ARTS & LIFE
Talking circle
Going beyond studying Indigenous culture, group allows all to participate. P3
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SPORTS
Queer Skate
Skateboarding group continues providing safe, inclusive space through pandemic. P4
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Farewell, Kathryn Studio 58 artistic director retires after 46 years with the program. langaravoice.ca
MARCH 11, 2021 • VOL. 54 NO. 05 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
Daylight debate: morning or evening sun B.C. might soon shift to permanent Daylight Savings Time, and an hour of sunlight will be added to our evenings — but experts say this might not be healthy for our sleep cycles. SUBMITTED PHOTO.
Time change may end; not everyone agrees with sole option offered By LEXA ANTROBUS
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ith Premier John Horgan hinting this spring will mark the last time B.C. observes Daylight Savings Time, British Columbians will need to revisit an issue that experts are divided on: whether our mornings or evenings should receive more light. When the B.C. government conducted a province-wide survey in 2019, Horgan offered only one alternative to the practice of time change: permanent DST, which was selected by 93 per cent of participants. Perma-
nent Standard Time, which adds an hour of morning sunlight, was never an option offered. But while proponents of DST have cited economic benefits, health experts favour Standard Time, emphasizing the importance of our sleep cycles. Dr. Raymond Lam, a UBC psychiatry professor specializing in mood disorders and mental health, is one of such experts. He, along with five others, signed an open letter to the B.C. government in October 2019. In it, they argued that DST reduces exposure to morning sunlight throughout the year, which can lead to “sleep deprivation and
social jetlag.” “If we use Daylight Savings Time throughout the year,” Lam said, “there’s more of a disconnect between our internal clock and the available daylight, which is kind of the natural clock.” UBC economics professor Werner Antweiler, who advocates for permanent Daylight Savings Time, has cited energy savings in the past as a reason to stick with permanent DST, but now points to broad popularity as the primary reason for his position. Energy conservation was the original main reason for DST. The argument was that with more daylight,
people would be using less lighting and therefore less energy. “Of course, that has become a completely obsolete issue now that they have eff icient lighting,” said Antweiler. “Especially now that we have all moved to LED in the last sort of decade.” Horgan said last October that if the United States didn’t get its act together, he would suggest “this is the last season of falling back and springing forward.” But Horgan may have been hinting at a change that won’t happen as soon as he’d hoped, said Antweiler. For economics’ sake, Antweiler
believes it is likely the change will be delayed until Washington, Oregon and California pass their legislation first, allowing for easier collaboration with cross-border business partnerships. “For British Columbia, the big question is when will the United States move, because the argument is that we shouldn’t be moving towards a different time schedule (without them),” Antweiler said. “It has always been tradition that we are in sync with the United States and their time zones.” See langaravoice.ca for full story
Post-secondary schools back to campus this fall Langara's plans to be ready for June registration By TYSON BURROWS
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he B.C. government on Monday told post-secondary institutions to prepare for a fall return to campus. Anne Kang, minister for advanced education and skills training, issued a
statement Monday afternoon saying that the provincial health officer had advised the presidents of the province’s public colleges and universities. “I’m encouraged by Dr. (Bonnie) Henry’s advice that a return to in-person instruction can be done safely for this fall for all students, staff and faculty,” Kang said. Soon after, Langara president Lane Trotter announced to students that with this new information, “planning will be refined and finalized for fall registration to open on June 21.” The announcements come almost a
full year after post-secondary institutions were abruptly forced to shift to online teaching, a move that presented enormous challenges to students, instructors, administration and staff. Over the past few semesters, a hybridized form of learning was born. Certain hands-on classes were allowed a limited return to campus, while all others remained solely web based. The change was welcomed by some students who saw benefits in distanced learning, and students abroad were able to continue working toward their education without
hiatus. Other students found online education difficult due to new technologies, equipment required and distance from supports. “We will not lose sight of those students who may have discovered an appreciation for Lane Trotter the flexibility of PRESIDENT, LANGARA COLLEGE online learning, or those who may not be able to arrive in Vancouver by
September to start their studies in person,” Trotter said. Trotter said that Langara, along with other post-secondary institutions across B.C., will be working with Dr. Henry to ensure a safe return to on-campus education. Guidelines will be developed in partnership with the BC Centre for Disease Control, WorkSafeBC, the Provincial Health Office, student associations, labour representatives, Indigenous partners and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
Campusnews
EDITOR JACOB VAN LUVEN | THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 | THE VOICE
Expect more online options in the future
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Despite finding it challenging at times, many students have adapted to this new way of learning “I think what would be cool is if they keep the recorded lecture format when ransition to the online delivery we go back to in-person schooling, I of lessons in post-secondary think that’s something that would be institutions such as Langara beneficial for students,” Liu said. College has been a learning experience While the question of when the for students and instructors. return to on-campus learning remains Ray Gutierrez, a first-year associate unclear, post-secondary students degree student in family studies, says can expect tuition increases, despite that after taking a two-year hiatus after studying under the online format. high school, the online format had him As of Sept. 21, 2020, Statistics feeling nervous. Canada reported a nationwide “For me, an in-person learning increase in tuition. Full-time underexperience would’ve been better, but graduate and graduate students now my instructors that I’ve had for my pay an average of $6,580 and $7,304 first semester were really good and they respectively. International students helped organize have seen the course in an increase “I started realizing a way that put and now my mind at pay around there are things I've ease and made $ 3 2 , 0 1 9 it a lot easier for done for 15 years that and $19,252 me to ease my respectively. maybe aren't that way back into Langara school after a College great, even in person. r e c e n thas long time,” said ly I'm going to be Gutierrez. announced a T h e hike of teaching this course tuition onset of the two percent pandemic last very differently in the for domestic March forced students, future.” instructors which is — KINA CAVICCHIOLI at Langara expected to CREATIVE WRITING DEPARTMENT CHAIR to adapt to b e a p pl i ed teaching online, by summer seemingly semester. The overnight. The teaching staff had to college cited the lack of on-campus work in tandem with the departments food and beverage and parking revenue, of educational technology and teaching as well as the cost of maintaining an and curriculum to move material online infrastructure for learning, as online in a matter of weeks. some of the reasons for the increase. The adjustment caused instructors Rebecca Liu, a third-year underlike Kina Cavicchioli, department chair graduate honours student at the for creative writing, to re-evaluate and University of British Columbia, says restructure her courses for an online that recording lectures allows students audience, while attempting to convey to study more effectively. her passion for the material she teaches. “I think what would be cool is if they Cavicchioli says that the keep the recorded lecture format combination of enthusiasm when we go back to in-person for her courses and schooling, I think that’s understanding the something that would challenges presented be benef icial for Join the by the pandemic for students,” Liu said. conversation: her students created While the question Instagram.com/ a learning experience of when the return to for herself as an on-campus learning langaravoice educator. remains unclear, post“I started realizing secondary students can there are things I’ve done expect tuition increases, for 15 years that maybe aren’t despite studying under the that great, even in person. I’m going to online format. be teaching this course very differently As of Sept. 21, 2020, Statistics in the future,” Cavicchioli said. Canada reported a nationwide “The best teaching moments in the increase in tuition. Full-time underlast few semesters were when everyone graduate and graduate students was kind of just human together and now pay an average of $6,580 and students were able to share how tough $7,304 respectively. International things were for them and instructors students have seen an increase and were able to share how they were now pay around $32,019 and $19,252 struggling.” respectively.Langara College has Online classes have offered students recently announced a tuition hike of an advantage for studying course two percent for domestic students, material. Most instructors record their which is expected to be applied by lessons, which allows students to replay summer semester. what was said during a lecture. The college cited the lack of Rebecca Liu, a third-year under- on-campus food and beverage and graduate honours student at the parking revenue, as well as the cost of University of British Columbia, says maintaining an online infrastructure that recording lectures allows students for learning, as some of the reasons for to study more effectively. the increase.
By AMIR KHAN
T A limited number of Langara students attend class on-campus but must follow strict guidelines. (SENA LAW/PHOTO).
Langara confirms tuition hike for fall
After increase was postponed, domestic students will see a 2% rise come September
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By SENA LAW
tudents are unhappy over an unexpected tuition hike in the midst of the pandemic when financial stability is not a guarantee. As Langara approaches the one year anniversary of transitioning to online schooling, students learned Feb. 24 via email of a two percent increase to domestic tuition in the upcoming school year. This means an increase of $60.90 for most first and second year students who are in full time studies, and $79.20 for most students taking third and fourth year courses. Victoria Ioana, a nursing student in her second year, says she hasn’t been able to find a permanent job due to COVID-19 and the lack of job opportunities. Ioana says she doesn’t understand the school’s decision to increase tuition for the upcoming school year. “I don't really have a permanent job,” Ioana said. “I can't really pay for my tuition, so that just makes my life tougher.” Joanne Tian, in her second year of studies in business at Langara College,
said she wasn’t aware of the tuition the college, and the tuition increase increase but believes that the school is is necessary to provide the best “doing their best.” educational experience for students. “It's better Langara had for the school an operational because they budget of “I don't really have could use the more than money to invest $163 million a permanent job... I in the transition in 2019. There can't really pay for towards online has been a two lessons,” Tian percent tuition my tuition so that said. “But of increase each just makes my life co u r s e , t h e academic year students don't since. A college tougher.” really get much spokesperson — JOANNE TIAN out of it.” said the tuition SECOND-YEAR BUSINESS STUDENT Langara has increase this announced year will it will be returning to face-to-face specifically help fund the college’s learning in the fall, but has said the expense on enhancing and providing college won't lose sight of students resources for online or in-person who may prefer the flexibility of online teaching and learning, as well as learning, or those unable to arrive in increased software and hardware costs Vancouver by fall. as a result of the pandemic. Ian Mass, chair of the Langara They said students can expect an College board of governors, said in increase of resources following the the Feb. 24 email to students that the tuition increase, including a wide COVID-19 pandemic has required range of online support and academic more resources and additional services to all students, such as IT, investments in infrastructure from library and counselling. As well, support will be continued for online learning and teaching tools such as Brightspace, Kaltura MediaSpace and Zoom. The spokesperson also said the college is offering support for those who might be struggling financially with $374,000 in emergency bursaries awarded to support 833 students facing financial challenges during the first phase of COVID-19. In addition to government financial aid, eligible students are also able to apply for bursaries, scholarships and awards to supplement school and dayto-day expenses. Mass and the college board expect the tuition increase to help with the
Arts&life
EDITOR: EMMA GREGORY | THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 | THE VOICE
Side business pays off for some during pandemic Creative outlets becomes money makers By JEN BEVILACQU
N Face on a Musqueam house post, by Susan Point, featured at UBC. ETUVIERE MRAKPOR PHOTO
All students invited to speak and listen Langara talking circle fosters connections By ETUVIERE MRAKPOR
L
ong before Langara was a college, Musqueam people did talking circles. Langara college is built on traditional Musqueam territory, and the Elder in Residence Mary Jane Joe, aka Nk’xetko, facilitates the Langara Talking Circle. Talking circles are gathering places for people to share their thoughts or listen to the thoughts of others. Outside of pandemic times, they are conducted in person, sitting in a circle, passing a talking stick. These days Joe hosts bi-weekly talking circles over Zoom, where she invites Langara students to speak openly. Some people speak and others listen, according to their needs. Joe said 30 years ago when she was a student at UBC, there were about 350 Indigenous students on campus. They
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would get together at the First Nations House of Learning once a week for a talking circle and potluck, led by the late Squamish Chief Simon Baker. Joe says she was too uncomfortable to speak at her first few talking circles. In contrast “There were some people who talked for one hour.” The Langara Talking Circle was created for much the same reason. Shyanne Boudreau, coordinator of Indigenous education and services at Langara, explained the college set aside certain programs exclusively for Indigenous students. “We do have closed ceremonies that only Indigenous students are invited to.” The talking circle, on the other hand, is open to all students “To serve the community at large and create those opportunities for connection and to create more space for understanding.” Her last semester before retiring
from teaching at Langara, Joe hosted a circle outside the library. Five students walked by, and asked what they were all doing. Joe told them they were having a talking circle and invited them to join. This particular circle they did a circle dance, and then they talked. It turned out the five students were international students. One of them said, “We’ve been in Canada for four days and you’re the only ones that have welcomed us.” Joe said when she was in residential school, she was never encouraged to speak her mind. She says as a result of being silenced, she is a quiet and reserved person. “This is where a talking circle is very beneficial, because there is time to sit, and relax, and listen, and wait.” When asked if the right people find the Talking Circle when they need it, Joe responded, “Oh yeah.”
early one year after sweeping COVID-19 restrictions closed many Vancouver businesses and left thousands jobless, many locals have found creative ways to earn a living. For some, the layoffs were an opportunity to turn hobbies into opportunities to make some cash. As the global health crisis spread, unemployment rates in Vancouver surged, with 256,000 jobs lost between February and April. According to Statistics Canada, one in three Canadians did not have enough savings to manage even three months without work. For Lara Manalo, a former supervisor at Vancouver International Airport, baking was a way to pass the time after she was laid off following the province-wide shutdown. New to baking and with no business experience, Manalo started selling her Filipino pastries after having been encouraged to do so by family. She named her new business Ava’s Bakeshop after her two-yearold daughter. “I know it’s simple because it’s just food,” said Manalo. “But for me, making [customers] happy and satisfied, that’s the most fulfilling part.” Manalo has recently returned to work and now only bakes on Sundays, even so Ava’s Bakeshop is busier than ever. A variety of baked goods are offered, ranging in price from five dollars to $25. Paige Roeske decided to turn her love of vintage fashion into an online business to stay afloat while unemployed. “I was laid off in March 2020, and the COVID relief plan only went so far,” Roeske said. “So, I decided to start selling some of my vintage
clothing that I already owned, and that kind of became its own little business.” Roeske was surprised at how quickly she found success through her online shop, Twinn Vintage. To keep up with demand, she started sourcing vintage apparel from thrift stores and online auctions. Since starting the venture, Roeske has made over 100 sales. With most items priced upwards of $50, the income generated helped provide for expenses that government aid was unable to cover. After returning to work as a lifeguard, her business slowed to a trickle. Though most of her time is spent at her job, Roeske does her best to maintain her business presence. Looking back, Roeske’s only regret is that she didn’t start up her vintage shop earlier. Bee Higgins is used to maintaining several jobs at once. In addition to their job at retail shop Make Vancouver, Higgins offers a wide range of services online from petsitting to home decluttering. With more people staying home during the pandemic, there was less interest in their in-house services, though Higgins continued to offer them online, nonetheless. Higgins was able to stay afloat with help from the COVID relief plan. Without spreading their time across multiple services, they were able to spend more time beading, which they see as a core way for them to connect with their family and Métis culture. “It’s very important to me that I keep my work online and keep my work available to people who will need it — Indigenous Peoples first and foremost,” said Higgins. While beadwork helped boost their income until they eventually returned to their job, for Higgins, the biggest benefit wasn’t financial. It was emotional. “Beading is just teaching me to love myself again, teaching me to be kind to myself and teaching me patience,” they said.
Accessing yoga getting easier Yoga community making strides to include more people By EMMA GREGORY
Y Yoga studios, an intimidating space for many. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
oga has physical and mental health benefits but sometimes circumstances prevent equal access to this resource. “Yoga should be for everybody, no exceptions,” says Toni van der Marel who teaches at the North Shore Hospice and for the Cerebral Palsy Association of B.C. Mainstream yoga classes are open to anyone with $20, but there are barriers
in place for people with physical impairments, who are not confident in their ability, or who feel unsafe in public places. Teaching a class for people with specific disabilities allows van der Marel to make it accessible to everyone in the room. “Everybody I deal with will not be accommodated in a regular yoga class.” Commercial yoga studios teach sequences that are accessible to able bodied people, and sometimes offer modifications for people who need something easier. “Let’s all start out at a level playing field, something everyone can do, and then there is an option to add on to that,” van Marel says. Some people perceive their skill level to be inadequate, and that can hold them back from attending yoga
classes. “I don’t want to look like I failed, and I don’t want to feel like I failed,” is a mindset David Climie perceives to be a barrier for people. He volunteers to teach at Turning Point Recovery Society, a drug rehabilitation centre. Fear of failure gets harder to manage if one is comparing oneself to other students in the room. Programmers from the Templeton Park Pool and Hastings Community Center have been in talks with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation about facilitating yoga classes specifically for trans people. “Nothing is finalized yet, but we are in talks,” says Raymond Chen, program coordinator at Templeton Park Pool. Daffodil, a trans woman who goes by her first name only, recalls attending
one of Vancouver’s larger yoga studios. “The biggest source of tension on this day was that the change rooms were segregated by binary gender conventions.” Otherwise the experience was pleasant. According to Statistics Canada people who are not straight or cisgender report more experiences of inappropriate sexual behaviour directed towards them in public than their counterparts. “In the case of ‘Trans friendly yoga spaces,’ I think they can serve as a sort of double pincer, on one claw enriching us with an opportunity to engage in yoga among like-minded community, and on the other claw segregating us further from the very people that need to get used to folks different from themselves.
Sportsnews
EDITOR CHARLIE CAREY | THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 | THE VOICE
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Kiana Reyes (left) and Sam Lopez (right) roll up the ramp while practising their skills at Vancouver Queer Skate on Granville Island. (ALAINA SAINT AMOUR/PHOTO)
Skate club pushes through pandemic Club offers a sense of belonging to Queer folks during a time of isolation
By ALAINA SAINT AMOUR
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ne of the few inclusive groups prioritizing queer people during the pandemic, Vancouver Queer Skate is bringing LGBTQ+ folks together. The club has been key in providing a sense of community and belonging to many who have felt isolated, or have been treated differently, solely due to their identity. Aaron Mou, who began skateboarding with the group before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, said VQS was a big part of his introduction to a safe and inclusive skating community.
“What I saw at VQS, it gave me the motivation to go out there [and] realize I wasn't alone,” Mou said. “That's what it does for a lot of people.” Vancouver Queer Skate was created over two years ago to bring together members and allies of LGBTQ+ community to a safe space to learn skateboarding. The group tried to maintain contact online when in-person events were cancelled. Turning to social media, the group set-up a Discord channel for attendees to find others who wanted to skateboard together. In January, when the group was finally able to meet-up again outdoors with safety measures in place, it hosted
Falcons S flock to Zoom
By HANNAH SNIDER
Without competition, athletes find other ways to connect and stay mentally and physically prepared
ince tougher COVID-19 restrictions were introduced in B.C. late last year, the Langara men’s basketball team has been navigating how to maintain competitive mental and physical f itness — only now through Zoom sessions and creative drills. The athletes, used to a tough regular training regimen to build skill, team spirit and hone their competitive edge, found themselves working out in limited numbers, without any games to play. Head coach Paul Eberhardt and his trainers, who had to pivot quickly last spring, have implemented different techniques and individual drills HOW TO REACH US
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its first returning practice session at the seasonal Green Mini ramp on Granville Island. The group’s official winter sessions wrapped up a couple of weeks ago and they hope to resume skating together in the spring. According to VQS volunteer Cameron Sasyniuk, the permission to use the ramp again has reunited members safely. Sasyniuk said that returning to the ramp changed the game. Michelle Pezel co-owns Antisocial Skateboard Shop and is also vice-president of the Vancouver Skateboard Coalition which, along with Granville Island, created and hosts the Green Mini ramp. For VQS it’s been
a place for attendees to make friends but also to ensure they have a positive skateboarding experience, especially during the pandemic. “[In skateboarding, LGBTQ+ folks] don't feel like there's room for them,” Pezel said. “But like, there is room in skateboarding and people do need to make more room.” Mou previously felt he needed to alter his mannerisms around skateparks to fit in, but at VQS he was confident to be himself. “They just provided an environment where you didn't have to second guess, you didn't have to change your pronouns, and you didn't have to hide,” Mou said.
sessions to inspire players. to train and test yourself by having without competition. Having grown By mid-November, even tighter the opportunity to compete,” he said. up playing basketball, this is the longest restrictions caused the players to scale “There are times I’m sure the guys have he has gone without playing. back further, allowing only modified lost their motivation at practice. “You prepare in the summer for a training and no competitive whole season. You ask yourgames. In addition, teamself ‘What am I practising “It's difficult because for?’” he said. “Ebe has been mates are now only able to see each other two or three doing a good job of keeping the main reason times a week. us on our toes, and trying to ... (is) by having Eberhardt also holds stay as engaged as possible.” Zoom sessions every other Forward Saleem Alithe opportunity to week to help the team stay Musa, a first-year internacompete.” connected. Some players say tional student from Napa — PAUL EBERHARDT, LANGARA FALCONS the Zoom sessions help as a Valley, Calif., said moving SUBMITTED PHOTO HEAD COACH substitute for bonding, and to stricter restrictions in to make sure the team is on November was disappointtop of their studies. “It’s up to us coaching staff to be ing. He is eager for next season, when “It’s difficult because the main creative and original and keep them they are able to compete against other reason why people love to be involved focused.” teams again. in competitive team sports is a chance Centre Jas Dhudwal said it is tough See langaravoice.ca for full story
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VQS’s last night on the Green Mini ramp was Feb. 26, but the group looks forward to when restrictions are loosened and they will be able to organize events again. “You can connect with anybody and go skate with them,” said Sasyniuk. “That's what we hope is that people kind of end up [doing]... meet[ing] each other.” Mou said groups like VQS mean a lot to those who identify as LGBTQ+. “Pride comes from community,” Mou said. “You can go off on your own and become a strong person, but to be surrounded with like-minded people, especially if you've never got to experience that, is second to none.”
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