Trump tariffs paused for 30 days after border pledge
Milan Lukes, staff
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump have reached an agreement on Monday, Feb. 3 to pause proposed tariffs for at least 30 days — just hours before they were set to take effect on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
The tariff pause comes after a “good call” with President Trump, Trudeau wrote on social media, in which Canada made additional commitments to boost border security. These commitments
include appointing a fentanyl czar, listing cartels as terrorists, ensuring 24/7 eyes on the border and launching a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force which will combat organized crime and money laundering.
“Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working to protect the border,” wrote Trudeau. “I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.”
Trump stated on social media that he is “very pleased
with this initial outcome,” but that the pause will provide time “to see whether or not a final economic deal with Canada can be structured.”
Earlier on Feb. 3, Trump had stated that tariffs on goods from Mexico would be paused for a month for negotiations. This came after Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum called for 10,000 members of the national guard to reinforce their northern border.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously announced
on Feb. 1 that the federal government would be imposing 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods after U.S. President Donald Trump launched tariffs on all Canadian goods.
Canada was to implement 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion in goods imported from the U.S., effective Feb. 4. These tariffs were to apply to hundreds of items, including food and drinks, clothing and footwear, furniture, lumber, automative parts and more. A full list of U.S. prod-
UMSwing celebrates 25 years of dance
ucts that were to be subjected to the tariffs was released by the Department of Finance.
A second phase of tariffs initially announced by Trudeau was expected to come into effect in the coming weeks, imposing tariffs on an additional list of U.S. goods worth $125 billion.
Canada’s tariff plan — which is now paused — was in response to the “unjustified and unreasonable tariffs”
photos / Zulkifl Rafah / staff Cont’d
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Milan Lukes editor@themanitoban.com
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NEWS Ngozi Okose
NEWS Taycie Adeoti
RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY Divyata Gosai
COMMENT Quinn Mayhew
COMMENT Thandeka Katsika
ARTS & CULTURE Boris Tsun Hang Leung
ARTS & CULTURE Carrington Dong
SPORTS Faiyaz Chowdhury
SPORTS Israel Abejoye
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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.
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Student club introduces people of all ages and experiences to swing dancing
The U of M’s Swing dance club (UMSwing) hosted its biannual winter open house in the EITC Atrium on Jan. 29 to celebrate the club’s 25th anniversary.
UMSwing president Irena Bilynskyy stated that the open house is hosted each term to promote the club and give attendees a glimpse of what the club has to offer.
Participants of the open house had the opportunity to partake in a free swing dance lesson instructed by Emily Sinclair and other members, engage in a social dance activity, win prizes and enjoy live music from the Dixie Beats band.
Sinclair voiced her love for teaching and dancing stating, “I just love teaching people how to dance, and it’s really nice having this club still at the university.”
Vice-president internal of UMSwing Evander De Guzman expressed his gratitude to past members of the club for setting up the choreography for the event.
UMSwing is a student-run organization founded in 2000 — advertised as the oldest club on campus under the University of Manitoba Students’ Union.
UMSwing’s mission is to provide affordable dance lessons to students. The club teaches swing dancing, a popular form of dance that originated in Harlem, New York City in the late 1920s.
Bilynskyy specified that the dance variant Lindy Hop is primarily taught, as well as the Charleston and occasionally the Balboa.
Angel Aibangbe, a volun-
teer at the open house and a former member of UMSwing signed up after last year’s open house. She spoke about her experiences in the club and how it helped her develop social and dance skills. “It’s been really fun,” said Aibangbe.
Sinclair stated that UMSwing will be hosting lots of live music throughout 2025, and that she would love to see
people continue to participate and enjoy the live music.
“In June, we’ve got a huge event with a bunch of people coming in and live music for four days straight and tons of dancing,” said Sinclair.
“If people could come today and keep on taking classes and then come out to that event, I think that would be amazing.”
UMSwing invites everyone to join regardless of their
dance experience.
Bilynskyy and De Guzman’s goal for the open house was to receive as much attention and interest from the community as possible to keep the club alive.
“Without the members, without the community, we wouldn’t be here,” said De Guzman.
ASBC by-election results certified amid discrepancies Senator results to stand despite issues in voter eligibility
Milan Lukes, staff
The Arts Student Body Council (ASBC) senator by-election results have been certified despite discrepancies in voter eligibility.
Some students who were eligible to vote were not permitted to cast their ballot in the online by-election, while at least one student in a different faculty — having transferred out of the faculty of arts in a previous term — received a ballot.
Voting was open to undergraduate students in the faculty of arts and ran from Thursday, Jan. 23 at 9:30 a.m. until Friday, Jan. 24 at 4:30 p.m. Ballots were cast through the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) Simply Voting website, a webbased voting platform.
Kai Jassal, a second-year university student who is in his first year in the faculty of arts, said he never received a ballot and is aware of other students that faced voter eligibility issues.
Jassal explained that he never received the voting link in his university email
account and still could not cast his ballot after logging in to Simply Voting during the voting period.
“I think it’s weird that they’ve chosen to certify an election that has irregularities in it,” said Jassal.
When questioned whether ASBC was aware of any voter eligibility issues, ASBC president Hannah Belec and vice-president Alex Rana said in a joint statement that “ASBC has and will continue to raise suggestions for improving the eligible voter list procedure to UMSU, the faculty of arts and the vice-provost of student affairs.”
Belec and Rana stated that ASBC does not have direct access to the eligible voter list and received the most current eligible voter list available from the office of the university secretary. The list was then forwarded to the UMSU chief returning officer (CRO) to be inputted into UMSU Simply Voting. “This is standard by-election procedure,” they stated.
The office of the university secretary confirmed that
ASBC was provided with the voter list as requested on Jan. 22, but indicated that it contained “the most recently available data provided by UMSU.”
Belec and Rana also stated that the by-election results were certified on Jan. 27 and are to be posted to UMSU Simply Voting by the UMSU CRO.
The results reveal that Vivian Pinheiro won the by-election with 53 total votes, followed by Michael Orodo with 36 votes, Scott Saindon with 21 votes and Ritch Balute with 13 votes. Turnout was marked at 3.6 per cent, with 140 electors voting out of 3,876.
“Even though some students faced voting issues, I don’t think it would have significantly changed the overall outcome,” said Orodo, who finished in second place. He reaffirmed Pinheiro’s victory and wished to congratulate her on winning the by-election.
Saindon and Balute were reached for comment on voting issues in the by-election but did not respond by the Manitoban’s deadline.
“[ASBC] should care even if it’s a by-election, even if a small turnout voted,” said Jassal. “If irregularities can happen in a small election, in a by-election, they can happen in a bigger general election.”
Pinheiro will join Elora Cromarty and Fareedah Ganiyu as senators for ASBC. According to the ASBC bylaws, senators are expected to attend all senate and student senate caucus meetings, report regularly on senate activities and maintain two set office hours per week.
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
photo / Zulkifl Rafah / staff
Taycie Adeoti, staff
Trudeau commits to boost border enforcement hours before tariffs were to take effect
< Cont’d from front page
imposed by the U.S. on Canadian goods, according to a press release from the Department of Finance.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, Trump issued executive orders imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports and a 10 per cent tariff on all imports from China. The measures were to take effect on Feb. 4. Energy imports from Canada — including natural gas, oil, electricity, coal, uranium and critical minerals — were to have a lower 10 per cent tariff.
President Trump imposed the tariffs through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, “because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our citizens, including fentanyl,” he wrote in a social media post. “We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as president to ensure the safety of all.”
“We didn’t ask for this, but we will not back down,” said Trudeau during the counter-tariff announcement.
“Unfortunately, the actions taken today by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together.”
“These U.S. tariffs are plainly unjustified,” said federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc in a press
release from Feb. 1. “They are detrimental to both American and Canadian families and businesses. Working with provincial, territorial and industry partners, our singular focus is to get them removed as quickly as possible.”
Less than one per cent of the fentanyl and illegal border crossings into the U.S. come from Canada, according to the federal government. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it seized 19.5 kg of fentanyl at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024, compared to 9,570 kg of fentanyl seized from the U.S.-Mexico border during the same time period.
Trump had previously stated on social media in November 2024 that one of his first executive orders after being inaugurated would be to implement a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. “This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop the invasion of our country!” he wrote at the time.
ment of Canada announced a $1.3 billion investment plan to strengthen border security and the country’s immigration system. The plan focused on supporting the detection and disruption of the fentanyl trade, introducing new tools for law enforcement, enhancing operation coordination, increasing information sharing and minimizing unnecessary border volumes.
Trudeau stated on Feb. 1 that the federal government was considering non-tariff measures alongside provinces and territories, such as measures relating to critical minerals, energy, procurement and other partnerships. He also urged Canadians to choose Canadian products
tion.
Canada is the top customer for U.S. goods, buying more U.S. goods than China, Japan, France and the United Kingdom combined. The nation is also the largest export market for 36 states, according to the federal government.
Manitoba reverts choice to end U.S. liquor sales
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew responded to the pause of Trump’s tariffs by reverting a choice to pull U.S. alcohol off of Liquor Mart shelves — a measure which was set to take effect on Feb. 4.
“Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working to protect the border”
— Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
and support Canadian businesses.
The following month, in December 2024, the Govern-
The day after Trudeau announced Canada’s counter-tariff plan, Trump wrote on social media that Canada should become the 51st state and would face no tariffs, as well as lower taxes and better military protec-
“I continue to stand by the superiority of Canadian booze relative to some of the products from south of the border, but for those who are fans of American booze, I can tell you, we’ll be putting those back on the shelves,” said Kinew at a news conference on Feb. 3.
On Sunday, Feb. 2, Kinew announced that the provincial government issued a directive to Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to stop the sale of U.S. liquor in the province.
“This means that we are
going to be taking $80 million dollars out of the U.S. economy,” said Kinew at the time. “We have to stand up for jobs in our province. We have to stand up for manufacturers, and the [agriculture] industry, and the energy industry and everyone else who is going to be threatened by these tariffs.”
Kinew also urged grocery stores on Sunday to make it clear which products are Canadian and made in Manitoba.
He indicated that steps to bolster the economy will be rolled out in the upcoming spring budget. “We have to respond to the Trump tariff tax with immediate measures to support our economy that also give us time and space to be able to pivot toward where the good jobs are going to be in the future.”
The provincial government said that support for businesses and workers in response to the U.S. tariffs would be rolled out throughout the week, including tax deferrals and other supports.
A tariff hotline and website had also been launched by the provincial government prior to the tariff pause to answer questions about trade with the U.S.
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
U.S. alcohol will no longer be taken off of Manitoba shelves for now, said Premier Wab Kinew on Monday, Feb. 3.
Black History Month celebrations at the U of M
U of M commemorates Black history month with numerous events
Sylvester Delali Agbado, staff
F
ebruary is Black History Month (BHM) in Canada — a time to raise awareness of the issues and challenges that Black people have faced and continue to face.
The month honours the achievements of Black people in Canada and around the world. During this time, the contributions of Black communities are recognized and there is a reflection on the challenges they have faced and still face today.
On Feb. 1, a Black health symposium took place at the Brodie Centre on the Bannatyne campus bringing together Black healthcare learners from the Rady faculty of health sciences. The event included Minister of Health, Seniors and Longterm Care Uzoma Asagwara, physicians, residents, allied healthcare workers and volunteers. The symposium also offered networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect with professionals in the healthcare field.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the wider community are also invited to participate in various events organized on campus.
Black History Month Celebration occurred on Feb. 3 in the Helen Glass Centre, hosted by the Black and Racialized Student Support Group in collaboration with the college of nursing’s anti-racism committee. The event featured cultural dances, fashion shows and spoken words — including a keynote speech by Minister Asagwara.
The conversation continues with a panel on Black history and multiculturalism on Feb. 4 at 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Carolyn Sifton Lecture Theatre in the Agriculture Building. The event will feature a light lunch with foods such as plantains, drumsticks, moi moi (bean cakes) and puff puffs (fried dough).
Dr. Warren Clarke, professor of anthropology, and Dr. Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey, a guest speaker from McGill University, will lead the third annual anti-Black racism as a mental health concern forum on Feb. 7. The event will occur at the Round House Auditorium from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Red River College Polytechnic, as well as on Zoom.
A data-focused panel on Feb. 13 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in room 235 at the Education Building will examine the intersection of data and anti-racism.
As reported by UM Today, some members of the U of M community were asked to share their thoughts on the significance of BHM.
Ghislaine Alleyne, a change and improvement special-
The month will conclude on Feb. 28 with an event that will focus on empowering voices and amplifying Black narratives in leaderships, where Minister Asagwara will provide another keynote speech. The event will occur at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Red River College Polytechnic, in addition to on Zoom.
ist at the U of M, views BHM as a time to share, celebrate and understand Black histories and present realities. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing achievements and cultural contributions while also learning about the impact of the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery. Alleyne highlighted the relevance of BHM in the context of rising racism and anti-immigrant sentiments in Canada, the U.S. and other countries. She called for reflection
on these issues and encourages efforts to oppose discrimination in all forms.
Afua Mante, an assistant professor in the department of soil science, believes that BHM provides Canadians with a chance to reflect on their involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, which included the enslavement of Black people from Sub-Saharan Africa. Mante mentioned that it is a time to create space for Black people to share their experi-
ences and confront anti-Black racism. She added that this month also allows Canadians to recognize the significant contributions of Black people throughout the history of the country. Mante emphasized the importance of fulfilling Canada’s ethical and constitutional responsibility to treat everyone equally. She will be a panelist on Feb. 4 at the Black history and multiculturalism event.
Nursing students at the Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 3.
photos / Milan Lukes / staff
UMGSA to dismantle by the end of the term
New association to represent post-doctoral fellows alongside graduate students
Milan Lukes, staff
The University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) will be dismantled by the end of the term and will be replaced by a new association that will also represent post-doctoral fellows, according to Christopher Yendt, UMGSA president.
Yendt, who also serves as the interim chair of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) board of directors, made the announcement during the Jan. 30 UMSU board meeting.
The UMGSA is a student governed association that represents all the graduate students at the U of M. The preliminary enrolment report for the 2025 winter term states that the university has over 3,700 graduate students.
According to the UMGSA website, the association focuses on promoting and providing graduate student advocacy, services, support and developing involvement in the graduate student community.
“Monday capped off an
eighteen-month long journey in negotiations around integration and partnership with post-doctoral fellows at the university,” said Yendt.
“Post-doctoral fellows came together for their first annual general meeting and voted unanimously to merge with the UMGSA. In doing so, […] we will become the first association in Canada to represent graduate students all the way up to post-doctoral fellows within our community.”
The university defines post-doctoral fellows as individuals who have completed a doctoral degree within the past five years and who are seeking further research training.
Yendt indicated that the UMGSA will be rebranded to reflect the fact that the association will represent close to 200 post-doctoral fellows alongside graduate students at the university.
“I was told that it couldn’t be done at this university given how bureaucratic and how much red tape there is in doing it,” said Yendt. “I’m pretty freaking proud of this
having happened.”
“The UMGSA in spirit is not disappearing, but the logo and
brand and everything associated with it will disappear by the end of this term and
they’ll be a new association, society or union to follow in its place.”
UMGSA general election voting set for March 17-18
Nomination period for the graduate students’ election starts on Feb. 3
Milan Lukes, staff
Voting in the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) annual general election will occur from Monday, March 17 at 9 a.m. to Tuesday, March 18 at 5 p.m. All current UMGSA members are eligible to run and vote in the upcoming election.
Available executive positions include president and senator, vice-president
academic and senator and vice-president external and senator. The remaining positions include vice-president equity and inclusion which was formerly known as the vice-president finance and administration, as well as vice-president events and clubs, formerly vice-president services and support.
Details on the executive roles can be found in the UMGSA Executive and Officer
Policy Manual.
The nomination period will start on Monday, Feb. 3 at 9 a.m. and will end on Friday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. Students wishing to run in the election must submit a completed nominated package which includes signatures from 10 current graduate students before the end of the nomination period.
The campaigning period will last from Monday, March
10 until Sunday, March 16. An election forum is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 at 5 p.m. on Zoom to hear each candidate speak on student issues and for graduate students to ask candidates questions on their plans for the 2025-26 term.
Students eligible to vote will receive a voting link sent to their @myumanitoba email address at the start of the voting period.
Elected executives will serve from May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026.
For more information on the UMGSA annual general election, visit umgsa.org/umgsa2025election or email the UMGSA governance and office operations coordinator at governance@umgsa.org.
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
U of M’s 5 Days campaign supports RaY
Student-led initiative aims to raise $20K for vulnerable youth
Iyanda Ajuwon, staff
U of M’s 5 Days campaign committee is set to begin its annual fundraising campaign to support Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) — a non-profit organization located in Winnipeg that assists vulnerable youths ages 29 and under to make the best choices for their lives.
5 Days is a national campaign led by the Canadian Association of Business Students that aims to raise awareness and collect donations for people at the risk of facing homelessness.
Traditionally, this campaign involved students sleeping outdoors for five nights to raise awareness about youth homelessness. However,
according to Madisyn Kurtz, 5 Days director of public relations, the committee shifted its approach back in 2021, focusing on meaningful community engagement through a variety of events, both on and off campus.
RaY was originally founded in Winnipeg in 1994 with a focus on reconnecting runaway youths with their families.
need to build better lives on their terms.
Today, RaY provides drop-in supports, basic needs, street outreach, housing, primary health supports, mental health and addiction sup-
“Unlike
focuses on the long-term success and the skill building aspect of it,” said Kurtz.
This year, the 5 Days campaign is scheduled to run from Feb. 10 to 14. Kurtz clarified that the U of M 5 Days committee aims to use this period to raise funds to support RaY’s cause.
lots of other organizations that provide similar types of resources, RaY really focuses on the long-term success and the skill building aspect of it”
—
Madisyn Kurtz, 5 Days director of public relations
In 2004, the organization was rebranded as RaY and adopted a new mission to provide youths with what they
ports, education and training and cultural supports.
“Unlike lots of other organizations that provide similar types of resources, RaY really
“We are focusing specifically with our events on raising funds, so we’ll be providing all of the money that we raise back to RaY,” she said.
“We do have a goal this year of raising $20,000.”
The committee has a ser-
ies of on-campus and off-campus events scheduled to raise funds, including a Valentine’s Day candy gram sale on Feb. 10, a dodgeball tournament on Feb. 11, fundraising initiatives around the city on Feb. 12, five bands featured at the Nob in St. Norbert on Feb. 13 and a karaoke night on Feb. 14.
There will be additional events such as a Paint and Plant, a pool tournament, a doughnut sale and a lunch sale which are scheduled to occur outside of 5 Days week.
To learn more about Resource Assistance for Youth and their support programs, visit rayinc.ca.
Team Asper places 3rd in 2025 MBA Games
U of M MBA students showcased hard work and team spirit at national competition
Taycie Adeoti, staff
Team Asper from the Asper school of business at the U of M has placed third out of approximately 60 competitors in the 37th annual national MBA games held from Jan. 3 to 5.
The event took place in Vancouver, B.C. and was hosted by University Canada West, the school that won last year’s games.
The MBA games is an annual competition which began in 1988 by Queen’s University. This year, more than 300 MBA students from 14 universities across Canada competed in academics, sports and team spirit competitions.
The theme for the MBA Games 2025 was Digital Equity: Closing the Chasm which explored practical solutions to enhance digital equity through equal accessibility, innovation, participation and developing sustainable and secure digital ecosystems.
This year’s academic portion of the competition consisted of case comps where participants were tasked with pitching business ideas to charity partners, while the athletics competition included basketball, dodgeball and corn hole. The spirit competition comprised of a creative opening performance, an introduction video for all team members and a social media challenge to create awareness and to network.
Captain of the Asper team Oluwagbotemi Dada organ-
ized fundraising events that were held as part of the competition to raise money for their charity partner Canada Learning Code — a non-profit aiming to bridge the digital gap by creating technological awareness for minorities who are financially restricted from attending school.
Dada expressed that one of the team’s biggest challenges was raising money for the fundraiser.
“When you ask people to turn in money, even if it’s for a cause, you kind of have to explain, especially also because Canada Learning Code is not as popular,” she said.
Dada shared her excitement, stating how unexpected the third place win was for her due to all the setbacks her team had experienced, particularly in the basketball athletics competition.
Dada also reflected on how rewarding it felt to place third overall. She highlighted how they were also one of the smallest teams.
“It’s like we did more with less,” she said.
She felt that the team’s dedication to the late-night meetings, the feedback and early practices contributed greatly to their achievement. She valued the personal growth with her leadership role and lessons she has learned from her team.
“Just learning how to handle leadership in real time, that’s one of the biggest lessons,” said Dada.
The Asper team consisted of 15 members including Dada, Tianshi Zhang, Shivam Patel, Shobhit Saxena, Tony Wu, Shane Thiessen, Tapiwa Mushayakarara, Bill
Heard, Sharib Jalis, Bamibo Isichei, Sravani Kalva, Dharmanshu Poshiya, Yaamini Rajan, Shernetta Davis and Gesudraz Ataullah. The team’s coaches
included Sean MacDonald, Lukas Neville, Eli Ouimet, Derek Johannson, Divya Ramachandran, Stephanie Toews, Vanessa Mancini and Paul Provost.
Young Nature Leaders Grant now open
Empowering youth to lead community environmental project with $1,000 grant
Ngozi Okose, staff
A pplications are now open until Feb. 18 for the Young Nature Leaders Grant — a $1,000 funding opportunity aimed at supporting youth-led, community-based environmental initiatives in Canada. Successful recipients will be announced by March 31.
The grant is established by Women for Nature, leaders from all sectors of society who care deeply about nature and wish to inspire others to make change.
To date, there have been 42 recipients from 10 different provinces and territories since the grant was established in 2017, with six recipients selected last year. These youth-projects have reached over 5,800 Canadians across the country according to Nature Canada — the oldest national nature conservation charity in Canada.
Young Nature Leader coordinator Amal Zeidan said that the grant was created to empower and support young people who were passionate about leading community-based projects centered on the environment. “The creation of the Young Nature Leaders Grant was inspired by
the Canadian Parks council’s The Nature Playbook, which encourages a new generation to connect with nature by immersing themselves in the outdoors.”
“Nature is at the heart of Canadian identity,” said Zeidan. “Our vast country, with its diverse landscape of rivers, oceans and mountains, is defined by the natural world.
“Yet, nature is under threat as beloved species face rapid decline. It is imperative that all Canadians unite to defend, restore and protect the nature that shapes our culture and sustains our future.”
Zeidan explained that the grant is reserved for individuals under 30, citing that they represent the future leaders who will safeguard and look after the natural world.
“Together, we are fostering the resilience, hope and courage necessary to protect the nature we all value,” stated Zeidan.
The grant encourages youth to propose projects that highlight the vital role nature plays in Canadian culture and identity. Applicants are required to submit either a two-page essay or a short video in English or French outlining their
projects.
The grant selection committee will evaluate applications based on the project’s potential impact and benefits, public engagement and reach, participation of Women for Nature members, creativity and clarity, effective use of grant funds and the inclusion of diverse and underrepresented communities.
All projects must take place within Canada and comply with the Canada Revenue Agency spending guidelines for charities. Each applicant is limited to submitting one proposal for consideration.
Successful grant recipients may also be paired with Women for Nature mentors, providing guidance to help execute their project. Successful recipients will also be asked to share their experience through a blog or video which may be published by Nature Canada and other forms of media.
A compelling essay or video submission shows the impact of the project in the applicant’s community, according to Zeidan.
“They showcase this through tangible and specific examples such as the number
of seedflowers planted in their communities, illustrating how the youth were engaged in their communities and the continued impact after the project was completed,” said Zeidan.
“Since the project empowers youth to introduce different communities to nature-related activities, it fosters long-lasting partnerships with them.”
For more information and application details, visit naturecanada.ca/youngleader-grant.
photo / Nischal Karki / staff
✦ Everyone is welcome! Wednesday, February 12 | 4:30-7:30pm MPR, 2nd
✦ Join us February 12 for our multicultural event on campus to learn and engage with the different communities we have at the University of Manitoba.
✦ Featuring cultural dances, fashion show & different cuisines!
Research & Technology
Early humans adapted to extreme deserts
Research reveals Homo erectus adapted
Divyata Gosai, staff
A study published in Communications Earth & Environment suggests that Homo erectus adapted to extreme desert conditions as early as 1.2 million years ago. Researchers found that early humans repeatedly returned to specific water sources for thousands of years and developed specialized tools to survive in harsh environments.
Homo erectus is the oldest human ancestor to have body proportions like modern humans, with long legs and shorter arms relative to the torso.
Paul Durkin is an assistant professor of sedimentology in the U of M’s Clayton H. Riddell faculty of environment, earth and resources.
Durkin began his academic journey with an undergraduate degree in geology focusing on rock formations that contain oil and gas. His passion led him further to pursue a graduate degree in geosciences from the University of Calgary.
“My area of research in geology is specifically in sedimentology,” he said.
“I branched off from there to work in other areas, not just oil and gas. I’m doing work in rivers, and river sedi-
ment, how they move sediment across the surface of the earth, and also looking at the rock record of those environments. Both in Alberta and then this work that I’m doing in East Africa.”
During his PhD, Durkin focused on the study of river deposits in both modern and ancient environments. His research explored the evolution of present-day rivers, such as the Mississippi River, analyzing how they shift and change course over time.
to extreme climates over a million years ago
“We look at how and why rivers grow, where they do, whether they’re migrating quickly or migrating slowly and what controls that process.”
Durkin conducts research in Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park, where he reconstructs ancient environments to better understand the conditions in which dinosaur fos-
well-known archaeologists Mary and Louis Leakey were working in Tanzania at this site, and they uncovered fossil material from a now extinct species of our genus — Homo erectus,” he said.
“We were able to revisit that site, starting in 2017, and with the archaeologists and myself and a group of students, we did some excavations there and we uncovered and contextualized those fossils.
“Homo erectus was able to adapt [to climate change], and that behaviour happened […] just over a million years ago”
— Paul Durkin, assistant professor in the U of M’s
Clayton H. Riddell faculty of environment, earth and resources
Additionally, he examined river systems dating back to a hundred million years, using the rock record to gain insight into the earth’s surface conditions during that period.
“My research program still focuses a lot on river environments, all the way from present day to the ancient record on modern day rivers,” he explained.
“I study the effects of the 2011 [Assiniboine River] flood that happened, how the river course might have changed and why.
sils were formed. His work explores natural processes that shaped rivers over timescales far beyond human history.
Durkin collaborates on archaeological research in East Africa, where he helps determine the age of discoveries and reconstructs ancient environments. His work provides crucial geological context, helping archaeologists understand the history of the site and its surroundings.
“In the 1960s, the fairly
We were able to demonstrate that Homo erectus was present there, the types of tools they were making, where they were living, what the environment was like.”
In Homo erectus’s time, sediment layers showed that the climate was changing, becoming more arid and challenging to live in. Durkin’s research proved that Homo erectus navigated these difficult environments as it was initially thought that only Homo sapiens had the capability to do so.
“But Homo erectus was able to adapt [to climate change], and that behaviour happened
[…] just over a million years ago,” Durkin said.
By studying sedimentary layers, geologists reconstruct past environments and provide crucial age constraints.
“This project, that I’ve been a part of, it’s led by the University of Calgary, the archaeology professor there. I’ve been a member of the project for six years. And another aspect to it is trying to promote the local involvement,” he said. “We do not just go in, take samples and leave and come back to North America,” he said. “We do incorporate the locals and train them and try to expand their capacity for doing this research in their home country on their materials that are present there.
Durkin also highlighted that professor Alfredo Camacho is a co-author of the study from the U of M’s Clayton H. Riddell faculty of environment, earth and resources. His lab contributes by conducting the age dating of the sediment.
Durkin remains proud of their commitment to responsible research.
“We try to really not do the colonial approach to the research. That was the approach in the past, […] that’s something we’re proud of and want to continue doing.”
photo courtesy of / Paul Durkin & the University of Manitoba
Safer substance use and the emotional cognition elephant
Talking supervised consumption sites and understanding diverse perspectives
Rhea Bhalla, staff
S
upervised consumption
sites offer people who use drugs (PWUD) space to use substances under the supervision of trained staff in secure, hygienic environments. These sites help prevent accidental overdoses and minimize the transmission of infectious diseases, like HIV, by ensuring that PWUD have access to clean supplies and immediate medical assistance if needed.
Supervised consumption sites are associated with 67 per cent fewer ambulance calls for overdose emergencies, fewer fatal overdoses and decreased HIV infections. Yet despite evidence supporting the creation of these sites, Manitoba is currently the only province west of Atlantic Canada that has no supervised consumption sites, with its first site set to open later this year.
As a registered nurse, Em Pijl’s clinical practice was concerned with PWUD and people who experience complex issues, such as homelessness or HIV. Today, as an assistant professor in the U of M’s college of nursing, her research remains rooted in that clinical practice.
Pijl’s research initially focused on the efficacy, clinical value and social value of harm reduction, including supervised consumption sites.
More recently, Pijl has progressed into examining the public acceptability of supervised consumption sites.
ety that still are against harm reduction.”
Pijl explained that this phenomenon, of people disapproving of supervised con-
phant and rider” metaphor, which explains how moral decisions are driven by both emotional and rational processes.
“Even if we have really good evidence showing that harm reduction saves lives, there are groups in society that still are against harm reduction”
“[In terms of] the research supporting harm reduction, there’s a very strong literature base,” Pijl said. “But what’s interesting to me is that even if we have really good evidence showing that harm reduction saves lives, there are groups in soci-
— Em Pijl, assistant professor in the U of M’s college of nursing
sumption sites despite evidence supporting them, piqued her interest. After looking through social psychology literature, she came across Jonathan Haidt’s “ele-
The “elephant” represents our emotional, automatic responses, while the “rider” symbolizes our rational, controlled thoughts. Haidt argues that although we often believe our rational mind, or “rider,” is in control, it is usually the emotional, unconscious “elephant” that guides our deci-
sions, especially in moral contexts. This highlights the powerful influence of emotions on our judgments, often more so than reason.
“We’re all sitting on an emotional cognition elephant that is steering us in a direction,” Pijl said. “It really helps us understand people who don’t think the way we do.”
She emphasized the importance of using Haidt’s elephant rider metaphor to better understand how others hold different opinions on issues without vilifying them. By seeking to understand people’s moral foundations and values, she said, we can better speak to them and “build bridges.”
“My hope would be that people who are against supervised consumption will [think] ‘you know, it makes me really uncomfortable, but I do understand the merits,’” Pijl said.
She emphasized that the current substance use crisis will not be fixed by a single entity or intervention, even supervised consumption. Rather, many voices and approaches are needed.
“I do hope that we can work together with other services and with other sectors to help people be healthier,” she said. “That, to me, is such a huge win.”
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
Make the most of campus opportunities
Build soft skills through student groups and organizations funded by student fees
Emma Winram, staff
The best thing I have ever done in my undergraduate degree was attend an event for a student group. Was it awkward? Yes. Did it feel like a waste of time when I could have been studying? Yes. However, I do not regret it.
This one event made me realize that the group executives were not some all-knowing robots about the group’s special interest. They were students like me, just trying to find a community of likeminded people. They encouraged other students to go for opportunities I would never have thought to go for before.
This led to me applying for a research assistant position that summer at the university and a communications director position for that group the following academic year. I figured communications director would be a great starter position to understand how the group’s internal operations worked. The connections and skills I acquired in this position were invaluable. This encouraged me to get involved in other opportunities on campus.
One thing I have noticed when it comes to filling an executive role is it becomes addictive to apply when other opportunities open for other groups — even though it is stressful enough with the one role you have now. I believe it takes a good amount of self-control to hold yourself back and realize you will have too much on your plate if you apply for that position too.
The following academic year, I was the vice-president for this same student group that started it all, among the other opportunities that came up.
My involvement on campus has helped me build skills I would have never been able to build if I simply isolated myself to focus solely on my studies. I have developed my time management, networking, communication and event planning skills while also pursuing my degree. I took advantage of the resources my university offered so I could graduate with a comfortable amount of experience under my belt.
I know some students commute to school or work parttime and would rather do anything but be on campus any longer than they need to, but I think it is possible to find an event or workshop that is offered via Zoom and works with your schedule. Find a
volunteer opportunity that is flexible for you. Regardless, you are paying university student fees that fund the student groups here on campus, so make use of these opportunities you are paying for. Do you have a taste for student governance? The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) elections are coming up. If UMSU does not interest you, look at your faculty or department associations. If you do not want anything to do with student governance, find a club or group that pertains to your major or a general interest of yours and
attend one of their events. If you still do not like what you see, why not create your own student group?
According to a study from California State University, students who served as board members, orientation leaders, residential advisors and executives for an on-campus club maintained better GPAs, had higher good standing rates and achieved higher rates of retention and graduation.
Last term, I was concerned that I was too involved in extracurriculars to the point I felt I was neglecting my studies. I even convinced myself
that it would be okay if my GPA dropped a bit because I was receiving valuable experience that would make me a well-rounded individual. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find my final grades and my GPA were still where I wanted them to be.
Take advantage of your degree. Utilize the services you pay for and build as many skills as you can before you graduate. Once you graduate, opportunities like the ones found on campus may not be as accessible to you when you enter the workforce. I am not saying it is impossible to get
involved outside of university, but here, it is being offered to you on a silver platter. Do not let these opportunities and experiences go to waste. Make the most of your degree while you can. Endless amounts of opportunities await you here in your campus community.
For more information on student clubs or organizations on campus, visit umsu. ca/clubs or umsu.ca/student-associations.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
Comment
Make me a sandwich
What to do when you can’t embroider
Quinn Mayhew, staff
Are you bad at cooking, cleaning, embroidery and sewing? Well, I have an article for you. While taking a class on homemaking and making a home, a gender and labour studies class focusing on studying between 1860 and 1920, I learned a valuable lesson — I would be a terrible housewife.
I can’t cook, I hate cleaning, I don’t know how to sew. I’ve never crafted anything up except for my will to continue existing.
While I’m taking this class, I’ve noticed that many of my peers are much better at sewing and embroidery than I am at the assigned sewing we had to do.
I’ve noticed that the girls who sit behind me and the individual who sits right beside me are on a whole different level. I am constantly left thinking, am I the only one who can’t do this? Literal 5-year-old girls doing embroidery in the 19th century are better at home making than me.
Have you ever heard a stereotypical comment thrown around by men that is gendered and misogynistic saying things like “make me a sandwich woman!” Well, jokes on you, I can’t make you a sandwich because I can’t cook or put food together.
In comparison to the 19th and 20th centuries, these traditional practices of embroidery, quilting, cooking and cleaning aren’t as expected by women and have been replaced by more modernized forms of women. Despite women taking more active roles in the workforce, a lot are still doing household work within their family unit while also maintaining a career, taking in two forms of labour.
Through observing women in my own life, I’ve come to realize that women of the 21st
century are greatly affected by the pushing of the idea that we must become mothers but also maintain a career to support the children society expects us to raise.
While studying in this class and the material we’ve read, we as a class have learned that women were performing acts of invisible labour such as embroidery, sewing, cooking and cleaning with little to no recognition in the 19th century. Even though the average woman doesn’t practice embroidery every day, there is still an expectation to fill certain roles.
Every time I hear a man make a misogynistic joke or comment toward me, I
immediately think, “why are you telling me to go back to the kitchen? I literally can’t even make grilled cheese.”
Despite my inadequacies toward making grilled cheese or any food of any type that isn’t instant ramen or a toaster strudel, I still maintain the ideology that everyone should be able to cook, it is ultimately a life skill and shouldn’t be as gendered as it is like most home maintenance is.
Even though I state that everyone should know how to cook, I am a hypocrite because I refuse and seemingly end up burning everything I make. Please know if you guys ever catch me over a stove making something or cooking any-
thing, know that it isn’t me and to immediately call my mom.
In my time in this class, I realized that everyone is practically better than me at anything that has to do with the keeping of a home space or the essence of community that embroidery and crafting create.
I suppose that I’m so bad at these things because I didn’t have strong crafters in my family and my lack of household initiative toward cooking was nonexistent as my meals throughout childhood were a pop tart and a mixed bag of nuts.
I’ve always wanted to be more involved in crafts but
never had the community or resources to be taught. This class has made me appreciate the community that crafting creates for women and people who love crafting and the amount of skill and dedication cooking, cleaning and embroidery takes.
Through this class, I’ve learned how valuable the community crafting experience is for young women and girls and the intricate eye it takes to immerse yourself in the community of crafting while realizing the invisible labour women would have to put up with.
graphic / Emma Gillich / volunteer
The science of smiling
Reasons to turn your frown upside down
Thandeka Katsika, staff
A few months ago, after a long week of lectures and assignments, I wanted to decompress with a bunch of junk food and a great Netflix show. I walked to the Shoppers near my house and got a tub of ice cream and a few pecan pies. I knew I was going to have a great start to my weekend but when I walked up to the cashier, I immediately felt a sense of regret for not going to the self-checkout instead. I could already hear her thinking, “what a glutton” at my items, so I sheepishly placed them on the conveyor belt and looked down. Then I caught her wide smile as she said, “great combination.” All my anxiety evaporated as soon as she smiled at me. I immediately felt at ease and smiled back.
In an instant, I went from being anxious about how she would perceive me and worried about what to say, to feeling relaxed and even comfortable around her. I believe experiences like this are not specific to me, and that everyone has had at least one smile story throughout their lives. This experience made me
wonder how a gesture so seemingly small has such a significant impact on a person’s day. And after a bit of research on smiling, I learned a number of really cool facts.
In my opinion, the most interesting thing about a smile is that it engages mirror neurons. These are neurons in the brain that respond to both doing an action and seeing someone else do that action. So, seeing someone smile triggers a neuro pathway that gives you the same sensation as when you smile yourself. That’s why smiling is so infectious.
If you are having a terrible day, seeing someone smile can change your entire mood. When you see the smile, your brain releases all the chemicals associated with a “real” smile. Even if the positive emotion was not yours to begin with. Just by seeing a positive emotion around you, your brain can recreate one for yourself.
Smiling releases endorphins. These tiny molecules are freed by the brain and reduce stress. I like to imagine it like a fight in the brain — on one side is your adversary,
the source of your stress, who makes himself seem much larger and scarier than he actually is. And on the other side your endorphins. The endorphins go up to the bad guy and knock him down a peg. They remind him that he is not that intimidating and while his shadow might be the size of a monster, he is actually the size of a bean.
Smiling also triggers the release of dopamine, the happiness hormone. People usually smile when they are happy and frown or pout when they are not. But smiling, even when you do not feel happy, can make you happy. Because the physical action of smiling causes the brain to release dopamine, you can literally trick your brain into being happy.
I know this may be a little bit far-fetched. I had a difficult time believing it myself, but I recommend you try it. If you are having a bad day or just feel sad for whatever reason, try putting on a big toothy smile for a few seconds and see how you feel afterwards.
Serotonin is next in the list of good hormones released when you smile or see a smile.
The bus fares are too darn high
According to studies, having low levels of serotonin can contribute to depression. The effect serotonin has on a person’s mood is also used in some antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant that functions by stopping the reuptake of serotonin so that more of it is available in the bloodstream. So normally, after something makes us happy, serotonin is released, and after
a while, it is taken out of the bloodstream. But SSRIs stop this from happening because more released serotonin has a good effect on our emotions. I am not suggesting that smiling in any way functions as a “cure” or “solution” for depression. But if you are feeling more general feelings of sadness, smiling is a great way to convince your brain and body that you are happy, which in turn makes you happy.
Why high bus fare hurts transit security, poverty reduction and climate action
Adam Johnston, volunteer
In 2020, Winnipeg Transit fares were $3.00. However, fares have gone up quickly. In December 2023, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, to address the Winnipeg Transit shortfall, announced the city would raise fares 10 cents per year, starting at $3.35 in 2025, $3.45 in 2026 and $3.55 in 2027. Our bus fares are now in established company amongst other major Canadian cities.
Winnipeg’s single cash fare is now on par with Toronto at $3.35, and even creeping in with Edmonton at $3.75 and Montreal, whose fare is also $3.75 within certain zones.
The high costs of bus fares hurt on so many levels. First, increased bus fares impact the poorest, limiting reduced poverty measures. Manitoba has one of the highest rates of child poverty in Canada. Winnipeg has the highest Indigenous population among all Canadian major cities, creating a challenge, with 31 per cent of Winnipeg’s Indigenous peoples living in poverty.
Marginalized groups, including Indigenous peoples, rely on public transportation and small increases in bus
fares cut into people’s transportation budgets. Rapidly increasing bus fares, adding to the cost of living, can lead some passengers to evade fares, adding tension between passengers and transit operators.
Winnipeg Transit had 257 security incidents in 2023, as millions in fare revenue were lost to fare evasion.
For a city like Winnipeg, which thrives on always being thrifty, high bus fares sadly make looking at purchasing a private automobile feasible for many (not including myself, as I don’t own a car and don’t want to), damaging our already weak climate goals.
Winnipeg wants 2050 to have half of its trips come from public transit, active transportation or ridesharing. Nearly half of Winnipeg’s carbon emissions come from transportation, most from private automobiles.
Carbon emissions are the most significant contributor to climate change. Analysts noted that last year was the hottest year on record globally. The impacts of climate change from the higher
risks of extreme weather will hurt the most vulnerable. We cannot afford to make questionable policy decisions that hurt climate action and poverty reduction targets by raising public transit fares.
Minimal investments in public transit at the various levels of government have not helped, despite the federal government recently adding an additional $200 million to the Canadian Public Transit Fund (which faces an uncertain future). Analysts have warned of a dire future for Canadians, including fare hikes and service cuts, unless public investments dramatically increase to make up for past shortfalls.
Functional Transit Winnipeg president Kyle Owens provided his suggestions on a recent episode of Not Necessarily The Automobile for making Winnipeg Transit more accessible. Owens’s suggestions included reducing paperwork for the WINNpass, streamlining payment methods and lowering fares. Owens said being able to afford transit fares within your income is a barrier to accessing transportation.
Winnipeg’s Poverty Reduction Implementation Plan 2024-27 suggested making public transportation free for all riders. A few years ago, councillor Vivian Santos attempted to have the city study a simplified transit fare system in 2021, which failed. Kansas City has frozen transit fares since 2020.
Despite other examples around the world, local attempts by some councillors and reports, Winnipeggers will continue to receive high transit fares until our city
council (and even our provincial government through allocated municipal investments) dares to prioritize financial accessibility to transportation for all with affordable Winnipeg Transit. Until then, like in the words of Jimmy McMillan, the bus fares are too darn high.
Adam Johnston hosts Not Necessarily The Automobile on Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. on UMFM 101.5. He can be reached at notnecessarilytheautomobile@gmail.com
graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / staff
graphic / Fumnaya
Ifeadi / staff
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. In Straights, like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a “straight.” A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how “straights” are formed.
For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku and www.str8ts.com for Str8ts. If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our
by: Teegan Gillich
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre presents Waitress
Local production of the Broadway hit features Canadian cast
Carrington Dong, staff
F or its first production of 2025, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre staged a production of the musical Waitress. Based on the 2007 film of the same name, the show features music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles. Waitress achieved success during its four-year Broadway run and was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
The musical follows Jenna, a small-town waitress with a talent and passion for baking pies. Behind the scenes, she is trapped in an unhappy marriage with an abusive husband. When she unexpectedly becomes pregnant, Jenna learns about a pie-making contest and sees it as her chance to start over and find the happiness she’s been searching for. With the support of her friends and co-workers, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
“Jenna kind of goes through a journey and figures some stuff out in the show,” said Omar Alex Khan, who plays Cal, the diner’s cook.
Khan described Cal as a “guy’s guy,” who is confident, charismatic and content with his life and marriage. When Jenna asks if he is truly happy, Cal simply says he is “happy
enough,” comfortable with how things are, even if he senses there could be more.
“I feel like [Cal is] a guy who is working it out,” Khan said. “He knows who he is, but at the same time I think he knows, maybe, there could be more. So, he’s tuned into that possibility. Not that he’s actively seeking that, but he knows that maybe it’s out there and it could find him.”
Khan described working on the show as “fantastic.”
“The company that has been assembled, the people that I get to act with […] to actually go out there, and be there, and be an actor in front of people on that stage is exciting,” he said.
When asked what he loved most about the show, Khan highlighted Bareilles’s songwriting, particularly the ballad, “She Used To Be Mine.”
“The songs are so good,” he raved. “There’s this one song, that Steph Sy [who plays Jenna] sings by herself, and I sit in the wings, and I can’t watch her do it, because she just gives all of herself, and all of the character. It’s called ‘She Used To Be Mine,’ and […] when Steph does it, it’s absolutely fantastic,” he said.
Khan also credited director Ann Hodges and music director Floydd Ricketts for their
work on the production.
The audience has enjoyed the show during its run, something that Khan said is “lovely.”
“The audience really has been reacting as a group,” he said. “It’s not just some little chuckles here and there. I just feel like the audience as a whole has really been buying in and loving it and going on the journey, and they’re with us at the beginning, and they
embrace us, and they’re with us at the end.”
Khan advises other actors not to take themselves so seriously, and to just have fun with the experience.
“There’s so much fun to be had, and that’s one of the things I love about this show, is that everybody seems to be having a lot of fun,” he reflected. “You can take it seriously, and you can have fun at the same time.”
Khan also praised his fellow cast members and the entire company of Waitress. “The assembled company are some of the best humans that I’ve ever encountered, and I just love going to the theatre every day,” he said.
For tickets and information on upcoming shows at Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, visit royalmtc.ca.
A night of Gershwin, cherry blossoms and Filipino vocals
Jazz singer Charito to perform Valentine’s Day tunes on campus
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. I’ve never been the biggest fan of love songs — they’ve always struck me as sappy and maudlin, but I do indulge in the soulful, melancholic oldies from time to time. One of my favourites include Ella Fitzgerald’s “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” a haunting ballad about the pain of parting ways with a lover.
In celebration of the most romantic day of the year, the multi-award-winning Filipino jazz singer, Charito, is teaming up with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra for a special performance. The concert will feature romantic jazz classics by renowned composers such as George Gershwin and Frank Sinatra, but also songs such as “Sakura Sakura,” a Japanese folk song celebrating the luscious cherry blossoms in springtime. Charito boasts a diverse,
international sound. She built her music career in Japan, but she has performed all over the world in Europe, Asia, Latin America and now Winnipeg. I particularly enjoy her rendition of “When Summer Comes,” an uplifting song about changing seasons that she recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inter estingly, the song was origin ally composed in 1981 by Can adian pianist Oscar Peter son, one of Canada’s renowned jazz musicians.
Richard Gillis, the artistic director of the orchestra and a professor at the Desau tels faculty of music, said Charito’s vocal style is remin iscent of jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holi day. He also remarked that
music in the Philippines has been heavily influenced by both Spanish and American music.
“I think, over the next 50, 60 years, you’re going to have more international people leaving a unique mark, that people will follow. But it’s pretty hard to escape Ella Fitzgerald and
many other great vocalists,” he said.
The concert also engages with Winnipeg’s Filipino community while incorporating Charito’s Japanese influences. The show will feature local groups including the Sisler high school jazz band and Rondalla, a traditional Filipino string ensemble. Coincidentally, Charito has a nephew who lives in Win-
“Winnipeg, Manitoba [has a] large Filipino community, and they’re very involved with music,” Gillis said. “We have several members of the jazz orchestra from the Filipino community. They’re professional musicians
and play really well, and we just thought it might be kind of cool to engage some people from different places.
“We try to engage in as many communities as we can in Winnipeg because there’s tremendous musicians right here in our own province, but also just the chance to engage with somebody [like Charito] that has connections in places we don’t have connections in, like Tokyo.”
Lastly, Joan Gillis, the orchestra’s general manager, cheekily suggested even though the concert will take place a day after Valentine’s Day, it could still be a perfect date night out.
Cherry Blossom Dreams will be performed on Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Desautels Concert Hall at U of M. Tickets can be purchased by visiting winnipegjazzorchestra.com. Learn more about Charito at charito.com.
photo courtesy of / Dylan Hewlett
Rhea Rodych-Rasidescu and Jeremy Carver-James in Waitress
photo courtesy of / winnipegjazzorchestra.com
Dioramas in the Icelandic Reading Room
A dive into Norse folklore and Viking archaeology
Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff
The Icelandic Reading Room in the Dafoe Library is a popular study space for students, known for its quiet atmosphere and floor-to-ceiling windows. But have you ever noticed the unsettling art that decorates its interior?
Three dioramas in particular never fail to catch my eye every time I enter the reading room. Intrigued by these striking pieces, I decided to research the characters and stories they depict.
The first is “The Creation of Migard from Ymir the Giant,” a model of a man’s head created by Mackenzie Stewart in 2020. He has long white strands sprouting from his blue skin to form his hair, eyebrows and beard, while his uncomfortably realistic violet eyes stare directly at the viewer. A portion of his skull is removed, revealing trees, a stream and a painted sky inside his head.
In Norse mythology, Ymir was the first being to emerge
after the creation of the universe. He is a hermaphroditic giant and an ancestor of Odin, the god of war and death. One day, Odin and his brothers killed Ymir and used his body to form the world — his hair became trees and his skull formed the sky. This landscape became Midgard, the realm of humans.
The second diorama, “Viking Burial,” was also created by Stewart in 2020. It shows a woman lying in a circular cairn, surrounded by various grave goods and flanked by miniature longships. She is dressed in a lavish fur coat, with what appears to be a shield placed on top of her.
Scandinavian Vikings began settling in Iceland in around 800 CE, and burial mounds like this were a characteristic mortuary practice among pre-Christian Norse people. Stewart’s reconstruction vaguely reminds me of the 10th century tomb
in Birka, Sweden, which is a famous burial of a female Viking warrior.
The third and most disturbing diorama is untitled and uncredited, and it depicts a man kneeling on an altar with his arm tied to posts beside him. His back is completely flayed open, and his lungs are seemingly folded upwards toward his neck, drenching the altar in blood.
This piece appears to depict the “blood eagle,” a Viking execution method that entails creating “wings” by pulling out the victim’s skin, bones and organs through slits in their backs. The scene is described in the Orkneyinga Saga, in which an earl executes his enemy using this method, dedicating him to Odin as an offering.
The level of detail in these dioramas reflects the immense effort of the artists, bringing these Norse myths and historical practices to life. Together, these three pieces
encapsulate the Viking worldview — from the creation of the world to death, and the suffering in between.
The echoes of history and mythology surround us when we take the time to look. Next time you visit your favourite study spot on campus, take a moment to observe your surroundings. What kinds of stor-
ies do they tell?
The referenced artwork can be found in the Icelandic Reading Room, which is located on the third floor of the Elizabeth Dafoe Library. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
WAG-Qaumajuq presents Threads of Kin and Belonging
An art exhibit that highlights Indigenous and Black communities in Winnipeg
Carrington Dong, staff
On Feb. 8, the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG-Qaumajuq) will present Threads of Kin and Belonging. Curated by Julia Lafreniere and Elliott Walsh (also known as Nestor Wynrush), the exhibit is described as “an intervention and conversation between Indigenous Nations and Black communities on Treaty One Territory.” Notably, the exhibition will open during Black History Month and will include a rooftop celebration on National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.
Lafreniere, who is Michif and Anishinaabe from the Minegoziibe Anishinabe First Nation, has been the head of learning, Indigenous ways and equity at the Winnipeg Art Gallery since 2019. In June 2024, she completed a master’s degree in cultural studies with a curatorial focus.
“I consider myself an emerging curator,” said Lafreniere.
organizer. His background is primarily in music, with a focus on telling stories of the African-Caribbean diaspora.
“This is just another vehicle, and I’ve been given the opportunity to I guess be mentored by Julia Lafreniere and MarieAnne Redhead, who are […] teaching me a lot about the art institution world,” Walsh said.
According to Lafreniere, the theme and story of the exhibition are constantly evolving.
“It’s a conversation between Black folks and Indigenous folks,” she said. “It started long before us and it’ll continue long after us. So, we just wanted to create a visual art representation of care and belonging and home, and how when we lead with care and love to each other, that we’re able to accomplish or exist in a better way.”
Threads of Kin and Belong-
collaboration, communication and learning — primarily through music.
“We’ve worked with almost, I’d say about 50, maybe 60 artists, in different forms, like in music, visual arts, curators, it’s been wild. It’s been great, actually. And just bridging gaps on the prairies, especially,” Walsh said.
“It’s a conversation between Black folks and Indigenous folks. It started long before us and it’ll continue long after us”
“Occasionally projects come up where I feel compelled to submit a proposal to the WAG, an exhibition proposal, and this was one of them.”
Walsh is an emcee, writer, workshop facilitator and
— Julia Lafreniere, curator
ing is part of the fourth annual Trinnipeg Live Mixtape, founded by Walsh. The program has taken various forms over its history, with a consistent focus on community,
Once Lafreniere and Walsh received funding and support for the exhibition, they searched the WAG collection for artworks that fit the theme. Along with these pieces, they secured loaned artworks from private collections and local artists.
“When you realize how little Black and Indigenous, First Nations and Métis art that there is at the WAG in comparison to everything else, it became very clear that a real search had to take place,” said Walsh. “There’s so many good and great local artists […] A show like this is wonderful, because you get to support these artists that rarely get to be shown inside of spaces like this.”
Lafreniere said she hopes Indigenous, Black and other minority communities see themselves positively reflected in the exhibition.
“I hope that they come into the exhibition and feel like they’re home, and I hope they leave feeling empowered and loved and cared for,” she said.
Walsh agreed, adding that he hopes the exhibit fosters an atmosphere of learning and celebration.
“Learning something new about where they live, and celebrating learning these things — it’s a celebration, but also a humble learning process, while being in the midst of all this great art,” he said. “This is just one chapter of this ongoing conversation that has gone on beforehand as well, and it’s just a pleasure to be a part of.”
Threads of Kin and Belonging will open Feb. 7, with a free event beginning at 7 p.m., and run until Sept. 30. For more information, visit wag.ca/ exhibitions/threads-of-kinand-belonging.
photo courtesy of / Winnipeg Art Gallery
photo / Boris Tsun Hang Leung / staff
Julia Lafreniere
photo courtesy of / Felicia Byron Elliott Walsh
Men’s basketball record win and loss against Wesmen
The Bisons lost to the Winnipeg Wesmen in game one but bounced back in game two
Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff
The Bisons men’s basketball team lost 62-60 to the Winnipeg Wesmen on Friday, Jan. 31. The Bisons bounced back stronger to claim a 78-74 win over the Wesmen in a rematch on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The Bisons and the Wesmen made a strong start in game one. The Wesmen opened the score with Lamar Everd’s three-point jump shot, but Daren Watts quickly responded for the Bisons with a three-pointer at the 8:21 mark, assisted by Cieran O’Hara. At 5:35, O’Hara tied the game with a two-point jump shot, assisted by Mason Kraus, bringing the score to 10-10. The Bisons then pushed harder, ultimately taking an 18-16 lead by the end of the first quarter with a layup made by O’Hara at 0:34.
In the second quarter, the Bisons took control, extending their lead to 27-20 at the 7:03 mark with a layup from Watts. The Wesmen then shifted their strategy, tying the game at 30-30 after Emmanuel Thomas made free throws at 1:32. Later, a jump shot from Andre Gray II at 0:46 provided the Bisons with a narrow 33-32
advantage.
The third quarter promised excitement as the teams were tied 33-33 at 9:06. With just three minutes and one second remaining, Everd from the Wesmen made free throws to level the score at 40-40. The Bisons then adjusted their game plan, gaining a slim 44-43 lead when Brandt Lenz hit a jump shot, assisted by Kraus, at the 1:05 mark.
The two teams continued trading baskets in the fourth quarter, with the Bisons maintaining their lead until 3:18, when Shawn Maranan hit a three-point jump shot to give the Wesmen a narrow 55-54 advantage. Despite a determined final push by the Bisons, the Wesmen’s resilience secured a 62-60 victory.
The Bisons men’s basketball coach Kirby Schepp recounted how the game turned out and outlined potential strategy for the rematch.
“It was a very hard-fought defensive battle. I thought we struggled offensively for much of the game. I thought both teams struggled offensively for much of the game and it became a physical battle the whole way that came
down to who had the last possession,” said Schepp. “We’ll look at the film and we’ll make adjustments for tomorrow for sure.”
Kraus reflected on the game and how they can win the matchup.
“They were more physical than us, they battled us on the glass. We just got to box out, get some more rebounds. And then [when] some late fouls come toward us, we just got to stay clean. We just got to play our game, play stronger and that’s it,” he said. “We just got to come out hard and play our game.”
In the first quarter of game two, the Bisons made a strong statement by taking an 8-0 lead at the 6:27 mark with Lenz’s three-point jump shot, assisted by Manyang Tong. The Bisons held their momentum, finishing the quarter with a 19-12 lead.
In the second quarter, the Bisons played with relentless pressure, extending their lead to 40-27 at 2:01 with a layup from Gray II, assisted by Barac Thon. Although the Wesmen attempted a comeback, the Bisons held firm with a 40-34 lead.
In the third quarter, both teams reshaped their strategies, resulting in a 48-48 tie at 0:55. Shortly after, the Wesmen took a narrow 50-48 lead when Everd made a layup at 0:25. The Wesmen kept up their lead in the fourth quarter until the 0:27 mark when Kraus stepped up with a free throw, tying the game at 68-68, which remained the final score at the end of regulation.
In overtime, the Bisons responded with zeal, taking a 71-70 lead after Watts came through with a three-point jump shot, assisted by Kraus
Bisons split the weekend against the Cougars Bisons
Israel
at 4:36. The Bisons held firm, refusing to surrender their advantage, and secured a deserving 78-74 win.
The Bisons men’s basketball team is third on the Canada West Prairie league standings with a winning percentage of 0.750, after 12 wins and four losses.
The Bisons men’s basketball team will play the MacEwan Griffins on Friday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. CT and on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. CT in Edmonton.
women’s hockey lose game one and come back with a win in game two
Adeogo
Abejoye
, staff
The Bisons women’s hockey team had a split weekend against the Regina Cougars on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1, showcasing both resilience and competitive spirit in two closely contested games at the Wayne Fleming Arena.
The first period began with the Bisons demonstrating their offensive prowess, applying significant pressure on the Cougars’ defence. Their aggressive play was evident, as they created several scoring opportunities early on. However, despite their dominance, they were unable to capitalize on their chances.
At 12:21 of the first period, the Cougars scored first. Forward Tessa Stewart found the back of the net, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead. The Bisons continued to push back, mounting a relentless offensive attack to equalize. Yet, the Cougars’ defence held strong, successfully blocking shots and limiting the Bisons’ scoring chances. As the first period ended, the Bisons found themselves trailing 1-0 despite
their strong performance.
The second period mirrored the first, with the Bisons’ continuing press for a goal. The Bisons struggled to find the net, and the period ended without any goals scored, leaving the Cougars still ahead by one.
Entering the third period, the Cougars extended their lead at 7:31 when Paige Hubbard scored, making it 2-0. Brenna Nicol scored at 12:49, finally getting the Bisons on the scoreboard. The arena erupted with excitement as the Bisons cut the deficit to 2-1.
With just over seven minutes remaining, the Bisons pushed hard for the equalizer. They created several more scoring opportunities, but the Cougars’ goaltender stood tall, making crucial saves to maintain their slim lead. Though persistent, the Bisons could not find the back of the net again, and the game concluded with the Cougars emerging victorious at 2-1.
The rematch on Saturday, Feb. 1, was a chance for the
Bisons to redeem themselves.
From the opening faceoff, the Bisons came out strong, demonstrating a more focused approach. The Cougars’ Pippy Pritchard scored the lone goal of the first period at 18:02, but the Bisons tied the game early in the second period courtesy of Kylie Lesuk at 3:49. The Bisons took the lead at 9:16 courtesy of Sophia Anderson, but the Cougars’ Cassidy Peters tied the game at 14:15. The Bisons took the lead for good by Norah Collins at 18:34.
As the game progressed, the Bisons maintained their momentum. They continued to apply pressure on the Cougars’ defence and were relentless in their pursuit of goals.
The Cougars, while trying to regroup, found themselves on the defensive, struggling to contain the Bisons’ offensive onslaught.
In the third period, the Bisons added two more goals courtesy of Ashley Keller and Sadie Keller. The Cougars’ defender Jules Stokes scored a late goal, but ultimately, the Bisons secured a 5-3 victory.
While the Bisons faced dis appointment in the first game, they came back strong in the rematch. The Bisons’ performance in the second match showcased the approach the team’s interim head coach Jordy Zacharias had in mind.
“We’re kind of getting to the end of the year where we’re starting to put all the pieces together. And the last piece of the puzzle is working on our offensive skills,” said Zacharias. “Going into today’s game, it was about playing confident, playing fierce, being bold with the puck and not
being afraid to make mistakes. And I think that showcased well. Not only did we get five goals, but we had players that were really confident with the puck on their stick. And they wanted to play for each other and win for each other. And that’s when we finally had success.”
The Bisons women’s hockey team will face the Alberta Pandas on Friday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. CT and Saturday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. in Edmonton.
photo / Nischal Karki / staff
Bisons win in thrilling rivalry showdown
The Bisons women’s basketball team win against the Winnipeg Wesmen 77-74
Faiyaz Chowdhury, staff
T
he Bisons women’s basketball team narrowly defeated the Winnipeg Wesmen with a thrilling 77-74 victory, in an electrifying rivalry game on Jan. 31 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. This matchup was not only a test of skill but also of will, as both teams fought valiantly through every quarter.
In the first quarter of the game the Bisons took a commanding lead by outscoring the Wesmen 23-19. This early advantage was crucial in setting the tone for the match.
The Bisons’ strong start can be attributed to a balanced attack and solid shooting performance, particularly from Darya Rom, who scored seven points, including a threepointer. Meanwhile, the Wesmen struggled to find their rhythm, with their players missing several shots. The quarter ended with the Bisons establishing a four-point lead, setting up a competitive atmosphere for the remainder of the game.
The Bisons managed to extend their lead, outscoring Wesmen by seven points to finish the half with a 43-36 lead. This quarter was defined by the Bisons’ continued effective shooting and defence.
Rom and Anna Miko were instrumental for the Bisons. Rom contributed four points while Miko led with eight points, utilizing her time on the court efficiently to drive the Bisons offence. Wesmen struggled with their shooting accuracy, which reflected in their game. The standout for the Wesmen during this
quarter was Sadie McMillanStowards, but the team as a whole could not match the Bisons’ scoring pace. The quarter concluded with the Bisons solidifying their lead, setting a challenging pace for the Wesmen to catch up in the second half.
The game’s intensity remained high, but the Bisons again outscored the Wesmen by a narrow margin in the third quarter, extending their lead further. The Bisons scored 20 points in the quarter compared to the Wesmen’s 21, leading to a total score of 63-57 in favour of the Bisons by the end of the period.
For the herd, Paige Schatkowsky was a standout player, scoring seven points including significant contributions to rebounds. Miko and Emily Mandamin also added to the team’s score, maintaining a strong defence that limited the Wesmen’s opportunities.
In the fourth quarter of the game both teams battled hard, but the Wesmen’s efforts were not enough to overcome the deficit. The Wesmen scored 17 points in the quarter, their highest in any quarter during the game, but the Bisons also kept pace by scoring 14 points, thus maintaining their lead and securing a 77-74 victory.
For the Bisons, Miko was a contributing player in this quarter, achieving four points and helping to stabilize the team’s performance amidst increasing pressure. The Bisons’ defence played a crucial role in limiting the Wesmen’s scoring opportunities, despite the Wesmen’s aggressive play. However, despite their late push to narrow the
margin, the Bisons’ early lead and consistent scoring across the quarters allowed them to hold on for the win.
The final minutes were tense, with both teams exchanging baskets, but the Bisons’ earlier advantage was too much for the Wesmen to overturn, with Sydnee Harris jumping to the ground to protect the ball with seconds on the clock.
In a post-match interview, the Bisons women’s basketball head coach Michele Sung said, “I love that this group of athletes got to experience […] what this rivalry means.”
Discussing the strategy during a crucial timeout with only minutes left on the clock, Sung shared, “they got easy scores because we weren’t managing a matchup. So, we just talked about that and then on offence, we just talked about if they double anything, then we pass out of it and attack the rim.”
“I think we struggled to get any momentum in terms of how physical we could be in that game without getting foul calls,” Sung said. “We’ve had two really tough weekends. And I thought that this game was called a little bit tighter, so we had to have time adjusting to the physicality that they weren’t letting us play with.”
The Bisons faced the Wesmen again the following day on Feb. 1st and lost 77-67.
The Bisons women’s basketball team will play against the MacEwan Griffins on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. CT in Edmonton.
