Class Magazine Issue 2

class M A G A Z I N E

CAMPUS & CULTURE • WINTER 2015 • ISSUE 2

SNOWKANAGAN • A VIRAL CAMPAIGN • UBCO ALUMNI: LUCAS GLENN • NEUTRAL SUIT • THE LAW LIBRARY 2

THE MAYOR’S WELCOME

H

ello – welcome to Class. This magazine captures the new creative energy of Kelowna driven by our city’s growing student population. With more than 10,000 post-secondary students city-wide, Kelowna’s demographic mix is more diverse and youthful than ever.

This exciting new era in our city’s evolution presents new opportunities to push the boundaries on cultural and economic fronts.

The entrepreneurial and creative energy of this magazine is a perfect reflection of how Kelowna is moving in that direction.

We know that small businesses are the big engine that drives our local economy. Kelowna is one of the best cities in Canada for entrepreneurs and is a winner of the British Columbia Small Business Roundtable’s Open for Business Award in 2013 and 2014.

Thanks to the great work of the Okanagan Young Professionals Collective, funded by the Economic Development Commission, an emerging class of young professionals is using their skills and education to establish innovative new businesses and create local jobs.

Our city council is committed to innovation and welcomes opportunities for economic and social enterprises that make Kelowna a great place to call home. As work continues on the Okanagan Centre for Innovation located in our downtown Cultural District, it will become a hub of technological and entrepreneurial collaboration leading to more knowledge-economy jobs.

Just as Class Magazine is building a bridge between the student community and the business community, the City of Kelowna believes in partnerships that lead to a stronger community. More than $500,000 in annual support to local arts, cultural and heritage organizations demonstrates our belief in the power of the creative class to enrich the experience of living here while contributing significantly to the local economy.

Like Class Magazine, the City of Kelowna also strongly believes in open, honest communication with our community.

Kelowna.ca offers a vast array of information about the City of Kelowna’s services, operations, programs, news feeds and history.

It’s a great resource to learn more about Kelowna, and online visitors can also sign up to receive automated notifications about career opportunities and many other topics.

Kelowna is a growing city with a bright future. It is a place of opportunity for new graduates who are looking for great career and business options, along with a healthy, outdoor active lifestyle. As the father of two young children, I am keenly motivated to ensure Kelowna continues to create job opportunities for young skilled workers and professionals.

Best wishes to you all in your studies, and I hope you will take the time learn more about the City of Kelowna and the opportunities for partnerships and careers in a wide variety of disciplines. Stay in touch with @cityofkelowna on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

COLIN BASRAN • MAYOR OF KELOWNA • READER OF CLASS

Truly yours, COLIN BASRAN mayor

class M A G A Z I N E

WINTER 2015

CLASS MAGAZINE INC. publisher REUBEN MANN co-founder

ROCKY KIM co-founder

EDITOR IN CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

LINDSAY FARRUGIA assistant editor CONTRIBUTORS writers COLIN BASRAN, LAUREN BELL, SASHA CURRY, RYAN DONN, LUCAS GLENN, TRACY GRAY, ROCKY KIM, REUBEN MANN, AKEEM NERMO, GREG PRATCH, BRAD SIEBEN

photographers & illustrators BEN ARCEGA, LUCAS GLENN, JOHN GOH, TEAGHAN MCGINNIS, AKEEM NERMO, KURTIS SQUISSATO, MICHAEL STEPHENSON

JOIN OUR TEAM! contribute@classmagazine.ca INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? advertise@classmagazine.ca NEED OUR EXPERTISE? creative@classmagazine.ca QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? inquiries@classmagazine.ca

/CLASSMAG

@CLASSMAGAZINE @CLASSMAGCA CLASSMAGAZINE

Class Magazine is published bi-annually between September and April by Class Magazine Inc. No part of this publication may be used without written permission from the publisher. Š2015. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions.

If, however, an error comes to your attention, please notify us. Class Magazine Inc. receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. Class Magazine Inc., and its affiliates and assignees, may use, reproduce, publish, republish, distribute, store, and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. This statement does not apply to materials and/or pitches submitted by freelance writers, photographers, or illustrators in accordance with known industry practices.

on the cover

NEUTRAL SUIT, 2014 BY LAUREN BELL Photography by Michael Stephenson

EDITOR’S NOTE ROCKY KIM

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ou have my sincerest thanks and humble gratitude for taking the time to open up and explore the pages of a magazine that we, along with our amazing and creative student contributors, have worked so hard to create. The journey has not always been easy, often a roller coaster of emotions with highs and lows, but that is what makes Class unique. We are learning, growing, adapting, and are bringing you along with us. Welcome back to Class Magazine, grab a scotch or wine if you prefer, sit back, relax, and have a great read.

REUBEN MANN

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t is extremely rewarding to be supported by our university, the city of Kelowna, and the students who reside here. We toiled to find the right mix of content for the whole of Kelowna and we think our second issue accomplishes just that. We’re deeply grateful for our contributors and how they stretched the limits of their creativity to share their vision and experience. Enjoy our second issue, and I hope you all continue to live the class life.

TABLE OF CONTENTS WINTER 2015 • ISSUE 2 SNOWKANAGAN: WORK HARD/PLAY HARD ....... 04 words by: rocky kim photos by: teaghan mcginnis

DOWNTOWN EATS: HIDDEN GEMS...................... 07 words by: rocky kim

PROFILE: BEN ARCEGA................................. 10 words by: reuben mann photos by: kurtis squissato

CLASS PHOTOGRAPHY: AKEEM NERMO....... 12 photos by: akeem nermo

A VIRAL CAMPAIGN: MR. BALLSY................. words by: reuben mann photos by: john goh

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UBCO ALUMIN:LUCAS GLENN CO................. 20 art by: lucas glenn

DO IT RIGHT: SENSORY DEPRIVATION.......... 24 words by: reuben mann

THE WEARABLE ART OF LAUREN BELL.......

27

LETTER TO THE PARADOX OF YOUTH...........

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THE LAW LIBRARY: EMPLOYMENT...............

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art by: lauren bell photos by: michael stephenson words by: sasha curry photos by: teaghan mcginnis words by: greg pratch

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ALANNA MCLEOD • PHOTOGRAPH BY TEAGHAN MCGINNIS

NOTES FROM OUR COUNCILLORS RYAN DONN

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elcome to 2015. Thanks Class Magazine for the invite to say a few words to the students and your readers at UBCO. Let’s consider for a moment that in order for you to read this article two entrepreneurs had to take a risk, invest whatever small amount of spare time and cash they had into a new venture. They created something new and made it easier than ever to discover just how much Kelowna has to offer. We are a city of entrepreneurs. I only recently joined city council but I’ve already seen applications for a new liquor store close to UBCO and a new downtown pub. In Kelowna we are on the cusp of a new wave of opportunity. Will you be the next person to create an opportunity in Kelowna? Club Penguin was created by three driven, creative, locals and the spin off’s have been incredible.

Collaborative projects such as John Hindle Drive, CN Rail, and the Innovation Centre are only the beginning. New research initiatives between UBCO, Interior Health, and the City of Kelowna are using Kelowna as a living lab as we work together to build a healthy vibrant community. Kelowna is ripe for discovery. It’s the city I love and I hope you take some time to hop on the Rapid Transit and discover all we have to offer.

Check out the features in Class Magazine about some of our cities hidden gems. I trust your break was relaxing and you are recharged for the next season of learning. If I can help you in any way to connect more with our fine city, our services, or you have an idea that you’re willing to put the work into, send me an email or a text and let’s connect Kelowna together.

BRAD SIEBEN

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ongratulations on the launch of Class! This new and innovative magazine will serve to create new connections between students and the general public. I’m excited to see a future with greater connectivity amongst all groups and demographics of society. Thank you Reuben and Rocky for showing the initiative to drive this connection and share the perspective of campus life.

TRACY GRAY

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he New Year brings new goals and new challenges. Some of you may have a long road before graduation, and for others it may be just around the corner. It is really important to be focused on your studies, after all, that is why you are there. It is also important though, regardless of where you are in your educational journey, to think about your community. This could be through work experience, clubs, or community volunteerism. These actions build strong communities we all want to live, work, and play in, and create valuable experience and connections. Future employers will not only be looking at your education, but what you do with your time outside of class. No matter how insignificant you may think these activities are, they are hugely important to employers as when you compare apples to apples (people with the same degree with the same grades and the same experience) these actions can put you ahead of the rest. Employers are looking at drive, attitude, commitment and willingness to put in your time. But, we are also looking for connection to community and selflessness that comes with the giving of time as this shows character and maturity. There are always many groups and associations looking for volunteers on and off campus. Sometimes it may only be a few hours of your time on one day and other times it may involve an ongoing commitment. Regardless of what you do, I encourage you to do something as the rewards most often out way the time. I sincerely wish you success in the upcoming months.

ALANNA MCLEOD AND LAKE OKANAGAN CAPTURED NEAR PAUL’S TOMB TEAGHAN MCGINNIS

snowkanagan: WORK HARD

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f you’re reading this, you’re most likely attending either UBC Okanagan, Okanagan College, and/or live and dwell in our beautiful four-season playground. For this edition I wanted to take a moment to appreciate the beauty that surrounds all of us in our amazing city and highlight the people that live here.

All your life I’m sure, depending on whether you had immigrant parents or not, you’ve heard two sides on how to be successful at University.

The first more traditional side is go to class, read your textbook, do your homework, get good grades, and get a job. Nothing wrong with that... I guess. The second side is that University is all about networking, joining clubs, joining societies, running for student government, becoming a brother or sister at a frat/sorority, and to continue meeting more and more people to help expand your network. Nothing wrong with this method either. Now, I am by no means an expert on how to become successful, actually quite the opposite. I stumble and make mistakes quite often. Luckily for me however, I have had an amazing opportunity to meet some of the most brilliant, savvy, competent people in Kelowna who are each successful in their own right.

I have noticed in Kelowna, especially with the lack of jobs in our quaint city for young professionals (hopefully this will change soon), that the people that do make it and help shape our city habitually practice a fusion of the two sides mentioned above. They are high level, busy bodied people who are always on the move. They know how to talk, know how to hustle, and they are masters of their craft who most importantly can transfer knowledge between all of these skill sets. They are able to take something they learned from a club or read in a magazine, and implement it into real world situations. They are able to obtain high grades in class, because they have realized how important life long learning is, and even when they are not studying, they are learning by interacting and talking with people. Absorb all of the information around you. Store this data and use it somewhere down the down the road.

It will become an automatic process and something that you realize and start to do subconsciously.

WORDS BY ROCKY KIM

snowkanagan: PLAY HARD

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he most important part of it all, however, is that you must be able translate this information into situations applicable in real life - in and out of the classroom. This is a common trend I have found in high level people I have crossed paths with during my travels. It is something that they do not teach in University, but hope that you are able to learn on your own while you are there. In fact, I have met many people who have barely graduated high school who are living their dreams, because they already knew how to get where they wanted to go.

Kelowna is a special place to me, and I’m sure it is to you to, but to thrive, you need to work hard. Everyone in this city is chasing their dollar and a dream (J. Cole reference), but unfortunately, not everyone will get to it. Kelowna is a hub of innovation; a place where hard working entrepreneurs can flourish, with a booming tech sector and a population of passionate and involved citizens. It is truly where opportunity and innovation intersect. Happy reading.

TIMELAPSE OF THE OKANAGAN SKY CAUGHT DURING THE PEAK OF WINTER TEAGHAN MCGINNIS

PHO SOC TRANG, A GO-TO FOR AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE CUISINE CLASS STAFF

downtown eats HIDDEN GEMS

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he Kelowna food scene is like a bucket of oysters; sure every oyster has a delicious gooey center inside, but only a rare few contain a pearl. For this edition of Downtown Eats we wanted to give our readers an edge. Kelowna has an amazing food subculture that a lot of people are completely oblivious to. This weird trend where even the most random food outlets host a cult-like following of a few hundred daily customers is also seemingly growing. It’s these hidden gems that most students from outside the Okanagan fail to visit that locals have fallen in love with. Kelowna has everything from over the counter laksa to cure a

hangover to authentic Mexican food on Pandosy with a rich and lively ambience. Kelowna’s food culture is vibrant, you just have to know what you’re looking for.

As all of you can tell by our waistlines, Reuben and I at Class Magazine love to eat. We don’t exactly have sophisticated palettes or care whether or not the chef wears a white coat, but, and believe me when I say this, we know a lot about the type of food students want. We don’t care about michellin stars or if there’s a respectable amount of truffle on the linguini. We care about food served hot, sizable servings, and a relatively full wallet when we leave.

REVIEWS BY ROCKY KIM

downtown eats

PHO SOC TRANG It’s pho... need I say more? Most places in Kelowna taste like they cooked the noodles out of an instant ramen package.Lucky for us, Pho Sac Trang offers quality noodles, at the right price. The food has an authentic taste, is clean, has welcoming decor, some of the friendliest staff I have ever met (tell the two girls at the front bar “Rocky says Hi!”) and most importantly, the soup is a miracle hangover cure. The restaurant is right above Plan B headquarters Salon and Barber Shop (which is also conveniently where I get my hair cut - highly recommend going there) - but as far as pho goes, believe me, after you try it once, you’ll be a regular.

HECTOR’S CASA This small restaurant in the mission is a must go for all you burrito loving fanatics like myself. It’s a welcome change to the palate from your normal intake of tacos served in tin foil over the counter. Hector’s Casa is delicious, but more importantly, very traditional and authentic right down to ambience. Amazing food, amazing service, and a great atmosphere. Definitely worth spending a few extra dollars instead of having your normal fast food taco. And, in all reality, is authentic mexican cuisine not one of your favourite things? Class approved.

SOCIAL 242 If you’re older than 19 and tired of visiting the clubs where too many underage high schoolers are pretending to be 20, Social 242 lounge and grill is right for you. Located conveniently by the bus stop, Social is an upscale lounge with a massive centre bar that features causal late night dining and is DJ’d by two well known local music producers, Stereohype and WOLF. Oh, and on Monday’s, all the food is 50% off the menu price. Bingo. Being a regular at Social myself, you’ll find me at the bar on most Friday’s and Saturday’s sipping on a double honey jack neat and partaking in some light, casual conversation with a few like-minded, drinking age appropriate bar goers.

GRADE: A PRICE: $10-$15 CLASS FAVOURITE: House Special with extra noodles

GRADE: B+ PRICE: $15-$20 CLASS FAVOURITE: Everything

GRADE: A PRICE: $15-$35 CLASS FAVOURITE: Bruschetta with a side of Jack Daniels Honey

THE BOHEMIAN CAFE AND CATERING Commonly referred to as the “Boh,” the Bohemian is a right of passage for all Kelownafornians. Not really a hidden gem unless you’re not from around here, they are located smack dab in the middle of downtown and open only until 3 PM from Wednesday to Sunday. It is absolutely, 100%, worth the 20 minute wait you are most likely going to have to endure in order to get a seat - no matter how early you show up. The Bohemian uses simple ingredients, free-range eggs (definitely makes a difference), amazing sea salt (I swear I can taste the difference), and the most delicious homemade sausages I’ve had. Treat yourself.

MAD MANGO Located in the heart of Downtown, it is at first impression a definite hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurant. Once you taste the food, you’ll quickly realize why there’s always a queue at the door and usually a minimum 15 minute wait. The prices are super student friendly, boasting some of the most cost effective meals in town. Seriously, I don’t know how they make money at those prices. They have amazing breakfasts and specialize in Malay cuisine. They don’t try to be fancy or overly pretentious, actually quite far from it. They cook with simple straightforward ingredients and have the most amazing laksa soup with a broth that could match any award-winning chef’s.

SOUL DE CUBA CAFE If you live at Discovery Bay Resort or at The Waterscapes, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Quite literally a stone’s throw away from these student dwellings, they serve some big flavours in that tiny little kitchen in the corner. Located on the corner of the street before you enter the Discovery Bay Resort, Soul de Cuba Cafe is the cure for your hangover if you don’t want to travel to a land far away. Sometimes they even have live music, the type that takes you back to that time in Cuba when you got suckered into buying a timeshare. But, in all seriousness, do check this spot out. A quaint atmosphere and friendly staff, you’ll definitely be back. Oh yeah, don’t sleep on their mojitos.

GRADE: A+ PRICE: $10-15 CLASS FAVOURITE: BC Benedict with Wild Nanuk Sockeye Salmon

GRADE: B+ PRICE: $5-$10 CLASS FAVOURITE: Laksa Soup or Richards Soup

GRADE: APRICE: $8-$15 CLASS FAVOURITE: El Cubanito (Thank me later)

U O Y O D HOW R U O Y LIKE ?

E N I T U PO

PROFILE: BENJAMIN ARCEGA

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enjamin Arcega is currently enrolled in his fourth year at UBCO and is studying the visual arts. Ben finds he is most passionate and driven towards drawing and painting.

In his spare time he loves to skateboard and snowboard and ideally he would like to collaborate his favourite hobbies with his passion for arts and culture. Arcega renews his passion by taking in the work of the many artists he follows through social media. He mentioned that the best part is watching them flourish over time. His interest in pursuing art as a major was realized when he formed a strong bond with his art teacher in high school who pushed him to succeed. When asked where he would like to take his career, Arcega mentioned he’d enjoy most creative careers, but his true passion was dedicated to skate and snowboard culture.

Arcega most recently demonstrated his passion for skate culture in a multimedia art show titled ‘Beyond the Invisible.” He used a large indoor space to demonstrate what skateboarding culture is about and how it interacts with his own life. The show brought many visitors and was celebrated by a local media outlet on the web, garnering positive media attention for a well thought out presentation. Of those in attendance, over 30 guests came specifically to skate Arcega’s set.

“Having people skating during the art show added a whole new energy to the gallery and many people seemed intrigued,” said Arcega when describing his experience throwing the show.

He went on to mention that skate culture is very present in the Okanagan and all over the world, and that he really wanted to display the style and aesthetic of skateboarding in a public gallery setting.

The abilitiy to do something he loves every day is Arcega’s intrinsic motivation and he hopes he can inspire others along his own journey.

WORDS BY REUBEN MANN PHOTOS BY KURTIS SQUISSATO

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BENJAMIN ARCEGA PICTURED NEXT TO HIS WORK AT A UNIVERSITY EXHIBITION

ELEVEN

ARCEGA’S ARTWORK DISPLAYED AMIDST HIS LIVE ART SHOW • BEYOND THE INVISIBLE

OVER 30 GUESTS WERE IN ATTENDANCE TO INTERACT WITH ARCEGA’S MULTIMEDIA SHOW • BEYOND THE INVISIBLE

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akeem nermo CLASS PHOTOGRAPHY

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ello. My name is Akeem Patrick Nermo and I was born in Vancouver, BC. I am a cultural cocktail, lover of fine wine and fart jokes, Don Delillo devotee, and a David Foster Wallace worshiper. I’m also an artist, and I take a few photographs.

Photographer and filmmaker Robert Frank once said “If all moments are recorded, then nothing is beautiful.” Upon reading this, I didn’t take a picture for years. That’s where my practice started—questioning the role and significance of photography in our lives.

From its very inception, the medium has been about preservation, loss, perception and experience—and these themes have been central to my work. Memory can’t be trusted and photography is the death of the moment. Photography is a manifestation of individual and collective deceit, in that photographs impose themselves and replace themselves for the real, finite memories we store in our minds. The invention of photography has demonstrably altered our remembrance of our lives - our photographs and documents become a palimpsest of our lives, imposing, erasing and distorting that which we experienced first-hand.

My work aims to reflect on the nature of our human propensity to literally document what we experience. Our lives are a constant attempt to solidify and monolithise the fundamentally human experience, which is transient and ephemeral.

Whether we are taking photographs of our loved ones, leaving memorials for the deceased or hoarding parting shots from jilted lovers, we are always amassing a personal shrine to the fact that we have existed. Paradoxically, the more photographs we take, the less that we remember each moment.

Our lifelong obsession with documenting our lives becomes lost in an ever-increasing sea of self-justification and self-validation.

My work is a comment on these paradoxes and contradictions, and aims to make some sense of our lives as experienced through personal documents. Aided by technology, we are surrounded by edifices of memory and remembrance that amass around us; as much as we live in the present, we live in the past.

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY AKEEM NERMO

FOURTEEN

ROADSIDE MEMORIES • UFV • FINE ARTS AKEEM NERMO

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VADER AND THOMAS GOING THROUGH WALTER WHITE’S HOMETOWN OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

A VIRAL CAMPAIGN: BALLSY Thomas and his film crew traveled across 15 states and more than 30 cities with a giant ball and his dog Vader. His mission was to raise awareness of testicular cancer, and we think he did.

WORDS BY REUBEN MANN & THOMAS CANTLEY PHOTOS BY JOHN GOH

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n our first issue of Class Magazine, we featured an article about Thomas Cantley, a testicular cancer survivor who was about to cross the United States armed with only his dog, a film crew, and a giant inflatable ball to raise awareness for testicular cancer.

His journey has now concluded, and we could never have been able to predict the way his tour unfolded.

Thomas approached me in early August offering the chance to accompany him to assist with filming and media outreach for his ballsy campaign. As tempting the offer, due to the impending final year of my studies that was about to begin in September, I had to decline.

Instead, we decided I would head up his digital marketing and social media efforts while I remained in Kelowna. It couldn’t have worked out any better. We discussed a social and web strategy and ultimately settled on using his website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, each to their strengths.

The journey began on September 3rd in SIXTEEN

Santa Monica, California. With cold social platforms and no real media attention, we started to tweet at popular figures to gain their attention. Jalen Rose, an ex-NBA player and current ESPN analyst, was the first first one to help out our cause. Bif Naked and Lance Armstrong soon followed suit. While these “breakthroughs” bolstered morale, we were still struggling in the Golden State. Thomas decided to take Lefty Jr. ( the 6 ft. inflatable testicle) to Venice Beach to garner some attention, and it worked. A local Silicon Valley business magazine ran a story on Thomas.

However, an awesome web presence wasn’t going to be enough. We needed the help of local news stations.

Our hearts set on the small screen, we started sending out press releases to media outlets around the state. After floundering for a few days near the Bay Area, we were contacted by KSBW, a local news station in Salinas, California, that wanted to give him a live spot. The ticker eloquently read: “Salinas man traveling

PARCHED IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA

TO KEEP UP TO DATE VISIT:

WEBSITE/www.mrballsy.com FACEBOOK/mrballsy INSTAGRAM/mr.ballsy TWITTER/mrballsy cross country with inflatable testicle.” Blunt, honest, and effective.

After his spot on the local news, Thomas’ social media traffic, website hits, and general interest grew dramatically. News outlets from San Francisco started to call Thomas and people were beginning to get wind of the campaign.

With the help of the Bay Area media, Thomas and the crew finally made it out of California as gifts to his campaign started to roll in. Las Vegas was the next stop and the team took full advantage of that, obviously.

Upon reaching Phoenix, a van was donated to Thomas by ServerHub, a web hosting company that became the primary sponsor of the campaign. Travel became a lot more efficient after that. It had taken 14 days to make it out of California and only 24 to make it through the next 14 states. We continued to follow our formula for each city we crossed, and the media requests continued to roll in from newspapers, radio, and news stations. Thomas also had a guest spot on an episode of The Doctors which was aired during the campaign.

“WE SENT OUT HUNDREDS OF PRESS RELEASES, MADE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AND CREATED AN INTERNATIONALLY VIRAL CAMPAIGN.” Digital media outlets started to pick up Thomas’ story globally. Cities in China, Russia, Denmark, Scotland, and Australia to name a few started writing stories about Thomas’ efforts. The Today Show did a web feature that stayed on their homepage for 24 hours.

Cosmopolitan Magazine, Esquire Magazine, E! Online, The Young Turks, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Houston Chronicle, and The International Business Times all ran stories on the campaign. Thomas even appeared on Australia’s most popular breakfast television show after the campaign had finished to recount his experience. His mission was to raise awareness, and everyone that played a part in the campaign was certain that he had done that.

SEVENTEEN

MEMBERS OF THE CAMPAIGN: KELOWNA’S CORY JANKO, THOMAS CANTLEY, AND CORY GODBEE DRAGGING LEFTY JR. ACROSS INDIANAPOLIS

Along the journey, the team got sponsored by ServerHub, received box seats to watch the Arizona Coyotes play hockey, performed stand up comedy in Austin, Texas, met with the Houston City Council, stayed with a country singer in Nashville, met with members of the US Army in Oklahoma, received a tattoo from Cleen Rock One from Spike’s Ink Master, received a end-of-campaign party from The Huffington Post, and made the #1 spot on reddit.com. Not too shabby.

Once “that guy from reddit” became an unofficial title for Thomas, we had the surreal realization that the campaign had gone viral around the world.

Thomas Cantley is planning his next Ball Push Tour already. As of now, he intends on taking Lefty Jr. to the Netherlands. With support and awareness at an all-time high, Thomas has successfully brought light to a taboo subject on an international scale.

We started this journey together with no idea where we would end up, and even today we still aren’t certain what the future holds. I still remember having a few drinks at Doc Willoughby’s with Thomas, crafting what is now an international

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campaign with team members all across the world. I look back at what we accomplished and am still in awe of what effective team work can accomplish. A small campaign managed out of my Kelowna apartment has been seen by millions of viewers all across the world. Whether it’s a testicular cancer awareness campaign or anything you are passionate about, know that everyone is capable of great things. The hardest step is always the first one, have faith in your abilities and take a risk. You might just go viral.

THOMAS IS CURRENTLY BOOKING SPEAKING EVENTS WORLDWIDE AND HOPES TO SPEAK AT UNIVERSITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE. THOMAS CAN BE REACHED ONLINE THROUGH HIS WEBSITE AND HOPES TO RETURN TO KELOWNA TO SPEAK AT UBCO. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HIS ONGOING CAMPAIGN, VISIT WWW.MRBALLSY.COM

EIGHTEEN

A STILL FROM THE COMPANY’S INSTALLATION GOODS FOR MEN (REAL GOOD STRONG MAN MEN), 2014 • LUCAS GLENN

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lucas glenn UBCO ALUMNI

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ucas Glenn is an Okanagan-based writer, culture-builder, and incorporated artist. In his art practice, Glenn uses found/junk materials to create art installations and multi-media works under the pseudonym of Lucas Glenn Co. The Company’s policy is to creatively investigate relationships between media and society.

The Company’s most recent work focuses on the history of men’s marketing. Goods for Men (Real Good Strong Man Men) filled a room with found materials in a format reminiscent of museums and home improvement display rooms.

With a tongue-and-cheek brand of humour, the wood-paneled walls, fake product packaging, and old objects like rotary phones and 1960’s issues of “Rugged Men Magazine” playfully engaged with the selling and marketing of hetero-normativity, hegemony, and hypermasculinity.

Having had one grandfather in the Canadian Navy, his other grandfather an oilfied worker, and his father an oil field worker turned entrepreneur, Glenn found inspiration to self-incorporate and create the exhibition Good for Mens.

A fascination with his own gendered lineage leads Glenn to contribute exploring historical, contemporary, and alternative definitions of manhood.

ART & BIO PROVIDED BY GLENN

TWENTY ONE

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ubco alumni

PASTELS • THE BONES COLLECTION & CHARCOAL ON CANVAS, 2014 • LIZ RANNEY LEFT AND RIGHT: DETAIL FROM “GOODS FORACRYLICS MEN” GOODS FOR MEN (REAL GOOD STRONG MAN MEN), 2014 • LUCAS GLENN

TWENTY TWO

lucas glenn

TWENTY THREE

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DO IT RIGHT: FLOATATION Some reasons on why you can and should use sensory deprivation chambers as a meditative tool.

WORDS BY REUBEN MANN

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ediation has been around for thousands of years, and has evolved to include many different forms. Depending on your definition, this range spans from traditional to contemporary, from zen to concentrated, and even from legal to illegal. Some North American indigenous cultures used (and still do) Peyote to attain a spiritual connection as their religious beliefs promote drug use to aid in a “full consciousness,” whereas others are against using intoxicants to achieve this state. There are many different forms of meditation, but one that’s gaining immense popularity is the use of float tanks, also referred to as sensory deprivation chambers.

Float spas have never been as popular as they are today as the industry has noticed exponential growth. Float tanks allow for the reduction and removal of stimuli from your senses. The interior of the tank is filled with water and Epsom salt and allows no light to enter. The water is tuned to approximately 37 degrees Celsius to match your body’s temperature and ear plugs are provided to reduce the amount of noise you hear. The reported benefits of using sensory deprivation chambers, or float tanks, include enhanced creativity, stress relief, and, according to a study by Washington

State University, even rifle marksmanship.

The University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus is currently an active participant in floating research. Professor Mark Holder of UBCO is heading a study investigating the experience of floating and its effects on happiness and wellbeing. The research is being done in conjunction with Float Space, a floating center founded by UBCO student Dustin Erickson which is providing float sessions for the study.

UBCO’s Patrick Seitzinger and Carmela White are the two primary researchers on the study.

Float Space is a cultivator of community within Kelowna and they even offer an Art Program which allows you to “trade your artistic talents” for two free 90 minute floats for an 8x8 piece of art work to be displayed in the lobby. This is a great way for cash strapped students to experience floating in Kelowna, and Dustin is insistent that every student should be floating.

If you have yet to try it out, do so immediately. An odd sense of clarity seems to follow every session and if the reports of increased performance in academics are true, students will most likely benefit from the experience in multiple ways.

TWENTY FOUR

WE DELIVER TO CAMPUS: (250) 979-7482 229 BERNARD AVE (DOWNTOWN) - OPEN TIL LATE!

THE WEARABLE ART OF:

lauren bell A PURSUIT OF IDEAS TRANSLATED THROUGH UNIQUE MATERIALS AND MOVEMENT

TWENTY SEVEN

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L

auren Bell is a Visual Arts Major and Art History minor enrolled in the Creative and Critical Studies Program at UBCO. After 4 years of study and one semester abroad in Germany, she will be graduating this year. Through her journey, she has fostered a love for painting, drawing, and sculpture, however, her true niche is creating wearable art.

Her interest for creating ‘wearables’ was fostered back in 2012 after winning the 12th annual Wearable Art Gala.

Bell enjoys working with unusual mediums and more recently has been exploring translucent and colorful polymers such as hot melt adhesives, plastic beads, and water bottles.

Though some may see her wearables as bizarre costumes made from unconventional materials, each wearable derives

LAUREN BELL POSES IN HER “NEUTRAL SUIT” AS SHE TRANSCENDS INTO AN ALTERNATIVE REALITY OF WEARABLE ART

TWENTY EIGHT

from a passionate conceptual framework.

In her most recent semester, Bell’s main conceptual focus was inspired from social paradigms and their effects on humans as individuals as well as the human body’s movements.

In turn, she created two wearables, one being a suit covered head to toe in spikes hand made from one of her favorite mediums, hot glue. Her piece titled Neutral Suit, places the human out of context, allowing the wearer to defy judgment as well as identification of gender, race, and age. Although movements of the human form find themselves amplified, the flowing coalescence of the spiky scales suggests the presence of a being of a different nature covered in a spiky visual armor.

A MULTITALENTED ARTIST, LAUREN EXPLORES VARIOUS FORMS OF ART THROUGH UNIQUE AND CREATIVE APPROACHES

TWENTY NINE

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MATERIALS INSPIRE AS CONCEPTS TRANSPIRE

As evidenced by the photos, Bell collaborated with photographer Michael Stephenson of Okanagan photography for a photo shoot that aided the portrayal of different angles and aspects of two of her wearbles.

Bell envisions her wearable art as language relatable to all people that is mystical, interactive, and thought provoking. For this semester, she plans to experiment with plastic water bottles, further her use of hot glue, and potentially incorporate a black light.

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To see more of Bell’s work, check out her website: laurensbell.com. There will be a final exhibition for all fourth year Visual Arts students, including Bell’s work from April 22-26, 2015.

THIRTY

BIO PROVIDED BY BELL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEPHENSON

PICTURED: KATLYN KRUGER

LETTER TO THE PARADOX OF YOUTH An eloquently worded demonstration of the what can only be described as the “paradox of youth.”

WORDS BY SASHA CURRY PHOTOS BY TEAGHAN MCGINNIS

W

hen you are ten years old, your father tells you that as long as you work hard and surround yourself with the right people, you will be happy. Your grade three teacher tells you that books bring happiness, but your mother has always shown you that vodka and cigarettes bring hers.

In elementary school, Britney Spears and Barbies teach you that nice boys liked slutty girls, but when high school comes around, you learn that nice girls didn’t get boyfriends until college. In middle school you make sure to keep up with the latest episodes of Gossip Girl, because you can easily relate your group of small town friends to the New York bred kids in the show who wear Valentino and hire strippers on weekdays.

The cheap movie theatre in town lost its edge last year.

Italian dinner dates are a thing of the past. You meet your crush at a house party and later in the night let him lock you both in a bathroom to have his way with you. You’ll cry when he ignores you in the hall later that week and when your friends ask why, you’ll answer, it’s complicated. In high school, The Gap is no longer cool, THIRTY TWO

unless you are your mother. You buy monthly issues of Cosmopolitan and Vogue to learn the sex position of the month, and how skinny you should be. You rip a page out of one of the magazines - it is a black and white picture of Kate Moss hunched over at a club smoking a cigarette. You tape it to your bedroom wall. The fine print on the bottom of the page states that she was at a New York Fashion Week after party. You read online last week that she was battling a cocaine addiction.

You must learn to mock that empty look in her eyes.

You lose your virginity before your eighteenth birthday.

You will one day tell your own daughter that the boy was your boyfriend. Later that year, you try smoking a cigarette for the first time. You wash it down the last of a cold Starbucks latte and head to your dance class, where you practice a routine to the latest degrading song from the radio. After class, your teacher talks about how your generation needs to reverse the social stigma pushed upon girls your age and take back your power and sexuality.

You get into the college that your parents wanted

PICTURED: KATLYN KRUGER

you to go to, but for a while still, you can’t see past Friday night. You’re a grown up now, so you need to be active. You buy a pair of neon Nike Free’s and smoke your cigarettes in private. The epitome of a healthy body is a skinny one, you’ve learned in your nineteen years of life. You #eatclean on social media, where it matters, but your Cheezie obsession still remains in discretion. On the weekends, you do Yoga to stay focused, but sometimes your hangover impedes you from maintaining your balance. I won’t drink tonight, you promise yourself. Instead, your friends and you cut up lines of a white powder all over an old issue of Rolling Stone in your dorm room. You feel like a rock star. You put on patent leather red high heels and cab to the club where everyone asks, how high are you? You explain to people over the course of that week, that you’ve given up drinking and need to focus on school this semester. Your first midterm rolls around two weeks later and your roommate drags you out of bed by your feet. You arrive late, and barely pass. Sociology is really hard, Mom. An internship offer in the city comes your way, and you accept it instantly, your college years concluding in a blur. Your nose still gets itchy and you find yourself taking an absurd amount of bathroom breaks in the office. You wonder if they notice, or if they even care.

After all, you don’t get payed. You decide to sell your car and get a real job that pays. The local bar is the only place hiring. You meet a nice man there who comes in after work some days. He tips you well and compliments you on your hair on weekend nights. You roll around on his king sized bed once, twice. He has a wife and two children and you discover this when he opens his wallet the first that time he pays you. You pretend

EVEN THE GREAT GATSBY HAS LOST ITS CHARM SANS 3-D MOVIE THEATRE VERSION OF ITSELF. that it doesn’t matter to you. His empty house in the Hamptons is nice, and you remember that you must call your mother soon and let her know that the internship is going well. A Master’s level education is what you need in order to obtain your dad’s job in the 21st century. You don’t have that kind of money.

You are the special generation, your grandmother told you when you were younger. You have access to higher education, developed technology, and awareness of climate change. You have the power to change the world.

Peace, love, yoga, Namaste.

And gluten free muffins.

You’ll eat a lot of potato chips and take-out this week, but it’s okay – you’ll do a juice detox at the end of the week. Note to self: You must find someone to make Friday nights fun again. Books aren’t interesting anymore.

You need something faster-paced.

Even the Great Gatsby has lost its charm sans 3-D movie theatre version of itself.

Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?

Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul?

Asks Lana Del Rey. Oh, Lana. No, probably not.

THIRTY THREE

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THE LAW LIBRARY PART 2: EMPLOYMENT Are you ready to enter the workforce? Get knowledgeable about your rights:

WORDS BY GREG PRATCH, LAWYER PUSHOR MITCHELL LLP

I

n thinking about a topic for my first article in Class Magazine, I wanted to pick something relevant and practical for students. It got me thinking about my years as a student (which was not that long ago) and what I know now that I wish someone had told me then. There are lots of legal issues that are relevant to student life, including the one I am going to talk about in this article – employment law. As students many of you will already have jobs or will be looking at getting into the workforce in the near future- knowing your rights and obligations as an employee will hopefully be very useful!

My wife, who is also a lawyer, is a sessional instructor in the Faculty of Management (MGMT 480 Law and Business) and I asked her to ask her students what they would be interested in

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THIRTY FOUR

better understanding about employment law; the results included minimums and maximums under the employment standards legislation, compensation and benefits and employment agreements. The answers to these questions could be a textbook on its own, however, what I think I can do is provide some guidance on what the sources of your rights and obligations as an employee are and where you can find more information about them.

SOURCE #1: THE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ACT The Employment Standards Act is a provincial law that applies to many employees in the Province and sets the minimum standards which must be adhered to by employers. This act covers topics like the minimum wage and addresses notice and severance obligations, parental leave, vacation pay, sick pay and a range of other rights including an employee’s right to make a complaint regarding an employer not following the rules. The Employment Standards Branch of the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training is the provincial body that is tasked with enforcing the Employment Standards Act.

THE AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY

Greg Pratch is a lawyer with Pushor Mitchell LLP in Kelowna, BC. His practice is focused in civil litigation and tax litigation. Greg regularly assists clients with personal injury, employment and various contract dispute matters. He also acts for clients involved in income tax and GST disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency.

TIP: You can find a copy of the Employment Standards Act and information about how to make a complaint at www.labour.gov.bc.ca SOURCE #2: COMMON LAW In general, ‘common law’ describes the Canadian legal system (except Quebec) where law is created by judges making decisions in courts and those decisions being followed over time. Within the context of employment law, the common law implies certain rights and obligations into the employment relationship which may not covered by the Employment Standards Act. So for example, an employee has a common law obligation to be competent to perform the duties of the job they were hired to complete. While this obligation is not specified in the act, it is an obligation none the less, because of the common law.

TIP: If something doesn’t sit well in your employment relationship and it doesn’t seem to be addressed by the Employment Standards Act you may want to consult with a lawyer and ask about the common law.

SOURCE #3: WRITTEN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT This is exactly as it sounds, it is a written agreement between the employer and employee that governs the relationship. While an employment contract does not necessarily have

to be fair, it must meet or exceed the minimum requirements of the Employment Standards Act (in other words, you cannot contract out of this act). You should also be aware that you don’t need a written employment contract, but depending on the nature of the job you may want one.

TIP: There are many nuances that exist in employment contracts, some of which can affect your rights even after your relationship with that particular employer has ended, so read it very carefully, ask questions and if you feel uncomfortable or don’t understand, then ask a lawyer to review it before you sign on the dotted line.

When I signed my first employment contract as a student I had no idea what I was signing or why it was important, it was just a bunch of words on a page. Hopefully this article has provided you with enough information to ask some questions, do some research and allow you to more confidently enter the workforce understanding the source of some of your rights.

Finally, to those students in MGMT 480, if I haven’t addressed your specific questions, I’m sure you will remind me when I guest lecture for you later this semester.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. You should always consult with a lawyer about your specific circumstances.

THIRTY FIVE

Reasons to consider

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Are you tired of aching teeth? Do you wish your teeth were straighter?

Are you noticing any of the following?

• Bleeding gums • Chips in your tooth • Clenched jaws when you sleep • Sensitivity to cold drinks/foods

Benefits of considering Orchard Park • Experienced gentle dentists and kind, caring staff!

• Open long, convenient hours!

• We gladly accept StudentCare insurance!

• Close to UBCO - in the mall next to Best Buy!

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-Rocky KimUBCSUO President Dr. Perry Kreway & Associates 215-2271 Harvey Avenue, Orchard Park Mall PH# 250 860 6460

www.orchardparkdental.ca

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