PROTEST OR POLICY?
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CFS AND CASA, AND STUDENT ADVOCACY AT UNB Volume 150 Issue 4 December 7th, 2016
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief - Adam Travis Business Manager - Nicholas Williams News - Stephanie Sirois Arts - Katie Kim Sports - Anne Ugabi Photo - Bradley Parker Production Manager - Connor Jay Copy - Jadrien Hong Multimedia - Camile Coulombe
Staff Advertising Manager - Pouria Poursaeid Delivery - Dan Gallagher Staff Reporters -David Bardwell, Nathalie Sturgeon
Contributors Justin Collett, Anna Jackson Kyle Lamkin, Caroline Mercier, Rowan Miller, Katie Morehouse and Stacey Taylor
About Us The Brunswickan, in its 150th year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication. We are an autonomous student publication owned and operated by Brunswickan Publishing Inc., a nonprofit, independent body. We are a founding member of Canadian University Press, and love it dearly. We are also members of CUPWire, a media exchange of university media throughout North America. We publish monthly during the academic year with a circulation of 4,000. We publish weekly, online at www.thebruns.ca.
Letters to the Editor Letters must be submitted by e-mail to editor@thebruns.ca including your name, as letters with pseudonyms will not be printed or posted online. Letters must be 500 words at maximum. Deadline for letters is Friday at 5 p.m. before each issue.
Editorial Policy While we endeavour to provide an open forum for a variety of viewpoints and ideas, we may refuse any submission considered by the Editorial Board to be racist, sexist, libellous or in any way discriminatory. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Brunswickan, its Editorial Board or its Board of Directors. All editorial content appearing in The Brunswickan is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs, and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.
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Table of Contents 4
Groups unimpressed with provincial throne speach Words and Photography by David Bardwell
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Falling in love with teaching, from abroad Words by Adam Travis Photography by Bradley Parker
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Canvas and Cocktails a Perfect Combination Words by Kennedy Bowden-Welsh Photography by Lacy Little
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How to beat the winter blues Words by Kennedy Bowden-Welsh
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Student advocacy at UNB Words and Photography by Stephanie Sirois
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Letter to the Editor Words by Curtis Quinon
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Gallery on Queen brings art to the heart of downtown Words and photography by Nathalie Sturgeon
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The Season So Far Photography by Kyle Lamkin
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UNB Center for Healthy Living to be complete in 18 months Words and Photography by Bradley Parker
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Fredericton Knit Wits make winter warmer for local charities Words by Katie Kim
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Christmas comfort food is more than turkey dinner Words by Brianna Hunt and Jadrian Hong
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5 Healthy eating tips to manage exam-time stress Words by Anna Jackson, RD
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Lauren Adam Words by Anne Ugabi Photography by Bradley Parker
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Groups unimpressed with Provincial Throne Speech Words & Photography by David Bardwell Post-secondary advocates and opposition party members aren’t impressed with the Speech from the Throne and say it doesn’t do enough to address issues in the education system. The speech, delivered earlier this month, focused heavily on economic issues, education and healthcare in the province. The key points for postsecondary students were the Tuition Access Bursary, a commitment to expand mental health resources and increased expenditure on infrastructure at public universities and colleges in the province. Travis Daley, UNBSU president, said he’s happy to see post-secondary education is still on the government’s radar, but the speech didn’t go into enough detail on what they plan to do. “[The government] discussed properly funding institutions without any real commitment, besides the one time 4
infrastructure funding, much of which was announced already,” said Daley. He said the government should look no further than education if there’s a desire to raise the standard of living in the province. “The higher educated a population, is the healthier a population,” he said. “In regards to economic impact, educated students find well-paying jobs, contributing more to the economy. Institutions themselves are at the epicentre for innovation, particularly within this province,” said Daley. Daley said the next event he’s awaiting is the announcement of the provincial budget to see what changes are made there with regard to students. Robert Burroughs, the executive director of NBSA, said in an email that he was a bit disappointed in the lack of
News commitment to improve current programs. “I think that could be interpreted as possibly worrying for students … the government is not willing to publicly commit to expanding programs such as the Tuition Access Bursary,” said Burroughs. The NBSA formally requested the government move forward with a plan to introduce a sliding-scale system for the TAB. The proposed plan would expand the program to not only cover the cost of tuition for students whose household income was under $60,000, but also mitigate the cost of tuition for those whose families made more, up to an established limit. Burroughs said he’s also concerned at the lack of a concrete number for how much the government is going to commit to expanding mental health programs in the province. “Mental health is one of those areas in which I think students have the most frustration when it comes to government,” said Burroughs “For five years now students across our PSE campuses have been working really hard to ensure that the language we use is appropriate and enhances our understanding of mental health–related problems, that stigma is tackled and reduced, and that our institutions themselves developed strategies to address the growing (and unmet) needs of students.” The speech also mentioned introducing coding into the curriculum for younger students, a point which Burroughs says the NBSA doesn’t have a defined stance on, but that he believes will benefit from it. “As we develop our capacities as a labour force for, for example, a cybersecurity hub, it is important that we also comprehend how those hard computer science or IT skills translate to impact on and for communities,” he said. Burroughs said one of the concerns students and recent graduates have is an issue, which he calls the three-to-five-year barrier. According to him, this is due to many potential employers asking that applicants have three-to-five years of direct experience in the field, a trait not many recent graduates have. “Direct work experience in a particular field is one of the greatest hurdles in terms of transitioning recent graduates into the workforce,” said Burroughs. Burroughs said overall, he’s happy to see the government making an effort to address students, but that a lot of what was said was simply rearticulation of pre-existing programs and commitments. Green Party MLA David Coon said he wasn’t exactly surprised by the lack of commitments in the speech, but had hoped to hear about more investments in education and mental health services on campuses.
“There’s almost nothing in it about post-secondary education, except to invest in improving university infrastructure,” said Coon. Coon said he would have liked to see was improvements to the TAB, with changes such as tying its income requirements to net income instead of gross household income. “It’s pretty thin gruel when it comes to students,” he said. Coon said he has concerns over a lack of employment after graduation and that the government hasn’t done enough to help and in some cases cut programmes intended to help graduates get off the ground. “One thing that helped students in the past was the tuition tax rebate which has been eliminated previously by the government.” He said he would’ve liked to see the tax rebate restored, as well as made mention of mental health services on campus. “I’ve been advocating that we increase the provincial mental health spending … specifically I want to see direct allocated funding for campus mental health services.”
A UNIQUE JOB AN ICONIC LOCATION AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER
Become a PARLIAMENTARY GUIDE Applications due January 13, 2017 This summer, be part of the action at the Parliament of Canada. Find out more and apply online at
parl.gc.ca/guides
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Student advocacy at UNB Words & Photography by Stephanie Sirois Students walked down the hill from the UNB Fredericton quad toward the New Brunswick Legislature building, holding signs and chanting. They are demanding universal access to free education as a right. On this year’s Day of Action in November, students chose two different ways of raising attention to their problems. There are the students seen, walking downtown and protesting tuition costs despite the cold weather, and then there are the students not seen, meeting with government officials and speaking to them about what they think students need most. Tuition costs at UNB were just over $2,000 in 1991, whereas in 2016 it costs a full time student $6,496. Minimum wage doesn’t meet living costs, and many students have credit card debt on top of their student loan debt. The Canadian Federation of Students was formed in 1981 to represent students across Canada. Its website states tuition costs have increased more than 137 per cent. This group of students and advocates “believe that education is a right, not a privilege.” UNB’s graduate students are part of CFS. Aditya Roshan is president of the Graduate Student Association and represents them at CFS meetings. He describes CFS as a student union stretching across the country. “Any issue we’ve got on campus, we take to the president … it’ll impact students in New Brunswick and other provinces as well. Then we vote on whether we need to raise this issue to [the] government,” he said. Roshan became president in November 2015. He said in 2014 there wasn’t a lot of involvement from the GSA in CFS activities until he stepped up to communicate. One of the issues Roshan said he brought to the table in 2015 was the cost international students spend on their own 6
healthcare. “The next motion we are planning to bring about is health plan coverage for international students,” said Roshan. At his next CFS meeting, Roshan plan to bring up question about why the Tuition Access Bursary introduced by the Liberals in the fall does not apply to any graduate students. Undergraduate students on the UNB Fredericton campus are represented by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, but they used to be a part of CFS roughly 20 years ago. Katie Beers, UNBSU VP external said CASA addresses student issues, as opposed to issues that affect students as well as everyone else. “We focus on advocacy that’s more direct in that we meet with politicians no matter what their party, no matter what their opinion and we explain to them the issues that we are meeting on,” she said. Beers said the UNBSU wanted a more direct way to advocate for change and that was by going to CASA. “We fundamentally don’t believe in the act of protesting as an organization, so we try to stay away from mobilizing and protesting as a principle. ” In the last year alone, Beers said
CASA has advocated for more funding to cover costs of research, more funding for indigenous students, asking the federal government to cover the cost of interest which build up in grace period on student loans. “We take smaller steps to get there for students … our ultimate goal is not free education for students, but rather covering the costs so students have less of a burden, more access and more quality during their education experiences,” said Beers. Despite the differences in the organizations, Beers said she can see a benefit in the way CFS gets students involved. “It’s definitely something we can admire. A lot of students don’t know what CASA does and don’t know that it exists and don’t know that the things that happen are because of the advocacy,” said Beers. “Whereas CFS, you can see them doing it because of their mobilization of students protesting.” There isn’t the likelihood of CASA adopting CFS’ ideas at mobilization as long as they include protesting. Beers said she doesn’t think many decision makers take protestors seriously. “You can make as much noise as you want, but it’s not effective when people stop listening to you.”
UNB Center for Healthy Living to be complete in 18 months
Words & Photography by Bradley Parker If you’ve been near the northern part of campus lately, you will have undoubtedly noticed the hustle and bustle of construction, road closures, and massive holes, all of this commotion is in support of UNB’s latest project: The Centre for Healthy Living (CHL). “The new Centre for Healthy Living [has been] a priority capital project here at UNB for more than a decade,” said UNB Fredericton’s new vice-president academic George MacLean at a community meeting near the start of November. For the last ten years, UNB has been working towards building a healthy living village on campus. When the CHL is finished, combined with the Currie Center, they will have achieved two thirds of their goal. The new aquatics facility, hopefully coming sooner rather than later, will be the final addition to the healthy living village. The new building will be built on the
west side of the Currie Center, into the sidehill between MacKay Drive which runs up the hill, and Peter Kelly Drive which runs next to the Lady Beaverbrook Gym. It is 60,000 square feet (5,576 m2) spread over three stories, slightly less than half the size of the Currie Center which is 140,000 square feet (13,000 m2) over five stories. The ground floor is centered around research and learning. The second floor geared to be a student centric space with classrooms, and an undergraduate lounge. The top floor is more research space as well as room for offices and administration. Kin students will be able to catch a break from battling the elements, as the CHL will feature two interior links to the Currie Center. Students will be able to go from the first floor of the CHL to the Currie Center’s reception area, from the second level to the human performance lab, or take a staircase leading from the third floor of the CHL to the
plaza outside of the Currie Center. As part of the project, the plaza will be expanded by nearly 40 per cent to accommodate more people during events like graduation. The CHL roof, which will be level with the plaza, will not be “green”, but it will be “vegetated” said Nicholson, part of the goal to maintain the beautiful views already on campus. Wayne Albert, dean of kinesiology, hopes that the new centre will help the faculty in its triad approach to the program, which a the blend of academic, research, and community involvement involving inter-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, experiential and hands on learning. Currently, the faculty is running out of space with a current enrollment of nearly 600 students. Lab sizes have been growing from 20-25 to 30-35, and existing facilities are not enough. Now that the faculty will have a proper home, it will help build culture, and give kin students a place to “rest their heads between classes” 7
in spaces like the new undergraduate lounge. The building will also benefit non-kinesiology students by allowing for more space to house collaborative projects. A strong community presence and open design are part of the architectural vision for the building. The large glass atrium which dominates the front of the building will house a grand central staircase which will connect all three floor of the building. Elevators will be present, but tucked away. This serves to encourage well-being while also making the CHL a fully accessible building. The project team is working with the faculty to help them build a building that is environmentally friendly and also focuses on the wellness of the people who use it. To help guide decisions towards realizing these goals, the team is pursuing a LEED Gold certification in addition to WELL certification. The LEED framework according to the Canada Green Building Council is focused on “achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality”. WELL “is an evidence-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring the performance of building features that impact health and well-being.” The Hans W. Klohn Commons at UNB SJ has a LEED Silver rating, but the CHL will be UNB Fredericton’s first LEED building. According to Barbara Nicholson, the Associate Vice-President Capital Planning & Property Development,the other WELL building in Canada is in Toronto, and only four educational facilities in all of North America are registered (but not yet certified). The two certifications have some overlap, and some would ask what benefit pursuing the certifications server other than bragging rights. Nicholson said it’s a “tremendous opportunity to make a statement about what we value”, as well as a potential selling point to students. Dean Albert also mentioned how WELL has a component related to ergonomical design, something that is much 8
easier to incorporate into the design rather than try to shoehorn in after the fact. $25 million of the $36 million needed for the project are coming from the federal and provincial governments, with UNB picking up the remaining $11 million tab. Barbara Nicholson, the Associate Vice-President Capital Planning & Property Development, said that the $36 million is the “all-in project cost, that includes construction, soft costs, taxes, equipment, everything that it will take to realize the vision.” Nicholson said the project should be “substantially complete” by April 30, 2018, meaning that the kinesiology faculty will have the summer to move in and be ready for students in the fall semester. That means that there is less than 18 months to finish the project. That timeline was not set by UNB, but rather by the federal government in order to receive the funding. Nicholson said this is a project they would normally have liked 36 months to complete. As a result of the shortened timeline, things are moving along quickly. The project today has come a long way from the one page outline Dean Albert gave to Nicholson this summer. In fact, the plans for the building which are being designed by Moncton-based Architects 4, are still not finished despite the fact work is already underway. “We anticipate the foundations going in in March [...] I’m crossing my fingers that mother nature is gentle with us this year”, the bad news is that the 2017 Canadian Farmers Almanac is calling for a cold and snowy winter which may spell for delays. The Currie Center was originally scheduled to be completed in 2010, and didn’t open until the following year $12 million over budget. There also hasn’t been much time to move events out of Currie Center. One accommodation that Nicholson said will be made is that during exams the contractors will be stopping work. Other inconveniences from the project already are the road closures on Peter Kelly Drive between the LB Gym and Currie Center, and the temporary closure of MacKay drive from Dineen Drive to Bailey
Drive. “Our apologies for that” she said,” it’s going to be inconvenient for the next 18 months. It’s short term pain for tremendous long term gains.” Fortunately, only the LB gym parking lot is scheduled to remain off limits to staff and students, and the Currie Center parking is anticipated to remain open for the duration of the project. Once the CHL is completed, the LB Gym can be decomissioned in phases, with the goal of turning most of the buildings footprint into green space, as well as a small amount of additional parking. Some students are concerned about a potential gap between the closing of the Lady Beaverbrook Gym and Sir Max Aitken pool and the opening of a new aquatics facility. Lauren Adam, a fourth-year kinesiology student and swimmer for the VReds said one of the major reasons she picked UNB was because of the coaching staff for the swim team. “I didn’t even consider universities without swim teams or pools,” she said. “It’s no secret that the LB Gym and SMA Pool are aging facilities that need to be replaced it costs several hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep the LB Gym operational, mostly going to the pool,” said Dean Albert. Current estimates to make needed renovation to the LB Gym are $7.5 million, and would still leave the building energy-inefficient as well as not accessible. Decommissioning the LB Gym is expected to save nearly $270,000 a year in maintenance. MacLean said that the decommissioning will happen in stages, with the pool to stay in use through 2018 and possibly 2019. This will hopefully allow for time to continue conversations with partners like the city on plans to replace the pool. UNB has 18 months and $36 million to take a hole in the ground with unfinished designs and make it into centerpiece of the Fredericton campus.
Falling in love with teaching, from abroad
Words by Adam Travis Photography by Bradley Parker For students graduating in May, you may already have been met with a barrage of “what-are-you-doing-next-year”s and “have-you-gotten-a-job-yet”s. The New Brunswick job market isn’t peachy, with a 17.1 per cent youth unemployment rate driving young grads to other provinces –- and for some, other countries. For those recent grads unsure of what to do once they get their diploma or looking to get some travel under their belt, teaching overseas has become a popular option. Many schools looking to fill these
positions cover the cost of housing and healthcare, as well as airfare, making the jobs an appealing opportunity. Kelly Jarman, Nadine Lemoine and Ryan Slade are three current or former UNB students who saw this opportunity and seized it. Jarman is currently teaching at a public school in Incheon, South Korea. Lemoine and Slade are both students in the faculty of education at UNB who developed a love for teaching while overseas. Like many Canadians, Jarman went to Korea expecting to stay for a year, but after a year of teaching English, Jarman got a job at another school teaching English literature. “I didn’t have a job and some of my
friends had done it before,” said Jarman. “My expectations were to come and stay for one year and then leave but I’ve stayed here for three years now.” Like many grads teaching overseas, Jarman does not have a degree in education. However, he opted to take a course in teaching English as a second language. While most jobs only require a bachelor’s degree, Jarman said it’s made his life as a teacher a lot easier. “It really made a difference because it gave me practical experience and taught me so many things that improved my quality of life in the classroom.” For Jarman, his first few weeks were 9
hectic as he tried to find a balanced lifestyle. “My first month was a bit of a confusing blur before I figured out what worked best for me,” said Jarman. “I went out drinking all night and did stuff like that until I realized I hated all that. Now I drink way less than I have ever before.” Jarman now focuses on continuing his own education and begins every day at 5 a.m. to write. He’s also branched out from Canadian expat social groups to make friends with native Koreans. “I started doing language exchanges and making Korean friends and that really helped my quality of life.” While the job of teaching English is a fun one, it still comes with some downsides, like any job. For Jarman, adapting to a foreign office culture proved frustrating at first. “It can be frustrating and confusing but you get used to it. Just don’t get angry and be understanding that the person telling you the change is just as confused as you are.” For those thinking about spending a year in Korea, Jarman said that a grasp of the language and culture will go a long way. “[L]earn at least the Korean alphabet and some stock phrases. I made an attempt to follow Korean customs and traditions and just attempting this got me a lot of respect.” On top of language, a strong work ethic always translates clearly, said Jarman. “Work hard at your job and you’ll find that your co-workers will respect you and support you.” Similar to Jarman, Slade was unhappy with his employment situation and saw teaching in Korea as an attractive alternative. While he initially had little interest in teaching after a frustrating experience as a teaching assistant, but saw it as the most likely way to fulfil his goal of working overseas. “I did want to live and work abroad, but I didn’t think that I would want to be a teacher … it actually was not on my radar at all.” Slade’s original goal was a career in foreign affairs, but chose to pursue a job 10
in teaching after the federal hiring freeze in 2011. Despite not knowing if he’d like teaching or not, Slade got a placement in Daegu, Korea, and soon found himself loving what he was doing. “I just almost instantly thought it was really fun, interacting with kids and trying to teach them.” Like Jarman, Slade’s biggest frustration with the job came not from teaching, but the paperwork side of his position. “There were aspects of that job that were not great. But on the whole I really enjoyed my time when I was in the classroom with the kids. Some of the administrative stuff they had me doing I hated.” After his first posting, Slade became more aware of opportunities for teachers in the region, as well as the fact that to take full advantage of them, he’d eventually need to go back to school himself. Although he wanted to spend as much time as possible overseas and not accumulating debt in school, eventually the prospect of working at an international school –- more similar to a Canadian school system –- pushed him to come back to Canada and pursue an education degree. “Teaching English is fun in Korea, and easy. But one downside of being in Korea is that it’s a very work intensive culture … you think about being a teacher and you get two weeks off a year, eventually you’re going to run yourself into the ground.” Slade began looking for fast program so that they could return to work as soon as possible, as well as the opportunity to do an international practicum as part of their education and ended up at UNB. “[A]t my age the idea of doing school for two more years is not very attractive,” joked Slade. Almost finished his first semester, he’s eager to get back out into the teaching world. “The next step is get a job somewhere outside Canada.” Lemoine’s background is slightly different: the daughter of two international educators, she was no stranger to travel. After pursuing an undergrad in Canada, she
decided to follow her parents and begin a career of working abroad. “I started working for NGOs working in international development and at some point I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in education.” At that point, Lemoine decided to pursue a job teaching in Asia. Despite her experience in working overseas and being visiting her parents at their schools, Lemoine said it was still an intimidating experience. “[M]y first experience was a four-month [placement]. I was going in and replacing someone who had left and it was kind of ‘get in, here’s a book, go stand in front of a class and try to get the kids to retain some sort of information.’” “I was having this kind of like dilemma where this a career path I really, really, want to jump on, but I’m making money right now and I’m overseas and life is exciting … I’m in one of the most exciting places in the world,” said Lemoine. The excitement of living and working abroad proved strong enough to keep Lemoine from applying to schools for another year. For Lemoine, she isn’t in a hurry to get back overseas. While her initial plan was to take advantage of UNB’s overseas practicum placement, she’s found herself enjoying her time in New Brunswick. “It’s funny, because when I first started I had this idea exactly what I wanted to happen. But since I’ve been here that track has changed quite a bit, but I’m okay with that,” said Lemoine. “I’m really liking being here right now and really liking building community.” As for potential grads looking at teaching abroad, Kimberly Landine, director of field services for UNB’s faculty of education, says research and questions are key. Landine said there are many reputable programs for students looking to teach, and that speaking to people who have taught abroad is a great resource. “Go and do your research, ask what the contract is, ask what they cover, ask what you’re going to be teaching.”
Opinion Letters must be submitted by e-mail to editor@thebruns.ca including your name, as letters with pseudonyms will not be printed or posted online. Letters must be 500 words at maximum. Deadline for letters is Friday at 5 p.m. before each issue.
Letters to the Editor Words by Curtis Quirion
The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner: the time when waste production increases and energy use skyrockets. Perhaps from an environmental point of view, “the most wonderful time of the year” may not be the most accurate way to describe it. Fortunately, there are ways to keep this holiday season green without losing its magical touch by both reducing our carbon footprint, and by keeping our waste to a minimum. One of the most efficient ways to keep our energy usage low is to use LED lightbulbs instead of the conventional incandescent light bulbs. According to the Fundy Region Solid Waste (FRSW), located in Saint John, LED lightbulbs can shine bright for 20 years of seasonal lighting. Not only will the planet thank you — so will your wallet. About 25 per cent more waste is generated during the holidays, according to the FRSW. The wrapping paper that encloses a gift has a lifespan of about 10 seconds, from the moment that the gift is received to when it gets tossed into the trash. Try wrapping your presents with newspaper, tissue paper, or brown postal paper. Unlike wrapping paper, these alternatives can all be recycled and returned to market as new products. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, a fake Christmas tree will have three times greater an impact on climate change when compared to a real tree, assuming the fake tree is being used for six years. Although it appears eco-friendly to reuse a tree each year, the environmental costs are significant. Most fake trees are imported from China, and this transportation results in high carbon dioxide emissions. Worse yet is the extraction and production of the raw materials needed to fabricate these trees. This process is highly toxic and damaging to the environment. The bottom line is that unless you plan to use a fake tree for more than 20 years, purchase a real one. When the holidays end and it comes time to do away with your tree, there are several Christmas tree drop off locations throughout the City that are free to the public. Rather than being thrown away, these trees will be shredded and composted. All drop off locations are found on the City of Fredericton website. Differences can be made by making even the smallest change during the holidays this year. If climate change is not put to a stop soon, we truly will be ‘dreaming’ of a white Christmas for a long time.
Graduate with a B.Ed. in 11 months. Embedded in-school experience; with our practicum you will be in a school early and often. Small class sizes; more one-on-one attention for you. Opportunity to do an international practicum.
For more information contact kaubin@unb.ca Application deadline December 31/16 11
Arts
Fredericton Knit Wits helps make winter warmer for local charities Words by Katie Kim One thing that New Brunswick’s Syrian refugees will soon have to face is the cold Canadian winter. Fredericton Knit Wits decided to make this inevitable experience a little easier by knitting hats, mittens and scarves for the Syrian refugees. Knit Wits is an entirely volunteer-run ‘intergenerational knitting and needlework group’ that meets Wednesdays at the lobby of Regent Hall. Judith Llewellyn is a volunteer that has knitted and crocheted for much of her life. “We knit, crochet and anything in between,” said Llewellyn when asked about the work done at Knit Wits. While warm winter garments are the focus this fall due to the influx of Syrian refugees, the products made at Knit Wits are donated to many other local charities as well. “We knit for the Syrian refugees. I’ve done mittens and hats and baby bags. Especially for the homeless shelter, we make socks. We also make chemo hats.” Llewellyn specified that clothings such as socks are made for everyone — men, women, children to adults. Some members end up specializing on particular product lines; in fact, one of the volunteers crocheted and donated 100 chemo hats last year. The volunteers also often develop a preference for specific materials that they use. While soft cotton is generally
preferred to make chemo hats, acrylic is used to make many of the mittens. Llewellyn said that Knit Wits not only helps the community members, but is a very rewarding experience for the group members as well. In fact, Llewellyn first got involved with Knits Wits when her sister introduced her to the group. She had recently moved back to Fredericton and wanted to give something back to the local community. As someone who has knitted all her life, Llewellyn said that getting involved with Knit Wits is her way of giving back to the community. “My mother was a great knitter, so I have personal experience with [knitting]. I lived across Canada, seen lots of people, and it’s really great to give back to the community.” In a room full of experienced knitters and needle workers, volunteers are able to “swap patterns, knowledge and witticisms.” People often learn to make variations of patterns from others or offer to find and share their own patterns if anyone needs them. “[Some group members] have only one pattern of crochet. I sometimes find and bring in new patterns to share with the group. [The group is] a wealth of knowledge, with people that have the patience to be able to help someone learn to knit or crochet.”
The group is also very open about sharing and dividing works. If one members finds one aspect especially difficult, the group members are willing to divide up the process and help each other. “If someone is not good at something, like making pompoms, we can split works.” Because of this cooperative working environment, Llewellyn welcomes those without professional knitting or crocheting experience and even university students to join the group if they want to learn how to knit or crochet. She even goes a step further and asks those who want some company to come and join the knitting circle. “I take my mother in law with me. My mother in law is almost 90 years old. Some seniors don’t have family close by and want to talk.” The lobby of Regent Hall has a fireplace that the members of the Knit Wits gather around to knit and crochet. While they knit mittens and scarves to help community members, they share knowledge and stories as they drink tea. It’s not difficult to understand why Llewellyn calls it such a wonderful setting. Knit Wits is not only a volunteer organization, but a community on their own. “[Knit Wits] is very much a community experience. And anyone is welcome to join.”
YOUR CAMPUS & HOUSE MERCH SUPPLIER Contact James Wood 478-4337 12
Canvas and Cocktails a perfect Combination Words by Kennedy Welsh Photography by Lacy Little For getting past the dreary weather and long nights of a Canadian winter, it’s hard to beat can’t a night of great food and drinks with friends. This is exactly what Corrine Long and Nasiyr McGill created with Canvas & Cocktails, a guided painting session held at a local pub or restaurant. “I love seeing an idea in my head come to life with my own art. But what is even more fascinating and amazing is seeing a piece of my art being replicated by 30 to 60 different people in a room,” said Long. “Having them all be inspired by the same thing but all turn out so unique.” Long is an internationally published fashion illustrator and designer. Her designs have been featured twice at New York Fashion Week, where she met McGill. The duo started Canvas and Cocktails almost a year ago and it has quickly expanded from the streets of Saint John to Fredericton, with plans to enter into Moncton in the near future. Long has enjoyed teaching the paint events as it’s given her the chance to try her hand at something she doesn’t do often. “Painting is just one form of creative expression available to me. I personally prefer to work in watercolour for my own artwork but for Canvas & Cocktails artwork, acrylic is much better suited to the novice painter,” she said. Tyson Hovey went to the Winter Wonderland paint night at Dolan’s Pub last weekend, which was hosted in support of the Chalmers Regional Hospital Foundation. “To be honest I wasn’t really that interested at first but I thought it would be something different and fun that we could do together, “he said. “One of the waitresses joked and pointed out that I was the only male in the room and said she thought it was
cute.” The Canvas & Cocktails events provide all of the needed materials and emphasize that participants do not need any previous painting experience. “I love seeing people who believe they have no artistic ability realize that, in fact, they do, as they were able to create their very own masterpiece with only a little help from me,” Long said. “Another fun thing is watching more seasoned artists come up with their own take on the painting we’re doing or do their own thing completely.” Hovey himself was initially skeptical of how the night would look like when his girlfriend approached him with the idea. But he was surprised by how much he actually enjoyed it. “There are only four colours on your plate … it was interesting for me to learn how to use those four simple colours and make something so full of life,” he said. “I’m not exactly an artist but they said ‘no experience necessary,’ so I said what the hell. As it turned out, I actually had a lot of fun and our paintings turned out half decent
… All in all I would say it was a big success.” With the semester winding down, the “most wonderful time of the year” can also be the most stressful time of the year. Robyn Metcalfe used Canvas and Cocktails as a de-stresser during a crazy time in her first year of university. “It is so much fun, you get to try out new skills and take home a masterpiece. It is very relaxing and it relieves stress. I would also highly recommend,” she said. “It gave me hope for all of the relaxing days to come as I went during a stressful time in my life. Paint night is an incredible event; I don’t know why they didn’t think of it sooner.” Above all else, the aim of Canvas and Cocktails is to have a good time. As long as people have fun, Long said she’s happy. “We think the one word that best describes Canvas and Cocktails is fun. If you’ve had a good night, we’ve accomplished our goal,” she said. “Whether you order a cocktail or not, whether you can paint or have never painted before in your life, whether you come with friends or by yourself, you’ll have a great time socializing, laughing, and painting the night away.” 13
Gallery on Queen brings art to the heart of downtown
Words & Photography by Nathalie Sturgeon On the corner of Queen and York streets a white sign with bold letters shines down the street, announcing the Gallery on Queen for everyone to see. Nadia Khoury, director and curator of the gallery, is very pleased with its new space and prime location. Khoury’s soft, eloquent demeanor and even her sense of style seem to blend in with the atmosphere of the gallery. This small but well-lit space, with its inviting atmosphere, will be the favourite of any appreciator of art. Gallery on Queen opened on May 28 and has been successful ever since. On the opening day, over 700 people lined the streets of Fredericton to get a glance. “The idea behind the gallery is to feature artists who are up-and-coming, emerging, who need a space, a place where they can showcase their work,” said Khoury. 14
Khoury said location was a very important consideration. In fact, she couldn’t have asked for a better location that makes the gallery so accessible to everyone. Its surroundings are also rich in history; the gallery neighbors the City Hall and the justice building. “It’s in the heart of the downtown.” The wide variety of creatively expressive art is found in different forms in Khoury and her family’s lives. For instance, she loves to cook as a means of creatively expressing herself. She also has a garden filled with many different colours. “I see art in many forms,” she said. She wants the gallery to feature more than just art drawn on canvas. Khoury believes that a gallery is a space for artists to express themselves in whatever way they want. “There should be a place where artists can show their work in the heart of the city,” said Khoury.
Khoury believes that there is not enough space available for such creative work, especially for a long period of time. There are three existing galleries in Fredericton. Many of them traditionally do short exhibits featuring one or two artists. Khoury, however, wants to run things a little differently. “There is not enough space for artists [to] hang their work for a permanent time,” said Khoury. Recently, the gallery started the exhibit Artists Under 35 featuring five distinct artists: Jack Bishop from Saint John, Marie Fox, Chantel Khoury from Fredericton, Marcus Kingston from Harvey Station, and Deanna Musgraves. The project didn’t start off as smoothly as Khoury would have hoped. The original project was set to feature five emerging female artists, but expanded to include both men and women after the suggestion was made by Khoury’s daughter.
Khoury said they wanted ten people to be featured in this project, but because of time and space constraints could only feature five. The exhibit is meant to display how vastly different styles of art can work together flawlessly. Khoury said it’s sometimes tough to find art to showcase in the gallery. “I’m honest with my artist, there are some things each artist needs, it has to be worth being shown, [they have to be] serious about their art and their art has to be long-lasting,” said Khoury. She said she can preview more than 100 artists and the challenge is to pick 10. She said the artists have to stand out against that level of competition. “I can tell … long-lasting artists
really [have] substance, if they are really serious about their work, it really shows,” said Khoury. She also has long-term goals for the new gallery. Any business faces challenges as they try to expand, but Khoury wants to make sure she stays in business. “I want a long list of exhibits and artists for the gallery,” she said. Khoury isn’t worried for now; she said the reaction to her space has been nothing but positive, and credits her success to Fredericton’s wonderful art scene. “There is a lot of art enthusiast here.” However, there can be an air of intimidation when viewing art. “[I want] people to come in and
look; there is no intimidation –- I hope they are not intimidated,” she said. For her, art builds a relationship. A person has to come in and view a piece many times before making a decision. Another long-term goal of Khoury’s is to encourage more students to visit and interact with the gallery. The gallery has already seen hundreds of students interested in art, careers in art or just wanting to be involved in the art community. Khoury wants everyone to know the door is always open at Gallery on Queen. “We’re here for anyone who appreciates art.”
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Christmas comfort food is more than turkey
Words by Brianna Hunt & Jadrien Hong Photography by Adam Travis There is nothing that says “home for the holidays” more than grandma’s cooking — but many students aren’t picturing turkey and mashed potatoes drowned in gravy. The Bruns has decided to do some festive investigative work to expand our minds (and stomachs), with the help of our diverse UNB community. Sweet Potato Perogies Being a food fanatic and all-around lover of the holiday season, it’s pretty hard for me to pinpoint my all-time favorite seasonal treat; I have to say that the winner in my heart and in my tummy has to be sweet potato perogies. I’m not sure if it’s the fond memories I have of spending the afternoon in the kitchen on “varenyky day” with my grandmother making about a hundred perogies, or the oddly satisfying, imperfect half-moons that are the result of a half hour of straight pinching, but these tasty little bits are, to me, the equivalent of a full turkey dinner with all the fixings — a necessity. They’re soft and crunchy on the outside and filled with pure goodness on the inside (sweet potato, garlic, dill, pickled cabbage), and topped off with a dollop of sour cream. Mmm my 16
stomach is growling... Trust me, if you have a bit of time, patience, and appetite … well, a big appetite, then you should ditch those frozen pieces of potato posing as perogies and try a recipe like the one on Hotforfoodblog.com. Their recipe is vegan, but the vegan cheese, butter, and sour cream can easily be replaced with the real deal. I’m sure we can all reminisce about our childhoods and pick out that one dish that made Christmastime feel like Christmastime, and for me, that’s the magic of food — it’s ability to bring people together, bring back memories and those warm feelings. No matter where you are in the world, no matter what your background, there is always that one meal that just feels like home. So whether your Christmas comfort food is turkey, perogies, biryani, or hallaca, cheers! Here’s to a very merry Christmas and may your hearts, and your bellies, be full. Poutine Rapée Annabelle Babineau is a fourth-year English honours student from Moncton whose Acadian family cooks special dishes together every Christmas. One of these dishes is poutine rapée, a traditional Acadian dish eaten around the holidays and cooked as a group. These dumplings are about the size of softballs and
Food continued made in big batches for the whole family to share. “It’s a meat-potato dish, made of salted pork wrapped in potatoes. There are different toppings, which are very specific: either white sugar, brown sugar, molasses, ketchup or salt. What you put on it really changes the dish; I’m a salt person, but my mom likes white sugar on hers.” Annabelle walked me through the process of making this dish, explaining that traditionally the women in the family would gather together in the kitchen because it takes hours to cook. “You have to peel dozens of potatoes, some of which you boil and some you grate raw, and then combine them together to make a doughy paste,” she said. “Then you take your salted pork, make it into a ball, and cover it with the potatoes. Then you boil it for six hours.”
Annabelle explained that in her family, food is an important part of their bonding, something that is reflected by the culinary school diploma she obtained before coming to UNB. “It brings our family together,” Annabelle said. “Partly because it’s delicious, partly because it is so much work to make.” Annabelle talked about making it with her mother, aunts and grandmother, who have passed down the recipe and method through generations. “Someday I’ll teach my niece and nephew to make it; it’s an important tradition to pass on to all the kids, not just the girls of the family. Everybody loves eating poutine rapée — why shouldn’t everybody help make them too?” “To me it tastes like happiness and reminds me of time spent with family.”
Sports
How to beat the winter blues Words by Kennedy Bowden-Welsh In The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews sang about “snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes,” and “silver white winters,” making winter sound like a wonderland (joke intended). While some embrace the wonder that is a snowy path, some look at it as a slippery deathtrap. I set out to see how Frederictonians make the best of the winter blues and how you can do the same. At the top of everyone’s list was a warm cup of hot chocolate, a comfy blanket and a good holiday movie. With Christmas around the corner I have been brushing off the DVDs and getting excited for all the holiday must-sees: Elf, Jack Frost, How The Grinch Stole Christmas — or “the gink,” as my sister called it when we were kids — and A Christmas Carol, just to name a few. With a whole holiday section on Netflix, it’s easier to explore all of the warm, fuzzy films that could be your next movie-night pick. If you want a more hands-on approach, get outside. One of my fondest memories from first year is going downtown with friends and walking around after dark, taking in all the pretty lights that line King and Queen streets. With a cup of hot chocolate
to keep you cozy, how can you possibly go wrong? If you’re over on the North Side from Dec. 1 to the 25 the St. Mary’s Festival of Lights will feature themed festive lights, scenes, and music. Mark your calendars for Jan. 19 to Feb. 12 for one of Fredericton’s biggest events: Frostival! Over four weekends the city will feature more than 100 events, ranging from the Shivering Songs Music Festival to a jam-packed family fun day of tobogganing, dog sledding, a petting zoo and more. Others just want to soak up the sun while they can, so why not take your fur babies to Odell Park and snowshoe one of the 48 paths that run throughout the park? Not only can you take in the sun, but think of the cute pictures you can take with your furry friend. When you’re getting ready to head out, think of those comfy knits that you get to pull out for the season. For me, putting away those summer dresses and unpacking that boxes of warmth is one of my favorite parts of winter. Recently I’ve become a little obsessed with a teal knit sweater that was knit for my mom when she was in university. A pair of leggings, knee high boots, and a floral scrunchy all come together to make me one
happy, knit-sweater wearing girl. Dig through those boxes and have fun with your clothes: it’s my go to for making a cold icky day a little better. On days that you are snowed in, why don’t you find a movie and get crafty. Pinterest is a website on which users can browse through photos for everything from cooking recipes to outfits ideas, and then organize and save them by “pinning” them to “boards”. As someone who takes Pinterest very seriously, I have spent plenty of time looking at DIY winter decor. Last year, I made a snowman signs made out of old barn boards; this year, I’ve been working on burlap wreaths. Grab your computer and jump on Pinterest; it could be the source of your next holiday drink, the perfect Christmas cookie, or a gift for your hard-to-buy-for grandparents. In the end, the best way to beat the winter blues is to get together with your friends. Grab them and go for hot chocolate, take in your school’s sports games or just have a movie night. While not everyone, myself included, goes crazy over the white fluffy stuff, we have to try to it make the best of it! Have fun, be a kid again, and beat the winter blues with “a few of my favorite things.”
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The season so far Photography by Kyle Lamkin
Mens Volleyball UNB men’s volleyball is in second place in the AUS standings with three wins and four losses.
Womens Volleyball UNB women’s volleyball is struggling to find their rhythm as they sit in last place in the AUS standings, having lost all nine of their games so far this this season. 18
Hockey After a stellar first half in which they won 14 of their 18 games, the Varsity Reds men’s hockey team sits in first place in the AUS standings.
Mens Basketball The Varsity Reds men’s basketball team sits at the halfway point in fourth place the AUS standings after a slow start to the season; so far they are at 4 wins and 3 losses.
Womens Basketball The Varsity Reds women’s basketball team had a great start to their season they are currently tied for second place with CBU in the AUS standings, after winning six out of their seven games so far. 19
5 healthy eating tips to manage exam-time stress
Words by Anna Jackson, RD We’re nearing the end of the semester, and exam period is on the horizon. You may find yourself slipping into the “coffee and take-out” diet as your eating habits slide down the priority list and the stress of studying starts to take precedence. However, good nutrition should be a priority now more than ever! The better you fuel your brain and body, the better you’ll study. A healthy diet increases energy, promotes concentration, improves memory, reduces stress, and supports your immune system. Contrary to common belief, healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here are some healthy eating tips to fuel your study sessions and to help you feel your best. 1. Stock up on staples. Before things get too crazy, stock up on some pantry and freezer items. Canned tuna, brown rice, oats, beans, frozen fruit and veggies are all convenient, budget-friendly foods that won’t spoil. When you’re swamped with school work, the last thing you will want to do is cook a time-consuming meal. Having staples on hand will reduce the likelihood of you reaching for the phone to order pizza. That fifty per cent off Domino’s deal can be hard to resist when you don’t have other options on hand; however, a well-balanced meal will serve as better fuel for your study 20
session, helping you feel energized instead of sluggish. 2. Pack healthy snacks. Before hitting the library for a marathon study session, throw some healthy snacks in your backpack. Try a whole wheat wrap with peanut butter and banana slices, Greek yogurt or a handful of nuts or raw veggies with hummus. Don’t forget to pack a water bottle along with your snacks. Dehydration can result in a lack of concentration, lowered energy level and negative mood, so drink up! 3. Don’t forget to eat! While some people lose their appetite when stressed, many people simply forget to eat. Food is fuel for your brain. Making sure that you are providing your brain with a consistent supply of energy will help you stay focused, productive and energized. Try setting an alarm on your phone as a reminder to eat something every three to four hours. If you lose your appetite from stress, it may be easier to stomach liquid-based meals like smoothies. Add a handful of spinach for some greens, avocado for some healthy fats, and Greek yogurt for a protein punch to your smoothies. 4. Ditch the energy drinks. An energy drink may seem like a good idea when it’s 2 a.m. and you’re cramming for your final in the morning, but in reality, energy drinks are never a good idea.
Loaded with sugar, caffeine, and other ingredients that also provide stimulating effects, excess consumption of energy drinks can cause stomach upset, increased anxiety, headaches, muscle cramps, and dehydration. While they do supply mental and physical stimulation, those effects are short-lived. The winning combination for long-lasting energy is healthy eating habits, good hydration and regular physical activity. 5. Prepare meals in advance. Set yourself up for success! Make a big batch of chili or a hearty soup on Sunday, and freeze your leftovers to enjoy once the exam period hits. Alternatively, invest in a slow cooker and let it work its magic while you’re cramming in the library- come home from a long day of studying to a hot meal ready and waiting for you. Slow cookers also leave you with minimal clean-up and lots of leftovers for the next day. For answers to your nutrition questions, book an appointment with the Student Health Centre Registered Dietitian. To book an appointment call (506) 453-4837 or drop in to the Student Health Centre, located on the third floor of C.C Jones Centre. Dietitian services are FREE to all full-time UNB and STU students. No referral is needed.
Name: Evan Barker Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba Team (position): Varsity Reds Men’s Soccer, Goalkeeper Why UNB: A friend of mine — Shea Nordheim — attended UNB for four years and played for the team; she spoke very highly of the soccer program and of the university as a whole. Favourite thing about UNB: The small town feel that it has, you can walk around campus and even around Fredericton and always recognize someone. Favourite experience as a VRed: Our first playoff game this season against Dalhousie. It was the first game of playoffs, we were hosting, the fans were out and cheering despite the poor weather and then the boys put in a great performance and we got a great result with a 5-0 win. Favourite colour: Blue Favourite food: peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich Describe yourself using one word: Persistent
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Name: Lauren Adam Hometown: New Maryland, New Brunswick Team (position/event): Varsity Reds Swim Team; Breaststroke (50m, 100m, and 200m) Why UNB: I chose UNB because of the great kinesiology program, and caring swim coach. My brother, Patrick Adam, also went to UNB and enjoyed competing as a Varsity Red. Favourite thing about UNB: The welcoming atmosphere. I have had wonderful professors, coaches and teammates during my time here and that has made all the difference to me. Favourite experience as a VRed: Being able to compete with some of the best swimmers in the country at USports Championships. Favourite colour: Blue Favourite food: Any Greek food and chocolate Describe yourself using one word: Kind
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