The Ontarion - 192.5

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192.5 | SUMMER 2022

P6 &7

Campus community fridge combats food insecurity amongst U of G students

P 17

20 things to do in Guelph this summer

P 22 & 23

Practice body positivity this summer with positive affirmations, community, and mindfulness

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SUMMER 2022 TABLE OF CONTENTS

FANDOM LIVES IN GUELPH!

NEWS 3.

Local anti-racism events hope to provide safe spaces for BIPOC community members and educate allies

4.

U of G study draws link between pandemic-related anxiety and unethical workplace behaviour

5.

Canada’s housing crisis has made it more difficult than ever to find student accommodations

6 & 7.

Campus community fridge combats food insecurity amongst U of G students

8 & 9.

U of G’s Centre for International Programs launches its carbon neutral initiative in partnership with Planetair

ARTS & CULTURE 10 & 11. Tips for creating effective to-do lists 12.

Everything Everywhere All at Once finds greatness in the nonsensical

comics, games, toys, & more!

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Easy and affordable at-home activities to try during the summer holiday

17.

20 things to do in Guelph this summer

18 & 19. Cinco de Mayo: Parades, food, and fun 20 & 21. Firefly catching 101

OPINION 22 & 23. Practice body positivity this summer with positive affirmations, community, and mindfulness

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EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief (outgoing) Ellyse McGarr

EDITORIAL 26.

Two years with The Ontarion

FUN STUFF 27 & 28. Fun Pages 29.

May To-Do List

30.

#IWriteTheOntarion and Pets for the Month

OFFICE STAFF

CONTRIBUTORS

Executive Director Aaron Jacklin

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SPORTS & HEALTH 24 & 25. Four savoury cold dishes to enjoy this summer

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SOUTH END

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It has come to our attention that one of the crosswords in the most recent issue (issue 192.4) contained an inappropriate and insensitive clue and answer. The clue "owner of a slave" with the answer "master" does not belong in a puzzle on a page marked "Fun". We would like to apologize for this oversight and will be making changes to our operating procedure to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Specifically, we did not have a process for our crosswords (which are sourced from an external provider) to undergo Editorial review. Moving forward, our crosswords will be subject to the same level of Editorial review as the rest of our content.

The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since The Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Ontarion staff and Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief.

Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2022 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify The Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by Hamilton Web Printing.

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NEWS

4 | PANDEMIC ANXIETY & THE WORKPLACE

5 | STUDENT HOUSING CRISIS

3

8 | U OF G PLANETAIR INITIATIVE

Local anti-racism events hope to provide safe spaces for BIPOC community members and educate allies For its second year in a row, the Guelph Black Heritage Society hopes to provide education and support during its anti-racism summit ELENI KOPSAFTIS “OUR STORIES. OUR HISTORY. OUR HERITAGE.” This is the theme of the 2022 #ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Summit that will be hosted by the Guelph Black Heritage Society (GBHS) from May 12 to 15. With a focus on wellness, there will be a number of events for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) and allies alike.

This is the summit’s second year running. In 2021, it was held as a multi-day virtual summit featuring multiple speakers and events. 200 passes were sold, but there were likely many more attendees since the remote format allowed people to listen in as groups.

Following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent peaceful march and protest in downtown Guelph in the summer of 2020, GBHS launched the anti-racism summit in hopes of preventing and responding to racism in the Guelph-Wellington community.

This year, the summit will be held in a hybrid format with a mix of virtual and in-person events throughout the week.

GBHS President Denise Francis told The Ontarion that she hopes to get as many participants involved with the 2022 summit as the GBHS did last year.

“What was good about last

year’s virtual event was that we were able to get people from the GTA, some people logging in from the States, or people from eastern Canada like in Nova Scotia. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish that if it were only in person, so [the pandemic] has created these other opportunities because it does expand our reach,” said Francis.

“Some people are dying to get out, and other people are still a little bit nervous. So by offering this [hybrid] model, we hope that we can encourage people to come out and experience the events.”

There will be free events included at the summit, such as the BIPOC Community Safe Space, the Family Art Session, as well as exclusive ones including the Caribbean Tales Film Festival movie screening of Mas Man, a de-escalation workshop, and the BIPOC Mental Wellness Journey event.

The latter of these will be held on May 15 at 1 p.m. and will feature GBHS Executive Director Kween and Dr. Shara Ally.

According to the GBHS website, the BIPOC Mental Wellness Journey event “will be focused on how we can heal and work on wellness while exploring the facets of Violence, Oppression and Harm that affect our communities.”

Ally and Kween will be holding the event in representation

Alongside Kween, Dr. Shara Ally founded NEUROroyalty with the goal of offering affordable mental health care to BIPOC community members.

CREDIT: SHARA ALLY

of NEUROroyalty, a sub-package offered by the NEUROorganics mental health service that Ally founded, as well as The Kween Company, a local Black-owned company that offers a platform to support small businesses and mentorship opportunities.

The Kween Company also serves as a safe space for members of the BIPOC community, and it strives to provide education and advocacy for race-related issues, which often go unaddressed in the Guelph community.

“People often think that systemic racism doesn’t exist in Canada, especially in Guelph, and I’ll tell you that’s not the case at all,” said Francis.

Off the top of her head, she refers to one example of a racist incident that occured on Jan. 10, 2022.

51-year-old local resident Michael Campbell went to a Guelph McDonald’s restaurant on Woodlawn Road to buy lunch for his family. After he had already paid, a manager took over the transaction and made Campbell show ID and replicate his signature to prove that the credit card he had used was his.

When Campbell refused and asked for his money back, the staff member said that she would not process the refund and told Campbell that it was policy to verify any credit card used in purchases over $25. Campbell told The Wellington Advertiser that he had “received extra scrutiny because he is Black,” and that he lost $93.18 due to the incident.

The GBHS promptly boycotted all four McDonald’s restaurants in Guelph.

“We need to give a voice to our community to be able to express ourselves,” said Francis. “We also need to have tools, which is why we have a session on how to deal with a hate-related incident

Denise Francis is director of the Guelph Black Heritage Society. She hopes the anti-racism summit will provide the tools necessary for BIPOC community members to practice wellness and joy.

CREDIT: KWEEN

CREDIT: SHARA ALLY

and de-escalation training. And to deal with all that sadness, we also have what I call fun events because so much of this work and what we’re experiencing in life is very heavy, so we need to provide an outlet and a way of expressing joy for our community.”

While the BIPOC Mental Wellness Journey event is not designated as a ‘fun event,’ it is part of the toolkit that the GBHS hopes will give a voice to the community. It is with these same goals in mind that NEUROroyalty offers mental health services by BIPOC community members for BIPOC community members at an affordable rate.

Ally told The Ontarion that this system is important to provide spaces where mental health professionals have a cultural understanding of the struggles that those in the BIPOC community face.

This way, the individual receiving mental health care is not doing the work to educate the professional.

For this reason, the BIPOC Wellness Journey event will also facilitate allyship.

“Young people have enough education to see [oppression] as an issue, and they want to understand

‘how do I not become a perpetrator, and if I am a perpetrator, how do I learn from that and how do I contribute wellness to this overall issue,’” Ally told The Ontarion.

As a result, she suggests that the best thing allies can do for the BIPOC community is educate themselves, practice self-awareness and mindfulness, and seek out opportunities to support vulnerable populations.

To register for events during the anti-racism summit, individuals can either purchase a virtual or in-person pass. Both versions are priced on a sliding scale from $35 to $100 and are available on eventbrite.com.

For opportunities to participate in allyship or find resources, U of G students can reach out to the Cultural Diversity Centre or the Guelph Black Students Association.

Additionally, GBHS and The Kween Company offer education for allies and safe spaces for BIPOC community members.

4

SUMMER ISSUE | SUMMER 202 2

THE ONTARION

U of G study draws link between pandemic-related anxiety and unethical workplace behaviour Co-authors Dr. Laurie Barclay and Dr. Annika Hillebrandt discuss the implications of their findings for workplace policy and future ethics research EMILY BRAY

D

o you find yourself slipping up more often at work lately? Maybe doing things you shouldn’t be, like making up excuses to avoid attending your digital work meetings, or taking two hours to complete a task that usually takes you one?

If so, you aren’t alone. Employees around the world are currently struggling to keep up with the expectations put on them in the workplace, and it turns out that fear of COVID-19 might be to blame.

According to a recently-published study by University of Guelph professor Dr. Laurie Barclay, anxiety surrounding COVID-19 can motivate employees to engage in self-interested unethical workplace practices.

The study revealed that pandemic-induced anxiety can cause employees to turn inward and prioritize their own self-interest over accepted workplace norms and standards of ethics. This can motivate them to engage in self-serving behaviours that may be harmful to coworkers or employers—for example, falsifying customer records or reporting inaccurate information to management to make oneself appear more productive.

Barclay, who is also the Lang Chair in Leadership at U of G’s Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, co-authored the study with Dr. Annika Hillebrandt, a professor in Ryerson University’s HR management and organizational behaviour department. The two say that they were motivated to look into the link between pandemic anxiety and unethical workplace behaviour after observing a marked rise in both phenomena during the spring of 2020.

“At the start of the pandemic we saw that there was this massive increase in anxiety, and at the same time there were a lot of companies struggling with ethical issues—particularly unethical employee behaviour,” said Barclay to

The Ontarion.

“So we started to think ‘well, what if these things are linked?’ and began to dig into the topic from there.”

Barclay and Hillebrandt note that previous studies have revealed a connection between environmentally-induced anxiety and criminal behaviour. These studies provided them with a basic framework through which to examine the link between COVID-19 anxiety and unethical workplace practices.

“We already knew from other research that sometimes when people feel anxious they engage in unethical behaviour,” said Hillebrandt.

“Previous studies have examined this link in the context of crime and air pollution. They have found that when people perceive more air pollution and feel anxiety because of it, this may result in higher crime levels. So, we applied this idea to behaviour in the workplace.”

Barclay and Hillebrandt examined data gathered over the course of several months from full-time employees working both in-person and remotely. They

found that, when individuals perceived COVID-19 as a threat to their health or financial wellbeing, they also displayed a corresponding tendency to engage in cheating behaviours.

Although this may come as frightening news to concerned bosses, the study has an unexpected bright side. Barclay and Hillebrandt offer employers a glimmer of hope by identifying some useful strategies for mitigating the negative effects of COVID-19 anxiety in the workplace.

In particular, they endorse the use of prosocial messaging by employers as an effective method for discouraging self-serving behaviour amongst employees.

According to Barclay and Hillebrandt, prosocial messages are those that “highlight the meaningful and positive impact that employees' work can have on others.” The presence of these messages in the workplace was found to significantly reduce unethical workplace behaviour, as it led to increased awareness of the negative impact that self-serving behaviour has on others.

Hillebrandt also emphasized

Professor Annika Hillebrandt of Ryerson University.

CREDIT: ANNIKA HILLEBRANDT

Professor Laurie Barclay of the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics.

CREDIT: LAURIE BARCLAY

the importance of open communication between coworkers.

“Just having these conversations with other people about your own anxiety may help people realize that they aren’t alone and other people are also experiencing anxiety. That alone can help people feel like they aren’t so isolated anymore and that they don’t need to be looking out for only themselves so much,” she said.

“It’s a simple way and a cheap way—but ultimately such a powerful way—for employees to reorient themselves.”

However, both professors emphasize that the implications of these findings extend far beyond just pandemics and the workplace. Their study reveals broader patterns about the relationship between negative environmental stimuli, feelings of anxiety, and bad behaviour.

This means that their framework may be useful in explaining the impact of other stressful events—such as war, periods of political strife, and economic crises—on employees.

“One of the major things that our study revealed is that the anxiety that impacts you outside of the workplace also has an influence on you inside of the workplace. So if we also think about other things creating anxiety, those things can impact our behaviour in professional spaces as well,” said Barclay.

She points to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine as an example.

“I fully expect that the conflict in Ukraine is impacting some people’s anxiety levels as well, which has implications for workplace behaviour. Particularly when people are wondering whether this will spark a third world war and things like that.

You can’t just leave those fears at the door when you walk into the workplace. So that would absolutely be a good area for future research.”

The study also serves to shed light on unethical academic conduct amongst students, which many believe is on rise as a result of the pandemic.

“We saw a rise in unethical behaviour in many places during the pandemic and a lot of different academic integrity issues came up, particularly as students moved to at-home exams and the use of Respondus,” said Barclay.

Respondus is an internet browser that students are often required to use when taking online exams. It is meant to prevent cheating by locking down students’ computers so that they cannot open external applications or pages. However, students have nonetheless found ways to circumnavigate Respondus’ anti-cheating mechanisms.

“Though we didn’t measure [academic misconduct] in the study, I definitely think that our results translate to it. When you’re feeling anxious, that really narrows your attention to focus on yourself. We focus on protecting ourselves and that makes us self-interested. When it comes to things like exams, that self-interest might make us want to try to perform better than we otherwise would by cheating,” said Barclay.

Barclay and Hillebrandt’s findings have opened up many new doors for future research—a fact that both professors are pleased about.

“That was really our purpose [with the study]. We didn’t want to create something that would explain this one phenomenon and that’s it. We wanted to find deeper underlying philosophies that can explain different kinds of behaviour,” said Hillebrandt.

Barclay echoed the sentiment. “How can we actually manage anxiety across personal and professional domains effectively? I think that would be a really good question to ask in future research.”

ISSUE 192 . 5 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

5

U of G professor Paul Anglin suggests that a solution to the housing crisis may be an increase in supply via development projects.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Canada’s housing crisis has made it more difficult than ever to find student accommodations U of G expert suggests that the increase in price and decrease in availability is due to a supply shortage ALYSSA MARKS

T

he annual scramble to find student housing is currently in full swing. With many leases beginning in May, the end of the winter semester marks a stressful time for students, not only when it comes to finding housing, but also in relation to academic, personal, and professional responsibilities.

We’ve all been there. Finding housing—let alone affordable housing— during the pandemic and housing crisis has been a struggle to say the least. The increased rent rates, limited availability, and lower quality of houses have been the root of many students' frustrations.

According to Rentals.ca, Guelph’s rental market is one of the highest in all of Canada, with the average cost of a one-bedroom marked at a whopping $1,729.

With this in mind, an individual must earn $5,763 pre-tax per month to be able to afford rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Guelph, reports GuelphToday.

Ariel Westfahl, a first-year student at U of G, shares these frustrations, as do many students. This is her first time entering the rental market, and it hasn’t been an easy process for her or her friends.

“The housing market has been very competitive, and find-

ing a place under $700 a month with our preferences was a bit of a challenge. Due to the housing crisis, a lot of landlords were increasing their lease price which left us with fewer options,” she said in conversation with The Ontarion.

She added that, since there are fewer rental properties available in the Guelph area, it makes finding student housing competitive and difficult.

Ryleigh Klem, a fourth-year student, also experienced similar challenges in her house-hunting journey.

“I was searching for just a room since the people I’ve been living with are graduating. I ended up finding a place that I really like, but it definitely wasn’t a quick process. I probably went through a dozen house viewings over the course of three weeks. . . It wasn’t uncommon for me to find places that were $650 to $750 a month, not including utilities,” she told The Ontarion.

Klem attributes part of the issue to the low minimum wage rate in Ontario.

“Ontario’s minimum wage isn’t high enough and a lot of students work minimum wage jobs to support themselves. I can work 20 to 30 hours a week depending on the time in the semester, but I

still find that about 60 per cent of my monthly income goes to rent.”

But what else is going on?

Why has it been so difficult to find housing in Guelph? Experts suggest that there may be a number of things contributing to the housing crisis.

To start, Canada is approximately 300,000 houses short for students, reports CIBC. In a Canada census study, it was found that students who live on their own during the school year and return home for the summer to live with their parents are broadly marked as living with their parents. The census is used to estimate the need for housing in Canada. So, with this faulty statistic, developers are not building houses to respond to the student demand because the demand is not known in the first place.

With universities accepting more students than ever before– including international students– in the midst of a housing shortage, access to affordable student housing is a growing concern. As basic economics can tell us, when there is a growing demand and limited supply of something, prices are bound to rise.

Dr. Paul Anglin, professor of real estate in the Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies

at the Lang School of Business and Economics, believes that the housing crisis is primarily a supply concern.

“In regards to affordability, if I were able to wave a magic wand and offer something, I think the activity must be on the supply side,” he said in conversation with The Ontarion.

Anglin also said that the influx of people from Toronto moving to other areas in the GTA, including Guelph, is also a concern when it comes to availability and affordability. This has also increased with COVID-19, where many people are moving from downtown Toronto to less populated areas like Guelph.

“Students are competing with many other users,” said Anglin.

This means that the housing crisis is not only affecting students.

“Tightness of the rental market is affecting students, low income workers, people who are moving from place to place, [those who] have not yet found a place to own, and people who would like to buy. As you have likely heard, the price to buy a house has increased, and people are looking at staying in rental properties for longer to wait for housing prices to decrease.”

The solution lies in the in-

crease of development and construction of houses, said Anglin.

There is a Canada-wide shortage of houses–300,000 houses for students, as CIBC reported–and so Canada needs to respond to the increase in demand by boosting the supply.

However, Anglin said that this idea is not shared by some people and governments.

“Sometimes, people argue that the solution to the problem of high rents is rent control. There are a number of issues with this policy, especially if the real source of the problem is due to too little quantity supplied,” he said.

“One of these issues may be particularly relevant to students.

If there is rent control, and rents do not adjust to excess demand, then the landlord can pick and choose which of the many qualified tenants actually get to move into the advertised unit. As you may imagine, that choice may involve considerations that prevent students from being the winner in this lottery.”

He added that these considerations may include the widely held bias that landlords do not like renting to students because of financial instability, potential destruction of property, and a lack of previous references.

In the end, Anglin concludes that if there are not enough houses to meet the demand, the prices will simply continue to grow.

He suggested that provincial and municipal governments invest in housing construction and developments over the next few years in order to make housing more accessible for all.

In the meantime, students will likely continue to bear the heavy burden of high rent and a brutally competitive housing market with little hope of reprieve.

6

SUMMER ISSUE | SUMMER 202 2

THE ONTARION

As the demand for food on campus skyrockets, organizations like the Student FoodBank are struggling to keep up.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Campus community fridge combats food insecurity amongst U of G students The student-led project offers nutritious food to anyone who might need a hand amidst rising grocery costs and reduced food aid opportunities EMILY BRAY

F

ood insecurity has been plaguing students on university campuses for decades. Who hasn’t heard a thousand jokes about university kids living off of ramen and ketchup packets?

However, with food prices on the rise in Canada at a time when people are already facing pandemic-related financial pressures, hunger is a bigger issue on campuses than ever before.

The campus community fridge project, which made its debut in fall 2021, is MealCare Guelph’s grassroots response to this growing demand for food amongst students.

Located in the University Centre building at the heart of campus, the fridge is regularly stocked with fresh and healthy

foods sourced from U of G community members, as well as MealCare Guelph volunteers.

MealCare Guelph is the local, U of G-based chapter of a larger student-led organization that seeks to combat food insecurity nationwide. It was started in 2019 by students Kiana Gibson and David Sahai, and now boasts over 20 volunteers who spend their time diverting edible food waste—such as leftover food prepared in university kitchens— away from landfills and into the hands of community members in need.

The community fridge isn’t the typical type of project that MealCare Guelph has taken on in the past. However, the organization’s leaders saw it as an inventive new way to further Meal-

Care’s mission on campus.

“In the summer of 2020, our community fridge lead, Tyra Boug, noticed a community fridge project that started in Waterloo.

She thought this was an amazing idea and knew it aligned perfectly with MealCare’s values, since it addresses two of MealCare’s primary concerns: decreasing food waste and supporting those experiencing food insecurity,” said MealCare Guelph’s co-president, Jessica Seifried.

ICON BY FLATICON

According to a 2020 study conducted by Statistics Canada, 40 per cent of post-secondary students are food insecure, meaning that they may not know where their next meal is coming from on any given day. Moreover, data collected by University of Guelph researchers in 2020 found that 11 per cent of Guelph students skip at least one meal every day due to financial constraints.

Alanna Wyllie, coordinator for the Guelph Student FoodBank, points out that some students may be more affected by food insecurity than others.

“With tuition prices being so high, especially for international students, it is sometimes difficult for them to access nutritious foods,” she said in an email to The Ontarion.

In the past, these students would have been able to turn to existing sources of food aid, such as the Student FoodBank, for help. However, the FoodBank has been struggling more than ever to keep up with rising demand.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in demand for our services as food prices rise…The COVID-19 pandemic has presented several challenges to how we operate at the Student FoodBank, especially in terms of fundraising,” said fellow coordinator Kandace Blaker.

Because of this, the FoodBank has had to temporarily suspend its intake of new students seeking help, as it is already operating at maximum capacity.

The community fridge initiative is therefore filling a gap in

ISSUE 192 . 5 | NEWS

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the current food aid system at U of G by making food more accessible to all students—not just those who are able to submit successful FoodBank applications.

“You do not need to qualify for need to use the fridge like you would for a food bank, which makes it more accessible for those who need the support but might not qualify for the food bank,” said Seifried.

“Food security lies on a spectrum. Someone may be food inse-

cure on one day but not on another. Therefore the fridge is there to support them on either day.”

However, Seifried emphasizes that the fridge is open to all members of the U of G community, not just those who feel food insecure. “Using the fridge means that you are helping to reduce food waste, so we try to communicate that it is for everyone. Having it used by everyone [also] helps to de-stigmatize its use.”

De-stigmatizing the use of

free food resources has been a major part of MealCare’s mission with the community fridge.

In a society that values financial independence, struggling to pay for food can feel humiliating for many students, which is why the fridge operates through an anonymous honour system.

“One of the benefits of the community fridge is that it allows people to take what they need with no questions asked. This means that the use of our fridge

is anonymous, so we don’t keep track of who uses it and why,” Seifried said.

The community fridge project is also pushing back against the common misconception that food aid programs only provide users with canned and boxed non-perishables. In addition to providing fresh produce, the fridge is also stocked with delicious, high-quality meals made by Owl of Minerva, a local Korean restaurant.

MealCare connected with

Owl of Minerva over social media to ask whether they would consider donating leftover food, to which the restaurant immediately agreed.

“Owl was super open to hearing [about] our process and working with us to help the community immediately upon opening! They were so kind and they committed to donating freshly prepared Kajatang, their most popular selling item, four times a week,” said Seifried. “They’ve donated over 194 soups to date and we are so thankful for their partnership.”

Overall, Seifried says that community responses to the project have been encouraging. “A lot of our users have indicated that they are very grateful for the fridge and have been happy with it…The anonymous feedback we have received has been very positive.”

Those looking to help contribute to the fight against food insecurity on campus are encouraged to consider donating to the fridge.

“We are always looking for more donations,” said Seifried.

“Some items that individuals can donate are fresh produce and non-perishables that are unopened.”

Businesses can also donate meals that they have prepared themselves, so long as the food was made in an inspected kitchen and is labeled with an ingredient list, a note of potential allergens, the location where the food was prepared, and a best before date.

However, for those who may not be able to afford to donate, Wyllie says that starting conversations about food insecurity with peers is a great way to help combat the issue.

“Making people aware of the issues students on campus are facing can help to de-stigmatize asking for help.”

As we move into the newest phase of the pandemic, both MealCare Guelph and the Student FoodBank are hopeful that food insecurity amongst U of G students will begin to ease up.

“We are confident that summer 2022 will be a time of positive change,” said Blaker.

U of G community members can access the fridge anonymously in the University Centre from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, as well as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. It can be found on the first floor beside the Booster Juice.

Students can find fresh produce, cold beverages, and even some tasty restaurant-made meals (courtesy of Owl of Minerva) in the U of G's community fridge.

CREDIT: JESSICA SEIFRIED/MEALCARE GUELPH

7

For more information about the fridge project, as well as other food security initiatives at U of G, visit @mealcare_guelph on Instagram. You can also email foodbank@uoguelph. ca to learn more about the kinds of food items students are currently in need of.

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8

THE ONTARION

The Centre for International Programs' new carbon-neutral initiative allows students to discover new cultures, ideas, and landscapes, while also being environmentally-friendly.

CREDIT: KIRA MORTIMER

U of G’s Centre for International Programs launches its carbon neutral initiative in partnership with Planetair As study abroad programs make their return, students, faculty, and staff will have the opportunity to offset their travel emissions through CIP’s new program ALYSSA MARKS

A

fter over two years of pandemic-related travel bans, we are beginning to see the incremental removal of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Many people are taking this long-awaited opportunity to book the flights and vacations that they have missed out on over the past two years. But these flights and travel plans may have lingering environmental consequences.

Flying produces massive amounts of carbon emissions, and is heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

A flight from Montreal to London produces as much CO2 as heating a European home for a year, says the David Suzuki Foundation.

Many industries have taken action in reducing their carbon footprint, but the aviation sector has grown theirs by 75 per cent from 1990 to 2012. If the industry

continues on its current trajectory, carbon emissions are expected to continue growing. We are at a point where, if the aviation industry were a country, it would be amongst the top 10 carbon emitters in the world.

As people begin to purchase tickets for tropical resorts and relaxing vacations, study abroad and exchange school programs are amping up as well. In fact, U of

In order to see a future for the environment and to see a future for study abroad, we feel that this is an important initiative.

— Jacqueline Veres

G’s Centre for International Programs (CIP) has begun reopening many of their study abroad programs, with some starting as soon as the summer 2022 semester.

In light of the growing knowledge about the environmental impact of air travel, the CIP has developed a carbon neutral initiative to offset and reduce the carbon emissions associated with international study programs. The CIP has also vowed to offset the carbon emitted as a result of their daily business and operation of the office, says Dr. Lynne Mitchell, director of the CIP. “We know that studying abroad is important in developing intercultural competence, professional development … and academically [as well]. But it is also a large contributor to carbon emissions and climate change.

In order to see a future for the environment and to see a future for study abroad, we feel that this

is an important initiative,” said Jacqueline Veres, marketing and communications coordinator at the CIP. The carbon neutral initiative, which was launched at the beginning of March, is a collaborative project with Planetair, a non-profit organization and service that provides individuals and companies with the opportunity to offset and compensate for their carbon footprint.

Planetair accomplishes this by helping users calculate their emissions and offsetting those emissions through environmentally positive projects. These projects can consist of reforestation efforts, research, sustainable housing, investments in renewable energy, and so on.

With this new initiative, the CIP plans to achieve complete carbon neutral study abroad by 2025.

Students participating in summer 2022 study abroad programs will be the first to have access to it.

With the initiative’s launch, the CIP and Planetair have also initiated a lighthearted contest by providing members of the U of G community with unique codes to mark which group they identify with–students, staff, faculty, or alumni. These codes will then be tallied up in a year's time to see which group purchased the most carbon offsets.

Interestingly enough, this isn’t the CIP’s first time launching a carbon neutral initiative.

Just a few years ago, the CIP launched a similar carbon neutral

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program with Planetair. But Mitchell said that there wasn’t much uptake or interest, which caused them to abandon the program.

“I don’t think people really had the same awareness of climate issues. . . I think we are also seeing people realise that this isn’t an extra that you could do to be more climate-friendly in your travel, now there is a lot more talk about a climate emergency,” Mitchell said.

The CIP has also expanded its virtual exchange programs. With a virtual exchange, students can experience studying abroad and intercultural exposure without leaving their home or using air travel. They can do so by collaborating with a university or NGO in another country through online learning platforms.

“It may not be the exact same thing, but at least that ability to interact with people in a similar discipline but from different perspectives and different places in the world [is there],” said Mitchell.

Veres says that, although it was a program that existed before COVID-19, there has since been a greater push for it.

“We are hoping with this [that] there are more connections and possibilities in the future. And we can kind of build on what we have learned through COVID-19 and develop this program further,” she said.

Mitchell shared this view and said that, based on the things that the university and students alike have learned from COVID-19 in terms of conducting business and studies online, it allows for the seamless delivery of virtual exchange programs.

Mitchell added that there is also an aspect of accessibility and inclusiveness with the expansion of virtual exchange programs.

“When we look at equity and inclusion, there are many students who could never go

on a study abroad program because of their life situation. Maybe they have responsibilities, families, kids, whatever the reasoning might be. But the virtual exchange may be an opportunity that people could have where they don’t have to leave home. So in this sense, it is more accessible.”

The broadening of accessibility has been a part of the CIP’s broader set of goals. Among those goals is also spreading awareness about climate change and travel, and holding ourselves accountable for our carbon footprints.

“There is an education piece that broadens your awareness of what is going on with climate change instead of just getting on a plane, doing your study abroad, and not worrying about it. We want students to go on study abroad experiences, but we also want students to be aware of the negative aspects that it can entail,” said Mitchell.

So far the feedback from students, staff, faculty, and alumni about the carbon neutral initiative has been positive and supportive.

“One person told us that this was the push that she needed to offset her own carbon emissions. It doesn’t just have to be flights, it can also be things like running your house, or driving your car; those kinds of emissions. Our program was the push that she needed,” Veres said.

Both Mitchell and Veres noted that the CIP will be able to better gauge the success of the initiative once the study abroad programs resume in summer 2022.

To find more information about the CIP’s carbon neutral initiative, and to take action in offsetting your own carbon emissions, feel free to visit their website at uoguelph.ca/cip/carbon-neutral-studyabroad.

After nearly two years of COVID-19 travel restrictions, U of G’s study abroad programs are making an exciting return.

CREDIT: DANIELLE AHRENS

Brisson, Leis & Associates

OPTOMETRISTS Judith A. Brisson, O.D. P. Lynne Leis, O.D. Reita Thomas-Parel, O.D. Violet Zawada, O.D. Jianchang (Iris) Shen, Optometrist

Serving the U of G community for 40 years, we provide personalized eye care including comprehensive examinations, contact lenses and eyewear.

Exams available in English, French, Polish, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Dr. Lynne Mitchell, director of the CIP, seems to think that the successful launch of the carbon neutral initiative is due to an increased awareness of environmental issues.

CREDIT: KATIE DALLA POZZA

21 College Avenue West, Guelph (across from OVC) TEL (519) 822-2710 · FAX (519) 822-7877 www.eyesoncollege.ca · brisson.leis@rogers.com

9

ARTS & CULTURE 12 | ON REVIEWS: EVERYTHING EVERY WHERE

14 & 15 | GRAD PHOTOS

20 & 21 | FIREFLY CATCHING 101

Try the “SMART” method the next time you feel overwhelmed with your academic, professional, or personal to-do tasks.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Tips for creating effective to-do lists Creating a to-do list will help you to get organized, conquer your next project, and reach your long-term goals

Using the SMART method to create effective to-do items

CHEN CHEN

O

verwhelmed with tasks and don’t know where to start? Creating a to-do list is a great way to manage your time when you have lots to do.

Here are some tips and strategies to help you create effective to-do lists. By the end of this article, you will have gained a better understanding of the different types of to-do lists, as well as how to use the SMART guideline to create effective to-do items.

Master list

Day list

Project list

Types of to-do lists There are different types of to-do lists for different needs. Regardless of the type of list I create, I find it most efficient to create it on a digital device like a computer or phone. This way it’s easier to drag and drop items and they can also be synced across multiple devices. Let’s look at some of the different lists you can create.

Keep in mind that to-do lists are there to help you get the right things done and that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Try different ways to sort your tasks and find a system that works for you.

List by task type

Tiny task list

A master list serves as a type of inbox where you can dump all of your ideas, no matter how big or small, work-related or personal. Whenever you think of a todo item but are not sure how to categorize it, you can put it here. The master list can contain items of various priorities, projects, and lengths, therefore it can be quite lengthy and will need to be sorted and organized further.

A day list contains tasks that you need to complete during the day, such as work, school, or personal tasks, depending on your daily schedule. Prior to starting your day, you can review your ongoing projects and determine what you need to accomplish next. Refer to your daily schedule as you create your day list and fill it with appropriate tasks.

It’s recommended that the day list should not exceed seven items. When the number of items increases, you are less likely to finish them all.

Project lists are created for specific projects. For example, a group project may involve several tasks and may require input from several people. It is therefore convenient to group these tasks together under a project list and share the list amongst project members.

If you are using a to-do list app with a ‘label’ function (e.g. Todoist), you can further categorize your tasks by adding labels indicating the task type. For example, ‘mindless task,’ ‘creative task,’ or ‘analytical task.’ This can help you pick the most appropriate task according to your current mood and situation. For example, if your productivity levels are low, you can pick the mindless tasks and complete them while listening to music.

The tiny task list is for tasks that can be completed within 10 minutes. For example, putting your laundry into your washing machine or doing your dishes. These tasks can oftentimes be grouped together and completed all at once.

Let’s review some guidelines when creating to-do items. You should write your tasks out in a specific way so that it is easy for you to understand what needs to be done. For example, writing ‘review chemistry lecture notes from chapters 1 & 2’ is better than ‘review chemistry final’ because you will know exactly what to do in order to study for your chemistry final.

Also, using the ‘SMART’ method will help you to add relevant details to your to-do items.

SPECIFIC

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The to-do items should be specific rather than general so that it’s easy to begin taking action.

Consider the following example: • Example 1: Work on final project This item doesn’t give you any specific action to work on. After looking at the to-do item, you only know that you need to start working on the task but still don’t know how to get started. When you don’t know how to get started, you are more likely to procrastinate on the task. Let’s add more detail to the to-do item: • Example 2: Read the instructions for the final project and create a work plan (1h) This task includes the exact action required and also the estimated time for completion.

This increases the specificity of the task, and you can then book a one-hour time slot to work on it. Specific tasks are easily understandable, and they save you time on figuring out the exact action required.

MANAGEABLE

One of the common mistakes people make when creating to-do items is confusing projects with tasks. A project contains several tasks, and it can take several non-consecutive work sessions to complete, whereas a task is a to-do item which can usually be finished within one or two work sessions.

For example, ‘writing an essay’ is a project which contains tasks such as researching, planning, and writing, while ‘writing an outline for an essay’ is a task that can be completed within a one-hour work session. Putting a project in your to-do list can be troublesome because it cannot be easily checked off. It’s important to distinguish between a project and a task and limit your to-do items to tasks only.

Take some time to review your to-do lists and check for projects that are lurking in there. If you have tasks that will take you more than two hours to complete, consider breaking them down further into work that can be completed in one-hour intervals. Depending on your attention span, you can break down tasks even further. Personally, I use the Pomodoro Timer to work in 25 minute intervals. Therefore, I usually

11

break my tasks into chunks that take around 25 minutes to complete. The goal here is to create manageable to-do items which are easy to start and can actually be checked off by the end of the day.

ACTIONABLE

To-do items are actions to be taken, and therefore, you should add specific action verbs to describe what needs to be done. For example, compare the following two items: • Laundry • Put laundry into washing machine The second to-do item might be easier to initiate because it specified the action that needs to be taken. For another example, consider this: If you need to contact your classmate for project information, instead of noting down ‘contact classmate,’ try to specify the action that needs to be taken by using the exact verb. Is it emailing, texting, messaging, or calling? Noting down the specific action verb can help you to get started with the action required.

RELEVANT

Make the most out of your to-do lists by using the type of system that corresponds with your different needs and goals.

CREDIT: PEXELS

list. How are the tasks that you are doing moving you towards your long-term goals? If you use a digital list, try adding a note on which long-term goals your tasks are attached to.

The relevant principle refers to attaching the tasks you do to your goals. You are more likely to complete the tasks if they contribute to your long-term goals.

For example, one of my longterm goals is to become a learning and development specialist.

Therefore, as I examine my to-do list, I want to make sure that the tasks will contribute to this, such as ‘read an article on time management strategies.’ This task is attached to my long-term goals; therefore, I feel more motivated to do it.

Reflect on your long-term goals, and then review your to-do

TIME BOUND

Creating time-bound to-do items means that you should set a due date and perhaps a start date for your tasks. You can also esti-

mate how much time it will take you to complete the task. For example, look at the following two to-do items which are due by the end of this week: • Create an outline for the final paper • Create an outline for the final paper (30 min) Estimating the amount of time it will take you to complete the task can help you gauge where to put it. If you have an hour of free time between two meetings, you can easily fit in a 30-minute task. Or if you have 20 minutes between classes, you can fit in a 10-minute task such as reviewing your tasks for tomorrow.

Overall, your to-do list should be customized to fit your personal work style. Experiment with the SMART method and the different types of to-do lists and see what works the best for you!

GRAPHICS BY FLATICON & FREEPIK

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SUMMER ISSUE | ARTS & CULTURE

THE ONTARION

Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan (left to right) shine in the Daniels' mind-bending exploration of regret, intergenerational trauma, and family bonds.

CREDIT: A24

Everything Everywhere All at Once finds greatness in the nonsensical An absurdist introspection into every human desire, emotion, and thought about “what if?”

PRABHJOT BAINS

W

e are very much the sum of our decisions.

Our positive choices meld with the negatives to concoct an existence that is ever-shifting between the feelings of regret and satisfaction, and we can't help but ponder over what could have been. Yet, we still strive to find the beauty within the relationships and experiences that we have cultivated. Everything Everywhere All at Once is a rare film that meaningfully and astonishingly comments on those varying paths of cultivation.

This newest release from Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, (known collectively as ‘the Daniels’) miraculously runs the gamut of every human emotion with profoundness, refusing to gloss over anything. During its entire runtime, the film is all-encompassing in its emotional scope, yet deeply intimate. It would be remiss to label this film as anything but the greatest multiverse film of all time. This sci-fi concept has gained great box-office steam this last year with the unprecedented success of Spiderman: No Way Home, which brought back nostalgic characters in a convenient and, at times, uninspired way.

What the Daniels accomplish with their multiverse is truly remarkable, as they use the concept

not as a crutch, but as an opportunity to meaningfully provoke viewers into ruminating on every facet of every decision we’ve made during the course of our lives.

While this prospect may read as overwhelming, the Daniels approach it with simultaneous tact and ingenuity, lending an uplifting tinge to its nonsensical fare.

It's rare to see a film this confident in its idiosyncratic leanings, making it feel futile not to accept its silliness with open arms. This is a film that features sex toys as weapons in some of the most audaciously inventive fight scenes ever created, while also eloquently touching on the nature of regret, the immigrant experience, and the generational struggles of family life. Never has a film lived up to its title in quite a figurative and literal sense. It's truly an experience that has never graced the silver screen before.

Its daring originality and ultimate filmic vision will unquestionably imbue audiences with an excitement for what the medium has in store.

Everything Everywhere All at Once follows Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), a Chinese-American woman who operates a struggling laundromat with her husband, Waymond (Ke Huy Quan). In one day, Evelyn has to visit the IRS

to deal with an audit, face her stern father’s disappointment, and come to terms with her daughter’s homosexuality, all while dealing with the existence of a multiverse that is encroaching on all of her infinite realities. Yeah... it's a lot.

But, the film never fails to richly detail and underpin its multitude of settings with a palpable emotive force that will make you laugh, cry, and experience everything in between.

Every glimpse into each universe encapsulates a miniature world of oddball delight as you clamber for a chance to pick over them again and again. The film veers in and out of each setting with an immediacy that can initially overwhelm, but it impressively remains intelligible and traversable. With so much going on, it's dumbfounding how the film establishes an overall struc-

ture and pace that maintains its diegetic integrity.

With Everything Everywhere All at Once, the Daniels will unequivocally be cemented as visual masters of storytelling, as they enliven even the most basic of cinematic shots. The close-up has never been as cathartic or as invigorating, with one unforgettable sequence taking us through a barrage of tightly arranged portraits that detail the many lives Evelyn has lived in thousands of universes.

The dynamic interplay between the visual, sonic, and written elements of the film reaches an almost kaleidoscopic level, forcing you to come to terms with the fact that you won’t be able to fully appreciate the lovingly-arranged details of this film in one sitting.

The Daniels are not the only stars; Yeoh and Quan provide exceptional performances that hu-

CINEMATOGRAPHY: 2/2 DIRECTION: 2/2 SCREENPLAY: 2/2 PERFORMANCES: 2/2 ENTERTAINMENT FACTOR: 2/2 TOTAL: 10/10

manize the impending oddities.

Yeoh’s Evelyn exudes a sense of regret, courage, and innate vulnerability that emotionally underpins the film’s wide narrative scope. She perfectly captures every emotion on the human spectrum with grace and virtuosity, making this an early contender for one of the best performances of the year. Quan also shines within the quirky and steadfast demands of his role, as he seamlessly transitions from being a comedic highpoint to a bonafide action star.

The legendary James Hong, who stars as Evelyn’s overbearing father, is also delightful to witness, and Stephanie Hsu serves as a perfect foil to Yeoh’s protagonist.

Everything Everywhere All at Once is entirely too much in the best way possible. In a sense, it's every movie ever made, distilled into a single experience that embodies the best of what movie magic can accomplish. It's undoubtedly a grand, cinematic accomplishment that will possibly stand as not only one the best films of the year, but of this modern era.

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SUMMER ISSUE | SUMMER 202 2

THE ONTARION

gr Ft. D ad ua arim tin e Co in ps g w e, w ng yc ith ho ra ho ho is ts, l n Da ogy! our s rim ee !

Candid shots are your chance to have fun with your grad photos. Experiment with any kind of angle or pose you like.

Tips for shooting your own grad photos How to take fun and unique graduation photos that will capture memories for a lifetime ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY NICOLAS BUCK

G

raduating this summer but forgot to get photos taken? Don’t stress–you still have plenty of time to shoot your own!

Here are some quick tips and tricks on how to take amazing grad photos that you will be able to proudly display and look back on for years to come. Your grad photos can be formal or more on the fun side, depending on your angles, poses, and locations. So get ready to fill your camera roll and make some memories!

 Darimee Azmal is graduating from the University of Guelph this year with an honours in psychology. Congrats, Darimee!

Formal

The typical grad photo is usually formal, meaning that there are no overly distracting elements

and the student is facing towards the camera. The framing is usually tighter as the graduate is the main focus of the shot. Shooting the photo in portrait rather than landscape will help to fit the subject in the photo. Be sure to pose in a comfortable way while you smile at the camera.

Ideas: Classic portrait.



Candid

After the formal pictures are complete, you can get more creative and have fun with different angles and poses. For this type of photo, the subject doesn't need to be looking towards the camera and they can conduct themselves more naturally.

During our photoshoot, our

model Darimee went with a pose that emphasized motion. She is turning her head and her grad cap appears to be blowing in the wind, adding some drama to the shot.

Ideas: Wide Shot. Object in the foreground. Back turned to the camera.

Location Finding a location that is meaningful to you is essential, as it can allow you to memorialize your favourite spots on campus while also adding some flair to your pictures. Shooting these photos in landscape can help you capture more of the background within the photo.

Ideas: Iconic locations at U of G include Johnston Green, the

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For your location shots, use a wider angle to capture your selected view in all of its glory.

Gryphon Statue, Alumni Stadium, Alumni Walk, the D.M. Rutherford Conservatory, the Cannon, and the UC Gardens.

There are many types of shots to choose from and it is always nice to have

a large assortment of pictures that you can look back on fondly. So get out there, have fun, and happy graduation to all those finishing this year. Good luck in your future careers!

Music. Smiles. Hot Dogs.

For 23 years, Bob has made it his mission to serve up good food and good times to U of G students. Whether you're in need of a quick meal or a just friendly face, come say hi to Bob at his hot dog stand just east of Branion Plaza.

WE H AV VEGA E OPTIO N NS!

BOB’S DOGS Come see for yourself why Bob's Dogs is a U of G Tradition For a classic grad photo, avoid distracting elements and keep the shot simple.

SUMMER ISSUE | SUMMER 202 2

16

THE ONTARION

If you’re looking for a way to be creative while also enjoying the summer sun, try tie-dyeing a tee in your backyard.

CREDIT: PEXELS

could do it independently or in a group setting, making it a great and versatile summer activity.

HAVE A WATER GUN OR WATER BALLOON FIGHT!

Having a picnic outside is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the warm weather after a long, cold winter.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Easy and affordable at-home activities to try during the summer holiday Spend your summer soaking up the sun and having fun!

As fun as summer is, being in the sun all day can be exhausting. Why not cool off with a water gun or water balloon fight? When it heats up, gather some friends and organize a water fight right in the comfort of your own yard. Not only will it cool you off, but you’ll be getting in some exercise too!

MAKE A TERRARIUM! Grow yourself a mini garden this summer. Terrariums are small glass gardens that help plants grow indoors. You don’t even have to leave the house for this, which makes it an easy ac-

tivity that you can do when you’re feeling lazy.

All you need is a glass container, some soil, and a couple of plants. You could even decorate the container with paint and stickers if you’d like. Terrariums are a fun summer project that keeps you busy and gives you something to look after.

PAINT OUTSIDE! Grab some paper or a canvas, turn the music up, and get started on your masterpiece. Maybe the outdoor scenery will inspire you, or maybe you’ll want to freestyle it. Whatever you do, use this as a time to reflect and have fun.

These are just a few things you can do to enjoy the summer season this year when you aren’t busy with daily tasks and events.

It’s important to make time to enjoy yourself this summer. After all, you deserve it!

LOREL DANIELOV

A

re you tired of the cold and dreary weather? Well then get ready, because summer is on its way!

As far as I’m concerned, summer is a time for some much-needed rest and relaxation.

Whether you are spending your summer sizzling away on a white sandy beach, splashing around in the water, or even spending your summer working, there are many ways to make the most of your summer.

Here are five activities you can do at home this summer to have fun!

HAVE A PICNIC! You can’t take the warm weather for granted when you live in Canada; you have to enjoy the sun as much as you can. So this summer, pack your favourite meal, a speaker, and invite some friends or family to relax under the sun with you. Spend the day eating good food and catching up with friends while you enjoy the fresh air. You could also head outside alone with a good book and find a comfortable tree to lean

against while you snack on the food you packed.

TIE-DYEING! Are you looking for an easy summer activity that you could do in your backyard? If so, look no further. Not only is tie-dyeing fun, but you’ll be able to wear whatever you create. Maybe a cute shirt for the hot weather, or a stylish and summery tote bag to carry your beach gear around in. The cool part about tie-dyeing is that the possibilities are endless, and you

Unwind and relax after a busy school year by taking your canvas and paint brushes outside with you.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

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20 things to do in Guelph this summer Plan the ultimate summer bucket list with these local gems ALYSSA MARKS

S

ay ‘sayonara’ to a long and cold winter and get ready to celebrate the end of another school year with this Guelphthemed summer bucket list!

If you’re staying in Guelph for the summer or simply visiting, check out these 20 great ways to enjoy what the Royal City and surrounding area have to offer. Feel free to tear this page out and keep it handy so that you can check off each activity you complete while enjoying the warm weather Mother Nature has finally graced us with!

• • • • • • •

Head to The Boathouse and cool off with an ice cream cone.

Go for a swim at Guelph Lake or Emerald Lake.

Buy some fresh local produce at the Guelph Farmers’ Market.

Attend Guelph’s Hillside music festival.

Take a nature walk through U of G’s Arboretum.

Gather with friends in the bandshell at Royal City Park to play some board games.

Spend the weekend camping

• •

• • •

• • • • • • • Soak up the sun by heading to Butt's Berry Farm in Rockwood and going berry picking.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

If you're in Guelph for the summer, be sure to snack on an ice cream cone at The Boathouse.

CREDIT: NICOLAS BUCK / THE ONTARION

Grab some friends and head to Royal City Park to relax in the shade under the bandshell, or take a walk along the Speed River.

CREDIT: NICOLAS BUCK / THE ONTARION

•

at Guelph Conservation Area.

Rent a kayak or canoe at The Boathouse and take it out on the Speed River.

Enjoy a meal at one of Guelph’s best patios (such as La Cucina, La Reina, Fixed Gear, Earth to Table: Bread Bar, Royal Electric, Buon Gusto, Miijidaa Café and Bistro, Beertown, etc.).

Catch a flick at the Mustang Drive-In. Check out the Terre Bleu Lavender Farm, Ontario’s largest lavender farm.

Visit a Guelph brewery (such as Brothers Brewing, Fixed Gear Brewing, Royal City Brewing, Sleeman Brewing, or Wellington Brewery).

Go for a hike at Starkey Hill Conservation Area.

Hang out with some furry friends at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.

Go thrifting at the weekly Aberfoyle Antique Market.

Bike the Speed River Trail.

Create and paint pottery at Play with Clay’s patio.

Grab a bite at Guelph’s famous Rocky’s Drive-In. Tee off at Victoria Park East Golf Club.

Go berry picking at Butt’s Berry Farm in Rockwood.

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SUMMER ISSUE | SUMMER 202 2

THE ONTARION

Cinco de Mayo: Parades, food, and fun Now a celebration of culture and heritage, this Mexican holiday with roots in 1800s military history is still going strong PAULA HENRY-DURU

I

Cinco de Mayo is a time for music, dancing, and gathering with family and friends.

CREDIT: PEXELS

The Ontarion is always looking for passionate and creative volunteers to join our team of reporters, copyeditors, photographers, and illustrators.

No experience needed!

t is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexico’s independence. Rather, Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Mexican army’s victory at the Battle of Puebla, which took place on May 5, 1862.

Although the Battle of Puebla was won nearly 200 years ago, May 5 still holds significance for many. Today it is seen as both a commemoration of the victorious battle and as a celebration of Mexican heritage.

According to History.com, Mexico was financially struggling in 1861 and was unable to repay the debts that they owed to Spain, France, and England. These coun-

tries invaded Mexico, demanding repayment. Spain and England were eventually able to come to an agreement and their troops retreated. However, the French advanced in an attempt to take over Mexico. On May 5, 1862, in the city of Puebla, Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza led a small army of 2,000 soldiers against French forces three times their number, and the Mexican army won. This victory was a huge morale boost to Mexicans.

However, May 5 today is not recognized as a federal holiday in Mexico and celebrations are hardly observed anywhere in the country except in the city

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of Puebla. This is because many Mexicans see their country’s Independence Day, September 16, as a more significant holiday, states History.com.

There, the people celebrate with re-enactments of the battle, speeches, and parades.

Bigger celebrations happen in the United States, where Cinco de Mayo is celebrated as an appreciation of Mexican and Latino culture and heritage. In areas of America with large Mexican-American populations, parades, food, and mariachi music are the highlights of the day. One example is ‘fiesta broadway,’ an annual street festival held in Los Angeles with thousands in attendance, according to ThoughtCo.com.

One of the ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is to enjoy delicious traditional cultural foods like mole poblano, chalupas, or cemitas.

CREDIT: PEXELS

In parts of Washington DC, Arizona and Colorado, Cinco de Mayo celebrations involve Chihuahua races. The races are held for entertainment, but the specific use of Chihuahuas is most likely

because these dogs originate from Mexico and are named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

Although festivities mainly take place in the United States and Mexico, you can still find ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

in Canada. For example, you could choose to celebrate by trying out Mexican food from some of these restaurants: • La Reina - Downtown Guelph • Tres Chiles Express Inc.Kitchener

• • •

Holy Guacamole - Kitchener Guac Mexi Grill - Fergus Ole Gourmet - Stoney Creek Alternatively, you could prepare specific cultural foods like mole poblano, (a sauce and a popular dish in Puebla), chalupas, (fried

corn dough with a tasty filling), and cemitas (a type of sandwich).

Mark your calendar for May 5 and prepare to celebrate Mexican culture with friends and family through music, dancing, and delicious food!

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SUMMER ISSUE | SUMMER 202 2

THE ONTARION

Firefly catching 101 Your guide to interacting with lightning bugs safely and responsibly EMILY BRAY

CREDIT: PEXELS

S

ummer is approaching, and that means camping trips, stargazing, and backyard get-togethers.

What’s my favourite part of all of these activities, you ask?

Catching fireflies!

Watching fireflies light up our yard at night has always been one of the things that I look forward to most about summer.

When I was young, my mom used to catch them for me so that I could get an up-close look at their tiny glowing abdomens. Eventually, when I was old enough to treat them with care, she taught me how to catch them myself.

Ever since then, it’s become a summertime tradition for me to go out and catch fireflies throughout late spring and early summer.

I love finding little lightning bugs to show to my friends and younger cousins.

However, as much as I think catching fireflies can be a great way to enjoy warm summer nights and educate yourself about insects, it can be harmful to the little creatures if done the wrong way. Han-

dling insects improperly can lead to them getting hurt. This is not only sad, but it also has a negative impact on local ecosystems, as fireflies are already an endangered species, reports CNN. So, to do my part, I’ve put together this handy guide to safely catching fireflies. Read on to learn how you can get an up-close-andpersonal look at these fascinating insects while also treating them with the respect they deserve!

Step 1: Scout for the perfect spot When searching for fireflies, the first thing you’ll need to do is find an area with high grasses and shrubs. According to the American Native Plants nursery, fireflies are attracted to these sorts of environments because they enjoy hiding amongst the leaves and blades of grass during the day.

Therefore, when night falls, this is the easiest place to find them.

Typically, you can find tall grasses

and shrubs at the edge of a yard or field, or next to a tree line.

Another key place to search for fireflies is beside bodies of freshwater, such as lakes, marshes, or ponds. Fireflies love moisture and require a lot of it while they are in their larval stage of development. Therefore, they tend to hang out around water during their mating cycles.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that fireflies tend to get shy and act strangely when exposed to bright lights, as they can confuse them for daylight or a gigantic potential mate. Make sure to turn off all outdoor lights and flashlights to prevent fireflies from becoming disoriented and to allow yourself to see them more easily in the dark.

If you can find a place that meets these criteria—a dark area where tall grasses meet water— then you’re all set! Now you just have to wait for the sun to go down.

Step 2: Find a stationary female Night has fallen and you notice a faint pinprick of light peek through the grass. Then another. Then another. Soon, fireflies appear all around you, floating in the air and lounging in the foliage.

So, what now?

Well, if you look up “how to catch a firefly,” Google will tell you to bust out a net and scoop one right out of the air.

However, I recommend taking an easier approach that doesn’t require you to chase a bug around the yard—search the grass for a female firefly resting her wings.

Both male and female fireflies glow, however only males tend to fly around at night. According to the Firefly Watch, a citizen science project at the Museum of Science in Boston, the males drift through the air and flash their lights to attract fe-

males, who in turn respond with their own flashes from a comfier perch in the grass.

It’s fairly easy to find a female—all you have to do is watch for flashes in the foliage. Once you spot one, approach carefully and kneel down close to it.

Step 3: Gently scoop the firefly The most vulnerable part of a firefly are its legs, so the goal is to avoid squishing them. The easiest way to do this is by picking the bug up from underneath rather than pinching it between your fingers.

Spread your fingers slightly and put your hand into the grass directly beneath the firefly so that the blades of grass rest between your fingers. Then, gently guide your hand up the grass stalks. The grass should slide fairly easily between your fingers as your hand travels up—try not to pinch them

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THEONTARION.COM

together too tight or it will make your movements jerky.

Once you reach the firefly, it will be pulled off of the grass and will end up riding your hand like an elevator all the way up to the top of the stalks, where you can then pull your hand free.

Voila! You now have a bug in your hand.

Don’t be surprised if the firefly stops flashing for a moment— sometimes they get nervous and dim their lights to stay out of sight. Waiting a few minutes is usually all it takes for the bug to start glowing again.

Step 4: Let it do it’s thing Now that you’ve captured the firefly, what do you do with it?

ICONS BY FLATICON

The best thing to do is let the firefly wander around on your hand. Typically female fireflies don’t like to move very much, so she’ll probably just hang out on your fingers.

However, if she does try to fly off, don’t close your fingers around her. This knee-jerk reaction may cause you to accidentally squish the bug or harm its legs. Instead, just let her go on her way. You can always find another one.

It’s a pretty popular practice to put fireflies in a jar after you catch them. Personally, I’m not a fan of this since it can cause accidental injury if done improperly.

However, if you’re determined to make a firefly jar, I recommend looking online for tips on how to do it safely.

Once you’re up-close-andpersonal with a firefly, you can observe lots of interesting things about it. There are 19 different subtypes of fireflies to be found in Ontario, says the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, and you can tell a lot about them by their blinking patterns, colours, and body shapes.

The Firefly Conservation & Research organization has found Photinus pyralis to be the most common firefly in North America. It can be identified by its char-

acteristic greenish-yellow glow.​​ Pyractomena fireflies, on the other hand, glow amber, like sparks from a campfire.

If you notice something distinctive about a firefly, be sure to make note of it and look it up online later. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the first to discover a new species of firefly!

all the tips and tricks, get out there and catch some fireflies!

They tend to begin appearing in late May and can stay for as long

as two months, so you’ve got lots of time to perfect your craft.

Stay safe and have fun making some new six-legged friends!

Step 5: Put it back when you’re done Once you’re finished looking at a firefly, always be sure to return it to the area where you found it. You can just place it gently back in the grass.

It’s important to release fireflies back into their natural habitat to prevent the species from suffering any more population losses.

Pesticide use, artificial lighting, poor water quality, climate change, and urban development have threatened fireflies across North America, reports Mongabay, a nonprofit environmental science and conservation news platform. Make sure that you are not contributing to the issue. It’s easy to have fun and respect these little creatures at the same time!

Alright, now that you know

CREDIT: FREEPIK

CFRU’s Monthly Top 10 Albums 1.

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5.

SUE FOLEY* Pinky’s Blues (Stony Plain)

6.

JULIE DOIRON* I Thought of You (You’ve Changed)

7.

ANNIE SUMI** Solastalgia (Self-Released)

8.

BLACKBIRD BELLE* Microcosm (Inner Ocean)

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21

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OPINION

22

If you’re struggling with body image, reach out to loved ones. Forming a community of acceptance can be a great way to begin loving yourself as you are.

CREDIT: PEXELS

Practice body positivity this summer with positive affirmations, community, and mindfulness You’re allowed to feel confident in your body no matter what it looks like and what your lifestyle is ELENI KOPSAFTIS

S

ummer is finally here, which means it's time to show off those summer bods. But what does that ideal swimsuit body look like, you ask? Easy; everybody reading this has already got one!

It's a sad fact that we grow up believing in an “ideal” body.

If we're not paper-thin or visibly toned, we're led to feel ashamed of our bodies when in reality, there is absolutely nothing wrong with

different shapes and sizes.

As a matter of fact, even if everyone in the world had the same diet, lifestyle, and level of ability, there’d still be an abundance of people with different bodies, and those bodies would continue to change over time.

Some might argue that weight is an indicator of health, and while that can be a factor in some cases, it doesn't change the fact that you still deserve to wear whatever you want. Your worth as

a person is not tied to your appearance nor your health, and you’re allowed to feel good regardless of how you look or how healthy you are. So whether you're big or small, boney or curvy, athletic or out of shape, don't be ashamed to wear those crop tops and shorts with confidence this season.

With all that said, I know that it's hard to internalize self-confidence when it comes to our bodies. So if you want to practice body positivity but aren't sure

where to start, here are a few ideas you can try.

Use positive self-talk Even if we don't say it aloud, thinking negatively about ourselves can increase our feelings of low self-esteem. Therefore, you should start by making changes to the way you think and talk about yourself.

For every negative thought you have about your body, tell yourself a positive affirmation.

A great way to do this is to say it out loud at least three times, and make the affirmation an opposite to the negative thought.

For example, if you thought, ‘I hate the way these pants look on me,’ try saying ‘these pants look good on me.’ Even if you don’t believe it at first, the repetition will eventually make positive self-talk come more naturally to you.

If you can’t bring yourself to use affirmations that directly oppose your initial thoughts, try diverting attention away from them by complimenting a different part of your appearance that you

do like. It can be as small as the colour of your eyes, the texture of your hair, the shape of your jaw, or a piece of body art.

Better yet, find something different that you appreciate about the part of your body you initially disliked. If you don’t like the way a pair of pants shape your legs, acknowledge the way the colour accentuates your skin tone.

By changing the way you think and talk about your body, you’ll eventually form a habit that encourages positivity instead of shame.

Reach out When it comes to bodily insecurities, I can guarantee that you’re not alone.

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Try opening up about your struggles to someone you trust.

While each person’s body is different, we often end up feeling ashamed about the same things.

Our own hypercriticism tends to over-exaggerate aspects of ourselves that we don’t like. So, even if you don’t think someone is in-

secure about their body because they ‘look fine’ to you, they could have a myriad of features that they’re insecure abou. So even if our loved ones don’t always know the right things to say, we might at least be able to find solace in relating to someone.

Another option to think

about is body positivity groups and clubs. If you use social media, you can easily find and follow various pages and hashtags on the topic. For example, a quick search on Facebook will show you a ton of different groups focused on body positivity. Even if you choose not to actively partic-

You have the best understanding of your body and your health, and someone elseʼs opinion doesnʼt change that.

Whether you’re more comfortable in long sleeves or crop tops this summer, you deserve to feel good about yourself.

CREDIT: PEXELS

ipate, you’ll begin to feel part of a community while also fostering an affirming mindset.

Practice mindfulness Lots of us can pinpoint the moment we began to feel inse-

23

cure in our bodies. It might’ve been after someone made a rude comment, or when a TV channel advertised a weight loss program.

With hindsight, it’s important to be mindful of the intentions of such moments so that we can understand that our bodies aren’t the problem. Rather, other people’s intentions and perceptions are.

In the case of advertising, we have to remember that behind every ad, there’s always a seller trying to make you buy something.

The company that funded the commercial for those diet pills you saw is primarily trying to make money off of you.

If they convince you that there’s a problem with your body–that there is something you should be ashamed of–you’ll probably be more inclined to buy it.

This kind of branding is malicious, so if you encounter something in a magazine or on the internet that makes you feel bad about yourself, keep in mind that the so-called problems they’re telling you about are often invented to make a customer out of you.

This can be trickier when it comes to negative interactions with other people. Those who are direct with their criticisms towards you are doing so purely to incite a negative reaction. They don’t actually understand you or your body, so their judgements are biased and invalid.

More often though, we encounter those who criticize us with good intentions. Due to preconceived notions about weight and health, friends and family members might encourage you to lose a few pounds to stay healthy without knowing anything about your habits and lifestyle. Even though they believe they’re helping you, such individuals are only contributing to stigma and your low self-esteem.

So, stay mindful and remind yourself that their comments— even well-intentioned ones—aren’t based on fact. You have the best understanding of your body and your health, and someone else’s opinion doesn’t change that.

In such cases, consider speaking with the person making criticisms and ask them not to comment on your body. Even if they can’t change their perspective, you can at least make sure they won’t talk about it in the future.

It’s okay if you’re not ready to try all of these things at once.

Accepting your body requires unlearning the ideas that stigma and branding have taught us all our lives, and it’s difficult. So all-inall, wear whatever you’re most comfortable in this summer, but know that you can still totally rock that swimsuit at the beach.

SPORTS & HEALTH

24

Soft, healthy, and yummy, this Green Onion & Tofu dish is mom-approved.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Four savoury cold dishes to enjoy this summer Save yourself some time—and sweat!—with these tasty options BRUBEY HU

A

s you may have noticed from my previous recipes, I am a big fan of warm and hearty dishes, especially during the long cold winters in Canada.

But now, summer is just around the corner—finally! When the weather gets too hot, cold dishes are the only thing that can save my appetite.

Here are four Chinese recipes that require little to no heat to prepare, and will help you save some time and sweat this summer. I hope you enjoy them!

 GREEN ONION & TOFU This effortless vegan recipe is from my mom. Tofu is a great source of protein, and it contains amino acids that can help boost

your immune system and build muscles, according to Cleveland Clinic. Make sure to buy the extra soft tofu for its smooth texture!

The green onion will add a kick to the plain flavour of the tofu.

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • •

1 box of extra soft tofu (also called silky tofu) 1 stem of green onion 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp black vinegar ½ tbsp oyster sauce ½ tbsp salt ½ tbsp sugar 2 tbsp sesame oil Dried meat floss (optional)

Steps: 1.

Carefully take the tofu out of the box and place it on a plate for 10 minutes. Use a knife to cut a few lines on the surface

2.

3.

4.

to help absorb the sauce later.

Get rid of the water coming out of the tofu because it will dilute the sauce. You can do this by pouring the water off the plate or soaking it up with a paper towel.

Finely chop the green onion and place the pieces in a bowl. Add all of the ingredients together (except the tofu) and mix well.

Pour the sauce directly onto the tofu and enjoy with a spoon! You can add some dried meat floss if you like.

BRAISED BEEF SHANK It’s normal to lose your appetite for hot, greasier meats during the summer. This recipe

offers a lighter-feeling alternative because the meat doesn’t have a lot of grease and is served cold.

The dressing is sour and spicy to boost the beef’s aroma. Adjust the ratio of vinegar and chili to your preference.

• • • • • •

Ingredients:

Steps:

To braise the beef: • 3lb beef shank • 1 L water • 3 tbsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp cooking wine • 2 star anises • 1 cinnamon stick • 4 bay leaves • 4 slices of ginger • 4 whole dry chili • 1 tbsp Chinese peppercorns • 5 garlic cloves For the dressing: • 4 garlic cloves (minced) • 1 stem of green onion

1.

2.

3.

(chopped) 1 bunch of cilantro (chopped) 1 fresh chili (chopped) 1 tbsp soy sauce ½ tbsp oyster sauce 1 tbsp vegetable oil ½ tsp salt Soak the beef shank in cold water for an hour. Take the beef out and then poke some holes in it with a fork (this allows the flavour to get inside).

Put the water and beef in a pot and bring to a boil. Then add all of the ingredients and turn your stove to low heat.

Simmer everything for an hour and a half.

Turn the heat off and let the beef soak for at least three hours. Make sure the liquid is covering the beef shank.

ISSUE 192 . 5 | SPORTS & HEALTH

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25

Meats don’t have to be piping hot to be delicious. This beef shank recipe is perfect for warm summer evenings.

CREDIT: JERRY LUO ON FLICKR LICENSED UNDER CC BY 2.0

4.

5.

6.

7.

Once you take the beef out of the pot, cut it into slices of your desired thickness. Note: Whatever you don’t plan on eating, save in the fridge along with the liquid.

Place minced garlic, green onion, and chopped fresh chili in a small bowl. Heat the vegetable oil at low heat until slightly smoking. Pour the hot oil directly into the bowl.

Add the rest of the dressing ingredients and mix well.

Mix the dressing with the beef and voilà! You’re ready to eat!

 SESAME PASTE COLD NOODLE Eating alone and not sure what to have? This cold noodle recipe has you covered! The fresh, crisp cucumber goes well with the smooth, oily sesame paste. The mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, and minced garlic is so appetizing that it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Try it yourself!

• • • • • • •

Steps: 1.

2.

Ingredients: • •

1 serving of noodles (any kind you like) 1 mini cucumber

3 cloves of garlic (minced) 3 tbsp sesame paste 1 tbsp vinegar 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp salt 1 tsp sesame oil (optional) Crushed nuts (optional)

3.

4.

5.

6.

Shred the cucumber.

Prepare the sesame paste.

Sesame paste can be a bit thick depending on the kind you get. If it’s really thick, add a bit of warm water to make it a bit more watery.

This step will make mixing easier.

In a small bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients together with the sesame paste. You can add some sesame oil to enhance the aroma, if you so desire.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the noodles. Follow the packet instructions and take the noodles out when they’re ready, then rinse them with cold water.

Take the noodles out of the water.

Pour the sauce and cucumber onto the noodles and mix well. Add some crushed nuts if you like.

• • • • • • •

2 tbsp chili powder (you can adjust the ratio for your desired level of spiciness) 2 tbsp white sesame 3 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tsp sugar 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp black vinegar 1 tbsp oyster sauce

Steps: 1.

2.

3.

Cut the cabbage into small wedges. Discard the root.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and put the cabbage in for one minute. Then take the cabbage out and put it in cold water. (If you like the raw flavour of cabbage, you can skip this step) Add the minced garlic, chili powder, and white sesame to

4.

5.

a small bowl. Heat the vegetable oil at low heat until it is slightly smoking. Pour the hot oil directly into the bowl to bring out the flavours of these ingredients.

Add the sugar, soy sauce, black vinegar, and oyster sauce to the bowl and mix well. This will be your dressing.

Pour the dressing onto the cabbage and mix well. Add any garnish that you like!

 SOUR & SPICY CABBAGE SALAD There are many ways to make a cold salad with cabbage. This one uses Chinese sauces to create a savoury dish that pairs great with rice!

Sesame Paste Cold Noodles are smooth, savoury, and scrumptious. Whether you’re with friends or eating alone, this pasta dish is sure to be a hit.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Ingredients: • •

Half a cabbage 7 cloves of garlic (minced)

Nothing beats a cold salad in the summer. With chili powder and black vinegar, this cabbage salad recipe will hit all of your sour and spicy cravings.

CREDIT: UNSPLASH

EDITORIAL

26

Holding a couple of issues that the team and I created over the years.

Two years with The Ontarion ARTICLE & PHOTO BY ELLYSE MCGARR HELLO DEAR READER, I hope you are doing well and staying healthy!

Thank you for taking some time out of your day to pick up this paper and give it a read. I hope you’ve found it both informative and entertaining.

My name is Ellyse, and up until last month I was the editor-in-chief (EIC) of The Ontarion. It's bittersweet, but after two

years my time with the paper has come to its end.

To rewind a bit, I first came into the paper at the beginning of the pandemic.

The Ontarion had shifted to operating remotely, and as a new journalist fresh out of journalism school it was quite a weird adjustment for me. I attended ‘j-school’ in 2019 where I was constantly approaching strangers, attending

events, and sitting down with people to interview them. Enter 2020 where we began avoiding close contact with people and interacting remotely. The sudden change threw everyone for a tailspin, but of course we had to do everything we could to limit the spread of a largely unknown virus.

I sympathize with the university and Guelph community as we’ve all been dealing with illness

and feelings of anxiety, confusion, fear, and/or burnout over the past couple of years. No matter who you are or what it is you do, things have been tough for us all and we have to deal with the fact that there's no going back to ‘normal.’

However, not every day under COVID-19 has been a rainy one. The Ontarion crew created and published a newspaper each month, featuring news, reviews, tips and advice, how-to’s and DIYs, poetry, opinion pieces, artwork, photography, and more!

That is something to be really proud of—pat yourselves on the back staff and volunteers!

As I exit The Ontarion to pursue my next adventure, I want to say thank you to the many people I had the pleasure of working with.

Firstly, the management team: Aaron, Lorrie, and Patrick, who supported me as I navigated leading a newspaper for the first time. Thank you for all that you have taught me. I wish you the best!

THE ONTARION

Secondly, the editorial and production staff. Thank you for all of your hard work and perseverance! You wrote some great stories and created some amazing content.

I can't wait to read or see more of your creations in the future!

Thirdly, the lovely volunteers who wrote stories, created artwork, and attended volunteer meetings.

Many of you have grown so much in your writing and editing skills and should be very proud of yourselves. Great work, and I hope you continue writing and creating for the paper for as long as you are able to.

For those reading who have not volunteered with The Ontarion, I encourage you to reach out and give it a shot! There are opportunities for everyone, from writing, to creating illustrations and drawings, to taking photos.

If you’ve ever wanted a creative outlet, this is it. The Ontarion is YOUR platform to develop your skills and let your voice be heard!

Here’s to a healthier and more vibrant year for all of us in 2022-2023. I really hope The Ontarion team is able to work together in the office again, go out and cover events, and hold board meetings and volunteer meetings in-person with cookies, snacks, pizza, and what have you. But if not, I know things will keep on keepin’ on and you will continue to produce some great content for the Guelph community.

And of course, before signing off I would like to shout out the paper’s new EIC, Taylor Pipe!

Taylor has previously worked with The Ontarion as a Staff Reporter, where she was a positive and enthusiastic team player who wrote some awesome stories. She comes back to The Ontarion after having written articles for The Hamilton Spectator, EloraFergusToday.com, CambridgeToday.com, and GuelphToday.com.

Go Taylor! I know our community will welcome you with open arms, and I wish you the best of luck with your new adventure!

Sincerely, Ellyse McGarr Editor-in-chief 2020-2022

FUN STUFF

THEONTARION.COM

29 | MAY TO-DO LIST

30 | #IWRITETHEONTARION

BOB’S DOGS CROSSWORD CONTEST For your chance to win two Bob’s dogs and two pops, just complete an EASY crossword, snap a picture, and send it to puzzles@theontarion.com by May 20th at 3 p.m. Winners and anyone else who fills in the crossword correctly are announced in each issue. Winners can arrange a physically distanced pickup of their voucher by emailing the same address.

27

30 | PETS OF THE MONTH

MEDIUM CROSSWORD Down

easy CROSSWORD 3

4

13

5

6

9

17

22

23

24

26 34

38

40

30

31

56

57

37 41

45 49

59

28 36

44

52

29

21

27

39

48

12

25

35

43

11

18 20

33

10

15

19

58

8

14

16

32

7

42 46

50 53

60

47 51

54

55

61

Across

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

Across

Down

1–Wee bit 4–Frothy 9–Hair goops 13–Tropical cuckoo bird 14–Up ___ (trapped) 15–Attended 16–Leading 18–Conductor Seiji 19–Aboriginal Alaskan 20–According 22–Pressed together 25–Like a pillow 26–Seeps 28–Male servant 32–Align the cross hairs 35–Bridget Fonda, to Jane 37–Like spinach 38–Scrutinize 40–Leaves out 42–Lavish affection (on) 43–Sharpens 45–___ voce (softly) 47–Conscription org.

48–Endow with a spirit 50–Civil rights org.

52–This can be guilty or not guilty 54–Spire 58–Black bird 62–Actor Delon 63–Anouk of "La Dolce Vita" 64–Light, four-wheeled carriage 67–First American to orbit Earth 68–Video game pioneer 69–Suffix with cloth 70–Shrivelled, without moisture 71–Renaissance fiddle 72–Guadalajara gold

1–Triumphant cries 2–Old-womanish 3–More urgent 4–Discord 5–Baseball's Mel 6–"Exodus" role 7–Actress Suvari 8–Safecrackers 9–Published 10–Morales of "NYPD Blue" 11–Mown grass 12–Male deer 15–Wretched 17–Lira replacement 21–Steal from 23–Opera singer Pinza 24–Considers 27–Offshoot 29–Vientiane is its capital 30–Young newts 31–Deli breads 32–1975 Wimbledon winner 33–Clickable image 34–___ best friend 36–Kett and James 39–Synthetic rubber 41–Sports figure?

44–Morose 46–Like sea life 49–Maui memento 51–Soccer great 53–Nobelist Sadat 55–Courtyard 56–Unit of volume 57–January, in Juárez 58–Droops 59–Mah-jongg piece 60–From the U.S. 61–Movable barrier 65–Chatter 66–Source of iron

1- First name in spydom 5- Rental agreement 10- Joke 14- Doozy 15- Overjoy 16- ___ breve 17- Thin stratum 18- Gray 19- Greek temple 20- Most powerful 22- Deadens 23- Hosp. section 24- Green shade 25- Greek goddess of justice 29- Like much of Cordoba's architecture 33- Jazzy Chick 34- Remove water from a boat 36- Village People hit 37- Nipper's co.

38- Greeting 39- ___ longa, vita brevis 40- Shoppe adjective 42- Astronaut Shepard 43- Intolerant person 45- Necessary 47- Incident 49- Sick 50- Year abroad 51- African language group 54- Barren land 60- "The Time Machine" people 61- Esther of "Good Times" 62- "Hard ___!" (sailor's yell) 63- Defense grp. since 1949 64- Red fluorescent dye 65- Ike's ex 66- Actor McGregor 67- Take as one's own 68- Pulitzer-winning biographer Leon

Last issue’s winning puzzle was submitted by

Linda Ngo!

HARD

2

EASY

1

1- Rock clinging plant 2- Work without ___(2) 3- Drop of water expelled by the eye 4- Movable cupboard 5- Group 6- Ultimatum word 7- Contented sighs 8- Keep it, to an editor 9- Dusk, to Donne 10- First month 11- Jack of "Rio Lobo" 12- Oscar Madison, for one 13- Soviet news agency 21- Final Four org.

22- "The Matrix" hero 24- Game played on horseback 25- Segment of the body of an arthropod 26- Plinth 27- Commerce 28- Clear as ___(2) 29- Pooh's creator 30- Idealized concept of a loved one 31- Young haddock 32- Speed 35- Menu words 38- Drag 41- Version 43- Common hop 44- Quarantine 46- Stomach, Asian, or Hong Kong 48- Evident 51- Nota ___ 52- What there oughta be (2) 53- ___ chance! (2) 54- Timber 55- Too 56- Fall prey to a banana peel, say 57- Put ___ on it! (2) 58- Hawaiian goose 59- Distribute cards 61- "Michael Collins" actor

SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM ISSUE 192.4

FUN PAGE

FUN STUFF | SU M M ER 202 2

Sudoku #1

SUDOKU

8 3

EASY

7

7

5 1 8

6 2

9 3 1

5 6 7

1 3

4 5

2 3 4 8 7 2 7 9 5 2 7 9 1

2 9

4 3

Other people's tools work only in other people's yards.

-- Jane Bryant Quinn

Fill in the empty squares so that each of the digits 1 through 9 appear once in each row, column, and 3-by-3 block.

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru229. Car heart 47- Dictation taker 24- Reduces speed 49- Sun. speech If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.

25- Freddie Krueger roamed ___ 51- Locks 1- Boyfriend in the movies 54-aFloating platforms 5- Echolocation Need little help?

The hints page showsStreet a logical order to solve the puzzle.

Use it to identify the next square you should Or use the answers page 26-solve.

Mexican money 58Sitarist Shankar 10- Gymnast Korbut if you get stuck.

27- Confidence 59-really Wound 14- Work without ___ 28- Army leader?

63- Alaska's first governor 15- Lovers' lane?

30- Craving 64- Patriot Allen 16- Contender 32- Boisterous 65- This, in Tijuana 17- Mecca, to Muhammad 33- Boots 66- Tooth 19- Singer James 34- This is only ___ 67- Gaucho's rope 22- French farewell 36- Indicates a direction 68- Demonstrate 21- tuff oneself 37- Songs for two 23- ER staffers 39- Salad sauce Down 25- 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.

40- The Mustangs' sch.

26- School orgs.

42- ___-Cone 1- AIi ___ & the 40 thieves 29- Singer Lovett 45- Having a handle 2- Oklahoma city 31- Columbus's birthplace 46- Boxes 3- Ethereal: Prefix 35- Flub 48- Sniggler 4- Speaks 36- Composition in verse 50- Division of geologic time 5- Plant juice 37- Become extinct 51- Not kosher 6- Vinegar’s partner 38- Sunset 52- Hindu music 7- Code-breaking org.

40- Morning 53- Author Hunter 8- Recess 41- Egyptian god of the 55- Aquatic vertebrate 9- Actor Christopher underworld 56- Dorothy's dog 10- Supervisor 42- Hook's mate 57- Winter fall 11- Lo-cal 43- Ave. crossers 60- When doubled, a dance 12- “___ grip!”

44- Dutch painter Jan 61- Use, consume 13- I smell ___!

45- Sometimes you feel like ___...

62- Genetic material 18- Attila, e.g.

46- Fluid-filled sac

MEDIUM

5

4 1 3

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THE ONTARION

Novice Sudoku by KrazyDad, Volume 3, Book 3

HARD

28

6 1 4

2

9 7

4 6 7 8

8 1 7 8 3 2 4 8 7 9 5 1 7 2 3 5

© 2013 KrazyDad.com

hard CROSSWORD

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CROSSWORD ANSWERS FROM ISSUE 192.4

ISSUE 192 . 5 | FUN STUFF

THEONTARION.COM

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MAY TO-DO LIST Disclaimer: The events listed are happening as of April 27, 2022.

APR 28

MAY 8

MAY 14

MAY 29

Plant Night By: Crystal Quartz Events and The Bloom Room Make a beautiful succulent planter with the guidance of master horticulturist Fran Saliba while also enjoying local craft beer, artisanal pizzas & oysters!

6 p.m. / Fixed Gear Brewing Co. / Tickets $45 via Eventbrite

Mother’s Day Tea at the Guelph Civic Museum By: Guelph Museums Tea is a serious affair at Guelph Museums! This Mother’s Day, treat mom to an afternoon of tea and treats at the Civic Museum.

Relax and enjoy fresh scones, jam, shortbread cookies, fresh fruit and bottomless pots of McCrae Private Blend and Guelph Town Garden Blend teas.

Two seatings at 1 p.m and 3 p.m. / Guelph Civic Museum / Tickets $21.53 via Eventbrite

Freedom Fete By: Guelph Black Heritage Society The Anti-Racism Summit Freedom Fete is a celebration that highlights music, dance, and innovation as an ingrained part of the Black legacy. Guelph’s own DJ Jinx will be sharing the sounds of soca, afrobeats, dancehall, and reggae - music that traditionally centers Black freedom and liberation. Join the Guelph Black Heritage Society for a night of celebration, fellowship, and release.

10 p.m. / Heritage Hall, 83 Essex St. Guelph / Tickets $22.23 via Eventbrite

In-Person Plein Air Painting By: The Arboretum Plein air painting involves packing up your art supplies and creating in the great outdoors! Spend the afternoon plein air painting with watercolour artist Candice Leyland. Candice will show you her approach to painting landscapes outdoors and inspire you to create your own unique paintings of the Arboretum grounds. Be sure to bring your favourite supplies!

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. / The Arboretum / Tickets $60 via the Arboretum workshops webpage

MAY 1 All About Mom Market By: Luna Events It's time to celebrate Mom and all the special women in your life!

This market is in honour of all the strong, loving and amazing moms, grandmothers, aunts and mother figures. Shop local and visit with 40 amazing vendors.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. / Victoria Park East Golf / Free

MAY 19

MAY 12

MAY 6 Wonderful Spring Wildflower Workshop By: The Arboretum This session will introduce you to the beautiful world of wildflowers. It will cover identification features of spring ephemerals and will provide a closer look at species that are common to the Guelph area.

12 p.m to 1 p.m. / Online via Zoom / Tickets $10 via the Arboretum workshops webpage

Terrific Turtles of Ontario By: The Arboretum Ontario is home to eight species of turtles and all of them are listed as Species at Risk. Learn lots of interesting facts about our beautiful native turtle species and meet many of them live on-screen.

Find out how you can help these animals and hopefully ensure they remain here as beneficial residents in our province.

12 p.m to 1 p.m. / Online via Zoom / Tickets $10 via the Arboretum workshops webpage

Sensational Snakes of Ontario By: The Arboretum Reptiles are the most ‘at risk’ group of animals in Ontario. Join instructor Jenny Pearce to learn more about these beautiful, beneficial, and inoffensive creatures that need our help in this engaging program with live snakes onscreen.

12 p.m to 1 p.m. / Online via Zoom / Tickets $10 via the Arboretum workshops webpage

MAY 20

MAY 6-8 2022 Annual Giant Book Sale By: Elora Festival The Book Sale is a fundraiser for the Elora Festival. Bring a bag and choose from 60,000 gently-read adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction books, games, DVDs, CDs and records.

May 6 from 5 p.m. to 9 pm; May 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and May 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. / Elora Curling Club on David Street West / $5 admission on May 6; May 7 and 8 are free admission.

Cash or cheque with photo ID and current address preferred. No credit or debit cards.

Nature Guelph’s Tales ‘n Trails Family Outing: Noticing Nests By: Nature Guelph Join Nature Guelph's Outdoor Programs Coordinator, Jennifer Blender, for a trail-side story followed by a group walk along the Speed River. You will enjoy views of the river and search for birds' nests in the treetops up above. The walk will end back at the parking lot, which happens to be near Riverside Park's fantastic playground for those who would like to stay and play a while longer.

3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. / Riverside Park, Guelph / Free to pre-register at signup.com

MAY 13-15 #ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Summit By: Guelph Black Heritage Society This multi-day summit will bring together speakers to address racial inequality with the goal of engaging and educating the community, as well as empowering Guelphites to take action to dismantle racism. The conference is for everyone and inclusive to all. Attendees have the choice of joining virtually or in-person at Heritage Hall.

Multiple dates and times / Virtually or in-person at Heritage Hall, 83 Essex St. Guelph / Tickets $38.15–$107.10 via Eventbrite

Can Lightning Strike Twice?

By: Guelph Little Theatre Join the cast of the Guelph Little Theatre for Roxanne Thornton’s Can Lightning Strike Twice.This comedy with a twist is a story about a journey down the path of hopeful retribution with a collection of characters that you won't soon forget.

8 p.m to 11 p.m. / Guelph Little Theatre, 176 Morris St. Guelph / $25 for a standard ticket and $20 for seniors and students via guelphlittletheatre.com

*

*Some restrictions apply ICONS BY FLATICON

30

FUN STUFF | SU M M ER 202 2

THE ONTARION

#IWRITETHEONTARION Emily Bray Editorial assistant for The Ontarion Criminal justice and public policy

Favourite part about working for The Ontarion: I love getting the opportunity to speak with people from all walks of life within the Guelph community, including students, professors, business owners, volunteers, city officials, and even random strangers on the street. My job has given me the chance to learn so much about the community and all the wonderful people who call it home!

Favourite thing you have written for The Ontarion: My favourite article that I’ve written is on Chef Vanessa Simon and her Caribbean catering company Vanessa’s Cuisine for our March issue. She was one of the loveliest people that I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking with and now I have a new go-to source for tasty comfort food.

The piece about catching fireflies in this month’s issue was a lot of fun to put together as well. As much as I love writing about the latest and greatest in the Guelph community, it’s nice to incorporate my personal experiences and niche interests into my articles every now and again!

Favorite thing about the Guelph community: There are always new and exciting places and events to check out in Guelph. Ever wanted to attend a crystal market, a punk show, and a ghost tour all in the same night? If so, Guelph might be the city for you!

Fun fact: I have a knack for attracting weird animals–especially birds. Within the past two years I’ve made friends with an orphaned wild turkey chick, a lost homing pigeon, and a raven who would bring me flowers in exchange for cat kibble.

PET OF THE MONTH

Ronnie

Human: Renee Alkass, volunteer Breed: Unknown, since Renee adopted him (though she thinks he looks like a Russian Blue!)

Pets Age: 2 Fun Fact: Despite all of the cat toys Renee buys Ronnie, his favourite toy seems to be any string he can get his paws on!

Floyd

Human: Janan Shoja Doost, volunteer Breed: Goldfish Pets Age: 4 Fun Fact: He was named after the boxing legend, Floyd Mayweather, because of his incredible agility when Janan first got him.

PET OF THE MONTH

Didi

Human: Chen Chen, volunteer Breed: Yellow tabby Pets Age: 2 Fun Fact: Didi always brings his favourite toy to his food bowl.

PET OF THE MONTH

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES Video-Editing 101 Live-Streaming 101 Beat-Making Bystander Intervention Building Your Audience

RESOURCES OFFERED State of the art mixing console Portable recorders & microphones

Anti-Oppression New Music Discovery Interview Skills Elevate Your Voice Your suggestion here!

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& MORE! YOUR CAMPUS/COMMUNITY RADIO & MEDIA CENTRE

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES On-Air Programmer

8760 HOURS

of campus/community radio

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For more info, visit cfru.ca/get-involved or email volunteer@cfru.ca

Stream online at cfru.ca or with the TuneIn app