26 February 2020

NEWS

Welcome to blockadia On the front lines of Canada’s reconciliation crisis

Our UMSU

UMSU for You

PAGES 6-7

Connect UMSU UMSU campaign coverage: Page 5

VO L 1 0 6 · N O 2 3 · F e b r ua ry 2 6 , 2 0 2 0 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO BA N .CO M

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Index

VOL. 106 NO. 23 February 26, 2020

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News

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

Students For Consent Culture and UMSU team up

Organizations push for FIPPA changes to support sexual violence survivors AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

“multi-pronged approach” is necessary when it comes to addressing sexual violence.

“One prong is tackling the province’s current privacy legislation […] in place that unfairly limits complainants from knowing the outcome of a formal investigation once completed as well as places limits on institutions for what they are able to disclose to future employers,” she said in an email.

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A cabaret bursting with local talent

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International Women’s Week tradition returns

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PHOTO BY ALLY GONZALO

n external student advocacy orga- economic development and training, nization, Students for Consent and Jamie Moses, the NDP MLA for Culture Canada (SFCC), is behind St. Vital and official opposition critic UMSU’s recent lobbying push for for economic development and trainthe province to make changes to ing, to discuss, among other things, the Freedom of Information and the FIPPA proposal.

These proposals have been in the Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) that it said will benefit survivors of works since the lead up to the 2019 sexual violence. provincial election, where SFCC SFCC is “an organization dedi- and UMSU called upon each of cated to supporting anti-sexual Manitoba’s political parties to comviolence advocacy and activism on mit to platforms making “updates to campuses,” and has organizers and relevant sections within Manitoba’s co-ordinators on campuses across Freedom of Information and Canada, including Allison Kilgour, Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) a U of M law student and advocacy and the Workplace Safety and Health co-ordinator with SFCC. Act — and workplace health and UMSU president Jakob Sanderson safety regulations more generally,” and vice-president advocacy Sarah according to an article from UMSU’s Bonner-Proulx met separately with Manitoba Elections 2019 series.

Ralph Eichler, Manitoba’s minister of According to Bonner-Proulx, a

Manitoba lawmakers to amend FIPPA to make it a simpler process for sexual violence survivors to obtain information on the outcome of their case. They say this process is hindered by the legislation that is currently in place and consequently has a negative impact on sexual violence survivors.

“We feel that by not informing relevant parties after the investigation has concluded that it only makes a very cumbersome […] process even more difficult and could discourage those who have experienced sexual “This is a priority violence to come forward,” BonnerProulx said. for our government “We see this change as one that will work to ensure faculty and staff to support student who have a past record of infractions success by ensuring [and breaches] of this nature will be held to account with new [and] future they have a safe and potential employers and simultaneappropriate learning ously work toward ensuring the safety of our campus and our students when environment” — making new hires.”

Ross Romaniuk, The provincial government has issued a mandate letter to instituspokesperson for the tions addressing sexual violence ministry of economic — according to a statement from Ross Romaniuk, a spokesperson for development Eichler — but it does not indicate any support for a FIPPA amendment in and training favour of sexual violence survivors having easier access to information In September, UMSU, in con- on their cases. junction with SFCC, called upon “This is a priority for our govern-

ment to support student success by ensuring they have a safe and appropriate learning environment,” wrote Romaniuk. “Our expectation is that institutions will align their codes of conduct and harassment policies to ensure the highest level of protection for students and staff. A safe and healthy environment to study and work must be standard and not the exception.”

Student advocacy regarding sexual violence is critical in developing policy geared at preventing sexual violence and supporting sexual violence survivors, according to Moses.

“A lot of times, policy is driven by young people,” he said, “and we want to make sure that UMSU and all the students feel free that they should have their voice on this issue.”

The proposed changes to FIPPA will be a subject of debate at the next provincial NDP convention that will be taking place in the spring, said Moses.

“We’re actually going to be debating this issue and other issues on our NDP convention floor,” he said. “So I’m looking forward to hearing what their debate is and […] seeing what we can do to improve it.”

“I think that there are ways for us to make sure that sexual assault survivors actually can be informed, and I think that is an important part of it.”

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COMMENT

Booked to close

Budget cuts threaten libraries

REPORTERS

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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

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Inuit enrolment lags behind university’s hopes

Admin cites Nunavut curriculum’s incompatibility with program requirements KAYLA LARIVIERE, STAFF

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he number of Inuit students at port worker at the Manitoba Inuit It offers traditional foods to students, the U of M remains considerably Association (MIA), said she believes like Arctic char and bannock, and lower than First Nations and Métis that the higher drop-out rate of Inuit various classes such as creating mitpopulations on campus. students is due to their coming from tens and jewelry.

Since 2010, the number of self- remote communities.

The program also takes students declared Inuit students on campus The move to the city has students around the city to places that have has ranged from eight to 21. In fall leaving their families and often com- Inuit culture.

2019, the U of M had 2,607 self- ing to Winnipeg alone.

“Our key goals are just making sure declared Indigenous students, with “I see them missing their tradi- that the students are staying in school, only 21 identifying as Inuit. tional food, also their cultural aspect and that we’re there to assist them,” Desiree Morrisseau-Keesick, of not being at home, like their fami- said Sammurtok. lead Indigenous student recruit- lies, not having to go out on the land,” “Increasing the numbers, and helpment officer at the U of M, said in a said Sammurtok. ing them access the funding that they statement that the university has not “The differences between here and need, or if they just need someone to seen a significant increase in the Inuit there is that here you have buses, you talk to, […] or to be just around other student population despite “steady have shopping malls […] back home Inuk, then that’s what we’re here for.” interest and applications.” you don’t have any of that, so you’re Nicole Luke, a current graduate She cited the Nunavut high school coming from a really remote com- student in the faculty of architecture curriculum’s incompatibility with U munity, and then coming to a place at the U of M and MIA board memof M requirements as a key reason where you have all of these different ber, said that Inuit people coming for this. things. to Winnipeg face unique challenges.

“If a student is interested in [U “The University of Manitoba cam“Being in Winnipeg is maybe of M] they usually need to plan for pus is big — it’s probably as big as one more challenging than other cities it starting in Grade 9 to 10 so that of the communities — so here you’re for Inuit coming for post-secondary, they can ensure they take the proper coming and then you’re distracted by or even living in Winnipeg,” she said, courses needed,” she said. […] obstacles that aren’t up north.” “because it is the homeland of the The U of M last sent student The U of M connects with the Métis Nation, and there is a higher recruitment to Nunavut in 2018. Manitoba Inuit Association (MIA) population of First Nations, which Currently, the university works with to support students through events is great and that’s kind of what I’ve high school counsellors to schedule and open houses that incorporate mostly been exposed to in terms of one-on-one online meetings with Inuit culture. culture.” prospective students.

The MIA also offers a mentorship Luke, who was born in Jenelle Sammurtok, a student sup- program for students, created in 2018. Yellowknife and has family residing

in the southern Nunavut communi- ing with partners at the U of M ties of Chesterfield Inlet and Rankin to bring a program to Manitoba, Inlet, said that despite the small size which Ottawa has developed called of the U of M’s Inuit population, the Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS). broader Indigenous community has “It’s an exceptional two-year probeen welcoming. gram specific to Inuit coming out of “Being an Indigenous student in Arctic communities […] having gradgeneral, [Migizii Agamik] is one of uated from high school,” Dutton said. the more favourite spots I’d say, and She noted that in order to make safer spots for Inuit students,” she students eligible for applications to said. universities across Canada, science “I love going up to that building, it and technology-related programs in just has such a great atmosphere and the students’ home communities are the workers are the best.” having to be upgraded.

Luke said she would like to see the The NS program is designed to university bring in more Inuk artists, be a culturally-based program that designers and guest speakers to share incorporates language and Inuit their sides and stories with staff and instructors to upgrade university students. entry requirements.

MIA executive director Rachel It was created in 1985 and has been Dutton said the U of M has only a success for Inuit students transitiondeveloped a partnership with the ing from high school to post-secondMIA in recent years, but has since ary education in Ottawa. allowed Inuit students and student “I know the university is interested,” support staff to be in the academic said Dutton. world among various faculties.

“I took one of their representatives “The U of M brings a lot of part- on a tour of the NS school about two nership to this program, to the degree months ago. that we continue to have those con“We’ll be continuing to sort of fosversations in terms of how U of M can ter those next steps with the U of M.” make its own investments, particularly in our Inuit students,” she said.

Dutton and the MIA are work-

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News

VOL. 106 NO. 23 February 26, 2020

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

Undergrads vote to maintain U-Pass enrolment

Summer extension edged out in fee hike referendum

News

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Meet the UMSU presidential candidates

GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

JELYNN DELA CRUZ

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PHOTO BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

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he sun has set on the summer U-Pass.

While University of Manitoba students recently voted overwhelmingly to maintain membership in the U-Pass transit program, a rankedballot referendum saw support for expanding the pass into a year-round service fall short.

More than 9,300 students cast online ballots between Feb. 12 and 14 to maintain the current fall and winter term pass, effectively ending UMSU’s push to extend the program through the summer months.

In the final round, 5,551 votes were cast to continue the program as-is at a cost of $160.75 per term, and 3,696 voted to carry the pass through the summer months at an increased cost in the winter term.

“We’re very happy that the students voted for the U-Pass to remain,” said Mbuli Matshe, UMSU’s vice-president finance and operations.

“It is a very important service to UMSU. It is our most utilized service and so we’re very glad to see at least we’ll have the U-Pass for the fall and the winter and it will remain the same.”

The vote puts a hitch in the plans of the U of M Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA), which has its

own referendum scheduled for March 16 to 17 during its regular executive election.

The grad students had hoped to hold their vote in tandem with UMSU but the undergraduate referendum moved quickly to ballots.

While UMGSA president Carl Neumann had expressed hope the summer extension would remain an option, he said he learned this weekend that the city would no longer be considering an expansion of the program.

“The UMGSA executive and the UMGSA council are both strongly in support of the expansion of the U-Pass program into the summer, and so this is a huge disappointment for all of us,” he said.

“We still plan to gauge graduate student support for the expansion of the program as part of consultations and a survey coming in the next few months [and] the expansion into the summer months also remains part of our UMGSA position statements that are coming to council for approval this week.”

Neumann said the executive will discuss changing the language of its referendum — which closely mirrors the options put to UMSU members that included the summer pass, say-

ing “For many reasons, we don’t feel it would be appropriate to include an option that is not possible for the near future.”

The result is a more positive turn for Red River College students, who will be included in the program in the fall after missing out on the initial year run. Some reports estimate that Red River students are paying nearly twice what university students in Winnipeg are charged for transit.

While the long-term viability of the program was in question if the U of M’s more than 25,000 undergrad students withdrew, Red River College Students’ Association president Joshua Roopchand said he wasn’t too concerned.

“I wouldn’t say we were worried on it,” he said. “It was definitely ‘This could happen and if it does happen, it wouldn’t be the best thing’ but I don’t think we were too worried.”

Roopchand said he hopes the pass will encourage more students to take transit to campus, saying “I think once we get the U-Pass in, a lot of students will choose to start using that rather than driving.”

U of M Students were given three choices on the referendum ballot: to continue enrolment at an increased fee; to expand coverage through the

summer months at a cost of $160.75 in the City of Winnipeg would like to the fall and $237.90 for winter, spring have seen move forward,” he said. and summer or to withdraw from the “Having said that, we are glad that is program outright. continuing for the fall and the winter.”

The referendum was triggered after the city increased the cost of “The U-Pass is an the service by $24.50 per term above the current rate of $136.25. The stuessential asset to all dents’ unions’ by-laws required a the students — even referendum to increase the fee and president Jakob Sanderson took it the ones that don’t as an opportunity to try to extend use it as regularly” the service.

This is the fourth year the program — Mbuli Matshe, has been in effect, after only narrowly UMSU’s vicepassing an earlier referendum with just 53 per cent support off fewer president finance than 5,000 votes cast. According to UMSU, 59 per cent of eligible stuand operations dents have reported using transit daily and 83 per cent of all eligible students have activated their passes.

The first ballot saw 1,903 votes cast Matshe said the results — and to eliminate the program — fewer what he called an unprecedented than votes cast in favour of either level of engagement for an UMSU remain options. referendum — prove that the pass is Matshe acknowledge the result a vital student service. is “bitter sweet” given the UMSU “The U-Pass is an essential asset board’s push to extend the service to all the students — even the ones through the summer. that don’t use it as regularly,” he said.

“The U-Pass is not just about less “I don’t think we ever feared that money on the transit but it is about it wouldn’t pass and obviously the sustainability and the sustainabil- results are reflective of that.” ity initiative that both UMSU and

unning on the UMSU For You slate, Jelynn Dela Cruz wants to bring her unique experience as current UMSU vice-president student life to the table as a presidential candidate and continue building on the work she started this past year.

Mental health, Indigenization and equity, diversity and inclusion on campus are issues important to the UMSU For You slate, according to Dela Cruz.

A third-year sociology and psychology student, Dela Cruz served as president of the Sociology and Criminology Students Association in the 2018-19 school year.

Dela Cruz has also participated in a variety of student clubs and associations, including chairing and sitting on various university committees, founding and heading up the Peace of Mind club, serving as a social programmer on Arts Student Body Council and as a senator on University 1 Student Council.

“As president, I would be able to further take these projects that I have started, take these projects that the [current] executive I have been a part of has begun, and really implement them next year to their fullest,” she said.

As founder and former president of Peace of Mind U of M, a student mental health advocacy group, mental health advocacy and improving access to mental health supports on campus are top of mind for Dela Cruz.

“As a mental health advocate, in the past […] five years, I have been speaking up about my own personal experiences in this care system for those with severe anxiety, who have gone through depression,” she said.

“I can bring that personal experience into the school, and ensure that the resources that were available for me and allowed me to thrive are also available for those who come long after.”

Dela Cruz, who currently

sits on the university president’s task force on equity, diversity and inclusion, recently attended a conference in Ontario focusing on racism in post-secondary institutions, and wants to continue promoting diversity on campus, stressing that these issues “need to be further brought to [the] awareness of student leaders here and the student body at large.”

In September, the university issued a report detailing sexual violence on campus and 43 recommendations to combat it.

“It is extremely important and pertinent to the student body that they have an executive that will hold the administration accountable and ensure that every single recommendation is accounted for at every level of the university,” Dela Cruz said.

Acknowledging that the U of M sits on Treaty 1 territory and has the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation on its campus is significant, she said. The UMSU For You slate wants to bring more Indigenous scholars to the U of M to boost levels of representation of Indigenous academics on campus.

“It is extremely important that we’re prioritizing Indigenization and reconciliation on campuses at every level,” she said.

“That’s why I also believe that [UMSU For You] will be prioritizing Indigenous scholars so that Indigenous students will feel represented not only in the material, but the people who are delivering the material to them.”

All in all, Dela Cruz said she wants to continue working toward the broader goals she set out to achieve as vicepresident student life and with the current UMSU executive.

“All of the experience that I’ve gained as vice-president student life has only highlighted to me even more how limited the time in these positions really is, and how short of a term one year truly is.”

SAMANTHA NICOLE TUMLOS

SIA YAMBA

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amantha Nicole Tumlos, an arts student in her final year of an advanced bachelor of arts in labour studies and human resources, has been involved in a myriad of student groups on campus for the past five years. She wants to infuse that experience into her bid for UMSU president as a member of the Our UMSU slate.

Tumlos has been involved in campus initiatives and groups such as Career Services, Arts Student Body Council, Commerce Students’ A s so c iat ion , St udent Accessibility Services and the Labour Studies Students’ Association.

Running for UMSU executive is no small undertaking, and Tumlos said she is motivated by an urge to “make a positive impact in other people’s lives” and share what knowledge she has gained by studying and working on campus over the past five years.

“I want to be able to use a lot of the knowledge that I have about university policies, and running a program such as the Work-Study Program and assisting with other programs like the Career Mentor Program,” she said.

According to Tumlos, transparency within UMSU and between UMSU members is important to her and the rest of Our UMSU. “I want to be able to share not just my successes and my achievements, but I also want to create that conversation and also share my failures as well and make that as open as possible to students,” she said.

She wants to ensure that “UMSU becomes a credible source of information for a lot of students on campus.”

Tumlos plans to prioritize advocacy and to lobby on students’ behalf at all levels of government, starting with university governance and administration all the way to the federal level. According to Tumlos, “creating awareness and ensuring that students are

able to exercise their rights as students on campus” is a cornerstone of the Our UMSU campaign.

“One of the biggest things that I want to do and that our slate wants to do is to ensure that UMSU takes a strong stance, a committed stance, on behalf of our students, because neutrality has no place in a student union,” she said.

Our UMSU has outlined seven main policies on its platform for upholding students’ rights, including students’ rights to fair representation, a right to affordable and accessible education, a right to credible and accessible information, a right to fair and equitable employment and experiential opportunities on campus, a right to their own personal wellness and the wellness of the entire campus, students’ rights around sustainability and accessibility on campus and students’ rights to fair and equitable academic policies and appeals processes.

Tumlos wants to work on other issues that are affecting students too, such as the rising cost of education, career resources, equity and representation.

Rising tuition costs, students not knowing what degrees and career options are available to them and equity amongst domestic, international and Indigenous students are key concerns Our UMSU wants to address if elected, she said.

Tumlos said the way UMSU currently looks to students for much of its funding is another matter that needs to be looked at.

“That whole idea about UMSU being self-sufficient, through supporting or bolstering our on-campus resources and businesses so that we can hope and strive to kind of lower that [reliance on student fees] and make that a lot easier for students as well, to make education more affordable for them.”

ia Yamba is a thirdyear criminology student, and serves as the current UMSU women’s representative. She wants to take her involvement in student government to the next level by running for UMSU president as a member of the Connect UMSU slate.

“We’re all running for one thing, that’s for students,” she said when asked about her motivation in running.

According to Yamba, “mental health awareness and access to bursaries and scholarships” are paramount to the Connect UMSU platform.

Yamba wants to raise awareness about the number of untapped bursaries and scholarships that are available to students.

“I know for sure that a lot of students in the University of Manitoba, they have no idea about the bursaries and scholarships and they can’t even access them because they don’t know exactly where to go,” she said.

“We want to establish a quicker access for students to get bursaries and scholarships and they can tell where exactly they should go and get those things and they can apply for them.”

“I believe every student at [the] University of Manitoba should access and apply for scholarships or bursaries.”

Te x tbook a f fordability is an issue the platform addresses, and Yamba believes the lack of affordable textbooks negatively impacts student performance.

“I feel some of the areas where most students lack and get bad GPAs and aren’t able to go forward with education [is] because

they are not able to reach or get all the textbooks,” she said.

The U-Pass is another area of concern, and the way students get their U-Pass every year is something Yamba’s slate wants to change.

“It’s a crazy and unbearable lineup during U-Pass [issuing],” Yamba said, “and I want to make sure we have multiple U-Pass locations this coming year, so students don’t have to wait 15 minutes, 30 minutes getting the U-Pass, or even paid [post-secondary] bus passes just to avoid the wait.”

Yamba also wants to focus on diversity among students and having a wide variety of representation.

“Diversity, when it comes to having peers, study groups, cultures […] we can be able to have everybody in one and connect everyone.”

Yamba said she doesn’t believe UMSU is facing any serious issues in the upcoming year.

“I don’t think there will be [many] issues coming this year depending on how well we are organized as a team and how well we can put our mind to working for students and get to things that we actually […] promised,” Yamba said.

The overarching theme for Connect UMSU lies in connecting students to a variety of things.

“We want to connect [students] to various opportunities in school, we want to connect students from various cultures, we want to connect students to empower ourselves to make our university safer and more affordable,” she said.

“I want everyone’s voice to be heard.”

Visit the Manitoban online for full slates and community representative candidates.

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News

VOL. 106 NO. 23 February 26, 2020

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

News

Blockades and bonfires — Warriors

stand with Wet’suwet’en chiefs

Before Trudeau called for an end to national protests, Winnipeg’s Urban Warrior Alliance

blockaded Highway 75 in support of community engaged in years-long dispute

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CAM CANNON, STAFF

Pipeline actions ramp up Several people were arrested Monday when Ontario Provincial Police broke up a railway blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in the latest escalation of a conflict that began more than a year ago in British Columbia.

Since Ja nua r y 2019, Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and community members have been resisting the construction of a natural gas pipeline through their traditional territory.

The Coastal GasLink pipeline is part of a $6.6 billion project to bring natural gas from northeastern British Columbia to the coast and has been approved by the provincial and federal governments. Five elected Wet’suwet’en band councils are also in support.

But the hereditary chiefs have consistently opposed the construction and set up blockades to stop work from going forward in the winter of 2019.

The project has also been panned

by B.C.’s human rights commission and the UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination.

A report published by the Guardian late last year said authorities were prepared to use lethal force against the land defenders.

After the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) moved to act on an injunction requiring the Wet’suwet’en to stand down earlier this year, solidarity demonstrations and blockades popped up around the country, including the Tyendinaga action that began over two weeks ago. In Manitoba, demonstrators have shut down Portage Avenue several times — including twice in front of the Manitoba RCMP headquarters and a rush hour rally that saw some 400 people shut down the Portage and Main intersection.

A blockade of the CN and Via Rail tracks near Headingly, Man., lasted less than 24 hours before a CN injunction was quickly approved by the courts. On Feb. 17, members of the Urban Warrior Alliance blockaded Highway 75 for several hours. Following Monday’s arrests, another series of solidarity actions sprang up, including blockades of commuter rail lines in Ontario and the second rally outside Manitoba’s Mountie headquarters.

Manitoban columnist Cam Cannon attended the Feb. 17 highway blockade and filed the following report.

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he air is rich with the smoke of a protect the public, but to protect being held up. higher, I guess the stakes are higher.” nearby bonfire. the land defenders as well — a large They hold the line for about 10 “In eight years of protesting — Indigenous warriors and land tractor trailer pushed through the more minutes before holding an like real heavy protesting as a land defenders, clad in camouflage, are blockade, swerving through at speed emergency meeting away from their defender, doing lots of other kinds holding an emergency meeting in as land defenders scrambled to stop allies and the media. of protests, blocking highways, rail a large black pickup truck parked the driver.

The truck breaking through the lines — this has maybe happened on the side of Highway 75, where a The truck sped away, followed blockade was only one of three sepa- maybe once and today we’ve had blockade of both the CN railway and shortly after by an RCMP vehicle. rate incidents of what Black Turtle, three incidents of violence on this the southbound lanes of the highway A land defender’s arm was “jarred” a warrior with the Urban Warrior highway,” she said. has been set up. during the incident, according to Alliance, described as “violence” Overall, the attitude toward All traffic is being allowed Harrison Powder, a land defender against the land defenders during the blockade from drivers can be through at the moment — everybody with the Urban Warrior Alliance the day, including an individual described as tense. People could be around the fire is in disbelief at what — one of Winnipeg’s warrior socie- who exited his vehicle to confront heard yelling obscenities from their just happened. ties, an organization of Indigenous blockaders. cars with some regularity, though a Moments earlier, as Royal militants.

“That’s never happened before,” she few dropped off snacks as they passed Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Land defenders completely stop said, comparing the incident to previ- through. liaison officers dressed in plain all traffic in retaliation — including ous demonstrations.

The blockade — established as clothes visited the blockade — passenger vehicles, which earlier in “It’s like the temperament in some part of a wave of ongoing peaceinforming the land defenders that the day had been allowed through of the people has gotten a lot worse ful protests in solidarity with the the officers were there not only to while only commercial trucks were than it used to be. The anger level is Wet’suwet’en and Mohawk nations

PHOTOS BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

— was established at noon.

The RCMP were on the scene minutes later and maintained a presence for the rest of the day. Within a few hours, a court injunction was served to land defenders by RCMP officers — which they promptly threw to the wind.

“I’m kind of surprised how fast it was, it seems a little not normal,” said Powder, noting it has taken up to eight hours to be served with an injunction at previous protests.

“They’ve been getting these injunctions now in a matter of three, four hours,” he said.

“Once a blockade is going up across Canada — because it happened in Toronto, too — they had a blockade and were served within four, five

“I’d say that reconciliation is dead at this point. It is completely dead”

— Black Turtle, Urban Warrior Alliance hours.”

The blockade came down after 5 p.m. Amidst rising tensions over the blockades that have shuttered parts of the Canadian economy, there has been increased pressure from both the police and civilians to take down the blockades.

Although some injunctions had gone unenforced for weeks before this weekend, a blockade just south

of Montreal, Que., was dismantled on Feb. 21 upon the arrival of police in riot gear.

At a press conference the same day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that RCMP were scaling back from Wet’suwet’en and called for all the blockades across the country, now in their third week, to come down and for the rule of law to be upheld.

A few days prior, on Feb. 19, counter-protesters — among them, members of far-right groups and movements including Yellow Vests Canada, United We Roll and Wexit, according to Yellow Vests Canada Exposed, a group that monitors the far right in Canada — dismantled a blockade outside of Edmonton, Alta.

The vigilante action was met with support on Twitter in a now-deleted

tweet from Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidate Peter MacKay. With rising antagonism from both the Canadian government and from Canadians themselves, Black Turtle — who said she attended the blockade out of love and a want to see reconciliation between the country and the Indigenous populations — questioned how far away that may still be.

“I think that we’re the furthest from reconciliation at this point in time than we’ve been in for a very long time,” she said.

“I think it was starting to come into that direction until this last situation occurred. I’d say that reconciliation is dead at this point.

It is completely dead.”

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

8

Saying goodbye is never easy

The Manitoban’s outgoing editor-in-chief, signing off MALAK ABAS, STAFF

WWW.UMSU.CA | 204-474-UMSU (8678) | 101 UMSU UNIVERSITY CENTRE

2015-2020

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

I

met the Manitoban at a very strange time in my life.

A brief rundown of my time at the University of Manitoba: like many students, I walked into postsecondary education with the relatively utilitarian mindset of fulfilling necessary credits to the best of my ability, picking a career based on those abilities and leaving quickly and without looking into anything else campus had to offer.

That’s not what ended up happening. After this mindset naturally fell apart, I applied to the Manitoban on a whim as a reporter for the nowdefunct science section. Nearly five years and four promotions later, I’m leaving the Manitoban to pursue a career in journalism.

Being the editor-in-chief of this publication for a short time has taught me a lot. Some of it is less universal, but still knowledge I’ll keep with me forever — figure out where ads go first when laying out a print issue, for example.

But my time at the paper has

also given me some perspective on Student papers are by design a overlook. who were generous with their time the effect of local news on our civic microcosm of city newspapers, and Student newspapers break stories. and ideas. ecosystem. the Manitoban’s mandate is no differ- Student journalists serve students like Student journalism is a unique experience, and I don’t think I’ll While it might seem redundant ent than that of its fellow Winnipeg you. to iterate the importance of commu- publications. The work done to hold Student news is worth support- ever forget the times leaving camnity-based journalism in a newspa- the U of M’s own power structures ing, and if you’re flipping through pus with my fellow editors after a per focused on a small community, I — be it university administration this paper (or scrolling through this Monday production night ran so can say that as a student who started or UMSU or the U of M Graduate website) you’re already doing your late that we’d end up watching the working at one unsure of journalism Students’ Association — to account part. So, thank you.

Tuesday sunrise in an exhaustionas a career and who left wanting to is important. fuelled daze, but still waiting around do nothing else, what sparked that The decisions made at these levfor the printers to deliver the paper shift was realizing how much there els affect the livelihoods of students My time at the paper later that day because I couldn’t wait is to gain from local news coverage. directly. This work is being performed to go through it. has also given me As local news faces an uncertain at student papers all over Canada, and But you don’t have to be a stufuture, small communities in particu- it’s work worth fighting for — just ask dent journalist to understand why some perspective lar have a lot to lose. News deserts the student journalists in Ontario. independent journalism serves the on the effect of come with the consequence of imporThey were hit with the Student public good. tant local stories not being properly Choice Initiative last year, which Journalism has to adapt to a raplocal news on our explored, or not reported on entirely. sought to shift ancillary fees includidly-changing media landscape but civic ecosystem Fewer reporters, editors and other ing student media (and union dues, the goal remains the same — covernews staff providing community-first and daycare services and campus food age that keeps you and the people in coverage means fewer people hold- banks) to an opt-out system. While your life in the know. Support local ing the wealthy and powerful within it has since been unanimously struck A more personal note, kept as news, any way you can. those communities to account. down in court, the Ontario govern- brief as I possibly could: joining the And, if you’re a student currently News coverage free of political ment has already begun the appeal Manitoban changed my life, and it thinking of getting involved on caminterference and focused on keep- process. was a genuine honour to work with pus beyond taking classes, take this ing working people informed is Student newspapers cover stories the people I’ve worked with over the as a sign to get involved. invaluable. on campus other, bigger news sources years, be it staff or U of M students You never know.

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

10

2019-2020 EXECUTIVES

City council’s priority is profit, not your kids’ safety

The greed of coin collecting has exposed the ruse of school zones’ supposed safety KENNY INGRAM, STAFF

I

t’s never a good idea to assume the worst of people. It may be naive, but even at this late date — and after an obvious abuse of traffic enforcement to generate revenue for the city — Winnipeggers likely assumed their civic representatives had pure intentions in the enactment of “school zones.”

Since council enacted a by-law in 2014, speed limits in school zones surrounding the city’s nearly 300 schools with students in Grade 6 and below are restricted to 30 km/h during the school year.

There are no exceptions to this rule.

This means that on every holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and the entirety of spring break — even when not a soul is present at a school — the law states that drivers must stay under 30 km/h.

Because of the ridiculousness of that law — and the fact that the City of Winnipeg’s infamously stringent traffic enforcement — countless tickets are doled out on holidays with accompanying news stories.

That has caused Winnipeggers to take notice and hurl criticism at city council, with some claiming that

the practice of collecting tickets on school holidays — when there are no kids around — is nothing more than a “cash-grab.” This negative attention even motivated the chief of Winnipeg police Danny Smyth to say that enforcement of school zones

ing lives. A respectable goal, until recently.

In 2017, local electrician and business owner Chuck Lewis approached the city with an offer to install lights to warn drivers of approaching school zones and speed reduction. Lewis offered to fund the entire project — including all costs involved in the maintenance of the lights. At the Winnipeggers are time, the city claimed provincial now put in the legislation didn’t allow for the type of radically new technology — withuncomfortable out citing a shred of actual legislation. position of having But more recently, as Lewis has gone public with his offers, the city to assume city has become even more brazen in its rejection. Estimates on what it would council believes that cost Lewis to install the lights in each installing the lights school zone range from $1.2 to over $1.5 million, but he said cost doesn’t would be pennymatter — especially compared to a wise, pound-foolish life of a person.

In the fall, Lewis gave a prototype of one of the lights to the city on holidays is unnecessary. for testing purposes. He said he had Even though these egregious dis- hoped to begin installing them by plays of profiteering existed, the City Christmas so his company could still maintained some semblance of begin accounting for the necessary honesty — after all, school zones resources the project would take. were enacted with the goal of savBut the city has done nothing but

stall since then. This delay — and the that installing the lights would be city’s rejection of the $1.5 million gift penny-wise, pound-foolish. Because from Lewis — has frustrated Lewis while the city would be saving over a so much so that, on Feb. 6, he took to million dollars on the initial cost and the streets and installed a light on his much more on maintenance down own in front of Winnipeg Mennonite the road, it would be losing out on Elementary school. the millions more it collects every The light was almost immediately year from well-meaning drivers who taken down by Lewis himself after a simply miss the 30 km/h signs. city representative assured him a deal The camera-equipped vehicles — could be reached quickly. owned by the multinational Xerox Three weeks later, and Lewis is Holdings Corporation — that idle still in the dark. next to schools waiting for drivers Everyone agrees these flashing going above the limit contribute to lights could make the streets around an excess of $10 million annually for schools safer by better informing the city. The cost of the flashing lights drivers of safe speed limits, yet city is just a drop in the bucket compared council has done nothing but delay to the revenue raked in every year. installation, and in the middle of the The city has a vested interest in school year to boot. ensuring drivers continue to speed in If city council genuinely cared school zones and accrue tickets that about the safety of kids, not only continue to contribute to its general would a deal have been reached when revenue fund every year. It’s really Lewis originally came forward with not very hard to figure out why the the offer in 2017, but every school city may be delaying a project like the zone would already be equipped with flashing lights in school zones. lights when the original bylaw passed Through its own greed, city counthree years earlier. cil has exposed the purpose of the Winnipeggers are now put in 2014 school zone bylaw: make more the uncomfortable position of hav- money while hiding behind the baning to assume city council believes ner of children’s safety.

Mahder Teffera

Okechukwu Efobi

HSGSA President

VP Services & Support

Tanjit Nagra VP Academic

Cody Ross VP Finance & Administation

Carl Neumann

Senator 2

Julia Minarik Senator 1

President

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

SCIENCE RENDEZVOUS WINNIPEG A FREE FAMILY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FESTIVAL. MAY 9, 2020 11-4PM U of M’s Fort Garry Campus. 66 Chancellors Circle. UMSU university centre and engineering (EITC) buildings/ pavilions des sciences et l’ingénerie.

Winnipeg, MB. sciencerendezvous.ca/ event-sites/university-ofmanitoba/

+50 HANDS ON EXHIBITS AND LIVE SHOWS

TheManitoban_FTRW2020_quarter.indd 1

Ehsan Tahmasebian

2019-11-15 2:10 PM

12 Comment

13

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

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

Closing libraries will wound communities

Libraries are a vital cornerstone of public wellness and empowerment MEAGAN HUGHES, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

L

ibraries are a vital component of Westwood Library. any healthy community. They Young students have written letare a place of learning and explo- ters to city council and citizens have ration where community members rallied and petitioned to keep the can socialize, be part of a community, facilities open. Residents have even educate themselves and access tools asked for property taxes to be raised like the internet for free. rather than closing the libraries.

Cuts to the City of Winnipeg’s The presence of libraries is imporpublic funding were proposed in tant for children. Parents can use November to meet the constraints libraries as a resource to boost their of a new multi-year budget to cover child’s learning at a young age and 2020 through 2023. The community instil an early interest in reading. services committee proposed some Libraries are also vital for students local libraries in Winnipeg be closed who rely on a free source of internet in a round of budget cuts. access, a quiet place to study and a Several public library locations free resource for books and tools have been considered: Fort Garry that may be required during postLibrary, West Kildonan Library and secondary studies. Tuition — as well

as books and fees — is very costly for students, so having access to free community resources is a significant advantage and motivator.

Libraries are especially important for marginalized and vulnerable members of our communities.

Our most underserved populations of homeless and unemployed peoples can rely on libraries as a safe source of shelter where they can access computers to connect them with employment services and social programs, as well as training or educational resources.

Education and the acquisition of knowledge are heavily paywalled.

It is expensive to obtain a formal education and it takes a great deal

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of dedication and time. This barrier makes for an uneducated public resulting in higher rates of unemployment and poverty. According to data from a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the employment rate in their 37 member countries for people with post-secondary education is 83 per cent on average, versus less than 56 per cent for those without any tertiary education.

Libraries also offer many valuable services and host book club events as well as workshops.

Our local libraries are host to useful classes that help to empower people in our communities. There are seminars that teach community members how to use Microsoft Office programs such as Excel and PowerPoint, which help to empower them in their personal and profes-

who may not otherwise have a lot of experience with computers but have a willingness to learn.

This allows community members to take advantage of social media and many other tools and resources available on the internet that can help them remain connected to their communities and help reinforce independence.

For anyone who may have mobility impairment, it is important that local libraries be close to or within their neighbourhoods. Otherwise, citizens are forced to find a means of transportation to other areas of the city to find a library, which may not be a viable option.

As well, closing some libraries funnels more people into those that remain open. More traffic means that resources, such as computers, are harder to access since high volumes of people may mean longer wait times for such resources.

It’s clear that closing It’s clear that closing public libraries will have a negative effect on the public libraries city as a whole — and disproportionwould have a ately felt by those who are already struggling and without the resources negative effect on to stop city council.

City council must come to its the city as a whole senses and realize that it is immoral to cut libraries out of a society where so many citizens rely on them. sional lives.

There are other areas where cuts There are also library workshops — or increases in taxes — could be that offer basic knowledge in how made without sacrificing vital social to operate computers. This is valu- resources that enrich and empower able information for many people our citizens.

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

VOL. 106 NO. 23 February 26, 2020

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Arts & Culture

15

A day at Festival du Voyageur

A voyageur adventure on Louis Riel Day GRACE PAIZEN, STAFF

A

s a lifelong Winnipegger, ing to enjoy your cup of perfection in the warrior dance, young Indigenous in the Rivière-Rouge tent — did the province, and ascending to the top of Festival du Voyageur has been absolute bliss. performers showcased their exquisite trick. the wall offers a spectacular view of While enjoying the comforts of traditional dances in full regalia to a stomping ground since elementary Once refuelled, checking out the our cityscape. school. It brings back memories of the warm tent, I had the chance to the dazzled crowd. snow sculptures and Jaime Black’s Following a jaunt around the fort, frigid Winnipeg winters filled with catch one of the many live musical And the singing and drum- exhibit outdoors was next on the fes- watching the chainsaw sculptures sleigh rides, pancakes and, of course, acts there, too. ming were just as spectacular as the tival to-do list. come to life was a sight to see. The donning the ceinture fléchée sash.

On Louis Riel Day, husband- dancing.

The snow sculptures were spec- sculptors are fantastically talented, Despite having been to the festival and-wife duo Burnstick serenaded After working up an appetite bob- tacular as always and a bevy of them true artists that can make the most too many times to count, this year’s the early afternoon festivalgoers in bing and swaying to powwow drum- were located outside of the Forest vivid sculptures with as unconventhe packed tent. iteration was as grand as ever. ming, there was one food kiosk that tent. Jaime Black’s exhibit titled “We tional an instrument as a chainsaw.

The convenience of parking close The Indigenous Makers Market may have been even better than the Stand Together,” located between Their pieces were for sale at the park to the ticket gates, in the barely- — which was the R i v i è r e - and you could watch them create full parking lot when the park first only tak ing Rouge tent and while at the wood carving area.

Walking over to the Manitoba 150 Forest tent, Fort Gibraltar, opened, was well worth the $10 fee. place inside Walking around the park, you saw Though, if it had been full, the free the R ivièrewas made of four the horse sleigh rides and snowshoers, you can catch the amazing performances of shuttle was the alternative option, Rouge tent on snow and coloured as well as spot Léo La Tuque — the the introductory powwow presentation picking up festivalgoers from various Louis Riel Day ice facades facing festival’s mascot — to say “Allô” to. designated locations near the park. — showcased the four direcAt the end of the afternoon, a The first things that greeted you an array of taltions, “calling on peruse through the souvenir tent at the festival were food trucks. You ented beadworkers, leatherworkers, copious amounts of poutine. Kiosque the ancestors to remind us where we was imperative — supporting local could take your pick of mini dough- soapstone carvers and antler art Boréal was located in the Rivière- come from and to show us the way artists with the purchase of festival nuts, BeaverTails or even stop for makers.

Rouge tent and offered an epically forward.” It was peaceful to stand memorabilia.

Local Indigenous artists — delicious dish of bison tourtière with inside the exhibit and reflect for sevan early poutine. Though, poutine Getting home, the remnants of kiosks were littered across the park to including Borealis Beading, Shoni mashed potatoes and parsnip, driz- eral moments in silence. bonfire stay on your clothes from the indulge in the cheesy gravy-drenched Cree’s, Michael ManyEagles and zled with gravy — c’est parfait. The After taking time to reflect, Fort lovely warming stations scattered goodness throughout the day.

Bronwyn Butterfield — had tables tourtière was sold out between the Gibraltar was the perfect next stop. throughout the park where sitting Hot beverages were available at set up at the market with some of time of purchase and the time of con- Filled to the brim with re-enactors, for a moment was a welcome warm the Café Postal kiosk, conveniently their most beautiful pieces for sale. sumption this last Monday — before the fort offered educational interpret- up near live flames. located inside the gargantuan Bell Walking over to the Manitoba 150 a second helping could be had. ers to explain the purpose of each A great day at Festival du Voyageur MTS Rivière-Rouge tent, serving up Forest tent, the introductory powAfter a hearty lunch, something building, as well as demonstrations doesn’t have to be a liquor-fuelled fest perfectly brewed cups of hot choco- wow presentation showcased amaz- sweet was needed to tackle the out- of how life went about in the fort. while rocking to your favourite band. late that would make your knees ing performances. Demonstrating door events.

From smithies to ateliers, the fort Though the night festivities are fun, a weak. Luckily, the Rivière-Rouge everything from jingle dress and A classic lemon sugar crepe from is always a wonderful place to reac- day at the festival can be even more tent was equipped with bleacher seat- fancy shawl dancing traditions to Crêperie Ker Breizh — also located quaint yourself with the history of our of a treat.

PHOTOS BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

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Arts & Culture

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

VOL. 106 NO. 23 February 26, 2020

’Toban turntable

‘Cabaret of Monologues’ performances diverse as ever GRACE PAIZEN, STAFF

F

or the annual celebration of “Every piece is different and unique International Women’s Week, in their own way and each one is good.

Sarasvàti Productions is once again You’re not going to go into it thinking showcasing local Winnipeg talent that it’s all one tone. Everyone can in the always-engaging Cabaret of relate to one monologue or the other in some way.”

Monologues.

Running from March 2 to 8, the Better yet, all the talent is local, cabaret will be touring Manitoba featuring Winnipeg performers with two Winnipeg shows on March and entertainers Renée Hill, Saira 7.

Rahman, Lizzie Knowles, Taesia The cabaret’s tour co-ordinator, Scratch, Wanda Wilson, Joanna Brooklyn Kilfoyle, is excited for audi- Hawkins, Kristen Einarson and ences to see the variety of talent and Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie. performances at this year’s iteration.

“Don’t expect to be bored,” Kilfoyle said.

“Everyone can relate “We have some [monologues] that to one monologue are comedic, some that are very serious. Even the ones that are dealing or the other in some with more serious topics even have way” — Brooklyn a little bit of comedy in them just so you can kind of relate. And so many Kilfoyle, cabaret of these topics are things that, women especially, have to deal with on their tour co-ordinator day-to-day.”

This year’s cabaret consists of eight monologues — plus a bonus piece by drag artist Petty Davis for the two “This year half [of the cabaret] is Winnipeg shows — with each perfor- traditional monologues and half is mance by different female-identifying performers who have written and performers ranging from five to 10 are performing their own pieces,” minutes. The performances them- Kilfoyle said. selves are completely diverse.

Moreover, even the monologues “We have […] a deaf performer that haven’t been written by local who is doing mime, a stand-up come- talent are written by Canadian dian, a spoken word poetry [per- playwrights, making the perforformance] and musical performer,” mances truly of the Canadian female Kilfoyle said. experience.

KAELEN BELL, STAFF

ALBUM COVER PROVIDED BY PLAIN AS GHOSTS

Plain as Ghosts — ‘Sleepless Shadow,’ 3.5/5

H

ow one understands Plain as Ghosts will depend largely on how they contextualize its brand of thunderously precise rock. If well versed in the unfortunate mid-2000s reign of Theory of a Deadman or Hinder, it’s difficult not to hear traces of that testosterone-fuelled radio-rock in Plain as Ghosts’s cleanly produced rumble.

However, the association is fleeting and not entirely accurate, a sort of immediate knee-jerk mental connection tied to this particular style of rock — thick slabs of shining buffed guitar, simple rhythmic accompaniment and an emo-inflected vocal delivery that verges occasionally on the theatrical.

In reality, Plain as Ghosts has as much aesthetic commonality with those bands as it does with ’90s alternative groups like the Dismemberment Plan and Jawbox.

However, their riffs are driving and in near constant motion, and their subject matter and tone lean more introspective and emotional than they do the wannabe party-rock of Theory of a Deadman’s “Lowlife.”

Songs like “Ceaseless,” on Plain as Ghosts’s new EP, display a knottier incarnation of their laser-cut sound, a downtempo tangle of guitar and tumbling drums that adds a shade of quietude to Sleepless Shadow’s

driving onslaught.

The band manages to sneak some genuine complexity into what, on first listen, may come across as aggressively clean rock music. The spaced-out double guitar solo on “You are Heaven,” the way the riff pans from one ear to the next on opening highlight “Safety Pin” and the caustic simmer of the title track all contribute moments of much-needed variety to this brief EP. It’s a testament to their craft that they’re able to create a sound with such potentially wearying forebears without having it tip into macho-schmaltz.

It’s the guitar in particular that impresses — folding in tones of metal, emo, grunge and alt-rock, the riffs are consistently invigorating and rather beautiful, the kind that hit like a roiling tide, coloured by small details and textures that keep them alive and in constant motion without becoming obnoxiously virtuosic or self-indulgent.

Plain as Ghosts knows its way around a hook, and the EP is catchy and raucous in equal measure — a satisfactorily tight and melodic collection of songs.

It will likely still have too much sheen for those looking for more grit in their meat-and-potatoes rock, but for anyone aching for a more intelligent and intentional take on heaving riffs and radiorock melodicism, Sleepless Shadow should do the trick.

William Prince — ‘Reliever,’ 4.5/5

ALBUM COVER PROVIDED BY WILLIAM PRINCE

your head and consider the world.

Prince’s rich baritone — heavy with echoes of Johnny Cash’s latehere are few joys more nourcareer rumble — is comforting and ishing than finding music that complex, capable of expressing vast embraces you with sadness rather swaths of feeling despite its limited than letting you wallow — music range. that is rich with life and melody His lyrics too are both heavy and and imbued with a sorrow that strangely comforting, sung with melds itself to a wise compasyour day instead sion that relates Reliever is a world unto itself, a of swallowing all things living it up. William and dead, past golden field where you can lay your Prince is a masand present. It’s a head and consider the world ter of this kind of record concerned song — the kind with big picture that might bring ideas — faith, a silent tear to your eye as you drive guitar, gentle drums, piano, strings love, death, remembrance — and its with the windows down on a sunny and voice. golden-hour haze makes for a reasday, a friend in the passenger seat.

However, Reliever also suffers suring soundtrack to introspection.

Prince’s sophomore record, for its dedication to this particular The record’s gentle pace and traReliever, is lush and warm, weighted palette, and with so many beautiful ditional sound benefit from Prince’s by personal histories and both songs built from similar underlying knack for memorable melody and a sweeping regret and a sense of hues, the record’s songs inevitably bottomless feeling — he’s able to quiet hope. starts to blend together. emote profoundly with even the Prince is an economic and conStill, it’s hard to complain about simplest delivery and arrangement. cise songwriter, capable of familiar a wash of music as lovely and deeply It’s a collection of songs that will melodies that flirt with pop struc- felt as this. likely sneak up on you, far greater tures but retain an earthen solidReliever is a world unto itself, than the sum of its parts. ity — his adult-contemporary folk a golden field where you can lay

T

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Come to the cabaret

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

KAELEN BELL, STAFF

Arts & Culture

stylings are somehow more invigorating than that pop label might suggest.

The highlights are plentiful, from the stunning gallop of “Old Souls” to the beautiful harmonies of “Leave It by the Sea,” each song makes the most of Prince’s chosen set of musical colours — acoustic

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CABARET OF MONOLOGUES

As for the theme, this year’s cabaret is all about “changes” — from climate change to changes in society that affect women, to personal changes within women.

“We have a monologue about prochoice and the right to terminate pregnancy, which is obviously very topical right now,” Kilfoyle said.

“There’s a monologue about a woman who just had a baby and she’s

having postpartum depression, so that’s her own personal change.”

Though these are stories centred on the female experience, Kilfoyle emphasized that the topics covered in the cabaret are relatable across all genders and lifestyles.

“It is a Cabaret of Monologues for International Women’s Week, but anyone can come — men, non-binary folks — it’s not just exclusive to

female-identifying people,” she said.

“The stories are still interchangeable to any gender, to any person that comes to see it, any age range. You will find something that you relate to and you will enjoy it. […] It’s not just for women.”

For more information about the Cabaret of Monologues, go to sarasvati.ca.

An exhibit to remember Last chance to see ‘May the Land Remember You As You Walk Upon Its Surface’ exhibit ZACHARY SIGURDSON, STAFF

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alking from Portage Avenue, all its core is our relationship with land ing piece. A local two-spirit, queer the way down Donald Street — that it cannot be owned, that it is artist, Danger’s use of an elicit sadoas it turns into Cumberland Avenue, active and we actively live with it. masochistic image that features beadpast the Burton Cummings Theatre, As for the local connections to work explores the dynamics between there’s a small grey building, almost the exhibit, Boyer’s work — as a sexuality, gender, feminist power and unremarkable. Past several doors, you multidisciplinary artist — deals in consent, blurring the lines between enter an art gallery and are confronted textile manipulation, woodworking empowerment and objectification. directly by several items of immense and beadwork. Métis history and “Breathe Out” is a doorway into her and thought-provoking beauty. The culture are visible in all her pieces world, a place not for the faint of heart.

C2 Centre for Craft is a hidden gem. in the exhibit of beaded objects and Proceed with caution, but proceed Currently, the centre is hosting the images. The use of colour and image nonetheless.

May the Land Remember You As You through beading creates a pixelation Georgeson-Usher and asinnajaq’s Walk Upon Its Surface group exhibition that reflects the pieces’ immense cul- collective pieces honouring each of Canadian Indigenous, Inuit and tural reverence. Boyer’s works in the other, creating a dialogue between Métis artists. Curated by Franchesca exhibit are conversations between the interconnectivity of traditional Hebert-Spence, the exhibition fea- the artist and her grandmothers. The art, round out the exhibition — each tures the works of Dayna Danger, pieces “Meeting Grans Over Tea and piece beautiful to gaze upon.

Camille Georgeson-Usher, asinnajaq Bangs Nowananikkwee, Marguerite, At the end of the exhibit, you begin and the U of M’s own school of art Rosalie, Emilie, Mary” and “Carry to realize that the palpable silence assistant professor Katherine Boyer. the Horizon With You” both honour gives way to a deep sense of selfEach creation uses beadwork in the accomplishments of her grand- reflection on what our own personal some form, the artists building rela- mothers “in the spaces they were histories are as we walk upon the land, tionships between the past, the pre- given.” and how we will be remembered. sent and the future.

The series of tea towels draped With its limited run coming to an After entering the centre, the floor against the wall in her “Meeting end, it is an exhibit not to be missed. creaked loudly, leaving the feeling of Grans Over Tea” piece brings the invading this serene space, breaking domestic space of the kitchen into May the Land Remember the perfect silence. the gallery space.

You As You Walk Upon Its In fact, May the Land Remember Shifting gears, Dayna Danger’s Surface runs until Feb. 29.

You As You Walk Upon Its Surface at “Breathe Out” may be the most strik- Admission to the gallery is free.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MAY THE LAND REMEMBER

18

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

Championship potential left unfulfilled

Local talent gets chance to shine on national stage

JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

A Scott Kellum layup provided a of the way and U of A held a slight spark that caught fire for the Vikes, 61-57 edge entering the fourth quarter and the club went on a 14-1 run over — where the U of M made its move. the herd to close the third quarter With 1:41 to play, a Brody Clarke with momentum, but down 55-47. In free throw gave U of A a 70-68 lead the fourth quarter, the U of M put Arruda responded with a layup and the game away. After Browne and with 20 seconds on the clock Keiran Andre Arruda each drained a three, Zziwa drained a jumper for a 72-70 the Bisons took control in the key, Bisons lead. Clarke made a gamescoring 14 of its 26 fourth-quarter saving jumper with eight seconds on points from the paint. This matched the clock to tie the game and send it the 14 points the Vikes scored the to overtime. entire fourth quarter, as U of M cruised to the 81-61 win.

The win sent the Bisons to the The win sent the semifinals Sunday, when the club had Bisons to the to face the host University of Alberta Golden Bears. semifinals Sunday,

Semifinals

PHOTO BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

basketball team fizzled out in the playoffs.

After a historic season, the Bisons looked poised to challenge for a national championship. Instead, the club made it as far as the Canada West playoff semifinals and came home heartbroken.

Saturday

There’s domination, and then four points apiece to close the quarter there’s what the Bisons did to the 26-8 Bisons.

University of Victoria Vikes in the The Vikes responded in the second Canada West men’s basketball quar- quarter, outscoring the herd 19-12 to ter-finals. With an 81-61 drubbing of enter halftime down 38-27. the Vikes, U of M punched its ticket Coming out of the break U of to the semifinals.

M started to push back. Cameron The Bisons got to work early O’Hara got a layup to fall seconds Saturday, up 5-4 in the first quarter, into the third quarter, starting an 11-2 a Rashawn Browne three-pointer run for the herd to take a 20-point kicked off a 17-point run to put U of lead. The sides traded buckets until V in a 22-4 hole. Both sides put up U of V gave a push of its own.

Following Saturday’s dominant win, the herd looked like it was headed to nationals for the next chapter in a storybook season, but alas the dream died in a 91-85 overtime loss to the Golden Bears on Sunday.

Coming out of the halftime break at 41-40 for the Bisons, U of A looked to make its move in the third quarter.

With under six minutes to go in the quarter, Ivan Ikomey got a threepointer to fall and tied things up at 47-47. Arruda and Browne re-established the Bisons lead at 51-47, but a quick seven-point run by the Golden Bears got the club out front at 54-51.

The teams traded chances the rest

when the club had to face the host University of Alberta Golden Bears

Swimmer brings home four gold medals, three national records JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BISON SPORTS

C

anada’s national broadcaster has mitment to their upcoming Olympic packed schedule of coverage. The U local talent — including students — and understands how important stepped up to the plate with a coverage,” Johnson Stapley said.

Sports men’s and women’s basket- — to provide play-by-play and com- CBC’s decision is to the future of deal that already looks like a home “We look forward to bringing the ball championships will be simulcast mentary for its English-language broadcasting in Canada. run. action of these championship events March 5 to 8, followed by the men’s broadcasts.

“You’re going to get the locals now Speaking on 101.5 UMFM’s The who are going to get the opportunity On Feb. 13, CBC announced it has to university sports fans via CBC’s and women’s hockey championships Hockey Show, host Trevor Alexander to dive in and become CBC employentered a partnership with U Sports digital platforms.”

March 12 to 15. to provide livestream broadcasts for CBC and U Sports previously The CBC-U Sports partnership is described CBC’s decision to use ees for at least three days,” Alexander local talent as said. five national championship tourna- pa r t nered to “incredible.” ments, bringing top-level Canadian broadcast the Not only that, but Alexander “We are extremely pleased to continue “You’re going added CBC could use this as a platuniversity athletics to Canadians free 55th Vanier Cup to have the best form to identify talent and “you might of charge. in November. the momentum” — Lisette Johnson teams, the best be talking about hiring that [person] In a release issued by CBC, U The University of Stapley, U Sports chief sports officer athletes, the best to go and do more events for you.

Sports chief sports officer Lisette Calgary Dinos games, called by Johnson Stapley expressed her organ- 27-13 win over “It’s a good springboard on a numpeople who know ber of different levels for not only ization’s excitement at the new deal. the University of “We are extremely pleased to con- Montreal Carabins was broadcast not only an opportunity to get more the sports best,” he said. the sport but the people who may be Alexander travelled to London, behind the microphones or behind tinue the momentum we launched nation-wide. eyes on Canadian university sport, with CBC Sports last fall and truly This past weekend saw the U but will provide important oppor- Ont., to call the 2018 U Sports wom- the sport […] who may get a chance appreciate their interest in covering Sports national swimming cham- tunities for young broadcasters from en’s national hockey championship to really show off how good they are for UMFM — where he saw students at everything.” university sport and student-athletes’ pionship broadcast over CBC’s coast to coast. stories, especially given [CBC’s] com- streaming platforms to kick off a CBC announced it will tap take part in radio broadcasts locally

In the extra frame, the Golden Bears broke all Manitoba hearts.

After Browne gave U of M a 75-72 lead early, Adam Paige sank a three to tie the game and kick off a 10-point Golden Bears run for an 82-75 lead.

From there, U of A responded to every point the Bisons could snag and took home the win, ending the U of M’s season.

No problem at nationals for Kelsey Wog A

19

CBC bringing university sports to the nation

Bisons beat Vikes, lose to Golden Bears in basketball playoffs

ust as it looked like it was catchJing fire, the U of M Bisons men’s

Sports

VOL. 106 NO. 23 February 26, 2020

ll that glitters is gold, especially She placed third in women’s 200Wog secured her spot in the final for Kelsey Wog of the University with a 2:20.22 time in the prelims and metre individual medley prelims with of Manitoba Bisons women’s swim- brought home the gold with another a time of 2:13.21 — 0.69 seconds off ming team. record-breaking performance in the the lead — but took home a gold The Winnipeg-born swimmer finals. medal with a time of 2:10.87 in the brought home a haul last week durHer final time of 2:22.42 was finals. ing the 2020 U Sports national swim- nearly 11 seconds faster than secondThis time was — once again — ming championships in Victoria, place Metcalfe, and over five seconds a U Sports record, as Wog finished B.C., securing four gold medals while faster than the U Sports record set in nearly two seconds faster than Erika setting multiple national records.

2015 — again by Doyle — of 2:27.63. Seltenreich-Hodgson’s 2016 time of First up for Wog was the womWog’s winning ways continued 2:12.85. en’s 100-metre With four more breaststroke event gold medals and Wog’s final individual event saw the Thursday. three national After pacing records, Wog swimmer stumble outside the comfort the competition in adds to an already the prelims earlier stacked trophy zone of her breaststroke specialty in the day with a case for the 20191:05.05 finish, Wog 20 sw imming picked up her first gold of the cham- into the final day of the competition, season. pionship with a time of 1:06.44. where she snagged another pair of The veteran swimmer picked up Wog beat out Hillary Metcalfe of golds. four golds and four meet records the University of British Columbia First up for Saturday was the during the Odlum Brown College Thunderbirds who finished second women’s 50-metre breaststroke, Cup in November and picked up four at 1:10.59. where Wog posted the best time in more golds during the 2019 Canada In the process Wog broke the U the prelims with a 30.94 second finish, West swimming championships a Sports record time of 1:07.76 set by then took home the gold with a time few weeks later.

Fiona Doyle back in 2015. of 31.21 in the final.

Wog will now turn her sights Friday brought more metal to Wog’s final individual event saw toward the 2020 Canadian the fourth-year swimmer’s mantle the swimmer stumble outside the Swimming Trials March 31 to April courtesy of the women’s 200-metre comfort zone of her breaststroke 5 as she continues on the path toward breaststroke. specialty. a potential Olympic appearance.

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