Frozen skates into vancouver..............................4 Disney on ice is twice as nice with characters of Frozen performing at Pacific Coliseum to Sunday
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PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS
NOVEMBER 26, 2015 • VOL. 48 NO. 10 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
Greener pastures for refugees
Sex assault policy blasted MLA says victims need a better system in place to deal with sexual assault By ANNE-SOPHIE RODET
A A cottage at Dunbar Memorial West Park is an example of the type of housing that could be available to refugees. KEVIN UNDERHILL photo
Rent-free accommodations for Syrian families is a welcome need By KEVIN UNDERHILL
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hree vacant park cottages could be made available to incoming Syrian refugee families. Catherine Evans, a commissioner on the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation will be proposing next month that three caretaker suites, located in Vancouver parks, be repurposed to house Syrian refugees. With a reported 3,000 refugees scheduled to settle in the Vancouver area by the end of the year, accommodation will be a major challenge. “Housing is the most critical thing,” Evans said. “It’s very difficult to find
something affordable.” Evans hopes the Park Board will accept the motion to turn three caretaker suites into refugee housing at the next Park Board meeting on Dec. 14. “I have learned that there are three that might work,” Evans said. “I don’t know if they are suitable for families or just a couple perhaps.” Vancouver city councillor Geoff Meggs said it sounds like an excellent idea if the suites are in good shape. “If it’s suitable and in good condition, it could work. I don’t think we’re just throwing a roof over someone’s head. It would need to be a step above shelter in my view,” Meggs said. “So in theory
it sounds terrific but I think they’d have to look at it case by case.” Both Evans and Meggs referred to the precedent of using caretaker suites for other purposes. “I know that some of them have been repurposed for art studios and some are being used for community garden groups…but not all of them,” Evans said. “Which is why I knew I could put this forward as a suggestion.” The board will review the proposal at its upcoming December meeting. “It would be an extraordinary step for the Park Board to take but I think everybody is looking to do what they can do to help,” she said.
REFUGEE housing
Thind Properties is offering 7 units to Syrians
Westbank Deveopments has set aside 12 units in West Vancouver
Source: News1130
Better to be over prepared for winter “ National Works Yard has all the equipment for winter roads, but may not need to use them this year
By JAKE COSTELLO
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he City of Vancouver is anticipating a warm winter, despite the current cold snap. Ken Brown, branch manager of street operations for the city held a press conference on Wednesday at the National Works Yard. He showed off a selection of Vancouver’s trucks, Bobcats and snowblowers used to combat the elements. It’s the same equipment as last year, and much of it may stay parked at the yard, if the carbon-copy Printed on recycled paper
mild weather arrives that Brown said he’s expecting. “They are predicting that we are going to get a couple of dustings of snow, but nothing too major,” he said. According to Lisa Coldwells, meteorologist with Environment Canada, the forecasted warm weather is the result of this year’s El Nino weather system, which is a warm band of water that develops in the equator. “It might even rival the El Nino of 1997-98 which was the strongest on record,” said Coldwells. Coldwells advises, however, that the first part of the season won’t be affected by the warm system, and snowfall may occur before the new year. The city of Vancouver has a fleet of 55 trucks, six snowblowers and 1,200
tons of salt on hand to fight the elements. Brown said that two of the brine trucks are on their last legs, and will be replaced next year. The new models will have greater storage capacity, which should improve output by one third. Brown applauded the public’s effort keeping the roads and drains clear during recent heavy rainfall, and hopes this will continue into winter. “We want the public to be mindful of the neighbours around them. Especially people who are elderly, people that have mobility challenges,” said Brown. He suggested people keep their sidewalks clear of ice and snow, and report any problems to the 311 call centre. Check Langaravoice.ca for a video
We want the public to be mindful of the neighbours around them KEN BROWN BRANCH MANAGER STREET OPERATIONS NATIONAL WORKS YARD
lthough plans are not yet in motion, educational institutions are pushing to make sure they have an effective system in place to deal with sexual assaults. The Fifth Estate program from CBC revealed last Friday that UBC didn’t respond appropriately to sexual assaults allegations made by its students. Some of the victims had come to David Eby, MLA for Vancouver PointGrey, to ask for help since they lived or formerly lived in his riding DAVID EBY and because UBC MLA Vancouver belongs to the con- Point Grey stituency. “On paper, it looked like UBC had very good systems, but when these women tried to go through them, what they found very quickly is that the systems didn’t work,” said Eby. He has announced on Tuesday for a province-wide policy to deal with sexual assaults on campus. In Ontario, colleges of the province published a policy back in March and the government committed to introduce a legislation on the matter, expected by the end of the year . “The reason why we have such a good system in Ontario, at universities there, is that because they had their own scandals,” said Eby. Maggie Ross, manager of the student conduct and judicial affairs at Langara, said that across the country, educational institutions have had discussions on sexual assault policies. “Whether it has to be legislation compelling institutions to put something in place, I don’t know, but there certainly is value in having some common standards across all post-secondary institutions in the province,” she said. After the revelations at UBC, she had just sent an email to the faculty about the procedures in place at Langara in a situation of sexual harassment or violence. “It reminded me that it’s always a good idea to remind faculty of what to do because if you don’t deal with it every day, you forget or you may not know,” Ross said. One of the main issues regarding the case at UBC, Eby said, was the lack of a single point of contact for the students reporting sexual assault. When it regards bad behaviour by a student, Ross said she is the point of contact, but points to other options like counselling and health security depending on what the victims are comfortable with.
Check out our web exclusives at http://langaravoice.ca
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THE VOICE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 26, 2015
EDITOR ETHAN REYES
At large
Surrey gets ready for Syrian students School district won’t let overcrowding hamper excitement for settling refugee children
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We are excited to welcome these kids. Being here will give them opportunities they definitely would not have had before NICOLE KALER
By MONA BUTLER
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urrey teachers and officials are optimistic about the arrival of an estimated 500 refugee students despite the problems with the school system. Regardless of the uncertainty over the exact amount of students arriving and the resources that will be available, Surrey school officials are determined that refugee students will be cared for in their school system despite overcrowding. Bob Holmes, a Surrey school trustee said that once all the information is collected, everything would be done to make the students feel welcome. “As always, we welcome all students with open arms, and no matter what will ensure that they are coming to a
safe, caring environment and receiving a quality education, but we need to advocate for the proper support to make that happen.” Nicole Kaler, a mother of three, said that although the schools are overcrowded, she welcomes the arrival of these new children. “As a community, we are excited to welcome these kids. Being here will give them opportunities they definitely would not have had before,” she said. “Until we get more formal notice with actual numbers, and sit down with the various levels of governments and local social and immigrant support agencies to discuss logistics and details, we can’t do much more right now,” said Doug Strachan, manager of communication services for Surrey Schools.
Overcrowding has been a problem in Surrey schools but solutions are limited because the bulk of them require provincial funding or approval. There are over 70, 000 students in Surrey, White Rock Teachers are also concerned about whether they will be provided with enough resources to help these children but they are not apprehensive at the thought of their arrival. Jennifer Wadge, president of the Surrey Teachers’ JENNIFER WADGE Association said, President of tbe “Teachers, in genSurrey Teachers’ eral, have gone Association into this profes-
sion to help. I know that Surrey teachers will be anxious to do whatever they can to make sure that these students are welcomed,” she said. Across Surrey, there are currently 274 portable classrooms in use. There are the main solutions to overcrowding and are in theory supposed to be temporary but most schools have them as permanent fixtures. They are also expensive to operate, costing $10,000 per year over a regular classroom each in extra heat, light and maintenance. “There are children who will likely spend their entire school career in Surrey in a portable. Unless the government is committed to providing the funding to build new schools in Surrey, students and teachers will have to continue dealing with portables,” Wadge said.
PARENT
Saving city’s heritage
Party line be dam’d
List of registered heritage homes in Vancouver is continuing to grow
Q&A session with Christy Clark about the Site C dam became chance to ask the premier about settlement of Syrian refugees
By JULIA WICKHAM
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BY NANCY PLECHATY
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remier Christy Clark announced the go-ahead to one of the province’s biggest projects on Tuesday morning, however media were more concerned with Syrian refugee settlement in B.C. The construction of Site C hydro dam in the Peace River Valley area, which has been opposed by Aboriginal and environWe are mental advocacy happy to groups, is slated to start next spring, welcome costing $8.3 billion. our share Clark’s speech on developof refugees mentthe was derailed reporters CHRISTY CLARK when questioned her B.C PREMIER stance on settlement of Syrian refugees. “We are happy to welcome our share of refugees,” said Clark at BC Hydro’s Burnaby location, Horne Payne Substation. “We live in the fastest growing economy in the country. I will never forget, I don’t think that any of us will, that our province was built from people overseas.” Last week, Clark encouraged refugees to settle up north in places like the Peace region. Many northern B.C. residents were upset, worrying that an influx of refugees will take away jobs from locals that are already in need. In light of the controversy Clark said, “[The province’s commitment] will employ local and First Nations, first, [and] all other British Columbian’s next.” The work will span over an eightyear period, creating approximately 8,000 person-years employment, according to a news release distributed by BC Hydro Media Relations. BC’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett, said, “This particular contract, at its peak, will employ over 1,500 people.”
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wning a heritage home in Vancouver has become increasingly popular since the heritage designation of First Shaughnessy last September. Three more homes were added Tuesday to the Vancouver Heritage Register in the ‘C’ evaluation category. The City of Vancouver labels them as “a building that contributes to the historic character of an area of streetscape” and designates them as protected heritage property. Heritage expert John Atkin, who leads several walking tours around VancouADRIANE CARR ver and one in Vancouver city S h a u g h n e s sy, councillor said owning a heritage home isn’t “as terrible Owning a as many thought.” heritage “As more ownhome is beers become aware of the adcoming invantages of havcreasingly ing a heritage home we’ll see desirable more being listed,” he said. Vancouver city Coun. Adriane Carr said heritage homes have become a trend in all developed countries, but particularly in Vancouver. “Owning a heritage home is becoming increasingly desirable,” she said. Carr also said there is huge advantage for homeowners who receive heritage status for their homes, including a “modest increase in property value.” “Heritage homes generally increase in value … there may be a bit of a catch up in prices initially but generally the price goes up,” Atkin said. Atkin also said that any home older than 25 years old might be considered for heritage status. “We have neighbourhoods developed in the 1960s which now would be considered eligible for heritage status,” he said. “So a Vancouver Special may be on the Register because it was the first house in a new neighbourhood.”
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NANCY PLECHATY photo
Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett, and Premier Clark addressing the media about both clean energy and Syrian refugees at a press conference about the development of the Site C dam.
Campus news
EDITOR TONY SU
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 2015
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Two Langara clubs unite for families Both organizations are fundraising through ticket sales for a social hangout at the end of the month By SEAN LEE
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JENNIFER OEHLER submitted photo
Langara College instructors, John Russell (left) and Shannon Redmond (right) at the Scholarship Café.
Scholarship Café has arrived Students and teachers brainstorm together for community solutions By MARK STUART
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angara College is getting students engaged to help solve real world community problems through the Langara Scholarship Café. The open house-style event, which showcases student and instructor’s research work, is a collaborative event with different faculties at Langara, ranging from nursing to bioinformatics. “We are excited to welcome the college community to the fall Scholarship Cafe. It’s exciting to see what students and faculty are exploring in the classroom next door,” said Heather Workman, co-op and career development centre chair at Langara. However, Langara differs from what other post-secondary research institutions in Metro Vancouver might present. Margaret Heldman, dean of science at Langara and head of scholarly activ-
ity for the Scholarship Cafe said that unlike SFU and UBC, Langara strives to engage in research activities around innovation that help society. “Faculty at Langara do a bit of that but there’s also a whole lot of work being done by faculty where the knowledge they have will assist community partners to be more successful, whether that’s a business or an industry,” Heldman said. Heldman added that schools in the Lower Mainland, like SFU and UBC are “big-time discovery researchers” and that their research purpose is to generate new knowledge, but Langara’s mandate goes in another direction. The mandate focuses primarily on education over scholarship and research, which is capable of bringing some of the college’s creative and unique minds together in a research setting ultimately means lending a hand to the South Vancouver community.
“We have the knowledge, the expertise and the student power to make a positive contribution, and we want to do that,” said Heldman. The Scholarship Cafe takes place Thursday, Nov. 26 from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Scholarship Café showcases research. JENNIFER OEHLER submitted photo
ingle parents are getting funds from two Langara College clubs this holiday season. The Langara Social Club is aiding the Langara Business Association in its 4th Annual Holiday Hangout charity fundraiser for Langara’s Holiday Hamper program. “It is an official initiative set by Langara College to help out single-parent families during the holiday season,” Khaled Sukkarie said, a first-year business student and member of LBA. “Half of the ticket sales will go to Holiday Hamper and half will go to paying for the venue.” The program provides single parents in Vancouver with hampers filled with food, presents, and other useful household items. Langara Business Association allows students to give back to the community. “That’s what the Holiday Charity Hangout is. Giving back to the community, SPENCER KEMP while also workLangara Social ing in a fun, real Club member business envi-
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ronment,” Sukkarie said. “We were I think it brought in to help just helps the LBA. I think it just helps to have to have more people helpmore ing out,” said Spencer Kemp, a people member of the helping out LSC. LSC is doing a food and toy drive at the venue to supplement the money raised. The fundraiser will take place at St. Regis Bar & Grill on Dunsmuir St. on Sunday. “We’re going to have boxes where people can donate canned or non-perishable foods, and sealed toy products, but the main focus will be on the hampers,” said Kemp.
Students apply history to present day situations Lecture aims to establish connection between contemporary culture and historical events By ROSEMARY NEWTON
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ROSEMARY NEWTON photo
A bust of Medusa sits on the desk of Jennifer Knapp.
Langara College lecture series is using themes from the classical past to make connections with modern-day issues. The classical studies department will host its final lecture today of a three part series. Retired Langara classical studies coordinator Gwyneth Lewis will speak about the Greek island of Amorgos, which is steeped in tradition as a place of refuge. The island, once home to pirates and travellers, is currently host to refugees fleeing Syria. The theme of historical connections,
and the relevance of the past as a foundation for the cultural present, was a focus of this fall’s lecture series, said Jennifer Knapp, a classical studies instructor at Langara. “We’re looking at how modern technologies study the past, or how the present is affecting our understanding of the past,” she said. The theme of the past informing the present is a major draw for students who pursue classical studies, Knapp said, in addition to the initial interest in exciting subjects like gladiators, sex and war. “A lot of elements of our culture come from the past. Not just government systems, but ideas like not having the state into your house originated during this period,” she said. Free speech, modern literature, wedding customs and language all have roots in Latin and Greek history, according to Knapp.
Alexander McAuley, a UBC lecturer in classical studies, spoke in an earlier part of the series. His lecture explored how the 9/11 terrorists attacks and modern political rhetoric has shaped our understanding of history. Students are drawn to classical studies, JENNIFER KNAPP he said, for reasons Classical studies beyond just the instructor “nerd factor” of learning details of ancient civilizations. “It’s fascinating, remote, but similar. It gives you awareness and perspective” he said, and noted the ability to make sense of history is a transferable skill.
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Entertainment
EDITOR XIAO XU
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 2015
Make your own radio or plane Local group holding workshops to build AM radios and model airplanes By KATHRYN WU
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CHRIS RELKE submitted photo
Thomas Foster (left) and Dawson Holt (right) pose with Stormtrooper to promote the Vancouver Giants Star Wars night on Dec. 4.
Star warriors gear up in force Vancouver set to celebrate latest sequel with a variety of activities By JASON HAMILTON
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he force is strong in Vancouver with venues and groups around the city gearing up for The Force Awakens’ premiere on Dec. 18. Cineplex is hosting five Star Wars marathons across the country in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto. The first six films will be shown and then capped off with a screening of The Force Awakens, said Sarah Van Lange, communication director for Cineplex Entertainment. “They have a run time of about 17 hours starting from 4:45 a.m. and they all go straight into a screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at 7 p.m.,” Van Lange said. According to Van Lange, ticket sales for advance seating have broken Cineplex records. The Vancouver Giants of the WHL
are also getting in on the act. The Giants’ players will be wearing Star Wars Stormtrooper jerseys when they host the Saskatoon Blades on Dec. 4 at the Pacific Coliseum. Dale Saip, the Giants’ vice president of business development said all the Star Wars-themed jerseys will be available to purchase at the game and all proceeds from the game will benefit the Gizeh Shriners of B.C. & Yukon, a philanthropic organization that provides health care for those in need. Samantha Reeves, organizer for Vancouver Movie Fans, is planning an event for local Star Wars fans to watch the first three Star Wars movies together. According to Reeves, the event will take place at La Fontana Caffe, which is located on Hasting Street in Burnaby. Starting Dec. 4, it will occur every Friday leading up to the release of The
Force Awakens. The manager at La Fontana Caffe, John Latrofa is expecting a big turnout and a boost to business. Latrofa said 35 people have reserved seats for the event. Patrick Shaughnessy, manager at Golden Age Collectables on Granville Street said, “for people that come in here, it’s in their blood.” PATRICK SHAUGHShaughnessy NESSY has prepared for Manager at the film’s release Golden Age by loading up on Collectables Star Wars memorabilia and collectibles on the store’s shelves.
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They have a run time of about 17 hours starting from 4:45 a.m. SARAH VAN LANGE COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FOR CINEPLEX ENTERTAINMENT
he Vancouver Hack Space (VHS) is teaching people how to build their own AM radios and radio controlled fixed-wing airplanes. The VHS, a non-profit organization, hosts several do-it-yourself workshops a week, with the next one taking place this coming Sunday. Participants can solder their own AM radios under supervision. Workshops are open to the public for a fee of $40 for non-members and open houses are conducted every Tuesday. Different levels of memberships are available at varying prices. Steven Smethurst, a former director at VHS, said that there are 20 separate components for participants to put together for the radio workshop. Participants can expect to learn about the functions of each component and the process of radio-building from start to finish. Smethurst said the workshops are beginner-friendly, although experts will be available to help beginners with their projects. “We have about 30 people who come to the door every Tuesday, each of them brand new,” he said. Smethurst added it normally takes beginners about a half hour to feel comfortable with the building process. The electronics scene has changed over the years, according to Smethurst. “Seven or eight years ago, most of the development boards didn’t exist or they were more expensive,” he said. Arthur Hazleden, another former director of VHS, said hack spaces are not just for electronic enthusiasts. “There’s been more involvement with people who are into doing electronics and people doing events and music,” he said. For Hazleden, space had always been a persistent issue for the VHS. “I wish there was more space for us to lease. The hack space is currently looking for a new location and it’s a challenge,” said Hazleden. According to the VHS website, hack spaces are communal areas for “hackers” to share. They reconfigure technology for different purposes, often leading to new inventions. Hazleden said the first independent hack space is c-base that originated in Berlin in 1995.
Popular Disney ice show hits city Frozen organizers schedule an extra show due to high demand from Vancouver fans By SERENA PATTAR
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o you want to build a snowman? It’s the question Anna and Elsa will be asking as Disney on Ice’s Frozen performs this week at the Pacific Coliseum. This is the first year Frozen has come to Canada, and Vancouver is the first stop. Last year the show only toured in the U.S. “This show has been so popular that we’ve even added another one in Vancouver,” said Chris Reichert, the West Coast Region communications director for Feld Entertainment. “Usually we only do nine shows, but with Frozen we decided to do 10 because the demand is just so great.” Reichert said the popularity of the Disney movie has captivated the world,
and created a brand like no other, with an intense demand for anything Frozen-related. “It’s been one of the most popular Disney on Ice shows we’ve ever had,” said Reichert, “It’s just phenomenally popular.” The Vancouver shows appear to be She can’t the same wait to see following trend, although exAnna and act information on ticket sales could Elsa sing not be released. Sandy Farwaha and dance knew she had to SANDY FARWAHA take her four-yearMOTHER OF A old daughter, Ava, FOUR-YEAR-OLD to see the on-ice GIRL version as soon as
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tickets were released. “I decided to go because Ava is a huge fan of Frozen. She’s even named herself Ava Elsa,” said Farwaha. She said her daughter will be dressing up for the show, but doesn’t know if she wants to go as Anna or Elsa, so she might go as a mix of both. Farwaha said part of the appeal for her daughter is the excitement of seeing her favourite characters come to life off the screen. “She can’t wait to see Anna and Elsa sing and dance,” she said. Mariah Cawkell, Tila Tilley and Jon Stackhouse are three B.C.-based performers that will be skating as members of Frozen’s ensemble for the show’s Canadian tour. The show runs until Sunday at the Pacific Coliseum.
TIM PANNELL submitted photo
Performer plays Elsa in Frozen at Disney on Ice.
Lifestyles
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 2015
EDITOR MONA BUTLER
Humble start no barrier in parkour
Right: A chicken models a hand-crocheted sweater avaiable from bagsandmorebypam on Etsy, an online store run by Pam Todd in Bloomington, Indiana.
The Vancouver scene has been growing strongly beyond its niche community beginnings
PAM TODD submitted photo
By SEYEDMOSTAFA RAZIEI
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ore and more people are taking a leap, as parkour shifts from a niche sport into the mainstream.
Left: Cordelia Mansfields’ chickens are hardy enough for the winter weather but she wouldn’t mind dressing them in sweaters for fashion’s-sake. BRIDGETTE WATSON photo
Fowl fashionable statements Sweaters for chickens are a stylish and functional accessory By BRIDGETTE WATSON
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ixteen-year-old Vancouver chicken owner Cordelia Mansfield thinks putting her pets in winter sweaters would be adorable — not necessarily life-saving.
Chicken sweaters are marketed to keep the birds warm in cold winters. Mansfield agrees with experts that attentive pet-ownership is more important than purchasing poultry pullovers. Mansfield raises Brahma chickens and a mixed Dorking and Sussex breed. The Brahmas have feathered feet and short combs and withstand the cold well. The mixed breed might not require sweaters, but toques and legwarmers could help warm their large combs and exposed feet. “I do have to put Vaseline on the
chickens with large combs so they don’t get frostbite,” explained Mansfield, who has also set up a heat lamp to keep her chickens cozy in their coop. Clayton Botkin, poultry industry specialist for the BC Ministry of Agriculture, said chickens should be shielded from extreme weather conditions during the winter and have access to fresh food and water. Frozen ground makes foraging a challenge for chickens, so Mansfield feeds them pellets and kitchen scraps. “Anything else is supplemental, they mostly just use the ground for dirt baths this time of year,” she said. At age twelve, Mansfield sent Mayor Gregor Robertson a letter and a chicken drawing, pleading for a bylaw to permit chickens in the
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city. When the bylaw passed, her family turned the old playhouse into a new chicken condo. “It feels like they are hibernating in the coop where it is warmer, but they seem happy.” The Vancouver Humane Society is skeptical about the city bylaw to allow backyard chickens. “It is a big responsibility and not to be taken lightly,” said VHS Communications Director Peter Fricker, “but we recognize that there are people out there who have invested a huge amount of time and resources to try and do it properly.” Mansfield is attentive to her chickens’ needs, including keeping them fashion forward. “Those sweaters sound really cute, the chickens look pretty feathered and warm already, I might have to try it.”
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It feels like they are hibernating in the coop where it is warmer, but they seem happy CORDELIA MANSFIELD CHICKEN OWNER
Since its humble beginning over one decade ago with only 50 to 100 people randomly meeting each Sunday to play, parkour now has near 600 weekly users at the Origins Parkour. Alyssa Serpa works in the only indoor dedicated facility in the city, and is a professional traceur who made her start at the SFU campus in Jan. 2009. Since then, she cannot stop herself from enjoying parkour, increasing her confidence step by step. Serpa said that being interested is the only barrier to start this sport. Now she is in complete control of her body, free of fears. “Not everybody is socialy comfortable to parkour outside,” said Serpa. Although “any public space that has elevation changes is good for parkour.” However, instead of public places like the seawall, people like her can use the Empire Fields and Plateau at Hasting Park, or some of the community gymnastic facilities. Jared Davis, trainer at Origins Parkour said that this sport changed into a big community in the city, even before this facility started to work. “We have the life that we love and we can share it and it is fantastic,” Davis said. Vancouver is the host of the North American Parkour Championship that started three years ago. Dustin Wales, political science student at Langara College, who started this sport last April, said parkour is way better than going into a gym to do a workout, and it is much more fun “You’ve got to use all different parts of your body in different ways, and it is good for efficiency of your movements,” said Wales.
Art that explores mother earth A Vancouver studio diplaying student art helps educate on our relationship with earth By VINCENT MATAK
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f you want to do better in school, try replacing your textbook with a paintbrush.
That’s the premise behind the Artists in the Classroom program at ArtStarts, a not-for-profit organization and art gallery nestled in Downtown Vancouver near Richards and Robson Street. The program gets students from kindergarten through Grade 12 at B.C. schools to make art related to their curriculum in effort to engage them more in the learning process. Works produced as part of the
program are then curated and exhibited at the organization’s in-house gallery. “We’re showing that the seed of creativity is planted when you’re young and really important growing experience and learning experience happen when they’re exposed to arts,” said ArtStarts Communications Manager Siobhan Rich. “[Students] also go back and tell their parents what they had learned and look around the neighbourhood and identifying those things.” Their latest exhibit, Common Ground, centres on the relationship between students and their biological environments, said Juliana Bedoya, gallery manager at ArtStarts, who curated the exhibit. “But it also addresses the ancestral knowledge of plants and native pollinators and how also the first peoples that lived in the land
also interacted with their local surroundings and understood the natural world,” she said. It includes paintings, prints, zines, banners and installations, which are produced using natural, biodegradable materials like milkpaint and watered-down soil. “What we try is to feature the creative process that also happens in the classrooms,” she said. The organization is funded by the City of Vancouver, the provincial and federal governments and through private donations and sponsorships. It organizes the program – which is lead by local, professional artists in conjunction with teachers – through $13,500 worth of grants provided to schools. They also provide art programming for families and teachers. VINCENT MATAK photo
A piece showcases the relationship between soil and
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THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 2015
B.C. only one without a poverty plan O
n Tuesday, we learned that one in five children are living in poverty in B.C. awarding the province with a failing grade on the annual report on child poverty by First Call B.C. Child and Youth Advocacy coalition. At first, I thought that I had heard wrong, The statistic seemed too high for a privileged region such as our own, but unfortunately it’s true. The number of children considered “poor” has stayed relatively the same for the last 20 years. The question it raises in my mind is how much longer will we listen to shocking statistics and stories of children ANNA DIMOFF going without before the province takes significant action? As the only province with no poverty reduction strategy and some of the highest housing prices in Canada, the gap is only bound to expand and leave these children in increasingly vulnerable positions. It paints a discouraging picture when families with parents working full-time jobs are still considered to be living under the poverty line, since our minimum wage doesn’t meet the requirements to be considered a “living wage.” The inequality is most prominently portrayed by the lack of affordable housing in Vancouver. If the working members of these families are just barely able to meet the financial expectations to afford housing, then the rest of the basic necessities like nutritious food, warm clothing and education for their children are going largely overlooked in each scenario. The first and most important step in combatting this province-wide issue is to create a blanket policy to which each municipality can contribute efforts and initiatives toward. Alberta approached the issue this way and worked with each municipality to find realistic goals based on local needs and community input. Medicine Hat became the first municipality in Canada to put an end to chronic homelessness by focussing on a housing first approach. The city has been able to provide its citizens with dignity and a chance to save money, Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clungston said. The provincial government in B.C. needs to follow suit with the rest of Canada. Only until they acknowledge the fact that a cohesive strategy to tackle homelssness is the only way we will see movement toward progress, the problem will continue to sit stagnant. The focus desperately needs to be shifted to place the regions most vulnerable population in a priority position.
EDITOR ANNA DIMOFF
viewpoints
No guilt for holiday glut T
arts, eggnog, pumpkin pie and chocolates are just a few of my favourite things. My brain’s endorphins light up when the party invitations start arriving, with grocery stores and specialty shops display their delicious food and my stomach pangs with hunger and thirst for the holiday treats. MURRAY B. HUNT As we approach December, my favourite season has arrived: the season of sweet creamfilled food.
OPINION
I know it is not in good taste to arrive at a Christmas party, pull a chair up to the buffet table and start shoving food into the mouth. I can control myself and manage to move between the bar and the buffet sampling ample amounts of food and drink. I always dread running into the skinny individual with a tiny plate holding up the line at the buffet and hearing them complain about how the food at the table will cause weight gain. Worse yet, if this person looks at my abundantly full plate and makes a comment about the calories. I choose to eat what I want and do not need another person trying to make me feel guilty. The American Heart Association posted an article that suggests we should keep a food journal to track
what we are eating and why during Christmas. I am not going to arrive at my Christmas party with an oversized journal to record my reasons for eating. I am there enjoying my friends, family and socialising with them. Writing down what I am eating takes away the fun of enjoying the food and if I want an extra rum and nutmeg or pumpkin pie with ice cream I do not need to feel guilty about eating. Christmas comes once a year and it is a time to relax, enjoy friends and enjoy good food. I do not like to deny myself the great pleasures of food. Denying food or good drink does not compute in my brain. This once a year feast should be left out of the books, not written in a journal. Guilt should be banished. Enjoy the season and happy eating.
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Journalism instructor Erica Bulman oversees The Voice. Email her at ebulman@langara.bc.ca
The Voice is published by Langara College’s journalism department. Editorial opinions are those of the staff and are independent of views of the student government and administration. We welcome letters to the editor. They may be edited for brevity. Your letter must include your name and phone number.
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SEAN LEE photo
Trans community still confined R
ecent B.C. policy granting transgendered inmates the right to serve time in a correctional centre consistent with their self-identified gender is a huge step forward—but it also serves as a reminder that a lot more needs to be done beyond prison walls. Federally, the issue has not yet ROSEMARY been addressed. The lack of cohe- NEWTON sive federal policy regarding the rights of trans prisoners indicates a society where confronting transphobia is not being taken seriously. Research has proven that transgendered inmates
OPINION
are put at increased risk of assault and harassment; one third of trans inmates report violence, according to the Trans PULSE Project, an Ontario group which researches access to health and social services for trans communities. We need to acknowledge that trans people are one of the most marginalized groups in Canada. This year, public figures like actress Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner have brought more representation to popular culture. Despite exciting beginnings for inclusivity, trans populations in Canada are faced with higher rates of poverty and unemployment, factors that actually lead to incarceration in the first place. A troubling statistic from the Trans PULSE Project shows that between 22 and 43 per cent of transgendered people in Europe, Canada and the U.S. have attempted suicide. These numbers are
unacceptable. When further statistics show that a quarter of trans people report being harassed by police and that despite a majority having post secondary education, many still live below the poverty line (half surveyed by Trans PULSE earn less than $15,000 annually), I think it’s time we examine the systemic discrimination that clearly exists in our country. Accounts of transgendered people avoiding public spaces, washrooms and even medical care based on fear of discrimination indicates that Canada is failing in providing basic human rights to all. Increasing rights to B.C. trans inmates may be a sign of hope, but until the federal government and the rest of Canada catches up, it is on all of us to advocate for communities that are inclusive of everyone.
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Bryan Mc Govern
REPORTERS Ben Bengtson Jake Costello Scott Drake Rumana Dsouza Jason Hamilton Murray B. Hunt Sean Lee Vincent Matak Rosemary Newton Serena Pattar Nancy Plechaty Seyedmostafa Raziei Kate Richardson Anne-Sophie Rodet Mark Stuart Kevin Underhill Tessa Vikander Bridgette Watson Julia Wickham Kathryn Wu
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News & features
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 2015
EDITOR JAMES SMITH
7
Report card system gets failing grade Teachers experiencing ongoing issues with the province’s new platform By BEN BENGTSON
B
MURRAY B. HUNT photo
The developer and the City of Vancouver are planning to replace the low-rise housing at Langara Gardens with apartment towers.
Public has chance to weigh in The city and developer seek the public’s input on expansion plans By MURRAY B. HUNT
P
hase two in the potential renovation of the Langara Gardens development will be announced at an open house today at 6 p.m. at the Langara Gardens social lounge. The plan is based in part on consultations done by the City of Vancouver with residents of the development on Cambie St. between 54th and 57th Ave. The landlords of the development, Peterson and Concert Properties Inc., sought the consultation because they want to rezone and build higher density properties. The architect for the project, James Cheng of James KM Cheng Architects Inc., said the four existing apartment towers would remain as they are, but a group of older homes next door may be torn down to make way for the new development. “The main reason for the rezoning would be to replace the low-rise woodframe rental buildings because they are now 50 to 60 years old,” Cheng said.
“Some of them are not in great shape compared to current standards.” Cheng didn’t give any details about what the proposed development would look like, saying it was for the City of Vancouver to release that information. Langara Gardens currently features 605 units of market-rental housing, 335 of which are located in four 18-story towers. A resident of Langara Gardens, Jim Yue, has lived in the complex for two years in a two bedroom apartment and paying 1,750 a month, said he’s curious about what the plan will mean for him. “[I] love this neighbourhood,” said Yue. “I love it very much and I want to know what exactly is going to happen to this place. Are they going to tear it down? I have to think about my future and if I am going to have to move. I do love it here.” The City of Vancouver is developing a policy statement from information gathered at the phase one meeting held in April to guide future development of the Langara Gardens site. The policy
statement will set principles and objectives for topics such as land use, sustainability, and density. Thursday’s open house will consist of a draft guiding principles and initial concepts will be presented for public review and input.
JIM YUE Langara Gardens resident
“ MURRAY B. HUNT photo
The apartment towers at Langara Gardens will stay.
I have to think about my future and if I am going to have to move
ritish Columbia teachers say they have been struggling all semester to write report cards because of a new student information system. The MyEducation BC (MyEd BC) system, which allows teachers to create report cards and record class attendance, has been criticized by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) since it was rolled out in September. The BCTF and other educators say the system often crashes and has a steep learning curve. A Twitter search for #MyEdBC showed many recent tweets from education professionals expressing frustration with the system’s complexity and lack of functionality, especially during report card season. Chad Weller, a secondary school teacher at Sardis Secondary School in Chilliwack, B.C., said MyEd BC can be very confusing, especially for anyone who isn’t tech-savvy. Weller said that teachers were locked out of MyEd BC during recent system upgrades, which caused disruptions. “It was upgraded right before report cards were due,” he said. “It was a huge hassle. For the days it was down, it really limited our work.” Rich Overgaard, media relations officer for the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, said teachers across B.C. have reported slow log-in times, and that taking attendance and creating report cards has been a challenge because of it. “They’re having a lot of time wasted just trying to use the program,” Overgaard said. He said one of the biggest issues was how easily the system gets overloaded and stops functioning. “There seems to be a problem with the amount of people able to access the system at one time,” he said. “At highpeak times it tends to be slower.” Craig Sorochan, public affairs officer with the B.C. Ministry of Education, said that teachers would adapt to the new system over time. “It’s a new technology that people will have to learn how to use,” said Sorochan. “Sometimes when things are different than what they’re used to, there’s a bit of a learning curve.”
Group: zero-energy builds needed Coalition led by Pembina Institute is urging the province to make net-zero energy buildings the norm By SCOTT DRAKE
A
collection of B.C. organizations is challenging the provincial government to ensure new buildings are “net-zero energy” ready by 2030. The call for action comes in anticipation of B.C.’s climate leadership plan to be released in December, and was initiated by the Pembina Institute, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Urban Development Institute Pacific Region. The report has been signed by 75 organizations so far, including post-secondary groups like the Simon Fraser University Centre for Sustainable Com-
munity Development, and asks the government to start the net-zero initiative in 2016 with all new planned public buildings. Karen Tam Wu, program director of Buildings & Urban Solutions for the Pembina Institute, said there is a real opportunity to take bold action on climate change with the Liberal party in power. She said it is important that the government “indicates what its vision is and the road to get there, and if the government themselves takes action to get there, they are almost signalling to the marketplace that we want to see innovation.” Wu also explained that net zero energy means that “a building is so energy efficient that it could meet its energy needs in terms of what is needed to heat, cool, power appliances and gadgets within that home or building on site.” This runs in contrast to the current
carbon neutral government regulation, which allows producers to offset their carbon emissions. “That doesn’t necessarily mean your building is super efficient necessarily,” Wu said. “It could mean that you’re somehow making up for the carbon that you’re putting out there by paying for a project somewhere else.” Langara College has not signed the call to action, though the Science and Technology building currently under construction is LEED-gold certified according to Langara’s 2014 Carbon Neutral Action Report. Wendy Lannard, Director of Facilities at Langara, said that a net-zero energy policy would put increased requirements on the college. “Net-zero energy would require us to go even further with our energy efficiency program for buildings - beyond LEED-gold, and also require … more building integrated renewable energy systems to be installed,” Lannard said.
SCOTT DRAKE photo
Langara College’s new science and technology building will be LEED-gold certified but will not meet net-zero energy requirements.
8
THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 2015
EDITOR KELVIN GAWLEY
sports
RUMANA DSOUZA, KATE RICHARDSON photos
Players from the New West Hyacks practise (right) before playing in provincial semi-finals this weekend at B.C. Place Stadium (left).
Teens stoked to play on B.C. Lions’ turf Playing in the biggest games of the season in a large stadium will add to the experience By KATE RICHARDSON
H
igh school football players will be playing on the very same field as the pros they look up to and say the experience is worth the hefty price tag it comes with. Teams will be playing in the province’s biggest stadium, BC Place for semi-finals this weekend, and the championship game the following weekend. “It’s kind of surreal,” said Jake Laberge, Terry Fox Ravens quarterback
and captain. “Some kids never get to do that in their whole career, and to do it at least twice this year, it’s really cool.” Laberge transferred to Terry Fox Secondary School, in Port Coquitlam, because of its strong athletics program. They are leading the league undefeated with 10 wins. This experience is formative for students and might never happen again for many of them, said Kris Pechet, president of the British Columbia High School Football Association. “It’s a thrill for the boys, being able
to play at the same place the Whitecaps and of course the BC Lions play their games,” Pechet said. There are significant costs to playing football. Schools are expected to sell their own tickets and bring their own crowds to offset the $20,000 per day plus taxes it costs to use the stadium, as well as travel costs, although teams are expected to fund their own travel. “You want to have a centralized location for these playoff games because you want to have a centralized crowds
for one thing,” Pechet said, explaining why BC Place is the ideal location. The weather also can be dodgy this time of year. “These kids are highly skilled and often on a cold rainy muddy day you don’t get to see their skills at their very best and I think they deserve that they put so much work in,” he said. Martin McDonnell, head coach of the Ravens says the big crowds make a big difference. “It’s exciting to the kids to play in a nice facility like that,” he said. Happy about the team’s success so far, he’s focused on Saturday.
“
It’s kind of surreal... it’s really cool JAKE LABERGE TERRY FOX RAVENS CAPTAIN
Fighter readies fists, knees, elbows
RUMANA DSOUZA photo
Sweater and ticket sales were down last year as fans lost faith.
Canucks stock drops
A lack of formidable opponents in Vancouver has a Muay Thai boxer looking abroad for his next match
The team’s recent struggles on the ice have translated into a financial downturn for the organization at large By RUMANA DSOUZA
T
he value of the Vancouver Canucks has plunged seven per cent, indicating it may no longer be the sought-after brand it once was, according to a listing released this week by Forbes Magazine. Valued at $745 million, the Vancouver Canucks are now the sixth most valuable franchise in the NHL, according to Forbes’ team evaluations. Despite the Canucks being the biggest sports team in town, the Canucks’ sellout streak has ended last season, with tickets selling in the secondary market for as little as $20, Forbes said. But the Canucks still generate $107 million in revenue from their brand. Peter Tingling, associate professor at the Beedie School of Business, SFU, said brands are crucial in generating business value, and the sports business is no exception. Tingling uses professional sport, the NHL in particular, to test business theories. “The brand is important. You have to
get fans to be involved and to be loyal. You have to get them to buy the stuff that’s going to drive up your profitability. But you also have to manage your business,” Tingling said. Forbes’ data pointed to attendance correlating strongly with merchandise sales. The greater the fan base is, the more the franchise’s revenue and its worth, in turn. “The level of commitment fans have to a team is expressed in many ways. It could be expressed in the extreme with tattoos, but really, it’s expressed in terms of going to the game and buying their branded products,” Tingling said. Nick Morrison, a longtime Canucks fan, said he believes the Canucks will continue to be a strong and succesful brand despite the recent dip. “Their branding appeals to young people with money. You need to have money to go see the Canucks play,” he said. “It would be fair to say that fans are often exploited…People will always want to watch their games.”
Shawn Wicks trains hard at Iron City Gym preparing for his next fight scheduled. TESSA VIKANDER photo
By TESSA VIKANDER
S
hawn Wicks spends 14 hours a week lifting weights and doing heavy cardio because he wants to be ready to go whenever he’s offered a fight. He is a Muay Thai fighter one of the few in Vancouver involved in the martial art known for its use of fists, elbows, knees and shins. Wicks’ coach, Jason Fenton, owner of Iron City Gym, said that it’s always the same 15 or 16 men fighting, and that he would rather his students travel elsewhere, and compete against new opponents. Wicks is motivated by the possibility of an imminent fight. “If somebody says ‘hey we’ve got a fight in four weeks in Malaysia or Thai-
land,’ I wanna be able to say ‘hell yeah, definitely, let’s do it!’” Competitions consist of two people who fight for five three-minute rounds. “A lot of time we get last minute calls,” Fenton said. “So I make sure that all of my guys are in shape all of the time.” From his time as a competitive fighter, Fenton has been around the world at least six times, fighting in Europe, Asia, the U.S. and Mexico. He’s a coach who’s admired by his students and said he wants to give them the same travel opportunities that he had. “In Alberta, we will go to fight shows and they will be bringing guys in from Ontario or the States. I’d rather go [there] and [have my student] lose to someone really good, but gain experience,” he said. Wicks moved to Vancouver from Newfoundland this summer, and said that his previous coach was adamant that he train with Fenton once he arrived. “Jason’s made contacts all over the world,” said Wicks, who noted that if it weren’t for Fenton’s reputation and notoriety, he wouldn’t have the potential for as many international fighting opportunities. Travel costs are usually paid for by the promoters, said Wicks, “which is great incentive to be in shape all of the time.” It’s a sport that is steeped in tradition, and fighters are taught to respect their teachers and opponents. “Win or lose,” said Wicks “its just satisfaction. The camaraderie you ultimately feel for someone that you end up fighting is just amazing.”