October, 2020 by Link Magazine

OCTOBER 2020 | THE TANGLE OF MENTAL WELLNESS

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Shweta Jadhav

Self-Care

has to come first Taking care of your mental health as a student might seem a little like wishful thinking. The hard reality I have come to confront is that the eyesore of spending long hours looking at a computer screen exaggerates how lonely I feel. I’m away from everyone in my program, studying at home, and that loneliness is something that could weigh on anyone’s mental health. There have been times where getting assignments done and handing in projects seemed much more valuable than taking care of my mental health. Guilty as charged. However, a little secret that I have come to learn is that a good state of mental health is likely to yield better academic performance. We decided to dedicate our October issue to mental wellness, because we want you to start prioritizing yourselves now. There aren’t as many people in your bubble to support you as usual, so our October issue focuses on how you can be a better pillar of support to yourself. Understanding your own mental health is a trail you get to experience as you grow more self-aware. In the height of a busy school schedule, checking in with yourself may seem impossible. But, making that extra effort to know where your mental health stands is so crucial for your academic success. In this issue you will see topics that touch on dealing with the pressure to be an overachiever in post-secondary, hearing perspectives on mental health from an eclectic range of student voices, and many other tid-bits on self-care. I’d be naïve and a little deceptive if I said online learning hasn’t affected my well-being, but acknowledging that you

are not okay is the first step in the right direction. Reaching out for help is the next best step you can take for yourself. Quite honestly, school is not the only stressor that can take a toll on a student’s mental health. There is an array of stimuli in our environment, ranging from the effects of COVID-19 that have forged a new normal to politics and news, and having to deal with the uncertainty of almost everything. One could say anxiety triggers are quite literally everywhere. Everyone can feel the effects of COVID-19 and remembering that you are not alone is especially important. If and when you feel your mental health is in a good place, consider reaching out to your colleagues and friends to see if they are okay too. It could mean a lot to them. I’m not sure about you, but I know I miss my classmates. Saying it out loud kind of helps to cope while we are apart. A quick check-in text from time to time has been the subtle reminder of the support I can find in them. It’s hard to understand how someone is from a tiny computer screen window, but I encourage you not to let that minor deterrent stop you from expressing your compassion. That extra courtesy of genuinely asking how someone’s doing is an unprovoked gesture that could mean so much to someone. At the end of your program, the people you meet here are the colleagues you go out into the professional world with. Checking in on each other now lays a fantastic foundation for supporting each other once life away from BCIT takes off. The year 2020 has put my mental health in an unending washing machine cycle. It hasn’t been the easiest of years, and I’ve found myself asking when this nightmare would stop. So far, the most useful tactic is just knowing when to tune out the noise, recharge, and recalibrate. No matter how you’ve been handling this year, may you remember that you aren’t alone. Take care of yourself first and persevere. You matter. Chantel Tanaka, Associate Editor

LINK | October 2020

Many of us are not used to online school. When I started the year, I didn’t bargain for incessant Zoom calls and physical distancing. This just happens to be the new reality we all have to deal with. Typically, at this point in the school year, you would have made and hung out with some new friends. These new friends often provided some much-needed support and comic relief to the otherwise arduous process of going to BCIT. However, we are all apart, and it’s more vital than ever to look after and support your mental health.

IN THIS ISSUE 06 08 10 12 REVIEWS

GOOGLE THIS

WHY DO I MISS BCIT?

THE SELF-ESTEEM MELTING POT

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We feature exceptional people in our community, big ideas in a changing world, and evolving social dialogue.

Have an idea? Contact us! editor@linkbcit.ca | linkbcit.ca

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 anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stories and experiences. Printed editions are distributed to all five BCIT campuses & additional content is published online at linkbcit.ca

CLUBS FOR COMMUNITY

A CLUB'S PERSPECTIVE

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: BEN GEBAUER

ELIN MOLENAAR, PHOTO FEATURE

FABOOLOUS PARTY IDEAS

ZOMBIE HEAD MEATLOAF

THE MIND & THE THEATER

STAFF

CONTRIBUTORS

Lauren Edwards, Senior Editor Chantel Tanaka, Associate Editor Jonah van Driesum, Associate Editor Shaleeta Harrison, Publications Manager

Karlynn Griffin, Maria Diment, Andre Nowak, Nelson Ellis, Matthew Miller, Emily Benson, Macus Ong, Shweta Jadhav

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

LINK | October 2020

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THE AUDACITY TO BE QUEEN:

THE UNAPOLOGETIC ART OF DREAMING BIG AND MANIFESTING YOUR MOST FABULOUS LIFE

Gina DeVee 2020, Hachette Books

The Audacity to Be Queen is a self-help book for women struggling to find their inner “Queen” in a masculine-run society. It’s a guide for women wanting to achieve anything and everything they want but who don’t know how (or that it’s not impossible). DeVee shares her own story-from starting as a small-town psychotherapist to becoming a life coach, hosting life-changing, inspiring seminars and helping other women achieve success. By DeVee’s definition, success is anything you want your most fabulous life to look like. It may be entrepreneurial like her own story or anything else to do with relationships, careers or personal ambitions. This book reintroduces readers to femininity and masculinity, except with the yin and yang concept in mind. With this philosophy, what distinguishes the two energies is not gender or clothing as society often thinks. Instead it argues, masculinity is strict and linear while femininity is flexible and more flowing as energies, without ties to gender. DeeVe suggests that our masculine-oriented world knows only one word: “or.” She enables women to choose the “and” instead; education and start-up as opposed to education or start-up. She discusses manifestation archetypes that most women struggle with and how to achieve the Queen archetype. Having read this book as a woman, I recommend it to anyone I can. It’s changed my life completely and has given me confidence to pursue my dreams without doubt. Though my journey has just begun, in many ways I can see my life goals and dreams beginning to materialize. Coming from a place of self-loathing, insecurity, and confusion, I’ve healed my relationship with myself, gained confidence, and found a career path I want to pursue. This is just the beginning. Not only for me, but it could be for you too.

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—Maria Diment

THE WITCHER

Andrzej Sapkowski 1992-2017

Perhaps the news of today has provided you with your fill of info on political corruption and racial inequality. If not and you enjoy an excellent fantasy read, you might want to check out the book series The Witcher, created by Andrzej Sapkowski. The storyline follows the exploits of Geralt of Rivia, an infamous monster hunter, as he travels through a high-fantasy world and attempts to defy destiny. The initial books in the series, The Last Wish and The Sword of Destiny, are a collection of short stories, while the next five novels, Blood of Elves to Lady of the Lake, follow a more extended narrative. Despite twenty-seven years since initial publication and its setting in a medieval high-fantasy world, The Witcher series is a surprisingly timely one, dealing with such issues as political corruption, racism, spirituality, sexuality, and one’s sense of identity and self-worth. The books contain moments that every high-fantasy fan can enjoy, from a prince attempting to seduce a mermaid to a fierce battle to end a vampire’s curse. Sapkowski’s writing draws inspiration from Eastern European folklore, upending traditional fantasy tropes with a dark sense of humour and an eye for intrigue. While often compared to the Song of Ice and Fire books, casual readers turned off by the often-confusing story structure in that series will find The Witcher series an easier read. Its stories are straightforward while also achieving a more profound moral complexity. The entire collection is a relatively cheap buy on Amazon or any digital reading store. I highly recommended it to any fan of the fantasy genre, looking to fill their downtime with a good read. I would also recommend the video games and the Netflix series, but I encourage you to read the books first. —Jonah van Driesum

LA HAINE

Mathieu Kassovitz 1995

Set in the notoriously violent suburbs of Paris, Mathieu Kassovitz’s La Haine is a modern reflection on the discrimination and injustice faced by those living within the chaos. The film immerses you in turmoil by following a day in the lives of three friends: Vinz, Saïd and Hubert. You watch as they wander aimlessly around the projects, encountering strange anecdotes along the way. When their mutual friend Abdel is attacked during the previous night’s riots, they are left wrought with worry over his condition. His hospitalization triggers them to think, “what they can do” about it and this becomes the crux of the film.

Through vivid cinematography and immersive dialogue, you begin to feel a connection to these characters. You gain sympathy for their daily struggles and hope they will see better days. Culminating in a stunning finale, this film is a must-watch for those who want to see how history can replicate itself in the present. —Andre Nowak

LINK | October 2020

Vinz plays the aggressor, Saïd the neutral, and Hubert the visionary. All three approach the answer to the question differently. Vinz wants to retaliate against the police. Saïd accepts his reality of living in the chaos of over-policing. Hubert on the other hand, desires an escape from the projects and the ability to live in a crime-free world.

google this Mainstream media has limited time and printing space. While they always cover the big stories, they often neglect the little guys. This section of the magazine spotlights stories that do not get the coverage they deserve, whether they are small stories in Vancouver or significant ones in distant parts of the country. Much like the spotlight of a stage performance, these articles are short and sweet, and range from the overlooked to the unique. We encourage all students to further investigate the stories that speak to them. Our hope is that by exploring these "smaller" stories together, the collective mind of our community grows greater.

Garden Suites: Affordable Alternative or Cash Grab? Recent provincial and municipal changes in the rules governing secondary suites and garden suites are providing more rental options. Will these options provide spaces for Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing insecure (including students) or is this just another opportunity for landlords to maximize the cash flow from their properties? (CBC News 2020) (Sightline Institute 2020)

Cannabis Comes to Burnaby In June, the Burnaby City Council approved zoning law changes which permit British Columbia Government Cannabis stores. This could mean some new jobs for both renovations and sales staff on top of easier access to smokable and edible products for the community. (City of Burnaby 2020)

Burnaby Rent Bank Keeps the Heat On! The Burnaby Rent Bank initiative, which has helped low-income residents meet their housing needs during the pandemic, was extended from its original deadline to October 31. But, with no further extension promised, low-income residents, including students, could be facing a chilly November. (City of Burnaby 2020)

Policing Careers in Limbo The pandemic has shut down or reduced police training programs across Canada leading to a suspension or pause in hiring for recruits. What can these would-be officers do with their dreams on hold? With departments needing to replace outgoing officers new training processes may have to be created.

Prairie City Showdown

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Jeromy Farkas, the youngest and the first openly bisexual Calgary City Councillor, noted for his fiscal conservatism and his confrontations with other city council members, is running for Mayor of Calgary. Incumbent Mayor Naheed Nenshi barely survived a challenge four years ago but will likely run again as Farkas has emerged as the primary foe to Nenshi's policies. This race is critical as it affects dozens of federal ridings and the fourth largest city in the country.

Hotels for the Homeless The BC government has purchased hotels to house people experiencing homelessness. Fiscal restraints related to the crisis may mean the supports for this hotel housing cannot be maintained. If temporary housing shuts without alternatives, the situation in Vancouver and Victoria has the potential to be explosive. (Little 2020) (Fletcher 2020)

No Dancing Tonight With the recent shutdown of BC nightclubs and with the end of the CERB support program coming quickly the service industry and the young people it employs including students will be facing a job crunch. The end of support programs for rent, pay, and healthcare threatens to create a massive spike in youth unemployment and impact this generation for decades. (Little and Hua, Kicked when we’re down’: New COVID-19 restrictions hit already struggling BC restaurants 2020)

A Revival for Guitar The guitar player was beginning to be seen as a dying breed. However, in recent months many music stores and online shops are reporting an upswing in guitar sales as people try to fill their quarantine time. It seems that the COVID Blues have people strumming along. (Williams 2020)

Surrey Poaching Cops from other Municipalities The planned Surrey Police Force has been looking to lure trained police officers to its ranks through the promise of better pay and benefits and the possibility of working closer to home. The question becomes: will improved policing in Surrey come at the cost of good policing in the rest of Metro Vancouver? (Campbell 2020)

Ballot Measure in Alaska A ballot measure in Alaska may change how the resource-dependent state regulates and taxes oil and natural gas development and shipment. The ballot measure would require a higher tax on production emissions. If this measure passes, the West Coast of Canada could see a drop in tanker traffic, a welcome side effect to many an environmentalist in BC. (DeMarban 2020)

COVID Blues & School Energy Unsurprisingly, new and continuing reporting shows that the long-term lockdown has adverse effects on most people's mental health. A return to school is not necessarily the perfect medicine for this condition though. While children may benefit from the mental engagement and connections their mental health and academic performance could be negatively impacted by worry and stress in feeling vulnerable. (Carpenter 2020)

Justin Trudeau is very popular right now. Considering he won re-election at his lowest level of support only a year ago, one can understand the temptation to call an election while he is back near his peak support level. Calling an election during the current crisis could backfire though and create an opportunity for the currently unpopular Conservative Party and its new leader, Erin O’Toole, to pull off an upset.

LINK | October 2020

No Confidence, or No Election?

why do I miss BCIT? Nelson Ellis

Here’s something I never thought I’d say: “I miss BCIT.” I miss waking up at 6:30 for an hour and a half commute. I miss standing in line to pay for my morning coffee and donut (a routine that caused me to gain ten pounds), I miss cramming last minute in the library. Most of all, I miss the people.

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Even though the bulk of my interaction with a lot of my classmates was sitting in a lecture hall or a classroom totally silent and listening to our instructors give us a lecture over PowerPoint, I miss that sense of community. The feeling that we are all here, experiencing this thing together. Even if the “thing” was incredibly dull.

When I spoke to my classmates (well, it was a Facebook post), I found that most, if not all, of them, felt the same in one way or another: “I miss singing with my classmates.” “I miss going to the pub after class.” “I miss when my friend would surprise me with coffee.” It’s the little things that help us stay sane. With everything online, it’s a lot harder to meet with friends to blow off steam. Even just grabbing a coffee with a classmate and chatting about something unrelated to BCIT always seemed to help keep me grounded. Facebook

Online learning means the line between home time and class time has become blurred. For many people leaving the BCIT campus meant that your day was done. You could go home, recharge, and unwind a bit before getting back to “the grind.” Sure, you’d do homework and study, but for the most part, being at home could feel like a break from academic life. With school being online, things feel a little different. My kitchen was once a spot reserved mainly for eating, cooking, sharing meals with friends and family. Now my table has become

overrun with notebooks, pens, and all sorts of wires and chargers to keep my laptop running. My room was once solely used for rest, reading, and listening to music. It now doubles as a quiet place to listen to lectures, record presentations, and send school emails. The only place in my house BCIT hasn’t touched? My bathroom. Some things are too sacred. This has made me realize how important it is to look after my mental wellbeing. It’s hard to feel “normal” in this so-called “new normal,” but like I said before, “It’s the little things.” Take an hour of your day to go for a walk, read a book, watch a show you like, or call a friend and chat about something other than school. Trust that we can get through this. I’ll see you on campus when we do.

LINK | October 2020

and social media used to make a tiny percentage of my interactions with other people, but now it’s nearly 100%. I have a few classmates I’ve made small talk with over Facebook and who I am sure I’d get along with well, but it’s bizarre to think I may go the entire semester without ever actually seeing these people face to face.

t he s e l f -e ste e m m e l t in g p o t learning how to maintain your self-esteem in post-secondary Chantel Tanaka

If you feel there are some adjustments that need to be made to grow in your professional, personal, or social circles, it’s better to look at the steps you took that led you to your current moment. Reflecting on your own actions and decisions tends to take back the focus you would have used to compare yourself to someone else and makes you zero in on what you have been doing. At the core of paying yourself compliments is affirming When you take the time to acknowledge those steps, who you are as an individual and how much you matter. you are less likely to feel inclined to compare yourself It can be as simple as looking in the mirror and giving to other people because you see the things that made yourself positive affirmations about what you know you your journey unique and worthwhile. are good at or being easier on yourself when things don’t go as you planned. If there’s anything you should never As we study online, it’s important to take the things run out of it’s compliments for yourself! It boosts your you see on social media with a grain of salt. This digital self-esteem when you take the time to acknowledge what interaction can exacerbate the rate at which people can you’re good at. You walk out into the world knowing compare themselves to each other because they feel what you can bring to the table to offer, not just for connected and involved in other people’s lives through group projects in school, but maybe even when you work a phone screen. Remember that you don’t know what in your chosen profession. they had to do behind the scenes to achieve whatever is in that post. You don’t see the challenges they go Having good self-esteem also centres around your through. ability to recognize your efforts without comparing it to what people around you are doing. A little friendly Staying in your lane is crucial. If you don’t, you may competition is fine, but it often results in comparing become dependent on other people for validation. yourself with others. Being unhappy with who you are You don’t stand to gain much from comparing yourself takes a severe toll on your mental health. It certainly helps to your classmates and friends, but seeing your own to take away or monitor stimuli in the environment that worth can shed off some anxiety and doubt that you enable that toxic behaviour. For one person, this could have about how you add to value to the people around mean limiting the amount of time they spend scrolling you. through social media seeing other people’s “fabulous lives” and for another person that could mean distancing Let’s remember to be kind to ourselves and take note yourself from people that like to compare marks and of our own efforts. Stop picking at your faults and start answers just so they can tell you what you did wrong. acknowledging the accomplishments you’re making. The real work to curb you from comparing yourself to Next time you feel like criticizing yourself, stop; don’t others really happens internally, when you choose to look even go there. Take a moment and acknowledge what at you and your accomplishments. The only competition you did right. Compliment yourself, you deserve it. you need is yourself and understanding this takes off the burden that comes with comparing yourself to others. You don’t have to ignore everyone around you, but you should reflect on the efforts that have made you the person you are today. Take time out to think about your accomplishments, maybe by writing down one thing a day that you’re proud of achieving.

LINK | October 2020

It’s so easy to pay other people compliments and cheer them on when they do something well. Being supportive of each other’s accomplishments is something that’s generally encouraged, but one thing that’s probably not given enough credit is how necessary it is to pay yourself those very same compliments.

Energize Your Club Away From BCIT Matthew Miller, BCITSA Vice President Student Experience

The transition to online classes in late March affected how we learn, how we interact with our peers, and how we spend our time outside of the virtual school day. It has also had a profound effect on student clubs. Over the summer and into this fall term, I’ve continually heard from leaders of our clubs that two of the biggest challenges they face are keeping their members engaged and recruiting new club members. The BCIT Student Association (BCITSA) values the contribution clubs make to the student community, and we recently launched the Clubs for Community program to support club engagement as we work away from campus.

What is the Clubs for Community Program? It is a new student-centered initiative designed to support clubs with the two main issues they are facing this fall by incentivising club volunteer activities away from BCIT. This program not only rewards clubs for their participation in community activities, but gives its members the flexibility to be involved in experiences that appeal to personal interests in different service areas.

Benefits for your club:

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• • • •

Engages your existing members in new activities Helps recruit new members Exposure for your club in BCITSA promotions Rewards your club with 2021 event funding

After reading the summary of what the program aims to do, you might be wondering how your club can participate. Club leaders and members need to decide on what activities or organizations interest them. The next step is to take note of each club member’s personal comfort level when they are in an environment that has COVID-19 measures in place. This will look different for everyone. Since small group numbers are a must in our current health environment, splitting your club into a few sub-teams may be necessary. Participants must follow the current health guidelines set out by the province and/or local health authority, as well as those outlined by the volunteer organization. A variety of activities have been selected that benefit the local community, and they vary between online and in-person activities. The list is by no means exhaustive, and it includes organizations like the Canadian Blood Services, Volunteer Burnaby, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and more. If your club believes that it can give back in another way, please connect with Carly Watson, Club Coordinator, or myself, your VP Student Experience.

How are clubs rewarded? Every club that gets involved (with even a single member) will automatically be awarded funding! The level of club participation will be calculated based on a combination of current membership and projected recruitment of new members during the Sep-Nov 2020 period. The 1st, 2nd & 3rd overall places will be determined by the Clubs Committee with the following in mind: the variety of activities performed, the number of activities performed, and the number of individual club members involved. Up to $25,000 of club event funding is available. Should engagement be such that the available funds are exceeded, the Clubs Committee will see that participating clubs receive a proportionally equivalent amount. For more information, visit the Clubs for Community page on the BCITSA website. Carly and I are willing to meet with a representative from your club to discuss ideas, challenges, and insights on how to effectively manage the program. Feel free to reach out at any time, and good luck making this term a success for you and your club. “A program like this is exactly what we need to continue to build the BCIT community and help students feel connected to more than just their coursework.” — Carly Watson, Clubs Coordinator.

LINK | October 2020

The goal is to offer a variety of eligible activities that allow the BCIT students to pay back to the community in a safe way. Each one of us can find a way to give back to our community, and there is something we all can do to support people in need. If you’re not already part of a student club, I strongly encourage you to join one!

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A CLUB'S PERSPECTIVE Emily Benson, BCIT MA President As the President of BCIT’s Marketing Association, the most rewarding part of my job is creating opportunities for my peers. From networking events with industry professionals, to community-based activities, it’s my job to organize events that appeal to everyone in my club. However, finding these opportunities can be challenging, especially during the pandemic. The BCIT Student Association’s decision to actively support clubs makes my job as president of the MA little bit easier. Clubs for Community provides a fantastic opportunity for clubs and I strongly encourage you to participate!

If a club has already planned to host their own events, why should they participate?

This initiative truly is a win-win situation. Not only do you benefit financially by participating in events, but it also benefits your club members. With a wide variety of events to choose from, there are activities for different types of people. Not to mention, your club will probably host similar events to the ones provided in this initiative. The real question here is: why not get involved?

What sorts of activities can your club members do to get involved?

This initiative offers activities for all comfort levels. From writing letters to frontline workers, to making PPE supplies, to donating blood, the BCITSA has worked hard to create opportunities that work around COVID-19 obstacles and appeal to people with different comfort levels.

For some clubs, participating in these activities isn’t their main focus, so how do they stand to benefit from Clubs for Community?

This year, BCIT’s Marketing Association will be proudly participating in the Clubs for Community initiative. If you want to connect, create, and collaborate with the largest club at BCIT, head to bcitma.ca or send an email to president@bcitma.ca.

LINK | October 2020

Creating a sense of community during a time like this is should feel like a club leader’s duty because we are so far away from each other. Participating in these activities helps ease financial tension, generates buzz about your club and gives your club members the opportunities they deserve.

BEN GEBAUER REACHING HIGH, EDUCATING OTHERS, & ADVOCATING FOR EQUALITY words Lauren Edwards photos Macus Ong

I remember meeting the 22-year-old for the first time last year. It was the Broadcast and Online Journalism program orientation day, for the instructors to tell us about the different multimedia elements of the industry we’d later practice, like videography, photojournalism, radio, writing for news, and more. We were all speaking in pairs (introducing ourselves to each other) during some cringe-worthy ice breakers. Fast forward two semesters and a global pandemic, and there we were, sitting at Jonathan Rogers Park, just after he got off his shift at the nearby City Cannabis Co. It was a sunny, fall afternoon and we could hear the sounds of everyday life; planes flying overhead, dogs chasing balls, kids running through the grass, and conversations within the small groups gathered at various corners of the park. The grass was backed by the vibrant murals on the office buildings and the city’s skyline overhead. We shared a laugh while sipping our iced americanos about how I could describe our interview setting as rolling hills surrounded by lush greenery and dogs roaming free instead of just a dog

park. I believe the actual beauty of it was that we were able to meet together (socially-distanced of course) and get a dose of normalcy in this turbulent time. Gebauer has always had an interest in media; his interest sparked from watching the popular 90s sitcom Frasier, which featured a psychiatrist that had a radio show. Because it was a comedy, it often made jokes about mental health, but the psychiatrist helped people and brought important issues to light, many of which would play a role later on in Gebauer’s experience as a teen and young adult. “There was something I liked about broadcasting your experience, telling stories that help and are productive and move society forward,” says Gebauer. While some people in the program are new to being on camera, Gebauer is a natural, having a foundation of dance performance and acting experience to build on. At 15 years old he was signed with a talent agency after his drama teacher—who also taught Seth Rogen—said he should get an agent. By the first evening, his mother had replies from the top three agencies in Vancouver. He worked in TV commercials and loved expressing himself on camera. However, after finishing high school, he moved away from the cameras and focused his energy on the two-year writing program at Langara—which became his outlet.

LINK | October 2020

Ben Gebauer is second-year Broadcast and Online Journalism student, a professional cannabis consultant, and a breath of fresh air. His effervescent personality and witty humour shines in each class and he is one of the only people in our set who has made a point to get to know everyone individually; most would prefer to get their work done and get out.

“I have ADHD and my brain runs a million miles a minute. I [felt] like I needed some formal platform to get it out and organize those thoughts and ideas in a structured way,” says Gebauer. When he was a kid, he would get frustrated when he couldn’t communicate his messages properly, as he may have been talking quickly or didn’t have the right vocabulary at the time. Learning to compartmentalize his thoughts and put them down on paper laid the foundation he would utilize at BCIT to publish real-life stories. “I can do that through videos, through writing, I can do it on radio. The possibilities are limitless.” It was around that time Gebauer found a profession he enjoyed, as a Professional Cannabis Consultant—a title that didn’t exist two years ago. Before then, he was a regular at Evergreen Cannabis, consuming cannabis to aid his anxiety, and was offered employment at Evergreen when marijuana was legalized. While working there, he met representatives from different licensed producers, including Tweed, which owns Houseplant—Seth Rogen’s cannabis company. Gebauer joined a business call with Rogen, to talk about his brand, “which is super exciting because we had gone to the same high school and now I'm selling his weed. It was a really cool full circle moment,” says Gebauer. While people often think it’s just selling marijuana, many don’t know about the educational component. Case in point: the next few minutes of our conversation involved words I had never heard of like lineages, phenotypes, and terpene. Jargon aside, Gebauer goes home from work with a smile on his face knowing he’s helping people—whether it’s to fall asleep or calm their anxious thoughts—in the same way he was helped as a customer. Like purchasing alcohol (i.e. having varietal types and it’s not a one-size-fits-all), Gebauer believes embracing opportunities to educate people can change narratives. He believes it’s a step forward to diminish the taboo around consuming cannabis.

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While we were finishing our coffees, I noticed his ankle tattoo, which was two horizontal lines in black ink, representing equality. He got it when he was 18 and says he knows without a doubt equality will be important to him until the day he dies. The tattoo is also a reminder to make sure whoever comes in contact with him, they feel he is approachable, because he believes in the equality of everybody. Knowing Ben, though, he has a warmth and approachability that shows you he is someone who is listening intently to what you’re saying, even when it’s something hard to talk about. He adds it’s harder for some more than others, as students encompassed in news are faced with reading upsetting, heavy stories like COVID-19 related content and the Black Lives Matter movement protesting against police brutality every day, as a part of learning.

“It was very strange because I'm adopted into a Caucasian family and I don't have a lot of black friends or black leadership in my life. I was turning to people that I look up to online and the educators about black people in the media,” he explains, “all of a sudden everyone started talking to me as one of the few or a black person in their life. While that was understandable, it was strange because I felt this weird duality, like I am black, but I also was raised with this specific issue not being the biggest risk to me here.” He adds his life obviously had its challenges, but he felt he could not speak on these issues because he was not raised in the environment directly having these experiences with police. During the spur of information circulating around the Black Lives Matter movement, he found it difficult. “People almost were looking to me to be told what to feel. And I told them I'll let you know when I figure it out. It was sometimes hard because people would almost demand to speak to me, sometimes simply to educate themselves.” At that time, he took a step back and learned about the adversities by turning to influential people in the community online. Those close to Gebauer, including his friends from school, understood where he stood and respected it. Synergetic with respect others, his equality sign also reminds him to stand up for when you see things that are wrong. “People realize that, especially this year. I mean [it comes] hundreds of years later, but at least the conversation now is at the forefront.” The same applies for mental health. It wasn’t until his first panic attack that he understood the severe consequences of pushing yourself without taking time to rest. “Now, I'm meeting people who experienced the same issues with mental health and being in this very intense program. A lot of those issues, it's hard to handle them sometimes. I think that's why it's even more important to be you know, vocal and forthright about your issues,” he says. This mission grew from growing up in a Christian setting and having to promote equality against prejudice in his household which has translated into vocalizing his concerns outside of his house as well. But he knows it has to be a team effort. “Everyone needs to do their part in some degree. That could be listening to someone in the conversation and educating themselves, be volunteering at a soup kitchen physically, watching a documentary, or listening when there's a guest speaker – even if you don't understand what they're saying, listen and give them that dignity,” says Gebauer. Gebauer stresses the importance of finding a like-minded group of people (and hanging onto them) to move forward into the school year with, whether it’s a group chat or getting to know your colleagues over Zoom.

Unfortunately, when COVID-19 sent the students into lockdown and school transitioned to online, the social butterfly went from being with people and hearing them all of the time to radio silence. He felt the weight of isolation in a “Twilight Zone,” as he called it. The journalism program is one of the few (35 percent of the institution) that’s teaching in-person classes, offering a blended model of remote and on campus learning. Gebauer is amongst the many students and instructors returning to the ghost town of a campus and taking the new normal day-by-day. School’s work-life balance, fueled by the sheer ambition to succeed, mixed with society’s current grind culture and overtly competitive job market, was heightened by the pandemic. Luckily, Gebauer has exercised knowing when to pull back when his workload gets heavy. Pulling back is what he describes as a favour to himself and by continuously practicing that (either himself or letting someone close to him know), he’s getting better at diminishing anxious thoughts in the moment. A way someone else can do this is by being kinder to their selves. “Life is hard enough as it is and with COVID-19, no one was prepared for this. This is a curve ball. Every single person is going through it in some degree,” says Gebauer. “I've noticed I can push myself to the point where I feel exhausted and then I'll get sick or I'll break down,” he says. “Now I know it's very important to take care of [me], when I feel myself getting too riled up or too anxious, I'll always take a step back and reanalyze.”

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Drawing on his past experiences with balancing mental health, Gebauer believes he’s equipped with the right tools in his box to handle any upcoming obstacles. “But I think that I'm going to always be adding new tools to the box. Things will come up but I really do take it day by day because then I kind of overthink. So I do feel I'm well equipped, but you don't know [what] you're capable of until it happens,” he says. Although that scenario can seem scary, Gebauer’s knows from his track record he’s set his sights on creating new retrospective habits.

“I've always been—especially the past few years—for my own sanity and serenity, kinder to myself.” He adds it’s not about making excuses for yourself, more so about forgiving yourself when you tried your best and it either didn’t please people, get a good grade, or something didn’t come out of it. During his time at BCIT, two factors helped him get by: having a good support network of friends and siblings, and not feeling guilty when doing some little to treat himself, like getting his favourite food.

With a “work hard, play hard” mentality most Vancouverites adopt, Gebauer says as long as he knows his work done and he feels accomplished, he doesn’t have to feel guilty about ordering a pizza or having some wine in the middle of the week. Quite frankly, isn’t that what we all do when we’re working against the BCIT grind? “First year we had eight or so courses. They told us at the beginning that it was going to be like a job and I kind of like laughed it off, but they were right. You really do go in and your [morning] class would only go for an hour, but the work you do can take you until 5:00 p.m., sometimes 5:00 a.m. the next day… there’s definitely a continuous workload, but it’s doable,” states Gebauer. He credits his network of friends and other support to doing ‘the grind’ to get the work done. “A lot of people hear the words ‘hard work’ and think it has one meaning. I think it can be a variety, like hard work doesn't necessarily mean you're going home exhausted in tears. It could mean you go home feeling fine, that what you've done helped a lot of people, for example, or you made a big impact or you've contributed to the bigger picture.” A commonly-used simile for taking care of mental health is that it's like having a second job. For those doing a balancing act with school, work, and taking care of their mental wellbeing, it can be overwhelming, but by providing the right treatment and support, we can help others get that much closer to the finish line. Something Gebauer wishes he know before starting the program is that if the workload feels like too much, not to be discouraged because everyone is in it together. “No one says you have to show up to class looking like a raggedy mess because you were up until 4:00 a.m. and no one says you have to lose sleep. You know what I mean? You do your best. Hard work will look different, so don't spend too much time worrying about what that means,” he says. Although newcomers may not know the full weight of the rigorous school grind yet, Gebauer says to “just do your best and, and the hard work will follow.” Conclusion: reach higher? Tie it all together. Asides from graduating, Gebauer looks forward to watching his classmates’ progress and see what they accomplish this year.

ELIN MOLENAAR

PHOTOGRAPHER

When Elin Molenaar came to Vancouver from Dirkshorn in the Netherlands for her gap year, she came with an interest in telling a visual story and capturing moments. Using a friends second-hand camera, she snapped the beauty in the world around her while taking notes from her boyfriend, who is also a photographer. She would later circle back to Vancouver to study journalism at BCIT—sparked from a love of sharing stories and the fact she missed Canada’s beautiful landscapes. Implementing a simple but effective method to her skill, she frames her work around the beauty of nature. Elin fully embraces all the trails and mountainous hikes Vancouver offers and enjoys taking photos associated with a specific feeling or atmosphere. While honing her craft, she learned that many factors influence the outcome of a great photograph, including timing and creativity—and the person behind the lens will never be 100% satisfied. She hopes by sharing inspiring and impactful stories, she can inspire others as well. Even if a story doesn’t seem to have value, everyone can interpret it in different ways. Elin believes there is a power in perspective.

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In most of these images, you will see Vancouver through Elin’s eyes on her gap year from 2017-2018. Back then, she was trying to capture Metro Vancouver in different ways. Now, the nostalgic images remind her of good memories and the person she was becoming.

ELIN MOLENAAR

FaBoolous Party Ideas for a COVID World Karlyn Griffin

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After enduring two long months of BCIT and seven months of COVID-19, nothing lifts your spirits up from the grave like having a Halloween party with friends. It’s important to have some fun after working hard on your dream career! When you’re studying all the time, your brain can only hold so much information before it feels like its cooking in a cauldron. Here are some party ideas to reboot your mental health while dodging the virus.

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Virtual Costume Contest Unleash your Halloween spirit by creating, thrifting, or buying a costume of your choosing; invite your friends to an online cat walk to show off your costumes and have your pals’ vote to see who has the best one. You can even give out prizes!

Virtual Pumpkin Carving Tap into your inner Michael Myers, grab a shape knife, and start stabbing a hollow pumpkin. Organize a virtual party with your friends to see who has earned the title, The Pumpkin Killer. When planning this party, give your friends a theme to summon their wicked ideas. Need some suggestions? How about your favourite video game, something that’s scary, or something that’s funny? Time your party to see who can complete a jack o’lantern design in just 30 minutes. Once the carving is complete, have your friends vote to see who is crowned the winner.

Trick or treat yourself to a game night! Organize a multiplayer online game with your friends and play your favourites like Overwatch, Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft, or Mario Kart. If you do not have a game console or a good computer, you can buy the Jackbox Party Pack instead. My favourite minigame is in number 4, and is called Monster Seeking Monster. In this minigame, you and your buddies are monsters that date other monsters; very appropriate for Halloween! It’s more fun if you do not use your real names. If you do not want your bank account to be empty like a vampire’s coffin at night, then play the Scribble game; it’s free! You can create a private room and send the link to your friends. In this game, you draw an object and your buddies need to guess what it is. Whoever guesses the most drawings the fastest is declared the winner.

Tell Scary Stories Let’s dim the lights, hope nothing bites, and its time for a fright. Why not make your own version of Tales from the Crip in front of your webcam? You and your friends can read or tell horror stories to each other in your dark rooms with LED candles. You can make this into a drinking game! Whoever screams while you’re telling a story takes a shot. The best part is that no one has to worry about drinking and driving for this party. Remember to drink responsibly! If you don’t like telling spooky stories inside, grab your coat, and invite your friends to the outdoors. Become Stephen King and tell your own horror story under the full moon. You can retreat to a park, beach, or someone’s big back yard. Bring blankets or lawn chairs, and practice safe social distancing. Want to make a game out of this? Have your friends bring their own spicy candies. Whoever screams during the storytelling can torture their tongues by tasting hell. Make sure you bring a container of milk to cool down your mouth!

Fireworks Show Nothing says colourful flashing lights in the sky like UFO sightings... I mean fireworks! This year will be the last year you can buy fireworks in Vancouver. Have you and a small group of friends do a BYOB style fireworks gathering. While maintaining safe social distancing, have each of your buddies shoot fireworks one at a time. Make sure you light the fireworks in an open space with no trees around; you don’t want anything to catch on fire. Have a bucket full of water, or a hose around you to put out any potential fires. Remember, safety first!

When inviting your boo-tiful friends to your parties, make sure you give a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice and indicate a time, date, and a location or link. Inform your guests what app you will be using and make sure you test it out first. Give your friends a brief description of what you’re planning to do and let them know to contact you if they have questions. You can invite your guests through a Facebook event page, or you can text or email them a Google sheet and let your friends RSVP through that. It’s a good idea to know who is attending, so you can plan accordingly. Just don’t contact anyone through a Ouija board. You do not want any uninvited guests! I hope these party ideas unleashed your inner party monster. Remember to eat, drink, and be spooky this Halloween. Have an eektastic October, and stay safe!

LINK | October 2020

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Halloween Game Night

ZOMBIE HEAD MEATLOAF Karlynn Griffin

INGREDIENTS 40 mins

40 mins

4-5

1 tbsp oil 1 onion 3 cloves garlic ½ cup chopped celery ½ cup chopped carrot 3 tbsp chopped parsley 1 lb lean ground beef 1 egg ½ C - ¾ C breadcrumbs (can be substituted for chickpea flour) 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp sea salt 6- 8 bacon strips ¼ cup tomato sauce

DIRECTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4.

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7. 8.

Grease your baking dish with oil, and preheat your oven to 350°F (175 °C). Cut off the ends of the onion and put them aside for later. Finely chop the garlic, celery, carrots, parsley, and half of the onion. Add the ground beef, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and egg to the baking dish. Mix everything with your hands in the casserole dish; this will save you time, and you won’t have to wash a huge bowl afterwards! Form the mixture into the shape of a head, and then use an extra piece to make a nose. The nose should look like a right triangle on the side view. For the mouth, push down the meat to make a rectangular hollow. Grab the onion and cut cubes to look like teeth, and then place them into the indent. Finally, place the round ends of the onion where the eyes should be, and slightly push them down. 6: Place your bacon strips over the face, but don’t cover the eyes or mouth. Cover the nose and overlap the bacon slightly, so it looks like wraps on a mummy. 7: Spread tomato sauce on top of the bacon; this should make it look like bloody flesh. 8: Place the casserole dish inside the oven without a lid. Check the temperature in 40 minutes: if it’s at least 160°F (72 °C) then remove, and let it cool before serving.

LINK | October 2020

THEATRE & THE MIND NELSON ELLIS

Theatre has always had a special place in my heart. It’s helped me to grow as a person, get in touch with my creative side, and make lifelong friends. I graduated Douglas College in 2018 with a diploma in theatre. Since that time, I’ve been lucky enough to work on incredible projects and meet some great people. With almost all live theatre on hold I decided to check in on a few of my friends and see how they’re doing.

“What’s next? I don’t know where to begin now.” Bryan Kazun, a recent Douglas College Theatre Graduate, sums up what just about everyone is feeling.

about a second wave and an uncertain timeline towards things being “normal,” Dai has considered giving it up “for my own sanity; at least in the meantime.”

Studying theatre was already seen by many as an impractical choice. Graduates usually don’t find much work immediately—especially not work that pays. Many, if not all, theater students get into the study out of pure love for the art. What happens when the future of your passion is in question? How do you cope when you don’t know what’s next for something you were preparing to dedicate your life to? With the world of live performances paused, many theatre graduates have a hard time staying optimistic . Like many students graduating during the COVID 19 pandemic Howard Dai, Simon Fraser University (SFU), initially had big plans. “I could’ve graduated last summer, but I decided to wait so I could graduate with my friends” said Dai. “We were going to get an Airbnb and ride in a limo to and from the convocation.” Instead, he got what resembled a pizza box with his diploma and graduation cap. “It was very anti-climactic.”

Give up? Howard Dai? If you have had any local theatre involvement, you’d know those two things don’t go together. Dai has made a name for himself around the Vancouver area. From putting on free and accessible shows in Queen’s Park with his Open Stage project, exploring new and innovative interactive theatre with The Rex Project, or even just volunteering around the community. “Whenever I’m feeling anxiety or stress, my tactic to not think about things is to do more things!”

“School preps you to work in the real world independently, but it feels like being kicked out the door into a new circumstance that nobody is trained for.”

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Dai was studying at SFU for the past four years, but his love for the arts has existed for much longer. “From grade nine onward, I knew I wanted to do theatre.” With questions

With no school and no projects lined up, he is enjoying having the downtime but also says: “It’s scary. It feels helpless. I can’t fix anything. I’m not doing anything to work more. I feel like I’m not doing anything to build steps for my future.” For Dai, theatre represents something the world desperately needs right now: unity. “To see people on stage working together regardless of race or any other difference… I think that’s the model we should use for the world today. I think if everyone took theatre school, we would treat each other a little better.” Training in theatre requires sharing a closeness and trust with people in your ensemble. With the pandemic limiting how much contact we can share, many students studying theatre will miss out on crucial parts of the training. During his Arts New West podcast, Dai interviewed Keri

LINK | October 2020

Minty, an instructor at Capilano’s Musical Theatre program, who said something that’s stuck with him ever since. “The thing that is heart-wrenching, honestly, for most of us, is to find out that the thing that we love to do the most, is one of the most dangerous things you can do on the planet … that the thing that we have done all our lives to share ourselves, and to share joy and sorrow; that is the thing that could kill someone else, is just unthinkable.” Dai will continue to do what he has always done, look for new opportunities and apply for grants. He’s not sure what the new world of theatre will be like but is doing his best to have a hope for the best prepare for the worst mentality. “I’m trying not to overload myself, especially in this pandemic. I’m getting better with self-care and not saying yes to everything.” Before adding, half-joking, “I mean who knows, this might just keep going forever and ever.” It’s hard to believe that only a few months ago I was sitting in Douglas College’s Muir Theatre, surrounded by other alumni, enjoying a performance of Goodnight Desdemona, Goodmorning Juliet. There’s a tradition after the opening night of a show at Douglas for the cast to give a short speech and present gifts to the people who helped out. I had helped with research, so eventually, it was my turn to come up and take their token of thanks. Bryan Kazun, who had just given an impressive performance, shook my hand, gave me a small envelope, and a hug. I made my way back into the crowd, smiling at the gesture. Performance? Shaking hands? Hug? Not in our current world. Kazun, who recently graduated Douglas College, has many concerns about live theatre’s future. “Theatre is a very personal thing. It’s a group activity. People need to be with each other, sit with each other and talk with each other. When you can’t do that, it destroys the purpose.” He also adds that he is not sure how productions will make up for smaller audience sizes from a business standpoint. “They could do more runs, but that would be tiring on the actors and everyone involved. Plus, it would increase the costs for the organizers.” As for acting while in the new normal. “It’s going to be a challenge to navigate restrictions while on stage. In some ways, it can be a fun challenge to act with your scene partner while standing six feet away, but it’s going to be hard to get back to what it was.”

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“I feel like I’m wasting time. You graduate with all these tools that you’re ready to use, but you can’t use them. It makes me sad and it’s very stifling.”

Kazun says that at first the idea of staying inside wasn’t a problem for him. “I’m a very introverted person by nature. The extra free time let me do things like reading a book or

playing a video game.” As time went on, however, he found himself heading into a bit of a darker place. “As the days wore on, my mental state began to deteriorate because nothing was happening. I found myself getting irritable, isolating myself, just feeling like a waste. I felt like things were not right and that it was my fault. Sometimes I still feel that way, or I’ll feel like there are opportunities despite the pandemic and I’m just not finding them. It doesn’t feel good.” Lately Kazun has been doing a little better “I found a job that pays OK and I’m getting out the house every day. Being able to get out of the house and have something else to focus my energy on really helps balance out my mental state.” As someone who has been involved off and on with theatre for almost my whole life, I was able to relate to everything Dai and Kazun told me. I had been through parts of my life where theatre was my everything; all I wanted to do see, hear, feel, was in a theater. I have also had years where I wanted nothing to do with it. This pandemic has made me realize how much the old cliché “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” is true. My last time on stage was May 15, 2018, with some of my best friends from college. It was one of those weird, avant-garde type shows in a dark room with nothing onstage but chairs. You know the type, every annoying “artist” does it. I hadn’t invited anyone out to it because I was a little embarrassed and figured nobody would like it. Afterwards I decided to take a break from theatre to focus on other pursuits. Had I known there was a countdown until all live theatre was on hold, I never would’ve stopped going up and never would’ve stopped inviting people. When asked for any final thoughts, both Dai and Kazun shared a sense of optimism. Kazun was echoing a message that captures the whole idea of theatre “You’re not the only one. There are other people feeling this. There are so many people being hampered by this. It’s not just you.” Dai sent out a virtual hug to anyone reading. “Sending love to anyone working in theatre or has just graduated theatre school. It’s hard. I wish I could be in the studio again and hug people again. I didn’t realize how much I missed hugging friends.” I think back to my favourite quote about theatre: “The theatre is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed. It requires tough and devoted people to keep it alive.” - John Steinbeck Theatre has survived the last four thousand years of death. It can survive four thousand more.

LINK | October 2020

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