Et Cetera Vol.67 No.5/ Feb. 22, 2024

Innovation shines at auto show

hypercar, the world’s fastest and most powerful EV yet.

The gleam of polished chrome filled the Metro Toronto Convention Centre as the 2024 Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) revved into high gear.

The CIAS serves as a crucial barometer for the Canadian automotive industry reflecting current trends, innovations and future directions.

Premier Doug Ford, Tourism Minister Neil Lumsden, MP Francesco Sorbara and Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne inaugurated the 51st edition of the event.

This year’s show presented 44 automotive brands and 31 vehicle premieres including two global auto show debuts and one North American unveiling. It is open to the general public from Feb. 16 to 25.

“I’m especially proud of the number of Ontario-based brands represented at this year’s expo,” Ford said in this year’s media release.

“Our province is becoming an auto-manufacturing powerhouse, attracting over $28 billion in auto and electric vehicle-related investments over the past three years, making Ontario the only place in the world that the six largest automakers call home,” he said.

There was an emphasis on electric vehicles, as Croatian brand Rimac showcased the Nevera

Manufacturers like Tesla, Hyundai, Porsche and General Motors also featured their latest EV models.

Two new categories, Electric Car and Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year were introduced as part of the Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) awards conducted by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

The 2024 CIAS saw the return of Canada’s largest indoor EV Test Track where people can take 13 EVs on a two-lap tour through the 70,000-square-foot course.

In addition to the innovative vehicles, the show featured the Batmobile from Christian Bale’s Batman movie trilogy and the pink 1957 Chevrolet Corvette from the critically acclaimed Barbie movie.

The Auto Exotica was a segment with a selection of the most expensive luxury, exotic and hypercars from around the world was also displayed.

Along with the Auto Exotica was Cobble Beach Classics in partnership with Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which showcased rare and classic cars paying homage to some of the most iconic performance vehicles of the last century.

Camp Jeep returned to give a first-hand experience of its legendary off-road prowess on a 20,000-square-foot obstacle course.

The show continued the tradition of allowing the general public to get up close and personal with the cars.

It played host to sports personalities and automotive television presenters like American racing driver Townsend Bell.

“If you’re a manufacturer, if you’re an attendee, it’s the perfect marriage. You have every single option you can walk up. You can see, you can touch, you can sit and effectively try it out or the drive the EVs,” Bell said.

The CIAS is significant for

Humber Et Cetera is the Humber College journalism program laboratory newspaper. It is created by journalism students in the Advanced Diploma and Post Graduate Certificate programs. Et Cetera serves to inform the Humber community and give its readers well rounded coverage on the things that matter to them.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Zoe Pierson

PAGE 1 EDITOR

Liv Chug

NEWS

Ankur Gupta

Etti Bali

POLITICS

Brandon Harris

CULTURE

Aarjavee Raaj

Iqbal Alibhai

SPORTS

Caleb Moody

Toni Canyameras

OP-ED

Adrian Olivier

FACULTY ADVISER

Rob Lamberti

TECHNICAL ADVISER

Ishmeet Singh

Toronto and its surrounding regions because it brings families and like-minded enthusiasts together.

“Events like this serve as a prime example of what makes Ontario the most visited tourism destination in Canada, attracting visitors to explore all that our province has to offer,” Lumsden said.

This year’s show has already eclipsed the crowd count from 2018. The increased turnout on opening day to 22,628 from 21,385 people made it the largest crowd in the event’s history.

FRONT PAGE PHOTO

Akhil Dalvi

BACK PAGE PHOTO

Aditya Kapoor

Akhil Dalvi Science Reporter

The Canadian International Auto Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is showcasing 44 automative brands and 31 vehicle premieres.

AKHIL DALVI

The CIAS is a crucial milestone for the Canadian automative sector.

AKHIL DALVI

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: NURSING HER TRUE CALLING

Anusha Siddiqui General Reporter

Audrey Han was a Montreal-based cosmetics marketer when she decided to take the plunge and become a nurse.

“I thought if I die doing marketing, I would feel like my life was a waste not doing anything better than this,” Han said.

Marketing had taken a toll on her physical and mental health in Montreal, working 70 hours a week.

“I was hospitalized and had to take a year off to heal my health,” Han said. “I’m grateful for that privilege.

“But in that process, I was probably at the darkest, most depressed point in my life because I couldn’t pull those crazy hours of work,” she said.

Despite her business degree, she decided to pursue something she had always wanted and help people. Han started looking for nursing programs and came to Humber.

“Every time I feel like this semester is too much, I just remind myself how depressed I was a year ago, thinking that I could never change my life,” she said.

Han said it is important to remember that even those who seem to have it together, do not necessarily have it together.

“We need to be transparent that sometimes we’re falling apart, and it’s okay,” she said. “You don’t need to make it to the finish line unscathed. It’s okay too, if you end up crawling to the finish line.”

Han said during adversity, even if the family is unsupportive, having a community of friends is helpful.

“Sometimes it can feel lonely, like a hole in your chest, and you just wish you had family support,” she said.

“Remember to lean on your friends because nobody should have to go through it alone.”

She hopes to return to the cosmetic industry as a nurse.

LRT may not ease parking woes

Liam Neilson General Reporter

The new Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) line will provide easier access to anyone travelling to Humber’s North campus from northwest Toronto.

However, college officials say the new transit line won’t reduce the demand for college parking spots as most students live in areas not served by the LRT line.

But what could put some pressure on parking is the exchange of 440 parking spots in Lots 13 and 14 for a new basketball facility the college is currently considering.

The new $2.5 billion LRT line is gearing towards an end of development after construction began in 2019 and with years of prior preparation.

This would mean one thing for certain for any Humber students who will be using the line: quicker and easier access to their classes. Metrolinx estimates about 46,000 people would ride the LRT daily.

Easier access could mean some students from within Toronto who normally drive to the college opt to ride public transit and give up paying for parking.

James Irvine, manager of transportation at Humber’s North campus, said demand for parking isn’t likely to go down, although he does welcome the idea of fewer students depending on their vehicles to and from classes.

“Most of our students come

from the west, Mississauga and Brampton and the Finch West LRT is the most western station. So generally, we don’t feel like there would be a decline in revenue because it won’t serve a large portion of our students,” Irvine said.

“We are very hopeful that it will get some people out of single-occupied vehicles,” he said.

Those who live east of Humber and in the northern areas of Toronto would most likely leave their vehicles home and use the Finch LRT, Irvine said.

Metrolinx stated the new LRT will span approximately 11 kilometres with 18 stops from Finch West subway station, at Keele Street and Finch Avenue, to Humber College.

Metrolinx declined an interview with Humber News about specific dates of when the line will begin operating, construction delays or estimated counts of riders when running.

The current date available to the public on when we can expect the LRT to be up and running is the end of 2024.

Although the college projects the LRT won’t have much of an effect on parking spot demands, the building of a proposed athletics facility on Lots 13 and 14 on the northwest corner of campus might force it to seek alternate parking arrangements.

Irvine said these two lots make up about 440 parking spots for people driving to the college.

Angelo Presta, associate VP of facilities management and development at Humber, said if construction on these lots takes place, options for alternate parking off-campus for students will be looked at if necessary.

“We have off-site parking facilities that aren’t fully used,” he said. “We don’t think that it’ll be a hit to parking by converting the lots, at least it hasn’t been in any of the preliminary plans.”

Irvine said the off-campus lot is located near the corner of

Queen’s Plate Drive and Highway 27, one traffic light south of Humber College Boulevard and is used for Humber parking pass holders.

Presta said the new line has the potential to draw in interest from future students in places that will have easier access to the college going forward.

“We’d have to see what our enrollment colleagues will do, but the opportunity is definitely there now that it could be increased based on ease of getting here,” he said.

The new LRT line would provide easier access to people coming to college but college officials say it won’t reduce the demand for parking spots.

LIAM NEILSON

The LRT line near Humber College is expected to open later this year.

LIAM NEILSON

Canadians demand better healthcare

Kritika General Reporter

Animesh Kaushal, 29, was recommended surgery by doctors when he suffered from a knee injury while skiing last year. But he had to wait for nine months for it.

“I sustained a skiing injury resulting in knee discomfort. Upon seeking medical attention, the initial X-ray failed to reveal any abnormalities, leading to the consideration of an MRI or arthroscopy for diagnosis,” Kaushal said. His case was considered an emergency but due to a long waiting period, he had to settle for an option where he could get early medical attention.

“Despite the superiority of MRI, a lengthy three to six-month wait prompted me to choose arthroscopy for a quicker diagnosis, albeit delaying the subsequent surgery,” he said.

The arthroscopy revealed a ligament fracture. “Post-arthroscopy, it was determined that I had a ligament fracture, requiring surgery

with a subsequent nine month waiting period. Fortunately, due to a cancellation, I underwent surgery three months after diagnosis,” Kaushal said.

Angus Reid Institute and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) conducted a survey in August 2023 which revealed that one in five Canadians said they do not have a family doctor.

The survey revealed 29 per cent of the respondents said they have to wait quite a long time to get an appointment from their family doctor.

People in Canada have reported long wait times not only for medical emergencies but for mental health support, too. They are unable to find a therapist promptly.

Jatin Prabhakar, 24, began suffering from anxiety and depression when he came to Canada in December 2022. He soon had a mental and emotional breakdown.

“While trying to get an appointment for a therapist I would have had to wait for at least a year if I

hadn’t known somebody here with a family doctor,” Prabhakar said. He said accessing mental health practitioners in Canada has been challenging.

“As an international student in Canada, one of the challenges I’ve encountered is accessing mental health support, particularly finding a therapist or psychologist. The healthcare system in Canada, unfortunately, faces significant challenges, including a shortage of healthcare professionals such as therapists and psychologists. This shortage often results in long wait times,” he said.

Due to the delays, Prabhakar’s mental health state started manifesting itself physically. He started binge eating which led to weight gain. He also became a recluse.

“I was getting an appointment for a year later at first but then I contacted someone here in Toronto who helped me get an appointment within two months,” Prabhakar said.

He said that these challenges

are even harder for international students. “This delay in accessing mental health services can exacerbate existing challenges and make it difficult for international students like myself to receive timely support and care for our mental well-being,” he said.

OurCare is a pan-Canadian initiative where patients and the public share their experiences and ideas to build a better primary care system.

OurCare issued a report in 2023 stating the number of people without regular access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner has risen to 6.5 million in 2023 from 4.5 million in 2019.

Ontario New Democratic Party health critic France Gélinas said in a January media release the government should look after the excessive use of nursing agencies which is causing a problem for the hospitals.

“Establish safe nurse-patient staffing ratios. And cap the use of nursing agencies, which are forcing

public hospitals to go deeper and deeper into debt,” Gélinas said.

A nurse working in a hospital in Oakville said that she has witnessed long wait times for treatments, especially in the emergency departments. She attributed it to a lack of physicians taking on more patients.

“In Canada, there is an increase in patients coming to the emergency departments which essentially stems from the lack of physicians taking on patients,” she said, requesting anonymity.

She is not authorized to speak on the hospital’s behalf but shared her opinion as part of the healthcare community.

She emphasized the need for physicians to take more patients so that the load from the hospitals can be shared.

“We need more doctors to take on patients so less individuals show up to the emergency department for non-urgent things that can be treated at doctors’ offices,” she said.

OurCare issued a report in 2023 stating the number of people without regular access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner has risen to 6.5 million in 2023 from 4.5 million in 2019.

PEXELS/LAURA JAMES

Need for senior home care workers to rise

Arushi Roy Chowdhury Culture Reporter

Ontario is projected to have a spike in number of senior citizens in the upcoming years, according to an independent study done by professors at McMaster University.

The report titled The Impact of Ontario’s Aging Population on the Home Care Sector also projects a rise in demand for home care workers.

The report by economics professors Arthur Sweetman and Boris Kralj was commissioned by Home Care Ontario, the umbrella group representing home-care agencies.

Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) report said Ontarians utilize more health resources as they age.

The report said the province will require a significant increase in personal support workers (PSWs) and other home-care staff merely to sustain current service levels.

Ontario will have reduced hospital beds, stable home-care services, and fewer spots in long-term care homes compared to 2019-20 levels, relative to the expected surge in demand, the FAO report said.

The report released on Feb.19, 2024, said if there is an increase in

the number of workers in-home care, it can ease the strain on hospitals and the rest of the healthcare system.

The FAO report said the province hasn’t done enough to provide the nurses and PSWs needed for its expansion plans which means that challenges will likely continue across Ontario’s health-care system.

The restricted expansion of

long-term care beds has resulted in extended wait times and waitlists for long-term care placements.

By November 2022, the waitlist for a long-term care bed exceeded 39,000 Ontarians, with a wait time of 126 days FAO said.

The province revealed plans to inject an extra $1.5 bn into home care between 2022-23 and 2024-25 economic fall statement said. The media release by FAO said the

province’s expansion of home care will raise the count of Ontarians aged 65 and over receiving such services to 485,000 by 2024-25 from 410,000 in 2019-20.

Ontario will face a shortage of 19,254 home-care workers in the year 2024 FAO statistics said.

As Ontario is preparing for this demographic shift, it is essential for the government to prioritize job creation initiatives to ensure

the delivery of quality home-care services for all the senior citizens in need FAO report said.

People working in the healthcare industry specifically in the home care and personal support care sector gave their insights on the situation.

Janet Jones works in the administration for Nicoya Health Support, a home healthcare service provider in Toronto. She said despite the demand, there are no jobs.

“There has always been a demand in this industry, there has been a demand for health-care workers and home-care workers, but my question is why the government is not doing anything to cater to this demand, there are no jobs in the market for people who want to get in the services,” Jones said.

Khushi Patel is studying Health Services Office Administration at Sheridan College in Brampton. Patel said she has been facing a lot of issues in finding a field-related job for her co-op.

“There are such high waiting times and now that there is going to be a spike for demand in homecare workers, I am hoping that more vacancies would open up in Toronto,” she said.

Canada’s inflation rate drops to 2.9 per cent

Kritika General Reporter

Statistics Canada released a consumer price index report stating the inflation rate fell in January.

Akshit Sehgal, 23, an accounting bookkeeper in Mississauga has seen changes in gas prices from the past month which he feels turned out to be a relief on his finances.

“I feel necessities like gas are essential for daily travel. Lower fuel prices have helped to save a lot more money than before. Lower gas prices mean extra cash which is useful for other basic needs,” Sehgal said.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has decreased to 2.9 per cent in January 2024 from 3.4 per cent in December 2023.

It’s the lowest level since it dropped to 2.8 per cent in June 2023

Gasoline prices fell by four per cent on a year-over-year basis.

Low prices of gas in Manitoba were a major factor in the nationwide decline in gasoline prices.

Excluding gasoline, the CPI stood at 3.2 per cent in January lower from December 2023 (3.5

per cent).

The report said the rate of inflation has decreased in five out of eight items except for clothing and footwear, transportation, recreation, education and reading.

The report stated the prices for groceries are still increasing but at a rate much slower than in December.

According to the CPI report, airfare prices also decreased.

Monthly, there was a 23.7 per cent decrease in prices in January 2024 from December 2023.

“Airfares typically decline in January as heightened holiday demand subsides,” the report said.

Along with airfares, travel tours

also showed a change of -8.1 per cent on a month-to-month basis contributing to a decrease in the inflation rate.

However, mortgage interest cost remains the major contributor to inflation by a change of 1.6 per cent from December 2023 and showed a change of 27.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis,

the CPI report said.

Followed by mortgage interest costs are telephone services and rental prices which are the top three contributors to inflation, standing at a change of +4.9 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively on a month-to-month basis.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is Canada’s central bank and a Crown corporation which is responsible for formulating Canada’s monetary policy.

Their main role is “to promote the economic and financial welfare of Canada,” as defined in the Bank of Canada Act.

The BoC aims to keep the inflation rate at two per cent until 2026.

RBC published its economic report on Feb. 29, 2024, stating though the price hike continues to slow the inflation rate still does not match up with the BoC’s target of two per cent.

The report stated the BoC might start lowering interest rates.

“As of now, our base case assumes the BoC starts to lower interest rates around mid-year,” the report said.

An independent study has projected a spike in number of senior citizens in 2024 in Ontario.

PEXELS/MATTHIAS ZOMER

PEXELS/YIBEI

The Consumer Price Index has decreased to 2.9 per cent in January 2024 from 3.4 per cent in December 2023

Queen’s Park reopening mired with protest

Aanchal Nigam Senior Reporter

Ontario realtors demonstrated against the mandatory life insurance and benefits program in front of Queen’s Park demanding “freedom of choice.”

As members of the provincial parliament head back to Queen’s Park on Feb. 20 after a break of 10 weeks, they were met with the chants of angry realtors outside the premises.

The governing assembly of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) agreed to create the Ontario Realtor Wellness Program (ORWP), on June 20, 2023.

Under the program, all 96,000 members would be enrolled in an insurance and benefits plan that would change the annual membership fees to about $660 from $110.

Unlike the previous insurance plans run by OREA, the Canadian Real Estate Association or some individual localized boards,

ORWP is mandatory.

Ontario realtors have disagreed with the plan changes since it was first proposed. They brought their protest to the front of the Ontario Legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Chants of “ORWP must be optional,” “Revoke OREA,” and

“Say no to ORWP,” filled the air around the provincial legislature with the hope that their demands would be heard.

Fatima Ataei, a realtor with Re/ Max, who participated in the protest, said she finds the program “unfair.”

“That’s why we are here to send our voices to people who can send the decision to cancel the mandatory insurance for realtors,” Ataei said.

“It’s okay to offer the insurance but it shouldn’t be mandatory. That’s all we want.”

Ataei said she hopes the demonstration in front of the legislative Assembly will help take the issue to a higher level.

Despite several meetings and petitions, the plan was scheduled to kick off on Jan. 1, 2024.

Ontario Chinese Realtors Association, which organized the Feb. 20 rally, said the protest is a demonstration against the forced ORWP.

“A substantial portion of our community, which includes a diverse range of professionals, is firmly against this forced policy, advocating for autonomy and fairness in our industry,” the Ontario Chinese Realtors Association said in a statement.

OREA representatives have previously argued only a small, vocal group opposes their stance, mentioning they’ve conducted numerous town hall meetings to clarify their position to members after the vote.

SCC reaffirms reconcilation with Bill C-92

Iqbal Alibhai Culture Editor

The Supreme Court of Canada overturned the Quebec Court of Appeals’ verdict stating Bill C-92 was unconstitutional.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe told Humber News he believed the Supreme Court’s decision affirmed Canada’s resolve to reconcile First Nations, Métis, and Inuit sovereignty.

Between the late 16th and early 20th Century, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people signed many treaties between themselves and North American colonialists.

“They issued peace with us at that time and we agreed to be their allies, but we would remain separate,” Niganobe said.

“[Canada] never bestowed [sovereignty] upon us. It was always there for us.”

Bill C-92 was enacted on Jan. 1, 2020, and was named, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth and families.

The act gave responsibility for Indigenous family and child welfare services over to their respective nations.

The Quebec Court of Appeals decision said sections 21 and 22(3) of the act gave unconstitutional preference to the First Nations laws over provincial laws.

However, the Supreme Court decision said First Nation child

and family welfare laws are on par with federal laws and as such the act was constitutional.

The act was part of Canada’s attempts to reconcile with the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit and respect their authority as nations within Canada.

An auditor general report in 2011 said the government of Nunavut needed to make large-scale changes to make the family and child welfare department up to Canadian standards.

Former auditor general Sheila Fraser said Nunavut’s family and child welfare services were woefully underfunded, understaffed, and ill-prepared to confront issues faced by families and chil-

dren in Nunavut.

Auditor General Karen Hogan’s 2023 spring report said Nunavut continued to not implement recommended changes.

“The departments agreed to the recommendations in our previous 2 reports, but we have yet to see vulnerable children receive the protection they deserve,” Hogan said in a May 2023 media release.

Chair of the Nunavut Legal Services Board, Madeleine Redfern, said she was concerned about Nunavut’s unfulfilled recommendations as well.

Redfern said her biggest concern was working towards implementing the recommendation of the report within her jurisdiction.

“When children need to be removed from their families due to safety issues, we [need to] ensure that children are put into safe homes and that children are not lost in the system,” Redfern said.

Back in Ontario, Niganobe said he hopes bringing indigenous people into the conversation will result in a holistic approach involving the whole family unit. He said children should stay with family, such as their grandparents, to receive their knowledge and culture, as well as continue to be a part of a family unit.

“That sort of thing is frowned upon outside of the First Nation,” Niganobe said. “Those are the sort

of standards and different things that we can adjust now so that it is more acceptable.”

Looking to the future of Canadian-Indigenous relations, Niganobe said many discussions need to be had about the constitution and how it deals with First Nations, Métis, and the Inuit.

However, he said Indigenous people can rectify the past and work together with the Canadian government to find solutions, as long as Canada has the desire.

From here, Indigenous people must now implement laws and enforce them, reflecting on what works and does not work and improving where necessary, Niganobe said.

AANCHAL NIGAM

Realtors gathered at Queens Park on Feb. 20 to protest a mandatory life insurance and benefits program.

PEXELS/SPLASH OF RAIN

The Supreme Court of Canada has reaffirmed support for reconciliation by granting Indigenous people authority over their child welfare services.

Voters worried about foreign interference

Carlo Cantisani General Reporter

The number of Canadians thinking foreign interference may influence election results has increased from 2021 to 2023, but still, the vast majority think the electoral process is safe, a report shows.

In the survey Trust in Elections published last year by the Environics Institute, the number of people thinking that foreign countries may sometimes influence electoral outcomes in Canada rose to 66 per cent in 2023 from 56 per cent in 2021, while those saying this never happens has equally dropped by 10 per cent points, to 15 per cent.

The survey of 2,500 Canadians aged 18 and over between July 20 and August 4, 2023, showed a slight decrease in the election trust, to 89 per cent last year from 93 per cent in 2021, a number almost similar to that from 2017 and 2019, but higher than in 2014, when it was 78 per cent.

Andrew Parkin, the executive director of the Environics Institute, said the recent focus on the public inquiry on foreign interference has not undermined public trust in the electoral system.

“There’s a growing awareness that interference can be an issue, but I don’t think that’s translated at this point into a sort of wider

perception that there’s actually a problem with the election results,” he said.

A Leger-Canadian Press survey published last year showed that 72 per cent of 1,544 Canadians who responded between March 10 and 12, 2023, support an independent inquiry into the allegations of foreign interference.

Parkin said that there’s an inquiry going on the issue that can have as much of a positive as a negative effect on the public perception of how elections work.

“On one hand, the commission is attracting attention, so more Canadians are aware that there could be a problem,” he

said. “On the other hand, I think there’s some expectation that the problem is being addressed, so that doesn’t mean that they end up feeling that election results are not trustworthy.”

Laura Stephenson, a political science professor at Western University, said the Canadian population experiences a disconnect between institutions and politics and how they feel about them.

“On one hand, people keep saying Canada’s democracy is healthy, while on the other, people feel hate and frustration,” she said.

“At some point, that’s going to have to mix together.

“Maybe people are expressing temporary dislike for various aspects of the political process or they’re just exaggerating their negative feelings, but I think there’s a disconnect, and anytime there’s one, it’s a little concerning,” Stephenson said.

The Leger survey also highlighted the difference between Canada and the United States in people’s opinions on the electoral system and the trust in the election results in their countries.

The survey shows that 71 per cent of Canadians consider their electoral system safe, while 63 per cent of 1,007 Americans who responded think the same about

theirs.

The survey indicated 69 per cent of Canadians are generally trusting of election results, while only 57 per cent of Americans believe that.

The percentage of those not generally trusting is lower in Canada than in its southern neighbour, with 20 per cent for the former and 30 per cent for the latter.

Eric Merkley, a political science assistant professor at the University of Toronto, said even if the number of those who distrust Elections Canada and the Canadian electoral system is very low, there might be some changes.

“We are exposed to a lot of U.S. information, and the higher skepticism in electoral agencies present in the U.S., especially among Republicans, might be spilling over to some degree in Canada,” he said.

“Data show that conservatives in Canada, for instance, are more wary of mail-in voting compared to other partisan groups, so that might reflect some spillover from the U.S.,” Merkley said.

“All told, though, trust is very high in Canada. It’s much higher than lots of other government institutions. So, to me, it’s a pretty good news story.”

Ontarians voices will be heard on carbon tax

Krysti Jaglal Senior reporter

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that he will introduce legislation that requires future provincial governments to hold a public vote before creating new carbon taxes.

The Premier made this announcement yesterday morning during a press conference in Mississauga.

“If passed, this new legislation will require future provincial governments to hold a referendum before imposing a carbon pricing scheme,” he said.

“The new law will guarantee that no provincial government can force a costly carbon tax on the people of Ontario without ensuring their voices are heard loud and clear,” said Ford.

Premier Ford also took a dig at the former Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie who is now the leader of the Liberal party. He called her the “queen of carbon tax” on two separate occasions during the press conference.

In response, Crombie released a statement where she referred to the Premier as “Desperate Doug.”

“Let’s be clear: Doug Ford would sooner drag Ontario backwards just to enrich his well-connected insiders than come up with a climate plan of his own,” the statement

said. Mike Schreiner, leader of Ontario’s Green party and the MPP for Guelph also released a statement regarding the Ford government’s decision on carbon tax.

“For five years, the Premier has allowed Ontario’s housing, health

care and education crises to spiral out of control while spending taxpayer dollars on backroom deals for well-connected insiders.”

“The results are all around us: record-breaking ER wait times, sky-high housing costs and a post-secondary education sector

in crisis mode. Meanwhile, the list of Ford flip flops gets longer every day,” said Schreiner in a portion of his statement.

The government plans to introduce the legislation next week when the Legislature resumes sitting.

CARLO CANTISANI

A survey shows an increase in Canadian voters whore are worried about foreign interference in elections.

YOUTUBE

Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke at a gas station in Mississauga, introducing a bill requiring a public vote before creating new carbon taxes.

Women are competitive in men’s sports

The mixed three-point contest in the NBA All-Star held in Indianapolis on Feb. 17, should make us question the gender separation in Basketball and other sports.

The best shooter in NBA history, Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry, faced off against the WNBA’s star Sabrina Ionescu, who plays for the New York Liberty.

It was unprecedented as the event had never witnessed a duel between a male and a female player.

Curry won the challenge by 29 points to 26, but beyond the competition itself, the shooting contest raised a significant discussion on gender disparities.

We should question why women are not already competing against men in sports like basketball, where skill prevails when women compete against men in tennis and golf.

OPINION

While it’s indisputable that men are better than women in sports with a predominantly physical component, due to their naturally higher testosterone, there’s no reason to believe that the male gender has more or better skill than the female one.

The score of the three-point con-

test not only proved that Ionescu is almost as skilled a shooter as Curry, but also that she is equal to or better than many NBA players.

With her score of 26, the WNBA’s star equalled the points Damian Lillard, Trae Young, Karl Anthony-Towns and Tyrese Haliburton got in the men’s three-point contest.

Ionescu even surpassed the other participants, Donovan Mitchell, Lauri Markkanen, Jalen Brunson and Malik Beasley.

And it’s worth remembering that, despite the three-point line in the WNBA being a little closer she shot from the NBA’s distance.

Curry and Ionescu took advantage of the opportunity to vindicate mixed competitions.

Ionescu said that, in basketball’s case, gender is not important.

“If you can shoot, you can shoot. It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl. I think it’s a matter of the heart you have,” she said.

Ionescu also said men and women could face off in other sports.

“Why not a penalty shoot-out in soccer? It would be cool to see how this keeps evolving in other sports. It’s something that already happens in tennis and golf as well.

“It’s just continuing to create chances for women to go out there, present themselves and prove a lot of people wrong,” she said. “It’s going to change the narrative, kind of shift the way that non-sayers believe what we are capable of doing.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics already saw a remarkable number of mixed competitions with archery, athletics, badminton, equestrian, judo, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and triathlon.

However, we must go on.

It’s time to break all gender boundaries in sports.

Curry said this event could inspire future generations

“Being present on this stage will provide a lot of inspiration for the younger generation, both male and female, who want to compete and see themselves in one of us,” he said.

Must keep on-site auto shows like CIAS alive

Akhil Dalvi Science Reporter

Do you remember the excitement of seeing a new car and being up close and personal with it?

I remember the emotion I felt when I first attended the 2015 Detroit Motor Show, the excitement of it all and the opportunity to look, touch and feel all the latest cars of the time.

It saddens me then that the ever-growing presence of online car configurators and virtual reality experiences has put a question mark on the continued relevance of events like the Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS).

Considering that COVID-19 was already a factor that led to the show taking a hiatus for two years, major automotive brands had opted out because the entire process was no longer financially sustainable for them.

Despite this, when I heard what was in store for the year’s CIAS, especially on my media day, my excitement was reminiscent of my teenage years.

These physical showcases are not relics of a bygone era, they are more crucial than ever for the future of the Canadian automotive industry.

The physical interaction with cars, touching, feeling, and sitting inside them, creates an emotional bond.

This in-person experience allows individuals to appreciate

what these vehicles have to offer.

This emotional connection is not just about aesthetics.

It builds trust and brand loyalty, ultimately influencing purchasing decisions.

On the flipside, automotive brands and manufacturers utilize these events to showcase their newest models, along with cutting-edge technologies and sustainability initiatives.

Interactive events like Camp Jeep, EV test track, and expert talks present at this year’s event allow consumers to learn about

the latest advancements in vehicles, autonomous driving, and connected car features.

This helps foster a more informed and engaged car-buying public, benefiting both consumers and manufacturers alike.

The CIAS is crucial for Canadian dealerships and local businesses.

Hosting 44 brands under one roof, the show generates substantial economic activity, creating jobs and growing the local economy.

It’s also an opportunity for deal-

erships to connect directly with potential customers, showcase their unique offerings, and build relationships within the community.

This localized aspect fosters a sense of community engagement and strengthens the overall automotive ecosystem in Canada.

Organizing and attending on-site shows is expensive but the economic benefits generated, brand awareness, customer engagement, and industry education they provide, make them a worthwhile investment.

British motoring presenter and journalist Richard Hammond, attending the event, told me he thinks the same.

“I don’t think it’s remotely surprising that in an increasingly digitized world, there’s a huge appetite for the very analog and visceral experience of meeting up together,” said Hammond.

“Events like this are important as they bring manufacturers and big partners along with them back out of the woodwork.

It’s a big spend for people to be at any of it but it’s worth it because that real physical link, real communication, looking people in the eye to talk about the passion we share. I think that’s critical and we’re going to see more of it.” he said.

I hope he’s right.

AKHIL DALVI

Auto shows like CIAS are the ideal place for companies to advertise their state-of-the-art car technology.

Sabrina Ionescu, of the WNBA, says gender is not important in skilled sports .

To tip or not to tip, that is the question

Aaliyah Fatima Senior Reporter

Canada’s tipping culture is getting out of hand and leading to tipping fatigue.

Be it at one’s everyday coffee shop, pubs, restaurants, food trucks, coat checks, self-service point-of-sales systems, and ticket reservation kiosks. It is now more a social norm than etiquette.

The customary tips in establishments range from 15 to 30 per cent

of the pre-tax bills.

And the lower range can still be considered rude.

As students, eating out is in itself a luxury, especially with the costs of living being what it is in Canada. Treating oneself to a weekly or fortnightly meal should not have to include a 20 per cent tip.

Then one hears public opinion saying, “If you can’t tip, don’t go out.”

The burden of supplementing a server’s income should not have to fall on a student who is enjoying a night off from their part-time jobs and worrying about the upcoming bills.

It should be the responsibility of the establishment. The Angus Reid Institute mentions “tip inflation” where more Canadians are being asked to tip more and more regularly. More than three in five have reported a “tip-creep” where establishments who didn’t necessarily

ADRIAN OLIVIER

Canada’s excessive tipping culture is unaffordable for many students.

ask for a tip previously, have added the request to their digital payment machines.

It was also reported four in five said too many places are asking for tips these days.

The idea behind leaving a tip is to show monetary gratitude for a service or a reward for a person’s effort and supplement their income.

What used to be a glass jar labelled “tips” is now, more often than not, a prompt on a screen saying “add a tip.” While we, as students, understand the struggles of the job and benefit from tips when we are on the receiving end of it, as a customer, it tends to feel like a compulsion rather than an option resulting in financial burden.

The overwhelming tipping culture has turned into a social pressure where people feel obligated to part with money they would rather keep.

When we ignore the feeling of “guilt tipping” and choose the “no tip option” at a table service, we can feel the atmosphere change, what started as a polite conversation can turn awkward or rude in a minute.

Taking into consideration if a person is not tipping in cash and using the digital option, chances are some of the tip will not reach the server but rather go to the establishment or only a fraction of the tip reaches them due to tax dispersals.

Students, especially those new to the country, should be reminded that tipping is at one’s discretion.

If a student has the ability and will to do so, by all means, go ahead! But, do not feel compelled into doing so or guilty for not giving enough.

Society’s complex obsession with true crime

Ally Sheedy Culture Reporter

Society’s obsession with true crime, with its morbid and gut-wrenching content, isn’t just about curiosity.

The appeal of true crime, as evidenced by a 2022 YouGov poll that revealed half of Americans consume true crime content, primarily focusing on murder, signifies a complex psychological engagement rather than a simple interest.

Regardless of the crime, media outlets and streaming services continuously pump out podcasts, documentaries and TV specials to satisfy North America’s obsession.

It prompts the question as to why we continue watching or interacting with morbid and disturbing content.

Driving to school at 7 a.m.,

listening to Donnie Wahlberg’s podcast Very Scary People on the Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka case, I was struck by the horrific details and found myself questioning the underlying reasons for my interest in such content.

Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka were responsible for the sexual assault and death of three young girls.

This moment of reflection led me to realize our fascination with horrific crimes extends far beyond curiosity.

Constant media exposure to violent crime floods our lives with stories of tragedy and death.

The 24/7 news cycle consistently shoves stories of violent crime down our throats, and within minutes, the next gruesome story is aired.

This non-stop exposure, summarized by the phrase, “If it bleeds, it leads,” has desensitized us and blurred the line between information and disturbance.

There is another explanation.

A study from the University of Illinois in 2010 highlighted that women, in particular, are drawn to true crime for insights on avoiding victimization.

With true crime content, consumers have the opportunity to understand how these crimes are

committed, who the victims are, and what makes a killer.

While this points to a potential utility of true crime content, it doesn’t fully explain the widespread appeal.

The real answer, which is rarely acknowledged openly, is that we have a sense of relief and gratitude that we are not the victims.

As much as no one would like to admit this, I firmly believe

that the main reason true crime is so popular is because we are happy that the horrific events described haven’t happened to us.

It makes us all feel just a little better by putting into perspective our problems and knowing that things could be far, far worse.

It might sound harsh, but it’s crucial to confront the possibility that part of the obsession is

the reassurance it provides about our safety and well-being. This aspect plays a significant role in our consumption patterns.

In the end, whether it’s driven by curiosity, a quest for understanding, or a sense of gratitude for our safety, society’s enduring fascination with true crime reflects a complicated relationship between psychology, media influence, and societal dynamics.

PEXELS/KAT WILCOX

The public’s obsession with true crime is really about the gratitude one feels knowing they are not the victim.

Local pizza owner gives back to community

Jeferson Quiros-Vargas

It was a cold December day when Zeynel “Dino” Ari first got the urge to return to his pizza shop on The Queensway in south Etobicoke and light up the wood burner.

While walking in the downtown area, he noticed many homeless people sleeping on the streets during the holiday season.

“I came here and I talked to my staff and then we made pizzas, about maybe 50 pizzas. That was about maybe 500 slices,” he said.

It’s been 15 years since then.

A Turkish immigrant, Ari has been running Dino’s Wood Burning Pizza since 2007.

Ari used to go to Moss Park, in the Queen Street East and Parliament Street area, every Saturday, but factors including the increasing cost of ingredients forced him to lessen how often he and his staff go out.

“You know it becomes more tougher and tougher because the price is going up and up every day,” he said.

When COVID-19 first hit, Ari had opened his second location on Kipling Avenue.

“It was really hard at the beginning, but we were the only busi-

nesses open at that time for delivery and pickups,” he said.

Despite the obstacles, Ari’s compassionate deeds remained unstoppable.

He made it his duty during COVID-19 to prepare pies for frontline workers, giving slices to doctors and nurses across hospitals.

“Those people, they really put

their life, their heart into it for us and we as business owners, that was my obligation to give back to people,” he said.

Ari said nobody could ignore the amount of people in the city that need help.

“When you go to the shelters right downtown, you see hundreds of people staying outside in this cold, especially summertime,”

he said. “People, they appreciate what we do, and we also do good quality pizza.”

Ari said his concerns are plentiful, including worrying about international students.

He invited them over for free food.

“I want to also be an example for other business owners to do the same,” he said.

Ari can’t help but notice the increasing cost of living crisis and the rising homeless population.

“It’s getting bigger and bigger, and most important, the poverty is getting bigger and bigger,” he said.

“You know, people cannot afford to buy groceries and stuff like that.”

“We have to help our community,” he said.

“We get involved with them and the community must support their local small businesses like us so we can survive.”

Ari ran for councillor of Ward 3 Etobicoke–Lakeshore in 2022, wanting to better the community he has spent years living and working in.

“I like to get involved in the community to help people to be the voice for the people and to bring their problems up,” he said.

Amber Morley won that election.

Ari doesn’t plan to stop giving back any time soon.

He said kindness is something that a person can’t stop passing it forward.

“It makes you happy, it gives you inner peace and that’s why you want to do more and more,” he said.

EV test drives on indoor track at auto show

Liam Neilson

One of the attractions at the annual Canadian International AutoShow, which kicked off at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and ends this weekend, is the indoor electric vehicle (EV) test track.

The test track in the Centre’s south building is regarded as the largest in Canada of its kind and allows anyone at least 21 years old with a full licence to get behind the wheel of a new EV model.

Brands available for a test drive

are Cadillac, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Hyundai, KIA, Lexus, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, VinFast, and Volvo.

Among the many who lined up to drive was Nick Somai, who tested the Lexus RZ. It was an eyeopening experience for him.

“It was my first time driving an EV, so it was pretty interesting, and it’s rare to get to do something like this, and I’m leaning more towards maybe buying one in the future,” he said.

Somai is not the only attendee

impressed with the test track and what it has to offer.

Abhijeet Shelat test-drove the electric Hummer by GMC and said an EV may also be in his future.

“It was interesting to drive such a big car, but it felt a lot smaller, especially with the rear steering,” he said.

“It felt really tight and maneuverable, so that was really cool to see.”

“I’ve never really given an EV much thought before, but it might be something I’d go for down the line when it’s a little bit more in my price range,” Shelat said.

However, the sticker price seems to stop some people from buying one.

Vince Scime, who tested a Subaru Solterra, said he believes EVs are largely unaffordable to the average person living in Toronto and doesn’t see the value of owning one just for the daily commute to work.

“The bottom line is they’re $20,000 to $30,000 more than the gas version,” Scime said.

“I can’t justify that expenditure right now and I don’t drive

enough,” he said.

“If I drove 60,000 or 70,000 kilometres a year, an EV or a hybrid would make a lot of sense, but I don’t,” he said.

“Right now, I spend about 50 bucks on gas every week getting to and from work,” Scime said.

“Sure, it’d be nice to cut that down or out, but for tens of thou-

sands of dollars?” he said.

Scime said he’s also concerned about EVs in colder climates, saying he wouldn’t be comfortable trusting the battery not to die after a bad night in the winter.

Anyone else on the fence or potentially in the market for an electric vehicle can hit the AutoShow before it ends on Feb. 25.

LIAM NEILSON

LIAM NEILSON

Vince Scime does not buy into the fanfare of electric vehicles.

Polestar 3 electric car at the Toronto AutoShow, which runs till Feb. 25.

JEFERSON QUIROS-VARGAS

Owner Zeynel Ari standing in front of a wood-fired oven in Dino’s Wood Burning Pizza during a shift.

Social Justice Reporter

General Reporter

IGNITE hosts a meet for this year’s elections

Ally Sheedy Culture Reporter

Humber College’s IGNITE student union hosted an all-candidates meeting event at the North campus on Feb. 22, 2024.

The 11 a.m. event was organized to help students familiarize themselves with the candidates for the upcoming 2024-2025 IGNITE election year.

The candidates are running to be elected to IGNITE’s board of directors, which aids in the planning and budgeting of student experience on campus and sparks positive change for the student body.

Students eagerly lined up to receive a stamp card, which would be filled by visiting each candidate’s booth, to get a chance to spin the wheel for prizes at the end of the event.

The five candidates that were present had booths set up where students had the opportunity to ask questions and inquire about their campaign.

The closest to the entrance was candidate Jack Pickett, a Sports Management student at Humber who is eager to be a part of

IGNITE’s platform and unite students as a whole.

Pickett aims to foster community and connectedness with students, especially for international students who are new to the environment and community.

If he is elected to sit on the board, Pickett said he wants to improve Humber’s atmosphere and aid students who don’t feel connected.

“I really want to incorporate school pride and more initiatives to create an exciting atmosphere

on campus,” he said.

“Especially with sporting events, I know first-hand that it is a great way for students to feel more connected.”

To the left of Pickett’s booth was candidate Gabrielle Sterling, a Biotechnology student at Humber, and the only female candidate for the upcoming election.

Sterling describes herself as a dedicated and passionate student committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of our

campus community.

She claims to bring a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges students face and has demonstrated consistent engagement in student-led initiatives and committees.

Sterling aims to establish a campus that celebrates diversity, upholds equity, and ensures every student thrives.

Across from Sterling’s booth was candidate Sayfuldin Abubakar, a student-athlete who is currently sitting as a Senior Peer Mentor at Humber’s First Year Experience, Student Success and Engagement.

Abubakar is also a Sustainability Ambassador and Events Coordinator for the Spirituality and Wellness Centre.

As a candidate, Abubakar recognizes that students are at the heart of the college’s functioning, which is why it is crucial to prioritize students’ interests.

Abubakar’s campaign slideshow, “Sayf’s Safe Point”, ensures student engagement with the union, and raises awareness for resources, and the development of the community at Humber.

“Generally, I’m always on

campus running events,” he said.

“You’ll find me around.”

To the right of Abubakar’s booth was candidate Yash Patel, a Humber student who is eager to see IGNITE have a board that corresponds with student interests and fosters innovation.

Patel aims to include student participation in the board while acquiring valuable leadership skills throughout the position.

Driving positive change that reflects students’ diverse perspectives is what Patel’s vision is striving to be.

The last booth was candidate Jashanpreet Singh, a student at the Longo Faculty of Business at Humber, who values honesty in authority.

“I was the head boy at my previous school and had also organized events, so I think I can fit this role,” Singh said.

Singh believes in integrity and transparency within a leadership position as it cultivates trust within the student body.

Singh hopes to allow students to participate in their union and foster a more supportive learning environment.

Jessica Carerra, an IGNITE student advocate and Gabrielle Sterling.

ALLY SHEEDY

Hawks sink Surge, advance to quarterfinals

Aditya Kapoor Senior Reporter

The Humber Hawks men’s basketball team emerged victorious at home against the St. Lawrence Surge winning 97-70 in the opening round of the OCAA playoffs on Feb. 17.

The Hawks had earned the two seed and received the home-court advantage through the first two playoff rounds.

Head coach Omar Miles emphasized the importance of the defence strategy and said it paid off throughout the game.

“I asked them to be locked in on the defensive end and not turn the ball over,” Miles said.

“Despite the challenges, we stayed focused, played physically, rebounded well, and executed on defence,” he said.

The Surge, on the other hand, struggled to counter the Hawks’ defence.

Miles highlighted the Hawks’ preparation and ability to disrupt the Surge’s offence as a key factor in their victory.

“We mimicked their offence throughout the week and found ways to exploit their weaknesses,” he said. “I don’t think they have

met a team as physical as we were throughout the season.”

Miles said several players stood out to him, including power forward Malik Grant.

“I stuck with playing defence by staying in the middle, helped my

team, made great passes, made great plays,” Grant said. “Our defence is our offence and that will get us to win.”

Grant said the Hawks faced some limitations though.

“We just complained a little too

much,” he said. “The rest was good but a lot of us were complaining, even myself, so we just got to stay mentally strong.

“Our fouls weren’t that good, either,” Grant said.

Point guard Christian Desjar-

dins said the strong bond among players has been a benefit.

“Our chemistry is great,” Desjardins said. “This is the closest team I’ve ever been on, you know, we’re all brothers, we all have a lot of love for each other so you know we’re going to take that to the end.

“The Surge was okay. It wasn’t too crazy, we worked hard and won and we’re ready for the next match with whoever we see,” he said.

Hawks guard Romeo Osas Joshua said there were key factors that led to the Surge’s loss.

“I think they were tired, we played fourteen guys, and they only played seven guys the whole game so I think fatigue was a problem,” he said.

“We’re moving on to the quarterfinals now and hopefully, we take care of business in the quarterfinals and then move to the semifinals,” said Miles.

“One game at a time for us, so we can’t even think about the semifinals until we take care of the quarterfinals,” he said.

Humber hosts Sheridan College in the OCAA quarterfinals on Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. at the North Campus Gymnasium.

Humber women’s volleyball bound for semis

Nicholas Endrizzi Sports Reporter

The Humber Hawks women’s volleyball team is moving on to its 26th consecutive OCAA semifinal.

The Hawks defeated the Conestoga Condors in straight sets Saturday night, improving their record against them to 27-0.

The game was close, but the Hawks’ top-end talent came through right when the team needed it.

Head Coach Chris Wilkins said he liked his team’s performance despite them not being at their best.

“There’s a lot of emotions at this time of the year and I was really pleased that the girls stuck together and sort of grinded out a win, so that was good,” he said.

The game featured clutch performances by Erika Dodd, who was recently named West Division Player of the Year, and fourth-year middle blocker Keyome Ellis.

The two accounted for 28 of the team’s 50 points and played integral roles in stopping any potential Condors runs.

Leah Serlin, a fourth-year outside hitter, also excelled all night, as she was named Hawks player of

the game.

Wilkins said while they were the standout players in the game, the team’s depth was a key to the victory.

“Every night there’s somebody else that steps up, whether it’s when someone’s injured and someone else comes in and does something, but certainly tonight it was nice to see different people at different times give people a break,” he said.

Wilkins said a big priority for the team moving forward is continuing to elevate their level of play and energy.

Playing loser and not dwelling on each individual point is another major key to success, especially at this time of year, he said.

The Hawks have a great deal of confidence heading into their next game, and for good reason, having won 10 straight playoff games

without even dropping a set.

While approaching playoff games with confidence is a must, Wilkins said the team must remain grounded and focus on the little details to secure victory.

“I believe we’re the best team, but there are three other teams that believe they’re the best team too,” he said.

“So we’re going to have to go out and work and earn it,” he said.

Reese Cholette, who returned to the lineup after missing three games, also praised the team for their resilience.

“I think that we really worked hard together and we knew our goals going in so we just kind of held each other accountable for that,” she said.

Cholette said the team has adopted a perfectionist attitude, which has been a big reason for the team’s undefeated record this year.

This can also be a negative, and the team must ensure to be less hard on themselves at times and trust in their abilities, she said.

Alix Schewaga, a first-year setter on the team, said what the team worked on in practice prepared them well for the matchup.

“I think all week we really focused on setting out when getting the ball, and I think we as a team did that really well,” she said.

The atmosphere in the gym was electric all night as fans cheered and ultimately went home happy. For their semifinal matchup, the Hawks will face the Loyalist Lancers on Feb. 23 as they look to play for a chance to secure a third straight provincial title.

ADITYA KAPOOR

The Hawks showcased intense defense and strong offense to take down St. Lawrence 97-70 on Feb. 24.

HUMBER HAWKS/DIEGO GUILLEN

Humber women’s volleyball head to the OCAA semifinals after beating Conestoga in straight sets on Feb. 17.

‘Battle on Bay Street’ ends with Toronto win

Andre Leal Sports Reporter

There were no signs of stage fright for the PWHL Toronto team as they put together a great performance in front of the biggest crowd that they’ve ever faced in their careers.

To give an idea of how excited the home crowd was, Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said that players got “notifications on their watch saying the environment was too loud.”

A total of 19,285 fans attended the game, the largest crowd to ever attend a women’s hockey event.

Indeed, it was the second-largest crowd ever to watch a hockey game at the Vault.

“Even as a middle-aged man walking on the bench, I was emotional,” Ryan said.

The record was previously owned by PWHL Minnesota, set in January with 13,316 in attendance at the Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild.

Toronto had won four of their last five games heading into this matchup, a complete turnaround compared to how they started the campaign.

They lost four out of five games

to start the season.

“None of us were happy with the start to the season we had,” forward Jesse Compher said, Montreal defender Erin Ambrose said it was expected that Toronto would pick up their game.

“They have too many good players on that team,” she said.

The sell-out crowd had to be patient to see the first goal of the game as the first two periods were

littered with puck battles and perfect goaltending. Nevertheless, the fans were engaged throughout the evening despite not seeing a goal until the third.

Compher opened the scoring early in the third period and at that moment, Scotiabank Arena exploded.

“To have the support we had here tonight all these fans in-person, when I got my first goal, is some-

thing that was special,” she said. Toronto’s penalty-killing unit was put to the test all game long as they took six minor penalties.

Ryan said he’s not worried that the team took half a dozen penalties in this game and that he’s comfortable with his team playing physically.

He said he believes that some of those calls wouldn’t be made in other games.

He did give the penalty killers a well-deserved tip of the cap.

“It’s really good when you can be successful on the penalty kill,” he said.

Toronto was able to prevail thanks to a great effort by the penalty-killers and goaltender Kristen Campbell.

Through the course of the game, whenever Campbell would smother the puck or make a big save, the crowd would chant, “Soup” in support of the Brandon, Man., native.

As a result, she was named First Star.

“She’s our backbone, we’re so lucky to have her,” forward Hannah Miller said.

In Campbell’s last four games, including this win against Montreal, she’s secured two shutouts and is leading the league. She boasts .969 save percentage.

With less than five minutes remaining, Miller doubled Toronto’s lead. To follow up on that goal, Victoria Bach put home the empty netter to seal the deal.

Toronto’s will be looking to extend their winning streak to five games in their next game against New York on Feb. 23.

NLL to welcome Ottawa Black Bears in 2025

Caleb Moody Sports Editor

The growth of lacrosse in Canada continued Wednesday as the National Lacrosse League (NLL) announced a team will be coming to Ottawa for the 2024-25 season.

The Ottawa Black Bears will take the place of the New York Riptide as their stay in Long Island, N.Y., comes to an end after six seasons.

The Black Bears will play their games out of the Canadian Tire Centre, just like their sister NHL team Ottawa Senators, as the current ownership group GF Sports and Entertainment joined forces with Senators Sports and Entertainment.

Ottawa will become the NLL’s second franchise in Ontario setting up a provincial rivalry with the Toronto Rock.

And they’ll be the sixth Canadian team in the league, joining Toronto Rock, the Halifax Thunderbirds, the Saskatchewan Rush, the Calgary Roughnecks and the Vancouver Warriors.

NLL Commissioner Brett Frood said he’s excited about the move to Ottawa for next season.

He said Ottawa and the new partnership with Senators Sports

and Entertainment provide opportunities for both the short and long term.

“Ottawa is an incredible market, with an established fan base, and a major-league arena,” he said. “This is an immense opportunity for our league to fortify our roots in the National Capital Region.”

Erik Baker of GF Sports and Entertainment said Ottawa made the most sense after a thorough vetting process.

“We chose Ottawa for many reasons, including the strength

of the Senators Sports and Entertainment brand, the demand and rapid growth of box lacrosse in the region, and the fantastic arena,” he said.

Senators Sports and Entertainment CFO and COO Erin Crowe said the mix of a strong ownership group, solid broadcasting ties with TSN and the growth of the NLL makes the move a great addition to Ottawa sports.

She said the move offers another way to further engage with the Ottawa-Gatineau community.

“This will be an entertaining and exciting product that our fans will love and embrace,” Crowe said. “We can’t wait for the Black Bears to hit the field and take their place in our community.”

Lacrosse players in Canada, like Michael Holmes, see the decision to move to Ottawa as a great move for lacrosse in the country.

Holmes, a former USports lacrosse player for Laurentian University and current K-OS lacrosse player, told Humber News the Black Bears’ arrival creates another

Canadian market for lacrosse to thrive in within the NLL.

He said it could potentially pave the way for potential expansion in other Canadian cities like Montreal in the long term, but in the short term grows the game in a strong market for the sport.

“Ottawa has a huge lacrosse community and many strong lacrosse organizations based in and around it,” he said. “It allows for players growing up in the markets to have pro lacrosse that they can watch locally.”

While the move grows the game in Canada, Holmes said the move away from a major sports market like New York is disappointing for the NLL.

“New York is such a big market and competition is high for fan support, but in my opinion, it’s a key market that the NLL should stay in to help continue to grow the game of lacrosse,” he said.

“I would rather have seen Ottawa join as an expansion team, that way everyone involved continues to grow and develop the sport of lacrosse,” he said.

The Ottawa Black Bears’ inaugural season begins in December 2024.

ANDRE LEAL

The ‘Battle on Bay Street’ broke PWHL attendance records with 19,285 fans at Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 16.

The Ottawa Black Bears will replace the New York Riptide in 2024-25, playing at the Canadian Tire Centre.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/ADRIAN WYLD

Toronto FC aficionados expect to win titles

Niko De Ciantis Sports Reporter

The Major League Soccer (MLS) season began on Wednesday and Toronto Football Club (FC) new coach John Herdman is preparing his team for his first game this weekend when they take on Cincinnati.

Toronto have been going through a few tough seasons as they look to regain a spot on top of the MLS.

In 2017 Toronto clinched a domestic treble. They are the only team in MLS history, across 22 seasons, to accomplish this feat.

Their coach at the time, Greg Vanney, was a fan favourite and had a lot of successes with the team during his six years as coach.

Stefano Commisso is a lifelong Toronto FC fan, he hopes that this season can spark the team back to life.

“Those years truly made me fall in love with this team, I would pay to have that back,” Commisso said.

Greg Vanney left the team in 2020 and since then, Toronto has gone through 4 different coaches and a lot of underperforming seasons. Their latest coach Terry Dunfield had 14 losses in 15 games before getting sacked. John

OPINION

Herdman will now be looking to turn things around just like he did with the Canadian National team.

In 2022, Herdman made history when he led the men’s national team to their first FIFA World Cup qualification since 1986.

Before coaching the men’s team, Herdman was the head coach of the Canadian women’s national team, where he helped them win historic back-to-back bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics

“I’m so happy to have a coach like John Herdman; his work with

Canada in the previous years gives me hope,” Commisso said.

A big aspect that Herdman will be relying on is young homegrown players who will eventually grow into leaders for the team.

Giancarlo Cesario is another passionate Toronto FC fan just like Stefano. He wants to see the team using more young Canadians and producing new talents as well.

“He did very well with Canada and produced a lot of young talents that are now playing in big teams around Europe; I hope we will

see the same results in Toronto,” Cesario said.

When it comes to players coming in and going out, not much has happened so far but there is still a lot of time until the transfer window closes on April 23.

Last season Toronto acquired two big players from Europe: Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. The two experienced Italians didn’t perform to the level that was expected from them when they arrived. After some rumours that they would be going away,

they were quickly confirmed for this season and the rumours were shot down.

“The two Italians didn’t respect our last manager; with Herdman coming in, it seems as though he might be the right person to help the two settle into the team and start producing,” La Rosa-Rodriguez said.

Andre La Rosa-Rodriguez is a Toronto FC fan and the owner of Toronto FC News Outlet, a news account for all things Toronto FC and Canada Soccer.

When it comes to this season, many fans have mixed feelings, some are going in with low expectations and some are hoping for a turnaround.

“After last season, a lot of fans will just be hoping we don’t come last. I think that if they are fighting for the playoffs that will be good enough for me this season,” La Rosa-Rodriguez said.

Toronto will play their first game of the season this Sunday against Cincinnati but fans will be looking at the bigger picture going forward.

“It really is a matter of taking it season by season, but 100 percent, I think we could be challenging for multiple trophies in five years,” said La Rosa-Rodriguez.

Baseball Spring Training needs to be shortened

Nicholas Rego Sports Reporter

Spring Training is underway, which means baseball is back.

The crack of the bats and the smack of the ball, as they land into the pockets of leather gloves, are familiar sounds awaiting die-hard fans.

Unfortunately for those fans, yet again, they must wait another month for the real season to start. This is the Grapefruit League. Or the Cactus League.

Spring Training is a stretched-out process that gives athletes time to prepare for the season and gives “on the fringe” players an opportunity to make the opening-day roster.

The problem here is that it takes too long. It usually starts in February and ends with the season opener in late March or early April. And it is just useless for top players.

Baseball fan Anthony Pereira, a student at George Brown College, said star players do not need an entire month to prepare for the season.

“These players have an entire offseason to prepare,” Pereira said. “The entire Spring Training process is just eyewash and not entertaining for fans.”

I can’t argue with his statement.

Spring Training is not entertaining.

Players do not give 100 per cent effort, they do not play the entire game, and it’s hard for fans to watch when players they’ve never heard of are playing.

Players at the top will not try whatsoever because they are guaranteed a roster spot, so they just use it to get warmed up.

Spring Training is meant for prospects to display their talents in hopes of climbing the rankings of the club.

The problem with that is I do

not care about the 100th-ranked prospect in the organization, I care about the stars of the team, and so do other fans.

I understand that there are fans who do care about prospects.

Baseball fan Michael Galina, a student at Brock University, said the players who are fighting for roster spots are the future of the game.

“I find Spring Training interesting to watch,” Galina said. “I like to know about the upcoming players that have the potential to become the next generational talent.”

To make Spring Training at least tolerable for the average baseball fan to enjoy is to make it shorter.

Spring Training games are set to start this year on Feb. 22 and the beginning of the regular season begins March 28. That’s 36 days of pre-season games.

To make it shorter, I believe Spring Training should take place over the course of 18 days, with nine games for every team.

This is the perfect balance between making sure players get enough time to get ready and

quick enough for fans to take more interest in.

If there are fewer games, top players are more likely to try harder and play in more games. This means fans will take more stock in Spring Training.

This still leaves room for prospects to get game time and potentially climb the ranks of the club, giving them a better chance of making the big leagues.

I am hoping that the MLB will shorten Spring Training soon, making baseball better.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/TIJANA MARTIN

Toronto fans hope the team changes the dynamic this season with the new coach, Canada’s John Herdman.

THE CANADIAN PRESS / FRANK GUNN

The Blue Jays started their training camp this week with their Spring Training schedule starting Feb. 24.

Leafs fans weigh in on the required trades

Luca Tersigni Sports Reporter

The Maple Leafs have found themselves in a difficult situation as the March 8 trade deadline approaches.

Defence could be the top position to upgrade but with minimal assets to offer, this could be a problem.

Although Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving will hopefully look to make new acquisitions to bolster the team, many fans have mixed opinions on how to successfully operate this year’s deadline. But he keeps his thoughts and moves close to his chest. But fans have ideas about who could be helpful for the Leafs.

Die-hard Leafs fan Joseph Mendolia said as long as the core four remain together, being aggressive at the trade deadline is a must.

“When you have guys like Marner, Matthews and Nylander in their primes, I think you have no choice but to go all in every season,” he said. “I’m fine with letting go of prospects and picks, as long as the players we get have term or can be re-signed,” Mendolia said. Last season, former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas traded away a variety of premium assets for

mostly rental players such as Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Schenn.

These players had found new homes after not deciding to re-sign with Toronto this offseason.

Last deadline’s “empty the cupboards” mentality ultimately failed and has left the Maple Leafs with few premium assets to offer in trade discussions. If the Maple Leafs GM would be willing to move this year’s first-rounder for a non-rental type player, defenceman Mario Ferraro from the San Jose Sharks could be linked with Toronto, as many teams could be considering his

services on the blue-line. Ferraro would still be under contract for the next three seasons at a cap hit of $3.2 million which could easily fit under the Leafs tight cap situation. Leafs fan Nick Burgess has his eyes set on two defencemen who could potentially sign elsewhere after this season. “If I’m the Leafs, I’m doing whatever I can to get both (Noah) Hanifin and (Chris) Tanev from Calgary. (It) should be our top priority by far,” he said.

“I know it’s gonna be hard to bring these guys back, but I want

a cup now and these guys will give us a better chance at one,” Burgess said.

Both Calgary’s Hanifin and Tanev could be linked to the Blueand-White for defensive reinforcements, but a trade of this calibre would mean giving up significant assets to acquire these top talents.

Hanifin and Tanev will both be unrestricted free agents this coming summer and will both be looking for higher pay, possibly out of affordability for Toronto.

Treliving will be faced with a hard challenge for a blockbuster

trade like this to even be considered. It may include top draft picks and possibly needing to say goodbye to young talented prospects such as Nick Robertson, Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan.

Bringing in two top-tier defencemen could change the Leafs’ D-core for the better but Leafs fan Timothy Rebelo said giving up premium assets in trades might not be the best move.

“I don’t think it’s worth trading away premium assets considering how the roster is built right now and the way they’ve been playing,” he said. “This is not a team that has been playing like a Stanley Cup contender, let alone a playoff contender,” Rebelo said.

The Maple Leafs are currently fighting for a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division and have not lived up to expectations put on them at the beginning of the season. That’s left many fans to wonder if they should “beLeaf” or just pray for the best.

Treliving and the Leafs organization will hopefully be busy these coming weeks as Toronto is yet to make a move. If the Maple Leafs look to make a big move, Treliving must work the phones as the deadline soon approaches on March 8.

European soccer must do more to fight racism

Niko De Ciantis Senior Reporter

Racism in sports is a big issue altogether but more specifically, its is unfortunately fairly common in European soccer.

Over the past year, many incidents have been reported in countries like Italy, Spain, and England.

This is having a horrible effect on so many Black players who have to go through many incidents of racism every season.

“I think it’s stressful for professional athletes to be dealing with these incidents because it is affecting them not only on a

personal level but also their performance,” said Simon Darnell, an expert on social issues and abuse in sports.

Kick It Out is an organization that works within the football, and educational and community sectors to challenge discrimination and work for positive change.

They have reported that racism remains the most common form of discrimination in professional football, accounting for 49.3 per cent of all reports.

The way the leagues are handling these situations is not leading to any change. They don’t seem to be doing enough.

Many campaigns have been fought to combat racism in Europe. In England, they created “No room for racism,” and in Italy, they created “Keep racism out.”

These campaigns are based on keeping racism out of soccer and punishing people for their actions. Despite this, these incidents keep happening every season.

The latest incident happened in Italy on Jan. 20 in a Serie A match between AC Milan and Udinese.

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan for the Rossoneri fell victim to racist chants from Udinese fans.

During the game, Maignan told the referee he had been subjected to monkey noises from behind the goal for most of the first half. Unfortunately, the abuse didn’t stop and at the 35-minute mark, Maignan took off his gloves and headed into the tunnel, unwilling to play any further part in the match.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper was joined by his teammates and the match was suspended for about five minutes before they returned. Milan went on to win 3-2.

Sabrina Razack, a social rights expert, doesn’t believe it’s the player’s responsibility to solve these issues.

“Walking off the field every time this happens puts the labour on the athletes themselves to do something about it,” Razack said.

It’s security’s job to identify whoever is responsible and ensure those people are punished, in part by not being allowed to come into the stadium ever again.

The organizations involved should also be doing more than just sending out a statement in support. They need to let their fans know before entering the stadium that racism will not be tolerated and will be punished.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the latest incident “totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable” and said world soccer’s governing body could initiate tougher punishments.

“We live in a world with a lot of racism, so I think this is an issue that needs to be faced on multiple fronts. It’s not surprising that

we’re still seeing it, in sports,” Darnell said.

With regards to that specific incident in Italy, stadium officials were able to identify the racist fan and the club banned him for life. The team also played in an empty stadium against Monza on Feb. 3.

“This person will face a lifetime ban from attending any Udinese Calcio matches. We believe that such strong measures are necessary to send a clear message that racism has no place in football or society,” Italian team Udinese said in a statement.

Darnell was heartened by the positive reaction.

“I’m encouraged that we’re getting to a point where the next generation of sports fans recognize this is something that’s not acceptable in sports or anywhere,” Darnell said.

This punishment shows signs of improvement in the way that clubs are taking a stand against racism. I hope that with time we will start to see fewer and fewer of these incidents happening, not just in Europe but around the world.

William Nylander and Max Domi during Maple Leafs outdoor practice at Nathan Phillips Square on Feb. 8.

LUCA TERSIGNI

Mike Maignan, victim of racism.

IPA SPORT/ABACA PRESS.COM

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