Issuu

Meet your UMSU by-election candidates U

MSU’s board of directors (BOD) will be deciding who will fill the shoes of vice-president finance and operations, and vice-president external affairs this Thursday, Oct. 22. The vote is taking place during the biweekly BOD meeting, which will start at 6 p.m. in 176 Helen Glass. The BOD is elected by students each year, consisting of eight community representatives and elected members from faculty associations. These members will cast their votes for their preferred candidates following a 10-minute presentation per candidate with a five-minute question period with questions chosen by the BOD chair. The motion passed outlining the by-election also provides 10 minutes of questions from students-at-large with priority also given to board members. Due to the quick turnaround of the campaign period, the Manitoban asked the same questions to all candidates over email following the close of nominations on Monday night. The following answers have been minimally edited for clarity and spelling. Vice-president external affairs (VPEA) candidates Judy Abousetta Why have you chosen to run for this position?

There were a number of factors that played into my initial decision to run for this position, the most prominent one being my personal understanding of the importance of advocacy, especially for students. Being a young person in our society means that we are not often given a seat at the table, we have to fight for it. This is true in nearly every regard related to students, we are more often the afterthought than the priority. U of M students deserve someone who will fight for their voices to be heard and will keep doing so until their message is recognized. What do you hope to accomplish should you be voted into office? One of my priorities is to provide students the opportunity to have their voices heard, to tell their stories. Every individual and every community will experience the same issue differently. For example, an individual with accessibility needs will experience the current issues in our transit system incredibly differently than an able-bodied individual. A part of my campaign is the introduction of advocacy town halls. These would be monthly opportunities for students to come together and discuss how they feel about current issues they face on a daily basis, and how myself in the position of VPEA could

best advocate for them. Advocacy is not a role someone does for an individual or community. Real advocacy comes from community, and coming together to fight for what is important. I hope to accomplish the implementation of a system where students feel and know that they are being heard. What are your top three concerns potentially going into this role? The first and most obvious concern that I’m sure all candidates face is the transition into this role. More so than in a regular election, the transition period for this role would be incredibly fast-paced and a steep learning curve. The way I minimize that concern in my mind is by my knowledge and support that the current UMSU executives have shown to candidates during this election process. My second concern would be meeting students where they already are […] One thing I hope to accomplish is providing students with the opportunity to have their voices heard. The day-to-day lives of students is incredible busy, and sometimes your only free time in the day is the ten minutes between classes. Taking the time out of your day to come speak about advocacy is a privilege. This concern is something I heavily take into account. My final concern is that the

role of VPEA does not exist to simply push an agenda that I personally want. It is a role that advocates for the lives of real people. The things I say, the decisions I make, the initiatives I advocate for are not just hobbies. They have real impacts on thousands of people at the U of M, and that is [who] I am, and would be incredibly conscious of during day-to-day operations in this role. Is there anything else you would like to share? Regardless of whether I am deemed to be the best individual to take on this role or not, I want students to know that I am always a person they can speak to, regarding advocacy concerns, or simply what they’re currently reading. University can be an incredibly isolating experience at times, and I want students to know I will always be there for them, as both an advocate and a friend. Hussein Chokr Why have you chosen to run for this position? As someone that is involved in community organizing and lobbying in addition to working for a political party, I’m put in a unique position where I could merge all of these skills and knowledge and experience to excel in such a role.

What do you hope to accomplish should you be voted into office? I’m committed to advocating for decreased tuition, universal healthcare for international students and transit that works better for students. What are your top three concerns potentially going into this role? Generally, a lot of students do not engage with UMSU simply because they’re not aware that these matters affect them day-to-day. I am definitely going to be using all of the resources available to me and years of experience in advocacy to bring more students to the decision-making table. With the municipal elections being underway, it’s definitely going to take time to establish relationships with new city councillors and possibly a new mayor. The year definitely has been tricky in terms of the union, a couple of months in and we are already two executives down. I hope it starts going forward from here. Is there anything else you would like to share? I’m looking forward [to] how the by-election will go. I wish the best of luck to the rest of the candidates. May the best candidate win. Cont’d p. 4 / Harisharn

Mikaela Warkentin, staff

The 2026 Winnipeg mayoral candidates Arifah Gheesah, staff

Don Woodstock

Winnipeg voters will head to the polls on Oct. 28 for the 2026 municipal election with 12 candidates contending for the mayoral seat. Public transit, safety and affordability are among key issues shaping their campaigns. The Manitoban spoke with four of the candidates about their plans to address issues affecting post-secondary students.

News

Former Winnipeg Transit driver Don Woodstock is running for mayor on a platform built with eight key policy pillars. Following feedback submitted through his website about parking concerns, Woodstock is planning to introduce a $50 flat-rate parking fee for university and college students across Winnipeg.

4 Editorial

When asked how he would address rising living costs for students and young people, Woodstock spoke about his plans to re-develop properties across Winnipeg and simplify building permits to increase housing supply. He stated that increasing the number of available homes would help lower rental costs. Woodstock’s public safety platform emphasizes youth

9 Comment

engagement through sports, recreation and community programming. He is planning to increase investment in community centres and re-open them seven days a week. “More sports, less crime,” he said. “I would love to put Art City on every corner of the inner city,” Woodstock said. He believes the youth needs to be more creative and interact

Arts & 12 Culture

with others. “That’s how you solve crime.” Woodstock also emphasized the importance of engaging young people in municipal decision-making, saying his campaign’s interactive website allows university and college students to share their concerns. Cont’d p. 3 / Noah

Sports & 13 Recreation

Caring for campus

Iamb what iamb

Every vote is counted

Relationship drama

Volleys for all

UMSocialists organize volunteer-run campus cleanup

No art form brings catharsis and comfort like poetry can

Don’t waste your democratic right, get to the polls on Oct. 28!

Upcoming Lunchbhagg explores interpersonal complexity in marriage

Tennis Manitoba co-hosts wheelchair tennis events in Winnipeg

October 21, 2026

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October 21, 2026 news@themanitoban.com

Candidates discuss plans for young Winnipeggers <

Cont’d from front page

Noah Redden Noah Redden, a 2022 U of M graduate, is campaigning on improving public transit, addressing homelessness and limiting urban sprawl. Drawing on his own experience as a student who relied on public transit, Redden proposed introducing dedicated bus lanes and transit priority signals to improve service reliability and reduce travel times. Redden also proposed a fare-free transit pilot project at the U of M, allowing passengers to board buses without scanning their U-Passes to reduce boarding times. “Students pay quite a bit each semester for their U-Pass, and I want to make sure they’re getting their money’s worth of that,” he said. On homelessness and addiction, Redden underlined providing support services and transitional housing rather than relying primarily on policing. Redden is also planning on making parts of the Exchange District more pedestrian-friendly, particularly

Albert and Arthur streets. His plans include repurposing surface parking lots for affordable housing, parks and parkades. Redden encouraged young people to participate in the Oct. 28 municipal election, highlighting the importance of student voices in local politics. “Politicians don’t cater to young people because they don’t think they’re going to vote, so this is the time to prove them all wrong,” he said.

Scott Gillingham Scott Gillingham is seeking re-election. He continues to emphasize on public transit, housing affordability and improving economic opportunities for young Winnipeggers. Gillingham stressed on the city’s new transit network, which he said intended to improve service frequency along major routes and accommodate a potential transition to light rail in the future. On housing affordability, Gillingham recalled his administration’s efforts to

increase housing supply. He said more homes are needed to accommodate students and residents facing rising living costs. “Housing is a critical need for students,” Gillingham noted. “A shortage of housing meant that prices were high, so we need more housing at every level.” Another area of focus for Gillingham is Winnipeg’s aviation, aerospace and defence industries, which he described as the city’s “sky economy,” to create career opportunities for graduates. “As mayor, I want [university students] to stay in Winnipeg. I want them to build their lives here after they graduate and have rewarding careers,” he said. Gillingham also shared his vision for a safer, more vibrant downtown, with continued investment in arts, recreation and public infrastructure. “I want university students to know I’m thinking about them when I make my decisions,” he said.

Christopher Clacio Christopher Clacio, who is

running for public office for the first time, emphasized the importance of representation particularly for young people and communities of colour. “Representation does truly matter to me,” Clacio said. To encourage youth participation in municipal government, Clacio proposed introducing a City Hall School program modelled after an existing initiative in Calgary, allowing students to engage with city staff and elected officials. Clacio expressed support for lowering the municipal voting age to 16 and exploring the creation of a student council within city government. “Young people will be facing a lot of the issues that generations before have been dealing with, especially climate change, sustainability, food security, artificial intelligence.” He also mentioned increasing employment opportunities for young people in municipal institutions and encouraging more women to run for public office. “I truly believe we need more women, and women of

GRAPHIC BY HANNAH DESJARLAIS / STAFF

colour, to be specific, [in public office],” Clacio said. Clacio said he hopes his candidacy will encourage more young people and underrepresented communities to participate in municipal politics. The Manitoban also reached out to the rest of the candidates: Kevin Klein, Brad Gross, Mazher Alam, Mike Vogiatzakis, Umar Hayat, Joshua Pagdato, Johnny Calderon and Tracey Drexler for interviews, but did not receive responses by the publication deadline.

Governor general makes stop at U of M on Manitoba visit Louise Arbour met with students in the peace and conflict studies program Roy Albright Obah, staff as a Supreme Court justice. “Having human rights is The U of M welcomed Can“She looked very happy to not the final conclusion of the adian Governor General Lou- meet the students,” Adams topic,” she said. “It is being ise Arbour to St. Paul’s Col- observed. “The students were able to continue to have a conlege for a closed-door meet- [likewise] very happy to see versation and be humble in ing with graduate students in her.” that conversation.” the peace and conflict studies Paula Thorne, a PACS PhD PACS PhD candidate and U (PACS) program. candidate and event attendee of M Graduate and PostdocThe meeting, held at Han- said, “she was very welcoming toral Society vice-president ley Hall, followed a request of all questions and very can- academic affairs & senator from the office of the governor did in her answers, but also Laleema Senanayake, who general to the Arthur V. Mauro candid in what she could not also attended the event, said (AVM) Institute for Peace and answer, which I appreciated.” Arbour’s comments on conJustice to arrange a discussion Thorne said Arbour’s sensus and political empathy with PACS stuconnected dents. with her stud“The underlying message was, how do you Christopher ies in peaceAdams, St. building. bear yourself? How do you work with your Paul’s ColSenanayake values? And it’s not what you say, it’s lege rector said the disand chair of cussion covhow you behave” the AVM Instiered how contute’s board sensus can — Christopher Adams, St. Paul’s College rector of directors, help socisaid the visit eties manage and chair of the Arthur V. Mauro was part of disagreeArbour’s firstments without Institute’s board of directors year visits resorting to to Canadian violence. provinces, which is a trad- remarks on human rights She also recalled an anecition when a governor general challenged the assumption dote Arbour shared about a assumes office. that people necessarily share young judge in Quebec who Adams said the meeting the same understanding of felt disrespected when people offered students an oppor- their rights. did not stand as he entered a tunity to engage with Arbour, She pointed to freedom of courtroom. whose career includes work in speech as an example of how “What I found particularly human rights, migration and individual interpretations can interesting was the idea that war crimes, as well as service conflict. democracy depends not only

IMAGE COURTESY OF MS ANNE-MARIE BRISSON / RIDEAU HALL, OSGG

on formal institutions and laws, but also on a shared willingness to uphold and respect them,” Senanayake shared. Adams said Arbour emphasized “the issue of dealing between different camps with different values. There has to be a sense of listening rather than of talking.” Adams also recalled Arbour mentioning the ability to work with different cultures while continuing to defend human rights, listen to different sides of an argument and discern between competing perspec-

tives, as skills needed to work in the field. “The underlying message was, how do you bear yourself? How do you work with your values? And it’s not what you say, it’s how you behave,” Adams said. Arbour is Canada’s 31st governor general and represents the Crown in Canada, carrying out constitutional duties and representing the country at home and abroad. She was officially installed in her role in June.

Vol. 113, No. 11 news@themanitoban.com

News

From cleanup to community care UMSocialists organize cleanup and expand mutual aid initiative Arifah Gheesah, staff

MSocialists hosted a campus cleanup on Oct. 17, bringing volunteers together to collect litter and contribute to a cleaner campus. Hunter Reynolds, UMSocialists president, said, “We meet regularly as a club to talk about what we can do to directly benefit the community, whether that be on campus or in Winnipeg.” “The weather forced us to reschedule, but it still went really well,” he added. Participants spent two hours collecting approximately 10 bags of trash from across campus. The cleanup concluded with a pizza gathering, giving

participants, including new members, an opportunity to connect with one another. “Overall, I think it’s just a very pro-social thing. The volunteers get the chance to meet with like-minded people and everyone gets to benefit from a cleaner campus,” Reynolds said. Reynolds said the club plans to do more mutual aid by working with community organizations such as Mama Bear Clan or Food Not Bombs to provide direct support to people in need. UMSocialists is also currently collecting donations for the Mama Bear Clan Donation Drive in collaboration with the U of M Indigenous Stu-

dents’ Association (UMISA) as well as Queer Student Family (QSF). The donation drive will run until Oct. 27 and will be accepting hygiene products, individually wrapped food and grocery bags. They will be collected in the Arts, QSF and UMISA lounges. On Nov. 1, UMSocialists will join Mama Bear Clan to distribute collected items to local communities. The club is now looking for volunteers to help distribute the items. Interested parties can reach out to @umsocialists on Instagram. Reynolds encouraged students to stay informed about the club’s upcoming events and initiatives.

IMAGE COURTESY OF UMSOCIALISTS

The positions of VPEA and VPFO to be filled Thursday by board vote <

Cont’d from front page Harisharn Bahra Why have you chosen to run for this position?

Most of my advocacy in the last few years [have] centred on improving education, from working with the Manitoba Student Advisory Council to being deeply involved in Youth Parliament Manitoba and advising politicians on policy as a non-partisan advocate. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of how policy is developed, how government operates and how to build relationships with the people responsible for making decisions. I’m running for VPEA because I want to bring that experience to UMSU. I’ve spent years advocating for students and navigating stakeholder relationships, and I want to put that experience toward issues that directly affect U of M students. What do you hope to accomplish should you be voted into office? What are your top three concerns potentially going into this role? 1. Transportation affordability and reliability. With the U-Pass up for renewal, I want to push for our rates to not increase with the increasing cost of living. UMSU’s previously-cited survey found that 98 per cent of respondents were dissatisfied with how transit was being handled. I want to see that concern translated into meaningful advocacy, including supporting an autonomous transit committee that keeps student experiences at the centre of the conversation, and possibly advocating for other transit-related subsidies

with the government that we can bring in for our students. 2. Better access to student support. I want to strengthen advocacy around international students’ healthcare access and improve communication between UMSU, CASA and the student body. This primarily means making students more aware of existing grants, bursaries and other resources. Advocacy should address systemic gaps while ensuring students can access the support already available to them. 3. More visible, effective advocacy. I want to expand non-partisan voter and civic education ahead of provincial elections, helping students understand how government decisions affect their lives. More broadly, I want students to have a clearer picture of what UMSU is advocating for on their behalf. Not every outcome is within our control, but consistent engagement should be. Is there anything else you would like to share? Beyond my work in policy and advocacy, I’ve spent my time at U of M serving as president of 5SA, after previously serving as its vice-president external affairs; founding and leading UNICEF on campus; and working as academic programmer for the Faculty of Arts Student Body Council. With my work related to UNICEF, I’ve also served as the first representative for UNICEF Canada to the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation. These roles have given me a direct understanding of what the needs of students are in the university, alongside my experience managing stakeholder relationships and engaging with

decision-makers at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. I recognize that this position has basically been left vacant for two consecutive terms. I wouldn’t be entering this role as someone who needs to learn the basics of stakeholder engagement or government relations, and advocacy overall. I’ve already been working in these spaces for years now, and I’m ready to hit the ground running, and give this portfolio the consistency it requires. Ultimately, I want students to feel that their concerns are worth bringing forward, regardless of how big or small they might seem. At the end of the day, this position isn’t about having a title or a seat at the table for the sake of it. It’s about making sure students have someone willing to use that seat meaningfully. Vice-president finance and operations (VPFO) candidates Aisha Bourdanne Why have you chosen to run for this position? I am running for VPFO because I believe financial management should directly improve students’ lives. I want to promote student affordability, sustainable financing and meaningful advocacy for student needs. Through my experience as an independent financial advisor, I hope to bring a practical, financially responsible approach to UMSU. What do you hope to accomplish should you be voted into office? I hope to explore prac-

tical ways to reduce students’ expenses and food waste and advance sustainable financial reporting that considers UMSU’s environmental and social impacts. My wish is to ensure that students are able to save money, while ensuring that the money they have invested in their journey at U of M is making an impact in and out of campus. Additionally, I wish to partake in ongoing advocacy for student affordability, including U-Pass flexibility, international student healthcare and any form of advocacy with the intention of benefitting students’ lives on our campus. What are your top three concerns potentially going into this role? My main concern is that this is an unorthodox election taking place midway through the academic year, when an established dynamic already exists between students, the university and UMSU. Students need leadership that builds on the policies and objectives they voted for last year without jeopardizing their progress or commitments. At the same time, there is room to introduce original, practical initiatives that respond to students’ evolving needs, particularly in student affordability, sustainable financing and advocacy that protects and advances students’ interests. Is there anything else you would like to share? If elected, I will be an active and present part of campus life, dedicating my time and energy to listening to students, understanding their concerns, and ensuring their voices are represented. I recognize that this byelection comes at an unconven-

tional point in the academic year, and I am committed to respecting the objectives students voted for last year while building on work already underway. My priority will be to remain accessible, accountable and engaged throughout my term, ensuring students’ needs continue to guide my decisions and actions. -Isham Singh Why have you chosen to run for this position? What do you hope to accomplish should you be voted in to office? I am running for VPFO to dismantle the bureaucratic roadblocks that prevent UMSU from effectively supporting students. Over my years on campus volunteering for multiple organizations, I have heard the phrase “UMSU can’t do that” hundreds of times. I am running because I refuse to accept that answer. My background teaches me to view systemic inefficiencies not as permanent rules, but as design flaws that need fixing. I hope through my role I can help students focus on their education and student life. I would like to allocate resources into tangible, community-driven operational support. My focus is on financial literacy and I want to deploy practical financial programming covering real-world necessities. The biggest concern for me is a defeatist, “not our job” culture that has historically plagued operations. Breaking through this bureaucratic stagnation to pivot toward creative financial avenues will be the most critical challenge.

October 21, 2026 news@themanitoban.com

News

Focus Hub brings community voices together Event at CMHR allows community to engage in difficult, intimate conversations Nafisa Al Lilo, staff

ocus Hub brought Indigenous elders and an Islamic scholar together at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Oct. 17 for Uncensored Dialogue. This conversation series pairs their stories with artwork by students and youth. Fathma Mehjabin, a member of Focus Hub’s board of directors, said the event was designed to open a bias-free conversation. “Uncensored Dialogue [is] about facilitating a conversation between Indigenous elders and immigrant knowledge-based scholars in our community,” Mehjabin said. “The point of this conversation is that there is a lot of discourse around colonialism, immigration, how that intersects,” she explained. “This is one of the ways that we’re hoping there is an open conversation with no biases that come into this.” While elders and scholars led the discussions, the artwork reflecting them came from youth. An augmented-reality gallery at the event featured work by emerging and student artists. Mehjabin noted that the mix of generations of artists is what made the series stand out. “We are working with a ton of student artists and

also experienced artists,” she stated. “The conversations that are happening here are with folks who have a ton of experience […] but then the artwork that you see that is supposed to reflect these conversations come from our youth, Indigenous youth, immigrant youth.” This edition focused on the Muslim community. “Because this month is Islamic History Month, we had the focus of engaging Islamic scholars within Canada,” Mehjabin said. She confirmed that future events will pair Indigenous elders with other immigrant communities. The program is funded primarily through Canadian Heritage, with provincial support from the office of the minister of municipal and northern relations and Francophone affairs. Among the community partners was the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute (CMWI), a Winnipeg family resource centre. Eve Sotiriadou, the institute’s executive director, hosted a breakout table on collective care. Sotiriadou said CMWI was created by Muslim community members “who have experienced diverse layers of discrimination, including racism, Islamophobia and gender discrimination.”

Their goals include navigating difficult circumstances and finding tools. “One way to do that is by coming out in the community, getting to know all the folks and engaging in difficult conversations,” she said. Her table looked at how Winnipeggers can support one another through shared concerns such as food insecurity, housing and racism, which she said show up in different settings like schools and workplaces. “What [we are] doing as individuals [is supporting] each other to alleviate some of that pressure around survival,” Sotiriadou said. According to Sotiriadou, CMWI, funded by United Way and the Winnipeg Foundation, runs a food bank twice a month, emergency pantry access, financial coaching, mental health and family programming, a donation centre and employment programs. For Mehjabin, the highlight of an event like this is seeing audiences find common ground. “I’ve always seen audiences have a light bulb moment where they understand a similarity.” “If you’re not open to learning and understanding, you’re never going to be inclusive [or] feel like you’re a part of this land,” Mehjabin explained. PHOTO BY NAFISA AL LILO / STAFF

For more information on the position, visit themanitoban.com/jobs 5

Vol. 113, No. 11 news@themanitoban.com

News

Healthcare’s fiscal cliff gets one-year bridge Ministers warn of long-term risks as questions remain about campus health services Nafisa Al Lilo, staff

ederal funding for mental health, substance use and home and community-based care services in Manitoba has been extended by one year. However, the province’s health minister did not confirm whether any of it will support services for post-secondary students. Provincial and territorial health ministers met in Winnipeg on Oct. 15 and were joined by the Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel the next day. The one-year extension, as discussed at the meetings, may delay a shortfall for Manitoba’s health care system, but it leaves a bigger question open — what happens when the year is over? Uzoma Asagwara, Manitoba’s minister of health, seniors and long-term care, told reporters at The Leaf on Oct. 15 that the extension falls short. “We acknowledge that we did receive confirmation yesterday evening from Minister Michel that there would be a one-year extension on two of the agreements. We think that that is an important first step,” Asagwara said. “However, it is a first step.”

According to Asagwara, ministers from the provinces and territories agreed “that [they] cannot accept the reality that [they] are facing, what would be the greatest cut to healthcare in a generation if the federal government does not ensure that the bilateral agreements are continued in full long term.” The ministers want stable, predictable federal dollars and a Canada Health Transfer that grows by “a minimum of five per cent or greater moving forward.” “I would argue [that] we’re still dealing with a fiscal cliff,” Asagwara stated. Minister Asagwara also took issue with the federal letter announcing the extension. “The letter was silent […] on the remaining bilateral, the letter was silent on the Canada Health Transfer, and didn’t outline a plan in terms of how quickly we can get back to talking about this and negotiating.” Bernadette Smith, Manitoba’s minister of housing, addictions and homelessness, warned that local programs are at risk. “This would affect, essentially, in Manitoba, over 30

programs,” Smith stated. “This would affect people’s jobs, and most certainly, it would affect people.” She called for funds the province can plan around. “We need flexible, we need sustainable and we need to ensure that when we are doing our budgeting, that we can budget out five years from now, 10 years from now.” At the Oct. 16 federal-provincial-territorial meeting, which Asagwara co-chaired, Michel explained why Ottawa offered only one year. With the federal budget cycle moved to the fall, she described the $1.2 billion as “bridging funding” to carry provinces and territories to the next round of negotiations on the Canada Health Transfer and other expiring agreements. Pressed on whether Ottawa would rule out cuts to provincial health funding, the federal minister did not commit. “The work is starting today,” she explained. “I will be able to tell you more, but not today.” The extended agreements now run until March 31, 2027, and ministers plan to meet again before the end of this year.

PHOTO BY CHIMAROKEM CHIJIOKE / STAFF

“We will absolutely keep the pressure on,” Asagwara said. Asked on Oct. 15 whether any of the money would reach post-secondary institutions, Asagwara first suggested “folks from their own jurisdictions can talk about where post-secondary institutions may have been involved.” Then they pointed to work across government departments. “That includes advanced education and training. And so, one of the bilateral agreements speaks specifically to training, right? Hiring people to work in community,” said Asagwara. The MLA and minister included that Manitoba

is “training more healthcare workers right now, today, than we ever have before,” including home-care support workers, healthcare aides and nurses. “We have to build on that with our post-secondary institutions.” That answer centred on preparing the next generation of healthcare workers. There has not been confirmation that any of the money would pay for campus health clinics, counselling or other services students use while completing their degrees. For now, the extension buys time. What comes after it, and who benefits, continues to be negotiated.

ments required in the proof for the Millennium Prize problem, which carries a US$1 million award. However, the proof has not been independently verified or accepted by the Clay Mathematics Institute, which administers the prize. The announcement also prompted concerns from m a t h e m aticians Tristan Buckmaster of New York University and Levent Alpöge of Anthropic, who were independently working on the problem. Buckmaster alleged that information about their progress had reached O p e n A I before the company began its work. OpenAI denied accessing their work and said the proofs differed significantly. OpenAI reported that its

AI agents exchanged nearly three million messages while working on the problem, using 130 billion output tokens. The company estimated the effort would have cost approximately US$10 million based on its pricing for advanced AI models.

‘Toban news briefs Roy Albright Obah, staff Crypto levy to reduce Hydro The Manitoba government intends to use taxes collected from cryptocurrency operations to lower household electricity bills by approximately $50 annually. Finance minister Adrien Sala shared that the provincial government projects $20 million in revenue, although collections could fall if companies shut down or relocate. The proposed legislation would also bring the Workers Compensation Board’s financial results back into provincial budget reporting, prompting opposition concerns about transparency and legislative accountability. World Indigenous Business Forum The World Indigenous Business Forum will host events and cultural experiences in Winnipeg from Oct. 26 to 30 alongside its official program. Activities include business-to-business matchmaking meetings at the RBC Convention Centre on Oct. 26, a welcome reception at the Canadian Museum for

Human Rights and Neechie Nights, which precedes a gala on Oct. 27. Delegates can also attend the Tuesday Winnipeg Jets game and join guided Red River Métis cultural tours on Oct. 29 and 30. Some events require separate tickets or registration. For more details, visit wibf.ca/events-and-experiences/. New regulations to e-scooters next year Beginning in 2027, e-scooter riders and personal electric vehicles will have to follow new regulations under the Highway Traffic Act. Some new rules include a 25 km/h maximum speed limit, 16 years as the eligible age for riders and mandatory helmets. Also, personal electric vehicles will no longer be permitted on roads with speed limits more than 50 km/h or on sidewalks. No more measles in the province Manitoba health officials declared the provincial measles outbreak over on

Oct. 16 after the last laboratory-confirmed case was identified in August. Since the outbreak began in 2025, Manitoba recorded 1,038 reported cases, including 52 hospitalizations and six intensive care unit admissions. No deaths were reported. The public health officials encouraged Manitobans to ensure their measles vaccinations are up to date, recognize symptoms and follow public health guidance. Students can learn more about measles prevention and Manitoba’s routine immunization schedule at Manitoba Health. OpenAI claims AI solved decades-old maths problem OpenAI said its artificial intelligence (AI) system solved part of a decades-old mathematical problem involving fluid motion in 88 hours using approximately 10,000 AI agents. The Navier-Stokes existence and smoothness problem concerns the mathematical equations governing fluid movement and turbulence. OpenAI said its system resolved two of the four state-

GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

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Research & Technology

Vol. 113, No. 11 research@themanitoban.com

Community-based research must be community-led Indigenous studentship supports students’ community-based mental health research Mansura Akter Meghla, staff

ental Health Research Canada (MHRC) is supporting emerging Indigenous researchers through a studentship program that provides funding and opportunities to conduct community-led mental health research. Offered nationally in partnership with Mitacs, with additional support from Research Manitoba for eligible researchers in the province, the MHRC-Mitacs Annual Indigenous Mental Health Studentship provides $15,000 for a six-month research project. The program connects Indigenous student researchers with academic supervisors and Indigenous community organizations or local service providers, allowing them to pursue research, shaped by community priorities and lived experiences. Barani Ganapathi, senior consultant of research grants and impact at MHRC, explained that the program aims to strengthen Indigenous representation in mental health research while supporting students’ professional development. “Indigenous-led research is essential because research is stronger when the people, knowledge and relationships closest to an issue help shape the work,” Ganapathi said. He emphasized that the studentship provides opportunities for researchers to develop relationships, gain practical experience and build research capacity beyond their individual projects. Among the students supported through the program are Madison Young, a secondyear U of M’s master’s student in the clinical psychology department, and Dante Carter, a doctoral student at the University of Saskatchewan. Their research examines different dimensions of Indigenous mental health and well-being. Young is investigating perinatal mental health screening for First Nations mothers. She is also a research assistant in the Hearts and Minds Lab and

BARANI GANAPATHI

MADISON YOUNG

DANTE CARTER

IMAGES COURTESY OF ANDREW ROSS / MHRC

a trainee with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM). Her research focuses on how healthcare providers screen First Nations mothers for mental health concerns during pregnancy and the first year following childbirth. Young explained that screening practices can vary considerably depending on the healthcare provider and setting. While some providers use standardized screening tools, others rely on conversations with mothers to identify potential concerns. Young’s project involves interviewing healthcare providers to understand these differences and examine what happens after screening, including whether mothers receive referrals or resources for additional mental health support. Young’s interest in the subject developed through her previous work with children and families, alongside personal family experiences involving mental health challenges. Although her research remains in its early stages, she has been working with CHRIM’s Indigenous Advisory Council to refine her interview questions and incorporate different perspectives into the research process. Young expects to have her full research findings by August

2027. “I’m hoping that [my research] can eventually lead to the development of some screening tools that might be more culturally responsive and informed by Indigenous people and Indigenous healthcare providers,” she said. Young, whose home community is O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, emphasized that her connection to her community is central to the motivation behind her work. On the otherhand, Carter’s research explores the relationship between economic abuse, intimate partner violence and Indigenous well-being. Carter, a second-year PhD student in interdisciplinary graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan, is from Onion Lake Cree Nation, which spans the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Her research focuses on how Néhiyák, or Cree, women and twospirit people understand economic self-determination and what resources they need to strengthen their economic well-being. Economic abuse is a form of intimate partner violence that can involve controlling another person’s access to financial resources. According to Carter, its consequences are often overlooked in discussions about intimate partner violence.

Carter’s research builds on her master’s work, during which she conducted sharing circles with community members. Those conversations revealed that economic abuse extends beyond individual financial control and is connected to broader structural challenges, including housing shortages, government funding barriers and underfunded community services. “Economic abuse and economic well-being are relational and structural. It’s not just a budgeting problem,” Carter said. She emphasized that economic well-being must also be understood through Indigenous relationships, cultural practices and community knowledge. Carter’s earlier research identified kinship, ceremony and teachings from Elders as important elements of well-being. Now, she is consulting with community departments, leadership and individual members to better understand the services and resources needed to address economic insecurity and abuse. The studentship has allowed Carter to spend more time in Onion Lake and maintain face-to-face relationships with community members and her Elder advisor. “One thing with community-based research is that it

can’t be rushed. It’s led by community,” she said. Carter hopes her research will encourage broader discussions about economic well-being that recognize Indigenous understandings of wealth beyond conventional financial measures. She also encouraged other Indigenous students to consider applying, even when their research does not fit conventional understandings of mental health. Despite their different research interests, Young and Carter’s projects demonstrate how Indigenous-led research can address mental health and well-being through community knowledge and experiences. Ganapathi noted that MHRC does not prescribe a single approach to Indigenous mental health research. Instead, the program prioritizes meaningful community involvement and research questions that reflect local needs. “Our role at MHRC is to help create the conditions for strong research to happen,” he said. Applications for the 2026 MHRC-Mitacs Annual Indigenous Mental Health Studentship are open until Oct. 28. Each award provides $15,000 in funding for a sixmonth research project.

Editorial

October 21, 2026 editor@themanitoban.com

The beauty of a half-formed notion How does poetry mirror the reader and simultaneously connect to its author? Deveney Jarrow, staff

ave you ever read something that hit you so hard that you had to stop for a minute before reading it again? And then again? Then you had to sit there, pondering “how on earth could this stranger have written this exact line for me?” Have you ever also read a poem so gut-wrenching it was like the author studied your exact thoughts and feelings, then put it into words you never could have articulated? I have, which is why I believe poetry is one of the most meaningful art forms. Poetry is vulnerable and empathetic, fluid and comforting yet confronting. It allows one to explore their thoughts and emotions without needing to have all the answers, or needing an answer at all. To me, it is as vulnerable as putting your private journal out there for all to see. It is a way of expressing your current thoughts or feelings without needing them to be finished thoughts or understood feelings. Dai George, author of How to Think Like a Poet, put it much more eloquently than I, stating that poetry “brings us as close as we can get to the unmediated sound of the human mind in action.” He goes on to describe poetry as a way of allowing us to eavesdrop on “halfformed notions” and “flashes of insight.” I believe this is

what makes poetry so unique in how it connects to its audience. It is a way of allowing the writer’s mind to let go and process freely without pressure, and allows the reader to feel seen and heard in ways that other art forms may not be able to. There is no answer to be sought, just a thought or feeling to be shared. Thus, they are able to hold up a mirror to the reader and have them self-reflect while simultaneously connecting them to this stranger of an author who may have experienced something similar. I think there is beauty in how the act of writing a poem can be a way to self-reflect and process one’s emotions, and then so is the act of reading it. Maybe one could say this about all art forms, that there is a process of interpreting, reflecting and working through emotions both as the creator and the consumer of the art, but I think poetry adds an additional layer of intimacy, introspection and connection. One of the things I love most about poetry is how you can derive different meanings from the same poem or line the longer you spend with it. Recently I was listening to an episode from the podcast Society for Perception Studies titled “How Poetry Teaches Us to See,” and I loved how they described “how deceptively simple [poems] can feel at

first, and then they just keep unfolding at all these different scales.” How the more you read and re-read a line you realize its direct interpretation and its hidden meaning all in the same breath, and that one line’s interpretation can change the entire theme of the poem. Poetry also gives us wonderful insights into another’s worldview and can help us shape our own. Reading such introspections forces the reader into the narrator’s perspective, taking on their thoughts, feelings and interpretation of the world. There is one line that always lingers in my mind — especially when I come across a spider in my home – from Kayla Ancrum’s poem about a bug writing a poem to God: “I pray nobody kills me for the crime of being small.” How heartbreaking to think about the bug’s experience of the world! And how beautiful to be able to consider the “human” experience and empathy of a small bug. I believe my love of poetry stemmed from when I was younger. When getting a new CD, I would rip off the plastic and immediately sit with the lyric book in hand, listening to the album from start to finish. I loved it most when the lyrics were printed in the singer’s writing, adding a more personal touch, as if the words on the pages were written for me and me alone. When I listen

I’ve heard you die twice the first time is earthly

the second, the last time someone speaks your name

and so

I carry around a small cemetery in my brain

PHOTO BY DEVENEY JARROW / STAFF

to those albums now, I tend to relate to those lyrics in a different way. Some songs provide me with feelings of nostalgia, while others become more meaningful or relatable having more life experience. Similarly to poetry, the more time I spend with those songs and revisit them the more meaning I can derive. If you’ve ever felt like you

wanted to start reading poetry, I would highly recommend it. Finding the right book of poems can feel like discovering a private journal from your future self. It can help you find gratitude and beauty in places you may not have thought to look or help you through grief or loss. Whatever you may be experiencing, poetry is always there for you.

The Goose

Answers to Oct 14 puzzle

No. 825

SUDOKU

Medium

Previous solution - Tough

3 4 1 6 7 5 2 8 9

5 3 4 9 6 8 7 1 2

7 8 2 5 1 3 6 9 4

1 6 9 4 2 7 8 3 5

6 1 7 3 9 4 5 2 8

9 2 8 7 5 6 3 4 1

4 5 3 2 8 1 9 7 6

Previous solution - Easy

Medium

8 9 6 1 3 2 4 5 7

Sijy Varghese, volunteer staff

cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the n see how ‘straights’ are formed.

xkcd.com

Do you have a comic you’d like to submit to the Manitoban? Email your submissions to graphics@themanitoban.com

3 7

2 7 5 8 4 9 1 6 3

1 6 4 6 5 8 9 6 7 9 3

If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more onmore our store. You can find help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

5 1

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org

8 9 7 4 7 6 5 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 2 8

6 2 1 7 5 2 3 8 6 2 1 9 4 3 3 4 5 9 8 3 4 8 7 9 8 7 6 2 9 7 8 1 5 4 7 8 6 5 4 3 7 6 5

Medium

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

3 6 8 5 4 1 2

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org

1 7 4 3 9 6 8

If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

6 9 1 2 7 5 3

6 9 5 2 4 3 4 5 8 2 6 1

9 2 4

3 4 7

2 3 7 4 8 9 1

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5 1 3 9 6 2 7

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

9 8 2 7 5 3 4

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org

6 4 9 1 5 8 2 7

61 8 7 3 16 4 5 9

If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

3 2 7 4 5 6 1 8 9

Tough

xt issue.

Previous solution - Very Hard

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No. 824

Easy

SUDOKU

No. 824

7 9 6 4 8 3 6 9 5

STR8TS

Straights

Puzzle by Signdicated Puzzles

Sudoku SUDOKU

Vol. 113, No. 11 graphics@themanitoban.com

2 3

Diversions

2026 Alance AB

2 4

S T P e G am M

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

Comment

Vol. 113, No. 11 comment@themanitoban.com

Voting matters If you do not vote, why do you complain about policies? Quinn Mayhew, staff

hoosing to vote matters. When you choose not to vote, you are complicit in the problems in your neighbourhoods, schools, laws and your city. Let me be the one to tell you that voting matters. Showing up to the polls matters; voting matters. When you tell me you’re not a political person, you are telling me you do not care about anything, because everything is political. Everything from gas prices, censorship, student activism and women’s bodies is a political minefield. The problem is that, despite people having access to multiple media platforms, each capable of showing different political content, people still choose to be politically ignorant or apolitical when it comes to showing up to vote. Voting has been and will always be important. With some countries around the world still denying women the right to vote in 2026, one would think that this would

motivate people to vote. Well, you thought wrong. Getting people to the polls is like pulling teeth — painful, but necessary. People use neutrality as a blanket to hide behind, but this blanket doesn’t extend to those most affected by laws — those unhoused, women, racial minorities and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. People can only afford not to be political when it doesn’t affect them as much. To blindly ignore municipal, provincial, federal and global problems is a privilege that few get to experience. Being disengaged from politics when it comes to voting is an even bigger issue. I want to hear your opinions, I want to understand how you got to this political conclusion, what news outlets you watch and where you get your information from. I need to hear your opinion — defend your worldviews. Young people, I am so tired of you hiding behind busyness as an excuse not to vote, and I say this as a young per-

son. Don’t let someone else decide your vote for you. When you abstain from voting, it’s like handing your car keys to someone you know can’t drive. You are actively choosing to hand over policies that determine rights and laws to whoever does vote. It may be interesting to note that many young people in Winnipeg may still be unsure of who to vote for. A survey of a representative sample of 600 Winnipeg adults conducted between Aug. 28 and Sept. 14 found that 51 per cent remain undecided about whom they would vote for as mayor. I would like to raise a question — why are we, as young people, unsure of who to vote for? I think it’s a mix of misinformation spread across social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, that often share opinions without factual backing, and an overwhelming number of people just don’t care enough. If you care about people, you should go out and vote. If not for you, then for people

GRAPHIC BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

who can’t vote yet, like teens. They don’t have the right to vote yet, but they are directly affected by the policies set by the people you choose to vote for. Every vote matters. Election decisions have been decided by just a handful of votes. So when you think voting is too much trouble, next time also think about how policies affect not just you but everyone around you.

Show up to the 2026 Municipal Council and School Boards Election on Oct. 28. If you’re really so busy, participate in advanced voting, which is available until Oct. 23. Check your polling station for the election details and research candidates before showing up on election day. Bring two pieces of ID with your address on them and know that your VOTE MATTERS!

The Manitoban horoscope for the week of Oct. 19 Zodiac sign mania, flip a coin and see your fate this week Quinn Mayhew, staff AQUARIUS January 20 – February 18 Aquarius, you don’t need an iced matcha from Degrees every morning. The debt collectors are pounding on your front door. Make sure you balance your finances responsibly. PISCES February 19 – March 20 Pisces, I’m not the first one to tell you this and certainly not the last, but you do not get to determine whether someone is allowed to be mad at the actions you choose to take. You’re allowed to be upset that they don’t understand you, but you need to learn that other people are also allowed to have emotions beyond yourself. ARIES March 21 April 19

–

Aries, you deserve friends that see you for who you are. You gave multiple chances to that one friend. You know exactly

who I’m talking about. It may be time to reconsider your friendship, because a friend shouldn’t make you feel that your hurt is theirs to judge or that they get to decide when you should get over it. TAURUS April 20 May 20

–

Taurus, stop acting differently around your partner in public. You need to stay consistent and treat your partner with the same respect you would treat them if you were alone. GEMINI May 21 June 20

–

Gemini, you lack a lot of communication skills. You often opt not to share how you’re feeling and hope the people around you will notice you’re off. You need to communicate your feelings more to the people around you, or you’re going to get hurt.

CANCER June 21 July 22

–

Cancers, just because you’ve determined the university degree you are earning is harder than everyone else’s doesn’t make it true. You need to realize that you’re not always the most talented in the room, and that’s okay, let other people take the spotlight. LEO July 23 August 22

–

Leos, I don’t have a lot to say to you this week other than it’s not always the most important gift that matters, but the ones that are the most thoughtful and heartfelt. VIRGO August 23 – September 22 Virgos, you may be the hypocrite this week. I fear I may need to tell you that lying is not always the answer to win an argument. You need to try to understand other people’s emotions beyond yourself.

LIBRA September 23 – October 22

CAPRICORN December 22 – January 19

Libras, neutrality is not always the answer. You like to remain on the outside of arguments, but trust me when I say, that may just be your own downfall. You need to pick a side and stand up for the people that matter to you.

Capricorns, perhaps you are looking for solace in interpersonal relationships that leave you feeling empty. Something is brewing, and it’s not your budding romance but a relationship in your life that continues to drain you and leave you empty. It’s indicated in the stars that perhaps this person is experiencing health issues, so you feel responsible and think you have to answer when they call. Listen when I say that this relationship will cost you something big in the months to come if you do not establish boundaries.

SCORPIO October 23 – November 21 Scorpios, stop yelling, people can hear you. Why are you yelling in people’s faces to get them to listen to you? You need to calm down and take a few deep breaths before you do something you regret. SAGITTARIUS November 22 – December 21 Sagittarius, you have the kindest heart I know, but sometimes people take advantage of that. You need to learn to establish boundaries and ask for what you want in friendships and relationships before you get hurt.

GRAPHICS BY EMMA GILLICH / STAFF

Arts & Culture

October 21, 2026 arts@themanitoban.com

U of M students to stage Irreconcilable Differences Comedic play explores what differences are truly irreconcilable Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff

of M students are staging the first Lunchbhagg production of the school year with the comedic play Irreconcilable Differences. Written by Canadian playwright JL Allen and directed by fifth-year theatre student Nadia Holmes, the play revolves around Lynda and Steven Doyle, a couple on the verge of divorce trying to repair their marriage. They visit Dr. Arkin, a couple’s counsellor whose unorthodox methods reveal things about themselves that they did not know they had in them, according to Holmes. “The characters have a lot of depth in them, and they have a lot of internals that we see throughout the play’s progression,” said the director, who explained she wanted to stage a comedy that is character-driven rather than slapstick. Cameron Dueck, who plays Steven, described his character as a passive aggressive and non-confrontational man who

is dissatisfied with his life and nine-to-five job. “He vents a lot of his frustration from his work life and all that into his personal life. He sees Lynda as the encapsulation of a lot of his problems,” he told the Manitoban. “[He] and Lynda both really care about their son, and they’re putting in a lot of effort where they haven’t previously to go to see a marriage counsellor and try to sort this out because their son means the absolute world […] to both of them.” On the other hand, Marcus Schneider plays the eccentric and enigmatic Dr. Arkin, who seems to be “messing with” the couple by taunting them and “pitting them against each other.” “You can see that as him trying to cause trouble, or he might have some method amid all that madness,” Schneider said. “He might be trying to bring out the root causes of their troubles, perhaps get them to recognize their own faults and what’s

been going wrong between them.” “I really enjoy [the ambiguity] in his character because on some level I don’t even know what he’s doing, but I like imagining [and] constructing behind what is written in the script my own vision of what he’s doing.” For both Dueck and Schneider, this is their first time acting in a play since high school. This is also Holmes’s directorial debut, which she described as both fun and a lot of work. She noted that neither spouse is completely in the wrong. Apart from having a good laugh, the director wants the audience to ponder “what differences are truly irreconcilable.” Dueck added that, on the surface, Irreconcilable Differences might seem like a cynical and pessimistic portrayal of relationships, but it is elevated by moments of softness and compassion throughout. “There’s good that you can take out of what somebody is saying or what somebody is

PHOTO BY BORIS T. H. LEUNG / STAFF

doing, even if there [are] some problematic aspects to it,” he said. “It is an exploration of very human, very multifaceted characters, and a recognition of the imperfections of these people,” added Schneider. “[It is] also recognition that you can in fact come to love and understand each other in spite of these flaws and recog-

nizing [the] mutual responsibility in any relationship that is needed in order to live with one another.” Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27, and 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the John J. Conklin Theatre. Tickets are free. For more information, visit @umanitobatheatre on Instagram.

Inside the lives of Indonesia’s gig drivers A2G photo exhibition captures the realities of rideshare and delivery driving Boris Tsun Hang Leung, staff The Architecture 2 Gallery (A2G) at the U of M presented Life Behind the Ride on Oct. 8, exhibiting photographs that depict the challenges and risks faced by Indonesia’s delivery and rideshare drivers, but also their resourcefulness as they navigate the gig economy. Sheri Gibbings is one of the anthropologists behind the project. The team worked from 2014 to 2025, according to the exhibition text, and Gibbings spent a month and half in Indonesia conducting interviews. “Part of this research is looking at the ride-hailing industry in Indonesia [and] the changing [street] culture in Indonesia,” she explained. Gibbings said this research was done to understand “how the drivers are surviving, their strategies of driving and making ends meet.” The photos follow a chronological narrative, starting with photos from the 1990s when motorbikes became accessible and started to flood the streets of Indonesia. Then, online rideshare platforms such as Gojek and Grab entered the market, transforming the

urban landscape with billboard advertisements and motorcycle drivers donning brightly coloured uniforms. However, there is no cap on how much money the companies can take from the drivers, and there were eventually hundreds of labour protests on unfair wages, said the anthropologist. The situation reached a breaking point when a police tactical vehicle ran over and killed a 21-yearold driver during a protest in 2025. “[The] last series is these large-scale protests where drivers themselves [were] like, ‘I’ve had enough. Let’s burn down the police station. Something needs to be done,’” Gibbings commented. During her fieldwork, Gibbings was struck by the difficulty that women, especially single mothers, faced as drivers. Cases of harassment are common, and Gibbings also described scenes of women strapping their newborn babies on themselves and driving for hours. “This is hard. This is not an easy life,” she said. “Single women are looked down upon […] But then single women on the street are

also doubly looked down upon because they’re almost seen as ‘street women’ [...] which is like a prostitute. And so women are constantly trying to assert their morality [by thinking] ‘I’m like a self-sacrificing mother,’ etc. to protect [their] identity.” For the drivers, the path ahead is not straightforward. Drivers can spend a quarter of their income paying for gas due to rising prices, according to Gibbings. Food and motorbike maintenance costs are increasing as well, but wages are not catching up. “They’re being squeezed,” she said. “A lot of the drivers are working about 12, 14 hours a day, and they’re making about 100,000 rupiah, which is about $10.” Nonetheless, Gibbings described the drivers as resilient. Despite the challenges, they are innovative, using tricks such as staying on the app for 24 hours to “reset” it and get more orders, and switching accounts with other drivers so everyone gets rides. Drivers also construct informal basecamps across the city where they can rest and connect, while others sell raincoats and collect bottles

PHOTO BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF

for extra income. “The social [aspect] is key here. The social relations that people have with each other actually [make] the app work, and I think apps don’t really recognize it,” she said.

“They’re able to be viable in Indonesia because of all this informal labour.” Life Behind the Ride is on view at the A2G (215 Architecture 2 building) until Nov. 13.

Sports & Recreation

Vol. 113, No. 11 sports@themanitoban.com

From exclusive to a sport for everyone Tennis Manitoba works to make tennis more inclusive for wheelchair users Faiyaz Chowdhury, staff

quick online search may tell one that tennis is a sport for the upper class. With its deep historical roots in European aristocracy, it is not hard to see why the sport became a hit amongst the uber wealthy. Nowadays, anyone can play tennis on their local courts. Tennis Manitoba, the official governing body for the sport in Manitoba, aims to make the game more accessible and inclusive. Tennis Manitoba recently partnered with the Manitoba Wheelchair Sports Association to host a wheelchair tennis event on Oct. 18 and 25 at Sport Manitoba, 145 Pacific Avenue. Both events were scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and finish by 10:30 a.m. Steve Dreger, Tennis Manitoba’s executive director, shared that the goal of the organization is to provide accessible tennis opportunities to all Manitobans. “Tennis has always been or may have a stereotype as being an affluent sport,” he said. “Our goal is to break that barrier and make it more available and more approachable for Manitobans to play.” He emphasized that the purpose for these events is to encourage more participation from athletes in the wheelchair tennis community in the future. Dreger also shared that plans are underway for more regular events, which may begin as early as 2027. The Oct. 18 game had Dreger attending alongside tennis coach Dave Muzyka. Jett Ethan Nguyen, a 16-year-old who represented Team Prairies at the U-16 level, also volunteered at the event. Nguyen shared, “I decided to dedicate some of my time to show some wheelchair tennis players how to improve and learn a bit about tennis.” He also added that he would be present for the Oct. 25 game to “spread tennis awareness.” Although the events have a registration fee of $20, Dreger insisted that if someone cannot pay the fee for any reason, he can potentially have it waived. For that exemption, people would have to reach out to him via his email, sdreger@tennismanitoba.com. For those interested in other wheelchair sporting events, U of M Recreational Services plans to host a wheelchair basketball event at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 . The event will be open to all U of M students.

PHOTOS BY CHIMAROKEM CHIJIOKE / STAFF

October 21, 2026 sports@themanitoban.com

Sports & Recreation

Bisons split weekend series against the Huskies The herd took a 4-0 loss before rallying for a 2-1 win Anthony Otoide, staff

he Bisons men’s hockey team played against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Oct. 16 and 17. The first game resulted in a 0-4 loss for the herd. However, they were able to win the second game 2-1. On Oct. 16, the game started with early pressure from the Huskies, including a shot toward the pipe two minutes in. The Bisons began their counterattack with serious pressure, but the Huskies were no slouches and ramped up the pressure on their side with more attempted shots on goal. The game remained rather uneven in the first 10 minutes, with the Huskies having most of the pressure but unable to break through and score a goal. The Bisons’ defence locked down, limiting the Huskies’ chances of scoring. The Huskies were eventually able to break through with a goal from distance by Tyler Parr around the 13-minute mark, his first goal of the season, with assists from Rhett Rhinehart and Jaydon Dureau. The period continued to go poorly for the Bisons as the Huskies attacked with renewed morale upon smelling victory, but the Bisons’ defence prevented the concession of another goal. The Huskies ended the first period with 18 shots on target and the Bisons with five. The second period began with the Huskies attacking the Bisons. The Huskies continued to dominate for the next five minutes of the second period, causing Skyler Bruce to receive a penalty for high-sticking. The Bisons cracked under pressure and conceded a goal around the nine-minute mark in the second period by Chase Bertholet, his first goal of the season. The Huskies then conceded two simultaneous penalties, giving the Bisons a power play to turn the game around. However, the herd was unable to seize this opportunity with the Huskies’ goalie, Nolan

PHOTO BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF

Maier, coming in clutch. In the last four minutes of the second period, the Bisons received two penalties, and the herd did their best to defend against the Huskies’ offensive attacks during another power play. However, the herd was unsuccessful as Liam Keeler scored the Huskies’ third goal, assisted by Bertholet and Landon Kosior. The Huskies started the third period full-throttle, attacking the Bisons with everything they had. Ashton Ferster scored the fourth goal for the Huskies, his first of the season, two minutes into the third period. The Bisons fought back, resulting in a penalty for the Huskies. The Bisons were unable to capitalize on this power play with the Huskies’ iron fortress of a net. The Huskies attempted to widen their lead before the end of the game, but the Bisons refused to concede any more goals. Game one ended in a 0-4 loss for the herd.

In game two, both teams attacked early, but were unable to break through the other’s defence. The Bisons received a penalty near the end of the first period, but the Huskies were unable to capitalize on their power play, and the first period ended goalless, with 10 shots on goal for the Huskies and six for the Bisons. The second period went similarly, with no goals on either side despite another power play for the Huskies. The third period began with an early goal for the Huskies by Raphael Pelletier. The Huskies continued to unleash an offensive storm against the Bisons, but roughly eight minutes into the second period, the Bisons were finally able to equalize with a resounding goal by Joel Purdom, assisted by Bruce and Grady Lane. With six minutes remaining in the game, the Huskies conceded a penalty, giving the Bisons a power play. They were unable to take advantage

of the power play, but made up for it when Bisons’ Dawson Pasternak scored his first goal of the season at 16:37, assisted by Caden Zaplitny. The Bisons clung to their lead against the Huskies and won the game 2-1, finishing with 17 shots on goal compared to the Huskies’ 39. After the game, Bisons head coach Gordon Burnett said the win came down to playing smarter and competing harder. “I thought we showed some maturity in our game. Obviously, there’s some mistakes, but that’s the game.” Burnett credited the penalty kill for keeping the Bisons in the game. He added, “We’re fortunate to get out of there with an even special teams battle.” “The thing that really stood out for me was what we did in the third period, which I thought was essentially maturity,” Burnett said. “Risk management, putting pucks in safe places […] when you

do that, you give yourself a chance.” Burnett said the difference from the night before was the effort and maturity put in game two. With injuries pushing several young players into the lineup, Burnett shared that the team has asked their rookies to “accelerate their learning curve and […] adapt to the new level” faster than firstyear players usually do. “Some guys come in, and they don’t play much in their first year, but this year, just because of circumstances, they are playing, and they’re playing a lot right away,” he said. “In the long run, it [will] help them, but in the short term, we need them to be real good and to learn real fast.” The Bisons men’s hockey team are scheduled to play the Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton, Alta. on Oct. 23 and 24. In their last matchup against Alberta on Jan. 21, the herd won the game 3-2.

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