September 2017 by Link Magazine

BCIT & BEYOND

September 2017

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:

SINGER/SONGWRITER/SURVIVOR

3700 Willingdon Ave. SE2 Building, 3rd Floor Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2 BBY • DTC • ATC • BMC • AIC

www.linkbcit.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

#BCITandBEYOND

Tanushree Pillai Kellan Tochkin Ryan Judd George Eliopoulos Nazanin Joorabchian

Contact: photo: ryan judd

3 Introduction 4 Good News 14 Photo Feature 26 Faculty Brewing 28 McGregor vs Mayweather

30 Rick Hansen:

30 Years Later

On the cover: Caitlin Purvis 1st-year Joinery Foundation program photo by Ryan Judd

6 Student Spotlight

Nazanin Joorabchian talks to Caitlin Purvis about bouncing back from a series of setbacks to launch her debut EP, and learning to love a lathe.

enhancingStudent student life Association

Selenna Ho has questions about the Creep Catchers. Follow her into the shady world of vigilantism and walk the blurry line of justice.

Twila Amato unpacks the 'voluntourism' phenomenon, and makes the case for staying here to help.

604.451.7191

Selenna Ho Managing Editor Dan Post Publisher Assistant Publisher Lili Motaghedi Promotions

lmotaghedi@bcitsa.ca

Kellan Tochkin tallies up the promises and progress of BC's new Premier and examines how we got our first change in leadership in 16 years.

16 Vigilantes!

editor@linkbcit.ca

Association Madeline Adams

10 Hungry Hungry Horgan

20 Help Wanted: At Home annual sponsors:

LINK is published 8 times annually by the BCIT Student Association and printed on campus by Campus Print & Copy. Issues are distributed free across all 5 BCIT campuses and online at Student www.issuu.com/linkbcit

Albert Tang Dianne Baccay Max Huang Eda Aktas Twila Amato

LINK is a proud member of the Magazine Association of BC. www.magsbc.com

Featured Contributors

Kellan Tochkin

Radio Arts & Entertainment Originally from Abbotsford, Kellan spent nine years pursuing pro hockey. Now he's going down a new road in radio at BCIT, hosting an entrpreneurship podcast for the BCITSA and writing for LINK while finishing his studies.

Nazanin Joorabchian Mining Engineering

24 The New News

Tanushree Pillai thought she'd be teaching kids about journalism, but ended up being the one to learn from the generation growing up with "fake news."

Nazanin is interested in math, physics and geology, with a passion for art, literature, and photography. She is a rock and mineral enthusiast with a low-key obsession with marble and opal. She adores the outdoors and gets bored far too quickly.

Intro september 2017

YOUR STORIES

ike a slow leak in your swan floatie, summer is deflating underneath you. It’s September, and you’re back at school. But this time feels different doesn’t it? Maybe it’s your first foray into higher education and your brain is bursting with nervous anticipation. Or you’re back at BCIT for Round 2 and you’ve already got your nap spot picked out, the best washrooms on lock, and you’ve cancelled all your macramé lessons for the next 8 months. Either way, you’ve got the swan by the neck and you’re ready to ride into the next phase of your life. And we’ll be with you along the way, delivering magazines to your campus each month featuring stories and designs made by students (maybe you?) at BCIT. Every issue, we start off by asking these questions: What matters to you today? What are the issues you think about? What brought you to BCIT? What’s your specialty? We always get some really amazing answers, because students at BCIT come from all over the world, from many different industries and with heaps of unique experiences. So what matters to BCIT students this time around? Leadership, for one. We just had an election in BC that will change the course of our economy, likely impacting everything from your education, to the roads you took to get here, to the air we all breathe. So who is this John Horgan

fellow, and how did he become our Premier? Community matters too. Neighbourhoods are changing in the Lower Mainland, and homeless numbers continue to rise. But imagine if we had the same drive to pass out clothing in the DTES as we did to dig wells in Peru? And what’s with these people who call themselves Creep Catchers? Is it even legal to ambush suspected pedophiles in a food court? Of course, now that the new semester has begun, you’ve got a lot of thinking of your own to do. Sometimes it’s just nice to flip through some images of your fellow classmates’ summer travels. Or maybe get to know one amazing student a little better; someone with an exceptional personal story, hobby or side project to share. You might end up surprised by the secret lives of your favourite instructors, or just learn a little more about what gets them out of bed every day. These are your stories, but together we make them our stories. The diversity of ideas, opinions, histories and passions are what make BCIT campuses so special, and what drives us to bring them to life on the printed page, and then ship them out to you. The world is constantly changing around you, and sometimes it can be hard to keep up. But never fear, LINK is here, to keep you connected at BCIT & Beyond. — the LINK team

www.linkbcit.ca

Free Agendas. Evernote, Asana, Slack, Notes, Fantastical, blah blah blah... You know what doesn't need a WiFi connection, a battery charge, space on your phone, data usage, a username, password, USB stick and cloud storage? Old-school printed planners. Pick up your free student agenda at the BCIT Student Association (SE2 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Great Hall) or ask your Satellite Campus Coordinator how to get your hands on one. Staying organized can be a breeze, even when you're off the grid. Just don't get it wet.

www.bcitsa.ca

Vancouver pushes back on racism. In the wake of a major setback for race relations in Charlottesville recently, thousands of Vancouverites caught wind of a small local hate rally in the making and descended on City Hall August 19th to practice their creative sign-making skills, and to stand up to racism, bigotry and all forms of prejudice. The result was described as "a fight between a bazooka and a mosquito," as only a small handful of angry individuals ended up making an appearance; not nearly enough to be heard above the many calls for community, friendship and understanding. 4

Check out a gallery of photos online at:

www.linkbcit.ca

Good News

BCIT community pitches in on wildfire aid. It’s been one of the most devastating seasons for wildfires on record, affecting thousands of people across the province. Among the hardest hit were the Ashcroft First Nations, many of whom lost their homes, along with the very tools they’d need to rebuild. This past summer, BCIT’s School of Transportation began collecting donations of tools, which they could deliver to the Ashcroft First Nations to aid their efforts of starting anew. Way to go SoT! If you’d like to donate to wildfire disaster relief, visit the BCIT Bookstore for more information:

SE2 — Burnaby Campus

BCIT will host EcoCity World Summit in 2019 Every two years, The EcoCity World Summit gathers thought-leaders, sustainable business owners, decision makers and green researches to addresses the way humanity builds its home — its cities, towns and villages. BCIT recently earned the honour of hosting the 2019 event inside Vancouver’s Convention Centre where speakers and guests from over 30 countires will come together to lead conversation around innovation based on the theme “Socially Just and Sustainable Cities.” Stay tuned for more information on how you can attend. Until then, learn more about the EcoCity World Summit and check out highlights from this year’s event:

SA Child Care expansion nears completion

www.ecocity2017.com/ Last June the provincial government announced an investment of $500,000 to the BCIT Student Association Child Care program, allowing for the space to approximately double in size, and accommodate a wider range of children. Renovations on the new space on the South end of the Burnaby Campus are nearly complete, and by the early looks of things, this should truly be a big help for the community. Contact SA Child Care to learn more about the program and expansion: www.bcitsa.ca/contact-us/child-care/

www.linkbcit.ca

singer/songwriter/survivor Caitlin Purvis is a woodworking student at BCIT by day, but a singer/songwriter by heart. Her debut EP Wasting Days is on Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, and YouTube; and Caitlin is the recent recipient of a Telus StoryHive grant for 10k to make a music video for the single “Wasting Days.” Having travelled through many parts of the world and experienced various life-changing events, Caitlin’s humanitarian ideas, optimism, and well-rounded perspective on life make her an inspiration to many. 6

Student Spotlight words nazanin joorabchian

Caitlin Purvis

photos ryan judd

What made you decide to study woodworking at BCIT? About two years ago I started dabbling in it. I’d been injured in a car accident that left me with mobility issues and in severe chronic pain. I was consistently bummed that another week had passed and I still couldn’t walk properly or do any of the physical activities I loved, so my doctor suggested I start doing things that bring me joy. It was also the advice of many, that I try and learn to slow down. On their recommendations, I started working with my hands more than I was used to and I began creating, whether that be in the garden, cooking, taking pottery classes, or with design and wood. I felt pleasure, gratitude, a stillness, plus the thing I was after in the first place – joy – when I used my hands. It was over the course of another year, when I wasn’t just dealing with the injuries from the car accident, but I’d also been diagnosed with cancer, that the real positive changes began to take place. I had a dream, or rather a vision, of where I’d like to be in ten years. Woodworking was a main component of this dream and instantly I knew I had to change my line of work and embark on this new adventure, as nothing in me wanted to do anything I had ever done before. It was a deep internal feeling that I still can’t shake. I was struggling to progress with woodworking, meaning I still didn’t feel competent or know anything about tools or how to use them safely. I began contacting local designers and woodworkers asking if I could take them for a drink to gain some insight. Some of them were incredibly helpful and one of them let me intern with him for three weeks as part of the Women in Trades Training program I’d

www.linkbcit.ca

signed up for. As I started testing the waters of the woodworking industry, I felt more confident each day that this was for me. The smells, the textures, the malleability of wood — I loved it all. And so here I am, four months into the program and finally beginning to feel confident with the tools, knowledgeable about their anatomy, more proficient in what I will be able to create as an artist, and absolutely grateful that I have the opportunity to take this course. How do you think your time at BCIT has changed your frame of mind? I started BCIT a month after I had surgery for cancer, a couple of months after I started the Diane Miller Pilates Teacher Training program at Vancouver Pilates Centre, and at the same time I decided to make a music video. This was way too much to take on as my hormones since the surgery were still adjusting and this program is way more intensive than I realized. The last four months have been some of the most challenging times of my life. And believe me, I have led a life full of challenges and trials, lived in remote and extreme environments, and been through physical and emotional trau-

mas. [Anyone] would think this course would be a breeze. But it hasn’t been. That said, the most challenging times have always made me the most grateful and allowed me to grow. Today, I can look back at where I was four months ago and feel a deep sense of accomplishment. I used to stare at a table saw. I would just stare at it. I wouldn’t know where to begin and I was afraid of it. Today, I can take that thing apart, I can do rabbets and dados and grooves. I can cut plywood and laminate, do mitre cuts... It is just amazing. BCIT has really pushed me, and I think it pushes most people… there is so much to learn. So despite being frustrated almost on a daily basis, I feel thrilled when I look back at how far I’ve come and know I have two months still to learn. And then there’s this whole other side of you: the singer/ songwriter. Where do you draw your inspiration from? All of the songs on my EP are about relationships, but when I was in university I used to write a lot about urban poverty and conflict in the world. When I write music, it is really about what is happening in my life, or what I’m involved in or consumed by. I am a humanitarian and the conflict and struggles occurring in the world greatly sadden me. Music has always been a means for me to express my emotions, whether they be about the world or a relationship. I grew up singing. If I was driving, if I was walking, if was cooking… so long as I was alone, I was constantly singing. Now I’m trying to break past that and not be scared to sing if I’m walking down the street or have someone over that I’m cooking for.

song and almost instantly feel better. Music helps me conclude relationships or it can represent the joys I’m experiencing in them and in life in general. For me, music is simply a means of creative personal expression and I think when faced with injury and illness, being able to sing and write music through it helped me to heal. When I was in the most pain, I truly struggled to play, but my doctor would always ask: are you singing lately? Sure enough, it was just a matter of time before I was back at it. Now that I feel much more stable, physically, emotionally, psychologically, etc., I just want to grow and expand in all these areas and use all the things I’ve been given — my hands, my mind, my voice, my emotions — to create beautiful music, beautiful sculptural furniture, and to help people. Tell us about your grant through the Telus Storyhive contest. You made your own music video (which I loved), so how did you come up with such a cool idea?

In fact, sometimes I’m even humming about in the joinery shop. So I think for me there is just music in my head. It’s full of melodies and music is just part of me. I don’t have a choice to quiet myself and I have chosen not to let fear rule my life, so now I am celebrating my joy for music and singing, almost always, whenever and wherever I please. How does music make you feel? Music is incredibly healing. It’s like woodworking in that way. When I first got into playing the guitar, it was because I tore my ACL and MCL snowboarding. I was very athletic, and rather than get into a funk, I got a guitar and started taking lessons. Since then, I've travelled the world extensively, generally on my own, and there was a lot of loneliness. Fortunately, I always had my guitar with me on these journeys and it brought me out of sadness. Same thing with a breakup; if I’m sad about it, I write a

Well, first of all, thank you for watching it. I need to get it out to a wider audience, but have been swamped, so I am really pleased you watched it and enjoyed it. I’m going to give all the credit to my director and my music video producer, Lucy and Manpreet respectively. The whole thing came about very quickly. I was actually three weeks post-surgery and a friend of mine said to me, “Hey, you should apply for this.” I thought, ‘I’m so tired how could I possibly swing it?’ [But] my challenge in life has always been learning to say ‘no.’ I messaged Lucy, because she’d already used my song “Wasting Days,” in her short film. We had a nice chat, she said she liked what I was about, loved the song, and then hired Manpreet as she knew the film was going to be a lot of work if we were going to do it well. The music video was obviously going to involve boys because the song is kind of joking about my need for help. After all, I wrote it when I was struggling to move physically. I think Manpreet brought up the idea of a dark comedy and Lucy has studied comedy for years and is a real expert, so together they bounced a lot of ideas back and forth and came up with the “Thelma minus Louise”-inspired road trip with an accidental twist. I wouldn’t have thought to kill men truthfully, but it worked out well. I definitely think it’s a music video that’s unique and memorable. I’m grateful to them, the team and actors; those that voted for me, and so many more. I wish we had more

time or more money and all these things to make it even bigger and better, but for $10,000, I believe my team put together a fabulous music video and I want to give them all the credit for that. They know how grateful I am. You did an opening performance for Riders on the Storm [The Doors cover band] in Ecuador. What was your most memorable moment from that whole experience? That whole event! I honestly didn’t believe it was happening. From the moment I looked up and said, “Jim Morrison is dead” and saw all of them standing around me, to the moment they said, “They’re fired, she is hired,”… to sitting on the stage looking at 8,000 people. It was quite simply, fabulous. I had two lovely friends join me, otherwise I don’t think peo-

ple would believe that it actually happened. Anyways, it was surreal. I was flying from Argentina to Ecuador for this Amazonian jungle wedding, and this was the last thing one could expect—that someone would hire you to open for a show with such legends. Do you have any tips for our readers looking to pursue their dreams? There’s this thing called doubt and it can get in our way. It challenges us and creates fear, but it’s unnecessary. When doubt enters my mind, I go about shutting it down as best I can. Still, occasionally I catch myself thinking, ‘what are you doing pursuing woodworking and music when you could have a career in something else,

www.linkbcit.ca

Wasting Days

TELUS Storyhive

Look for Caitlin's TELUS Storyhive entry, the Thelma and Louise-inspired, folk-pop single, "Wasting Days" and hear more of her music on Youtube, Bandcamp and her website: www.caitlinpurvis.com

such as the humanitarian endeavors you were embarking on before?’ But then a vision I had last summer about my future finds its way back into my mind and I am reminded of why I am here. There is something very powerful in me that just doesn’t want to do anything else. And then I think logically and I ask, ‘am I happy? Am I joyful? Does everything I am doing feel good and right?’ The answer to all of this is ‘Yes,’ and the doubt disappears. So now I’m just trying to trust myself and my environment and to believe that I can live a life of joy and happiness and gratitude rather than one that has me overcome with suffering, sadness, or insurmountable trials. I don’t need to chase others' dreams, be like anyone else, or become ridden with fears about my future. I want to live in the present. I want to have a clean and positive perspective. If something happens and this direction doesn’t work for me, well, good news: I can change it. So yes, for now I will continue doing what makes me feel amazing inside and I will push doubt to the side, because I believe we all have an incredible amount of power within ourselves to direct our lives and be joyful. [Here’s] my advice: start slow and find what brings you joy. It’s so simple and it doesn’t have to be a career, but make time for that joy. This is important. I think we all deserve to be happy and we don’t need to be scared. If something scares you, figure out why and face it. The more you face your fears, the easier the next one will be to confront. And soon, you may feel more empowered than you realized you could, and on top of that, you may also be far more joyful than you realized you could be.

hristy Clark's BC Liberals held majority government and the province’s premiership for 16 years. In that time, the oppostion parties (namely the NDP and Greens) developed new strategies for reacting to the changes happening all around BC, and the world, then used those strategies to win last spring’s provincial election. Technically John Horgan and the NDP were the sole winners of the premiership, but it was not without substantial help from political long-shots Andrew Weaver and his Green party. It was always going to be neck-and-neck between Premier Clark and John Horgan, but when the NDP leader sided with Weaver on most of the issues around wildlife, big money politics and taxes, an alliance became inevitable. After the usual politcal dust settled, Weaver and the Greens picked up a crucial (and historic) three seats in parliament, leaving the remaining seats for Horgan and Clark to divy up. Sparing no controversy or drama, the NDP ultimately claimed 41 to the Liberals' 42, but paired them with the Greens' share, and Horgan stepped into his role as our province’s new Premier. Now that he’s in though, the time has come to see if he will deliver on his promises.

Feature Politics / Opinion

Now that the NDP has gobbled up the Liberal government, will their leader be able to whet the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appetite for change? words kellan tochkin

www.linkbcit.ca

"John Horgan is a man who seems to be willing to piss enough people off to do the right thing."

his past election was one of the closest races in recent memory and has now set us on a new course for the next four years. Horgan's campaign centered around taking big money out of politics and saying “NO” to a larger pipeline coming into North Burnaby's port. The Greens of British Columbia usually side with those who resist projects that could harm our environment, so many believed that a coalition with Horgan’s NDP to end Clark’s pipe dreams was thought to be in the works from the start. 60% of British Columbians turned out to vote on May 9th and after a lengthy episode of recounting and with teh support of teh Greens, the NDP emerged as the new stewards of BC interests. Just like that, Christy Clark went from the top of the food chain to an exit from public life altogether. In the end, people voted for change, and Horgan’s promises offered the best shot at it. But Horgan is relatively unproven as a political leader, and promises only get you so far. However, this far into his tenure, Horgan has already surprised many by avoiding the usual trappings of political life and simply sticking to his guns. So far he continues to maintain his stance on the pipeline and has already made changes to adult education, plus he squashed a possible Massey bridge and recently announced an end to tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges. But how long can he withstand the pressures of making the “right decision?” A coalition with the Greens has made it possible for Weaver to provide a louder voice in a new NDP government, but I wonder if Weaver’s will continue to be heard over the big money lobbyists and others inside government that will no doubt be trying to convince Horgan to rethink his campaign promises? Rivalries, House opposition, and a tendancy for politicans to flip-flop on their campaign promises will be the the biggest challenges facing Horgan as he moves forward. Look at some of the nastiness that has already taken place. During a press conference just six days after the NDP’s David Eby replaced Andrew Wilkinson as Attorney General, the BC Liberals threw Eby under the bus by crying foul on the NDP for not having a plan to solve a looming BC driving insurance problem. The issue being: in a just few years, BC drivers could see their premiums go up by 40%. With an already ridiculous housing market this could make life on British Columbians even more challenging. Wilkinson made the most of his first opportunity to point blame at the NDP, despite having plenty of time in power to produce a plan of their own. Acting like a reckless teenager, Wilkinson threw gas on the fire and ignited drama for no reason. Soon, the BC Liberals will select a new leader to replace Christy Clark, and then a battle to be the loudest, most persistent opposition will begin anew. We all know politics can be brutal, look no further than our neighbours below, so it will be up to Horgan to keep his head and stay the course on the platform a majority of BC voted for. The Massey bridge proposal was actually not a bad idea… 30 years ago. Let’s face it, traffic going under

www.linkbcit.ca

water is a mess. It’s almost as bad as having a hot dog without condiments. Sure, a bridge might help people get from Delta to Richmond quicker, but do we need it? If we’re talking about traffic, the congestion between Abbotsford and Langley is worse then ever before and the time is right for more lanes in the valley. We all remember what a joke the traffic to the east and west of the Port Mann was until the new bridge came along. However, that upgrade did land us with years of tolling, and now Horgan is now set to eliminate the fee crossing that bridge this September, taking money away from the Liberal surplus of 2016. Unfortunately, some of that money collected from tolls was planned to go to the Pattullo Bridge and its ongoing construction. Where will that money come from now?

Horgan is in power and is attempting to put his foot down on pipelines in BC, he will surely draw the ire of both oil executives and the federal government. But Horgan seems to believe that a leak would be devastating to our coast and inlets, and with big oil companies using technology instead of people to continually have checkups on machines, chances for failure are too high. Now with the country watching and Alberta counting on a larger pipeline for economic success, will Horgan stay true to his word? Any logical person can see that a pipeline is the last thing BC’s beautiful waters need. Increasing the chance of a disastrous oil spill in places where our kids swim and play? No thanks. Though in the eyes of our fearless (and dashing) leader Justin Trudeau, saying “no” might be impossible.

Saying “No” to the Site C dam is another campaign plank that Horgan is not budging on, even with pressure from the government. If the UN feels that it’s not a project necessary to go through with, maybe Horgan isn’t as crazy as one might think. With an estimated 8.8 billion dollar budget for the proposal, this is not something that could pass without media attention and, as we have witnessed in the past, not all press is good press. Let’s not forget, Site C is on Indigenous land and have we not already taken enough away from the true owners?

Time will tell how Horgan’s hunger for a new type of politics will fair over his term, but if anything is going to give you optimism, it’s in knowing that we have a leader who is truly battling for British Columbians, not all of Canada. Could our economy use a pipeline? Maybe. But why not look to something else for a economic prosperity? Did someone say solar energy? Weaver and the Greens alongside Horgan seems to be a match made in heaven for people who enjoy BC’s amazing landscape and precious water, but a little under half of the voters in the last election might not see it the same way. So how long can he keep it up? Hopefully his hard line approach to certain economy-boosters won’t just be for good publicity for a year or so, then we go back to politics as usual and the type of environmental pain we’ve suffered in the past.

With controversial moves like these, it’s not going to be an easy road for Horgan, but since we can’t change the results of the election, and this is the guy we’ve got, we might as well hope for his success while continuing to vocalize our needs and beliefs to keep him focused.

ou don’t always get to pick your pony, and sometimes your horse loses the race, but before you toss your ticket on the ground and head home sulking, let’s try thinking of ways we can help Horgan be the best leader possible. John Horgan is a man who seems to be willing to piss enough people off to do the right thing. He’s been passionate and vocal about his opinion of America's 45th president, and he supports minority groups in the LGBTQ community. Some voters may think that’s not a big deal, but there are still some deeply entrenched and disturbing views in politics and having someone with the courage to stand up to hate matters. It matters to have someone in charge with the conviction to stay true to their beliefs. Afterall, if poltiics were the Olympics, flip-flopping would be the marquis event. Think about times in recent memory when Christy Clark told us public schools were a priority, and then… Poof! See ya later public schools; let’s feed the private schools. We all remember Charming Justin campaigning under the banner of “no pipelines” during the last federal election. Then what happened? He made an economical decision to approve a pipeline despite the risk of environmental disaster. Now that

www.linkbcit.ca

What's on Horgan's plate: No Pipelines.

Canada’s economy may hurt, but BC’s waterways will not.

More money to adult education.

Has not been a priority in past governments.

Taking 'Big Business' out of politics

More environmentally friendly decision-making.

Site C Dam

Will not go ahead despite federal pressure.

At the end of the day, we all want to see our dollar strenghten and our people flourish. Alberta’s decision to nix a new pipleine will soon bear ugly fruit, and there is a risk that the same decisions here will damage our own economy. In my humble opinion though, being the leader of a Province means thinking for the Province first, and we in BC have entirely different and specific challenges and opportunities. If Justin and the gang in Ottawa are unhappy with Horgan following through on his promises, let them complain to the media. At least we will know that Horgan stayed true and did what he said he was going to. If the majority of British Columbians wanted pipelines, good ol’ Christy Clark would still be in charge. The good news for British Columbians who want our land preserved the way it should be, is that Horgan has Andrew Weaver watching closely, and he’s one tough hombre when it comes to the environment. After all, we owe the Indigenous people of BC a commitment to protecting our coastlines. But it will be no easy task for Horgan. Get some sleep while you can John; this new job is sure to cause a lot of stress.

Max Huang Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 14

Photo Feature Summer Trips

(bottom) Albert Tang Spain / Italy

(top) Dianne Baccay Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

VIGILANTES! THIS AIN’t JUStICE... OR IS IT JUST US?

words selenna ho illustrations eda aktas He waits in the food court at the local mall, tapping his foot and muttering under his breath. He hardly stands out as he scans the crowd of busy people; everyone talking to each other, scrolling through their phones or people-watching in the cafeteria. For him, it’s the perfect setting for “the exposure.” He’s ready to film it. He’s ready to ambush someone with the evidence he’s been collecting. He’s ready to call for reinforcement. His target will never know it’s coming. He looks around for this person, knowing they won’t recognize him; after all, he’s in disguise. He’s wearing a hoodie, jeans, and a beard, looking like anyone but the 14-year-old girl he’s been pretending to be online.

www.linkbcit.ca

Feature Social Commentary

They call themselves the “Creep Catchers;” a self-proclaimed vigilante group who use the internet to bait alleged sexual predators (or “creeps”) into public rendez-vous where they can dramatically expose them. They film their ambushes and post the edits online for the world to see. To some, the Creep Catchers may seem heroic: they’re doing something about pedophila that the police and court systems seem to be missing. To others, the Creep Catchers seem like they’re abusing social media to gain a twisted popularity and sense of power. Vigilantism as a means to catch pedophiles is not uncommon across Canada and the United States. Other well-known groups include Anonymous, Creep Hunters, and Perverted Justice. More recently though, the phenomena of internet vigilantism seems to be on the rise, with many of these so-called vigilantes conducting their own sense of justice. Vigilante justice is characterized as using conventional legal force to personally hurt and target individuals with public shame and sometimes, physical violence. To some, including themselves, the Creep Catchers seem like the heroes our society so desperately needs. To others, these groups only reinforce abusive behaviours, perpetuating a negative cycle that focuses on hurting over healing. Heroes or villains? This is the dilemma at the heart of vigilantism. Pedophile sting operations became popular with the 2004 debut of by the American Dateline series, To Catch a Predator. In this show, host Chris Hansen and his team, in collaboration with the online, volunteer-based organization Perverted Justice, would pose as teenagers online. When adults began soliciting them for sex, the online team would invite them to an undercover house where they would then confront the accused, and the entire scene would be filmed for prime time television viewers around the world. The series became so popular that it inspired amateur “pedophile hunting” groups across North America.

www.linkbcit.ca

reep Catchers was originally founded in 2015 by Dawson Raymond in Calgary, Alberta. Raymond was inspired by Hansen’s To Catch a Predator, as well as Justin Payne, who was arguably Canada’s first pedophile hunter. Although Payne continues to work independently (he says the Creep Catchers are too dramatic), Raymond used social media to promote and leverage his creep catching mission to another geographic level. Fast forward two years, and Creep Catchers now has roughly 15 chapters all across Canada, from BC to New Brunswick. These chapters are groups of mostly young men who pose as minors online to lure their targets into real-life meetings. According to the Canadian criminal code, it’s not illegal to talk to a minor online if the communication stays purely platonic. However, an adult can be convicted of luring a child so long as there’s evidence to suggest there were criminal intentions for sexual assault or kidnapping. Pedophilia is one of the most disgusting crimes in our society. To take advantage of such a vulnerable child is horrifying. According to Statistics Canada, there was a total of 4,532 number of total sexual violations against children reported to police in 2015, which

includes luring, sexual interference, and sexual exploitation. This number has gone up since 2011, when 3,804 sexual violations against children were reported. Moreover the number of child pornography-related police reports has increased from 1,958 in 2011, to 4,310 in 2015. Police say the numbers have increased due to better reporting, smartphones, social media, and specialized units like the Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (ICE). So why is pedophile-hunting such an attractive endeavour for the Creep Catchers? Convicted pedophiles are reviled in society. As such, outing these people has the potential to seem heroic. Gratification and public recognition is alluring to the Creep Catchers and their fans. And with the ability to post and share the videos, further announcing themselves to the world, the vigilante phenomenon only grows stronger. Social media plays a large part in the Creep Catchers’ compelling narratives. According to the Celebrity Studies academic journal article “Self-branding, ‘microcelebrity’ and the rise of Social Media Influencers,” social media allows ordinary people with unique stories to gain high visibility and ultimately,

popularity. Ordinary citizens can turn into online celebrities with the click of a mouse. Obtaining the ‘micro-celebrity’ social status becomes easier through the multitude of social media platforms. But it also becomes more difficult when there’s so much competition in the attention economy. One’s personal brand must be the premium distinction in a saturated market. Maybe this is exactly why the Creep Catchers are so attracted to the vigilante roles they play in real life, and online: because it leverages their social capital. But capturing disturbing footage and evidence of possible pedophilia, then intentionally distributing it so publicly through social media is not only unique, it’s sinister. Even if the Creep Catcher’s end goal stems from good intentions, their actions leave traces of suspicion and distrust. Indeed, the Creep Catcher’s heroic intentions and manipulative actions make it difficult to discern real pride for proper law enforcement.

A quick scan through some of their videos and you know that the Creep Catchers’ sting operations naturally become confrontational; often ending with them screaming profanities at the accused, who usually react in fear, confusion, and anger. It’s textbook bullying and harassment which further confuses the whole approach. The Creep Catchers approach is dangerous, and the perpetual cycle of abuse leaves us questioning who the ‘bad guy’ really is. Surrey RCMP maintain that public vigilantism poses significant risks to the safety of all involved, and that using trained investigators is the best method to ensure offenders are held accountable for their crimes. Surrey City Councillor Mike Starchuck argues against vigilantes highlighting how by very definition they do not abide by the laws. Starchuck instead suggests relying on legitimate organizations such as Block Watch or Crime Prevention, rather than vigilante groups. “With every one of

“the perpetual cycle of abuse leaves us questioning who the bad guy really is." the Creep Catchers’ apprehensions we’ve seen an escalation of violence,” he reflects. “For myself, I’m just not comfortable.” Late last year, a trans woman from Edmonton, Katelynn McKnight, committed suicide following a Creep Catchers ambush that ended with her name spread all over social media. When questioned about the social media shaming that possibly led to her suicide, Creep Catcher Ryan LaForge admitted that he didn’t care: “As far as I’m concerned, and again, as crude as this may be, let ‘em all do it. It makes my job a lot easier.” LaForge is the President of the The Surrey chapter of Creep Catchers, and has been under more public scrutiny than any other chapter. They’ve been crit-

icized for disrupting the legitimized legal processes by interfering with police work, and for abusing their social power. LaForge himself has been charged twice with assault in relation to his sting operations. Just earlier this summer, the BC’s acting privacy commissioner Drew MacArthur declared that the Surrey Creep Catchers violated the Personal Information Privacy Act in relation to two complainants. The Creep Catchers are not an official legal organization, and have little-to-no direct affiliations with their jurisdiction’s legal authority. The Surrey Manager of Public Safety Operations, Jas Rehal reinforces that the Creep Catchers’ behaviour is not something The City condones. “We don’t recommend this activity, and we believe that it increases risks to public.” Rehal recommends that the public turn to professionals who are “trained on the processing and the evidence gathering that will stand up in our legal system” as the best course of action. That said, the growing number of Creep Catchers supporters is surely a sign that many people are not satisfied with the current approach to tracking and catching pedophiles. The creation of vigilante groups like the Creep Catchers show that people are motivated and willing to make the changes that they want to see. However, perpetuating cycles of abuse through social media shaming and sting operations only escalates the inhumanity. What we need is internal change, in both vigilante and legal systems. Both authorities have the knowledge, experience, and resources to enhance and strengthen the fight against pedophila. At the same time, law-abiding jurisdictions and vigilante groups tend to contradict one another’s core values and methods, despite similar end goals. If they could only find a way to combine the passion of the Creep Catchers, with the professional approach of law enforcement, we might all be better off, and one step closer to eradicating pedophilia altogether.

What do you thin k? Post on our Facebook Wall an d let us know.

HELP WANTED:

AT HOME Twila Amato looks at the allure of 'voluntourism,' and how it can distract us from helping in our own backyard. photo ryan judd 20

Feature A quick scroll through my social media feeds and I’m seeing my friends travelling and doing aid work abroad; building orphanages and schools, teaching English. Some of their trips happened years ago, yet the photos are shared again, to commemorate the work they did. Some of them who went were professionally trained, but many of them were not; they went simply because they saw a problem they thought they could help alleviate. But what about here, in our own communities?

any of us see people on social media travelling to impoverished places to volunteer. We can be so inspired to help out internationally, but we sometimes overlook problems here at home. We sit inside the trendy cafés and eateries that continue to pop up in downtrodden parts of our own towns, dreaming about helping those who are suffering in other parts of the world, when we could start by helping those right outside the door. I once wanted to volunteer abroad too, and I even signed up to be part of a university medical corps that was travelling to Peru one summer. I ended up not going, but I had to ask myself why I wanted to go in the first place. At some point, many of us think about volunteering abroad simply because people we know are doing it; I know that’s why I wanted to go to Peru. My friends are good people, and I wanted them to know that I was a good person too. I was seeking a sense of social validation, while overlooking ways I could help those in my own city who need it. And when you think about it, aren’t we better suited to help out at home afterall? We're already integrated and knowledgeable about our community's culture, language and socioeconomic resources — many of the important qualifications one lacks when volunteering in other countries. The phenomenon of “voluntourism” — traveling afar to perform international aid work by combining sightseeing with helping out a community in need — is not necessarily a new concept. There are many great non-profit organisations and charities that need help delivering relief internationally that give you a chance to travel somewhere new while supporting their cause. Habitat for Humanity for example in their South African mission has about 5,000 volunteers from around the world who build houses and help with community engagement initiatives. More and more websites are popping up, like GoOverseas.com, which help people find their volunteer program match. According to GoOverseas’ research results for volunteering trends, natural disasters attract the most international volunteers because people want to help in places where they know the locals are struggling to get up again. But again, what about here? What is about the disasters in our own community that have trouble attracting the same influx of volunteers? Voluntourism has taken on negative connotations in recent years. On the surface, it is a noble effort; people try to find fulfilment by travelling far away and doing good works. But in a way, voluntourism can also be an excuse to have a guilt-free trip. If you really cared about helping people, why not start at home?

Volunteering / Community

As important and fulfilling as it is to help unfamiliar people in unfamiliar circumstances, we can learn to find fulfilment in improving our own neighbourhoods first. According to the 2017 Metro Vancouver homeless count, there was a 30% increase since 20141. Of course, homelessness is not just a Vancouver problem. The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) 2017 homeless count revealed 603 homeless persons, also up from 2014’s count of 346. According to the count, Abbotsford and Chilliwack registered the most homeless individuals within the FVRD 2. In Surrey, homelessness rose 49% from 2014 and Maple Ridge also showed rising numbers. There are less youth on the streets, but the number of homeless seniors rose from 371 to 556. In recent times, staggering reports about the number of fentanyl deaths around BC in 2016 (currently totalled at 914) have dominated news outlets. A “normal” day in downtown Vancouver sees at least three ambulances just blocks away from each other. I’ve witnessed this very scene for myself, and it’s a far cry from the squeaky-clean office towers just a few paces away. There are a many factors that contribute to the Lower Mainland's homelessness phenomena. Among them are: unaffordable housing, rising living costs, and rapidly changing neighbourhood demographics. These factors have been increasing for many years – and yet here we are, still not sure where to go. Margaret Heffernan, an international businesswoman and author wrote in her book Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril 3, “the larger the number of people who witness an emergency, the fewer who will intervene.” In Vancouver’s bustling DTES, homelessness is so prevalent, but because there can be so many different types of people around at any given time, we don’t seem to notice it as much. We tend to assume that since so many other people are witnessing the same crisis, surely someone else will do something about it. So we do nothing but stand by. Some studies suggest that when faced with crisis in real-time, people generally prefer no change, not to act, or to delay acting 4. Psychologists call it "Decision avoidance," or the human tendency to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that the problem doesn’t exist. In the Lower Mainland, we often try to avoid encountering the problem by actively dodging the homeless parts of town, or not engaging homeless people in our own neighbourhoods. We’ve all been guilty of this at some point; after all, it’s pretty difficult to not notice the homeless.

“2017 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count,” BC Non-Profit Housing Association, accessed Aug. 9, 2017, “Preliminary Findings: 2017 FVRD Homeless Count,” Fraser Valley Regional District, accessed Aug. 14, 2017 3 Margaret Heffernan, Willful Blindness: Why we ignore the obvious at our peril (Canada: Anchor Canada, 2012), Pg. 148 4 Christopher J. Anderson, “The Psychology of Doing Nothing: Forms of Decision Avoidance Result From Reason and Emotion,” Psychological Bulletin 129, no. 1 (2003): 140, accessed Aug. 14, 2017 1 2

www.linkbcit.ca

"People are needed to mobilize, enforce and maintain real change. In this case, one can really make a difference without travelling to far-off lands."

Other extreme versions of the phenomenon manifest when we see new stores, cafés, and eateries popping up right in the heart of these troubled neighbourhoods, often playing off the industrial or “ghetto” culture to blend in. We see this in areas like Mount Pleasant or Kensington-Cedar Cottage. In some cases, these areas are “revitalized” by kicking out, or inhibiting the growth of, “low-brow” businesses that cater to the lower- and middle-classes, as is the case in downtown Mission. New businesses are thriving in poorer neighbourhoods, by catering to the economically well-off, often young and hip professionals. These same businesses are out of reach for the people whose neighbourhoods they’ve moved into. Sociologist Zachary Hyde calls the phenomena “neighbourhood cannibalism.” It’s kind of like cultural appropriation, only instead of borrowing or appropriating cultural styles and symbols, neighbourhood cannibals tend to actively exclude those who actually live this reality. These new establishments tend to glamourize what it really means to be economically disadvantaged.

Abbotsford Abbotsford Food Bank (33914 Essendene Ave)

Helps provide food, shelter, and mentoring from the community to help the homeless get back on their feet. 604-859-5749

Chilliwack Cyrus Centre (45845 Wellington Avenue)

Provides help, food, and shelter for youth out on the streets.

But neighbourhood cannibalism is only one of the many factors contributing to homelessness. According to a 2011 study of the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood, there’s about 9,000 rental and social housing units in the area 5. However, due to rapidly rising prices, less and less people are buying their own homes, which means that more and more people are staying in rental homes longer. Home ownership costs rose so much faster than incomes that 15% of households generally began spending about 50% of their income on rent 5. This creates a domino effect, as people who live in these rental homes become less and less economically diverse. Inevitably, this pushes out others who need places to stay.

604-795-5773

City governments at least seem to be trying more now to enact strategies to help end homelessness. According to the Housing and Homelessness Strategy report, some initiatives include increasing the supply of affordable housing, access to shelters, and supportive social housing in neighbourhoods with a high homeless population 5. The City of Vancouver’s policies aim to provide housing for vulnerable Vancouverites, which include those with mental illnesses, physical disabilities, seniors, and Aboriginal people. However, governments can only do so much before the public needs to get involved. As with any other initiative, people are needed to mobilize, enforce and maintain real change. In this case, one can really make a difference without travelling to far-off lands.

Surrey Surrey Urban Mission (10776 King George Hwy)

There’s irony in the fact that we’d choose to lend a hand to those farther away, while turning a blind eye to our own neighbours. Don’t get me wrong, altruism is an amazing quality to have, but ignoring local problems while searching for humanitarianism opportunities abroad does not make our own problems go away — it worsens them. This doesn’t mean we should ignore international causes. But if we assigned as much cultural clout on local volunteering as we did on international causes, perhaps we’d come closer to a solution for the homelessness, addiction and mental illness we see at our own doorsteps. You might not make a grand leap off to a wondrous distant country, but you will take the little steps towards changing someone else's life. And when it comes to volunteering, that's what really matters. 5

Just a few of the Lower Mainland organizations looking for volunteers and donations of money, clothing, and nonperishable food items:

Vancouver First United Church (320 E Hastings St)

24-hour low barrier shelter located in the Downtown Eastside. 604-681-8365

Provides food and clothing for the homeless in the Whalley neighbourhood 604-581-5172

(Various locations) Fraser Valley Youth Society

Holds weekly drop-ins for youth, particularly from the LGBTQ2+ community, seeking mentorship and a safe space 604-200-3203 www.fraseryouth.com/

“Housing and Homeless Strategy,” City of Vancouver, accessed Aug. 14 2017, http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/Homeless-Strategy-2012-2021pdf.pdf

exposure. a student photo show

Fancy yourself a photographer? Submit your photos for a chance to show your work in the campus pub.

Email: editor@linkbcit Tag us: @thelinkmag

Exposure.indd 1

2017-08-30 2:37 PM

New Student Workwear & Uniform Discount Students in trades, hospitality and healthcare programs now have access to a 20% discount voucher at Mark’s retail stores. This voucher is available at BCIT’s bookstore. Ask an employee about the discount. It’s easy, use the voucher on pre-selected products based on your enrolled program. This is a limited time offer available during select days at the start of every fall and winter semester. Mark’s Commercial, is the business to business arm of Mark’s. We’re here to help make your program experience easier.

www.linkbcit.ca

markscommercial.ca

words tanushree pillai

Antonio paces around the studio, going over his script and practicing his opening lines. He sits down at the news desk and shuffles his papers, staring directly into the camera. In 30 seconds he’ll go live in front of the world to deliver his report: “Superheroes Don Capes as BCIT under Dinosaur Siege!” [photo: ryan judd]

Antonio is 12. He’s participating in BCIT’s Summer Media camp – a 1-week intensive camp for kids with an interest in learning how news is made and delivered. I was there as a counsellor, helping to guide them with my experience as a journalist. In the end though, perhaps I learned the most about what it means to grow up in the era of “fake news.”

moon, watched Lee Harvey Oswald get assassinated, and more recently, two 767s fly into the World Trade Centre. Today's kids though might not even be able to tell you what a newspaper is, and the television is just a means to watch Netflix a bit bigger — neither are go-to places for finding out what happened around the world today. No, today’s news arrives in your pocket with a little ‘ding’ and a tiny vibration. Social media and news apps are the main sources for the latest headlines in this day and age. A 2016 survey by Pew Research Centre suggests that 60% of Americans consume news via social media, with Reddit being a popular source.

60 kids aged 7-12 attended the camp, which was held by the Broadcast & Online Journalism, and Television and Video Production programs at BCIT as part of an ongoing effort to increase awareness about how journalists work in the field. I was there to teach them, to help them understand how to interact with the news. I am also a mom to a little boy of my own, so this was a great opportunity for me to learn from these kids as well. At the end of those three weeks, two things became very clear: the importance of social media for sharing news, and the significant transformation of ethical journalism in the age of Donald Trump. Day after day we are inundated with headlines, tweets and shares; confronted with the 24-hour news cycle in ways I never experienced when I was a kid. This generation of kids coming up today have a tough job ahead of them, to weed through all the noise and try to make sense of it all. Kids are more aware of political news than ever before. What's more – they’re no longer passive consumers of news, they’re actually inspired and motivated to make change based on what they are hearing and reading. Their secret weapon? Smartphones. Our source for news has always evolved alongside technology. What began as word of mouth, became newspapers and then eventually television. Major news events happened rarely and we were lucky if we caught them. Kids parked in front of the tube saw a man land on the

"I missed the first opportunity to explain to my child why Trump happened."

Millennials are the generation who grew up with a rattle in one hand and a smartphone in the other. And because these same people are notorious for posting near-constant selfies and hashtags on all their accounts, there's been an automatic assumption that smartphones and social media are associated as “bad” for society. Contrary to popular belief though, social media is actually a strong platform for the sharing of ideas; and it can be very educational. A 2015 study by non-profit group Common Sense Media showed that children aged 8 -12 spend nearly six hours a day consuming media, especially news. They live in a bubble of digital media – sometimes checking their smartphones 100 times a day. This means that kids today will likely learn about breaking news before their parents do. For a parent like me, that's a shocking statistic. Social media is shaping every aspect of kids’ lives, and in return, shaping the way we all engage with the world and its news. “Today's youth have grown up in a world where change is the new normal,” says Sameer Ismail of the BCIT Student Association. “Their level of comfort with all the emerging social media platforms means that they

Feature

"These kids are smart: they love technology and they absolutely know how to leverage it." will be incredibly well-positioned to leverage those platforms to change the way we spread knowledge.” When you combine factual information (news) with the insights derived from social media (opinion), the result is a powerful one that is capable of driving change, and that is exactly what today's youth are doing: creating change. Kids today are learning how to leverage the power of social media to accomplish this. First they consume the news, then they spread what they’ve just consumed, and then critique it

[photo: ryan judd]

with their friends. It’s not much different than the coffee shops and beauty parlours of the past. But who is there to help them understand what they’re consuming? To help them distinguish between real and “fake;” between honest and paid? As a journalist, and a mom, I feel like we need to give these kids the space to learn, to implement change, but we also need to be there to help them unpack the complexities of the adult world. Social media is a double-edged sword, Sameer believes. “It does have the ability to allow people to organize and communicate. On the other hand… the way that false information mixes so freely with accurate information means that all consumers of news and information need to be incredibly vigilant to verify the accuracy of that news and information." As a mom, what worries me is that I don't get the first right to explain

www.linkbcit.ca

what certain things on the news might mean. I don't get to filter the news for them and help determine what's appropriate and “real.” It means that kids learn of events without meaning to. After all, I missed the first opportunity to explain to my child why Trump happened. But perhaps, it’s an old-school way of thinking and learning without constant parental filtering and iss actually a better way to learn.

ake news. Thanks to you-know-who, it’s the buzz word of 2017. When you look past how he’s using the term to deflect bad press, you see that it actually is a real problem. In an age where anyone with a Twitter account and a smartphone set to record is a “journalist,” social media is ripe with falsehoods. With kids being the primary users of social media, us journalists often ask ourselves: How do kids differentiate between real and fake news – especially when adults already have trouble doing so? A 2017 survey by Common Sense Media noted that 41 per cent of kids said they can’t differentiate real news from fake. At the same time, 31 per cent said they shared a story online and later found out it was fake.

Journalism in conjunction with social media is constantly changing, faster than many journalists can adapt. Today we have this new stigma attached to news. Is it real or fake? Paid or genuine? What the heck does 'Advertorial' even mean? BCIT’s Television program instructor Sia Dezvareh contemplates this very dilemma: “I think even mature audiences may face difficulties differentiating between real and fake news. It requires investigative journalism techniques to do so.” As a journalist myself, I understand the principles of ethical journalism: news must be true and accurate, fair, independent, and humane. As journalists, we are also responsible for teaching the next generation strong and ethical news reporting. To my surprise, and delight, what I learned over those three weeks this past summer is that kids today are highly interested in ethical journalism. They are uncomfortable with news that's “made up” and

Media Literacy

rightly so. Which maybe should not come as a surprise, considering today's Age of Trump. When the camp started, we volunteers and instructors sometimes wondered if the learning curve was too high, but we were immediately proven wrong. These kids are smart: they love technology and they absolutely know how to leverage it. So what are they leveraging it for? I’ll give you a hint: during the news writing class we hosted, Donald Trump was chosen as the number one subject for their essays. When instructors asked kids to get creative, they chose to get political. Teaching news writing to nine-year olds isn't easy – their need to question everything is hard enough, and they only settle for straightforward answers. That made all us adults uncomfortable. And for a good reason, too. Ethical journalism is a big, giant hole that remains to be filled in this new era. In order to eradicate fake news, strive for ethical journalism and adapt to social media, professional journalists today need to build a foundation for journalists of the future; a foundation where kids can talk, share, and implement ideas for our transforming industry. Camps like the one BCIT hosted this past summer are a great way to share the conversation around news, and provide excellent opportunities for young kids to be critical about what they consume on social media. More importantly, creating safe spaces for kids to analyse what they see on their smart phones makes them feel empowered – that their voices matter. We need to guide them in the right direction. The conversation about real and fake news shouldn't just be limited to young kids at camps. Nor should only professional journalists have to carry the mantle for it. As cliched as it sounds, our kids are the future. When Trump is long gone, the stigma around real vs. fake news will continue. It is the knowledge we impart our kids today that will help them guide the big bad world of 24/7 news that battles for screen space with their Facebook posts and Snapchat stories. After all, they are the generation that will guide both social media and news media into an ethical direction.

Focus on Faculty Brewmaster / Food Technology Instructor

From humble beginnings in Puebla, a suburb two hours from Mexico City, to a craft brewery in Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Olympic Village, Mauricio Lozano (alongside his wife Alicia) is using his expertise as an instructor in BCITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Food Technology and Operations Management program to give traditional craft beers a fresh kick at one of the city's most popular new breweries.

words kellan tochkin

Faculty Brewing Co. (1830 Ontario St.,Vancouver) 26

What got you hooked on craft beer? I did a year abroad in Leeds in the UK. I was studying engineering food science and there was an elective course in traditional alcoholic beverages. I thought I would be learning about wine or spirits. Little did I know I was in West Yorkshire and the course was about northern English beers. [We] learned how they used only locally sourced ingredients in the beer and that's what got me hooked on this vision. How did you end up launching the brewery in Vancouver? In 2008 my wife and I both went into our Masters programs at UBC. She was studying architecture, and I was continuing Engineering in food sciences. I was home-brewing at the time and finding more passion with each new batch. With the scenery and way of life in Vancouver, we both fell in love with the city. We finished our programs and decided to stay here for good. In 2012, there was a surge of craft breweries opening up with regulations being passed in City Hall to allow breweries to have tasting rooms. With that, my passion got even larger. In 2016, the chance came for my wife and I to live out the dream, and we pounced on it and have not looked back.

www.linkbcit.ca

How does your brewery stand apart from the other craft breweries? In my engineering career I worked for many of different companies including some breweries. I've been really connected to the food world in the city. BCIT offered me a part-time job in the Food Technology and Operations program. It made me want to open a brewery that took components of what I was teaching and apply it to beer. We had a unique idea. We felt we needed to take a creative approach to naming our beers, so even someone who knows nothing about beer would be able to connect with them. We found adding facts and recipes to the beers really helped educate the consumer, regardless of their experience with beer. That is also what gave us the name: we are the beer faculty, here to educate people. If you are afraid of craft beer, Faculty is a perfect place for you. We walk you through each different beer to find a pairing for the wildest of beer drinkers, and that is where our beer stands apart from others. [We] also use 100% local products. With my connections in the food industry, it made it a bit easier to get the products we need to create our vision of perfect craft beers to stand apart from others.

What else is Faculty Brewing doing differently? We knew it was going to be an uphill battle from the start. In a saturated market, using local can only go so far. That is why we added another element to our beers. You can go get an IPA or Hefeweizen anywhere. That's why we added different flavour profiles. For instance, we added mint to our normal Hef to make it a Minzeweizen. Sourweisse is also one we had fun with almost trying to make it like a sour cocktail. Again, to make it easy for nontraditional beer drinkers to enjoy. From a branding standpoint, you really seem to hit every note. We knew that with the name, came expectations. It was a place to take beer even further and have it almost like a classroom. We are here to educate people on the phenomenon because so many Vancouverites are getting on board with craft brewing. We have noticed a positive reception to that and are hoping to take the brand to new heights, while staying humble. It is a market that is growing and we plan to continue to stay unique. It takes a lot of heart to do this and we are not doing this for just us and the profits. We are doing this for the people.

Sports Mayweather vs. McGregor

Cheque Mate. by George Eliopoulos

So, did the super fight live up to the hype? As I stood inside a bar with rowdy groups of men and women decked out in all-green in support of their beloved Irish MMA star, others cheering wildly for a modern day boxing legend to extend his perfect record to 50-0, while people out on the street clamoured to find a spot where they could catch a glimpse of the televisions through the second floor window, I realized then that the answer to that question was a resounding ‘yes.’ Only months ago it seemed laughable that a crossover bout would happen between Conor McGregor, the UFC’s two-division champion and most marketable star, and Floyd Mayweather, an undefeated (and technically retired) boxing champion. Never before had we seen a mixed martial artist anywhere close to McGregor’s caliber venture inside a boxing ring, but there had also never been this much money at stake. When the fight was announced in June, both fighters were set to make over $100 million for a night’s work. Pay-per-view, merchandise and gate revenues are still being tallied, but initial estimates have the fight generating up to $500 million with both fighters expecting to easily eclipse a nine-figure payday. Simply said, this fight happened because the money was too extraordinary for it not to. If you aren’t familiar with the world of MMA, Conor McGregor has spent the last few years taking it by storm. Just four years ago he was living off a $215 unemployment check in Ireland, but he’s now the first two-division champion in UFC history and has been the head-

liner for three of the UFC’s four highest grossing pay-per-view fights. While you could make a solid argument for McGregor as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, it’s much more than his left hook and devastating leg kicks that make him such an incredible draw. The Irishman’s bravado and unshakable confidence is unparalleled, even in a sport filled with irrational machismo. Take that “Notorious” persona, mix it with a thick Irish accent and a seemingly endless supply of one liners, and McGregor’s press conferences become as entertaining as his fights. If you see someone walking around with a tee shirt that says, “Who the fook are you?” thank McGregor for that one. If McGregor was the one bringing casual fans to the fight, it’s Floyd “Money” Mayweather who brings the boxing pedigree and big bucks. Arguably considered to be the greatest defensive fighter of all time, Mayweather has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in his undefeated career, and through no fault of his own cocky demeanour and in-your-face attitude, has drawn the ire of the many people who’ve paid time and time again to see him lose. And so here we were again, with millions of people watching him square off against someone who has never professionally boxed. Considering the staggering amount of hype (complete with a multi-city tour of live trash talking events), this fight had the potential to be a major letdown á la Mayweather’s previous super-tilt against one of his contemporaries, Manny Pacquio. Instead, Conor and Floyd made the night of August 26th one to

remember. McGregor came out firing and brought bars and living rooms across the world into a frenzy as he landed big shots in the first few rounds. But after a flurry from McGregor to start the fourth round, fatigue started to set in and Mayweather’s tactical expertise simply overwhelmed his opponent who was getting deeper into his first professional boxing match. By the ninth round, Floyd was going in for the kill and, with a minute and a half still remaining in the round, you could see McGregor look up at the clock to find out how much longer he needed to survive before getting a break from the beating. He made it to the end of that round, but in the tenth it was more of the same and the referee eventually stepped in, calling the fight as a technical knockout for Mayweather. The controversial boxing icon promptly re-retired with an unblemished 50-0 professional boxing record. When it was all over, while the pandemonium ensued outside of the ring, the two fighters met in the middle of it, smiling and congratulating each other on what was a historic battle. While most viewers got everything they could have asked for in a spirited bout that left no one doubting McGregor’s heart and Mayweather’s skill, it was the two fighters who really won. Both left mostly unscathed and with a life-altering paycheque coming their way. To sum it all up, I’ll leave it to Floyd “Money” Mayweather himself who, in the press conference after the fight, jumped in when a reporter asked McGregor what the biggest difference is between boxing and mixed martial arts, interjecting with two simple words: the cheque.

Enjoy George's sports commentary? Be sure to check out his weekly NFL blog online at www.linkbcit.ca

LET’S GLOW CRAZY

during BCIT’s Kickstart

Monday, Sep. 11

Tuesday, Sep. 12

Wednesday, Sep. 13

Thursday, Sep. 14

Neon Spin Class 5:30 - SE 16 Activity Room

Glow Zumba 5:30 - SE 16 Activity Room

Glow in the Dark Dodgeball 2:30 - SE 16 Gym

Yoga Rave 5:30 - SE 16 Activity Room

www.linkbcit.ca

Expo 86, the World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, was held in Vancouver between May and October 1986. Rick was inspired by its theme, “World in Motion–World in Touch,” and the organizers provided early support for the Man In Motion Tour.

Reviews Books

Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour 30 Years Later—A Celebration of Courage, Strength, and the Power of Community (greystone books) by Jake MacDonald Foreword by Rick Hansen

is name was Rick Hansen, and he was a 27-year-old paraplegic. In the spring of 1985 he set out from Vancouver, British Columbia, in a wheelchair, determined to do what everyone said was impossible. “When I first heard of his plan, I told him he was crazy,” says advertising executive and broadcaster Fin Anthony. “I told him the most helpful thing I could do for him was to call in two doctors and get him committed.” Rick’s dream was to push his wheelchair around the world—to spend 18 months wheeling through 34 countries. The weather would range from unpleasant to dangerous. The timeline would mean wheeling more than two full marathons every wheeling day. The chances of a serious medical breakdown or fatal accident were significant, and if he survived the 40,000-kilometre trek, he would come home without a nickel to show for it. Worst of all, he was abandoning a woman who was becoming the love of his life. [Excerpted from Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour: 30 Years Later—A Celebration of Courage, Strength, and the Power of Community. Written by Jake MacDonald with a foreword by Rick Hansen and published September 2017 by Greystone Books. Reproduced here with permission from the publisher.]

Pick up a copy of the book Sept. 27 and learn the whole story of Hansen's epic journey complete with neverbefore-seen photos from the tour. More at: www.greystonebooks.com.

www.linkbcit.ca

[All photographs courtesy of the Rick Hansen Foundation, with contributions from John and Joan Tennant, Harvey Glanville, Dave Doroghy, Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts, Nancy Thompson, Tim Frick, and Bob Redford.]

TELL US A STORY... LINK is always looking for BCIT students, faculty & staďŹ&#x20AC; with unique experiences to share. Nominate yourself or someone you know to be a Spotlight feature, share your passion for a particular topic, or show us some of your amazing art and designs. Â Practice your craft, build your portfolio and make a bit of extra cash. Writing and Editing Photography Illustration Graphic Design Interested? E-mail us or tag us on social media! editor@linkbcit.ca

#BCITandBEYOND www.linkbcit.ca