March 2021 by Link Magazine

MARCH 2021 | CHANGE, POLITICS, & MORE

What has changed since COVID? | Individualism is enhanced by isolation | What changes did we see from the BLM movement? | Student spotlight featuring YWIB President Johanna Kuffner | and much more!

CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE: THE YEAR THAT BECAME

To help return ourselves to reality, we are reflecting on transformations with this month's theme, "Change." Music, art, food, weather, politics; every corner of our lives has been altered in some way. So many changes—it’s hard to keep track. No need to worry though, our March issue will be linking you to the past year, showing you what was, what has changed, and what can be. This month we seek to show you the brightness and truth in the world. In these pages, you will learn about what has changed in politics, education, business, social justice, and more. We share the thoughts of

those in our community and what the last year has meant to them. We also show how to move forward and learn from our mistakes because one gift from this immense challenge is that we can grow. Despite the fear that has consumed our collective consciousness, people have been inspired to selfimprove, to act against injustice, and to try something new. Those who have embraced their inspiration have enriched our collective experience during this time. This month, Link's writers are bringing these hopeful, introspective, and heart-warming pandemic stories to life for our readers. Despite a year of change and the growing weariness we are all experiencing, we encourage you to continue following the familiar mantra of wear a mask, social distance, follow the rules, and get vaccinated when you can. Perhaps these stories will inspire you as we continue on the path for an eventual arrival at a transformed normal. —Jonah van Driesum, Associate Editor

LINK | JANUARY 2021

A year in isolation. Wow! When the pandemic resulted in the first lockdown, we were all stunned but we didn't imagine how long we would be living with these restrictions. Over this year long-held plans were abandoned, and people lost jobs and homes. Worst of all, people lost their family and friends to COVID-19. With all this loss and isolation, many of us are feeling lonely and afraid. Living in a pandemic has started to warp our vision of reality, and researchers have proven that it’s even affecting our sense of time (Nemo 2020).

ISSN 0715-5247 (Print) ISSN 2562-3257 (Online)

We feature exceptional people in our community, big ideas in a changing world, and evolving social dialogue. We welcome writers, photographers and artists of all backgrounds and abilities. Our purpose is to provide a collaborative platform for student expression, and to connect you with one another’s stories and experiences. Printed editions are distributed to all five BCIT campuses & additional content is published online at linkbcit.ca

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WHAT DID COVID CHANGE?

Link Magazine would like to respectfully acknowledge that it is printed and distributed on the traditional & unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples.

LEARNING ON THE FRONTLINES

Cover by Elin Molenaar Design by Christy Chan

BLACK LIVES STILL MATTER

CONTRIBUTORS

Nelson Ellis, Elin Molenaar, Maria Diment, Matthew Miller, Maddie Stevenson, Katie Dalziel, Mustafa Akhtar, Solongo Orkhon

8 EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE LAST YEAR

STAFF

Chantel Tanaka, Senior Editor Jonah van Driesum, Associate Editor Christy Chan, Associate Editor Shaleeta Harrison, Publications Manager

06 08 12 16

i n t h i s i s s u e ...

REVIEWS

INDIVIDUALISM IS ENHANCED BY ISOLATION

POLITICS 411

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN 2021

THE QUESTION OF THE YEAR

JOHANNA KUFFNER

LINK | JANUARY 2021

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this:

the year that was The pandemic dominated our news feed last year, but it wasn’t the only event. While it continues to headline the daily program and touches almost all other notable events in the last year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on everything that has impacted British Columbians. Check out our year in the news with Google This: The Year That Was, where we provide perspective on some events that have had the most significant impact on BC.

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After losing the popular vote and the seat count in the 2017 election and only squeaking into office by the Green Party’s grace, John Horgan and the NDP now have a significant majority government. They have expanded the NDP’s reach to new areas in the province, which gives Horgan free reign to fund any program he wants, hire or fire anyone he wants, and set the legislative course for the next four years without negotiation.

Many people have forgotten that the first known death in Canada from COVID-19 happened in North Vancouver. Despite the early scare, people listened to the rules, and BC’s infection numbers managed to stay low until the summer, when we saw a sharp increase in the infection rate, which has now remained at that increased level. With the slow vaccine rollout and continuing limitations on movement and business openings, people are becoming impatient for change to come.

JOE BIDEN’S VICTORY

Following George Floyd’s death, a flurry of global action was sparked amongst activists to address systemic racial justice problems. Canadians have been reluctant to address our internal issues, but the Wet’suwet’en blockade protests and the Mi’kmaq protests forced Canadians to look at their racial issues. Protests took place in nearly every city and town to push for change towards policing and criminal justice. While governments have promised change, protests will likely continue to ensure that promises are kept.

In November, our neighbour to the south elected a new leader. After a rocky relationship between Canada and the US during the last four years with Donald Trump, this change promises to bring the relationship back to more familiar territory. With the new administration, travel restrictions, economic cooperation, climate change policy, and more will once again be on a friendly standing with Canada. BC was severely affected by Trump’s trade (specifically lumber) policies, as they damaged a considerable portion of our economy and raised tariffs for Canadians on everything from cheese to steel.

BC’S INTERNAL TOURISM CAMPAIGN

HOTEL HOUSING AND TENT CITIES FOR THE HOMELESS

All sectors of BC's economy took a significant hit this year, but tourism was vulnerable to damage because no one could come to the province. Instead, the province launched a multimillion dollar internal tourism campaign. This had two potentially opposing impacts. The “vacation in your province” policy was the saving grace for some restaurants, hotels, and other tourism-based businesses, but unfortunately, it also enabled the virus to travel from hot spots in the Lower Mainland to different locations like Vancouver Island. It also caused concerns about transmission to small communities like Haida Gwaii and Tofino, where there aren’t the resources to respond. Internal travel is now limited again with the rise in cases.

In a move called for by multiple mayors, BC took steps to purchase hotel rooms to house the homeless and set up temporary support facilities, including safe injection sites and medical facilities, next to these hotels. However, these steps have not solved the issues for the still-growing homeless population in BC. It is believed that BC’s mild temperatures and generous policies have made it a draw for homeless people around Canada, who often face a lack of services and colder temperatures that can prove deadly. Tent cities have popped up in every major municipality in BC, creating concern for all levels of government.

YEAR OF OVERDOSES

CANUCKS: BEST CANADIAN TEAM

Linked in part to both the pandemic and homelessness issues, BC is facing an overwhelming overdose crisis. The combination of the pandemic, long-term addiction, and mental health struggles have led to the largest number of overdose deaths last year in BC’s history. First Responders say the largest number of calls they are responding to during the day are overdose deaths. While there were promises during the provincial election, significant action has yet to be taken.

A piece of cultural pride for British Columbians came from the very respectful showing of the Vancouver Canucks during the 2020 NHL Playoffs. After defeating the previous year’s Stanley Cup champions, the St. Louis Blues, the Canucks did break our hearts as always when they lost 3 to 1 in their series against Vegas. Despite the heart break, the Canucks outperformed everyone other Canadian team in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS

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BLM MOVEMENT? WHAT CHANGES DID WE SEE FROM THE Chantel Tanaka

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement started in 2013 and since its inception it has rallied unity and allyship against anti-black racism. The movement’s humble origins as a hashtag on Facebook has gained global recognition so ubiquitous that in 2020, 4,300 cities in the world held protests chanting “Black Lives Matter,” and in Canada, every single province held a BLM protest. Its peak popularity in 2020 has some questioning whether the movement has managed to make any impact in people’s everyday lives beyond just making itself a household name.

Prior to the 2020 BLM upsurge talking about race felt like it was a taboo topic. I say it felt like it, but it wasn’t necessarily a taboo topic. It was like no one was ever willing to talk about it. It was like the first slice of bread in a loaf most people see and skirt past because they don’t want it. We all know it exists, but not a lot of people take that piece of bread and use it. You could see that issues around racism were prevalent in both the Canadian context and abroad and that an equitable solution needed to be found. However, a large chunk of people who could do something, opted not because talking about racism’s existence in our society made them uncomfortable. For a lot of people, not being racist was enough for them and it seemed as

LINK | JANUARY 2021

TALKING ABOUT THE ‘R’ WORD

though dismantling and confronting racism in institutions on an everyday level was for people of colour who were subjected to acts of racism—big and small. The BLM movement’s spotlight on institutional setups that targeted racialized groups—be it in policing or immigration—slowly shifted the responsibility of dismantling these systems off the shoulders of people of colour and beckoned everyone to share that weight. As the hashtag #BLM trended on social media platforms, more white people came to understand that not being racist was not enough, but that they needed to engage and become anti-racist. I can say with absolute certainty that the presence of actively anti-racist allies was greater in 2020, more than it had been one year prior in 2019. After the BLM protests from 2020, I feel like it’s no longer okay to even question whether racism exists in Canada. Talking about racism more openly and willingly was a step in the right direction spurred on by the movement. The frustration from micro-aggressions, discrimination, and overt racism burst out into the open from different pockets of communities of colour and for a brief moment, a lot of social media channels were filled with people’s experiences of racism. People of colour finally felt like they could talk about their experiences with racism and not have that experience invalidated or gaslit. I imagine it wasn’t easy for people who came forward with their experiences and talking about racism isn’t easy, but it feels okay now more than before.

EYE-ROLL WORTHY CORPORATE PLEDGES While 2020 was the year of COVID, the other major dominating force of that year was the shows of solidarity for black people that came from a huge number of companies. Social media was abuzz with corporate pledges flying in left, right and centre from local and international companies at the height of the movement because systemic barriers of entry

that exist for communities of colour were put on the hot seat. Since its inception last year, The Black North Initiative has had over 300 major Canadian companies pledge to commit to creating conditions that aid the success of black people in the corporate world. That initiative stipulated one of its goals of having 3.5 percent of executive and board positions in Canada held by black leaders by the year 2025. A goal like that is enviable, but the urgency that now surrounds the corporate pledges that came after the BLM movement peaked, makes one stop to think and wonder why people on these boards were tone deaf to the prior calls for inclusion on their boards before.

“Talking about racism more openly and willingly was a step in the right direction spurred on by the movement.” I want to say that when the flood gate of solidarity pledges from big and small companies came, it felt a little bit disingenuous because suddenly all these companies answered the wake-up call to realise that they had racism playing out well within their walls. The corporate reckoning has led to hours of unconscious bias training, a heightened sense of awareness when it comes to hiring and promotion practices and anti-racism seminars within organisations. The effect this has had overall is hard to determine because corporate culture differs from company to company. I would imagine that after many people of colour have come forward with their stories of frustration of working in corporate Canada, then had their frustrations met with the pledges to do better by these companies, anyone else that’s confronted with these same frustrations after the BLM movement’s peak, can now feel empowered to call out micro-aggressive and unfairly discriminatory behaviors they couldn’t point out before. It’s my hope that the many corporate pledges that came after the widespread community support for BLM yield tangible results. A sliv-

POLICING THE POLICE During the upsurge of the BLM movement, the Blue Lives Matter counter slogan surfaced too. For BLM allies, this slogan didn’t sit well with them because it invalidated the traumatic and fear induced experiences people of colour in North America have generally had with the police. The law-enforcing powers that are meant to keep our streets safe came under greater scrutiny from the public with calls to defund the police. On a practical level, nothing note-worthy has happened in Canada to slash police budgets or reduce their size, but their use of force has been called out more because of the movement.

LIGHTING THE FIRE OF GRASSROOT ACTIVISTS The BLM movement has its roots in the United States of America, but its reach expands the USA’s borders with chapters spread around different

cities. 2020’s spotlight on the BLM movement invigorated many advocates who work in grassroot organisations that support minority communities such as Hogan’s Ally Society, Black Women in Motion and Black Boys Code. Allies and activists against anti-black racism came together to provide resources, and black businesses that people could support which raised awareness of black small business owners. This rallying together by different anti-black racism organisations has translated into garnering support for other communities of colour to foster an appreciation for the multi-culturalism that exists in Canada. If we were to look at it from an age demographic lens, it’s informed many young people’s perception on social justice. The BLM movement’s steady growth beyond its existence as a hashtag is inspiring because it has put a greater spotlight on issues that were once swept under the rug in Canada. Its impact on a systemic level still needs to be realized, but for the better part, the movement has made its mark in the timeline of repairing the legacy of slavery and racism.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

er of the BLM movement will hold these companies accountable to their promises because the network of allies has grown.

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MADDIE STEVENSON MATTHEW MILLER

LEARNING ON THE

FRONTLINES Matthew Miller

Maddie Stevenson

MATTHEW MILLER, VP STUDENT EXPERIENCE So much has changed since March last year, and I won’t even attempt to describe the long list of ways this pandemic has turned the whole world on its head. Many of our society’s values, pasttimes, and social interactions have all been altered by the lockdowns and strict health measures that are meant to protect everyone—especially the most vulnerable members of our community.

Now this is certainly not what any of us had in mind when it comes to an ideal learning experience. For one thing, it makes team meetings more difficult, and depending on the instructor online learning can indeed be a nightmarish experience. But there’s always a “silver lining,” and here it is: this method of learning has quite a low exposure risk to the coronavirus that was made Metro Vancouver BC’s largest hot zone. Health science students in their clinical rotations don’t have the luxury of learning from the comfort and safety of their own homes, but it can be difficult to imagine what it’s like to be learning of the frontlines of this pandemic. Here is a perspective from a sonography student who is getting more than she bargained for from her educational experience:

LINK | JANUARY 2021

Here we are, about a year on from what was initially coined as an extended spring break from the classroom, and BCIT students have become fairly accustomed to their new morning routine. You know what I’m talking about: waking up a mere five minutes before lecture begins (video and audio turned off, obviously!) and lying-in bed listening to another online lecture over Zoom, Bongo, or whatever other platform your instructor happens to stumble upon.

MADDIE STEVENSON, SONOGRAPHY STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Medical sonography, better known as ultrasound, uses a high frequency sound beam to image soft tissue in the body. When people think of ultrasounds their first thought is of obstetrical scans with the mom and her partner being shown their baby for the first time. But I can tell you, we use ultrasound to see pretty much everything that’s not full of air or composed of bone. From the abdominal organs to the pelvis and bladder to blood vessels and more! Ultrasound is different than other modalities in medical imaging in that we’re unable to stay two meters away from our patients. We are standing right beside or up against our patients for between 30 minutes to 1 hour, and we often assist in interventional procedures that could cause bodily fluids to splash onto us. Because of this we must be especially meticulous with our PPE and cleaning procedures. I’ve found that patients' anxiety levels entering the hospital are heightened, which is when they need their support people the most. As part of working in ultrasound during the pandemic we have all come to adapt to managing the frustrations patients sometimes bring with them and share with us. It’s not all annoyed patients though, a lot of older patients view their appointments as a rare occasion to socialize. Patients of this isolated population are often eager for the opportunity to leave the house and strike up conversation with me. I was also surprised to learn that the same scan rooms used to perform obstetrical scans are also used to perform interventional procedures using ultrasound guidance.

disabilities. I’ve had a few patients who use lip reading as their primary way of communication due to hearing loss and because personal safety is always most important, we need to always keep our masks on. I found the situation was easy to adapt to by grabbing a clipboard, pen, and paper to write on as my way of communication. The pandemic has taken a significant emotional toll on all of us and anxiety entering the hospital is at an all-time high. This has caused patients to postpone seeking medical attention or ignore symptoms altogether. With our current situation of social isolation and lockdowns our role as comforting health providers has become more critical. Some patients have been feeling disconnected from their medical professionals because of phone appointments and lack of face-to-face interaction. In-person appointments are an important time for us to validate their concerns and put some of these worries at ease, but it can be stressful knowing that we might catch COVID from the people we’re helping. Overall, our job as health providers has not gotten any easier during the pandemic. If anything, we are needed to step up to provide extra care for our patients. Whether that’s printing out additional photos of baby for mom and dad to take home to show the family, or some extra words of comfort to an anxious patient, excellent patient care is crucial in a time where isolation

“Excellent patient care is crucial in a time where isolation and distancing are the new norm to

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make our patients feel heard and cared for.”

With COVID-19 procedures, not all doctors and sonographers are willing to have an extra body (students like me) in the room and mask wearing has presented challenges when it comes to communicating with patients who have certain

and distancing are the new norm to make our patients feel heard and cared for. Clinical work during a pandemic is about learning through the developing challenges a hospital setting brings. Equally, it’s about staying safe from COVID-19 and all the other communicable diseases that still pose a danger to hospital staff and students alike.

like? What is clear is the importance of having a well-trained and fully staffed workforce in our hospitals and clinics. Without a doubt, this year’s clinical students will graduate with better infection control practices than any cohort before them. In fact, we all will, and there’s a reason for optimism.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

Students like Maddie and all future health care workers are some of our generation’s unsung heroes. They may not be the people saving lives on the front line of this global heath emergency, but their commitment to their education means that they are accepting the risk of contracting COVID-19 and passing it on to their loved ones. Who knows what the next health crisis will look

OUR CHANGING

CAMPUS Jonah van Driesum

BCIT is not exceptional in its need to adapt to COVID-19. However, being away from campus and continuing the burdens of school and work have left us all a bit discombobulated. Here are just some of the challenges that we have to work around; I hope it puts some perspective on these changes.

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COST

You would think that with most classes being online that the cost for students would have gone down. Sadly, they have not. The overall cost for a full-time student at BCIT went up on average by 2 to 3 percent in line with previous annual increases.

Several students I talked to said this made them angry. They understood why they had to pay something, but the price staying the same, let alone increasing, was outrageous to them. They cited the student gym's closure and the student healthcare centre’s more limited services as two points of frustration. While their frustration with increased costs at a time they are on tighter budgets due to loss of work is reasonable, the reality is that many institutions have had to invest in new technology to operate during the pandemic while still maintaining empty facilities. While students' dismay at the institute's cost is understandable, these costs are not exactly surprising. BCIT is reliant upon tuition fees,

government support, and private donors to fulfil their budgetary demands. While government support may have increased during the pandemic, the overall revenue brought in by tuition fees and private donations has dropped substantially, all while BCIT is trying to enforce new social distancing and cleaning rules and paying thousands of teachers and support workers. It must be acknowledged that BCIT, the federal government, and the provincial government have all increased student aid and programs like CERB gave many people upwards of $10,000. This is no replacement for a job, but it is certainly one of the most significant and generous financial aid packages the federal government has ever provided.

ACTIVITIES

A normal year would see a multitude of on campus events. Throughout the year, departments would hold showcases or events to recognize their student’s achievements. There were annual hackathon’s organized under the Students’ Association as well that would bring in people from other schools. Doggy de-stress days, where dogs came to campus, happened around the exam time periods and were super popular as well. Now, everything is cancelled. While clubs and other groups around campus have sought to create virtual events, attendance has been mixed. A tremendous success can be found in the Housing Division, which has relentlessly promoted virtual activities and distanced events for those living in residence.

INVOLVEMENT, COMMUNITY WORK, AND WORK OPPORTUNITIES: One of the biggest draws of coming to BCIT's is that many programs promise a combination of work and schooling. Sadly, most of those hands-on opportunities have been limited to what we can use on campus. Journalism students still occasionally go into the studio. Civil engineering students go and measure in the open-air track and soccer field by the residences. Auto and mechanical students are still in the shop (though with masks and other physical distancing precautions). However, the main draw, co-ops and other work terms, are almost entirely online or non-existent. However, with the vaccine coming out, there is hope that more and more students will be on campus when it is safe.

STUDENT LIFE We effectively have no student life at the moment. By no exaggeration, the student bar is

LINK | JANUARY 2021

At the start of a regular year at BCIT the school would be host to a number of orientation events and maybe even a scavenger hunt to help students become familiar with the campus. For example, club day is an important event for BCIT students to explore the extracurricular offerings on campus. This year saw a modified online version of Club Day.

when we all get to take part.

“

Our community is at its strongest

the centre of student culture. People go there to laugh, listen to music, and meet people. While we may occasionally see our classmates, our student life is what we make of it. But it is much harder to have those experiences when our student bar is shut until further notice. Some folks have been making sure to get together for a beer or to play some board games, but with ever-changing isolation rules, compliance can often complicate those plans.

LIVING ON CAMPUS The part of BCIT that may have improved a bit because of COVID, at least by introverted standards, would be living in on-campus housing. The residences are now cleaned daily, and all the laundry machines are free. Instead of sharing a bathroom and a fridge between three people, the maximum number of people using the facilities can only be two. There are also more protocols in place requiring others living in the residences to clean up after themselves. The only major downside is most of the on-campus meal options are closed (the E.T.C., Pavilion, and the Rix are the only food services options still open on campus), and no guests are allowed in residential buildings.

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STUDENT SERVICES

The most important part of the student services package is Health Services. For those living on or around campus, it is merely the most convenient medical service available. For international students, it may be the only easily accessible medical service they can find. Health Services is still operating through online appointments and some in-person appointments when needed. However, their overall capacity has been reduced. This is troubling as the clinic already

had limited capacity, and it may force students to go to one of Vancouver's emergency rooms if they cannot get an easy appointment. This is likely to stay this way this well into next year if the virus continues to be a threat.

STUDENT CONNECTIVITY Some students frankly do not feel invested in their programs. The entire process feels distant. Students are left continuously waiting for marks, due dates, and clear instructions. Sometimes timetables are not even completed until the day before students start classes. With enrolment already down, the student population has decreased by a slightly larger portion than expected due to students being unhappy with the online delivery. If this pandemic sees infection rates and the vaccination rate continue at their current paces, we could be in this model for the long haul. If we want to return to the classroom, more government funding is needed. It is much harder for us to make connections outside of class because we are denied the simplest human interactions. This is a particular

These factors have contributed to many people choosing to leave their programs or put their studies on hold.

TEACHER AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Teachers have openly complained to students that they hate the current learning environment. Teachers used to be able to double-check work immediately, have more in-depth conversations with students and make connections. Now, dozens of faces are behind computer screens, some of whom do not even turn on their camera. This disconnect between teachers and students had multiple teachers say that they felt like they were being made into a bad guy, which is the last thing they want. This being a tension point is unsurprising. Teachers are students' most direct and familiar point of contact with the Institute. It is a genuinely odd sensation to want to be

back in the classroom, but if anything needed to change over the last year, perspectives would undoubtedly be high on the list. Let us hope that we can have a safe return to campus soon. That would solve many of the immediate problems. If not, we must learn from the last year and adapt. This is particularly difficult for students because we are dealing with an unprecedented international crisis at a changing time in our lives without the typical opportunities and resources that we would have had. There is irony in that we are being denied new opportunities out of necessity; at the same time, we are trying to build opportunities out of necessity. While it does mean our situation is more challenging, it also gives us greater agency. You are paying for your education, so you have a right to expected specific outcomes, but you have to take the initiative. Students and teachers need to advocate for what they need in the classroom, from each other and to the administration. By being friendly advocates for ourselves, the situation can be improved. The immediate actions you can take are voting in the student election, taking advantage of virtual office hours with teachers, and writing for Link. Also, reach out to a Club President and ask how you can get involved. Our community is at its strongest when we all get to take part.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

disadvantage for those attending BCIT straight from high school; they are going to leave BCIT with a networking disadvantage if the pandemic cancels the next academic year.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

JOHANNA KUFFNER::

Working on Equality, Changing the Conversation interview by Lauren Edwards written by Jonah van Driesum photography by Elin Molenaar

The idea of success, particularly success in the world of business, has often been focused on men. Even as women continue to break barriers, new challenges continue to arise. Johanna is a leader on campus and an outspoken advocate for women's rights and opportunities. In her education, her work, and her activism, Johanna strives to always put women first. Johanna does not shun opportunities to work with men; however, she puts women in the spotlight first and helps them climb higher in the business world whenever she can because she’s seen how prominent the gender disparity in business still exists.

Johanna grew up as a competitive dancer. When she danced, the instructors put a considerable emphasis on appearance: "They're very focused on how you look, what you could fit into, what size you were, what shape. So, I grew up with that always being in the back of my mind." It put her in a mindset later in life where she was overly focused on her image. As she matured, she found acceptance is the key, especially having an attitude where you do not punish yourself for how you think you look or being too busy to work out. She has let go of that struggle but says the doubt can still creep back in and that it’s okay so long as you can bring yourself back

Her journey has had ups and downs, marked by incredible opportunities and painful setbacks that have moulded and fed into her passion for female empowerment.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

That desire was primarily inspired by Johanna's mother and the business that she ran. Johanna says that her mother's example gave her an advantage as she started to pursue a career in the private sector because she never saw her gender as a barrier to success in the same way that other young women experience in their youth. Unfortunately, as her career has progressed, she has seen more of the ingrained sexism and male favouritism in many workplaces. "I didn't realize the weight of still how male-dominated the business industry is."

how do we now adapt, and how do we take care of ourselves?

to a healthy mindset. She adds that it took a period of self-reflection to get her there. "I have had to teach myself that physical and mental health are different, and I have to care for them in different ways." Johanna did not come straight to BCIT from high school. Initially, on a nursing career path, she went into the entrepreneurship program following a trip to Africa and eventually specialized in marketing. "I felt like every day was essentially the same. I just didn't feel like it would be fulfilling for the rest of my life." She worked odd jobs until landing a small company position as a receptionist and eventually became the office manager. "I had no experience, but I decided to try. I just realized that was my passion." Johanna said those experiences led to her joining the entrepreneurship program and pursuing her dream of eventually owning her own business.

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When Johanna decided to go back to school, she wanted to make sure she gave it her all, no matter what she did. When she heard about Young Women in Business (YWiB), she knew she wanted to be involved as it combined her passion for women's empowerment and advanced her leadership skills outside her comfort zone. Johanna applied and was chosen as the first year representative, using the position to prepare and run for the organization's presidency. Johanna said that she was prouder of the work she did in YWiB than any other job she had done in her life because of the support and opportunities that it has created for other young women. By taking on this leadership position in our community, Johanna said it allowed her to be more than just her courses, showing what she was capable beyond just what she learned.

While Johanna was excited about the opportunities opening for her and other women through YWiB, she made it clear that our societal gender

“

Life right now can be a lot, but... this is where we are, and it's not up to us, so

Despite the pandemic, Johanna has made sure she has found time for herself, her friends, and her loved ones. "School can be a lot, COVID can be a lot, life right now can be a lot, and I think sometimes we can, at least I do, focus on the restrictions a lot, and life has changed so much, and it sucks. But I think it is also like taking a step back and being this is where we are, and it's not up to us, so how do we now adapt, and how do we take care of ourselves?"

It is hard for young men to appreciate the depth of their advantage in achieving business success. For women, it is often a windier road with more obstacles. In the aftermath of our year of change, through the rebirth and rebuilding of our economy, there is an opportunity to make way for more women in business, not merely because it is right, but because they have earned it. With young leaders like Johanna and the Young Women in Business Society, BCIT's student body continues to work against past inequities in business and offers our communities exceptionally qualified business leaders. BCIT is a place where people come to advance their skills and destroy obstacles in their life. While the education and accreditation students receive can be helpful, the connections and opportunities they create are often an essential element of our student life.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

norms often push woman out of contention for better pay and promotions. "There's this idea that if a couple has kids that the woman stays home and the guy goes to work, and that is changing, but there's still an expectation that women stay home, and I just can't wrap my brain around it." She saw progress in men choosing to stay home, allowing it to become closer to an equal situation. "If a man and a woman are competing for a position and the man is truly more qualified, totally fine by me if they hire the man."

THE

QUESTION OF THE YEAR Nelson Ellis

2020

was like nothing we’d ever seen. What was meant to be a fresh start in a new year and decade was quickly derailed by a pandemic, an immense sense of civil unrest, a tanking economy, never-ending lockdowns, and a general sense of uncertainty. In a year so dramatic, so unpredictable, and really just so draining, we have cause to reflect and ask the question, “How has the last year changed me?” Answers to this question varied from person to person: My dad, a 63-year-old carpenter who’s worked hard to build his business, told me, “It taught me the importance of spending time with my family when I can.” My mom, who’s worked hard to help build my dad’s business, says, “I became much more appreciative of my alone time.”

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My buddy Kobe, a 23-year-old who works as a plumber’s assistant chimed in with “My girlfriend and I became stronger as a couple.”

Everyone I’ve spoken to at one point added, “It made me realize how quickly things can change.” One thing that ties all these answers together is that the past year has taught us to reevaluate what is essential in our lives. In a time where things can change so quickly and suddenly, we’ve had to adapt and figure out what is necessary for us to live a happy and healthy life. For some, this means being in more regular contact with friends and family, working out more, taking time to enjoy solo activities, strengthening romantic relationships, or developing new hobbies. My dad has had to reevaluate what to do with his downtime. He’s always been used to being busy, and with a slow period of work it’s forced him to spend his time on other things: cleaning his workshop, working out, taking care of his health, doing renovations on the house, and spending more time helping me learn new skills like driving. It’s been a great time for us to reconnect and spend more time as father and son. My mom has been a relatively solitary person and being forced to spend more time at home has solidified that. With all of us spending more and more time in the house, there have been

“It made me realize

how quickly things can change.”

I spent some time catching up with Kobe last week, who told me about how he and his girlfriend have had to adapt. They only just moved in together recently, so all the time in each other’s space was a lot to adjust to. Kobe told me that although things can get rocky, by working together they have become stronger as a couple. The common sentiment that everyone has echoed is that we’ve all had to realize how fast things can change. One day things seem normal, and the next—BOOM—not allowed to leave the house, see friends, travel. This (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime event has shown many that anything can happen at any time, and things might not always get back to normal right away. I remember speaking to a friend of mine, Logan, about how this year had impacted us. We both realized that before these health orders banned us from seeing friends, neither of us did much socializing anyway. Both of us are reasonably solitary people who could go months without seeing another human being. Part of the reason

for this was we both knew that we would be able to see them whenever we wanted, but with that now being essentially outlawed, it’s made us both realize that we need social interaction more than we thought. Sure, a laggy Zoom chat over a few beers is friendly, but it is nothing like catching up in person. This is just one of the many examples of the “You don’t know what you have till it’s gone”-effect that COVID-19 and 2020 has had on people. As we advance through 2021, I think everyone feels a sense of anxiety and optimism. The “two weeks” we had to flatten the curve have felt like the longest weeks of my life. When I asked my friends and family about what they want to change going forward, the answer was different for each person. “I just want us to treat people with more compassion,” my dad said, frustrated at all the bickering he has seen on the news. “I just want to get back to normal, keep living my life,” my mom, who wants us all to get out of the house more, added. “Get back to living life, finish school, get a job, move on,” Kobe, who’s finishing up a few classes at BCIT, told me. “2020 has tested us, 2021 will push us, but we will find new ways to adapt. One thing is for sure—everyone can’t wait for this to be just a bad memory.”

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moments where we’ve gotten a bit too close to each other. It’s taught all of us, especially my mom, just how important alone time is.

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JUSTICE Katie Dalziel

"What a year," said every commentator everywhere. Not only did the scourge of COVID-19 spread across the globe, but we also saw social movements calling for change take root. At times, social justice movements have been mocked as 'social justice warriors,' scorned as if they are out to steal, or, perhaps most devastatingly, ignored. However, 2020 brought groups together rising up to say this is unacceptable; we can bear no more. That collective No is powerful and thrilling. Martin Luther King Jr. captured the hope and challenge of these movements today in his words: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." King's life and death testify that the arc does not bend towards justice on its own. 2020 does not represent the start of the Black Lives Matter movement. but it does represent a critical inflection where black and white Americans, as well as people all over the world, took to the streets to protest state-sanctioned violence against black bodies. Three black people who were killed by police or white nationalists sparked these protests: Breonna Taylor while sleeping in her bed, Ahmed Arbery while out for a jog, and George Floyd pleading for his life while a crowd watched a police officer kneeling on him until he died. The movement, which was founded in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, demands an end to white supremacy and actively protests and calls

out injustice. However, its aims are not only remedial; its bold creative aims include "creating space for Black imagination and innovation and centring Black joy."1 That strong imagination for what the world could look like if we pulled together and saw each other as a part of the whole rather than an enemy or competitor is a hallmark of movements reaching towards justice. It is on display right here in BC with the Wetʼsuwetʼen protests against the gas pipelines through their traditional territory. The “Land Defenders,” as they branded themselves, sought to prevent further environmental destruction and sought to protect the sovereignty of the hereditary Wet’suwet’en Chiefs. It is a protest that asks Canadians to recognize the Wetʼsuwetʼen as guardians of the water and wildlife on their territories. It asks Canadians to imagine that a different relationship with the First peoples of these lands is possible. Halfway around the world, another day, another struggle, January 1, 2020, found massive protests in Taiwan as part of an ongoing pushback against increased control by the Mainland Chinese government. Ongoing protests include Pro-Democracy forces protesting peacefully in enormous numbers as well as others pipe bombing police stations and throwing bricks at police officers. Demonstrations are planned on encrypted messaging apps. Police have worked

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FOR

R E A C H I N G

to infiltrate and surveil pro-democracy groups, and repeatedly respond with tear gas and water cannons, jailing protestors and imposing curfews and restrictions on the right to assemble. As 2020 turns to 2021 and the world waits on some return to normalcy, Taiwanese protestors continue to organize and demonstrate. Another group organizing and demonstrating is in India, where tens of thousands of farmers protested the government's plans to change the way agriculture is regulated. Prime Minister Modi enacted new legislation removing some of the guaranteed fixed pricing for agricultural commodities to prompt more significant corporate investment and innovation. Farmers have been walloped by COVID-19 and the ensuing economic disaster and fear that they will not be able to survive without guaranteed fixed prices. The farmers asked their country to imagine a world where their voices are centred in their country's economic policy. We see the arc bend towards justice when Black Lives Matter advocacy prompts the Biden administration to phase out federal private prisons and the pressure mounts worldwide to 'defund the police' and reimagine community safety. When Wetʼsuwetʼen people exercise sovereignty in their traditional territory and when that exercise challenges the very definitions of Canadian economic and national interests. Taiwanese protestors continue to organize and advocate for fair elections and political independence, despite the threat and reality of state-sanctioned violence. When the massive protests in India spark demonstrations across the world, demanding the farmer's right to both peacefully protest and be included in regulatory decisions that impact their livelihood. However, none of this momentum towards a more just world is assured. Ignorance and complacency, twin perils of our age, pull us away from justice. Social justice is the collective force that, when we join together to learn, advocate, and act, propels our universe a little closer to justice for everyone.

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https://blacklivesmatter.com/about/

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POLITICS Mustafa Akhtar

411

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If 2020 was a television drama, it would be the envy of all political shows made to date. We finally saw an end to Trump’s America, a new government in BC, and of course, the politicization of a global pandemic that changed lives.

The political winds swirled. They shifted enough to welcome Biden into the White House. Although Trump did not concede to Biden until the eleventh hour, this win marked a huge victory against Trump’s power which was tainted by a growing racial divide, worsening international relations with Canada, and an erratic presidency overall. In this election, we saw three states flip to Democrats, including a huge win for Democrats in Georgia, which was later unsuccessfully contested by Trump and the Republicans. All hell broke loose when Trump supporters stormed and invaded the Capitol to protest

Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. Members of Congress desperately took shelter in the complex, while one woman was shot dead during the riot. Shortly after, Trump was banned from all forms of social media including his favourite, Twitter, where he incited and encouraged the protests. With Biden now in office, the tables have turned, and Trump is at the centre of a second impeachment trial with the focus on the Capitol breach. There has been a major political pivot in the last year: Trump is no longer on the political offence, but instead on the defence. In contrast, within the first 100 days of presidency, Biden has signed numerous executive orders to provide better healthcare for Americans, reversed bigoted decisions by Trump who had restricted travel from certain countries, brought new policy focus, energy, and measures to get a hold on the COVID-19 pandemic, and has had an unparalleled focus on environmentalism. The world came to a halt as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) prevailed and was declared by the World Health Organization as a pandemic. To date, the virus has claimed over two million lives across the world. To curtail the spread of the virus, governments imposed strict lockdowns and measures, such as travel bans, that impacted the lives and livelihoods of people like never before. Toilet paper and other household staples became treasured commodities in supermarkets as people scrambled to settle into a new normal. Researchers and scientists

“Now, the race is on between countries to achieve herd immunity for their populations” rushed to find cures and vaccines to curb the spread of the virus. After a full year, Canada approved the use of multiple vaccines that provide some immunity against COVID-19. However, the lackluster vaccine rollout has not matched even the plans laid out by the government, and Canadians are frustrated as other countries boast timelier inoculation efforts. This has resulted in trickling approval ratings for Prime

While there was a lot lost in the past year, there were some things gained as well. Some Canadians reported increased savings working from home, others took advantage of emergency benefits introduced by the government, and the BC politicians gained a majority government after calling a snap election. Many referred to the election as a mere referendum on the government’s performance on their response to the COVID-19 vaccine. With the BC government’s

proactive response to the pandemic, winning the election was a walk in the park for John Horgan and the New Democratic Party. A new government is in place on the heels of the pandemic, but the question remains whether or not the NDP can steer us out of the woods and help make a full social and economic recovery. In an election with a historically low turnout, will the confidence in government taper off as the shiny COVID-19 recovery benefits become unavailable? In the past year, healthcare has become the top priority for people, politicians, and governments alike. It was a year clouded with uncertainty and continues to be. When and how will the pandemic end? Will the world ever be the same? Unfortunately, only time will tell.

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Minister Justin Trudeau. Now, the race is on between countries to achieve herd immunity for their populations in order to recover from the social, economic, and most importantly, the detrimental health effects of the pandemic. Experts claim that we are still a couple years away from getting back to pre-pandemic norms and activities.

Chantel Tanaka

Charles Dickens said it best in A Tale of Two Cities when he said, “it was the best of times and it was the worst of times.” His sentiment encompasses the duality within strife and mirrors the impact COVID-19 has had on all of us. For many of us looking back at the last year we’ve spent in lockdown we cannot ignore the personal transformation (big and small) that’s come with staying within our bubble. Something that stands most prominently is how our individualism has stood out while we kept to ourselves.

FA S H I O N In the early days of the pandemic, one unpopular opinion that picked up some buzz was the importance of dressing up like you normally would pre-pandemic while you worked and schooled from home. Morning routines were stressed upon very seriously in those initial days to feign a sense of normalcy for our brains. I bought into it. Whether it was a day where I had online lessons to attend all day or the just one quick 5-minute team meeting, it felt imperative to dress as if I was going to spend my day interacting with people who I wanted to have a good visual impression on.

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With that said, the routine of it all felt like a fun challenge and when I did it, I would feel a great sense of accomplishment. However, the longer this lockdown has progressed and my contact with people outside my household bubble all but disappeared, getting comfortable spending my day in pajamas or that old baggy and comfy t-shirt cemented itself as a reality. The upscaled version of it would be dressing all business like on top and keeping it very casual on the bottom. It didn’t matter who you were or what you were doing, having your clothes reflect your profession or the activities you normally got up to went out the window the longer we spent our days indoors. Our dressed-down lifestyles have put comfort over socially acceptable styles of dressing on the forefront and comfort for each person looks vastly different. The strangeness of the pandemic has made it possible for people to throw conventional styles of dressing out the window, and express themselves with a comfort-first mentality everywhere.

HOBBIES The more time we spent alone, away from each other, layers to people’s characters began to show more, especially through the hobbies they picked up. People who love the outdoors threw themselves more into that with some first-timers picking up hiking, biking, rollerblading, roller-skating, and skateboarding in the summer months more frequently. Anything with a wheel on it that could move from point A to point B seemed to be out particularly in the summer of 2020.

MEDIA Remember those water cooler conversations we used to have about the latest shows we were binge-watching or the new podcast you were obsessed with? Those conversations were heavily reliant on us watching the same shows or getting roped into watching the same shows as people you spent much of your day with. When we went into lockdown, our overlapping similar tastes in media were completely ripped away from us. In their place, a comfort and curiosity to try out new shows and documentaries more than before took over. Whether it was documentaries like Tiger King, or Indian Match Making, or the fictional worlds of Ozark and the Umbrella Academy, our hope for a good distraction pushed us to try out shows beyond the regular dose of sitcoms. I’m not a regular sci-fi fan, but over the course of this pandemic, I found myself binge-watching shows like The Feed on Amazon Prime that took me to the furthest place away from a reality of not seeing anyone in person and not having social gatherings to eat and drink at, while making a pointless conversation. The small talk we did have about the shows we were watching went from “yeah, I love watching that show too!” and shifted into “No, I haven’t seen that show, but maybe I’ll check it out.” It felt as though there was a silent unwritten rule that since we were all not interacting with each other as often as we used to, there was no need to put in much effort to be all caught up in the latest shows so that you could relate to people.

I feel weird saying that COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise that allowed many to venture beyond the conventional more frequently and willingly. Yet I want to circle back to Dickens’ words that show the co-existence of duality, and says that the upheaving chaos that came with the pandemic pushed us to search for our individual pockets of happiness. Our individualistic pursuits became a way for all of us to self-sooth and cope with the curveball we were all thrown.

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The range of hobbies that people have picked up over the pandemic is large with more common hobbies like learning to bake or cook, dancing, and puzzling, to the unique like sausage making, astronomy and soap carving. At some point during the pandemic when making sourdough bread was a trend, you would think that people were trying to outbake the pandemic and the dreariness it brought. I admit with a slight sense of shame that I was one of those people that joined the baking frenzy trying out cake mixes and cookie recipes I hadn’t tried before. On the days I would go into the supermarket to find one bag of flour left on the shelf (this happened more than once), it felt like heaven had shined its favour on me for just that one bag of flour. Social media allowed us to have a peek into people’s wide interests, making it entertaining and pretty insightful to see how each of our individual interests bubbled to the surface in all the COVID-19 noise.

BRAVING THE WILDERNESS: THE QUEST FOR TRUE BELONGING AND THE COURAGE TO STAND ALONE A Review by Solongo Orkhon

BE YOU. BE SEEN. BELONG.

re you truly belonging or are you just fitting in? And what does it really mean to truly belong?

As Brene Brown explains in Braving the Wilderness, humans have broken the link that makes us inextricably connected to one another. Throughout the book, she shows us how and why we have broken it, and then how we can fix this.

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You can never truly belong to anyone or anywhere unless you belong to yourself first. How do we belong to ourselves first? We can start by being honest to ourselves and by standing up for our decisions and beliefs despite our fear of criticism or rejection, even if it means occasionally standing alone. As the book quotes, “keep learning and growing, but commit to not moving from who you are.” In that process, you are in the wilderness, the unknown, a place where you find yourself fighting for who you really are. It is uncomfortable but relieving, and it is where all the magic happens.

In contrast, if you don’t bring your raw, authentic self to the world, you will never truly belong. For Brown, she felt like she had never belonged in her family growing up, and she explains that not belonging in our families is “one of the most dangerous hurts” because it has “the power to break our heart, spirit, and our sense of self-worth.” But you will always belong anywhere you show up as yourself and talk about yourself and your work in a real way. We

go on with our lives trying to fit in with our families, communities, work, and friends because we are all wired for connection. We crave to be in a community because we need to feel that we belong somewhere. Otherwise, it would be a lonely world if we didn’t belong anywhere. You are only free when you realize you belong no place—you belong every place—no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great. –Maya Angelou When we can truly belong somewhere or to someone, that’s when we can start feeling that inextricable connection. This book has allowed me to see where I am at, what my beliefs are, and to accept who I am. I will always be me; people will just have to accept it. If not, those people were never meant to be my people, and that’s okay. The journey will be tough, but I believe it will all be worth it. We must be willing to choose courage over comfort. If you have difficulty accepting who you are and struggle with vulnerability and shame, this book is for you. To all the students who are going into the workforce, I would advise to work in a place where your belief aligns with them, and most importantly, allows you to be who you are. Never try to be somebody you are not just to fit in. Allowing yourself to bring your raw, authentic self will inspire and encourage those around you to do the same.

BIG MAGIC:

CREATIVE LIVING BEYOND FEAR

A Review by Solongo Orkhon

“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner—continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you—is a fine art, in and of itself.” t is so easy to love this book. It connects all the dots of my inner world, and I adore how the law of attraction and manifestation never leaves me in doubt. I have no doubt that Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, wrote this book for herself, and hence why the joys and challenges she faces feel all so relatable to many of us. If you’re currently involved in creative work, or your life is currently 100 percent consumption and 0 percent creation, this book is for you. The book is divided into six chapters, and I believe the most crucial chapter was “Permission.” Even great artists like Gilbert, who has had big success in her work, has struggled working on the next project due to the fear of not being able to top the previous one. And for those people who believe that some are just born with creative genes and those are the ones who should create the art, you are wrong. Here’s why: I have a friend, an aspiring musician, whose sister said quite reasonably to her one day, “What happens if you pursue your passion forever, but success never comes? How will you feel then, having wasted your entire life for nothing?” My friend, with equal reason, replied, “If you can’t see what I’m already getting out of this, then I’ll never be able to explain it to you.” When it’s for love, you will always do it anyhow. As Gilbert said: “Your soul has been waiting for you to wake up to your own existence for years. Do whatever brings you to life. Follow your own fascinations, obses-

sions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.” And just to be clear, whatever you create doesn’t have to be important, it doesn’t have to save the world, and it doesn’t have to be a success. The biggest takeaway for me is to never let the responsibility of having to pay for my life burden my creativity. I’ve fallen into the trap of believing that you’re not a legitimate creator unless you can live exclusively off your creativity. The truth is we are all creators. If you can live off your inspiration forever, that’s great, but I never want to stop creating due to financial demands. Gilbert kept her 9-5 job even after she published three books, just to be able to create without pressure. So, write that book, produce that music, direct that movie, start that business; whatever it is, start creating it. Start somewhere, preferably now. The earth has lived a few billion years and we are just a mere part of its history. Our life here is short, beautiful, and magical, and I want to create more things while I’m still here. I know it’s hard to begin, knowing that creative work has already been made. But I realize now that everyone sparks in their own way and that the work wants to be done by you, your version. Fear will always be triggered by creativity because creativity asks you to enter into the realms of uncertain outcome, and fear hates uncertain outcome. But what’s scarier is not being able to experience a creative living. That’s why I’ve committed myself to bringing forth all the hidden jewels inside me, and to start creating my big, juicy life.

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