Jan 7 2026

How Canada’s international student cap has affected the U of M See page 3

PHOTO BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF

Local artist exhibits works on war in Ukraine See page 17

PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF

News

3 Editorial

8 Comment

Arts & 10 Culture

14 Sports

19

Winter market warmth

Get sick, stay home!

Heating up in Canada

WAG Wednesdays

End line reflecting

Naija Market Day brings their winter market to Winnipeg

The flu is serious and preventable and no fun at all

How Heated Rivalry is changing the game in culture and media

Get into the WAG for free every Wednesday night starting Jan. 7

Bisons women’s soccer head coach talks 2025 season and the year ahead

January 07, 2026

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VOL. 112, NO. 18

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News

January 07, 2026 news@themanitoban.com

Canada’s 2026 international student cap U of M international enrolment declines for third consecutive year Roy Albright Obah, staff

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he federal government has confirmed that Canada will issue a maximum of 408,000 study permits in 2026 under its international student cap, as international enrolment at the U of M has declined for the third consecutive fall term.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the 2026 targets on Nov. 25, 2025, as part of the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. Of the total permits, 155,000 are expected to be issued to newly arriving international students, while 253,000 will be issued as extensions for current and returning students. The 2026 target represents a seven per cent decrease from 2025 and

a 16 per cent decrease from 2024.

The international student cap, introduced in 2024, limits the number of study permit applications accepted for processing each year. According to IRCC, the number of study permit holders in Canada declined from more than one million in January 2024 to approximately 725,000 by September 2025.

At the U of M, international student enrolment has steadily declined over recent years.

The university reported 6,958 international students in the fall 2023 term, 6,675 in fall 2024, and 6,246 in fall 2025.

These figures coincide with the period following the introduction of the federal cap.

For 2026, IRCC expects to issue up to 180,000 study permits to applicants who require a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Manitoba’s target under this category is 6,534 permits. The remaining permits are allocated to applicants exempt from the attestation requirement, including primary and secondary school students, certain government priority cohorts, and master’s and doctoral students enrolled at public designated learning institutions.

The federal cap has coincided with staffing reductions and program suspensions at post-secondary institutions across several provinces.

In Ontario, college unions have reported thousands of

job losses following declines in international student enrolment. Multiple colleges, including Centennial College, have announced the suspension or cancellation of academic programs scheduled for 2025 and 2026.

Institutions in British Columbia and Saskatchewan have also reported enrolment declines and related budget adjustments.

The U of M has not escaped the impact of this policy.

In response to lower enrolment, the university has cancelled its applied business management program and the associated courses for the fall 2025 semester. The decision affected five part-time instructors across six courses.

To account for antici-

pated refusal rates, IRCC has set higher application intake limits. In 2026, a total of 309,670 study permit application spaces will be available nationwide for applicants who require attestation letters.

Manitoba has been allocated 11,196 application spaces under this cap. Provinces and territories are responsible for distributing their allocated spaces to designated learning institutions.

IRCC said it will continue collaborating with provinces and territories to manage the International Student Program in line with set targets while aligning with Canada’s overall immigration policies.

Naija Market Day debuts festive winter market in Winnipeg The two-day Christmas bazaar showcased culture and community businesses Nafisa Al Lilo, staff Naija Market Day hosted its first winter Christmas Bazaar in Winnipeg on Dec. 20 and 21, bringing together local businesses, cultural vendors and community members for a two-day celebration of entrepreneurship and culture.

The event featured clothing, jewellery, food and handmade goods, alongside giveaways and family activities.

While Nigerian-owned businesses made up a large portion of the market, organizers emphasized the event is open to vendors from all backgrounds.

Abiodun Adetu, event coordinator for Naija Market Day, said the market was created to replicate the feel of local African markets while fostering inclusivity.

“Back home, and every other country, there is always a local market outside of the regular retail store, and so we thought that we should bring the same thing here,” Adetu said. “Our market is open for everybody to come in to do business.”

Adetu explained that Naija Market Day began in Winnipeg two years ago and has since expanded to more than 15 cities across Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto. The Christmas Bazaar marks one of the organization’s first winter markets.

Fatima Idowu, one of the vendors and owner of EE Stores shared her experience

NAANA KONDU NYAMEKEYE, A UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENT, AND OWNER OF BEADS UNLEASHED, AT THE NAIJA MARKET DAY CHRISTMAS BAZAAR. PHOTO BY NAFISA AL LILO / STAFF

with the Manitoban. EE Stores is a business that specializes in African ceremonial clothing and fabrics such as lace and Aṣọ Òkè.

For instance, Idowu mentioned the Aṣọ Òkè is a ceremonial attire traditionally worn at weddings and birthdays often conveying luxury and regality.

Her aim is to make traditional clothing more accessible to West African communities in Manitoba.

“I want [Nigerians] here to know that they don’t need to send people all the way to Nigeria to get them African

attire. They can get it here at a very reduced price.”

“We still go out with our African attire because it speaks volumes, it tells stories,” Idowu added. “You can’t take it away from us.”

Naana Konadu Nyamekye, a third-year psychology student at the U of M and owner of Beads Unleashed, showcased hand-made beaded items including bracelets, keychains and earrings.

“I used to do it as a kid just for fun,” Nyamekye said.

“When I came here, I decided to monetize my craft and also just create a platform for

people to be able to get a lot of beautiful, beaded items.”

Nyamekye encouraged students interested in entrepreneurship to take the first step despite their fear. “The beginning can look scary, but you never know what can come out of you just starting the process,” she said. “Don’t doubt yourself.”

Michael Wenegieme, who attended as a representative of Scotiabank, said the market provides a valuable opportunity to support community-led entrepreneurship.

Wenegieme highlighted Scotiabank’s commitment

to support women-led businesses through the Scotia Women Initiative.

He described it as “an initiative that helps mentor, monitor and encourage women in businesses.”

Kashan Samuel, an international vendor that added to the market’s diversity, brought clothing, jewellery and shawls from Pakistan.

“We want to bring out our culture, introduce it to more people,” Samuel said. “We think that our products are more suited to the winters.”

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Vol. 112, No. 18 news@themanitoban.com

News

A holiday gathering beyond reading U of M Book Society celebrates the holidays with books and community Arifah Gheesah, staff

T

he U of M Book Society (UMBS) hosted its holiday party at Yafa Café on Dec. 20. The event featured a preloved book swap, where members could exchange books just in time for the holidays.

The club also provided wrapping paper and sticky notes, allowing participants to wrap and label their books for one another.

James Wiens, a member of UMBS, attended the event. He is a regular participant in the club’s bi-weekly teatime sessions and shared his experience. “The people are unilaterally pleasant, and I thought it was a great opportunity to see them again,” he said.

Wiens expressed that he believes the club offers students a relaxed environment where they can sit down and have conversations.

Vanessa Theroux, a staff member from the promotions team, explained the club focuses on more than just

reading — it is also “building a community,” she said. She added the book swap allowed members to receive books for the holidays and exchange gifts in an affordable way, as all the books were pre-owned.

Theroux’s favourite part of the event was just being with friends and getting to see everyone. Theroux also highlighted the club’s largest events of the fall semester, which were Halloween and fall icebreaker events. The icebreaker event included mini games and opportunities to get to know each other. Staff members worked together to make it successful. She emphasized UMBS is a club where students can simply show up and feel welcome.

“I know a lot of us keep describing it as a safe space,” she added. With bigger and newer initiatives planned for the year ahead, UMBS hopes to continue fostering that welcoming environment for students.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ETHAN WONG

The Big Red Church’s Christmas Eve service centres inclusion Patrick Woodbeck blends music, storytelling and reflection in holiday sermon Nafisa Al Lilo, staff

M

usic and storytelling shaped the Christmas Eve service at Gordon-King Memorial United Church, also known as the Big Red Church, on Dec. 24, as congregants gathered for a worship event to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Led by Patrick Woodbeck, the church’s ordained minister, the service was made up of short segments rather than a single extended sermon.

Woodbeck said he personally designed the layout of the service. The structure repeated a pattern throughout the evening in which a song was sung, a story was told and a reflection followed.

He noted music plays a central role in worship at the Big Red Church. “It was important for me to have a lot of music, but music that was authentic to who we are at the Big Red Church,” he emphasized.

According to Woodbeck, the reflections were written in response to the readings presented during the service.

He said the purpose of these reflections was to connect faith to contemporary life. “If our faith doesn’t speak to our lives today, what is the point of it?” he asked.

“The Christmas Eve service changes each year,” Woodbeck said, as he noted musical leadership often influences

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the structure. Toward the middle of the event, the children were included in the service.

They were taught the story of Jesus and his birth within the sanctuary. “The young ones need to understand that the Big Red Church is their place too,” he explained.

A play area was set up at the front of the sanctuary, reflecting the church’s emphasis on shared worship and participation rather than age-based separation.

Woodbeck’s leadership of the service is formed by his personal faith journey. Raised Roman Catholic, he stepped away from the church in his late teens and early twenties.

He said he struggled with the idea of the church’s wealth in the face of global poverty.

He was also struggling with his sexual orientation and believed he was not accepted by the Roman Catholic church or by God. Years later, Woodbeck returned to church life after attending a United Church service centered on music, meditation and art. “I started attending that church and they encouraged me to start reading scripture then doing liturgy, and eventually they asked me to discern a call to ministry,” he said.

Woodbeck first encountered the Big Red Church

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PATRICK WOODBECK

through a United Church tity as a minister, and they ing into the church are pride presbytery meeting and have encouraged myself and colours, including the BIPOC attending the services online, accepted both myself and my (Black, Indigenous, and which were being posted ear- partner,” Woodbeck said. people of colour) and translier than many gender colours other churches on the risers.

“This [pride display] is not for show, it is a in Winni“This is not statement of who we are as a community” peg. “What I for show, it is saw was a sera statement — Patrick Woodbeck, ordained minister at vice that was of who we are filled with as a communGordon-King Memorial United Church the Spirit,” ity,” Woodbeck he explained. said. “I believe Later he saw they were search“We are a community that that if people could experiing for a new minister and is open, accepting, and inclu- ence the community, they applied. sive,” Woodbeck expressed. would understand how valu“They have challenged me He explained that the first able that is in one’s life.” to live into my authentic iden- thing you notice when walk-

Research & Technology

Vol. 112, No. 18 research@themanitoban.com

Scaling mental health care across Manitoba Designing practical, evidence-based programs to improve support access Mansura Akter Meghla, staff

F

or Shay-Lee Bolton, mental health research is not just about generating data or testing theories. It is about building systems that work for people in their everyday lives.

Bolton is an associate professor in the U of M’s department of psychiatry. She studies mental health through both public health and clinical lenses. She said her work uses “data to understand who is at risk, what factors shape mental health and how we can intervene early” to make a meaningful difference.

Bolton’s research sits at the intersection of psychiatric epidemiology and intervention and implementation science. At a broad level, she uses population-level data to understand patterns of mental health and wellness. At the same time, she is deeply involved in designing and evaluating programs that can be delivered at scale. Much of her work focuses on brief mental health interventions that are practical, low-barrier and able to reach large groups of people.

Two major programs anchor her research. The first is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with Mindfulness (CBTm), a free, class-based program available to Manitobans. The program teaches practical skills to manage stress, anxiety and low mood, while also building resilience and healthy habits. The second is the Public Safety Mental Health Service, which provides prevention and intervention supports for public safety personnel across the province, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections staff and dispatch workers. Research and community engagement are built directly into both programs, allowing Bolton and her team to continually adapt their work based on participant feedback.

Bolton’s interest in mental health research grew from both professional and personal experiences. As a teenager, she lived with a family member who struggled with

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SHAY-LEE BOLTON

mental illness. She recalled care costs, to lost productive What continues to motivnot fully understanding years,” she added. “Yet his- ate her, she said, is seeing the what her family member was torically, mental health hasn’t real-world impact of her work. experiencing One recent or how to help project Bol“From an epidemiology perspective, mental as they naviton is particugated a system larly proud of health issues create huge impacts, from that was fragis the developday-to-day functioning, to relationships, mented. That ment of a experience Cross-Cultural to healthcare costs, to lost productive years” stayed with CBTm proher. gram for new— Shay-Lee Bolton, associate professor “From an comers to Canepidemiology ada. The proin the U of M’s department of psychiatry perspective, gram was cremental health ated by a team issues create huge impacts, received the focus it deserves, with deep experience working from day-to-day functioning, and stigma is still a major bar- alongside diverse newcomer to relationships, to health- rier.” communities. “They adapted

our CBTm content to make the material approachable, culturally relevant and meaningful for people who may not have a western view of mental health,” she explained.

The program is currently being evaluated by two students. They are studying whether the program resonates with newcomer students and how it can be further improved. “The early response has been incredibly positive,” Bolton added.

Bolton situates her work within a broader shift in mental health care. There is increasing attention on low-intensity supports, including digital and hybrid models, that can improve access for people who live far from specialized services. She believes demonstrating the effectiveness of scalable programs like CBTm could help reduce waitlists, provide early support before symptoms escalate and teach preventative skills long before someone reaches a crisis point. She described this approach as offering mental health “swimming lessons,” giving people tools before they are overwhelmed.

Ultimately, Bolton hoped her work would expand access to cognitive behavioural therapy, which she described as the most evidence-based treatment and prevention tool available for mental health concerns. She aims to demonstrate that large-group, low-barrier programs can be both effective and empowering, helping people build skills they can use throughout their lives.

The Cross-Cultural CBTm program will be offered in January and February in both virtual and in-person formats, allowing participants to choose what feels most comfortable. The six-session program encourages participants to bring a support person if they wish. Anyone interested can register at www.cbtm.ca under the “Cross-Cultural” tab.

Do you know a place on campus that could use a Manitoban newspaper stand?

Let us know at editor@themanitoban.com

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January 07, 2026 research@themanitoban.com

Research & Technology

The ‘wicked problem’ of AI in assessment New testing methods are piloted to keep pace with rapidly evolving AI models Nawal Semir, staff A new 2025 study reveals artificial intelligence (AI) use in assessments as a “wicked problem,” or a problem “that [defies] neat solutions,” forcing educators to redesign assessment styles.

Headed by Thomas Corbin, a research fellow at the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning at Deakin University, this study interviewed 20 university-level educators across four different faculties at Australian universities. Through referrals, the researchers identified educators leading assessment redesign in their respective faculties and questioned them on the types of challenges generative AI has imposed upon them in terms of student assessment, as well as the types of changes they have implemented as a response.

Although the researchers did not initially hypothesize generative AI as a “wicked problem,” the response from the educators suggests it as such.

The term “wicked problem” gained popularity in the 1970s due to theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber. Unlike “tame problems,” which are defined by their linearity and ability to be solved through step-by-step processes, “wicked problems” are unpredictable and are characterized by “better” or “worse” answers, but no objective “true” or “false.”

Illustrating the scale of the issue, a survey of academic integrity violations in the UK has exposed nearly 7,000 proven cases of cheating using AI between 2023 and 2024. While this number is expected to increase now that generative AI usage has become more mainstream,

experts suggest these proven cases are only a small percentage of real violations. In response, one solution educators across North America have been experimenting with is having more oral exams.

Kyle Maclean, an assistant professor at the Ivey Business School in L o n don,

Instead of face-to-face oral exams — which would not be feasible with large class sizes — the Ivey Business School gave students five minutes to respond to a question with a

certain groups at a disadvantage. For instance, students for whom English is an additional language may struggle to articulate complex ideas under pressure. The stress of a face-to-face evaluation can further hinder performance.

Furthermore, the AI issue in universities is a layered

GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

Ontario,is researching both the benefits and downsides of this ancient form of testing. In an interview with the CBC, Maclean explained the implementation of “scalable oral exams” was introduced in his faculty during the COVID-19 lockdown.

vide o.

This assessment style represents a significant departure from the traditional testing methods students are accustomed to. It demands quick thinking and does not allow them to return to previous questions, which is an unprecedented challenge for many. This assessment style also risks placing

o n e that is constantly shifting. While teachers are expected to immediately redesign their curriculums in response to changing AI systems, generative AI is constantly adapting and improving in functionality. In the last three years alone, the global generative AI market has increased by 54.7 per cent,

proving itself explosive.

This attractive market for investors has propelled generative AI development, with new versions dropping just a few months apart from each other. For example, ChatGPT dropped its 5.0 version in August 2025, and by November it had released two 5.1 versions — GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking. The implication for educators is that these responsive curriculum adjustments implemented at the beginning of the semester may become irrelevant before the term even ends.

This is especially problematic given that occupational stress has been identified as a major problem in Western universities. With excessive workloads as a primary culprit, adding constant redesign to an educator’s workload only contributes to the issue.

Ultimately, in reconciling with an ever-evolving AI ecosystem, the study suggests educators and universities must acknowledge the wicked role AI has and will continue to play in assessment, dispelling any belief that the issue is inherently “solvable.” Instead, the researchers suggest that a constant negotiation is necessary, with trade-offs lying at the heart of every curriculum. While “wicked problems” have no true solutions, the study urges allowing individual educators more bargaining power in assessment creation — all proposed styles will have trade-offs that better suit the needs of certain groups. Instead of creating the illusion of rigid perfection in university assessments, this modified-objective approach highlights flexibility, easing the burden placed on educators to create a uniform, onesize-fits-all solution to assessment-taking.

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Editorial

Vol. 112, No. 18 editor@themanitoban.com

Why we should take the flu seriously No, the flu is not ‘just a cold’ Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff

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n the summer of 2023, I experienced one of the worst viral infections of my life. It started as a vague queasiness one evening, but exploded into a suite of debilitating symptoms overnight — fever, nausea, joint pain, sinus and eye infections and a productive, visceral cough.

My symptoms refused to subside even after weeks, and I ultimately had to pay a visit to the emergency room because it was indicative of more serious complications, such as pneumonia.

Not to be dramatic, but there were moments where I genuinely wondered if I would ever recover from this. I did, eventually, despite the debilitation of the viral infection. The idea of acquired immunity feels intuitive. When the immune system encounters a pathogen it has previously faced, it activates memory T and B cells and produces antibodies to ward off infection. Some antiviral antibodies, like those created after measles infection or vaccination, are also maintained for life.

However, not even half a year later, I was plagued by a virus yet again, this time in Winnipeg during the winter. The same symptoms

appeared, this time with a hefty bout of delirium. I was bedridden and felt betrayed by my own body. I lamented, “How did this happen again?”

It was only after the fact that I discovered that the timing of these infections coincided with an influenza A epidemic in Hong Kong (where I spent the summer) and a period of heightened influenza A incidence in Manitoba.

It is simply impossible to retroactively pinpoint the specific pathogen I contracted, but influenza A, also known as flu A or Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae, is notorious for evading immune responses.

Each virus is covered with the protein’s hemagglutinin and neuraminidase on its surface.

They are highly variable, with dozens of forms, combining to make over 130 different subtypes of influenza A, such as H1N1 and H3N2. Over time, these mutations prevent the virus from being recognized by antibodies and immune cells, making them less, or not effective at all. This is called antigenic drift, and Immunize Canada has compared this to a game of telephone, where the original message changes as it gets whispered around the group.

The flu, however, can

become much more virulent when an antigenic shift occurs, which is when a virus changes so drastically that most people cannot fend it off. This can happen when a host, particularly pigs and birds, are infected with two subtypes of flu viruses at the same time, and they swap genetic information to create a new subtype. Instead of a normal game of telephone, imagine someone in the group whispers the original message in a completely different language.

This is the culprit behind pandemics that have swept across the globe. The infamous Spanish Flu of 1918, for example, is believed to have originated from birds before it spilled over to pigs, and then humans. Compounded by factors such as the lack of effective medical treatment and the mobilization of troops for the First World War, it is estimated that 50 to 100 million people died from the flu, far exceeding those who died from the war itself. Flu pandemics have emerged three more times since then, with the latest one taking place in 2009.

Fast forward to today, there has recently been a global surge of flu cases in much of the world, particularly in the

U.S. and Canada, due to a new mutation called subclade K. For instance, New York has just reported a record-high number of flu hospitalizations in a single week, while the number of positive tests for the flu has increased sharply in Canada.

Although flu mortalities are on the decline and relatively uncommon in young adults, tragic cases are by no means unheard of. Now and then, I see headlines of healthy teenagers and people in their 20s dying from influenza.

In other words, personal experience, history and the news have led me to believe that the flu is not to be trifled with. Despite this, there exists people who “refuse” to be sick, and admittedly, I used to be one of them. In the past, I have arrived at university sick due to fear of missing out. It took me a while to realize that missing a handful of classes will not instantly ruin my GPA, nor will missing a meeting or volunteer shift cause my workplace to implode. If anything, I would like to believe most people would rather have a sick person stay home than show up and potentially spread diseases to others.

I am sure there are plenty who show up to class or events

knowing full well that they are infectious. I can sympathize with those who mask up and socially distance, but I have also met people who egregiously dismiss viral infections as a benign cold that would not impact the well-being of university-aged adults.

More concerningly, there has been a rise in antivax sentiment due to misinformation on social media, and experts are saying vaccine hesitancy has led to the reemergence of diseases such as measles and is causing “needless death and suffering.” On a personal note, it seems like the world has learned nothing from COVID-19 and instead decided to barrel itself toward conspiracy and anti-intellectualism.

Given the viral pandemics in recent history and the ongoing upswing of flu infections, downplaying the flu is at best ignorant and at worst selfish and anti-science. My goal is not to fearmonger, but to highlight that being young and healthy does not make one invincible against diseases. Influenza may not be as deadly as it used to be, but it sure can make you feel like death warmed up.

GRAPHIC BY TEEGAN GILLICH / STAFF

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Comment

Vol. 112, No. 18 comment@themanitoban.com

Heated Rivalry holds the line against fear and erasure The breakout series shows Canadian stories can push back, not just entertain Kyra Campbell, staff

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am used to an alarm clock going off at an ungodly hour, then getting hauled into a freezing rink by 8 a.m. Not to play hockey, but to watch my brother play the sport that has become a cornerstone of his life.

Alongside the joy I get from seeing him play this long-held Canadian tradition, this holiday season has felt heavy. Not in the usual end-of-year way, but in a deeper, emptier way — like the ground has fallen out from under us but we are supposed to pretend it is normal.

Across N o r t h A m e r ica and beyond, the “antiw o k e ” wave has hit a new peak, fully escaping the confines of comment sections and increasingly influencing public policy. We have seen attacks on diversity initiatives intensify, immigration become an all-purpose political weapon and trans people, day after day, legislated out of more aspects of public life.

And then, Heated Rivalry arrives as a reminder of why representation must be fought for and celebrated every day.

The story behind the show is already special to me.

Heated Rivalry is adapted from a novel by Nova Scotian author Rachel Reid. As a Nova Scotian myself, it matters more to me than many people understand. When you are used to seeing “Canadian content” usually meaning Toronto or Vancouver, a breakout project with roots closer to home hits differently. It feels akin to being seen, and proves that stories from here have the power to travel.

I am well acquainted with the smell of wet gear, cold air, the sound of skates cutting into ice and the way a rink can feel like its own little world. I also know the culture that comes with it — the parts people romanticize and the

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parts that make you bite your tongue.

Hockey can be beautiful, but it is also stubbornly conservative, obsessed with toughness, averse to vulnerability and quick to police anything that looks different.

In recent years, we have seen how something as small as

GRA

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other inside those systems.

A love story set in the hockey world might sound like escapism, but I think it is the opposite. In a moment where our lives are increasingly narrowed to issues of trade and military prowess, this show insists

Canada chooses, through policy and tax credits, to support domestic film and television. This show received assistance from programs like the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, meaning public revenue helped make it possible. “ Ta x p ay e r - f u n d e d television” can be an easy punchline in our increasingly

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p r i d e tape or warm-up jerseys can become a flashpoint, as if basic support for queer people is too political for the sport that is supposedly “for everyone.”

This is why Heated Rivalry matters. For those who have not watched it yet, the premise is simple but it is also deeply tied to the beauty and pain of the time we live in. Two elite hockey players, Shane and Ilya, meet as teenagers, become fierce rivals, and fall into a secret relationship that stretches across years, teams and countries. It is a romance, yes, but it is also a story about power, image and the cost of hiding. It is about how systems shape people and how those people still find each

t h a t love, curiosity and vulnerability are not side stories, but the main plot.

It treats tenderness like something worth writing, filming and funding.

It also does something Canadian television is known for.

It is raw, less glossy and more willing to sit in discomfort. It is less interested in perfection and more interested in showing what people do when they are scared but still trying.

There is another layer here that we should not skate over. Productions like Heated Rivalry exist partly because

individualized world, but I am happy to pay taxes when governments use them to invest in public goods, support vulnerable Canadians and reduce the costs people should not have to carry alone. And yes, I want them to support Canadian arts and culture.

Because culture is not decoration.

It is infrastructure.

When governments and media tell us the only thing that matters is the crisis of the moment — whether that is inflation, trade or security — it becomes easier to cut everything else quietly. Arts funding gets framed as frivolous. Public broadcasting becomes a target. Grants get treated like waste. That is not an accident. If you can convince people that imagination is optional, you can shrink public life until all that is left is fear and consumption. Once those supports are gone, they are difficult to get back. People move away, industries hollow out and whole regions lose the ability to tell their stories.

Heated Rivalry is exactly the kind of story that critics of public support would call “unnecessary” — a queer hockey romance, a “niceto-have.” But it is also exactly the kind of story that proves why we need the arts, especially now.

It makes space for people who are constantly told to be quiet.

It shows that Canadian stories can be bold, not just polite.

It takes a sport that has often been used to enforce one narrow version of masculinity and asks what happens when those outside that version refuse to disappear.

The streaming service Crave has already renewed Heated Rivalry for a second season, and the lead actors have said they are signed on for three.

It is a reminder that Canadian work can break through on its own terms, without leaving representation behind.

Shows like this reach the screens because writers, crews and communities build them, and because there are systems that make creative risk possible. It is easy to call that spending frivolous until you notice what disappears when it is gone. More imported stories can flatten us into passive consumers, with fewer chances for people on the margins to be seen.

If we want Canadian stories that feel specific, honest and brave, we must treat those systems as essential.

January 07, 2026 comment@themanitoban.com

Comment

Why we always fail at ‘new year, new me’ Defining goals and focusing on the process Thandeka Katsika, staff

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very January, I watch the same routine unfold — social media is filled with declarations of “new year, new me,” and every year I feel the familiar pressure to participate. I want to write out goals, redesign my life and promise myself I will somehow be more disciplined, more productive and healthier on the first of January than I was on the 31st of December.

As the year progresses, my motivation fades, my new habits slip and the version of myself I envisioned at the start of the year completely disappears. By the end of the year, I feel a quiet sense of disappointment at having failed yet another year’s worth of resolutions.

While reflecting on my failure to meet my 2025 goals, I realized that one of the biggest mistakes I make when setting goals is building them on pressure and not intention. Most of my goals are a response to guilt. I feel bad that I procrastinate, I don’t exercise enough, I eat a lot of junk food and I don’t call my parents enough. I make resolutions I think will “solve” these issues.

This year, I am hoping to approach change with more

honesty and patience. I want to dig deeper into understanding where my resolutions stem from and make changes rooted in self-love rather than shame.

As I assessed my own struggles with New Year’s resolutions, I looked further into why so many people struggle to keep the resolutions they set for themselves. The more research I did, the clearer it became. The problem is rarely a lack of willpower, discipline or motivation. More often, it is misalignment.

One of the core problems with resolutions is that they are built on unrealistic expectations rather than an understanding of human behaviour.

Many people are well-intentioned, but when setting new year’s goals they are often trying to completely overhaul their lives.

Human beings are not wired for sudden, large-scale behavioural change. Especially when it requires prolonged discomfort. So, in situations where the required effort is high and the progress is slow, we tend to revert to older, easier habits.

A more sustainable approach to goal setting begins with alignment. In James Clear’s book Atomic

Habits, he noted it is more important to build systems than to set goals. A goal might sound something like “I want to lose some weight this year,” while a system might be, “I will walk for about 30 minutes every day.” Clear suggested people should focus on the process itself rather than the end product. This is because progress is slow. If you only focus on the result, it can become discouraging when you do not see any change. By focusing on the process, progress is less likely to curb your motivation.

With this in mind, I have decided to focus on processes rather than end goals this year. I want to forget about the person I think I should be on the outside and instead concentrate on doing the internal work to grow in self-love.

For a long time, I measured my progress by how well I could stick to a list of goals I set in January. Now, I’m learning that slow and steady really does win the race.

As the new year unfolds, I hope more people permit themselves to redefine what success looks like. Growth and change do not have to be dramatic, they just have to be present.

GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

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Vol. 112, No. 18 comment@themanitoban.com

Comment

Your horoscope for the week Zodiac sign mania, flip a coin and see your fate this week Quinn Mayhew, staff AQUARIUS January 20 February 18 Try not to take the week seriously. Learn to appreciate smaller moments and try to think with your head more than your heart. Take bold steps if you are in a new phase of your career and avoid getting entangled in other people’s problems, as it may cause undue stress and heartache. Prioritize your mental health and well-being this week to maintain your enthusiasm for the things that you enjoy.

PISCES February 19 March 20 Look for opportunities for emotional growth this week.

Some relationships may be trifling, but look inward and try to see the good within the bad. There may be a focus on the financial sector of your life that urges you forward, but let your intuition be your best guide. Focus on inner growth rather than societal pressure.

ARIES March 21 - April 19 Listen to Fleetwood Mac this week — it will help you tap into your emotional side. This week will lead you toward a romantic spark if you look for a relationship where you normally wouldn’t. Seek out new connections and nurture longterm friendships because this

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will lead to prosperity later in life. Commit to loyalty, and this will set you up for future success.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20 The desire for adventure will draw you toward newfound opportunities — this is an excellent time to take risks and improve on pre-existing relationships. Focus on creativity and exploring hobbies you’ve been putting off. Take the initiative to tackle the tasks you’ve been putting off as it will also clear your mind for the week ahead.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20 Be generous with your time and energy this week. Spend time with family and friends — it will refuel your vitality.

Be optimistic. This will prevent burnout and guide you toward opportunities within the career realm. Watch television or read this week as a chance to regain strength.

CANCER June 21 - July 22 This week is an excellent time to act on those crazy ideas you might be having. Start a coven of witches, try roller blading for the first time or maybe adopt a pet turtle. Your social life will thrive this week. Make sure you capitalize on this newfound energy and take

opportunities to enrich your life with different ideas.

LEO July 23 - August 22 The vibes are off at work, so fight fire with fire (kidding).

Your co-worker may be bothering you, or maybe everyone’s a little fussy. Make time to do things that you enjoy, and combat that negative energy. Take time to clean the space around you — it will make for a clearer mind.

VIRGO August 23 September 22 You will have a very whimsical week. Try to tap into that mystical energy and go for a walk, seek out time to be alone.

Explore the world around you and try to notice things you normally would not. This week would be a good time to relax and not overstrain yourself, as you may experience burnout.

LIBRA September 23 October 22 Be careful not to overindulge this week. If you are feeling the need to covet, try combating the feeling with generosity by giving to others. This week will feel difficult, but fret not — surround yourself with friends and family and enjoy this time with the people you care about.

SCORPIO October 23 November 21 You may be arguing with someone in your life — do not fall into despair. Try to balance the stress from this strained relationship with things that you enjoy. Your intuition is usually correct, trust your gut and listen to your heart. This will lead you down the correct path.

SAGITTARIUS November 22 December 21 If you have something to say, now is a good time to say it.

Communication is key this week — make sure you are communicating your feelings to the important people in your life. If energy is low in the middle of the week, try to rejuvenate yourself with some alone time, as there may be some strained energy from people you may have been having problems with before.

CAPRICORN December 22 January 19 Perseverance will be key this week, as things may be feeling a little tough, whether in school or your career. Try to focus on how your body feels and fret less about things you cannot control. This week will be difficult, but it will show your resilience.

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Arts & Culture

Vol. 112, No. 18 arts@themanitoban.com

WAG to offer free admission every Wednesday night Gallery launches new endeavour to boost downtown arts scene Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff

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tarting Jan. 7, the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) is offering free admission every Wednesday night from 5 to 9 p.m. for the next three years.

Katryna Barske, the gallery’s public relations officer, explained that there used to be extended Friday night hours before the pandemic.

WAG also continues to offer Canada Life free Sundays once a month. However, the new Wednesday nights, sponsored by Power Corporation of Canada, are unique in that they will always feature an event or activity.

“They’re going to have some programming attached, whereas previously we sometimes would have programs on the Friday nights, but it wasn’t every week […] There will be something to come and do, whether that’s a tour or a talk, a film screening, a concert, there’s going to be something every single Wednesday night,” she said.

The first night on Jan. 7 kicked off with a party, featuring a free concert by acclaimed local singer Begonia and a DJ set by Ali Wan Kenobi. In addition to programs, there is also a cash bar and specialty cocktails for visitors every Wednesday night hereafter.

Barske commented while these nights are not necessarily part of a larger project, they were created to encourage people to visit and engage with the arts.

“We are always looking [for] ways to expand our accessibility and just offer more

opportunities for people to come to the art gallery, experience the arts and to come downtown as well. I know that there’s a big shift within the downtown [area, and] we are trying to bolster those numbers back up after the pandemic,” said Barske.

“So this is just another way to offer people something to do in the middle of the week, to come downtown, to remove some barriers […] Maybe see the art gallery in a different way, whether that’s somebody who hasn’t been here for a long time or [someone who] comes here all the time.”

Outside of free Sundays and Wednesday nights, the gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday. Adult and senior tickets are $18 and $15, respectively, while youths and Indigenous peoples have free admission.

When asked about WAG’s vision for 2026, Barske stressed the launch of Wednesday nights as the “big one,” but also hinted at new exhibits to look forward to, including an opening potentially in early February and new art in the gallery.

“We’re going to have just lots of really fun entertainers coming through in a couple weeks. It’s going to be a really cool thing for people to come down and enjoy,” she concluded.

For more information on current exhibitions and upcoming events at WAG, visit wag.ca.

PHOTOS BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF

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January 07, 2026 arts@themanitoban.com

Arts & Culture

Shawn Desman’s Winnipeg concert a crowd-pleaser The Canadian music icon brought the house down on Nov. 30 with guest Jamie Fine Carrington Dong, staff

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anadian singer Shawn Desman has been active in the music industry for over two decades, and his latest tour, the Back to Life Tour, proved that he is still as electric a performer as ever.

The tour stopped in Winnipeg on Nov. 30 at the Club Regent Event Centre. The venue was filled to near-capacity, but thankfully not to the point of feeling overly packed.

Opening the concert was Jamie Fine, Desman’s collaborator on the feel-good dance track “BODY,” released on Mar. 21. The song entered at #26 on CHR/Top 40 and #34 on the Hot AC. Fine opened the concert strongly, with powerful live vocals that filled the room, singing a mix of her own songs like “If Anything’s Left” and “For You,” and covers such as Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” Fine entertained the audience with many jokes and wisecracks. However, along with the humour, she got poignant, openly sharing her mental health journey, and most emotionally, dedicating a medley

of Coldplay’s hit “Fix You” and her own “Give Me One More Night” to her late uncle. With half an hour to perform, Fine made the most of her time on stage and charmed the audience with her unfiltered authenticity.

After a brief intermission, Desman took to the stage with his backing band. Opening the show with one of his biggest hits, “Electric,” he showed his signature flashy dance moves and energetic stage presence.

The heavy choreography was in no way a hindrance to his live vocals, which remained rock-solid throughout.

The show featured many of Desman’s best-known hits, spanning his entire catalogue of music. The songs ranged from earlier works such as “Shook” and “Get Ready,” to his latest releases such as “Miami” and the aforementioned “BODY.” Fine returned to the stage for the latter, and the two showed remarkable on-stage chemistry.

Along with his original songs, Desman also displayed versatility through music covers. These included a seam-

lessly executed mashup of his own song, “Spread My Wings,” with Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” and a cover mega-mix of songs by the most famous female singers of the 80’s, including Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done For Me Lately,” Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and Madonna’s “Holiday.” Desman’s covers had the audience singing and dancing along.

The second half of the set maintained the energy of the first, with Desman seemingly ending the set by walking through the crowd during “Night Like This.” But of course, amid chants of “One more song!” from the enthusiastic audience, he returned for an encore, performing a snippet of his latest song “One Good Life” (a collaboration with country artist Dallas Smith), and bringing the night to a close with a reprise of “Electric” that had everyone dancing just as much as the first time.

Desman announced on Dec. 16 that he will take 2026 off from touring. However, as

PHOTO BY CARRINGTON DONG / STAFF

he left the stage, he promised the Winnipeg faithful that he will return to the city in 2027.

If you can see him live, it’s can’t-miss entertainment – so stay tuned.

For more information on Shawn Desman, visit shawndesman.com. For more information on Jamie Fine, visit jamiefinemusic.com.

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Vol. 112, No. 18 arts@themanitoban.com

Arts & Culture

Magical closing night of RWB’s Nutcracker Canadiana-infused take on classic ballet delights local audiences once again Carrington Dong, staff

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hile it was two days after Christmas, festive energy could still be felt inside Centennial Concert Hall on Dec. 27, the closing night of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s (RWB) Nutcracker.

Although this marked the end of a 26-show run that began on Nov. 26 and included touring dates across the country, the company’s performance was of such quality that one might have guessed it was opening night.

Commissioned in 1999 by former artistic director André Lewis and choreographed

by Galina Yordanova and Nina Menon, this production infuses the classic tale with uniquely Canadian-inspired elements, such as playing hockey on an outdoor rink (with dancers on rollerblades), a battle in front of Parliament Hill, and the hilarious antics of Filbert the Bear (aspirant Paige Irwin), which elicited many giggles from the theatregoers.

Corps de ballet artist Julianna Generoux, a graduate of the RWB School, conveyed the innocence and grace of the older Clara, going from the imaginative young girl to a beautiful princess. She displayed elegance and poise in her execution, moving as if she was floating across the stage.

Generoux was partnered by the charismatic Marco Lo Presti as her Nutcracker Prince. The second soloist executed his parts with graceful athleticism, battling the Mouse King (second soloist Liam Saito) with flair before going from soldier to romantic lead, partnering Generoux with effortless strength during their dances, particularly their grand pas de deux in the second act.

The two dancers were a well-matched pair. Speaking to the Manitoban in early December, Generoux said that both were “very expressive dancers.” This was on full display, as each of them fully disappeared into their characters, believably portraying young Clara’s dream of growing up and falling in love with her “Prince Charming.”

The ballet thrives on its strong ensemble cast, with several dancers getting moments to stand out.

Corps de ballet artist Kyra Soo pulled double duty as Clara’s glamourous Aunt Josephine in Act I, performing what felt like an endless number of fouettés to loud cheers, and as the magical Sugar Plum Fairy in Act II. Soo never lost a beat with the demands of

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JEN DERBACH

THE ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET’S NUTCRACKER RAN THROUGH THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

each role, carrying a magnetic stage presence.

Principal dancer Stephan Azulay, as Clara’s godfather Drosselmeier, acted as a sort of “master of ceremonies” throughout the ballet. The enthusiasm in Azulay’s dancing was infectious, and it was clear from his performance that this is a role he loves to perform.

Other notable moments included the intricate ensemble dances “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” “Waltz of the Flowers” and the sultry, acrobatic “Arabian” pas de deux, performed by second soloists Katie Saito and Joshua Hidson, which left the audience in a trance.

Alongside the company’s dancers were an equally impressive slate of guest performers. Manohar Performing Arts of Canada performed an enchanting sargam, and the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers — siblings Mikey, Jacob and Cieanna Harris, accompanied by fiddler Brendan Chartrand — impressed with fancy footwork in their Red River Jig. And who could forget the fan-favourite Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, whose lively, raucous performance was rewarded with one of the biggest ovations of the night.

A key aspect of Nutcracker is its showcase of young talent from the RWB School.

Young dancers from the recreational division appeared as party guests, angels, mice in the Mouse King’s army and as fluffy polar bear cubs, whose appearance in the ballet charmed the audience.

Selected from the professional division for the coveted role of Young Clara, Mirabelle Ciezak was an appealing young heroine, beaming from ear-to-ear as she danced among the company, showing remarkable confidence for her young age. Madison Keats was endearing as Clara’s mischievous younger brother, Dieter, and Daniel Bekker was a steady partner to Ciezak as Drosselmeier’s great-nephew,

Julien.

The dancers and conductor Monica Chen took their final bows with celebratory “snow” falling from the ceiling and the audience on their feet, a fitting end to a fantastic performance.

For those who didn’t get to watch the show this year, fear not — the annual production will return in December next year. If it’s anything like this year, it will be well worth the wait.

For more information on the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, visit rwb.org.

January 07, 2026 arts@themanitoban.com

Arts & Culture

‘I was, and remain, incensed by these invaders’ Michael Boss presents solo exhibition Black Earth/Chornozem

“STARS IN THE NIGHT SKY: MONUMENT TO 31,000” BY MICHAEL BOSS, IN HIS INSTALLATION BLACK EARTH/CHORNOZEM AT 226 MAIN.

Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff

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ast week, local artist Michael Boss unveiled his latest art exhibition, Black Earth/Chornozem, at 226 Main Street Gallery featuring works created in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Boss holds a bachelor of fine art from U of M and a master of fine art from the University of Windsor. He previously worked as the head of education at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba and head of the WAG Studio before pivoting to a career as a fulltime artist in 2014.

With Ukrainian ancestry on his father’s side and a passion for Ukrainian history, Boss’s creative practice has been focused on his heritage and the Russia-Ukraine war in past years, culminating in this exhibition.

The name of the exhibition, Black Earth/Chornozem, is a reference to the dark, fertile soil found in Ukraine and southern Manitoba, perfectly suited for growing wheat.

However, in his brochure, Boss writes that Ukraine’s status as Europe’s breadbasket has historically prompted Nazi Germany and Russia to repeatedly invade the nation. “[This] exhibition focuses on the war, but also on the idea of land as a valuable, [life-giving] quantity […] The basic idea of land as a necessary component of survival, and as something sought after by invading armies, as a way of acquiring resources not available in their homelands is something I have been

PHOTOS BY MIKE THIESSEN/ STAFF

thinking of for several years,” he explained in an email.

In 2014, Ukraine’s sovereignty was once again compromised with the Russian annexation of Crimea and occupation of Ukraine’s eastern territories, eventually exploding into the invasion of 2022. “[Making art] is a way of expressing my thoughts and feelings. In this case, my feelings about the unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine. I was, and remain, incensed by these invaders. The artwork expresses anger, deep empathy for those who are directly [affected] and pride in my ancestral connection to these people,” commented Boss.

“UKRAINIAN KOZAKS SEND A LETTER TO PUTIN” BY MICHAEL BOSS, IN HIS INSTALLATION BLACK EARTH/CHORNOZEM AT 226 MAIN.

Black Earth/Chornozem contains seven works, with “Stars in the Night Sky: Monument to 31,000” being the centre piece. This sculpture, composed of 15 black pillars, is a harrowing and painstaking tribute to the 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers who died between 2022 and 2024.

“Each pillar has crosses stapled into it […] I used a manual staple gun to imbed 62,000 staples into these 15 pillars to commemorate the fallen soldiers. It was a commitment I made, and a way of trying to understand that astronomical number by working to acquire a sense of that number on a physical level,” Boss wrote.

Another artwork on display is “Ukrainian Kozaks

send a letter to Putin,” a take on a 19th-century painting of Kozaks writing a taunting letter the Ottoman Sultan. Boss’s rendition features Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian military personnel and Austin Lathlin-Bercier, an Indigenous solider from northern Manitoba who died fighting for Ukraine in 2023.

Boss believes that art moves people into action and urged not to underestimate how impactful our efforts can be.“I truly believe that we send thoughts, ideas, actions out there into the world and they produce effects on others.

We can never know how far reaching our actions may go, what effect they will have,” he stated.

Last but not least, he wishes his art will keep Ukraine in our minds and hearts because the fight still not over.

“I hope to remind people that this unjustifiable, horrific war continues, and that Ukrainians need our support. I aim to help keep this ongoing atrocity in the public eye, to drum up support for Ukraine and continue to shine a light on the unabated crimes Russian leaders (and other criminals) have inflicted on the world throughout history,” Boss wrote.

Black Earth/Chornozem is on display at 226 Main Street Gallery from Jan. 2 to 16. Gallery hours are 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday.

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Vol. 112, No. 18 arts@themanitoban.com

Arts & Culture

U of M Media Lab organizes upcoming AI ethics lecture Artist Trevor Paglen to deliver keynote Jordan Anglin, staff

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or the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the faculty of arts Media Lab is active again.

They have returned to hosting events, workshops and projects this academic year.

Their grant-funded strategic initiative, Beyond the Prompt: Generative AI, Creativity and Responsibility, is focused on facilitating conversations about the novel impacts of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) on academia and our daily lives. The coming months will feature a variety of guest lectures by prominent international artists who have been creating artworks on the topic of AI. They will be explicitly interdisciplinary events, including perspectives from technology, fine arts, music and engineering, in hopes for members of different faculties at the U of M to collaborate and learn from each other’s methodologies.

Media Lab director Monika Vrečar stressed the importance of addressing AI with “critical angles […] not just practical angles, [such as asking,] ‘Okay, how are we going to deal with students plagiarizing?’ But, to actually talk to people who have insight into [the] history of developing of the technology and […] What are the kind of implications that it has on broader society and on us as people?”

The first event will link the history of AI with Cold War military projects as the American visual artist Trevor Paglen delivers a keynote on how they have inspired his recent work. It is titled The Lizard People: How UFOs, Magic, and Mind-Control Explain Visual Culture in the Age of AI. He is set to speak on Jan. 15 at the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art. Paglen will also speak in a graduate seminar at the U of M the following morning, accompanying readings he has assigned.

Paglen is a conceptual art-

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ist whose work highlights the realities of modern surveillance infrastructure and related social issues such as privacy, power dynamics and control — and now the implications of AI on these issues as well. His recent work has been inspired by the history of facial-recognition technology.

He is known for his past work highlighting the social implications of satellite technologies as well. Paglen’s work has been included in both fine art and film course materials at the U of M. “Seeing is not just a technical process, but it’s also a relational process,” Paglen introduced his 2024 lecture at Rhode Island School of Design. “It’s a historical process, a cultural and political process. Computer vision and AI are often described by the people who develop these tools in just purely technical terms. And when you hear vision or perception described in purely technical terms, it doesn’t mean that those forms of synthetic vision are devoid of histories and politics, it just means that they’re being ignored by the people developing them. So, if that’s the case, then what sorts of histories, what sorts of cultural assumptions, what sorts of politics, are built into these kinds of technical systems?”

There are more guests planned for the Media Lab later in the semester. Lakota performance artist and composer Suzanne Kite will speak about the intersections of AI and Indigenous knowledge systems on Jan. 31. Australian-American environmental engineer and New York University professor Tega Brain will speak about the infrastructure and automation of ecological data in early March.

And finally, Iranian-German composer Misagh Azimi will also speak about his research on music composition in late March. Kite and Azimi will likely demonstrate performances of their work as well.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AXEL DUPEUX

TREVOR PAGLEN

Azimi’s lecture is planned to be alongside a panel of philosophy professors. The coming guest lectures have been collaboratively funded by the Media Lab’s grant, the school of art, the faculty of architecture and the Plug In ICA. Vrečar commented, “A lot of professors are struggling with how to grade assignments, how to detect plagiarism, how to deal with the fact that a lot of students are now using AI tools in their writing and in their learning, and

how to navigate this new landscape […] We’re not going to be able to just ban the use of AI forever, right? So there’s a conversation that’s urgent and that we need to have, because the problem is here and it’s quite severe already.”

The Media Lab is a space on campus dedicated to providing faculty of arts students with audio-visual equipment, technological support and film screenings. They also hosted virtual workshops and accompanying in-per-

son debates in collaboration with the faculty of education throughout fall 2025 as the start of the Beyond the Prompt initiative. The space primarily caters to film students, but it is open to any students with media-based assignments to work on — especially as more professors have been assigning alternative projects for their courses. The Media Lab also recently added a podcast studio to their available amenities.

Sports

January 07, 2026 sports@themanitoban.com

Bisons women’s soccer wraps up 2025 season Coach Colvin reflects on progress and priorities for 2026 Faiyaz Chowdhury, staff

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he Bisons women’s soccer team finished the 2025 U SPORTS women’s soccer rankings with 11 points, having three wins, two ties and nine losses. In comparison, over the 2024 season the herd had four wins, three ties and seven losses. The Bisons struggled early in the season but had a strong finish with three wins in the last four games, showing promise for 2026.

The three wins for the Bisons came against the Alberta Pandas by 1-0 and the Lethbridge Pronghorns by 3-0 and 6-2. Over the 2025 season, the herd scored 17 goals and got 16 yellow cards, exposing a shortcoming in goal scoring but intensity in physicality. Sarina Mann for the herd was a spark up front with immense offensive contributions, ending the season with three goals and two assists.

For the 2025 season, the Bisons women’s soccer team has been under a new head coach, Mark Colvin. Reflecting on the year, Colvin said, “Our performances over the season were good and not always reflected in the scorelines or in the results.” Looking at how the season ended, he added that he and the team are proud. “Our last weekends, we were able to score lots of goals, pick up lots of points and perform at a really high level of intensity.”

Colvin pointed out there was clear progress compared to the beginning of the season, but inconsistency and a lack of ruthlessness in front of the net were challenges. “We wish that we were a little bit more ruthless in scoring, which was a challenge for us.”

He praised the team’s defensive work in open play.

“I felt that our collective defending and open play was really good. We were able to keep games really close,” he

BISONS WOMEN’S SOCCER HEAD COACH MARK COLVIN.

said. However, Colvin cri- there’s certain opportunity for in order to create chances. tiqued defending set pieces, other players within our team “A good press is the starting highlighting it as a persistent to take on a larger role next point to ignite a great attack.” problem. “From a defending season, which will be very According to Colvin, soccer is standpoint, set pieces really exciting to see.” a very physical game. “A big hurt us. We conceded a signifiRather than reacting to part of our team’s identity is to cant amount of play extremely goals off coraggressive, to “Our performances over the season were ner kicks and use physicality free kicks.” to win duels, good and not always reflected in the Colvin also whether those scorelines or in the results” acknowledged are aerial chalthe departure lenges [or] — Mark Colvin, Bisons women’s soccer head coach ground duels, of several senior players. and really to “We had seven senior players opponents’ mistakes, Colvin set the tone within the game.” who all were impactful mem- stressed the importance of But he was clear that the team bers of the team […] With the proactive defending, press- aims to play hard but fair natural transition with the ing high up the field to force within the laws of the game. number of players graduating, turnovers in dangerous areas For the 2026 season, Colvin

PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF

outlined key priorities for the off-season. “We want to put a greater emphasis on our passing game, on possession and [on] our attacking buildup play,” he explained. “We’re going to work on our set piece defending and then also within the team as we continue to build the chemistry and partnerships between players.”

The Bisons women’s soccer team will be leading a new Futsal development program from Jan. 16 to March 13 for ages 10 to 14, which will take place at 206 Frank Kennedy Centre in the Gold Gym.

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Vol. 112, No. 18 sports@themanitoban.com

Sports

Bisons fall flat against Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Bisons’ defence stiffens, but offence fails to deliver with 4-0 loss Israel Adeogo Abejoye, staff

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he Bisons men’s hockey team faced a 4-0 loss to the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in their exhibition game on Friday, Jan. 2 in Duluth, Minnesota.

Coming off a tough series against the Mount Royal Cougars in December 2025, the Bisons looked to bounce back with a strong performance against the Bulldogs. However, it was not realized — the team struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities and were outplayed by their opponents.

Despite a goalless first period, both teams showed promise, firing 25 shots on net, but were unable to break the deadlock. The Bulldogs’ defence held strong, and the game remained scoreless until the eighth minute [8:26] of the second period, when Callum Arnott broke the ice for Minnesota Duluth.

The Bisons’ hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed as the Bulldogs continued to apply pressure, and Jayson Shaugabay scored the second goal for the host in

PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF

the 19th minute [19:48]. The second period ended 2-0 in favour of the Bulldogs, with a total of 27 shots.

The third period saw the Bulldogs pull away, with Ryan Zaremba scoring the third goal in the ninth minute [9:53], followed by Hunter Anderson’s fourth goal just two min-

utes later [11:39]. The Bisons’ defence struggled to contain the Bulldogs’ attack, and the game ended 4-0 in favor of Minnesota Duluth.

The Bulldogs outshot the Bisons 29-8 in the third period. The Bisons’ Michael King was sent off in the second and third periods for tripping,

while Kaycee Coyle was penalized for elbowing in the third period. The Bulldogs’ Kyler Kovich was the only other player sent off, receiving a high-sticking penalty in the second period.

The loss marks the Bisons’ first defeat in the new year, and the team will look to

regroup and bounce back in their next conference game.

The Bisons men’s hockey team will host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. CT and Saturday, Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. CT at the Wayne Fleming Arena.

Bisons men’s basketball in focus Mason Kraus and Elijah Lostracco speak about the team Abdul-Jalilu Ahmed, staff Bisons men’s basketball athlete Mason Kraus said the team is focused on turning its season around. He added that the winter break will give the athletes time to come together and prepare for the remaining games in the new year. “[There were] a lot of ups and downs, but I feel like we really struggled sometimes later in the season,” said

“We’re going to have some tough games, but I think we’re ready for them” — Mason Kraus, Bisons men’s basketball guard.

Kraus. “We’re getting out of the way now. We’ll figure out what we need to work on [...] going into the winter break, which is honestly a good time for us. It’ll give us enough time to reflect and figure out what we’ve got to fix.”

The Bisons guard mentioned some other expectations he believed will help the team win games while several

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players recover from injuries.

For instance, he said the team is prepared for tough matches ahead. “I think we should be good. We’re going to have some tough games, but I think we’re ready for them. With myself getting back and some guys healing up from some injuries, I think we should be good.”

Bisons men’s basketball lead assistant coach Elijah Lostracco indicated the team will regroup after the break and use lessons from recent games to improve. “We’re fivefive now and we start with the top two teams in our conference, so [getting] a little bit of rest over the Christmas break [is important to] regroup and come out of it better and learn from our first semester.”

Before the winter break, the Bisons recorded a 76-71 loss against the Winnipeg Wesmen on Dec. 5 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

The Bisons men’s basketball team will play the Mount Royal Cougars on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 1:30 p.m. CT and Friday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. CT in Calgary, Alberta.

PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF