Capilano Courier | Vol. 51, Issue 8.

VOLUME 51, ISSUE 8

JAN. 21-27, 2019

Life Through the Lens on PG. 8

NEWS

Canada vs.

Wet'suwet'en First Nations PG. 3

COLUMNS

Trying Times: Raising the Barre PG. 13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Getting back on track and finishing strong

VOL. 51 ISSUE 8 JAN. 21-27

COVER: CHRISTINE WEI

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2018 YEAR IN REVIEW

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WAS THE COST OF CAPROCKS REALLY WORTH IT?

News

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Opinions

BANNING "BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE?" REALLY?

Opinions

10 THE WELLNESS CULTURE THAT COMES WITH NEW YEAR

Special Feature

13 GLOBAL NARRATIVES: FROM MEXICO TO CANADA

Columns

14 CAPROCKS IN PHOTOS

Campus Life

16 MUST-READ BOOKS

Reviews

19 PARALLEL ENCYCLOPEDIA AT THE POLYGON

Arts & Culture

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 8

STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ART DIRECTOR

MANAGING EDITOR

PRODUCTION MANAGER

NEWS EDITOR

COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

BUSINESS MANAGER

FEATURES EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Christine Beyleveldt capcourier@gmail.com

Helen Aikenhead manager.capcourier@gmail.com

Greta Kooy news.capcourier@gmail.com

Annalisse Crosswell associatenews.capcourier@gmail.com

Freya Wasteneys specialfeatures.capcourier@gmail.com

Cynthia Tran Vo artdirector.capcourier@gmail.com

Melissa Gibbons pm.capcourier@gmail.com

Ana Maria Caicedo community.capcourier@gmail.com

Jessica Lio businessmanager.capcourier@gmail.com

Ben Jacobs, Mariah Klein, David Menghel, Clarissa Sabile, Nirosh Saravanan, Devon Simpson

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Sheila Arellano arts.capcourier@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS

Andrea Alcaraz, Robyn Beyleveldt, Karla Monterrosa, Christine Wei

OPINIONS EDITOR

Megan Orr opinions.capcourier@gmail.com

EDITOR & COLUMNIST PORTRAITS

Cynthia Tran Vo

COLUMNS EDITOR

Rachel D'Sa columns.capcourier@gmail.com COPY EDITOR

Ashleigh Brink copy.capcourier@gmail.com

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​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.

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CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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always marvel at how productive we are in the New Year. One would think that emerging from the post-holiday slump would be an exhausting process, it is at the start of any semester really, but on Jan. 1 everyone is making New Year’s resolutions and making an effort to be the best version of themselves. Nevermind that we often don’t keep our New Year’s resolutions, it’s a testament that we make the decision to put our best foot forward after the holidays, whether it’s in a work-related capacity or in your personal life.

Even though the academic year is only split into two, the second half always feels a bit more like a race to the finish line. But it also comes after New Year. And every New Year, the editors of the Courier go to the Canadian University Press (CUP) journalism conference called NASH, which helps us not only get back on track after the holidays, but inspires us to do better work. This year it was in Calgary, and I’m proud to say that heading into another New Year, the staff of the Courier have lots in store.

Capilano University doesn’t have a journalism school, so we do things a little differently to other campus publications.

When we sit in on seminars and take notes from the seasoned journalists often present, I’d hazard there’s a bigger learning curve for the Courier staff than other papers run by students with proper journalism training, but

it’s inspiring nonetheless.

After a few days of seminars, roundtable discussions with other editors from across the country and professional critiques of our work, everyone appeared to be quite pumped about going into another semester of production. That’s what makes me proud – the fact that everyone started off 2019 refreshed and ready to put the best work that we can in our pages for you. For the third time in the last four years we also brought home the illustration of the year award, won by our former Art Director, Rachel Wada.

Also in its third year, we’re in the midst of planning our Readers Choice Awards. Refreshed after the holidays and reinvigorated in the New Year, this is our event, but it’s really for you. Just a couple of years ago we started hosting this small, informal event on campus as a way of engaging our readers – that’s you – and give the CapU community a chance to shine a light on the achievements we may have missed in our reporting. Whether it’s the award for life-changing professor, changemaker, unsung hero, best visual artist, film, musician or ensemble, it’s up to you to vote, and we’ll be hosting an awards ceremony on Feb. 6.

We hope that you found something to strive for in 2019, whether it’s in your personal life or academic career.

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Despite Opposition to Pipeline, Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs Reach Agreement with RCMP Demonstrators around the globe continue to show support for the Wet'suwet'en First Nations ANA MARIA CAICEDO COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER

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fter over four hours of discussion between Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and the RCMP, a preemptive agreement was made to allow Coastal Gaslink workers through the Unist’ot’en and Gidimt’en checkpoints in northern British Columbia for pre-construction activities. This comes two days after heavily armed RCMP broke down the barricade at the Gidimt’en checkpoint and arrested 14 people. The RCMP were enforcing a temporary injunction granted to Coastal Gaslink in December by the Supreme Court of

British Columbia, which prohibits anyone from interfering with or encouraging the interference of Coastal Gaslink and its employees in the Unist’ot’en area, and was expanded on Jan. 4 to include the Gidimt’en checkpoint. The injunction was first filed in November 2018 when Coastal Gaslink workers were unable to enter Unist’ot’en checkpoint to begin clearing the area for the pipeline.

Under the premise of protecting the safety of everyone involved, the RCMP set up a temporary exclusion zone on the day of arrests, barring anyone who is not part of the enforcement team from entering the checkpoints, including media. The exclusion zone was lifted on Jan. 11, and on the same day the Unist’ot’en camp released a statement that explained how the chiefs’ decision was made to protect the land defenders who “faced an incredible risk of injury or death.”

Despite the agreement, Wet’suwet’en

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DENNIS KALE (LEFT), ZOE LUBA (CENTRE) AND ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEMONSTRATOR HOLD UP A SIGN READING "ALL NATIONS UNITE WITH WET'SUWET'EN" BLOCKING INCOMING TRAFFIC FROM THE PORT OF VANCOUVER.

security that fossil fuels is our answer, and the reality is that fossil fuels kill our planet, kill our water.”

Kale continued, “If we look at life, we say that water is life. Life will always find a way – if you kill our water, life won’t find a way.”

A Kamloops town hall meeting with Justin Trudeau on the same day drew both pro and anti-pipeline demonstrators. The meeting was dominated with questions on pipelines and reconciliation towards Indigenous communities. Will George, a member of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nations interrupted another question in progress to confront the Prime Minister.

“You lied about being a climate leader,” George said. “You don’t build pipelines by being a climate leader. You want truth and reconciliation with First Nations and you get our people arrested.”

Earlier that day on CBC’s Daybreak Kamloops radio program, Trudeau was asked if he was “happy with police moving in to remove protesters” by host Shelley Joyce.

“No, obviously it’s not an ideal situation,” he answered, continuing to say that the government has been working on reconciliation and getting local approval for pipeline projects.

“There are a number of people in communities who are supportive, there are a number of folks who disagree with it, and I think it’s important to leave room for people to express their concerns and be heard and be listened to,” he said. “But at the same time, we’re also a country of the rule of law, and if the courts weigh in and say, you know, that we need to get things done and we need to move forward, we also have to abide by that.”

In response, Peter Grant, the legal counsel for the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, said on CBC News, “I find it a little bit objectionable that the leaders of the country say ‘well the rule of law has to apply’— we agree the rule of law has to apply, but doesn’t that mean that when there’s recognition of the proper title holder, you deal with the proper title holder?”

Since the agreement between the RCMP and the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs on Jan. 10, new information is being revealed that is putting the sincerity of the RCMP into question.

Jeffrey Monaghan, a criminologist and professor at Carleton University, uncovered previously classified RCMP documents that demonstrate how RCMP have been monitoring the Unist’ot’en camp since 2011.

In a conversation with CBC radio host Brent Brambury, Monaghan explained how the documents reveal RCMP bias. According to Monaghan, RCMP reports characterize Unist’ot’en as “extremists” and frame their ability to gain traction with the public as a threat while typically including “a long narrative around the benefits of various pipelines.”

Coastal Gaslink’s hearing for an interlocutory injunction is to be held no later than May 1, and the Wet’suwet’en defendants are expected to submit a response on Jan. 31. In the meantime, 50 more rallies and counting have been planned in Canada and across the world in cities as far as Brisbane and Boston.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

DEMONSTRATORS JOIN HANDS IN PRAYER ON EAST HASTINGS AND CLARK. PHOTOS BY ANA MARIA CAICEDO

hereditary chiefs are still not consenting to any pipeline construction. Hereditary Chief Na’Moks said in a clip posted by Chantelle Bellrichard of CBC News after the meeting with RCMP, “We are adamantly opposed to this proposed project, and that will never change. But we are here to ensure the safety of our people.”

The pipeline from Coastal Gaslink, a subsidiary of TransCanada, would run 670 kilometres long and transport natural gas from the Dawson Creek area, through Wet’suwet’en traditional land, to a proposed liquified natural gas facility near Kitimat, where it would be exported to global markets.

The Wet’suwet’en First Nations are composed of five clans which include the Unist’ot’en clan and the Gidimt’en clan.

The Unist’ot’en camp at the checkpoint has been around since April 2009, and since 2015 has been acting as a healing center for Indigenous families. While the hereditary chiefs of Wet’suwet’en oppose any pipelines on their territories, Wet’suwet’en band council chiefs have signed agreements with Coastal Gaslink.

Band council chiefs were established in the Indian Act of 1869, while hereditary chiefs are appointed by a governance system predating any settler contact. The hereditary chiefs claim the elected band council chiefs only have jurisdiction over the Wet’suwet’en reserves, not their entire traditional territories – which include the Unist’ot’en and Gidimt’en checkpoints. Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and land defenders cite a 1997 Supreme Court of Canada decision known as the Delgamuukw Case, which found that provincial governments cannot negate or annul Indigenous land title if the given Indigenous nation has continuously occupied the territory before the declaration of sovereignty in 1867. It also found that the Wet’suwet’en First Nations had never surrendered title to their 22,000 km² of land in northern BC. The RCMP confrontation and arrests have been met with resistance across the country. Rallies in support of the arrested land defenders were held in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto, among other cities. The Vancouver rally on Jan. 8 drew hundreds of supporters, including environmentalist David Suzuki and Green Party leader Elizabeth May. On Jan. 9 and 12, people gathered in East Hastings and marched to the intersection of Clark and East Hastings, blocking incoming traffic, most notably the giant trucks coming from the port of Vancouver. Many passing drivers honked and cheered in approval. One diverted driver yelled a slur at nearby demonstrators.

Snacks were shared while people sang songs, told stories, and chanted phrases like “no consent, no injunction” and “we stand with Unist’ot’en.”

Dennis Kale is a member of the Gilseyhu (Big Frog) clan of the Wet’suwet’en First Nations and was present at the Vancouver march on Jan. 9. When asked if he had anything to say to the students of Capilano University on this story, Kale said, “You have to remember where you come from, and you have to remember what keeps us alive. Throughout all the ages we have lived without oil or gas. It was only within this last century here where we entered into the Industrial Age, where we have had the false

NEWS

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2018 Year in Review The top stories to come out of CapU highlighted GRETA KOOY NEWS EDITOR ANNALISSE CROSSWELL ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

CapU Works Launch New Reusable Container Program

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 8

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he “Greentainer” pilot project introduced reusable salad containers into the Capilano University cafeteria the week of Jan. 22, 2018, an initiative of Tourism Management student and CapU Works Student Organizer, Tessa Janzen. The project’s goal was to completely replace all disposable salad containers on campus, with Janzen estimating a total of 12,000 disposable containers being omitted from CapU’s waste annually. Unlike the previous reusable container system already in action on campus, Janzen’s Greentainer project does not require a deposit fee.

ECCE Instructors Receive Prestigious Research Grant

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nstructors from the Capilano University Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) program received a $170,076 Insight Grant as co-applicants with Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw of the University of Western Ontario (UWO). Sylvia Kind, Cristina Delgado Vintimilla, Laurie Kocher and Kathleen Kummen intend to use the grant to conduct research about how children interact with waste. The grant is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), from which CapU is unable to hold a grant due to not being a part of Universities Canada, meaning any grants awarded to the University must be held conjointly with another institution.

Cleaners Reach Tentative Deal with Employers Best Service Pros

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strike by the Capilano University cleaners was averted after a tentative agreement was reached on Feb. 15, just four days before the Feb. 19 potential strike. Earning between $11.50 and $12 per hour, the cleaners raised their concerns about the difficulty of getting by on such low wages to employer Best Service Pros. Bargaining had been ongoing since September of 2017 when employees joined the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Justice for Janitors campaign spearheaded by the union.

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Capilano University Educators Recognized with Teaching Excellence Awards

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he Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) awarded five Capilano University educators in February 2018 with its inaugural Teaching Excellence Award. The award was designed to recognize and honour innovation in education and the impact of CapU’s educators. Winners of the Teaching Excellence Award include Karen Okun from the School of Business, Eugene Chu from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Barb Mathieson from Education and Childhood Studies, Stephen Atkins from Performing Arts and Greig Gjerdalen from Tourism Management.

These five professors and instructors, nominated by CapU students, were ultimately chosen out of a pool of 144.

BC Budget Sets Aside $450 Million for Student Housing

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he 2018 provincial budget was released by the NDP government on Feb. 20 with funds being committed to benefitting BC students, a fact that was commended by both Capilano University and the Capilano Students Union (CSU).

The most notable aspect of the budget being $450 million put aside for the creation of on-campus housing for students across the province. Aside from this there was also the inclusion of a $50 million investment to preserve Indigenous languages, and $30 million to be put into an Indigenous Skills Training and Development Fund over the course of three years.

Development of Master’s in Applied Communications Degree at CapU

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pearheaded by Communications professor Dr. Michael Markwick, CapU is in the process of introducing its first master’s degree program. Although still in the early stages of development, the Master’s in Applied Communications is

MICHAEL WHEATLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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NEWS

supported strongly throughout the University community. Working closely with Indigenous communities, industry leaders and public service representatives, Dr. Markwick is seeing to it that CapU offers its students a chance to expand their horizons and further develop the skills that the baccalaureate program is designed to build. Dr. Markwick noted that this program would be unique to CapU and would put an emphasis on Truth and Reconciliation with First Nations communities.

CapU and CSU Monitor Saudi Students’ Status in Canada, the University

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he Federal Court of Appeals had unanimously overturned the federal government’s approval of the Kinder Morgan pipeline in late August of 2018.

Following the National Energy Board’s (NEB) report on the Trans-Mountain pipeline, the court decided that proper consultation must be done with affected groups, finally putting Indigenous groups first.

Canada’s federal government purchased ownership rights of the Trans-Mountain pipeline in 2017 for a total of $4.5 billion.

Now, Indigenous groups across western Canada that support the construction of the pipeline are discussing whether to purchase the project themselves. This does not mean, however, that construction will go ahead.

Mayoral Candidates Not Invited to Debate on Campus Make an Appearance

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wo candidates made an appearance at a debate held at CapU and expressed their displeasure at not being invited.

The candidates were offered 60 seconds at the beginning and end of the debate to speak. Erez Barzilay used his initial 60 seconds to express

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he sale and use of recreational marijuana was legalized nationwide on Oct. 17, 2018, giving Canadians aged 19 and over the ability to purchase marijuana like they would alcohol. One of the most talked-about campaign promises of the Trudeau Liberals, Canadians had anticipated the legalization of the sticky substance for years. Post-secondaries across Canada began amending their drug use policies, with CapU being no different. The University’s new drug policy is set to take effect early this year.

The North Vancouver B-Line Set to Eliminate the 239 Bus Route

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part of Translink’s 10-year plan, the new East to West B-line bus route is set to begin service from Dundarave to Phibbs Exchange in late 2019. The B-line was a key topic in the 2018 mayoral debate on campus, with its success heavily reliant on the support given by the city’s infrastructure. The route, which will eliminate the current 239 service, will mean a change for students coming from Dundarave who will now need to switch buses. It is yet to be decided whether students will be switching to a shuttle bus or if this will mean increased service from buses that cross the Iron Workers Bridge.

CapU Unveils New Learning Commons at Official Opening Ceremony

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he new Capilano University Learning Commons opened at the beginning of the 2018 Fall semester as a part of the University’s ‘Start Right Here’ campaign. The Learning Commons hosted faculty, staff and guests such as architect Jeff Gravistin for an official opening on Nov. 20. The space centralizes some already existing facilities such as the Writing Centre, Math Centre and English Language Support (ELS), while providing new resources like the Student Life Hub and a piloted YouTube tutorial service with small monthly fees.

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Developments in the Trans-Mountain Pipeline Issue put Indigenous Groups at the Forefront

Canada Finally Sees Marijuana Legalized

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ollowing a tweet posted by Canada’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dennis Horak, on Aug. 3, 2018, the Saudi Arabian government announced that Saudi students studying in Canada were required to leave the country and return home to the Middle East or transfer their studies to another country. Trudeau stood by Horak’s original statement condemning the treatment of human rights activists in the Middle Eastern country, which unfortunately only served to stoke the fire between the two countries. A total of 37 students from Saudi Arabia were accepted at CapU for the Fall semester of 2017, leaving many of them anxious and uncertain of their future in Canada.

his displeasure before leaving and Michael Willcock utilized both opportunities to speak. The event, hosted by the CSU, had limited time and space to provide the forum, forcing the event organizers to determine and invite the most eligible candidates.

OPINIONS

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Was CapRocks Really Worth the Cost?

The CSU has dreams of CapU being a party school, but is that what students want?

DEVON SIMPSON CONTRIBUTOR

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n paper CapRocks sounds amazing. Our hard-working Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) has created a concert on campus with a great lineup, alcohol and tons of food trucks. In reality, however, it is just another case of a Canadian students’ union wasting money on an event that the majority of CapU students won’t attend, and some won’t even know is taking place.

You can’t blame the good intentions of fellow students who want to put just a sprinkle of pride and entertainment into our awesome university, but is that really their job? The CSU isn’t the only students’ union to have wasted money on largescale events. Maclean’s number one on their list of “6 stupid ways student unions used your money” was “spending it on big parties you didn’t attend.” Compared to the University of Windsor’s Student Alliance losing $40,000 booking Avicii, the CSU’s CapRocks isn’t much, coming in at $30,000, but it is still our money.

Here’s the thing, each semester a CapU

student on the North Vancouver Campus enrolled in 4 courses pays the CSU $149.43.

If you want to see the breakdown of these fees and others that you pay for (including this newspaper at $1.34 per credit, thanks by the way!) check out the Incidental Fees page on the University’s website.

Student unions may seem irrelevant to the average student, but they are not. Each semester every student pays this mandatory fee to the CSU and whether you voted or not there are now CapU student representatives who get paid by you to decide what to do

with your money. One of the things that the CSU has chosen to do with this money is host a large concert. Unlike Captivate it was admission-based with close to 300 tickets sold, about four per cent of CapU's student body, but not even all of the tickets sold were to students.

At the end of the day CapU is a commuter school and is not the end game as most students transfer out to larger universities.

Events such as Captivate and CapRocks are excessive. Though they may help new students get more of a traditional university

experience they are not worth it in the long run. The CSU should be spending their budget on things that will benefit the majority of students in their education.

Things that will aid in developing new skills to enhance our resumes, help students access advice they require for their future, provide activities and recreation and ultimately be the voice of the students.

Sorry, but this student is presently focused on her academic future not a concert on campus – there are summer music festivals that are going to fill that void.

Snow? How About No? Who would have thought that a city where it's common to see Canada Goose and Moncler jackets could be so ill prepared for the winter?

NIROSH SARAVANAN CONTRIBUTOR

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I don’t like snow. It’s cold, it’s wet and it gets everywhere”, is what Anakin Skywalker would have said if he were raised in Vancouver. With umbrellas in hand, many locals also seem to share the idea that the snow really is not what they’d like to deal with. Basically, our neighbours to the north and to the east don’t seen Vancouverites as true Canadians.

With this winter being relatively mild (as is quite often is the case here), it’s quite easy to forget what happens when the weather does shift from mild to extreme. Take 2017 for instance. The Lower Mainland was faced with a record-breaking snowfall and Vancouverites faced the many challenges of a proper winter. They also received judgement from the rest of the country for how unprepared they were for it - from sliding buses to cancelled trains. It didn’t help that clearing most local streets was a lower priority to clear.

So what does a city facing record snowfall do anyway? “Call the army!” said former Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman. “I called in

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ILLUSTRATED BY KARLA MONTERROSA

the Army to help clear the snow and I don’t regret it for a second.” After facing a brutal snowstorm back in 1999, a decision was made to call in the military to help clear out the pile-up along with 100 drivers from PEI. All it cost was motel rooms, food, a banquet and, of course, hockey tickets. Not a big cost compared to the nightmare of the early days of the 2017 snowfall.

Sometimes you just have to take things into your own hands, or at least make your citizens pull their weight. In some jurisdictions, those who don’t clear the

walkways in front of their properties face hefty fines face. Alternatively, you could use one of those “not a flamethrower” devices from the Boring Company. If snow shovelling ends up being your preferred method of working out, you could volunteer as a snow angel, the group of volunteers that help clear public walkways for those who can’t due to mobility issues. It’s definitely a great way to get started on your New Year's resolution.

So how does one prepare for when it does start to get hectic around here? Well a

snow shovel, winter tires and a jacket are a good start. Don’t forget a pair of boots. With many people injuring themselves through slips and falls, it does help to keep grounded.

After you get what you need, go have some fun! Because of the warmer temperature (in comparison to other parts of Canada), snow here is great for snowballs and sculpting. You can also hit the slopes with your choice of skis, snowboard or toboggan. Finish the day with some hot chocolate to warm you up, reminding yourself that at least you’re not in Toronto back in '99.

OPINIONS

I Really (Seriously) Can't Stay... want to risk promoting improper themes to their audience, which ultimately led to the ban. Radio stations across Canada and the US followed suit, causing a variety of reactions from lovers of the CLARISSA SABILE irreplaceable tune.

CONTRIBUTOR During the most wonderful time of the year, is “Baby It’s Cold Outside” offensive ast month, CBC followed suit and or harmless, and was CBC’s ban necessary? banned the classic holiday song Yes and no. In the end, according to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” after many Cleveland’s Rape Crisis Center CEO and other radio stations across North America President Sondra Miller, “It’s taking a 2018 had pulled it from the airwaves. Most lens on a song that was written a long time responses on social media were initially full ago.” While the themes of the song might of confusion and, progressively, outrage, as not translate well to this generation, the the song is played every Christmas season sensitivity is misplaced. Contextually, the without issue. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is song made sense within the era. a duet depicting a man trying to convince a With this context people argued that the duet was filmed and sung in the 1940s, woman to stay with him rather than going home because it’s, you guessed it, too cold where the politically correct culture and #MeToo movement did not exist yet. Others outside. The lyrics were interpreted as inappropriate and people made complaints explained that the duet between the acting that emphasized the song “had no place” in pair Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams this #MeToo world. With the movement and was romantic, so his advances were acceptable. Finally, with respect to sexual listener’s concerns in mind, CBC did not

A take on the Baby It’s Cold Outside controversy

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abuse advocates, most believed that those that took offense to the song were being “extra sensitive”.

On the other hand, specific lyrics, and even the video of late actors Montalban and Williams from the 1940s film Neptune’s Daughter, suggested offensive themes of date rape, unwanted advances and ignored consent. However, this viewpoint does not take into account how the song was originally meant as a story of a woman fighting against societal expectations of her, “She really can’t stay,” but she wants to.

Global BC polled people in Vancouver on the controversy. Some said they enjoyed the song and understood the suggestive themes it presents, while others believed that taking the song off the air would not educate anyone. Banning the song makes people want to listen to it elsewhere. Ultimately, radio stations must know that they cannot satisfy everyone’s preferences.

Oversensitivity seems to be an ingredient for controversial topics, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessary.

Brazillian President Jair Bolsonaro has put the World Heritage site up for sale

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This decision has been met with much criticism and concern because the Amazon rainforest is predominantly Indigenous land.

The good side, if there is one, is that if this new president is really going to kick Indigenous people out of their land and sell off parts of a national and world heritage site, at least that may allow external entities to either buy land and protect it, or to push Brazilian government into creating more effective exploration standards (call it less destructive) and stricter regulations directed to control excessive deforestation of the Amazon.

2018 was Brazil's highest year for deforestation and with such "good" and "well thought out" policies being put into action by this new government, expect 2019 to take things to the next level. The weather may change harshly and not for the best if the "world's lung" fades into oblivion and destruction.

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As a Canadian citizen you may be wondering, "Okay, so, how does this impact me?" In BC, the last declaration of a state of emergency due to wildfires before the 2017 and 2018 seasons was in 2003. Not doing anything to prevent further uncontrolled destruction of the Amazon may DAVID MENEGHEL have an impact in accelerating these issues CONTRIBUTOR throughout the upcoming years. Although Brazil feels far away, these problems are closer than we think. mmediately after taking office as Back to South America – with the Ministry Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro of Agriculture holding rights to such land transferred the power of certifying demarcation, removal of Indigenous people Indigenous territories as protected lands from their land for “economic growth to the Ministry of Agriculture (tenderly purposes,” the use of brute force by police nicknamed the "agrobusiness" ministry). will no longer be questioned, especially with It is common knowledge in Brazil that the promised extinction of the Human Rights such protected lands are one of the biggest Ministry. In fact, the Human Rights Ministry reasons as to why the Amazon hasn't yet will now be run by a evangelical pastor, become a desert and also why it still holds Damares Alves, who will oversee the rights some of its ability to regulate climate. of women, families and Indigenous peoples.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

The Mammoth threat against the Amazon Rainforest

ILLUSTRATED BY ROBYN BEYLEVELDT

Class is (Not Quite) Back in Session Ontario professor found guilty of sexual harassment welcomed back by administration.

By students? Not so much.

MEGAN ORR OPINIONS EDITOR

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n recent, “ummm what?” news, a professor from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, was set to start teaching classes again in the new year following a nearly three-year absence due to a sexual harassment investigation that started in 2014. According to CBC, the investigation found that the accused, Professor David Schimmelpenninck, was guilty of an “unwelcome sexual

advance”, which Brock later tried to cover up in 2016. Many students protested Schimmelpenninck’s return, leading to his scheduled course being cancelled.

This points to a bigger issue of the general cesspit that is university campuses when it comes to sexual violence. With statistics from the Canadian Federation of StudentsOntario showing that one in five women will experience sexual assault while in college, it’s no wonder that people are feeling uneasy and protesting Schimmelpenninck’s reinstatement. Brock University needs to recognize that this kind of behaviour, especially post #MeToo, should be met with an absolute zero tolerance policy.

Essentially what the school, and others like it, are telling its students is that the well-being of an employee, who has been found guilty of sexual harassment, comes before their rights to a safe learning environment. Like with so many cases of sexual misconduct, the perpetrators needs are

being put first. Though Schimmelpenninck says he is regretful for his past behaviour, the real question becomes whether or not sexual predators should be allowed to keep their jobs.

Unfortunately, regret for a past mistake is not enough when it comes to ensuring the well-being of already vulnerable students. The very act of keeping Schimmelpenninck on staff, rather than firing him immediately for what is clearly misconduct, just demonstrates how deeply misogynistic values run institutionally.

Schimmelpenninck’s employers have made it clear that his value as an educator outweighs his wrongdoing, so it’s no wonder that he feels like it’s past time to return to business as usual.

Point blank: this is wrong. Things like this cannot continue to be swept under the rug and this generation is proving that.

Protestors gathered at Brock on Jan. 10 and made it clear that, “There is no place

for Professor David Schimmelpenninck on campus.” The fact that they even have to congregate to voice their concerns for their safety to the administration is troubling.

There should never have been a place kept for him after forcing himself on a student, period.

Protecting these kinds of offenders only reinforces the idea that their behaviour is tolerable. It's embarassing for Brock University to have kept him on this long.

As demanded by outraged students, the school needs to reevaluate their sexual harassment policies and code of ethics, espcially since this story has already been put to the side by the mainstream news to make way for the coverage of yet another alleged sexual assault on Brock's campus.

Why this recent incident is being handled by police, rather than an arbitrator like it was in Schimmelpenninck's case, can only be speculated at. Hopefully the university is acknowledging their past mistakes.

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BY MARIAH KLEIN ILLUSTRATED BY CHRISTINE WEI

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Filming is a very lonely concept,” Tiana Lachnit admits, as she attempts to sit in her makeshift filming studio.

Two couches are crammed together, and she faces a ring light cast by two overhead LED lamps propped up on a desk. The room is filled with everything required to create that ‘everyday glam’ look. She steps over a makeup bag on the floor, then situates herself in front of her setup. Even though it’s only five degrees outside, she’s still wearing her pyjama shorts. Her laptop, which allows her to see if she’s centred in the camera, is mounted on 18 boxes of the Too Faced brand’s latest foundation. “I donated a bag of makeup last week,” she says. “There’s just no room for it all.”

Lachnit, a 20-year-old Vancouverite, works from home as a YouTuber and social media beauty influencer. Her YouTube channel boasts 250,000 subscribers, and she manages an Instagram account with 160,000 followers, a following she’s amassed in the past couple years. While she started as a freelance makeup artist, today, her job also encompasses photoshoots for Instagram, filming videos for YouTube and going to brand events with fellow influencers. On top of this, she’s also a full-time second-year student at Capilano University, studying Communications.

All this is orchestrated from the same small room she calls her filming studio, which is located on the top level of her family’s narrow, European-style home in Kitsilano. In the middle of filming, her mom calls from below, “Tiana, are you recording? I want to turn on the vacuum cleaner, or do you need it quiet?”

“Yeah, I need it quiet, sorry.”

Pulling up in her ’92 bright red Geo Tracker, Tiana’s glamorous life online sometimes doesn’t feel like a reality.

If you were to scroll through her feed on Instagram, you might get the impression that she lives in Los Angeles, looks camera-ready 24/7, and doesn’t have a care in the world. Yet, this Vancouver native lives like a typical university student.

Her Tracker was a gift from her Grandpa, her ‘studio’ is on the top level of her parents’ house, and she still has final exams to write. She’s also her own manager, financial advisor, producer

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and editor. “This just seems so normal to me,” she says. “You’re your own business.”

Today, according to Pixlee, a social media marketing company, the term ‘social media influencer’ refers to “a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. [They have] access to a large audience and can persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach.” This can look different, depending on the platform and industry, but the weight of maintaining their ‘authenticity and reach’ puts the same kind of pressure on every content creator.

However, when the number one tip to growing your online platform on Vest, a social media marketing resource, revolves around “[Committing] to Posting Multiple Times Per Week,” continually pumping out content can feel exhausting and overly competitive. As more and more influencers enter the industry, maintaining your relevance is the name of the game. After a while, standing out and being heard can start to feel like shouting over a crowded room.

So what does it really take to make it in this industry?

Mikayla Greenwood, a 23-year-old social media influencer with over 450k subscribers on her YouTube channel, @ MissMikaylaG, has seen the highs and lows of this fast-paced business. When she hasn’t posted a video in a while, she admits to feeling bad sometimes. Since she’s been on YouTube for seven years now, she’s also figured out what works for her.

“Just because you don’t post a video, doesn’t mean you’re not working, there’s always stuff behind the scenes,” she says. “You kinda get over [posting everyday], the more you [take a break], you’re like ‘it’s fine, [the followers] will be fine.’” Learning to find that balance looks different for every influencer, and for Greenwood, it means taking breaks every so often from posting, but never for very long. “I don’t think in the seven years I’ve been on YouTube, I’ve ever taken a week [long] break of doing no social media, that’s never happened.”

The average social media influencer’s job doesn’t look like the typical nine-to-five work week. From filming, editing and uploading videos, to working on brand deals, going on photoshoots and company events, the list can become tiresome.

The competition is also higher than ever. With more people starting channels, and uploading every day, there’s about 400 hours of content uploaded every minute. As the numbers increase, the number of channels that actually succeed dwindles.

Inc. Magazine reports that 90 per cent of viewer traffic are concentrated to just 3 per cent of YouTube channels.

When thinking of new video ideas, Lachnit asks, ‘what’s never been done before?’ With an entire community of influencers in the same category as you, there’s a lot she can compare herself with. Not only is Lachnit’s content being scrutinized, but the way she comes across is put up to the microscope of ‘fitting in’ with the social norms of each platform.

“I get half of people saying I’m very monotone and very hard to listen to. I don’t have the voice people expect me to have.” Yet,

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Chasing the Everyday Glam Social media influencer Tiana Lachnit explores the highs and lows of sharing life through a lens

BY MARIAH KLEIN ILLUSTRATED BY

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on the flipside, those who do enjoy her videos, appreciate how refreshing it is for Lachnit to produce content that is authentic and no-nonsense. “If you don’t wanna watch me, don’t watch me, this is how I am,” she says.

Specific to the beauty industry on social media, appearance is literally everything for an influencer.

Photoshopping every picture is the norm, whether you admit it or not. The amount of white walls, lighting and windows required to capture the ideal setup for a YouTube video

might look ridiculous walking into it, but it’s necessary to achieve the perfect light. The camera focuses on your face, blurring out everything else, so you really have to get used to looking at yourself for long periods of time. Lachnit and Greenwood both experience editing and filtering their lives online. They’re never really ‘off-the-clock’ even on vacation.“It is work the entire time,” says Greenwood. “You feel pressure to take pictures all the time. You’re constantly filming and taking [photos of] things.”

After that slight interruption from her mother, Lachnit resumes filming. “Next, I’m going to be using this Peach Perfect foundation, it says it’s oil-free, but it’s not, not at all, but I really like it.” She then inspects her under-eye area, mumbling to herself, “I really need to cover these, they’re pissing me off.” She continues on with her daily makeup routine. Between applying each product, there are multiple silent pauses. She fumbles to open up a container, “I just cut this part out,” she said.

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"Few Times Been Around that Track" Finding meaning in numbers, and looking beyond the consumerist wellness culture of fitness trackers

BY FREYA WASTENEYS ILLUSTRATED BY CYNTHIA TRAN VO

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n Jan. 5, 2018, I went to Staples. I bought sharpies and a lime green poster board. Across the poster I wrote “MARATHON TRAINING PLAN 2018” in capital letters. I underlined it twice, and secured it in the dark alcove in my kitchen where I keep my seldomused appliances, and garbage can. I had every intention of filling it out more later, but instead it just hung there in the dark, straining against the overburdened scotch tape, and serving as a reminder of what I could be doing, but wasn’t.

This wasn’t my first marathon – it was my third. I grew up ski racing and rowing competitively. I had years of regimented training and coaching and advice, and knew for the most part what I should and shouldn’t be doing. And yet, as I mingled with a crowd of die-hard runners at the start-line and listened to them list their hourly bodily functions and pace charts, I looked back on several of the laziest (and unhappiest) months I’ve had in years. In a last-ditch effort to save myself (from myself), I had bought a Garmin Vivoactive 4 to monitor pace and heart rate during the race – stats I promptly chose to ignore after it told me to slow down in the first kilometer. I went on to run the marathon a full 30 minutes slower than previous ones, and finished with shin splints as a reminder of my folly.

What I came to realize from this little situation is that, for me, physical activity can’t be framed as a meaningless chore.

From the moment I hung my overlyoptimistic poster board beside the broom and the garbage can, training just became another “should” on my busy working student to-do list. I set myself up to fail simply by neglecting to set an intention or provide myself with any sort of structure.

But while I firmly place this New Year’s Resolution in the #lol #fail category, a few positive relics came from the depths of my broken pride: knowledge, self-reflection and a Smartwatch.

Up until last May when I purchased my first smartwatch, I had been highly skeptical and resistant to the idea of “tracking” through apps and devices. It seemed like an obsessive, type-A practice that relied too much on technology and external motivation. In my mind, it was just another high-tech gadget for our overly-consumerist society to rely on.

The effectiveness of smartwatches is often debated. Results published in 2016 in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that test subjects with fitness trackers were no more active than those without, and they tended to actually lose less weight. Another study showed

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that social networks like Strava were more successful in motivating individuals to increase their activity, but this result was found to be limited to those who were already at the top of the leaderboards, and could also lead to overtraining. A recent article in The Globe and Mail similarly warns against falling prey to the cult of wellness, and questions what happened to good old exercising simply because we enjoy it. All these are excellent points, and yet it should be acknowledged that while such devices are not going to work for everyone, or create motivation where there is none, evidence suggests there is no overarching right or wrong way to be active. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error. After noticing my lack of consistency I recognized that something needed to change, and looking externally seemed to be the easiest solution at the time. I needed feedback, but didn’t want to commit to a coach and wanted to do it on my own terms.

My smartwatch did not provide a quickfix solution, but it did provide me with a bit of feedback and awareness of what I was doing. I began to see the value of such devices if used discerningly. As spring turned to summer, I found myself motivated once more to get out and take advantage of the trails. I didn’t follow a strict training plan, but I remembered what it felt like to feel energized and stoked on physical activity. I found buddies to get outside with, and found my rhythm. I didn’t pay too much attention to my watch on a daily basis, but I began to accumulate data, and knowledge about myself.

“I think for anything that requires any sort of motor development we typically do need some sort of feedback, or quantitative data in order to compare our own personal results,” said Donna Perry, sports psychologist and instructor in the Human Kinetics department at CapU. In her course, Active Health, Perry has students track and log their activity over the course of a term leading up to running a 10 kilometre race. “It’s interesting because there’s a huge range. We have everything from students who have never run, to students who can run a 10k in 27 minutes. We have so many different levels – not just of fitness, but in terms of an understanding of fitness,” she said. “They all have their own objectives, so how they go about achieving their goal looks different every time.”

What it comes down to is the principle of individuality. “Every person has a different thing that motivates them, and a different training regimen that’s going to help them,” said Perry. “For one person it may be awesome to follow that program

for a certain length of time, and for others it might not be effective at all. And for some people that can be a mental thing, or even part of their social experience.”

Like many of those drawn to the Human Kinetics Faculty, Perry comes from an athletic background. She plays soccer and races triathlons, but doesn’t necessarily consider herself an athlete. “Even though I work with competitive athletes, I think my biggest inspiration is just keeping up with my young son,” she said with a laugh. A rambunctious eleven-year-old smiles back at me from a framed photograph on the wall.

“I like to move because it makes me feel better,” added Perry. “There’s a big mental component. If I don’t feel right, I know it’s usually because I haven’t been moving enough.”

Finding that purpose and making our physical activity meaningful is often a part of the process that is overlooked by fitness tracking apps, watches and programs, and one of the many reasons they tend to be criticised. Because weight loss and split times show quantifiable change, we tend to look at these numbers to determine whether

or not we have been successful. This may work for some, but it never shows the full picture. “There’s a well-permeated thought in our society that if you’re not a certain weight, you’re not fit, and that’s not true. As we gain muscle we also get heavier, it’s just physiology,” said Carey Simpson, another instructor from the CapU Human Kinetics faculty. “Unfortunately that’s what many of these fitness apps and watches are promoting because that’s what people buy into. They’re shoving it down people’s throats as if that’s the only thing of value. But really the positive effects of fitness that we should look for are strength, endurance, whether we sleep better, mental health, emotional health... but those aren’t always as targetable by fitness trackers.”

Simpson has built her identity around being fit and healthy. In her classroom, she exudes a contagious sense of vitality and enthusiasm with sharp wit and the odd joke about her love of gummy bears. As a former member of the national volleyball team, she knows what it’s like to be at the peak of physical fitness. And, like many former athletes, she has struggled too. Once she

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left the highly-structured conditioning and nutrition programs provided for high level athletes, she admits she had little idea of how to maintain her health. After gaining 70 lbs while working on a cruise ship (ironically as a personal trainer), she knew she needed to make a change in her lifestyle and spent three years getting back to her former fitness.

“It wasn’t so much the athletic experience that helped me, so much as it was the mentality, the psychology and my schooling,” said Simpson. “For me it’s always been health related. Of course, I appreciate a strong body, but I don’t want to live the last years of my life in illness, and for me the motivation is to be as healthy and strong as I can for as long as I can.”

The initial process was challenging, but she noted that every day was a matter of slowly, incrementally gaining momentum until, once again, it became part of her identity. “I hated it,” she said. “But it

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us, the way we frame physical activity, and the habits we set.

In Perry’s Active Health class, she facilitates an activity where students set realistic shortterm goals with a broader long-term goal in mind. Trackers are part of it, but not all of it. “Throughout the term we learn about strategies, and the focus is on the behaviour change model,” she said. “There’s no canned formula, and the process is very tailored to each individual and learned on a lecture-bylecture basis.”

In a sense, I have unofficially been playing with this model for the past year. After caving to tracking, I have come to see a direct correlation between how active I am, and how happy I am, and have set goals based on my own needs. I have realized that my own motivation is pretty simple – I love being outside, the endorphins, and the connections with people on trails. Getting out for even just 20 minutes will put me in a better mood, and will usually turn into something longer.

Recognizing this, I have learned to give myself permission to prioritize physical activity because it’s a part of a bigger whole.

Sometimes my smartwatch will remind me with a quick buzz – which perhaps at one time may have caused me anxiety, but now simply acts as a friendly invitation. When I’m looking after myself, I sleep better, I’m more efficient and I’m generally more pleasant to be around. It’s a simple formula, but ironically getting there is anything but that. “You have to remind yourself why you’re doing it. There needs to be a purpose to our activity and our movement, and why we choose to get out,” said Perry. “It’s very individualized, and there’s no canned formula.” Perhaps that’s good news for those of us who just keep trying to do it right, and keep falling into the same negative patterns.

This year I didn’t set a New Year’s Resolution, and it feels grand.

becomes a little easier every day, and then it becomes part of you.”

Simpson has used fitness trackers on and off, and said she sees the value for habitsetting, and for people without previous knowledge. “These tracking apps and watches can be great for providing that baseline knowledge” she said. “But it’s always completely personalized. Some people are going to love technology, and some will hate it. You just have to be selfreflective enough to notice whether or not it’s working for you.”

Learning to listen to our bodies isn’t always as simple as we might hope, since there are many factors that influence how we feel including sleep, diet and stress. It’s not as simple as buying a watch, but for some it can help identify negative cycles and allow us to make positive changes. It’s not about whether this technology is good or bad, but rather how we utilize it. In the end it comes down to finding out what motivates

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COLUMNS

Global Narratives New Country, New Perspective: From Mexico to Canada

SHEILA ARELLANO COLUMNIST

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hen I was 15 years old, my life drastically changed in various ways after experiencing the most difficult moment in my life – I was, in a way, exiled from my own country. After assessing various places where we could move to, my family decided on Canada, based on the warm climate, its proximity to Mexico, multiculturalism and the fact that we had friends here. We flew into Vancouver on Christmas day, and arriving in such a gorgeous place was truly a gift, but it was also a shock. When I stepped out of the airport, I remember gazing at the mighty mountains and being surprised at the snow. I had never seen snow until that moment, and it was breathtaking.

In Mexico, I was not used to taking the bus, skytrain or seabus. It was scary at first to be able to get on a bus on my own, or even walk home by myself, which I hadn’t done until I arrived in Vancouver. The independence that moving to Vancouver granted me was strange, yet also wonderful.

It really allowed me to think for myself and discover who I was. Being able to

Conspiracy Corner The Traveling Tale of John Titor

GRETA KOOY COLUMNIST Much like superstitions, conspiracy theories are one of those things that have just happened to stick throughout the ages. The conversations surrounding conspiracy theories, whether it’s about the moon landing being faked or not, or the existence of the New World Order, whether you believe in them or not, are exciting and mysterious. They challenge common narratives and spark a certain curiosity that’s led plenty of us down inexplicable and sometimes dark rabbit holes. Do aliens exist? Are governments using chemtrails to poison their citizens? What about the Illuminati?

I’ve been consumed with conspiracy theories for as long as I can remember.

They’re fascinating and divisive, and sometimes even turn out to be true, as is

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travel or walk around the city on my own was new and exciting, and it expanded my awareness of the world. I was finally able to experience freedom without being afraid of my surroundings. From this I learned to be punctual, I learned to plan my day and to be self-sufficient. “I will never take this autonomy for granted,” I told myself.

In the same way, there were advantageous aspects in this new environment, there were also things I missed about Mexico. Latin people love to dance, but what I soon came to realize was that Vancouver’s culture was not so dancedriven as I had

in for the kiss every time someone introduced themselves and everyone was very taken aback. And, of course, I didn’t know English so I couldn’t explain myself. On numerous occasions, my classmates in high school were weirded out and it was quite an isolating experience. After six months of listening to the language every day and watching all 10 seasons of Friends, I fell in love with Rachel and Joey, and Phoebe’s ridiculous songs, and I began to speak English. The way the characters interacted in the show inspired me to seek something similar in my life.

This

hoped.

With time, however, I got used to it and grew to teach my friends salsa dancing, bachata and merengue among others.

I was terrified on my first day of school in Canada, especially for English. I understood some English but couldn’t speak it. I was scared to interact with people. The strangest change I had to make was the way I said hello to everyone. In Mexico, we kiss everyone on the cheeks even if we are being introduced for the first time. I recall leaning

opened many doors for me and I finally began to understand the culture I had been thrown into so suddenly.

It was not until I had made some friends that Canadian humor started clicking in as well. I began to understand how Canadians thought and how I was supposed to behave in social situations. At first, I had trouble being friendly with people because it came across as flirting; in Mexico, we are always very friendly and touchy, yet I

the case with the American government poisoning alcohol during Prohibition (which ultimately killed over 10,000 Americans).

Conspiracy theories for the most part remain innocent, confined to listicles and YouTube videos, niche books and underappreciated columns. There are, however, conspiracy theories that aren’t so harmless. Take for example the theory that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was orchestrated by the United States government in order to promote stricter gun control laws. You have to be a certain degree of insane to spearhead the argument to back that one up, a level Alex Jones proudly reached years ago.

Despite the tasteless conspiracy theories that are going to emerge whether we like it or not, there are still plenty of others that are worth your attention. The mystery of time traveller John Titor is one of them.

In the early 2000s, a man named John Titor, or “TimeTravel_0”, appeared across the freshly introduced world of internet forums, claiming that he was a time traveller from the year 2036. “I realized my claims are a bit ridiculous but my intent is not really to be believed,” he wrote on Jan. 29, 2001.

Some reports believe that Titor first made an appearance in 1998 after reportedly sending a fax to Coast to Coast AM, a paranormal news radio program.

Titor claimed that he was an American soldier sent back in time to recover an IBM 5100 computer from the year 1975, which apparently had a specific type of equipment

that the military needed to conquer a future virus. Titor detoured into the 2000s, hoping to gain some insight into a time he referred to as “full of lazy, self-centered, civically ignorant sheep.” Over the course of four months in 2001, Titor dutifully responded to questions about himself and the future, making several senseless claims along the way. Some of those claims, however, turned out to be true.

At one point in his forum conversations, Titor mentioned that the computer he was sent to recover, the IBM 5100, “had a very simple and unique feature that IBM did not account for and decided it was not in their best interest to advertise… Anyone who is familiar with this feature was told to keep their mouth shut about it and will be able to tell you what it is.”

Titor claimed that the computer held a secret function that allowed the machine to translate material into nearly any language.

Unsurprisingly, many of Titor’s claims were taunted and ridiculed, this one being no different. Despite this, several skeptics tried to uncover the mysterious function, all attempts futile. In 2004, however, much to the surprise of nearly every single one of Titor’s readers, IBM announced that the function was in fact real and had been there the whole time. This wasn’t the only startling statement made by Titor, who also “predicted” the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and knew exactly what had happened for it to fail (it exploded due to overheating).

Titor described, in detail, various future events, but always with the disclaimer that

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had to suppress that part of myself when interacting with people here. As with all the other behaviors, however, with time I got used to acting less Latina. Today, however, I still hug people hello and use art as a tool to share my culture with others. I write plays, books, draw, dance and sing. Thus my passions and hobbies are still closely related to and often inspired by Mexican culture.

Aside from the cultural differences, the biggest realization I had when I moved to Vancouver was the way people took things for granted. The clean streets, the lack of poverty, the free health care, the cheap sushi, the free, not to mention fresh, water, the delicious, real maple syrup and many other things were just… the norm.

Now that I have been in Canada for six years, I understand how people can so easily take things for granted. Still, this is why every day I remind myself of how extremely lucky I am. I’m grateful to be in a country that recognizes and encourages artists, to be able to transit on my own and not be scared and for the clean air that I breathe. I am thankful to have the beach, the snow, the mountains and the forest nearby, and I appreciate how respectful people are in this country. By no means am I saying Canada is perfect – yet, it is very important to acknowledge our privileged position as citizens of Canada and thank life for how fortunate we are to live here.

Editor's Note: Global Narratives is a rotating column that features international students and their stories about coming to Canada.

If you're interested in contributing to this space, email Rachel D'Sa at columns.capcourier@gmail.com.

his reality may not be our own, and that alternate realities and parallel universes were very much real. He discussed Y2K, Mad Cow disease and a third world war. He described the United States being embroiled in a civil war that would ultimately split the country into five separate regions and leave Omaha, Nebraska as the new national capital (although this was predicted to have been completed by 2015).

No one has ever come forward as being the mastermind behind the John Titor hoax, and because of this many cannot accept that it just might be one. Not all of his predictions came true, which to many means it was all just for entertainment. The skeptical few, however, need proof.

The conversations between Titor and the forum participants are extremely interesting, and if you have an hour to spare and you’re particularly interested, I urge you to skim through the conversation. Hoax or not, the John Titor story is fascinating, and a curated collection of his claims and predictions have been amassed into a booked called John Titor A Time Traveler’s Tale (2004), published by the John Titor Foundation. The same year, Titor’s tale was turned into a play called Time Traveler Zero.

In March of 2004, Titor posted his final words, saying “Bring a gas can with you when the car dies on the side of the road.”

Hoax or not, at the very least John did his best to share some solid life advice.

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Trying Times Raising the Barre

MEGAN ORR COLUMNIST

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The changing landscape of television

CARLO JAVIER COLUMNIST

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ne of my favourite cold opens from The Office is in an episode where Michael Scott (Steve Carell) emulates Meryl Streep’s menacing portrayal of Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. The range of emotions that Michael goes through as he progresses through his incremental viewing of the movie was a sight to behold, but what really gets me during my many retroactive binge-watching sessions of The Office is when Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) says:

“Michael just rented The Devil Wears Prada. He has his Netflix sent here to the office and he watches them in pieces when things are slow.”

The episode originally aired on Oct. 8, 2007. Netflix existed then, but in an iteration not many youths today might recognize – as a video-on-demand service that physically mailed subscribers DVDs of recommended movies. It was a different time. Using algorithms to predict the type of content that viewers might like hadn’t been thought of yet. Streaming shows was still years away and Netflix was still steps away from its next iteration, which was online DVD rentals.

Oh, how things have changed.

I didn’t see The Office until five years after its production ended, and, like its horde of fans, it’s a show that I rank highly on my list of personal favourites. But I do believe that had I viewed The Office during its original run, my relationship with the show wouldn’t be as significant. Netflix and its streaming model was just the perfect way to consume the 22-42 minutes of an Office episode.

The numbers don’t lie either. Towards the end of 2018, Netflix saw two major news reports regarding their economics. One, they

Overall though, this was not an entirely negative experience. The folks at The Sweat Lab made my fat ass feel welcome, and maybe, in time, my ass will be less fat if I decide to stick with it. You heard it here first, I didn’t completely hate a new thing I tried. Maybe my 2019 #summerbod will actually be a thing... probably not, but maybe.

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Then and Now

feeling in my body. Rolling out of bed I was surprised by the parts of me that hurt. The area of my body that was most disgruntled is what I’m sure Saskia would refer to as the inner thigh, but what I feel is closer to my vagina. Additionally, what may be called the lower abdominals were absolutely throbbing, so also my vagina basically. Why does my vagina hurt, Saskia?

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arre fitness is something that has always appealed to me. You may not have guessed it, but I am a former dancer – former being close to two decades ago. The child ballerina in me longs for the rigid structure and form of a barre. The adult slob in me needs to get in shape, so here I found myself at 9:30 am on a Saturday, at The Sweat Lab on the North Shore.

Nearly all of the women in the class were exactly like I expected: thin and svelte, hair neatly tied back, toned arms proudly displayed in their tanks. Then there was me: my frizzy-do knotted on the top of my head, wearing an extra large T-shirt that I got for participating in a Colour Me Rad run two years ago and a pair of 10-year-old Lululemons, looking around the room wildeyed. I stuck out before we even started, which was when it became evident that I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing.

This is not a ballet class, first of all. Am I glad for that? I guess so, because that would’ve been even more humiliating.

There’s no limit to the amount of shame I would’ve felt if there had been any sort of choreographed element to this class. This was like some sort of yoga/pilates/bootcamp mix. I was sweating so much that I couldn’t hold plank without slipping and that was before we had even finished the warm-up.

The other gorgeous ladies looked unphased.

I looked at my friend with pleading eyes, but it was too late. We were in too deep. So I just continued to pulse squat like it wasn’t

going to dislocate both my hips at the same time.

It was just one seemingly endless and impossible thing after the other. To the beat of upbeat house-style top 40 remixes, we did pulsing curtsy lunges. Again: my hips will never be the same. I didn’t feel like I was doing anything right and spent most of the class staring around the room frantically. I felt like an idiot – a big, sweaty idiot. I tried to convince myself that I was just being insecure, no one was even looking at me, but while everyone else seemed focused and determined, I was focused on not vomiting.

Regardless of whether or not my form was on-pointe, when our beautiful Amazon of a teacher, perfectly toned with fiery red hair, the living embodiment of a chiseled Greek goddess, Saskia, said that we should be, “feeling the burn,” I did. I felt it. I still feel it. A lot of it was the burning sensation of sweat streaming directly into my eyeballs, but still, there was a burning.

We ended the class with some light stretching, which I was psyched about because I am like, really good at light stretching. Then we were given these absolutely magnificent cold cloths with essential oils to wipe our faces with. I had to resist the urge to immediately shove it between my boobs, but still, it was a nice touch. All the other women were glowing, looking almost refreshed. I was dripping sweat and looked like I had just gotten a bad chemical peel. Although exhausted and not sure if I would be able to make the trek home, I was overall feeling pretty pleased with myself for surviving.

Saskia reassured me after that this was a hard class, which I had no choice but to believe due to the now jellied nature of my legs. For a few hours post-workout I understood why people like to exercise – be it the endorphins or just trying something I had always wanted to, I was pretty hyped. I considered writing Saskia a thank-you note for making my first barre class a memorable one.

However, like with most seemingly positive things, soon came the pain and suffering. I woke up tentatively the next morning, worried about what I would be

ILLUSTRATED BY RACHEL D'SA

paid upwards of $100 million to keep Friends in their library. Two, The Office continues to be, far and away, the most popular television show on Netflix – amassing over seven per cent of the viewer share, almost doubling the number of the second-place series, Friends.

It is a great understatement to say that Netflix has disrupted mass media. They developed the algorithm that allowed them to determine the type of shows that viewers want to see. When viewers wanted politics, Netflix came out with House of Cards. Want Game of Thrones and high fantasy, but don’t want to pay the premium prices of HBO? Here’s The Last Kingdom and Marco Polo.

Looking for more superheroes? Check out Daredevil or Jessica Jones.

It’s a fascinating science, especially when considering the other side of the conversation.

Netflix Originals is bereft of the shows and sitcoms that dominate primetime television.

Law enforcement and police procedurals have steadily phased out, medical dramas still populate major networks, but outside of the lasting power of Grey’s Anatomy and Freddie Highmore’s sheer brilliance in The Good Doctor, these medical shows are essentially cannibalizing one another.

The future doesn’t look too bright for

sitcoms either. Yes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is admirably carrying the torch and The Good Place is easily the best show on a major network, but the body count for sitcoms that get axed after one season is jarring.

Netflix works though. The Office proves it, and other sitcoms like New Girl, Arrested Development and How I Met Your Mother all have found renewed success post-production through the streaming model.

Maybe Marshall McLuhan was indeed right after all. Maybe the medium really is the message. The technology in which our favourite shows are communicated through has effectively changed us – and the entire TV biosphere for that matter. Netflix saw this and adapted to the streaming model while its direct competitors – like Blockbuster – ceased to exist.

The landscape of television is frequently shifting, and the one constant variable is the viewer. John Fiske wrote that we are agents of culture in process and it would be remiss to study and analyze the state of television without some personal reflection – we are the ones watching these shows after all. That’s exactly what I hope to achieve in this column – to be a conduit for discussions around the everevolving culture of TV.

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CAMPUS LIFE

Community Photos: Photos from CapRocks taken

by Tae Hoon Kim on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Visit our news section at capilanocourier.com for the full scoop on the University's 50th anniversary celebration.

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CALENDAR

21 22

JANUARY

SHRED FOR A CAUSE MT. SEYMOUR EDITION

MT. SEYMOUR 5-10 PM / $15 FOR LADIES, $35 FOR GENTLEMEN

Wait, why do the guys have to pay more than double? If you’ll excuse the sexism, every Monday you can ski on the “local’s mountain” for a reduced price, with half of the proceeds going to a “local” charity, The Bloom Group, which provides social services on the DTES.

YOGA TUESDAYS

MT. SEYMOUR ALPINE ACTIVITY CENTRE 5-6 PM / $15 FOR EVERYONE

The cover photo for this Facebook event is of a woman in leg warmers and leggings striking a pose on the top of the mountain. I keep seeing this one on Instagram. How much more Vancouver can you get?

COFFEE WITH THE COURER

CAPILANO UNIVERSITY BIRCH CAFETERIA 10-11 AM / FREE

THE CAPILANO COURIER

Your friendly neighbourhood newspaper is back with free coffee. Find us in the cafeteria, grab a cup of joe and chat us up! Please, we’re lonely up here.

SUPERFLY BOXING SPORTSPLEX AT CAPU 11:30 AM-1 PM / FREE

VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 8

How often do you get a fun, free, co-ed boxing class? You’ll have to purchase the wraps for just $10, but after that Dominic Guieb and Eiren Quintero will teach you the basics of boxing right here on campus. It’s certainly the most advertised campus activity in my Facebook feed.

INVOLVEMENT FAIR

LB 195 11:30 AM-1 PM / FREE

After grabbing your free cup of coffee on us, head upstairs to the CSU lounge and get to know the clubs, collectives and student associations on campus! Take it from us, the university experience is better when you join a group on campus.

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BIRDS ON A WIRE PAINT AND SIP NIGHT 100 BRAID ST. STUDIO 7-9:30 PM / $40

Beginners welcome. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and be escorted step-by-step through the painting process. This is a weekly occurrence, last Friday the theme was Aurora Borealis and next week it’s Birch Trees.

WORDS IN THE BURBS WESTERN SKY BOOKS 7-9 PM / FREE

It’s been so long since our parents read to us at night. If you miss that feeling after a long day of the words in your textbook swimming in front of your eyes, let someone else do the reading. This week, author Janie Chang reads from her latest book, Dragon Springs Road. The CapU library has it, too. Actually, the CapU library has a lot of good fiction.

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NASTY WOMEN SMASH COMEDY FEST BILTMORE CABARET 7:30 PM / $10 REGULAR, $7 STUDENT DISCOUNT

They call themselves the Spice Girls teamed up with Janet Jackson and Hillary Clinton. This all-female troupe of 10 is taking the stage on Thursday for the opening night of a weekend-long comedy festival at the Little Mountain Gallery.

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SHORTS

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A TRIBUTE TO AFRICA BLUESHORE THEATRE AT CAPU 8-10:30 PM / $27-30

Artist-in-Residence Dr. Kofi Gbolonyo leads an exploration in African jazz with drums, vocals, brass and dance.

2019 VANCOUVER SHORT FILM FEST VANCITY THEATRE 7 PM / $13.75+

This two-day festival celebrates the best of the Canadian West Coast with nearly 40 films spread out over four programs, including a special After Dark screening on Friday night. Support your local artists.

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VANCOUVER COFFEE TOUR CANADA PLACE 9 AM / $88.30

How much coffee can you drink for nearly $90? Expect fancy latte art on this three-hour tour and warm your insides with the bitter-yet-delicious taste of ground beans and froth. Go on a tour of a roastery and learn where your beans are imported from. It’ll make you even more of a coffee snob.

VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 8

MANGO SATURDAYS

MANGOS LOUNGE 9:30 PM / $15

Take it from me, Salsa is hard. That being said, it’s also a hell of a lot of fun if you can master the quick steps. Grab a partner and swaggle those hips into the dawn.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

LUNAR NEW YEAR

LONSDALE QUAY PUBLIC MARKET 11 AM-4 PM / FREE

Arts, crafts, a lion dance through the market and fan dancing workshop – this family-friendly celebration of the lunar New Year will be marked by a day’s worth of fun and free activities.

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RAW ORGANIC POWER BAR WORKSHOP

ETERNAL ABUNDANCE 7-8 PM / $42

If you’re thinking about going vegan, gluten free, or are just on a bit of a health kick, then spend your Sunday evening learning how to make energy bars for on-the-go situations.

LITERA a TURE TO

Fantasy

Steampunk

Nevernight Children of Blood and Bone by Jay Kristoff

by Tomi Adeyemi SHEILA ARELLANO ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

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deyemi’s book – a story full of magic, friendship and adventure – is a fantasy story that will leave you craving more. It's a world that'll never let you go once it's drawn you in.

Children of Blood and Bone was a fivestar book from the first chapter, every small detail Adeyemi built into the story brought each page to life while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. It was refreshing to read a book with an all-black character lineup. It was also breathtaking to read about a world with a magic system based on West-African mythology. The care and attention Adeyemi put into the Orisha world is outstanding.

In addition, it was incredible to see the characters grow within this magical-yettough world. Amari, Inan, Tzain and Zélie's perspectives were fascinating to read about.

The characters felt genuine and real and their raw nature added depth to the story. Their relationships were enhanced by well-crafted dialogue, description and action.

As a reader, you feel empathy for each character in the story and, at times, find yourself to also be angry at them, but the honesty and rawness of these characters is what makes this story exceptional. The second book in this trilogy, Children of Virtue and Vengeance will be released on Mar. 5, 2019. Be quick to grab your copy of Children of Blood and Bone and be a part of the excitement for the upcoming sequel in this magical story.

SHEILA ARELLANO ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

I

n a world where night almost never comes and magic is dark, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins and outcasts. In this world, Mia Covere seeks vengeance against the people who forced her family to disappear. Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest assassins in the entire Republic – the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires.

Nevernight’s innovative writing style will incite your imagination to flourish from the first page. Jay Kristoff’s world-building creates a neat picture of each moment. Even though the poetic and descriptive writing style can come across as a shock at first, after a few chapters it becomes the norm. His fast-paced action scenes, his descriptive passive scenes as well as his romance and friendship arcs are honest and heartfelt. The inclusion of the world-building glossary at the end of the book explaining the various aspects of Godsgrave and the world illuminated by three suns, was an awesome resource to have access to while reading Nevernight. As well, the religions in Kristoff’s world were well crafted, which added another layer of believability to the story as a whole.

The character’s backgrounds became so strong and real they were tangible. However, there was a lack of variety around the characters’ motivations, revenge being a prominent theme, yet also the main driving force for most characters. Nevertheless, Mia was an excellent main character. Her badass, sweet and bisexual nature was fun and exciting to read about. If you want an intense, descriptive, cynical, fast-paced, well-crafted and gorey story, you should pick up Nevernight. Though, consider yourself warned – Jay Kristoff doesn’t believe in happy endings.

SHORTS

ILLUSTRATED BY ANDREA ALCARAZ

Memoir

Definitely Adultish

The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Green Eggs and Ham Zimbabwe by Doctor Seuss

by Peter Godwin

M

anhattan-based journalist Peter Godwin was born and raised in Rhodesia, where he was conscripted and where he fought in the civil war. Later, he was charged with espionage when he began reporting on the condition of Robert Mugabe’s torture camps in the emerging state of Zimbabwe before he fled, while his family remained behind. 30 years later, after the benevolent dictator lost an election, Godwin returned to his native Zimbabwe incognito to continue reporting.

The white farmers have been forced off their lands – something President Cyril Ramaphosa aims to carry out in South Africa this year – the country is on the brink of starvation and relying on foreign food imports, and hyperinflation has made the Zimbabwean dollar worthless.

More long-form journalism than a novel, Godwin’s own perspective of his encounters and interviews with Mugabe’s tortured victims in The Fear is an eye-opening account of madness. At one point, Godwin visits a little boy in the hospital who lost an eye in a scuffle with Mugabe’s thugs, and to distract him, the doctors tape a picture of a T-Rex over his medical charts. Many more of Mugabe’s victims were beaten within an inch of their life, their homes burned to the ground, all for the crime of voting for the opposition party in what was supposed to have been the country’s first free election in 2008.

The Fear is a story of humanity – one that will shock you awake and grip you by the throat. If you're looking for something educational, something maddening, in the 21st century, let it be this.

W

ith bright hues of blue, yellow, orange, white and green splashed across the page in a euphoric manner, the doctor paints a vivid picture of the harsh realities of peer pressure.

This gripping tale follows the character Sam (who you could argue is the antagonist), on his quest to compel the nameless disgruntled ‘Who’ to try green eggs and ham – a situation that vegans know all too well.

The story begins with Sam’s opening monologue setting the tone. “I am Sam. I am Sam. Sam I am.” Eerie, you could say. As if Seuss wanted us to be aware that pressure comes from all around us. It’s as common as the name Sam. As readers, we never find out why this Sam character is such an advocate for the meal. Maybe he works for Hello Fresh? Who knows. Seuss takes his readers on a whirlwind journey through the world of the Whos with a rhyme scheme like no other. With each page turn, I found myself on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down, and I bet you won’t be able to either if you give this book a chance. It’ll have you sprinting to the jaw-dropping plot twist. It’s taken me 21 years to finally read this masterpiece, and I can’t say I’m not a changed woman.

Last Night in Montreal

by Emily St. John Mandel ANNALISSE CROSSWELL ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

D

eep in his work on a thesis proposal that seems like it will never be completed, Eli rouses to realize that his girlfriend Lilia has disappeared – a recurring theme in Lilia’s life since her father took her from her mother’s care as a young child. In an effort to seek her out he decides to chase her to Montreal, with no idea how he will find her. Emily St. John Mandel’s Last Night in Montreal follows the mystery of the disappearing girl through the lens of the few people that have been in regular contact with her over the years, slowly divulging a story that Lilia herself may not even be fully aware of.

The 2009 novel was the first from the British Columbian author, who has gained recognition for her most recent work, Station Eleven. As with her other novels, Mandel describes a variety of cities and landscapes in incredible detail as the characters traverse North America, never getting too close to those around them and in a constant state of looking over their shoulders.

The story jumps from one timeline to another as it does with perspectives, allowing just enough insight to captivate its readers. As it progresses the mystery of who, if anybody, has wronged Lilia, the girl that can’t stay put after years of running from anything familiar.

Mandel’s style lends itself to characters in a way that allows readers to feel as if they know them. The mystery component feeling similar to that of Gone Girl with more amiable characters and a quicker pace to its end for those not willing to wait so many pages for a resolution.

Historical Fiction Belgravia

by Julian Fellowes CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

F

rom Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, comes an equally salacious novel of the British upper class, their servants and the secrets they’d all like to keep six feet underground. Belgravia starts on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo at the Duchess of Richmond’s ball in Brussels.

Most of the men in attendance will be dead by morning.

25 years later in 1840, the Trenchard family comes into contact with the Brockenhursts, and it’s revealed that their two children conceived a child before they both met their untimely deaths – one at Waterloo, the other in childbirth. This secret, which brings two families together, manifests itself in the form of a young man named Charles Pope, who was raised humbly and is unaware of his high-standing grandparents. However, the Trenchards’ interest in young Charles makes him the enemy of their own son, Oliver, and the heir to the Brockenhurst’s title.

Fellowes is a masterful storyteller who paints life downstairs in the 19th century just as vividly as the lives of the aristocrats.

Belgravia echoes Downton’s trademark style, but unlike the hit television series, it’s a tragedy and a mystery that claims the lives of two unlucky young people in love.

However, if you watched the end of the final season of Downton, you’ll know that everyone gets a happy ending.

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VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 8

CHRISTINE BEYLEVELDT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

RACHEL D’SA COLUMNS EDITOR

Psychological Thriller

THE CAPILANO COURIER

START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 8

ARTS & CULTURE

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PHOTO BY RAINER BEYLEVELDT

Spring Arts Preview

Must-see openings, shows, concerts and exhibitions in Vancouver and on the North Shore in 2019 SHEILA ARELLANO ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

E

arly 2019 is permeated with events you cannot miss, ranging from musical performances to plays, book releases, art exhibitions and festivals. This year is an exciting time to attend fun and interesting events with friends and family.

Music

is emerging as an artist and performer.

Hockley’s “alternative or avant-garde approaches to his instrument are only part of the everyday tool kit” (Georgia Straight).

Theatre

T

he awesome comedy The Matchmaker will be on from Jan. 24 few events in the music scene to Feb. 24 at the Stanley Industrial stand out in January and February, Alliance Stage. The play follows Horace starting with the Circle Game: Vandergelder (Ric Reid), a wealthy store Reimagining the Music of Joni Mitchell. owner, who seeks a wife – and matchmaker The Circle Game will be playing from Jan. Dolly Gallagher Levi (Nicola Lipman) 12 to Feb. 9 at the Firehall Arts Centre in doesn’t need to look very far to find her.

Vancouver. The enduring music of Joni With forbidden young love and mistaken Mitchell is re-imagined in this energetic identities afoot, more than one match is musical experience. Joni Mitchell has sure to be made. “I adore the message at often reflected on social and environmental this play’s core: that life’s meaning can be ideals through her music and is an excellent found in taking risks, finding adventure, inspiration for new generations. and embracing joy,” said Arts Club Artistic Mark Takeshi McGregor + Liam Hockley Director Ashlie Corcoran. are following the Circle Game. These two Also coming up is the International musicians will be playing on Saturday, Performing Arts (PuSh) Festival, which Feb. 16 at 8 pm at the ANNEX Theatre. will be happening from Jan. 17 to Feb. The show includes a free pre-show chat at 3. The PuSh Festival features over 100 7:15 pm. Flutist Mark Takeshi McGregor different performances. Some of the events has been admired for his “mind blowing” are free, but most range between $20-$60. performances of “huge physical energy” Performances are Canadian productions, (Times Colonist). Clarinetist Liam Hockley many produced by local Vancouver theatre

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companies, and others are produced by international artists. This festival can be a fun activity to do with your friends and family and have an awesome time. At PuSh, there are lots of performances to choose from appealing to a wide variety of audiences.

To find out more about tickets and the festival, visit pushfestival.ca.

an Indigenous perspective and share their remarkable journey of discovery.

Register at 604-925-7270 or online at ferrybuildinggallery.com. Drop-ins are also accepted.

Art Exhibitions

A

nd finally, an outstanding series of Impressions featuring India, Indonesia, Pa kistan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos is also taking place at uthors Wade Baker and Mary the Ferry Building Gallery. The first threeTasi are launching their book part exhibition, Impressions of India Part 1: The Mapmaker’s Soul: Captain Northern & Western India, is on Wednesday, Vancouver’s Journals through an Indigenous Feb. 6, from 7-9 pm. In this fascinating Perspective on Thursday, Jan. 31, from audio-visual journey, one will be able to 7-9 pm. Baker is a Coast Salish artist and explore India from a historic and cultural Tasi recently published a groundbreaking point of view and discover the subcontinent's book titled The Hidden Journals: Captain art, architecture, geography and magnificent Vancouver & His Mapmaker. At the Ferry cultural heritage, including the religions of Building Gallery in West Vancouver, the various civilizations that have occupied the co-authors will discuss their book, which land. One will be able to view images that is the culmination of 10 years of research evoke the natural and cultural diversity of and gathering of oral stories and personal the country and gain a deeper understanding histories, and explores the records of of India's subtleties, especially valuable to Captain Vancouver’s travels that were potential travellers. Keep an eye out for future airbrushed out of the official accounts.

Impressions in this series, on display from 7-9 Join Baker and Tasi for this illustrated pm on Wednesdays at the Gallery from Feb. lecture as they explore these stories from 27 to Mar. 27.

Book Launches

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ARTS & CULTURE

A Different Type of Encyclopedia Batia Suter’s “Parallel Encyclopedia Extended” is a must-see exhibit MELISSA GIBBONS PRODUCTION MANAGER

N

The exhibition reveals how everyone is unique and that art is personal in many ways. One set of photographs might appeal to each individual differently. Suter would be intrigued by the narratives that emerge from people observing her art.

Ambling through the exhibition, the extravagant lines, angles, textures and innovative compositions within each photograph prove hypnotic. The scientific section is permeated with distinct images, fun and rhythmic patterns, such as

molecules displayed on flowers, leafs or insects, that were designed to draw the eye inward.

For example, one of the photographs on display portrays an enormous fly that, in a large scale format, appears in a gorgeously exotic way. By enlarging images, one’s perspective and opinion of a particular thing or animal can change. Suter’s “Parallel Encyclopedia Extended” is a true guide into an alternate reality that will grant you a different perspective on this world.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

ot everything in life is black or white. There is more to be seen between these two shades as long as you open your mind – which is exactly what one must do upon stepping into the Polygon Gallery’s newest exhibition, “Parallel Encyclopedia Extended,” by visual artist Batia Suter. The display is the first the Swiss artist has shown in North America as a solo exhibition. Suter’s work consists of digitally enlarging groups of photos from various second-hand books she has collected over the years. “The investigation of the image, how image[s] triggers us and why they trigger us,” she said in an interview with Janice McLaren at the Photographer’s Gallery vimeo channel. This is what sparked Suter’s interest in the investigation of images.

The artist indicates that, oftentimes, she bought books just for a single image that drew her attention and, over time, her

collection started growing. Her curiosity drew her to wonder why images stimulate us, thus she began to scan the pictures that provoked her in various ways. Once she had a large number of images scanned, she then continued to play and explore with the placement of the pictures. Through this exploration, Suter brought her book, Parallel Encyclopedia, to life, which currently exists in two volumes. “It was a lot about the screen of images and their grey scales,” Suter explained. “When you place an image in different ways with another grid, another time, another structure, then you can get it to awake in a way.”

The exhibit is divided into two sections.

The first section presents the book itself while the other is a vast “pop-up” collage.

This “pop-up” section embellishes the images the artist has extracted from her book collection. By enlarging the photographs, Suter unveils the details within the pictures and notices new things by changing the image’s size. “For me, it is very interesting to put a certain selection out of the book, blow them up, and bring them together in a completely different way,” she said.

The four once white walls are ignited with beauty through striking grayscale images.

Each image tells a story that is relative to each person’s perspective and imagination.

VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 8

PHOTOS BY MELISSA GIBBONS

The Environment is a Canvas Sharon Kallis weaves the natural world into her art BEN JACOBS CONTRIBUTOR

E

nvironmental artist Sharon Kallis has dedicated many years of her life to perfecting her artform. To her, environmental art is about engaging and collaborating with nature. Instead of putting a sculpture amidst nature, Kallis enhances nature, so her art becomes part of its surroundings instead. “[It’s] a tool to introduce people to environmental awareness,” she said.

Often, people don’t think art and nature can come together. However, it is possible

for these two to converge. Environmental art encompasses various styles and perspectives in order to represent nature. Artists from all over the world have explored their relationship with the environment and have showcased it in their art, and this is where Kallis stands out.

Kallis gathers materials that blend into the environment and weaves them into an image that conveys a message. Often, the artwork Kallis creates carries a message about environmental or social issues. When working as an environmental artist, Kallis clarifies, first, each piece of art needs to communicate a message and second, the materials need to be harmless to the environment.

Kallis moved to Vancouver in her early twenties. Today, she wishes to learn the most she can about the Coast Salish people so she can appreciate the environment she is in. Overall, environmental art grants people an opportunity to express their creativity while also contributing to their community in a sustainable way. Not only can artists like Kallis spread various messages through experimental artwork, but people are able

to get involved and become environmental artists themselves. Upcoming events, such as the Vines Festival in August, led by Artistic Director Heather Lamoureux, gifts people the opportunity to try environmental art and get involved with this innovative art style. This festival helps people to participate in current social and sustainability issues while also allowing them to express themselves through art.

Kallis enjoys environmental art because of its ability to create connections with people all around the world. She focuses on traditional, hand technology, such as weaving. Her 2012 coil bound piece named “Community Wall Repair”, which involved biodegradable local materials on a site in Real del Monte, Mexico, is a great example of her weaving work. This piece fixes the opening and embellishes it in the process.

In addition, the “Grooming the Land” piece Kallis created in Cacis, Catalunya, transforms the grass of the field into a french braid style weaving, making it look like ropes. When speaking about this piece, Sharon Kallis

said these types of projects “[can create] opportunities to do even bigger projects [and] find connections.” To date, Sharon is working with EartHand Society to share her skills and knowledge and learn together with an exciting community. In addition to her art, Kallis enjoys making clothing and employs this skill to open a space for cultural exchange. “[I spend] much time organizing events that use textile-related methods to create a social container – the space and context for something collective to unfold,” she said.

With this type of art, she desires to portray the struggle of how fast something is made and how little the worker is paid in the creation process. She wishes to shine a light towards the sacrifices of making clothing by hand. Her goal is to create awareness around how important it is to grant artists a sense of accomplishment through supporting their handmade products. She believes the different relationships to place and people can evolve through this wonderful textile-based interaction.

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CABOOSE

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HOROSCOPES AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 – FEB.19)

Your liver may thank you for your Dry January pledge, but your friends won’t. You’re just a stick in the mud as far as they’re concerned.

PISCES (FEB. 20 – MARCH 20)

Wow, you’re one of those unique people that actually sticks to their New Year’s resolutions.

Do you even need resolutions? Or are you this good all the time? Whatever. Keep it up.

ARIES (MARCH 21 – APRIL 20)

Remember those four days of sunshine we had last week? Yeah, I do too. You’re not going to see the sun again until May so if there’s ever a time to feel depressed, it’s now.

THE CAPILANO COURIER

VOLUME 51 ISSUE NO. 8

TAURUS (APRIL 21 – MAY 21)

This paper you’re holding is probably the first non-assigned reading you’ve glanced at in years. Lame.

GEMINI (MAY 22 – JUNE 21)

I know your secrets.

CANCER (JUNE 22 – JULY 23)

Welcome to the dark side.

You made a wise choice.

LEO (JULY 24 – AUG. 23)

Help me! I’m trapped in a factory forced to write horoscopes.

VIRGO (AUG. 24 – SEPT. 23)

Remember the promise you made to yourself before the start of the semester – stop picking up the slack on your group projects.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 – OCT. 23)

Good luck this week, you’ll need it.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 – NOV. 22)

See a penny, pick it up and all the day you’ll have good luck. Oh, not you, your friend who you’re already jealous of.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23– DEC. 21)

Why haven’t you nominated yourself for one of the Best of Cap awards yet? See page 19.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 – JAN. 20)

Don’t be that annoying person who tells everyone that an A- is a bad grade.

TO ADVERTISE in the Courier’s pages, please email Ana Maria Caicedo 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.

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