Volume 50, Issue 23

Who are the Palestinians? Big Tech layoffs St. Patrick’s Day

My sister, our land has a throbbing heart, it doesn’t cease to beat, and it endures the unendurable. It keeps the secrets of hills and wombs. This land sprouting with spikes and palms is also the land that gives birth to a freedom-fighter. This land, my sister, is a woman.” — Fadwa Tuqan

>> read more on page 6

Up until recently, Big Tech companies, such as Amazon, Google, and Meta, were considered some of the most desirable jobs available, offering workers huge salaries, lavish perks, and the prospect of being a part of global innovation. But since the recession following the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been major layoffs in tech companies as a result of an uncertain economy.

>> read more on page 11

One month before St. Patrick’s Day, I biked the cobblestone streets of Kilkenny with a tour group and learned the story of the patron saint of Ireland. About halfway through our tour, with the sun peeking out from the clouds, we stopped at St. Patrick’s Church.

>> read more on page 13

Black at UTM celebrates Black Literature and promotes productive dialogue on Black student experiences at UTM

Black in Focus and Pages of Colour invited the UTM community to come together to learn and share their experiences on campus as Black students.

Razia Saleh Staff Writer

This month, Black at UTM, an initiative at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), hosted two events to celebrate Black literature and culture in a safe space where Black students connected with each other as well as faculty members.

On March 12, Black at UTM held its first Black in Focus session, an initiative that promotes productive discourse on Black student experiences at UTM. The topics discussed at the event included but were not limited to expanding inclusive spaces and fostering mental wellness, financial literacy, and empowerment. The event was organized by Black at UTM student staff research assistants Khamecia Williams, Diery Leando Saint-Vil, and Lillian DeHeer.

The Medium attended the inaugural event to gain insight into the concerns Black students have regarding campus life. Eileen Waweru, Coordinator of Black Initiatives, welcomed students to the event and emphasized the importance of such events to expand socio-political dialogue and foster inclusivity.

At the event, students discussed various topics including mental health concerns, financial hurdles, and barriers Black students face when trying to establish a sense of belonging on campus. They also discussed the necessity for inclusive sanctuaries where Black students can experience and identify with their culture.

Divine Angubua, a student staff research assistant at Black at UTM, told The Medium, “The goal for Black in Focus was simple. We wanted a safe space for Black students to discuss their experiences and needs at UTM, let their voices be heard, and contribute to positive change by simply socializing over ice breakers, food, and other engaging activities.”

“We wanted to give students closer access to the university staff and faculty who could mediate more closely with the institution through the framework of the antiracism task force recommendations as a part of our blended application of research, advocacy, and activism,” Angubua continued.

Before this event, Black at UTM also hosted Pages of Colour on March 7. At the event, the UTM community engaged in activities that fostered learning on Black literature, interacted and celebrated Black vendors and authors, literature, and spoken word performers. The event was organized by Akaila Wright, Lillian De-Heer, and Rayshaun Whyte.

According to Angubua, “Pages of Colour was framed as… part two of an event that we held at the start of Black History Month called Black on the Shelf, as a continued promotion and celebration of Black literacy and literature.”

The event provided a platform for authors, writers, and faculty from UTM’s English department to showcase their work. Angubua stated, “It was beautiful to see such diverse literary talent come together in one place, and the audience was thoroughly engaged and entertained. The event truly celebrated creativity and [was] a fantastic opportunity for all involved.”

“We hoped that this event would ignite the imagination of those who attended, widen their perception and conception of what it means to be Black, and what it means to be Black and excellent, passionate, and on their terms, successful,” Angubua noted.

Four speakers—Dr. Sam Tita, Christene Lewis, Professor Anna Thomas, and Rola Fawzy—shared their insights into Black literature and identity at the event. Their contributions highlighted the importance of writing as a tool for the Black community’s empowerment and healing.

To stay informed of future events visit the Black at UTM website, black.utm. utoronto.ca and click on the Events tab.

JASON WONG / THE MEDIUM

Canada adds 41,000 jobs to the market to combat rising unemployment rates

TikTok video reveals Mississauga restaurant with a line of 800 applicants for only 20 available positions.

Samuel Kamalendran Associate News Editor

OnMarch 8, a Statistics Canada report revealed that the country’s unemployment rate has risen to 5.8 per cent, a 0.1 per cent increase since January. In the aftermath of this increase, 41,000 jobs were added to the Canadian market this past February due to Canada’s population growth outpacing its employment growth.

The accommodation and food services industries were the largest producer of jobs, having created 26,000 positions. More jobs were also added to the professional, scientific, and technical services industries, which helped offset job losses in education and manufacturing.

While job gains have surpassed economists’ expectations and can be considered a step forward, they are not enough to counteract the effects of a growing labour force. There is too much demand for work and insufficient supply. According to Dawn Desjardins, Chief Economist at Deloitte Canada, who spoke with Global News, this phenomenon “explains why we’ve seen the unemployment rate move back up.”

In the past year, Canada’s employment rose by 368,000 jobs as its population grew by more than one million people. BMO chief economist Douglas Porter told CTV News that since more people are searching for work during a time when the economy is slowing, job seekers are more likely to work less-than-ideal jobs.

Desjardins argued that the increasing unemployment rate and decreasing wage growth rate could make Canada’s job scene an “employer’s market,” where businesses have the upper hand in wage decisions—a stark contrast to the labour market two years ago where job seekers had more leverage to negotiate higher wages during a lack of talent in the market.

A video uploaded on TikTok in late February showed a long line of job applicants wrapped around Mishree, a new and upscale dining location in Mississauga, hoping to submit their resumes and obtain a job. In total, over 800 applicants applied for 20 job openings. Around the same time, around 2,000 individuals attended a job fair at Toronto Pearson International Airport with the hopes of obtaining one of the 700 jobs available.

Under the video, one user shared, “My son, 18, has applied to over 50 jobs without one interview. You’re not up against 20 applicants anymore, it’s over 200 to 300 for one position.”

Many users under the video are criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. One comment reads, “The only one to blame for this economic mess is Justin Trudeau, he wanted this Canada and the people of Canada are paying for it.” Another says, “Welcome to the new Canada. Courtesy of Justin Trudeau and his low wage worker immigration policies.”

Canadians have even taken to Reddit to voice their frustrations with the rise in unemployment. In a post from March 6 titled, “Unemployed for almost 2 years,” one user writes, “Is it just me or is anyone else finding it super hard to find any job right now in the Greater Toronto Area.” Many users under the post shared similar sentiments.

Canada’s airline industry faces turmoil as Lynx Air ceases operations

Inflation and

Karine Alhakim Associate News Editor

increasing fuel costs are contributing to Canadian airline closures.

Last month, Calgary-based airline Lynx Air announced its closure and filed for creditor protection, sending shockwaves through Canada’s airline industry and leaving passengers scrambling for alternatives. The airline launched operations in April 2022 and ceased operations at midnight on February 26.

According to a statement released by Lynx Air on X, the decision to shut down stems from several financial complications. The airline cited inflation, fuel costs, exchange rates, regulatory expenses, and the intense competitiveness of the Canadian market as factors involved in its downfall. Despite efforts to tackle these challenges, Lynx Air ultimately found the situation very challenging.

A spokesperson for Lynx Air expressed regret over the impact of the shutdown on passengers, stating that “Every effort is being made to assist passengers at this time.” Passengers with existing bookings have been advised to contact their credit card companies to secure refunds for pre-booked travel. The abrupt closure has left many travellers stranded and seeking alternative arrangements to reach their destinations.

closure of Lynx Air adds to the ongoing turbulence within the industry. The departure of newer low-cost carriers like Swoop and Lynx Air and WestJet’s acquisition of Sunwing Airlines have raised concerns about reduced competition and potential fare hikes.

According to John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University’s aviation management program, Canada’s aviation industry has lost more than 40 per cent of its players in the past year. Gradek told CTV News, “The fewer competitive entities you have in Canada, the less pressure you have to be price-competitive,” highlighting the implications of shrinking competition in the Canadian aviation industry.

In a statement on X, Canada’s Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez, urged Lynx Air to prioritize assisting affected travellers. “I expect Lynx to help you get back home as soon as possible,” Rodriguez stated, going on to emphasize the importance of ensuring that passengers are promptly refunded if their fares are not honoured.

This is not the first time airline closures have impacted travellers. Canada’s airline industry has been witnessing a series of consolidations and closures in recent years. The

The impact of airline closures is more than just an inconvenience for passengers. With a shrinking market, the aviation industry faces reduced services and higher ticket prices. Routes such as Edmonton-Winnipeg and Calgary-Saskatoon have experienced a significant decrease in flight options leading to choices for passengers and escalating fares.

Lynx Air’s closure highlights the challenges that budget airlines in Canada are encountering. Steep airport rents, security fees, and fuel taxes have driven up costs and made it tough for budget carriers to stay competitive.

Stephen Jones, CEO of Flair Airlines, emphasized the financial burden imposed by additional charges, telling CTV News that it “makes a difference between traveling and not traveling.”

In a public statement, Lynx Air thanked its customers for their loyalty over the past two years. “We are thankful for the loyalty of our passengers who valued our ultra low-cost carrier model. We know this is a shock to many and our goal is to make the wind down of our operations as seamless as possible. It has been a privilege to serve you.”

BEATRIZ SIMAS/ THE MEDIUM

New health and dental centre in downtown Toronto offers free care to vulnerable youth

With the help of volunteer healthcare workers and private donations, The Yonge Street Mission expands its Evergreen Centre for Street-Involved Youth to help young people in precarious living situations.

OnFebruary 27, The Yonge Street Mission (YSM) opened the Richard and Lorelei Jenkins & Family Health and Dental Centre located at its Evergreen Centre for Street-Involved Youth in downtown Toronto—one of six centres provided by the organization.

Currently, the Richard and Lorelei Jenkins & Family Health and Dental Centre is operating through its temporary health centre on the second floor until its current area is completed, which is set to finish sometime in March.

Funded by three million dollars in private donations, the new health and dental centre, which is located at 365 Spadina Avenue, will occupy an entire floor in its six-story building and serve street-involved youth between the ages of 16 and 24 years old. Youth looking to access these services are not required to provide their name or identification.

While the YSM previously operated a health centre for several years, the Richard and Lorelei Jenkins & Family Health and Dental Centre is a significant expansion. It now spans 4,600 square feet, a substantial increase from the previous 700-square-foot space.

In an interview with The Medium, YSM President and CEO Angie Peters says the centre is a result of community effort, driven by concern for the well-being of youth. “This centre is entirely a work of the community because we care for these youth.”

With the help of experienced volunteer practitioners, the centre will offer free eye exams, physiotherapy, mental health care, podiatry, chiropractory, and more. It will also have a nursery with drop-in services to accommodate street-involved youth who have children aged zero to four.

The expansion also features extended operating hours, more volunteers, and more treatment rooms, including two dental suites to allow for simultaneous services.

A safe space for vulnerable youth

The Richard and Lorelei Jenkins & Family Health and Dental Centre aims to provide a space where youth not only receive free care but also feel accepted. “It’s really important for them to have access to the kinds of services that we have where they are understood and not judged,” says Peters.

Peters explains says it’s important “to make sure youth get the healthcare that they need quickly before it becomes a problem.”

Aside from helping youth transition to primary care providers in the future, one

of the centre’s long-term goals is to help youth escape homelessness and prevent them from getting used to living on the streets.

Empowering street-involved youth through access to free care

According to Peters, people who have spent several years on the streets become accustomed to street culture and survival tactics and often endure trauma, which makes it difficult for them to diverge from homelessness. “If we can get youth right away and get them off the street before they hit that mark, we are turning off the tap to adult homelessness.”

Access to basic healthcare services is pivotal in mitigating the effects of homelessness for youth. According to sessional lecturer Maykal Bailey from the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Department of Sociology, “It is important for street youth to have access to basic healthcare provision to help alleviate some of the impacts of being unhoused. Surviving on the street takes a significant toll on people’s bodies and overall health and wellbeing.”

Bailey, who teaches several courses at UTM, including Youth Justice (SOC310), says it’s important to have services like the Richard and Lorelei Jenkins & Family Health and Dental Centre that cater to those in precarious living situations.

“Having healthcare services designated specifically for people facing precarious housing can help reduce this stigma and incentivize youth to seek help in treating their healthcare needs, such as wound care, dietary education, mental health, physical rehabilitation, and other important elements related to overall health and wellbeing.”

As someone who has recently transitioned out of homelessness, René Chavez shares a similar sentiment when it comes to the importance of having access to free care. Chavez says one of the most important roles of providing free health care to youth is the preservation of life. “You can’t help people who are not alive,” he says.

While free services like health and dental care are paramount for the welfare of vulnerable youth, their provision relies heavily on the support of volunteers.

Peters emphasizes the importance of community effort, especially through organizations like YSM that are committed to helping those in need. “I believe community is the solution to poverty,” says Peters. “Each and every one of us has something to give.”

DAANISH ALVI / THE MEDIUM

UTM students express concern over Ontario’s recent One Fare program

The UTM Urbanism club met with the City of Mississauga to discuss where transit services can better improve the experiences of students.

Ahmed Ali Bukhari Contributor

After the recent announcement of Ontario’s One Fare program, students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) have expressed their frustration with the program’s oversight to include the U-Pass, a service that grants UTM students with unlimited fare-free rides on transit busses throughout the City of Mississauga.

On February 26, Ontario introduced its new One Fare program to enable transit users to pay once when riding transit throughout MiWay, TTC, Brampton Transit, and Go Transit.

However, the One Fare program only works with a physical PRESTO card, so UTM students who use a U-Pass through PRESTO E-Tickets cannot take advantage of this program.

The Medium spoke with UTM students to get a better understanding of how this issue has impacted them. Vijay Nandal, a sixth-year student completing a double major in math and computer science, stated, “The lack of U-Pass transferring between MiWay and Brampton Transit on my commute home makes using the U-Pass pointless.”

According to Nandal, the oversight to incorporate the U-Pass does not consider students who travel outside of Mississauga. “It only benefits a small subset of UTM students who exclusively travel through Mississauga. Considering how many of us commute, it should be changed to accommodate the many UTM students who don’t see a benefit from it as it stands.”

Because users cannot use their U-Pass to transfer across cities, UTM students aiming for longer commutes outside Mississauga cannot benefit from the One Fare Program.

UTM Urbanism, a club at the university, has used its platform to advocate for the integration of the U-Pass for students on campus. The club recently met with the Mississauga Transit Advisory Committee (TAC) to express these concerns to City staff.

UTM Urbanism told The Medium, “We hope that this success means that positive change is on the way and that students will soon be receiving the service quality they deserve as tuition payers and as taxpayers.”

“With this meeting, we wanted to get UTM’s concerns on the official public record. We also wanted to push transit staff to state officially that they will work on improving the glitchy digital U-Pass system, and that they will give UTM students a better deal this June

when our U-Pass agreement is renegotiated with the UTM Student Union,” stated the club. “We’re happy to say that these two goals were achieved during the meeting itself, and it’s all on the record.”

In their meeting, UTM Urbanism confirmed that without the integration of the U-Pass, students who are not participating in the One Fare program are missing out on an average of C$16,000 in yearly savings.

“Students are also forced to pay for the U-Pass in tuition, so it’s their right to have a product on par with McMaster [University], we deserve to get our money’s worth,” UTM Urbanism said.

The club also brought up other concerns that stem from missing out on the One Fare program. “For example, some international students will need to buy new phones since the PRESTO eTickets app is locked out of some regions. In addition, students need an internet connection to load the app, and screenshots of their eTicket don’t reliably work. Thus, students who cannot afford a mobile data plan are locked out of a service they are forced to pay for.”

During the meeting, UTM Urbanism also aired out concerns regarding student dissatisfaction regarding MiWay services, including issues of buses being delayed. “We asked city staff to buy more long busses, improve frequency, and make route transfers more reliable, especially along routes 26 and 44.”

UTM Urbanism signed off with a call to join its club for students who may be interested. “We encourage anyone who thinks cities are pretty cool, [joining] is free and all are welcome!”

The promise of integrating U-Passes into PRESTO cards by late 2025, as the City mentioned during their meeting with UTM Urbanism, would be a step forward for UTM students made possible through the efforts of UTM Urbanism and the voice of UTM commuters.

DAANISH ALVI / THE MEDIUM

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06 OPINION

Who are the Palestinians?

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

Aya Yafaoui Opinion Editor

“My sister, our land has a throbbing heart, it doesn’t cease to beat, and it endures the unendurable. It keeps the secrets of hills and wombs. This land sprouting with spikes and palms is also the land that gives birth to a freedom-fighter. This land, my sister, is a woman.” — Fadwa Tuqan Fadwa Tuqan, the “Poetess of Palestine,” wrote this stanza in her poem, “Hamza.” In these lines, Hamza—“the unextraordinary”—comforts the speaker when she is distressed about the fighting against the Israeli Occupation. The Israeli Occupation Forces go after Hamza in the poem, seeking to burn his house down and throw his son in prison. The poem ends like this:

“Hamza threw open a window. Face-to-face with the blazing sun, he yelled defiantly: ‘Here in this house I and my children will live and die, for Palestine!’

Hamza’s voice echoed over the hemorrhaging silence.

An hour later, with impeccable timing, Hamza’s house came crashing down as its rooms were blown sky-high and its bricks and mortar burst, till everything settled, burying a lifetime’s memories of labor, tears, and happier times.

Yesterday I saw Hamza walking down one of our town’s streets ... Hamza-the-unextraordinary man who remained as he always was: unshakable in his determination.” (Translated loosely by Michael R. Burch)

The poem opens by describing Hamza as ordinary, just one of many who does manual labour to earn a living in town. And yet, the very fact that he is ordinary is important. Because there are millions of Hamzas in Palestine, all unshakeably determined to live and fight and die for their freedom, for their home.

Tuqan was born in 1917 in Nablus, Palestine. She learned poetry from her brother Ibrahim, who was determined to help his sister continue her education and writing. Tuqan was 31 when she experienced the Nakba firsthand. A catastrophe that spurred her to join political life, becoming a member of the Jordanian delegation to attend a peace conference organized by the World Peace Council. Yet, it was not until the Naksa in 1967, when Israel ethnically cleansed yet another 300,000 people and stole the rest of historical Palestine—as well as land in Egypt and Syria—that her poetry became one of resistance.

Tuqan is just one of many important and influential Palestinian poets that speak to the beauty, resilience, and

determination of Palestinians. She is also a cornerstone of a tradition that sheds light on the atrocities that the Zionist settler colonial project inflicts every day on Palestine. Her work is crucial, and yet I find her most impressive feat to be that she was able to die and be buried in her hometown of Nablus in 2003, a right stripped away from many Palestinians.

Palestinian culture has become one of incredible community, resistance, and hope. You may look at Palestine now and only see the carpet-bombed streets of Gaza or the military checkpoints littered in the West Bank. But we are not only the violence and pain that seeks to destroy us.

We are the sweetness of a Yafa orange. The delight of a Gazan strawberry. The resilience of an olive tree. We are the patterns and colour of our tatreez, weaving our stories onto ourselves and our loved ones. We are the crossroads of civilization and history, carrying the echoes of all the people who have walked our land. We are the mosaics of churches and mosques and temples, our ancestors living together as neighbors and not enemies. We are the laughter of children that still echoes despite the suffocating violence. We are the tenderness of a man feeding street cats who are hungry in Gaza. We are the brave women who dodge snipers to save their patients. We are the symbols of resistance we wave in defiance of our elimination, our kuffiyehs bold against an ashy sky. We are the beauty that fills every corner of our hills and beaches. We are the hope of keys to old houses, a promise of return. We are Palestine, no matter what they say.

Colonizers look at the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River and see resources: land, power, wealth, and trade. They look at Gaza and see the beach houses they can build, the highways they can pave, the canals they can dig, and the oil they can pump. And that is how you know that this land is not their home. Because when you call a place your home, when you love it and are connected to it, you do not destroy everything that is beautiful about it. You do not raze centuries old churches, mosques, museums, universities, and libraries to the ground. You do not destroy the earth with white phosphorus and contaminate the water.

It has been 75 years of the colonial and apartheid occupation of Palestine. We have endured six months and more than 150 days of genocide in Gaza. And it will take a few more years, perhaps even decades, until the killing stops and Palestine is freed. But it will be free. For a thief never cares as much as the original owner who cherished and loved their home. Palestinians will always return and fight for Palestine, for home. And now, we are also joined by the people of the world who have felt the pain and dispossession of colonialism. In the end, we will endure. In the end, we will return. In the end, we will be home.

A peek into the passionate poetry of Pakistan

Pakistani poetry weaves together threads of tradition, expression, and societal resonance.

Maryam Raheel Contributor

Of all the art forms cherished and practiced in Pakistan, literature—most notably, poetry—is the richest. With its deep-rooted tradition of literature written in its national language, Urdu, as well as in regional languages, Pakistan has fittingly been called a “land of poetry.”

Growing up in Canada, most English speakers are exposed to poems in school, and even then, it is often a miniscule portion of the curriculum. Unless I was sitting in an English class oddly populated with poetry enthusiasts, the allusion to a verse or quote would gain no reaction from those around me. At the very least, recalling widely known nursery rhymes would illuminate some recognition.

Poetry in Pakistan shines in an incomparable spotlight. It’s woven into numerous aspects of everyday life, from conversations, to objects, to moments of celebration or anguish. We carry poems in our pockets and slip them into our speech. Children catch on to patchwork phrases from classical poetry spoken by their elders. The beginning of a new chapter and the end of another are celebrated or mourned with the recitation of lyrical rhymes. And when that boundless compartment has overflowed, verses and sayings of famous poets are painted onto the sides of buses or the trunks of cars.

This cultural connection creates community bonds and serves as an important tool for the articulation of struggles, stories, ideas, and knowledge from the past. Historically, millions of Urdu speakers were largely illiterate, yet someone was always able to recite lengthy poems. Urdu poetry is largely associated with orality. Where English speakers would write their pieces and subsequently read them aloud, Urdu poetry jumps the bridge to verbalizing poems. Despite the complex writing regulations for poetry forms, such as ghazals, saying verses seems to come naturally. As a largely English writer of poetry myself, I tend to struggle with following the strict guidelines of certain metres and forms. Yet, in Pakistan, people will seldom see a poem written down and simply become acquainted with one by hearing it.

The Urdu language has been denoted as a poetic language, making it conducive for literature and poetry. Its associated grace and elegance are attributed to the pleasant, symphonious sound of Urdu words. This feature is a key part of what makes public poetry

The power of imagination

recitations, known as mushairas, so popular. Mushairas are a gathering of poets and audiences who share a love for the art and indulge in the opportunity to read their own work. These events commonly attract thousands of attendees. However, intimate gatherings with family or friends are also considered mushairas, and this smaller setting invites many to present works of their own.

Urdu poets are greatly honoured in Pakistan. Not only for their craft, but for the voice they give people in political situations. The notion that literature is chained to a different platform than that of politics is refutable due to the connection to society that slips into the words of a writer. Whereas in the US, only six poets in history have read at a presidential inauguration ceremony, poets in Pakistan played a role in the establishment of the country itself.

“Poetry is an art form, but it’s also a weapon and an instrument,” says Amanda Gormon, who in 2021, became the youngest poet to present at an inauguration ceremony. For such a powerful art form, its scarce use for communication throughout history can call into question its relevance in politics.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal, a South Asian Muslim philosopher and author, is known as the father of Pakistan. His many literary accomplishments revolve around topics of social justice and a better future for humanity during a time of British rule in South Asia. His philosophical ideas were the stepping stones for the actualization of Pakistan’s separate identity. He coined the notion of “selfhood,” which gave strength to individuals overcoming their battles. He highlighted that the restoration of oneself would contribute to the restoration of a land for the Muslim civilization. This vision led to the creation of the country Pakistan, where his verses and words continue to inspire and echo among people in the nation.

While our culture’s magnificent fashion, delicate handicrafts, and delicious food may take centre stage for artistic popularity, poetry has a longstanding and powerful history in Pakistan. One that shapes the very fabric of society.

The transformative power of imagination and grit can ignite change and propel us toward a better future.

Jia Bawa Contributor

In today’s world, where people are often riddled with a sense of cynicism and hopelessness, being daring enough to dream of a better future can make all the difference. For generations, many people have convinced themselves and others that the world will never change, evidenced by popular phrasing such as “that is just the way the world works” and “suck it up and deal with it.” There is this misconception that we must adapt ourselves to fit into the workings of society and the world, like parts in a well-oiled machine. Those who believe this philosophy, however, are lacking something very important.

So, what is this secret weapon? Imagination. Although it may seem naïve, and pointless to many—often confused with “having your head in the clouds”—imagination is actually an extremely powerful tool. One that, when harnessed properly, has the potential to fuel change and action, bringing us closer to our goal of a better world.

Our hippocampus is the area of our brain that is associated with imagination and is also where our memories are partly stored. According to Rob Hopkins, the author of From What Is to What If: Unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want, this is a plausible explanation as to why fantasizing about the future is just as evocative as when we recollect past events. He feels that tapping into our imagination is a powerful tool when it comes to driving positive change, as it offers people a positive vision to work toward—a concrete goal—which further breeds creativity and action.

Drawing from positive psychology, the discipline preaches just how influential optimism and envisioning a better future can be. Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth informs us of the power of grit. Grit is passion and perseverance for attaining long-term goals. It is sticking with your future goals and working hard for years and years to make that future a reality.

In a research study where she drew from her experiences as a high school teacher, Duckworth observed firsthand how children who possessed resilience and determination, persevered and came out on top. She made the children fill out “grit questionnaires,” which consisted of a series of common questions, and then analyzed the results. This led her to discover that grit level was a more accurate indicator of who was most likely to graduate at the end of the year, even more so than family income, socioeconomic status, IQ, or achievement test scores. She conducted similar analyses elsewhere, not limiting herself to school settings, including environments such as traditional workplaces and construction companies. One characteristic that consistently predicted success across all these different environments was grit.

Gritty people possess a “growth mindset,” a term that was first coined by psychologist Carol Dweck at Stanford University. It is the belief that one’s ability to learn is not fixed or permanent, but fluid and ever-evolving, thereby encouraging children to continue to work hard and persevere no matter how much failure they experience.

Therefore, we can see how imagination and grit go hand-in-hand and propel us to work toward our goals and aspirations. Imagination enables us to not limit ourselves and to envision the best possible future for ourselves, while grit provides us with the perseverance and determination required to turn our dreams into reality. If we learn how to properly utilize grit and imagination, we will have a better chance of overcoming obstacles and innovating. All of this will allow us to tap into our true potential, and ultimately, let us build a better life, and a better world, for ourselves and others.

What to do with US$3.3 billion tax dollars

A message to President Joe Biden.

Maryam Lela Staff Writer

WithUS$3.3 billion tax dollars every year, you could…

1.Alleviate America’s homelessness crisis.

Inflation has caused rent across the US to skyrocket, making houses more difficult to access for Americans. In California, there are “23 affordable houses for every 100 extremely low-income renters,” according to the New York Times. More houses are needed to meet the demand. Rent needs to be more affordable for low-income families.

2.Fight food insecurity.

Food insecurity, caused by a rise in the cost of living, plagues 17 million families across America, including nine million children. Fighting food insecurity can include investing more in anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs.

3.Make healthcare more affordable.

Although America spends more on healthcare than any other wealthy country in the world, half of working-age citizens in the country cannot afford healthcare. Many delay treatment or don’t refill their prescriptions because they’re too expensive. With inflation, this problem is getting worse.

4.Make college tuition more affordable.

College tuition in America has become seven times more expensive since the 1960s. Three-fourths of Americans believe college is too expensive. Providing more grants to students and more incentives to the colleges that decrease tuition can alleviate this issue.

We live on stolen land

The ripples of settler colonialism in Canada.

Zainab Khalil Contributor

Settler colonialism is a system that aims to displace and erase an existing population on a land to establish a new population and claim the land as its own. It ties into colonization. This is the case with the country that many of us call home today: Canada. Canada came to be through the establishment of European settlements that pushed the Indigenous First Nations out through various systemic ways to establish their own colony.

Although there were treaties in place between some settlers and Indigenous peoples, many of them were unfair, favouring and being taken advantage of by settlers. This was due to the continuous dehumanization of the Indigenous people and the belief among settlers that the white race was superior. Settlers also disrupted and displaced the Indigenous population by creating treaties, laws, acts, reserve systems, and residential schools aimed at erasing Indigenous culture, identity, and self-determination. All in an attempt to assimilate, control, and get rid of the “Aboriginal” peoples.

Settler colonialism has also impacted politics. Unfortunately, colonialism is still rooted in many of the government policies and structural organization of the

5.Tackle environmental racism.

Environmental racism occurs when waste facilities are placed near communities where African Americans, Indigenous peoples, Latines, immigrant farmworkers, and lowincome workers mainly live. As a result, these communities are exposed to cancer-causing pollutants, such as toxic dust, fumes, and ash.

6.Provide clean drinking water to the Americans who don’t have it. Jackson, Mississippi; Flint, Michigan; and Buffalo, New York. These are places that have a contaminated drinking water problem. In these areas, water is polluted either by lead or industrial runoff. Millions of Americans drink this water.

Instead of using US$3.3 billion to further these efforts, however, the US government donates that amount every year to a foreign military that drops bombs on five-year-olds and journalists, destroys hospitals and schools, detains children without trial or charge, desecrates cemeteries, shoots teenagers in the streets, deprives civilians of food and water, suffocates newborns in their incubators, and shells civilians with illegal incendiary substances like white phosphorus. That foreign military is Israel’s.

In total, the US has donated a total of US$158 billion to Israel’s military since World War II. This money is derived from US taxpayer dollars. That means that the Americans who can barely afford healthcare, rent, food, or a college education are working countless hours every day so that their government can spend their wages on missiles and rockets that get dropped on Palestinian civilians’ heads.

country today, resulting in a lot of systematic oppression of the Indigenous people and other minorities as well. This systemic oppression is present in issues such as unequal health care, underrepresentation in politics, over-policing, as well as unequal access to basic human rights like water and electricity for Indigenous communities. This is most prominent with how Canada has been trying to hide and erase the memory of the Indigenous using cruel and unusual methods.

Settler colonialism has impacted society and culture as a whole. Due to colonization and attempts to erase culture, many traditions and practices were lost, leaving behind ongoing trauma. Luckily, Indigenous culture is slowly becoming more recognized in Canada today, with different workshops, the creation and celebration of National Indigenous History Month in June, courses on traditions and practices, and most importantly, Indigenous people holding pride, preserving, sharing, and keeping their diverse cultures alive.

Due to Canada’s dark past, many institutions and businesses use land acknowledgment to recognize Turtle Island, the ancestral land of many Indigenous people

in North America. Land acknowledgements are meant to recognize all the pain that colonization has done and appreciate the Indigenous peoples who were impacted.

Genocides have taken and are still taking place around the world. Indigenous people in Canada faced a cultural genocide, characterized by the intention of getting rid of a culture and the identity of the group of people in question. In this case, it was the attempt to erase Indigenous peoples in Canada as a distinct group. Residential schools were one of the most brutal attempts at erasing culture and identity, and they are a key component of the cultural genocide that took place. These “schools” were run until 1996 by the church, where Indigenous children were forcibly kidnapped from their families by the government in an attempt to “civilize” or “westernize” them.

Residential schools forcibly converted Indigenous children to Christianity, gave the children European names, forbade them from speaking their native tongue, and prohibited them from celebrating Indigenous practices. The schools were also unsafe, with frequent fires, low-quality food, and poor housing and living conditions. Children in the schools also faced physical, mental, and

sexual abuse, resulting in many being tortured and losing their lives.

The “LANDBACK” movement was created to decolonize Indigenous lands across North America. The LANDBACK movement can have two meanings. The first is the restoration of land ownership. The other is the fight for “comprehensive land claims and agreements.” However, the movement is much more than just the fight for land, it is a way for Indigenous peoples to confront colonialism from the root, to reconnect with their ancestral land, Turtle Island, and the earth. The LANDBACK movement also became a symbol for the reclamation of what was taken and destroyed by colonization.

Settler colonialism is brutal and has had lingering effects on the Indigenous people in North America. Today, many of us study and live in Canada, and it is especially important for us to recognize the history of the Indigenous people and their ancestral land, and to prevent the brutal colonialism that has become the blueprint for similar atrocities across the world. Simultaneously, we must appreciate and recognize Indigenous culture and traditions, helping to keep them alive.

The diverse fight for civil rights in North America

The East Asian community’s role in the fight for

equality and freedom.

Taehyung Kim Contributor

Eversince I read Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, I’ve seen North America’s civil rights discourse in a new light. Yes, the civil rights movement has been predominantly framed around the significant struggles faced by Black communities, and rightly so. However, a broader scope of experiences often gets overlooked, particularly those of East Asians. Lee’s novel doesn’t just add these experiences to the conversation, it forces us to confront them head-on. Her work vividly highlights historical injustices, such as the 1871 Los Angeles Chinese Massacre, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. These episodes aren’t merely historical footnotes, they reflect ongoing racism that surged anew with the Covid-19 pandemic, making the past feel pressing and current.

But here’s where it gets even more complex and a bit uncomfortable. While talking and gathering with some East Asian Canadians in Toronto, of course, primarily Korean-Canadians for me, I was taken aback by an undercurrent of what can only be described as a white supremacist colonial mindset among some. Not everyone, of course, but it’s there. This isn’t just about external racism. It’s about the internalized views that can fracture a community from within. It’s about how the legacies of colonialism and white supremacy continue to shape attitudes and beliefs in ways that are subtle yet profoundly impactful.

Through Pachinko and learning about Lee’s background, I’ve realized that civil rights aren’t a monolith. The struggle for equality encompasses a vast array of experiences and histories, including those of East Asians, which are often sidelined. Lee’s novel, fuelled by her own experiences and the historical weight of the Korean diaspora, is a reminder of the importance of listening to and amplifying these diverse voices. It’s about understanding that the fight against racism and civil rights is as relevant today as ever, and it requires our active engagement and empathy.

Moreover, Lee’s success and the resonance of Pachinko highlight the crucial role of storytelling in our collective efforts to confront and overcome prejudice. Through her characters’ journeys, we gain insights into the complexities of identity, the pain of exclusion, and the power of persistence. These stories don’t just inform us; they challenge us to think more deeply about our positions within societal power dynamics.

It’s made me rethink the concept of allyship and how we can all contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society. Recognizing the nuances of the East Asian experience within the civil rights movement, illuminated by Lee’s own life and work, is a step toward acknowledging the richness of our shared history and the work still required to dismantle the remnants of white supremacy and colonial thinking.

This conversation would be incomplete without acknowledging the names and stories of East Asian activists who’ve contributed significantly to the civil rights movement. Figures like Grace Lee Boggs, a Chinese American woman who spent her life advocating for civil rights and labour movements in Detroit; and Yuri Kochiyama, who embraced cross-cultural solidarity after her experiences in Japanese American internment camps, have left indelible marks on the fight for equality. Their stories, alongside those of individuals like Fred Korematsu, who challenged Japanese American internment to the US Supreme Court, are crucial chapters in the civil rights narrative.

These activists exemplify the intersectionality of the civil rights struggle, showing that it’s not just about one community’s fight against injustice but about all communities coming together to challenge systemic oppression. By acknowledging their contributions, we can foster a more inclusive understanding of civil rights that spans beyond the black-and-white narrative and includes the rich hues of all those who’ve fought for justice.

As we continue to engage with works like Pachinko and the stories of activists who’ve paved the way, we’re reminded of the importance of listening to and amplifying diverse voices. It’s through understanding the multifaceted nature of civil rights struggles, including those of East Asians, that we can truly appreciate the breadth and depth of what it means to fight for equality. In embracing the diversity of our collective stories, we honour the legacy of those who’ve fought before us and inspire future generations to carry forward the torch of justice and equality. Let’s commit to expanding our horizons and challenging ourselves to include every voice in the civil rights discourse, recognizing that each story enriches our understanding and strengthens our resolve to build a more equitable world.

IBMOON KIM ON UNSPLASH

Savouring the blend: the essence of culture in every bite

The connection between food, culture, and the melting pot of meals in Toronto.

Humancivilization is like a richly-coloured rug with a myriad of cultural threads, each uniquely contributing to the grand mosaic of humanity. Among these threads, food stands out as a universal language, transcending linguistic and geographical boundaries to express the essence of a culture’s identity, history, and communal values. The experience of trying different flavours and foods is the easiest way one can expose themselves to the beauty of a culture. From enjoying dim sum to a hearty shawarma wrap, everyone can feel at home and indulge in the traditions and stories of each culture.

Ever since humankind learned how to prepare and cook, food transformed from just sustenance to a representation of tradition, history, and community. Eating became a communal activity, one that can be seen in our closest ancestral relatives who dine together: apes.

Research shows that apes share food with those deemed as allies or partners. For humanity, our population has expanded throughout the world and geographical factors have dictated the dietary habits of different civilizations. This resulted in the differences seen in crop cultivation, animal domestication, and culinary practices. Over centuries, these practices evolved into rich and diverse traditions, encapsulating the stories of the people and the essence of the land.

For example, the Mediterranean diet emphasizes olive oil, fish, and fresh vegetables. This reflects the region’s agricultural bounty and maritime culture. Similarly, the focus on rice and seafood dishes in Asian diets reflects the bountiful rice fields and the diverse marine life in the area. These culinary traditions provide a window into the cultures, revealing the social, economic, and environmental factors that have sculpted the societies that became what they are today.

Living in Toronto, one of the world’s most diverse cities, presents a fascinating interplay of food and culture. Toronto’s world-renowned culinary scene is a testament to the city’s rich microcosm of immigrant communities hailing from around the world. From the aromatic and rich pho of Vietnam to the fresh and satisfying Italian submarines and the robust flavours of Ethiopian injera, each bite of food in Toronto comes with a history of migration, adaptation, and cultural fusion.

As a result of the multicultural nature of Toronto, there has been an emergence of fusion food dishes around the city that combine flavours and traditions of different

cultures. Jesse Navarathinam, an alumnus of the University of Toronto Mississauga and an ex-chef from Momofuku describes the culinary scene of Toronto as “unique and completely Torontonian.”

Momofuku, founded by David Chang in 2004, is the parent company of Momofuku Noodle Bar in Toronto. Although it recently shut down after 10 years of business on University Avenue, Momofuku showcased a menu filled with AsianAmerican fusion food. “They allowed us to come up with our own dishes to put on the menu. So if you came up with a dish that they liked, you will see it at dinner service,” Navarathinam explains. “That was the reason why the menu is so diverse. It reflects the culture and upbringing of different chefs.”

Fusion cuisine in Toronto reflects the city’s multicultural identity and its openness to new and adventurous cultural explorations. With this challenge from the mouths of Torontonians, chefs in the city are pushing the boundaries of traditional cuisine, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the different cultures that are used in their practices.

Patois, a Jamaican-Asian fusion restaurant, offers dishes that meld Jamaican flavours with Asian influences, creating a unique culinary narrative that resonates with Toronto’s cosmopolitan spirit and values. The restaurant’s famous jerk chicken chow mein boasts the creative potential of fusion cuisine, combining the fiery spices of Jamaica with the comforting textures of Chinese noodles in the same bowl.

“I’m surprised that Toronto only just got its Michelin stars [in] late 2022. Or Canada in general. It’s such a crazy culinary scene where you can have all the flavors of the world within a train ride,” Navarathinam exclaims when talking about the recognition of Toronto being a world-renowned “flavour town.”

“I won’t be surprised if Toronto becomes on par with Paris and New York for food. There’s a pizza passport just for Toronto alone. Imagine the diversity and opportunities on the table now that the Michelin guide is here.”

With every bite of food comes the tradition and culture that dish hails from. It is important to not only enjoy the vast palate that different cultures provide, but also appreciate the culture itself. Without the colourful touch of diversity, there would not be such a flavourful and beautiful scene of mixing cultures.

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

Big Tech layoffs

are

here to stay in 2024

The once glamourous and sought-after Big Tech jobs are now facing continuous layoffs and cutbacks, leaving workers questioning their next employment strategies.

Mariana Dominguez Rodriguez Contributor

Upuntil recently, Big Tech companies, such as Amazon, Google, and Meta, were considered some of the most desirable jobs available, offering workers huge salaries, lavish perks, and the prospect of being a part of global innovation. But since the recession following the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been major layoffs in tech companies as a result of an uncertain economy.

In 2023, Big Tech companies made many job layoffs. According to CNBC, Amazon cut 27,000 employees, Meta cut 21,000, and Microsoft cut 10,000 between late 2022 and early 2023. Those numbers have only increased entering 2024: 207 tech companies have participated in job layoffs, with more than 50,000 employees being laid off as of 2024.

Before the layoffs, tech companies were renowned for their advanced and efficient workplace culture and employee benefits toward service and learning goals. However, as the global economy experienced yet another major turndown around 2022, coupled with climbing inflation and interest rates, tech companies made a significant shift away from having a high hiring demand in 2020-2021. Now, they are pulling back on recruitment and are cutting existing employees to stay financially afloat following the pandemic recession, completely shifting employees’ career trajectories from one extreme to another.

The after-effects of the pandemic are not the only factor affecting the massive layoffs. Through layoffs, tech companies can manage larger amounts of profit to then diversify into other financial sectors that are sure to generate profit. Jeff Shulman, a professor at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, told NPR that tech companies are also participating in large waves of layoffs because “the layoffs seem to be helping their stock prices, so these companies see no reason to stop.”

For smaller companies, such as start-ups, the cash flow income rates are at a low and force them to reduce their team sizes, while larger firms submit to layoffs as they aim to satisfy investors and increase stock value. “Workers are more comfortable with it, stock investors are appreciating it, and so I think we’ll see it continue for some time,” Shulman adds. Big Tech companies can lay off many employees as other companies are doing the same, and with the limited profitability and rising interest rates, sudden and drastic layoffs across the industry are no longer seen as a shock but understood as a new cultural norm in the tech corporate world.

The disconnect between tech corporations and employees thickens as technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), continue to grow at high speeds and produce significant advances in workflow capability and efficiency. Instead of spending resources on hiring individuals, which imposes long and tedious recruitment processes, tech companies are spending billions on AI software systems that they believe could save on current hiring resources and grow to be worth trillions. According to the New York Times, Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Meta, told analysts in a call that his company ignited major layoffs and control costs this past year “so we can invest in these long-term, ambitious visions around AI.”

Major layoffs as a way of promoting and introducing a workplace system redesigned by AI is not a pattern that is exclusive to big tech companies like Meta. As these companies scramble to keep up with consumer demand and high costs, many continue to work with online work-from-home systems that emerged during the pandemic. Tech companies have realized that the need to have individuals physically present in the office and to allocate resources and software their employees need at the office are diminishing, as the same amount of work or even more can be completed conveniently and more effectively from their employees’ homes.

Tim Herbert, CompTIA’s chief research officer, told the New York Times that these cycles of high job market demand and simultaneous job layoffs are a necessary part of the economic cycle. “We go through these cycles where you see this intense focus on innovation and then the pendulum swings and there’s an intense focus on the bottom line.”

There is no clear trajectory for how many job layoffs are likely to occur due to rising costs, the increasing demand for new jobs, the relationship between stock prices, the emergence of AI, and the companies’ ability to stay financially afloat with the external impacts of an economic recession. However, based on the recent results from the past few years, the number of job layoffs seems to be increasing.

The entire technology sector is experiencing a downward shift, making way for a newly developed workplace culture with innovative systems and technology. As tech companies try their best to maximize their profits and value, employees are struggling to keep up with the trends in the industry. It is interesting to see what the world of technology is going to look like next for employees and students who are aspiring to land a job in the industry.

SARA LI / THE MEDIUM

Crafting stories with Dr. Brent Wood: Inside UTM’s creative writing program

Dr. Wood promotes student creativity on campus and brings communities together through creative writing.

Yusuf Larizza-Ali Staff Writer

Inthe Department of English & Drama at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), there is a program that focuses on the creation of stories. The creative writing program is designed for students to focus on expressing themselves through literature or drama in a creative way.

Dr. Brent Wood is a sessional lecturer within the creative writing program in the English department. Dr. Wood got his PhD from the University of Toronto, where he explored creative writing and studied poetry for his thesis. However, he states that this was not what he taught when he began teaching in the English department. Instead, he taught Canadian literature and very standard English courses, including poetry. Dr. Wood noted he had many keen students who wanted to learn more about poetry and wished to read more after class. So, he took them to a picnic table by the former North Building and passed a book of poetry around. This became a recurring event every Thursday and was open to anyone else who wished to join.

Things changed during the pandemic when Dr. Wood had a child, which led to the tradition being discontinued. However, later on, the opportunity re-emerged when he was asked to teach the creative writing course. This tradition was carried on to the course and moved away from the idea that the student is writing or performing with perfection. Instead, he emphasized being open to engaging with people socially and sharing ideas through the activity.

When asked about the creative writing program’s purpose, Dr. Wood states that “there are two angles on that, one [is] that it fits as an English literature course because you’re analyzing the nuts and bolts [and] practical techniques of putting texts together. So, it’s like another way of satisfying the same kind of desires you would have taking English courses where you’re just reading and criticizing [but], in this case, instead of merely criticizing, you’re trying to apply those techniques to your own writing.”

Dr. Wood says that when students take an English course after a creative writing course, they are much sharper in pinpointing what the writer was trying to do, which is why the program is helpful for a lot of English majors. “If you’re not that interested in studying texts and just wish to make your own texts, that’s what creative writing courses are typically for.”

Dr. Wood emphasizes that the program is just a minor and differs from the professional writing and communication program at UTM. “It’s not necessarily going to set you up to become a professional writer, but it will [aid you] in becoming involved in the creative collective process,” he explains.

“[Regardless of which community you study in] there is a real value in collective art. One of the things I like to emphasize in my creative writing courses is that it’s not just you sitting in your room having a fantasy you want to put down on paper. You need to [connect with] people interested in the same kind of thing and share it.”

Dr. Wood states that this is where most of the value found in collective art

is: through sharing stories with each other and building your confidence. This is “not necessarily so you can make money and a career out of this, but so you can get into some collective artmaking. This is something lacking in people’s lives, especially after the pandemic. Collective artmaking is the number one place for spiritual and social growth,” he adds.

Dr. Wood also thinks this program ties in well with other programs because it is part of the English & Drama Department. “The drama department side of things is much more oriented towards making art [as opposed] to just studying it.” He cites the theatre and drama program that involves both practical and theoretical elements. “They work on the practical side of things at Sheridan and then come [to UTM] to study more theoretical drama. It’s nice to have something happening on the non-performance side to provide a nice balance between the practical and theoretical.” Dr. Wood states the creative writing minor provides English students with a similar balance because now they also have a practical aspect of what they do. He also notes you cannot do theatre on your own and creative writing creates the aspect of connecting and coming together to create art like students who study theatre.

Dr. Wood also teaches the course ENG110H5: Narrative this term. When asked how the course connects to crafting stories and writing, he says, “The way I teach has a lot of focus on oral storytelling, essentially. When we talk about narrative in that course, it’s not so much literary narratives but narratives of cultural continuity that teaches lessons with deeper psychological and symbolic forces attached to them.” Dr. Wood wants students to think about narratives in a broader context to include narratives beyond short stories and novels, and to think about where narratives can come from.

“For me, when you as a writer plug into the oral narrative tradition, you bring a little oral narrative energy into your written narratives. My POV is that the more you can bring oral literary energy into a written narrative, the more lively it is and the easier you can connect with your audience.” Dr. Wood notes that while this course is not a prerequisite, the ideas of oral narratives in writing make taking the course an ideal starting point to pursue creative writing.

Dr. Wood also notes that creative writing courses are popular among students and are increasing in popularity every year. He believes that, when this program started, there was a real deficit in art history at UTM. The St. George campus had a music program while drama students went to Sheridan for their practical theatre work. He notes a “real thirst among students [at UTM] for some sort of creative option they can work with.”

The program has also drawn in students from other majors, often attracting forensic and computer science majors, which is the bonus of creative writing as a minor.

“It’s fun to have many different types of students [and] perspectives in the classroom,” concludes Dr. Wood. “That kind of energy percolates around the whole campus and the whole campus gets a little extra boost in terms of creativity [and] wanting to be here.”

DAANISH ALVI / THE MEDIUM

13Arts

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day beyond Irish borders

The life and legacy of Ireland’s patron saint.

Keira Johannson Staff Writer

Onemonth before St. Patrick’s Day, I biked the cobblestone streets of Kilkenny with a tour group and learned the story of the patron saint of Ireland. About halfway through our tour, with the sun peeking out from the clouds, we stopped at St. Patrick’s Church. It was there, in the heart of the medieval, picturesque town, where we got to discover the true meaning behind the cultural and religious holiday of March 17.

“The first thing to know about St. Patrick is that he wasn’t Irish,” our tour guide, Jason, told us. “In the fifth century, he was taken prisoner and brought to Ireland from Great Britain, where he spent several years in captivity. He was just 16 years old.”

I looked up at the church and tried to imagine what it would be like to be stripped of everything that held meaning. During his time in captivity, Patrick claimed he had a miracle dream where a voice—which he believed to be God’s—told him he had to leave Ireland. After about six years of being held prisoner, Patrick managed to escape.

“After Patrick left Ireland and returned to Great Britain, he had another religious dream,” Jason said. “This one, contrary to his first dream, told him why he needed to return.”

of tradition and practice. And while much of his legacy is tied to religion, St. Patrick is also heavily admired for his focus on Irish celebration.

March 17 is known as St. Patrick’s feast day (presumably the date of his death in 461 A.D.). Now, we celebrate March 17 as both a religious and cultural holiday to commemorate Ireland’s patron saint and the legacy he built for Irish culture.

And so he did. Patrick took extensive religious training so that he could return to Ireland and bring meaning back to a country that had wronged him. St. Patrick’s ability to incorporate Irish culture into Christian lessons was how he built the country into one

Home

Dana Al-Habash Contributor

>> full poem online

Ifeel the gravitational pull between my heart and home. To return, to be welcomed, but my home is not home when occupiers mark the territory. Their existence depended on the cold blood of my family.

Every home has a scent, a flavour that reminds you of memories woven into its walls. I have yet to smell my home, it remains elusive.

I cannot be reminded of any memories but I long for the day I wove them in.

How can my heart long for the home that I’ve never been to, the home I’ve never smelled or touched?

I tried to find a new home, yet my heart was not convinced. No scent nor decor can resemble my home. It is matchless, it is unique.

I want to go home but I can’t. So I patiently wait for the day I do, to return and meet its ancestors.

But St. Patrick’s Day isn’t only celebrated in Ireland. Some of the biggest celebrations occur beyond Irish borders in countries like the US, Canada, and Australia, to name a few. When many Irish people immigrated to these countries in the 1900s, March 17 became the pivotal day to celebrate their heritage and homeland roots.

In larger cities like Toronto, New York, Montréal, and Boston, seas of green take to the streets for parades and festivals to celebrate the Irish through entertainment, music, and other amenities.

While I’m not Irish, I left Ireland with a newfound appreciation for their patron saint. And despite the myths and mysteries behind his life story, one thing remains certain: March 17 is a celebration. So, regardless of whether you have ties to Christianity, Ireland, or neither, for this one day, we become Irish. On March 17, we get to dance the jig, sing Irish folk music, and honour the meaning that St. Patrick brought back for the people who needed it most.

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

KELLT SIKKEMA/ UNSPLASH

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is a cinematic masterpiece

The newest Dune instalment will go on to define a new generation of blockbusters.

Elizabeth Prydatka Contributor

Frank

Herbert’s Dune is notorious for being difficult to adapt to the screen. Countless attempts made over the years—from Ridley Scott and David Lynch to Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 14-hour film—fell short under the weight of the source material. That was until Denis Villeneuve made it a reality in 2021. As Dune: Part One was met with box office success, Villeneuve’s challenge lay ahead: the sequel. In cinema, the sequel is the catalyst determining whether a series continues or fades away into obscurity.

Dune: Part Two is a work that will mark a turning point in visual storytelling.

I don’t say this lightly. Much of everything about Dune: Part Two wasn’t said lightly. In fact, it boomed. Villeneuve certainly has a sci-fi masterpiece on his hands, with Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan likening it to The Empire Strikes Back, huge praise for a film already so heavy with expectation.

What made Villeneuve such a good fit for this endeavour was that Dune was no momentary fascination for him: he had been storyboarding it since he was a teenager. This shines through in the minimalistic approach to convincing world-building; the world feels lived in, ancient. From the start, Villeneuve intended for Dune: Part Two to be a cinematically charged experience, teaming up again with cinematographer Greig Fraser.

Where Dune: Part One showed us a glimpse of the planet, Caladan, the once fiefdom of House Atreides, Part Two takes us to the plastic Harkonnen planet of Giedi Prime, where the black sun devours all colour. In recent years, it has become popular for filmmakers to interweave scenes of colour with black and white, usually to move the audience between timelines. The black and white of Dune: Part Two had none of this nostalgia. Rather, it was alien and uncanny. The effect, created through infrared cameras, allowed for the whites to have a milky quality while the blacks appeared slick, and tarlike; it was brilliant.

The planet of Giedi Prime is also where we’re first introduced to Austin Butler’s portrayal of Feyd Rautha. Let’s not pretend we haven’t seen the jokes about Butler being stuck with the Elvis voice, but he is an actor keenly aware of the power of voice as a tool. He becomes a shapeshifter through it, so much so that he could morph to sound exactly like Stellan Skarsgård, the Baron and his character’s uncle. I believe we’re only beginning to see the surface of Butler’s abilities.

The cast was star-studded, whether the returning, the newcomers, and those implied to join if another sequel is green-lit. Timothée Chalamet, alone, may have given the performance of a lifetime, transforming the timid character of Paul Atreides into a potential messiah and doing so while conveying the grim reality of his character. Dave Bautista, a former professional wrestler, gives a performance that stands up to those of classically trained actors like Gary Oldman or Christian Bale. Another honourable mention is Javier Bardem, having brought a natural comedy to his character; I had trouble believing this was the same man who played Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men.

Fans were ecstatic to see Florence Pugh join the cast as Princess Irulan, a character that readers of the series are well acquainted with, but were surprised by her limited screen time. Villeneuve stated that he plans to take a similar approach with Pugh as he did with Zendaya, saying, “I just introduced her in ‘Part Two’ and if there’s a ‘Dune: Messiah,’ she becomes one of the main characters.” Given the achievement of Dune: Part Two, I am confidently looking forward to Villeneuve’s expansion of the Dune series. No matter how psychedelic it may get down the line (referencing worm-god-man Leto II), I welcome it with open arms.

DAANISH ALVI / THE MEDIUM

15sports & health

Locked on Leafs: The Final Chapter

As the 2023-2024 NHL season comes to an end and teams gear up for playoffs, we come to the final chapter of the Locked on Leafs column.

Omar Khan Sports & Health

That being said, I can’t help but feel as though this ending is bittersweet. While I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished at The Medium and looking forward to my future, I know how much I’ll miss using this column as an outlet to vent about my team. So, without further ado, the final chapter of Locked on Leafs.

The Leafs’ season is winding down with fewer than 20 games left to go. While 70 goals seems a bit out of reach, Auston Matthews is still on a historic pace, likely to break his personal and franchise-best of 60 goals in a season. William Nylander is having a stellar year, earning him his contract extension. Mitch Marner continues to be the Leafs’ heartbeat both offensively and defensively and, while Father Time is slowing him down, John Tavares remains an effective player for this team. The biggest questions for this Leafs team are how their defence will perform and, as always, how they will do in the Playoffs. It is rather poetic that the final Locked on Leafs issue surrounds questions regarding the team’s defence and playoff performance, topics that have haunted Leafs fans for years.

On the defensive end of things, the Leafs seem to be a mixed bag. Many fans wanted the Leafs to make a big move prior to the trade deadline. However, the team opted to tinker, acquiring lesser-known players such as Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson. These acquisitions caused Head Coach Sheldon Keefe to make the unpopular decision to healthy scratch Simon Benoit, who has been a pleasant surprise and bright spot on the team. Additionally, the struggling Timothy Liljegren has looked for more consistency in his game, but it is unclear if it will be enough come playoff time.

For the playoffs, while there are no guarantees, it looks like the Leafs will likely face the Boston Bruins or the Florida Panthers. Both teams are nightmares for Leafs fans. In the past decade, the Leafs have lost to the Bruins on three separate occasions within just seven games, infamously blowing a four-to-one lead in the third period of game seven in 2013. During the 2023-24 regular season alone, the Bruins have owned the Leafs, beating them four times. The Bruins seem to have more structure in their game, are better defensively, and have a history of winning. One area the Leafs can hold their heads high about is their toughness. Year after year, the Bruins seem to beat up the Leafs, being the tougher and more physical team. This year, the Leafs seemed to be the ones pushing the Bruins in that aspect. While winning would be better, it is at least a positive sign that the team has some pushback this year.

If the Leafs played the Panthers, it would be a rematch of last year’s playoffs, where the Panthers infamously destroyed the Leafs in five games, almost sweeping them. This rematch would likely be as emotionally fueled as a Bruins match-up, as the Leafs still feel the sting of losing to the Panthers last spring. It would be very interesting to see how this year’s tougher Leafs team would match up against the Florida Panthers, who, like the Bruins, are known to be a tough and physical team to play against.

Regardless of who the Leafs face off against in the playoffs, the team will be under pressure to perform in a physically demanding and tough playoff series that will surely test their grit and valour. As is the case every year, the playoffs are paramount. Fans will now anxiously wait to see how the team will do this year and if this might just finally be the year they go all the way and win the Stanley Cup.

DAANISH ALVI / THE MEDIUM

The greatest competition on Earth is almost back

More than 200 countries are set to compete at this year’s Olympics in Paris, showcasing the value of cultural diversity along the way.

Joseph Falzata Contributor

For many, the Olympic Games symbolize the crowning point of athletic achievement. The competition has made athletes like Usain Bolt, Jesse Owens, and Michael Phelps into household names.

Beyond athletics, however, the Olympics remain the world’s biggest stage for showcasing each nation’s unique culture. As we near the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in July, I implore you to watch the elegant poise of South Korean archers, the delicate power of Chinese badmintonists, and the refined grace of Italian fencers.

Cultural influences are everywhere in the world of sport. Canada and the US currently rank as the world’s top two lacrosse nations in every category except men’s indoor lacrosse, where Canada is first and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy is second. This achievement can be traced back to the invention of the sport in the early 12th century by the First Nations of Canada and the US.

As anyone who watched the 1993 film Cool Runnings would know, “Jamaica” and “bobsled” had never been echoed in the same sentence before the 1988 Winter Olympics. Yet here we are, 36 years later, and the Olympic appearance of a Jamaican bobsled team has become somewhat of a regular occurrence.

Taking a game and transforming it into a product of cultural expression is the most beautiful aspect of sport. Pelé and the Brazilian soccer team played their style— Ginga—a combination of martial arts and dance that could never be fully grasped, much less mastered, by anyone who hadn’t grown under the nourishment of rich Brazilian traditions.

In Ethiopia, running is not a pastime but a way of life. Haile Gebrselassie, the Ethiopian two-time Olympic champion and former holder of 27 world records, didn’t have access to a bus or car, so he became his own transportation to his school 10 km away.

While Japan is known for its cuisine and tradition of respect, its legacy of judo champions at the Olympics demonstrates how their culture of meticulous attentiveness has been ingrained in its athletes.

Russia, built upon a longstanding appreciation of the arts, has composed classical routines in each Olympic Games to win every gold medal in artistic swimming since 2000.

Fans follow the Olympics not just to watch their favourite athletes compete, but also to support their nation’s attempt to prove itself to the rest of the world.

Canadians will never forget Sidney Crosby’s “Golden Goal” to beat the US in the ice hockey finals of the Vancouver 2010 tournament. In the same way, Burundians will never forget their only medalist, Venuste Niyongabo, and his victory in the 5000-metre run during the 1996 Olympics.

To each athlete, the Olympics mean something different. Some battle with the expectation of winning, while others attend just to say they made it. But every athlete competing and every fan watching still dreams of seeing their flag rise above them on the podium, waving their culture proudly before the rest of the world.

Who will win the Champions League?

An inside look into the favourites for this year’s Champions League

Bilaal Mohamed Associate Sports & Health Editor

The UEFA Champions League is revered as the most prestigious tournament in European football. Millions around the globe tune in every season to watch the best clubs from Europe’s domestic leagues compete to be the continent’s crowning champions. As the enthralling tournament is entering its quarter-final stage, eight clubs have fought their way through an exciting round of 16 and are a step closer to the throne. We will focus a little more in-depth on the top two clubs that are expected to achieve football glory.

Manchester City

The defending champions, Manchester City, are the favourites to win the tournament again. Since the crown prince of Abu Dhabi took financial ownership of the team in 2008, Manchester City has been a dominant force in the premier league. However, they did not have as much luck in the Champions League. They’ve only reached the final once, in the 2020-21 season, losing to English rivals Chelsea. However, with more than a billion British pounds invested from the Oil Gulf state and the appointment of legendary manager Pep Guardiola, they finally lifted the trophy after beating Inter Milan in the finals last year. After comfortably beating Danish club FC Copenhagen on a 6-2 aggregate score in the Round of 16, they are looking to stomp the next club in the quarterfinals as they set their sights on the trophy.

Manchester City is a possession-dominant team. They suffocate their opponents by keeping possession and fluidly passing the ball to one another until they find an opportunity to launch devastating attacks. They’re a star-studded team with world-class players such as their central striker Erling Haaland, midfield creator Kevin De Bruyne, and rapid defender Kyle Walker. When out of possession, each player presses their man until they force their opponent to lose the ball, leading the team to inflict a lethal counterattack.

Real Madrid

Dubbed the “Kings of Europe,” Real Madrid is considered the most prestigious club in the Champions League, as they have won 14 times—more than any other team. Having qualified for the competition every year, the Madrid team both have the experience of veteran players who have repeatedly won the contest and young players who are eager to show their worth on the team. Even though the squad is considerably weaker than in previous years, due to the exit of their recent Ballon D’or recipient Karim Benzema and injuries sidelining their first-choice keeper and their defensive backline, they are still comfortably sitting on top of the La Liga Table and have dismantled their Ro16 opponent RB Leipzig.

Unlike Manchester City, Madrid relies more on individual brilliance than on strict tactical instructions. When you watch them play, you don’t see a sense of “playstyle;” instead, they adapt to their opponent’s playstyle. When the opponent plays more defensively, they maintain possession with the help of their world-class midfielders Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, and star player Jude Bellingham. When opponents play more offensively, they play conservatively and launch counterattacks with rapid players such as Vinicius Júnior and Rodrygo bombing down the wings.

As the Champions League enters its quarter-final stage, football fans worldwide are eager to watch Europe’s heavyweights clash and for the following stages of the tournament to begin. Looking at tactics, talent, and squad depth, Real Madrid and Manchester City are the most likely clubs to win it all. But despite miracles often happening in the tournament’s history, upsets can occur. Any club with determination and luck can find their way to the top of European football.