Venezuelans challenge election
Protesters disputed country’s July electoral results
Samuel D. Brito Salas HumberETC News
Around 100 Venezuelans met across the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto last Saturday to protest the disputed July 28 elections.
In an emotional and tense atmosphere, the expatriates met and held speeches, danced, and played music on University Avenue while demanding the world acknowledge Edmundo Gonzalez as the elected president.
Incumbent Nicolas Maduro claimed victory in an election and is alleged to be withholding the ballot tallies.
The protesters demanded freedom for all the people deprived of their liberty, for the world to recognize Gonzalez as the new elected president and for an end to human rights violations.
The demonstration was part of a global protest called by the opposition leader Maria Corina Machado two months after the elections. Machado was denied the ability to run for office by the government and she and other opposition leaders threw their support behind Gonzalez.
Rebecca Sarfatti, a political scientist, and creator of the platform “Venezolanos en Toronto”’ said that their goal is to restore democracy to Venezuela, even if it may not look like it’s working.
“We are in a dynamic moment,” said Sarfatti, who came to Canada in 2001. “I can tell you one thing today and tomorrow another completely different.”
She said Canada has helped the Venezuelan people significantly in the past years.
Sarfatti said January will be a crucial moment for the future of the South American country since it’s when the newly elected president must be sworn in.
“In Venezuela, there is no separation of powers,” she said.
“Maduro does what he pleases.”
POWER STRUGGLE
Sarfatti said this fight is not between right or left, it’s about democracy against dictatorship.
She said several countries are starting to turn their backs on the regime.
“They (Latin American countries) aren’t being automatic allies as they were in the past,” Sarfatti said. “They don’t recognize any results without the papers.”
The current crisis is also affecting those countries significantly, especially on migration, she said.
Sarfatti said Maduro’s allies including Russia, China and Cuba are key to keeping Maduro in power.
Past Venezuelan elections can’t be considered democratic,
according to the Carter Center, a non-profit organization established by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and Emory University.
“The Carter Center, which was invited to monitor the election, said it could not verify or corroborate the results of the election declared by the National Electoral Council,” it said.
It said the election didn’t follow any international basic criteria to guarantee elections were free.
Its report noted the electoral campaign was biased towards Maduro and that opposition candidates were arbitrarily ineligible to participate.
“Throughout the electoral process, the CNE demonstrated a clear bias in favour of the incumbent (Maduro),” the Carter Center said.
The report said that despite so many irregularities before and during the election, Venezuelans went out to vote peacefully.
Humber Et Cetera is the Humber Polytechnic journalism program laboratory newspaper. It is created by journalism students in the Advanced Diploma program. Et Cetera serves to inform the Humber community and give its readers well-rounded coverage on the things that matter to them.
The Carter Center is not the only organization to denounce the current situation of the country, especially after the election.
Eddie Ramirez, former president of Venezuelan oil company Palmaven, told Humber Et Cetera he was fired on TV by Hugo Chavez in 2002, explaining that authoritarian practices from the government started a long time ago.
“I was fired after retirement for making statements (in favour of the strike),” he said. “We denounced corruption cases and accidents for lack of maintenance in oil refineries.”
Ramirez said he was part of the national strike of April 11, 2002, that ended up with Chavez’s resignation, although he came back after that.
He said corruption and oil refinery accidents are more frequent than ever at this moment, causing severe damage to the environment and the people.
Ramirez said the Venezuelan diaspora has a big impact any time a protest is called by the opposition, especially with all the restrictions and threats Venezuelans face just for protest.
A report from the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission confirmed the escalation of repression by the regime since the election.
Venezuelan demonstrators holding up signs during a protest in Toronto against Maduro’s decision to claim the victory in the last summer election.
HUMBERETC/SAMUEL D. BRITO SALAS
Finch LRT is still not running
Reet Arora HumberETC News
The Finch West Light Rail Transit project construction linking Humber Polytechnic North campus to the subway is now completed but questions remain whether it will open anytime soon.
The line is not expected to be operational until after the people who will train the drivers are trained, and that could be later this year or early next year.
In emails to Et Cetera, Metrolinx said Toronto Transit Commission trainers began their training in July and so far, only 10 of 15 trainers have completed the training.
“This will allow the TTC to validate the operator-driver training program so that driver training can commence this fall,” the transportation agency said.
The LRT has also been delayed by a lawsuit filed in August by Mosaic, the consortium building the 10.3-kilometre line.
“Our message to Mosaic is clear: get out of court and back to work,” the agency told Et Cetera. “We are working closely with Mosaic to
get passengers on the Finch West LRT at the soonest possible date.”
Metrolinx said its CEO Phil Verster meets regularly with Mosaic Transit Group CEO Miguel Merino and others to deal with issues that arise.
The agency said that Mosaic “signalled liquidity issues” and that Metrolinx offered financial support to finish the project.
“Mosaic has been unable to reach internal agreement on this offer,” it said. “Mosaic’s recent loss of six weeks of schedule due
to poor work planning and poor project management is unacceptable.
“It is time to complete the work necessary to start TTC driver training and get the line ready for opening,” Metrolinx said.
Metrolinx said the $2.5 billion LRT is expected to come every five to seven minutes during peak hours and every seven to 10 minutes during off-peak hours.
“We continue to see progress in testing and commissioning work, a critical step for ensuring the line
is safe and reliable for customers which will determine an opening date,” they said.
The transportation agency said the new Finch West LRT will connect the existing Finch West TTC station at Keele Street to the Humber Polytechnic North campus.
This will provide communities in northwest Toronto with more travel choices, faster commute times and more transit reliability, they said.
“With 18 stops across 11 kilometres of new dedicated light rail transit, the Finch West LRT will reduce vehicle traffic and gridlock Finch Avenue West,” Metrolinx said.
Readmoreaboutthedelayof theFinchWestLRT’sopening by scanningtheQRcode.
Insurance opt-out approaches
Julia C. Sequeira HumberETC News
Students automatically opt in to the balanced insurance plan at the beginning of the fall, winter and summer semesters. But they can opt out if they’re covered by another plan.
The balanced plan covers payments for direct prescriptions, dental benefits and extended health care such as paramedical services, vision care and more. Some prescriptions covered by the balanced plan include most prescription drugs, insulin injectables and supplies, oral contraceptives and more.
Students who enrol in fall, winter or summer semesters will have coverage until Aug. 31, 2025.
IGNITE student advocate Isabella Vergara Bedoya said she found the coverage confusing at first, so she understands what other students are going through.
“There’s the balanced plan. This one has 80 per cent coverage and the maximum is $2,000 for drugs. The dental comes with basic and preventative, and the maximum is $500. Extended health is a maximum of $300 and a $75 maximum for vision,” she said.
Bedoya said there are enhanced
plans available for students who need additional coverage for prescription drugs or dental.
“There is the enhanced dental plan, which covers more in the dental aspect. For the balanced plan, it’s only a maximum of $500 but for the enhanced plan it’s $800 and it has some other features,” she said.
Bedoya said the enhanced drug plan offers 90 per cent coverage of the cost of prescription drugs.
“There’s the enhanced drug plan which is a maximum of $4,000 and the contraception maximum is $500,” she said.
Third-year nursing student Christy Viscaino said she didn’t know the extent of her insurance coverage. She decided to opt in to the balanced plan for the first time this semester.
“I think the insurance plan alleviates some stress for students because students already have a lot of other expenses to think about like rent, phone bills and other stuff,” she said.
She said having a more affordable insurance option that is automatically charged in our tuition is a helpful way for students to budget.
“Students tend to put health
costs at the bottom of their priority list, but this way the insurance is part of their tuition and students have the opportunity to have basic things like a dental cleaning,” she said. For students who need an easily accessible dental office, Campus Dental is an on-site dentistry at Humber North and Lakeshore campuses.
Dental hygienist and owner of Campus Dental Marcy Skribe said most students aren’t getting cleanings as frequently as they should.
Asked to whip up a dish, Noel Nathaniel prepared a recipe passed down from generation to generation, specifically inherited from his mother.
Bicol Express, named after the region Bicol located in the Southeastern area of Luzon, was a staple on his family’s dinner table.
The dish has a cherished connection to home. This rich, creamy and spicy dish, made with tender pork cubes cooked in coconut milk and chili peppers, remains a memory of his childhood in Cebu.
Now, living thousands of miles away in Toronto, Nathaniel carries his mother’s recipe with him, cooking Bicol Express whenever he feels homesick.
“Every week, my mom sends new family recipes so that I can cook them over here,” Nathaniel said.
It’s pure comfort food for him, bringing memories of family gatherings and his mom’s nurturing presence.
Nathaniel, a 30-year-old international Culinary Arts student at Humber Polytechnic North campus, is adjusting to a fresh beginning while pursuing his love for culinary arts.
“We always recommend the enhanced dental program for students. The balanced plan covers up to $500, but students should be getting cleanings every four to six months,” she said. The enhanced dental plan covers up to $800 in dental services and $1,500 in prescriptions. The fall semester opt-in fee is $271.67 including taxes for the balanced plan. The fee automatically reflects in students’ MyHumber accounts. The last day to opt out of IGNITE insurance is Oct. 11 at 4 p.m.
Noel Nathaniel, a Filipino international student studying culinary arts.
Marcy Skribe is the dental hygienist and owner of Campus Dental.
HUMBERETC/JULIA C. SEQUEIRA
Saachi Kaur, a Humber student walking towards Humber College station.
HUMBERETC/REET ARORA
Teachers, staff also need mental health training
New mandatory mental health literacy has been introduced in school systems this fall.
The Ontario government updated the Grade 10 career studies course to include mandatory learning on mental health literacy and is introducing mandatory resources for students on mental health literacy in grades seven and eight.
This updated curriculum teaches Grade 10 students to recognize signs of being overwhelmed and struggling, as well as how to find help locally when needed.
Students in Grades 7 and 8 will learn in their updated curriculum how to manage stress, understand the relationship between mental health and mental illness, counteract the mental health stigma and know when and how to get help.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada reported the country spends at least $50 billion per year on mental health problems and illnesses.
Early mental health promotion is essential in containing public costs. However, the Canadian Institute for Health Information reported that nearly one in four hospitalizations for children and youths aged five to 24 were for mental health conditions in 2020.
They reported that children as young as five are part of the one in four being hospitalized for mental health conditions.
There needs to be mandatory mental health literacy earlier than seventh grade, but it must be done in a way that does not
OPINION
lead to misdiagnoses.
Kathryn Mettler, the program coordinator for Humber Polytechnic’s addictions and mental health post-graduate certificate program, told Humber Et Cetera that children diagnosed with mental illnesses usually experience several socioeconomic disadvantages.
“Unfortunately, they get ignored when we refer to what they’re struggling with as a mental illness or a mental health problem because those are actually responses to them not having their basic human needs met,” Mettler said.
“One of my favourite quotes from my own research is when a therapist said to me, ‘I can’t mental health someone out of poverty,’” she said.
Mandatory training in this area should be a requirement for teachers so they do not say an eight-year-old has an anxiety disorder when that child is just feeling nervous about a quiz.
Then adults may be able to have conversations with children, asking them how they are, and how their day is going, and not necessarily having a conversation about mental health because they could just be having an off day.
Specialized staff is needed in schools with regards to mental health but Ontario is not good at hiring expert staff in schools, so this mandatory mental health literacy might not make too much of a difference.
The Canadian Association of Mental Health (CAMH) said mental illness accounts for about 10 per cent of the burden of disease in Ontario, receiving only seven
per cent of health care dollars.
CAMH said 75 per cent of children with mental disorders do not have access to specialized treatment services. It said in any given year one in five Canadians experience a mental illness.
Bindia Darshan, Humber Polytechnic’s manager for wellness education and programs told Humber Et Cetera that as an occupational therapist, she said she believes it is a key component to our well-being.
“In terms of the post-secondary environment, there’s been a lot of focus on student mental health and well-being,” Darshan said.
The National Standard for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students (2020) and the Okanagan Charter (2015) are two guiding frameworks for creating campus environments that support student well-being.
“At Humber, specifically within our Student Wellness and Equitable Learning (SWEL) department, we’ve extended our hours for providing mental health support this September and we’ve hired and are hiring several new staff to provide mental health services,” Darshan said.
Humber Polytechnic has made great strides in supporting student well-being which the SWEL annual report for 2023-2024 supports. The report showcases Humber’s collective achievements in creating a more inclusive, supportive, and resilient campus community. However, high school and elementary education still need much work in regards to mental health awareness, which begins with educating the adults who support them and regularly discuss mental health, and not just on awareness days dedicated to it.
Media industry must quit en masse social media
News organizations need to quit social media until companies like X Corp. and Meta decide to value reliable information over profit and clicks.
It would be a complicated process but doing so would be a necessary strong signal from important democratic institutions to reestablish public trust in media, create a sustainable business model and rebalance the power social media platforms have in the digital age.
According to a September survey by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE), 63 per cent of the experts from 63 countries think that the actual information environment, which is
defined as the people, content and organizations that provide everyday news to millions of citizens, will worsen in the future.
The number rose from 54 per cent last year.
The survey also reported that the owners of social media platforms are considered the greatest threat to the information environment, followed by local and foreign governments, politicians and political parties.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged last September two employees of RT, formerly known
as Russia Today, a media outlet controlled and funded by the Russian government, who operated under covert identities in a Tennesse-based online content creation company to create and spread messages and videos to amplify domestic division among the US public.
IPIE co-founder and president Phil Howard said in a press release that social networking site owners influence the quality and integrity of the information reaching the public.
“Be they billionaires entrepreneurs, governments or parent com-
panies, the unchecked power of these entities poses a grave risk to the health of our global information environment,” he said.
Even if he’s not explicitly mentioned, it’s easy to think about Elon Musk, owner of X, which was formerly Twitter.
Since Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022, he has instantly transformed the social media platform into his private playground, constantly sharing fake news and pushing far-right conspiracy theories as recently as those regarding Haitian migrants in the US and the UK riots.
It is now clear that the free speech absolutism preached by Musk is entirely twisted and dangerous for democracy because it doesn’t put any control over violent, racist and misogynistic content.
How long will media organizations want to share their content on X, contributing to its growth and allowing it to be still perceived as a place of democratic exchange when, in reality, facts are undermined or buried?
One public figure who explicitly
urged politicians and the public to quit X en masse has been Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram after violent riots devasted the city area this summer.
If truthfulness and transparency are core values in media, it’s time for news outlets to face the elephant in the newsroom.
They should avoid associating their reputation with social networks like X, at least until new and fair moderation policies and content distribution are implemented.
Some would argue that lies and disinformation would run unchecked, further exacerbating the echo chamber.
Breaking news: it’s already the case.
Carlo Cantisani, he/him, is a climate reporter and news editor.
Ontario is making mental health literacy mandatory in schools. It’s overdue but not enough.
UNSPLASH/DANIE FRANCO
Canadian media is losing trust, audience on social media as misinformation thrives.
PEXELS/PIXABAY
Carlo Cantisani
can buy food on campus using meal plans. Those living in dorms are forced to purchase at least the minimum tier plan — 92 per cent of which is non-refundable if unused.
OPINION
Chartwells prices their food higher than it’s worth
Liam Neilson
For a student, the combined responsibilities of tuition with living expenses during a time when you’re restricted on the hours you can work is a difficult financial feat to manage.
As if it weren’t hard enough, there’s one added burden which Humber students are unfortunately very familiar with, and that would be over-inflated food prices on campus.
For example, $7 for 200 grams of melon or $10 for a sandwich that falls short of 250 grams. These are just some of the prices of snack vendors on the North campus. For comparison, Fortinos, the nearest Loblawsowned grocery store to Humber, lists a full melon (averaging more than 800 grams) of the same kind for $6 to $7.
If you’re a student reader, you may find yourself wondering who’s doing this. One organization that appears to have gained a reputation for it is Chartwells.
Chartwells is a catering company contracted by the school to provide culinary services on Humber grounds. Food can be purchased from vending locations around campus using personal bank accounts or with Humber-managed meal plans.
Meal plans are available for any student to buy into, however, for students living in residence, it is a mandatory purchase. This falls under the Humber Residence and Dining Agreement.
To make matters worse, the minimum costs of meal plans have increased by $500 from the 2023-2024 term into our current semester. Students buying into a meal plan, forced or not, are now paying rates spanning from $2,850 to $4,600 per year.
Joylin Pinto, a corporate representative of Chartwells, said in an email to questions from Et Cetera that meal plan price tags, the inability to opt out, and refunds on leftover balances are managed by the policies of
Humber. The catering company didn’t comment on this, aside from stating they did not set these parameters in place.
Pinto said “value meals” are
the time after eating the front meal option,” he said. It comes as no surprise that students at North and Lakeshore campuses are organizing
“People, lots of times, myself included, have received undercooked food ... I don’t find myself filled a lot of the time after eating the front meal option, ” - Ethan Hamilton-Dicker
available for students to spend less. However, these have either proven for some to be poorly prepared or insufficient in satisfying an appetite.
Where the price is low, the quality of the meal tends to be as well.
Third-year nursing student Ethan Hamilton-Dicker, who lives in dorms and works as a resident assistant, agreed.
“People, lots of times, myself included, have received undercooked food,” he said.
Hamilton-Dicker also agreed with me regarding the pricing of the food itself.
“The meal prices, I would say, are not justified with how the quality of the meals are, as I don’t find myself filled a lot of
a protest against Chartwells and Humber’s policy of forcing students in residence to buy a meal plan. They are focusing their
demands on an optional meal plan for students in dorms. In what seems to be an attempt at saving face, Chartwells launched a survey asking how they could do better almost immediately following the calls for action.
The demo, planned for Oct. 10, will see students at the North and Lakeshore campuses meet at dining areas. It’s time for Chartwells to respond in a way other than a survey, an exercise that could have no effect.
Liam Neilson, he/him, is a senior reporter and photo editor.
Students
HUMBERETC/LIAM NEILSON
Ethan Hamilton-Dicker, a student who has been dissatisfied with the food in dorms.
HUMBERETC/LIAM NEILSON
Humber legal club encourages debate
Victoria Hincapie Skedline.com
President of Humber’s Legal Association Maria Rausch, 22, said conversations around accessing social justice should happen more often.
“This is a very important topic we should all be discussing and working towards as many countries are going through an economic crisis,” Rausch said.
“A lot of people don’t have the funds to go to a lawyer, and we as paralegals become an easier way to access justice,” she said. “We need more people involved in law to help build a change for the future generation. Humber students have that spirit and are very inspiring.”
Rausch is currently in her final year of the Bachelor of Paralegal Studies program, and has been president of Humber’s Legal Association since spring 2023.
The student organization was originally founded by Laura Delle Donne in spring 2021 as an initiative to bring paralegal students closer in the middle of COVID-19.
Rausch said when she first started her program all classes were online and didn’t get a chance to meet fellow classmates.
“I started my program in September 2021 and didn’t have in-person interactions. Having the Legal Association was crucial for me to understand the Canadian legal system as an international student and build a community,” she said.
Rausch is originally from
Brazil and first collaborated in the association as a general member.
Rausch said she has been able to hone some skills in her position as president.
“It teaches you a lot of lessons in event planning, budgeting, management and leadership,” she said.
CLUB EVENTS
Humber’ Legal Association hosts diverse events from intellectual law property workshops to an array of guest speaker series from all legal backgrounds.
It also holds alumni mixers, where Humber graduates come to speak with current students and give them advice.
Rausch said the events, such as the alumni mixers, helped her connect to other students and learn about job opportunities.
“I now work in the previous office of the last president of the Legal Association and I started as a member, she said. “This illustrates the importance of networking.”
Rausch is also the captain of Humber’s moot team and has participated in eight moots so far in her undergraduate program.
Moots are mock trials that simulate the experience of being inside the Supreme Court of Canada.
In these trials, they argue questions concerning law and policy while studying a case.
Last Tuesday, the association had their first annual meeting, in which they discussed this semester’s event programming.
Upcoming events include an introductory mooting pilot on Oct. 8 and collaborations with the Princeton Review and the Law Society of Ontario.
Rausch said she feels thankful for having a space like Humber’s Legal Association.
“Almost all of us are going to graduate, I feel very thankful for all the support from our members in the committee,” she said.
The student-run club will open their executive to a re-election come fall 2025.
Dion Desserre, 31, is Humber’s Legal Association communications executive. Similarly to Rausch, Desserre was introduced to the association in his first year in the Bachelor of Paralegal Studies program.
Desserre was hired for the communications executive position last spring. He was previously a general member within the association.
Desserre said he always wanted to be part of a student club like the Legal Association.
“I wanted to join a club that would allow me to meet legal-minded individuals and expand my own legal knowledge,” he said.
Desserre is in charge of running the association’s social media, coordinating events and campaigns, as well as assisting student’s inquiries.
Desserre said the association is always looking for more students to join.
“We are open to everyone, to all students willing to learn and discuss their thoughts on the legal system,” he said.
Ontario considering banning installations of new bicycle lanes
Aliyah Marko-Omene Skedline.com
The Ontario government is considering legislation that could ban the installation of new bike lanes where a lane of traffic would have to be cut.
This comes days after Premier Doug Ford made several comments at a press conference last Monday about bike lanes in Toronto.
When asked about the new legislation, Ford said he wants to get traffic moving and cycling infrastructure around the city is part of the problem.
“It’s an absolute disaster. It’s a nightmare,” he said. “We need to focus on transportation that gets people from point A to point B in a very quick fashion.”
Ford said bike lanes significantly contributed to longer emergency response times and congestion in busier parts of the city, such as Bloor Street West and University Avenue.
“Believe it or not, my brother Rob actually put more bike lanes in than (former Toronto mayor) David Miller,” Ford said.
“But he didn’t do it down the middle of University or Bloor or any of those streets. He did them on the secondary arterial roads, the side streets,” he said. “That’s what you do — you don’t clog up traffic just because of their political beliefs.”
TRANSPORTATION
Ed Mark, head of the biking program at Evergreen, said the city needs proper infrastructure in place to support the growing number of people who are turning to biking as an alternative to public transportation.
“The TTC is basically maxed out with what they can do and driving is not always reliable, so more and more people are using bikes to commute in the city,” he said.
“I think the planning of routes and implementation has to be more thought out and not just catered to the cars on the road,” he said.
Mark said many people who turn to biking do not always know the etiquette.
“More people think they can just jump on a Bike Share bike and ride across the city and while Bike Share is great and more accessible. There is no training,” Mark said.
“You can get on without a helmet, those things are heavy and hard to maneuver, and for a novice biker, that can be more of a danger than expected,” he said.
HAZARDS
Mark said bike lanes are a great idea for biking but can be a danger for riders if they aren’t experienced.
“If there’s a certain place you have to go and there is no route completely off bike lanes, it can be very difficult,” he said. “For a person who is very cautious and already fearful of riding, they are not going to want to ride in traffic.”
The limited bike lanes found in the city have already been a deterrent for some Torontonians.
Sales associate Paolina Leo said she does not bike because there are not enough accessible bike lanes in the city.
“Bike lanes will randomly just end and dump you in traffic and it creates so many dangerous scenarios that can also be harmful for pedestrians and drivers nearby,” she said.
Humber’s Legal Association communications executive Dion Desserre, left, and president Maria Rausch at the IGNITE building, which is located at Lakeshore campus in Toronto.
SKEDLINE/VICTORIA HINCAPIE
Bicycles
Hidden demons plague hospitality biz
Julia-Marie Ilano
HumberETC News Benjamin Steeves
With seven years of experience in the industry, starting as a dishwasher before eventually becoming a sous chef, Reno Sichantha was no stranger to having breakdowns with his coworkers.
It was when cheerful coworkers suddenly transformed into shadows of their former selves that he realized the toll the industry was having on them.
“All this pressure and shit is just, like, I don’t know, it just brews such an easy environment for someone to become a habitual drug user,” Sichantha said.
Sichantha said these personality shifts were accredited to heavy substance use he saw employees engage in daily, with some people doing drugs before their shift “just to get their day going.”
Chris Muthra, a long-time Chef de Cuisine who was in the industry for 12 years, said many of his experiences in high-end restaurants echo Sichantha’s experiences.
DRUGS
The established chef said the presence of drugs within the industry created many issues for him and his co-workers before ultimately becoming the reason he left the industry despite his
love for cooking.
“There’s a lot of cooks, and there’s a lot of chefs that join the industry for the rock star drug lifestyle, and there’s a lot of chefs that join the industry for the art side,” Muthra said.
He said at one job, a child had gone into cardiac arrest after the consumption of his meal. When the parents pressed charges, it was revealed that it was because of cocaine that had fallen from the chef’s nose into the meal.
Muthra said he signed an NDA about the situation after the charges were dropped.
PRESSURES
Akira Dakilla, a past server and bartender who worked in the industry for years said she left the job after experiencing similar concerns.
Dakilla said she often saw employees consuming substances and also saw a high number of managers also consuming and pushing that consumption.
“I mean, like, some of the managers I had were kind of like, coercing people a little bit, I guess. But for the most part, I think it’s just knowing that they’re doing it makes people want to do it, too.” Dakilla said.
This information isn’t foreign to Mike von Massow, a professor at the University of Guelph who specializes in how food works and the inner functions of the
food service industry.
“It’s an intensive work environment. It’s hot. You’re working with knives. I think that this culture becomes perpetuated,” von Massow said. “So, it’s evolved, and then it just becomes the way it is.”
Von Massow said drug consumption has always histori-
cally been part of the culture in kitchens.
It is one of the ways people bond, whether it’s cannabis or harder drugs, he said.
He said the environment kitchens created only perpetuates these habits. Many people within the industry have limited free time in a high-stress industry.
KITCHEN CULTURE
“[You go to] work, and then go party a little bit, go home. You sleep till 2 a.m., and then you got to get ready because your shift starts in three hours,” von Massow said. “It becomes difficult to connect with friends who are not in the industry,” he said.
Von Massow said he is working on a survey of food service workers about their experiences. He said the research found a correlation between the length of a career and the entrenchment of an “us-against-the-world” mentality that develops as people who suffer together stay together.
Dakilla said that while many places follow this rhetoric, it doesn’t have to be the life that one has to follow.
“I would just say, like, it’s normal to bounce around between places a lot, so don’t get discouraged by that. Or, like, if you get fired from one place or something, it’s super common,” Dakilla said, “It’s just, you don’t have to stay at one place longer than you need to if they’re really
that bad, for instance.”
In an email statement to Et Cetera, the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) said it is aware of these issues and is actively supporting food service workers.
The organization recently began collaborating with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to provide resources for frontline workers, supervisors and managers.
“This holistic approach ensures that all levels of staff have access to the resources they need to maintain their mental well-being and effectively support their teams,” it said.
SUPPORT
ORHMA said it has a Hospitality Stay Strong campaign, which promotes awareness and support to nurture and develop healthy workplace environments. It said it includes training programs that focus on mental health awareness, access to counselling resources and the promotion of work-life balance.
“The ORHMA recognizes that substance abuse in all industries poses significant challenges to employee well-being and guest safety,” ORHMA said in the statement. “We believe by prioritizing substance abuse prevention and intervention, businesses can enhance the safety, productivity, and reputation of the hospitality sector in Ontario.”
As a server and bartender, Akira Dakilla has experienced what goes on in the back rooms of restaurants.
HUMBERETC/BENJAMIN STEEVES
Akira Dakilla talks about how drug culture in the food service industry created a toxic work environment.
HUMBERETC/BENJAMIN STEEVES
Dive into the rhythm of the 9th annual
the park and paid music at the collaborating venues.
Richard Underhill, a Juno award-winning saxophone player who lives in Toronto’s iconic Kensington Market, knows how special jazz music is to the downtown community. He said jazz festivals aren’t just about the music but also about bringing people together.
Festivals help keep jazz alive by creating a space for jazz musicians and bringing in new audiences, he said. The Kensington Market Jazz Festival is an annual event that founder singer-songwriter Molly Johnson has organized for the past nine years. From last Friday to Sunday, more than 50 Canadian jazz artists showcased their work. The festival was in collaboration with local venues Cafe Pamenar, Supermarket, Tapestry and Tom’s Place. The event had free music in
The event kicked off with Underhill’s group The Shuffle Demons and their biggest hit song Spadina Bus. They led attendees to Cafe Pamenar on Augusta Avenue where he later performed with his trio. Underhill said the festival unites people from around Toronto and the GTA, including the organizers of a local Toronto restaurant that hosts jazz and Latin music performances for the community.
“I am really excited to play with my trio tonight,” he said.
“I love the players. There’s some really wonderful music in the park this year programmed by the people at Lula Lounge so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Hilario Duran, a Humber music professor who is a Juno award winner and a Grammy
award nominee, said he was excited to play for people in the neighbourhood and contribute to the feeling of community.
Duran said he advises beginner musicians and students who want to perform in jazz festivals to take all the opportunities they can.
“It’s important for students in the early stages of learning that they start participating in every kind of event. Most of my students are active performers,” he said.
Duran said jazz is shrinking in popularity as other genres rise, but he is grateful that the Kensington Market Jazz Festival has created a space for jazz musicians to thrive.
“I am very happy that the city has given us the opportunity to represent this music,” he said. “The festival supporting the jazz community is really great.”
“These days the music and the style of music is getting lost, but
I’m so happy that the city is still supporting jazz,” Duran said. Toronto jazz singer and composer John Alcorn performed alongside Canadian rock and jazz
“Music
singer Laura Hubert at Tapestry.
festivals are really important and people love them because you get to see a variety of artists,” he said.
Julia C. Sequeira HumberETC Culture
Heather Bambrick is Canada’s National Jazz Award winner for vocalist of the year.
HUMBERETC/JULIA C. SEQUEIRA
Richard Underhill, a Juno award-winning saxophone player, in front of the venue where he and his band played their biggest hit song Spadina Bus at Kensington Market Jazz Festival.
annual Kensington Market Jazz Festival
“One thing that I think is unique about the Kensington Market Jazz Festival is the fact that they focus on just jazz.
“A lot of other jazz festivals
have spread out a lot doing R&B and whatever else and it’s all good music but it’s not necessarily jazz,” Alcorn said.
He said the event brings many
of his friends and others in the jazz community together.
“Before the music even begins there’s this incredible sense of community here in the market. The buzz on the streets feels authentic. It is authentic,” Alcorn said.
“When you have that to start with and then add the music on top of it it’s just an explosion of beauty,” he said.
Following his performance was his long-time friend and collaborator Heather Bambrick, Canada’s National Jazz Award winner for vocalist of the year and a Juno Award nominee. She performed Take the B Train from her 2019 album Fine State.
“I’m really looking forward to what’s up next which is my old friend Heather Bambrick who is a killer jazz singer,” Alcorn said.
“She’s going to be doing a solo set and then she’s bringing a bunch
of other great vocalists with her later.”
Bambrick said the festival is special and the location is unlike any other because the neighbourhood embraces art and culture so openly.
“It’s an artistic area. So they’re open to expanding that artistry and adding music,” she said.
“They want to work together as a neighbourhood. There’s no competition. There’s community, which is lovely.
“And I just think it’s so unique there’s so many different cultures down here and it’s all in one place,” Bambrick said.
It allows everyone in the neighbourhood to mingle and be introduced to jazz if they haven’t already been.
“Seeing everybody, not only the people that come to see the shows but my fellow musicians because
when you’re working, you’re working with your own people,” Bambrick said.
“You’re not getting a chance to see others. So it’s nice because we’re going to see a whole bunch of people that are all in the neighbourhood at the same time.”
She said live jazz is the purest form of jazz because people experience the performance and the ability to create spontaneous art first-hand.
“Jazz itself is about live performance. There are great albums, but those albums are just portraits, little pictures and snapshots of what was going on that day in the studios,” Bambrick said.
“I think because jazz festivals are presenting so much live music it’s really the essence of what jazz is all about.
“It really helps the art form be what it’s meant to be,” she said.
HUMBERETC/JULIA C. SEQUEIRA
The Shuffle Demons leading fans to venues in Kensington Market in Toronto during the weekend jazz festival. From left, Richard Underhill, Stitch Wynston, Perry White and Steve Carson.
year. Bambrick performed Take the B Train from her 2019 album during the festival.
HUMBERETC/JULIA C. SEQUEIRA
Grad work permit limits worry students
Parthvi Indravadan Patel HumberETC News
Aisha Patel, a third-year international student from India at Humber Polytechnic, nervously taps her pen on a well-worn textbook.
“I came to Canada with big dreams,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Now, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to stay after graduation.”
Patel’s worry reflects the growing concern among international students in Canada as the government introduces changes to immigration policies, affecting the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. These reforms aim to align the program with labour market needs and will impact students hoping to stay in Canada after graduation.
Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced changes to manage temporary resident arrivals and protect the immigration system.
International students at Humber Polytechnic will soon face stricter requirements when applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Starting Nov. 1, 2024, graduates must meet specific language proficiency
benchmarks to qualify.
For college graduates, a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 in English or French will be required, while university graduates will need a CLB Level 7. These changes could significantly impact students hoping to stay in Canada after completing their studies.
Students who apply for a PGWP on or before Oct. 31, 2024, will not need to provide proof of language proficiency. However, after the deadline, all applicants must meet the new standards.
This also includes reducing study permits for 2025 by 10 per cent, setting a new target of 437,000.
Dhwani Patel, a second-year Physio student, expressed concern.
“I’m worried about whether this will affect me when I graduate,” Patel said. “I planned my whole future around getting a three-year work permit. Now, I don’t know what will happen.”
The uncertainty about the length of PGWPs under the new rules has many students on edge.
International graduates can now receive a PGWP for up to three years, depending on their program length. Under the revised system,
only graduates from fields linked to occupations with long-term shortages will be eligible for the full three years.
Marketa Evans, president and CEO of Colleges Ontario, strongly opposed the new rules in a published statement on a website, saying they harm Ontario’s efforts to meet its labour market needs.
“College graduates are key to addressing shortages in health care, childcare, and skilled trades,”
Province’s minimum wage increases to $17.20 hourly
Satwik Kumar Singh HumberETC News
Ontario’s minimum wage rose to $17.20 hourly on Oct. 1, a 3.9 per cent increase from the previous $16.55.
After the following change, the minimum wage in Ontario has become the second highest in Canada, after British Columbia which has only 20 cents more as an hourly pay rate.
However, according to the Ontario Living Wage Network, many places in Ontario need a minimum of $20 for workers to sustain themselves, with places like the GTA requiring up to $25.05 per hour.
Many workers appreciate that the minimum wage has increased, yet, they express it will not benefit them much.
They say this added income will barely pay for groceries and rent, let alone cause any relief in hard times.
“It’s a good step, but rent and everything is ging up, so I still barely can save anything,” said Laveskey Sharma, a retail worker. “Groceries and rent used to take away most of my salary but I am still hoping that I can save at least something now.” Even with the raise, some say they will struggle to keep up as rent and inflation rise more rapidly than wages. Workers mentioned that unless wages come more frequently or if housing support is
available, it is far from being reasonable.
“Even with the raise, rent and food prices are going up way faster,” said Rajdeep Gerwal, who works at a furniture store. “My landlord has increased the rent two times already in just one year, how am I supposed to save anything?”
The hike can be seen as an advancement of the provincial government’s Working for Workers Four Act, 2024, which aims to protect millions of workers in Ontario. Apart from an increased minimum wage, the Act ensures employers will no longer be able to deduct the wages of restaurant, hospitality, and service workers in cases of dineand-dash.
he move comes in union with the decision that Canadian work experience will no longer be required in job postings to ensure that people with experience from outside Canada can also benefit from entering job designations that they earlier were unqualified for.
“With so much experience that I had abroad, I still have to work in low-paying jobs just because that work had no value in front of the recruiter,” said Ivy Siddique, a hotel receptionist. “Now, I can plan on doing something better, something I like.” The Employment Standards Act states the minimum wage rates are changed based on the annual inflation rate. If the wages are to be changed, it is notified on or before April 1 and is implemented on Oct. 1.
Evans wrote to Miller. “This policy will worsen labour shortages and hurt economic growth.”
Evans said more than 1,800 international students are enrolled in personal support worker (PSW) programs, and nearly 1,000 are training to become practical nurses, both essential roles in Ontario’s health care system.
Excluding these students from work permits could put more strain on these critical sectors.
Adi Khaitan, the organizer at the Migrant Action Centre, said the changes are tough for the students.
They said they have serious concerns about how these changes will disproportionately affect vulnerable students.
“These policies are creating more uncertainty for international students, especially those in non-degree programs,” Khaitan said. “For many, getting a threeyear work permit is the key to staying in Canada and gaining enough points for permanent residency (PR). Now, they might be forced into short-term permits, which will make it harder to get the work experience they need.”
They said PGWP is critical because it provides a window for graduates to secure skilled jobs, earn points toward PR, and establish themselves in Canada. Shortening this window could result in fewer opportunities for international students.
“Think about students graduating next year — if they only get a one-year permit, they’re under immense pressure to find a job immediately,” Khaitan said. “It puts them at risk of taking any work they can find, rather than something aligned with their field of study. That can lead to exploitation and make the road to PR even tougher.”
The changes to the PGWP are part of broader reforms to Canada’s immigration system. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced plans earlier this year to reduce the percentage of temporary residents from 6.5 per cent of the population to five per cent by 2026.
Updates to the PGWP program are one method of achieving this goal, alongside stricter eligibility for work permits and study permits.
Khaitan said many international students don’t have access to the same networks and resources as domestic students, which makes finding a job in their field even more challenging.
“These students are already dealing with language barriers, financial stress, and cultural adjustments,” they said. “Now they’re being asked to meet even tighter timelines. It feels like the system is setting them up for failure.”
Meanwhile, Humber offers resources to help international students improve their language skills and prepare for the changes.
Services like the Math and Writing Centre’s “Conversation Circles” and “General Writing Support” assist students in meeting language proficiency requirements.
The new rules have left many students, like Alvarez, in a state of uncertainty.
With graduation looming, they are anxious to see how these changes will affect their future in Canada.
“It’s stressful,” Patel said. “I chose a longer diploma program to have more time to find a job and earn PR points. If I only get a oneyear permit, all my plans could fall apart.”
Minister Marc Miller speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, September 18, 2024 in Ottawa.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/ADRIAN WYLD
Hawks stay positive after exhibition loss
Men’sbasketballgainsexperiencefacingOUAopposition
Matthew R. Ziniuk HumberETC Sports
The Humber Hawks faced off against the Waterloo Warriors in a Wednesday exhibition game, losing 86-83.
The close match showcased the Hawks’ determination and skill as they prepared for the upcoming basketball season.
Jalen Menzies, point guard and team leader expressed the team’s commitment to growth.
“I think this year we have a very good chance,” he said.
Menzies’ achievements highlight the team’s potential. After being named Humber’s Male Athlete of the Year, he emphasized his desire to improve.
“I had a great year last year, but I know I could do better,” he said. His drive sets the tone for the team.
Coach Omar Miles echoed Menzies’ thoughts, emphasizing the value of experience in shaping the team’s future.
“Experience is the biggest teacher,” he said.
“We’re gonna reflect on the things we need to work on for this upcoming season. We got close last year, and I know we will accomplish our goal of getting gold this year,” Miles said.
The exhibition game allowed
players across the whole roster to showcase their abilities, with Adrian Aluyi scoring 15 points as the Hawks’ top scorer.
His contributions illustrated the depth of talent on the roster and the potential for a strong season ahead. Significance
Miles said the importance of this exhibition is in team development.
To date, they are 1-3 in exhibition games against university teams.
“We wanted to play all of the players we wanted to play. It’s just an exhibition game. It’s more of a move forward rather than a bounce back,” he said, adding he’s looking forward to future games.
As the team reflects on this narrow loss, they remain optimistic about their journey ahead, Miles said.
They are determined to overcome last year’s challenges from getting bronze in the CCAA championship, he said.
Menzies said the team’s struggles from last season in not winning gold in the CCAA championship will change their game for the upcoming season.
“We have a very good chance to get to that same point or further this season,” Menzies said.
“I think, personally, I had a great year last year,” he said. “But I know I can definitely do better than my last year. I have a lot of goals that I want to accomplish this season, and I know that I and the team will get it done.”
The coaching staff is already focusing on the next matchup against Keyano Huskies from Wood Buffalo, Alta., on Oct. 6, which is pivotal for the Hawks’ momentum.
Hawks shooting guard Dwayne Burke puts up a shot against Waterloo.
HUMBERETC/MATTHEW R. ZINIUK
Hansen throws second career no-hitter
HawkssoftballpitcherdominatinginOCAAplay
Nina A. Kersnik HumberETC Sports
The chants of “Let’s go Shade” came from the Humber softball team’s dugout as players were counting the pitches by Shade Hansen who was inching closer to her second no-hitter.
The Lambton Lions’ batter swung in the fateful Sept. 14 game and missed. Hansen’s teammates erupted in joy and swarmed her.
“It was super exciting, I was super-duper happy,” the Humber Polytechnic Film and Media student said. “But I also think, you know, it wouldn’t have happened unless my team was behind me.”
Hansen, a lover of team sports, started playing baseball at a very young age but eventually realized softball was the path she needed to take.
“It’s a fun sport, you cheer, you’re loud, you get rowdy with all your friends on the team. Honestly, it’s just great for your mental strength, and also just like knowing yourself,” she said.
Hansen made zero errors in the
circle, giving the opponents no runs, and allowing the Hawks to attack.
From the start, Humber batters were focused and built an early 3-0 lead.
The Lions struggled to catch the Hawks as they could not find the rhythm of Hansen’s pitches, who added two more strikeouts to the sheet at the top of the second.
By the end of the inning, the Hawks added another run to their score and were up by four by the end of the second.
The Hawks won the first game of a double-header 11-0 as Hansen recorded nine strikeouts over seven innings.
Currently, she leads the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) conference with 89 strikeouts and is the first Humber pitcher to record more than 200 career strikeouts.
This exceeds the total number of strikeouts of six teams in the league.
Hansen said she didn’t realize the accomplishment until someone
told her immediately after the games.
“They go, ‘Good job,’ and I’m like, ‘Thanks!’ And they go, ‘You know what you just did?’ I go, ‘Nope!’” she said.
Hansen said the team’s assistant coach Brandon Costa had quite an unforgettable reaction to her achievement.
“He goes, ‘Let’s walk over to your parents.’ I go, ‘Okay!’” Hansen said.
“He points to the sheet and he goes, ‘This is what she did.’ And he hands it to my parents. I’m like, ‘Thanks, Costa,’” she said.
Humber softball’s head coach Duaine Bowles said the staff feels at ease whenever Shade steps on the mound.
“Every single time she steps out there it’s business, it’s business every single time, and she has a lot of fun doing it,” Bowles said.
“I just love watching her go out there and be herself,” he said.
Hansen said balancing academics and athletics can be difficult at times. She said she appreciates Humber’s athletics department’s
support for student-athletes.
“There are a lot of good outlets that I could go to for help, especially through varsity,” Hansen said.
“We have our varsity coordinator who I can talk to, and I try to make good connections with my teachers,” she said.
She also said making friends within your program and not taking school so seriously is important to remember.
Bowles said every day Hansen arrives at the diamond, all they want is for her to do her best, and as long as that’s in mind, that’s what matters most.
Humber pitcher Shade Hansen threw eight strikeouts in an 11-0 win over Lambton on Sept. 14. Her 89 strikeouts this season are nearly double the total of second place (46).
HUMBERETC/NINA A. KERSNIK
Pitcher Shade Hansen leads the OCAA in earned run average and wins.
HUMBERETC/NINA A. KERSNIK
Humber Esports ‘levels up’ this semester Teams adding to its growing competitive program
Julia-Marie Ilano HumberETC Esports
Bernard Mafei was once ranked number one in Canada for the Nintendo fighting game Super Smash Bros. Melee and built Humber Esports into a titan.
He’s been employed as the Senior Administrator for Humber Esports for only a year, but Mafei, 34, has been playing since he was 14. So, it’s no surprise he grew up with a passion for esports.
Michael “Mikey” Mangabay, part-time Creative Lead for the organization and ex-varsity player at Humber for the firstperson shooter game Valorant, said Mafei’s presence impacted the polytechnic’s esports organization.
“It wasn’t until Bernard came in and brought Humber Esports back up into what it was supposed to be,” Mangabay said.
The organization currently houses five varsity teams. Of the five, two stood out the most.
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team won first place at the NACE Open Plus Divisional Finals last April.
National Association of Collegiate Esports is a series of competitions that host leagues for different games.
Run by the largest collegiate esports organization in North
America, Playfly College Esports, it was the first league in the varsity team to win a championship.
Lina Shim, the team lead and self-described super manager for the varsity teams, said the experience was fulfilling for the team.
“Even though it’s not necessarily the biggest competition in the country or anything, it still felt really good to celebrate with them that way,” Shim said.
The Valorant varsity team also participated in LAN ETS last June, an annual event held by the École de technologie supérieure (ETS) in Montreal, considered the biggest Local Area Network event in Canada.
The announcement said it only took five months for Humber Esports to secure the recognition, which is the fastest for a post-secondary program.
The varsity teams weren’t the only ones to thrive within the last year. The more casual side of the organization, the Humber Gaming Club, has been hard at work.
Although it was mentioned that there were five varsity teams, there originally were only four. Mafei said there are now five varsity teams with this year’s introduction of the Rocket League into its line-up.
Rocket League is a game where soccer is played with a vehicle.
“It wasn’t until Bernard came in and brought Humber Esports back up into what it was supposed to be,” - Micheal Managbay
Club president Lanvy Nguyen said the club has been focusing on new ways to bring casual and competitive gamers together.
The team’s participation was a memorable experience for many staff in the organization. Mangabay said the vlog he created about the event was his most ambitious endeavour that year, adding that he wanted to continue making similar content this year.
These accomplishments ultimately led to Esport Canada, a not-for-profit organization that champions collegiate esports organizations, announcing in March that Humber Esports was recognized as the 12th varsity program in the country.
“Everyone’s accepted, everyone can join, right? All you have to do is join our Discord and you’re basically in for the ride,” she said.
Nguyen said the Humber Gaming Discord server currently houses more than 1,400 students.
The Humber Gaming Club also held events such as Humber Hitfest, a weekly tournament for fighting game enthusiasts to play together and compete in a casual environment. As of now, both the Gaming Club and varsity teams are anticipating more exciting content for this coming year.
Mafei said that this year, they would introduce a fighting game academy. Instead of consisting of a varsity team, players are welcome to apply now to compete in any fighting game leagues under the Humber Esports association.
Additionally, the Humber Esports teams are currently in the process of looking for players and coaches. Mafei said this would be the first year that varsity coaches would be considered a work-study position.
Mafei said the organization would have partners and platforms to train the coaches, so as not to put too much pressure on people interested in applying for the position.
Those interested in any of these opportunities can apply through the links available through the Humber Esports linktree.
As for the varsity teams, Shim
said she has planned more intimate developmental schedules. She said she has something planned that will be announced around the end of October or November of this year that she can’t talk about yet.
Nguyen said the Gaming Club is in the process of finding a space where PC and console gamers can mingle.
She said she wants to host online and in-person events to boost community engagement. Nguyen said the majority of what they have planned would be announced sometime after reading week, or by the winter semester at the latest.
Mafei said companies reached out to Humber Polytechnic to host events similar to Electric Clash for their world tours.
Electric Clash was a world tour competition for TEKKEN 8, a sidescroller fighting game hosted by its developer, Bandai Namco, last April. Humber Polytechnic was the first stop and the first school to host a world tour stop.
For now, Mafei hopes people will continue to keep an eye on the growth of Humber Esports.
“So, we are one of the few schools that have any support from the college, so we’re in a really good place,” he said.
“Humber Esports is something to watch.”
Humber Esports staff leaders, from left. Kevin Baijnauth, social media assistant, Michael Mangabay, creative lead, Lina Shim, team lead, and Bernard Mafei, the senior administrator.
HUMBER ET CETERA
