THUNDERBIRDS WIN
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Dr. Meijun Chen paves a path to the podium for women in conducting
The podium looks deceptively simple: a wooden block, a music stand, a conductor standing at the centre of it all. But conducting a wind ensemble is anything but simple. Arms rise and fall for hours on end, muscles burn under the stage lights. Every flick of the wrist must be precise, every gesture must be commanding and supportive.
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Dr. Meijun Chen, UBC’s director of concert winds, does just that. “It’s indeed like an athletic move,” she said, “because you need to really practice everything to make sure your muscles are in shape.”
Conducting requires not only physical stamina but also intense mental focus and talent: preparing scores in meticulous detail, anticipating questions before they’re asked, listening in multiple directions. At any moment in rehearsal, Chen is thinking in several directions at once, turning dozens of individuals into a harmonious whole.
For Chen, the path to the podium was not straightforward. Born in China and educated in Alberta, she began piano lessons at four and picked up the clarinet in elementary school. Like many young children, her parents wanted her to have musical hobbies. While music may have started as a hobby, she kept on playing. When she joined her elementary school band, she realized that she loved the group environment where she could “hang out with friends and make new friendships.”
But going into her post-secondary education, she didn’t think music would become her career. When Chen entered the University of Alberta for her undergraduate degree, she did so as an economics major. But she couldn’t resist auditioning for the bands, eager to find the same sense of belonging she’d found in the past. After her auditions, her professor — and eventual doctoral supervisor — Dr. Angela Schroeder pulled her aside.
“She literally persuaded me
to switch to music because she thought I played the clarinet pretty well,” Chen said. “If she didn’t do that, if she didn’t say, ‘you should consider switching to music,’ I would never think about being a music major.” That moment altered the course of her life.
Despite never expecting to pursue music professionally, Chen switched her degree, eventually completing a master’s degree and just this summer, finishing her doctorate of music under Schroeder at the University of Alberta — becoming the first woman to complete a doctorate in wind band conducting at the university.
Although she has reached the pinnacle of a formal academic education, Chen sees herself as a lifelong learner. “The more I can learn, the more I can share with my students,” she said. To do so, she has carried her baton across 13 different countries — training, performing, competing. In 2023, she won the Johann Strauss Foundation Music Award to study under Professor Toby Purser in Vienna. That same year, she was a conducting fellow at the United States “Pershing’s Own” Army Band Conductors Workshop, which is “one of the best wind bands in the world,” Chen said.
Her international prominence has won her praise at home and abroad. In July, Chen was named on CBC’s 30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30 list. “I’m definitely very, very happy to be included on the list,” she said. “I’ve been looking at that list since when I was much younger as an undergrad student,” always hoping to be a part of it.
“I definitely work very hard for all my goals, no matter how small or big and sometimes … you just need to keep your passions and don’t give up. And then when the opportunities come, just be ready for it.”
The recognition matters, she said, less for herself than for what it signals to others. By being on the list, younger students get to see
a female role model reaching her dreams, inspiring them to “achieve much more” than they would otherwise.
At UBC, Chen leads the university’s concert winds ensemble. Most of her players are first- and second-year students, many still adjusting to the pressures of university life. Her approach to programming reflects her belief that the ensemble should be both a platform and a classroom. “I make sure every concert we include one female composer’s work, one underrepresented composer’s work,” alongside a Canadian composer’s work, Chen said.
Rehearsals under Chen can be demanding. Students must not only master notes and rhythms but learn the historical and theoretical context of the music. A fast, rhythmically precise piece develops tonguing and agility; a slow, lyrical one demands breath control and patience. Every piece in each concert is thoroughly thought out, to make sure students are learning something new from every performance, Chen said.
The difficulty for Chen lies in balancing a room full of musicians at different levels. Some arrive with years of private instruction; others with only high school band. She has just two rehearsals a week, each two hours long, to make sure everyone is learning and no one is left behind.
“How can I accommodate [and] try to make sure everyone learns something throughout the rehearsals?” Chen asked. “It’s challenging, but at the same time, it’s rewarding.”
Still, Chen sees her role as extending beyond music. Teaching for her is about impact and community. “It’s not a one-time thing, that once I’m done teaching it’s done,” but more so that those she taught can pass on her teachings and impact the people around them.
“It’s not that I only teach the student sitting in front of me, but I’m also teaching through the music — we are educating the audience that is sitting behind me.” U
“It’s not that I only teach the student sitting in front of me, but I’m also teaching through the music — we are educating the audience that is sitting behind me.”
STEPHEN KOSAR / THE UBYSSEY
Stephen Kosar News Editor
ZOE WAGNER
Majority of students facing financial hardship due to housing costs, report finds
Christina Park Contributor
Over half of students at UBC are facing financial difficulties related to housing, according to the 2025 Academic Experience Survey Report presented at the Alma Mater Society (AMS) Council meeting on July 23.
The survey, done yearly and based on undergraduate and graduate students’ responses, covers aspects of academic life such as campus safety, generative AI, exams and mental health, but housing emerged as a major issue. It found that 52 per cent of students were facing financial hardship related to housing.
Students reported that housing-related financial stress affected their academic performance. Many cited increased exam stress levels due to long commutes. Among 57 per cent of respondents who commute, 37 per cent took more than an hour to get to campus.
Andrew Parr, associate vice-president of Student Housing and Community Services, attributed student difficulties with finding housing on campus to broader trends in the current marketplace, including rental prices and low vacancy rates in the city.
In an interview with The
TREK FOR TRANSIT //
Ubyssey, Parr emphasized UBC’s role in addressing the issue. “We’ve actually spent over $700 million building student housing in the last 14 years,” Parr said. Parr also said Student Housing and Community Services has added almost 6,000 beds, but the waitlist has not shortened as demand remains large.
UBC is currently committing to a $560 million project for 1,500 more beds at the St. John’s College site. The project will consist of five new student residence buildings, for which the provincial government has provided a grant of $300 million to UBC. The university will provide the remaining $259.9 million.
Parr also said that Student Housing is attempting to keep rent below market rates to support students, although they have an obligation to cover costs such as mortgages.
“We are not profit-oriented, so we are able to pull that out of the cost and keep our costs below market rents,” Parr said.
Meanwhile, the AMS is calling for UBC’s housing to match with the growth rates to meet student needs.
“This is a long-term priority,”
Zarifa Nawar, the AMS VP academic and university affairs, told The Ubyssey. This year, Nawar said that her goal is to have conversations with the university on tying student housing development to forecasted
UBC growth rates, potentially exceeding the minimum of 3,300 beds by the mid 2030s targeted under the Housing Action Plan and Campus Vision 2050
This commitment was made in the 2022-23 update to the Housing Action Plan, which was first adopted by the university in 2012 and is updated every five years. In this most recent update, it was also integrated with Campus Vision 2050, a long-term plan to “support the needs of the university, its students, residents, staff, and Musqueam.”
Nawar emphasized the compounding effect on the student side of high rental costs among rising rates of tuition and living expenses, placing a significant strain on their finances.
“When rent is due, [students] only have so much in their bank or in their resources that they’re only able to pay for rent. At that point, the student is food insecure because they don’t have any money left to go towards their groceries,” she said. In fact, 70 per cent of survey respondents said they worried about running out of food before buying groceries due to high housing costs.
Nawar said the AMS is also exploring solutions for housing bursaries and financial aid mechanisms by lowering the barrier to accessing them.
However, both Nawar and Parr pointed to the rising cost of construction as one of the biggest obstacles to building more housing.
“The cost of building housing, of infrastructure work, of construction work has skyrocketed,” said Nawar. Parr added that it is now almost twice as expensive to build a bedroom compared to five or ten years ago, indicating that construction costs have increased significantly over the last decade.
“In every aspect of life right now, the costs have gone up,” Parr said.
The post-pandemic landscape, inflation and a drop in international
student enrolment have also strained UBC’s budget, making it more difficult to finance housing projects.
Nawar acknowledged that it is not only students but both the AMS and the university in a “tough financial situation.” Nevertheless, she reaffirmed their commitment to pushing for solutions.
“We’re entering a period of time where these things are going to be more challenging than they have in the past,” she said.
“That doesn’t mean that we’re going to give up on any of this. That doesn’t mean that we’re not going to advocate.” U
AMS SkyTrain petition surpasses signature goal
Amardeep Bains
Contributor
The AMS — UBC’s student union — SkyTrain petition has surpassed its sign-up goal with 10,000 signatures, after a months-long campaign spearheaded by VP External Affairs Solomon Yi-Kieran.
The petition is one aspect of an advocacy plan by the AMS to push for provincial and federal support for a SkyTrain extension to UBC’s Point Grey campus, announced at a June 11 Council meeting. The action plan has been split into three components — the petition, the “Trek for Transit” and coordinated lobbying.
This plan comes after years of advocacy by the AMS. Previous VP External Ayesha Irfan emphasized the importance of the Skytrain to UBC within her initial election platform and continued to advocate for the extension throughout her term. Before her, Tina Tong said she wanted to get “shovels in the ground as soon as possible” on the SkyTrain extension during her successful campaign to become VP external.
In an interview with The Ubyssey, Yi-Kieran emphasized the importance and purpose of the petition.
“Politics is a numbers game — numbers talk and politicians care about that data. There hasn’t really been that show of mass student turnout, showing that this is something that the community cares about, and is something that students need,” he said.
As well, Yi-Kieran believes that the petition is integral in engaging student voices in AMS advocacy.
“The advocacy that the AMS can do is stronger when students know what’s going on, when students feel that they have a voice, that they can participate … student life becomes better when students know how they can get involved to champion the causes they believe in. And we’ve had a really strong reception,” he said.
With nearly 80,000 daily trips to and from UBC utilizing transit, students and Metro Vancouver residents have indicated support for the extension.
TransLink surveyed over 15,000
people from across Metro Vancouver in 2021 and found that 92 per cent of public survey respondents supported the UBC SkyTrain extension. More recently, 84 per cent of students surveyed as a part of the AMS’s 2025 Academic Experience Report agreed that the extension would benefit their commute.
However, in order to move forward, the provincial government must release the business case. It indicates fundamental aspects to the project, such as the justification for the project, funding and the timeline.
“What I really want to see from the government is releasing the business case, which talks about how the funding and how the community impacts of this project, what they would be, as well as what the next steps are,” Yi-Kieran said.
Yi-Kieran stated how the AMS will “be working with the Vancouver City Council to make sure that these asks go to the provincial government, and make sure that these asks are supported by the Vancouver community through a motion to city council.”
Following the petition, the next step within the advocacy plan takes place on October 1, with a march in an attempt to mobilize the student body. The “Trek for Transit” aims to generate substantial media attention and pressure on the provincial and federal government to make statements.
After the Trek, “the third step is taking everything — the letters of solidarity, the petition, the media attention from the rally — and taking that to meetings with government, taking that to city hall, taking that to the legislature, taking that to Premier [David] Eby and taking that to the federal government,” Yi-Kieran said.
The VP external believes the extension would make it easier for students to commute to the university. “UBC Skytrain makes sure that 80 per cent of all UBC commuters live within one hour each way to campus. It makes sure that students are actually able to access [campus], especially from cities like Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby and Coquitlam.”
As well, Yi-Kieran emphasized the importance of a seeing a clear financial plan from different levels of governments, stating that “the really big thing is a funding agreement between the provincial government, the federal government and other important partners. I think it’s really crucial that we actually know where the money’s gonna come from, and that we have commitments from all levels, that students are finally gonna get this SkyTrain.” U
The petition is one aspect of a three-part advocacy plan by the AMS to push for provincial and federal support for a SkyTrain extension to UBC’s Point Grey campus.
YUJIA HUANG / THE UBYSSEY
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
The yearly survey found that 52 per cent of students were facing financial hardship related to housing.
Candidates disagree over event programming in VP student life by-election debate
Stephen Kosar News Editor
At the AMS VP student life debate on Sept. 17, candidates discussed their differing visions on how to best support campus spirit and students’ mental health concerns.
This debate was the first and only public forum for the two by-election candidates — Kevin Heieis and Dominic Tomkowicz — before voting opened. This by-election marks the first time a VP student life will be elected since it was approved by referendum in March.
Since the debate, Tomkowicz announced on his Instagram on Sept. 18 his intention to withdraw from the race, meaning Heieis is running unopposed for VP student life.
According to a job description provided to candidates by the AMS Elections Committee, the position is “responsible for advancing student engagement, campus spirit, and holistic wellbeing through the strategic development and delivery of events, orientation programming, first-year initiatives, and mental health supports.”
Candidates were asked Wednesday night what knowledge, experience and personal qualities would make them the best person for the position.
Heieis cited his “many years” of involvement with clubs, design
teams and his familiarity with the AMS. He is the current interim VP student life, appointed in May by AMS Council.
“I am part of communities on campus and I’m a leader. I like bringing communities together and I know how the systems operate to truly help students find community on campus, and that’s what makes me perfect for the VP student life position,” he said.
Tomkowicz emphasized his passion for “connecting with people where they are,” highlighting his social media presence and his ability to know what makes students excited through his campus engagement.
Better known by his alias “Scooter Dom,” Tomkowicz has built an online following through videos of him and others on his electric scooter.
“Beyond my content and social media,” he said, “I have a clear platform; structured support for clubs, funding for cultural collaborations and accessible, affordable events. And this job isn’t about being flashy, it’s about setting strategy and making sure students feel seen, and I’m ready to translate that energy into results.”
When pressed on events he would like to run if elected, Heieis noted that many event ideas have been run before by the AMS as well as other student groups.
“I think what’s actually more
important for the VP student life is to support student groups to build up their own events … the student life role is about being a friend to these different campus groups to support their cultures,” he said.
In contrast, Tomkowicz proposed a “Thunderbird spirit week” — a festival with interfaculty competitions, a clubs showcase, concerts and a night market. He also suggested a winter lights festival at the Nest, which would “bring in Indigenous artists and choirs, small business booths and even have quiet sensory-friendly hours for people to relax.”
The focus on sensory-friendly hours was one part of Tomkowicz’s campaign pledge for improved accessibility and inclusion at student events on campus. “Inclusion means thinking ahead,” he said. “My events plan has built accessibility into the design … I know fun is only fun if everyone feels welcome, and that is one of my campaign goals.”
The candidates were also asked how they planned to fund their campaign promises. Tomkowicz suggested cutting funding for things “not useful to students,” such as AMS-branded agendas, and using the proceeds for “what students actually want, because something that isn’t going to be useful is just going to suck up funds from the AMS.”
Heieis pushed back against
Tomkowicz’s plan. “The budget has already been approved, so there is no money available for new funds,” Heieis said. “There are limited resources available, but cutting resources for students is not the answer. Providing things for students is valuable.”
His spending plan centred on mental health week. “I plan to use sponsorships to create a large, inclusive mental health week that is inclusive to all students, and can really fill a gap in mental health programming,” Heieis said. As well, he expressed a desire to revive an AMS hosted welcome back concert, something that Heieis said was “explicitly cut because of funding.”
Both candidates brought different solutions to supporting mental health on campus.
Heieis stated that the funding cuts across UBC departments and programming has affected the university’s ability to support students’ mental health, meaning that the AMS should bring back more mental health programming.
“I’ve already started planning for the first mental health week on UBC in-person since 2017. This will include collaborations with constituencies to provide direct training for things that are relevant to students,” Heieis said.
Tomkowicz said that in addition to quiet rooms at AMS events, he would like to start “Wellness Wednesdays,” weekly events with
therapy dogs that would allow students to tell each other about their problems. “People could open up to each other … Just share their emotions and their feelings. The important part is to remind students that they’re not alone.”
Despite disagreements in matters of policy, Heieis and Tomkowicz shared admiration for each other’s platform.
“I have the utmost respect for [Tomkowicz] here … Some of his campaign goals lie outside of what the VP portfolio is. But the key thing about this role is the passion you bring into it and your relationship building skills … Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who’s in the role,” Heieis said. In response, Tomkowicz stated that Heieis has done well as interim VP.
“I think Kevin is a great, great leader, and he would be absolutely great for this role,” Tomkowicz said. “His interim position as VP student life has already shown that he wants this role and that he would definitely make our campus more fun and lively … No matter the outcome of the election, I definitely believe Kevin would be great if he won, and I don’t see any faults in his campaign.”
Voting for the by-election opened on September 19 and closes September 24 at 4 p.m. Unofficial results will be available after voting closes. U
Kevin Heieis and Dominic Tomkowicz shared differing views at the debate over events, funding and mental health support.
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
CiTR and Discorder raise funds for Megaphone Magazine with annual block party
Jam Medenilla Contributor
The CiTR and Discorder Block Party returned for its 23rd year on Aug. 23. Raising money for Megaphone Magazine, UBC’s campus radio station brought the community together at Green Auto, a music venue local to East Vancouver. Entry to this pay-what-you-can show gave audience members the chance to see live performances from local bands and artists while also supporting a meaningful cause.
Megaphone Magazine is a publication that provides opportunities for individuals experiencing poverty to create and publish self-expressive work and earn income as vendors. CiTR and Discorder have a long-standing relationship with the publication, regularly offering them financial support with their annual block party fundraisers.
After over two decades of hosting the event at Victory Square on Cambie and Hastings, the block party made its first appearance at Green Auto this year.
“We decided to try [hosting the block party] in a venue for a number of reasons,” said station manager Jasper Sloan Yip. “The biggest reason being that producing an all-day concert in a public park became a bit unsustainable for us in terms of cost and workload.”
Although the change in venue caused some chaos for the organizing team — securing permits and equipment on a long weekend proved difficult — Sloan Yip said it was a positive shift in terms of fundraising, with the total amount of money raised for Megaphone jumping from $400 in 2024 to $1,680 in 2025.
To kick off the party, Megaphone’s Executive Director Lisa Curry introduced the magazine to the crowd. She explained that the work Megaphone produces, including their flagship magazine and the Voices of the Street poetry anthology, is driven by individuals from the Downtown Eastside community.
“Megaphone exists to change the story on poverty, and we do this by amplifying marginalized voices and creating meaningful work opportunities for folks with barriers to traditional employment,” said Curry in an interview with The Ubyssey
Before the musical acts began, four Megaphone contributors took the mic to read their own work for the crowd. The first to read was Peter, who has been with Megaphone Magazine for about two decades. Peter has seen Megaphone change over the years and currently works as a street vendor while contributing to the publication. Many of the speakers had varying experience with writing and expressed their gratitude to Megaphone for giving them the opportunity to explore their craft.
This publication, though meaningful to Vancouverites from within and outside the Downtown Eastside, is in jeopardy. Despite support from donors and partners like CiTR, Megaphone is currently facing extreme financial challenges.
“The nonprofit sector is experiencing severe funding cuts and a very uncertain future,” Curry said, “and that includes Megaphone. [To] navigate this economic situation, we’ve reduced our staff hours so we’re only working four days a week instead of five. But we haven’t found ways to reduce our workload. So it’s been a real strain on the organization. Our goal this year is stability. Our goal, long-term, is to keep establishing peer leadership throughout our publications and throughout our organization.”
CiTR and Discorder have been working with Megaphone for longer than Sloan Yip or Curry have been involved in their respective organizations. This year’s block party commemorates that relationship in the face of mounting challenges.
After contributors finished their readings, The Trinkettes took the outdoor stage. Their chill rock music had people swaying and cheering. Miguel Maravilla followed, singing original music
over a mix of pre-recorded and live instrumentals, with a few songs in Tagalog. The Magic Triangle notably featured a didgeridoo that stood taller than any of their artists, giving their funk a resonant foundation.
The seven musical performances alternated between the indoor and outdoor stages, giving audience members the chance to experience both environments. Each of the performers had a unique sound and highlighted strikingly different genres. The crowd was dancing, headbanging and connecting all through the night. Ending on a high note, Emma Goldman took the stage. This four-member screamo group had all the right energy to get everybody on their feet. With their set, CiTR and Discorder’s 23rd Block Party came to a close.
For readers looking to involve themselves with either CiTR and Discorder or Megaphone Magazine, there are plenty of ways to engage with them.
At locations throughout Vancouver, you can find local Megaphone vendors to purchase the magazine. The publication’s Hope and Shadows Calendar, a photography contest that
encourages Downtown Eastside community members to take pictures of their daily life following a given theme, launches on Oct. 9.
Until then, you can also purchase their latest Voices From the Streets edition, “Gravity: Hope as Resistance in Hard Times.” Finally, their Evening Edition annual fundraiser is coming up on Oct. 16 at the Russian Hall in Strathcona. This celebration allows attendees to get
to know Megaphone’s vendors and enjoy refreshments, a raffle and a keynote speech.
On the campus side, CiTR and Discorder have their annual Shindig music competition coming up in November and are taking submissions from bands at time of publishing. A battle of the bands taking place across four shows, Shindig invites local artists to compete to win a $2,500 recording grant. U
Ending on a high note, Emma Goldman took the stage. This four-member screamo group had all the right energy to get everybody on their feet.
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Great Dane Coffee hosts summer pizza nights
Khushi Anand Contributor
On the evening of Aug. 21, the front patio of Great Dane Coffee shifted from its steady cafe rhythm into something more festive. Tables were pushed together, boxes of pizza were opened and plates of cheesecake made their way around the tables. Students and community members lingered in the late summer light, chatting over slices and iced drinks as the cafe hosted one of its semi-regular pizza nights — a casual, friendly event that is quickly becoming a summer ritual on campus.
For Andrew McKee, Great Dane’s owner, these gatherings are the latest chapter in a story that began over a decade ago.
McKee graduated from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and began his career at a private equity firm in Toronto. Soon, though, his entrepreneurial itch took over.
“I always knew I wanted to start something of my own,” he said. “My sister actually suggested opening a cafe when we saw this beautiful location at UBC, and it just clicked.” Tucked beside Walter Gage Residence and only a short walk from the Nest, Great Dane has grown into a cafe with a bustling patio that quickly fills up
CAMPUS CENTENNIAL //
on sunny afternoons.
Opening a coffee shop, however, was far from straightforward. McKee first attempted to launch the business from Toronto, which made things complicated.
“Never ever start a business on the other side of the country that requires you to be there all the time,” he joked.
The cafe originally opened as “Drink Espresso Bar,” before rebranding to Great Dane Coffee. The name is a tribute to McKee’s beloved dog, Lady.
Running a cafe came with surprises. “Probably the amount of work, constantly,” McKee said. “Hospitality and service is just daily, every day you have to be on top of it. The sheer amount of effort and problem-solving — that was the biggest surprise. I can do basic electrical, basic plumbing, all of that stuff now, because you just have to solve it.”
Over the years, Great Dane has undergone at least four upgrades, steadily evolving into the cozy, iconic spot it is today. The early renovations were humble; “We replaced everything with IKEA cupboards, which literally disintegrated over time,” McKee joked. But later, larger overhauls gave the cafe its current flow and character. After moving back to Vancouver from Toronto seven years
ago, McKee took over day-to-day management from his mom, who had been helping run the shop, and kept adapting the space to fit its growing community.
It’s more than a caffeine stop; for many students, it’s a hub for study groups, catch-ups and a sense of community. McKee credits the cafe’s success to its atmosphere: “We’ve always tried to be a non-pretentious space, where people feel welcome and at home.”
That community focus is what sparked the new pizza and movie nights this summer. Students had floated the idea and McKee decided to give it a try. “It’s such a simple way for people to relax together,” he said. The experiment has paid off — the summer evenings have drawn lively crowds, from first-years discovering campus to grad students looking for a break. The pizzas have become as much of a draw as the movies themselves, with pastries often making a cameo for dessert.
McKee sees these events as more than a novelty. They’re part of his effort to make Great Dane a deeper part of campus culture; to use the cafe’s space in creative ways that bring the community together.
Pizza and movies are just the beginning. McKee hinted at plans
for board game nights and collaborations with UBC clubs this fall.
He’s also hoping to step up Great Dane’s social media presence, making it more engaging and student-focused. The cafe already has a playfully social personality; this spring, it pulled off a memorable April Fools’ prank by transforming into a “Waffle Haus” for the day.
“We’d love to do themed events like a Halloween movie night,” said McKee. “It’s about
finding ways to connect with people in a fun, genuine way.”
As Great Dane continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: its role as a campus gathering space where coffee, community and now pizza all come together.
“It’s not just about running a cafe,” McKee reflected. “It’s about creating a personalized, positive and memorable experience for each person that walks into Great Dane.” U
UBC Library and Alumni Centre celebrate 100 years at Point Grey with new exhibition
Features Editor & Arts & Culture Editor
UBC’s Vancouver campus, even more than the research and education it facilitates, is the heart of the university’s identity. Perched on the Point Grey bluffs and enveloped by the woods of Pacific Spirit, its aesthetic — removed, natural yet modern, green and golden in a thousand social media posts — is the kind of advertisement even the wealthiest American Ivies can’t buy. The space sets ideals for the institution; the endowment lands that surround it provide the
resources to make those ideals reality. In a stronger sense than most Canadian university grounds, the Point Grey campus is UBC.
This September, UBC Library, in collaboration with the AMS, the provost’s office, the Museum of Anthropology and the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre, recognized this with Celebrating 100 Years of UBC at Point Grey, a pop-up exhibition commemorating the campus and its development over the past century.
Open in the Alumni Centre from Sept. 8 to Dec. 5, it features display cases holding items from
every decade of UBC’s Point Grey history, alongside plaques recounting significant events and walls decorated with quotes from prestigious alumni.
The library cut the ribbon on this new exhibition with a centennial celebration event in the Alumni Centre on Sept. 12. Boasting an impressive turnout of UBC officials, donors and provincial glitterati — UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon, representatives from the Lee family, former Ubyssey editor and CBC journalist Justin McElroy and Premier David Eby, to name a few — the invite-only event saw a tour of the exhibition from UBC historian Herbert Rosengarten and AMS historian Sheldon Goldfarb.
Although interesting to look at by themselves, the objects on display only truly came to life in Goldfarb and Rosengarten’s stories which personalized the exhibits and located them in relation to some of the older alumni in attendance.
One display commemorates the Great Trek and the student petition that pushed the BC government to finish the long-delayed construction of the campus’s first buildings. An interactive exhibit invites visitors to try on a replica of a vintage AMS blazer from 1935. Across the room, the genuine blazer hangs inside a display case — a moment of slight unintentional comedy awaits should the viewer compare the quality of the blazers too closely.
Another display collected memorabilia from UBC’s various athletics teams — a sweater and field hockey stick from alumnus-turned-Olympian Harry Warren and a baseball glove from UBC grad and Major League player Jeff Francis.
Standing near the case of sports paraphernalia during the tour, Goldfarb pointed out that UBC’s sports teams didn’t always have a name — and “Go University of British Columbia Varsity Football!” didn’t quite roll off the tongue in the way a cheer should, he joked.
In 1933, The Ubyssey decided that needed to change. We put out a call for names and students got to vote on the options; the most popular was the “Seagulls.” This ended up being rejected and it went to another vote, resulting in the name “Thunderbirds,” which has been used ever since. Thunderbirds are mythological creatures that, for several Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest, represent strength. While UBC was eventually gifted the name from Kakaso’las-Ellen Neel and Chief William Scow of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples in 1948, for many years, they simply used it without permission.
Rosengarten brought up another unsavoury but significant point in UBC’s past: the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) protests. World leaders were meeting at the APEC conference, hosted on campus, to discuss
trade partnerships. Students were concerned about the impact of this on human rights and the growth of neoliberalism, so they gathered in protest, blocking leaders from leaving campus. The RCMP responded by arresting and pepper spraying protestors.
The tension between honouring UBC’s past and present and remembering institutional wrongdoings was a theme throughout the tour, although the speakers who addressed the reception afterward skewed more toward the former. Following a traditional welcome from Early Primary Language Education Liaison Grace Point, UBC Librarian Susan E. Parker, President Bacon, AMS President Riley Huntley and Premier Eby said a few words on UBC’s vital place in the academic and social culture of the province.
Though Goldfarb and Rosengarten will unfortunately not be picking up shifts at the alumni centre to reproduce their tour for curious visitors, a timeline of significant events on campus from the early 20th century to the present day makes up some, though not all, of the difference. Without the benefit of knowledgeable guides, the exhibition is an interesting, if somewhat underwhelming collection of vintage memorabilia and historical artifacts — a meaningful tribute to an institution that touches all our lives and a fine way to spend a few minutes between class, but no must-see. U
Tables were pushed together and boxes of pizza were opened. DHANANJAI LEKHI / THE UBYSSEY
Elena Massing & Julian Coyle Forst
The library cut the ribbon on this new exhibition with a centennial celebration. SIDNEY SHAW
Thunderbird meets Psyduck at the West Van Card Show
Arianna Aportadera Contributor
“I’ll give you this card if you give me $750 right now,” a kid shouts from across the hall.
Collectors, traders and children bustled about the room, engaging in intense negotiations with vendors. An air of excitement buzzed through the Great Hall, people of all ages coming together to experience the first West Van Card Show at UBC.
The event featured over 65 vendors, primarily selling rare Pokémon cards, merchandise and snacks, aiming to foster community through the common love of collecting and trading cards.
Tiffany Bromley, the lead organizer of the West Van Card Shows, was inspired by her son’s interest; Noah Bromley took a liking to collecting and trading and shared his pastime with his mother. His pursuit of cards eventually led Tiffany to the idea of hosting their own card show.
“We started going to all the other venues that had anything Pokémon-related … and I was like, ‘Okay, this is really cool,’ but we were driving everywhere. [It was] becoming a bit much. And so, [considering] my experience of doing events and stuff like that in my past for businesses, I said, ‘You know what? I could probably put together a show myself and have all of them come
to us so I don’t have to drive around anymore.’”
“The main thing for me personally was obviously my kid, so whatever makes him happy makes me happy,” she said.
Tiffany, with the help of Noah and her brother Scott Bromley, hosted their first card show at the West Vancouver Community Centre in July 2024.
“Right away, I started getting emails: ‘When’s the next one?’”
Following her initial success, Tiffany started working to put on
regular shows, one every two weeks. The crowds grew from 100 to at least 500 people, targeting the close-knit community of card dealers in BC. The vendors and attendees of these events range from full-time professionals to new members interested in expanding their collection. At the heart of it all is a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere that strives to cultivate an inclusive community for everyone.
The event originated from a place of love and continues to revolve around that core value. Every corner
of the Great Hall was packed with children, teens and parents showing off their cards to one another and deciding which vendor to check out next. Maybe it was the heat of summer, but there was a comforting warmth circulating through the room.
These events are organized solely by the family of three. Tiffany uses her prior experience as a vendor to coordinate with the sellers eager to attend and contribute to the show. Her recognition of the vendors’ hard work distinguishes the West Van
You’re Invited: Pre-Application Public Information Meeting for 1987-2087 Allison Road
Card Shows from the rest.
While Tiffany handles the logistics, Noah and Scott man the admissions desks and oversee the execution of their extensive planning. What began as a family initiative quickly grew into a must-visit gathering for vendors and collectors alike.
“[Noah] helps with all the understanding of the brains behind what Pokémon is, then we wouldn’t know what we were talking about. He’s the one that really knows all of it like the back of his hand … I’m the muscle. I come in and I help move chairs. So the three of us make a pretty good team,” said Scott.
The idea of hosting an event at UBC came from Scott himself, who shared that the demographic of their card shows ranges from 18–30-yearolds. Many of these vendors and attendees are often students or alumni from UBC who were delighted to hear the possibility of the event coming home.
Moving forward, the Bromleys are eager to continue hosting card show events and welcoming a wider community of collectors and families. To them, this is more than just a card show. These gatherings are a chance to make timeless memories and meaningful connections. Each card show is a celebration of family, love and a passion for community building. U
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Collectors, traders and children engaged in intense negotiations with vendors.
ARIANNA APORTADERA / THE UBYSSEY
The gift that gave UBC Athletics its identity and how we need to honour it
Words by Lauren Kasowski
Photos by Sidney Shaw
years ago, Kakaso’las-Ellen Neel and Chief William Scow of the Kwakwa ka ’wakw peoples stood on a football field looking at a stadium full of UBC students. The fans were there for the Homecoming game, but Neel and Scow were there for a different reason. They were there to gift the university and its athletes the name it had already been using: the Thunderbird.
The Thunderbird is a mythological creature from various Indigenous cultures around the Pacific Northwest region of Turtle Island. While the legend of the Thunderbird varies between nations and
the university on their back. But it’s also a name with a troubling beginning and serves as a steady reminder that athletics are not removed from addressing decolonization and Indigenous reconciliation.
The history of UBC’s mascot is rooted in the concept of people thinking they know better than to ask.
In 1933, after 12 years of being known as “Blue and Gold” or just “Varsity,” the university was looking for a more personable name for their branding. The Ubyssey put out a call for name ideas, and since athletics were then a part of the AMS, the naming process went to a student vote. But things didn’t go to plan, and the most popular name ended up being a write-in: the Seagulls. Not very intimidatThe Ubyssey and the Pep Club quickly dissented with the public’s answer and decided to choose the name
With their criteria of “the history or geographical location of our University,” the group took a short list of suggestions — Spartans, Corsairs, Golden Eagles, Musqueams and Thunderbirds — and chose the Thunderbird in January 1934, after Ubyssey sports reporter Clarence Idyll’s advocacy for it based on its connection to various BC Indigenous cultures.
Despite the acknowledgement of the name being tied to Indigenous cultures, it was chosen without input or consent from any nation. For 14 years, the UBC Thunderbirds’ name was appropriated. Given the unsavoury past, I was surprised to hear Kavie Toor, the managing director of Athletics and Recreation at UBC,
Thunderbird.
In April 1948, Neel decided to carve a totem pole for the university team and wrote to then-UBC President Norman A. MacKenzie to see if its gifting could be arranged. MacKenzie accepted, but it was Neel’s actions, those on behalf of Indigenous peoples, which started the conversation.
“It’s the Indigenous communities that made it right,” Norman said. “I think that’s a really important piece of history.”
On Oct. 30, 1948, Neel and Scow gifted the name of the Thunderbird on behalf of the Kwakw a k a’wakw peoples. Under tribal law and customs, this gifting was a legal way for UBC to continue to use the name. Along with the name, Neel’s carved totem pole titled “Victory Through Honour” was given to the university. The 16-foot tall pole was topped with a Thunderbird, its wings outstretched.
In 1948, under th e Indian Act, the act of wearing traditional regalia and gifting could be considered a ‘potlatch,’ which were banned until 1951. Neel and Scow broke Canadian law in order to give the university team their name, publicly risking arrest in demonstrating just how important they felt it was to give the gifts.
Norman continued to tell me that the Coast Salish peoples gifted the name because they wanted Indigenous students and athletes to feel a sense of connection to their culture while at UBC, something that was addressed at the 1948 ceremony.
“To the Native people of the whole province we can give our assurance that your children will be accepted at this school by the Staff and Student Council, eager to smooth their paths with kindness and understanding,” Neel said during the ceremony.
During our conversation, Norman brought up another interesting point: there are distinctions between the story of the Thunderbird and the story of how UBC acquired it. The Thunderbird is bigger than UBC’s history with it.
the teachings. Norman echoed this on the local scale, telling me that knowing the legend of the Thunderbird could deepen students’ understanding of the gift and how to carry the name.
Neel also gifted the legend of this Thunderbird, customized specifically for UBC. In Neel’s customized version of the legend of the Four Tests of Tsekume, Tsekume is presented with a totem pole after completing four trials that proved his ideals of honour, respect, integrity and excellence. Neel’s totem pole references the pole in the legend, and in both, the mighty Thunderbird sits above all the other animals. According to an abridged version by Neel’s granddaughter, Lou-ann Ika’wega Neel, “Victory Through Honour” is a legend that showcases the journeys that individuals at the university would undergo throughout their life and how to handle them.
Unfortunately, Ellen Neel’s original totem pole was vandalized and destroyed in 2000. During the 2004 rededication ceremony for the replica pole, the Kwakw a k a’wakw Chiefs Frank Nuck and Edwin Newman raised the pole with representatives of the Musqueam present, emphasizing their role in the Thunderbird name and legacy (although the Musqueam gave consent in 1948).
“The Indigenous community didn’t necessarily provide the approval to use the name and it was never a partnership or goal around reconciliation or decolonizing support,” Toor said. “It just was appropriated.”
What changed appropriation into appreciation wasn’t settler reconciliation but rather Indigenous generosity, according to Dr. Moss Norman. Norman, a fourth-generation white settler scholar who teaches sport sociology at UBC, said that knowing the gifting of the name wasn’t an initiative kickstarted by UBC is key to understanding the full history of the
Storytelling in Indigenous cultures is different from Western storytelling. Oral histories have a more prominent role and have cultural teachings embedded in them. Some stories have specific guardianship requirements, like only being with a certain knowledge keeper, family or nation, and only those tasked with its stewardship may retell the story. Some stories are protected, with only certain individuals being allowed to hear them. Stories also come with responsibilities. In his book The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative, Thomas King wrote that once stories are out in the world, they cannot be called back — and once you have heard them, you cannot live your life saying you would live differently if you only knew
But permission doesn’t signal the end of the university’s engagement with the Indigenous peoples and cultures on which it has built its identity. UBC Vancouver is a predominantly non-Indigenous campus (only 2.8 per cent of students in 202425 self-identified as Indigenous) which means the responsibility of learning about Indigenous cultures — and the origins of our mascot — falls to settler students, staff and faculty. This means taking the time to research: how is the Thunderbird being used? How are students learning about and honouring its origins? Is this how Musqueam sees it should be used? As Norman explained, these questions might not have clear-cut answers, but are nonetheless crucial for students, and especially student-athletes, to consider.
“Are we fulfilling the obligations that this gift came with?” he said. “I have wondered about that.”
Sports are political. Dr. Janice Forsyth has always known this. The UBC kinesiology professor and member of the Fisher River Cree Nation seemed shocked when I suggested that some people thought otherwise.
“To say that sport is not political, or that it shouldn’t be political, is just a strange thing to say,” she said. “It has always been political. It’s just [about] whose politics is it serving?”
And let’s be clear: sports have always been political. Think of Jesse Owens’ per-
formance in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union, even the newly-created Professional Women’s Hockey League. Sports have never been separate from the systems that built them. They reflect the dominant behaviours, beliefs and values of a society, including colonization. Sports may serve some segments of society, but they sideline others through that same process — even institutionally.
Sports were a tool in the residential school system, which, according to Sir John A. Macdonald, existed to “take the Indian out of the child.” Hockey, specifically, was used to promote the assimilation of Indigenous students into Canadian culture. Forsyth co-led a project called Crossing the Red Line, which looked into Sioux Lookout Indian Residential School survivors’ experiences being on the school’s hockey team. For students, sport may have been a way to connect with other children or to learn the value of hard work, but school administrators used it to parade how well they believed residential schools worked at assimilating Indigenous children. The link between Indigeneity and sports has always existed, which means the link between sports and decolonization also exists; the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) even recognized this with five explicitly sports-related calls to action.
Dr. Rosalin Miles, a UBC Indigenous scholar and research associate and a member of the Lytton First Nation, is the first person in her family to not attend residential school. She echoed how sports and Indigeneity intersect, noting that sports were a way of connecting with her heritage growing up.
“I think sports gives you a place where you can really express yourself emotionally and be connected to your inner warrior,” she said.
This juxtaposed the behaviour many residential school survivors were forced into: to be silent, well-behaved and passive. In sports, you could be aggressive or loud, and there was an opportunity to be emotionally grounded. According to some accounts, sports are perhaps the only good thing that male residential school survivors remember. And although the last residential schools in Canada have been closed for 29 years, it isn’t always culturally safe for Indigenous athletes to connect with their inner warrior. Miles recounted a time when other athletes looked at her like she was crazy when she suggested howling like wolves for a photo. For her, it was being “tribal,” being herself. But the sports world still gave a very clear message of exclusion.
The sooner the sports world realizes that it is inherently political, the sooner it can seriously start to address societal issues. But by cherrypicking social justice causes, Forsyth said, sports only reinforces an exclusive narrative. It can’t advocate for racial and gender equality while feigning political neutrality when it comes to decolonization and reconciliation. Being a vehicle for social justice means being a vehicle for all aspects of social justice — not just the convenient or popular ones — and it seems that sports as an institution doesn’t know if it’s willing to be that vehicle.
“It needs to take a big, long, hard look in the mirror and decide how it wants to be in the world,” she said.
etween the Black Lives Matter protests and COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020 and 2021, more consumers — and brands — became aware of how sports are intertwined with broader social movements. Advocates wanted change and sports were becoming more pronounced as part of that change. The key word being “more.” Social justice isn’t new for sports. Many
people can remember Billie Jean King’s victory in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ or Colin Kaepernick’s Nike ad after he protested police brutality in the United States by kneeling during the American national anthem at NFL games. Hockey players Travis Dermott and Connor McDavid protested the NHL’s ban on Pride Tape, intended to be worn in support of the queer community.
What seemed new was how decolonization was — or wasn’t — being addressed. For Forsyth, these displays of activism from athletes are commendable. It’s great that athletes are using their platforms to
across Canada, institutions like universities and governments began to take recommendations for reconciliation more seriously. Sports were no exception — although teams with Indigenous names had been told years prior to rebrand, most finally did in 2020 and 2021. Most notably, this included the Edmonton Elks and Washington Commanders football teams and the Cleveland Guardians baseball team.
While some could finally feel a sense of relief at knowing they wouldn’t be hearing slurs as team names, not everyone’s reactions to the name changes were positive
“
“To say that sport is not political, or that it shouldn’t be political, is just a strange thing to say,” she said. “It has always been political. It’s just [about] whose politics is it serving?”
- Dr. Janice Forsyth, professor of kinesiology
make statements and be engaged citizens; it shows everyone that sports are indeed political. But mainstream athletes have also not discussed decolonization, especially not with regard to the repatriation of land.
“It’s this form of decolonization, it is this form of social justice that is getting lost in the bigger celebration of social justice,” she said. “It’s the Indigenous part that is still lacking and that’s a fundamental challenge to sport in how it’s organized.”
In wake of the uncovering of mass graves at former residential school sites
of belonging.
That isn’t necessarily the case at UBC. We’re in a different situation because of the 1948 gifting, at least according to Toor. He didn’t hear any pushback on the name from the university community or Musqueam Nation during the late 2010s and early 2020s, unlike at other Canadian universities like McGill. However, there is a large likelihood that’s because of the knowledge and education around the story of the Thunderbird and how our mascot came to be.
On campus tours, prospective students stop by the “Victory Through Honour” totem pole which currently sits in front of Brock Hall. According to Toor, student athletes receive experiential learnings, like lectures from guest speakers, alongside “some elements” in their mandatory education to deepen their understanding of sports’ role in reconciliation.
For Norman, education around the story of the Thunderbird, what it represents, and how students choose to carry it through their time as a Thunderbird, is radically important to how the name is viewed. Compared to the Edmonton Elks, it’s clear why we are still the Thunderbirds.
“I think that’s actually disruptive of some of those ideas about belong[ing], settler entitlement and indigenization of white settler folks,” he said. “I think it actually challenges that.”
While UBC Athletics didn’t change their name, they did meet the socio-political moment. In January 2024, a new art piece of the Thunderbird was revealed in a similar fashion as it had 75 years prior: in front of a crowd of students watching a sports game. Only this time, it was inside the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre for the annual Winter Classic hockey game.
Before a ceremonial puck drop, Toor stood at centre ice, admiring the debut of the re-imagined version of the Thunderbird that lay six inches beneath his feet. While the game was happening, in which the teams wore jerseys with the new design, he said he’d never had so many people ask about the team’s jersey.
Deanna-Marie Point, a Musqueam artist, redesigned the Thunderbird logo. “Thunderbird Takes Flight” shows a side profile of a full Thunderbird, with its body and patterns representing the Coast Salish peoples and the colouring of blue and gold representing UBC. It is the first official representation of the Musqueam Thunderbird on campus.
Toor said the Athletics and Recreation department has been building a relationship with Musqueam for the past five years and has been having conversations about what decolonizing sports looks like and how UBC can better support their needs. The partnership, he stressed, is built on shared understanding and mutual trust and support. Over the years, he’s learned the key to making partnerships strong: listen more than you talk.
“If you build a relationship and listen, then you’re going to land in a good spot in the end,” he said.
— which Forsyth said reinforces colonial ideas. People are more upset about maintaining a brand than the fact that these teams operate on Indigenous land without equal partnership. “[It] is a form of colonialism expressed as capitalism,” she said.
Norman explained that these negative reactions often stem from settlers’ feelings of entitlement. If settlers feel they can claim and belong to a sports team that takes from Indigenous culture, they feel they can claim and belong to the land. It might just be a name, but it justifies settler colonialism. To take away that name is to take away some settlers’ sense
Since becoming managing director in 2020, Toor has become more aware of the lack of Musqueam representation. While he believes the 1948 gifting by the Kwakw a k a’wakw nation was done in earnest, he said it felt unusual to him that it wasn’t given by the Musqueam, especially as he learned and engaged in more dialogue. That’s when UBC Athletics began to have conversations about how to enhance the connection to Musqueam. Toor said his department has been engaging with nation partners to figure out what decolonizing sport looks like. From there, the department has worked on more recreation-based initiatives, such as adding “A Jaunt through Musqueam Territory” to the
Great Trek title and adding Musqueam Swims, a weekly program for Musqueam with Indigenous swim instructors, to the UBC Aquatic Centre.
But Toor wanted something that could connect with the varsity teams, which is how the logo redesign was brought forward. He said that this proposal specifically connected with the Musqueam partners and soon after, calls for Musqueam artists were put out. In a room with equal parts UBC and Musqueam representation, Point’s artwork was chosen.
The design was first incorporated into UBC Recreation’s events, starting with Storm the Wall in 2023. For Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow, yəχʷyaχʷələq, the new logo collaboration shows that “patience, mutual respect and openness to listen and learn about our protocols,” is the best way to honour Musqueam’s relationship to the land. The following varsity season, the alternate logo began to appear on jerseys, warm-up shirts and arena walls.
For Toor, the reimagined logo is not only a powerful piece of art, but a tool to inform settlers of the history of the Musqueam lands on which UBC Athletics operates.
“The best part about it … [is] how we arrived at these pieces — through a shared approach and lots of trust and good relationships.”
But changing a name or a symbol is so surface-level that Forsyth wouldn’t even count it as decolonization.
For her, decolonization is about systemic reform. It means, ultimately, undoing all forms of colonialism.
“If there is no systemic change that advances the needs and the interest of the Indigenous nations, then I would say we can’t call it decolonization,” she told me.
“It’s another project, but it’s not decolonization, especially if it doesn’t repatriate land in some way.”
The connection to the land is key to Forsyth’s definition of decolonization, especially in a Canadian, settler-colonialist context. She said that decolonization is finding ways to live on Indigenous land and with Indigenous peoples in ways that preserve their culture and sovereignty. Indigenous nations are nations, not communities as they are so often referred to as, and in shifting that vernacular, a shift must also happen in negotiating. You don’t address a city like Burnaby the same way you’d address the United States.
A change in negotiating also means a change in how partnerships are addressed. Forsyth advocated for stronger economic reparations and creating better economic relationships between sports organizations and Indigenous nations.
For example, the 91st call to action from the TRC instructs the organizers of major sporting events, like the Olympics or Commonwealth Games, to engage with local Indigenous communities during planning and participation. But she said it shouldn’t stop at engagement — again, you wouldn’t host a Canadian game in the United States and not pay them for it. Having an Indigenous partner for events should mean that nations not only get opportunities for money, but guaranteed economic benefit. Their value isn’t only in representation, but in everything else too.
When UBC hosted the two Final 8 national basketball tournaments in March, Toor said Musqueam were consulted before they accepted the offer to host and that they had Musqueam guest speakers at keynotes and the opening ceremony.
“When we do a major event, it’s a really deep partnership that we look to engage with Musqueam on and in around these things because we view them as opportunities for the Musqueam, opportunities for us to storytell and to have an impact on our community,” said Toor.
Toor did not respond for comment to confirm if the Musqueam Nation received economic benefit for hosting the Final 8 tournament by press time.
Miles would like to see a stronger economic benefit going back to the communities, but said it’s less about the tangibles and more about the efforts of reciprocity.
Reciprocity is embedded through an expression Miles mentioned a few times: “nothing for us without us.” This refers to a collaborative mindset in which no program, initiative or action regarding Indigenous people should be done without consultation and collaboration with the impacted Indigenous peoples. Essentially, don’t assume you know better than the people who actually know. It’s the element of reciprocity that Miles feels settlers don’t do enough in reconciliation. She gave an example of how much UBC has been able to do on Musqueam land and what they’ve done for the Musqueam people in return and how unequal it is; the scale of reciprocity is unbalanced, regardless of monetary value.
“It’s not about money, it’s about a relationship,” she said.
“Nothing for us without us” also highlights the accountability that Indigenous peoples have to their community or nation. Accountability is just one responsibility, Miles said, that Indigenous people have — others include practicing resilience, self-respect and reciprocity. These responsibilities are amplified by Western standards of tokenism and representing your culture.
“It’s not just your family, it’s your people,” said Miles.
Although Indigenous people have ties to their communities, Miles noted that there is a lack of locality and a sense of responsibility to the Musqueam. UBC hires Indigenous people — although not enough to meet the national average — but they are often from nations outside BC, which means they don’t have a strong connection and accountability to the communities or land here. For Miles, this means that community events or engagement led by Indigenous people can still be colonial, because there is no local accountability. It’s still outsiders running the show. She’d want to see larger support for Indigenous hires that are local to either UBC campuses.
To this point, she suggested better integration of the Thunderbird to cultural and traditional ways of knowing. Symbolism isn’t just symbolism — or at least it shouldn’t be. Because there’s meaning behind the symbol of the Thunderbird, there are ties to Musqueam culture, traditions, the hən q əmin əm language and, therefore, land. Ties to the land also mean ties to Indigenous title rights. Symbolism isn’t just metaphorical, but without integration, it is.
Through advocacy and engagement, Indigenous people reciprocate with their communities by making “nothing for us without us” a reality. But there also needs to be a greater emphasis on reciprocity between settlers giving back to Indigenous peoples. While it might not come easy — reciprocity is less entrenched in more individualistic, Western cultures — it is a necessary step toward reconciliation.
And just like there isn’t one way to build a better society, there are many ways to express decolonization based on the sport. Forsyth has been working with Canoe Kayak Canada to understand the sports’ connections to colonization, focusing on history and implications for their sports. Sports like running or kite-skiing have specific initiatives to increase Indigenous access and participation. Decolonization will look different to each organization based on their own history, location, goals and available resources.
“[To see] how it’s getting operationalized in these very specific sporting contexts — that would be a wonderful mosaic of decolonization,” Forsyth said. But sports are notoriously slow at systemic change. In their defence, most institutions are not much better. Systemic reform requires physical, emotional and mental energy to deconstruct both where and how the system isn’t working. It requires organizational support; creating more inclusive systems, paying individuals their worth, making new scholarships and developing programs takes time. Add on the fact that there isn’t a silver bullet for how an institution is supposed to decolo -
nize — the process of decolonization and reconciliation looks different in education, medicine and policing — then yes, it’ll take time. But that’s not an excuse for how long sports have taken to make even the smallest amount of progress.
“Health has advanced. Justice has advanced, education has advanced, government has advanced. And yet, sports … the gates have opened, the gun has gone off and they’re still standing there looking at each other, wondering what to do,” Forsyth said. “I don’t know why it’s so far behind the curve, but there it is.” years can feel like a long time. Not for Miles. She reminded me that changes on this campus, including the gifting of the Thunderbird, happened only one generation ago. When the first Great Trek happened, where were the Musqueam? When the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre opened, where were the Musqueam? They were always here — this is their land — but they weren’t acknowledged systemically in athletics. While there have been advancements, there is still lots of work to be done when it comes to sports and reconciliation on campus.
Miles said part of moving forward is about creating equal and collaborative relationships between organizations and nations. One tangible way she suggested sports could improve is by making their approaches to decolonization more collaborative and strength-based, as opposed to a deficit-based model.
Deficit-based approaches are ones that focus on wrongdoing instead of rightdoing — what don’t you have instead of what you do have. This mindset is inherently negative but more commonly used because you don’t need to form a relationship in order to address it. It’s much easier to take a quick glance at an individual or a community and point out the flaws than it is to build a relationship and see where greater good can be created. Miles also pointed out that a deficit-based model invokes shame, a tool in colonizers’ attempts to assimilate Indigenous peoples. By contrast, a strength-based approach is about empowerment of unique gifts.
Miles also said that a strength-based approach is more positive, which she says is important when considering wholistic health and wellness, especially for Indigenous communities where this mindset has existed for generations.
“If you watch the Elders with the little ones and the children, they’re always building them up and they’re focusing on their gifts,” she said. “It’s beautiful.” In doing strength-based work, there is also co-creation: what the community thinks they are doing well, in addition to
what the external partner reaching out thinks. Before co-creation can happen, there needs to be a relationship and dialogue of what people are doing really well, which in turn fosters the “nothing for us without us” mantra. “It’s kind of full circle,” said Miles.
She also stressed that the “us” part is crucial — that there should be more than one person who’s Indigenous involved in these conversations. This not only adds more perspectives, but creates better representation for Indigenous people as leaders, both on and off the field.
In 2020, UBC launched their Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP), a document that outlines the university’s plan for progressing reconciliation. The plan had input from 2,500 students, staff, faculty and community members, leading to the creation of 43 distinct actions. These actions are intentionally broad, as the ISP is “a set of measures that [departments] can begin to put into their own context,” according to Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, ISP co-lead, in a 2021 interview with The Ubyssey “It’s important that we get the word out that this is everybody’s plan and everyone has a role to play here. Everyone should see themselves in some of those action items and can start moving those forward,” she said.
The plan is meant to guide university faculties, departments and units, including Athletics and Recreation, and Toor said they saw where they could take action in various goals. The ISP is a guiding document in their community engagement, specifically encouraging and creating Athletics’ relationship with Musqueam.
Although UBC Athletics hasn’t outwardly taken a strength-based approach, they have worked more on the collaborative end. Toor told me their building block of decolonizing sport is their relationship with Musqueam and taking direction from them. He said the department isn’t trying to decide what is best, but rather work together to create programs or pathways to decolonize sports.
Point’s redesign of the Thunderbird logo is one of four Athletics-based action items in the 2025 ISP Progress Report. However,
none of the actions listed in the progress report or noted by Toor are rooted in systemic reforms. And Toor knows there is still more work to be done.
“We understand reconciling our collective colonial history will require enormous efforts by all of us,” he said.
And although Miles had
ideas for how UBC Athletics could make progress on their reconciliation efforts, she was adamant about applying a strengthbased approach. Continuing to use a deficit- and shame-based approach to decolonization and reconciliation won’t move things along any more smoothly than they are now. Negativity doesn’t help. To move forward, she said, we should look to the present and the future and determine how we can expand what is going well.
“There are some things that do need to change, still continue to change, but,” Miles said, “I have hope.” U
Opinion: How students can finally get the SkyTrain to UBC done
This is an opinion essay. It reflects the contributor’s views and does not reflect the views of The Ubyssey as a whole. Contribute to the conversation by visiting ubyssey.ca/pages/ submit-an-opinion
Solomon Yi-Kieran Guest Contributor
Solomon Yi-Kieran (any/all) is the Vice President External Affairs of the Alma Mater Society.
When I ran to be AMS Vice President External Affairs a question students asked me throughout the campaign was “how are you actually going to get the SkyTrain to UBC?” The provincial government first committed to this project in 2008, and since then, 17 iterations of AMS VP externals and UBC administrators have advocated year after year after year for the SkyTrain to finally be extended.
Despite this, government delays and a lack of political, media and community attention have stalled this project time and time again. It became clear to me that old approaches are not working, and students wanted to know what I would do differently. So when my friend Vedin joked to me about marching for the SkyTrain, like the Great Trek of 1922 that built UBC’s Point Grey campus after years of government delays, I immediately saw an opportunity to bring UBC students together and demand real progress on the SkyTrain to UBC.
In my view, if students want the SkyTrain to happen, we can’t rely on AMS lobbying alone or passively wait for the government to act. We need to make our voices heard and demand action together by signing the SkyTrain to UBC petition — and showing up to the rally on Oct.ƒ 1.
The importance of the SkyTrain to UBC is nearly undeniable. Currently, over 37 per cent of students who commute spend over an hour commuting to campus each way, every day. When over 11,000 UBC students live in faraway cities like Surrey, New Westminster, Coquitlam and North Vancouver, it’s not hard to see why this would be the case. Currently, there are almost no areas outside of the City of Vancouver where students can commute to UBC in under an hour. In fact, almost all of East Van is at least an hour commute to campus.
The SkyTrain to UBC would reduce the majority of commutes by 30 minutes each way. Nearly all commutes from Vancouver and Burnaby would be cut to 30–45 minutes. Students in North Vancouver, New Westminster, Surrey, Richmond and Coquitlam would be able to reach UBC in under one hour.
A UBC SkyTrain is also the only transit infrastructure that can adequately handle the massive ridership demand along Broadway. The UBC Bus Loop is the busiest bus loop in Metro Vancouver that doesn’t have any rapid transit — which should come as no surprise if you’ve ever been passed-up by an overloaded 99 or crammed into an R4 like a sardine. The corridor it serves is the busiest transit route in the US and Canada, with 165,000
daily boardings and more than half a million annual pass-ups. The Millennium Line extension, opening in 2027, stops at Arbutus Street; this is a half-measure and at peak hours it will strand over 4,000 commuters half an hour away from UBC and fail to substantially improve commutes for students. Only a SkyTrain to UBC will have the capacity and speed needed to properly service commuters along this route.
Shorter commutes would mean more time on campus for clubs, parties and events. As a commuter school, UBC suffers from a lack of on-campus culture. And it’s not hard to see why given students need to commute for hours every day on top of studying and work.
A SkyTrain to UBC would also make it easier for students to go to Vancouver for restaurants, concerts, museums and the attractions the city has to offer.
Up to 32 per cent of commuters drive to campus either alone or in a carpool. A SkyTrain would ensure transiting from cities like Coquitlam and Surrey takes similar — if not less — time compared to driving. Getting cars off the road is essential to combating climate change and decreasing emissions.
A SkyTrain to UBC would mean thousands of commuters don’t need to sit in traffic, and save some of the furthest-commuting students up to $340 of gas per month, while also reducing strain on Metro Vancouver’s road systems.
With this in mind, readers may ask themselves: If the SkyTrain to UBC would save students up to an
hour of commuting a day, save $340 a month on gas, improve campus culture, decrease emissions and create more housing for the entire community, then why hasn’t the project been built yet?
In the 17 years since the provincial government took the lead on the project (with many projecting a 2020 completion date), there’s been no shortage of evidence and voices in favour of the project. In 2012, the City of Vancouver’s UBC Rapid Transit Study found that a SkyTrain to UBC was the most efficient transit option to meet demand. The City of Vancouver’s Transportation 2040 plan and Translink Mayors’ Council Regional Transit Investments report both set the UBC SkyTrain as a key transit priority. In 2019, Vancouver City Council endorsed the UBC SkyTrain Extension project. In 2021, the federal and provincial governments each agreed to fund 40 per cent of the business case for the extension, with UBC administrators projecting the case’s release within a year, by 2022.
So why, despite all the support regionally and from the community, has nothing happened? I was 3 years old when the government first got involved; how have students been waiting 17 years for this clearly important project? Why did it take the federal and provincial governments 13 years just to come to a funding agreement for the business case, and how is it that the business case is another 3 years delayed?
The simplest answer is that
the SkyTrain to UBC simply hasn’t been a government priority. Without consistent community petitioning, the SkyTrain to UBC has received minimal media attention, limited political attention and has fallen to the wayside.
That’s where the importance of student action comes in. When advocating for student issues, our biggest strength is that we can channel the combined voice of more than 60,000 UBC students to fight for the causes that will benefit our community. If the SkyTrain to UBC hasn’t been receiving attention, then let’s create that attention in a way that’s impossible for the government to ignore.
As of writing this article, the SkyTrain to UBC petition has over 14,000 signatures. Seeing so many students and community members voice their support has been vital for building up the necessary attention; the petition has already appeared in two newspaper articles, has received letters of support from the University Neighbourhood Association (representing the 15,000 residents of Wesbrook Village and other on-campus neighbourhoods), the Association of Academic and Professional Staff at UBC, other student unions and is making its way to the City of Vancouver with a motion we’re bringing forward with Councillors Lucy Maloney and Sean Orr.
During September, my team and I will be boothing across campus, doing lecture announcements and meeting students where they’re at to hear their thoughts and collect
their signatures.
Perhaps even more importantly, on Oct. 1 we are planning a large-scale rally for the SkyTrain. Beginning at 2 p.m. just outside of the Nest, there will be a free BBQ and live music performances. If you care about cutting commute times, if you care about making UBC accessible, if you care about getting the SkyTrain, then I invite you to show up. Having a large crowd of students show up for the SkyTrain will prove to the media and policymakers that the SkyTrain to UBC is an issue of regional importance that cannot face any further delays.
As a student, your voice will fundamentally determine whether the provincial government listens to our advocacy. We will be taking the petition to meetings with Premier Eby, to the Legislative Assembly in Victoria, to City Hall and to lawmakers in Ottawa. There is no doubt in my mind that the petition and rally are just the first step, but at every step along the way, your voice and your signature will be what brings the attention that the SkyTrain to UBC deserves.
We’ve waited for 17 years for the SkyTrain, and I don’t want UBC students to have to wait 17 more. If you want to cut commute times and finally get the SkyTrain, then let’s tell the government to release the timeline, release the business case and to release funding for the project.
Make sure to sign the petition (ams.ubc.ca/skytrain) and make sure to join us outside the Nest on October 1. U
“I was 3 years old when the government first got invovled; how have students been waiting 17 years ... ”
YUJLIA HUANG / THE UBYSSEY
Point of Inquiry: What to make of the VP student life by-election?
Point of Inquiry is a column written by AMS Columnist Quyen Schroeder about our student union’s governance and policies. It seeks to analyze the AMS with a critical — but constructive — eye.
Quyen Schroder (they/she) is a fourth-year student studying English language and computer science, and they’ve been a committed observer of almost all AMS Council meetings since February 2023. She also ran as “Barry ‘Bee’ Buzzword” in the 2025 AMS presidential election. They can be reached at q.schroeder@ubyssey. ca.
Quyen Schroeder
AMS Columnist
Editor’s Note: This column was first published online on September 20 under the headline “Point of Inquiry: Scooter Dom dropped out. What does that mean for the election and the AMS?”
Two candidates for the newly-created VP student life position attended Wednesday’s debate in the Michael Kingsmill Forum: Interim VP Student Life Kevin Heieis and campus microcelebrity Dominic Tomkowicz (known online as Scooter Dom).
Going into this debate, I was looking out for a candidate who had a strong vision for the future of the VP Student Life’s Office — one that would justify the position’s creation — and the competence to execute that vision. I also hoped to learn how each candidate envisioned their portfolio overlapping with other executives, given the broad scope of their mandate.
(I ran as joke candidate Barry ‘Bee’ Buzzword in the last AMS presidential election. One of my opponents, fellow joke candidate /u/ sasamats, was endorsed by Tomkowicz.)
VP student life is a new position formed this spring through the passage of a referendum. The previous administration was careful to specify that the VP student life wasn’t just the VP of partying, but in its current state, the role is vague. Compared to other executive positions like the VP external — which, for example, has a clear mandate to represent student priorities to organizations external to the university, like the province or TransLink — the VP student life has a much less defined role. In the six months since its creation, the VP student life has taken on campus events, previously the domain of the VP administration, as well as responsibility for caring for student mental health. In previous years, the VP finance’s management of the AMS/ GSS Health and Dental Plan meant they assumed responsibility over the insured mental health care coverage provided to students.
Here’s what I have to say about the debate, both candidates, and Tomkowicz’s decision to withdraw from the election.
ON DEBATE PROCEDURE
In a notable departure from longtime AMS election precedent, Wednesday evening’s debate was not moderated by The Ubyssey
— the independent student press and the only media organization who regularly reports on the AMS. Instead, recently-appointed Speaker of Council Josh Bradbury moderated the debate.
Bradbury wasn’t an outright biased moderator, but the precedent of allowing the Speaker to moderate election debates is concerning. The proximity of the Speaker to the AMS calls into question the integrity of the debate. Although they are not intended to be a political extension of the AMS executive, speakers are confirmed by a vote of Council, which includes AMS executives like Heieis. (AMS President Riley Huntley said in a statement that Heieis recused himself from the Sept. 10 Speaker confirmation vote.)
(I ran as joke candidate Barry ‘Bee’ Buzzword against Huntley for AMS president.)
The Speaker’s prewritten questions left much to be desired. Many of them were so vague as to be useless: “If you could introduce one new student event run by the AMS, what would it be and why?” Another question asked candidates their top three goals, and which one of the three was their “single main goal.”
Neither of these questions challenged the candidates. They were free to share their goals, but rarely did the Speaker’s questions force the candidates to consider the position’s complicated realities.
For the AMS general election in the spring, The Ubyssey’s news team should moderate debates — as has been tradition for at least eight years. The news team is independent from the AMS and has experience asking questions that challenge candidates.
KEVIN HEIEIS
Last year, Heieis was the special projects lead in the AMS President’s Office — a role which he claims was “instrumental” in the creation of the VP student life position. After the referendum to create the position passed this spring, he was hired into the role on an interim basis.
According to Heieis’ LinkedIn, he declined an offer to be put on the ballot as a Liberal MP in the recent federal election, writing that he’d instead taken “the single most influential position I could have to make a real positive impact on the wellbeing of these 60,000+ students” — the VP student life position.
Though perhaps “single most influential position” is a bit of an exaggeration, Heieis has proven competent during his tenure as an interim executive. He secured funding for 600 gym bursaries and engaged the Disabilities United Collective about accessibility in campus events. He is also working on revisions to student experience surveys that will help identify demographics who feel separated from the campus community. By the end of his term, he says he’ll develop a multi-year student life strategic plan.
Heieis is also attentive to the fiscal limits of the AMS. For instance, ahead of Mental Health Week, he is planning to use funding from UBC Thrive — a UBC wellbeing initiative to promote mental health — and seek external sponsors.
Despite his experience in the AMS, parts of Heieis’ platform are unfocused and trivial. During Wednesday’s debate, Heieis said that “UBC has bleached our campus from bright blue and gold to navy and white,” claiming that UBC’s shift from official colours of blue and gold to navy and white prevents students from forming a shared campus identity (an idea he wrote about in a Ubyssey opinion essay last year). Heieis also wants to continue collaborating with the university in the aim of developing merch that is “interesting to students.” I question the value of
“
specifically mentioning the startof-year AMS student planners. The cost of planners pales in comparison to events like the AMS Block Party, which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
On Thursday evening after the debate, Tomkowicz announced on his Instagram that he’d be withdrawing from the race. “The position I am running for isn’t for me. I admit that I was way too rash,” he wrote.
That same evening, AMS President Huntley sent me screenshots of a conversation he had with Tomkowicz in which the two discussed
“Mohkam Malik was the one who put me up to this,” one of Tomkowicz’s messages read. Malik, a repeat candidate in previous AMS elections, denies the allegations.
one of our executives spending time and resources developing Thunderbirds baseball jerseys — regardless of how he was able to convince the university to contribute $3,500 towards the jerseys’ production.
When asked how the VP student life interacts with the VP administration’s role, Heieis said the former would serve as an additional resource to student groups; the VP student life would support with branding, events and colour selection while the VP Administration’s Office would manage room bookings and renewals. While an executive assisting a club in selecting colours hardly seems necessary, I am glad to see Heieis has a theory of how his responsibilities intersect with those of other executives.
DOMINIC TOMKOWICZ
On the Instagram Live announcing his candidacy, Tomkowicz failed to describe his platform or portray an understanding of the position. “We’ll think of that plan. The first plan is to address it first,” he said in response to a question about his plan for mental health before he answered a question about doing 10 pushups. The rest of the stream was equally vacuous. He incorrectly described the AMS’s existing health care coverage, prayed for mental health and described how he’d improve the mental health of a hypothetical person sitting on a bench. Commenters noted he didn’t even have “concepts of a plan.”
For the debate, Tomkowicz arrived with plenty of ideas and precious little knowledge about their feasibility. He pitched peer-based resource groups — a concept nearly identical to the extant AMS Peer Support. He sought to speed up club approvals, unaware that the number of AMS Clubs was capped this summer at 350. When asked about funding his events, he said he’d “definitely cut out some things” — only
a message to Huntley, he wrote “now I know the responsibilities of [the VP student life] and I care too much about the people who know me to fail them.”
It would be easy to judge Tomkowicz for his four days of campaigning, but I think Tomkowicz’s approach to his candidacy parallels how many students interact with Council. He was passionate about student life, hoping to make a difference. He decided to run, showing up without having done his research. Because of his lack of preparation, he was ineffective and left without having made an impact.
The arc of Tomkowicz’s campaign is a familiar one. Students find an avenue to improve our university. They advocate — to the AMS, to the university or to social media. But without having made the effort to understand the audience of their advocacy, they are unsuccessful.
Tomkowicz’s withdrawal. This is not the first time Huntley has messaged me about AMS politics. I did not solicit Huntley for this information, and he did not request that these messages about the by-election be off the record or on background.
“Mohkam Malik was the one who put me up to this,” one of Tomkowicz’s messages read. “He approached me one time and told me about the position and how easy it would be.”
Malik has run for various positions in both the 2024 and 2025 AMS general elections, including for Senate in 2025, Board of Governors in 2025, VP finance in 2024 and The Ubyssey’s Board of Directors (which has no control over our journalism) in 2024. He lost or withdrew from every election. While campaigning, he was abrasive. Much of his debates were spent attacking his opponents. On his social media, he misinterpreted other candidates’ statements — often removing context or simply misquoting his opponents to cast them in a poor light.
Tomkowicz added, “he wanted to work under me if I was elected.”
I reached out to both Tomkowicz and Malik about these allegations; Tomkowicz did not respond. Malik denied Tomkowicz’s allegations, saying his only involvement in Tomkowicz’s campaign was filming and logistics. “I have no personal, academic, or financial stake in who holds any AMS executive office, and I do not stand to gain from the election of any individual candidate,” he wrote. “While I wish the AMS executive team success in their roles, my responsibilities as a student and employee are unrelated to AMS executive portfolios.”
I struggled with writing this piece because it was clear that Tomkowicz was a fish out of water. He cared about the UBC community, even though he didn’t know what the VP student life position entailed or what resources would be at his disposal. In
Last month, this familiar arc played out beat for beat at AMS Council. Students rallied by the Migrant Students United Vancouver Instagram account arrived at Council to oppose a policy that would allow certain AMS staff to use body-worn cameras. Their Instagram story asked “Who will review footage? Who will have access to the footage? … Will footage be shared?” — all questions answered on the second page of the publicly available threepage policy. After 50 minutes, the policy passed unamended.
You don’t need to have extensive student governance experience to run for a student governance position or oppose a policy change at Council. But even a first-time candidate or Council newcomer owes their fellow students a perspective that is well-researched and thorough. Passion alone does not make change.
TO CONCLUDE
Neither candidate excited me — either in their platforms or during the debate. I still question whether a fulltime executive position dedicated to campus events and mental health is worth the VP Student Life’s Office’s $97,000 price tag. However, the VP student life position was almost literally made for Heieis. I expect he’ll fill it competently.
With the near-certain election of Heieis, four of the six members of our union’s executive team will have won their positions in uncontested elections. Only VP Academic and University Affairs Zarifa Nawar and Huntley beat out other candidates at the polls. For what this administration lacks in the legitimacy of competitive ascendance they should make up for in taking particular care to respond to student concerns — such as those they’ll hear at the AMS’s Annual General Meeting on Oct. 22.
As for this election, I will be voting for Kevin Heieis — albeit, unenthusiastically. U
This is an opinion essay. It reflects the contributor’s views and does not reflect the views of The Ubyssey as a whole. Contribute to the conversation by visiting visiting ubyssey.ca/pages/ submit-an-opinion
Thunderbirds win on missed field goal in wild Homecoming game
Annaliese Gumboc Senior Staff Reporter
UBC Football defeated the University of Calgary Dinos 23–22 on Friday night, eking out the win in an electric Homecoming matchup that came down to the final second.
In many ways, it was a game that UBC shouldn’t have won. The Dinos looked better in most respects, dominating time-of-possession and outgaining UBC in total yardage, 400 to 225.
There were several moments when the game seemed to be over for UBC — but when it mattered most, the ‘Birds stepped up, while the Dinos made critical mistakes.
Of course, the T-Birds weren’t flawless — turnovers plagued both teams throughout. Fifth-year quarterback Derek Engel nearly gave the ball up on the game’s opening drive, fumbling while taking a sack on second down.
Fortunately for the ‘Birds, UBC wide receiver Shemar McBean recovered the lost ball, allowing UBC to punt and pin Calgary inside their own red zone.
After a penalty pushed the Dinos back to their own 13-yard line, a similar story unfolded for UBC’s opponents, with defensive lineman Deacon Sterna getting to Calgary quarterback David Jordan, forcing a fumble. UBC recovered the ball again, this time with Clark Leonard picking it up and going down just outside Calgary’s end zone. To punch it in, first-year Drew Viotto came out for a quarterback sneak, putting the ‘Birds on the board first.
Getting the ball back, the Dinos targeted UBC’s run defence — which had been noticeably weak in previous games — with five consecutive handoffs, four of which went to running back Eri Olarubofin. Despite the Dinos’ success on the ground, when Jordan finally threw it deep for his second pass of the drive, rookie T-Bird Jehovany Batalonga leapt for the ball, ending Calgary’s drive with an interception.
Starting from their six-yard line, UBC failed to capitalize on the Dinos’ second turnover. For the rest of the half, the offence struggled to move the ball — before halftime, their only trip inside
the opponent’s 50 was the one that had been gifted to them by Calgary’s fumble.
Engel threw for only 35 yards over six completions, his longest pass of the night being a mere 11 yards. Likewise, an 11-yard run by Toluwalope Ayedegbe was UBC’s longest rush of the half, with the offence gaining a net 46 rushing yards in the half.
Despite the challenges on offence, the ‘Birds defence maintained UBC’s lead into the second quarter, stunting the Calgary offence with a good pass rush and improved run defence.
While the defence looked better than earlier in the season, they were still far from perfect. The Dinos began picking up steam in the second, embarking on a 10-play drive that began with four consecutive rushes and ended on a short touchdown run, tying the game with Calgary’s first score of the night.
On the ensuing kickoff, McBean tore down the field for what would have been a massive return, until the ball fell from his hands for UBC’s second fumble of the day. This time, Calgary recovered, then quickly moved downfield with a deep pass to UBC’s fouryard line. In a crucial defensive stand, the ‘Birds forced a fumble inches shy of the touchdown, falling on the ball in their own end zone.
With a little over two minutes left in the half and the offence still struggling, Viotto came out to replace Engel. Viotto had been the starter at the beginning of the season, but was benched in favour of Engel two weeks ago.
“I’m not gonna sit here and watch my quarterbacks underperform,” said UBC head coach Blake Nill. “Just like anyone else on the field, if they don’t want to get it done, [it’s] next up.”
Viotto didn’t do much on his first drive, completing one of three passes before UBC was forced to punt. In response, the Dinos strung together another solid drive, this one powered by several medium and long passes to put Calgary in field goal range. A successful kick gave the Dinos a 10–7 lead, their first of the night.
Calgary opened the third quarter in a similar fashion, making a
field goal to go up 13–7. It felt like the momentum had definitively shifted in favour of the Dinos. However, the UBC offence struck back with a scoring drive on the back of a 23-yard pass by Viotto and a 38-yard rush by Ayedegbe — UBC’s longest plays thus far.
The Dinos reclaimed the lead later in the quarter, when the ‘Birds, pushed back to their own goal line, were forced to give up a safety. Beyond that, the remainder of the third quarter was uneventful, with neither team accomplishing more than a four-play drive after the UBC touchdown.
At 15–14, the action ramped up in the final quarter as the teams fought desperately for the lead. With less than seven minutes remaining, the Thunderbirds were called for a crucial penalty, turning what should have been third down for Calgary into an additional 10yard gain into field goal range. The Dinos capitalized on the opportunity — Jordan passed to receiver Zion Grant, who escaped tacklers to run to the end zone.
Down by eight, UBC needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game. They got their touchdown, relying heavily
on Ayedegbe for a 95-yard scoring drive. However, Viotto overthrew his man on the two-point attempt, and the ‘Birds stayed down at 22–20.
It looked like it might be over for the Thunderbirds. The Dinos, receiving the ball with two minutes remaining, could guarantee a win by simply running out the clock.
Then, the kick-off slipped past Calgary’s returner, who fell on the ball around the two-yard line. Starting from a dangerous position in his own end zone, Jordan dropped back to pass, slinging it out left. In a pivotal moment, UBC defensive back Darrien Brown jumped for the ball, hauling it in for a game-defining interception.
Even after the turnover inside Calgary’s 10, the UBC offence failed to find the end zone, with Viotto attempting a risky pass on 2nd-and-goal. Instead, UBC settled for a field goal, giving the Dinos a good chance to take the lead before the final whistle, being down only one.
With a minute-and-a-half left to play, the Dinos were in a favourable position — if they could get into field goal range and run down the clock, they could end the match with a game-winning kick. It seemed inevitable.
With the game on the line, the UBC defence struggled to make a stop, allowing the Dinos to move hastily downfield. Their gains were not small — 14 yards here, 18 yards there — putting Calgary at UBC’s 32-yard line before time expired.
Calgary’s Vince Triumbari lined up for the 39-yard field goal attempt with no time on the clock, the outcome of the game resting on the final play. The ball soared and, carrying the fate of both teams, flew left of the goal posts. The soldout crowd erupted while T-Bird Jaden Phillips ran the ball out of the end zone, avoiding a potential rouge to secure a UBC win.
“That shit was stressful. I ain’t gonna lie to you,” said Ayedegbe. “But, hey, a win is a win. That’s all that matters.”
While UBC was still inconsistent, the victory put an ecstatic
end to the team’s losing slide.
The run game was a bright spot. UBC had allowed over 200 rushing yards in each of their previous games this season, being outrushed by opponents 205 to 615. At Homecoming, however, the ‘Birds were essentially even with their opponent, running for 119 yards while allowing only 125.
The change was largely thanks to an improved run defence and an impressive performance by Ayedegbe, who ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns. After the loss of all-star running back Isaiah Knight, who graduated last year, Ayedegbe seems to be stepping into the starting position.
At 2–2 midway through the season, the Thunderbirds are now tied with Calgary and Manitoba — teams they’ve beaten — for third in the Canada West conference. The victory was vital to preserving UBC’s playoff hopes.
“If we lose that game, we’re basically out of the playoffs,” said Nill. “I was telling the [fourth and fifth-year] guys, ‘your career is basically over if we don’t win this game.’”
“It’s playoff mode right now,” said Ayedegbe, a fourth-year. “We got to win out … no matter what.” The Thunderbirds still have several issues they need to address if they hope to go far in the postseason.
This is the second consecutive week where the ‘Birds have had to compensate for a slow start with a strong second half.
“They come out and I don’t think they’re confident in themselves,” said Nill. “They’re a very talented group, but I’m looking at them right now … they’re kids.”
At the helm, the team has yet to settle on a QB1 between Viotto and Engel. Nill said that next week’s starter would be determined by “gut feeling.”
“We’re a team, and whatever’s best for the team is what we’re going to do,” said Viotto.
The ‘Birds will look to keep their newfound win streak going next Friday, going to Edmonton to take on the winless University of Alberta Golden Bears. U
Rookie T-Bird Jehovany Batalonga intercepts Calgary quarterback David Jordan. ZOE WAGNER / THE UBYSSEY
T-Birds defensive back Damian Akweter attempts to break through Dinos blockers.
NAVYA CHADHA / THE UBYSSEY
Homecoming: A rookie’s perspective
Kian Gadsby Contributor
Having watched hundreds of games, written dozens of articles about the sport and sat in a plethora of stadiums to cheer on a vast array of different teams, I consider myself a football fan. It is, without much competition, my favourite sport.
limited pathways for progression, the sport remains strictly amateur, even at the highest level.
But here, in Canada, football is no longer familiar to me.
As a student from England who is here at UBC on exchange, the whole concept of calling a sport “football” which does not involve kicking a spherical ball is alien to me.
In North America, from June through February, American football — whether it’s the race for the Super Bowl or the Grey Cup — brings people together.
The population assembles to host watch parties, create fantasy leagues and even travel around the country to watch games.
Even at the university level, an event like the Homecoming game is a cornerstone of student life.
With thousands flocking to Thunderbird Stadium, the campus avidly supports their team, christening the beginning of a new school year with a football game. To the vast majority of students here at UBC, this is normal. Just not to me.
The UK is currently floundering as a football nation — at least in the North American understanding of “football.” The game struggles to compete for attention and support with dominant sports like what Canadians would call “soccer” and rugby, and with
Because of this, my experience is very limited. I cannot fathom the rules or begin to understand the intricate elements of the sport that captivates millions.
However, there’s a reason why I’m here in Vancouver. I want to learn about the culture, particularly in a sporting context, of the people in this part of the world.
Desperate to immerse myself in this phenomenon, I went along to the Thunderbirds’ Homecoming game against the University of Calgary Dinos to finally learn about this sport for myself.
In North America, football games are famous for being a spectacle. Whether it be Kansas City Chiefs fans breaking the world record for the loudest crowd roar at 142.2 decibels, or Seattle Seahawks fans causing multiple earthquakes by jumping around in the stands, teams across the continent are internationally renowned for their ability to generate an atmosphere and maintain support.
The giant yellow banner that has been strewn across Main Mall for weeks made it obvious to me that the Homecoming game would be no different.
That feeling continued, as throughout the street party which preluded the game, the sense of
anticipation was growing, with students, alumni, family members and UBC supporters alike joining the march to the stadium.
Once seated, the feeling of expectation emanated from the stands, as the Thunderbirds were welcomed onto the field to rapturous applause from the home crowd.
The noise continued to grow louder, with drums, vuvuzelas, bells and even buckets being played by the crowd, and celebrations erupted when the T-Birds opened the scoring early on.
There were some aspects of the fan experience that confused me, including the loud music pumped through the speakers between each play with the DJ regularly turning up the volume.
I’m used to the crowd assuming the responsibility of generating an atmosphere for themselves — but judging by the reaction from the stands, I suppose this is the norm in Canada.
In spite of the reservations I had about the music, Thunderbird Stadium was bouncing throughout the game.
With a last-minute UBC comeback and a field goal miss by the Dinos to hand the T-Birds victory, the tension was heightened inside the stadium. It was easy to get caught up and swept away in the chaos and drama.
While the raucous atmosphere generated by the crowd absolutely enhanced my experience, there were many quirks of the game that were somewhat of a barrier to entry for me.
Overseas, the game has a reputation of having inconsistent pacing — with plenty of stops and starts — taking a long time to complete.
The Homecoming game definitely lived up to the stereotypes, with regular breaks for timeouts, penalties and a plethora of miscellaneous other stoppages adding to the length of the game.
However, after experiencing it myself, I was able to enjoy the pauses as part of the spectacle, adding to the charm of the event. Frequent fan interaction from the stadium staff made the breaks fly by, and although it was three hours between kickoff and the final whistle, the match felt much shorter.
Another barrier preventing many, like me, from following football is a simple lack of comprehension of the sport. The rules and terminology are convoluted, meaning at the start of games I regularly just sit there, confused. This is a feeling I know very well.
I have been in Canada for a month now, and throughout my time here, there have been many points when I have had to sit
there, reluctantly accepting confusion.
From the time I had to watch in silence while my class chuckled at a joke because I didn’t understand the reference to a Canadian fast food chain, to being baffled by drivers turning right at a red light, there have been moments when I have felt like an outsider.
It’s the little stories that can make you feel like you don’t belong, and there have been times when I almost wished I was back home.
Yet, while it is daunting to be faced with unfamiliar surroundings, perhaps I can learn something from my Homecoming experience.
While I initially didn’t understand how the sport worked and what the rules were, slowly but surely, the repetition of the game meant they eventually became self-explanatory.
I may not have been able to flawlessly describe the action in front of me, but I was able to join in with the cheers and celebrations whenever UBC enjoyed success on the field.
As I found myself rising in applause and roaring with the rest of the stands to celebrate the Thunderbirds’ victory, it became clear — I had finally grasped an understanding of the sport that had previously eluded me.
Maybe this is the story of my exchange. A confusing and entertaining experience that, at times, feels wrong, but through the chaos, uncertainty and misunderstanding, becomes something I learn to embrace. U
EFFIE HUANG / THE UBYSSEY
Exclusive: The most nonchalant guy at Homecoming
Kyla Flynn Humour Editor
If you’re a student at UBC, you know Homecoming: blue and gold, go sports, football, rah rah, etc. Once you’ve attended a couple of ‘em, you know all there is to know. Been there, done that. Hoco who?
Homecoming may never change, but you can. We at The Ubyssey spent the iconic kick-off to UBC’s school year with Chill Lestguy, UBC’s most nonchalant super senior, to learn about how to project a relaxed aura on an otherwise crazy lit movie day.
Though I was supposed to meet with Lestguy at 1 p.m. sharp, he was nowhere to be found. After 45 minutes of twiddling my thumbs and one hour of wandering around the Nest aimlessly, I found him with a black coffee in the back corner of the Gallery.
“Nonchalant tip one,” he said with a smize. “Always let them come to you. The nonchalant don’t seek out their followers — they are curated by chance.”
Ignoring the implication that I was just one of Lestguy’s followers — I’m a journalist, why does no one believe me? — I followed him into the fire escape. As we descended, I learned another cardinal rule of chillness: elevators are the most awkward, chalant spaces on campus.
“A truly mysterious dude isn’t
caged by the metal doors of the institution, man,” said Lestguy.
Arriving at the pre-party, we began our journey toward the stadium to the musical stylings of Travis Scott, featuring unintelligibly-muffled megaphone shouting. There was pomp (a marching band) and circumstance (a lot of drunk firstyears). However, after looking down at my official journalist notebook for two minutes, I lost Lestguy to the crowd.
He reappeared after three hours had elapsed, finding me sitting on the curb of the street party, head in hands and cheap cooler also in hands. He was holding the Norton Anthology of British Literature and a 1915 Hammond Multiplex Typewriter.
When asked how he got all that shit through security, Lestguy said, “No big deal, bruh. I know a guy.”
Though I pressed the subject, Lestguy’s lips were sealed (metaphorically — in actuality they were constantly slightly parted and every 14 minutes he’d bite his lower lip, but in a really natural unplanned way). After telling me “I gotta piss lowkey,” Lestguy left, but shortly returned in a new outfit.
“Oh, this?” He pinched the fabric of the shirt at his chest and pulled it out like guys do sometimes. “A worn-in-game 1929 Hardy Cup-winning jersey.”
“Where’d you get that?”
“Was lying around somewhere,
no big deal.”
But readers, it was, in fact, a big deal. Paired with wide-leg vintage Levis, Lestguy looked devastatingly mysterious. We took our seats in the very back corner of the stadium and Lestguy began reading from a dogeared page of his Norton Anthology
“Are you going to watch the game?”
“I’d rather play — in the game of life, that is.”
Lestguy was a sight to behold: leaning up against the wall, legs across the bleachers, hair mussed and jawline perpetually in what can only be described as a state of “mew,” he read Blake and Barbault; he thumbed through Barret Browning and regular Browning. Though Crazy P banged on his drum and the DJ played that funky music, Lestguy remained unbothered, chillaxin’, relaxin’ all cool.
“Homecoming is obviously BYOA,” Lestguy said with a wink, “but it’s also BYOB.”
“Lestguy, what? BYOA? And BYOB? That’s illegal, you can’t —”
Oh, but he did. From a silver flask kept I don’t even know where, he poured himself a hefty portion of brown liquor into a crystal glass kept I also don’t know where.
“BYOA means Bring Your Own Anthology. I thought you were a journalist. You’re supposed to know what you’re writing about, no?”
Like a fool, I turned my gaze back to the game. I’d overplayed my
hand. He knew I knew nothing. I was chalant through and through. I’d never be as nonchalant as Lestguy. I’d never be him. A whisper of Lestguy’s cigarette smoke met my nose. The scent was really chill and normal.
The crowd roared, a touchdown scored. The click-clack of Lestguy’s typewriter punctuated my realization that I was simply not good at projecting an unbothered energy. I gave up on my interview because only chalant guys gaf about student journalism. I watched the game like a regular person. I hooted, I hollered, I found some of those stupid blow-up things you smack together. Suddenly, I felt a presence from behind my shoulder. It was Thunder the Thunderbird. He placed a
wing on my shoulder and spoke in a hushed tone for my ears only.
“Sometimes” — I smelt bourbon on his breath — “the most nonchalant energy” — Is that cigarette smoke? — “is found in the most chalant of guys.”
I gasped. Lestguy? The mascot? Nuanced, complex, confusing af. I had many questions, but ostensibly I no longer cared. A true assertion of his nonchalant demeanour was evident through the embrace of the overtly chalant. If Lestguy could be cool and rahhhhhhhhhhh go birds, so could I. Maybe the true nonchalant was the friends we made along the way. Or maybe it was in whatever was in the flask Lestguy had slipped me through his feathery bird suit. U
DO NOT CONSULT A LAWYER BEFORE READING: First-year
dorm life tips you need to know
So you’re a first-year? So much fun! You’ll make life-long friendships and embarrassing memories that will certainly come back to haunt you at 4 a.m. 20 years from now! Life is about to get so much cooler! You’re no longer in the pits of hell called “high school” and “living at home!” Instead, you now get to pay $10,000 yearly to fester in the premium pits of hell called “university dorms.” But don’t worry, I have some foolproof tips and tricks for surviving your first year.
BATHROOMS
Some bathroom rules are pretty
self-explanatory. For instance, don’t get wasted and throw up in the bathroom (the bushes are preferable, obviously) and if you do throw up in the bathroom, go to a different floor so nobody recognizes you. Also, don’t blame it on your star sign — I don’t care that your moon is rising, Glenda. This, however, is child’s play to the gravity of the absolute most important rule you must abide by when in the washroom: do not under any circumstances touch the floor with your bare feet. Think “the floor is lava” if lava were a bacteria cocktail that’s been festering for all of time. I don’t know what killed the dinosaurs, but whatever it was is living on the Vanier bathroom floors. Maybe it’s the aforementioned
Capricorn’s throw up or maybe it’s engineering students’ ritual goat sacrifice remnants. Either way, there’s some crazy shit that goes on in those washrooms, so please protect your feet.
FRATS
Now that you’re in uni, you’ll probably be peer-pressured into hitting up the frats. Naturally, your next thought is “let’s pregame at my dorm and listen to songs about committing various crimes!” It’s not like every university movie in the history of movies/film/the world has told you not to go to frats. Listen, I’m not going to stop you from living out your Thelma & Louise dreams with your new roomie. So, if you must get your party on, here’s how to make the most out of your night: do not under any circumstances go to a frat sober. You will immediately realize that you (willingly) are in a tiny room jam-packed with drunk, horny, sweaty strangers who wouldn’t blink twice before snitching on you for a Slim Jim.
“But,” you ask, “what if I’m the designated driver? What if I don’t drink?” No worries! I have a solution for you! Every time someone “accidentally” grabs your ass and tries to flirt with you in the “only way they know how” — offering you a roofied drink — pull out your purse and beat them to death with it!
Careful though: the hardest
part of the night is making sure your narc of an RA doesn’t catch you sneaking back into the dorms at 3 a.m. Solution? Hide your best study outfit in the bushes outside Totem — this way, if you see your RA, you can quickly shapeshift into the serious studious student you most definitely are not. If they ask you why you’re studying at 3 a.m. in the bushes, just look at them, shrug and say “Math 101, am I right?” The perfect ruse to conclude your night of tomfoolery.
DORMCEST
Whether you’re in Totem, Vanier or OC, first-year housing means housemates. You might find your closest friends within these people, bonding over lost key cards and commonsblock ping pong. These people may become your future bridesmaids or groomsmen… Or you might just try to avoid eye-contact while waiting in line for the washroom. To each their own. Regardless, your floormates are now your family. And just like your family, you should never, under any circumstances, date any of them. You might be thinking “what about that cute boy Jacob who lives three doors down!” My response? That is no longer Jacob, that is now Uncle Jacob and he is strictly off limits. You wouldn’t date your uncle, so don’t date Jacob or any other floormate you may have whose name may or may not be Jacob. Don’t date them,
either! (Jacob, if you’re reading this, you are my biggest regret but like I don’t even think about you at all like ever.)
DINING HALLS
The first week you’re eating residence food, it will be pretty good — almost as good as airplane food. But as the weeks progress it’ll get more and more obvious that it’s actually shit. (Comparable to that one time when I was 16 where I realized the “weed” I was sold was actually just oregano.) To combat this problem, you can do one of two things. Option A: eat somewhere else. Option B: develop an addiction to dining hall cookies. Those cookies kept me alive in first year. With all the ingredients of a balanced meal — one-sixth of an egg, flour, milk, baking powder, cement mixture, the tears of graduated comp-sci students still “on that job hunt grind” (it’s been 10 years) — you’ll feel energized and ready to take on the world (or at least a half-assed discussion post). That concludes my list of totally legal, 100 per cent ethical, no-capno-lie-definitely-will-not-get-youbanned-from-27 states-and-2-provinces tips and tricks to surviving your first year in UBC residence. Now it’s your turn! Leave your best dorm life hacks in the comments down below and don’t forget to smash the like and subscribe buttons and if you decide to smash other buttons be sure to leave a sock on the doorknob. U
I don’t know what killed the dinosaurs, but whatever it was is living on the Vanier bathroom floors.
AYLA CILLIERS / THE UBYSSEY
Nilsa Nilli Contributor
‘How can I help?’: Transforming health care in rural and Indigenous communities
Harleen Randhawa Contributor
Access to health care has long been a challenge in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the existing gaps, highlighting the urgent need for a more resilient system.
The Real-Time Virtual Support Network (RTVS) aims to enhance ongoing patient care and address inequities without replacing existing health services. The hybrid care model was launched in collaboration with the First Nations Health Authority, the BC Ministry of Health, UBC’s Digital Emergency Medicine Unit and the Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia.
In an interview with The Ubyssey, Dr. Kendall Ho, an emergency medicine specialist, professor in the department of emergency medicine at UBC, and RTVS lead, explained that the network started with 3 core components: peer-to-peer support for health care professionals, a First Nations Health Authority Virtual Doctor of the Day line and a patient-facing 811 virtual physician service.
“The service is about supporting individuals where they are,” said Ho.
RTVS works by connecting remote communities with health professionals through a hybrid model of care. When a patient or local provider needs support, the RTVS network team can step in via secure video calls or other digital platforms to provide real-time guidance for urgent or complex health issues. The system integrates electronic health records to share information with the patient’s own health care providers or refer them to local or emergency services when needed.
Dr. John Pawlovich, Rural Doctors’ UBC Chair in Rural Health, clinical professor in the department of family practice, and RTVS co-lead, said “The idea was, through a health equity lens … to bring on-demand, real-time support to any First Nations, rural or remote community in BC — to help provide care, but also professional support.”
Both Pawlovich and Ho share that while RTVS uses technology, it is not a tech-first model. Its foundation is relationships, cultural safety and compassion. Providers are trained to approach each encounter with a simple guiding question: “How can I help?”
A key challenge for RTVS is the digital divide, which can widen health care gaps. Communities
UBCMUSIC LIVE
UBC Opera
Iconic stories and fresh new productions in the legendary Old Auditorium.
Tickets for UBC Students: $15-35
with strong digital access and skills benefit most, while those without may be left behind. RTVS complements in-person services without replacing them and patients must remain connected to local providers to avoid fragmented care.
When discussing the role of health care providers in virtual settings, Pawlovich emphasized the importance of being present with and seeking understanding from remote communities.
“How do providers show up [virtually] to support a community? What needs to be considered in terms of understanding the uniqueness of remote First Nations communities? What does cultural safety mean?
“We can be present for five minutes or five hours. It just depends on what the needs of communities are,” said Pawlovich.
Ho shared stories where RTVS have already delivered impactful results. In one rural community, the network’s Rural Urgent Doctor in-aid service, along with child and maternity care teams virtually supported a safe childbirth — the first in more than twenty years to take place locally rather than requiring the mother to be flown out.
In another case, a young woman struggling with COVID-19 was quickly connected to Ho through
811, ensuring she received timely guidance. “I think that it was truly a privilege to be there and to support them and to say there is a solution.”
Pawlovich believes in incorporating direct experience with rural and Indigenous communities into medical education and practice to help providers, which will enable health care providers to better understand the realities of remote health care and importance of cultural competence.
“Part of the success I see in the future is having learners not
only have the right tools for virtual health and hybrid care, but spend time in the communities they’re actually supporting,” he said.
Learning to deliver care through telehealth while prioritizing both patient and provider perspectives, according to Pawlovich, is central to preparing clinicians for a landscape where digital tools and relationship-based care intersect.
“I think technology builds a whole new dimension of different ways that we can all contribute to healthcare,” said Ho. U
UBC Bands, Choirs & Symphony Orchestra
Big sound and big talent in the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.
Tickets for UBC Students: $10-15
Wednesday Noon Hours
Take a break and recharge with music in Barnett Hall—next to the giant tuning fork!
Tickets for UBC Students: $8
Providers are trained to approach each encounter with a simple guiding question: “How can I help?”
ABBIE LEE / THE UBYSSEY
THIS SUMMER IN PHOTOS: MAY TO AUGUST 2025
Weren’t on campus this summer? Here are some of the best photos capturing life at UBC from May to August 2025.
The UBC vigil for the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy at midnight, May 1.
The crowd at the downtown protests against the G7 on June 21st.
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
SAUMYA KAMRA / THE UBYSSEY
An empty classroom in the Anthropology building.
The Arts Student Centre on a sunny day. Someone rearranged the letters of “arts” to spell “rats.”
One of UBC’s “pollinator meadows” — areas on Main Mall that were converted from grass lawns to create habitat.
Orchard Commons was a lot quieter during the summer.
A cyclist outside the AMS Nest.
Visitors took photos from under the blue whale skeleton at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
SIDNEY SHAW / THE UBYSSEY
