VOL. 37 ISSUE 13 / MARCH 18 TO 31, 2019 GBC Student Newspaper • Founded 1982
NEWS/ P. 3
ARTS & LIFE/ P. 7
SPORTS/ P. 13
GBC expects students to work unpaid internships
How to file your taxes correctly
GBC badminton wins two silver medals
GO WITH THE FLOW
IT’S BLOODY TIME GBC PROVIDES FREE PERIOD SUPPLIES IN CAMPUS WASHROOMS
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NEWS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // March 18 to 31, 2019
Some GBC students pay to work for free Advocates say unpaid internships are a form of free labour and should be abolished An internship is a popular way for students to gain experience in their chosen field, and can be a great way to make some money - if it's a paid internship. According to the Ministry of Labour and the Employment Standards Act (ESA), employers in Ontario are not required to pay students in internship positions, as long as the positions are under a college or university program. The director of work integrated learning (WIL) at George Brown College (GBC), Dario Guescini, said WIL encompasses apprenticeships, field education, co-op, internships, clinical placement, applied research, and service learning aimed at exposing students to meaningful work experiences. "That's the end goal, not just to do work, or unpaid work. It's not about that. It's about the training, it's about experiencing what the real life of working is all about," he said. While people on co-ops generally get paid, interns often don't need to be paid if it's through a school program. Samantha Blackwood, a digital media marketing postgraduate student at GBC, was surprised that a lot of internship opportunities available in her postgraduate certificate program were unpaid. Having completed two unpaid internships in her career, she noted that unpaid internship job postings are often inaccurate. "They tell you that you're going to have all these responsibilities, you're going
PHOTO: ANGELA SEREFNICKI/ THE DIALOG
ANGELA SEREDNICKI & KEVIN GOODGER
The Career Services centres provides helpful professional career development advice to students, employers, faculty and staff.
to learn all these things, and you end up doing admin work or getting people coffee," said Blackwood. As with any program, it is important to ensure that WIL opportunities are valuable to the students undertaking them. "The school made it seem like they vetted people and really went to visit these companies and talk to them, but I don't think they really know the the details of the internships," she said. "Right now what we're focusing on is enhancing the quality of those experiences," said Guescini. William Webb, the executive director of The Cana-
dian Intern Association, a non-profit organization that aims to improve internship experiences, says that unpaid internships required by school programs are problematic. "Students are required to pay to work rather than getting paid for work. They have to pay for it which is concerning from a basic kind of employment standard and fairness perspective," said Webb. He also highlighted the power dynamics between unpaid students and employers. For example, employers may hold grades over their students' heads to make them work longer hours and do more work, he explained.
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CONTACT US editor@dialognews.ca Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 4274 Room E122 - Casa Loma 142 Kendal Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 1M3 www.dialognews.ca Read this issue and back issues online at https://issuu.com/ dialog
EDITORIAL Editor: Angela Serednicki. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . editor@dialognews.ca Assistant Editor: Ashraf Dabie . . . . . . . assistanteditor@dialognews.ca News and features Neebiir Kamaal. . . . . . . . . . . news@dialognews.ca Opinion: Timo Cheah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . opinion@dialognews.ca Arts and life: Ladshia Jeyakanthan. . . . . . . . . . . artslife@dialognews.ca Sports: Allison Preston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sports@dialognews.ca General assignment: Nico deVeber. . . . . . . . reporter@dialognews.ca The Dialog podcast: Luiz Felipe Lamussi. . . podcast@dialognews.ca Video: Peter Sarellas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . video@dialognews.ca Video: Sebastian Bravoco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . video2@dialognews.ca Graphic designer: Keynaz Varanlou. . . . . . . . . design@dialognews.ca Ad sales and marketing: James Larsh. . . . . . . . . ads@dialognews.ca Distribution: Matthew Miranda . . . . . . . . distribution@dialognews.ca Publications co-ordinator: Mick Sweetman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . communications@sagbc.ca
"It's concerning, because as a student it might jeopardize your grade or position in a program." Additionally, students face the chance of losing their tuition or fees paid to take part in the internship if it is to fall through. "Those are the kind of severe inequalities that are concerning," he said. Chris Glover, NDP MPP critic, colleges and universities, had a similar view on unpaid internships. "Too often employers take advantage of unpaid internships to have free labour. You have somebody come in and intern, and as soon as that person is done their term,
@dialoggbc
they bring in someone else who is working for free, rather than provide that person with a job," said Glover. On March 18, students across Quebec will be participating in a province-wide coalition against unpaid internships. "Universities (and colleges) need to stop asking students to take unpaid internships," said Miriam Lafontaine, a journalism student at Concordia University and editor-in-chief of The Link. Lafontaine will be participating in a week-long strike against unpaid internships in her program.
@thedialog
OPERATION
CONTRIBUTING
The Dialog newspaper is published with the support of the Student Association of George Brown College. The Dialog’s staff are 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 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.
Contributions to The Dialog are always welcome. We request that articles be submitted as digital copies in plain-text (TXT) or richtext (RTF) format. Letters to the editor can be sent in an e-mail message to: editor@dialognews.ca Images should be in EPS format for vector files or in TIFF format at 300 dpi for raster files.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We acknowledge that the work we do happens on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and most recently, the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. The territory was the subject of the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, and is also covered by the Upper Canada Treaties. The meeting place of Toronto is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island.
The Dialog is a member of CUP, the Canadian University Press
NEWS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // March 18 to 31, 2019
Delays to the new design building
EVENTS LISTING MONDAY, MARCH 18 SA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING 6 p.m to 8 p.m. Casa Loma Student Centre, Games Room E Building, First Floor 142 Kendal Ave.
PHOTO: NICO DEVEBER/ THE DIALOG
Don’t be shy! A visit to a board meeting for the first time may seem intimidating. Just remember, board members are your fellow students. They are there to answer your questions and are accountable to you.
MARCH 19 TO MARCH 21 CENTRE FOR BUSINESS CAREER FAIR In Store will be part of the Daniels Waterfront expansion along with the school of design.
The anticipated move to the new Daniel's Waterfront location set for summer 2019 NICO DEVEBER REPORTER-EDITOR
Design students at George Brown College (GBC) are still waiting for the new building they were promised. After a series of delays, the school of design is slated to move to it's new Waterfront location at 3 Lower Jarvis St. for the summer semester. “It's taken a while, but we're tremendously excited to have really state-of-theart facilities for the school of design,” said Luigi Ferrara, dean of the centre for arts, design, and information technology. The new school of design was supposed to be ready for the beginning of the winter semester. This was according to an email sent to students on Nov. 20 last year. However, on Dec. 13, students received a subsequent email stating that, due to
delays in construction at the new building, all courses would continue at 230 Richmond St. E in January 2019. On Feb. 20, it was confirmed that students would not be enjoying the new space for their classes in the winter semester. “We started thinking about it, and thinking about the timelines and how much nicer it would look if we decided to bring the students in for the school of design later,” said Karen Thomson, vice president of corporate services at GBC. Factors such as window blinds not being installed, and the third floor only being partially incomplete played a part in delaying the move, Thomson said. Another important factor in delaying the move was the time required to move the equipment from the old building to the new. “That would have left us a week over the Christmas holidays to bring the equipment in, test the equipment, and make sure everything worked,” said Thomson, adding that the same issue would have presented itself in moving over the winter intercession week. A one-week window may not have been enough, she said. “The academic division,
as we got closer to the date, said they were just a little bit nervous that they didn't have enough time to really feel like they knew the equipment,” said Thomson. According to Thomson, “there were zero cost-implications” in delaying the move, saying that they have completely signed off with the construction firm. As for what will happen to the old design building at 230 Richmond St. E., Ferrara believes the space will be kept for a number of years. “We love the current space we're in, but it isn't an owned space,” he said. “And the whole project for the school of design at the Daniel's City for the Arts allows us to get a space that we own, and so it's secure for the future, for the students,” he added. Ferrara said that the old school of design will still be re-purposed and used for media and hospitality programs, as they're giving up other spaces at the college they formerly leased. “I think it's going to be amazing for the students, and I think it's also going to be amazing for the Waterfront campus,” said Ferrara. “Now there's not just one building, but a true community of buildings that's down there.”
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11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Career Centre St. James A Building, Room B155 200 King St. East
We expect about 10 employers to attend each day. If you wish to attend multiple days, you will need to register for each day separately.
MONDAY, MARCH 25 FROM THE MARGINS: RADICAL BOOK GROUP HONOURING BIPOC AUTHORS 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Community Action Centre St. James A building, Room 165B 200 King St. East
Book group featuring Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) authors, ranging from poetry, to plays, to more. Monthly series with rotating co-hosts.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 COMMUNICATIONS & BOUNDARIES 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. St. James A Building, Room 337E 200 King St. East
Your life as an activist, social justice worker, or change-maker brings challenges. This workshop series offers skills to sustain our social justice selves, based on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). THURSDAY, MARCH 28
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 FUEGO LATINO: SHOWCASING LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE 8 p.m. to midnight Kings Lounge St. James A Building, Room 150 200 King St. East
Latin food, music & more. Free for GBC students / $5 for guests (2 guests per student).
FLO – LGBTQ PARTY 8 p.m. to midnight Kings Lounge St. James A Building, Room 150 200 King St. East
FRIDAY, MARCH 29 DESI NIGHT: SOUTH ASIAN PARTY 8 p.m. to midnight Kings Lounge St. James A Building, Room 150 200 King St. East
Latin food, music & more. Free for GBC students / $5 for guests (2 guests per student).
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NEWS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // March 18 to 31, 2019
Panel empowers confidence in women SA hosted an inspiring panel discussion in honour of International Women's Day 2019
To commemorate International Women’s Day 2019, the Student Association (SA) hosted an event to facilitate a discussion between a panel of female entrepreneurs and students. This event was organized by Manisha Punjabi, the women and trans representative at the SA, and Nureisse Khan, student representative on the George Brown College (GBC) board of governors. Punjabi said that our society strains the issues surrounding sexism and inequality. So she wanted this event to not only address these problems but also highlight the success of women and celebrate the progress towards fair treatment of women. Nureisse said she was motivated to co-host because she believes that issues facing women are not adequately
has dreams, the first thing people say is no and give a l l t h e r e asons why you shouldn't be like that," said Turner. The speakers all came f r o m d i f f e rent industry The panel consisted of women from different backgrounds, industries. which was addressed at the college and Punjabi’s and Khan’s goal hoped that this event would when co-ordinating their inbe a step towards the right volvement. direction. Turner expressed how inMaisha Turner, an interspiring the panel members action design and developwere and that there is somement student, was actively thing to be learned from all of engaged in the conversation their diverse stories. with the panel consisting of Fainer is a presentation Ainka Jess, Tee Scott, Giselle performance coach who noted Kovary, Avra Fainer and that equality does not mean "Britta B". "measuring everybody by the "Learn how to be yourself. same stick." If you're growing up as a feShe said people need to male who is opinionated or give everyone an equal opPHOTO: TIMO CHEAH/ THE DIALOG
TIMO CHEAH REPORTER-EDITOR
portunity based on strengths and weaknesses. "You need to judge me on my performance levels, not whether or not I fit the ideal image of what a woman should look like in your mind," said Fainer. Fainer coaches people in a unique five-step method that helps to build confidence, aids organizations in restructuring their business models and assists with the success of their initiatives. “They're all very different types of women," said Turner. "They all have different personalities and strategies, but with all of them, they found a way to be themselves instead of trying to diminish themselves and conform.” Britta B is a spoken word performer who is actively engaged in the Toronto poetry community. She is also featured in the documentary film, The Journey, which is about the rejuvenation of
Regent Park. She mentioned how important it is for events and spaces to be more accessible for everyone and how acknowledging people’s perspectives is crucial to finding solutions. This has been her passion and she conveys this message through spoken word, slam poetry and by simply talking to people. "Poetry is a very magnificent way of bringing people together and getting them to think deeply and to reflect deeper on their contribution and their role and how society and reality exist as it is now,” she said. Each panelist reflected on how society needs to step forward in hearing everyone’s voice without stigma. Whether it is from unconscious bias or blatant disbelief in women's rights, the panel stressed that this perspective needs to change.
NEWS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // March 18 to 31, 2019
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GBC addresses menstruation inequality The college will consider offering free tampons and pads in bathrooms across campuses ANGELA SEREDNICKI
Post-secondary institutions across Canada are making headlines for offering complimentary menstrual products in bathrooms for students that need it. George Brown College (GBC) currently does not offer free pads and tampons to students in bathrooms. Toronto’s Centennial College and Humber College began providing pads and tampons, free of charge, in the 2018 academic year. Other Canadian post-secondary institutions that offer complimentary period products include Mount Saint Vincent University, King’s University College, University of Calgary, and McGill University, to name a few. "It is only in the past few days that I have come to learn of the request to have menstruation supplies more readily available on campus," Chris McGrath, the vice-president, of student success at GBC, said in an email. "I understand that the Community Action Centre (CAC) has supplies available, but I can understand how accessing the Centre may not always be feasible for students," he added. Students in need of menstruation products can go into Community Action Centres (CAC) located on each GBC campus for pads, tampons and heating pads to use for cramps, said Kizzie St Clair, director of equity of the Student Association (SA). However, the CAC at the
PHOTO: KEYNAZ VARANLOUGHOUCHAN/ THE DIALOG
EDITOR
Students currently can't buy period supplies like tampons and pads in campus bathrooms at George Brown College.
St. James, Casa Loma and Waterfront campuses do not operate under full-time business hours and are only open a few days each week. Complimentary, accessible pads and tampons address economic and equality needs among students. Currently, one-third of Canadian women under the age of 25 said they struggled to afford menstrual products, according to a May 2018 re-
port conducted by Plan International Canada. The report polled 2,000 women under the age of 25. Offering complimentary menstruation products also addresses the fact that students with periods are often paying extra for bathroom supplies they require in order to attend school without disruption. "Given the recent decisions by our local colleges
to do so, I will work my colleagues in the administration and the Student Association to more fully explore the provision of menstruation supplies at the college," McGrath said. “It’s extremely important to have equal access to clean and free period products,” said Leviana Coccia, the communications officer for The Period Purse, a non-profitable organization in Toronto
that works to provide equal access to menstrual products for marginalized people. “There’s nothing worse than getting your period and not having access to tampons, pads or menstruation cups,” she said. Coccia explains that everyone who menstruates has experienced situations where they don’t have the period supplies they needed in public. “It can be really embarrassing for people to ask for help with this if they don’t have access to these supplies on a regular basis,” she said. “It shouldn’t be a conversation anyone ever has to have because menstruation is so very normal." Fifty-seven per cent of the GBC student population identifies as female, and another one percent identify as non-binary, according to November, 2017 statistics. Menstruating students are not only limited to women, but trans and non-binary students as well. Access to free period products within post-secondary institutions is part of a growing movement towards breaking down stigma and bias towards menstruation.
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OPINION
The Dialog • dialognews.ca //
March 18 to 31, 2019
Students need to run in the SA election Strong candidates are crucial for the upcoming general election now more than ever TIMO CHEAH With the recent Student Choice Initiative made by the provincial government student unions across the province are preparing for big changes to how they will operate. "It is important that students are aware that we are here, what their rights are, what they have access to and how to get involved." The general election for the Student Association of George Brown College (SA) is important because students will form the vision for the SA. The SA runs services such as emergency food banks, the Community Action Centre, health benefits plans, student events and The Dialog. Your voice is crucial in deciding what the future holds. "You get to hear what students struggle with every day and maybe you struggle with
PHOTO: TIMO CHEAH / THE DIALOG
OPINION
Nominations for the 2019 SA general election are from Mar 11-15.
the same things," said Kizzie St. Clair, the SA's director of equity "It allows great relationships to build." The nomination and election process is much easier than you think, so why not give it a go? Getting people to nominate you is simple. Just pick up a nomination package
at any SA office and ask current students to sign your nomination forms. Education centre candidates need 10 signatures to run and will be required to work 10-hour weeks at $15 per hour if elected. Executive positions require 30 signatures and are full-time jobs at $17 per hour. Once elected, you do not have to be
a student. Make sure to submit your completed nomination package by Friday, March 15. After you are successfully nominated as a candidate the next stage is the campaign period which starts on March 21 and runs until April 3. Your candidate statement distinguishes who you are.
Students are there to hear why you want to run, so it’s vital to ask what’s important to them, hear what they are passionate about and reach out to any current representatives who should be involved in the conversation. The number of voters has been low recently, at 7.25 per cent last year and 6.54 per cent in 2017. Campaigning should not feel like you're trying to get students to sign up for another credit card they don’t need. And it shouldn't be a game to see who can get the most. So it's essential that candidates actively engage in discussion with students. It not only gets them involved and voting, but also fosters connections that bring the community together. It’s not all about you, so don’t make it seem that way. Listen to students concerns and address how you can help them constructively if you get elected.
If you’re elected just be there and be willing to exercise your power to move the students' words through yours. This will help inform students how much support they have and shows that people actually care about their education and well being. Let them know who you are, what you stand for and ask what they think. As students in a crisis, it is our duty to actively engage with the SA to provide students with as much support as possible. Showing your commitment as a student, a candidate and a representative goes a long way in building trust among your fellow students. Nominations open on March 11 so get out your pen and open your ears to students!
GBC students deserve a U-Pass
Students should be able to vote for new ancillary fee-funded U-Passes NICO DEVEBER Students shouldn’t have to pay for transit out of pocket. Many Canadian cities with a heavy post-secondary student population have agreed on this matter, including Toronto with their U-Pass program. Ryerson students, who voted for the U-Pass in a referendum will have their U-Pass funded through mandatory ancillary fees, this will continue under the Student Choice Initiative, according to Rebecca Bozzato, communications advisor for the ministry of training, colleges, and universities. "Our government believes that all students should have ready access to college and university campuses," said Bozzato. "Existing mandatory transit passes will remain so under the Student Choice Initiative." With the new changes to ancillary fees by the Student Choice Initiative, however, it might be too late for GBC students to hold a referen-
PHOTO: NICO DEVEBER/ THE DIALOG
OPINION
In many Ontario cities ancillery fees cover the cost of a transit pass.
dum on a U-Pass now. The government is wrong on this, all students should be allowed to vote for transit passes funded by ancillary fees. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has not catered to its large student population the way other cities have in the past, but has made steps with the heavily reduced-price of $70 per month
U-Pass program compared to the current $116.75 students are paying at George Brown College (GBC) right now. “When I was at Dalhousie University, they had it included in tuition. It's a lot more convenient, and then you don't have to think about it every month to have to pay an extra fee,” said Carolena Charles, an architectural technology student.
Transit passes can benefit countless students who can’t afford to live on campus, commute to a job, or live with family during their studies. Toronto is way more expensive to live in when compared to London or Kingston, too. Despite the fact that GBC is an institution famous for its downtown location, and that it only established a student residence a couple years ago, we do not have the same system in place as Ryerson, another downtown-located institution. "Because the cost of living is so high, the least that the government can do is give us free transportation," said Mohammad Shaacad, a general arts and science student. Shaacad said that a transit pass covered by his ancillary fees would take a load off his monthly expenses and help with his daily commutes. Most students need to work to afford their studies. To afford a downtown flat near the college that's also within biking distance from your job is a literal fantasy in
this rental market, so a transit pass is essential to getting to and from work and school. Succeeding, scratch that. Surviving as a student in Toronto can be hard. After paying rent that is almost 50 per cent of what I make, it’s hard to budget for groceries, let alone another $116.75 a month to get to school. The TTC lost $61 million in 2018 due to fare evasion, but that doesn't surprise me. I know why people evade fares. We also have a transit system that lost $3.4 million in revenue due to malfunctioning equipment last year. Frequently malfunctioning gates and card readers at subway stations make fare evasion incredibly tempting to almost any broke student who needs to make a short trip of two or three stops on a streetcar. A U-Pass would improve student life by eliminating the hassle of buying a new pass each month, along with the financial stress of having to pay such hefty fares just to get to class.
ARTS & LIFE
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // March 18 to 31, 2019
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How to file your taxes correctly and with ease GBC professor says the biggest mistake students make is not doing their taxes ASHRAF DABIE ASSISTANT EDITOR
Tax season can be a stressful time, especially for those filing income tax and benefit return for the first time. But filing for taxes doesn't have to be a negative experience, especially when there's a chance to cash in on refunds and credits. For students who are not sure if they should be filing for taxes or how to do so, here is what you need to know: Who can file for a tax refund? • Students who are employed are required to account for their income, deducted taxes and expenses to determine whether they are owing taxes or eligible for refunds and credits. • Students who are unemployed should do their taxes to qualify for tax credits and other benefit programs. • International students are also eligible to file for income tax return once they are a resident or have been deemed a resident of Canada. Being a resident for tax purposes differs from your immigration status. Why should students do their taxes? "It's always an advantage to file a return, even if you are low or no income, because of the fact that it puts you in a position to apply for various credits and that can be something that turns into money in your pocket," said Allan Murray, the communications manager at Canada Revenue Authority (CRA). Carolyn Fallis, professor of financial planning at George Brown College (GBC) agreed, saying, "I think the biggest mistake is not filing." Submitting an income tax return allows you to claim refund, pay for any outstanding taxes and apply for tax credits and benefits.
How can students benefit from filing a tax return? 1. Tuition credits Filing yearly tax returns allow students to earn tuition credits to be used immediately or in the future. According to Fallis, people making approximately $12,000 annually are tax exempted and are eligible for refunds on tax contributions deducted from their income. Students can add their tuition totals to this amount. So if a student is paying $5,000 in annual tuition, they will be allowed up to $17,000 in tax exempted income, Fallis explained. 2. Tax credits and benefits Students are eligible for the Goods and Services Tax (GTS) credit, which is a rebate on money spent in the economy based on your income. Students with children
can also apply for child care expenses credit. Students renting or owning home may also be eligible for the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB), which assists with the cost of housing. 3. The climate action incentive This is a new tax benefit introduced this year for Canadian residents, ages 18 and older. For persons living in Ontario, you can apply for this incentive and receive $154, which can increase based on your family situation and if you are living in a rural area. The only disqualifying factors are: not being a resident or deemed a resident by the CRA, if you were imprisoned, a diplomat of a foreign country or if you are a recipient of a children's special allowance. If you were having doubts about filing your taxes, this tax benefit should be enough incentive to do so. "They'll
just send you money," Fallis said. What documents are needed? As a student filing for taxes, some of the generally required documents are: • S o c i a l I n s u r a n c e Number (SIN) • T2202A forms that shows tuition fees paid for the tax year. George Brown College (GBC) students can access their T2202A on StuView. • T4 employment income and tax deductions forms • General Tax Forms available online at .canada. ca/en/revenue-agency and at all Canada Post offices. Additional documents may include Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
contribution receipts, proof of interest on student loans, monthly transit pass receipts and rental receipts or letter (including address, name of landlord and number of months you were there), among others. How to get it done? There are several ways in which you can get your taxes done, such as on paper, over the phone, online or through free tax clinics. Both Murray and Fallis suggested using the online option, saying that it is easy to use, reduces the chances of errors and ensures that your submissions are processed much faster. The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) provides free a access code for students filing their taxes online through UFile. If you filed your taxes online and provided a direct deposit, you can generally expect your refund within eight business days. For those choosing the paper route, it takes about eight weeks. Tips to consider When you're filing for taxes, make sure to read your returns carefully, says Murray. "Look at all of the schedules and the lines," he says. Additionally, Fallis is cautioning students to ensure that their submissions are completed on time. If you are owing taxes, pay before the deadline to avoid interest and penalties, Fallis says. The general deadline to complete your 2018 tax return is April 30, 2019. Amounts paid after this date will incur interest. H o w e v e r, i f y o u a r e self-employed, the deadline to file your tax return is June 15, 2019. So if you haven't done you taxes yet, this is the time to do so.
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FEATURE
The Dialog • dialognews.ca //
March 18 to 31, 2019
A new approach to affordability GBC hosts international design sprint aimed at creating solutions for homelessness TIMO CHEAH REPORTER-EDITOR
The school of design at George Brown College (GBC) hosted a Charrette in February that brought together designers from various industries and countries to research and formulate solutions to affordable living. Teams of 10 explored various aspects of this theme, analyzing problems and realities and established missions focusing on community youth programs, housing, employment and homelessness. Visions for a sustainable community-based framework was a key asset pronounced well among them. I was lucky enough to participate in this event as a contributing architecture student. Our group’s vision was to conceptualize how to aid homeless people in an innovative way that strayed away from the overwhelming factor of creating more shelters. There has been a rapid decrease in the use of emergency shelter by Canadians, with a near 20,000 person drop from 2005 to 2014 according to the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH). Common reasons why people don’t seek shelters and prefer to endure the freezing weather is they don’t feel welcome, and above all, because they are overcrowded. Many shelters require people to sign in on a day to day basis. This causes problems for those who are trying to keep steady jobs to get off the streets because the people who don’t work will fill the occupancy before the employed homeless people can
get there. Some shelters are not pet friendly and can also be a dangerous place for the LGBTQ2 community due to harassment and assault. "Take a second to imagine, it's -30 C outside, you're freezing cold, it's dark and you're hungry. What can you do?" asked Christelle Walker, illustration designer from OTIS College of Art and Design. We were asked to define what ‘sustainable’ means to us and how this simple question can further the goal of finding concrete solutions. "Our culture is very obsessed with owning a house and owning things, meanwhile there's a rise of sharing economies. Some of them are thinking about how that kind of philosophy can be expanded to space or housing to help tackle some of these affordable issues," said Casey Hinton, an interdisciplinary design strategy student. There was a disconnect found between homeless people and the working class. Our society portrays this demographic as being a lost cause. But what does it mean to have a home? We challenged this stigma by taking the perspective of homeless people and finding ways to create a welcoming community that doesn’t simply help them; it facilitates a space where this community can aid each other. Tackling such an important topic in such a diverse group with differing skills was an unreal bonding experience that exercised our brains to the maximum. "The whole atmosphere is very insightful because you take knowledge from other perspectives, not only focusing on your specialization, but also produce their thoughts into material and help you develop your concept," said Renata Shamsutdinova, an architecture technology co-op student. It was amazing what 10 designers from different fields could come up with in a room together for a weekend, working 9 a.m. to midnight with intense collaboration among architects, product/ graphic designers, artists and of course our amazing facilitators and advisers that
steered us in the right direction. We worked with students and industry professionals from France, Denmark, Italy, and the United States were submersed in a whirlwind of insights and constructive criticism that helped us develop a concept that truly addressed the most important problems for improving quality of life for homeless people. Our design included a way for people to interact with the site without feeling overwhelmed and strayed away from the systematic feel of many shelters. O u r c o n c e p t wa s meant to give people a space to ease into a community at their own pace. By having outdoor areas in front of the building, we envisioned a space to facilitate social opportunities as well as private spaces to welcome all types of needs. It was revolution- Illustration by Christelle Walker and render by Timo Cheah. ary to be a part of and by taking this initiative, the Institute without Boundaries is teaching critical thinking skills in a whole new way.
March 18 to 31, 2019
FEATURE
PHOTO: TIMO CHEAH/ THE DIALOG
The Dialog • dialognews.ca //
Renata Shamsutdinova, Christelle Walker and Mike Deinum (from left to right).
Illustrations by Christelle Walker.
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ARTS & LIFE
The Dialog • dialognews.ca //
March 18 to 31, 2019
Single parents appeal for more support GBC Parent Association calls for more accommodations for single-parent students REPORTER-EDITOR
"The basic day-to-day life of a single parent is getting up extremely early with your children to bring them to daycare," said Shana Kealey, founder of the George Brown College (GBC) Parent Association. Early 8 a.m. classes force these parents to be at daycare and at college at the same time, or have less sleep time and find childcare offered in the earlier hours of the day if that can work. "For me, that's how I tend to run my day, everything has to be done by numbers," said Silver Ofoegbu, business of fashion student, entrepreneur, and single mother of five. Ofoegbu rigorously follows a schedule of waking up at 3 a.m. to leave home for school by 6:30 a.m. She travels from Brampton to get to her 8 a.m. class, downtown Toronto, after dropping her kids off at daycare. Ofoegbu says that "everything has to be done at a certain time" and that if something goes wrong, "it tumbles downhill from there, and then
a space for students to develop skills in child care. H o w e v e r, t h i s service is not exclusive to GBC students. Anyone living in the city can utilize these child-care centres. "There are no rights to accommodation if you're a parent and you have caregiving needs," Kinch said about the services offered at GBC. In fact, she believes that the college should make accommodations for single parents, similar to the way services are provided for people with Megan Kinch (left), an electrical apprentice and single mother, says that there should be disabilities. spots reserved for student parents at campus daycares. The GBC Parent Association was, "initially going to be the I’m running late and I try to cares would make the situsingle parent’s association"play catch up." ation much easier for single founded by Kealey and anMegan Kinch, a student in parents who attend the colother single parent to address GBC's electrical apprenticelege. the challenges of juggling carship program and a single GBC operates a yearing for a child and studying. mother, shares a similar exround child-care service, with Through this group, Keperience, beginning her work 12 centres across Toronto. aley has heard stories from day at 6:30 a.m. These centres are part many single parents who atAccording to Kinch, reof the school of early childtended the college. served spots at campus dayhood education and provide She said there is a sysPHOTO: MEGAN KINCH
LADSHIA JEYAKANTHAN
temic problem because all single parent students have the same story with the same issues. She added that although there are success stories, there are also unfortunate ones. Kealey noted that it’s common for parents to avoid approaching others about their needs for accommodations in instances where they may not be able to arrange for childcare such as on PA days. "The majority of profs will be accommodating because there is no sort of blanket policy or blanket approach, however, it can vary and there have been profs that have been difficult," said Kealey. While there are mental health, first nations, and other entry programs for marginalized groups at the college, Kealey suggested there should be one for single parents with workers to check in on parents throughout the year. "Without the dedicated support to understand all that they (single parents) are balancing, they very quickly get the feeling that this is not a place for me," she said. Requests for comment from the college were not returned by press time.
Recipe: Avocado & Goat Cheese Toast Umair Memon, a first-year culinary management student at the George Brown College chef school, shared his recipe for avocado toast which goes beyond the common breakfast item we all know and love Avocado and Goat Cheese Toast
Methods:
Ingredients: • 1 m e d i u m - s i z e d avocado. • 2 t b s p . s o f t g o a t cheese. • 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil. • 1 pinch of dill, finely chopped. • Pink Himalayan salt, Kosher or your choice of salt to taste. • 2 medium slices of whole wheat bread.
Add-ons: • Paprika as preference. • Roasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds. • Smoked salmon. • Poached egg.
Scoop out the avocado into a medium or small-sized bowl. Add the goat cheese and dill, if you don’t have dill skip it. Momon's keeps the herb chopped and frozen. Depending on the size of the avocado you can add more cheese. Add salt and mix with a fork or spoon. The idea is to have a rough mix with some textures from the avocado and cheese. You can mix it to a paste
consistency as well if you choose, it’s a matter of preference. Add any good salt to taste. As the dish is very simple you would want to use a high-quality salt, however regular table salt will also work. If you are not eating it right away, add some lemon juice so the avocado does not color. Toast a piece of bread to your preference, drizzle olive oil on the bread and scoop out the dip onto it. You can also use other sides like, tortillas, chips, or
your choice of bread. This recipe can also works well as a dip Add-ons: Now that you have the basic version down, you can play with it and add thing you like, such as paprika for some heat, roasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds for some crunch, smoked salmon or poached egg for some more weight. Memon always use the herbed soft goat cheese because it adds a little more to the dip but you can add your favourite herbs, too.
The Dialog • dialognews.ca //
March 18 to 31, 2019
SCIENCE & TECH
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Bridging the gap for women in STEM GBC student is hopeful for a better future for women pursuing a career in STEM REPORTER-EDITOR
Women are vastly under-represented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. According to a 2018 study done by the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Council, the percentage of women employed in ICT has averaged 24 to 25 per cent from 2007 to 2017. Why is there still such an under-representation of women in STEM fields? “Over the years there have been a lot of discouraging sentiments among the public that seem to have made it less attractive for girls to advance in the STEM fields,” said Lori West, director of the Alberta Transplant Institute and Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research program. "The way their success (in a STEM field) is evalu-
that women made up only 33 per cent of STEM university graduates. However, women account for 60 per cent of non-STEM university graduates. The difference in the female-to-male ratio in STEM Maria Marin studies in Casa Loma's networking fields is reflecttechnology lab. ed among students of differated, could sometimes have ent technological programs an inherent bias against unat George Brown College. derstanding the importance Maria Marin, a computer of what they've done and systems technician student at the skills with which they've the Casa Loma campus talkdone it," she said. ed about this pattern. STEM fields display a vis"I think if you go to any ible and systematic gender classroom on a given day, gap, especially in areas of you will notice that about 60 technology. to 70 per cent of students are A study by Statistics males," she said. Canada in 2011 indicated Marin also pursued a di-
PHOTO: NICO DEVEBER/ THE DIALOG
NICO DEVEBER
ploma in a technological field 15 years ago. This time, however, she finds the number of men in her program less overwhelming as there are a lot more women. West said another concern for women pursuing STEM fields is that in their undergraduate and graduate years, they are often at an age where they may want to start a family. As the workforce of STEM fields is mostly populated by men, many workplaces in the field still do not have adequate facilities for mothers of newborns. A career in a STEM field may also come with frequent travelling for attending international conferences and training, which could be an added challenge for people who have to care for children. There are hardly any nurseries or a separate room for breastfeeding at some of these workplaces, which is
a valid concern for women, West stressed. She also said that working in such circumstances would be easier for her male colleagues. In a field like ICT, where only a quarter of the people employed are women, Marin remains hopeful and encourages other female students to do the same. "Don't give up. I know it's very overwhelming. I know it's new. It's also very, very challenging, but we're not born knowing everything. So if you're willing to give it your all, willing to learn (and) find resources, you can do it," she said. West offered similar advice, "If this is something you love and want to do, then it's important to try to find a way to do it. Because you won't be happy if you leave it behind for the wrong reasons."
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SPORTS
The Dialog • dialognews.ca //
March 18 to 31, 2019
Both men's and women's teams qualified for the OCAA Championships ALLISON PRESTON & NICO DEVEBER Huskies indoor soccer teams faced off against regional teams on March 5, to earn their place in the OCAA championship. Both the men's and women's teams were successful. The women won their first two games, defeating Confederation 3-1 and earning a shut-out in the second game against Centennial (3-0). In the third game, the Huskies fell just shy of Seneca (1-0). "We set specific goals and targets for each match, and I think across the board we were able to achieve them," said Leslie Fitzpatrick, women's indoor soccer coach. "So it was a good benchmark of where we are, and
PHOTO: PHILIP IVER / GEORGE BROWN ATHLETICS & RECREATION
Indoor soccer headed to provincials
Huskies indoor soccer heads to the OCAA Championships with hopes of bringing the title home this year.
a good base to build (on) for provincials coming up in two weeks," he added. The men's team started off their success with a shutout against Seneca (3-0) and winning their second game
4-1 against Confederation. In the third game of the day, George Brown College defeated Canadore 6-0. In the final game of the day, the Huskies dropped the ball to University of Toronto,
losing 7-1. "It just kind of brings everybody back to reality, and we're not invincible right? So it's good that they realized that we got some work to do," said men's indoor soccer
coach, John Williams. Both the men's and women's teams placed in the top two at the regional tournament and will move on to play in the 2019 OCAA Championships on March 21 and 22.
Getting your mind in the game With a lot on the line, athletes find strength in pre-game rituals ALLISON PRESTON
Many athletes have some sort of routine to prepare for their games. Whether it’s as simple as warming up with the team, or something like eating a medium pizza before a game, George Brown College (GBC) varsity athletes have many different ways to prepare before a big game. While some athletes keep it casual like eating healthy foods, stretching and doing the team warm-ups, some athletes go beyond that. “The one thing I do before every game is just pray on the phone with my mom,” said women's Huskies basketball player Zae Sellers. One player on the men's basketball team, Teshayn Gale eats an entire medi-
ILLUSTRATION: TIMO CHEAH
REPORTER-EDITOR
Eating a medium pizza and praying are parts of the Huskies pre-game rituals.
um sized pizza before every game. These little things that athletes do may seem like inconsequential, but could it be just as important as getting your body warmed up before the game? With the high pressure of playing varsity sports, when all that's between an athlete and being eliminated from the competition is one game,
your mind can make all the difference. “If I'm not focused or too anxious, that's the biggest one for me, too anxious and too ready to go, even in the warm-up I'm just all over the place, and I'm impatient and waiting for the O-Canada to finish and the lineups to start," said men's basketball player Kingslee D’Silva. "I want the game to start so
quickly. That can mess you up during the game,” Not only do players need to get into the mindset as individuals, but some find strength in the things they do together as a team prior to a game. "I feel like when we go out there together it looks more collective as a unit so coming back into the locker room before we go out there as a team is very important," said Sellers. "Coming together and saying Huskies, running in and running out, all that stuff is important" The women’s volleyball team goes even further in their team rituals by choosing to spend time before every game and practice together. The team sits together in what they call "the round table" and everyone has to answer a question that helps the team get to know one another better.
"What your's favourite ice cream flavour? is one example of the type of questions we ask each other and talk about," said team captain Jessica Barrios. But that's not all the volleyball team does. The entire team makes sure to step onto the court with the right foot at the beginning of every set. "My grandma claims it's a Spanish superstition that it brings you good luck, " said Barrios. "So we started doing it at the end of our second season and we found that it just kind of brought us together a little bit better." If it's a superstitious belief or a method to prepare for the games, it's clear that pregame rituals are ingrained in the culture of sports. Pregame rituals help athletes move beyond their everyday lives and give the game everything they have.
The Dialog • dialognews.ca //
SPORTS
March 18 to 31, 2019
GBC badminton wins two silver medals at nationals Huskies ended their season with a total of seven medals
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HUSKIES SCORES MEN'S INDOOR SOCCER OCAA Regionals March 5 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Seneca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Confederation. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Canadore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 University of Toronto Mississauga . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 1 George Brown places 2nd WOMEN'S INDOOR SOCCER OCAA Regionals March 5 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Confederation . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Seneca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 0 George Brown . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Centennial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 George Brown places 2nd BADMINTON CCAA Championships March 7 - 9 Men's Singles
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE CCAA.
Gold: Ramnish Kumar (Humber) Silver: Nicolas Pittman (Concordia) Bronze: Narayan Ramdhani (King's University) Men's Doubles Gold: Jeffrey Ko, Ronuelle Mendina (NAIT) Silver: Bryce Mason, Benn Van Ryn (University of King's College) Bronze: Arpit Taneja, Ayubu Touray (Humber) Women's Singles Mike Ra and Angeline Alviar won silver in mixed doubles at the CCAA national badminton championships.
NICO DEVEBER REPORTER-EDITOR
Huskies badminton players brought home some silverware from the CCAA National Championship in Nova Scotia. George Brown College (GBC) walked away with two silver medals which went to women's singles player Anh Hoang and mixed doubles duo Mika Ra and Angeline Alviar. "Overall, it was fantastic," said head varsity badminton coach, William Schram, on the matches. Hoang scored 5-1 in
round-robin and semi-final play before losing in two sets (21-16, 21-12) to NAIT's Eyota Kwan in the finals. This was Hoang's second year in a row winning CCAA silver. Ra and Alviar were 5-1 before losing a gold medal match in two sets (21-6, 2111) to siblings Desmond and Takeisha Wang from Concordia University of Edmonton. The Wangs are the first siblings in CCAA history to be named men's and women's Player of the Year in the same year. This was Ra's second year placing at the CCAA champ-
tionship after claiming the bronze medal in mixed doubles with Amy Ding in 2018. Reigning national silver medalist, Ace Zeng, placed fourth in the men's singles competition, losing the bronze medal match in two sets (1521, 13-21) to Narayan Ramdhani of The King's University. Eric Kern and Alex Chao battled for bronze in men's doubles, taking Arpit Taneja and Ayubu Touray from Humber College to three sets (21-15, 16-21, 21-15) before conceding. "Our goals this year were to get a gold at nationals, and
to repeat our banners. This year we were able to repeat winning the provincial banners two years in a row, which was great," said Schram. "We fell just short of getting a gold medal, but we did get two silver national medals which is still excellent." he added. "Our goal next year would be (to) match this year, if not do better at nationals." GBC players went a combined 18-6 on March 7 and 8, and 0-4 on the final day of play and earned a total of two national and five provincial medals this season.
Gold: Eyota Kwan (NAIT) Silver: Ann Hoang (GBC) Bronze: Samantha Hsu (NAIT) Women's Doubles Gold: Victoria Duong, Chloe Rowe (Humber) Silver: Bea Bernardo, Ryo Kuramochi (NAIT) Bronze: Helen Ngu, Han Phan (Fanshawe) Mixed Doubles Gold: Desmond Wang, Takeisha Wang (Concordia) Silver: Mike Ra, Angeline Alviar (GBC) Bronze: Chirag Dave, Jia Yi Feng (Centennial)
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FUN
The Dialog • dialognews.ca // March 18 to 31, 2019 // PUZZLE
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// SUDOKU
5 3 1 7 6
8 9 1
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9 6
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// LAST ISSUE SOLUTION
2 4 8 6 5 7 3 9 1
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Across
1- Must've been something ___; 5- ___ girl!; 9- The entire scale; 14- Whaler's direction; 15- Milk source; 16- Vinegary prefix; 17- Tent event; 18- Cabinet dept.; 19- Water-repellent cloth; 20- Askance; 22- Japanese porcelain; 23- Fitting; 24- Aztec god of rain; 25- Called one's bluff; 29- Bristlelike parts; 32- Singer Newton-John; 34- Irregular; 39- Call at home; 40- Kitten; 42- Vintner's prefix; 43- Weaken; 45- Perform last rites on; 47- ___ my case; 49- Gillette razors; 50- Whole; 54- Surgery sites, briefly; 56- ___ say more?; 57- Easily nauseated; // COMICS
63- Primp; 64- Figure (out); 65- ___ silly question...; 66- Tonsil neighbor; 67- Slant; 68- Prisoner of Jabba the Hutt; 69- Representative; 70- Fr. holy women; 71- Sawbucks;
Down
1- Wishing won't make ___; 2- Moby's pursuer; 3- Like some orders; 4- ...___ saw Elba; 5- Thoroughly enjoyed; 6- Beliefs; 7- Chinese weight; 8- Give it ___; 9- U.S. space probe to Jupiter; 10- Pueblo Indian village; 11- Purple Heart, e.g.; 12- In ___ (unborn); 13- Quinine water; 21- Muslim judge; 24- Singer Tucker; 25- Prescribed amount; 26- Alda or Ladd;
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9 3 6 8 4 1 7 2 5
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