Issuu

News

3 Editorial

9 Comment

Arts & 12 Culture

Sports & 14 Recreation

Fall festivities

Outside the box

All hail Buffy Summers

Big screen, small beads

Come sail away

Keep up with student events happening around campus this month

Learning to define womanhood on your own terms, not society’s

Reflecting on the lasting cultural impact of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Young Métis Winnipeg filmmaker premiering new film at TIFF

Learn about the sailing community in Manitoba and how to get involved

September 09, 2026

SINCE 1914

VOL. 113, NO. 05

Vol. 112

No. 05

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109 HELEN GLASS BUILDING UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA WINNIPEG, MB THEMANITOBAN.COM | 204. 474. 6535

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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.

Mikaela Warkentin

editor@themanitoban.com

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

EDITORIAL

The Manitoban is a member of the Canadian University Press, and our journalistic standards can be found on the Manitoban’s website.

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MANAGING EDITOR

Peace Ifeanyi

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Arifah Gheesah

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Roy Albright Obah

news@themanitoban.com RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Mansura Akter Meghla research@themanitoban.com COMMENT EDITOR

Quinn Mayhew

comment@themanitoban.com ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Boris Tsun Hang Leung arts@themanitoban.com SPORTS EDITOR

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

RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY

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EDITORIAL

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DIVERSIONS

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COMMENT

page 12

The Manitoban reserves the right to edit all submissions and will not publish any material deemed by its Editorial Board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or transphobic, ableist or libellous. Opinions expressed in letters and articles are solely those of the authors. Editorials in the Manitoban are signed and represent the opinions of the writer(s), not necessarily those of the Manitoban staff, Editorial Board or the publisher. A “volunteer staff” member is defined as a person who has had three volunteer articles, photographs or pieces of art of reasonable length and/ or substance published in the current publishing year of the Manitoban.

ARTS & CULTURE

pages 13 to 14

SPORTS & RECREATION

pages 15 to 16

Any individual who qualifies as a volunteer staff member must be voted in by a majority vote at a Manitoban editorial board meeting. Elected representatives and non-students may be excluded from holding votes as volunteer staff members in accordance with the Manitoban Constitution. All contents are ©2026 and may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.

News

September 09, 2026 news@themanitoban.com

What is at the U of M this September Campus events to kick off the new school year Arifah Gheesah, staff

s students settle into the new school year, the U of M campus is already busy with events and activities designed to help students connect, get involved and make the most of the semester. From movie nights and welcome events to community mixers and scavenger hunts, there is plenty happening across campus throughout September.

Jurassic Park Movie Night — Sept. 4 (@um.international) The U of M International Centre kicked off the month with a Jurassic Park movie night on Sept. 4. It gave students the opportunity to connect before classes start.

Used Book Buy Back — Sept. 8-11 (@um_bookstore) Students looking to sell their used textbooks can take advantage of the Used Book Buy Back at the U of M BookStore from Sept. 8 to 11. The initiative gives students an opportunity to sell their used books as the semester gets underway. New students can later take advantage of the opportunity to purchase textbooks at a lower cost.

Asper Welcome Day — Sept. 8 (@tcwasper) The Asper school of business welcomed students on Sept. 8 with a Welcome Day featuring a range of activities, including a pinning ceremony and student group booths.

Bison Bash — Sept. 9 (@ myumsu) UMSU is hosting their annual Fall Orientation event on the Quad from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m today. The event will feature a market, live DJs, drag performances, club booths, hoop dancers and a hot dog eating contest.

U of M Chess Club — Sept. 9 (@uofmchessclub) UMCC is back for the new school term with the UMSU Bison Bash. Attendees can play chess and meet with other students. The club will also be meeting on Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m. at the GSA lounge and on Wednesdays at VW Social Club at 6 p.m.

Science Students’ Association’s three days of fun — Sept. 9-11 (@ umanitobasci) SSA is hosting three days of fun during orientation week to help students learn about events, resources and connect with others. Sept. 9 — BBQ day Sept. 10 — Matcha day Sept. 11 — Make your own sundae The events will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the SSA lounge and outdoor lawn.

Taste of UMSU — Sept. 11 (@myumsu) Students can get a taste of what campus has to offer at Taste of UMSU on Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. The event will showcase opportunities, activities and resources available through UMSU.

Jumpstart at St John’s College — Sept. 11 (@ sjcsa_ and @st_ johnscollege) Daily Bread Café will open its doors at 4 p.m. for board and card games. The event will continue with dinner and welcome speeches and end with outdoor and indoor games and crafting.

Speed Friending — Sept. 15 (@healthyuofm and @um.international) Students looking to meet new people can attend the Speed Friending event hosted by Healthy U of M and the U of M International Centre on Sept. 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 541 University Centre.

UMSynBio Club event — Sept. 15 (@umsynbio) Science students can attend the UMSynBio Club’s Navigating University Life as a Science Student event on Sept. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in 201 Armes. The event will provide support and direction for students navigating university life within the faculty of science. Pizza will be provided.

Fall into SOMI — Sept. 16 (@uofm.somi) Students can celebrate the new school year with the U of M Student-Organized Market Initiative on Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the faculty of arts lounge. Attendees can sign up for creative workshops where they can make bookmarks,

paper flowers or pompom keychains. The event is also an opportunity to meet new people and connect with the SOMI community.

BSC Hot Takes — Sept. 16 (@blackstudents_ umsu) The BSC will host Hot Takes on Sept. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 100 Fletcher Argue. The event will serve as the community’s first kickback of the year, offering students a chance to socialize and unwind as the semester begins.

Two-Spirits Talking Community Mixer — Sept. 18 (@two.spirits. talking) Two-Spirits Talking will host a Community Mixer on Sept. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the foyer of Migizii Agamik to welcome students into the new school year. The event will feature board games, karaoke and food, offering attendees an opportunity to meet others and build community. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dessert to share if they are able. Drop-ins are welcome,

while students who RSVP will receive a surprise.

Healthy U of M Peer Program Scavenger Hunt — Sept. 23-24 (@ healthyuofm) Healthy U of M will host a Peer Program Scavenger Hunt on Sept. 23 and 24, giving students a chance to explore the Fort Garry campus as they learn more about the support services and resources available to them. Participants will also have the opportunity to win a $25 gift card while completing the activity.

Tony T.K. Lau Lecture on Contemporary China — Sept. 23 (@umartsfaculty) Join the faculty of arts for the fifth annual Tony T.K Lau Lecture on Contemporary China with economics professor Loren Brandt at the John J. Conklin Theatre. This year’s theme is China’s Growth Puzzle. The event will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Manga Club meetup — Sept. 13 (@umanimeclub) Join the Manga Club for their Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint meetup on Sept. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Fête Ice Cream & Coffee. Spots are limited, so interested parties should RSVP through the club’s link on Instagram.

Black Students Community Spirit Week — Sept. 14-18 (@blackstudents_umsu) The Black Students Community (BSC) will celebrate the beginning of the school year with a Community Spirit Week from Sept. 14 to 18. Each day will have a different theme including: Monday, Sept. 14 (Dark and sweet Tuesday, Sept. 15 (Rep your flag) Wednesday, Sept. 16 (Hot takes) Thursday, Sept. 17 (Denim day) Friday, Sept. 18 (Dress as your type)

PHOTO BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF

Vol. 113, No. 05 news@themanitoban.com

News

Insight into optometry Student pre-optometry club creates opportunities at the U of M Arifah Gheesah, staff

ounded last year, InSight is the first pre-optometry club at the U of M, created to fill what club president and founder Imrose Dhaliwal saw as a gap for students interested in the profession. “There wasn’t a dedicated community at U of M specifically for students interested in optometry,” Dhaliwal said. “[When] you’re interested in a profession, it’s really difficult to know where you can start or find relevant opportunities.” Dhaliwal founded the club during her first year at the university. With older students serving alongside her on the executive team, she said the club became a way for her to learn more about courses and navigate the path toward optometry. The club has since worked to provide similar support to other students while expanding its focus beyond preparing members for optometry school. “Our main goal was to promote eye health awareness and find meaningful ways to give back to the community,” Dhaliwal said. InSight has partnered with the Manitoba Association of Optometrists (MAO), connecting members with opportunities to volunteer at community events. The club’s next opportunity will come on fun for the kids, but it also glasses until around grade Sept. 27, when members can helps create an opportunity five and said it can be difficult volunteer with MAO at Teddy to make eye health feel more for children to recognize that Bears’ Picnic, a Children’s approachable and positive what they are seeing is difHospital Foundation of Mani- rather than intimidating,” she ferent from what others see. toba event aimed at introdu- said. She also noted that children cing children and families to For Dhaliwal, increasing in rural areas have an even different areas of health care. awareness of children’s eye harder time getting the vision Dhaliwal said volunteers will health is particularly import- care that they need. help run activAccordities and intering to the “Our main goal was to promote eye health act with chilMAO, only 16 awareness and find meaningful ways to dren and per cent of their famkids in Manigive back to the community” ilies throughtoba had an out the event. eye exam last — Imrose Dhaliwal, U of M InSight president At a previyear. Dhaliwal ous event, one hopes events activity involved making ant because children may not like the Teddy Bears’ Picpipe-cleaner glasses with chil- realize or know how to tell a nic can get families thinking dren. Although simple, Dhali- trusted adult when they are about eye health earlier and wal said activities like these experiencing problems with introduce them to resources can help make conversations their vision. that may be available to their surrounding eye health more Recalling a similar experi- children. digestible for young people. ence growing up, Dhaliwal For InSight members, vol“It’s obviously something remembered not receiving unteering also provides an

PHOTO PROVIDED BY INSIGHT U OF M

opportunity to interact with the profession outside the classroom. Dhaliwal said students interested in optometry have historically had to do much of the work themselves to find information and opportunities. One former InSight executive, who has since graduated and entered optometry school, had to “really dig” for opportunities throughout her undergraduate degree. InSight is hoping to make that process easier for current and future students by creating a community where they can ask questions, volunteer and connect with others interested in the field. As a new school year begins, Dhaliwal encourages first-year students to keep an open mind. “My biggest message to

first-year students would be to probably explore your options early and don’t feel like you need to need your entire career figured out right away,” she said. For students who are curious about optometry but do not know where to begin, Dhaliwal said participating in the club can offer a starting point. “Just give yourself opportunities and discover what the future could look like.” InSight is giving students interested in optometry the opportunity to volunteer at the Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Sept. 27 at Assiniboine Park to help promote children’s vision care in Manitoba. Students can sign up through their Instagram @insightuofm.

September 09, 2026 news@themanitoban.com

News

UMGPS welcomes its community members Orientation offers new graduate students advice, resources and connections Roy Albright Obah, staff

he faculty of graduate and postdoctoral studies held its fall orientation with the help of UMGPS on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at St. John’s College’s Robert B. Schultz Theatre, welcoming new graduate students to campus. Emma Heath, UMGPS president, said “the orientation [was] to welcome students to campus, provide them with essential resources and to let them know where they can find further assistance.” The orientation brought together university representatives and UMGPS leaders to introduce new graduate students to campus resources and support services. Students also took part in workshops covering topics such as working with advisors and navigating university resources. For Heath, creating a sense of connection was an important part of the event. The U of M’s large campus can initially feel “intimidating” or “overwhelming” for new students, making opportunities to meet other graduate students particularly valuable, she said. Heath encouraged new students to take advantage of the resources available to them. She identified students’ university email accounts as one of their most important

resources, noting that much of the information about their programs and the university reaches students through their inboxes. Abiodun Adejumo, UMGPS vice president, events and clubs, shared that UMGPS hosts many social, recreational and educational events that graduate students can get involved with. “Attending one event can be the beginning of meeting people and becoming more comfortable within the graduate community,” he said. Heath further urged new graduate students to embrace opportunities that could help them build connections, strengthen their resumes and gain new experiences. PHOTO PROVIDED BY EVELYN CASTILLO MARZO Stephanie Sagoe, a new graduate student in the fac- M has already involved build- its financial aid opportunities Adejumo revealed that ulty of law, said positive ing connections beyond the and resources that support graduate students should experiences shared by rela- classroom as she now serves personal and professional expect some future initiatives tives who attended U of M as a member of the UMGPS development. and are welcome to suggest influenced her decision to board of directors. UMGPS remains a point what events they would want study at the university. “I’m not here just for the of contact for graduate stu- to be offered. Sagoe described her brief degree,” Sagoe said. “I want to dents beyond orientation and “We want our programexperience as offers students ming to reflect the needs and “good,” addboth practical interests of graduate student,” “The colleagues I’ve encountered have ing that the resources and Adejumo stated. willingness of an avenue to made my time here beautiful” people on camFor updates on upcomseek assistpus to help has ing UMGPS events, services ance. — Stephanie Sagoe, graduate student contributed to “If they ever and opportunities, graduher transition. need a quiet ate students can visit the “The colleagues I’ve build a community and a net- space to sit and work, a lis- association’s website or folencountered have made my work.” tening ear, or a microwave low UMGPS on Instagram at time here beautiful,” Sagoe She expressed her support or fridge for their lunch, our @uofm_gps. said. for prospective graduate stu- office is open to them,” Heath Sagoe’s transition into U of dents to consider U of M for said.

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Research & Technology

Vol. 113, No. 05 research@themanitoban.com

Drawing the line on GenAI Using GenAI responsibly while keeping learning at the centre Mansura Akter Meghla, staff

hould students use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to help with an assignment? According to Brenda M. Stoesz, the answer depends on the course, the assignment and what an instructor has permitted. Stoesz is the research lead at the U of M’s Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. Her work includes research on academic integrity and technology in higher education. As GenAI becomes more common on university campuses, Stoesz said responsible use starts with understanding expectations. Students should check their course syllabus and ask their instructor if they are unsure whether or how GenAI can be used. “If GenAI is not to be used, then the line is clear — don’t use GenAI,” Stoesz said. “But, sometimes, it makes sense to use GenAI in a certain way in a certain course, so ask your professor/instructor where the line is for that course.” According to Stoesz, when permitted, GenAI can be used in ways that support learning without completing the work for the student. “Students might want to use GenAI to clarify a concept when they are studying, perhaps brainstorming for ideas, or even using GenAI to help create a plan for completing an assignment by breaking it into chunks,” Stoesz explained. “If you feel that you’ve learned nothing when using GenAI, then you are

probably not using it to your benefit,” she added. Starting assignments early can also help students maintain academic integrity. Stoesz said leaving enough time to complete assessments can reduce the temptation to take shortcuts. Students can also seek available academic support when they are struggling with course material. Transparency is another part of responsible GenAI use, Stoesz noted. When students include GenAI-produced content in graded work, Stoesz said they should keep track of how the technology was used. Instructors may require documentation, while citation styles such as APA, MLA and Chicago provide options for acknowledging or referencing GenAI content. Students should also check their syllabus or ask their instructor or teaching assistant about specific requirements. “Transparency is also important because it shows integrity — taking responsibility for the work you have submitted builds trust and respect with educators and classmates,” Stoesz emphasized. The risks of GenAI extend beyond academic misconduct. Stoesz cautioned students against entering personal information about themselves or others into GenAI tools without understanding the company’s terms of use. GenAI can also produce inaccurate information. “It is very important to verify the output by compar-

ing the details with reputable sources,” she emphasized. While GenAI has created new questions for universities, Stoesz said the meaning of academic integrity has not changed. Following instructions, being transparent about how work was completed and asking questions when learning is still important. She said detecting and preventing misconduct cannot address the issue alone. A broader approach includes giving students access to academic supports, teaching digital and GenAI literacy and keeping learning at the centre of assessment. “The bottom line is that assessments need to show what [students] know and can do, otherwise they are not valid indicators of learning,” Stoesz said. The U of M has also developed principles to guide decisions about GenAI. Stoesz highlighted its human-centred approach, which says AI should augment human capabilities rather than replace them. The principle emphasizes human relationships, transparency, trust and ethical considerations in higher education. For Stoesz, responsible GenAI use will require continued learning from both students and educators. GenAI, s h e said, does not

belong in every course, and expectations around its use will vary. “It’s really important for everyone — students and educators included — [to remember] that GenAI is something we are all learning to use, and we need to be patient w i t h each

other,” she said. As the technology develops, Stoesz said learning when to use GenAI — and when not to — will remain part of using it responsibly.

GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

Editorial

September 09, 2026 editor@themanitoban.com

I am more than one thing There is no single way to be a woman Arifah Gheesah, staff

love being a multidimensional woman. I love not fitting in a box, not being what people perceive me as. There is a different feeling of freedom that comes with being a woman who does not make sense to people. I think being a woman means being handed a box as a little girl and being taught how to fit yourself into it — and especially, how to stay there, conformed. You play with dolls, play house and are conditioned to only like “girly things.” You subtly learn what is expected of you and what is not. Then you grow up and realize you want to be more than who you thought you were allowed to be. Suddenly, you don’t fit in your box anymore, so you start cutting parts of yourself to squeeze back inside. Choice becomes a constant in your life. Do you make yourself miserable, or choose happiness and risk being criticized for it? Do you choose freedom, or love, at the expense of your identity? Why does being a woman so often feel like choosing one part of yourself over another? Contradictions exist in everyone because we are human. We are not meant to remain one thing. We evolve, grow and change. Yet contradictions in women are often seen as reckless and as things that need explaining. It took me a long time to reconcile my own clashing personalities — or at least what others deemed as such. How could I be the only Muslim woman wearing a headscarf in my swimming class? How could I be among the only two women in my boxing class? How could I be someone who everyone thought was sweet yet have boundaries? How could I be a good daughter and do what made me happy? Culture and tradition have an evil way of masking expectations as virtues. You learn that being loved means being easy to accommodate, and being good means being agreeable. Eventually, you become so accustomed to being perceived that you begin perceiving yourself. For a long time, it felt like there was a theatre in my head, an audience watching while I performed. Every decision seemed to contradict another part of who I was. But who was I performing for? Who was I disappointing, if not myself, by denying myself freedom simply because someone might perceive me

GRAPHIC BY HANNAH DESJARLAIS / VOLUNTEER

differently? There is nobody to perform for. No audience. Nothing to earn — not respect, not approval, not love. When I think of all the amazing women around me, including my mother, I see the millions of different things they have dared to be through-

out their lives despite everything. They are soft and stubborn, loving and independent, traditional and unconventional, sometimes all at once. I want to be like other women. Maybe that is also why girls have always loved Barbie. “There’s so much more to me,”

she sings in Barbie: A Fairy Secret. And there always was. Barbie could be strong and still be soft. She could be unapologetically feminine without femininity being the entirety of who she was. She could fall in love and have a boyfriend without her story beginning and ending with

him. She could be a princess in one story and something completely different in the next, and none of those versions made the others less real. Maybe we were never supposed to choose. Maybe being a woman is being allowed to be all of it.

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Vol. 113, No. 05 graphics@themanitoban.com

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Get Better Karma. You drink it. You bin it.

Comment

Vol. 113, No. 05 comment@themanitoban.com

How Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed 90s television An ode to my 14-year-old monster-loving self Quinn Mayhew, staff

magine you open your browser and it’s 2016. You Google the words “Buffy the Vampire Slayer full episodes online,” the air has just turned to autumn, and you’re freshly in high school with nothing better to do than watch 90s TV programs. Binge-watching Buffy for the first time was a cultural revelation for me. Watching a young woman battle hordes of monsters to protect humanity’s fate was another thing altogether. I was, as one would say, inspired. I donned a leather jacket and bought myself some leather pants that, looking back, were probably too tight. The show’s brilliance lies not only in Sarah Michelle Gellar’s phenomenal acting but in the program’s ability to weave metaphors into almost every episode. The monsters are not just demons, but expressions of the horrors of growing up in almost every episode. A mother steals her daughter’s body in one episode, trying to relive her adolescence. The town is named Sunnydale, but in actuality is

a gateway to Hell dubbed the “Hellmouth,” showing that although high school may be hell, maybe that small town you live in isn’t as perfect and innocent as you thought either — especially when your boyfriend turns evil right after sleeping with him, and you are forced to confront the loss of childhood innocence. The show was by no means perfect in every episode. Sometimes the acting could only be described as cringy, the CGI in season six was abysmal and sometimes, on occasion, the episodes were just badly written. Despite these flaws, I think the show was one of the first to talk about teenage problems without romanticizing certain aspects, touching on topics of addiction, grief, queer identity, depression and uncertainty. Buffy, in my books, remains untouchable in the land of television, producing 144 episodes starting in 1997 and concluding in 2003. The show, unlike other television programs in the early 2000s, had a complex and strong female lead whose character was not oriented toward a male love

interest. Like many female leads at this time, Sarah Michelle Gellar was a conventionally attractive woman. Unlike television in the late 90s, where women were often portrayed as tragic heroines, she would meet monsters in dark alleys and kick their asses. Many others view Buffy the Vampire Slayer as an important stepping stone in television history. Professor Matthew Pateman, head of English and creative arts at Edge Hill University, first started introducing Buffy as a lecture topic in the early 2000s as a part of popular culture, later writing a book titled The Aesthetics of Culture in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Despite Buffy having concluded well over a decade ago, fans, including myself, cannot help but rewatch it over and over again. I think there’s something nostalgic in seeing the fuzzy camera quality which Buffy was filmed with and living vicariously through the characters, because all I wanted to be was to be Buffy. For others who still reminisce about the world of Buffy,

GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

I would say you’re definitely not alone. For anyone who wants to watch it this fall sea-

son, I would highly recommend you do that.

The Manitoban horoscope for the week of Sept. 7 Zodiac sign mania, flip a coin and see your fate this week Quinn Mayhew, staff AQUARIUS January 20 – February 18 Aquarius, do not fret. The solution to your problem is just within reach. Do not go searching for answers this week, because the solution will find you whether you want it or not. PISCES February 19 – March 20 Pisces, I am going to give you some tough love. You need to contribute more. Don’t let people overcompensate for what you’re not giving back into the relationship and make sure you know when to reciprocate. ARIES March 21 April 19

–

Dear Aries, I am sensing some tension in your life. If someone tries to dump their problems on you this week, try to avoid it as best you can, or you might be weighed down.

TAURUS April 20 May 20

–

Taurus, you may be receiving some good news this week or experience some more steadiness in your day-to-day schedule going into this week. Make sure you live in the present for the good moments this week. GEMINI May 21 June 20

–

Gemini, you will be tempted to hang out with your friends this week, but do not deplete your savings. You need to pay for rent and utilities. Do not run yourself dry on money this week in exchange for a good time.

LEO July 23 August 22

–

Leos, I have a secret for you — you’re not as sly as you think. If you have feelings for someone, you should say something instead of keeping it to yourself. Take this as your sign from the universe. VIRGO August 23 – September 22 Virgos, go to school! You may be feeling the urge to start skipping this early into the semester, but it’s only the first week. Please listen to me when I tell you school is not as optional as you think it is.

–

LIBRA September 23 – October 22

Cancers, I want you to know that you can follow your own path instead of doing what your family wants. It’s okay to follow your passions instead of the way of practicality.

Libras, keep your friends close this week. Something in the air is telling me this might be a difficult week for you. Try to hang out with your friends or loved ones to combat potential sadness.

CANCER June 21 July 22

SCORPIO October 23 – November 21 Scorpios, go out and have fun this week. You may like to stay home, but don’t limit yourself to the confines of your house. Go out to a bar, maybe and have some fun. SAGITTARIUS November 22 – December 21 Sagittarius, go to the doctor and stop avoiding the healthcare system just because you’re afraid of what they might say. Take initiative and make that phone call to make an appointment. CAPRICORN December 22 – January 19 Capricorns, word of advice — everything may not be what it seems. You might not want to be so trusting. I sense someone soon may use it to their advantage to deceive you.

GRAPHICS BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

Arts & Culture

September 09, 2026 arts@themanitoban.com

From the herbarium to the gallery Manitoba artists turn to U of M plant specimens for inspiration Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff

a Maison des artistes visuels francophones presented Dry Media VIII: Plant Fibres on Sept. 3, an art exhibition showing works by Textile and Fibre Artists of Manitoba (TFAM) created in response to botanical specimens from the U of M’s herbarium. Leona Herzog, a participating artist and member of TFAM, explained the group connected with the herbarium earlier this year. “In January, [TFAM] spent two days at the herbarium studying wonderful dried specimens,” she stated. “Then they went their merry way for about six months or so and created works of art. The works of art were then matched with the herbarium specimens in many cases, and the herbarium specimens inspired what you’re seeing on the wall.” According to the U of M herbarium’s website, a herbarium is a collection of dried plants used for scientific study, and it documents the anatomy, molecular information and distribution of

plant species. Over centuries, the collection can serve as chronological data about the environment. The U of M herbarium was founded in 1907 and houses 85,000 specimens, making it the most comprehensive collection of vascular plants of Manitoba. It is located on the fourth floor of Buller building and is open to visitors by appointment. The exhibit features works by twelve artists. One of the artists is Carla Zelmer, an instructor in biological sciences at U of M. Her piece, “Messages 4: Resilience,” is made of braided fibres of plants that are undesirable but hardy, such as dandelion, stinging nettle and milkweed. “They contain very strong fibres, and so my piece represents those moments when supports for something have broken,” she commented. “It’s showing the resilience of the plant world, and especially these particular plants, to start again, come up from the roots [...] It’s spreading out, and it will survive.” Herzog’s “August Compan-

ions,” on the other hand, is a contemporary embroidery piece about plants that grow together in an area around Marathon, Ontario. For Zelmer, one highlight is finding a plant specimen in the herbarium that was collected in the same year of her birth, while Herzog discovered the moss genus Herzogiella, likely named after someone who shared her last name. “Herbaria worldwide are under threat. They hold our history of what was there. A lot of plants that are in our collections are now a parking lot. They don’t even exist anymore. Their DNA is still there, and we have evidence that they were there,” said Zelmer. “With climate change, some of our plants are going to be heading north, and they may not exist in the way that they were before, and [herbaria allow] us to track what’s happened as well.” Despite their importance, Zelmer noted that the value of herbaria is not always recognized. “A lot of people are not aware of how useful they are

PHOTO BY BORIS TSUNG HANG LEUNG / STAFF

to science and to many other things like art because they’re often hidden away and people don’t get to see them,” Zelmer said. “This is one aspect of bringing [these important collections] into the public eye.” “Artists can take all of that information [...] and do something that is visually exciting, and make people interested in learning more and in preservation,” Herzog added. Herzog hopes the exhibit

will cultivate more love and care for the environment and raise awareness moving forward. “I think that will go a long way to help us preserve what we have and gain back some of what we’ve lost,” she said. Dry Media VIII: Plant Fibres is on display until Sept. 19. Visit maisondesartistes. mb.ca/contact/ for gallery hours.

Vol. 113, No. 05 arts@themanitoban.com

Arts & Culture

‘There is not one way to be Métis’ Local animator’s stop motion beadwork film to premiere at TIFF Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff

étis beadwork might conjure images of moccasins, coats and mittens, but this animator has adapted the art form into stop motion film. Maxime Kornachuk is a Métis animator based in Winnipeg who focuses on stop motion and rotoscope, where the animator traces over live footage frame by frame. His latest film, Where Our Flowers Grow, uses stop motion beadwork to explore Métis identity and is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sept. 16. “There’s something really exciting about it, kind of terrifying just a little bit because it’s something that is quite big, but I would definitely say that [I feel] excitement over fear now that the film is done,” the animator said. The film follows three pairs of Métis people dear to Kornachuk – his grandmother and brother, his close friend Grace and her little brother and Michif speakers with hunters from St. Ambrose, who the filmmaker described as his heroes. They recount stories of grappling with Métis identity while looking white, navigating the bureaucracy of legally claiming Indigenous identity and the changing status of Michif. Kornachuk noted their stories and even physical appearances are different, but they all share the same cultural roots. “Métis people are a lot like

flowers. Their petals may be different colors, and they may look different, but at the end of the day, their roots all connect them to the same thing,” he said. “I wanted to demystify what it is to be Red River Métis specifically because I always find that that’s a bit of a question mark, and at the end of the day, this film is like what I wish I had when I discovered that I was Métis, and I really fought with what that identity was, internally.” Where Our Flowers Grow is as communal as it is personal, with first-person narration in French by Kornachuk about his lived experience. “I really didn’t understand what Métis meant for a long time,” he stated. “I heard it for the first time when I was young, and my mom told me we were Métis, but it took probably a decade for me to really understand what that meant.” He also explained his family went into hiding for their own survival due to the political landscape in Manitoba in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “[Métis identity] just became a really important part of my life because I see it as making up for lost time, not just for myself, but also for what happened to my family,” he said. “I want to honour those people by continuing to talk about my culture and to reaffirm that culture within

A STILL FRAME FROM WHERE OUR FLOWERS GROW

myself. It is pretty central to what I do artistically.” Kornachuk is one of the five filmmakers chosen to take part in REDEFINED, a project created by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and TIFF where filmmakers under 30 teamed up with NFB producers to create non-fiction short films that showcase what it means to be Canadian or Indigenous. “Working with the NFB has always been a dream,” said Kornachuk, who holds a diploma in multimedia communications from the University of Saint Boniface. “I grew up watching NFB films. My dad is a cameraman. He was actually involved. He was my A camera operator when we were recording the interviews, and my mom worked in the media for many years, and she still does.” Part of the production took place in Montreal, but the NFB also sent equipment to Kornachuk’s house and set up an animation studio in his brother’s old room. To make the animation, Kornachuk placed and moved glass beads on a plate using a dental hook. He then took a photo of the work and progressed to the next frame. “[It is] really hard to conceptualize how small [the beads] are, but they’re about the size of a crumb,” he expressed. “They were very small and kind of unruly.” He said the flowers took, on average, an hour to make

and would only result in half a second of footage. His favourite took six to seven hours. However, the beadwork was laborious but rewarding.“[In] the opening sequence of the film with the first initial tapestry, there is on average about 2,300 beads on screen in that one moment when the tapestry is fully formed,” he said. “It definitely took a long time, but I think it worked out because I’m very happy watching it.” All in all, the animator expressed there are many ways to be Métis, and the identity is multitudinous. “There is not one way to be Métis. There’s not one way to

be Indigenous, point blank period,” he said. “I think we really have to decolonize the idea of identity [...] We try to put Indigenous people into these boxes and fit them so that it can be better understood, but we were never meant to be put in a box in the first place.” “We as individuals understand our identities, and that might not be the same as every other Métis person or every other Indigenous person, but that is still our identity.” Where Our Flowers Grow will be free to stream along with other REDEFINED films on the NFB’s platforms on the evening of Sept. 16.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY NFB

Sports & Recreation

September 09, 2026 sports@themanitoban.com

Sailing in Manitoba Diving into the world of sailing, anchored to the province Faiyaz Chowdhury, staff

hile the U of M might not have a sailing club, unlike some other Canadian universities, Manitobans need not sink in despair. There happens to be at least a dozen sailing clubs in the province, and despite Manitoba’s short summer, there are plenty of activities for sailors and sailing enthusiasts. Sail Manitoba works with several clubs across the province, with organizations such as the Winnipeg Sailing Club prov i d i n g city folks with the opport u n ity to try the sport. A bit further from the city, clubs are also present at Gimli, Falcon Lake and Victoria Beach. Talking to Claire Holliday, a U of M alum, she described sailing as something that initially can be inscrutable, but it trans-

forms into “the most wonderful sport” when one learns how to be aware of their surroundings. Currently working as the technical director for Sail Manitoba, she expressed her interest in growing the community. “We may be a

little smaller than some of the bigger sports communities, but we just love having new people.” Holliday started sailing with her dad when she was j u s t

three years old. “He was steering, controlling the bigger of the two sails, and I was controlling the little one,” she said. “As I increased in confidence and skill, I would start steering the boat.” The forms of sailing available in the province include keelboat racing, dinghy racing and optimist racing. Holliday said that she used to work at Winnipeg Sailing Centre during the summers while she was in university. “If people are interested in learning how to sail, and eventually want to profit off it, there is an opportunity to become an instructor,” she added. Addressing the expense of the sport, she revealed that she does not own a boat. She highlighted the importance of joining a club, as memberships give access to boats and remove t h e requirement o f having to own a

boat. Holliday shared that Manitoba held its first kiteboarding event at Victoria Beach on July 18 and 19. Calling it a huge success, she said, “It was an absolutely great event that people really enjoyed, and hopefully we’ll get even more people next year.” One of the programs that Holliday shed light on was the Sailing with Pride Program, which offered free taster sessions for the members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The free taster sessions were held on Fridays in June, followed by discounted CANSail lessons in July and August. Holliday explained that a big part of the sport is to work with the environment. “It could be very frightening when you’re first involved in the sport, and you might not have an awareness of how the water is going to move, how the wind is going to react, or even where the wind is coming from.” However, based on her experience, it changes with time on the water. “When people spend the time on the water this is something you learn, and it becomes something that is very like a flow state for me.” For anyone interested in sailing events, the 2026 Commodore’s Cup Dinghy Race will be held at the Gimli Yacht Club on Sept. 12.

GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

Sports & Recreation

Vol. 113, No. 05 sports@themanitoban.com

Dinos outclass the herd Bisons soccer team loses by five goals against Calgary Dinos Faiyaz Chowdhury, staff

ith a loss in the first game of the season, 2-1 against Calgary Dinos on Sept. 4, the Bisons played against the Dinos again on Saturday. The game ended with a complete show of domination by the Dinos, as they went on to win the game 5-0. Both games took place at the East Turf Field. From the very start, it was clear the Dinos had one specific offensive play that they were attempting, which was to give a loft pass or through ball to the left winger, Erica Mysko, mostly a cross from the defence and ground pass or a chip from midfield. Mysko would then find space, take the ball to the edge of the penalty box and either go for a shot or, if there was space and time, look for a striker and then play a pass to the striker to shoot toward the goalpost. When asked about this offensive strategy, Dinos head coach Diogo Raposo replied, “We knew that we can maybe catch them in transition. Erica is probably one of the fastest, if not the fastest player on this field today, so why not use it?” He added, “In the transition moments, using her athleticism was big for us.”

In the beginning of the box, and on her first touch the the 86-minute mark, Josie game, the Bisons had a tough ball bounced off her right foot. Holt scored another goal, puttime keeping possession, so White composed herself and ting the Dinos up 4-0. A couple they could not play the ball shot the ball before it touched of minutes later, Kaleigh forward or move it around, the ground into the net. Major scored another goal in forcing the herd to clear the With the game being led by 88-minute mark, making the ball and give possession back the Dinos 2-0, the Dinos did score 5-0. to the Dinos. not take their foot of the pedal. Throughout the first half, At about 15 minutes into At the 25-minute mark, White the Dinos did not give the the game, the Dinos had a cor- charged at one of the Bisons Bisons any time to think. ner kick. Brooke Batty took defenders, seized the ball, With the Dinos’ defensive the corner kick and the Bisons then went past another Bisons line pushed high up the field, goalie tried to grab the ball in defender and made a pass into every time the Bisons would the air but she could not. The the box, where Djuranic took start from the back and reach ball was not cleared prop- a first touch shot that hit the the midfield line, two or three erly, and Dinos Dinos playplayer Mykena ers would “We also have a lot of respect for Manitoba. W a l k e r close down charged for- We knew if they got one goal, it could be shaky” on the Bisons ward to shoot it player, forcing — Diogo Raposo, Calgary Dinos women’s hard. The ball them to make deflected off a rushed pass soccer team head coach Dinos striker or pass backElla Djuranic, wards. On the who then chipped the ball crossbar and deflected off. other hand, the Bisons were toward the net, and with the In the stoppage time for pushed to play with a deep Bisons defender unable to the first half (45+2), Mysko defensive line. stop it, the Dinos scored the received a through ball, which When the Bisons would first goal in the game. she took deep into the pen- try to win the ball back, most At the 23-minute mark, alty box and shot the ball. The Dinos players with the ball Djuranic chased the ball and Bisons goalkeeper stopped would sprint through the gaps played a chip from behind the the shot, but the ball deflected available, and once there was midfield line toward Mysko, off the goalkeeper, and before space for a clean pass, they with enough force to carry the herd could clear the ball, would play it off, not losing it toward her like a cross. White came in and shot the possession. Mysko ran after the ball, got ball into the net. With the Dinos playing the it under control, and made The first half ended with attack through the left wing, a pass inside the box. Dinos’ the Dinos leading 3-0. on the right side, Batty played Addi White rushed into the In the second half, around almost like a wide playmaker,

receiving the ball at the midfield line, as she would regularly fall back. She was great at holding off the Bisons players at times, who were charging at her, using her body and sway movements to find space to pass the ball back or forward. So, even with the Bisons double-teaming her, she did not lose possession. Falling back was not limited to Batty. At times, White would play like a false nine, dropping deeper to help build up the attack. Dinos head coach Raposo shared that he did not feel like they had won the game at half-time. “We also have a lot of respect for Manitoba. We knew if they got one goal, it could be shaky.” Talking about White and Mysko’s performances, he said, “Addi got rewarded for making great runs in the box, and Erica did the hard work to get the ball there.” He summed up the team’s performance, saying, “Doing the right things, being in the right spots, you’re going to get rewarded.” The Bisons are scheduled to play Saskatchewan Huskies on Sept. 12 and 13 in Saskatoon, Sask.

PHOTOS BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF