24 January 2018

news

Back to our roots Women’s March aims local

news

Reconciliation

sports

Can it happen if public services reinstitute colonialism?

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Page 4

Cougars declawed Bisons sweep Cougars at home Page 16 Comment

Pump the breaks Regulation necessary in ridesharing introduction Page 10 Vo l 1 0 4 · N o 2 0 · J a n ua ry 2 4 , 2 0 1 8 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

Index

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VOL. 104 NO. 20 January 24, 2018

Editor-in-Chief Garett Williams

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

Business manager Sohni Tappia

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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

Design Editor Bram Keast

sports

design@themanitoban.com

Making the big time

Graphics Editor Kelly Campbell

graphics@themanitoban.com

Photo Editor Asha Nelson

Former Bison big men playing down south

photo@themanitoban.com

page 19

social@themanitoban.com

Social Editor Carolyne Kroeker Design associate Kellie Huynh graphics associate Ernest Zarzuela pHOTO associate Chantal Zdan pHOTO associate Quincy Houdayer

Reporters

Arts

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

Wild ride

Emotion-evoking social art

Volunteer Contributors

page 13

Editorial

Student politics:

The continuation of personal drama by other means page 8

Will Gibson Christopher Bryson Stephane Doucet

Erin Meagan Schwartz

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News

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

U of O professor emeritus unpacks North Korean nuclear threat Michel Chossudovsky blames the United States for static peace negotiations Qudus Abusaleh, staff

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n a lecture co-hosted by Peace Alliance Winnipeg and the U of M’s Geopolitical Economy Research Group Jan. 15, University of Ottawa professor emeritus of economics Michel Chossudovsky spoke to students on the dangers of nuclear war in light of heated exchanges between North Korea and the Trump administration over the past year.

A popular figure among anti-globalization activists and founder of the Centre for Research on Globalization, Chossudovsky’s publications and research have earned praise from theoretical linguist Noam Chomsky and several other contemporary antiestablishment intellectuals.

Chossudovsky’s lecture was based on the premise of his recent book, Towards a World War III Scenario: The Dangers of Nuclear War. “Ultimately,” he said, “the whole concept of nuclear weapons has changed from an ideological standpoint and consequently we are at a very dangerous crossroads.”

“It is absolutely essential that we understand that history,” he continued, “and we understand which countries constitute dangers to the future of humanity and that is not an understatement because nuclear annihilation is something that is very real.”

The Manhattan Project and the Korean War

U of O professor emeritus of economics Michel Chossudovsky visited the University of Manitoba Jan. 15 to speak about the dangers of nuclear war. photo by asha nelson

In the 1940s, American scientists had been occupying Korea during working with an initial $6,000 in WWII. Three years later, an armifunds, began organizing a project to stice agreement signed by the North exploit the then-newly discovered Koreans, China, and the U.S. marked process of nuclear fission for mili- the end of the war. tary purposes.

Chossudovsky argued that the As the military potential of the Korean War was the “most devasproject grew more evident and fol- tating” war in world history. lowing the U.S. entry into WWII, “If you look at World War II, the the U .S. Department of Defence Soviet Union, Germany, Yugoslavia, - then called the War Department lost an absolute number - large num- was handed responsibility of the bers of [their] population,” he said. project and began orchestrating “In the case of the USSR it was almost the construction of an array of pilot 10 per cent, but here we are talking plants and manufacturing facili- about 30 percent. ties. As a way of preventing undue “30 per cent of the population of attention, the project was soon after North Korea was killed in the course dubbed the Manhattan Project. of three years’ bombings.”

“The three partners of that Manhattan Project were the United The Korean peninsula States, the United Kingdom, and following war Canada,” Chossudovsky said.

Chossudovsky said that instead of Although Canadians may not be the U.S. pushing for the transition of aware of this, Chossudovsky noted, the armistice agreement into a peace Canada’s integral role lay in supplying treaty between the North and South, uranium, the chief material necessary it instead focused on establishing “a in the making of a nuclear bomb. nuclear weapons program right on Canada “was also privy to a lot the border of North Korea.” intelligence and science on the conFor this reason, the two countries struction of the first nuclear weapons,” are “technically and theoretically” Chossudovsky said. still at war. Chossudovsky pointed The Korean War, which resulted blame towards the United States in the split between the two Koreas, which has “consistently refused to began in 1950 after the communist enter into peace negotiations,” and North Korean army crossed the 38th as such obliged South Korea into parallel - a boundary that divided signing a “joint defence forces agreethe Korean Peninsula between Soviet ment under what is called o peration and American occupation zones fol- control [OPCON].” lowing the surrender of Japan that “In effect, what happens is that the

U.S. has overwhelming power over the entire military apparatus of South Korea,” Chossudovsky explained.

China's international engagement Chossudovsky said. through building infrastructure “That position was reflected in preacross Asia, Africa, Europe, and the vious statements saying: ‘We’ll scrap Middle East and create new foreign our nuclear weapons program if you markets for Chinese products. ensure a peaceful transition.’”

"When the lie “Now, evidently the United States “Is a country with 25 million people and its allies don't want that to occur,” somewhere in East Asia a threat to becomes the truth, Chossudovsky continued. “So that in global security?” he questioned. “In effect, reunification from the point of the minds of all Koreans, there is not there’s no moving view of U.S. hegemony is something a single family in North Korea which backwards. And which they don't want.” hasn’t lost a loved one.

Chossudovsky asserted that the “In their mind, of course, the that’s what is mainstream U.S. narrative on North United States is a threat to their secuhappening. We Korea is perpetuated by the American rity, although they are not in anyway administration to sustain an agenda vindictive to Americans, they underare told that war that emphasizes a maintained domi- stand that this is a political decision.” is a humanitarian Chossudovsky said that the best nance over the region.

“If you read the newspapers and way forward is for South Korea to endeavour” - Michel listen to network television,” he said, recycle the OPCON agreement “they will represent North Korea as in favour of evolving the armistice Chossudovsky, U of some shithole country with no archi- agreement with North Korea into a O emeritus professor tecture, no social services, poverty peace agreement. and so on.

“I don’t think we need to debate of economics “We are trying to represent these whether we are for or against North countries as that they don’t really take Korea,” he said. “We have to look at Chossudovsky said that reunifi- care of their citizens.” the realities.” cation of the two Koreas could help “We have to unite against this establish “an extended trading system Nuclear abolition madness and diabolical agenda which which would go from South Korea On July 7, 2017, a United Nations ultimately turns realities upside down. up to North Korea and then up into” resolution calling for the prohibition When the lie becomes the truth, the Russian city of Vladivostok and of nuclear weapons was passed in the there’s no moving backwards. And into the Liaoning province of China. General Assembly, with 122 countries that’s what is happening. We are told “So in effect, this would become a voting in favour - including North that war is a humanitarian endeavour. trading bloc and eventually it might Korea. The United States, Canada, “Ultimately, that’s part of the lie.” be integrated into China’s Belt and and other NATO members did not Road initiative,” he said. attend the negotiations.

China’s Belt and Road initiative North Korea “is the only nuclear was established by Chinese presi- weapons state that voted in favour dent Xi Jinping and aims to reshape of the abolition of nuclear weapons,”

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News

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

Winnipeg Women’s March shifts focus to local issues Access to childcare, reproductive rights, pay inequality among the issues raised at women’s rally Shaden Abusaleh, staff

“We shouldn't have to, as Indigenous people, be four times more likely to walk out of our house and never be seen or heard from again.”

“We have over 1,200 missing and murdered women across Canada. And that number is almost 200 here just in Winnipeg, and these statistics continue to rise. Yet there’s no resources put in place for prevention to support families” Bernadette Smith, NDP MLA for Point Douglas

Hundreds attended the Winnipeg Women's March at city hall Jan. 20. photo by asha nelson

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undreds rallied outside women across the country, across Winnipeg City Hall for the the globe, and specifically here in Women’s March Jan. 20 as part of a our province of Manitoba, don’t have series of protests that unfolded across access to the same rights, the same Canada and the United States. drugs, the same needs and services Last year’s Women’s March, - [it] is a shame.” which saw thousands walk through This year’s rally occurred in the downtown Winnipeg, was orga- midst of the growing visibility of the nized in solidarity with the Women’s Me Too and Time’s Up movements, March on Washington that saw which aim to draw attention to the record numbers of protesters flood prevalence of harassment and sexual the streets of the American capitol assault against women. the day after U.S. President Donald Priti Shah, a lawyer and owner Trump’s inauguration. of PRAXIS Conflict Consulting, The 2018 Winnipeg Women’s reflected on the importance of moveMarch shifted its focus to local ments like Me Too, saying 2017 was issues affecting Manitoban women, both an exciting and a challenging including access to healthcare and year for her personally. reproductive rights, pay equality, “For so many of us, the Me Too childcare provisions, and issues fac- movement was painful,” she said in ing Indigenous women. an address to the crowd. “And for me Speaking to the crowd gathered it was a painful time because I had to at the steps of City Hall, Basia Sokal, look back upon the early days of my president of the Winnipeg Labour legal career where I experienced so Council and one of the rally’s orga- much sexual harassment that I just nizers, said “Women in Manitoba let go by the wayside. have some very unique issues.

“I didn’t do anything. I didn’t comChildcare is a serious concern in the plain. I had nowhere to go. There was province and we have a crisis. We’re nobody who had my back and I’m still close to 16,000 children waiting for troubled about the fact that I didn’t affordable and accessible childcare.” do anything about it.”

Sokal highlighted access to health In an interview, Shah said her care, particularly for women in the daughter was behind her choice to province’s north, as another concern. attend the rally.

“We want the same access for all “I am the solo parent of an almost women,” she said. “And we want this 20-year-old daughter who is of province not to discriminate against African background,” she said. “And Indigenous women that are under I want her to be moving forward in attack.” a society where she can do whatever “The women of this province she wants to do, she can be paid deserve better,” Sokal added. “All equally for what she does, and she

photo by quincy houdayer

can live free from harassment and discrimination.”

MLA Bernadette Smith on the Women’s March

NDP MLA for Point Douglas Bernadette Smith said she chose to attend the Women’s March to stand

up for the rights of women.

“We’re all human. We all need to be treated the same,” she said.

“We’re a very diverse community but we shouldn't have to be fighting for women’s pay equity. We shouldn't have to be fighting for the abortion pill for everybody.

Smith is co-founder of the Manitoba Coalition of Families of Missing and Murdered Women in Manitoba as well as the Drag the Red Initiative and was among the speakers at the rally. She shared the story of her sister, Claudette Osbourne, who went missing in 2008.

Smith said that when Osbourne went missing, her family did not receive much help from the community and police, saying that “often what happens in the media, our loved ones are portrayed as less than human.”

“That’s exactly what happened with my sister,” she said. “When she went missing, it was, ‘aboriginal, sex-trade, drug-addicted woman missing,’ and it wasn’t until you read into the second paragraph that you actually found out who she was.”

In an interview, Smith noted that issues such as childcare, affordable housing, and addiction are among the many that need to be addressed, emphasizing safety as an important concern facing Manitoban women today.

“We have over 1,200 missing and murdered women across Canada,” she said. “And that number is almost 200 here just in Winnipeg, and these statistics continue to rise. Yet there’s no resources put in place for prevention to support families.”

VOL. 104 NO. 20 January 24, 2018

News

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Jaskiran Dhillon draws attention to Indigenous youth tangled in colonial institutions Noted academic’s Prairie Rising investigates role of public institutions in the lives of Indigenous youth.

Imreet Kaur, staff

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he Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Winnipeg (U of W) hosted New School university professor Jaskiran Dhillon for a keynote lecture to discuss her book, Prairie Rising: Indigenous Youth, Decolonization, and the Politics of Intervention, Jan. 18.

Dhillon, an academic and child of immigrants who grew up on Treaty Six territory in Saskatchewan, is an assistant professor of global studies and anthropology at the New School University in New York City.

She is noted for her study of political movements centred around decolonization, environmental justice movements such as the resistance against Dakota Access Pipeline, and the role played by Indigenous youth within these movements.

Dhillon spoke about Indigenousstate relations and the colonial nature of state intervention policies in the lives of Indigenous youth, which she said are “lived expressions of racism, both obvious and subtle that have resulted in a strained relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents in Saskatoon.”

Visible racism

School to prison pipeline

Dhillon described how the assimilation of the education system and the criminal justice system - to enforce disciplinary policies and practices within schools - has “implicated” students in the criminal justice system.

Calling this a “school-to-prison pipeline,” Dhillon noted that the phenomenon, acknowledged in the United States, occurs in Canada as well.

“Indigenous youth have told me about the palpability of these hostilities when they describe their experiences of moving from the Westside to the Eastside of Saskatoon across the South Saskatchewan River” - Jaskiran Dhillon, author

Dhillon’s book focuses on the city of Saskatoon, which is divided into east and west sides by the South Saskatchewan river. The west side of the city, Dhillon said, is home to Indigenous people living in deepAs schools develop zero tolerance rooted racialized poverty. policies towards violence and any“Indigenous youth have told me thing that can be described as probabout the palpability of these hostili- lematic behaviour, schools involve ties when they describe their experi- law enforcement in discipline, which ences of moving from the Westside Dhillon argued amplifies the scruto the Eastside of Saskatoon across tiny of Indigenous youth in the public the South Saskatchewan River over education system. one of the city’s eight bridges.

“They are often minority stu“They have told me about the way dents, students of colour, or in this business owners stare at them when case Indigenous students that then they enter restaurants, bars, and develop a relationship with the police,” clothing stores they are not expected Dhillon said. to enter, when they break the informal codes of conduct in an overtly Institutional racism segregated city,” Dhillon said during “Historically, Indigenous migraher address. tion to Canadian cities was viewed Dhillon said it was a common with scepticism and fear, solidifying sight to see police officials pull over the belief that their rightful place was Indigenous youth and engage in a on the reserve,” she said. rough line of questioning, which she In 1960, the government of added is a reflection of the "intermi- Saskatchewan submitted a report to nable power of the criminal justice the Joint Committee of the Senate system.” and House of Commons on Indian Dhillon mentioned that her Affairs. upbringing in a “politicized houseThe government of Saskatchewan hold” helped her comprehend the his- issued a statement saying “the day tory of Canada as her parents engaged is not distant when the burgeoning in detailed discussions, about the Indian population, now largely concountry they chose to immigrate to fined to reservations, will explode with her from a very young age. into white communities and present Growing up, Dhillon said she “ a serious problem indeed.” would often see things happening Fast forward many decades later, on the street, Indigenous people a report released by the Department being verbally abused, people yell- of Justice in 2004 confirmed the dising at them in grocery stores, or [in] parate representation of Indigenous department stores being followed.” youth in prisons.

Dhillon pointed out that nationally the percentage of Indigenous

photo by asha nelson

youth in prison sits at about 33 per cent, even though they make up only five per cent of the population. In Saskatchewan, 88 per cent of youth in custody are Indigenous.

Calling it an “astounding” number, Dhillon said that “incarceration rates mirror the intensity of settler-colonial confrontation between Indigenous youth and the criminal justice system.”

In 2014, the department revealed that 28 per cent of Indigenous people over the age of 15 reported being mistreated in the past year, compared to 18 per cent of non-Indigenous people with twice the rates of violent victimization among Indigenous people in comparison to non-Indigenous people.

Moving forward

“It is short-sighted and dangerous to assume that the settler state is simply going to step in and right its wrongs - regardless of how many more inquiries are called or reports commissioned or participatory strategies are developed,” Dhillon said.

Representation politics, she said, does little to shift the dynamics of power if institutions focus solely on the participation of representative Indigenous communities without thinking about operating outside state structures.

“This means we need people working in settler state spaces and agencies

that embody a politicized understanding of Indigenous-state relations and the stronghold state institutions have on the lives of Indigenous youth through micro, everyday actions,” she said.

“Incarceration rates mirror the intensity of settler-colonial confrontation between Indigenous youth and the criminal justice system” - Jaskiran Dhillon In addition to thinking about the structure of the institutions, youth programs, and public services, Dhillon said government should abandon “the language and practice of service delivery and instead” focus on the “realities of colonialism when considering program creation and advocacy alongside Indigenous youth.”

Dhillon said that hiring practices and public programming that make up institutions of higher education need to make concrete changes in

the curriculums being taught at postsecondary institutions.

“The social workers, youth workers, probation officers, nurses, doctors, aid workers, criminologists, and police, along with many novice researchers, are being ‘trained’ within our post-secondary institutions," she said.

"What forms of critical pedagogy are we using to challenge the dominant modes of address invoked in everyday references to Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island? How are we ensuring that the white-washing of our fields of study and program areas are not feeding into the production of a new set of professionals willing to take up the goals of the settler-colonial state?”

Implementing Indigenous course requirements, which the U of W introduced in 2016, is “excellent” and “absolutely central” to advance the learning about Indigenous people and Indigenous worldviews, Dhillon said.

The U of M has debated following suit with its own mandatory Indigenous credit requirements.

“Forcing students to sit in a class that they would otherwise not be willing to take does the work of providing them with some exposure to the history and the politics of the country,” Dhillon added.

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News

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

MSA’s Bandaids for the Soul sheds light on mental illness in the Muslim community UMSU Mental Health and Wellness Week to align with Bell Let’s Talk Day Diana Ubokudom

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he Muslim Student Association but we can help you - we can be the like home.”

(MSA) is hosting regular gather- Band-Aid and be part of the healing “That is the whole point of this,” ings called Bandaids for the Soul at process.” said Hammad. “It doesn’t matter the U of M Fort Gary campus.

Rahma Shahin, a volunteer with what your religion is, what your race The program is aimed at ending the MSA, said she felt that “within is, nothing matters. As long as you’re the stigma attached to mental illness the Muslim community, there’s huge a human being, you are welcome to in the campus' Muslim community, stigma [attached to] mental health,” come and share whatever you like.” and more broadly within the city of which makes people less likely to Winnipeg. speak about it.

UMSU Mental Health and Wellness Week MSA president Yazan Hammad UMSU's annual Mental Health said the group has hosted three sessions since the inception of the pro- “Whether you are and Wellness Week will run Jan. 29 gram in November. to Feb 2.

Muslim or nonHammad said he is passionate Allison Kilgour, VP advocacy, about the cause as he “struggled with said, “one in five Canadians will Muslim, whether mental health problems” and that struggle with mental illness, and of discussing these issues with a group that one in five, only a quarter will you’re brown, black, of peers is more comfortable than receive the help that they need.” white - it doesn’t speaking to a psychologist, which he Kilgour said the stigma surroundsaid is “too formal.” ing mental health makes people less matter to us” Hammad said the sessions were likely to seek help. As such, Mental Rahma Shahin, a not aimed at solving problems, but to Health Awareness Week was help people come up with their own designed keeping this in mind. volunteer for MSA solutions having listened to the lived She said the weeklong event will experiences of their peers. bring together different groups from Rashedeh Naseri, MSA market“We are non-judgemental,” Shahin “on and off campus tabling and sharing director and photographer, said said. “Whether you are Muslim or ing resources” with regard to menthe sessions aim at promoting psy- non-Muslim, whether you’re brown, tal health including many planned chological well-being among students black, white - it doesn’t matter to us. activities and games. and community members through an For us it is all about your problems She noted that students are a open discussion forum. and how we can be a part of the solu- population of individuals struggling She said the program was created tion. And we just want a safe space with mental illness due to stress and to give people a space “to express their where anyone can come and have other reasons associated with being feelings.” a place where they don’t have to be a student.

“We’re not here to give a cure,” scared to speak up.”

“With potential tuition increases, Naseri said. “We don’t have the mediThe slogan for the program is the cost of living and the current cine for your mental health problems “Together not alone, we make it feel job market, as well as the stress of

classes and everyday life, many of our students are in need of more mental health support,” said Kilgour.

Kilgour noted that UMSU had decided to prioritize mental health by constantly seeking new ways in which students could be provided support.

UMSU made sure to include mental health services within its Health & Dental Plan and introduced Empower Me, a free, 24-hour counselling services to all students enrolled in the plan.

Kilgour added that during the wellness week, UMSU will launch a new program called “Speak Up U of M” - a program intended to spark conversations around mental illness on campus.

However, she noted that “access to proper supports is lacking all across Manitoba” and UMSU continues to advocate for changes from the university as well as the provincial government.

Belal Zia, a clinical psychology student at the U of M, said that although the university has resources to help students cope with mental health struggles - such as the U of M Psychological Service Centre there is still room for more to be done, which is “where the stigma piece comes into play.”

“Stigma is definitely a huge challenge, and we're doing the best we can to try to figure out why there is such

stigma surrounding mental health,” Zia said. “I personally think it's because you can't see mental health challenges necessarily and problems you can't see are ones that we have a hard time accepting.”

Mental Health and Wellness week is held simultaneously with “Bell Let’s Talk Day” Jan. 31, an initiative which also aims to promote discussions on mental illness.

Kilgour said “Bell Let’s Talk has been an incredible success” in encouraging these discussions.

“We wanted to include this day in our programming and involve the entire campus community to remind everyone that this is an issue that affects all of us, and that it’s up to all of us to change the culture and how we think and talk about mental health,” she said.

Zia also stressed the importance of creating awareness surrounding mental illness as a way of addressing the matter.

“I think the remedy for that is actually education,” he said. “The more we shed light on mental health difficulties, the easier it is for us to help people get access to services that will help them get better.”

Dele Ojewole appointed CFS-MB interim-chairperson Ojewole affirms CFS-MB’s commitment to continue its fight against expected tuition fee increases Shaden Abusaleh, staff

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he Canadian Federation of in student politics was borne out of dable and accessible post-secondary On Oct. 26, more than one strations “will not capitalize on the hundred students participated passage of Bill 31 in raising tuition.”

Students - Manitoba (CFS-MB) his belief “in advocating for an affor- education in the province,” he said. has appointed Dele Ojewole dable and accessible post-secondary in CFS-MB’s day of action in “We will not back down until as the interim-chairperson fol- education.”

Winnipeg. Students marched from our vision for an affordable, acces“We will not back lowing the resignation of Carlen the University of Winnipeg to the sible post-secondary education in Comegan-Ronke.

The fight against Bill 31 Manitoba legislature calling on the Manitoba is achieved,” he said. down until our vision provincial government to scrap Bill The announcement was made in The Advanced Education for an affordable, a statement posted on CFS-MB’s Administration Act - Bill 31 - lifts 31. The protest was attended by stu- Upcoming plebiscite Facebook page Dec. 16. Ojewole, who a cap on tuition hikes that has held dents and alumni from the U of M, UMSU is currently preparing to accessible postwas the organization’s former deputy increases to inflation since 2012, and Université de Saint-Boniface, the U hold a plebiscite asking UMSU memchairperson, had his new position removes restrictions on course-re- secondary education of W, and Brandon University. bers whether they wish to continue officially ratified Jan. 8 at the regu- lated fees. The bill passed its third “Since then, the student movement their membership in CFS. in Manitoba is lar provincial executive meeting for reading with a majority in the early has grown stronger and we will conVoting in the plebiscite will open CFS-MB. hours of Nov. 10 following an all-ni- achieved” - Dele tinue to pursue an affordable and Jan. 31 at 8:30 a.m. and will close Feb. In a statement posted on the ght legislative session. accessible public post-secondary 2 at 4:30 p.m. Online votes will be Ojewole, CFS-MB organization’s Facebook page Jan. 11, Universities in Manitoba are now education,” Ojewole said. tallied on umsu.simplyvoting.com. A Ojewole restated CFS-MB’s commit- free to increase tuition fees by five per Ojewole affirmed CFS-MB’s polling station will be set up in front interim-chairperson ment to advocating “for an affordable, cent plus inflation annually, starting commitment to continue its fight of the UMSU office in the UMSU accessible, and high-quality post-se- September. against the expected rise in tuition University Centre. condary education in Manitoba.”

Speaking on Bill 31, Ojewole Almost 50 people spoke - fees.

Ojewole is currently in his final reflected on student advocacy against overwhelmingly against - the bill “Bill 31 will not slow us down,” he year in applied computer science the rise in tuition fees. at a committee hearing Oct. 25. said. at the University of Winnipeg and “This past year, thousands of stu- This included representatives from Ojewole added that the organizasaid he feels “extremely privileged dents from across Manitoba worked CFS-MB, UMSU, the University of tion will continue rallying and advoto be serving as interim-chairper- tirelessly to oppose the provincial Winnipeg Students’ Association, and cating across campuses in Manitoba son,” adding that his participation government’s attack against an affor- Brandon University Students’ Union. to ensure that university admini-

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

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UMSU plebiscite is politics made petty The current leadership’s thinly veiled attempt at defederation lacks practical reasoning Shawn Huberdeau, staff

graphic by kelly campbell

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f student politics is the training tion had the legitimate rights to an ground for parliamentary politics, UMSU domain name. The millionthen legislatures across Canada will dollar drama came to an end in midincreasingly look like the schoolyards 2016 after UMSU settled its debt to of the nation.

CFS - an easily accomplished task A motion effectively summoned as the union continued to collect the at the whim of the UMSU execu- CFS levy from students throughout tive - approved by the ever-servile the years.

UMSU council - has set into motion a non-binding plebiscite posing the existential question: “Do you believe UMSU’s current UMSU should remain a member of course of action is the Canadian Federation of Students, at a cost of $14.98 per student per one of self-refutation year?”

The likely causes for the referendum are varied but identically vacuThird was UMSU president ous in nature. First, there was the Tanjit Nagra’s experience at a 2016 2013-14 UMSU executive that tore CFS national general meeting. There, promotional CFS material from Nagra claims to have been verbally UMSU agendas following a dispute harassed by a dual executive of the U surrounding the cost of printing the of W students’ association and CFSdayplanners. The executives deemed Manitoba, as well as laughed at by the the deal unfit to “provide the cheapest national CFS executives. and best service for our students,” a In the aftermath, UMSU counretroactive negotiating strategy wor- cil passed an emergency motion thy of recounting in a number-one mandating its executives pen a letter bestseller. Perhaps, UMSU: The Art demanding an apology from CFS. of the Deal?

In written response, CFS took two Second was the protracted 2013-14 pages to explain that anti-harassment UMSU executive decision to with- measures were offered to UMSU. No hold a total of $993,562.18 in annual official complaints were lodged. The membership fees to CFS, all due to message conspicuously lacked an an argument over which organiza- apology for the alleged harassment.

With this triad of trite events in The logic of institutional lobbying mind, it is clear UMSU’s plebiscite is to enshrine certain group interests is only a means of turning the petty in legislation. As the member of a personal into the political. Fraught national organization like the CFS, with tension for years, the relation- UMSU increases the structural barship between UMSU and CFS is gaining power of students by backing brittle in trepidation for precisely students’ interests with a plurality of the kind of play the current union united unions as opposed to a pluralleadership and its accessory council ity of lone unions. When pursuing are trying to pull off. talks with the federal government, By advancing the plebiscite, exec- UMSU is better off with more comutives may disguise their action as an mitted allies than fewer. innocent appeal for students to carve Although UMSU has claimed out a mandate for the future of the success in opening channels of comunion’s relationship with CFS. Yet munication to the federal government spinning the story this way conve- with other U15 research universities, niently neglects the fact that UMSU such casual collaboration is no proper hasn’t held a democratic mandate for substitute for the activist infrastrucdecades - save the 2017-18 election, ture offered by CFS, along with its less than a quarter of students have massive organizing and mobilizing voted in annual UMSU elections for apparatus. the past 20 years.

In the language of practical realTo anyone with the strength of politik, as student politicians seem so will to watch, UMSU is clearly set- fond of speaking, lobbying ultimately ting the stage for a defederation cam- breaks down into a numbers game paign. This is a sorry state of affairs. or a favours game: who backs whom, In what is clearly an attempt to and who can do favours for whom. make an example of CFS for the CFS has the resources to grapple in application resumés of future par- both arenas. liamentarians, the UMSU executive In desertion of the federation, stuhas appeared to set up its current con- dent lobbying power is weakened by stituents for failure. splintering the student voice into Frankly, UMSU’s current course antagonistic factions. A sad situaof action is one of self-refutation. tion, but arguably a political neces-

sity in certain scenarios. Yet UMSU’s interests here are not formally political - they take the character of righteous revenge. Having been wronged, UMSU is now preparing for retaliation. While this moment of political theatre may be one worthy of laughter by its victors over dimly lit bar tables long into the future, it will do little to avail the fight for free tuition, increasing the quality of academic work at our universities, and building stronger student supports on campus.

But since when has UMSU been concerned with any of that?

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

Kathleen Wynne’s long road to June Will the Ontario premier survive election, or will she face the same reckoning as Greg Selinger in 2016?

Levi Garber, staff

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n unpopular premier whose party has been in power for more than 14 years is under threat of losing an upcoming election to the PCs. No, this is not a reference to Greg Selinger and the Manitoba NDP of 2016.

This time it’s Ontario Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne who is in trouble.

Wynne and the Ontario Liberals - who have been in power since 2003 - are facing a provincial election in June and the odds, like Selinger’s in 2016, are not in their favour.

As a sort of pre-campaign campaign strategy, Wynne has been crisscrossing Ontario hosting town hall meetings since the end of 2017, taking open questions from anyone with a grievance.

Although Selinger never held any kind of Q&A sessions with Manitobans in the lead up to his party’s failed election, one can’t help but think such an event would mirror that of the Ottawa auditorium filled to capacity last week for Wynne’s first town hall in the nation’s capital.

Even before Wynne stepped onto the stage, frustrated Ontarians had trouble containing their anticipation to grill the premier on decisions her government has made over her fiveyear tenure.

How would Manitobans react if they had the chance to ask Selinger direct questions on controversies such as the provincial sales tax hike, his government’s decision to purchase expensive Tiger Dams, or the cabinet revolt that rocked his party to its core in 2015?

That town hall would have felt just as tense as Wynne's. In Ottawa, the spectacle was a miniature version of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s town hall meetings, which have been grabbing headlines across the country since the beginning of the year. A platform situated in the centre of a packed auditorium with a large flag hanging behind the stage - all in all, perfect for a good photo-op.

Trouble is, Wynne fails to garner the same kind of celebrity admiration the prime minister does. In fact, her personal popularity is in shambles, with one late 2017 Forum Research poll giving her a 15 per cent approval rating.

Sound familiar?

Just two months before the Manitoba election, Selinger’s approval rating sat at 19 per cent.

Although Wynne never hiked

Photos by Megan Cowel and Craig Robertson

provincial taxes or survived a cabinet mutiny, her government has gone through a few damaging controversies over her tenure as premier.

Despite the proverbial writing on the wall, don’t count Wynne and the Liberals out like most Manitobans correctly counted Selinger’s NDP out in 2016 Most notably, Wynne’s Liberals privatized most of Hydro One, Ontario’s hydroelectricity provider, a move that immediately brought confusion and frustration to the residents of Canada’s largest province.

The political scandals originating from Wynne’s Liberal predecessor,

Dalton McGuinty, have not helped the party’s popularity either. Just last week, McGuinty’s former chief of staff was found guilty in an Ontario court of deleting government documents in 2013 - just before Wynne took over - to shield the Liberals from fallout over revelations that plans for new power plants were cancelled in the lead up to an election at an estimated cost of more than $1 billion over 20 years.

And on top of Wynne and her party’s unpopularity due to political misgivings with similarities to Selinger’s NDP, there is the fact that the premier is an LGBTTQ* woman.

Since taking office, Wynne has had to contend with both sexism and homophobia. As The Agenda host Steve Paikin penned in April: “Is it possible that part of the reason [Wynne’s] poll numbers are down is that Ontario is a less progressive, more sexist, and more homophobic place than any of us would like to admit?”

All these issues were on full dis-

play as Wynne took questions from almost-balanced budget, all seem to town hall audience members she have helped tighten the polling gap selected at random. Between loud between Wynne and Patrick Brown’s hecklers and a tense stand off with contending PCs. a man in the front row who delivHowever, the road to victory is ered quite the angry, incoherent rant still a very long one for Wynne’s in the premier’s face - to which she Liberals. The most recent polling still stood her ground only four feet away has the PCs leading anywhere from - Wynne answered emotional ques- eight to 16 per cent over the Liberals. tions on elder abuse in care homes, Then again, the election is still marijuana legalization, the Ontario a few months away, and that could college strike, racism, and more with be long enough to turn the tides of professionalism and sympathy. popular support.

Despite the proverbial writing on As Ontarians exited the town hall the wall, it would be foolish to count into the chilly January night, it was Wynne and the Liberals out like hard to tell if many were left feeling most Manitobans correctly counted more confident in their premier or Selinger’s NDP out in 2016. if Wynne’s bid for re-election was The Liberal government’s more indeed a lost cause. recent progressive legislation - such Will the coming election prove to as a minimum wage hike to $14 per be a long-anticipated reckoning like hour, expanding health coverage for April 2016 was for Selinger? Or will pharmaceuticals to all Ontarians Wynne pull off a triumphant victory 25 and under, and free college tui- in the face of presumed failure? tion for students from low-income Right now, it’s anyone’s guess. families - have been popular moves.

Those measures, paired with a strong provincial economy and an

10 Comment

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

In the introduction of ridesharing to Winnipeg, a balanced approach is key Regulation is good for both drivers and passengers Kenny Ingram, staff

Graphic by Ernest Zarzuela

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axis are absolutely terrible.

Anyone who has ever taken one knows that they’re often too hot or cold, make you sick with how aggressively they are driven, frequently smell of cigarette smoke, and - above all - are expensive to ride.

legislation originally introduced 30 poured millions of dollars into licensyears ago - dissolved the Taxicab ing that rideshare operators are not Board, and allowed for municipali- required to hold, has lobbied for comties to write their own regulations pensation from the city if companies governing limos, taxis, and rideshar- like Uber and Lyft are permitted to ing applications. operate in Winnipeg.

Naturally, it was strongly opposed If at this point you do not want

by Manitoba’s taxi industry, which the two largest taxi companies to go has long benefited from a govern- bankrupt, or at the very least have We need to be wary ment-regulated monopoly. The price a negative view on the prospect of of a taxi license in 2016 exceeded ride sharing coming to Winnipeg, of the idea that apps $400,000 and the two largest taxi it might be because you are a taxi such as Uber and Lyft companies together controlled 407 driver or owner of a soon-to-be out of 410 standard taxi licenses in the uncompetitive taxi company. Given will have nothing but city.

With a huge financial barrier to public perception of the taxi industry entry and a grotesque monopoly like in Winnipeg, most people in the city a positive impact in this - stifling any realistic possibility likely do not want these companies communities which of competition in the taxi industry - subsidized through their tax dollars allow them free reign it’s no wonder service has been poor to help them compete against ridefor years. sharing companies.

Some members of the legislaWe need to be wary of embracing In no place is this more true than ture - namely former NDP MLA the idea that apps such as Uber and Winnipeg, where the two largest Mohinder Saran and NDP MLA Lyft will have nothing but a positive taxi companies each have an online Jim Maloway - went so far as to impact in communities that allow Google rating of under two stars, call the bill discriminatory toward them free reign. This is not the case based on over 300 reviews each. For the East Indian community, given - not by far, according to the experithose without a vehicle, public transit Indo-Canadians form a large por- ence of cities that have already walked and taxis are the only realistic option tion of taxi drivers. Yet there is noth- the path Winnipeg is about to start for transportation in cold weather and ing inherently discriminatory about down. for long distances. allowing municipal governments to What apps like Uber do is classify This is all set to change, however, regulate an aspect of the transporta- the people who drive for them as priwith a bill passed in the legislature tion sector. It is done in almost every vate contractors rather than employunder the Progressive Conservatives. other major city in Canada. ees, a legal distinction which allows Bill 30 repealed The Taxicab Act The taxi industry, having already the company to avoid a great deal of

labour regulations. Surely, though, Uber and Lyft drivers are employees, not contractors. It’s important to recognize that as employees, drivers for these companies deserve to be treated fairly - the same way an employee at any other company would be.

It would be naive to think that Uber, as soon as it has achieved market domination, will not then raise its prices Uber has alleged - and recently lost a case based on this position in the European Court of Justice - that they are merely a technology platform, rather than a transport service.

Uber’s European legal battle was just an attempt to avoid the laws and regulations which transportation services like taxis and limos have to abide by. If Uber and Lyft want to compete in the market, then they must be regulated the same way other transportation companies are to keep competition as fair as possible. This

ultimately leads to the best product for consumers.

Currently, Uber is only succeeding on the market because its business model is built around dodging government regulations. Much like Amazon, Uber operates at a loss, and relies on a stream of external investments so that it does not immediately need to make a profit. Uber prices its services well under the market rates, allowing it to drive any pesky competitors out of business.

It would be naive to think that Uber, as soon as it has achieved market domination, will not then raise its prices.

Uber recently claimed that some regulations may prevent it from coming to Winnipeg: specifically, licensing. Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) submitted a document in Dec. 2017 detailing how it planned to roll out licensing for ridesharing apps.

Licensing would be in the form of “vehicle for hire insurance packages,” with plans available for different allotments of estimated work time, all purchased by individual drivers instead of Uber’s preferred method of purchasing blanket insurance through the corporation.

Uber is opposed to any kind of barrier to entry that is not exactly what it wants. It is a multinational corporation concerned with its bottom line, not whether or not drivers are adequately protected in cases of costly accidents. This is all despite the fact that licensing packages offered to Uber drivers would be a quarter of the price of those offered to taxi drivers, where a taxi and Uber driver work identical hours.

It’s important to remember that other large businesses have played these types of games before. A corporation like Uber is not likely to pass up one of the largest cities in Canada as a market because of a few regulatory battles when it has overcome others in the past.

What would happen if there were little or no regulation placed on ridesharing apps? This would result in a company in charge of policing itself - where employees are treated poorly, customers are not protected, employees are not suspended for violating terms and conditions. Companies require external sources of authority to impose standards, given that the motivating drive for any corporation is self-interest and profit. Without regulation, any conflict between selfimposed standards and profit would be resolved by appeal to the almighty dollar.

Regulations proposed by MPI and city council are for everyone’s benefit and safety. Let’s not be blinded by the dream of imagined greener grass just because our current taxi system is less than ideal.

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

comic by stephane doucet

Arts & Culture

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

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

Jen Doerksen, staff

Christopher Bryson

Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds EP 1 & 2 4.5/5

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n May 19 of last year, Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds released two self-titled EPs on the same day. The first sung in English and the second in French, both are home to the band’s signature style of blues-infused, soulful funk.

Brémault’s vocals are always strong, with an edge that always seems to suit the music perfectly.

photo by Jen Doerksen

Alex Edkins sounds almost soft in comparison to the distorted electric tones of the guitar. He sounds like he is shouting, but shouting in a controlled way - which can make a big difference for listeners because Edkins’ angry vocals do not sound like they hurt.

The strong guitar and bass tones present throughout pull the listener into the album’s undercurrent of grunge, an undercurrent that is stronger when the band’s tempo slows. These guys manage to merge the classic heavy and slow sound of grunge with punk’s reputation for being infused with an angry energy.

METZ Strange Peace 5/5

of Wires,” which kicks right into an abrasive, gut-driven sound. The guitar and bass play in an attempt create some semblance of melody. oronto-based punk thrashers Short arpeggio-like lifts in guitar METZ played a packed show act like a breath of fresh air between at The Good Will Social Club Jan. the suffocating barrage of chorus 18. The band’s most recent album, and verse. Shouts of “And it feels Strange Peace, reached number one so long” break the song from its on CJUM’s Loud charts the week organized construction to a noisy, of Jan. 8, and for good reason. The chaotic ending. album offers the classic raucous “Drained Lake” keeps the beats METZ sound, with some well- per minute steady, offering hardly placed soft and subtle moments in a moment of rest between songs. the middle of its chaos.

It opens with a less familiar tinny The performance at The Good and percussive sounding guitar.

Will Social Club allowed audiences Heavy and hard snare hits puncto hear Strange Peace at its intended tuate each bar on beats two and four. volume. A packed, hot Good Will The consistent vocal shouting over is the perfect setting for an unbear- chugging guitar riffs pause only to ably loud punk band to rip away let more noise through from each on a Thursday night. About three instrument. songs into the set, Edkins encourThe album has all the grit and aged some movement in the crowd, anger that punk music is known for, and from then on photographers plus an extra shade of noise. These were pushed over monitors onto guys keep things low and deep the stage space while thirty people in tone, with heavy feeling, and or so began moshing. pretty consistent in the punch-inStrange Peace opens with “Mess the-face beats per minute. Vocalist

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The album has all the grit and anger that punk music is known for, plus an extra dark shade of noise The volume stays high through the rest of the album, though, on occasion, the bass and percussion separate from the guitar for moments of single-sound intensity.

Between three musicians and four instruments (vocals included), these guys manage to create a variety of nuanced and pleasant sounds. The string instruments move between abrasive and loud to just textured and loud, causing a range of sensations at high volumes.

Overall, the album makes for a suitable listen for everyone, from casual grunge fans to hardcore and punk fans, merging the classic anger and abrasion of thrash punk with subtle tonal nuances.

5/5

The band has been gaining momentum. With ample French media coverage from the outset, a buzzed-about show on Live at The Roslyn, and an upcoming second round at the annual Festival du Voyageur, the group is continuing to gain popularity with their first release.

Having a self-proclaimed “delicious sound,” the band lives up to their name. Their style is smooth and sexy, focused and vibrant, each track infused with energy and motion.

“Back on my Roll” kicks off the first EP. The song is a rollicking, funk number with scratchy guitar, trumpet, and sax flourishes, flittering keys, and frontman Jérémie

Brémault’s smoky voice poised front and center. The tune is unmistakably The Hounds once you hear it, and will have any partygoer (or home listener) on their feet and dancing. After a few rounds of the chorus, the song will have wormed its way into your ears for an undetermined length of stay.

“Sound the Alarm” ends off the first EP in the style of reggae set to bubbly funk keys. The song builds as instrumental parts are added, adding a poppy edge yet still grounded in the reggae rhythm section. Brémault’s vocals are always strong, with an edge that always seems to suit the music perfectly.

“Allez-y” starts off the second EP with the same bountiful bounce. It features a booming horn hook that leads the refrain through the rest of the song. The track goes through ups and downs throughout, shifts and tempo changes. The song is a buffet of sounds with harmonic backup vocals, humming and hopping keys, sporadic instrumental bursts, staccato guitar, pattering drums, and an indelible groove, with the same party-starter ethos first encountered in “Back on my Roll.”

There’s no doubt that with these two EPs, Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds are onto something great, by tapping into the soulful and funkified grooves of old and putting an idiosyncratic twist with their modern take. The EP is definitely worth checking out live at one of their two shows this upcoming Festival du Voyageur on Feb.18 or Feb. 23.

4.5/5

VOL. 104 NO. 20 January 24, 2018

Arts & Culture

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Social art performance piece uses music to set the mood for therapeutic car rides Auxiliary Feelings by U of M graduate encourages participants to talk openly and vulnerably as she drives the Perimeter Highway Jen Doerksen, staff

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social art performance by University of Manitoba graduate, and current member of AceArtInc.’s Cartae Open School, Elise Dawson, blurs the line between audience and artist.

Dawson is taking the first steps for her project at Cartae, titled Auxiliary Feelings. The performance consists of Dawson and one volunteer driving around Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway to a specific soundtrack.

The point is to talk openly in a confined space about the performer and participant’s lives, creating a therapeutic artistic experience.

“I’m basically just interested in creating this temporal experiment,” Dawson said.

“So here I am being vulnerable with a stranger in my car that can be vulnerable in turn with me.”

Dawson graduated from the University of Manitoba’s school of fine art in 2012. She has since completed the foundational mentorship program at Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, and a residency at the Performativity of Mortuary Rituals Program at the Arquetopia Foundation and International Artist Residency in Puebla, Mexico.

Dawson said she came up with the conceptual idea for this project following the deaths of a pair of close friends.

“In the past two years, my life, I

have really struggled with my emotions and I came up with this idea as a space where I could sit and celebrate something. A space that felt comfortable to me, that was more about sharing and caring at a primary artistic means of expression,” Dawson said.

“I anticipate really intense conversation” - Kara Passey, Auxiliary Feelings participant “Grief taught me the value of performative acts.”

So far, one participant has taken the ride with Dawson.

“This person is more of an acquaintance, so what she shares with me and what I share with her really only exists in that space,” Dawson said.

Dawson is interested in the role of the audience in the performance, and exploring whether they become an artist alongside Dawson while riding in the car.

The two drove around Winnipeg in the dark, listening to music that Dawson called “depressed.” Dawson said she was surprised at how much

it took out of her.

“It’s funny because I was trying to be as relaxed as possible, but I think whenever you’re sitting with someone in a space one on one there’s a certain exchange, boundaries that need to be navigated,” Dawson said.

Kara Passey is scheduled as one of the next participants. She has known Dawson since they were both students in the school of art, and volunteered on the project’s Facebook callout seeking volunteers.

“I really love the conceptual qualities of her work, and how she does performances that aren't necessarily for the benefit of an audience to view, but more to investigate into vulnerability,” Passey said. photo by Jen Doerksen “Elise and I have also connected on an emotional level over a lot of versation, which will hopefully be Ukeles. She did a lot of pieces in the different difficult things in our lives, therapeutic and come away with some 70s where she shook hands with all so when I saw that she wanted to basi- ideas for personal growth.” the maintenance workers of New cally spend quality time with peoChantal Mierau, f inance York sanitation services, all the garple to discuss emotional responses and administration manager at bage collectors,” Mierau said.

“Certainly, the artwork exists in a to music, it kind of just sounded AceArtInc. and Cartae Open School like a great way to spend some time committee member, said Dawson’s relationship between the performer together.” method is “very interesting and excit- and another person, who maybe Passey said “despair, or despera- ing,” though not entirely unheard of would traditionally be called audition, or depression” would be the in performance arts to use the public ence but they become a participant theme of their car ride. as part of the piece. in the work.”

“Just recently I left a very abusive “It’s not unheard of in performance Dawson said that she approached relationship and healing from that art to break that fourth wall, as they a smaller community on Facebook in has triggered a rekindling of my pas- say in theatre, certainly that happens search of volunteers for this car ride. sion for music that is vulnerable and quite a bit in performance art, even She considers these rides rehearsraw and honest,” Passey said. thinking back to work like Marina als for a larger project envisioned as “I anticipate really intense con- Abramovic, or Mierle [Laderman] occurring later this winter.

Much-needed changes made to winter festival Festival du Voyageur revamps programming Olivia Michalczuk, staff

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estern Canada’s largest winter $65 for adults, $35 for youth 12-17 and as Begonia, Bright Righteous, and festival, Festival du Voyageur, seniors, and those under 12 receiving Jérémie and the Delicious Hounds. will run in Winnipeg from Feb. 16-25. free admission to the park.

Factor in out-of-town bands such Festival has introduced multiple Unlike previous years, tickets as Dear Rouge, Shred Kelly, and much-needed changes to its opera- must be purchased based on par- Current Swell, and this year’s Festival tions this year to make for a more ticular days you would like to attend is sure to delight music lovers. Over successful, smoother-running opera- as there are limits to the number of 150 acts are set to perform over the tion, including exapnsions in pro- people permitted to enter the park per 10-day period. gramming, pricing alterations, and day, a strategy put in place in hopes of Additional ticketed shows will smaller daily visibe presented offtor quotas. site at the Centre Fest iva l is The stacked lineup of local performers would Culturel Franconotorious for long, Manitobain, be worth checking out all on its own. stagnant lines that including K lô result in paying Pe l g a g and attendees being Faouzia on Feb. 17, left out in the cold, and unable to get allowing a greater number of people Justin Towns Earle and Madeleine into tents to see the impressive line- access to tents and performances.

Roger on Feb. 18, and Royal Canoe, ups the festival plays host to every With the expectations that it will Attica Riots, and 3PEAT on the final year. be more affordable for people to bring night of the festival, Feb. 24.

Last year’s 10-day Voyageur Passes young children, the number of indoor were $34 for adults and $13 for youth and outdoor activities has doubled, Tickets are available at Safeway 5-17, but due to slow lines and long including workshops, performances, and Sobeys locations as well as wait times, some may have not got- sleigh rides, and snowshoeing. the Festival info line (204) 233ten their money’s worth. This year, The stacked lineup of local per- 2556, the Festival du Voyageur the tickets are more expensive, but formers would be worth checking office, or online at heho.ca. perhaps more realistically priced at out all on its own, featuring acts such

photo by Jen Doerksen

VOL. 104 NO. 20 January 24, 2018

Arts & Culture

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Sports

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

Bisons trample Cougars Manitoba goalie tandem shuts out Mount Royal Jason Pchajek, staff

Bison goalie Rachel Dyck stops a Cougar shot on net in a shutout win against Mount Royal University Jan. 20.

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he University of Manitoba Bison women’s hockey club swept the Mount Royal University Cougars in a two game series this weekend.

Both games were tight-checking but the Bisons held their opponents goalless to move their record to 14-52-1 .

Friday

The two sides battled in a war of attrition in game one Friday. The Bisons fired 30 shots on the Cougars goal and eked out a 1-0 win.

Following a tight-checking first period where neither side could sustain much offensive zone time, Manitoba came out swinging in the second. The herd sent 19 shots towards Mount Royal netminder Zoe De Beauville - spurred on by three powerplays in the middle frame - but the Calgary product held her ground to keep the game scoreless.

Finally, the dam burst early in the third. Bison forward Allison Sexton fired a shot on the Cougars goal, but her shot was deflected by

De Beauville. Erica Rieder crashed the net, poking the puck free and past the line.

The teams locked into a defensive struggle for the remainder and Manitoba held on for the shutout win.

Lauren Taraschuk made 14 saves in the win, picking up her fourth perfect game of the season and taking a share of third in Canada West with eight wins.

Bison head coach Jon Rempel was happy with his squad’s offensive pressure.

photo by joe oczerklewicz

“We had some good looks, really good looks, especially off the cycle,” he said. “They don’t give up much off the rush because they trap like crazy, but I thought we were quick to pucks and we did a good job.”

Saturday

changes heading into the rematch, and the move came back to bite the Cougars early.

Just over a minute into the game, Bison forward Natasha Kostenko snagged the puck behind the net, spun, and sent a pass out front to Sheridan Oswald. The sophomore settled the puck and snapped it fivehole on Emily Severson to give the herd a 1-0 lead.

Kostenko came back in the second to extend the Bisons lead to two. She dropped a pass to Lauren Warkentin and moved into the slot for a screen. Warkentin’s shot was blocked, Kostenko shoveled a nolook backhander on goal that went post and in to make it 2-0 Bisons.

“To be honest with you I think it was a lucky bounce,” Kostenko said. “I’ve always been the one to score garbage goals, so it was kind of nice to get and it was a good shot

by Warkentin.”

Bisons netminder Rachel Dyck matched her goalie-partner with her eighth win of the season and a 10 save shutout. Kostenko had a strong outing, recording two points - her second goal and third assist of the year - while generating numerous chances.

“She had a couple good chances yesterday and I figured she was close to doing something,” Rempel said.

“She worked today and got rewarded.”

A quick turnaround had the two Manitoba will travel to Regina to sides back on the ice Saturday after- take on the Cougars on Jan. 26-27. noon. Mount Royal started slow and the Bisons took advantage, taking the game 2-0 to earn the weekend sweep.

Both teams made goaltending

Manitoba splits Mount Royal on the road Byron Spriggs earns first shutout of the year in Saturday’s win Ryan Stelter, staff

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niversity of Manitoba men’s hockey earned a split in a pivotal series against the Mount Royal University Cougars this weekend.

Coming off a pair of losses to the first-place University of Saskatchewan Huskies, the Bisons needed to pick up some points against Mount Royal. The Bisons fell 4-3 Friday night, but rebounded for a scrappy 1-0 win Saturday.

Manitoba started off well Friday, holding a 2-0 lead early in the second thanks to goals from Quintin Lisoway and Remi Laurencelle. That all changed in a span of 12 seconds, however, as goals from Tanner Olstad and Jamal Watson levelled things for the Cougars.

Lisoway scored a minute later to restore the Manitoba lead, but Cougar defenceman Jesse Lees tied things up early in the third period.

Lees found twine again in the final

minutes which turned into the eventual game winner.

Bison forward Brett Brooks received a game misconduct for boarding in the loss. Byron Spriggs

made 31 saves.

Spriggs bounced bakc to earn his first shutout the year in Saturday’s win, making 36 saves. Spriggs has made 614 total saves, placing him

second period, with the assists going to Laurencelle and Zach Franko. St. Croix sits fifth in Canada West scoring with 26 points (8G, 18A) through 22 games. Since breaking back into the lineup, Laurencelle has four points in six games for the Bisons.

The Bisons have fallen out of reach for a top-two spot in the Canada West and a bye into the second round, but can still secure a home playoff series in the final stretch. With a 12-8-2 record, the Bisons are in third place in the Canada West, with both Mount Royal and the University of British Columbia nipping at their heels. photo by chantal zdan Manitoba gets the lowly University of Regina Cougars next at third in Canada in that regard. He’s home on Jan. 26-27. Wayne Fleming also played 1174:58 minutes this sea- Arena has been good to the Bisons, son, fourth in all of Canada. who are 7-3 on home ice.

Michael St. Croix nabbed the game winner midway through the

VOL. 104 NO. 20 January 24, 2018

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Women’s volleyball sweep Wesmen, men earn a split Ryan Stelter, staff

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he Bison women’s volleyball team swept the University of Winnipeg this weekend, while the men earned a split.

Despite both women and men winning the Duckworth portion of their series, the Bison basketball teams fell by a large enough margin to give the Wesmen the Duckworth Challenge title.

The Duckworth Challenge was started by Dr. Henry E. Duckworth, a former president at U of W and chancellor of the U of M, in the 1991-92 season as a way to enrich the rivalry between the two universities in Winnipeg.

Women

In the first game and Duckworth Challenge portion of the volleyball games Thursday, the Bisons took out the Wesmen 3-0.

Manitoba jumped out to a 16-11 lead at the technical timeout in the first set. The Wesmen crawled their way back close, but Bison Josie Abbott ended the first set for Manitoba’s 25-17 win. The second set was a carbon copy of the first, with Manitoba again winning 25-17. The Bisons rolled on to win the third 25-19 to take the match win.

Bison right side Kearley Abbott finished with 14 kills and three Bisons

Bison captain Dustin Spiring(#12) winds up for a kill, set by Dylan Sutherland(#1) as Wesman Ethan Duncan(#13) goes up for the block. photo by joe oczerklewicz

finished with 10 or more digs, for a team total of 60.

“I felt we played clean. It’s a short week to turn around after such a hard weekend,” said Bison head coach Ken Bentley, referring to last weekend’s matches against Trinity Western.

“We can’t afford any slip-ups. The teams that we’ve lost to, we’ve been really competitive with. I mean the top teams in our conference, we’ve closed the gap to just millimetres, that’s where we are.”

The Bisons won the rematch

Saturday 3-1, with all four sets closely contested. Kearley Abbott finished with 21 kills and three blocks. Cassie Bujan had 21 digs in the win and now leads the country with 313.

With the series sweep, the Bisons see their record move to 8-10 and are holding on to the last playoff spot in the Canada West.

winning 26-24.

The fourth set continued the trend of the entire match, with Bison Kevin Negus making an incredible diving play to keep the ball alive as well as a huge kill a few points later. Adam DeJonckheere fired home the match point, for a winning score of 25-21.

“It’s a big game. Anytime we play Winnipeg - Duckworth or not - it means something extra,” said Bison head coach Garth Pischke.

“It’s guys that these kids grew up with and playing with and playing against and I’ve seen years where we’ve been ranked really high and they’ve been ranked low and the game is just as competitive.”

Manitoba fell in the rematch on Saturday, losing in straight sets.

DeJonckheere had 12 kills, three blocks, and four digs in the loss.

Vercaigne had a team best eight digs.

The Bisons are now 7-11 on the year and are in the final playoff spot in the Canada West.

Following in the footsteps of the women, the men won the opening set 25-17. The second was much tighter, with neither team able to establish a comfortable lead. Bison setter Dylan Sutherland had some cheeky tips to earn a few points before a Scott The Bison volleyball teams head into Vercaigne tip ended the set 27-25. a bye week this week and will be in The third set was another close Calgary on Feb. 2-3 for a series against one, but Winnipeg pulled ahead 16-12 the Mount Royal University Cougars.

Men at the technical timeout. Manitoba The 10th-ranked Bisons won their clawed back to pull ahead 21-20, forcseries opening game over the ninth- ing a Wesmen timeout. Winnipeg ranked Wesmen in four sets Thursday. eventually forced a fourth set after

Wesmen roll over Bison basketball teams Manitoba surrenders 27th annual Duckworth Challenge Ryan Stelter, staff

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t was a weekend to forget for the University of Manitoba basketball teams, who were swept by crosstown rivals the University of Winnipeg Wesmen.

With the pair of losses, Manitoba ceded the 27th annual Duckworth Challenge to the University of Winnipeg after reigning supreme for four years straight. The Duckworth Challenge was started in the 1991-92 season; Manitoba still holds the edge overall, having won the challenge 17 times since then.

threes back-to-back to get the crowd Wesmen. at Investors Group Athletic Centre Friday night was a tale of two fired up. Randall finished with 29 halves, with the Bisons and Wesmen points, five rebounds and two assists. exchanging leads and remaining The U of M capitulated in the third close. quarter and was outscored by a ridicuThe first half closed with a buzzerlous 24-2 margin. beater three pointer from Bison “I don’t think we could shoot any Rashawn Browne, but the Wesmen worse in the third quarter, that’s one led 47-45. The floodgates opened up thing,” Sung said. “We had a really after the break, with the Wesmen good opportunity to build our mental outscoring the Bisons 47-22 in the toughness today and we didn’t take second half en route to a 94-67 win. advantage of it.”

Wesmen guard Denzel LynchIt was more of the same in the Blair had a field day, scoring 31 points, Saturday rematch, with the Wesmen six rebounds, and five assists.

Women completing the sweep and delivering “We were just mentally very, very The Bisons had the unenviable task the Bisons a 75-58 loss. A poor third soft. We turned the ball over a lot of trying to stop Wesmen Antoinette quarter was again the herd's Achilles and they dominated the glass,” said photo by joe oczerklewicz Miller, one of the top players in the heel, as the Wesmen outscored the head coach Kirby Schepp. “I didn’t country. Miller averages 26.3 points Bisons 27-9. Bison forward Claire see any positives. I thought we were tonight, but at the end of the day Alleyn was dominant for the per game, the most in Canada. Miller Harvey finished with 14 points, nine mentally weak from 1-12 - every guy we’re going to end up on top.”

Bisons, scoring 30 points and playexploded Friday for 40 points against rebounds, and one assist on the night. that played all you can hope for is you Despite Alleyn’s confidence, the ing all 40 minutes. James Wagner, the Bisons in an 86-66 U of M loss.

Following the pair of losses, can learn from it.”

Wesmen crept ever closer to the returning to the lineup after missing “I thought we had some really Manitoba’s record sinks to 8-10 and Bison fifth-year guard and captain Bisons in the standingsafter the U time due to injury, scored 22 points, good looks on her in the first half,” the club sits 11th in the Canada West. Justus Alleyn, who was playing in his or W took another win Saturday by seven rebounds, and four assists. said Bison head coach Michele Sung. The top 12 earn a playoff berth. final regular season game at Investors a score of 89-83. Manitoba stormed The Bisons now hold a 10-8 record “She’s hitting tough shots. We said Group Athletic Centre, wasn’t con- out of the gates to start, leading 19-8 and sit fifth in the Canada West.

‘OK, she wants to go up for 40 we Men cerned about the Duckworth loss. after the first 10 minutes. have to contain everyone else,’ which After being swept by the “I won’t necessarily associate this Winnipeg wouldn’t go away, The Bison basketball teams head into we didn’t do.”

University of Victoria a weekend game with my experience at U of M. grabbed hold of the lead halfway a bye week before heading out to Manitoba started off well Friday, prior, the Bisons were looking for It’s just a stop on the road at the end through the fourth quarter and ran Abbotsford, B.C. for a series against with Taylor Randall hitting two a bounce back series against the of the day,” he said. “They can have with it to take the series sweep. the Fraser Valley Cascades on Feb. 2-3 .

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Sports

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

Browne fitting in as a Bison Rashawn Browne having immediate impact in inaugural Manitoba campaign Ryan Stelter, staff

Bison guard Rashawn Browne (#4) signals next play while bringing the ball upcourt during the the Bison men’s basketball team against the University of Lethbridge Jan. 6, 2018. photo by joe

oczerklewicz

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ailing from Toronto, Rashawn Browne of the Bison men’s basketball team is excelling in his first year on the prairies.

The point guard leads the Canada West with 112 assists and is shooting at 41.3 per cent from beyond the arc, good for eighth in the conference. Browne previously played for the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans, an NCAA Division II school in California, PA. Prior to that, Browne was with the New Mexico State Aggies, a Division I school.

Standing at six-foot-one, Browne is far from not the tallest guy out on the court, something of a change from when he started playing in his younger days.

“Basketball for me was kind of a mistake actually,” he said. “I was one of the taller kids when I was young and obviously things change, but here I am, it worked out.”

Browne stuck with the game,

eventually transitioning from post to guard. It was his competitive drive and tactical know-how that kept him playing.

“I just love the game, for me if it’s water balloons, darts, anything I want to win” Rashawn Browne, Bison point guard “I just love the game. For me if it’s water balloons, darts, anything - I want to win,” he said.

“The tactical side of it I was able to grasp pretty quickly. I’m able to make reads pretty quickly. The fact that I was able to compete at something that I was also good at, you naturally

just love things that you’re good at it.” further from the net. He was helped kind of knows that ok ‘this is what Browne was messaged by Bison out by two Bison seniors, Keith I’m good at, this is what he’s good at’ head coach Kirby Schepp on Twitter Omoerah and AJ Basi. let me do what I’m good at to comafter being released from Cal U to “I came in and they took me under pliment what he’s good at,” he said. arrange a visit. When he first visited their wing right away,” Browne said. “Nobody is really trying to overstep the University of Manitoba, Bison “Keith was a big part of it. He their boundaries and it’s just been football head coach Brian Dobie brought me into the gym a few times, working.” actually took Browne on a tour AJ brought me to the gym a couple After making the run to U because Schepp was in the hospital times, they just showed me kind of SPORTS Nationals last March, after a knee injury. what the game was like.” there are some lofty expectations for “Coach Schepp, when I met him, Out on the floor, Browne looks the herd to make it happen again. he just seemed like a great guy,” he calm and composed. But in actuality, “They sky’s the limit for us. I mean said. he said his mind is racing. anybody can beat anybody on any “I’ve dealt with some pretty knuck“That’s the way I’m portraying it given day so we just got to not take lehead coaches, so he seemed like a [but] in my mind I’m a little bit more anybody lightly but at the same time good guy and the system they had on the go,” he said. “I try to give that we got to know we can play with anyrunning with the ball-screens, I just vibe to my teammates so they can body,” Browne said. loved it, so it seemed like the place remain calm.”

“Earlier on in the season we went for me.”

Browne and his new team- and played a scrimmage against Browne said the level of play in mates have seemed to gel well after Ryerson and it was a really competithe Canada West is comparable to Manitoba had to deal with a signifi- tive game and we can see that we’re NCAA Division II. There are a few cant amount of personnel losses due at that level, we just got to execute.” adjustments Browne said he had to to player graduations at the end of make upon coming to Manitoba - last season. like getting used to the larger key and “We just have a whole bunch of the fact that the three-point line is talented guys and everybody just

VOL. 104 NO. 20 January 24, 2018

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Former Bisons in the NFL Oneymata, Gray find professional careers south of the border Jason Pchajek, with files from Ryan Stelter

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here was a pair of University of Manitoba products playing in the NFL ranks this season.

Former Bison defensive lineman David Onyemata has been in the NFL for two seasons, after the New Orleans Saints drafted him in the fourth round in 2016.

A different path has been taken by former Bison offensive lineman Geoff Gray, who was signed as a priority free agent by the Green Bay Packers in April but was relegated to the practice squad. He later signed with the New York Jets before ending up with the Cleveland Browns, where he suited up for the last three games.

Onyemata made Bisons history in 2016 when he was drafted in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints, becoming the first U of M product to be taken in an NFL Draft.

The Saints sent two draft picks to Washington to move up in the draft and snag the Nigerian-born defensive tackle.

The move brought about confusion within the Saints fan base. Nobody had heard of this mysterious giant from Canada. Many analysts also suspected that with his relative inexperience - he had only been playing football four years when he was drafted - Onyemata would need time to grow before jumping into the league.

But this was not the case, and Onyemata suited up in all 16 Saints games in each of his two seasons with the club. The former Bison had 38 combined tackles in 2017 - 18 solo and 20 assisted - and two sacks. This put him 13th on his squad in solo tackles, but tied for third in assisted.

“It’s just building,” Onyemata said.

“I’m just planning on building off this and just keep building every day, like as a group. Just to have the guys we have, we’re all really close I would say age-wise, so it’s just about building as a group.”

Onyemata’s first taste of NFL playoff action ended in spectacular fashion with a last-second loss to the Minnesota Vikings Jan. 14.

“It’s just what it was,” Onyemata said. “We came together in the second half and just, you know, did our

their jobs and just make it easier for them, you know? That was really huge for the team.”

In his 2016 rookie campaign, the Saints finished with a 7-9 record. This season, they paced a strong NFC South division, going 11-5 to clinch a divisional title, largely due to an improved defence.

“I’m just planning on building off this and just keep building every day” - David Onyemata, New Orleans Saints defensive lineman

photo provided by bison sports

jobs and our assignments and just played ball like Saints football.

“Even though it didn’t end the way we planned it, it’s the way it is you know. We still have the same group

and we’re going to get better and just build off that.”

Onyemata had a tackle in the loss but played well and kept pressure on the Vikings offence. Late in the game

he made a strong push forward and opened a gap that led to a blocked punt.

“It was just pressure up the middle,” he said. “Having the guys go and do

“Just together with the guys you play, once you play with people for a couple times you kind of understand everyone’s in and out,” Onyemata said. “We kind of complement each other.”

Onyemata’s former Bison teammate Geoff Gray spent time with three different clubs in his rookie season.

Gray started the season with the Green Bay Packers, signing on as a free agent after being passed over in the 2017 draft. Gray was picked by his hometown Winnipeg Blue Bombers with the eighth pick in the 2017 CFL draft, despite having expressed his intentions to play in the NFL. Gray was among the players cut from the Packers active roster and sent to the practice squad.

Gray then signed on to the New York Jets practice roster. He bided his time in New York and received an early Christmas gift, signing with the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 14. He appeared in the final three games played by the lowly Browns, as they clattered to a dismal 0-16 finish.