Capilano Courier | Vol 54, Issue 8

Alisha Samnani (she/her) Editor-in-Chief

Power to the people

Here we are — our final issue for the academic year. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve as editor-in-chief for the 2021-22 publication year.

As cliché as it sounds, none of us on the masthead ever stop learning — and editing the Courier this year was full of amazing learning experiences. For instance, we learned how to increase our reach by expanding our free print-to-door subscription service. We networked with multiple community members, and continued to add financial stability to the organization. We got caught off guard by the controversy of this year’s Capilano Students’ Union elections, and managed to maintain a high level of in-depth coverage all the way until its resolution.

As the learning continues, I have been bestowed the honour to continue in my role for the 2022-23 publication year. If you’ve ever been an editor at the Courier, you would know this is a pretty cool job. We are so excited to continue innovating what we do here at the Courier — and of course, continue publishing great content.

No matter how ‘small’ the Courier may seem, it is, like many things at Capilano University, a unique and wonderful establishment with a long and humorous history of students trying to figure life out. It is still important. It has been a safe haven, a stepping stone, and above all a platform for members of the community since the 60s.

Over the last three years I have been lucky to experience and see firsthand what the Courier has done — and continues to do — for people in the community. Print is not dead. Power to the people.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alisha Samnani (she/her) @alishawsamnani editor@capilanocourier.com

NEWS EDITOR

Bridget Stringer-Holden (she/her) @bridget_sh news@capilanocourier.com

INDIGENOUS EDITOR

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Valeriya Kim (she/her) @valerochkim design@capilanocourier.com

PRODUCTION ARTIST

Sara Nguyen (she/her) @sarasnnguyen production@capilanocourier.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Freya Emery (she/her) @freya.emery freyaemery@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Avery Nowicki, Garreth Roberts, Pauline Adalid, Kaileigh Bunting, Jenny Rog, Yasmine Elsayed

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS

Alison Johnstone, Anais Bayle, Chikako Ogawa, C. Palomar Robisco, Lauren Howard, Sarah Haglund, Sharleen Ramos, Talia Rouck

FEATURED ARTISTS

Ana Maria Caicedo, Ata Ojani, Celina Zhong, Christian Kyle Papilla, Jason Low, Kathrin Teh, Katrina Lashmar, Naomi Evers, Natasha Lee, Shay Klassan, Tiffany Zhong

INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING? Visit www.capilanocourier.com/contribute or email editor@capilanocourier.com

INTERESTED IN ILLUSTRATING? Submit your portfolio or samples of work to design@capilanocourier.com

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Keep up to date with The Courier by following our social media platforms @capilanocourier

READ THE COURIER ONLINE

COMMUNITIES EDITOR

Matt Shipley (he/him) communities@capilanocourier.com

FEATURES EDITOR

Elliot White (they/them) features@capilanocourier.com

CULTURE EDITOR

Emma Mendez (she/her/they/them) culture@capilanocourier.com

OPINIONS EDITOR

Jayde Atchison (she/her) opinions@capilanocourier.com

COLUMNS EDITOR

BUSINESS MANAGER

Gaby Salas (she/her) business@capilanocourier.com

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Andrea Gallardo (she/her) @andreagallardoval communications@capilanocourier.com

COVER ART

Lauren Howard

Read more articles from us online at capilanocourier.com or find past press releases at issuu.com/capilanocourier

THE CAPILANO STUDENTS’ UNION TURNS 50 SERIES #7

A new student union building is just around the corner, will there finally be a student pub?

As the Capilano Students’ Union’s (CSU) Vice President Finance and Services, Akira Yamagishi (he/him) manages a portfolio consisting primarily of finance, services and spaces. This includes projects such as the Empower Me mental health services, ensuring that the budget reflects the resources that are allocated toward advocacy, events and services, but also means leading the development of the new student union building.

After joining the CSU as an at-large representative in 2020 through the fall by-elections, Yamagishi gained experience with the CSU and eventually ran for his current position in 2021. “It has definitely been a rollercoaster of navigating the pandemic with our executive team and staff,” he said, noting that figuring out how to deliver services and events was challenging through new COVID variants. “When our team took office in June 2021 we had some grandiose plans that were hashed out assuming the pandemic would fizzle out by Fall, so it was pretty disappointing that we couldn't bring all those concepts to the students.”

On the other hand, Yamagishi has found it rewarding to be able to meet students and listen to their experiences. “Whether we were able to help them or not, it’s been rewarding knowing that we really do remember issues that students tell us and incorporate those into our long-term goals and values so they can be addressed."

An example of this is the Student Union Building Committee that was formed in September 2021. It consists of a combination of current student leaders and CSU board alumni to provide continuity throughout the project. As chair of the committee, Yamagishi ensures that the committee is “providing guidance and effective oversight on the development of the SUB.”

At this point, the committee is still in the process of deciding what kind of spaces should be included in the SUB — they are considering spaces for food and beverage services, to study or book for meetings, to host clubs and events, as well as a nap space to recharge between classes.

“On the pub — we’ve heard a lot of support from students for a place where they can get a casual drink after class, but we have to make sure that there’s a good business plan in place so it’s financially sustainable,” he said, not promising anything, but noting that personally he loves the idea.

“If done right, I think the SUB will change the campus culture and sense of community at CapU — some students might think it will be another building to study but it will be so much more,” said Yamagishi. “We want to build and support a campus

community culture that allows all students to feel like they belong to something and know that they have a close network of people to support them, not just academically but with any life situation.”

In terms of accessibility, the committee is committing to meet or exceed the recommendations from the 2018 campus accessibility audit — including elevator access to every floor and gender neutral washrooms. There are plans to increase outreach to students for input in later stages of the project.

“We are pretty confident that we will include all of those spaces, but actual commitment and space allocation won’t be fully implemented until our next phase of development, after we do an extensive student input engagement plan,” explained Yamagishi. The committee has authority from the board to make decisions about spaces, but bigger decisions such as requesting financial underwriting must go through the board for approval.

The building levy fee was successfully expanded through a 2017 referendum — allowing for more funds to be collected and the ability to build the SUB in a shorter time frame. The building levy fees go into a special-purpose fund, meaning that it’s restricted to activities and costs that relate to the fund's core mandate. “Obviously, COVID had stalled progress, but the delay ultimately improved our situation by reducing the funds we will have to borrow from the bank to cover the difference,” said Yamagishi.

Although COVID forced the CSU to shift their priorities to more immediate student concerns, the estimation is that funding will be requested this fall at the Annual General Meeting. Once funding is approved, Yamagishi expects that it will take up to a year to finalize the building’s design and obtain permits.

Although no name has been chosen for the new building, the current plans place it right on top of the Dogwood site so that it can stand alone. Barring any further complications, it should take up to two years to build.

BRIDGET STRINGER-HOLDEN (SHE/HER) News Editor

ALISON JOHNSTONE (SHE/HER) Illustrator

OUTDOOR RECREATION STUDENT WORKS TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN TOURISM

a lot of work to be done in that aspect, but where I want to take this specific project is to set some framework that businesses could aspire to, specifically for the Howe Sound Region.”

Before Cheshire can interview businesses in the region, she needs project approval from CapU’s Research Ethics Board — something the first-year student called an “interesting” process. “It's a very formal, academic way of wording things […] you have to be very specific about the questions that you ask them and how you ask them,” said Cheshire. “That's been challenging for me.”

She hopes the project will provide more access to marginalized people within the community. “Really it’s for us to figure out where the areas of opportunity are and provide resources to these businesses on who they could partner up with,” said Cheshire.

She spoke with Federal Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault on March 11 about her ideas for the project, including a potential partnership between Inclusion BC — which supports and advocates for people living with disabilities — and Power To Be, a local non-profit that provides outdoor recreation for people living with disabilities.

Cheshire hopes to start the second stage of her project as part of her co-op this summer. As she would be the organization’s first employee, the process involved a great deal of paperwork for them to become an employer. However, Cheshire has a job description and is simply waiting to sign the deal once funding is secured through a third party.

During her co-op, Cheshire aims to build community through the society’s website. “The goal is to have [businesses with identified best practices] present workshops to the other businesses, creating partnerships,” she said, citing sustainable mountain biking businesses as an example.

The workshop idea was sparked by another class at CapU currently working with the society. Once that class completes their project in April, it will be handed over to Cheshire who can work to implement the ideas.

The International Coordinating Council approved Howe Sound’s nomination to become Canada’s 19th UNESCO Biosphere Region on Sept. 15, 2021. This new biosphere extends from West Vancouver up the Sea to Sky Corridor — almost to Whistler — and includes parts of Bowen Island and then Sunshine Coast.

The Outdoor Recreation Management student is working alongside the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society to bring sustainable tourism practices to Howe Sound. “I felt very drawn to work with [the society] in some sort of capacity,” said Cheshire. “When I spoke with Ruth [Simons], she introduced this project to me, which immediately sounded like something I wanted to do.”

Cheshire met Simons, the coordinator and president of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society, through an EarthWorks event hosted by instructor Roy Jantzen last fall.

Jantzen helped Cheshire outline a self-directed study course for the Spring 2022 semester, marking the start of a year-long project to create partnerships between the society and outdoor recreation businesses that operate in Howe Sound.

Cheshire started her research in January by looking at UNESCO's global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “I didn't know much about the SDGs at all, so then I had to go and do a bunch of research — what do these mean, what are we looking for, which ones do we want to focus on?”

She eventually settled on Goal 17, partnerships for the goals, as her main focus. Cheshire has also been examining goals related to Life on Land, Life Below Water, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities and Sustainable Cities and Communities.”

During her research, Cheshire noticed a lack of proper framework or government mandated requirements — things that are needed to create sustainable tourism businesses. “There's

BRIDGET STRINGER-HOLDEN (SHE/HER) News Editor

VALERIYA KIM (SHE/HER) Design Director

Working with Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society and UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals, Cheshire aims to bring in partnerships to educate about sustainable business practices

Sophie Cheshire (she/her) has taken on an ambitious project for her first year at Capilano University (CapU).

KARTIK BHARADWA JOINS CAPU AS NEW VICE-PRESIDENT OF PEOPLE, CULTURE & DIVERSITY

Improved student experience, digital upgrades part of his vision for Capilano University

NEW EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AUDIT LAUNCHED AT CAPU

New VP of People, Culture & Diversity to conduct audit alongside Veza Global

Kartik Bharadwa (he/him/his) joined Capilano University (CapU) as the new Vice-President of People, Culture & Diversity in January 2022, bringing with him years of experience at companies like Arts Umbrella — a non-profit teaching organization — and the B.C. Dental Association.

While his new role may seem like an out-of-the-blue career move, Bharadwa would tell you otherwise. “Post-secondary was definitely something that was on my radar as an industry I wanted to move into,” he said, noting that he joined CapU to give back to the community.

In addition to oversight of human relations programs and services at CapU, the VP People, Culture & Diversity position also oversees organizational development processes, including talent acquisition, employee engagement, and learning and development initiatives for employees.

“If we have an employee who is really engaged and focused on the success of the organization, ultimately, the person who benefits the most would be the student,” said Bharadwa. “What it really comes down to is [improving] the student experience.”

Part of that improvement would include a digital transformation through technological improvements.

“I think that a lot of the practices are a bit dated and there is some legacy software that is in dire need of upgrading,” he said. “I think that would be something I would move forward on, primarily to assist people with becoming — not just more productive, but more effective and efficient.”

Although challenging, Bharadwa believes implementing new software would be worth it. “You want it to be an enriching experience,” he said. “I know how frustrating it is when you have to fill in a form online over and over again and then you click submit, and it doesn’t work.”

Although he’s still adjusting to the role and getting to know people, Bharadwa has built positive relationships with a few students and welcomes others to introduce themselves if they see him on campus.

“If you have any questions or just want to stop by the HR office, come on down! I want to be very welcoming, as the university has been to me.”

An equity, diversity and inclusion audit — initiated by the Capilano University (CapU) Board of Governors in June 2021 as part of CapU’s Envisioning 2030 strategic plan — is now underway with some help from Kartik Bharadwa (he/ him), the University’s new VP People, Culture and Diversity.

“There's been a number of employee engagement surveys that have been completed over the years, but I believe this is the first of its kind,” said Bharadwa. “Prior to moving forward, I'd like to focus on the gap, versus looking at where we want to be and getting too far ahead of ourselves.”

Veza Global was selected to conduct the audit as an external third-party, thanks to their experience conducting audits for other post-secondary institutions, such as the University of British Columbia, as well as their work with the Vancouver Board of Trade.

The audit is set to consist of around thirty focus groups held throughout the Spring and Fall 2022 semesters in order to get as many participants as possible. The groups will consist of employees, faculty and students in an effort to obtain a holistic overview of practices across the University.

Recommendations from the external auditors are due in December 2022, after which they will be shared with the CapU community. With these findings, Bharadwa will be forming a “people plan” that aligns with CapU’s Envisioning 2030. “We already have the Top 100 Employer B.C. [designation] — I'd like [CapU] to get the Top Employer in Canada designation at some point.”

BRIDGET STRINGER-HOLDEN (SHE/HER) News Editor

BRIDGET STRINGER-HOLDEN (SHE/HER) News Editor

FORAGE AND FEAST: SPEARFISHING FOR SUSTAINABILITY

White allies, here are some beginning steps to the social justice work that must be done in 2022 onwards

PAULINE ADALID Contributor

TALIA ROUCK (SHE/HER) Illustrator

In Nanoose Bay, Chris Samson (he/him) sets out for a dive. Wearing a thick neoprene wetsuit, the 31-year-old plunges into the water, settling himself on the rocks 15 meters below the surface. Holding his breath, he scans the underwater world in front of him, his speargun held close to his body. This is how Samson sustains himself — by hunting down his dinner.

Humans have shared intimate connections with food for millennia. Not only does it sustain us — it’s a means of expressing our culture and identities. It fosters bonding and community. Unfortunately, industrialization has caused consumers to distance themselves from their food — an issue spearfishers believe hunting solves.

“Spearfishing is knowing where your food comes from,” said Samson. He explained that the process of hunting makes him more conscious of his choices — and his food waste. “I started realizing how irresponsible I had been with the protein I was buying in the store… I didn’t respect it.”

Samson is one of three moderators for BC Spearfishing and Freediving, a Facebook group with over 3000 members invested in sharing their adventures with spearfishing. Through the group, he met his frequent dive partner 35-year-old Natasha Parsons (she/her). “We’ve massively tried to cut down the amount of fish that we buy [since we started spearfishing],” said Parsons.

The practice has caused both Samson and Parsons to become invested in marine conservation. “I never really appreciated the amount of different species and how they’re all connected together in the ecosystem,” said Parsons. “It just opened our eyes up to what’s actually happening [in the ocean].”

Industrialized food production has shifted our role from food producers to food consumers, reliant on factories to source the food we eat. This causes a disconnect for us — we are no longer present to harvest food from its source. Instead, we see ready to eat meals, plastic-wrapped fruits and vegetables, and preserved foods in cans and jars.

According to FoodPrint, this system is built for maximizing production and reducing costs. It perpetuates the exploitation of nature’s carrying capacity by promoting mass produced and chemically-injected foods transported across continents, packaged and displayed in supermarkets before it reaches our plates.

“We need to understand our ecological footprint,” said Philip Brass, a hunter and member of the Peepeekisis Cree Nation. “Here in North America, I just know we’re very wasteful.”

As an advisor for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Brass is a strong advocate of Indigenous peoples rights and environmental protection. He believes that establishing connections with our food can help shift our mindsets to become more mindful consumers.“It is devastating to cultural diversity,” said Brass. “It forces people to become a homogenous monoculture of consumers because we lose our food culture.”

Samson admits spearfishing has changed the way he consumes food. “I don’t eat anything unless I harvested it myself, [especially] when it comes to protein.”

While it has its benefits, spearfishing can easily turn into an unsustainable venture if responsible hunting techniques are ignored. “If everyone goes to the same reef every single time they harvest and they start shooting, you can clear the reef pretty quickly,” said Samson. “The

debate or the discussion about sustainability is not the question of how you fish. It’s a question of how much,” said Daniel Pauly.

Pauly serves as the Principal Investigator of the Sea Around Us project, and is a Killam Professor at UBC’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. “If you fish more than the population can regenerate on an annual basis, then the population will decline and it’s not sustainable.”

Samson admits the practice isn’t perfect. “People travel quite a distance and they want to bring home as much fish as possible,” said Samson. “That’s how they justify shooting three lingcod.” He believes the level of sustainability spearfishing can produce is ultimately up to the participant.

Brass agrees. “It might not be the sustainable model and method for everybody [but] we have to respect spearfishing,” he said. “Industrial society has to find a way to grow food in a way that’s sustainable, that’s local, that’s regenerative — [Vancouver has] got to find a way to eat local.”

CELINA ZHONG

@celinaa.jpg

THE DEATH OF THE DOLLAR BILL

Transitioning to a fully cashless monetary system might be convenient, but are we ready?

MATT SHIPLEY (HE/HIM) Communities Editor

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on Feb 24, 2022, economic sanctions from the West have piled in en masse. Notably, Russia and its citizens are cut off from the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) system, as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay and multiple international streaming services. The rapidity of this systemic cutoff, while far removed from the West, still has wide-reaching implications for the rest of the world.

A New Big Red Button

We’ve all heard of the “big red nuclear button” — the choice to end all choices. It’s a danger everyone’s aware of — countless films, books and poems have been written on the subject. The nuclear decision, while still very real, has been spun into a star-studded Los Angeles fanfare so many times that it seems unobtrusive and far-removed from the worries of the West. However, there remains a more roguish button — a blue button, if you will. It’s a button that’s been bashed to pieces as more and more corporations deny service to Russia, but it could just as easily be turned on any of us.

As the banking restrictions rolled into Russia, civilians mobbed ATMs across the country. Billionaires and oligarchs scrambled to offshore their wealth and move their physical assets beyond Russian borders, and Russian companies found themselves unable to export goods or collect wealth from the rest of the world. Innocent Russian citizens are finding themselves in a now-archaic age: where physical cash is their only stable form of currency, and everything within the bounds of their nation is on an economic rollercoaster. Nobody knows what Western service may be denied next — oil, food imports or even widespread Internet access. To anyone who takes those privileges for granted, losing them would be a huge blow, no matter where they live in the world.

WHY IT SHOULD MATTER TO US

We, as a global society, are in the midst of a technological revolution. For decades now, a popular philosophical angle has been to wonder whether or not we are ready for said revolution, and nevertheless the silicon train plows onward. Within this revolution is the move towards a fully cashless system — one where all payments are made either by card, by app or online. It’s certainly a solution that makes life much easier for consumers, but given how quickly the West has essentially turned off Russia’s cashless system, it begs the question: is this system really as secure as it seems, and who has the power to turn it on and off?

Why We Shouldn't Be Worried

The reasoning behind Russia’s bank shutdown isn’t hard to find. Declaring war and invading another country is a serious affront to international order, and in all cases, modern imperialism should be faced with significant consequences. In many instances, though, this hasn’t been the case at all. The ongoing conflict in West Asia (the Middle East) proves that there is a certain hierarchy among the countries of the world.

The West, as stewards of the majority of the world’s economic and military strength, are in turn granted a sort of de facto immunity against the sorts of sanctions it has imposed on Russia. As has been proven countless times by Western nations, most notably the U.S., supporting a conflict (even both sides of said conflict) in a nonWestern nation is not a punishable offense. Sure, it comes with its fair share of global criticism, but if all nations were treated equally under international law, economic sanctions would fall left and right onto Western imperialist nations.

So, for the time being at least, we don’t have to be worried about our banking system’s imminent collapse. Barring a quick evolution to a Canadian surveillance dystopia, we most likely won’t have to flock to ATMs and give up mobile payment. If this conflict drags on long enough to embroil the rest of the world, though, it may be a smart move to keep some emergency cash on hand, just in case.

THE HUNT FOR COMMUNITY

The straw that broke the camel’s back. The feather that tipped the scales. The penny that starved the masses. No matter the expression, the message remains the same—a catalyst can come in the smallest of forms. Microaggressions are the small, and sometimes unintentional, actions or dialogues that express judgment towards marginalized communities, and they’re everywhere.

Social sensitivity isn’t something that one can develop in a day, and this is especially true when microaggressions are involved. Much of the time, they’re not something that people think about. In people’s minds, they’re nothing more than passing remarks, if even that. Someone may not even realize that their hand strays to their wallet when they pass someone who looks different in the mall. They may think that a remark complimenting an Asian Canadian’s English is neutral, or even a compliment. This creates a nigh-impossible environment for someone to speak up if they’ve been subjected to prejudice.

Defensive reactions like these are the backbone of the denial of privilege. While a civil conversation has every right and intention to foster change, far too many people bury their heads in the sand and deny their involvement.

It’s a culture of blame deferral, of the quintessential “you started it” and “it’s not my fault you’re [insert irrelevant argument here].” Yet, the fear of and unwillingness to change is why this is such a prevalent problem.

Unconscious biases give rise to microaggressions, and those often perpetuate a toxic environment within workplaces and industries around the world. Again,

these are not things that a privileged perpetrator would think about, but they make a tremendous difference in the workforce experience for marginalized groups. Simply entering a male-dominated industry such as gaming or the trades as a non-male-identifying person can be terrifying due to the culture perpetrated by the workplace. Hiring personnel are infamous in their biases towards racialized groups, leading to a stagnant status quo that is rarely, if ever, confronted with diverse ideas.

When all is said and done, it’s up to every person to work forward within themselves. It’s unrealistic to think that change will come in a day, but what can happen in a day is the willingness to change. The first step is the most important. If someone mentions that you said something offensive, instead of feeling attacked, apologize and ask how you can improve. Small aggressions in everyday conversations aren’t unforgivable, so long as the offending party is always open to change.

AVERY NOWICKI (SHE/HER) Contributor

C. PALOMAR ROBISCO Illustrator

Treasure lies where students feel united

DOWNTO-EARTH

The rise of PPE has definitely reduced the spread of illness, but with the increased popularity of these single-use products, reusing and recycling may be at a new low — that’s where “plogging” comes in

As we approach Earth Day, it’s important we take a hard look at how we’ve affected the environment during the pandemic. It’s no secret that the earth is in peril, just a few weeks ago a list of cities that may be taking an underwater dip in the next few decades was released – with Vancouver pretty high up in the rankings. Now more than ever, we need to be looking out for this planet we call home.

B.C. has always had an eye out for the environment, with efforts to live in a more sustainable, greener province. Even going as far as to have a Greenest City Action Plan for Vancouver, which just wrapped up its decade-long journey in 2020 — and more recently with the plastic bag by-law that came into effect this January. But, with the focus on shopping bags and plastic cups, we’ve turned our gaze away from a new litter-fiend: masks.

Back in late 2021, news sites were flooded with an international study released on the effects of singleuse medical items and pollution. Masks, gloves and disposable sanitizing wipes found themselves thrown to the side in an increasingly worrying bout of littering. In fact, with just a casual stroll through Vancouver, you wouldn’t be surprised to find a few of those light blue medical masks strewn around the sidewalk.

According to Kieran Roberts, a professor in Portsmouth and one of the authors of the study,

mask litter in particular, can have devastating effects. For one, the loops on the masks can very easily lead to choking animals in the same way that plastic sixpack loops can — and the materials of those little blue masks can prohibit plant growth and smother prosperous earth. All in all, the increase in mask litter has had a significant impact on our environment.

The mask mandate is no more, and people are still getting used to having their faces uncovered in public — but with masks transitioning out of commonality, where are all of them going?

Honestly, just where you expect them to go — on the ground. Living in the West End, a relatively environmentally conscious and green neighbourhood, I’ve found hundreds of masks scattered about Stanley Park and the Seawall, and I only expect it to get worse as less and less people stop wearing them. Which is why a lot of people, including me, have decided to take up a hobby that is so perfect for Vancouver it hurts: plogging. A

ELLIOT WHITE (THEY/THEM) Features Editor LAUREN HOWARD Illustrator

“If your GP is actually educated with endo and what those symptoms are, that’s the front line defence right there,” said Luciani. This lack of education can have grave consequences — according to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, medical errors account for 28,000 deaths in Canada per year.

portmanteau of the word ‘jog’ and ‘picking up’, or in Swedish, where the trend of plogging has its roots, the words ‘jogga’ and ‘plocka up’ — plogging is the process of picking up litter while you go on your jog. It started in 2016, and has since then found itself become a worldwide hobby. More recently however, Vancouverites have taken up the sport specifically to tackle the mask problem.

David Papineau, a local Vancouver jogger, started this specific litter battle almost a year ago, and has since picked up countless masks. Through his Twitter, he documents just how many masks he’s been picking up — estimated around 40-60 per one of his 10K jogs throughout the city. Even tweeting this January to mark a milestone of the masks he’s collected — “Mask 25,000, nestled among the rotting foliage on Union Street, right in front of the original location of Happy Planet…” Papineau plans on picking up approximately 30,000 by the end of his year-long endeavour, which will be wrapping up this month.

Plogging is one of those activities that anyone can easily pick up. Already jog? Great! Just bring some gloves and a bag (some folks use leftover bread bags) with you, it even adds some bending and squatting to your workout and gives a helping hand to the environment. Even if jogging isn’t your thing, “Plogga”, the association responsible for the movement, even has a little how-to guide on “pliking” — the hiking version of plogging.

It’s easy to look at news articles about the environment, and get downtrodden — we all know that things are looking pretty rough, but when “worry burnout” starts to take a toll there’s something to be said about all the good humanity is doing. Plogging and pliking are one of those things that can be a source of environmentally positive joy we can bring about, especially when it can feel like nothing you’re doing is making a difference. It’s important to take a deep breath, go outside, and enjoy the Earth we still have around — maybe while you’re out there pick up a couple masks off the street.

ART AS RESISTANCE & RECLAMATION

Reclaiming one’s power, culture, and voice through creation

EMMA MENDEZ (SHE/HER/THEY/THEM) Culture Editor JASON LOW Illustrator

“My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake it is the artists that will give them their spirit back.” Louis Riel

In a world where capitalism forces us to do almost everything for profit — turning our passions, our stories, ourselves, into a commodity in order to survive, art as resistance and reclamation is powerful. Although there are still many that are skeptical when it comes to art having an important role in social justice work, many do see it as significant in activism. Many also think of it as being a healing part of reclaiming one’s own cultural and ancestral ways. But what exactly does this mean?

Emilia Martinez (they/she), a multi-disciplinary artist residing in so-called Vancouver, uses their art as a way to resist oppression and to reconnect to their Indigenous ancestors.

Having always viewed art as a way of self-expression and self-exploration, Martinez said that, “[art,] in many ways is reflective of the conditions of the world around me. “As a person who dreams of a better future, who resists capitalism, colonialism, and an increasingly individualistic world, creating art in reflection of those dreams is, in itself, an act of resistance.”

While some may struggle to make the connection between resistance and reclamation, or even see how they are different, Martinez explained that they

are not necessarily the same, but are interconnected. Creating art to reclaim one’s culture, voice, and power, is as Martinez said, “resisting the current machine of the world.” Especially for marginalized peoples, they noted.

For many artists, creating is empowering because it allows them to express their feelings and is healing for Martinez in particular as someone who is also an abuse survivor. This is because, “being an abuse survivor, you’re silenced, your power is taken away from you. So speaking up about it in any way… is empowering because you are carving a space for yourself where your humanity was pushed out,” said Martinez.

Being a very personal and unique journey for each person, Martinez reflects on how art has had a significant role in reclaiming and reconnecting for them, “as an immigrant, displaced from my home country, Mexico, as a young teenager, I would focus on [in my art] the feeling of feeling detached from where I’m from and my culture.”

Being “Mestize,” (mixed-Indigenous and Spanish descent). Martinez has been doing the work to reconnect with their Indigenous side, which, they

share, is very hard to do when they have been displaced from their home community. Growing up in mainstream Mexican culture is also a form of displacement they have experienced. Since they did not have a connection to their Indigenous communities, as many also experience. For them art has been a way to always address personal journeys, also reflecting their journey of reconnecting with their Indigenous side. Art as reclamation doesn’t mean that the struggle and inner conflict is any less, it just comes out in a different way.

Martinez grapples with the perception of boundaries within their Indigenous art and aesthetic. As a whitepassing Mestize person living in Mexico, they struggle with the boundaries of respect and honesty within a culture she does not feel is entirely hers. There is still a need to check in with oneself and reflect. “I want to be walking this path in a way that is respectful and honest, out of love for my ancestors, for the people, and for the land,” she said.

It’s understandable that people still wonder what impact art actually creates. Why should they care? Martinez acknowledged it was more than valid for people to wonder how we get to a point where action is taken. “As artists, I think it's important to address social issues but also plant seeds of hope… art is a way that you can start to introduce ideas and topics to people that will get them talking, but it’s a starting point.”

“We need something to bring us together to spark these conversations and to spark conversations of hope and change,” they continued. “Art that tries to inspire is necessary if we want to change the way we live in this world.” Highlighting that it's necessary to have hope but also channel that hope into tangible action.

Although one’s artwork alone may not spark a revolution, there is the hope that it will be a catalyst for deeper introspection and conversation. “I think people assume that when someone says they want to inspire change through their art that they are referring to this giant cultural upheaval,” explained Martinez.

They also share that with this perspective comes a need to redefine success when it comes to activism, reclamation and art. “I think if something I do sparks personal thoughts about something that maybe the person hasn't thought about before, I consider that success.”

To those that are struggling with feeling hopeful and seeing the power as well as significance of art as resistance and reclamation, Martinez offers that a part of the cynicism many experience and pick, is not necessarily coming from one. “It’s this way the system wants us to feel so that we remain hopeless and powerless, and don't act on our desires for change.”

They hold empathy for those who feel hopeless of the change and impact art can have. But would like to challenge people who believe art is not something that can be powerful. Martinez observed that “most of the time it speaks to how closed off people are to the idea of change being possible.”

You can find them on Instagram at @tiny.void and on Etsy.

LUCID ARTS CLUB

Art as community care in so-called Vancouver

So-called Vancouver is known among many things, for its active arts and music scene — from indie music shows to locally organized gallery shows. However, there exists a gap in the arts scene of socalled Vancouver, one that Lucid Arts Club is helping to fill. Created in Spring 2021, Lucid Arts Club is a youth run art collective committed to, “celebrating the nuance and multiplicity of Queer existance by creating accessible events and media for QTBIPOC artists in so-called Vancouver and beyond.”

Currently, the collective is moving away from being primarily virtual and is working on putting together in-person workshops and events. Lucid Arts Club is also currently co-creating a zine inspired by Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. They also just finished their garden program which provided access to free gardening packages to remove barriers to connecting with the natural world.

CapU student and one of the collective’s co-founders, Emma Jeffrey (they/she), co-created the collective with their friend Marty-Alice Branco (they/its), after having co-hosted workshops and events for youth in the past. With leftover grant money from a previous project, Jeffrey proposed the idea to Branco, and together they started primarily with virtual workshops and projects.

Being an art collective for QTBIPOC youth, Jeffrey explained, “we just wanted to make a community space in the art world for people who don’t necessarily have the same access in Vancouver’s art scene.” Jeffrey continued that while in high school going to indie shows, they observed that the arts scene in so-called Vancouver “is a very white male dominated space.” Having seen and heard about BIPOC and femme people not feeling safe in those spaces, Branco and Jeffrey wanted to also create a space where QTBIPOC, femmes, etc. could feel safe to be in a community.

Even though art can be personal and private, Jeffrey sees art as a form of community care. “I don’t think art happens in a vacuum. It’s meant to be shared — we are meant to get inspiration and learn from each other,” they shared, mentioning that this is at the core of Lucid Arts Club.

With people feeling disconnected, especially youth and (QT)BIPOC people in the city, caused in part by the pandemic, Jeffrey states the need for spaces like Lucid. “We need to make space to nurture our relations to each other. Community is really important for well-being, making space to connect, the process of facilitating these spaces for people is a form of community care.”

Jeffrey also opened up about one of their own personal reasons for co-creating Lucid — the burn out that comes from organizing and working to create a better world. Noticing that in the activism spaces they have been in, people are exhausted and resistance takes its toll. They see it necessary to give energy back into the community and create spaces that will be regenerative as well as joyful. For their vision, Jeffrey said, “I just want to make space for Queer joy, Trans joy, BIPOC joy,

Neurodivergent joy. I want to create spaces for people who may not have that same access to community.” Truly seeing art and facilitating spaces like Lucid Arts Club as fostering connection, joy, community and inspiration.

You can find them on Instagram at: @lucidartsclub

EMMA MENDEZ (SHE/HER/THEY/THEM) Culture Editor

CHIKAKO OGAWA (SHE/HER) Illustrator

THE NORTH SHORE WRITERS FEST

For the past twenty years, The North Shore Writers Fest has unified local writers and readers alike in a celebration of the written word. Despite originally taking place exclusively in socalled North Vancouver, they have since moved online entirely, due to Covid-19, however as restrictions ease , the choice to stay online or move back in-person, remains undecided and the impact this has on young local writers is a matter of questioning.

After discussing with festival facilitator Meghan Crowe (She/Her) and West Vancouver Memorial Librarian Kendra Sakamoto (She/Her), a few topics sparked interest, including the fact that their attendance in recent years has had far less youth than expected. This is not against their best efforts. When asked about the steps they take to promote this festival, Crowe told the Courier, “we have a fairly intricate communication plan, one including posters, Facebook and other social media platforms, as well as traditional print media.” These efforts are easily recognized, seen by an Instagram account with almost 700 followers and a Facebook account trailing not far behind. Their print ads are easily found around the North Shore and these events are often discussed in the small pockets of literary community entangling this city. So why is it that so few young writers and readers are in attendance?

While Crowe and Sakamoto are just as unsure about the reasoning behind the dying literary scene for young people as many so-called Vancouver writers, they try their best regardless to create a welcoming space for all the writers hiding in the shadows of the North Shore. Sakamoto spoke on her opinion of this matter, stating “We want to create a wonderful experience for everyone who comes, our goal is to create a community around Canadian literature.”

Light For Local Authors

Naturally, their switch to a virtual only festival may be the cause for this trouble, however Crowe spoke on how this format is far better for those who are already in the festivals target demographic. “We had incredible feedback with the virtual format, it was preferred by those with accessibility issues and those away from the North Shore Writers fest.” However, they do recognize that this format also excludes those who struggle to gain access to a reliable internet connection and the online format as a whole. As well as that this will further contribute to the lack of youth attendees, as they say they think young people are tired of waiting at home and are wanting more to make in person connections again. As a way to combat this issue, they have included more events with a focus on young people, including an event around children's books and graphic novels as a way to grab their hopeful audiences attention. They also encourage young writers to participate in the North Shore authors collections, a program that has published authors as young as eight years old. Applications begin May 2nd, and writers are heavily encouraged to submit.

The North Shore Writers Festival is constantly amazed by the success of the event each year and the community that has sparked surrounding it. Crowe and Sakamoto add that the goal of the festival is to shed a light on local Canadian authors and that they hope to let local authors know they are encouraged to participate , that the door is open and waiting for them.

To attend this year's virtual festival from April 26th - 30th 2022, visit northshorewritersfestival.com or follow them on instagram at @ nswritersfest for more information.

AVERY NOWICKI (SHE/HER) Contributor SARAH HAGLUNG (SHE/HER) Illustrator

REBOOT? MAYBE NOT

To reboot or not to reboot, that is the question

YASMINE ELSAYED (SHE/HER) Contributor VALERIYA KIM (SHE/HER) Design Director

Recently, reboots became quite famous, and I don’t exactly know why. The remaking of certain shows can really ruin the nostalgia that a lot of people have while watching the originals. The problem with remakes is that writers and producers try to reshape the original story and match it to today’s standards. 90 per cent of the time, the plots are forced and don’t have heart. With reboots, all they have going for them is the name. Like jumping on a trend, it spreads like wildfire. Everything now has a reboot, for example, Charmed or Gossip Girl

I, for one, heavily opposed the remaking of Charmed, a show debuted in 1998 about three sisters, Piper, Phoebe and Prue — finding out they are witches, and thus the story begins. The original cast and plot hold a special place in my heart, and I associate that show with many bonding moments I had with my friends and family while it was first airing. Waiting every Friday night, picking snacks, and getting cozy on the couch was a ritual of ours. The 2018 Charmed has a similar storyline, set design, and love interests, but Charmed should have stayed a stand alone original.

The remake didn’t ruin my memories, but I felt that the classics should just remain that. Classics. I believe that the purpose of the reboots is to attempt to bring something “new” to the audience and relate it to the people who watched the original shows or movies. The 2007 Gossip Girl is a fantastic show but had its share of problems — primarily the problematic romanticism of elite students during a recession.

However, the 2021 Gossip Girl attempts to pick up where the original left off — with a new generation

going through the same cycle that the original cast went through. Was this “remake” necessary? Not really. One Gossip Girl show is more than enough. What's funny about this situation is when you google Gossip Girl or Charmed, the original shows pop-up, not the remakes.

The beauty of having original ideas is that you are introduced to new adventures, new characters, new mysteries, and the list goes on. Re-using these ideas ruins the excitement of it all. However, if new generations want to watch a good show, I would definitely recommend the original series since going “vintage” is a trend right now.

I’ll admit, I have liked a reboot in the past. Granted, I didn’t know it was a remake until recently, but I did get sucked into the 2012 film 21 Jump Street. I found out that it was originally a show made in 1987 with an incredible cast that was a lot more diverse than the film. The film is great but, just as suspected, the original is much better. Looking back with my newfound knowledge of the 1987 show, I have to appreciate that some of the original cast did make an appearance in the 2012 version.

With reboots, there is a high possibility that you might dislike it. If you weren’t aware that there is an original, like myself, the odds for disliking the show are in your favour. Either way, you can never go right with reboots. Unless it’s 21 Jump Street.

CHECK YOUR THRIFT STORE PRIVILEGE

It’s time for thrift stores to be held accountable

KAILEIGH BUNTING (SHE/HER) Contributor ANAIS BAYLE (SHE/HER) Illustrator

With more than ten million tonnes of textile waste heading to North American landfills each year, shopping sustainably has become a top priority for many buyers.

While the increase in popularity is great news for the avid deal-seeking-thrifter, this popularity has driven secondhand shops away from their original mission of providing low-income individuals with essential items at an affordable price.

In other words, the increased demand from more privileged buyers has increased pricing across these secondhand institutions and makes shopping for clothes less accessible. Frankly, it is unacceptable to allow the trendiness of upcycling clothing and other items to negatively impact those for whom don’t have the privilege of having other options.

Now, I know what you might be thinking — sure, some thrift store items are overpriced, but there are always racks chock-full of inexpensive essentials that are available for everyone, right? The issue I have with this train of thought is that it assumes people who rely on secondhand stores for clothes and other essential items should be happy with the bare minimum.

It creates a stigma where the underprivileged have no right to choices, different style options, and things that they are excited to buy or bring into their home. Being able to present yourself to the world as you’d like to be seen brings confidence and dignity — two things that shouldn’t come with a hefty price tag. So while there are racks on racks of clothing usually left untouched in thrift stores, that shouldn’t be the only option for folks in need.

To clarify, I am not discouraging people from using thrift stores and Value Villages if they can afford not to. As a student living in Vancouver, I often find myself browsing these shops for my next purchase, less out of necessity and more because I want to be more sustainable with my purchases. I think everyone should thrift first before heading to retail shelves, but that shouldn’t negatively impact those who have always relied on secondhand stores. It is essential that these institutions are held accountable for changes that negatively impact those most in need, and it is something to consider the next time you find yourself buying from your local Value Village.

Overall, while the rise in thrifting popularity has increased the number of buyers who opt to upcycle clothing or donate instead of trash their textiles, effort should be made to keep these institutions accessible for all buyers, not just those who have extra cash to spend. So next time you find yourself wanting a new piece in your closet, try browsing local, online marketplaces where no institution is involved, or swap clothes with your friends when you feel the urge to change things up.

PLEASE, STILL BE F**KING KIND

Things may be changing, but it isn’t a hall pass to be an asshole

And just like that, the mandates in B.C. seemed to disintegrate into thin air. We have been waiting for the day when things start to feel “normal” again for the last two years. For a lot of people the lift of mask mandates was a huge relief and a sign towards the times we had pre-2020. For others, there was a disparity in their reaction — because the idea of going maskless and mingling as a mass was anxiety-ridden.

There is a bittersweet feeling of going back to some normalcy as it feels like a reason to celebrate, but also we have been so protective of ourselves and the sudden shift is jarring to the nervous system. I am floating in this strange pool of conflict, and my mind and body are having different reactions to the news that broke on March 10th. I have been wearing my mask diligently the last two years and I have been happy to do my part to keep people safe and comfortable. Outside of my angry mask-acne, I have complied because the pandemic was bigger than my skin issues.

Yes, a big part of me is excited to be in a state where masks are no longer needed and to be able to smile openly at those around me — but an equally large part of me has a physical anxiety about being so close to people without masks on. I went nearly two years without getting sick, but as soon as the mask regulations were lifted I was struck with the virus. The week of hell that followed the positive COVID test was the worst pain I have experienced from an illness. My brain became mush, my body ached in every square-inch and I was sleeping between alarms set to remind me to take my medication.

The last two years have given me a case of agoraphobia that I didn’t recognize until I was sitting in a full brewery with people mingling around without masks or caution. I have to settle into this shift and remind myself that this is what we have been striving for. However, if I can keep anyone from feeling the pain I felt at the end of March, I will continue to wear my mask inside crowded areas and public transit.

What I am most nervous about with this shift in mask and vaccine mandates is the rude behaviour that will likely follow. I am scared of people lashing out to businesses that utilize their right to continue to implement mask and vaccine requirements. This has been a very turbulent ride we have been on the last few years, and the last thing that people need is harassment for trying to keep their company open in a way that feels safe to them while navigating these sudden changes.

We saw videos of people around the world when masks first came into play, primarily in North America, where people tried to spit on, fight or call the police on businesses that enforced mask regulations. Two years and a “freedom convoy” later, and my heart isn’t ready to watch any more harassment come out of the woodwork. It feels disgusting to watch how people treat others in situations that could easily have been settled with adult words. This feeling is exemplified when there is a very real possibility of another war across the globe.

Whatever your beliefs surrounding the pandemic, masks, or vaccines — we need to still be kind. There is too much turmoil and grief in this world to be fighting about a piece of fabric covering your face. This is the first step towards the world we were hoping for after the first two weeks the initial lockdown was supposed to end. If someone working in customer service, or even just walking in a store, is wearing a mask — there is no reason to shame, belittle or harass them. We are allowed to make these choices that make us feel safe and healthy, and ease back into this new reality in the pace that feels good for us.

Hold onto your beliefs — they are valid, whatever they may be — but also hold onto compassion, kindness and empathy for those around you. We are all trying our best to navigate multiple “once-in-alifetime” events, and hateful treatment is not the way to handle it. This world is bigger than any one individual and it’s time to set the egos aside and be okay with adapting to our changing world.

JAYDE ATCHISON (SHE/HER) Opinions Editor

SHARLEEN RAMOS (SHE/HER) Illustrator

INFLUENCERS MEET POLITICS

Celebrities they’re just like us, only cringier

YASMINE ELSAYED (SHE/HER) Contributor

SHARLEEN RAMOS (SHE/HER) Illustrator

Some brands and celebrities think that they are spotlighting when they aren't. There is nothing wrong with brands or celebrities being quiet about certain political situations. Personally, I would rather them be quiet and genuinely support behind the scenes, rather than taking to social media with insensitive BS. So, before posting a picture, a story, or a tweet, they should stop and ask, would it be a good idea to post this?

Celebrities have an influential voice, and if it is not used right, it can lead to massive backlash. For example, during the 2017 Black Lives Matter protests, Pepsi decided to create an ad that trivialized the extremity of the situation by featuring Kendall Jenner handing a can of Pepsi to a police officer. Now, Pepsi should have approached this situation better — they could have created a different ad that did not touch the subject, voiced their support for the protests by sending a tweet as every other brand does and donated funds to the movement they were supposedly in support of.

People need to recognize that simplifying a severe situation by creating trends or making unnecessary ads is ridiculous. I remember when I saw the Pepsi ad and thought, "wait, something's wrong here." I wondered what the marketing team was thinking when they came up with that idea for the advertisement. There were a lot of questions surrounding the logic but, to be quite honest, I was not surprised about the lack of awareness.

Celebrities should think twice before doing these performative things to show their so-called support. It's hard to see someone's intentions when they sing over zoom, “take responsibility for racism” or apologizing to Putin for not being his mother, and call it support. Unfortunately, Pepsi was not the only brand to make that poor decision, and things have just kept getting worse since.

By now, we all know about the tragedies in Ukraine. The news about Russia’s invasion has spread worldwide. Many celebrities voiced their concerns and support for Ukraine and called upon their governments to take serious actions against Russia. Actors like Misha Collins sent out a tweet in Ukrainian to be there for his Ukrainian audience. Normally, this is how people should react, right? Nope, not for former Rupaul’s Drag Race, Carmen Carrera.

Carrera is like no other; she saw what was happening in Ukraine, and instead of sending out a thoughtful tweet or posting something sincere on Instagram, she posted a lingerie campaign that included pictures of her wearing the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

Yes, you read that right — a lingerie campaign. I thought what Pepsi did was terrible, but this was a new low and, quite honestly, unexpected. You may think that maybe after doing something this outrageous, Carrera would apologize and delete the campaign pictures. But she didn't. Instead, she hopped on Instagram and posted a couple of stories, one of them said, "I was gonna post up half-naked regardless — shrug emoji — it was my moment, and I wanted to share my thoughts about this issue because it came from the heart." Three hours later, she posted what looked like an apology, but you can tell that it wasn’t sincere. She said, "if anyone was offended, I apologize. It wasn't my intention. Let's focus on what's going on in the world and less on me in lingerie. All my prayers go to Ukraine — Ukrainian flag emoji —love u all." The photos are still up on her Instagram.

There is a lot of performative action from people in the limelight. Zoom songs, poorly designed ads, and turning a global crisis into an opportunity to speak about themselves. Instead of posting without abandon, these people should read a book or something and question how this may impact the people actually affected by the traumas happening at that moment. To some, it might come as a shock that the world doesn’t revolve around them, and we don’t actually want to hear from them during a crisis.

To whomever needs to hear this, international crises aren’t about you. They never have been, and never will be. If your crisis-related post isn’t directly aiding relief efforts in some way, it’s performative, and it will come back to haunt you soon enough.

More often than not, people can be insensitive to political issues. The invasion of Ukraine is a critical situation in modern history, and instead of being mindful, following the news, and looking for ways to help — trends are created. We've seen this happen on many occasions through questionable posts online.

IN VANCOUVER, APRIL SHOWERS BRING… JUST MORE SHOWERS

How does one survive our never-ending rainy weather?

JENNY ROG (SHE/HER) Contributor

You’re in bed, all snuggled up in your blankets. As you turn to your side, still half asleep, you slowly begin to hear a distinct noise outside of your house — raindrops hitting your window. As the winter season comes to an end and we roll into spring, rain tends to be a repetitive cycle of our daily lives. After all, there’s a reason Vancouver is also known as “Raincouver”.

As the months of spring go by, we as Vancouverites ask ourselves how we can take advantage of this time of year. Answers to this question can be completely subjective as we all differ in the hobbies we enjoy. While some may prefer going outside, enjoying the scent of rain, I believe staying inside during this weather is the right way to go. Who even likes having their clothes drenched, feeling cold? The same people who enjoy pineapple on pizza. There’s also those who live with long hair, suffering when it turns into a bird's nest due to frizz. It just isn’t worth it.

I’ve always been told by friends that some prefer staying inside during rainy weather because it washes away their anxiety. This can be true to an extent, as the raindrops that hit the window of your home tend to add pleasant ambiance. To complement this, a good book, along with

a warm beverage such as tea or coffee are a perfect match together. Others may not choose to read, and maybe wrap themselves in a blanket and watch a classic movie, or new series that they have been meaning to finish.

Some people, like myself, may also prefer to listen to music rather than the raindrops outside, which isn’t an incorrect preference either. I tend to listen to music while I write, play video games, or cuddle with my dog Jasper, who might I add, also dislikes the rain just as much as I do.

As much as I love going outside when it is warm, standing outside in the rain can be quite uncomfortable, and can create a drastic change in my mood. When I find out it’s going to be a day full of showers, I know my schedule will involve me staying inside, where I often feel unmotivated and drowsy. I find myself feeling guilty when I stay indoors when the weather is like this, but on the other hand, we all need a day where we can relax at home and be lazy from time to time.

Because of this, I developed a bit of a love-hate relationship with rain. Playing video games or streaming on Twitch is a common way for me to take advantage of the weather, since it keeps my mind active and keeps me motivated. I love to talk to my own gaming community, where it makes me feel less lonely, and keeps me energetic.

It's safe to say that there are a lot of activities to do inside. We are lucky to have the technology to keep ourselves occupied during this time of year. Although I didn't mention every type of activity to do indoors, I believe anyone can make the best of spring weather. You can always mix and match these options, and depending on your personality and interest, the options are endless.

@anamariacaicedo_

HOW BAYWATCH RUINED MY LIFE

All that splashes is not gold

JAYDE ATCHISON (SHE/HER) Columnist

Anytime that I see a distinctively new couple hanging out in the pool and hot tub for what I can only assume is a date, I am always appalled, and wonder what would possess them to think this is a romantic setting. Don’t they know they are making-out in what is essentially human soup? Just like how people that work in fast food don’t like to eat fast food, lifeguards don’t often like to hangout in public pools. Once you have seen the nightmare-fuel that exists in a hot tub, you can’t go back in with the same enjoyment.

Pools are disgusting, there’s no getting around it. Each public swim leaves behind a stew of band-aids, pee, clumps of hair and a dark despair from the lifeguards left to clean up. In the thirteen years I have worked as a lifeguard, I have had to facilitate innumerable pool closures because someone had an accident and there was a “code brown” that needed immediate chemical treatment. One year, I was on an unlucky streak — every Friday for six weeks I had to shut down one of the swimming areas due to a fecal incident.

With all these incidents, it’s often a question of why I go back each day and get back in the water to teach. My honest answer is that the money is too good to turn my back on, and the chlorine levels usually give my skin enough of a chemical peel and I don’t feel dirty at the moment. Plus, I have taken it upon myself to shower in, what I can only assume is, water hot enough to make tea with.

Every step around a pool deck, taken without shoes on, is a risky game that usually ends up in athlete’s foot or plantar warts. People are inherently gross creatures with an abundance of skin problems, digestive issues or other typical, yet yucky, human conditions. Each time I see a kid put their face in the water of a hot tub, put the water in their mouth to spit out like a fountain, I have to choke back the bile that is trying to worm its way out of my body.

If you have a weak stomach, and love a good hot soak, I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this — but hot tubs are the most vile places on the planet. If you ever see a hot tub with external bubbles that resemble soap, run in the opposite direction and bleach your whole body just in case. Those bubbles are not soap, and are actually a mix of dead skin cells, urine and other unmentionable human byproducts. Luckily, most facilities keep diligent track of their chemicals and actively prevent the ick factor.

Baywatch gave the world the idea that lifeguards have a glamorous and flirty job, but the reality is much less appealing. I have become pretty desensitized to broken forearms, split open foreheads, and even feces. It is what I signed up for when I took on a more full-time schedule in a supervisor role. However, no matter how many years or incidents I experience, it doesn’t seem that I will ever get used to vomiting. Any time a child has climbed out of the pool with the green look on their face, and yaks up on the pool deck, I almost always remake the scene in The Office with the sympathy vomit train.

I will probably remain in aquatics for a few more years, and I can safely say that it will not become any less nauseating. Kids will continue to sneeze into my mouth, grown men will continue to shave in the sauna, and people of all ages will continue to poop in and around the pool. While Baywatch may have ruined my life, I do appreciate the steel stomach I’ve gained, my ability to handle a crisis, and a paycheck that got me through university without debt while living in my own apartment.

NAOMI EVERS

Check your sun (the sign everyone knows, identity, ego), moon (emotional), & rising (how you come off to others). Dates for sun sign:

VIRGO

(Aug. 23 – Sep. 22)

You may feel a sense of discomfort this month. Know that this is a wake-up call zto hidden knowledge trying to come to the surface. You know yourself best.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

As one of the main signs associated with death and rebirth, this April brings about a transformation for you unlike any other this year. There is an awakening on a conscious and soul level that is bringing about deep healing.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

Capricorn, April might bring you some frustration in your home life, you seem to feel as if others see greener pastures elsewhere. But remember that everyone is on their own journey internally and externally. Let them be.

PISCES

(Feb. 19 – Mar. 20)

Like Scorpio, this is your time of major rebirth. Your season brought you much needed rest and wisdom about your desire for this life. April is the month where you nourish the seeds you plant. A garden can be more than you ever dreamed if you believe.

TAURUS

(Apr. 20 – May 20)

Be mindful of overextending yourself this month. Just because things are progressing quickly, doesn’t mean you can’t slow down. Remember you need to feel nourished.

CANCER

(Jun. 21 – Jul. 22)

While Aries season is coming in hot, this month will be surprisingly gentle for you. Remember that your progress is your own journey and is not to be compared with someone else’s.

LIBRA

(Sep. 23 – Oct. 22)

Balance is a core theme of your sign’s archetype. But April highlights this in a whole new way. Be mindful of the distractions around you trying to veer you off your path.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

This month, the energy of Aries and Taurus is highlighting your lifetime longing for expansion. You are being called to leave something behind, but the question to ask yourself is, have you gotten too comfortable being where you are right now?

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)

Things are looking up, Aquarius! Not all is lost! Your patience is paying off, sometimes we just need to remind ourselves that we are doing our best.

ARIES

(Mar. 21 – Apr. 19)

We’re in your season now, Aries! Use this energy and momentum wisely and your endeavors are sure to be successful!

GEMINI

(May 21 – Jun. 20)

Chatty, witty, big dreamer Gemini, this month’s energy is in your favour! You just have to take the risk.

LEO (Jul. 23 – Aug 22)

Leo, this month brings about big changes in your personal and working life. Things are starting to come together for you in ways you maybe didn’t think they could. You deserve this!

QUEERIES

Allowing space for gender and sexuality exploration in the isolation of the pandemic

RAIN MARIE (SHE/THEY) Columnist

March 2020 changed the world in a way that we never would have imagined. Going into quarantine, we all experienced a strong sense of isolation. For young people especially, this change was drastic. Quarantine, whether for better or for worse, forced us all to spend a lot of time with ourselves, naturally promoting self reflection and introspection. We were prompted to reflect on part of ourselves we’ve never looked at — or maybe parts of ourselves we’ve avoided.

Despite the struggles and pain that quarantine presents, in our society we are given few chances to sit with ourselves and our thoughts. We rush to get to the next event, milestone, or achievement. Our western world is structured around the capitalist idea of our worth equalling material and societal achievement. This constant motion wasn’t stopped by lockdown, but like a rest stop on a long hike, it’s nice to take a break and absorb the view around us.

For young people struggling with their sexuality or gender, quarantine allowed space for safe exploration of that. Despite being a natural human instinct, our own thoughts of romance and desire are often repressed — even more so in the mind of a young queer person. In an attempt to survive we will bottle these feelings deep down inside us. Maybe they come up sometimes, maybe we tell ourselves we’ll deal with them later, but the structure of our society really doesn’t allow for proper digestion of these issues.

Gender is a massive spectrum of emotions. It’s a personal and deep journey that people experience in multiple ways. Quarantine allows for a space to self explore, lets us see the parts of us and our gender that may have previously been uncomfortable. The discomfort and societal pressure to stick to the norm still exists, but exploration has become more private and safe when that only person you are spending time with is yourself.

The feelings of isolation that the pandemic created also brought forward the feeling of not wanting to miss out on any future connections. What’s most important to us has been brought to the forefront, and for many of us that something is our connections to other people. Isolation — both caused by emotional repression and the pandemic — is difficult for anyone to experience, and brings forward questions like ‘what am I missing?’ or ‘how much longer do I have to make these connections?’ The fear of coming out is outweighed by the feelings of wanting to connect.

It makes sense that quarantine has led to the growth of online communities; particularly online queer communities. I was very lucky to be exposed to some informative online queer resources and supportive communities in my teens, but many people haven’t had the opportunity until now. As online spaces grow, so do these safe spaces for queer identifying people and people who may be exploring their gender and sexuality. Websites such as TikTok, Discord, Tumblr, and Reddit have allowed these communities to flourish during the pandemic. People can find informative groups and communities in a click and can start exploring these issues within themselves.

Despite all the great things that can come from the internet, there are also conflicts, predators, and misinformation. The internet is a wonderful and helpful thing, but it can also be dangerous and uncontrolled. Diving into these online communities, one may find themselves surrounded by a bunch of scary and unexpected things. Toxic behavior including, but not limited to, gatekeeping, transphobia, homophobia and biphobia, TERF’s (Trans Exclusionary Feminists), and bullying can run rampant in some communities.

Unsafe and inaccurate sex education can be an issue, as many young people go online to find information the school system failed to teach them. Unfortunately, that information is often given to them by other people who were failed by the same system. Safe sex and STI prevention is often mistaught and glossed over for queer people.

As we consume more media and internet pornography, we should acknowledge that many depictions of queer relations are inaccurate. Lots of queer media is either written by cisgendered straight people or is aimed towards a straight audience — meaning that queer media can sometimes fail to represent us accurately. It’s hard to depict queer relationships without the oversight of multiple queer voices. Luckily we can still find good resources, helpful people, and positive information within these communities.

It is no surprise that over the course of lockdown, coming out and self exploration has flourished. With the growth of online communities, time for self reflection, and slightly less societal pressure, queer communities have flourished and grown. Proper research and keeping space to keep yourself safe is essential to keep in mind when entering this journey. Always put yourself first and remember that everyone goes on this journey at their own pace.

Mauvey (he/him) is an alternative musical artist who blends various genres into creative, authentic expressions of love. His latest project, a mixtape titled The Florist, was released in late 2021, accompanied by a short film. Born in Ghana, but raised in the UK and so-called Vancouver, Mauvey continues to push the boundaries of the local and international music scene all while spreading love.

Q: How does love influence and or guide your art? How is this expressed in your most recent project, “The Florist”?

M: Love is the reason I quit everything else I was doing in my life, to focus on music. It really is the entire driving force. I want to experiment, I want to genre bend. I want to get on the biggest possible stages, all so I can just tell people, “hey, look, you’re important, I love you.” I wanted to make big radio friendly — easy to communicate songs, to communicate it to the most amount of people. With the project, I created a short film to go alongside it. Each of the characters are so extreme, they're not exactly me. But they are extreme versions of all parts of me. I’m trying to show each character’s love story, which is what it really is. They’re all different.

Q: I think we all define love differently, so what is the meaning of love to you? How do you define it personally?

M: To me that’s an impossible question — my whole goal in life is to try and distribute love. But to try and communicate the meaning of it is too much for me. I respect love so much that I think it’s too much for me to try and define it or to give it any particular meaning. I really feel like people don’t respect love enough. I think that they think they can just put it in a box, “this is what it means.” It has so many facets and some are rational, some are irrational. In some ways there’s a toxicity to the idea of unconditional love. If I had to answer the question, I would say it's everything. There’s so many facets, so many layers, so many variables, so many things to consider. I want people to feel loved, I want people to know they are important. I say that in every single show; “you’re important.” Because they need to know how crucially and uniquely important they are. So, for me, that’s distributing love.

Q: The shade mauve dominates your aesthetic, how is your aesthetic and the shade of mauve an expression of your authentic self? Or an aspect of your authentic self?

M: Realistically, that’s the question. It is myself. I’m obsessed with all shades of purple and when I dove into mauve, to me it’s the hardest colour to define. Is it a bit blue? A bit purple? A bit silver? It’s so many different things. And when you look at my music, is it a bit pop? A bit R&B? Or a bit soulful or afro? It is me as an artist. It’s the first thing, beyond my actual name, that made the most sense to me. Where my music is a bit this and that, I just said the phrase, “it’s a bit mauvey.” I felt so at home,, I felt “this is me.” My goal beyond talking about it, is to unofficially own as many shades of purple as possible. So whether you love me or hate me, love my music, hate my music, like my views, hate my views — when you see any shade of purple, you have to think about me.

Q: What was the creative process for “The Florist” like? And throughout the creative process, what was the most transformative moment and why?

M: I wanted to be myself above all. As an artist, I don't have a particular box that fit into, so I wanted to make a string of songs that have one consistent line through it, that is love, relationships. That’s what’s carrying through, at least lyrically. All I’ve done is dress those stories in different genres, sonically. You might hear a rocky guitar, or something that is more R&B and soulful. I think the transformative moment was when writing “Irrational.” I’ve spent so much of my life as a

people pleaser. I still struggle with that, but it was really cathartic to let myself know “you know what, I am who I am.” And irrational sometimes, is who I am. I’m only at this point now because I dreamed irrationally, to think that out of millions of people I could get a record deal, out of millions of people, I could play at a festival. So why do I punish myself, or buy into people’s opinions and judgements about how I live my life and make my decisions? That was a turning point. I never meant for it to be a mixtape as well, I was just in the zone recording a bunch of songs and when I put them all together they worked because I was in a very consistent frame of mind. Then I thought, “I’m just going to put these all out and at the end of the year into a mixtape.”

Q: How do you think you would present love in an upcoming project? How would you explore love in a different way?

M: I have a debut album coming out at the end of next year and I’m filming a feature film to go along with the album, creating a theater show to be a moving part to my tour.. There’s an idea to communicate in a bit of a different way. That’s the most that I can say right now. The main thing with this whole thing is communication, “how do I communicate this message, the most effectively to the most amount of people?” There's things that don’t change that one can do on an everyday basis. That’s being kind, saying thank you, telling people you love them, telling people they are important. There is a very everyday way to do what I’m doing that doesn’t need enormous creative thought, and schemes, and projects. It’s day in and day out, I just get to do music as a bonus.

Q: If you could show love to your past self or your childhood self, what would be the primary way that you would be doing that now?

M: I would actually tell myself the things I’m telling other people, “you are important.” And being kinder to myself. Someone asked me the other day what’s the difference between you and the Mauvey project? I really thought about it and in order for the Mauvey project to be a thing, I don’t sleep, I don’t eat a lot, I’m constantly travelling, I don’t invest incredibly heavily in my personal relationships, all because I'm trying to build this thing so I can communicate to more people. So I would definitely say your mental health is really important. To my younger self, “it’s okay to actually take some time out.” That “you’re not going to upset this person if you don’t do this and if you do that’s okay.'' The main thing would be to communicate and that it's actually okay to prioritize yourself at some point in this journey.

Mauvey

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A SPOTLIGHT ON BLACK ARTS VANCOUVER

A space that centers and supports Black Artists and community

YASMINE ELSAYED (SHE/HER) Contributor

While Vancouver is known to have a plethora of art establishments, Black Arts Vancouver seeks to stand out by offering opportunities that open doors to the Pan-African community. Striving to create safe spaces for Black community members to express themselves freely through creativity, made accessible.

Established in 2018, Black Arts Vancouver, run by Chase Keetly and Berlynn Beam, was created with the goal in mind to have a space for Black artists, creatives, and community members where they can feel supported, safe, and uplifted in fulfilling their goals, as well as exploring self-expression through workshops and classes. Black Arts Vancouver continuously works on shining brightly to stand out through creating an original approach to art. Berlynn Beam (they/them), Director of communication programming expressed that Vancouver’s art scene tends to be mural-based. And thus why they aim to break the norms. They also seek funding opportunities and redirect them to their community in a way that helps Black artists gain more exposure and have their voices heard.

Black Arts Vancouver started their career with a 3-day workshop consisting of illustration, painting, and embroidery. And through these workshops, they discovered a new side of Vancouver. "What we found with the outcome is that there are a lot of interracial adoptees, and so that was an eye-opening experience to have in Vancouver." Their experience inspired them to create one of their major ongoing projects, introducing, Historical Black Portraiture is a workshop that illuminates Black history in British Columbia, Berlynn Beam explained that through this project, people would be able to better understand their roots. Stating, "Putting names to faces, teaching kids history through writing it. You're drawing a picture that you can take home and hang up on your wall and call back to this kind of

experience." Further proving that the power of art can truly change the way we perceive the world’s history.

As for smaller ongoing projects, Black Arts Vancouver aims to get emerging artists' work displayed in restaurants and cafes. By helping them gain exposure, they hope that the artists will be able to one day get the recognition that the artists’ seek. Beam continues to explain what motivated this project; saying, "We want to build stability for young artists, for people who have never been exhibited." Even though they are small initiatives, it is a great stepping stone to jump start their careers.

Another important part of their work is collecting funds for community members. Currently, they are collecting funds for the Jail Bail Support - which establishes "A rotating bail fund for Black and Indigenous peoples in Vancouver." Black Arts are aiming to make this fund BC-wide. Another important fund is the Back to School Backpacks. Which aims to get 1500 backpacks along with school stationery donated to Pan-African families. Black Arts Vancouver hopes that the Vancouver community will come together and support these initiatives with these two upcoming fundraisers. They believe that having a supportive community can make a major difference. For ways to contribute, you can go to their website: www.blackartsvancouver.com.