Volume 47, Issue 12

The Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Toronto Mississauga since 1974

Issue 012 Volume 47 December 07 2020

themedium.ca

NEW COVID CHALLENGES

A REVOLUTIONARY YEAR

NEW & OLD TRADITIONS

As Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the Peel Region, precautionary measures are being put into place. On December 1, the Peel region opened its Covid-19 isolation center. Peel is the second location to receive funding through the Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites Program... >> COVID continued on page 02

Condensing this year into one article is not only a massive undertaking, but also impossible. The start of the second decade of the 21st century has turned out to be an insanely cataclysmic year, fundamentally changing the world we knew only 12 short months ago. >> RECAP continued on page 04

We’ll wrap gifts with red ribbon, string lights around pine trees, and place light-up reindeer on our lawns. We’ll Zoom call our loved ones overseas, dust counters for a fresh batch of cookies, and online shop with an air of finesse. >> CHRISTMAS continued on page 08

NEWS

Over 100,000 Ontario households face eviction Isik Vera Senel News Editor

I

n accordance with the Stop Unsafe Evictions campaign, the Ontario Alliance to End Homelessness and the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario published an open letter on its website. The letter calls for the re-establishment of a moratorium on residential evictions during these unprecedented times.

The campaign urges Ontario residents to send the letter to their local Member of Provincial Parliament, Premier Doug Ford, and Attorney General Doug Downey.

>> EVICTIONS continued on page 03

ARTS

FEATURES

From Little Women to A Christmas Carol: Our top reads for this holiday season

Supporting and understanding the Indigenous community

Hana Khan Staff Writer

May Alsaigh Associate Features Editor

A

K

s the snow falls faintly around us, and the soft lights of trees twinkle in the night sky, the holiday season is upon us. But while the season may look the same, it probably won’t feel the same as in year’s past.

As the pandemic wages on, and with fewer relatives coming to visit for Christmas dinner, we each have a lot more time to ourselves. It’s the perfect chance to explore our other hobbies, and what better way to start the holidays than by cozying up with a book or two? Or five?

With that said, here are five books I recommend you get your mittens on this Christmas season.

——— We begin with a novel perfect for anyone who loves mystery yet still seeks the holiday feel. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie expertly combines Christmas magic with Christie’s renowned and undiluted suspense.

Simeon Lee is the wealthy, ill-tempered patriarch of his family, who’s definitely not known for his warm nature towards them, which is why we’re shocked when he invites his four sons and their wives back home for the holidays.

aeliana Smoke is a fourth-year UTM student completing a double major in biology and anthropology, and Professor Jedediah Kuhn is an assistant professor within the department of historical studies. Smoke and Professor Kuhn are uniquely involved in the Indigenous community—a community which lacks support from UTM’s faculty and students.

First, it is crucial to take a moment and understand the history of specific terms to recognize and respect the members in whose traditional territories we reside.

“Aboriginals” refer to Canada’s first inhabitants, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. This term is not commonly used in the United States. Instead, the term “Native American” is commonly used to describe Aboriginal peoples. The term “Indigenous” encapsulates various Aboriginal groups and is most frequently used in a global context.

The term “native” and “Indian” can hold negative connotations and is not convenient for a wide range of populations.

This year, Kaeliana Smoke founded the first Indigenous book club at the UTM campus to enable Indigenous students to connect and bond

>> BOOKS continued on page 10

>> INDIGENOUS continued on page 06

02

NEWS

Editor | Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca

Over $40K was issued in fines at a Mississauga house party Jacob Bentzinger/unsplash.com

Razia Saleh Contributor >> COVID continued from page 01 following the funding provided to Toronto Public Health earlier this year.

On November 26, the Government of Canada issued a news release on their website regarding the new safety measures against the Covid-19 pandemic in the Peel region and how the government is working to establish them safely and effectively.

“The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced $6.5 million in funding over 16 months for Peel Public Health to establish a safe, voluntary isolation site,” read the news release.

The government’s announcement states that this isolation site will help Canadians in the Region of Peel who were exposed to the virus and are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.

The site will ensure that these residents have more accessible options to keep themselves, their families, and the community safe.

Densely populated neighborhoods make it difficult for some to safely self-isolate, contributing to a higher risk of contracting Covid-19.

According to the news release, Minister of Health Patty Hajdu emphasized these concerns and the new voluntary isolation site's significance.

“This will help decrease community transmission of Covid-19 in the Peel region

by helping individuals who cannot safely self-isolate, due to crowded housing or insufficient space for proper distancing from household contacts,” read the statement.

In September, the City of Toronto received $13.9 million to organize the first voluntary self-isolation facility in Canada as part of a pilot project.

As stated on the Government of Canada website, “the center provides regular monitoring, and reporting of each safe, voluntary isolate site will be conducted in coordination with local public health officials.” These same practices will be followed in the newly funded Peel Region voluntary self-isolation center.

The site will have approximately 40 units to accommodate individuals in the region who are unable to safely self-isolate at home, with the capacity to grow to 80 units, if needed. For optimal effectiveness, residents at the isolation center will be advised to practice all social distancing requirements to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

People at home are advised to stay home, follow the measurements announced by public health officials, and avoid places that do not have any precautionary measures to spread the cases of Covid-19.

Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel Region Medical Officer of Health, discussed the government's new funding.

“The Region of Peel welcomes this tremendous investment from the Government

of Canada. Our situation in Peel is dire: Covid-19 cases and positivity rates are the highest they’ve been, and hospital capacity is stretched thin,” said Dr. Loh. He went on to emphasize the consequences household transmissions have in the Covid-19 pandemic and discussed the significance of isolation centres in scenarios where members of a household aren’t able to isolate themselves properly.

“The site is a safe place and offers an option to those challenged to self-isolate at home when they’ve been affected by Covid-19,” continued Dr. Loh. “I recognize how difficult self-isolation can be socially, emotionally, and financially, but it is what we need to do to break the chain of transmission in Peel.”

To overcome this pandemic safely and without risking lives, everyone must do their part to socially distance and ensure others' safety. However, this sentiment was not shared with certain Mississauga residents last week.

On November 29, police were called to a Mississauga Airbnb early in the morning and broke up a house party with 60 individuals.

Over $40K were issued in fines for the two hosts and the 29 participants.

The details were announced by Deputy Chief Marc Andrews on Twitter later that day. He stated that the Peel Police and bylaw officers were called to the scene where a house party was taking place in a Mississauga

short-term rental unit. While there were 60 people in attendance, some managed to flee the scene upon police arrival. The 27 participants who were apprehended were fined $880 each, and the two hosts were fined a minimum of $10,000.

“It’s a tough time for everyone; these antics help no one,” stated Deputy Chief Andrews.

NOW Magazine was able to get a statement from Airbnb about the incident. Airbnb confirmed that the party was unauthorized, and the host of the unit had no knowledge of the party at his listing.

In an email to NOW Magazine, Airbnb's spokesperson said that the listing had been deactivated and the possibilities of the incident will be investigated further.

In late August, Airbnb had announced a global ban on all parties and events at Airbnb listings, which includes a cap on occupancy at 16 people. In September, the company took down more than 40 listings across Ontario to ensure people don’t host large parties.

Peel Police continues to emphasize the importance of social distancing measures on Twitter and asks residents to comply with the regulations for the safety of everyone in the community.

“The holiday season and a number of important days of celebration are being/have been affected,” read their statement. “Please do your best to abide by the current restrictions put in place to keep everyone safe, especially those who are vulnerable.”

03

Over 100,000 Ontario households face eviction The Stop Unsafe Evictions campaign demands provincial courts renew the prohibition on residential evictions during the second wave of Covid-19.

Isik Vera Senel News Editor >> EVICTIONS continued from page 01

Thom Holmes/unsplash.com

With Covid-19 cases rising in the province, multiple regions across Ontario are already in or just entering second lockdowns.

During the first lockdowns, which took place earlier this year in March, a courtordered prohibition was established on residential evictions to ensure public health and safety.

This moratorium was rescinded later in the year as the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 decreased over the summer.

However, with the second wave taking over Ontario, the daily case counts quickly increased and surpassed the high point of the first wave significantly.

In response to the ever-growing threat of infection, many regions across Ontar-

io—including Peel—went into lockdown to protect residents. While many were disappointed by the news due to the upcoming holiday season, some community members were affected much more severely.

The Ontario courts did not reinstate the prohibition on residential evictions when lockdowns were being established across the province. The pandemic has led to many businesses shutting down and many households to lose their main source of income.

With the shortage of affordable housing in the region, the current conditions endanger our community's vulnerable members as they face unsafe evictions.

Nearly seven per cent of renters in Ontario were unable to pay their rent in full after losing their income from the pandemic crisis.

“Renters living on lower incomes, racialized communities, lone-parent households, young people, and people living with disabilities are disproportionally affected by this affordable rental housing crisis,” read the open letter.

As a result of the unsafe evictions, many have been forced to seek solace in emergency shelters and care homes. These spaces are designed to be shared by multiple individu-

als, creating the perfect environment for an infection to spread from one person to another.

In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic, the harsh weather conditions of the approaching winter months are a significant threat to the province’s existing homeless population, let alone those who might lose their homes due to unsafe evictions.

“Nearly seven per cent of renters in Ontario were unable to pay their rent in full after losing their income from the pandemic crisis,” continued the letter. “This means nearly 105,000 renter households are at risk of being evicted into homelessness.”

The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union is among the many organizations listed that have endorsed the Stop Unsafe Evictions campaign. The UTMSU has promoted the campaign on Twitter and urges students to send the open letter to local and provincial authorities.

“Many emergency shelters are already overwhelmed and cannot increase their capacity, especially as they need to meet physical distancing requirements to keep their clients safe,” read the open letter. “Without a freeze on residential evictions, cities will be unable to contain the spread of the virus during this second wave, putting our healthcare systems at risk of collapse.”

Residents are urged to visit the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario website and use the open letter published there to contact their local legislative authorities.

Mississauga City Council releases 2021 proposed budget The city’s business plan for 2021-2024 proposes increased taxes and the cancellation of MiWay routes.

Sheryl Gurajada Contributor

O

n November 16, the Mississauga City Council released the proposed budget for 2021, as well as the business plan for the next five years. This is a significant update considering the Covid-19 pandemic’s social and financial impacts on the community and local businesses.

The 2021-2024 Business Plan was designed around the city’s four priorities: delivering services, establishing cost containment strategies, maintaining infrastructure, and advancing Mississauga’s strategic vision.

However, given the unprecedented circumstances that we’ve faced this year with the global pandemic, the council also emphasized the Financial Recovery Pillar Report’s importance. This report contained seven pillars to help the city regain its economic strength and

was approved on July 7.

The report stated that, above all else, public health and safety is the city’s top priority.

The remaining six pillars focused on preserving legislative duties and the use of reserves to endure any financial setbacks that the city may encounter in the next five years.

Certain discretionary measures were outlined in the 2021 budget report, such as postponing specific capital projects that were initially scheduled for 2020. Moreover, the report discussed how temporary lay-offs, and hiring freezes, along with other pre-emptive measures, were necessary to keep a positive cash flow to fund Covid-19 prevention and relief efforts.

Concerning the budget allocation, there will be an expected 7.4 per cent decrease for MiWay services and an 8.8 per cent decrease for land development services.

In August, the Canadian Federal government allocated $46 million for the city of Mississauga, which greatly helped pandemic response efforts. However, we still face a financial deficit at the end of the year.

This has led the city to add certain revisions

in the new proposed budget. On behalf of the Corporate Services office, there is a recommendation to increase overall residential tax bills by one per cent, working out to $56 for an average home. The report also discussed a proposed commercial tax increase of 0.6 per cent.

For the near future, the main focus for the allocation of funds will continue to be on supporting public health efforts and upholding essential services for the city. Over the long term, there is a focus on building a greener and more sustainable city. The proposed climate plan is set to cost approximately $460 million for the next ten years.

Concerning the budget allocation, there will be an expected 7.4 per cent decrease for MiWay services and an 8.8 per cent decrease for land development services. Moreover, the report proposes the cancellation of MiWay express routes 100 and 185 and a further adjustment of certain TTC routes. The changes are expected to save the city approximately $7.6 million. The largest increase in spending is set for Financial Services with 15 per cent, with increases for most essential services as well.

Mississauga is still in lockdown and many residents are anxious about the challenges upcoming months can bring. However, the city council is prioritizing public safety—as emulated in the 2021 budget—and continue to work towards keeping the residents of Mississauga safe.

City of Mississauga/Facebook

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Paula Cho editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Ali Taha managing@themedium.ca News Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca Comment Aya Yafaoui comment@themedium.ca Features Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca A&E Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca Sports Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield sports@themedium.ca Photo Julia Healy photos@themedium.ca Design Tegwen McKenzie design@themedium.ca Copy Melissa Barrientos melissa@themedium.ca Alexis Whelan alexis@themedium.ca Online Yasmeen Alkoka online@themedium.ca

ASSOCIATES Aroni Sarkar, Comment Danica Teng, Arts Paige France, Arts Pearla Hariri, Features May Alsaigh, Features Hayden Mak, Photos

STAFF Webmaster Vladyslava Diachenko web@themedium.ca Videographer Gabriel Saavedra videographer@themedium.ca

To CONTRIBUTE, email editor@themedium.ca @TheMediumUTM

04

COMMENT

Editor | Aya Yafaoui comment@themedium.ca

The Medium reviews the dumpster-fire, world-changing, revolutionary year of The Medium Editorial Board >> RECAP continued from page 01 Thus, the following recap can only be a review of a few cherry-picked stories reflecting this team’s interests and the world’s most seismic events. The point, however, is not to capture the entire year but to illustrate its absurd pace and magnitude and showcase human resilience. So, grab a tub of ice cream and dig in as we recap this awful, awful year.

January & February My mom always says, “how you start your year is how you’ll spend your year.” And so, the year began with Australia burning to the ground, the threat of World War Three and the beginnings of a world-changing pandemic. To get away from it all, I, unfortunately, decided to watch Love is Blind on Netflix. I say unfortunately because Jessica may as well be the evil stepsister from Cinderella, and socially distanced dating is just about our reality.

Like every month this year, each day brought on a shocking headline of its own, from scorched koalas to a Ukrainian plane crash, to the death of an Iranian general, to the long-awaited Brexit pull out and Trump’s impeachment trial.

On January 26, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, and seven other passengers died in a helicopter crash. Shock and sadness were felt by many as people remembered Bryant’s kind heart, inspiring story, and impeccable skill, which left an everlasting impact on the world. The scope of his passion extended beyond basketball. He was an inspiration to people in all walks of life.

His passion, dedication, work ethic, ability to inspire, and desire to succeed came to be known as the “Mamba Mentality.” His death is a reminder of how precious and fragile life is and how important it is to tell the ones you love how much you love them while they are here—a sentiment we continue to be reminded of this year.

January was a tough pill to swallow, but little did we know...

In February, Covid-19 made its way to this side of the globe. As we continued with our daily lives in Canada, the virus began to spread. In Canada, Covid-19 felt like a faint dystopian story. We joked about it, obviously not taking it seriously. Even as Italy’s conditions worsened and they faced an outbreak worse than China’s, Covid-19 was still just a story in the news.

With the world disorganized, Hollywood surprised us all when Parasite became the first-ever non-English language film to win best picture at the Academy Awards. This win was a cultural breakthrough—an acknowledgement of Korean cinema’s passion, creativity, and artfulness. Parasite’s universal theme of class warfare made it possible for this South Korean tale to resonate with audiences worldwide. During his acceptance speech, Director Bong Joon-ho told the audience, “we never write to represent our countries,” exhaling and adding, “but this is a very first Oscar to South Korea.”

February also saw the conviction of Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein for two felony sex crimes. The guilty conviction is a victory for both his accusers and #MeToo— Weinstein’s trial became a watershed moment for the movement.

Olympics were postponed.

As people hunkered down, they turned to shows and movies to entertain themselves.

Netflix’s Tiger King, a documentary on big cat breeding in the U.S., captivated audiences and became a dynamic cultural phenomenon.

While March offered plenty of surprises, April said, “hold my beer.”

Across the Pacific, reports surfacing from North Korea claimed that dictator Kim Jong-un was severely ill and didn’t have long to live. Then, a week later, he was fine. Did he fake his death to oust his backstabbers?

Was he playing chess while we were playing checkers? The internet seems to think so. The internet also thought it would be funny to make fancams of Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong-un’s sister, who would be the presumptive heir to the North Korean dictatorship if her brother died.

While Jong-un’s death was rumoured, the Pentagon’s UFO footage was certainly real after being confirmed by the Pentagon itself.

The grainy picture makes it hard to discern anything intelligently. And although the government didn’t claim extraterrestrial life, the fact that this footage barely made headlines shows just how wacky the month was.

Elizabeth Provost, Features Editor

Chris Berberian, Arts Editor

March & April

May & June

On March 11, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic, and life as we knew it changed forever. Just four days later, Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would go into lockdown and closed its border with the United States.

The signs had loomed for weeks, but after the pandemic became official, mass paranoia mounted, and not just on our home turf.

Around the world, people flocked to grocery stores and cleared the shelves, hoarding as much pasta, canned food, yeast, and toilet paper as they could. While shoppers wiped the shelves of Lysol and Charmin Ultra Soft, sports fans wiped away their tears after their one escape disappeared. The NHL, NBA, MLB, and hundreds to thousands of soccer leagues worldwide all postponed or cancelled their seasons. Even the Tokyo Summer

The period of May and June was probably one of the most emotionally exhausting times many of us faced.

The jarring eight minutes and 46-second video of Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck horrified the world, spurring massive protests demanding police reform and anti-racism. Tens of thousands of protesters marched in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, leading to President Trump deploying the National Guard to 21 cities. The omnipresent antihero group Anonymous re-emerged during this critical period as well to lend their hand in support. May ended with the disheartening one hundred thousandth COVID death in the U.S.A. >> RECAP continued on page 05

05 >> RECAP continued from page 04

By June, Black Lives Matter protests went global, with cities in Syria, the U.K., Brazil, Australia and many more coming together in solidarity while also highlighting institutional racism within their own countries. Videos went viral of toppling statues and graffitied confederate flags, the actions being a reclamation of history and a call to action…

Canada’s Covid-19 cases also passed 100,000 in June, with 8,361 deaths. The Arctic circle experienced its hottest ever temperature record in Siberia: 38 degrees Celsius.

June ultimately ended with the controversial National Security Law that China imposed on Hong Kong after months of active prodemocracy demonstrations.

Yet there was some good news. On June 14, thousands gathered in New York in solidarity with black trans people as they protested, and the next day, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal civil-rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender workers. June also marked the 50th anniversary of the first Pride Parade in New York City.

Aroni Sarkar, Associate Comment Editor

July & August On July 6, the UN released a report that Zoonotic diseases, like Covid-19, are increasing due to unsustainable farming and climate change. A sobering prediction that reminded the world that this pandemic will not be singularly unique in the future, but perhaps frighteningly familiar. Ironically, on the same day, the U.S began officially withdrawing from the World Health Organization. A total of 122,673 had been killed by the novel coronavirus in the U.S. by that day.

As Black Lives Matter protests continued in the United States, clashing with the Trump administration and Republicans, the world lost yet another good man. John Lewis was the last surviving speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I have a Dream” speech. He fought hard to ensure the rights and dignity of Black people and people of colour were upheld and protected. Getting into “good trouble” was his life’s motto, and it is a call to action that continues to echo and demand the recognition of humanity in all people.

August really did try to out-do all the previous months because the amount of monumental events that occurred is staggering.

On August 4, the Lebanese capital, Beirut, was torn apart by a massive explosion that sent a mushroom cloud into the sky and a supersonic blastwave radiating across the city. The blast levelled the port of Beirut, killing hundreds, injuring thousands, and adding one more catastrophe to a laundry list of deadly crises in the country.

In the U.S., Joe Biden becomes the Democratic presidential candidate, with Kamala Harris as his running mate. As for the Trump administration, former advisor Steve Bannon was arrested and charged with fraud.

Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband were also sentenced to two months in prison for their role in the U.S. college admissions bribery scandal. The shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin led to riots and contin-

ued protests calling for an end to police brutality. And on top of all that, the world lost its Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, to colon cancer. His condition was kept private until his death, shocking the world and his colleagues, and prompting worldwide mourning for the actor who brought black figures into the limelight.

Aya Yafaoui, Comment Editor

September & October Nine months into 2020 and the world is still struggling to adapt to a “new normal.” The U.S. continued to deal with not only a poorly managed pandemic, but civil unrest and economic distress. Wildfires ran rampant in California, marking a moment in which the U.S. was both literally and figuratively on fire.

On September 18, 2020, the world lost another beloved and influential figure. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died at the age of 87 due to cancer. You didn’t have to be living in America to feel and appreciate the gravity of her life-long pursuit for equality. The Notorious R.B.G., as she was affectionately nicknamed, sat on the Supreme Court for 25 years, where she was brutal and relentless in her legal quest for equality.

While fighting cancer, the pioneer for women’s rights refused to take time off serving on the bench. She inspired future generations to never let obstacles keep them from fighting for what’s right.

The second wave of Covid-19 arrived in countries around the world, with many going into second lockdowns. U.S. President Donald Trump tested positive for the virus after refusing and scoffing at wearing protective masks.

Amidst the chaos continuing to engulf the U.S., Nigeria drew the attention of the world with the “End S.A.R.S.” (Special AntiRobbery Squad) social movement. Protestors took to the streets of Lagos, Nigeria to protest the long-time reign of police corruption, human rights violations, sexual harassment, and brutality. And the world, at least on social media, was there for them. Millions shared photos, posted, and continue to raise funds to help the country arise victorious in their fight for social reform.

On a more positive note, after a monthlong hiatus and tight “NBA bubble” competition, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat to become the 2019-2020 NBA champions. The LeBron James-led Laker team put on a dominant and impressive performance.

They dedicated their championship win, and their overall play in the “bubble” to the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi.

Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield, Sports and Health Editor

November In early November, two of the most longawaited news stories broke: the election of a new American president and the announcement of an effective Covid-19 vaccine.

For months leading up to November 3,

coverage of the U.S. presidential election dominated the media. I remember being at my parents’ house in San Francisco over the summer and watching hours of NBC—when they weren’t covering the rising number of coronavirus cases, they invited political pundits for their takes on the remaining two candidates. As the date grew near, grassroots organizers and the campaigns themselves urged people to vote. I had received my own mailin ballot and completed it with my sister on FaceTime, feeling a tiny inkling of patriotism as I filled in the bubbles. The five-day event was exhausting for everyone who watched cable news and scrolled Twitter. Still, my favourite videos came in early Saturday morning, of New York City ablaze with honking car horns and shouts of joy.

Covid-19 will define 2020—there is no getting around it. On November 9, Pfizer and BioNTech, and later Moderna, announced that their vaccines had passed stage-three testing with a 95 per cent efficacy. While developing an equitable method to distribute the vaccine will be a challenge, there was a collective sense of relief as we finally saw the light at the end of this pandemic tunnel.

stayed with humanity after the mythological Pandora opened her box and unleashed evil upon the world. It is hope that inspires people to progress and grow. It is hope that keeps us alive while we struggle to survive. Hoping is a revolutionary act, one that is hard and exhausting, but necessary if we are to continue the work we have laid in 2020.

To my fellow human beings, take your well-deserved rest now as the year that turned the world upside comes to a close. Hold onto your hope, exercise your kindness, and remember to stretch because you’ve probably been staring at a screen all day.

To the year 2020, screw you. But also, thank you, for showing us what we didn’t see, and teaching us what we didn’t know. We’ll take these lessons into the new decade.

All that’s left to say is, “Good riddance, 2020.”

Aya Yafaoui, Comment Editor

Paula Cho, Editor-in-Chief ——— It is currently December 5 as we write this article, which means there are 26 more opportunities for 2020 to hit us with all it’s got left. There are plenty of things that have horrified, saddened, puzzled, and brightened this year. The recent discovery and subsequent disappearance of the Utah monolith, as well as the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference, are good examples of the absurdity of this year. The sheer volume of stories we had to sort through in writing this article is also a testament to the massive number of events that occurred in 2020.

As I reflect on this year, I can’t help but notice the omnipresence of a few important things. The first, of course, is the pandemic and how it has affected every facet of our lives. It is not an overstatement to say that it has fundamentally changed the world. Yet Covid-19 isn’t the only plague we’ve fought in 2020. Black death, or in other words, racism, is a plague that has haunted the world for centuries, and while there is no vaccine to this disease of hate, there are remedies, such as ending police brutality, funding marginalized communities, and protecting the rights of all people.

Truly, this year has been a year of death, loss, and mourning. One and a half million people are no longer with us because of a virus. Many more continue to die because of issues that the pandemic has exacerbated, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.

Health workers, first responders, and public service workers continue to risk their lives on the front lines of this pandemic. We have lost too many of those people, human beings who are just doing their job, helping people, and trying to get back to their families at the end of the day.

I won’t sugarcoat it. This year was brutal, and if you’re still here reading this then you are lucky to have survived it all. In fact, surviving this year is an achievement in and of itself. As for next year… I think it’s important to have hope. You don’t need to be optimistic that the world will get better in 2021, but having hope that we will have the opportunity to make it better is important. It is hope that

Julia Healy/The Medium

06

features

Editor | Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca

Supporting and understanding the Indigenous community May Alsaigh Associate Features Editor >> INDIGENOUS continued from page 01 through discussions about a particular book they are assigned to read for the semester. She explains that “it is a club that focuses on allowing a space for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to come together and speak about books that are written by Indigenous authors.”

Working for the Centre of Student Engagement (CSE) as an Indigenous initiative engagement assistant, Smoke was able to put her idea into fruition, establishing The CSE Indigenous Book Club.

She believes that reading fiction novels can help individuals understand and relate to Indigenous experiences. She explains that students typically read a certain number of pages every week and later meet via Zoom to answer guided questions and participate in a productive discussion about a range of topics. Participants are also welcomed to share their own experiences and listen to what others have to contribute.

This semester, the CSE Indigenous Book Club is reading The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline—a novel about Indigenous peoples being hunted for their bone marrow and the intergenerational trauma they face as a marginalized group. The club will continue next semester with a new novel. Smoke encourages individuals interested in signing up for the club to check out their website.

When asked why she pursued this club, Smoke indicated that the lack of resources and initiatives available for Indigenous peoples was at the root of her motives. Compared to other U of T campuses, UTM faces the largest shortage of resources catered to supporting Indigenous students. Although UTM is experiencing a gradual increase in Indigenous faculty, Smoke believes the institution can do more for her community. The absence of interaction with other Indigenous members can sometimes lead to a feeling of “disconnection,” as Smoke expresses.

For instance, “smudging” is an Aboriginal tradition that consists of the burning of sweetgrass, sage, and cedar for purification— a routine that establishes a positive mindset.

However, UTM has a policy that prevents Indigenous members from practicing smudging unless they provide a 48-hour notice in advance, despite not knowing when their practice is needed.

In terms of her ethnicity, Smoke’s Mohawk name is Katsitsianentha, which means “when the wind blows over the flowers.” Her name represents that she was born in Spring. She is a Mohawk woman from the reserve of Akwesasne.

The Mohawk peoples are an Iroquoianspeaking North American Indian tribe and

also the easternmost tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy. They are the keepers of the Eastern Door of the Iroquois Confederacy and are also known as the Six Nations Confederacy or the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

The Mohawk territory of Akwesasne is geographically unique as it consists of regions in Ontario and Quebec and the state of New York in the United States. Smoke explains that she was born in Ontario and spent her earlier years of school in New York, but currently resides in Quebec.

Smoke discusses how the acknowledgement of land is the first step in non-Indigenous people’s attempt at respect and mindfulness of the Indigenous community. It is crucial to engage in research to understand what treaty number we all reside in, indicates Smoke. The city of Toronto pertains to Treaty 13, known as The Toronto Purchase Treaty. “Even such little things like knowing whose land you’re on; it means a lot to Indigenous peoples,” says Smoke.

Individuals can provide support by learning current events on what is happening with Indigenous communities, sharing this information, donating to certain organizations, and signing essential petitions.

Professor Jedediah Kuhn teaches courses in the women and gender studies and history

Photo/Alison Dias

Photo/Nicole (Jock) Tuper

programs while researching the intersections of race, Indigeneity, gender, and sexuality in the U.S. West and Mexico borderlands.

Professor Kuhn indicates that he is Chicano, a term used to describe Mexican Americans of Indigenous descent living in the United States.

However, he notes this is not necessarily the same as identifying as Indigenous or other terms, such as Hispanic or Latino.

Currently, Professor Kuhn is working on his book called “The Traces of Intimacy: Native Americans and Mexican Americans in the Trans-Sierra West.” In this project, he studies the dynamics of ethnic groups and Indigenous groups and how they might influence each other and, if so, in what ways.

Professor Kuhn indicates that typically, Western culture faces difficulty in comprehending complex cultures. “[Western culture] has this phenomenon where it is thought that to be Indigenous, people need to be racially pure or fit into this specific box of how we might expect somebody to look and act.” In his research, using a historical case study, Professor Kuhn observes Mexican Americans and Native Americans and attempts to identify a relationship between them.

When asked what pushed him to pursue his project, Professor Kuhn answers that his own lived experiences motivated him to focus his research on studies of ethnicity and Indigeneity.

“It was interesting to me when I got into graduate school and started to think about these questions more deeply from an academic perspective that Latinx studies and Indigenous studies kind of ignore each other and operate completely differently. This segregated way of lived experiences was so different from my own, where so many people I knew were both Native and Mexican American.”

With respect to how non-Indigenous people can support Indigenous members and allow them to flourish in society, Professor Kuhn explains that “a good place to start is to know who the Indigenous peoples are in your hometown,” and provides a valuable resource to do so—a website referred to as nativelands. ca. Also, he explains that it is crucial for an individual to contribute in any way they can to be inclusive of Indigenous peoples and think about ramifications of daily interactions, especially in political proceedings like voting.

Employing an idea on how to provide further support, Professor Kuhn states, “If you’re in the position to hire people one day, [you] can think about how you’re going to go about that in a way that creates a more equitable society [and] what kind of work you can do [to support Indigenous individuals and their communities].”

As Professor Kuhn highlights, among countless misconceptions and oppressive authenticity is one major fault of large institutions placed toward Indigenous peoples. It encompasses the idea that one must be racially or culturally pure to truly identify as “Indig-

Professor Jedediah Kuhn and student Kaeliana Smoke discuss their contributions to the Indigenous culture and what non-Indigenous people can do to support them.

Photo/AllBeau enous.” He emphasizes that this concept erases and oppresses their culture as it operates as a mechanism of exclusion. It pushes for the belief that if an individual is able to identify with more than one category, they are considered impure or inauthentic.

However, Indigenous cultures can change with the advancement of new technology and policies. Professor Kuhn emphasizes that Indigenous individuals should not be held accountable or considered “impure” for adapting to these changes if they choose to adjust their practices as other cultures do.

Additionally, Professor Kuhn encourages individuals to think about Indigeneity in a broader hemisphere instead of limiting their awareness and knowledge towards Indigenous peoples. For instance, he raises awareness toward a current crisis happening on the U.S.Mexican border where children are being separated from their families, and women are being given hysterectomies without their consent.

He points out that many of these people are Indigenous from Central America, signifying how imperative it is for society to expand their knowledge systems and be more conscious of these groups.

Professor Kuhn and Kaeliana Smoke both emphasize how it is crucial for non-Indigenous individuals to do what they can to respect and recognize the community whose land they occupy, and this can be done in many different ways. Indigenous communities should not be neglected on university grounds and by contributing what we can as individuals and reflecting on how we can provide support, we can make them feel less excluded.

07

The impostor syndrome and a journey to self-acceptance Constant fear of failure and inadequacy, imposter syndrome keeps us from being and doing our best.

Ricardo Valdes Contributor

C

hristophe Carsault was only 16 years old when he dropped out of high school in 1990. With no credentials, previous work experience, or references, finding a job was no easy task. He applied, worked, and got fired from several jobs.

Today, Carsault is the vice-president of sales marketing and education at Straumann Group, a company that specializes in dental equipment. When he landed this position in 2010, he felt as if he wasn’t supposed to be there. He felt out of place.

“I always told [my wife] that they must be wrong,” said Carsault. “I thought they would come up to me and say they had made a terrible mistake.” The feeling that Carsault describes is known as “impostor syndrome.”

Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern in which an individual believes they’ve succeeded because of luck rather than their talents or qualifications. People who suffer from it doubt their skills and have a constant fear of being exposed as a fraud—despite evidence of their competence.

One Saturday night, while walking around the streets of Paris, Carsault stumbled upon La Coupoles, a famous French restaurant. “The restaurant was packed, and a waiter went outside to smoke a cigarette,” recalls Carsault.

He spoke with the waiter for a few minutes. Eventually, Carsault mentioned that he was looking for a job. The waiter gave him the contact information of Mr. Sacaze, who was the manager of La Coupoles at the time. “I was never embarrassed to ask for what I wanted,” shared Carsault.

Two days later, Carsault sat down with Sacaze for an interview. Sacaze shook his head and told Carsault he was too young to work.

Additionally, he mentioned that the restaurant was too luxurious to hire high school dropouts. Around 1,400 guests occupied the tables

of the restaurant every night. But Carsault didn’t take no for an answer.

“I told him I would work for free for a month,” continued Carsault. The conditions were simple: if he wasn’t doing a proper job, they would fire him. If he satisfied all the requirements, he would get hired. Sacaze agreed.

Carsault worked 12-hour shifts at La Coupoles for six weeks in a row. He had no days off. He was afraid he would disappoint Sacaze and lose the job. His feet blistered. And eventually, putting on shoes became a challenge.

Jean-Paul Bucher, the owner of the restaurant, heard about Carsault’s efforts and officially hired him as a waiter. Carsault spent five years working there. He eventually landed a manager position and led his own team.

However, things changed once he met Chrystele, the love of his life. At the age of 23, they wanted to start a family. Carsault’s long hours at La Coupoles made that an impossible task. A group of businessmen who always came for lunch at the restaurant grew fond of Carsault. They offered him a position to sell office supplies.

“I didn’t know if they were serious, but I figured I had nothing to lose,” added Carsault.

The new job sparked Carsault’s passion for sales.

To learn from the best is not wrong. To compare yourself with the best is wrong.

Carsault moved from sales job to sales job over the years. He sold office supplies, home renovation equipment, and houses. He learned the ins and outs of sales—how to behave with customers, how to develop pitches, and how to listen. Through the years, his networks and passion for sales grew stronger.

In 1998, he landed his first corporate job at CWS, a logistics and supply chain company, after one of his colleagues suggested he apply. In the span of 12 years, he climbed up the

corporate ladder and arrived at his position at the Straumann Group.

“I always doubted myself because I never had a real education. Everything I understood, I understood it by myself,” explained Carsault. “When I come up with an idea, I test it with my team, my customers, and my colleagues. I have to be sure that it’s relevant and that it won’t lead to some catastrophe.”

Nearly 70 per cent of the population suffers from impostor syndrome, according to a review article published in the International Journal of Behavioural Science. Impostor syndrome was coined by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978. At first, they believed the syndrome only affected women. Years later, they conducted and published a follow-up study that found the phenomenon affected all genders.

In 2011, Dr. Valerie Young, an impostor syndrome expert, published a book called The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women. In the book, she discusses specific groups that are more susceptible to impostor syndrome: perfectionists, experts, natural geniuses, soloists, and supermen or superwomen.

“Perfectionists” set extremely high expectations for themselves. If they don’t meet them, they feel like failures. “Experts” feel the need to know everything before they start a project or task, otherwise they avoid them. “Natural geniuses” must have ideas come to them easily. When something is too hard, they doubt themselves. “Soloists” like to accomplish tasks on their own. If they ask for help, they feel like a failure. “Supermen” or “superwomen” work long hours and never take days off to prove they work harder than others.

While those groups tend to suffer more from impostor syndrome, they’re not the only ones. New environments—whether in the workplace, academia, or in social settings— can trigger the syndrome in anyone. When we enter new spaces, we have the inherent tendency to compare ourselves to others.

“You’re the newbie, and you’re trying to

become like the other people,” said Ulrich Schimmack, assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Toronto Mississauga. His research contributes to the scientific understanding of happiness.

Professor Schimmack states that there is nothing wrong with social comparison as long as it is for personal benefit. The social comparison allows us to determine how we’re doing relative to others around us. However, the problem is that we often compare ourselves to people who are doing better than us.

We feel inferior to them. We doubt our skills.

We wonder where we belong within that circumstance.

“To learn from the best is not wrong. To compare yourself with the best is wrong,” explained Schimmack. “[Life] is not about being the best. It’s about being able to do what you like to do in a meaningful way.”

Dr. Young came up with 10 steps people can take to overcome impostor syndrome.

The main one: break the silence. Simply acknowledging that you have these feelings and sharing them with others can be freeing.

“So much of what we do is present perfect images of our lives,” says Schimmack. “If you have a conversation where everybody opens up, you see that we’re all just human, we all have problems, and we’re all trying to survive in a world that is competitive.”

Reframing your thoughts is another important solution, according to Young. As time passes, we get used to new environments. We are reinforced with constructive feedback. In turn, this allows us to recognize our strengths and weaknesses. Learning to value such feedback can help us feel more safe and secure.

“The impostor syndrome is big because you’re hiding yourself,” concluded Carsault.

“I know it’s not easy [but] if you want to get over it, you have to accept it. You need to know yourself—what you do well and what you don’t do well.”

08

Celebrating Christmas: Then and now

How does your culture influence your Christmas festivities?

Hayden Mak/The Medium

Alexandria Ramoutar Staff Writer >> CHRISTMAS continued from page 01 Although the celebrations are different this year, the holiday cheer and tradition continue.

All with the modern edge of technology, there’s so much more to this holiday than cookies and bright lights. This semester, Professor Kyle Smith, director of U of T’s history of religions program, created and taught a course called “Christmas: A History” at UTM. “[It’s] a new course that keeps the ancient and the medieval in conversation with the contemporary, but in a way that [is] more narrowly focused. A course on the history of Christmas was the obvious choice because it’s a holiday that’s so culturally ubiquitous,” says Professor Smith in an interview with The Medium.

In the course, Professor Smith discussed the origin of Christmas celebrations. “We know from a Roman calendar prepared for the year 354 CE that Christmas was being celebrated on December 25 by at least the middle of the fourth century if not well before that,” says Professor Kyle Smith.

“December 25 made sense for a lot of reasons. It was the time of the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, so theologically speaking, it was a good fit to celebrate Jesus’ birth as a new light—the dawn of longer days—came at the time of deepest darkness.”

As we turn our focus to Christmas tradi-

tions this holiday season, we may struggle to identify their beginnings. “Many of us have no idea where all these annual Christmas traditions come from,” continues Professor Smith. “In the Middle Ages, Christmas was much more of a public festival, one that was more raucously and drunkenly celebrated.

Some of the ways in which Christmas is culturally celebrated today is thanks to a number of nineteenth-century writers; Charles Dickens most notably among them.”

Christmas traditions evolved over time, often with cultures infusing new traditions.

For example, my dad is from Trinidad and Tobago, so salt fish and fry bake (think Beavertails’ dough in the shape of a pita) are Christmas breakfast staples. In order to gain a greater appreciation for Christmas traditions across cultures, here are how five UTM students celebrate the holiday season: How do you and your family celebrate Christmas?

Mithea Murugesu: My mom is Catholic, and my dad is Hindu. I’ve always admired my parents’ understanding and support for each other’s religious beliefs and traditions.

Their mutual understanding allowed me to appreciate our family tradition of going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. It wasn’t always my favourite tradition—I remember dozing off when I was younger. However, I love, both then and now, getting dressed up, driving through quaint streets with my family to church, and coming home to unwrap presents.

Monika Krizic-Fronteddu: My family and I usually host Christmas at our house, and it’s mandatory that everyone wears pajamas or comfortable clothing. We put out lots of food—turkey, mashed potatoes, mixed veg-

etables, and homemade ravioli—and eat and eat and eat. Then we spend the rest of the day playing board games and showing each other songs we’ve enjoyed recently on YouTube.

Elisa Nguyen: We spend time together, give gifts, and we always celebrate with our church too. There’s usually a Christmas service, and we remember that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus.

Jade Ramnarine: On Christmas Day, we invite family over and have a huge Christmas feast where most of the family bring their own cooked dishes and treats. After dinner, we play a lot of different games together like card games, charades, and end up doing karaoke.

Catherine Nassralla: We’re Coptic Orthodox (Christian Church in Egypt), so we fast leading up to Advent with the church on January 7. For about a month, we are essentially pescatarian. Living in Canada, we also participate in the gift-giving, tree decorating, stockingfilling version of Christmas on December 25.

What’s your favourite holiday tradition?

Krizic-Fronteddu: My favourite holiday tradition is helping my mom prepare Christmas dinner. We usually make a whole day out of it—I make us a special playlist consisting of our favourite artists, and we drink wine while cooking. It’s really a lot of fun, and I love spending time with my mom.

Nguyen: For me, it is when my dad and I go visit a tree farm. We wander around the farm, looking at different trees of different shapes and sizes; struggle to saw it down; and mount it into a trailer to bring home. After, my family decorates the tree together. One year, our tree fell over three times though.

Nassralla: I enjoy gathering on Christmas Eve to spend time with each other and waking up to gifts under the tree. When I was a kid, waking up also meant seeing a partly eaten chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk on the table too!

Murugesu: My parents are both from Jaffna, a city in Northern Sri Lanka, and they love spice! You can expect to see at least one hot and savoury dish on our dinner table. What stands out most during our Christmas festivities are all the snacks my mom prepares.

Vadas, murukkus, and fish cutlets are some of my favourites! We usually enjoy these with a hot cup of tea, just like how my parents used to drink it back home.

Krizic-Fronteddu: We’re Italian, so a couple of days before Christmas, my mom, grandmother, and I get together and spend an entire day making a ridiculous amount of homemade ravioli to serve on Christmas Day. Nguyen: I’m from a Vietnamese family, so we often have spring rolls or other Vietnamese dishes at Christmas. For dessert, there’s “chè.”

For presents, there’s “lì xì,” money in a red envelope.

Ramnarine: I would say in the Cayman Islands, we insist on having cassava cake for dessert. Also, rice and beans are a must for all Caribbean dishes!

Nassralla: On the eve of January 7, we have a big family dinner as a way to end our fast and to celebrate the birth of Christ. My mom always makes some of our favourite Egyptian foods for that dinner and her amazing lamb.

“Christmas is a time where we come together as a family and enjoy each other’s company.

It’s a great way to wrap up the year by reflecting with my loved ones,” says Murugesu, and we hope it continues to despite the challenges in 2020.

Although our celebrations this year will occur under very different circumstances, we will all nonetheless keep the holiday cheer in our hearts and continue to honour our traditions. During this challenging time, going back to the roots of what makes us most happy may be the key to this holiday season. Gratitude will be at the centre of our celebrations as we realize how precious life has revealed itself to be this year and how important our family and loved ones are.

09

Arts Cookbooks

Editor | Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca

The M List: 10 gifts that give back

Together: Our Community Cookbook by The Hubb Community Kitchen The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, wrote the foreword to this cookbook. Featuring Middle Eastern, North African, European dishes, this cookbook captures the community we find through cooking.

Supports: The Hubb Community Kitchen, a group of women who gather to create meals and serve their local English community.

Nut Butter by Carolyn Cesario and Julie Sullivan For anyone who goes nuts for a new recipe, this niche cookbook shows you how to make homemade nut butters. Composed by the co-founders of Ground Up, Nut Butter contains recipes for you to craft peanut-free (yes, you heard that right) and gluten-free nut butters.

Supports: Ground Up, a non-profit business that helps Oregon women overcoming life challenges get back into the workforce through mentorship and on-the-job training.

Alexandria Ramoutar Staff Writer

W

hen we think of Christmas—the birth of Jesus, shortbread cookies, reindeer, eggnog, skating, winter break, spending time with family, crazy sweaters, and gift giving all come to mind.

In my third year of university, these things faded away as my family and I experienced a hard season. My dad was scheduled to undergo a surgery that would leave him bedridden. Overwhelmed with seeing him weak, finishing assignments, and working part time, I went to church. I heard the pastor say, God tells us to “care for one another.”

This made me consider: What does Christmas look like for others? Do they have presents? Are they cared for?

These questions led me to act. I donated gifts to families at a local food bank. I realized that a gift represents hope, love, care, compassion, and empathy for family, friends, and strangers.

This year, while social distancing hinders in-person giftgiving, we can still buy gifts for those less fortunate. So, we’ve rounded up ten gift options for the foodie, art lover, craftdoer, and one that covers everything else under the sun. Together, these are 10 gifts that give back.

Children's Books Little Women by Louisa May Alcott If your family and friends have an itch for a classic children’s book, what’s more classic than Louisa May Alcott’s classic, Little Women? But if this isn’t quite for you, then we recommend picking up anything from Robert Munsch, Neil Gaiman, Katherine Applegate, or L.M. Montgomery at your local Indigo.

Supports: Indigo’s Love of Reading Foundation, which serves children and youth in need. During the pandemic they created “Learn at Home” kits and continue to supplement families with literature that breaks boundaries and celebrates diversity.

Animals, cards & more Adopt a Polar Bear, World Wildlife Fund Anyone who loves nature and animals will appreciate this gift. You may adopt an animal of your choosing and collect an adorable plush polar bear! It’s important to support every animal’s habitat and well-being, so the World Wildlife Fund offers adoptions for sea turtles, caribou, cheetahs, and many other animals.

Karatasi DIY Bracelet Kit in Rainbow, Akola Know someone who loves a good DIY project?

Well, Akola created this neat bracelet-maker kit just for them, letting them choose from a colourful assortment of beads and tassels. This kit serves as a great gift for anyone looking for a new artistic hobby during the pandemic.

Supports: The employment of over 200 women in Akola, Uganda.

Art Owl Sculpture by UNICEF While many know UNICEF for its international humanitarian work with children, few actually know of their online store. The online shop features the work of artisans from developing countries, with products including jewelry, fashion, and sculptures. The owl sculpture, intricately carved from suar wood by artist Wayan Rendah, makes a great centrepiece for any room (or stayat-home study room, hint hint).

Purchase covers: 44 children with water tablets for one year, or 44 children with school supplies!

Hold Still Poster, The National Portrait Gallery The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, spearheaded the Hold Still project in March 2020.

Hold Still encouraged community members to capture photos based on selected themes. Onehundred photographs made the exhibition, and you can purchase posters of the stunning photos online.

Christmas cheer to your friends and family all over the world? SickKids Hospital Foundation has an online store that features Christmas cards—a perfect addition to any gift.

Supports: The National Portrait Gallery, a charity in London, England that conserves fine art, provides free access to galleries, and supports activities for children, including children with neurodiverse needs.

Supports: SickKids Hospital, children’s hospital, in Toronto, Ontario.

AGO: Highlights from the Collection, Art Gallery of Ontario

Amazon Smile, Amazon

Speaking of galleries, if your family misses the beauty inside the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), then check out this beautiful book edited by Jim Shedden. In it, you can view past exhibitions hosted by the AGO from the comfort of your home.

Consider this a breathtaking display of masterpieces from around the world.

Christmas Cards, by Sick Kids Hospital

Most of us use Amazon for its quick shipping and wide selection of products, but you can also tailor your shopping to support a charity. Head over to Amazon Smile and select a cause you’re passionate about, where 0.5 per cent of your purchase goes to that charity. Some charities have even made profiles, which means you can browse their list of needed items and shop online for them.

While we can’t meet up in-person, why not send a little

Supports: a charity and cause you care about.

Supports: The World Wildlife Fund, a global organization, that aims to preserve our biodiversity, endangered species, climate, urban areas, and oceans.

Craft

Supports: The AGO in Toronto, Ontario, which collects innovative art and invites people to experience the world in new and creative ways.

10

Hallmark helps keep our spirits merry Paige France Associate Arts Editor

Exploring the importance of a cheesy cultural comfort.

H

allmark—the master of sappy Christmas movies—is running its annual December marathon, easing our cabin fever with fresh mistletoes and crackling fireplaces. These love-to-hate and hate-to-love movies, which comprise a genre of their own, will shine through the usual winter doldrums and whisk in the holidays.

As TV networks—and Netflix—battle for Christmas flick supremacy, Hallmark still holds the crown. The well-known veteran continues to warm our hearts during the cold months with its undeniable, unabashed sentimentality that swirls through rom-com storylines like the rich hot chocolate usually paired with them.

For many of us, this beloved pastime is wedded in tradition. Hallmark movies give us nostalgia and reacquaint us with the faces of past soaps, ‘90s sitcoms, and singing legends. With the smiles of Candace Cameron Bure, Kellie Pickler, and Lacey Chabert (who understands that quarantine is certainly not “fetch”), we can relax in familiarity.

As traditions change in the year of so-

cial distance, the love rooted within these holiday specials can help see us through. In this G-rated world of made-for-TV movies, Christmas spirit oozes and brings even the most unlikely of friends and lovers together.

It’s this togetherness that breeds hope.

Rather than portraying today’s current climate, Hallmark offers a healthy escape, allowing us to sift through the cheer portrayed on screen as we sift the flour of our family’s famous gingerbread recipe. We witness every romantic comedy trope imaginable, knowing that tradition will pull us through these restless, uncertain times.

This greeting card company turned cable productino emphasizes simplicity and breeds optimism during unoptomisitc times.

The workaholic female protagonist, amidst her unwavering swear-off of romance, wakes up with a fresh face of salon-worthy makeup.

Her perfectly assembled outfits are enough to make Pinterest fanatics red and green with envy, and her curled hair bounces its way to the ultimate kiss scene. Living happily ever after is the only option. We need this inspiration to brave the winter months

as we say goodbye to outside company this Christmas.

Mix in flirtatious eggnog toasts, snowy carriage rides, persistent carollers, tree gatherings and decorations, fake snow fights between star-crossed lovers, and ugly sweaters all hinting towards the lovelorn souls uniting for that perfectly predictable chaste kiss, and you’ve watched the quintessential Hallmark movie. This trudge toward love and acceptance defines this jolly month in usual Hallmark fashion, drawing out a narrative that’s needed during our progressively sedentary, lonely, and worrisome Covid-19 existence.

Hallmark lends us comfort and reassurance. Combined, these virtues help combat these bleak times and strengthens the familial themes emblematic of the holiday season.

This greeting card company turned cable production emphasizes simplicity and breeds optimism during unoptimistic times. If Covid-19 brings families—in the same household—closer together, then Hallmark Christmas binges, accessorized by buttery popcorn and cozy blankets, ought to as well.

Bringing familiarity into our busy lives, along with a dash of sappy love, a drizzle of hope, and a few flakes of fake snow, allows the merry spirit to warm even the most untraditional of Christmases. Hallmark rejects unpredictability, making the holiday season a little merrier and the halls a little more holly.

Five books to warm up to this holiday season Feel the festive spirit with this bag of literary treats.

Hana Khan Staff Writer >> BOOKS continued from page 01 While the four men didn’t know what to expect from their father, they would’ve never guessed what comes that fateful Christmas Eve: Simeon Lee, dead, laying in a pool of his own blood. As the story starts unraveling, and Detective Poiret begins investigating, we soon discover Simeon’s many secrets. And in true Christie fashion, everyone in the house is a suspect.

Christie is a master of mystery. In Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, she explores a complex character, one who’s a sadistic tyrant to those around him and the victim of a heinous murder. Christie is notorious for her twisty, murderous tales, and this one is no exception.

While Christie’s novel brings an eerie feel to the holiday season, our next book takes a more heartwarming approach. Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott is a classic coming-ofage story of four sisters—Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth—who live with their mother in nineteenth-century New England. While their father is away serving in the Civil War, the girls must work together to support themselves.

Most of the story follows the girls as they grow from childhood to womanhood, navigating many hurdles along the way, all during a time in which a woman’s greatest strength was the man she married. As the quartet grows older, together, they face the ups and

the downs of life, marriage and children, death and heartbreak.

Little Women isn’t just a beautifully raw portrayal of growing up. It is also an enthralling depiction of the struggle that women face between familial obligations and following their own passions; a struggle that, even 150 years after Alcott penned it, is still relevant to women today.

If you aren’t after a long tale, our next pick is a short story. The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern follows George Pratt, who isn’t happy. More than that, he’s so displeased that on Christmas Eve, he stands by a bridge and considers taking his own life. That is, until a strange man approaches him.

George confesses to the man that he wishes he was never born, and just like that, the strange man grants George’s wish. As George goes about his day, he comes to discover what it’d truly mean to never exist.

Set in 1943, The Greatest Gift is a sobering tale of what’s important: the people around us and the connections we make throughout our lives. Stern’s short story would later inspire the classic Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life.

While Stern was best known for his books on the American Civil War, The Greatest Gift is a fantastic read and, while short, delivers the loving Christmas message just as efficiently as any other book on this list.

Our next recommendation is a classic written by a classic. Despite being written over 175 years ago, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens remains an essential novella around the holidays.

The story follows a stingy, churlish old man named Ebenezer Scrooge. Despite the many people who try to invite him to Christmas festivities, Scrooge refuses to partake in the holiday spirit. It’s later that night when Scrooge

meets his late partner’s ghost and learns he’s to encounter the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and yet to come. Over the next three days, each ghost shows Scrooge what could become of him if he doesn’t change his ways.

Dickens wrote this classic at a time when the British were evaluating new and old Christmas traditions. Experiencing this type of discourse, and the transformations that were taking place, ultimately inspired Dickens to write this world-renowned story of realization and regret.

We now end our list with another classic: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A Hoffman. The tale kicks off when a young girl, Marie Stahlbaum, receives a wooden nutcracker soldier from her godfather on Christmas Eve. When the clock strikes that night, Marie awakens to find the Nutcracker battling against mice, whose king had sent them to attack. Soon, Marie learns that the Nutcracker used to be a young man, until the Mouse Queen cursed him. The Nutcracker must endure further battles with the Mouse King to break the curse.

Hoffman was a German author who wrote rmance, fantasy, and gothic horror, and The Nutcracker embodies elements of all three genres. Written in 1816, Hoffman’s renowned story has been the focal point of many filmic and theatrical adaptations in the centuries since its release.

——— Christmas is among of the most widely celebrated holidays, and all around the world people will be searching for different ways to keep the holiday spirit alive, even amidst a pandemic. For some of us, books are the perfect way to do this.

11

How to have a hygge holiday The Danish tradition that alleviates stress and promotes happiness.

Anira Mohsen Contributor

W

ith exams piling up and lockdowns looming, it’s been a nerve-wracking time of year. Last holiday season, we were shopping, attending parties, and enjoying the Christmas cheer all around. But in 2020, all this is largely a chimney-pipe dream. While many people are pessimistic about the holidays this year, spending Christmas away from their loved ones, we can salvage the situation with a little “hygge.”

Hygge—pronounced “hoog-a”—isn’t exactly a product or material object. Instead, it’s more of a warm, fuzzy feeling we get from curling up in our favourite blanket, with a cup of hot apple cider, and our favourite scented candle. Hygge is the Nordic word for well-being, coziness, togetherness, and all the other feel-good metaphors you can think of, that homely comfort brings. In Scandinavia, particularly Denmark, hygge emerged as a defence mechanism against extreme sunlight deprivation during long winters, where locals are bathed in darkness for 16 hours each day.

Embracing hygge and being conscious of our comfort brings many physical and mental benefits necessary to lighten moods this Christmas. Danish researchers have empirically concluded that hygge increases our sense of self-worth, minimizes the strains of depression and anxiety, heightens our mindfulness, and induces feelings of genuine gratitude, self-compassion, and appreciation. It’s no surprise that Denmark consistently ranks in the top two countries for happiest people in the world. As we feel better mentally through hygge, we become motivated to take meticulous care of our body as well.

The psychology behind hygge shows that we respond best to rich experiences of sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste.

Creating a comfortable space for ourselves—full of objects, sensations, and activities that make us cozy—is essential to find some lightness in the bleak winter months.

In the Little Book of Hygge, famed Danish author and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute Meik Wiking outlines many accessible ways for everyone to enjoy hygge during the holidays.

Wiking suggests having a hyggekrog, which entails creating a little relaxing corner or nook in our home. This nook can feature our favourite chair, candle, book, or anything else that’s simple and familiar.

Wiking also recommends using søndagshygge in your hyggekrog, which refers to the relaxing atmosphere created by “lively or dimly lit” lights. We can incorporate some candles and fairy lights to enhance our home’s coziness, thereby elevating its beauty and enticing our senses for a happier lockdown. To help paint the picture, my ideal hyggekrog is right beside the family room window, by the cat hammock on a comfortable grey chair draped in my fuzzy blanket, while my mahogany teakwood candle burns right next to me.

Hygge teaches us to appreciate the simpler things in life.

It’s found in our home’s charming rustic elements rather than an expensive Christmas gift. So, embrace the simplicity of organizing your closet and try to add more organic plantbased or wooden accents to make your home more welcoming. I find myself anxious yet overjoyed at Christmas time, and this styling might be the highlight of an otherwise long and gloomy year.

Let’s stay in the present moment, look at the brighter side, and cherish all the simple things in our spaces. I recommend putting away our smartphones, pressing pause on all those emails and messages, and feel the hygge spark in our homes.

Now more than ever, we need a little hygge in our lives.

YouTube/Disney Australia & New Zealand

Filipino culture and the universal message in From Our Family to Yours Disney’s animated short will move audiences in just three minutes.

Danica Teng Associate Arts Editor

E

very Christmas season, the floodgates of holiday movies and specials open. Being wrapped in a blanket, hot chocolate in hand, re-watching your favourite holiday flicks seems like the epitome of Christmas coziness. But nestled between all those seasonal rom-coms and Christmas classics is a threeminute treasure—Disney’s animated short From Our Family to Yours.

For their 2020 Christmas advertisement, which also celebrates its 40-year partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation, Disney released an animated short that celebrates family and tradition through the lens of Filipino culture.

The story is a touching display of the relationship between a granddaughter and her grandmother, connected by their yearly cultural traditions and the grandmother’s childhood Mickey Mouse plush toy. From the Philippines in 1940 to presumably a new country in 2005, we see Mickey Mouse get passed down from generation to generation, becoming a symbol of love, culture, and nostalgia.

When From Our Family to Yours released in early November, people overwhelmingly praised the animated short for how deeply it resonated with them, especially concerning Filipino culture. It portrayed cultural touchstones such as Simbang Gabi, a nine-day series of church masses in the Philippines leading up to Christmas. Mano Po also appeared, a gesture of respect toward elders, in which you bow to the elder’s hand and press it against your forehead. Parols—or star-shaped lanterns—were another beautiful addition.

From the charming character designs to even calling the grandmother Lola, the little details made it special to Filipinos everywhere. The short’s massive praise from all audiences—Filipino or otherwise—only continues to prove the

importance of diversity and representation within media.

“The short is such a great reflection of the bonds between families. We all have unique traditions, especially at Christmas, so being able to draw on my own experience with my Filipina grandmother and bring a level of authentic creativity is pretty special,” said Angela Affinita, Disney’s Director of Brand and Creative Marketing for EMEA, to The Drum.

While focusing on details, Disney also left some hidden “Easter eggs” to find within the animated short. A clip of Once Upon a Snowman, another upcoming short, can be spotted on the family’s TV. Other hidden references included a snow globe of Disneyland Paris, DVD collections of Star Wars and Marvel, and National Geographic magazines.

And of course, with Disney, there’s bound to be a few Mickeys hiding around the house.

The bond between Lola and Apo, grandmother and granddaughter, already had viewers feeling sentimental, but the music only intensified such emotions. The main track is a single by Griff titled “Love Is A Compass.” Its moving lyrics and melodies flow with the story, evoking hope and love to maximum effect. For Disney’s partnership with Make-AWish Foundation, proceeds made from Griff’s single and from sales of the featured Mickey Mouse plush toy will be donated to the children’s charity, along with $1 (up to $100,000) for each festive memory shared with the hashtag #LoveFromDisney on social media.

While Disney’s From Our Family to Yours focused on Filipino culture, its themes of family and tradition are universal. There’s no dialogue in the story which, as Affinita says, “helps resonate across Europe regardless of the local language.” This style allows more people to connect with the story, while still representing the Filipino community in a meaningful way. During the pandemic, there couldn’t be a better time for such an uplifting story, one to remind us of our loved ones and the traditions we cherish during the holiday season.

12

sports & health

Editor | Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield sports@themedium.ca

Hand sanitizer doesn’t have to be alcohol-based to be effective Duaa Nasir Contributor

T

Looking for upper body strength? Advice from a certified personal trainer Massa Mohamed Ali Contributor

W

ith minimal equipment, gym closures, and virtual classes, gaining muscle strength can be difficult at home.

Gyms have been closed for a while, and we don’t know how much longer these closures will last. Some of us have started using YouTube videos, apps, and simple routines as guides for our at-home workouts and strength training. At The Medium, we’re beginning a new exercise series where we talk to personal trainers for targeted muscle group exercises. Each week we plan to share professional advice on keeping active without access to a gym.

This week’s article targets the upper body. How do we gain strength in our arms? Our shoulders? Which at-home exercises provide us with the best alternative to using gym equipment?

In an interview with The Medium, certified personal trainer and UTM student Gjilliane (Jill) Alcanar helps answer those questions and shares her tips for at-home strength training.

Alcanar was certified and trained at the UTM RAWC. She is a fitness instructor/personal trainer at Towne Fitness Shelburne, and an instructor for Titan Athletics Sports Hub. Alcanar says that push-ups are one of the most effective exercises you can do to strengthen your entire upper body. Pushups, she says, “can help increase arm, chest, shoulder, and back strength, as well as improve posture all at once.” One can easily add variations to the push-up to change its level of difficulty, and to target different muscle groups in the upper body. Diamond push-ups, for instance, largely target your triceps, while wider push-ups put more emphasis on the chest and shoulders.

An article from Greatlist suggests 82 fun different variations of the standard push-up to target every muscle in the upper body.

As an alternative to weights, Alcanar suggests investing in a pair of resistance bands. They are cheaper, less bulky, and still effective. They provide almost the same amount of resistance as weights when used correctly. By varying the intensity and frequency of your band exercises, you can work your upper body muscles the same way you would have done at the gym. Alcanar recommends that you “start slow, at your own pace, and gradually introduce [band exercises] to your regular routine.”

Alcanar stresses the importance of warming up, stretching, and cooling down before and after any workout to ensure safety and to avoid injury. She says that even stretching or warming up on days you don’t workout is important, as it “keeps the blood flowing and the muscles active.” Stretching throughout

the week also helps you avoid tight/sore muscles and reduces your risk of injury; “even just walking helps,” she says. With her clients, she usually warms up with boxing punches and kettlebell swings for the upper body. She suggests that doing a kettlebell swing, even without any weights, can be a good warmup and overall body movement.

After the warmup, Alcanar also ensures that she incorporates many planks and shoulder raises/presses to target the shoulder muscles. She recommends repeating exercises while changing the tempo and varying their level of difficulty to get maximum results.

Alcanar also encourages staying consistent with upper body strength training and continuously challenging your muscles with new variations of push-ups, planks, shoulder raises, and resistance band exercises. To keep up the motivation at home, Alcanar suggests exercising in a place as far away from your bed as possible and setting your intentions with a plan/schedule (that includes your workout routine) on the night before for the following day.

Alcanar also recommends Zoom workout sessions or classes with friends. You can also make the exercises something you look forward to by incorporating good music, new athletic wear, or even just a comfortable yoga mat. Additionally, a good cardio workout doesn’t have to involve you following a boring video or circuit, it can simply be skipping rope. According to a reference on Science Daily, only 10 minutes of skipping is shown to be equivalent to running an eight-minute mile (one-point-six km).

Lastly, Alcanar says to “find what works best for you and listen to your body.” She discusses that many people can be left frustrated after copying many different workouts and not achieving goals. A good way to combat this is to “make sure to take things at your own pace and really enjoy the journey,” and to “focus more on how you feel.” She says that when she works out and eats healthy, she does it because she feels good. It makes her feel awake and productive, which is confirmed in many scientific studies, as the benefits of exercise are endless.

Alcanar can be found on Instagram @jillalcanar. Her email for Personal Training is g.alcanar@live.com. You are able to email/ dm to request her as a trainer and find her on @townefitness and @titanxath on Instagram. Her virtual Zoom session schedules are: Virtual Zoom Fitness Schedule for UTMAC: Thursday & Saturday Evenings at 7:30-8:30pm Virtual Zoom Fitness for Titan Athletics: Tuesday & Wednesday Evenings at 7:30-8:30pm

he Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website makes numerous recommendations on how to prevent one from contracting Covid-19. These suggestions include wearing masks and gloves, cleaning your home, social distancing, and using hand sanitizer. When the CDC describes how to select a sanitizer, they say “using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.”

However, according to a recent study from Brigham Young University, hand sanitizer without alcohol is just as effective against Covid-19 as hand sanitizer containing alcohol. This study was published in the Journal of Hospital Infection on November 28, 2020.

During this pandemic, the nonalcohol-based hand sanitzers have been thrown by the wayside.

"People were already using it before 2020," says Bradford Berges, co-author of the study, and professor at Brigham Young University, referring to alcohol-free hand sanitizer. "It just seems like during this pandemic, the non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been thrown by the wayside because the government was saying, 'we don't know that these work,' due to the novelty of the virus and the unique lab conditions required to run tests on it."

However, as the researchers acknowledge in their study, other effective disinfecting products “could be used as effective alternatives to alcohol-based products, which may help reduce supply shortages and contribute to the containment of Covid-19.”

This study, led by Benjamin Ogilvie, treated samples of the coronavirus with three compounds commonly found in commercial disinfectants and less than one per cent solution of benzalkonium chloride. These compounds are part of a class of compounds called quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, which are commonly used as disinfectants.

The researchers put samples of the virus in test tubes and added a different compound to each tube. Viruses require living cells as hosts to infect an organism. When the researchers placed the test tube mixture on living cells, three out of the four disinfectants, including the benzalkonium chloride solution, deactivated the coronavirus within 15 seconds. This occurred even when the researchers diluted the disinfectant with water or added organic soil loads to mimic a real-life situation.

"A couple of others have looked at using these compounds against Covid," Berges explains, "but we're the first to actually look at it in a practical timeframe, using four different options, with the realistic circumstance of having dirt on your hands before you use it."

Ogilvie also notes some advantages benzalkonium chloride has over alcohol-based sanitizers. "Benzalkonium chloride can be used in much lower concentrations and does not cause the familiar 'burn' feeling you might know from using alcohol hand sanitizer. It can make life easier for people who have to sanitize hands a lot, like healthcare workers, and maybe even increase compliance with sanitizing guidelines," says Ogilvie.

With hand sanitizer being an important means of preventing the spread of Covid-19, the researchers note in their study that “the FDA should consider giving expedited approval to manufacturers of benzalkonium chloride hand sanitizers, thereby making both types of hand sanitizers more available.”

Berges notes that their study “may actually provide a change in government directions about hand sanitizer.”