4 March 2020

The sounds of Cohen Sieg

UMSU election

UWSA election

Pages 3,4,5,6

Page 4 VO L 1 0 6 · N O 2 4 · M a r c h 0 4 , 2 0 2 0 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

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Index

VOL. 106 NO. 24 March 04, 2020

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News

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

UMSU condemns aggressive Indian response to protests International representative issues statement in support of campus Indian community AMIRA TEKLE, STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matthew Doering

and peace.”

“In the last four days [in India], there have been constant riots going down in the capital where 30 have died so far,” said Singh.

“There were communal riots where the government’s lackeys and goons attacked Muslim minority neighbourhoods, particularly burning [down] their houses, shops [and] killing a lot of them, while police stood there doing nothing.”

Singh voiced belief that there is a strong possibility for Indian students abroad to lose their Indian citizenship and become stateless with proposed changes being made to India’s

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BUSINESS MANAGER Alice Teufack

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‘The New Canadian Curling Club’ falls flat

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Garett Williams

PAGE 16

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NEWS EDITOR Garett Williams

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NEWS EDITOR Ty Brass

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COMMENT EDITOR Kenny Ingram

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ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Grace Paizen

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SPORTS EDITOR Jason Pchajek

“We could be left without a state and a home” — Amitoz Singh, international student

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ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR Megan Pietrus

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DESIGN

DESIGN EDITOR Joshua Wesey

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PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER

GRAPHICS EDITOR Evan Tremblay

SPORTS

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DESIGN ASSOCIATE Kellie Huynh

Gold standard

GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE Ernest Zarzuela

PAGE 18

AUDIO AND VIDEO

Manitoba wins gold at worlds VISUAL CONTENT EDITOR Quincy Houdayer

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AUDIO EDITOR Joseph Gonzales

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PHOTO ASSOCIATE Alex Decebal-Cuza PHOTO ASSOCIATE Ally Gonzalo VIDEO ASSOCIATE Nish Joshi VIDEO ASSOCIATE Paul Stabell

REPORTERS

NEWS Gillian Brown

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

A

motion put for ward by International community representative Victoria Nwabuisi “in support of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in India” was passed at the Feb. 27 UMSU board of directors meeting, calling upon UMSU to condemn the Indian government and show public support for international students.

India is currently in turmoil over the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which offers a clear path to citizenship for refugees fleeing religious persecution

in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, with the only stipulation

Facing riots, the Indian government and Hindu nationalists have

tors and arrested thousands of others, with Muslims being targeted.

The motion was put forward by Nwabuisi at the behest of Amitoz Singh, an international student from “In the last four days [in India], there have India who attended the meeting as been constant riots going down in the capital a student-at-large to speak on the motion. where 30 have died so far” ­— Amitoz Singh The motion asks UMSU to “release a statement showing their support for students on campus affected being that they are not Muslim. turned to violent means to suppress by violence in their home countries,” The amended act passed Dec. 11 protestors. and for UMSU to work with relevant last year and has been widely viewed According to the motion, the gov- campus communities to “arrange an as Islamophobic. ernment has killed dozens of protes- event surrounding interfaith dialogue

Connect UMSU VPFO reinstated in executive campaign

Judicial review overturns disqualification, issues 10 demerits AMIRA TEKLE AND GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

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national register of citizenship.

He said he wants students to become aware of the increasingly dire situation in India and for UMSU to support affected students at the U of M in a remarkably stressful time.

“If [the national register of citizenship] is brought through, many of the students here potentially risk losing their citizenship altogether and becoming stateless refugees,” he said.

“It’s not just about the psychological impacts of that, we are actually affected by it.

“We could be left without a state and a home.”

The motion was heavily amended and passed by secret ballot.

PHOTO BY JOSHUA WESEY

onnect UMSU vice-president board,” Hove said Monday. finance and operations candiHis disqualification followed a date Tino Hove has been reinstated Feb. 24 incident in the arts lounge in the executive campaign after being when he is alleged to have “acted sidelined for three days. aggressively” toward the volunteer Hove — who was on staff with during a dispute over campaign matethe Manitoban as an audio associ- rials, namely a roll of masking tape. ate until nominations for the 2020 The volunteer reported feeling UMSU general election closed in “intensely shaken and intimidated,” mid-February — was disqualified according to the returning officer’s Friday after the office of the chief ruling. returning officer (CRO) found he The CRO determined that Hove had intimidated a volunteer support- “displayed a willingness to intimidate ing Our UMSU. and pressure a different [slate’s] volHove appealed and, after the judi- unteer into confessing to a mistake cial board spent several hours review- they did not commit, thereby giving ing the matter Sunday, was reinstated up campaign materials due to fear of and instead issued a total penalty of intimidation.”

10 demerits.

“I think it was a fair decision and See Our priority | Page 5 I respect the decision by the judicial

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News

VOL. 106 NO. 24 March 04, 2020

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

UWSA executive campaign roiled by controversy

Anonymous accusations incite legal action GILLIAN BROWN, STAFF

PHOTO BY ALLY GONZALO

ust days before voting for the 2020 Jelection opened, the University

of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) was on the defensive against an anonymous attack accusing the incumbent executive of misusing student association funds — an accusation the association vehemently denied.

An anonymous Twitter account with the name @KermanAnthony, claiming to be an education student at the U of W, appeared in late February and tweeted, “UWSA caught their VPIA [vice-president internal affairs] embezzling student funds and donating them to a provincial political

party.”

“Instead of making this public, they fired the individual and forced everyone to sign an NDA [non-disclosure agreement]. Not only did they misuse student money, they tried to cover their tracks completely.”

A second tweet read, “Two of the UWSA executives responsible for this are now running again. If they want our votes, shouldn’t they be transparent and tell us what really happened instead of wasting student money and then hiding it from everyone?”

The Twitter account has since been taken down.

A release posted to the association’s website Feb. 26 threatened legal action, calling the accusations slanderous and defamatory.

“The UWSA can confirm that no funds were embezzled or donated to political parties and that these allegations are entirely false and defamatory in nature,” the statement reads.

“The UWSA is considering pursuing legal action against those responsible for the slanderous comments made on social media.”

An association spokesperson further denied that UWSA board members were made to sign nondisclosure agreements but said they did sign standard confidentiality agreements “to not disclose matters discussed in closed session,” adding that “privacy and labour legislations prohibit them from discussing reasons for termination.”

“The executives haven’t threatened directors with legal actions for violating the NDA, as there wasn’t an NDA to begin with,” Shreya Jhunjhunwala, UWSA communications manager, said in an email.

“We have sent cease and desist letters to the person(s) operating the slander accounts, which have since then been taken down.”

Jhunjhunwala also noted that

executives cannot independently access association funds, saying they “don’t have credit cards and need two signing authorities for cheques, e-transfers or withdrawals.”

In September, the board removed former vice-president internal affairs Natasha Reimer from office, citing a conflict of interest.

A release issued by the association shortly after said that “For confidentiality and privacy reasons, the details of the conflict of interest are available only to the board of directors.”

Reimer was elected on a slate alongside UWSA president Meagan Malcolm, vice-president external affairs Mahlet Cuff and vice-president student affairs Noelle Sagher.

Cuff and Sagher are both on the ballot to be re-elected to the executive as president and vice-president student affairs, respectively.

At the same September meeting, the board dissolved the internal affairs executive position and spread the duties to the remaining three executives and staff.

Jhunjhunwala said the decision was made in part to facilitate hiring a professionally trained chief financial officer to “maximize the use of student fees and avoid a budget deficit.”

The campaign got off to a com-

“We have sent cease and desist letters to the person(s) operating the slander accounts, which have since then been taken down” — Shreya Jhunjhunwala, UWSA spokesperson

bative start in early February when multiple candidates were disqualified for pre-campaigning.

At least one member of the disqualified slate was later found in violation of UWSA campaign policy again, this time for approaching an incumbent candidate while volunteering for another slate.

Voting for the three current executive slates opened Tuesday and will be completed today.

News

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‘Our priority is still to ensure that the volunteer is comfortable,’ Samantha Tumlos The ruling continues that “in trying to reason with the office of the CRO, Tino repeatedly pressured the [deputy returning officer (DRO)] into agreeing with his claims, additionally threatening legal action to Our UMSU and the volunteer should the allegation be ruled as legitimate.”

The judicial ruling, which replaces the initial CRO decision, did not dispute the findings but replaced the penalties from disqualification with five demerits for each incident.

Hove welcomed the decision and said that between the initial incident and the following complaint, “Everyone involved got emotional very quickly.”

“I do believe that it was an appropriate action,” he said. “The initial severity, we realize, was in haste and there were a lot of emotions involved.”

“The way it was handled initially just came off adversarial,” he said, “which I don’t believe was the intention of Our UMSU, nor was it my intention or [the intention of] the office of the CRO.” Our UMSU presidential candidate Samantha Tumlos, who is one of four people listed as a complainant, said her concern remained with their volunteer, saying “At end of day, our priority is still to ensure that the volunteer is comfortable and is able to come to terms with what happened.”

“On our end, we definitely would be open to any sort of a conversation — even for us on behalf of the volunteer — and try to see if we could restore any relationships that were damaged in the process,” she said.

“But at the same time, we also want to respect the wishes of our volunteer and also respect the fact that they experienced something negative. We want it to be as supportive as possible.”

Upon learning of the reversal, a student in the faculty of arts — who requested anonymity — questioned the message it sends, saying “I think

that the people on the board didn’t take the complaint seriously enough.”

They noted that the five demerits for a harassment complaint are less than the 10 issued to candidates who fail to attend mandatory meetings, saying “I think that the fact that five demerits were given for harassment is kind of crazy.”

The entire Connect UMSU slate was issued 15 demerits each on Feb. 23 after missing the all-candidates meeting and Hove was handed another 10 two days later after fail-

ing to attend another meeting. If any infraction, which pushed Hove candidate receives 50 demerits they beyond the 50 threshold. are disqualified.

The office of the CRO issued a Initial ruling statement Monday saying it “respects The ruling released by the CRO all decisions made by the judicial last week found that a volunteer from board and respects the right for the Our UMSU slate, who wishes to the candidate to return to the elec- remain anonymous, felt aggressively tion. We wish to move forward intimidated by Hove after an incident with respect for the candidate and where Hove accused the volunteer of their right to run in a fair and open taking Connect UMSU campaign election.” materials. The volunteer alleged Hove The statement points out that the “invaded my personal space” and corCRO issued 15 demerits for each nered them in the arts lounge.

2020 UMSU general election demerits STAFF

S

o far, seven complaints have resulted in demerits in the 2020 UMSU general election. Upon receiving 50 total demerits, a candidate is disqualified. Thus far, no candidate has accumulated more than 35 demerits.

An UMSU For You volunteer mistakenly sent a link to a volunteer sign-up sheet for her slate to a group of 21 UMSU members. Rules stipulate that such links may not be sent in group chats with more than five members. As a result, Jelynn Dela Cruz, presidential candidate for UMSU For You, was given five demerits.

Any person in the group chat in question has also been restricted from volunteering for any slate in the 2020 election, except for those already volunteering for a slate other the UMSU For You. Sia Yamba, presidential candidate for Connect UMSU, stated on an Instagram Live video — that was available to her 2,754 followers at the time — that she was filming “for her campaign.” This video was a violation of pre-campaigning rules, and Yamba was given five demerits.

Tino Hove, vice-president finance and operations candidate for Connect UMSU, arrived late to a mandatory meeting, showing up nine minutes before said

meeting was set to adjourn. Members of the Connect UMSU slate were given 15 demerits each.

Hove was also absent for a mandatory daily campaign meeting and did not send notification to the chief returning officer (CRO) at least 24 hours before said meeting. Hove was awarded 10 demerits.

Trevor Smith, candidate for LGBTTQ* representative, running unopposed, failed to attend a daily campaign meeting. Smith was given 10 demerits.

Adrian Esenwah, candidate for international students’ representative, running unopposed, failed to attend a daily campaign meeting. Esenwah was given 10 demerits.

A complaint concerning an allegation by Our UMSU that Hove had intimidated a volunteer of the slate over masking tape had resulted in the CRO disqualifying Hove from the election, but a judicial review of the incident overruled the CRO’s decision and reinstated Hove Monday, assigning him 10 demerits in total rather than 15 for each of two incidents, leading to his outright disqualification.

The Connect UMSU team and Hove contested the content of the complaint and the ruling, saying they did not believe the claim of intimidation was justified. “Besides me just being a tall male of colour asking her [for masking tape], I don’t see where intimidation could have happened,” Hove said Friday.

Connect UMSU’s campaign manager Nicholas Mikolajek and Hove in turn accused the office of the CRO and the Our UMSU slate of making “wild claims that have no supporting evidence” while accusing the office of bias.

They also disputed the ruling’s claim that Hove threatened legal action against both Our UMSU and the slate’s student volunteer, saying they told the CRO and DRO only that they would explore their legal avenues but made no such threat.

Mikolajek and Hove said they had contacted external legal counsel, student advocacy and the office of human rights and conflict management to evaluate their options.

“I find it very disturbing that the office of the CRO of a student union finds it threatening when a student is looking to use the resources available to them in a case that is brought up against them,” Hove said. “That is a disturbing fact in itself.”

Our UMSU had requested an apology from Hove in their complaint.

On Monday, Hove said a mediation is in process, adding that “All of this is being done in good faith on all sides.”

Polls for the UMSU election open today. Voting continues until Thursday afternoon.

6

News

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

Meet your community representatives

All four candidates are running unopposed TY BRASS, STAFF

Trevor Smith, LGBTTQ* representative

LGBTTQ* representative

Trevor Smith is a third-year psychology student who has served as the Rainbow Pride Mosaic (RPM) committee president and the director of communications for the Arts Student Body Council.

Running for re-election, he will bring ample experience in the role.

“With this upcoming year […] I want to focus a lot more on doing events for the community,” he said. “I think with this past year a lot of what I’ve focused on was more so RPM-oriented, and I definitely want to focus more on events for the broader community at large.”

Smith mentioned panels as an example of such events.

“This year, what we had wanted to do was bring back Drag Queen Bingo, as well as […] other events like different panels. So, for instance, an […] asexual, or aromantic panel, just having students being able to freely talk about their experiences and helping the community understand different romantic orientations, for instance. Just basically educating people about [...] the identities that compose the community.”

Indigenous students’ representative

Alicia Kubrakovich, also up for re-election, is a second-year student studying Indigenous governance and is female co-president for the U of M Indigenous Students’ Association (UMISA).

She said community engagement among

Judith Oviosun, Womyn’s representative

Alicia Kubrakovich, Indigenous students’ representative

“I wouldn’t say I accomplished a lot this Indigenous students is a top priority for her second term, building upon her previous work year, but there’s still a lot that I want to do,” in the role. she said. “Coming in as a first-year, I wasn’t “Something I want to work on this year is prepared for this position as well as I am now. getting a lot of Indigenous students aware of I feel as [though] now, coming back into rewhat’s going on besides Migizii [Agamik], get- election gives me an opportunity to keep on ting them aware of what’s going on with UMSU, working hard and doing all the initiatives getting them aware of all these other different that I plan to do.” community groups that are offered on campus,” she said.

Womyn’s representative Judith Oviosun is a third-year agricul“This past November we also did Indigenous students’ month, and as that being [...] the first- tural sciences student and president of the ever programming that we did collaborating University of Manitoba Nigerian Students’ with UMSU and various other Indigenous Association. She hopes to continue the work community groups, that’s something I want of past womyns’ representatives. to continue and to make it bigger next year.”

“I think a lot of people before me have Last year, Kubrakovich voiced her sup- started some good programs and I want to port for the National Centre for Truth and continue them.”

Reconciliation’s 94 calls to action.

Oviosun wants to renovate the womyn’s She hoped to work with the U of M to imple- centre as a priority, calling its current state in ment the 16th call, which was to “create univer- “bad condition.” She also mentioned making sity and college degree and diploma programs the centre as inclusive as possible as a priority and bringing in alumni as speakers. in Aboriginal languages.”

“I would also like to invite other alumni of “We did work a lot this year in regard to call U of M that are women to come and speak on to action number 16,” she said.

“That’s something I want to bring forward their experiences after university.” again this year to advance more. We did a lot “In the past, [...] I’ve had other positions and of language programming and […] I want to it’s really been exciting and uplifting, and I feel work more with the 94 calls to action and to like, having been working in the community, ensure that the university is recognizing those it’s time to step it up and represent the com94 calls to action.” munity in a larger sense.”

Kubrakovich acknowledged that her lack of experience during her first term was a detri- International community ment, but she hopes to get a lot more done over representative the next year.

Adrian Esenwah, third-year student of

the Asper school of business, is prioritizing improving the financial situations of international students in several ways.

“My first policy is […] to work with [the U of M] to create more scholarship opportunities which can be academic or non-academic.”

As well as creating more scholarship opportunities, Esenwah hopes to make international students more aware of the general bursary application already offered by the U of M. “Most international students don’t know about this, and […] I’m willing to hold seminars to educate them and to actually create more awareness about this general bursary application.”

International students at the U of M have seen a massive rise in their healthcare costs in recent years, currently coming in at $1,210 per year.Esenwah did not mention plans to push for lower costs, but rather hopes to make international student healthcare coverage nation-wide to ensure any students that travel outside the province are covered.

“I’m definitely hoping to work with the school and the incoming president to achieve these goals,” said Esenwah.

“I’m running basically because, as an international student, there are a lot of things I’ve noticed and there are a lot of things I want to put in place.”

“I want to be there for my fellow international people.”

Adrian Esenwah, International community representative

­­— With files from Gillian Brown

PHOTOS BY ALEX DECEBAL-CUZA

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

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Wage theft and the cult of chummy workplaces

Companies are stealing pennies right before employees’ eyes MEGAN PIETRUS, STAFF

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

GRAPHIC BY ERNEST ZARZUELA

W

age theft. It’s hospitality’s best worst-kept secret.

From taking a cut of employee tips or not paying overtime, to not giving employees breaks and forcing employees to work off the clock, most workers are aware of the liberties their employers take when it comes to their pay. But if you were to ask hospitality industry workers about this issue, chances are you’d hear the same story over and over: “That’s just how it is.”

When the Not My Stella’s scandal — which included allegations of employees fired without cause and working long hours without proper breaks — broke in 2018, I remember being hard-pressed to find a single hospitality worker who was surprised.

The pervasiveness of this issue has unfortunately normalized the practice. And it would be easy to blame the ubiquity of companies who commit such offences as the sole reason issues like these persist and are tolerated by employees, but there are more insidious machinations at play here.

In 2017, the Economic Policy Institute estimated that American workers collectively lost nearly US$15 billion due to wage theft. Canada is in a similar position. But Canada has decades-old laws in place to protect workers, so why do so many companies continue to get away with such an egregious offence?

My experience in the hospitality industry has led me to believe that numerous companies get away with wage theft by offering so-called perks, material or psychological, to draw a veil over what I can now clearly see

as glaring, lurid red flags.

Perhaps the most common is the on the side of caution when it comes work.

I remember my first minimum sentiment that work is like a family. to things like avoiding favouritWorse, they sometimes exist to wage jobs. I remember being a When companies use language con- ism in the workplace. Conversely, keep employees working longer hours. wide-eyed adolescent, and the sense ducive to a family-like environment, bosses might end up mistreating an Silicon Valley companies have gone of wonder and hope I felt at my first they blur the line between work and employee — by doing things such so far as to offer on-site child care, encounters with the dictionary-sized personal relationships. If employees as cutting back an employee’s hours car wash facilities, bicycle repair, training manuals — chock-full of are made to think of their bosses like without explanation — if the rela- haircut services, spa treatments and company values and mottos, sets of family, they’re more likely to feel tionship turns sour. full-service fitness centers. With all golden rules, if you will — that so guilty about taking time they need Moreover, by befriending them, these things on-site, the need to ever many hospitality companies use. I for themselves. Worse yet, they’re bosses can entice their employees to leave the premises becomes smaller remember thinking things like “Wow, likely to feel guilty about coming do small tasks off the clock, making and smaller. this company seems to really care forward on issues like harassment, Tech giants like Apple, Google about its employees.” or the wage theft perpetrated by the and Facebook even offer to cover eggNot so. company itself.

Underneath the freezing costs for female employees, After the third or fourth encounter By blurring the lines between a flagrant and nauseating example shiny veneer of with these manifestos, it becomes work and family, employers can cite of just how far companies will go clear that they are nothing more than a lack of loyalty if employees do not to keep their employees working as perks like these is banalities designed to plant seeds of bend to their often-absurd whims, many hours as possible. the stark truth that hope in the minds of so many credu- instilling in their employees the sense On a smaller scale, workplace lous workers. that they are betraying someone close perks might take the form of tickets they often exist as They’re designed to cultivate to them. to sporting events, or things like cascompensations employees’ minds to suit the compaThis is a disturbing method that ual Fridays, but they are nonetheless ny’s depraved agenda. Often amongst enables companies to ask for unwaways for many companies to conceal these efforts is the sentiment that vering devotion from their employees, things like wage theft and overwork. employees are changing the world even if it means putting work before Of course, there is nothing inheror are part of something greater than things like education — in the case the work they’re doing seem like a ently wrong with companies having themselves. This is a tactic used to of countless minimum wage work- favour to a friend, flouting their con- values and offering perks to employkeep employees working at a job they ers — or mental health. After all, tractual obligations to employees in ees as tokens of appreciation. no longer enjoy or believe in. you wouldn’t want to let your family order to pinch pennies.

But when they are tools used to Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the down, right?

But the manipulation of workers obscure immoral practices, they now-defunct Theranos, used this tacWhat’s more is that, in my expe- goes beyond artful phraseology and essentially boil down to mental tic to get her employees to believe rience, so many companies who into the material realm. manipulation. they were doing meaningful work require steadfast fidelity are ready to Exhibit A would be Silicon Valley.

These are but the musings of a and to stick with the company that sack their employees at the slightest Most are familiar with Silicon middle-class hospitality worker lucky one former employee called a “sinking blunder — or lock unionized workers Valley’s man-cave like furnishings enough to be able to leave this type of ship,” under the pretence that they out when they ask for so much as a that originated with companies like job. But for those with less privilege were revolutionizing blood testing 30-cent raise to make ends meet.

Google and Zappos, some campuses — for whom leaving or being fired and changing the world.

By dissolving boundaries, compa- boasting ping-pong tables, indoor from a minimum wage job might That so many companies use nies infiltrate their employees’ per- swimming pools and even go-kart mean not being able to put food on this language is no coincidence. sonal lives under the guise of “family” tracks. But underneath the shiny the table for their family — these jobs Companies often adopt a specific ver- or often friendship. Employee- veneer of these perks is the stark truth will continue to be inescapable traps nacular to curate a welcome atmos- employer relationships are innocuous that they often exist as compensations if companies don’t start to practice phere in the workplace. enough, but too many bosses don’t err for lower salaries and uninteresting what they preach.

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

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2019-2020 EXECUTIVES

Metis Federation victim to politics of respectability

Siding with the powerful never leads to positive change that helps the oppressed CAM CANNON, STAFF

questioning whether the demonstrations are for Indigenous sovereignty, against systemic oppression or for the environment.

These motives he offers are completely inseparable from each other — how can one fight for Indigenous sovereignty without also fighting against systems of oppression like settler-colonialism, which generate these struggles in the first place?

How can one separate the struggle along those lines from the struggle for

I

t seems that for David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF), solidarity with the ongoing mass movement in support of Wet’suwet’en in its struggle with the Canadian government is not on the table.

In a special statement issued last week, Chartrand denounced the movement after a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) monument, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Winnipeg constituency office of Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal were all vandalized.

Chartrand labelled the actions a display of “cowardice” — then, somewhat ironically, went on to lament the feelings of RCMP officers and their families, and applaud the RCMP for the role it has played in reconciliation — forgetting, it seems, that the spark that set this fire in the first place was

GRAPHIC BY ERNEST ZARZUELA

the cowardice of the RCMP. For Chartrand, people who are presumably youths, engaging in symbolic political action — like defacing an RCMP monument, publicly showing defiance and undermining their legitimacy — are cowards.

The RCMP, on the other hand, who, knowing that land defenders were unarmed, raided a healing centre on Wet’suwet’en land and arrested matriarchs in a fully militarized way, are to be defended.

If only those young cowards with spray paint could be as respectable as those officers continually pointing sniper rifles at unarmed land defenders.

Chartrand seems to identify cowardice with resistance to power, even if the “victim” is public property.

His statement goes on to question the motives of the movement and denounce it for not being unified,

All of this adds up to an attitude toward politics that places respectability above effectiveness the environment?

Traditional Indigenous ways of being are completely tied up in respect for the land, plants and animals.

The assertion of sovereignty and a break with settler-colonialism necessarily means a re-assertion of those cultural values.

Either Chartrand is completely clueless, stabbing in the dark at any way to distance the MMF from the movement, or he is writing in bad faith.

All of this adds up to an attitude toward politics that places respecta-

bility above effectiveness: if one wants If he is going to invoke these to challenge power, to get anything moments from history, he would do done, it needs to be done in a way that well to also remember that the Northdoes not offend the sensibilities of the West Mounted Police, a precursor power being challenged. to the RCMP, was arguably created Such an attitude is completely for the purpose of putting down ahistorical — it uncritically accepts Indigenous resistance to the westthe narratives of the ruling class ward expansion of Canada — notaaround social and political change. bly, playing a role in suppressing the One would be hard-pressed to find a North-West Rebellion and forcing single instance in history where the through the building of railways that oppressors granted the oppressed enabled further Canadian control of any concessions because they proved Indigenous lands. themselves to be deserving of them.

The RCMP evidently still serves The narrative, perhaps most this purpose. famously, often invokes the legacy In this light, Chartrand’s stateof Gandhi, conveniently forgetting ment reads more as apologia for there was an on-going armed con- settler-colonialism, attempting to flict at the same time as his hunger position the Métis nation as sepastrike — the successful assertion of rate and more deserving of respect sovereignty was likely more due to than those rowdy land defenders than the armed conflict than anything anything.

Gandhi did.

Siding with the oppressor is All political struggles that have shameful and should be criticized. any chance of success necessarily Chartrand must reconsider his offend the state of things. They aim position or elaborate on it further.

His concerns about creating division to do away with them.

If your struggle does not do so, among Canadians may be coming that is likely because your struggle from a well-meaning place, but they is not truly for the most oppressed of are ill-conceived. your society and, as such, does not Bringing to the forefront a politics pose any serious challenge to the of Indigenous sovereignty and assertpowers that be. ing power through it should be met Of course, Chartrand is an intel- with enthusiasm. ligent, capable man, and he probably We cannot simply ignore the already knows this. contradictions inherent in Canadian In his statement, he invokes the society for the sake of some abstract Métis nation’s legacy of rebellion — notion of unity. albeit to try to make an argument against the ongoing resistance to Canadian settler-colonialism.

Peaceful protesters must be protected

It is the role of the government to ensure that demonstrations are shielded from violence

Mahder Teffera

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HSGSA President

VP Services & Support

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VP Finance & Administation

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Ehsan Tahmasebian Senator 2

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How wealthy men evade justice for sex crimes

Justice system must work the same for the rich and powerful as it does for the poor MEAGAN HUGHES, STAFF

for alleged sexual assaults that took place between 2008 and 2015 in the Bahamas, where he owns a gated island estate.

Nygård is also alleged to have paid out thousands of dollars to Bahamian police and government officials to gain political and police protection, according to details from the lawsuit.

It is also alleged he paid out company funds to have his former girlfriends threatened and intimidated by police.

This is a clear and disgusting example of a wealthy man abusing his status and financial power to harm and oppress women. Had Nygård not had access to millions of dollars, and the immense power that comes

KENNY INGRAM, STAFF

R

ecent protests involving ades weren’t immediately called off, — have done a terrible job at ensuring of Canada and provincial allies like large fossil fuel companies and their Indigenous peoples blockading they would bomb their mailbox and peaceful protests are protected.

B.C. Premier John Horgan, the laws sympathizers over the cost of the railways in peaceful protest have their parents would be in danger. The There are many different facets of it chooses to enforce — and how stoppage of trains and the delaying demonstrated the need for better email ended with “This is a threat, Canada’s criminal code that protect they’re enforced — are not favour- of the pipeline project, the entirety protests and protesters. protection of protests. you are on notice.” able to those demonstrating. of that cost could have been avoided Over the past several weeks, Although this email is particularly In the same way, the state will had Coastal GasLink simply agreed protests over the Coastal GasLink bone-chilling, its tone is far from an have a conflict of interest to protect to the alternative route proposed by pipeline — which has been sched- anomaly. demonstrations that have a message Wet’suwet’en — a plan proposed six Protests should be uled to be constructed right through Simply visit any news organizasupporting its actions and policies years ago. protected, regardless — like a far-right, pro-pipeline truck Indigenous Wet’suwet’en territory tion’s social media and look for posts But because of the historical trend in British Columbia — have grown that address the railway protests and convoy — and to muzzle protests that in Canada — from Trans Mountain‘s of whether it more vociferous in the rejection of the read the comments. They’re loaded contradict its intentions. pipeline expansion to TC Energy’s is in the state’s project in its current form. with racist goons. And it’s gotten Protests should be protected, Keystone XL pipeline — where large And while all of the protests in so bad that a journalist for Global regardless of whether it is in the fossil fuel companies are protected financial interest opposition to the project have been News B.C. claimed he had to delete state’s financial interest to protect and the laws of the land are interpeaceful, the people opposed to the over 100 Facebook comments “call- to protect them them. preted to stifle any dissent, Coastal protests have not. ing for Indigenous protesters and Canada should not be nit-pick- GasLink knew what to expect.

On Feb. 17, the driver of a semi- Indigenous peoples to be killed or ing laws in order to skirt by while As it stands, Indigenous protesters truck barrelled through a group of seriously injured,” with some news Indigenous peoples are subjected to are once again on their own, with protesters on a railway near Morris, outlets opting to deactivate comviolence and hatred — something little to no protection from the rightMan., allegedly hitting one of the ments entirely.

The problem is that, because of they should be protected against. wing terrorists who intend to cause protesters.

This trend has been so appar- how they’re worded, the laws are at But this two-tiered system of gov- them harm.

As the protests continue, the vio- ent that experts are now predicting the discretion of the person inter- ernance — with one set of rules for Because the state has demonlence and threats are only getting Canada is on its way to a serious prob- preting them to determine just how the descendants of settlers or mul- strated that it is unable to protect all worse. lem of white supremacist vigilantes. they’ll be enforced. tinational corporations and another citizens, Canadians from all walks Just last week, an email was This needs to end before it starts.

Because the protests surround- for Indigenous peoples — is what of life must come together in solidarsent to addresses affiliated with The reality is that those in power ing Wet’suwet’en are in direct led to the Wet’suwet’en protests in ity — in opposition to the Coastal Wet’suwet’en and Tyendinaga — who are supposed to ensure every opposition to a project that is being the first place.

GasLink and in support of the chartownship saying that if the block- citizen’s charter rights are respected pushed by the federal government For all of the crocodile tears from ter rights of all Canadians.

Cody Ross

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

F

or too long, the possession of the #MeToo movement, which has money and wealth has allowed given power to victims of sexual people an advantage within the legal assault. system. This has especially been the The movement has caused a ripcase for men being accused and con- ple across the globe as people have victed of crimes of violence against become empowered to come forward women. with the truth of their experiences We now live in an era where social — much like what has happened media has connected us, allowed us to recently with Peter Nygård, former change social narratives surrounding chairman, as of his recent steppingimportant issues and bring impor- down, of Nygård International. tant topics regarding violence against On Feb. 13, 10 women filed a civil women to the forefront. This includes class-action lawsuit against Nygård

Net worth should not give anyone the upper hand in the case of criminal activity

with it, the allegations against him may have come about sooner — he used his wealth to ensure this would not happen.

Net worth should not give anyone has the power in the scenario to the upper hand in the case of criminal seduce her way into a job. activity, yet it often does.

But the reality is that the rich film Another well-known example of producers are the ones who ultimately a man using his wealth and privilege determine whether she gets the job to abuse women is the case of Harvey at all.

Weinstein, former film producer and This results in a significant imbalco-founder of award-winning enter- ance of power which has tragically tainment company Miramax. resulted in many women being taken The highly publicized trial resulted advantage of, from manipulation to in two felony convictions against objectionable abuse.

Weinstein, including one count of While it’s welcome news that criminal sexual act in the first degree. Weinstein has been brought to trial While Weinstein denied any of for his crimes, the favour of wealthy his interactions with the women were men was shown once again in the non-consensual, comments made court room. by his attorney Benjamin Brafman Despite victim testimonies and reveal a deeper and darker truth of the accusations of over 80 women the accusations at hand. Brafman said against him, Weinstein was acquitWeinstein wasn’t the inventor of the ted of the two most serious charges “casting couch” in Hollywood. against him which would have carCasting couch culture is based on ried up to two life sentences in prison. the idea that Hollywood is rife with While the news of these acquittals tales of women trading sex for roles is disappointing, one can still find in television and film. Although there comfort in the fact that the culture of are many rumors about this floating disbelief surrounding sexual assault around, women in the entertainment is being dissolved. industry paint a very different version I welcome the paradigm shift that of these stories. appears to be taking place in favour of Many victims came forward with exposing the truth and dismantling allegations that Weinstein engaged harmful aspects of our culture. with them in a manner that was It is essential for women to be able aggressive and non-consensual. to trust that someone who seeks to A common misconception about harm them will be brought to justice, casting couch culture is that a woman no matter who they are.

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Features

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Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

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

Wet’suwet’en round dance QUINCY HOUDAYER, STAFF

Protests continued across the country this week in solidarity with the land defenders of Wet’suwet’en, and were spurred on by police dismantling a barricade and arresting protestors in Tyendinaga, Ont. Between 100 and 150 people gathered at Portage and Main Feb. 26 to take part in a round dance, with a handful of counter protestors showing up.

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

VOL. 106 NO. 24 March 04, 2020

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Prairie singer-songwriter sets sights on horizon

Cohen Sieg’s musical talent is as impressive as his ambitions KAELEN BELL, STAFF

The Human Condition Comedy Tour returns to Manitoba ZACHARY SIGURDSON, STAFF

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hough he shares a name As for his craft, Sieg’s live per- some form, though he became with his hometown, Siegs formances are notable for his use emboldened by learning guitar — Corner, Cohen Sieg’s sights are of a looping pedal. allowing him to finally give shape set far beyond the fields of rural He said he was inspired after to the melodies in his head.

Manitoba. watching Ed Sheeran use a similar “I would kind of make stuff up Sieg described himself as “a pedal, allowing him to craft com- — I had little songs and stuff, little young singer-song writer who plex songs despite standing alone jingles and stuff I’d kind of sing to writes music that really anyone on a stage. myself,” he said. can listen to, and it’s marketable “Living out in the country, it’s But now he says his musical to any person, any place or country.” pretty limited, the [number of ] ideas come more fully formed, At just 18 years old, he is people I can play with,” he said. ready to be captured by his phone’s unafraid to state his ambitions.

“The looping has made it so I can audio recorder.

Inspired by the likes of Ed Sheeran still get that full big-band sound, “Usually I’ll know I want to and Shawn write something Mendes, Sieg — like, I’ll feel “I know the culture of rural Manitoba has emphasized his that creativit y k ind of come mass-appeal affected me” — Cohen Sieg, singer-songwriter over me. It’s usuapproach to songwriting, ally late at night, unbound by any I’m kind of like, specific desire to reflect his small- just on my own.”

‘OK, I’m feeling something,’” he The pedal is now another tool said. town upbringing.

“I know the culture of rural in Sieg’s arsenal — he also plays It’s not difficult to imagine Manitoba has affected me,” he said. keyboard, bass, saxophone and Sieg’s music taking him beyond “Definitely, you can see it a lot percussion — in service of his the lonely stretches of eastern in my earlier years of playing. I ultimate goal.

Manitoba.

“I’ve always wanted to be a started off actually playing country Pop-oriented and heartfelt, music mainly, because that’s what singer. My first guitar lesson was Sieg’s sound seems to call for a everyone listens to out in rural actually when I was six — a friend wider audience, for more room to Manitoba, and that’s kind of what of my mom’s plays guitar so I went breathe. It seems Sieg will be ready I grew up on.” in for some lessons,” he said. for it too, wherever it may take him.

“I’d always dreamt of being “As I’ve aged though, I wouldn’t “The songs I write, anyone could say it’s played too big of a role. I on one of those Canadian Idol or […] relate to them on some level,” don’t tend to write songs that just American Idol [shows].” he said.

Sieg described songwriting as apply to people in rural towns,” he “I’ve just always wanted to play added. something he’s always done in music and make music.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HUMAN CONDITION

ast September, three comedians toured Western Canada, raising money for various charities and offering feel-good vibes. Now, on its second run, The Human Condition Comedy Tour — featuring comedians Scott Belford, Adam Mac and Scott Porteous — is coming to Brandon March 12 and Oakbank March 13.

Instead of waiting for opportunities to come his way, tour organizer Porteous made his own comedy tour by combining his love of travel and comedy, while also doing some good in the world.

“It’s me being selfish in the most selfless way,” he said.

“We can help build awareness and raise funds [for charities] and they can help us out, you know, give more exposure for our brand at the same time.”

While there are different charities and organizations involved, the Brandon Humane Society is the sole Manitoban organization benefiting from this iteration of the tour.

PHOTO BY ALLY GONZALO

The tour is making stops in Alberta and Saskatchewan on top of the Manitoban stops.

“There’s a lot of small towns that don’t necessarily get — [they’re] under the radar, if you will — the attention that, you know, unfortunately that the bigger cities do,” “Making people Porteous said.

“The basic mentality is, ‘No town is laugh […] it’s a too small, no city is too big.’ We want therapy” — Scott to make sure everybody is included.”

Porteous is already planning a Porteous, comedian summer tour, with every intention and tour organizer of continuing The Human Condition Comedy Tour for as long as he can.

“Making people laugh […] it’s a therapy,” he said.

“That’s obviously a joke,” he added.

“Comedy is definitely cheaper than Porteous’s knack for storytelling paying somebody to listen to you sit and self-deprecating humour is bal- on a couch.” anced with Mac’s depressingly optimistic adventures as a new father and Belford’s “Canada’s funniest sweetFor more information, go to The heart” energy.

Human Condition Comedy Tour’s “We’re not aiming to be nasty Facebook page. Tickets for the comedy and dirty, but like, we’re also adults,” shows are $20 each.

Porteous said.

New episode of ‘The Nature of Things’ a must watch GRACE PAIZEN, STAFF

Drummer Justin Tessier talks new music, upcoming album KAELEN BELL, STAFF

years ago, while some were writ- “There are some pop songs on the ten entirely in studio, hashed out with album that we haven’t even released the band’s producer Paul Meany, lead yet.” singer of New Orleans alt-rock group However, Tessier said the Mutemath. response to their expanding sound “They’ve always had this certain has been positive — a reminder of the kind of like clean sort of tightness to instinctual musical bond he shares them that I think we kind of wanted with Jafar.

“Tarek and I have been friends for so long […] we were very close friends for like six or seven years before we “There are some pop even jammed with each other once,” songs on the album he said.

“And now we’ve been a band for that we haven’t 10 years — so we’ve been very close friends for more than half of our lives.” even released Tessier said the band has considyet” — Justin ered bringing other members into the fold, but that it only complicates the Tessier, musician symbiotic relationship that drives the Blue Stones. to tap into on this one — getting Besides, he said they’ve never felt away from the gritty, raw kind of a lack of depth despite their two-pergarage rock sound,” Tessier said of son setup — they manage to sound Mutemath. as though they’ve got an entire band That cleaner sound can be heard behind them. clearly on the two singles released “After we played, you know, hunby the band, particularly in the dreds of shows, no one has ever rap-influenced cadence and digital really said like ‘You guys need this’ accents of “Grim.”

— except for bass players, bass play“We were actually really nerv- ers will always tell us we need bass ous to release that one at first — we players,” he confessed. didn’t know how people were going The duo is currently in the midst of to respond to it,” Tessier said. a North American tour, taking their

When choosing tour partners, Porteous’s criteria were “People that I respect, I find funny, that I can last in the car with for two weeks without driving me crazy to the point where I think of murder.”

‘Reef Rescue’ doc details oceanic crisis, possible recovery

The best is yet to come for the Blue Stones

s drummer Justin Tessier tells it, his band is only just beginning to find its sound.

Since independently releasing a series of EPs and a debut album — 2015’s Black Holes — the Blue Stones signed with Entertainment One Music and began exploring the pop sensibilities that had always lain dormant in their raucous music.

“It’s always something that we’ve kind of been attuned to, and it’s just now sort of coming out,” Tessier said.

“I think we’re kind of actually settling into more of a sound that we’re comfortable with on this album,” he added.

Tessier described the band’s tobe-titled sophomore record, written

by Tessier and Blue Stones primary songwriter and frontman Tarek Jafar, as a sort of collage — a taste of the various influences the band has always played with but never fully committed to.

“The way that we’re kind of approaching the record is almost like a collection,” he said.

“Like a patchwork of songs rather than being like one big piece that’s all written intentionally at the same time with the same theme — it’s almost like a playlist.”

Some of the songs were written

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Plenty of laughs for a good cause

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A

Arts & Culture

PHOTO PROVIDED BY REEF RESCUE

T PHOTO PROVIDED BY BLUE STONES

newly-evolving music to their fans, invigorated by the new possibilities opening before them.

Even as the music changes, it still seems to work for the Blue Stones —

no bass player needed.

The Blue Stones play the Park Theatre March 12.

he seriousness of the documentary’s subject matter is emphasized by the opening’s intense orchestral music.

Reef Rescue, the latest documentary from The Nature of Things, debuting March 6 on CBC, feels like marine biologists’ final diagnosis of our warming oceans and the impact of climate change.

“If climate change is still ongoing past 2100, then nothing we’re doing is going to help solve that,” University

of Miami associate professor Andrew Baker says in the film.

In the meantime, and with the hope that humanity finally takes global warming seriously, marine scientists are putting old science fiction tropes to good use. In a Frankensteinian approach, scientists are using “assisted evolution” to help strengthen the ability of corals to resist heating oceans.

Assisted evolution is the process by which scientists are lab-breeding

coral hybrids, crossbreeding corals that have survived oceanic heat waves.

However, these hybrids are not detrimental to human survival, they’re crucial.

The film is narrated by Canada’s environmental darling himself, David Suzuki, who describes in simple language what coral is, why humans need coral reefs to survive and how marine scientists are making corals stronger and more heat resistant.

Coral is an animal that survives like Florida would be even more devby feeding off microscopic zooplank- astated by seasonal hurricanes if the ton and the sugars produced by their reefs did not slow down wave energy. symbiotic algae.

With the ice caps melting and the The “bleached” shell of coral is the ocean levels rising, reefs become even “skeletal” structure of the organism. more important in humanity’s fight Corals have been around for 500 for survival.

The documentary emphasizes how humans must collectively and imme“If climate change diately act to combat climate change, and what scientists are doing in the is still ongoing past meantime in hopes of revitalizing 2100, then nothing oceanic ecosystems.

Canadian marine biologist and we’re doing is going associate professor at the University of Victoria Julia Baum is a leadto help solve that” ing figure amongst these scientists.

— Andrew Baker, Working with the largest land mass in the world made entirely of corals marine biologist — Kiritimati, or Christmas Island — Baum and her team take stock of the reefs, tagging corals and studying million years and are masters of how the most resistant corals survive adaptation. oceanic heat waves.

However, when the ocean heats Truly chock-full of educational up too rapidly — which is the cur- information, Reef Rescue is a must rent global crisis — the algae inside watch in order to understand how corals produce toxic molecules. The climate change is affecting the entire corals then expel the algae, leading world, and how the science to keep up to starvation with the loss of their with global warming events is desperprimary energy source. ate enough to use methods found in Coral deaths are globally detri- science fiction. mental because corals and the reefs With 50 per cent of the Earth’s they build support a quarter of coral having been lost in the last 30 Earth’s marine life. years, assisted evolution seems like Moreover, one third of all fish spe- the necessary antidote to the evercies spend part of their lives on the growing coral crisis. coral reefs.

Coral reefs also act as natural Reef Rescue premiers on CBC breakwaters for storms. In the docu- March 6 and is available to watch free mentary, scientists explain that places on CBC Gem.

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Arts & Culture

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

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

Between racial stereotypes and a hard place

‘The New Canadian Curling Club’ could learn from its own message

A highlight-filled 2019-20 Bisons had plenty to remember in quiet year

Team president happy with performance on and off ice

SHAYLYN MAHARAJ-POLIAH JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

F

or a play that hopes to perpetuate the cultural mosaic myth, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s production of Mark Crawford’s The New Canadian Curling Club curls in the wrong direction.

The play follows a group of Canadian newcomers who join their local rink’s learn to curl program on the recommendation of fellow community member Marlene.

The curling club’s membership includes a Jamaican Tim Hortons manager, a bumbling East Indian father, an aspiring Chinese physician and a teenage Syrian refugee.

Unfortunately, Marlene suffers a hip injury and her crotchety, old ex-husband is forced to take over. However, he is not as committed to diversity as his ex-wife. In fact, he’s quite the racist.

The show is advertised as a comedy but, unfortunately, much of the humour comes from the cultural stereotypes of the people being represented.

The prejudices are not only perpetuated by the play itself but also by the characters of colour in their actions toward each other.

Early in the play, the East Indian character, Anoopjeet Singh — played

by Omar Alex Khan — compares Zhaopeng Meng’s character — Mike Chang — to Korean and Japanese coworkers he has had in the past, remarking that Chang looks just like them before proceeding to mock the

By using caricatures to portray human beings, the characters become two-dimensional way they spoke.

By using caricatures to portray human beings, the characters become two-dimensional. Crawford’s play does provide some commentary on racist ideologies, but it could have delved deeper into the immigrant experience.

For instance, some immigrants come to Canada because they are skilled in their home countries, but are ineligible to receive Canadian licensing and, therefore, are locked into lower-paying jobs — an element that could have been explored

in Singh’s backstory.

That being said, the performances themselves were the highlight of the production.

Every character was well-played and believable. Standouts include Meng, Lorraine James and Sophie Smith-Dostmohamed. SmithDostmohamed’s Fatima Al-Sayed, the team’s newest “new Canadian,” brought much-needed innocence and playfulness to the production, and James’s Charmaine Bailey was both sassy and maternal — a difficult combination to pull off.

The most memorable monologue was from Meng’s Chang, who told a story about entering a patient’s hospital room only for them to ask for a “Canadian” doctor instead. This was especially poignant as it removed the veneer of the Canadian myth of multicultural harmony.

Though, as a person of colour in the audience, watching my fellow spectators laugh at all of the politically-incorrect rhetoric achieved that early on.

A noteworthy element of the production was the absence of Marlene, the woman who envisioned a diverse curling club in the first place.

Though her presence hangs over

ISAIAH WAGNER, STAFF

PHOTO BY JASON PCHAJEK GRAPHIC PROVIDED BY ROYAL MTC

the play with the characters fre- that we as a country are moving quently uttering her name, she never closer to achieving multiculturalphysically appears. Only her voice ism, it’s buried deep beneath racial is heard toward the end of the play stereotyping. when her ex-husband, Stuart, has accepted the team as they are and has started on the road to embracing The New Canadian Curling Club multiculturalism. runs at the John Hirsch Mainstage until If the message of the play is hope March 7.

Synonym Art Consultation starts something new Synonym Sound two-day launch to be a ‘mini festival’ GRACE PAIZEN, STAFF

S

even years ago, Chloe Chafe and Andrew Eastman co-founded Synonym Art Consultation to make art more accessible and to break down the barriers of what art institutions could be.

Originally curating exhibits in restaurants and hair salons, they graduated to less restricting spaces.

Moving onto the streets welcomed the creation of the Wall-to-Wall Mural & Culture Festival. At the same time, the two were producing live music events.

Now, the co-founders and cocreative directors will be officially combining the two mediums together by launching the Synonym Sound division of their company, bringing together local and Canadian music and visual artists.

“We’ve been kind of always thinking of different ways to employ artists and have artists working together with the public to create truly collaborative and authentic work,” Chafe said.

“Synonym Sound is a new specific division of Synonym Art Consultation. It’s really aimed at providing live music events, digital media strategies and music videos for musicians.

“So the whole concept is to really create a strong relationship between the visual arts community and the music community — to really work

Officially launching March 6, Chafe considers both the March 6 and 7 events as a “mini festival.”

“We’re kind of looking at the whole weekend as the launch because they’re kind of different styles of shows,” she said.

The start of the launch begins on Friday at the Synonym Art gallery, with a collaboration of visual and musical shows.

“We actually have a Vancouverbased electronic artist, Shamik, coming in, and so we’re going to have him in our gallery space, which is a really intimate space, with amazing acoustics,” Chafe said.

“It’s a chance to really have an intimate experience with electronic music and all of its intricacies […] so what we wanted to do was have him in our gallery in kind of a more fine arts space to really give that sort of new element to his work.”

While Shamik is performing, visual artists will be painting in the gallery.

“At the same time we’ll actually be having some mural painters in the back of our space. So, you can kind all together for one great purpose.” of watch that process happen at the Wynrush and DJ Zuki. same time,” Chafe said.

“We’ve been working with As for the Saturday show on Anthony […] for many years,” Chafe March 7, The Tallest Poppy will said. “And so to have him work with be the venue. Anthony Oks will be us at The Tallest Poppy — he’s been debuting his new EP Take Time and our resident DJ there before and does will be joined by DJ Kilusan, Nestor lots of different events there — so

Winnipeg Ice a success in first season

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ith the 10-year anniversary of Sidney Crosby’s golden goal upon us, the nation has been thrust into nostalgic contemplation.

Many will reminisce on this moment as a cornerstone of modern Canadiana and one we will never forget.

With this nostalgia in the air, and the end of Bisons action until the 2020 U Sports national men’s volleyball championship Mar. 13 to 15, it seems time to look back on the biggest Bisons moments from the year.

Wasylak injured, but Skoleski provides the spark

GRAPHIC PROVIDED BY SYNONYM ART CONSULTATION

that’s going to be a really nice chance $5, while tickets for the March 7 show to have a really cozy, warm — really are $10. personal experience with his record.”

“We’d love to see everyone come out. It’s going to be […] a really, really For more information about fun weekend and a chance to, kind of, Synonym Sound and Synonym Art break out of the winter vortex.”

Consultation, go to synonymartconsulTickets for the March 6 show are tation.com.

You never want to see a teammate hurt, but when it happens, you get to see how your club responds.

During a Jan. 31 game against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, forward Jonah Wasylak was clipped up high by Sam Ruopp of the Huskies. Wasylak’s helmet came off, his head hit the ice and everyone in the rink held their breath until he was taken off the ice by doctors and trainers.

Down 2-1 in the third period, with playoffs potentially on the line, the herd needed to gather its shaken self and get back in the fight.

On a power play courtesy of the Ruopp hit, Devon Skoleski stepped up for his team.

Forward Jeremey Leipsic picked up a pass low below the goal line and spotted Skoleski dropping down from the high faceoff circle, stick at the ready.

Leipsic fed the puck through a crowd, right onto the stick of Skoleski who dropped to a knee to fire the puck home. The Bisons bench erupted in celebration.

U of M went on to lose the game 3-2 in overtime, but the moment was still special.

Jordyn Zacharias: the comeback queen

While the men battled adversity

PHOTO PROVIDED BY U OF M

to end January, the next day the women did just the same.

Down 3-0 to the Huskies in a game Feb. 1, the Bisons decided the fun was over for the University of Saskatchewan. Kaitlyn Chatyrbok buried her second goal of the season to get the U of M on the board, and then the captain, Jordyn Zacharias, went to work.

She muscled her way into the Huskies zone and dropped the puck to Sheridan Oswald who found twine to make it 3-2. Then, Zacharias did it herself, following up on her own rebound and burying it to tie the game 3-3.

She put the ball low past the keeper and kicked off a promising soccer career The dagger came from rookie forward Kate Gregoire. The Bisons won the draw and it was off to the races. Zacharias entered the zone with Gregoire on an odd-man rush, fed the puck to the rookie who slid it by the Huskies netminder to give the herd the 4-3 lead — and eventually the win.

Hello Canada West, I’m Stefanie Young

Sticking on the topic of stellar rookies, the Bisons women’s soccer team had one in Stefanie Young, whose entire rookie campaign could be considered a highlight in itself.

Instead, her first career U Sports goal will have to suffice.

During a Sept. 7 game against the University of Regina Cougars, with the herd up 2-0 in the 52nd minute, Young stepped up to show the conference — and the nation — what she is all about.

The defender picked up the ball

just past midfield and charged toward the Cougars goal with three defenders closing.

Young blew through one, knocking her down, and while the U of R gathered to protest, Young went in uncontested.

She put the ball low past the keeper and kicked off a promising soccer career.

Young finished the year third on the Bisons roster in goals with five, adding six assists to finish second on the team with 11 points.

Bockru blows open the season

Now to move from a rookie making waves early in the year, to a veteran doing just the same.

Bisons football receiver Macho Bockru put the conference on notice in his club’s 2019 home opener with three touchdowns.

The first came — fittingly — in the first quarter. Down 3-0 to the Huskies, quarterback Des Catellier took the snap, stepped back and fired a bullet left to Bockru. Fighting off coverage, Bockru pulled down the pass just inside the end zone.

Next was his catch in the second quarter. With the Bisons now up 20-9, Catellier threw a long-bomb from just above the Bisons 40-yard-line all the way to Bockru sprinting into the end zone.

His last catch may have been his best, as with 2:02 left on the clock, Catellier again tossed the ball long to Bockru.

With a defender draped all over him, Bockru was still able to bring down the pass for his third touchdown, and a 39-19 Bisons lead.

In one game, Bockru matched his receiving touchdown total from the year prior.

He had three touchdowns in nine games for the herd in 2018.

W

hen Winnipeg hockey fans “At some point I was lucky enough heard that a Western Hockey where they kind of converged and League (WHL) team was coming both sets of experience were someback to the city, they were ecstatic. thing I was able to apply.

With two professional franchises, “I have a great opportunity here and a host of junior teams, a hockey with what we’re doing with 50 town was growing its love for the Below and with the Winnipeg Ice game even more. […] excited about what we’re doing, This team, the Winnipeg Ice, building a fanbase and introducing is off to an impressive first year in people to WHL hockey.”

Winnipeg as it sits sixth overall in Business is all about revenue, and the WHL’s Eastern conference with revenue comes from the fans. a 34-24-1 record.

Although they play in a small rink The team clinched a playoff spot — U of M’s Wayne Fleming Arena — this past weekend despite being a rel- the Ice have been getting a passionate atively young group. In what people fan base out to the games, something were calling a rebuilding year for the Cockell and his staff expected from team, the season has quickly turned Winnipeg. into one filled with hope for a playoff “We were very confident once run. people had the opportunity to parWith the additions of defence- ticipate and see what WHL hockey man Dawson Barteaux and forward was all about and what the game and Jackson Leppard, as well as the late fan experience was […] but it’s been return of injured captain Peyton a great environment,” Cockell said.

Krebs, the Ice is looking strong to “We’ve been fortunate in terms of end the season. the amount of people that have come The team is built for now and the out and the amount of people that future. have enjoyed it […] I think, [it] might Building through the draft and be fair to say [we are] ahead of where with minor trades is something we thought we would be at this time, the team did well, as it has five and that’s a good thing and we want first and second overall picks on to keep working at it.” the roster. Carson Lambos, Conor Although fan engagement has Geekie, Matthew Savoie, Connor been good, the Ice still has a new McClennon and Krebs are a few of arena that Cockell and 50 Below the players who will factor into a hope will boost the experience of a promising future for the team.

WHL game.

But none of this — the building, Following the 2020-21 season the the success and the relocation from Ice is slated to leave Wayne Fleming British Columbia to Winnipeg — Arena for its permanent home on could have happened without team McGillivray Blvd. president and general manager Matt “There are some [lessons] that will Cockell. be applied to our new long-term Cockell, a businessman, previ- home from the first year which is ously worked for True North Sports great,” Cockell said. and Entertainment as vice-president “We’re always careful to make sure of corporate partnerships. that all the details are 100 per cent Prior to this, he obtained his confirmed […] and once we’re ready marketing and small business to make an announcement to […] finance degree from the University confirm what things will look like of Manitoba in 2004. moving forward we will be excited His love of hockey and business to do that.” crossed paths when 50 Below Sports Being introduced next year into and Entertainment — owners of the the fan experience for the Ice is a Ice — gave him the opportunity of new student full-access pass. This a lifetime. pass will be available for the 2020-21 “I just kept pursuing things that I season at a $275 charge, which comes was passionate about,” Cockell said. out to only $9 per game.

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Sports

VOL. 106 NO. 24 March 04, 2020

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

U of M curlers win big at world juniors

Solidarity circle

Team Zacharias brings home gold to friendly Manitoba JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

QUINCY HOUDAYER, STAFF

PHOTO BY MACKENZIE ZACHARIAS

M

anitoba may have found its next curling superstars.

With a gold medal-winning performance at the 2020 World Junior Curling Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, last month, Manitoba’s Team Zacharias put itself on the world curling radar.

Now back home, skip Mackenzie Zacharias, second Emily Zacharias, third Karlee Burgess and lead Lauren Lenentine, are all back at the U of M resuming studies and able to reflect on the experience.

“Playing in a world championship itself was just super special for all of us,” Mackenzie Zacharias said.

“We were just really thrilled to be able to play on that kind of world stage, and then to be able to come home with gold was just really special.”

The experience of playing in Russia was itself a highlight for the squad, with Zacharias noting how similar Krasnoyarsk was to Winnipeg climate-wise.

The city was one of the first Russian settlements in Siberia, and is home to about one million residents.

Despite being in the middle of Lenentine said. those two teams how they qualified Siberia, the women felt right at home, “Because we’ve all competed at for the world [championship] and also and the city’s population embraced nationals, but the international stage had a really good week.” the championship — along with its is a little different because you get Hungary went winless in the competitors — with all of the pas- teams from all over the world, so that round robins while facing stiff comsion one would find at a Manitoba was a cool experience, to just play petition. But the club showed some teams that don’t speak English. resilience, bouncing back from a 12-4 bonspiel.

“The entire city, all the people there “We were, I think, the only native loss to Canada and 11-3 loss to Latvia were so nice,” Lenentine said.

English [speaking] team there so that with a narrow 5-4 loss to Norway and “We would be walking down the was a cool experience.”

9-8 loss to Sweden.

Latvia, meanstreet to a restauwhile, went 4-5 in rant and someone would stop us and robin play “I was also going to say Latvia, just because —round including an 8-7 ask for a picture they had an 11-year-old on their team” — win over Sweden and it was just and a 7-6 win over so cool because Lauren Lenentine, Team Zacharias lead Norway. we were kind of like celebrities — The Latvians left an impression but it was weird Two international standouts for on Lenentine as well, but for reasons because we’re just Canadians — but Team Zacharias were Team Hungary other than just their surprisingly they were so excited to see us.” strong play during the tournament.

The international competition was and Team Latvia. also a highlight for Team Zacharias.

“When you think of those coun“I was also going to say Latvia, just While all the team members have tries you don’t think [they’re] big curl- because they had an 11-year-old on played nationally within Canada, ing countries,” Burgess said. their team,” she said.

“But when they were on the junior “And I think that in itself is a feat. the chance to face opponents from non-traditional curling nations was stage they actually had a really good She was the youngest player to ever week, and Latvia played a lot of great compete at world juniors.” an interesting change.

“The event itself was something teams and had some great wins out of The 11-year-old in question, not quite like what we’ve played in,” that. So, I kind of was surprised by Leticija Ievina, is the younger sis-

ter of Latvia vice-skip Rezija Ievina.

Even without Leticija’s appearance, the Latvian rink had already made history, with the 2020 championship marking the first time Team Latvia qualified for the international bonspiel.

“She was the alternate,” Lenentine added.

“The only time I think she got to play was against us, which was pretty cool for her I bet.”

Now with a gold medal in hand, the four have returned to the U of M, where they are all students.

According to the group, the U of M is home to some of the province’s strongest curling talent, yet no Bisons curling team exists, pointing to an obvious hole that could be filled.

“The U of M houses probably some of the best junior curlers in the province,” Emily Zacharias said.

“So, for so many of them not to be able to compete for their school that they go to, it’s a little bit of a disappointment.”

“Hopefully we’ll be able to start something in the near future — that would be really sweet.”

Indigenous land defenders and protesters attended the Feb. 26 round dance.

Features

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Features

Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

All for the Millennium Library QUINCY HOUDAYER, STAFF

Dozens of supporters crowded into the Millennium Library foyer Feb. 23 to demonstrate against a year of increased security.