14 February 2018

NEWS

No Justice, no reconciliation Nationwide rallies support Colten Boushie’s family

EDITORIAL

Tipping the scales

Indigenous imbalance on juries roadblock to reconciliation PAGE 6

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SPORTS

Bisons make history Women’s hockey secures home ice throughout playoffs PAGE 14 COMMENT

Bridge over heckling water Town halls should prioritize policy discussion PAGE 9 VO L 1 0 4 · N O 2 3 · F E B R UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 8 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

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Index

VOL. 104 NO. 23 February 14, 2018

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Garett Williams

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

BUSINESS MANAGER Sohni Tappia

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Ryan Catte

ads@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Malak Abas

me@themanitoban.com

NEWS EDITOR Imreet Kaur

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

NEWS EDITOR Shaden Abusaleh

shaden@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

COMMENT EDITOR Shawn Huberdeau

comment@themanitoban.com

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Olivia Michalczuk

arts@themanitoban.com

SPORTS EDITOR Ryan Stelter

sports@themanitoban.com

COPY EDITOR Evan Tremblay

copy@themanitoban.com

SPORTS

DESIGN

We’re on to UBC Bisons move on to quarter finals PAGE 15

DESIGN EDITOR Bram Keast

design@themanitoban.com

ARTS

Lovecrafted event supports ArtsJunktion Fundraiser and showcase project raised $500

GRAPHICS EDITOR Kelly Campbell

graphics@themanitoban.com

PHOTO EDITOR Asha Nelson

photo@themanitoban.com

SOCIAL EDITOR Carolyne Kroeker

social@themanitoban.com

DESIGN ASSOCIATE Kellie Huynh

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GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE Ernest Zarzuela PHOTO ASSOCIATE Chantal Zdan PHOTO ASSOCIATE Quincy Houdayer

REPORTERS

SPORTS

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT Qudus Abusaleh

Here come the Cougars

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT Diana-Abasi Ubokudom COLUMNIST Levi Garber COLUMNIST Kenny Ingram ARTS & CULTURE Jen Doerksen SPORTS Jason Pchajek COPY ASSOCIATE Matthew Doering

Bisons hosting Mount Royal in playoffs

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS

PAGE 16

Austin Frame Will Gibson Keegan Steele Stephane Doucet

Correction: A story in the Feb. 7 issue of the Manitoban incorrectly stated that UMSU council passed a motion to introduce a mature student representative position to council. In fact the motion was sent to the governance committee. The motion is on the agenda for the Feb. 15 UMSU council meeting. The Manitoban regrets the error.

Jaelyn Rae Jesse Blackman Erin Meagan Schwartz

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

GENERAL INQUIRIES & ADVERTISING Phone: (204) 474.6535 Fax: (204) 474.7651 Email: manitoban@themanitoban.com FREE MEDIA Campus Plus Media Services Phone: 1.780.421.1000 Email: advertise@free-media.ca

Check the Manitoban’s website and Facebook page for:

• Video coverage of Winnipeg's rally in support of Colten Boushie's family • Toban Talkback - Valentine's edition

Design Design Editor: Bram Keast Contact: design@themanitoban.com Graphics Editor: Kelly Campbell Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com Photo Editor: Asha Nelson Contact: photo@themanitoban.com

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #589160 A “volunteer staff” member is defined as a person who has had three volunteer articles, photographs, or pieces of art of reasonable length and/or substance published in three different issues of the current publishing year of the Manitoban. Any individual who qualifies must be voted in by a majority vote at a Manitoban staff meeting. Elected representatives and non-students may be excluded from holding votes as volunteer staff members in accordance with the Manitoban Constitution.

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

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

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

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

All contents are ©2016 and may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.

Yearly subscriptions to the Manitoban are available for $40.

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News

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

Hundreds gather in solidarity with Boushie family IMREET KAUR, STAFF

MKO grand chief Shiela North Wilson addresses the crowd during Saturday’s rally calling for justice for Colten Bushie.

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PHOTOS BY ASHA NELSON

undreds gathered at the Odeena chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Celebration Circle at the Forks Okimakanak, thanked the audience Saturday afternoon to rally in support for coming out to show solidarity in of the family of Colten Boushie. numbers.

Boushie, a 22-year-old man “We are standing united against from Red Pheasant First Nation, violence,” she said. “We are standing was shot and killed in August 2016 united against racism and injustice.” after an SUV he was riding in with North Wilson noted that the act four friends was driven onto Gerald of violence against Boushie was not Stanley’s Saskatchewan farm. an isolated incident.

Boushie was shot in the head, which “It was years of history that went resulted in his instant death. behind that gun shot that took that Stanley was charged with seclife,” North Wilson said, reminding ond-degree murder. On Friday, the audience that more needed to be he was acquitted by a Court of done to address the existing racism Queen’s Bench jury in Battleford, in Canada.

Saskatchewan, that deliberated for The crowd marched to the Law more than 13 hours.

Courts Building on York Avenue.

The court heard Stanley thought Leah Gazan, organizer and eduan ATV was being stolen from his cation instructor at the University property. He testified that he fired of Winnipeg, said in a press release, two warning shots and reached into “This sends a poor message across the SUV to take away the keys when Canada that if you are an Indigenous his gun “just went off.” man, a white man can shoot you in The driver of the SUV testified the back of the head and be found that the group had been drinking A "Justice for Colten" graphic was shared widely on social media and frequently spotted in the crowd. #NOTGUILTY by an all-white jury. and admitted they attempted to break “There is no reconciliation without into a truck on a neighbouring farm. Colten” took place in in Ottawa, for the Boushie family,” but the Elder Gerry Shingoose started the justice.”

The driver said they went to Stanley’s Toronto, Edmonton, Regina, event also served as a “reminder to gathering with a prayer which she Speaking in front of the law courts, farm looking for help with a flat tire. Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver and this country that we are still here and said she hoped would bring peace to Gazan said “We’re hoping to push for Before the trial began, Boushie’s Winnipeg. justice for Colten Boushie’s family that we are not going anywhere.” the Boushie family. family shared its concern with media “We commit to a spirit of love. We “I ask each one of you go into your and changes to the criminal justice that the jury lacked Indigenous Winnipeggers march commit to a spirit of change," said heart and into your spirit and think system so that it truly protects all representation. in solidarity Sinclair during his opening remarks. about the family - how it must have individuals regardless of race, class, The verdict sparked rallies across Niigaan James Sinclair, assistant In a release issued by organiz- been for them last night, the last few gender, or sexual orientation.”

Canada which involved marches professor of native studies at ers before the event, Sinclair urged days, and how it will be in the future on police stations and courthouses the University of Manitoba, Canadians to show solidarity and I ask you to send that love and calling for an overhaul of Canada’s emceed the Winnipeg rally. for the family by “refusing to let support to them so they can walk into criminal justice system.

Sinclair said the event is not just Canada continue along a path of the future,” she said.

Protests calling for “Justice for a reminder of the “love that we have racism and division.”

Sheila North Wilson, grand

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News

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

University of Guelph professor talks Indigenous-led conservation The impacts of industrial development on Indigenous land means a critical approach is necessary QUDUS ABUSALEH, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba's Clayton H. Riddell faculty of environment, earth, and resources hosted Faisal Moola, University of Guelph associate geography professor, for a lecture on Indigenous-led environmental conservation Feb. 9.

Moola’s talk was built around how Indigenous communities can better provide quality protection over traditional lands in comparison to current federal conservation policies.

Indigenous approach to land governance

Moola said the chief difference between government policy and Indigenous-led “environmental assessment” processes is the fundamental comprehension of the land itself.

“An environmental assessment process that was driven by Indigenous people for Indigenous peoples would focus on the management needs of the land, the water, the air, the wildlife, the communities that depend on those resources first,” he said.

“In practical terms, it would mean that rather than focusing on what we should take from nature to cre-

ate wealth and employment,” he bill does not explicitly incorporate solemn and binding promise” ensurcontinued, “we should first consider Indigenous voices in the decision- ing that the “Dane-Zaa would be able what needs to be retained in nature making process for industrial devel- to continue their traditional activities” such as hunting, trapping, and fishing to sustain both the wildlife and the opment projects. wellbeing of local communities.”

He stressed that discourse on “without forced interference or forced Moola’s talk coincided with the industrial development should not dependency upon the Crown.”

Moola noted that although the federal government’s recent introduc- take place in the absence of a worldtion of Bill C-69 on Feb. 8, which will view that highlights humankind's Crown’s newly procured consent to develop any land in the Peace River overhaul current methods of environ- essential connection to nature. mental assessments and streamline “Nature is our home,” Moola said. region rested on this promise, the the approval process for major natural “Nature provides our most fundamen- Dane-Zaa and other Indigenous tal needs and nature dictates limits communities “have seen their lands resource extraction projects.

The proposed bill would scrap to growth. irrevocably damaged” through indus“So the protection of nature should trial activities like deforestation, mine the National Energy Board (NEB) and create the Impact Assessment be our highest priority when it comes and dam construction, and fracking Agency of Canada, which would to the way in which we regulate and operations.

He said this latter development carry out more extensive reviews of manage our resources.” gradually resulted in a “sprawling industrial projects by assessing their network” of “thousands upon thouenvironmental, health, social, and Treaty 8 and impacts of sands of kilometres of seismic lines of economic impacts, as well as their industrial development roads and pipelines” that have come effects on Indigenous communities. on traditional lands, Moola's talk also highlighted the to “dominate the landscape.”

The NEB is an independent regMoola said that as part of a study ulatory agency, created in 1959, to story of the Dane-Zaa people, long oversee parts of the energy industry inhabitants of the Peace River region conducted with the David Suzuki Foundation and Dane-Zaa partand whose mandate includes regulat- in northeastern British Columbia.

Following European settlement ners, The Peace Dividend: Assessing ing the construction, operation, and abandonment of pipelines, natural across British Columbia and the the Economic Value of Ecosystems in gas and crude oil imports and exports, province's incorporation into confed- B.C's Peace River Watershed, he and eration in 1871 , the Dane-Zaa people his team published the first spatial as well as oil and gas exploration. analysis of industrial land use presMoola noted that Indigenous signed Treaty 8 in 1900.

Moola said Treaty 8 “enshrined a sures and industrial land use change scholars remain concerned that the

over a 56,000 square kilometre region of Dane-Zaa and Cree territory in northeastern B.C. The study found that within DaneZaa territory, there are over 16,267 oil and gas well sites, 8,517 petroleum and natural gas facilities, 45,293 kilometres of roads, 1,163 kilometres of transmission lines, and over 28,587 kilometres of oil and gas pipelines.

“More than half of all of the pipelines in British Columbia are just found within Dane-Zaa territory,” Moola said.

Moola also noted that if all these industrial ventures in the Peace River region were to be laid out and wrapped around the planet, they would go around “almost five times.”

VOL. 104 NO. 23 February 14, 2018

News

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Public education funding announcement draws fire from teachers’ union Provincial 0.5 per cent funding increase lags behind rate of inflation, criticized as “de facto cut” SHADEN ABUSALEH, STAFF

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anitoba public school teach- Public Services Sustainability Act “We want to free up teachers,” divisions create their budgets for the the future leaders of our province,” ers are expressing outrage at freezes wages for public sector work- Wishart said. “So instead of nego- year ahead, we expect them to man- said Wiebe in the release. the provincial government’s recent ers - including public school teach- tiating, they can be in the classroom age their expenditures accordingly.”

Wiebe was also critical of TIG’s announcement regarding upcoming ers - for two years, followed by a 0.75 and focus on children’s education.” gradual removal, claiming that this public school funding. per cent increase in the third year The push towards central, prov- A “de facto cut” will leave “a $61 million hole in the Manitoba minister of education and a one per cent increase during ince-wide bargaining, which will Wishart noted that this “signifi- budgets of school divisions at the end and training Ian Wishart announced the fourth. require regulatory changes, coincides cant increase in funding,” comes “in of six years.” in a press conference Feb. 8 that the School divisions will also see a 15 with the expiration of teacher con- spite of the fiscal challenges our gov“Not only does this funding cut provincial government will invest per cent reduction in their adminis- tracts on June 30. ernment inherited.” However, the 0.5 hurt students, but heavy-handed a total of $1.323 billion in primary tration cost caps. Wishart said that Wishart also announced a $40,000 per cent increase is the smallest in changes to the collective bargaining and secondary public education for over the past three years, all divisions increase in Intensive Newcomers nearly two decades. process is disrespectful,” he said. the 2018-19 school year, increasing have kept costs below their respec- Support (INS) grant funding “to help The Manitoba Teachers’ Society When asked during the press confunding by $6.6 million or 0.5 per tive caps and as such this reduction divisions with new arrivals of refu- (MTS) president Norm Gould said ference about estimated savings folcent - half of the one per cent increase will not hurt “divisions which have gees and other high-needs English the 0.5 per cent increase is actually lowing public school funding changes, schools received last year. already made an effort to streamline as an additional language students.” equivalent to a 1.5 per cent funding Wishart said, “We don’t know hard Wishart said the provincial gov- administrative costs.” Failure to comINS sets out school programs tar- drop because it “sits at less than a numbers, we just know there are sigernment is directing school boards to ply, Wishart said, will mean reduc- geting newcomer students in Grade 6 third of the rate of inflation.” nificant savings to be had there.” limit education property tax increases tion in funding. through 12 who have experienced sigMTS is the collective bargaining Wishart said that alongside the to two per cent, adding that the provAs well, the province wants to nificant disruption to their education organization for all of the teachers in reduction in the administration cap, ince may consider legislative options reduce the number of teachers’ col- as a result of warfare, civil conflict, the province’s public schools. the two per cent local levy change, if school boards do not abide by the lective bargaining units with a cen- or poverty.

“Teachers are facing large increases and freezing of teacher salaries two per cent cap. tralized bargaining process, with Reiterating the government’s in student enrolment, a growing which, he noted, was “the biggest The province will also phase out Wishart saying Manitoba is “literally commitment to education, Wishart influx of refugee and newcomer stu- single part of [school divisions’] costs” the Tax Incentive Grant (TIG) over the last province” permitting each said the PCs will launch a review of dents, chronic - and I mean chronic - coping with the small 0.5 per cent the next six years, which rewarded school division to negotiate teachers’ the K-12 education system in early - child poverty, and more special needs increase is “doable.” school divisions that did not raise salaries.

2019. This review will look into factors kids than ever,” Gould said, “and this their property taxes.

Wishart said that with 38 separate such as quality of education, how the is what the government thinks our “We believe this limit on education bargaining units for public school public education system is financed, students are worth?” property tax is achievable in light of teachers, the result is “a replication 38 roles and responsibilities of school The government's funding Bill 28 […] which comes into effect times over of a process which gener- boards, and taxation power of school announcement was criticized in a for all public school teachers as of ally delivers very little variation in divisions. statement issued by NDP education July 1st,” said Wishart. “This will settlements.” Wishart called this “We believe governments at all critic Matt Wiebe. ease some of the financial pressure “inefficient and it takes our teachers’ levels must live within their means “What the government announced on divisions.” and trustees’ time as they sit around and provide services taxpayers can today is a de facto cut in the schools Passed in June of last year, the the bargaining table.” afford,” Wishart said. “When school and classrooms we rely on to educate

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

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Lack of Indigenous representation on juries paints portrait of unbalanced justice system Outrage over Stanley verdict highlights long road to reconciliation GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

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f even the appearance of bias is the defence’s use of peremptory chal- take away the keys when his gun “just cause for concern, Canada’s justice lenges - where no reasons for dis- went off.” system is in a poor state. missal need be submitted.

The driver of the SUV said a group Last week, a jury acquitted Gerald The 1991 Manitoba Aboriginal of four people had been drinking Stanley of second-degree murder in Justice Inquiry - which determined throughout the day and admitted the 2016 killing of 22-year-old Red this province’s system to be a “glar- they attempted to break into a truck Pheasant First Nation resident ing example of systemic discrimina- on a neighbouring farm. The driver Colten Boushie. tion” - called for such challenges to said they went to Stanley’s farm lookStanley is white. Boushie was Cree. be eliminated. ing for help with a flat tire.

And there was no visible Indigenous The selection process alone moved The testimony of the witnesses representation on the jury of seven Boushie’s uncle to lament that “the in the SUV was challenged by the women and five men that heard the deck is stacked against us." defence, and they admitted to lying case. The optics are not good.

The facts of this case are tragic. to investigators about the attempted Before the verdict was even The court heard Boushie was sitting theft and changing their stories returned, Indigenous advocates and in an SUV on Stanley’s property before testifying. legal experts were already arguing when he was shot in the back of the None of this is cause for execution. that the case is just one further exam- head in what the defence called a The sentence for attempted theft is ple among many that Canadian juries “freak accident.” not death. need to be made more diverse.

Stanley testified that he thought But the case shines a light on the During selection in late January, an ATV was being stolen from his ongoing failures of the Canadian jusa number of potential Indigenous property and, after firing warning tice system that, at minimum, gives jurors were rejected outright through shots, he reached into the SUV to the impression that justice is unfairly

McLachlin - argued that forcing a defendant to select a jury from a roll that excluded a significant part of his community was “an affront to the administration of justice and undermines public confidence in the fairness of the criminal process.”

An earlier report from Ontario called it an “undeniable fact” that the problems of improving Indigenous representation on juries are linked to the “justice system’s treatment of members of First Nations generally.”

At the same time Indigenous people are underrepresented on juries, the proportion of Indigenous adults in custody is nine times higher than their representation in the population at large. Indigenous adults, especially women, are also overrepresented as victims of crime.

Less than 24 hours after the Stanley verdict was read out in court, thousands of Canadians - including some 700 in Winnipeg - participated in numerous rallies across the country GRAPHIC BY KELLY CAMPBELL calling for “Justice for Colten.” The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has distributed. At worst, it illuminates a also joined a call for an inquiry into two-tiered system where Indigenous the trial. people are not afforded the rights of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, all Canadians to be represented by a along with Indigenous services minster Jane Philpott and justice minisjury of their peers.

The Supreme Court weighed in ter Jody Wilson-Raybould, took the in 2015 when it upheld a manslaugh- extraordinary measure of taking to ter conviction of a Grassy Narrows, Twitter to comment on the verdict, Ont., man who was tried before a with the latter stating that “as a counjury that did not include Indigenous try we can and must do better.”

It has been more than two years representation.

Overturning an earlier Ontario since the Truth and Reconciliation Court of Appeal decision that threw Commission released its 95 calls to out the initial conviction, the upper action toward rebuilding the relacourt determined by a 5-2 margin that tionship between Canada and its Ontario made reasonable efforts to Indigenous population.

If this ongoing project is to be include Indigenous populations on its jury selection rolls. Hardly a high taken seriously, it will take more than the appearance of regret from governbar to meet.

The dissenting opinion - written ment. And if justice is to even appear

by Justice Thomas Cromwell and to be served, Indigenous people need supported by Chief Justice Beverley to be invited into the jury box.

Toban Talkback isn’t worth it People hear what they want to hear, and feel what they want to feel JESSE BLACKMAN

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ebruary has shown no love to the Manitoban. First, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union saw a motion to defund the paper. Just days later, a Toban Talkback segment featuring engineering students talking about their impression of arts degrees triggered pockets of outrage. Donald Trump would be proud.

Let’s leave easy points about freedom of the press and freedom of expression at the door. People choose their political moves and - barring a myriad of accessibility issues - they

choose their educational paths.

UMSU’s actions and the U of M’s arts degrees do not resemble anything close to vulnerable characteristics under the Manitoba Human Rights Code, nor should they.

The bigger issue seems to be that some people feel entitled to have only their perspective presented back to them in the media. When they don’t see this, some turn to social media condemnation instead of channeling it towards thoughtful debate. There is a difference between acting out of

rage or out of reason. When a journalist interviews the bust of a statue in the earlier "What is a ‘Wesmen’?” episode of the Toban Talkback series, it is easy to reason that the content associated with these campus interviews is intended as humour.

Whether you find it funny or not, your personal sense of humour cannot detract from the fact that the piece is intended to be humorous. Even if engineering students talking about arts degrees is not funny - without the content actually being offensive,

demeaning, prejudiced, or hateful - laugh, you may as well cry, and turning red in the face and blowing where’s the joy in that? smoke out your ears is hardly worth Ultimately, if criticism of arts it. Making fun of a cruel job market degrees is troubling to you, it may is not a personal attack. be worth mentioning that the U of Critical thinking skills can go a M’s voluntary withdrawal date for long way. winter term courses is March 16.

The reality is that arts degrees are not created in pursuit of a career, Viva la Toban. and finding a job can be challenging with almost any general education, Jesse Blackman has a degree as opposed to a professional program. in women’s and gender studLaughing about our economic reali- ies and has had several jobs. ties can ease that pain. If you don’t

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

Student journalism crucial stepping stone Who must support student journalism more than students themselves?

LEVI GARBER, STAFF

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here are important stories in the levies - a portion of student fees set newspaper you are reading right aside from tuition - to run their daily now. operations.

Flip or scroll to the news, sports, Just last month, an article from or arts sections of this paper and you J-Source, a collaborative online project will find articles on peoples’ passions, by journalism schools all over Canada, triumphs, pitfalls, and tribulations. delved into that very question.

This newspaper strives to hold The article asked the question: “Is politicians and bureaucrats account- this really journalism?” to a series of able, and its reporters and editors student journalists across the country. keep their ears to the ground to cover The answer to that query came events and news in your community. back an unequivocal and unapologetic “Yes.” Just in the last year or so, the The next generation Manitoban has covered a number of important stories that have had real of Canada’s impacts on students in the province. journalists are During the 2016 faculty strike, constant updates from the Manitoban, working for from both the Fort Garry campus and the provincial legislature, kept your university students informed of how negotianewspaper. If their tions were progressing to get students back in their classes.

PHOTO BY ASHA NELSON fellow students do In February 2017, the Manitoban not support them, received a document that confirmed passed a law that forced post-sec- Varsity, gained first access to the U launched their careers at the Gazette. the province had hired an UMSU ondary institutions to adopt policies of T professor whose opinions on CBC’s Piya Chattopadhyay then no one will to prevent and respond to sexual gendered pronouns made interna- worked at the Sheaf at the University executive as a political aid.

Soon after the newspaper reached violence on university campuses. tional headlines. of Saskatchewan, and the Queen’s And this newspaper has been out to them for comment, they Manitoba’s government adopted The list goes on.

Journal, Queen’s University’s student doing so for 104 years.

However, it is not just meaningful paper, produced former editors-inresigned from his executive position. similar legislation in October 2016.

This month, however, the Additionally, the newspaper’s covOver on the mainland, the journalism that student newspapers chief of the Toronto Star and the Globe Manitoban’s future was nearly thrown erage of tuition hikes that are slated University of British Columbia stu- are producing: some of Canada’s most and Mail. into jeopardy when a single student go into effect next year had barely any dent newspaper, the Ubyssey, has notable journalists got their starts in Again, the list goes on. union councillor proposed a motion competition from established news held the university administration campus reporting.

So the next time you pick up a to hold a referendum on the newspa- organizations like CBC News and and student union leaders to account The National Post’s Andrew Coyne copy of the ‘Toban - and bless you per’s funding. the Winnipeg Free Press. in true form. began his political musings as the for still reading the print edition - or Thankfully, the outpouring of Last February, the Ubyssey printed comment editor of the Manitoban, read articles on the paper’s website, Across the entire country, student support for the Manitoban on social journalists are breaking stories that leaked confidential documents that and CBC foreign correspondent remember what that small share of media and the lack of confidence are having significant impacts on the detailed how the university’s under- Nahlah Ayed also began her journal- your student fees are contributing to: from fellow councillors pushed the university communities they serve. graduate admissions office grades ism career in the pages of the Toban. true journalism. lone student politician to withdraw In October 2017, the University entrance essays.

David Cochrane, a senior reporter No, the Manitoban isn’t perfect. his motion.

The UBC student newspaper also in CBC’s parliamentary bureau, No student newspaper, anywhere in of Victoria’s student newspaper, the For a brief period of time, it Martlet, reported that their student conducted a large-scale investigation worked at the Muse, the Memorial the country is. We are students, too. seemed as though the intense society’s mishandled health insurance into the UBC-Okanagan student University of Newfoundland’s stuWe are still learning. defunding challenges facing local and switchover led to one student losing union over widespread financial dent paper.

The next generation of Canada’s national journalists across the coun- access to her $250,000-per-year cystic mismanagement. That investigative CBC Radio’s As It Happens co- journalists are working for your try were about to hit student media. fibrosis medication. reporting won the Ubyssey a John H. host and legendary Canadian jour- university newspaper. If their fellow But is student journalism really jourThe Martlet was also the first McDonald award for excellence in nalist Carol Off was a staff writer students do not support them, then nalism worth saving from those who outlet to report on the failures of the student journalism. for the Gazette, the University no one will. would rather see it go?

Across the country, in Toronto, of Western Ontario’s newspaper.

University of Victoria’s sexualized After all, student newspapers violence policies in 2016. journalists from the University of Toronto Star and Maclean’s columnists across the country rely on student Soon after, the B.C. government Toronto’s student-run paper, the Susan Delacourt and Paul Wells also

Toban Talkback needs to be held to account Having a hand in marginalizing voices demands an apology JAYELYN RAE

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he Toban Talkback video about the opinions of engineering students on arts students had a very negative reaction, and for good reason.

There is no need to create a further divide between working class people, let alone students who are trying their best every day to get their degrees.

Indeed, many Facebook commenters were upset over how belittling the interviewed engineering students were.

The beginning of the video starts off with mentioning the “rivalry between the arts students and the engineering students.” This is a nar-

row-minded view of the education system which assumes that one type of employment is more valuable than others. Ultimately, there is not any sort of rivalry between engineering students or art students as they work in completely separate fields.

Highlighting this brings up a few other concerns, such as the demographic of the interviewees. There were only masculine-presenting folks who spoke their opinion, and no femme or other gender-oppressed folks were given a chance to speak.

If they did, their voices were not used in the video. While it can be

dangerous to follow identity politics dogmatically, it is important to take into account the opinions of those who are marginalized even if it is for a “funny video.”

As mentioned in the so-called apology Toban Talkback released, the creators were “simply trying to get the funniest responses out of people.

It was unfortunately not understood that way.” This shows their sense of humour is lacking, and they are in need of better reporting skills. If they are reporting for the Manitoban, having a sense of humour that relies on degrading and belittling folks

is not needed, wouldn’t you say? If ized voices, a better apology is needed. not, the reporting becomes incred- Deleting the video on all social media, ibly biased and further marginalizes as the Manitoban did, does not corfolks who are not represented in the rect anything; it merely shows an article - or video in this case. If the inability to confront the errors made. humour relies on making people feel I would like to see an apology unimportant and unrepresented, that with more truth behind it, and more translates into the inability to create realization of the mistakes made in a good quality report. the video.

The published “apology” was not a true apology. It was a classic dismissal Jayelyn Rae is pursuing a bachelor of of feelings and more of an “I’m sorry arts in art history and political science. you felt that way” statement than a sincere expression of regret. For creating a video that devalued not only different careers but also marginal-

VOL. 104 NO. 23 February 14, 2018

Comment

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Trudeau’s town halls about show, not substance Public engagement should be forum to discuss policy, not an echo chamber of talking points KENNY INGRAM, STAFF

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rime Minister Justin Trudeau’s poses of advancing a political ideolfirst town hall tour in 2017 cost ogy with the objective of derailing the taxpayers over $131,000. event - cannot be tolerated. There is Trudeau kicked off his second no gray area when discussing this in tour Jan. 9, 2018, and visited various the context of town halls. We require locations across the country, even- clear, concrete, public rules on what tually stopping in Winnipeg at the kind of behaviour leads to one’s physiInvestors Group Athletic Centre Jan. cal removal from a town hall.

31 before continuing westward.

With this cost in mind, there At this point, it should be one clear goal of these town halls: democratic participation in the doesn’t take a political process. genius to realize the Democratic participation is pivotal in a democracy, and starttrue objective of ing these conversations is half of the battle. Remember, it was only these town halls: a three years ago that Canada was led political campaign

by Stephen Harper, who - forget town halls - attended a whopping 35 around the country per cent of question periods in 2015. on taxpayer dollars Reporters were about as likely to ask him a question as they were to be struck by lightning.

Admittedly, that is no pat on the This should not be conflated with back for Trudeau - a prime minister protests in other realms. Protesting encouraging democratic participa- a political rally is very different than tion in a liberal democracy should protesting a town hall. A rally is a be the bare minimum. The reality place where leaders can echo whichis that there are a lot of steps which ever talking point serves their agenda, must be taken to ensure a fair process whatever slogan will get a crowd roarunfolds in a town hall setting. Some ing. To kick out a protester from a of these are simply organizational. political rally - who is not attempting For instance, do not require those to derail the event - is nothing short who attend to RSVP online ahead of authoritarian. On the other hand, of time. it would be comical to think that any Another would be to perhaps person or group of people should have consider announcing tour dates well top priority in a town hall setting. ahead of time - instead of the less That defeats the entire purpose of the than a week notice Winnipeggers event: a forum to discuss public policy were given. When traveling on the in a democratic manner.

If Trudeau was truly interested in dollar of the taxpayer, you have the obligation to make sure as many peo- engaging democratically, he would have clear rules in place for these ple can attend as possible.

But at the centre of the issue with events that outline exactly which these town halls are the hecklers. behaviour will be tolerated and which Protesting or heckling - for the pur- will not. In such a context, having

people escorted out is not an act of authoritarianism but rather an act of respecting the thousands of others who gave up hours of their evening to hear the prime minister speak.

In order to run town halls effectively, we require rules that remove those who refuse to play by the rules. Trudeau already gives few good answers to those who bring up pressing issues at these events. In the spirit of a photo op, he dances around serious policy questions and aims not for answers but higher polling numbers. Trudeau’s avoidance of questions is compounded when he gains extra dodging time through extended interactions with hecklers.

Trudeau gets away with giving illegitimate answers to policy questions while being praised with thunderous applause for giving extremely poor PHOTO BY ASHA NELSON answers to hecklers. Who needs a real policy discussion when - instead of a line views - did not receive such sup- reinforce his image as the cool, calm, response to a difficult question - you port. Instead of letting Trudeau fall and rational prime minister looking get a free lecture on the importance flat in his answer, which he eventu- to offer a teachable moment to naive of having respect for democracy? ally got out - that renewable energy idealists.

At this point, it does not take a Trudeau ultimately wins: he fails to “won’t happen overnight,” and that provide meaningful responses, but is somehow building permanent pipe- genius to realize the true objective of lauded as though he has. lines helps in the transition - it was these town halls: a political campaign Case in point: I personally asked the heckling and Trudeau’s response across the country on taxpayer dollars.

Trudeau a question about environ- to it that dominated the subsequent Another ingenious marketing ploy from the same people who brought mental policy during his 2017 tour. news cycle.

Trudeau was then interrupted by a If Trudeau and his team genuinely us the shirtless photo-bombings group of University of Winnipeg stu- cared about the democratic process, and staged explanation of quantum dents before even having the chance they would have put in place guide- computing. to respond to the question about lines that audience members must Masquerading as a prime ministehis then-recent approval of three abide by. Instead, a quick Google rial Ask Me Anything session, and oil pipelines. The student hecklers search will find more than enough running out the clock preaching the held up the town hall for 15 minutes videos from the current tour of value of democracy and respecting or so while chanting anti-pipeline audience members heckling the others, has become a cover for comsentiments. prime minister at will, rarely being batting deteriorating approval ratings.

Although my initial question removed. To Trudeau, these hecklers seemed to be well-received by the are not a bug, but the system working vast majority of those attending, the smoothly. The tension they inhabit students holding up the event - who between whether they are allowed conceivably held similarly anti-pipe- to stay or are removed - serves to

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

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GRAPHIC BY STEPHANE DOUCET

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

Performance choreographed in a flash Choreographer and students of the School of Contemporary Dance create and perform a piece in only eight days JEN DOERKSEN, STAFF

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hat would normally take five weeks to prepare took only eight days for choreographer Stephanie Ballard and students from the School of Contemporary Dancers.

The VERGE Dance Dialogues performance debuted on Feb. 8 at the Rachel Browne Theatre. The show explored history, time, and the conversations between different generations of dancers.

“A four to six-week process is the norm for a full length, including choreographing it and rehearsals,” said Ballard.

“I worked with the dancers, but I also came very prepared with choreography that I already had. It’s about half and half of recreating solos and duets I’d done before. So, I didn’t have to create it, I’m recreating it, but it’s new for the dancer."

Subdued, rough exhales were heard over the music while a dancer stretched his arms outwards to the

sides, spun, and fell to the floor. A projector filled the back wall with a film prepared for this dance. The dark stage at the Rachel Browne Theatre was level with the audience, which allowed the dancer, Mark Dela Cruz, to approach the edge of the stage and present Ballard, who sat in the front row, with a strip of white cloth, a piece of his costume for this part of the performance.

VERGE Dance Dialogues, organized by Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, is a chance for students and recent graduates of the School of Contemporary Dancers to work with an accomplished choreographer to co-create a performance.

According to Ballard, it's a stepping-stone between finishing school and starting to dance with a company, or to dancing at a professional level.

The performance explored the idea of time by projecting pre-recorded footage on the wall behind the danc-

ers while they performed. The performance started with a slideshow featuring historic photographs and newspaper articles relating to the dance community in Canada. The slideshow was followed with a commentary by Ballard on the history of contemporary dance in Canada.

“I’m creating a new atmosphere that really deals with lineage and legacy,” Ballard said.

“I kind of believe when you’re dancing you’re having a dialogue, the creative exchange. And then there’s also me literally introducing the history of dance with a slideshow we start the show with.”

After Ballard’s speech, the dancers took to the stage and performed a number of pieces, more than half of which included projections on the wall that were prepared in part by guest artist Kayla Jeanson.

Jeanson said that Ballard had a lot of creative control in the filming

process and it was not until the edit- nections across time, figuring out ing process, along with looking at - Trevor kind of resembles Dan in Ballard’s past work, that the connec- this moment, in this costume, let’s tions between the film and the cho- find a place where we can create this reography start to become apparent. moment again. That’s where there’s echoes across the pieces.”

The closing piece paired a film of the performing dancers moving from “I kind of believe dramatic lighting into silhouette, when you’re with all of the dancers performing on stage. dancing you’re “At first you see their faces, and having a dialogue” then they walk and it turns to silhouette, and it has this layering effect of Stephanie Ballard, time and past selves, and it just felt choreographer, right to explore that with that illusion created,” Jeanson said. She said she VERGE Dance embraced Ballard’s way of making connections across time to create her Dialogues film piece.

“She was getting us to re-enact things that other dancers had been doing before,” she said. “[Ballard] was making con-

Emerging composer from within the walls of Desautels Student Kristen Wachniak premieres piece at Winnipeg New Music Festival OLIVIA MICHALCZUK, STAFF

U

niversity of Manitoba and later,” she said. workshop and premiere pieces with Marcel A. Desautels faculty “It’s really special to have made the performers in and outside of the facof music student Kristen Wachniak connection with that little dreamer ulty,” she said. participated in the second annual in me.”

“I’ve worked with several ensemWinnipeg New Music Festival Wachniak began playing piano bles, including the [U of M] wind (WNMF) Composers Institute at a young age and even though she ensemble and orchestra, as well as which took place Jan.27 to Feb. 2. disliked it, her parents pushed her to guest performers from other cities.

The Winnipeg Symphony keep playing.

These opportunities aren’t readily Orchestra (WSO) premiered one Her interest in composing started available to young composers, and I winning piece, and one piece each with the mistakes she would make am so grateful for this type of firstby the six other emerging composers while practicing. hand education.” that participated in the Composers “At some point, I started tuning Wachniak is set to graduate from Institute. Wachniak applied to the into mistakes I was making in my Marcel A. Desautels faculty of music WNMF Composers Institute last fall scales and pieces that sounded inter- in May, and her graduation recital in with her piece Disjunction. Wachniak esting - a finger slipping from one March will feature the premiere of was one of the two Manitobans note to another, beginning on the her first chamber opera, written “for selected. wrong note,” she said. three vocalists, percussion quartet, There, Wachniak, and the other “I was more interested in exploring and electronics.” selected composers had a behind-the- how I could expand certain mistakes Following graduation, Wachniak scenes experience of WNMF and into something musical than focus on will be attending the composition attended development workshops. the actual material.” academy at Lunenburg Academy of Wachniak said her experience with Those mistakes and her parents’ Music Performance in Lunenburg, the WNMF was a meaningful one. encouragement to keep playing led Nova Scotia.

“It’s also uncommon for an emerg- Wachniak to start composing. ing composer to have their work “I dabbled in composing and song performed by a professional orches- writing as a kid, and eventually took a tra, so I’m incredibly grateful,” said composition class in high school, [at] Wachniak.

Miles Macdonell Collegiate, which is “Premiering work with the orches- what got me thinking seriously about tra of my home city has been extra pursuing composition further,” she special.” said.

Wachniak began composing at In the program, Wachniak was a young age: her first competition also presented with many opportuwin was in Grade 5, when she won a nities that have helped her become a melody competition that was made better composer by pushing her creainto a short piece played by the WSO. tive boundaries.

“The premiere at the WNMF was “The composition department like a real deal follow-up a decade has provided great opportunities to

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Arts & Culture

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

Local art from local hearts Collaboration between ArtsJunktion and Red River College student raises money for local artists and crafters JEN DOERKSEN, STAFF

and execute a professional project before graduation.

“The idea behind Lovecrafted was that it’s not just a pop-up shop,” Jhunjhunwala said.

“It’s a three-part project to promote local makers and raise funds for ArtsJunktion. The way I related those things is because ArtsJunktion is an organization that concentrates on crafting and handmade stuff that gives people an outlet to explore their creativity, and local makers to do that too, so I wanted to put it together.”

The first part of the project kicked off with a craft night at Forth on Dec. 12 where participants had a chance to PHOTO BY JEN DOERKSEN make lamps out of wine bottles.

“Everybody has wine bottles lying n Feb. 10, a project called nity groups, and schools. around their house, so we made little Lovecrafted raised over $500 Vendors at Lovecrafted included lamps out them that people could for ArtsJunktion, a community arts Williams & Rail, which repur- use around Christmastime, and organization. Lovecrafted hosted a poses vintage glass insulators from just to get the idea going how easy pop-up shop at Forth that featured telephone poles to make plant and great it is to make something eight local crafters. holders, Scientific Sweets, which handmade and how good that feels,” The pop-up shop was the final makes custom sugar cookies, and Jhunjhunwala said. exhibition following a reccurring Rachael Kroeker Ceramics, which Tickets for part one were $15 at the web series that profiled the eight makes tableware and home decor. door, with $10 of each ticket went to makers who sold goods on Saturday. Everyone involved in the event runs ArtsJunktion. The evening raised a ArtsJunktion received 20 per cent of local businesses or organizations, total of $305 for ArtsJunktion. all sales from the day. except for event creator Shreya Julie Kettle, executive director at ArtsJunktion is an environmen- Jhunjhunwala.

ArtsJunktion, said the organization tally-conscious community-buildJhunjhunwala is a creative com- was approached with the collaboraing initiative that provides craft munications student at Red River tive idea, and were happy to work supplies to organizations, commu- College who was required to plan with Jhunjhunwala on the project.

O

“It was actually Shreya who approached me, she had to do a final project for her degree and she asked me about putting on this pop-up sale to promote local crafters and wanted to do it in collaboration with, and in support of, a local non-profit,” Kettle said.

partnerships,” Kettle said.

“I feel like if there’s some sort of art or crafting event in the province, supplies have been accessed from our place. We kind of supply it all.”

Kettle said they have provided supplies for Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, and Artbeat Studio, along with other events and organizations.

ArtsJunktion The money raised on Saturday will be used for the Art Hives events at repurposes 3,000 ArtsJunktion. Art Hives are public events where people are invited to kilograms of waste learn new crafts with direction from materials from a local crafter or artist on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. manufacturing Williams & Rail maker Alysha companies Downey accesses craft supplies through ArtsJunktion for her day job and individuals as a teacher in Ile des Chênes. per month “I teach a play-based learning program in Ile des Chênes,” Downey said.

“So she reached out to me and “So it’s very child-led, it’s more made this wonderful thing happen.” about the process and they’re using According to Kettle, ArtsJunktion all the things you wouldn’t use in repurposes 3,000 kilograms of waste an art centre or a day-to-day craft materials from manufacturing com- environment and it’s teaching them panies and individuals per month. to create to see things in a different “It’s interesting that I feel like we light. So, the ArtsJunktion piece of do have a big impact, and also I feel Lovecrafted is what made me decide like many people don’t know about to [exhibit at] the show.” us, so I’m excited for opportunities to grow our community presence and

Celebrating community for a noble cause Fundraiser for Drag the Red to feature local music, art, and food OLIVIA MICHALCZUK, STAFF

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GRAPHIC PROVIDED BY ROCK THE DOCK

ock the Dock is a fundraiser including Indigenous women and for local organization Drag girls,” said Hansen. the Red, taking place Feb. 17 at “The money raised goes to boat the Marlborough Hotel. repairs, gas money, feeding volOrganizers Melissa Hansen unteers, and other equipment that and Amanda Emms are second- is needed to keep Drag the Red year students in the creative com- running.” munications program at Red River College. They became familiar with Drag the Red after volun- "We want to teering with the organization last celebrate all the hard year.

“Drag the Red has no prejudice,” work that Drag the said Enns.

Red does” - Amanda “They are some of the most accepting people we’ve ever met.

Emms, co-organizer, It’s been such an amazing experience working with them and it Rock the Dock feels good to be able to give back to such a great group of people.”

Drag the Red consists of volThe gala-style event will feature unteers who drag the Red River bands such as Red Moon Road and looking for bodies. The group was Dirty Catfish Brass Band, and artfounded after the body of 15-year- ists Patrick Ross and Jamie Black. old Tina Fontaine was found in The event will be catered by Got the Red River following her mur- Bannock? and feature a poutine bar. der in August of 2014.

“We chose this format firstly “Drag the Red is a grassroots because we want to celebrate all the organization that searches the hard work that Drag the Red does,” river for missing and murdered Emms said. members of our communit y, “Although the work Drag the Red

does is of a really serious nature, the community support it has built is something to celebrate. We wanted to celebrate local food, music, and art and this felt like the right way to do it.”

The night will be emceed by NDP MLA for St. Johns, Nahanni Fontaine, who previously worked as special advisor on aboriginal women’s issues for the Indigenous issues committee of cabinet of Manitoba.

Fontaine has been a long-time advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Ways to become involved in the organization include visiting the Drag the Red Facebook group or signing up to volunteer with the group at Rock the Dock.

Rock the Dock will be held on Feb. 17 at the Marlborough Hotel. Tickets are available at rockthedock.org for $35.

VOL. 104 NO. 23 February 14, 2018

Arts & Culture

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

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Manitoba sweeps Calgary to secure top seed with back-to-back shutouts JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

Saturday

Bison forward Jordyn Zacharias breaks into Dinos' territory during Saturday’s 6-0 win at Wayne Fleming Arena. PHOTO BY CHANTAL ZDAN

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he University of Manitoba Bison women’s hockey team was back at home this weekend for their regular season finale against the University of Calgary Dinos.

The home team beat up on their competition, sweeping the final series of the regular season.

The Bisons finished the regular season with a 19-5-3-1 record and will enter the Canada West playoffs as the top seeded team. Manitoba receives a bye to the semifinals and will await the results of the quarter finals to learn their opponent. The

semifinals will be a best-of-three series at Wayne Fleming Arena on Feb. 23-25.

Friday

Entering Friday’s action, the Bisons had a chance to clinch first in Canada West and ensure home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

The herd dominated their opponents, walking away with a 6-0 win.

The two sides battled hard in the first, and when it looked like the period would end in a draw, Caitlyn Fyten lit the lamp. Dinos

goalie Kelsey Roberts made a stop and a scrum ensued in the slot, but the puck squeaked out to a waiting Fyten, whose shot weaved through the crowd, and went low-blocker.

In the second, following a goal by Jenai Buchanan, Lauryn Keen did it all by herself. The Manitou-born centre broke in, toe-dragged a Dinos defender and rifled a shot that made both posts sing as it went in.

Manitoba went on to add goals by Nicole Carswell, Alana Serhan, and Natasha Kostenko. The home side shelled Roberts all night, putting up

30 shots to Calgary’s eight .

With the win, the Bisons clinched first place and became Canada West regular season champions for the first time in the program’s history.

“We’ve been close a few times and we’ve gone down to the wire a few times, and really haven’t ever been able to close the deal,” said Bison head coach Jon Rempel.

“I thought this year we approached things well in the second half and it paid off when we got through all the top teams.”

With a playoff berth locked down, the Bisons turned to celebrate their graduating players on Saturday. The Bisons were equally dominant, but Roberts held the fort for the Dinos, keeping Manitoba to a 1 -0 win.

The lone goal for the Bisons came from Jordyn Zacharias in the third period. She broke into the Dinos zone, side-stepped to make room, and placed a wrister short side on Roberts.

In her final regular season start as a Bison, Rachel Dyck made eight saves and recorded the 15th shutout of her U SPORTS career. In the Dinos crease, Roberts made 37 saves on 38 shots.

“It was pretty cool,” Dyck said. “It was a bit tighter game than yesterday but I felt good in the net and wanted to end on a high note.”

Despite the closer score, Rempel was beaming after his team swept the final weekend.

“I thought that was a really complete game,” he said.

“I thought with not much to play for other than some team goals we set for the game I thought we stuck with it, I thought we were consistent through three periods.”

Speaking on his graduating players, Rempel expressed a similar sentiment.

“Just good efforts, it’s what they’ve done in all five years basically,” he said.

“Honest effort every day and good leadership skills, and I just thought we sent a message to whoever comes in here in two weeks that they’re going to have a tough go at it, and that’s really what we wanted to accomplish.”

Bison briefs Volleyball teams sweep Regina, men’s hockey gets swept in Calgary RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba Bison back on track. The men won 3-0 on The women’s team, did not lose a at Investors Group Athletic Centre. Spriggs collected two more losses men’s hockey team wrapped up Friday, and followed that up with a single set all weekend, winning 3-0 over the weekend, finishing the year its regular season in Calgary this 3-1 win on Saturday. Fifth-year left on both Friday and Saturday. Second- Bisons discover as the busiest goalie in the west, havweekend, while the Bison volley- side hitter Adam DeJonckheere year right side hitter Kearley Abbott Dinos in Calgary, ing faced 815 shots and playing 1434:52 ball teams were in Saskatchewan combined for 26 kills over the week- combined for 21 kills on the weekend immediately regret it minutes. for a series against the University of end, tying him for second all time in and averages a team best 3.37 kills The Bisons’ red hot offence got Manitoba concluded the year with Regina.

Canada West career kills with 1,369. per set. Libero Cassie Bujan had 24 cooled down in Calgary this weekend. a 16-10-2 record with 34 points, good Men’s hockey ended their season DeJonckheere has a chance to take digs over the weekend, including a After combining for 31 goals in their enough for third place. Bison head on a sour note, getting swept by the sole possession of second all time next ridiculous 18 on Friday. Bujan has previous six games, Manitoba only coach Mike Sirant has guided this University of Calgary Dinos. On the weekend in his final weekend at home the second most digs in the Canada managed only two in two games. The Bison program to its 11th straight courts, both Bison volleyball teams as a Bison.

West with 369.

Bisons lost 5-1 on Friday night, and playoff appearance. dismantled the Cougars, each sweepManitoba now holds a 9-13 record The women moved their record 4-1 on Saturday afternoon. ing their prairie rivals. and sit in ninth place in the Canada back to .500 at 11-11 and sit in seventh Warren Callis and Michael St. The Bisons will host the Mount Royal West. The playoffs are still in reach, in the Canada West and has poten- Croix were the only Bisons to score Cougars in a three game series on Feb. Bison volleyball tramples as the Bisons are in a battle for the tial to move up in the standings next over the weekend. St. Croix finished 16-18 in the Canada West quarter over Cougars in Regina eighth and final playoff spot with the weekend. the year third in Canada West scor- finals at the Wayne Fleming Arena.

After a disappointing weekend University of Saskatchewan heading The Bison volleyball teams wrap ing with 35 points (13G, 22A) in 28 on Feb.2-3 against the Mount Royal into the last weekend of the regular up the regular season against the games.

University Cougars, Manitoba got season.

UBC Okanagan Heat on Feb. 16-17 In between the pipes, Byron

VOL. 104 NO. 23 February 14, 2018

Sports

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Bisons bounce Bobcats from playoffs Alleyn scores 20 in the third quarter en route to 82-76 win RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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he University of Manitoba Bison men’s basketball team bounced the Brandon University Bobcats from the playoffs Friday.

With an 82-76 win over their provincial rivals, the Bisons move on to play a three-game series against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Feb. 15-18.

Rashawn Browne was the man for Manitoba in the first quarter, driving the offence forward with multiple jumpers and scoring 11 points.

Cameron O’Hara was a beast on the glass, tallying nine points and three rebounds. He put up a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

“That’s a phenomenal performance from a first-year kid. He was unbelievable,” said Bison head coach Kirby Schepp.

“We know we’re going to get performances from Justus [Alleyn], Rashawn, and James [Wagner, but] we need one of those other guys to step up and do something and he was the guy tonight.”

Brandon was nearly equal to the task and the score was knotted at 24 after 10 minutes.

Browne, the Canada West assist leader, went down briefly early in the second quarter to injury, but returned a few minutes later. He made his presence felt with an incredible display of acrobatics to tip in a rebound after Alleyn missed a three-pointer.

The second quarter didn’t see much scoring, but the Bobcats pulled ahead to lead 40-35 at the half. It was a three-pronged Bobcat attack in the first half, with Jonathan Range leading the way with 11 points, and Tyvon

Bison Justus Alleyn tallied 31 points, seven rebounds, and one assist in Manitoba’s 82-76 win over the Brandon University Bobcats Friday.

Cooper and Pookie Saunders each pitching in nine.

Alleyn exploded to start the second half, hitting a quick three, then getting a jumper to fall. He followed that up with a hard lay-up. Alleyn scored 20 points in the third quarter alone and led a 16-2 Manitoba run in the opening five minutes of the third quarter. He finished the game with 31

PHOTO BY CHANTAL ZDAN

points, seven rebounds, and one assist. score close. But Browne or Alleyn “I came out flat in the first half. I were there to quell the danger with Manitoba heads out to Vancouver didn’t really play my game,” Alleyn clutch jumpers. Manitoba held on for to play the UBC Thunderbirds in a said. We “regrouped at half time and the 82-76 win, securing a berth in the best-of-three series in the Canada just came out really aggressive and it quarter finals against UBC. West quarter finals on Feb. 15-18 . worked for us.”

“It’s relief really,” Schepp said.

Manitoba led 62-53 after a “You’re just completely focused on this dominant third quarter, outscoring game, [now] it’s done. I’ll probably Brandon 27-13. Brandon crawled their have one cold beer and prep immeway back in the fourth to bring the diately for UBC and that’s about it.”

Bisons see hard work pay off in first playoff game since 2009 Despite loss to Alberta to end playoff run, it was a memorable season RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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his weekend, the Bison women’s basketball team played in their first playoff game since 2009.

Despite falling 82-71 to the University of Alberta Pandas in Edmonton, the fact the Bisons made it to the post season is an accomplishment in itself. After years mired in obscurity, the Bisons clinched a playoff berth on Feb. 2 against the Fraser Valley Cascades in a 79-74 overtime win.

After that final buzzer went, it was a feeling of relief for Bison head coach Michele Sung.

“I always believed in this group,” she said.

“For me this is my first go around at really building a group and building momentum behind it so I think sometimes you think [playoffs are]

going to come a little quicker then it did and sometimes it does […] I think the way that we won was a really good picture of what we’ve gone through in the last two years.”

Making the playoffs helps inject a bit of life into this Bison program that only combined for six wins in the past three seasons.

“It helps with recruiting and it helps keep the athletes motivated,” Sung said. “They stay excited about where they’re going, they get that external validation that the work they’ve put in is working.”

This season, the Bisons finished in eleventh with a 9-11 record, despite starting the year off with a 0-5 record.

Manitoba turned it around before the break, winning seven of their last eight games. After sweeping the

University of Lethbridge Pronghorns to start off 2018, the Bisons slipped up, dropping four straight before their overtime win against the Cascades.

“I always believed in this group” – Michele Sung, Bison women’s basketball head coach It was a series at home in early November against powerhouses the University of Regina Cougars that seemingly ignited the fire in Manitoba’s season. After being blown out 85-48 on a Friday night, Manitoba

lost 72-69 in the Saturday rematch.

“I think it was definitely a turning point and I think it goes to show on any given night any team can win.

I know that’s a little cliché but it’s really how our league is,” said Nicole Konieczny, the third-year guard who finished with 24 points in Manitoba’s loss to Alberta.

Konieczny was an offensive catalyst for Manitoba all season, a highlight of her season being a 41 point performance in an 82-59 win over Lethbridge on Jan. 6. Konieczny said the support group for the Bisons was key this season.

“I think throughout the season we just had so much support from our family and friends,” she said. “I think that’s been huge going into the season and at the start we always had

that goal of making playoffs and we finally did it.”

Taylor Randall, a second-year guard who finished with 14 points, three assists, and three rebounds in the loss on Friday said it was nice to see their hard work come to fruition, but the team had confidence they could make the post season.

“We were excited but also ready we’ve been working all season for that,” she said. “It was awesome to have it confirmed that yes you are going to the playoffs but we knew we could do it.”

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Sports

VOL. 104 NO. 23 February 14, 2018

Bisons welcome Mount Royal to town for playoffs A comprehensive breakdown of this weekend’s quarterfinal matchup AUSTIN FRAME

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he University of Manitoba Bisons 4-3 in Calgary back in January, but men’s hockey team will face off the Bisons responded with a 1-0 win against a familiar foe in the Canada the next night. Both teams average West hockey playoffs this weekend. around 30 shots per game, but the For the second year in a row, Bisons have 20 more goals scored Manitoba will play the Mount Royal throughout the season.

Cougars in the Canada West quarterfinal. This time, however, the Bisons The Bisons will host MRU at Wayne Fleming Manitoba comes in to the playArena in Winnipeg. The Manitoban offs sporting a 16-10-2 record on the breaks down this weekend’s series. season, finishing third in the Canada West standings. The herd are led The matchup offensively by the line of Michael St. Hosting the Cougars in Winnipeg Croix, Kamerin Nault, and Zach suits the Bisons just fine. The Bisons Franko. St. Croix led the team in were phenomenal at home this sea- scoring and finished third in conferson, ending with a home record of ence with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 11-3. Mount Royal rounded out the points in 28 games played. Nault and season with a .500 record of 7-7 on Franko punched out with 20 and 24 the road. Head to head this season, points, respectively.

Manitoba came away with three of Defensively, Manitoba is led by the four victories. It started back in Adam Henry. The third-year defenceOctober when the Bisons swept their man finished the 2017-18 campaign first two meetings in Winnipeg by with his best season yet, finishing finals of 4-1 and 3-2. The Cougars inside the top 20 in Canada West were able to knock off Manitoba scoring for the first time in his

U-SPORTS career after totalling five goals and 20 assists for 25 points.

Between the pipes, fourth-year goaltender Byron Spriggs carried the mail for the Bisons. Spriggs appeared in 25 games in the regular season, and finished with a record of 14-9-2. Those 14 wins were good for second in Canada West, and Spriggs led the Canada West in minutes played with 1434:52 and in saves with 815. He rounded out his season with a save percentage of .908 and had goals against average (GAA) of 3.14. Dasan Sydora appeared in 5 games for Manitoba this season and had a record of 2-1, while Justin Paulic saw action in one game, an 8-6 win against Regina on Jan. 26.

The Bisons had no trouble lighting the lamp this season, scoring 99 times in 28 games.

Key to victory: If the Bisons want to come out on top of this playoff series, they will need to continue to consistently put pucks on net. They

averaged 30.1 shots a game, and it yielded results in the last few weeks of the season with 30 goals in the last seven games. Spriggs will also need to be ready to shut down the attack of the Cougars.

The Cougars

Mount Royal enters the Canada West playoffs after suffering a sweep at the hands of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon last weekend.

The Cougars are led up front by Jamal Watson and Brad Kennedy.

Watson tallied eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points on the season while Kennedy wrapped up with 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points.

Mount Royal scored a total of 79 times through 28 games this season, and were surprisingly led by their back end in scoring as defenceman Jesse Lees finished up the campaign with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 26 games this season.

Forward Connor Rankin capped off this season with just 15 points but is not to be overlooked as he led all of Canada West in scoring last season with an astonishing 35 points in 26 games for Mount Royal.

In net for the Cougars is Cam Lanigan, who has a record of 9-8-1 for Mount Royal this season. He boasts an .908 save percentage and a GAA of 2.59.

Key to victory: The Cougars will need to calm the Bisons offensive attack if they want to come out on top of this series. They gave up 11 goals in four games to Manitoba, so they will need to lock down their defensive zone. Mount Royal will also need to improve their power play and capitalize on their opportunities against Manitoba, which was just 7.1 per cent versus the Bisons this season.