VOLUME 50, ISSUE 17
MARCH 5–11, 2018
OPINIONS
The problem with HGTV's redundant shows
Why travelling in Canada can be a worldly experience PG. 10
NEWS
CapU Brand Story continues to reap honours
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITOR'S DESK
VOL. 50 ISSUE 17 MARCH 5–11, 2018
4
CSU TO ALLOW SENATE REPRESENTATIVES TO RUN FOR EXECUTIVE POSITIONS
5
Campus Life
6
VANCOUVER, THE ‘NO-SAFE’ CITY
9
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT PRESS FOR ILLUSTRATORS AND ARTISTS
WE GLOBAL
News
MAUREEN BRACEWELL
CARLO JAVIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Opinions
Columns
10 EXPLORING THE CANADIAN BACKYARD Feature
12 UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Special Feature
16 CALL ME MR. BANNOCK
Arts & Culture
19 BLUES MISS OUT ON NATIONALS Sports
STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ART DIRECTOR
Carlo Javier capcourier@gmail.com
Rachel Wada artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com
MANAGING EDITOR
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Justin Scott manager.capcourier@gmail.com
Cristian Fowlie pm.capcourier@gmail.com
NEWS EDITOR
COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER
Christine Beyleveldt news.capcourier@gmail.com
John Tabbernor community.capcourier@gmail.com
OPINIONS EDITOR
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Tia Kutschera Fox opinions.capcourier@gmail.com
Andy Rice andy.capcourier@gmail.com
FEATURES EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Helen Aikenhead specialfeatures.capcourier@gmail.com
Ana Frazão, Leah Scheitel, Gabriela Strauch Costa Pinheiro, Kevin Kapenda
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Rachel D'Sa arts.capcourier@gmail.com
COVER ARTIST
CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS
Greta Kooy campuslife.capcourier@gmail.com
Taylor Lee, Ashley Loo, Cynthia Tran Vo, Chin Yu Wang
ONLINE EDITOR
EDITOR + COLUMNIST PORTRAITS
Jessica Lio online.capcourier@gmail.com
Rachel Wada
Ashley Loo
COPY EDITOR
Leah Scheitel copy.capcourier@gmail.com
INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING?
THE CAPILANO COURIER is an autonomous,
Visit us in Maple 122 on Tuesdays and Fridays or
democratically-run student newspaper. Literary and
email capcourier@gmail.com.
visual submissions are welcomed. All submissions
INTERESTED IN ILLUSTRATING?
are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality.
Submit your portfolio or examples of work to
The Capilano Courier will not publish material
artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com.
deemed by the collective to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. The views expressed by the
We acknowledge that the work we do and the
contributing writers are not necessarily those of the
institution we serve happens on the unceded territory
Capilano Courier Publishing Society.
of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of Musqueam, Squamish, Stó:lō and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
2
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
“Why see the world, when you have the beach?” – Frank Ocean
O
ther than the occasional trip south of the border, the last time I left Canada was in 2012. I was in Grade 12 and was part of a group of students sent by our high school to act as ambassadors to its sister school in Fuyang, China. The trip, which lasted a little over two weeks, also included stops in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. My China trip was, as romantic as it may sound, life changing – travel often is. University students, or anyone in their 20’s, are no strangers to hearing their friends and peers preach about why they should study abroad or spend a summer in Europe or Asia. Travel, however, can also lead to contentious conversations around elitism, voluntourism and luxuries. One possible root behind the dark side of travel is social media – especially oversharing. I’m not one to bemoan about social media’s detrimental effects to society, but one of the most troubling victims of social media is the romanticism of travel. I always saw travel as a means to “get away” and the old adage that many travellers live by is that it is a way to find oneself. This ideal simply no longer exists. Our journeys away from home are now intensely documented. Everyone’s a blogger these days and what seems to have been lost in the equation is the serene intimacy that the sharing of cultures can bring. 2012 is over half a decade ago and technology and communication has continued to grow since then, but retrospectively, maybe what made my China trip so great is our complete isolation from our personal social newsfeeds. I saw and did a lot of memorable things in China, and those things remained strictly as memories. They didn’t momentarily live on Snapchat or Instagram, and maybe that’s for the better. Granted, it does help that access to social media was nearly impossible for me while in China. This doesn’t exempt me from our growingly problematic adoration for over-sharing. Every trip to the Canadian University Press’ annual journalism conference is laden with dozens of Instagram photos of what I saw, what I did and what I ate. Oversharing is just part of the problem. My other old-man gripe about travel culture is how easily we ignore the local beautiful spots that Canada offers. This week, our copy editor, Leah Scheitel, takes a long hard look at what makes Canada a wondrous travel destination – not just for tourists coming from other places, but Canadians themselves. To see the world is a great and ambitious goal, but that shouldn’t mean that we forget our own backyard. BC alone offers a potentially tremendous experience for travellers – one that exhibits the true beauty of the pacific coast. Travelling can be life changing, and travelling vicariously through perfectly curated adventure Instagram accounts is not nearly representative of the experience, nor are they realistic goals to aim for. The world is full of questions. Its just maybe we should keep the answers we find to ourselves, and let everyone else find their own way.
-COURTESY OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
NEWS
Left to Right: Greg Quan, Chelsey Reist, James Brown, Janet Burgess, Christy Dodds, and Susan Doig at the 2016 Alumni Awards.
Alumni Association to mark CapU’s 50th anniversary with alumni awards New award categories reflect the new brand ANA FRAZÃO CONTRIBUTOR
T
he 50th anniversary of Capilano University will be marked with a special edition of the Alumni Awards of Excellence. Different from their annual awards, this year will be a once-in-a-half-century-event that will highlight the history of CapU and also the surrounding community. “[It’s] to illuminate the achievements,” explained Alumni Relations Officer, Brittany Barnes. What makes this year special, according to Barnes, is that the awards will also mark the 10th anniversary of the organization. The Alumni Association hopes that students, faculty, staff, family, friends, alumni and others will engage
and nominate the candidates for this year’s alumni awards, which aims to acknowledge the “stories existing in the community, experts and contributors,” according to Barnes. In order to nominate someone, a person must fill out a form in the website and annex supplementary documents. Going forward with this year’s celebration, the Alumni Association has created five exclusive categories inspired by their values – Luminous, Unified, Enduring, Confident and Creative, with different sets of values and attributes for each category. Also, all nominees must demonstrate a steady attitude of the qualities that brought them to be honoured, including passion and determination for their purpose. The candidates must show their innovation and contributions in their field and personal and professional achievements. The Luminous category focuses on
education. The nominee must show their engagement with teaching both in the classroom and in life beyond the institution, including how they expand the environment of knowledge to other places. Unified is the category that aims to recognize a candidate that has a “solution-focus”, and engage different groups to work together in finding better solutions to problems in the community. Enduring focuses on the history of CapU with local First Nations. In this category, the Alumni Association expects candidate to demonstrate an effort to build and foster relations with the Aboriginal communities and show knowledge of their history and supporting reconciliation in the community. For the Confident category, the Alumni Association is looking for a leader who can inspire others with their attitude. This nominee shows determination to achieve their goals,
and in the journey inspire others to act. For the final category, Creative, the organization hopes for a candidate that goes out of their boundaries, someone who embraces innovation and search for new paths to be followed. This candidate demonstrates a way of thinking different from others to solve different matters. The Alumni Association will announce the recipients at a special stage ceremony at the Pipe Shop Venue, a place in the heart of the North Shore community where those being recognized can be at the centre of attention on Oct. 18. Barnes also explained the importance this event will hold for future CapU graduates. She hopes that the community will acknowledge CapU as a source of outstanding graduates, demonstrating success of the Alumni Association and students’ bonds with the University after graduation.
Program guide, digital viewbook and brand receive silver awards at district conference CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT NEWS EDITOR
A
fter previously winning four major awards for the brand story unveiled in 2016, Capilano University was again honoured on Feb. 8 by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), a non-profit that serves professionals in education advancement. At a District VIII Conference in Seattle, CapU was presented with three silver awards for its brand, digital viewbook and program guide. The brand story received a prestigious Coup de Coeur Award from the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) in October 2017 and two awards from the University and College Designers Association in August. The brand was judged by CASE on the basis of its creativity and effectiveness as
well as excellence in image development. “I think we knew we were on to something resonant and unique when we launched the brand because the immediate reaction was so overwhelmingly positive from the community,” said Victoria Miles, director of communications and marketing. In the year since launching the brand and concluding the marketing campaign that saw the brand appear all over the Lower Mainland, she noted that the awards and recognition CapU has received confirm its appeal with all audiences. “The awards and recognition are also very humbling, because our brand is a lot to live up to. Respecting the significance of our symbolism is a responsibility we all share and, in the same way, we all share the recognition that has come with it,” she said. The brand wasn’t the only notable thing to receive honours from CASE. CapU’s digital viewbook and program guide also received individual silver awards for their quality, functionality and aesthetic. However, the school considered a statement made by Ken Steele, cofounder of research and consulting firm
-COURTESY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
CapU brand story honoured again by CASE
for higher education Academica Group, a powerful indicator of their work. “Perhaps Capilano University's new brand can serve as an inspirational metaphor for the potential for reconciliation in Canada,” he remarked. Miles responded that when CapU began the rebranding process they wanted to reflect what mattered to the campus
community. “The theme of reconciliation emerged from listening to what people care about, who we are, what we stand for and what we can be,” she said. “So the symbol came from a place of shared values and aspirations. And we know that reconciliation is a long journey, a process that will take many generations.”
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
3
NEWS
CSU to allow Senate representatives to run for executive positions Fiduciary duties don’t impede on duties towards the two governing bodies CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT NEWS EDITOR
T
he Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) presented two special resolutions to the student body at their semi-annual general meeting on March 1. One of these resolutions was an amendment to a bylaw formerly restricting student Senate and Board of Governors representatives from running for executive positions to allow student Senate representatives to run in elections. Global and Community Studies Faculty Representative Anna Rempel, explained that the governance committee, which she also chairs for the CSU, reviewed the bylaw and came to the conclusion that student Senate representatives do not actually have a fiduciary duty to the University. This previously prevented them from running for executive positions. Unlike Board of Governors representatives, Senate representatives aren’t required to sign an oath of office. “It was determined that there really shouldn’t be [a problem] because as student Senate reps they are supposed to be representing the interests of their
4
THE CAPILANO COURIER
constituents, which is the student body anyway, and so they’re really just acting on behalf of that group in either position,” said Rempel. A bicameral body made up of the Senate and Board of Governors governs CapU. The Senate makes decisions on matters of policy regarding students’ standing with the institution. The Board of Governors seeks advice from the Senate on several matters, but is mainly responsible for managing the affairs of the University and setting policies. “I represent students in that field of operations, so when academic changes are coming about or new programs are being implemented they have a student voice in that,” Senate representative Megan Fretz explained. Since student Senate representatives are not mandated to act in the best interests of Capilano University and make decisions accordingly, decisions which in some cases could counter the CSU’s own position, Rempel sees no reason why they should not be allowed to run for executive positions. “The concern originally when the organization was going through quite a few major procedural changes was that by being representatives on university governing bodies there was going to be a difficulty with a fiduciary duty to the University, but if they were going to be a VP there would be a fiduciary duty to the
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
Perry Safari speaks to CapU students at the CSU SAGM on Mar. 1 organization and to the members,” she said. The bylaw was originally introduced to avoid conflicting interests. However, student Board of Governor representatives still have a fiduciary duty to the University and they will not be able to run for executive positions to avoid creating a scenario in which conflict of interest could arise. Any student Senate representatives
who would run in the CSU elections for an executive position would be able to keep their seat on Senate. However, they would not receive two votes on the CSU’s own Board of Directors, because they offer positions for representatives of the Senate and Board of Governors. When the motion was presented at the CSU’s semi-annual general meeting, it was carried unanimously without any questions from the student body.
CAMPUS LIFE
Hands off my snowballs!
WHO YOU
Capilano students living at Dollarton residence given firm notice on snowball fights GRETA KOOY CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
-COURTESY OF MAUREEN BRACEWELL
L
"It starts with a passion..."
"Best Professor" winner, Maureen Bracewell, talks about her path to academia and bringing inspiration to the classroom GABRIELA STRAUCH COSTA PINHEIRO CONTRIBUTOR
M
aureen Bracewell was surprised and touched when presented with the title of Best Professor at the second annual Best of Capilano Awards presented by the Capilano Courier. “I think we have so many fabulous teachers here at Capilano University, and support faculty in development to become better teachers,” she said. Bracewell is a busy member of the CapU community. She's been teaching at the school since 2001 and has long been active in many aspects of campus life and culture. Bracewell is a member of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, teaching both Anthropology and Women’s & Gender Studies. She also acts as the Coordinator of the School of Social Sciences, represents the University in articulation meetings for anthropology and works with David Kirk of the First Nations Student Services on the Indigenize the Academy Committee. Her involvement with the committee focuses on how CapU “can bring more indigenous faculty, more indigenous curriculum into the university… and then truly respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report,” she said. Recently, Bracewell sat in as a panelist during a meeting of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW). “It was four students from CapU and me as a faculty member talking about women in postsecondary education today,” she said. Bracewell is bustling and curious, and keeps her hands full with being on a variety of committees and attending conferences, such as the Canadian Anthropology Society (CASCA) of which she is a member. “I love learning,” she said. “From the beginning, I
found energy in the classroom, in what students give back, the perspectives that they bring from their own lives, it’s just so interesting.” On her role as an instructor, Bracewell reflects that same energy back to her students, hoping to inspire them. “For teaching, you need to be organized and communicate clearly with your students,” she said. “I think it starts with a passion for what you’re teaching and then comes passion for the students in what they are going through.” Bracewell hopes that students take away practical, everyday knowledge from her classes and encourages her students to “find value in looking at issues from a different perspective, using different approaches, and... just see learning as valuable.” Bracewell did her major in Ethnomusicology, an area of interest that came from her fascination of looking at cultural diversity and the various kinds of musical cultures that exist. For Bracewell, it was the combination of her interest in musical culture and cultural diversity that brought her to her chosen field. “I went out that path and ended up majoring in Ethnomusicology,” she said. Her other passion? Knitting. Aside from that, Bracewell spends her free time with her family, hiking, reading and relaxing. Bracewell will go above and beyond for her students, and is a perfect example of a mentor. It doesn’t come as a surprise then that she would take home the award for Best Professor, nominated exclusively by students and other community members at CapU. “Make the most of your time here at Capilano University,” she said. “Try to get involved in extracurricular activities. It’s valuable to be involved in a life off the campus beyond going to class.”
ast February, the University of British Columbia was the host to one of the best campus-wide snowball fights seen in Western Canada. Hundreds of students participated, and everyone had fun. On the other side of the country, the University of Toronto holds a much anticipated annual snowball fight that brings the whole campus together for one day of bitterly cold goodness. It doesn’t snow often in Vancouver, but when it does it can be very exciting. Vancouverites’ feelings towards snow often range from hating it because it’s too cold and a nightmare to drive in, to loving it completely and rejoicing in all the winter sports that comes with. Snowball fights, some might say, are one of the few things that people can get excited about. As juvenile as it sounds, snowball fights are fun (if you’re a willing participant). Long gone are the days of elementary school, but that doesn’t mean university students are excluded from taking part in such activities. Or are they? As it happens, some students living at the Capilano University residences at Dollarton Highway had a snowball fight on Saturday, Feb. 17. “It was snowing, and there [were] a lot of students that got really excited. So, we went outside, and we just decided to have a snowball fight,” said George Quintero, a CapU student living at the Dollarton residences. Shortly after the fun began, it hastily ended. What started as a completely impromptu way for the students to have some fun and blow off some steam quickly turned into quite the disappointment. Much to their surprise, the students were approached by a resident staff member and told they were in fact not allowed to have snowball fights. “The next day everyone got an email,” said Quintero. It was what was written in this email that shocked the students even more. In it was a statement that deemed snowballs to be considered weapons, and thus be treated as such. “So, we’ve just gone ahead and put guns, knives, BB guns, and snowballs, all on the same page,” said Quintero. And he wouldn’t be wrong in saying that. As ludicrous as it sounds, that is the reality. But why would that be? Doesn’t it seem odd to classify a snowball as dangerous as a rifle? It would, yes. But in a university setting things are quite different. As residence staff explained to Quintero, the issue is not that the group had a snowball fight, but rather that the snowball fight took place on the school’s property where they could be legally liable if injury did occur. And injuries caused by snowballs certainly do occur. It’s for that reason that so many institutions, one by one, are beginning to ban snowball fights. One school in the UK, albeit a high school took things a step further and banned students from touching snow altogether. No one wants to see anyone get hurt, especially when playing in something as fun as snow. Snowball fights are truly a Canadian specialty, and to take part in them is a childhood corner stone for all northerners. “A lot of the residents, they’ve never seen snow,” said Quintero, “It’s something Canadian they should be allowed to experience.” Unfortunately for them, that’ll have to happen off university-owned property. As Andrew Willis, the Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) VP Academic, said in a statement, “I understand the liability and insurance reasons behind this policy. As a student, I understand how rare snow is for Vancouverites. And as a Canadian, if you’re going to make great winter memories, be a good neighbour and make sure it’s with soft, clean snow.”
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
5
OPINIONS
The price is alright Olympic Games aren’t cheap, but the privilege of hosting is priceless HELEN AIKENHEAD FEATURES EDITOR
T
he Olympic Winter Games have come and gone once again and the Paralympic Games are just beginning. Like every Olympic year, as the season draws near its conclusion, people start to wonder what mark will be left on the host city. To hold an event of such magnitude is no small feat and certainly no small financial commitment, but it is crucial to remember this – cost and value are two entirely different things. In some cases, the cost of the Games may be more noticeable, such as in Sochi, the 2014 host city, where many of the costly structures built for Olympic events now lie vacant. A key issue with the cost of hosting is not just that it's expensive, but that the expenses are rarely estimated accurately before they begin, making the financial reports appear all the more shocking when it is said and done. But there are also cases, such as our own run at hosting in 2010, when hosting results in unbelievable payoffs. Results from the final report done by consulting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers, following the Vancouver Games showed that in BC, gross domestic product alone reached $2.3 billion. The same report found that 45,000 jobs were created, and that the tourism industry, which was not excelling prior to the Games, welcomed 650,000 guests across BC in February 2010. The Vancouver Games have been
-RACHEL WADA
recorded as one of the most watched in history, and most acclaimed internationally. There is no telling to what extent the lasting impacts on our wildly lucrative tourism industry is owed to the Olympics. In and around the city, some of these costs went towards repairs to the Sea to Sky Highway, construction of the Canada Line and world-class sporting arenas, just to name a few of the continuously utilized benefits. So, it's safe to say that when it works, it works tremendously. But there is so much more to hosting what is undoubtedly the most esteemed athletic event in the world than coming out financially unscathed. Simply put, to host is an honour. To welcome thousands of the world's finest athletes, who have dedicated their entire lives to perfect
their craft and push their bodies to strengths unimaginable to most, is an honour. And to have your entire city transform into a world stage where history is made over and over again, is an honour. None of these things, awarded regardless of economic gains to the hosting city, are feats that can be be measured monetarily. They're measured by the lasting memory of the Games. When people talk about the Sochi Olympics, they're not asking how the Bolshoy Ice Dome is faring. What they want to know is where you were when you saw Captain Canada, Marie-Philip Poulin, make history scoring her second consecutive golden goal in a gold medal final. A goal following the one she made just minutes before that, which tied it up with less than sixty seconds on the
clock in regulation time. Before the eyes of millions, those final minutes reconfirmed what many already knew – that Poulin is one of the greatest athletes of our time. A moment like that? Priceless. When the main stadium built in PyeongChang is torn down after this year's Games come to an end – its size far surpasses the needs of the city's small population – people won't remember it as unnecessary spending. Instead, they'll recall the time when the stands were overflowing with not only their own cheering population, but the rest of the world as well, together, they watched greatness unfold.
Vancouver, the ‘no-safe’ city
The minimalist lifestyle should not apply to nightlife security in Vancouver
RACHEL D’SA ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
T
he plea for an extension of bar hours in Vancouver isn’t a new issue. The city has garnered the label as the “city of no-fun” largely due to the early shutdown of bars, clubs and transit. Vancouver prides itself on its diversity, yet provides less than acceptable safety measures for those looking to experience it. In Vancouver, 3 a.m. is flood time. Mass amounts of people are required to leave establishments, additionally leaving them stranded in the dark streets competing with strangers to get a safe ride home. Rather than pushing for an increase in late-night public transportation and ride-hailing options,
6
THE CAPILANO COURIER
Vancouver tries to act as a parental guardian, putting an ineffective curfew on the city. On Jan. 27, 23-year-old nightclub worker Kalwinder Thind attempted to break up a brawl in the Cabana Lounge. Thind was tragically killed after being stabbed by one of the fighters. Since the tragedy, the city has been working to find solutions to the lack of security and safety in the Granville Entertainment District. Vancouver City Councillor George Affleck has proposed a motion for larger patio space for restaurants, an increase in video surveillance and longer bar hours, but the motion is far from passing. Though the NPA councillor believes it will help reduce crime, the motion is likely to face opposing forces from a Vision Vancouver-run council. At the moment, the only recent solution offered has been the formation of the Granville Entertainment District Safety and Security Working Group. The committee works to address issues of
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
crime and safety and includes Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association CEO Charles Gauthier, Vancouver Police, Vancouver Coastal Health, Bar Watch, among others. Though an attempt to piece together the entertainment community, the committee hasn’t been addressing issues as quickly as they should, continuing to leave the district in the dark. While the ‘fun’ essentially happens inside of establishments, the city has yet to recognize that it isn’t primarily the bars and clubs and what happens inside them that is the problem. When bar and club patrons are forced out on to the streets all at once, it can cause problems. Besides the fact most of the people are likely intoxicated, people in groups make bad decisions. There’s a reason for the phrase “mob mentality.” All of a sudden the shelter with bouncers and managers and fellow party-goers suddenly dissipates from around them, and so do boundaries. Without the watchful eyes of cameras
and witnesses, the sky's the limit outside of establishments. Small fights that were picked and pulled apart inside of clubs become open to the side streets, hidden to the police. Vulnerable individuals can be followed by predators leaving establishments at the same time. With limited transportation, there is the possibility of strangers hailing the same taxi, posing the threat of sexual harassment. The incorporation of ridesharing services like Evo also enables the possibility of drunk driving. While the city fights these situations by reporting that they cannot afford to continuously run transit, such as the SkyTrain lines, it misses the mark in terms of bringing security to its population. Vancouver has earned itself the ‘no-fun’ title. I think it’s time for us to recognize that the city is in need of another title – ‘not safe.’
@CAPILANOCOURIER
Flip or STOP HGTV is beating a dead horse with countless renovation shows GRETA KOOY CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
I
t's the age-old love story. An interior designer meets a contractor or realtor, they kiss, fall in love and sign a contract with HGTV. Their show is called White People Renovating Houses. Just kidding, but thank you South Park. As funny as that episode was, there is also a fair deal of truth to it. The fact is, there are just too damn many home renovation shows, and it needs to stop. House Hunters, Fixer Upper, Love It or List It, Texas Flip N Move, My Flippin’ Friends, Flip or Flop, Flip or Flop Vegas, Flip or Flop Fort Worth, Flip or Flop Nashville and so on. It’s exhausting just reading all of that, let alone actually watching the shows. When House Hunters hit the airwaves in 1999, HGTV took a devious turn from simple shows about DIY crafts and small, affordable renovations to shows about full-on buying a new house. Although earlier episodes weren’t quite so picturesque, by the end of a House Hunters episode today a couple
will have shared their life story, cried at least twice, struggled to choose between three prospective properties (one of which they already bought prior to filming) and moved in. Pure HGTV bliss. There’s a reason these shows are so addictive. HGTV has whipped up the perfect cocktail of drama, disappointments, frustration and panic and then topped it off with Ken and Barbie lookalikes swinging sledge hammers and panning through paint swatches. These shows are for the domestic escapist, looking to have a peek into other people’s laundry, bed and bathrooms, all in a completely legal, notcreepy-at-all way. But loyal HGTV viewers are starting to get bored with the network’s cut and paste regurgitation of the same old bullshit. In fact, these home renovation and fixer-upper shows make up 65 per cent of the network’s content, leaving little room for anything else. Two years ago, HGTV ranked third in cable networks with their highest-rated shows being made up mostly of home renovation programs. In 2017 however, HGTV dropped down to number five. Now, it’s difficult to say whether this decline is due to the network’s decision to run the same shows over and over
@CAPILANOCOURIER
/CAPILANOCOURIER
with slightly different looking people, but it’s a good assumption. While shows like House Hunters are still immensely popular, the network’s bread and butter these days are shows not just about buying houses, but completely gutting and renovating them. The Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott, were the precursors to this change. Their show has all the great quirks of House Hunters, but rather than simply helping a couple find and choose their dream home, they help build it. The brothers are charming, handsome and have the much-needed art of witty repartee and banter. The Property Brothers aren’t exactly “flippers”, but they ignited the lust for watching men with hammers bludgeon walls and their wives match pillows to the wallpaper. There’s something surreal about watching a cookie cutter couple, him in overalls and a plaid shirt and her in skinny jeans and Louboutins, walk through a rat-infested crack house and say “Yup. This is the one” and then turn it into a stunning open floor concept haven built for a family of four and their Golden Retriever. HGTV viewers aren’t stupid. Not all of them at least. They’re aware of scripts and post-production editing, and none of that seems to be an issue. It’s when
the initial excitement wears off that we can see just how truly unoriginal this programming is, and how we've been suckered into it. HGTV certainly isn’t for everybody, and these shows cater to a very particular demographic. But what happens when that demographic is no longer satisfied with the content that the network is providing? So far, it seems as though HGTV has no intention of cutting back on home renovation programming, and unfortunately for them viewers are losing a great deal of interest. There’s no problem with renovation shows; they’re exciting to watch and can be very informative. It’s the type of renovations that are being done, and who is facilitating them. Anybody with half a brain could flip a house. Perhaps HGTV could entice viewers back into watching their shows if they could figure out a way to make a show out of renovating a school, or rehabilitation house for example. It’s time for the network to move away from the same old, same old and start producing quality shows that have more to do with real life circumstances.
Crash and burn The Olympics bails on female snowboarders LEAH SCHEITEL CONTRIBUTOR
T
he Olympic Games are intended to be the beacon of sports at the highest level. Everything has the air of a good manicure to ensure the highest level of competition possible, from the athletes to the coaches and the stadiums. But even when female snowboarders have done everything they can to perform at their best, Mother Nature was a bitch and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were dicks, and ruined their slopestyle event in PyeongChang. The ladies roster faced huge challenges, including winds up to 31 km/ per hour – conditions so dangerous, no one would have ridden in them given the choice. But the ladies weren’t really given the choice. The weather was so bad they weren’t even permitted to have qualifiers, changing the format of the entire competition. Ideally, the qualifiers would have weeded out the competition, whittling the roster to 12 ladies with the highest score. They would advance to the finals where the highest score of three runs would determine the winner. Because officials decided to cancel qualifiers due to weather and time constraints, 26 women competed, allowing for only two runs each. Carnage is the best way to describe the event. Four out of five ladies bailed on one or
both of their runs, and even Jamie Anderson, who won the event, said her run wasn’t that impressive – she was just able to land her tricks. This wasn’t showcasing the sport to the best of its abilities. This was forcing snowboarders to compete in such dangerous conditions that they were lucky no one was seriously injured. While gold-medal winner Jamie Anderson told the Washington Post that she was “down for whatever” in regards to the conditions, many of her competitors expressed their disappointed with the IOC's decision to move forward with the event – as they should. They have been painstakingly training for this event for four years but the untamable weather made it look like an amateur competition. Canadian Spencer O’Brien was hoping this event would be a redemption, after a disappointing performance due to a mysterious illness at the Sochi Olympics in 2014. She finished 22nd after backing out of a jump in the middle of final run. “At the very least … our opinions are taken into consideration. And that wasn't done here, on either day," O'Brien
-CHIN YU WANG
told the Globe and Mail. "I think 90 per cent of the women did not want to ride today." This event wasn’t just a disappointment to the competitors who have dedicated the last for years to this one event – it was a disappointment to the sport as a whole. Women’s events have the difficult challenge of constantly being compared to their male counterparts. Throughout the history of competitive snowboarding, the male competitions are often viewed as the height of performance, with little to no regard for the female competition. The dangerous conditions served as a
handicap for the sport. Many people are only exposed to snowboarding on the Olympic stage, so in the eyes of many people, women aren’t as strong as snowboarders as men – as lady after lady bailed and didn’t even try any of the impressive tricks they have mastered. This flawed perspective of the ladies’ slopestyle snowboarding will likely stick for the next four years, and that isn’t what the Olympic Games are for. The Olympics have failed the sport by allowing this event to go ahead, with little regard to the athletes they were putting in harm’s way.
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
7
COLUMNS
DIGITAL HURDLES
These violent delights have violent ends – Trump’s scapegoating of video games is nothing new JOHN TABBERNOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER
I
n the wake of this most recent mass shooting tragedy in Parkland, Florida, the same tired arguments are being trotted out to lay the blame at the feet of popular media. It used to be comic books and rock music. Then it was rap and video games. Apparently, we all have short memories. US President Donald Trump, in his meandering discussions of what he “feels” led to this tragedy, shone the spotlight on violent games and media once again. “We have to do something about maybe [sic] what they’re seeing and how they’re seeing it, and also, video games. I’m hearing more and more people say the level of violence on [sic] video games is really shaping young people’s thoughts.” Trump’s oversimplification of the effects of violent media have sparked a debate that has long since been settled. Any link between playing violent video games and acting out real world violence
has consistently been disproven. This, however, does not stop the scapegoating of the medium in hopes to avoid difficult conversations about access to weapons, gun control and toxic masculinity. Of course, the blame must lie in Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto. Let us ignore the fact that video games, as popular entertainment, are enjoyed by millions of players around the world, and yet the United States is home to 31 per cent of mass shooters globally. Implying that there is a causal effect between playing violent video games and acting out real world violence is naive at best. We should, however, be open to discussions of the violence in games and the harmful practices that exist adjacent to the medium. “Swatting” has become synonymous with video game communities. The practice of making fraudulent calls to the police in the hopes of sending an armed response to an unwitting victim has become part of our lexicon. Often carried out against progressive critics, popular YouTubers, or live-streamers, the threat of swatting reached its only tragic conclusion this past December when Wichita police killed 28-yearold Andrew Finch. This real-world act of violence exists in parallel to gaming and ignoring its repercussions or any discussion of how to curb and mitigate its impact, is nothing short of negligence. In the same vein, the GamerGate hate-mob which rose to prominence in 2014, was a manifestation
of the toxicity that exists within gaming. Though touted as a movement seeking “ethical” and “objective” coverage of video games, it was in fact an organized harassment campaign against women and marginalized peoples within the industry. These more nefarious facets of games and their communities are only one side of this discussion. It’s important not to forget that many video games, by their nature, romanticize and sell war and violence. The US military is notorious for turning to Hollywood to clean up its image. In exchange for access to equipment and personnel, there is often a demand for final script and use approval. This ensures that any depiction is positive and uncritical. This is especially true in science fiction games, where stand-ins for the US and NATO forces are confronted with the simple good versus evil narrative of the genre. It is hard to have remorse when killing the villain du jour, whether that is aliens, Nazis or zombies. This belies any messy narrative of imperialism and allows the player to easily “other” the bundle of pixels falling dead onscreen. Fiction can be a powerful tool to influence our actions and attitudes. This is made painfully clear when examining the gaming industry’s close relationship with weapons manufacturers. Much in the same way that car companies license their vehicles to racing games, so too do weapons manufacturers license guns to popular
BEATING AROUND THE BUSH
You are not a robot FREYA WASTENEYS COLUMNIST
W
orking in small, remote bush camps can be an interesting social experiment. As a work environment, it can bring out the extremes of personalities and emotions in a way that would not always be appropriate in other professional settings. When employees live and work together, normal social conventions are obliterated and it can be quite liberating. In my experience, co-workers become like siblings, bosses become like parents and the workplace becomes a secluded semi-functional family. When things go well, this sort of environment encourages strong bonds, a productive atmosphere and open communication, but there is always the risk of drama. For this reason, in most formal workplace settings, there are limited outlets to express our emotions. Whether it’s an office job or customer service, employees are expected to maintain a level of professionalism, keeping emotions in check and supressing wayward feelings that arise throughout the day.
8
THE CAPILANO COURIER
-CYNTHIA TRAN VO
While the environment varies depending on the company, as a general rule, getting emotional at work is not exactly encouraged, as it is seen as disruptive, and breeds an air of irrationality. Despite the expectation of professionalism, workplaces rarely meet such robotic standards, nor should they. After all, studies show that constantly supressing our emotions can have a negative effect on our mental health, relationships and productivity. Realistically, we are often quite unsuccessful at separating our feelings from our work, which is ultimately connected to our motivation. This is perhaps most obvious in bush camps, where there is often an “anything goes” attitude, as long as it does not disrupt other workers. As a tree planter,
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
there have been times when I have been presented with infuriating situations beyond my control, but I have always been able to release my emotions in whatever way necessary without affecting those around me. Since I am often alone during the day, I can freak out, cry, or bash rotting logs in with my shovel, and move on with my day. There have been times where I have been up to my knees in swamp, surrounded by a million mosquitos, or caught in a freak snow storm. However, knowing that I have the ability to let off steam can be enough, and allows me to maintain a high level of motivation and production throughout the day. Being allowed these unorthodox methods without fear of judgement, most planters return to camp feeling happy regardless of how awful the day itself may
shooters. Real-life weapons lend an authenticity that a facsimile never could. Simon Parkin reported on these deals in Eurogamer’s “Shooters: How Video Games Fund Arms Manufacturers.” He quotes Ralph Vaugn of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing as saying, “...video games expose our brand to a young audience who are considered possible future owners.” The takeaway here is that a portion of every dollar spent on triple-A shooter video games flows into the pockets of small arms manufacturers, either directly through licensing payments, or indirectly through advertising. Though a direct connection between games and violence may not exist, the media we consume can shape our understanding of reality. We as an audience are obviously not passive, but saying that games have no effect is also ignorant. The portrayals we see depicted in game worlds, given enough time, can easily influence the way we think and feel day to day. Our fetishization of violence in media is disconcerting and worthy of spirited debate. However, Trump and pro-gun pundits in the US, much like other fear mongers who came before them, are still barking up the wrong tree. Video games have already had their moral panic. It’s time we talk about America’s unwillingness to join the modern world and enact sensible gun regulations.
or may not have been. At the end of the day, we can happily commiserate over how equally terrible our days were, with a sense of satisfaction that I have rarely felt elsewhere. Of course, having massive freak-outs is not possible most of the time, and when working around other people in an indoor setting, swearing and crying incessantly would be perhaps a little unsettling, not to mention overly-dramatic. However, in a normal workplace, why is it so rare that we finish a frustrating day feeling satisfied and happy? I would argue that this is partly because there are never instances in which would excuse such cathartic outbursts, but also because we often lack strong bonds in the workplace. We tend to maintain a level of cordiality within the workplace, but then carry pent up frustrations of the day home with us, only to have them leech into other aspects of our lives. While having a certain level of formality in terms of roles and rules is important, it should not necessarily mean that we detach ourselves from our emotions or our co-workers. There are a variety of ways we can make work more enjoyable, and employers should also do their best to facilitate and encourage healthy outlets. Regardless of the situation, finding ways to channel – rather than push down emotions – is important. While it can be difficult to find a one-size-fits-all solution, knowing that there are techniques and strategies for dealing with the inevitable annoyances is necessary, and feeling supported to do so can make all the difference. Somewhere between freedom and professionalism, there is a balance.
@CAPILANOCOURIER
@CAPILANOCOURIER
/CAPILANOCOURIER
STAFF EDITORIAL
On the importance of student press for illustrators and artists CRISTIAN FOWLIE PROLIFIC WRITER APPARENTLY
I
began illustrating for the Capilano Courier halfway into my threeyear diploma program at Capilano University’s fabled IDEA School of Design [Illustration/Design: Elements and Application]. As Illustration and design students, we were cloistered in a Mac-lined lab in the Arbutus Building, and rarely made contact with the outside world. We were careerdriven students, and the IDEA program offered a rigorous curriculum that kept us in class from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evenings dedicated to an endless barrage of project deadlines. While I learned so much from that creative bootcamp, the greatest education may have been at the Capilano Courier. Since January 2013 I've illustrated 69 spots, 10 covers, 21 columnist portraits, produced 44 issues as Art Director, and 18* (and counting) as Production Designer. Now, I've written 14 pieces too apparently. Because illustration is a field that rarely offers work – much less paid work – for young artists, every opportunity becomes a learning experience. There aren't many co-op placements or internships for illustration students, and rarely any full-time positions outside of the gaming industry. Often, artists work in other fields for decades, moonlighting as illustrators and hoping to turn their passion into a day job. I may be sad to finish my last semester at the Courier, but I'm thrilled to say I’m working full-time
POP GOES THE POLITICS
Building their own platform LEAH SCHEITEL COPY EDITOR
T
he US is in the midst of yet another constitutional crisis over the Second Amendment. The gun control debate is enflamed right now after yet another mass shooting at a high school in Florida. And this time, measly thoughts and prayers are definitely not enough. After a Valentines’ Day massacre at Stoneham Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead, teenage students are refusing the apathetic policies and are demanding actual gun legislation. These students are organized, media savvy, well-spoken and fed up. They’re using their horrifying experience to build their own platform to challenge the politicians who won’t give them what they want – gun control. What the students from Stoneham Douglas have done in the weeks after
-RACHEL WADA
as an illustrator. I owe much of it to the opportunities from this newspaper and its staff. There's Cheryl Swan, the previous art director that commissioned my first spot – which was trash – but she still gave me a second chance. There's Andy Rice, the editor that hired me as art director when I graduated from IDEA with no prospects (hint: just bring in beer). Or Carlo Javier, who has a great future as a talent agent because of how aggressively he brags about me to unsuspecting victims. Not only did the Courier give me
chances to hone my craft, the publication also provided a platform to showcase my art. I was surprised to hear that art directors from national publications like the Globe & Mail and the Walrus discovered my work by perusing through student press publications. My cover for the feature "Exploring the Deep Web" by Carlo Javier, earned an Applied Arts award. I even had the chance to illustrate the EP cover of future-Polaris-Prizewinners Indigo Indigo, when current Arts and Culture Editor Rachel D'Sa, found me in the pages of the Courier.
their school was shot up is amazing. They’ve held rallies, organized four different nation-wide walkouts and held sit-ins at Florida’s state capital buildings in Tallahassee. They have started #EveryTown campaign, advocating about gun violence. And on Feb. 21, they faced the politicians and leaders who seem to value the Second Amendment over the safety of students. The CNN Town Hall forum, moderated by Jake Tapper, showcased the divide in America on the issue of gun rights, and the students came fully prepared. When student Cameron Kasky looked Florida senator Marco Rubio straight in the eye and asked him if he would no longer accept donations from the National Rifle Association (NRA), he controlled the conversation, and wouldn’t let Rubio wiggle his way out of the answer using the typical political bullshit. Rubio tried his political tango, but Kasky stoically reiterated his question and waited for a response that satisfied his answer, a tactic that should be taught in journalism schools and newsrooms everywhere. Later on in the evening, Emma Gonzalez, who has emerged as a leader in the gun control movement, faced off with NRA spokesperson and human version of the Little Mermaid’s Ursula, Dana Loesch,
questioning her on the NRA’s stance on modifications for semi-automatic weapons. While Loesch attempted to guise herself under a cloak of empathy, going as far to commend Gonzalez for being a politically active teenager, her answers fell short. She tried to manipulate the conversation away from guns and towards the dangers of not reporting “crazy” and dangerous people, but instead fell into the uncharted waters of knowledgeable teenagers with their own platforms and a bone to pick with the NRA. These students aren’t letting the adults tell their stories for them, even though some are desperate to. They have been accosted by some media outlets, who are suggesting that they are nothing more than paid actors who are being coached by liberals. Fox News personality, Laura Ingraham, called out one student, Sarah Chadwick, for disrespecting Marco Rubio after she suggested that AR-15s should be renamed Marco Rubio because “they’re so easy to buy” – a joke so on point, it had comedians on Twitter drooling over it. This is the first generation to have their entire childhoods documented online – if media personalities want to challenge them on their court, that is their hill to die on. While the rest of the world watched in
As Art Director, I was able share this platform by commissioning art from a new generation of illustrators. CapU students were recognized at the 2017 JHM Awards, hosted by the Canadian University Press. Both Austin Leeg and Rachel Sanvido received nominations for Illustration of the Year, with Leeg claiming the award. When it was suggested that I paint two bulky newspaper boxes that crowded our small office, I was able to commission frequent contributors Wolfgang Thomo and Juliana Vieira to live-paint the boxes at CapU’s annual back-to-school street party. Working at the Courier has made me part of a legacy of talented artists. Local legends like Shannon Elliot, Katie So and Syd Danger have all illustrated and worked at the Courier. Last summer, I was happy to recommend the illustrious Rachel Wada to take my position as art director, and I know she'll continue this legacy. Even beyond professional development, the Courier has included me in a community that barely existed at CapU. The school infamously gutted the Studio Arts program back in 2013, and likes to keep its creative programs in separate corners of the campus. With a lacking arts community, a full-time class schedule and no breadth courses, there wasn't much opportunity to connect with students outside of my program. Now I happily consider my co-workers friends and I look forward to drinking beers, hearing the hot campus gossip and debating best rap albums on our Friday production days. In the coming weeks, the Courier will be gearing up for another Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) referendum, with part of the vote looking to increase the budget for the newspaper. Last year, we weren't able to squeak by with enough votes. While I may not be able to vote this year, I hope I can testify to the importance of student press, in my own creative career, but also for CapU's future generations.
awe, the Stoneham High students have created tangible resources, such as a nation-wide database that will educate first-time voters on how to get registered – Voting 101, if you will. They have received funding from multiple donors, including several prominent Hollywood personalities, like Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney – on Feb. 22, the Miami Herald reported they had raised $3.5 million for their cause in eight days. They have prompted business such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, to end their business relationships with the NRA, and more businesses are deserting the NRA on their quest to protect the Second Amendment. And they have done all of this while mourning their friends, classmates and teachers. Changing the status quo takes time, eloquence, dedication, education and funding, something all of these students have, and apparently in spades. While it could be a long battle to see gun reform in America, it is a battle that these students are willing to fight for. While it is too early to see the full effects of their efforts, it looks as if they aren’t going away easily. And NRA-funded politicians should be worried, as this is the next generation of voters, and they are rightfully pissed off.
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
9
FEATURES
anada is one large country.
Why travelling in Canada can be a worldly experience BY LEAH SCHEITEL ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY LOO
10
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
As the second largest country in the world, it boasts 9.9 million square kilometres and is surrounded by three different oceans – the Pacific on the west, the Atlantic on the east and the Arctic to the north. In a word, it is massive. Because of its size, Canada also hosts a variety of different cultures and scenes. From the friendly and welcoming hospitality found in the Maritimes to the endless Prairie sunsets that the Tragically Hip romanticized in their lyrics, this country has a lot to explore. However, not too many of the country’s younger citizens are excited by their own backyard. According to a March 2017 article in the Globe and Mail, millenials are opting to travel internationally. A finding which had the tourism industry so worried, multiple campaigns were launched to encourage these younger Canadians to travel their own country. “In 2015, despite the low dollar, that deficit was about $17 billion, as Canadians took 32.3 million overnight trips outside the country and foreign travellers made 17.8 million trips here,” read the article penned by Richard Blackwell. The most jarring reason for the decline in domestic travel is the cost. Airfare from coast to coast can cost upwards of thousands of dollars – a price tag that can offer more exotic destinations, such as Mexico or Central America. High transportation costs is something that Jeff Bartlett, a photojournalist who has ample experience with the tourism industry, sees regularly in his travels. “I am flying from Calgary, Alberta, to Terrace, British Columbia, this week. My ticket cost $300. I can find tickets to Hawaii, Mexico and Cuba for the same cost,” he said. Added to the cost is the vastness of the country. Bartlett sees limited airports and mediocre public transport options as adding to the problem. “We are also a big country with few airports,” he said. “We have very poor public transport compared to most countries and the cheapest option, especially for a group, is often to drive. Sadly, drive times are huge.” Taking a cross-Canada road trip from Vancouver to Halifax would take approximately 65 hours in driving time. Even before the cost of accomodation along the way is taken into consideration, with gas prices in Canada being as high as they are, that adds up to one costly trip – not unlike the high cost of airfare. While the cost can be alarming, Greig Gjerdalen, a professor in the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management programs at Capilano University, believes it shouldn’t be seen as such a deterrent. “Maybe people perceive it as a barrier, the cost, but it is our dollar, it’s our economy,” said Gjerdalen, who is planning an RV road trip through BC and Alberta this summer. “I think that people perceive that the distances is so great, that ‘oh jeez, I don’t know if I want to do that, I don’t know if I want to drive that far’.” Gjerdalen said he is keeping the summer road trip Canadian because he feels it will be safer than doing a similar trip south of the border. Bartlett cites another factor as being
@CAPILANOCOURIER
a reason for Canadians opting for other destinations – the climate. “There’s simply no way to compete with warm destinations during the winter, unless it is for classic events like Winter Carnival in Québec, ski vacations in the Canadian Rockies, or something that is winter-focused,” he said. With that being said, Bartlett believes Canada’s tourism market is healthy, and that it has been effective at showcasing what makes it so diverse. “Canada has an efficient tourism marketing strategy with shocking cooperation between all departments. In general, small destinations must market themselves to people within the province. The provincial tourism office markets the province within other provinces and internationally, while Destination Canada only advertises internationally,” he explained. As a photojournalist, Bartlett has experience working with tourism companies to create travel campaigns, and sees how different organizations work together in creating them. “There are funding programs in place, too, so that when I worked for Mighty Peace tourism in Peace River, Alberta, it was a joint project between their local office and Travel Alberta. My images were used by Mighty Peace to market their area to Alberta residents, while Travel Alberta used them to market it to neighbouring provinces.” ith expensive
and long driving distances, it can be difficult to see the nuances of the little towns and communities that make up the Canadian tapestry. Opting for a slower pace of travel, such as by bike, can allow for time to explore the country in a different way. Brian Cameron biked from coast to coast in 2014. The journey, dubbed Hustle for the Heart, doubled as a fundraiser for the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, and took a total of 56 days. He completed the trip in honour of his father and grandfather, who both passed away of heart disease at a young age. “When travelling by bike you go through every single little small town so you’re able to take time and stop with that friend you haven’t seen in a decade or a cousin you haven’t seen since you went to the water park together that one time when you were 10,” said Cameron. “Seeing Canada by bike is unreal, you really get to slow down – you don’t have any other choice. It results in more time spent talking to people at yard sales, trying fresh fruit at roadside stands, or just eating a sandwich with a couple old airfares
farmers. You don’t just see it whiz by you through a window, you go through it; every snowy peak to every long prairie road.” 8,500-kilometre bike ride across the country, Cameron got a job that allowed him to explore another great part of Canada – the North. “After I got home from my trip I was lucky enough to land a job with an aerial camera company. I worked as an aerial camera operator for the Discovery Channel, Smithsonian, and National Geographic amongst others. I was lucky enough to explore what has become one of my favourite places in Canada, Dawson City, Yukon Territory,” he said. “It hasn’t changed since the 1800s, there’s still wood buildings, wood sidewalks and dirt roads. There’s even a bar with a liquor license dating back to that time, due to their grandfathered license they can serve 24/7.” Nunavut is the only part of Canada that Cameron has yet to explore, something he hopes will change soon. “I’ll most likely make it to Nunavut on my next big trip. It’s in the infancy stages, but I’ve set myself a goal of circumnavigating a small plane around the globe,” said Cameron, who is in the midst of getting his pilot license. The North is an area that has enamored Bartlett as well. “The coolest place I’ve visited is Wood Buffalo National Park. I was there in January and it was truly a unique experience,” he said. Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park, spanning 44,807 square kilometres, which makes it larger in size than Denmark. “From Fort McMurray, Alberta, you head north until the pavement ends. From there, I drove nearly 300 km on winter ice roads to Fort Chipewyan and into the national park. It’s incredibly unique and an experience you can rarely have in another country. We spent a few nights in the park, saw the Northern Lights every day and never saw another visitor.” The Northern Lights, a phenomenon caused by a clashing of gases and particles fter his
@CAPILANOCOURIER
/CAPILANOCOURIER
from the Earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere, is considered a wonder of the world. In 2016, tourists venturing to Canada’s north to see them generated $91.9 million for the area. Gjerdalen cited the north as the one place he would urge every Canadian to see. “The reason I say the North is because of the Northern Lights and the vastness. It’s such big country,” he said. Gjerdalen pointed out an attraction that can be looked over in Canadian tourism – the wildlife. “You don’t really have to go to Africa to see wildlife, you can see it right here in our own country,” he said. Gjerdalen, who has an extensive history as a kayak, rafting and hiking guide in British Columbia, said seeing whales in their habitat is still a huge thrill. “The best place in the world to view wild orcas, right in Johnson’s Strait, right between Vancouver Island and the mainland. It’s right there.” The diversity of Canada is yet another thing that makes discovering it so interesting. As Gjerdalen pointed out, British Columbia alone has several different eco-systems, from beautiful mountain towns to the desert, wine making valleys in the Okanagan and the West Coast rainforest, there is a climate that will suit nearly every travellers taste. Outside of BC, the tapestry of Canada is rich in history and the friendly attitude that Canadians have become known for. Gjerdalen and Cameron both spoke fondly of the Maritimes, saying it boasts some of the friendliest people in the country. “The Maritimes are very, very friendly. I’m just closing my eyes right now and I can picture one of those kitchen parties where it seemed like everyone can play an instrument,” said Gjerdalen. Cameron pointed to Newfoundland as a highlight in his bike trek. “Holy clams boy is that place beautiful. She’s definitely ‘the rock’ but on that rock lies some of the most stunning landscapes I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I’m pretty sure Canadians get their rep as kind people from Newfoundlanders.” Canada has a lot to offer, from sprawling cities and the art and culture scenes that inhabit them, to the serene quietness of the mountains. Travelling in Canada can provide a better understanding of the country, and the charm of the little communities that give it the character we are known for.
It can get cold – as cold as Mars. In 1947, the village of Snag, in the Yukon, recorded a temperature of -63 degrees, which is the same temperature that has been recorded on the surface of Mars. Canada has more lakes than any other country – there are 563 lakes over 100 square kilometres in size, and over 30,000 lakes that span over three square kilometres each. This means that nine percent of Canada is lake. Along with its plethora of lakes, Canada is also home to forests – a lot of forests. In fact, it boasts 10 per cent of the world’s forests – over 390 million hectares of forests splatter all over our country. Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world. With 243,977 kilometres of coastline, it provides a unique tourism destination for surfing, whale watching and water sport enthusiasts. Saskatchewan has the world’s most northerly sand dunes in Athabasca Provincial Park, and they are over 30 meters high. Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montréal is one of the world’s premier comedy showcases and has over 1.5 million visitors annually. Rolling Stone magazine voted the Calgary Stampede as one of the best places in the world to get laid. So if you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to ride a cowboy... _________________________ Follow Jeff Bartlett on Instagram - @photojbartlett Check out these sites to plan your next trip: Canada.travel DestinationCanada.com YVRDeals.com - cheap airfares from Vancouver
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
11
UNDER THE INFLUENCE
FEATURES
RACHEL D’SA ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Rumours– Fleetwood Mac (1977)) When a guy I had a massive crush on in high school brought up the fact that he liked Fleetwood Mac, I played along. I looked up the band on YouTube and “Dreams” was the first track to come up, so I said that it was my favorite song of theirs before even listening to it. Upon eventually giving the entire album a listen, I realized just how familiar it was. My parents had religiously played Rumours on every single roadtrip my family embarked on, and turns out I was just as big a fan of rock when I was kicking it in a car seat. Each song on this album has gotten me through hell and back, and was my re-introduction to rock music. The fact that it was also a large part of my childhood that I had forgotten, just makes it all the better. The reminder of that album was also the only good thing that came of that relationship.
Stripped – Christina Aguilera (2002) You can make as many jokes about her dramatic vocal riffs as you want, but you have to admit Aguilera’s got pipes. My first memory of the singer was when I was twirling around in my living room to the VHS of Disney’s Mulan, which she did that one song, “Reflections”, for. Throughout grade school, I was a huge fan of belting along to her songs in the comfort of my room (completely oblivious to the fact that my walls were not at all sound proof). It built my confidence as a performer and, you could even say, as a person. As controversial as this album was at the time, I was in awe of how seamlessly it was laid out, and how she exuded such confidence in herself and her sexiness. Years later, I’m dancing table-top to “Dirrty” on staff karaoke night.
San Cisco – San Cisco (2012)
one of the highest honours
an album can obtain isn’t found under the certification section of its Wikipedia page, it’s in how it influences those who’ve listened to it. Albums can inspire future musicians or change someone's entire view of a genre. Here, the Courier staff talk about some of those albums and how they influenced their taste in music. 12
THE CAPILANO COURIER
CRISTIAN FOWLIE PRODUCTION DESIGNER
While this album no longer holds a spot in my “ultimate favourite albums” list, it does hold one in my heart. This album was my first dipped toe in the waters of indie music. Scarlett Stevens was a female drummer I could look up to as both a talented musician and style icon. It was her that led me to beg my parents to sign me up for drum lessons, which ultimately led me to fronting a band today, having started out as its drummer. This past Fall, I had the pleasure of seeing them live for the first time since I began following them six years ago. I had the chance to chat with Scarlett Stevens and she gave me a hug upon hearing my personal journey as a musician. I still haven’t been able to wipe the smile off my face.
Honourable Mentions El Camino – The Black Keys Melted – Ty Segall Cross – Justice Live in Japan – The Runaways Tragic Kingdom – No Doubt
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
Good News for People Who Love Bad News – Modest Mouse (2004) Before I was a music nerd, I was a bookworm. The nearby library was my favourite place, and I spent summers devouring YA novels. However, my crucial discovery was their CD collection- a virus-free alternative to torrenting MP3s off Limewire. I picked out Good News purely for the slick cover art. I still remember the shock I got from hearing 19-seconds of screeching brass on "Horn Intro". It's a jarring start to a thrilling album of art rock and surreal skits, manically narrated by singer Isaac Brock. Listening to Good News ignited an new obsession to uncover newer, stranger music – one that’s ongoing today.
xx – The xx (2009) xx also has a powerful opening track. "Intro" is a monumental arrangement of programmed drums and an echoing guitar melody. It's simple, way too short and barely features vocalist's Romy and Oliver. Yet ironically, it's the group's quintessential song. It captures The xx's ability to craft timeless songs with sparse instrumentals, lush atmosphere and forward-thinking production by Jamie xx. The album established an influential sonic blueprint and lead me to other important artists – House of Balloons by The Weeknd shares the intimate nocturnal mood, while a Jamie xx sample (and a Rihanna feature) on "Take Care" started me on Drake.
Pink Friday – Nicki Minaj (2010) Pink Friday is the powerhouse debut that introduced me to Nicki's versatile creativity, technical finesse and personal complexity. On the album she matches pace with Eminem, blazes with Kanye and had mega-hit with "Superbass" – a bonus track, while still taking moments to share her experiences with poverty or representation in the media. The reasons others hate Nicki are often the same reasons I've come to love her: she's a woman in a male-dominated industry, she's a pop star, she's commercially driven, ultra-feminine, overtly sexual, aggressive, outspoken and flamboyant. Minaj embodies all these characteristics that society likes to shame and devalue based on sexist, racist and moralistic values. Her unapologetic attitude and vibrant artistry continually inspire me as a queer person, an artist, and an unconventional thinker.
Honourable Mentions Silent Shout – The Knife My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West House of Balloons – The Weeknd Nothing Was The Same – Drake Broke with Expensive Taste - Azealia Banks
@CAPILANOCOURIER
GRETA KOOY CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
@CAPILANOCOURIER
/CAPILANOCOURIER
KEVIN KAPENDA COLUMNIST
Midnight Marauders – A Tribe Called Quest (1993) I was shy of just three months old when this album came out. My first encounter with it was in high school when I first listened to “The Chase, Pt. II” and since then, nearly every one of my playlists has contained a track from Midnight Marauders. I listened to this album from start to finish and realized that a lot of the hip-hop/rap I was listening to was complete garbage. Everything about Midnight Marauders is buttery smooth. Q Tip and the late Phife Dawg’s laidback street poetry introduced me to the golden era of hip hop, which has dominated my musical preference since.
Coming from Reality – Rodriguez (1971) Listening to Coming from Reality is like reading someone’s personal book of poetry. It’s simple and honest, and the only album so far to give me real goosebumps. I had heard of Rodriguez from my South African father, and of course from the documentary Searching for Sugar Man, but actually hearing him was transformative. “It Started Out So Nice” and “Sandrevan Lullaby” are so chillingly beautiful, I cling to every word. The song “Can’t Get Away” has a rawness about it that only Christopher Cross has so far been able to match. Coming from Reality’s frank and authentic tracklist was definitely a game changer and made me really appreciate simple, lyrically-driven music.
Malibu – Anderson .Paak (2016) I didn’t know who Anderson .Paak was until this album came out two years ago, and that frustrates me. Malibu is passionate and so obviously sincere. “The Bird” in particular is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard. Paak’s soft, yet discernible vocals are unparalleled, and led me to instantly fall in love with this album. Malibu held my hand and walked me through a meadow of neo soul, R&B, funk and hip hop and laid it all out in one cohesive playlist. I have yet to find another album that can keep my attention longer than this one.
Honourable Mentions Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) – Digable Planets The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest Born to Die – Lana Del Rey Sublime – Sublime My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR
The Blueprint – Jay-Z (2001) Jay-Z’s The Blueprint will forever be my favorite album because it’s the project that birthed Kanye West and Just Blaze, my all-time favorite rapper and producer. Aside from “I.Z.Z.O.”, I first listened to the album in great detail in 2010, bumping “Heart of the City” regularly from then on. In many ways, 2000 Jay-Z was similar to 1993 Michael Jordan, who abruptly retired from the NBA to play semi-professional baseball in honor of his late father. At that time, Jay-Z had been involved in an assault and was facing serious jail time. He had also released three straight number one albums. This introspective project about owning up to past mistakes, achieving success, expecting appreciation but receiving envy, is why he came back better like Jordan in 1996, and can do the politicking he does today.
Late Registration – Kanye West (2005) The key to discussing politics and other sensitive issues is to do it in a way that is accessible and personal, so everyone, regardless of background or class can partake. Kanye, the son of a PhD, knew this was the key to becoming the activistartist-entrepreneur he was destined to be. The album in which he does this best is Late Registration. From conflict diamonds and colonization, to the devastating impact of crack, guns and HIV Aids on AfricanAmericans, to trying to avoid Gold Diggers as a baller and rapper, Late Registration is black exploitation and “how to get rich…without getting shot at” 101 – without a term paper.
Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool – Lupe Fiasco (2007) Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool inspires me because many of its themes and songs are more relevant today than they were in 2007. A decade ago, America was brimming with optimism and the naïve belief of a post-racial society that would be prepared to elect its first Black or female president, despite facing the worst recession since the Great Depression. Fast forward to 2018, Lupe’s fervent call for gun control in “Little Weapon”, Hip-hop as something that literally saves black lives and criticism of contemporary segregation in “Streets On Fire”, feels like this album was recorded just a few months ago. In my view, this album is a great representation of Trump’s election. The hell that wiped away the “hope” of Nov. 4, 2008.
Honorable Mentions
Led Zeppelin IV – Led Zeppelin (1971) To this day, Led Zeppelin IV is still my favorite album – every song is a classic. It’s funny, the first time I heard this record I had heard of the band, but had no idea I was listening to them. My dad tricked me and burned a CD, which he wrote “LZee” on, and told me they were a hot new band. Being the ignorant youth that I was, I took it to school and spent my recess and lunch period sharing headphones with my friends as we were drawn in to the mystical magic that is Led Zeppelin. Since then I’ve never looked back.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ – 50 Cent (2003) Although Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was by no means my introduction to rap music, it was maybe the first time I started to get rap music. Growing up in Deep Cove, I had no way of understanding most of the issues and narratives I had been exposed to in the genre through my first ten years of life. That was until the day I got my first 50 Cent CD (the clean version mind you). I think it was a combination of 50’s lyrics and my growing social awareness that allowed the record to hit home with me, but thanks to Mr. Jackson, I started to get what the whole rap thing was about.
Cross – Justice (2007) The French duo’s debut album Cross was and remains utter mayhem. Bridging the stylings of their fellow Parisian producers Daft Punk, with the heavy aggressiveness of a Metallica record, resulted in an album so distinct and monumental that it completely reshaped how I see music. Opening with horns and timpani’s, “Genesis” introduces listeners to an album ripe with distorted synths, pushing basslines and absurd samples (just listen to “Stress”). The reason this album was so influential for me though, was it showed me that electronic music could be so much more than four-beat loops, it could allow artists to expand their creations beyond the traditional limits of instrumentation to create energetic and blissful madness like Cross.
Honorable Mentions The College Dropout – Kanye West You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine – Death From Above 1970 All Killer No Filler – Sum 41 Yeezus – Kanye West Dark Red – Shlohmo
Ambition – Wale The College Dropout – Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak – Kanye West To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar Tetsuo & Youth – Lupe Fiasco
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
13
SHORTS
ALTERED CARBON
QUEER EYE
The renaissance of cyberpunk lives on with Netflix’s futuristic investigative procedural
A much-needed revival of an iconic show
CARLO JAVIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
N
W BLACK LIGHTNING DC’s latest series offers a strong representation of a diverse Black America KEVIN KAPENDA COLUMNIST
I
n late January, another joint CW-Netflix production premiered on the Canadian version of the streaming service. Black Lightning is about Jefferson Pierce, a prep school principal and father of two daughters who can manipulate electricity. The show is set in the fictional black-majority city of Freeland, the size of Cleveland or Flint. Black Lightning is a great representation of an economically and politically diverse African-American community, but falls short of providing its hero with villains and storylines that are truly groundbreaking. One of my favorite podcasts, Black Men Can’t Jump in Hollywood, discusses the glass ceiling and racism Black bodies face in the industry. In their review of another Black superhero flick, Meteor Man, the hosts discuss how black superheroes are almost always limited to the job of saving the hood from powerful drug dealers because the scourge of Black crime is too overwhelming for police departments. These storylines are of course driven by perceptions that police will never be able to address crime in Blackmajority cities because Black people are inherently criminal. In Black Lightning, there is little discussion about what drives criminality in black cities, like economic exclusion and White flight. This absence of nuance reinforces Black criminality as a first option, rather than a desperate last resort. What is great about Black Lightning is its diverse representation of socio-economic diversity in mid-sized Black cities, as well as the wedge that is festering between Black elites and those who feel the full weight of Black oppression. This dynamic is brilliantly depicted through Pierce’s interactions with the wider community, who view him as too moderate and virtuous because of his wealth. I just wish there was a Black superhero – War Machine’s a sidekick – with a purpose beyond saving the block from “yayo” and thugs with “uzis”.
14
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
ith successful returns from the critically-acclaimed Blade Runner 2049 and the maligned Ghost in the Shell, its no surprise that the everopportunistic Netflix is pouncing on the resurgence of cyberpunk. Altered Carbon, based on the book of the same name by Richard K. Morgan, may have found a sweet spot for the hit-ormiss genre: television. Set over 350 years into the future, the series presents a world where human bodies have become disposable and replaceable. Memories and the very essence of human “souls” are stored in a synthetic disk, and thus can be implanted into a new body – referred to as a “sleeve” in the show’s vernacular – upon the “death” of the previous body. Led by the steady performance of main star Joel Kinnaman, and some scene-stealing work by Ato Essandoh and Chris Conner, Altered Carbon does just enough to surpass minimal expectations regarding storyline. Where Altered Carbon truly succeeds is with its worldbuilding. It takes a few episodes to acclimate to, but the show presents both a colourful and a bleak dystopian world that its viewers can inhabit. It exhibits a future that not only shines with its depiction of otherworldly technology, but also with how it suggests that through it all, it is the organic instincts and flaws of humanness that will dictate how worlds move forward – or come crashing down. Altered Carbon shows that the episodic format could be the key to cyberpunk, but taking too much time could also lead to its downfall.
LEAH SCHEITEL QUEER EYED-FAN etflix’s revival of Queer Eye For the Straight Guy is a refreshing addition to the reality TV genre. Featuring five gay guys, who are all “experts” in their crafts, they transform the lives of unsuspecting men in the Atlanta, Georgia area Tan, Antoni, Bobby, Karamo and Jonathan (blush) provide entertainment while also exposing viewers to discussions on polarizing topics. Using empathy gained through their experiences of being gay in America, the Fab Five change the lives of their subjects using humour and – gasp – love. While making their new friends challenge themselves on different aspects of life – fashion, style, cooking culture and home decoration – they shine attention on topics that have been culturally seen as less masculine. They talk about feelings, confidence, responsibilities and self-care. And they broach polarizing subjects – the third episode features a makeover for a policeman, and Karamo, who is black, admits he was nervous about doing that specific makeover because of the tension between police officers and African Americans. This show is portraying tolerance, something that is arguably missing from the supercharged political climate we are currently in. As they say in the second episode – sometimes it just takes the fairies to get it done. And if anyone knows Jonathan, please hook it up. I want him to be my new friend.
THE END OF THE FUCKING WORLD A love story that takes place on the run, but is far more complicated than a traditional romance. JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR
T
he End of the Fucking World is a millennial version of Bonnie and Clyde. It’s a love story that takes place on the run, but is far more complicated than a traditional romance. The show’s two main characters, Alyssa and James, while developing feelings for one another, are also beginning to understand themselves. The two decide to run away from home, but after getting themselves in an extremely precarious situation, their choice to run away turns into a requirement. With the law chasing after them, the two 17-year-old Brits seem to only dig themselves deeper into their problems. However, while doing so, they end up relying on one another more and more. Although the show is dark, it’s also hilarious. James is sure he’s a psychopath and Alyssa thinks she may be a nymphomaniac – a combination bound to entertain viewers. Much like many other shows about teenage kids, at it’s core, The End of the Fucking World is a coming of age tale. It chronicles two youth trying to figure out who they are, being thrust into events that will alter the rest of their lives irreversibly, which is where it varies from other shows of the same genre. Often teenage dramas will show their characters dramatically approaching situations like a breakup or a pimple as if they’re going to change their life’s narratives. The End of the Fucking World however, puts its characters in situations that will truly change their lives and lets viewers sit back and watch.
CALENDAR
MARCH 5
ATMOSPHERE
9
TREVOR NOAH
FRI
COMMODORE BALLROOM 7 P.M. / $40
MON
My friend showed me an Atmosphere song many years ago while we were smoking weed in the garage – with his mom. The song was called “Shoulda Known” and it’s a pretty good track to get stoned to when you are around parents.
FUN HOME
GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE 7:30 P.M. / $50
Fun Home is a Tony Award winning musical about Alison, a girl accepting her homosexuality and her relationship with her father who was a historical preservationist, a funeral home director, a distant parent and…a closeted gay man.
6 TUES
ABSOLUTE BEGINNER HIP HOP
QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE 7 P.M. / $44
HARBOUR DANCE CENTRE 8 P.M. / $16
He’s no Jon Stewart, but he’s in Vancouver. The Trump administration has ruined comedy because no comedian can avoid talking about it. I don’t expect Noah to be any different, but I will give him credit that his stand-up is better than his Daily Show stuff.
If you’re feeling inspired from last night’s show and also a little embarrassed by your pitiful dance moves, the Harbour Dance Centre has got you covered. No experience is needed, and by the end of the hour lesson, I’m sure you’ll be ready to compete on the next season of America’s Best Dance Crew.
BILL BURR
SALOMÉ: WOMAN OF VALOR
Bill Burr is not my favourite comedian. He’s loud, annoying and in my opinion, not that funny most of the time. He is a very popular comedian though, so what the hell do I know about what people consider funny.
A total art spoken word opera re-visioning Salomé as a powerful Jewish revolutionary. Created by Jack London, a Grammy awardwinning composer, this performance is the result of five years of hard work and dedication.
ORPHEUM THEATRE 7 P.M. / $44.50
7 WED
CONSENT WORKSHOP LOCATION SENT VIA EMAIL 12 P.M. / FREE
This is a hugely important workshop put together by the CSU as part of their new "let's get consensual" campaign. Having the location be sent by email to those that RSVP is also a nice touch. There will be a second one on the same day at 4 p.m.
SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE 8 P.M. / $24
10 SAT
THURS
BC PLACE 9:30 A.M. / $65
I was surprised to learn that our Rugby Seven’s team is the eighthbest in the world. A day ticket will let you watch every game played that day, so you can cheer on eighth-place Canada and first-place South Africa in the same day if you’d like. Drinking at a rugby event is mandatory.
SANTANA
A TRIBE CALLED RED
The poor guy went from Woodstock to Abbotsford. We should all feel a bit of sympathy for him. I thought he was the guy who wrote “Santaria”, but then I realized that was Sublime. Santana does wear some pretty cool hats, though.
A Tribe Called Red is a Canadian electronic music group. They blend instrumental hip-hop, reggae and dance music with First Nations music, particularly vocal chanting and drumming. They’re very good at it, too. Tickets will sell fast, so buy them in advance.
ABBOTSFORD CENTRE 7 P.M. / $45
8
HSBC CANADA SEVENS
LORDE: MELODRAMA ROGERS ARENA 7 P.M. / $49
Very few people listened to Lorde’s first album more than I did. So, it is with the greatest disappointment that I admit to barely listening to her sophomore album. Considering her age, I remain optimistic that she will recapture the magic of her first album.
COMMODORE BALLROOM 8 P.M. / $50
11 SUN
JEFF DUNHAM: PASSIVELY AGGRESSIVE ABBOTSFORD CENTRE 3 P.M. / $65
I don’t know if Dunham has had a funny comedy set since Spark of Insanity in 2007 with Achmed the dead terrorist and Peanut. That set was so funny that it almost doesn't matter. It’s the Russell Peters effect: have one stand-up performance so good that people don’t realize you haven’t been funny for a decade.
CHATLIVE: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER #METOO?
JONNY AND CARSON TALENT SHOW
Here’s a nice, light topic to chat about on your lunch break. I can almost guarantee somebody will take personal offence to at least one comment at this talk. I believe CapU students can have an interesting conversation about this topic.
I’ve never been to a talent show. My expectation is that this will be like having from row seats for auditions for America’s Got Talent. Admire the talented and laugh at the talentless. The winner of the show gets to headline the next one.
LIBRARY ROOM 196 11:30 A.M. / FREE
JAGGERS 7 P.M. / BY DONATION
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
15
Call me Mr. Bannock
A former cook in CapU’s kitchen is bringing traditional Indigenous dishes to Vancouver with a modern twist JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR
A
lthough Vancouver is home to many food trucks, up until recently, there was no Indigenous food being served out of the roaming restaurants – now, that’s changed. Growing up, Paul Natrall would always watch his grandmother and mother prepare dinner, eventually getting in on the action himself. For the member of the Squamish Nation, dinner was always about more than just food. “When I was younger, I have a big family, so it was always fun and a huge thing to be cooking and sharing food with all my relatives,” he said. “We always had a full house with my mother and my cousins and my aunts and uncles. We always had a bunch of people living with us, so having dinner together was always fun every night.” Eventually, Natrall would take his passion for cooking to the next level, by enrolling in Vancouver Community College (VCC)’s Culinary Aboriginal Specialty Program in 2010. While in
16
THE CAPILANO COURIER
the program, Natrall was exposed to different styles of cooking, with the French practices making a lasting imprint on him. After graduation, he started working in kitchens, expanding his culinary horizons but never forgetting his roots. In 2012, Natrall travelled to Erfort, Germany for the Culinary Olympics – it was the first time in over 20 years that there had been an Indigenous presence at the competition. Natrall and his teammates used the event as a platform to showcase some of their traditional cuisine, with Natrall assembling a platter that showcased a number of various salmon found in the Pacific Northwest. That same year, Natrall began cooking in Capilano University’s cafeteria kitchen, where he once again expanded his culinary skill-set. Whether it was manning the stir fry station, or planning out the dinner specials, Natrall’s cooking abilities continued to improve. “It was awesome, I was able to learn different kinds of cuisines,” he said. “I did the nightly specials so I did lots of Greek food, lots of pastas and roasts, you name it.” Eventually, Natrall realized that he had grander ambitions. He wanted to share his culture’s traditional foods with the Vancouver community, all while adding his own flair to the dishes. Thus, Mr. Bannock was born. A catering company and Vancouver’s first Indigenous food truck, Mr. Bannock was
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
an exciting concept from the get go, but also a large commitment for Natrall. “It was a huge decision. Anytime someone leaps from a full-time income to rolling the dice and trying to be an entrepreneur and do your own thing, it’s a huge step,” he said. It seems though that the gamble has paid off. Although the food truck isn’t hitting the streets on a consistent basis yet, it’s more so due to the weather than anything else. And don’t confuse the fact that the truck isn’t hitting the streets daily as a sign that Natrall isn’t keeping busy. In fact, with Mr. Bannock’s catering commitments, Natrall now finds himself considering bringing more employees on to help with the operation. Much like the way dinner was presented as a culture-rich experience in Natrall’s early years, Mr. Bannock is far more than food. Natrall sees his business as a way to introduce people, who may not be all that familiar with Canada’s Indigenous culture, to it in an easy and delicious way. “That’s the goal,” he said. “To bring awareness and to let people have a piece of what some of our traditional foods were.” Of course, Natrall has put his own spin on some of the traditional dishes. “My food is more like a fusion,” he said. The truck’s Indian Taco for example, is the chef’s personal take on the classic item. The taco, which uses bannock as a shell and is filled with a house made chili, cheddar, lime sour cream
-COURTES OF PAUL NATRALL
ARTS & CULTURE
and salsa, placed third in last year’s Taco Fest in Burnaby. “We placed third with our Indian taco out of 20 Mexican taco places,” Natrall said with a laugh. However, the item that excites Natrall the most is his Honey Waffle Bannock Sandwich. The dish – which uses a honey bannock batter to make a waffle, then topped with juniper berry dry rubbed chicken, an apple raisin slaw and some hot sauce – is what Natrall recommends to new customers. At the end of the day though, no matter what item a customer gets, it’s still Indigenous culture. “It’s interacting, breaking the ice and trying something new,” Natrall explained. “The big idea is sharing food and sharing my culture. There’s been a big gap in culture for Indigenous people,” he added. Natrall has also started offering cooking classes, where he not only teaches attendees how to make traditional dishes, but also explains the importance they hold in his heart. “There’s a lot of love in our dishes,” he said. With the sun bound to become a more common occurrence in the lives of Vancouverites any day now, along with it will come the Mr. Bannock food truck. Although Natrall has no official times or locations for its business hours, he said to keep an eye on its social media for updates.
@CAPILANOCOURIER
@CAPILANOCOURIER
/CAPILANOCOURIER
Artist Spotlight: Resurrection Committee The band formerly known as Thee Magic Circle are celebrating the release of their debut album RACHEL D’SA ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
B
efore the release of their debut album this past February, East Vancouver-based band Thee Magic Circle had to make a major change. Now known as Resurrection Committee, the noise-pop group is celebrating the relese of Join!, a 10-track record they dropped on Bandcamp under the local label Strawberry Coffin Inc. The psychedelic-rock, noise-pop group is comprised of Andrew Rodrigues (guitar, Vox), Ben Morris (bass), Rainer Johnsen (guitar, Vox), ES (Eric) Peters (guitar, Vox) and Jazz Studies program student, Tyler Murray (drums). Inspired by bands like Sun King, The Rambling Derelicts and Illacuda, the group formed an oasis of their own, under the name Thee Magic Circle. “We were into cult bands like the Source Family’s Ya Ho Wha 13 and wanted a name that sounded culty,” Rodrigues said about the original band name. After realizing that there were already a few death metal groups with the same name, the band decided to switch to Resurrection Committee ahead of their debut album release. Together the band crafted their album, Join!. They felt it was right to release as their debut as it serves as a compilation
of everything that they’ve written and explored within the group since their start in the Fall of 2015. The bold orange cover art was chosen because they wanted something simple and eye catching, that was also influence by liquid light visuals. While the album has yet to be produced in physical copies, the band presented limited-release posters in their album release shows. These posters included download codes for the album. Similar to the promotion of the album which was both unique and labourintensive, the creation of the album presented its own challenges. “We used to get into a lot of fist fights over various topics,” said Johnsen. “Then we found the light of the Leader and no longer have to worry about any of that.” The recording process also led the group through a few obstacles, but ultimately came out the other side with not just a dreamy album, but with new knowledge on the recording process. “We cycled through all these options of how we wanted to record the album, we spent time in studios with a producer and all this expensive gear yet it never clicked,” said Peters. “We finally decided to just do it all ourselves, we put all our money from shows into funding a studio in our basement and taught ourselves how to record,” he said, additionally summarizing the process as repetitious, languished, disturbing and great. At the moment, Resurrection Committee awaits the arrival of their new EP coming out Apr.13, which will feature two songs, each 10-15 minutes in length. Until then, we’ve got Join! to resurrect our spirits.
Time to shine Upcoming Cap Classics concert showcases student’s life-long work RACHEL D’SA ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
T
he upcoming Cap Classics series will be gracing the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts with a showcase of Capilano University based talent on Mar. 9. The free concert at 11:45 a.m. will bring CapU’s dedicated musicians to the stage, showcasing Music Diploma program students who were the top prize winners of the performance competitions. Typically, the Cap Classics series features performances by faculty, alumni and students, three times each fall and spring semester. The event’s director and coordinator and instructor for the School of Performing Arts, Dr. Wendy Grant, believes that the series is incredibly beneficial to the community. She noted that it encourages those both inside and outside the University’s community to come out and support the arts, while in exchange, watching high-quality performances. Grant looks forward to the upcoming
student showcase, as she recognizes just how important the show is for its performers. “It’s a way for people to kind of understand what we do here in the Music diploma. It’s also a great opportunity for our students to have a concert experience at their own academic institution,” she said. The process that is bringing these students under the spotlight on the Friday afternoon was anything but an in-class recital. For the students to have been eligible to perform they must have possessed a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The preliminary first round took place earlier this year to hear all of the interested performers, to make sure that they were playing at a high enough level and that their professors were confident that they would do well. As much as Grant would like to showcase the development of each student in the program, due to time accommodations, she had to present the students with a competition to narrow down the list of potential performers. The gala event competition that then took place, filled with flowers, food and black ties, gave more students the opportunity to share with family and friends their passions. After the performances, judging faculty met to discuss who would continue to the final
Cap Classics showcase, with Grant receiving the honour of announcing the winners. “My favorite part is enjoying how much the students respond to the various performers and how much they kind of grow as young musicians, hearing different repertoire and seeing different combinations of instruments being played.” Ultimately, two students from first-year and two from second-year, one winner and one runner-up, were chosen to perform in the upcoming show. First-year performers include runner-up, Annie (Yen Yen) Huang (piano) and winner, Alexandria Mitchell (flute). Second-year performers include runner-up, Charmaine Iormetti (voice), and winner, Qu Zheng (erhu). Grant noted that it was only just this last year that the program started offering lessons on what is considered to be ‘world instruments.’ While many of the works that will be showcased at the concert will be classical western art music, Zheng’s Chinese instrumental performance will be a cultural experience that is new to the University — something that has been missing from previous student showcases. Grant recognizes that this showcase allows students to set themselves apart, and have their time to shine, while allowing the community to look upon up-
and-coming performers. “It will give them a really wonderful concert experience of what it’s like to perform in a showcase situation, not just one piece but to actually participate in a bigger concert where the focus is on them,” said Grant. This is not the only showcase of the student’s university careers, as they are required to participate in many performances within the curriculum. Grant however noted that this upcoming concert will be a milestone for its performers, as they have been training for the spotlight for more than just their time at the University. “Generally students have been preparing from the beginning of the year, working with their private music instructors, choosing repertoire, and things like that,” said Grant. To perform any kind of classical music, it takes months and months and months of practice. It’s not a quick thing like, ‘oh I think I’ll go do this.’ You have to have a very high level of accomplishment.” This upcoming concert is a time for the community to come together and celebrate not just the accomplishments of the University program, but the journey of students on their way to successful futures.
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
17
SPORTS
-TAYLOR LEE
Blues miss out on nationals After a superb season the men’s volleyball team finishes with no medals but hope for next year JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR
18
THE CAPILANO COURIER
-VANCOUVER SPORTS PHOTO
A
lthough the Capilano University Blues men’s volleyball team started their season with a goal of medaling, they quickly changed it to getting gold. “After the first two weekends we smoked UFV [University of the Fraser Valley] and beat Douglas and were 4-0 and were like, ‘okay, we could do something here this year, we’ve got a good enough team to go all the way’,” said second year Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) First Team All-Star middle Zarley Zalusky. “That’s when our goal changed from maybe medaling at provincials to winning provincials and going to nationals.” Unfortunately, the team did neither. After finishing the season with the second seed, the Blues secured a bye to the provincial playoffs semi-finals where they met the defending champions, the Camosun Chargers. After dropping a close first set 25-22, the men stormed back and won the second set with an authoritative 25-17. However, the Chargers won the next two sets and secured their road to the finals, where they completed a PACWEST four-peat the next day. The Blues on the other hand, dropped the bronze medal game on Saturday, missing out on a podium finish. “Saturday was rough,” Zalusky said. “Losing to Camosun, we played well and it was a tough game, obviously it sucked, but losing to Douglas in the bronze game… we beat them all year. They didn’t beat us once.” A weekend that had much hope and potential quickly turned into a
forgettable one. “I’m not really too sure what happened actually,” said second year libero Jonathan Lee. “The first night that we got there on Thursday, we had a practice in the morning and then a practice at night, and the practice at night was really good, so I thought that we were going to be ok the next day.” Unfortunately, they weren’t. By no means did the Blues play poorly, they were just bested. “I think we played really well that game, it was just obviously unfortunate that we lost,” Lee added. However, while neither the team’s original goal, nor updated goal, were met, it’s not all bad. Aside from a few key players like first year Jacob
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
Hopkins, who was named to the PACWEST All-Rookie Team, the majority of the team’s core should be dawning the Blues jersey again next season. “We’ve got a good group of guys that are returning and hopefully we’ll have some new guys coming in next year who can step in and make a difference,” Zalusky said. Additionally, the team grew and improved this season under the guidance of the PACWEST Coach of the Year Emmanuel Denguessi. “Our passing got a lot better this year,” said Lee. “It was a lot more confident I would say for a lot guys.” For now, though, the team is still recovering from the weekend’s defeats.
“Right now, I’m just kind of resting and just trying to forget everything that happened,” Zalusky said. “I’m sure that in a couple of weeks I’ll go back and revisit it and watch more tape and see what I need to work on this off-season.” Until next season though, the team will have to live with the memories of this year's underwhelming playoff run. “It was tough, we feel like we should have been provincial champions,” said Zalusky. “I’m not saying that, it’s not an excuse for why we lost, but in our minds, we’re the best team in the league and in our minds we should have been the team with that gold medal on our necks going to nationals.”
@CAPILANOCOURIER
@CAPILANOCOURIER
/CAPILANOCOURIER
Simrat Dosanjh reflects on her rookie season Blues first-year guard has been a key contributor off the bench HELEN AIKENHEAD MANAGING EDITOR
O
ver the course of this past season, the Capilano University Blues women's basketball team has had some ups and downs. But one thing that's never changed for the team is that they've consistently been putting strong numbers on the board, especially beyond the arc. Those numbers can be largely in part attributed to Simrat Dosanjh, the first-year player who's been praised for her strong shooting ability. The Panorama Ridge Secondary graduate has been playing competitive basketball since she was just 10 years old, giving her the experience necessary to smoothly transition to post-secondary basketball. Dosanjh received a message from team coach Ramin Sadaghiani about the potential to join the Blues. After checking it out, Dosanjh knew the Blues was the team for her. “I found it to be my best option, school wise and basketball wise,” she said. “I knew the team was good, and I knew that they had a shot at winning provincials. And I thought
I'd get quite a bit of playtime. So that's what brought me to Cap.” In regards to school, Dosanjh has been enjoying the challenge of the CapU Human Kinetics program, managing to maintain an impressive GPA on top of her dedication to her team. Clearly, Dosanjh's work ethic extends beyond the court. “I'm thinking of going into physio or maybe med school, but it's all kind of up in the air right now.” Basketball wise, upon joining the team, Dosanjh's expectations were met. Throughout the season, the first-year guard has received a solid amount of playtime and now finds herself the proud owner of a gold from the 2018 Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) provincials. With her first season complete, Dosanjh was able to reflect on her first varsity year, and look forward to her second. “It definitely lived up,” she said, recalling the season and how easy it was to adjust to the new team. “Everyone on the team was very skilled. It was kind of intimidating at first, just because everyone was so good... [but] it was easy [to adjust]. Our seniors on our team are very supportive and welcoming. Plus, I had three other rookies with me, so I had other people I could relate to.” That senior heavy team landscape, however, will soon be changing. “We're
going to be a lot younger [next year] with three fifth-years graduating. So, we'll be a lot younger. But I'm definitely coming back.” Her return to the roster will prove as an asset to it's new young face. With just one year to her name, Dosanjh is already thinking like a senior player. With the kind of thoughtful reflection on past performance that's vital to the longevity and execution of winning plays, her offering to the team goes far beyond her shooting ability. Dosanjh took a moment to reflect before heading into last week's finals. “We didn't end the season on a great note, losing two
games to Douglas... I just think we got in our heads. I know in previous years we've lost big games to Douglas, so I think it was just a mental thing for us.” But, she knew what the team needed to do. “I think if we play the way we were taught to play, and the way we usually play, we'll be fine... just execute what our coaches have told us and try not to get in our heads, and just play basketball.” And that they did. After winning the PACWEST provincials this past weekend, the team solidified their claim to the top of the conference, an experience Dosanjh won't forget.
With the Blues women’s volleyball season coming to an end, it’s clear that they could see real success over the next few years JUSTIN SCOTT MANAGING EDITOR
C
onsidering the Capilano University Blues women’s volleyball team entered the season with an especially young team, their fourth-place finish in the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST)’s provincial playoffs could be considered a successful season. The team however, isn’t so convinced. “Obviously the team and myself are feeling a little bit like we missed an opportunity,” said Head Coach Cal Wholford. After an exciting victory in the tournament’s quarter final match against the Columbia Bible College Bearcats, the Blues were slated for a semi-final matchup with their rivals, the Douglas College Royals. The women took the first set 25-18, but didn’t win another, ending their hopes of a gold or silver medal. They were then swept in Saturday’s bronze medal match, ending their season. “We were there and we were ready to play, but it just got away from us,” Wholford said.
“It’s hard to get up for that bronze medal match,” Wholford said. “I feel that a bronze medal match is harder to play than a gold medal match because you just came out of that disappointment, so to turn it around is difficult.” Nonetheless, the team felt they could have played better. “The team really worked hard for each other during the games, but I think the outcome just wasn’t what we wanted,” said third year middle Zoe Mydansky. “The other teams played a lot better, we didn’t bring our best game.” However, although the season ended with disappointment, this year’s campaign won’t be remembered for the losses in the payoffs. With seven first years on the roster, there was much uncertainty around how the season would play out. But after a 4-6 start to the season, the team went on a six-game win streak that spanned from mid November to mid January. It wasn’t only the team’s record that was improving though. Anyone who spent time around the players could see a team transitioning from a collection of a few veteran players and many fresh faces, to one cohesive unit both on and off the court. “Over the season I thought we did really well, I was really proud of our team,” Mydansky said. The team’s successes were acknowledged the week of provincials when three Blues plyers received PACWEST awards. Tyneille Neufeld
-VANCOUVER SPORTS PHOTO
The start of something good
was named a PACWEST First Team All-Star, with Isabela Lima and Emma Schill both being named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team. Lima continued to impress at provincials, earning herself a spot on the list of the tournament’s All-Stars. So, while they missed on medaling, it looks like the program is poised foe success in the future. Neufeld, Mydansky and third year middle
Meghan Koven all have two years of eligibility left. With the rest of the team having even more time, it seems that the future for Blues women’s volleyball is bright. “I think everyone’s motivated to do better than we did, knowing that we could have done better this year,” explained Mydansky. “That motivation will definitely play into next year and everyone’s drive to get better.”
THE CAPILANO COURIER
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
19
CABOOSE
@CAPILANOCOURIER
@CAPILANOCOURIER
HOROSCOPES
CAPILANO CONFESSIONS
“I'm always cold, my friends say I'm always cold, but my boyfriend doesn't agree.”
You look twice as old as you are .
Prepare to see your name trending in the news.
TAURUS (APR. 20 – MAY 20)
We believe you will get through this jail sentence.
“My boyfriend might be a vampire from the medieval ages.”
GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUN. 20)
Turns out shaving your head was not a good idea.
– “I hate writing.”
CANCER (JUN 21 – JULY 22)
Live life on the edge and eat a whole large pizza tonight.
– “As a mature student, I was worried I wouldn't understand people younger than me. So I downloaded snapchat. ”
LEO (JUL. 23 – AUG. 22)
The hardest part of a friendship is seeing people.
123456
– “They say you find the love of your life in university, just not this one.”
LIBRA (SEPT. 22 – OCT. 23)
This will be the longest week of your life.
3 6
1
3 8
“I walked in on someone in the washroom shaving their armpits in the sink.”
If the world was more like you, society would grind to a halt.
Difficulty: Very Hard Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.91)
“My parents think I'm smoking my Adderall.” –
VIRGO (AUG. 23 – SEPT. 21)
SUDOKU
–
8
7
3 5
1
4 2
3
SCORPIO (OCT. 24 – NOV. 21)
6 4
4
9 9
5
1
2
1
6 3
7
7
5
7
2 Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sat Mar 3 03:41:01 2018 GMT. Enjoy!
Read more and submit your own confession at capilanocourier.com/confessions
10 pushups for every time you instinctively look away when you make eye contact with someone.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 – DEC. 21)
6
THE CAPILANO COURIER
IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK:
ARIES (MAR. 21 – APR. 19)
–
20
/CAPILANOCOURIER
TO ADVERTISE in the Courier’s pages, please contact us by phone at 778-995-4388 or email John Tabbernor at community.capcourier@gmail.com. We are proud to offer discounts to non-profit organizations and North Shore customers. A full media kit with sizes, rates and deadlines is available on our website, CapilanoCourier.com. Classified advertisements up to 50 words are free for students.
VOLUME 50 ISSUE NO. 17
A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is a great book and an accurate summary of your sex life so far.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 – JAN. 19)
Look both ways before crossing the street.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 – FEB.18)
Stay hydrated.
PISCES (FEB. 19 – MAR. 20)
Congratulations on your penthouse suite, too bad about the earthquake though.