ISSUE 01 / AUG. 28–SEPT. 17, 2017 GBC Student Newspaper • Founded 1982
SA to pay $15 minimum wage
pg. 3
Students caught in the housing crisis
pg. 8
‘My first week was awful’
pg. 12
pg. 11
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NEWS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
3
SA to pay $15 minimum wage Move follows announcement of Ontario adopting $15 minimum wage in 2019 STEVE CORNWELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Starting in January 2018, part-time staff for the Student Association (SA) will earn at least $15 an hour, up from the current wage of $14.25. The raise will come a year ahead Ontario’s proposed move to a $15 minimum wage, which is set to take effect across Ontario in January 2019. “We wanted to be a step ahead of the government by making the fair $15 starting in January 2018,” said Riddhi Modi, the SA’s director of communications and internal. “In a way we are really a step ahead (and) thinking about the future.” The SA funds The Dialog.
LETTERS AND COMMENTS: Readers respond to $15 minimum wage
Mohammad Ali Aumeer, who was the SA director of education and equity from 2012 to 2014, applauds the move to $15 and said student unions need to do more for their part-time workers to ensure they are leading the government by example. “Pushing for more benefits for students and raising it beyond $15 adds extra pressure on the government to step their game up,” he said. “And the Student Association and other student unions in general have done a great job of that historically, and the more the SA does that the better students will be and the better the province will be.” Modi said that another reason for the raise is due to an SA policy to pay its parttime staff 125 per cent of Ontario’s minimum wage. If the province moves to a $15 minimum wage, the policy would have seen part-time workers at the SA make $18.75. According to Modi that would mean part-time student staff would make more than the SA’s full-time staff. At its Aug. 14 meeting, the SA board of directors
This is a great idea. Everything else has gone up in price, so why not wages for people trying to earn a living? When rent prices go up no one screams foul play or talks about laying off workers as much as they do when wages increase and help people put food on the table. Glad to see the S.A. supports workers and not only business owners. Coty Downey Zachariah, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students on Facebook
The Student Association plans to change its minimum wage to $15 an hour. Photo: Steve Cornwell / The Dialog
voted to remove the 125 per cent clause from its human resources manual, as well as a 50-cent per year raise it previously offered returning part-time student workers, effective January 2018. Before the $15 increase in January, part-time employees will see their wages go up by 25-cents in keeping with Ontario’s minimum wage increase in October. The proposed move to a $15 minimum wage is part of the Ontario Liberal Government’s Bill 148, the Fair
Workplaces and Better Jobs Act. Depending on the city, the move to a $15 minimum wage may not be adequate to cover living expenses according to David Macdonald, an economist with the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives. But having a $15 minimum wage, Macdonald said, will have a positive effect. “You see surprisingly large impacts on recent immigrant women and First Nations women in particular,” he said. “So some of those key demo-
It’s unfortunate that the SA board is sort of making themselves out to be ahead of the game when in reality this is about saving money as per squashing the clause. I think that the hour cap which is below part-time standards is still a barrier. 15 dollars an hour capped at 20 possible hours is still not a living wage. Elizabeth Mangoes on Facebook
Nooo, horrible idea! Less jobs, less hours, everything else will be more expensive. Arash Dušek on Facebook
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EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Steve Cornwell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dialogeic@sagbc.ca Managing Editor Mick Sweetman. . . . . . . communications@sagbc.ca Art Director/Designer Manar Hossain. . . . . . dialogdesign@sagbc.ca Reporter-editors Lidianny Botto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dialogreporter1@sagbc.ca Mansha Rupani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dialogreporter2@sagbc.ca Megan Kinch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dialogreporter3@sagbc.ca Meng Ma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dialogreporter5@sagbc.ca . d Sales Phillip Chung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dialogads@sagbc.ca A
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Contact The Dialog at: Room E122 - Casa Loma 142 Kendal Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 1M3 www.dialognews.ca Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 4274 dialog@sagbc.ca
It’s good because prices are already going up and it would put more money into workers’ pockets. Nadia Rajaram on Facebook
@dialoggbc
graphics that might be otherwise hard to reach get a big boost from a minimum wage increase in Ontario.” Keep Ontario Working, a coalition of industry associations, said in an open letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne that the changes in Bill 148 have created uncertainty for businesses in Ontario. The group called the increase in minimum wage “arbitrary” and asked Premier Wynne to slow the pace of the changes.
Write us! We value open and frank discussion on our articles and topics that our readers are interested in engaging in a dialogue about. Send your letter to the editor to dialog@sagbc. ca or comment on our website or social media by Sept. 13.
@thedialog
OPERATION The Dialog newspaper is published by The Dialog with the support of the Student Association of George Brown College. The Dialog is responsible for the overall vision and direction of The Dialog newspaper, as it coincides with the larger vision and mission of the Student Association. The cost of producing a monthly newspaper is in part
THE DIALOG PARTNERS defrayed by advertising revenue and largely subsidized by student fees. Occasionally, some advertisers, products and services do not reflect the policies of the Student Association. Opinions expressed in The Dialog are not necessarily those of The Dialog, the Student Association of George Brown College, or its editorial staff.
The Dialog is a member of CUP, the Canadian University Press
4
NEWS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
EVENTS LISTING Week of Welcome Tuesday, Sept. 5 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 11 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 6 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 12 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Waterfront, Street and Main Lobby
Casa Loma, Student Centre and Kendal Avenue
Live performance by Dare Not’s 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Casa Loma, La Dolce Vita (Student Centre)
Thursday, Sept. 7 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
St. James, King’s Lounge, R.150 2nd floor patio and George Street With classes ready to start, bargaining between the union representing faculty at Ontario’s 24 public colleges was at an impasse. Photo: Mansha Rupani / The Dialog
College faculty union seeks strike vote in September Ontario colleges offer 7.5% pay increase over four years MEGAN KINCH REPORTER-EDITOR
Colleges across Ontario, including George Brown, face the possibility of a full-blown strike by faculty at the end of September. The union that represents full and partial-load faculty, librarians and counsellors, could be in a strike position this fall, if an agreement is not reached with Ontario’s 24 colleges. On Aug. 3 the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board to schedule a strike vote in September. The current contract for faculty expires on Sept. 30. The last strike by college faculty in 2006 shut down classes and lasted for three weeks. Faculty are being offered a 7.5 per cent wage increase over four years, a similar increase to the one union leadership is endorsing for the college support staff it represents. “We feel this is a very fair offer of settlement in line
with other offers that have been accepted, most recently by the support staff,” said Sonia del Missier, who is leading the colleges’ negotiating team. The union representing support staff have come to an agreement to extend their current contract with Ontario colleges. The deal will be voted on by members on Aug. 29. Janice Hagan, chair of the provincial support staff division of OPSEU, said that the union will be recommending that their members accept the offer, which includes, “a very nice increase in pay and nice benefits for our members.” For JP Hornick, a negotiator for the faculty union and a George Brown professor, the main issues for this round of bargaining are not wages and benefits but rather ensuring the college system is working. “We’re teachers first, we’re educators,” she said. “We’re not trying to say the colleges’ financial decisions need to be done this way, we’re trying to say the college’s academic decisions need to be done in a way that benefits students and are pedagogically sound.”
One issue is the ratio of full-time instructors to parttime faculty. According to the union across the college system 70 per cent of faculty are part-time with only 30 per cent in more secure full-time jobs. “Partial load” instructors are part of the union but part-time faculty are not- although OPSEU is running an organizing campaign to try to unionize them. Hornick said that increasingly casual labour in the college system is affecting the quality of education for students. “In post-secondary this is fundamentally about what kind of education students want, who do they want to have in their classrooms,” she said. “So if you have folks that are (casual), that don’t have job security, these are the things that make education high quality or not.” Del Missier said that the offer the colleges have presented faculty is fair, and that what the union is proposing doesn’t “form the foundation on which a settlement can be reached.” They went back to the negotiating table on Aug. 22. As of press time bargaining was ongoing. For news updates on this story go to dialognews.ca
Bubble Soccer
Live performance by Colinresponse 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
St. James, King’s Lounge, R.150
Join us as we welcome new and returning students to George Brown College with our campus street festival. Music, food, vendors, prizes and more.
Huskies Blue & White Night Friday, Sept. 8 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Casa Loma Gym
Men’s and women’s varsity teams will be will be gearing up for the start of their seasons with two exhibition games in the “Blue vs. White” series. Come meet and cheer on your teams! 8 p.m. to midnight
La Dolce Vita restaurant
Huskies party inside La Dolce Vita. Giving away two tickets to see Jay Z!
Waterfront, Sherbourne Commons Park
Casa Loma gym
Wednesday, Sept. 13 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. St. James gym (6th floor)
Join us for some fun in giant bubbles while we play soccer. Free to play.
25-cent Ice Cream Days Monday, Sept. 11 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Waterfront, outside of Main Lobby
An ice-cream truck will be coming to the college. Get yourself an ice cream cone for only 25 cents (while supplies last). Get information on other upcoming events and services while you eat your cone.
Soccer: U of T Mississauga vs. George Brown Wednesday, Sept. 13
Birchmount Stadium, 75 Birchmount Rd
Women’s game: 7 p.m. Men’s game: 9 p.m.
GBC Fest Thursday, Sept. 14 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The Pheonix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St.
Starring: Post Malone, DJ Shub (formerly from A Tribe Called Red) with traditional dancers and Jeff Jam the DJ $5 for GBC students / $10 for guests (GBC students’ guests only)
Have a GBC-related event you want featured here? Write to us by Sept. 13 at dialog@sagbc.ca with all the details!
Baseball: Seneca vs. George Brown Saturday, Sept. 16
Wishing Well Park, 2 Nobert Rd.
Doubleheader First game: 1 p.m. Second game: 3 p.m.
NEWS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
5
Growing community at George Brown College Students take responsibility for new community garden at Casa Loma campus MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR
Students at George Brown College were working on their green thumbs between classes this summer. A new student garden is growing vegetables, but also a sense of community at Casa Loma campus. Tucked between trees on the edge of a barren green space beside a loading dock might not seem like an obvious place for a community garden. But for Camilia Lima it was a project she worked hard to bring to fruition. As reported previously in The Dialog, Lima organized a petition getting students to ask the college to give them space for a garden at Casa Loma. Previous to this year, the
Student Association’s food bank had a small garden beside their offices at the campus but it wasn’t big enough to allow more students interested in gardening to participate. The Student Association funds The Dialog. This summer, the college allowed 20 students to set up eight garden beds, made by carpentry students at the school, on the little-used green space along Dartnell Avenue. Lima, an architectural technology student, spent all summer in classes but kept getting the feeling she wanted to be elsewhere. “I just came out, looked at my garden, sat here and had lunch with my friends and it felt so good,” said Lima. She shares one of the gar-
Van Nguyen and Camlia Lima grew vegetables but also community at George Brown College this summer. Photo: Mick Sweetman/The Dialog
den beds with her friend Van Nguyen who is in the general arts and science program. They got to know each other last year when they worked together as peer coaches at the college. “I really love the fact that we’re responsible for some-
thing in the school,” said Nguyen. “Sometimes it just feels like we’re students going to school and doing academics but really this is our community. I really enjoy that we’re giving back to the community and are very involved in it.”
They plan to have a harvest party later in the fall, when they will pick their crop of kale, lettuce, carrots, eggplants and beans. “It felt great seeing them growing.” said Lima. “I took care of them like little babies.”
You might be on Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, but how about networking in real life? Joining or forming a club is a great way to engage with other students, organize events and it looks great on your résumé!
What is a club? A club is a group of students who come together for a wide range of purposes.
Why join a club? social Network and be part of a group that has nothing or everything to do with studying.
career Clubs are great to add to your résumé and will help develop your skills.
interest Find students who share your interests, beliefs or culture.
service Find a club that makes positive change in the world.
For more information: Drop by any Student Association office, email our clubs co-ordinator at clubs@sagbc.ca or see studentassociation.ca/clubs
STUDENTASSOCIATION G E O R G E B R O W N C O L L E G E
6
NEWS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
Waterfront goes back to the woods New tall wood building at Waterfront campus, The Arbour, to host child-care facilities for area MANSHA RUPANI REPORTER-EDITOR
The next plank in George The next plank in George Brown College’s (GBC) plan for Waterfront campus is to build a 12-storey tall wood building. The new building, which is called “The Arbour”, is planned to be carbon neutral and produce its own energy. The building is also planned to host research facilities for climate-friendly construction techniques. For GBC president Anne Sado, setting out to build greener structures is part of reversing the greenhouse gas emissions buildings have traditionally produced. “We don’t want to continue to add to that, we want to start changing that cycle and saying ‘okay if we start thinking about
different ways to build new structures, we will be able to reduce that future load,’ “ said Sado. According to a 2016 report from the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, buildings accounted for the third most emissions beyond the transportation and industrial sectors. The emissions from the building sector have increased 28 per cent between 1990 and 2014. The Arbour will have a tall wood building research institute, which according a release from the college, will allow students and researchers to learn about designing, building, and operating “climate-friendly” buildings. According to Forestry Innovation Investment, 13 tallwood buildings, seven storeys and taller have been built in the last five years with 19
more under construction. While the buildings are taking root all over the world, awareness of tall wood is still sprouting. “The biggest challenge for wood construction is education, teaching designers and trades proper techniques and processes, as well as educating the public on the safety of wood construction” wrote Jennifer Zatser, a spokesperson for Michael Green Architecture in an email. The architecture firm has designed several tall wood buildings including the sevenstorey T3 building in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When T3 was completed in 2016, it was the tallest wood building in North America. That title now belongs to University of British Columbia’s 18-storey Brock Commons student residence which
The Arbour is expected to open in 2024 and will feature a child-care facility. Image provided by the college.
opened this year. For Adrienne Galway, who is a special adviser to Sado, the Brock Commons illustrates another benefit of using tall wood: time-savings. “They had 16 weeks scheduled for the build and it went up in 10 weeks,” she said. “Usually, it’s not six weeks ahead of schedule in a building project.” George Brown is holding an international design competition for The Arbour, starting this fall. “It would be wonderful if it was someone Canadian or North American but we don’t
want to pre-conclude that,” Sado said. “We want the best design in consideration of the expertise that we need to create this new building.” The Arbour will also feature the school of computer technology and the college’s twelfth child-care facility. Hosting the child-care facility was part of the commitment the college made when it bought the land from the City of Toronto that The Arbour will be built on. The new building is scheduled to be completed in 2024. The new building is scheduled to be completed in 2024.
GBC Students! Walk accompaniment service starts 6:15 p.m. Monday to Friday. Casa Loma | Waterfront | St. James | Hospitality Building | ESL at 341 King St. E
SPORTS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
Huskies hungry for new season
outdoor team, is focusing on playing a possession game. “I think for somebody that understands and appreciates the game they know what we’re trying to get accomplished,” Williams said. “It’s easy to kick the ball and just run after it, but that’s not who I am or the philosophy I believe in.”
Mens soccer looks to build off of big 201617 campaign EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Wining the bronze at the Ontario College Athletics Association championship, and a gold in indoor soccer in March, the men’s soccer program has momentum heading into the start of the season. R i c h a r d K i r wa n , t h e team’s assistant coach noted that success on the field has been helping to bring more talent to the squad. “With those kinds of results you get kids coming out of high school that want to go to George Brown because the program finished third, you get a little more leverage,” he said. While the program’s success on the field is impressing
The Huskies men’s soccer team has high expectations to live up to having won OCCA gold last year. File photo: Phil Iver/The Dialog
new students, Kirwan said that one of the most impressive scores for the team has been veteran striker Jerome Baker. The 25-year-old, whose birthday is the day before the Huskies season opener on Sept. 9 against Conestoga, is returning to play in Canada after playing professionally in Singapore.
The women’s team had a rougher season last year, going 2-8. But head coach John Williams is focused on what the team can control, their fitness. Williams felt that the team contended for the first half of their games but faded in the second. Williams added that the team has made some quality additions, and, like the men’s
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Cross-Country Running The 2016 season was an unusual one for the Huskies cross-country team. “For the first time in my 11-years coaching the team we had a completely new roster of athletes as the entire 2015 team graduated,” said coach Michael Lavigne in an email. This year, returning runners Angelee Weathers, Jack Huang and Branden Thorburn are joined by some experienced new recruits, including Loreto Gajardo who competed for Chile in the 2015 Pan Am games. This year the Huskies have their sights set on competing at the nationals for the eleventh straight year. Last season, Leanne Sanders finished 38th at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships. For the full schedule of tryouts and games see the athletics website at: http:// www.georgebrown.ca/athletics/
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team’s August and September tryouts. “I know we’ve improved, I know we’re going to play with a new very aggressive style,” Valcke said.
Baseball The Huskies baseball team will look to improve off of a tough 1-19 season last year. With this being the first season with veteran coach, Tom Valcke, there is reason to believe that the team will be stronger. The Huskies might be playing against teams that have more talent, but Valcke is pledging a work-ethic and mentality that will make the team more competitive. “We will not get out-hustled, out-energized and we will minimize our mental errors,” he said. Valcke has been hard at work recruiting players and raising the team’s profile with George Brown students. His efforts have included two mini-camps in June and July, and tabling sessions at Casa Loma ahead of the
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8
FEATURE
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
Student rental housing in crisis Rental situation getting “exponentially worse” according to tenant advocate MEGAN KINCH REPORTER-EDITOR
W
hen I catch up with Saj Emmanuel, he’s in the thick of it. “I have an appointment with a landlord at 2:30 p.m.” he said over the phone, at 2:15 p.m. The international student is full of enthusiasm to start his studies at George Brown College, but first he has to sort out his housing situation. “I have a couple of things lined up now but nothing permanent. I’m being hopeful, but I hope I won’t get stranded,” said Emmanuel. “At the moment I’m just lodged up until tomorrow.” This is only one face of the rental housing crisis. It’s not a student-housing crisis specifically, but one that’s affecting people city-wide and students find themselves in a particularly difficult situation, as they usually need affordable housing downtown. “If you’re used to a higher vacancy environment you show up, three days later you have a place,” said Geordie Dent, executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations. “In Toronto people are showing up and can’t find a place for two months.” Anna Oliveros is a secondyear business administration and management student who moved twice in the last year. Oliveros said the process of finding rental housing was very difficult. She moved into a one-bedroom apartment near Casa Loma campus in November. “It was the first place I looked at and I just snagged it right away because I knew that if I kept looking for another apartment, that opportunity will be missed.
“In Toronto people are showing up and can’t find a place for two months” Oliveros has two kids though, and to live with them she needed at least a two-bedroom apartment. “Especially on grants or OSAP it doesn’t cover anything,” she said. “It barely covers rent. I don’t even know how I manage.” Unable to find a place she could afford Oliveros wound up moving back into her parents house in Scarborough even though this meant a two-hour commute each way. With a vacancy rate of 1.3 per cent for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), students like Oliveros are getting squeezed and are often up with their parents in the suburbs. But living farther away isn’t always a tenable solution to finding affordable housing. According to reports from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), while the cost of housing in the GTA generally decreases the farther you get from downtown, the amount of rental housing also decreases as you get to the outer suburbs as most of the housing built there is in single family homes rather than higher density rental housing. CMHC reports also mention that students and other young people often prioritize living close to downtown for social and recreational purposes
Saj Emmanuel sent this selfie while on his mission to find an affordable place near campus. “I can’t wait to have my mind, body and soul rested from the hustle for accommodation.”
as well as being close to school. Emmanuel, for example, said that his “main priority to get a place close to school so as not to end up feeling like an outcast.” “I viewed a place in Scarborough and I must say the place is nice but I declined the offer because it’s quite far from school,” said Emmanuel. “I
want to live around the school environment, downtown, so as to always keep my mind refreshed.” George Brown used to market itself with the slogan “the city college” and a perhaps unplanned but critical part of the learning experience is getting used to living and working conditions, including the skill of
navigating the rental market in a major urban centre. This particular class in life skills is getting more difficult to pass however. Even people who are experienced at finding housing in Toronto are getting squeezed, and if you haven’t looked for housing in the last year, you might be out of touch with the current realities.
FEATURE
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
9
“The market right now is out of control.”
Finding rental housing near Casa Loma is tough, according to Geordie Dent of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations. Photo: The Digitel/ Creative Commons
of people crammed into really tiny spaces, whereas 10 years ago they’d just get a two bedroom and share it,” he said. “Now you’ve got four people sharing a two bedroom and dangerous situations like that.” With online rental compa-
nies like Airbnb taking nearly 5,000 houses off the market, according to a report by McGill’s school of urban planning, the situation is not getting better any time soon.
HOUSING STATS BY THE NUMBER Business student Anna Oliveros had to move back to her parent’s house in Scarborough to live with her kids. She uses her commute to study. Photo: Megan Kinch/The Dialog
Dent said that the situation is getting “exponentially worse.” Oliveros might have been able to find a two-bedroom apartment for $1,500 back in November, a price which is already over her budget. But if she looked now she not likely to find anything at that price. “Even a year and a half ago, you’re looking at the average one bedroom that’s renting out now, and it’s like $1,900 or $1,800 and that’s a lot of money for not a lot of space,” said Luke Fraser, a real estate agent with Royal LePage and a George Brown graduate. Fraser got his real estate licence during his last year of a marketing program at George Brown, and offered his services to the college’s housing department.
He said he was able to help students find places, but that it’s getting harder because “the market right now is out of control.” Fraser thinks that universities and colleges should do more to ensure students have affordable housing. “I know George Brown has the new residence, so George Brown did good with that,” he said. “But all schools need to take into account that if rent is expensive in the city it’s going to be tough for the students.” The George opened last year, and is making a difference. Courtney Hayes, who works at the front desk, was enthusiastic about both the amenities and benefits of living there for students.
“It has a nice community feeling,” she said. “It has that kind of a vibe so they can definitely have fun here and it’s a nice atmosphere for sure.“ The George houses around 500 students, but starting at $9,250 for the fall and winter terms, it isn’t cheap. Dent said that across the city of Toronto, there is hardly any student-specific housing being built and that most students are forced to compete on the private rental market. He said that finding rental housing near educational institutions, especially campus located near low-rise housing like Casa Loma campus is a problem. “You just get this mass of illegal rooming houses or collective housing that’s a bunch
$1,137
Average rent (2016) for a two-bedroom apartment in the GTA
1.3% Vacancy rate (2016) of rentals in the GTA
1.8% Ontario rent increase guideline (2018)
1.2 million
The number of rental housing units in the province
7-10 years
Average wait for a one-bedroom rent-geared-to-income apartment in Toronto Sources: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Ontario Government, Housing Connections
Searching for a Career? Choose Payroll Becoming a Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) will ensure you have the compliance knowledge and payroll skills needed for success. • Employers look for this certification when hiring and pay a 5-10% higher salary to those who have achieved it (Robert Half’s 2017 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide). • Payroll Certification broadens the knowledge base and skill set for Business, HR and Accounting students. • PCP Certification requires four key courses offered at many colleges and online. The Canadian Payroll Association can guide you on your path, try our online course demo today.
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ARTS & LIFE
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
11
Post Malone to turn up GBC Fest 2017 The 2017 concert also features Juno-Award winner DJ Shub MENG MA REPORTER-EDITOR
Dialog, and the 50th birthday for George Brown College (GBC). “I’m so excited,” said Mercedes Burrowes, the SA’s director of campus life. “I think he’s a really huge name that our students are going to know and be excited for.” Malone made a big impact when he released White Iverson in August 2015. As of April, the single was downloaded four million times and the video for the song has more than 380 million views. “Hip hop is very popular amongst our students,” said Neil Cumberbatch, the SA’s senior co-ordinator of events and marketing. “Post is about bringing energy to his performances, and he’s very current in the hip-hop scene.” His debut full-length Stoney reached platinum earlier this year and with hits like Go Flex and Too Young his popularity continues to grow. Joining Post Malone at GBC Fest will be DJ Shub, formerly of A Tribe Called Red. Shub has won several DJ DJ Shub and Classic Roots, who was featured in the video for ‘Indomitable’ ft. Northern Cree Singers. Photo: Ogichidaa Arts
Platinum recording artist Post Malone is headlining GBC Fest. Photo provided
Post Malone will be taking the stage as the headline artist for the Student Association’s (SA) GBC Fest on Sept. 14.
The 22-year-old’s 2017 viral hit Congratulations is a fateful fit for everyone to celebrate the 25th anniversary for the SA, which funds The
“He’s a really huge name that our students are going to know and be excited for”
battle awards and a Juno Award for his work with A Tribe Called Red. His solo EP PowWowStep is a beautiful collaboration of Indigenous voices that will get you clapping to beats from Northern Cree Singers and Black Lodge Singers. The EP earned him an Indigenous Music Award in May 2017. Burrowes, who is co-hosting GBC Fest with Alex Stewart, said that Shub brings something unique to GBC
Fest. “For students who may have never experienced this before, I’m really glad we’re giving some exposure to that.” GBC Fest will take place at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for guests. Starting Aug. 30, students can visit an SA office for ticket details.
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ARTS & LIFE
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
‘My first week was awful’ Adjusting to a new school, country and language requires community LIDIANNY BOTTO REPORTER-EDITOR
Leaving your home country, taking classes in another language and experiencing a new culture in Canada was scary for Shaghayegh Shabro, an international student studying business administration. “My first week was awful,” she said. “I remember one of my classes where I couldn’t understand or even pronounce all the words that my professor was saying.” Shabro, who is originally from Tehran, Iran, had enough difficulty in her first week that she almost gave up. Now in her second semester, Shabro said her experience at the college is completely different. Her English has improved daily and Shabro said she better understands the college and its departments. She also landed a job at Peerconnect which she’s scheduled to start in September.
Bianca Lima de Barros, also an international business administration student, had a less rocky start to her time at GBC. A doctor in Brazil, she decided to start a new life and a different profession in Canada. Having been in Toronto for around a year and half, de Barros said that making new friends early on helped her adapt quickly. “Everybody was an international student and we have the same challenges and questions and our problems are quite similar,” she said. “And when you have something that you don’t know you can ask and someone will come with some suggestion and it helps a lot.” According to Tenzing Kunga, a George Brown international student adviser, the challenges for international students go beyond academic life. He said they also need to overcome culture shock, which is why the international centre at GBC tries to get students involved in their first week at the college through two big events, Smart Start and International Orientation. “We get students to come in and take a look at what the college looks like, meet with GBC team, other peers and start out for the first time in at George Brown,” Kunga said. At the International Orientation, students can learn
TIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Shaghayegh Shabro found the transition from Iran to Canada difficult. Photo: Lidianny Botto/The Dialog more details about work and study permits, health insurance and what services are provided to international students. “These two events are something that we highly recommend students get involved in,” said Kunga. “Because a lot of students who have been to these events have got a lot out of it.” Kushagra Manchanda, the Student Association’s (SA) international student representative, is an example of step by step improvement. Coming from Delhi, India in August 2015, he remembers how shy he was when he started at the college.
The SA funds The Dialog. Manchanda went to the international orientation session when he arrived in Toronto. In his second year, he volunteered at it through the international student ambassador program. Now, in his role as international student representative, Manchanda will be giving a speech at the orientation. “The international students should know that even if you can’t speak English fluently, even you may have some accent, Canadians are really nice and they want to help you fit in with them,” said Manchanda.
Tenzing Kunga
Bianca Lima de Barros
International student advisor “Don’t make the school classes and home your daily routine. There are a lot of activities and events which happen at the college. Get involved.”
International student “Make an overview of the content before you go the class and you will be more productive.”
“We have the same challenges and questions and our problems are quite similar”
Kushagra Manchanda
International students representative in the Student Association “Don’t be afraid to talk with another people and don’t think that your English or accent keep you behind others as student or as a member of the society.”
ARTS & LIFE
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
13
Four mental health tips to help you get through college GBC’s Kate Klein encourages students to get involved
relationships and connecting to the community,” said Klein. “We know that isolation has a big impact.” Klein recommended that students should join clubs or participate in the student leadership academy.
MENG MA
2. Let it out “There’s a lot of different people that can support a student’s effort to create balance in their life,” said Klein. Klein suggested talking things through with a counselor at a campus counseling and accessible learning services centre or using the Good2Talk Helpline for after hours at 1-866-925-5454.
REPORTER-EDITOR
You have classes, bills, work, family drama and moving plans. You feel like you’re sinking. You’re wondering how to keep your head above water. Kate Klein, George Brown College’s (GBC) healthy campus coordinator, shares her thoughts to help keep you calm and ready for the 201718 school year. 1. Stay connected “Understand that well-being is based on feeling strong
3. Put yourself first Klein listed two major ways to manage stress. First, it’s good to visit the Peerconnect for their drop-in colouring therapy and time-management workshops. Then
there’s signing up for classes in the athletic recreation program, which Klein said is a “great way to blow off steam.” 4. Act with kindness It is important to be as kind to yourself as to others. “Be mindful of diversity, equity and think about the impacts of your actions,” said
Klein. “Check in with people who look stressed.” She explained that although academics are important, having people to debrief with for those rough times is key to success at school. “In the end, it all comes down to community.”
“There’s a lot of different people that can support a student’s effort to create balance in their life”
Oct.2 to Oct.6
Because as students we can build each other up. Week-long series of events welcoming new and returning students and community members.
Come together to learn and skill-share around issues of consent, anti-black racism, communities of care, free education and more. Hosted by: Community Action Centre
All events FREE More: bit.ly/CACdisO-2017
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ARTS & LIFE
Library Learning Commons All campuses
Worried about over-spending and over-caffeinating while you study at cafes? Check out George Brown’s libraries and work on one of the computers there. In a case you need to work away from the college, don’t worry! You can borrow a laptop for up to eight hours and an iPad for a week.
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
WiFi
All campuses
Need to check all of your email and social media constantly? Well, data can be expensive. But George Brown students can access wifi with your student number and password on any campus and stay connected. Happy surfing!
GBC computer store
Microsoft Office 365
Student food bank
The not-for-profit store at St. James campus offers computers, laptops, and accessories such as printers, software at special educational prices. Just flash your student ID and be registered for your classes for the semester and enjoy the savings.
Did you know that you have access to Microsoft Office? The most basic Office 365 version costs about $15.20 a month, but George Brown provides it free to students. Put in your student number and STU-VIEW password and you’ve got your subscription.
An initiative to aid students in need, the student food bank provides two to three days worth of food when you need it most. There is some registration required, but it doesn’t take long.
St. James
10 ways to $ave money at GBC
GBC website
All campuses
Students can take advantage of a number of benefits from the college and the Student Association. MANSHA RUPANI REPORTER-EDITOR
The Dialog is funded by the Student Association of George Brown College.
Daily Special
TTC Metropasses All campuses
Unlock Toronto’s transit city at subsidized rates during the final five school days of the month, available at the SA’s front desks For a list of locations see: studentassociation.ca
Community Action Centre St. James & Casa Loma
It is a community where you can not only discuss issues of equity and share your experiences in free workshops, but also pick up health and sexual health supplies such as condoms, dental dams, lubricant, pregnancy tests and menstrual products for free.
Income tax clinic
Movie tickets
King’s Lounge bar
Confused about your tax situation? In March you can book an appointment at the tax clinic to get all your queries resolved and returns prepared for free by trained student volunteers.
Movie lovers: if have to see the new Star Wars or any other blockbuster, why pay full price? Through the SA you can get Cineplex movie tickets at a cheaper rate. Whether you have a date or are all by yourself, the SA office on your campus has a deal for you.
Re-energize yourself with food and beverages at affordable prices at the SA’s student-operated pub. King’s Lounge offers daily specials, vegetarian options, and hosts unique pub nights.
March 2018
All campuses
St. James, SJA 150
FUN
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // August 28–September 17
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// SUDOKU
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To place an ad in our next issue, contact us at
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dialogads@sagbc.ca or (416) 415-5000 (ext. 2462). Colour ads and a variety of sizes are available.
// COMIC
Puzzle by websudoku.com
// CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Across
1- Give guns again; 6- “Orinoco Flow” singer; 10- Prissy; 14- ... who lived in ___; 15- Bluey-green color; 16- Frees (of); 17- Homebody; 19- Cassini of fashion; 20- Fireplace shelf; 21- Actor Penn; 22- Attack; 24- Secluded spot; 25- Anderson of “WKRP in Cincinnati”; 26- Gazes fixedly; 29- Greek dish; 33- Specific geographical places; 34- Complete collections; 35- Angers; 36- Autos; 37- Worth; 38- Port of Algeria; 39- Journalist Jacob; 40- Affirmative votes; 41- Mindlessly stupid; 42- Unimportant; 44- Killer; 45- Capital of Norway;
46- Dark cloud; 47- Go by; 50- Bedouin; 51- Constellation near Scorpius; 54- Jump; 55- Producing darkness; 58- Achy; 59- Muddy up; 60- Set up; 61- Cabinet dept.; 62- Holler; 63- Coolidge’s vice president;
Down
1- Impetuous; 2- This, in Tijuana; 3- Pequod captain; 4- Siegfried’s partner; 5- Rubella; 6- Patriot Allen; 7- It’s a gas; 8- Thanksgiving tuber; 9- Tavern; 10- Temporary; 11- Rub the wrong way; 12- Notion; 13- High-ranking NCO; 18- Driving aids;
23- Ques. response; 24- Leaping insect; 25- Water lily; 26- Prefix with iliac; 27- Habituate; 28- Eagle’s nest; 29- Donnybrook; 30- Lineup; 31- “The Family Circus” cartoonist Bil; 32- “Lou Grant” star; 34- Authority; 37- Rabble; 41- Rude; 43- CIA predecessor; 44- Swedish import; 46- Shampoo brand; 47- Otherwise; 48- Boxer Spinks; 49- Bern’s river; 50- Indigo source; 51- Not many; 52- Starchy food grain; 53- Plays are divided up into these; 56- Fair-hiring abbr.; 57- George Gershwin’s brother;
“Crossword puzzles provided by bestcrosswords.com (http://www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission.”
HEADLINER:
POST MALONE Performing the hit “Congratulations” and more.
ALSO FEATURING: DJ Shub (Formerly from a Tribe Called Red) & Jeff Jam.
THU RSDAY, SEPT. 14 The Phoenix Concert Theatre $5 for GBC students
| $10 for guests of GBC students
For more information: studentassociation.ca
sagbc
runyourfuture
F O R
sagbc
sa.gbc
2 0 1 7 - 1 8
YOUR HEALTH PLAN PROVIDER
CHOOSE BETWEEN
4 DIFFERENT HEALTH PLANS (ESL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS EXCLUDED)
Easily opt-in/out, add your family and choose your plan before the deadline: Questions: healthbenefits@sagbc.ca 416-415-5000 ext. 2443
October 12, 2017
The plan for international students is a mandatory plan and you cannot opt-out.
ONLINE AT
WESPEAKSTUDENT.COM