as fully made aware of the reason and at our disposal to oppose it.

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

12

S

VOL. 106 NO. 17 January 15, 2020

Comment 13

Lowering parking fees in city a short-sighted endeavour

Winnipeg’s crime will not be solved by cop consultation

Proposed cost reduction would take funds away from already-starved budgets

Law enforcement represents an untrusted, oppressive force to many living in the city

MEAGAN HUGHES, STAFF

CAM CANNON, STAFF

The City of Winnipeg relies on service is used by about 7,500 people the revenue from street parking fees who are unable to access Winnipeg to help accrue funding for Winnipeg Transit’s bus system due to significant Transit. If Santos’s proposal becomes mobility impairment or blindness. law, it will see the city lose $2.1 milIn addition to transit, the prolion in funding every year —$1 posed reduction in fees would see million of which goes directly to another reduction in $1.1 million to Winnipeg Transit. the city. In a city that has failed to Yet, the city, with a mayor who is adequately tackle pressing issues like constantly decrying a premier who the opioid epidemic by funding rehacut funding to transit, is now con- bilitation programs and detox facilisidering further cuts at the behest ties, it is short-sighted to cave to the of business owners on the backs of demands of business owners when transit riders. the city is facing serious issues that require millions of dollars in funding.

There are funding and budgeting It is short-sighted to issues already plaguing Winnipeg cave to the demands without the addition of further pressure. Winnipeg city councillors want of business owners to rebuild the framework of how our GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY tax dollars are spent and have referred when the city is to our current budgeting process as facing serious issues he City of Winnipeg is consider- of the city. However, this data will hour, Vancouver charged up to $6 “fundamentally flawed.” ing a city-wide reduction in street not be available until October 2020, per hour and Calgary charged up to The budgeting process in that require millions parking fees after hearing from frus- and Point Douglas City Councillor $4 per half-hour. Further lowering Winnipeg is fundamentally flawed, of dollars in funding trated business owners in Winnipeg’s Vivian Santos has already put forward Winnipeg’s already low rates would but not in the way that councillors Exchange District. Seventy-nine a motion that would lower parking only put the city more out of line with view it. When the agenda of 79 busibusiness owners petitioned to bring rates without knowing what the study the rest of Canada’s largest cities. ness owners takes priority over the down fees in the Exchange District will find.

Business owners complain over needs of the approximately 168,400 by $1.50 — from $3.50 to $2 an hour – To pay for this motion, she pro- lost sales since the parking increase people using transit every day and and return to the hourly parking rate posed that the city foot the bill for occurred, but correlation does not the countless number of people who which was in effect in 2017. changing the parking meters to the equal causation and raising rates does Winnipeg Transit Plus (Handi- constantly struggle with addiction, Shawarma Khan owner Ibrahim new rate. Changing the rate at all not necessarily mean fewer people Transit) is already in need of an addi- the budgeting process is most defi(Obby) Khan claims the McDermot the city’s meters would cost about parking and supporting businesses. tional $1 million in funding this year nitely fundamentally flawed. location has lost sales since 2018, $176,000 alone.

When The Forks began charging for to meet recommendations made by Though the city should look when the parking fee increase But the city fails to take into parking in 2019, visitor parking num- city administration following com- into ways of preserving businesses occurred, and has been lobbying the consideration many of the already bers actually increased. plaints about the service and an in Winnipeg’s historical district — city alongside 78 other business own- existing points of data available.

It’s important that both business ombudsman report. like further expanding bike lanes and ers to reduce rates.

Winnipeg’s current rate of $3.50 per owners and city councillors view the To date, only five of the 19 recom- keeping pedestrian paths clear during The city is already amid a study of hour is already competitive with issues from all angles and avoid short- mendations made in the report have the winter months — it cannot be parking cost to determine appropri- Canada’s other large cities. As of sighted thinking when tackling this been met. solely on the backs of people who use ate parking rates to assign each area 2019, Toronto charged up to $5 per problem.

This failing is despite the fact this essential city services.

T

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

CAMPUS COMMUTE SURVEY

Take the survey.

Make a difference.

We want to evolve your campus commute. Take a five-minute survey for your chance to win a $500 grocery gift card and other great prizes.

Complete survey before January 31 UMANITOBA.CA/CAMPUSCOMMUTE

C

ommon-sense approaches to drugs. eral recommendations on preventing ers — who face declining property more than the lives of people who drug and crime issues often fail After all, the drug and crime epi- what Burrows refers to as “criminal values from high rates of crime — at use drugs, nor the lives of the marto consider the history of policing, demic is not the product of people and anti-social behaviour.” Many the cost of people that use drugs and ginalized people that tend to live in forgetting the hard lessons of the war making morally poor decisions — it is of the recommendations are geared other groups of marginalized people areas hard-hit by crime. No progreson drugs — namely the so-called structural and should be approached toward building community involve- who would likely face the negative sive solution to the current drug and “iron law of prohibition,” the idea that as such. By beginning with an analy- ment in enhancing safety downtown impacts of increased policing. When crime epidemic should involve the as criminalization of drug use ramps sis of the issues that takes the socio- — which in itself is unproblematic. approaching issues of safety, we need police, rather, we should be excludup, so does the strength and danger economic structures that produce Where problems begin to appear is in to centre on the fact that the police in ing them. of drug use. Police-based solutions such issues as its basis, we can move the nature of the involvement being Canada are a settler-colonial instituFurther, according to a recent create a kind of arms race between beyond the common-sense moralism put forward. tion that functions to maintain struc- poll conducted by the Angus Reid the police and those who sell drugs, — the idea that the problem is people tural oppression by force. The police Institute, trust in the criminal justice leading to increased militarization choosing to use drugs, or sell them, are an instrument of social control system in Manitoba is the lowest in the country. of both police and crime, as well as or participate in any other criminal- No progressive above all else. putting people who use drugs at risk ized activity — which only serves to If we want to help make our comRecommendations such as setting solution to the by compromising the supply of drugs. create moral panic, villainizes people up a tipline specifically for taxi driv- munities safer, we should start by lisCommunities should be building that use drugs and has historically ers to inform police about potential tening to them to understand why current drug and their capacity to take care of them- proven ineffective in actually helpcrimes make sense, but only if you this lack of trust exists, and proceed crime epidemic selves without police involvement. ing people. accept that policing, and ultimately together from there instead of insistThere are countless opportunities As part of his anti-crime work the law, can be used toward ends ing on continued police involvement should involve represented by harm reduction strate- with the community organization that are beneficial to the commu- — even as a last resort — as Burrows’s the police, rather, gies — such as safe injection sites — Point Powerline, Point Douglas nity — not just to property owners. report does. and “serve the people” initiatives like community activist Sel Burrows The decades-long experience of the When approaching social issues we should be free-meal provision, mental-health has released part two of his threewar on drugs has demonstrated that like crime and drug use, it’s not excluding them supports and safe, accessible housing part report on recommendations for actions based on such assumptions enough to count on the systems that among others. Ultimately, the goal improving safety in the downtown only serve to make drug use more produced the issues to resolve them. should be removing the conditions area. Part one — which stressed dangerous and increase the militariWe need to go outside of estabthat create these issues — namely disrupting criminality through the zation of the police, making the city lished institutions and build our own poverty, an inevitable consequence of involvement of downtown residents Underneath this series of seem- far more dangerous for the margin- working-class institutions. Building the settler-colonial capitalist system — was released in December, and part ingly common sense, easy to alized people who usually bear the a larger police presence may achieve — by implementing policy that works three is expected to be released in implement recommendations is an brunt of police violence. some extent of immediate results, but toward full employment, strengthen- February. approach to drugs and safety that To be blunt, no property — in we need to ask questions about what ing the social safety net and legalizing Part two of the report makes sev- primarily benefits property own- owners’ or thieves’ hands — is worth this does on a structural level.

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

VOL. 106 NO. 17 January 15, 2020

14

Arts & Culture

15

Jiving and swinging into the roaring ’20s with UMSwing Popular student group and UMSU University Centre staple celebrates its 20th anniversary ZACHARY SIGURDSON, STAFF

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY UMSWING

W

elcome to the ’20s everyone. find a dance instructor — Patricia ested, not just students.

Lindy Hop and Charleston classes PLEx is also a great opportunity While war, violence and envi- Anderson — and in the winter semesThe UMSwing 20th Anniversary on Wednesdays. These are eight for those interested in vintage fashion ronmental collapse seem to encroach ter of 2000, the U of M Swing Dance Open House will take place Jan. 22 straight weeks of hour-and-a-half as many UMSwing members dive more and more each day, maybe there Club (UMSD) had begun. The club in 210 UMSU University Centre. classes, costing $40 for students and into the aesthetic. are some trappings of a bygone era later changed its name to UMSwing Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the $45 for non-students. that aren’t all that bad. as it is easier to say. event beginning at 7 p.m. There will “It’s a lot of fun,” Ricard said.

Power of community For instance, UMSwing — the Like Tse, Vicky Yeung — the be free dance lessons, choreographies, “We’re one of those dance The benefits and community U of M’s local swing and vintage club’s first vice-president — began prizes and live music from the Fort styles that’s very free and fun and Ricard has gained through UMSwing dance group — is celebrating its 20th dancing outside of the U of M. Richmond Collegiate Senior Jazz self-expressive. are intangible. anniversary.

“In high school, a few of my Band.

“There’s different styles, like “Growing up, I never danced or friends and I decided that we wanted Current president Melissa Ricard Charleston. If you like hip-hop and did anything too creative,” she said.

Got to dance to try ballroom the bouncing and “Finally I got a chance to be creative UMSwing began January 2000 dancing,” Yeung a lot of moves like and just be free, I guess you could say. with U of M student Vania Tse, origi- wrote in an email. “My best friend guilt-tripped me into going to that, you might “So this is my way of growing and nally from Vancouver, B.C. At the “Around that time like Charleston. maturing, and becoming my own self the open house, then guilt-tripped me into time there was a major revival of jive I also watched the Then we also have is just becoming a part of the club and and swing dance in B.C. but the craze movie Swing Kids blues, which is the just seeing that you can be goofy and taking a course” had yet to reach Winnipeg. and I desperately slow and roman- people will still take you seriously.”

— Melissa Ricard, UMSwing president “When I got back to Winnipeg, I wanted to also tic style of dance.

Ricard added that when she was baffled as to why there was no learn swing.”

Then we have started university she didn’t have dance club in the school,” Tse said Yeung added Lindy Hop, which many close friends, “then I got into in an email. that by 2004, the Winnipeg dance entered UMSwing through the open is our bread and butter.” swing and I started leaving the house.”

“Every major university has a dance scene had grown and become more house in 2016.

Other events in Winnipeg help “My first year, I went home, I came club — usually ballroom — that com- connected with the greater Canadian “My friend guilt-tripped me into contribute to the group’s activities. to class then went home,” she said. petes nationally if not internationally, swing dance movement. going to the open house,” she said, There is Saturday Swingout at 460 “This is my sixth year […] I spend but U of M didn’t.” “then guilt-tripped me into taking Main Street every Saturday, and in all my days on campus and go home After setbacks due to the U of M’s Programming galore a course. Next term we took four March is the Prairie Lindy Exchange at ungodly hours.” recreation programs policy forbidThroughout this semester, courses.”

(PLEx), which circulates through ding its instructors from student club UMSwing is offering a long list of This semester, UMSwing is offer- the Prairies but will spend 2020 in instruction, the group managed to events and programs for anyone inter- ing jive classes on Mondays and Winnipeg.

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

VOL. 106 NO. 17 January 15, 2020

16

Arts & Culture

Ryan McKenna’s ‘Cranks’ returns to Cinematheque

’Toban turntable

GRACE PAIZEN, STAFF

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

The tragic hilarity of hate mail I

f you missed the Manitoba debut complications of life and why peo- as the mundane lives of the characters of Cranks in October, you luck- ple could be angry enough with their happen. Everything from a woman ily have a second chance to see the own lives to write into Warren’s show. soaking her feet, to a man at work, film at Cinematheque. The film is McKenna’s movie is visually to a dog alone in a running car with best pitched by adapting the open- pleasing.

Warren’s show, slightly muff led, ing lines from Canadian television In a Wes Anderson-esque aes- blasting through the car windows show Letterkenny — there is a town thetic, McKenna’s shots are all exhibits the soundtrack of people’s of over 750,000 people in southern straight-on. This leaves the viewer daily lives.

Manitoba called Winnipeg. These unaware of the entire story, just as are their problems.

Warren didn’t entirely know what McKenna brilliantly Peter Warren’s radio show Action lives these “cranks” led — leaving Line ran on CJOB from 1971 to 1998. the characters’ whole stories up to the captures the audio Warren kept the hate mail he received imagination of the audience. from his call-in talk show in a folder The movie is slow, but this lends — particularly radio titled “cranks.” itself to a representation of reality. — of our lives This is where Ryan McKenna’s Just as life isn’t a series of montages, film comes into play. the audience experiences each munWinnipeg-born f ilmmaker dane moment in the film just as we It gives a sense of contemplation McKenna took Warren’s “cranky” experience them in real life. to how radio — complete with its hate letters and imagined what the More importantly, McKenna bril- intimate conversations on air — lives of these angry people were like. liantly captures the audio — particu- penetrates and exists in our lives as a Shot in black-and-white, Cranks is larly radio — of our lives. Warren’s steady background reel. an elegant testament to the intricate show drones on throughout the film In fact, there is little dialogue

between characters throughout the themselves or from Warren’s delivery entire film. as he angrily disagrees with a guest, The audio mainly consists of snip- dryly answering the next call with pets of Warren’s radio show.

“Action line.”

Though some of the angry letThe treat — if you can call it that ters appear on screen — particularly — of the movie is how much we as a when the film is connecting a char- culture have not changed 22 years on acter to a written letter — these are from Warren’s show. moments that can lead to annoyance.

The hate mail Warren received Depending on the font of the written tells him to “go see a horse doctor or typed letters and how light the that will knock some horse sense into background shot behind the script is, [his] empty skull.”

It also rails against socialism as a the letters vary in legibility — blending into the background and fleeing system that “makes people lazy” and asks “what is this world coming to?” off screen before being read.

However, Cranks’ strongest attribMcKenna’s film makes the case ute is how it deals in bathos — the that Twitter didn’t invent trolls, they hilarity of a situation amidst a tragedy simply shifted platforms. in the plot.

While the imagined stories of the letter writers lean more toward the tragic, there is an excess of welcomed Cranks is playing at Cinematheque humour, either from the angry letters from Jan. 15 to 22.

KAELEN BELL, STAFF

KAELEN BELL, STAFF

ALBUM ART PROVIDED BY BLUEBLODS

Manitoba 150 sets sky alight ALLY GONZALO, STAFF

Manitoba 150 organizers used over 300,000 lights to create the brilliant display currently at the legislature, which kicks off a year-long celebration of Manitoban history.

Bluebloods — ‘Make It Rain,’ 3.5/5

T

he nature of the growing pop music monogenre — music that’s promoted largely on the way it blends multiple, supposedly incompatible genres — means that music like Bluebloods’s debut EP Make It Rain rarely surprises in the ways it clearly seeks to.

However, no matter how it’s presented to the world, the mark of good music is not whether it is new, but whether it makes you think, feel and move. Make It Rain is a fun listen, a body shaker with enough variation in its tempo and energy to soundtrack both a dance party and a contemplative bus ride.

Make It Rain is also fluid music — drums burble gently then churn like boiling water, synth lines snake among guitars, samples and processed voices that rush in cascades settle in languid pools.

The crisp production also plays with enough subtly detailed flourishes to remain interesting on multiple listens. However, the EP has its fair share of stumbling blocks.

The success of artists like Billie Eilish, Halsey and Lorde in their pop-star infancies means that expertly-produced, minimalist genre-devouring tropical-lite pop doesn’t shock in the way it once might have.

While the steel drum-driven, Broadway-inspired dance-pop of “Bad Faith” is likely intriguing to some on paper, the execution renders it not unlike something you’d hear on popular radio.

17

For a collection of songs so rhythmic and dance-indebted, Make It Rain is oddly sexless.

There’s a buttoned up, stodgy sensibility to many of the melodies, as if Hamilton were scored by a finicky basement producer. The guest vocalists, while suited to the material, all sing with the same subdued alt-pop smoothness — trilling and cooing with a glassy chill.

However, the rap break on “Jabberwocky” and shouted vocal samples on the percussive, endlessly energetic closer “Looking for God on Dancefloor in Steinbach” add some welcome texture to the vocal stable.

The Steinbach of “Looking for God on Dancefloor in Steinbach” doesn’t necessarily conjure the Automobile City of our understanding, it reimagines it as a colour-saturated haven of dance, packed with tumbling drums and a thrilling sense of forward momentum.

The weightless jazz-pop duet “Past Perfect” is perhaps the best track here, and Roman Clarke and Heather Thomas make the most of the sparkling melody. It’s a certified earworm, a dewy summation of Bluebloods’s strengths. It’s also, frustratingly, the shortest song on this brief EP. There’s much to love here for fans of stylish, adventurous, capital P production pop.

Those looking for bloodier, lustier dance music — something with bite and danger — might find too little resistance in these liquid arrangements.

Sam Singer — ‘Don’t Mistake Me for a Lovebird,’ 4/5

T

hough electronic music and programmed sounds can have every bit as much humanity as live instrumentation, there may always remain that pervasive belief that real instruments manipulated by human hands say something that little else can.

Thumbs catching briefly on guitar strings, the unheard downward motion of an arm through air as it beats the drum — these are the sounds, or unsounds, of human music.

Regardless of whether it’s true, every once in a while there comes an album that is made what it is by the knowledge that there is human movement behind the notes.

Sam Singer’s Don’t Mistake Me for a Lovebird is one of these deeply mortal records, crafted by a large team of collaborators that lends a lived-in warmth to its sound.

Drums stumble slowly across the floor, with the spacious arrangements playing catch-up.

Twinkling and tumbling in unhurried figures, guitars entwine and unspool while weathered strings sweep across the room, lending an emotional weight matched only by Singer’s communicative, keening vocals.

Singer’s voice is hoarse and expressive, each croak and inelegant phrase conjuring unsaid emotional minutiae, a rough wool of indistinguishable colour.

His songs of heartbreak and loss are believable for their weariness

ALBUM ART PROVIDED BY SAM SINGER

and their understated, shambling grace.

This understated mode also makes the album feel heavy-footed at times, with most songs moving at a patient waltz.

The back halves of “Golden” and “Between Us,” with the latter’s billowing horn revelry, are noted exceptions, both picking up the pace noticeably and shaking the dust that had begun to settle on the otherwise languid arrangements.

While these songs aren’t particularly intriguing nor quite varied enough in pace, they are often overwhelmingly lovely in their simple warmth.

The beautiful “so, i dreamt,” sung

by Giuliana Gold, feels out of space and time, a disquieting, lo-fi piano ballad that spirals upward into the night — though its second half suffers slightly from the introduction of unnecessary drums that drags the song back down to earth.

There’s a delicate ache to the sounds across the record, there in the way the horns curl on the piano-led “Parody of You,” or how the strings shiver and creak on rambling opener “Chair.”

This is a record of great passion played with great feeling.

It’s a testament, whether intentional or not, to the power of the human touch.

Features Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

19

18

Features Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

All eyes on Wet’suwet’en

Winnipeggers gather to protest lingering colonialism QUINCY HOUDAYER, STAFF

Biting windchill and low temperatures were not enough to stop Winnipeggers from banding together last weekend to stand in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, an Indigenous population in B.C. currently fighting the advancement of a pipeline through their ancestral, unceded territory. The intersection of Portage and Main was shut down Saturday afternoon as roughly 75 environmental and

Indigenous rights activists participated in a round dance while others carried signage. The rising tension on Wet’suwet’en territory has been seen as a lingering reminder of surviving colonial attitudes in Canada. As of Monday, the RCMP has established an exclusion zone near the site of pipeline construction, turning back clan members and media who attempt to enter the area.

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

20

Spengler Cup a hockey nerd’s dream for Brendan Burke Alberta netminder talks international experience, adding to already-impressive resume JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

R E H T E G O T

WE ARE STRONGER. PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

U

sually when you make a deal with your dad, it involves chores or good grades. For University of Alberta Golden Bears goalie Brendan Burke, it meant something so much more. It meant he got to play for Canada.

Burke was invited to play for Team Canada during the 2019 Spengler Cup. The tournament features club teams invited from various professional leagues playing against the host, HC Davos, as well as Team Canada who appear in the tournament every year.

His road to the tournament started with a conversation with his father.

“He said if I got off to a good start this could be an opportunity for me this year, and luckily the team got off to a good start and I’ve been playing well,” Burke said.

“A couple weeks before the tournament, when the roster was shaping up, they gave me the call [to] let me know I’d be there as a third this year.”

Burke — the son of Sean Burke, a former NHL goaltender who is now the general manager of Team Canada for the Spengler Cup — was tapped by his dad to join the Canadian squad

for the 2019 tournament.

America, you’re not going to go spend “And to be a part of it — being the Team Canada secured a gold your Christmas in Switzerland to hockey nerd that I kind of am — I medal the U of C goalie can add to most likely not dress.” was just thrilled and super appreciaan already stacked mantel.

For Burke, the chance to rub tive that I got to go.”

Burke is already a Western shoulders with professionals and Team Canada was stacked from Hockey League champion, Ontario wear the maple leaf was too great top to bottom for the 2019 tournaHockey League champion and to pass up. ment, with former NHL players Memorial Cup champion, and he “It’s a hard-core hockey fan’s tour- lined up next to career European can now add Spengler Cup champion nament — especially if you’re not liv- pros. For Burke, there were also a to that list. ing in Europe,” he said. few personal connections among the Burke is far from the only U “It’s obviously a little more acces- sea of new faces.

Sports talent his “There were father has taken s ome g u y s to the Spengler in the room “It’s a hard-core hockey fan’s tournament — Cup. As the I’d pl a y e d especially if you’re not living in Europe” netminder against, played explained, it’s with — Adam — Brendan Burke, University of Alberta become a perTambellini is Golden Bears goaltender fect place for a guy that I his father and played with so the rest of the I was excited to Canadian brain-trust to pluck third- sible and popular over there, but see him,” Burke said. string goalies for the opportunity of if you’re from North America and “Good friend of mine, glad to see a lifetime. you’re a hard-core hockey fan it’s just he made the team.

“With my father being involved one of those tournaments you’ve got “It was great, lot of […] older playthe last four years, he’s taken a [U to follow.” ers I never played with but even that Sports] goalie in the past to be a The Spengler Cup began in 1923 I watched in the NHL like Dan third,” Burke said. and is a major bucket list item for Winnick, Scottie Upshall — they “He kind of looks at it as the per- most major hockey fanatics, played both played in Arizona when I fect league to take a third guy from, in the historic Vaillant Arena. was growing up, and being a kid in so […] it’s probably the highest “If you’re a fan of hockey, espe- Arizona I was big Coyotes fan. Those league that you could get a guy to cially being hard core, it’s one of the are guys I looked up to. go. If you’re playing pro in North tournaments of the year,” Burke said.

“Getting the opportunity to play

with them was once in a lifetime.”

Born in Scottsdale, Ariz., Burke also got to see his father don a Coyotes sweater.

The elder Burke had a stint with the Coyotes from the 1999-00 season to the 2003-04 season.

The Spengler Cup trip was not just personal glory, seeing old friends and crossing something off his bucket list — for Burke it was also a learning experience, and he’s taking plenty of lessons back to Alberta with him.

“I can’t pinpoint one thing that I’m going to take,” he said.

“Any time you get to practice with guys from a higher level, be surrounded by coaches who’ve coached in the National Hockey League or played in the National Hockey League […] you’re always going to improve.”

The U of A currently sits first in Canada West, and with Burke’s international experience the club is poised for a return to the national championship.

“Hopefully I can take some of their skills and things that I picked up into our league,” Burke said.

“Being around people like that can only help going back to university hockey.”

We are committed to ensuring a respectful work and learning environment, where attitudes and behaviours that lead to sexual violence are rejected and survivors receive the supports they need.

Let’s make our university safe and inclusive for all.

RE T N E C E C R RESOU E C N E L O I V TY CENTRE I S R E SEXUAL V I N U SU 537 UM T A 7 2 N A J OPENING

#UMTOGETHER UMANITOBA.CA/SEXUAL-VIOLENCE

22

Sports

VOL. 106 NO. 17 January 15, 2020

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

Bisons shock conference-leading Dinos with split

Go west, young Bisons

Veterans come up huge for Bisons, last place beats first place

Basketball shines as Bisons tour through Alberta and B.C.

ISAIAH WAGNER, STAFF

JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

I

t was a quiet weekend at the U of M campus.

With only the Bisons women’s hockey team in town, all eyes were on Wayne Fleming Arena. But the best action was possibly going down outside the province, as the rest of the herd travelled to Alberta and B.C. for a series of tough tests.

Men’s hockey

PHOTO BY ALLY GONZALO

T

he U of M Bisons women’s hockey team picked one of the best ways to remind the rest of Canada West that it is still here. Facing the firstplace University of Calgary Dinos, the Bisons pulled off a weekend split, sending the Dinos home reeling.

Friday

The score may have been 3-1 Dinos Friday but, without Amanda Schubert in net, it could have been even worse for the Bisons.

The fifth-year goalie was tested early and often, tending the twine under a 27-shot onslaught by the Dinos. But that was not on Schubert’s mind post-game — she only cared about what happened at the other end of the ice.

“I think it’s there,” Schubert said.

“Obviously, tonight we had a bit of a rough start, but if you look at our games there [are] so many one-goal games […] We just can’t put the puck in the net.”

Schubert added she felt the Bisons are “just not getting the bounces” but are playing hard and have improved from the start of the season.

As for Friday’s action, Schubert was under siege in the opening period, but held the fort until Delaney Frey opened the scoring for the U of C. With just over three minutes left in the first, a shot from the left faceoff

circle hit a crowd and was fired on it to the net,” Sichkaruk said. been trying to sell how we’ve had to goal. Schubert made the initial stop, The goal was the first of her U change our game from the last few but Frey was on the doorstep to pick Sports career and made it 2-1 Dinos years when we were loaded full of […] late. fourth- and fifth-year players who I up the loose puck.

A backhand flick was enough to The U of M was unable to cap- didn’t have to motivate.” put the biscuit in the basket for a 1-0 ture any momentum off the goal and The U of M looked great early in U of C lead.

Taylor Beck added an empty-netter the first, causing havoc in the Dinos Frey’s shot was one of 13 Schubert for the 3-1 Dinos win. defensive zone and getting pucks faced in the opening frame, while through to the home-plate area in the U of M could only muster two Saturday front of Durante. in response. Schubert faced just eight It was a night for veteran performThe only thing stopping the more in the second, but the Dinos ers Saturday, as a pair of long-time herd from capitalizing was Durante only needed one to extend the lead Bisons got on the board in a 2-1 win pouncing on pucks and Dinos to two. defenders Holly Reuther t ying up picked up the puck “Honestly, I didn’t think [the puck] was getting Bisons sticks. beside the net The Dinos and walked out through but I just drove it to the net” — Samantha defence could only in front, stretchSichkaruk, Bisons women’s hockey forward ing out to make last so long, Schubert move. as Neduzak opened the The long reach paid off, as she slid the puck past the over the U of C. Megan Neduzak scoring with a rocket. veteran netminder and the Bisons opened the scoring, while Jordyn The puck went down low behind had a 2-0 deficit heading into the Zacharias had the winner to stun the Dinos net, with Molly Kunnas third. the surging Dinos. in pursuit.

This deficit did not last long.

Bisons head coach Jon Rempel The Thunder Bay-born forward Sheridan Oswald fought off was happy with the performance of flipped the puck to Neduzak cutting a checking Dinos defender and his veteran players over the weekend, in from the slot, and she unleashed a got a touch pass over to Samantha especially as the team develops new, one-time snapper that blew past the Sichkaruk. The Bisons rookie got younger talent. left foot of Durante. hold of the puck and lifted it past “If they’re not going, it’s very hard The goal gave the U of M its Gabrielle Durante in the U of C to impress upon the other kids that first lead of the weekend at 1-0, but crease. they have to go and play a certain Annaliese Meier roofed a shot on “Honestly, I didn’t think [the puck] style,” Rempel said.

Erin Fargey late in the first to kill all was getting through but I just drove “Part of the thing this year has U of M momentum.

The Meier goal gave the U of C a boost and in the second the Dinos crashed the net, drawing the ire — and a few healthy whacks — from Fargey. The Alberta-born netminder stood tall in the Bisons crease and kept the game tied while her team struggled to get the puck out of the defensive zone.

The two clubs remained tied through 40 minutes, and in the third period the Bisons looked to steal the win.

With two Dinos in the box, Zacharias took a pass below the goal line and walked in front. She ripped a laser over the shoulder of Durante to get the U of M back out in front at 2-1.

“In our time out before we kind of just talked about keeping it simple,” she said.

“Taking that step out or just stuffing it in — I was trying to shoot the far pad […] but it just happened to go in, so it worked out.”

The U of C rallied with a late power play, but even with the goalie out could not find the equalizer as the U of M held on for the win.

The Bisons will remain at home, taking the ice again next weekend to face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Jan. 17 and 18. Puck drop for game one is 7 p.m. CST and 2 p.m.

CST for game two.

While the women’s team was in tough against a strong University of Calgary Dinos squad at home, the men had a similarly tall order to fill against the Dinos in Calgary. Despite a lopsided game one, the U of M battled back in game two for the weekend split.

Bisons netminder Tyler Brown had a night to forget Friday, with a 6-3 loss to the Dinos. Brown stopped 20 of 26 shots in the loss.

Dane Gibson and Coda Gordon combined for a pair of goals in the first before Jeremey Leipsic scored for the U of M. The Dinos scored three unanswered before Colton Veloso got the Bisons back on the board, but Gordon picked up his second of the night to make it 6-2 U of C heading into the third.

Geordie Keane scored for the U of M in the final frame and the herd ended the night with a loss.

Veloso continued a strong weekend Saturday, potting a pair in a 2-1 win by the Bisons over the Dinos to earn the weekend split. He opened the scoring at 17:08 in the first period and doubled it up to 2-0 with a second-period marker.

The U of C did not back down,

and came back in the third with a goal from Tim Vanstone on the powerplay, but Riley Lamb shut the door to help the U of M secure the win.

Randall again led the herd, this time with 23 points, while Addison Martin led in rebounds with eight Men’s basketball

Sports

23

strong third quarter but the U of M held on for the 87-77 win.

Taylor Randall dominated the floor with a 29-point game, while Lauren Bartlett had a 20-point outing that brought down seven rebounds.

In Saturday’s action the Cougars were able to stifle the Bisons scoring, if only slightly, as the Bisons came from behind to claim an 81-65 win. MRU held a slight 34-31 lead at the half, but the U of M dropped 50 points in the second half while limiting the Cougars to just 31.

Randall again led the herd, this time with 23 points, while Addison Martin led in rebounds with eight.

Men’s basketball continued its Women’s volleyball Coming off a pair of losses to winning ways over the weekend, improving to 11-1 on the season with a the Dinos a week prior, the Bisons sweep of the Mount Royal University women’s volleyball team looked to Cougars. get back in the win column against The Bisons took game one of the the Thompson Rivers University weekend in a 79-70 win. Detailed Wolfpack.

TRU secured the match in straight results were not available at This goal was not accomplished sets with a 25-13 second set and 25-18 press-time.

Friday, as the herd was dismantled third set.

The U of M completed the week- in a 3-0 loss to TRU. end sweep Saturday with a 94-89 The match got off to a less-than- Men’s volleyball win over the Cougars. Rashawn stellar start, as TRU rode a pair of While the women’s team was Browne led the way for the herd four-point runs to bury the Bisons swept, the Bisons men’s volleyball with a game-high 33 points, while 25-16 in the first set. The U of M put team got back on the right side of Cameron O’Hara was dominant up a fight in a 25-22 second-set loss, .500 over the weekend in Kamloops, below the bucket with 12 rebounds. but the Wolfpack closed out the B.C. — if only for one game. match with a 25-12 third set to win If not for a third-set charge by the Women’s basketball in straight sets.

Wolfpack, the Bisons easily could It proved to be a tough weekend Saturday was little better for the have swept TRU off the court, but for MRU basketball, as the Bisons herd, as it failed to secure a single instead settled for a 3-1 win. The U of women’s team also earned a sweep set win on the weekend, falling 3-0 M got the game started off right with against the Cougars. again to TRU. a pair of 25-21 wins for a 2-0 lead in The U of M paced the Cougars in The U of M put up a good fight the match, before TRU battled to a game one of the weekend, holding in the first set — a 25-22 loss — but 29-27 third-set win to force a fourth. a 42-32 lead at the half. MRU had a could not hold off the Wolfpack.

Late in the fourth set, a two-point

PHOTO BY DAVE MAHUSSIER

run was capped off by a Kevin Negus kill to seal the set 28-26, and match 3-1 in favour of the U of M. TRU came out hungry Saturday and looked to blow the Bisons away in straight sets, but a late rally pushed the game all the way to a fifth set, with TRU pulling off a 3-2 win.

The Wolfpack opened Saturday’s action with a 25-20 first set and 25-23 second set to knock the U of M on the ropes. A strong 25-21 third set got the Bisons back in the game and a dominant 25-17 fourth set forced a deciding fifth.

Both sides battled hard but TRU edged out the U of M 15-12 to take the match and split the weekend.

U Sports well represented on Canadian Spengler roster Burke, Faille and Maione don maple leaf, win big ISAIAH WAGNER, STAFF

E

ach year five teams descend on Davos, Switzerland, for the Spengler Cup, an invitation-only hockey tournament hosted by HC Davos in the historic Vaillant Arena.

In total, six teams compete to win the championship.

None are more successful than Canada.

In the 2019 edition of the tournament, Team Canada captured its fourth Spengler cup title in five years and surpassed host HC Davos for the most tournament wins in history.

Canada now has 16 Spengler Cup wins since the tournament began in 1923.

The Canadian squad went undefeated in round-robin play and continued that streak all the way to the finals.

After big games from former NHL players Zach Fucale and Dustin Jeffery, Canada took the 4-0 win.

Fucale finished the game with 26

saves and the shutout, while Jeffery had two goals and one assist to lead the Canadians.

Blue Eagles forward Eric Faille, former University of Prince Edward Island Panthers defender Mathew Maione and current University of Alberta Golden Bears goaltender The 29-year-old Brendan Burke all got the call to represent their country in Switzerland. played four years Faille played the biggest role for at UPEI before also the team among the three, as he finished the tournament with one goal taking his talents and one assist in four games played. to the ECHL Following four seasons in Moncton, Faille turned pro in the ECHL and spent time in the Many other former NHL and pro- American Hockey League with the fessional hockey players took part in Toronto Marlies. this tournament. Aside from Fucale The Quebec native will now and Jeffery, Canada’s victorious ros- return to his team, EHC Kloten, in ter this year had a handful of former Switzerland for the rest of the season.

NHL players, including Scottie Maione had a difficult tournament Upshall, Eric Fehr and Kris Versteeg. on the scoresheet, finishing with zero Alongside these former NHL points in four games for Canada. The names, Canada also carried three 29-year-old played four years at UPEI players from U Sports programs on before also taking his talents to the the roster this year.

ECHL. Former University of Moncton He will now take his medal and

GRAPHIC BY ERNEST ZARZUELA

return to the Kontinental Hockey League for the rest of the season, where he has split time with Kunlun Red Star, Dinamo Minsk and Dinamo Riga.

The final U Sports player was Brendan Burke, who saw no game action for Canada but trained with the team.

Burke is currently playing goal for the University of Alberta Golden Bears and, in 12 games played, Burke has been a perfect 10-0.

He is second among Canada West netminders in goals-against-average at 2.20 but ninth in save-percentage at .895.