The Ontarion - 195.4

SINCE

1951

ALWAYS FREE

195.4 | DECEMBER 2023

THEONTARION.COM

the

HOLIDAY issue

P.3

The Cannon

P.16 &17

Arkells in Guelph

P.22

Holiday Recipes

2

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE

THE ONTARION

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS 3.

Cannon posters of Hamas kidnapping victims removed by University

4.

CSA board releases another statement on Israel-Gaza conflict

5.

Did you attend the AGM?

6.

Dr. Evan Fraser appointed to be on the United Nations Panel of Experts on Food Security

7.

Working to improve accessibility on campus

ARTS & CULTURE 9.

Local authors, organizations come out for annual Book Bash

10

Arpit’s Music Review: “Uptown Intern #333” by LTtheMonk

11.

Ontarion Book Review: In the Upper Country

by Kai Thomas

12.

2023 (Taylor's Version)

13.

Fair November

10% OFF FOR UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH STUDENTS Offer valid 7 days a week, until 4:00 pm.

Certain restrictions apply

SPORTS & HEALTH 14.

Guelph Storm rolls into OHL season

15.

Setting new year’s resolutions isn’t always as easy as it sounds

16 & 17.

Arkells take over Sleeman Centre

SIMPLY PRESENT YOUR STUDENT CARD UPON YOUR VISIT

OPINION 18.

The Explore program lets you learn French, meet friends, and create memories – all for the low price of free

HOLIDAY STUFF 19.

5 fun activities you can do this winter season

20

A holly jolly sustainable holiday Holiday jingles: staff song picks

21.

Historic holiday traditions

22.

5 winter baking recipes to sweeten up the season

23.

The December holiday breakdown

24.

Gifting with heart: a guide to shopping local

25.

5 fabulous fits to wear this holiday party season

FUN STUFF 26.

Because we asked...

27.

From the archives

28.

Club of the month

29.

December to-do list Pets of the month

30 & 31. Puzzle pages

Conveniently located at Stone Rd & Edinburgh Rd 185 Stone Road W Guelph, ON 519-836-8882

MEAL PLANS ACCEPTED HERE

Check out our menu here:

NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

6 | DR. EVAN FRASER

4 | CSA FOLLOW UP

the subject matter of it being human lives at risk.”

He said the incident raises concern for free speech on campus.

“The selective enforcement of rules on the cannon suggests a potential bias, making us feel that certain perspectives are being stifled,” Spinner wrote. “The fact that campus police might not have intervened for different content raises questions about equal treatment of diverse opinions and the protection of free speech rights.”

For Spinner, this is a matter of standing up for what is right even if he feels the messaging is silenced.

“No one else would speak up

The cannon was taped off after the removal of posters.

3

7 | ACCESSIBILITY or act on behalf of us, it became imperative for the broader community to stand together and express unwavering support for the families of the hostages,” he said.

This is not the first time the Cannon has been the centre of speech-related controversy. In November 2019 members of the Hong Kong Student Radio Association, a campus club, had painted the Cannon with phrases such as “Free Hong Kong”, which were later removed by other students who disagreed with the messaging.

Students interested in painting the cannon can find more information at uoguelph.ca/studentexperience/painting-the-cannon.

Cannon posters of Hamas kidnapping victims removed

by University A vigil was held for the kidnapping victims after the area was taped off

Posters were removed from the cannon

ARTICLE BY TAYLOR PIPE AND PHOTOS BY PATRICK SUTHERLAND

O

n Oct. 27, at 12:10 p.m. posters attached to the cannon were taken down by campus employees. The night before, the cannon was painted by members of the campus Jewish community, who affixed posters of people who were kidnapped from Israel during the Oct. 7 attacks perpetrated by Hamas.

A Physical Resources employee and a Campus Safety Officer had already been on the scene for several hours.

After the posters were removed, Physical Resources erected a caution tape barrier to block off the area immediately surrounding the cannon.

“We anticipated the potential removal,” said Daniel Spinner, member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, one of the groups whose members were involved with painting the cannon.

By 12:30 p.m. a group of Jewish students arrived to hold a vigil.

“We came prepared with posters for people to hold, knowing that they couldn't be taken down from our hands,” said Spinner, in an email. “We opted for a quiet vigil as our gathering [as] our focus was on creating an environment conducive to fostering meaningful and respectful dialogue while ensuring the vigil re-

mains respectful.”

Spinner explained that the vigil was to raise awareness for the men, women and children kidnapped by Hamas.

He also said that the university didn’t get involved until a student started taking down the posters.

“It was students who initiated the removal,” he said. “The university's involvement occurred only after half the posters were taken down.”

The Ontarion reached out to the University of Guelph with specific questions: Which University of Guelph policies were referenced in the decision to remove the posters?

In what way did the posters meet the threshold for removal in the context of the policies?

How does the university administration determine which messaging should be removed and which should remain up? What considerations are taken into account?

“The decision was made based on the University's policy on campus advertising promotion sales and solicitations.” said Deirdre Healey, Interim Associate Vice-President, Communications & Marketing.

“This policy indicates that all posters and bulletins placed on Universi-

ty property must be approved and displayed only on pre-authorized designated boards.”

“All posters and bulletins placed on University property must be approved by the Solicitations Committee or the appropriate designated organization such as Student Housing Services, University Centre Administration, and Central Student Association, and displayed only on pre-authorized designated boards,” reads the piece of policy.

Spinner said this decision and the reasoning behind it confused him.

“Campus Police gave us vague justification that the posters didn’t have the university’s approval, even though they were solely attached to the cannon which we found confusing as we have seen other items affixed to the cannon in the past - like grass mats,” he said in the email.

Spinner said applying the rules for solicitation and advertising to the cannon contradicts its purpose.

“In my two years here, I haven't seen any messages removed from the cannon, making it feel like an attempt to silence us, even if that was not the intention,” he said. “We felt that it wasn’t handled with the required sensitivity and respect that it deserved given

Physical resources begins tearing off the remainder of the posters

The cannon is taped off with caution tape

A vigil is held by members of the Jewish campus community

4

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | NEWS

THE ONTARION

CSA board releases another statement on Israel-Gaza conflict We spoke with a board director about their involvement with the statements

TAYLOR PIPE

T

he CSA has posted a follow-up statement which is the third in a series of statements released in just over a month.

On Oct. 17, the Central Student Association, (CSA), released a statement on their Instagram page in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Following the statement’s release, over 1400 comments were posted.

On Nov. 1, a CSA board meeting was held. A motion was put forward to post a new statement that was more in support of the Palestinian people. The motion was denied.

On Nov. 6, the CSA posted to their Instagram page again, this time apologizing for any harm caused by the original statement. It also stated that the CSA had created a subcommittee to handle the creation of further statements.

The third and final statement was posted on Nov. 16.

The Ontarion spoke with a CSA board director who was involved in the creation of the Oct. 17 statement, on condition of anonymity, about these statements, how they were created and the reaction that followed.

The statement from the CSA's Instagram account.

Crafting the original statement

“In the current environment, that statement wouldn't make sense to have been passed given what has gone on in the Middle East,” the director said.

They said the original statement was put forward when the first attack happened against the Israeli civilians, prior to any military response from Israeli Defence Forces “I understand that there's a difference of opinion here but when the attack itself happened, it was relatively unprovoked,” they

said. “Things within the Middle East were pretty dormant for, you know, some time and when that attack happened, it was unprovoked and so we felt obliged to pass a statement in solidarity with the people who had passed away in that attack.”

The board director also said that while crafting that statement, the main groups consulted were Jewish campus organizations like Hillel and Chabad.

They also said that releasing the statement has led to some concerns for the safety of the board members. Some have completely

deleted their social media accounts after the original statement was released.

The director said that, in hindsight, they wouldn’t have changed the original statement.

“I think that there's certain things that should be unequivocal in nature and I think there's no reason why anyone should have a problem with denouncing something like what was mentioned in the statement,” they said.

They noted a new understanding of the complexity of these situations.

“Being in a position of stu-

ISSUE 195.4 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

dent government, you kind of have a lot of different constituents that you should be consulting and that you should be looking after,” they said. “It definitely provided some insight into the, I guess you could call it the spread of people who are impacted by the events in the Middle East.”

The Subcommittee

On Nov. 15, the CSA board meeting included over one and a half hours of discussion surrounding the appointed sub committee's recommendations. The recommendations included posting a more neutral statement and to repair the CSA’s relationship with the Guelph Palestinian Student Association, (GPSA).

Board member Natalie Wilkinson told the board about some of the correspondence the subcommittee has received. An email from the Guelph Palestinian Student Association was read out loud. “‘We have read over your new statement and we, the GPSA, cannot agree with it’,” Wilkinson read. “‘This is not a conflict or any two sided issue, or war and this statement is almost just as harmful to our Palestinian Arab and even Muslim community as was the first statement’.”

The GPSA said the decision to include a more neutral statement was just as harmful as siding with the oppressor. “‘In all honesty, we recommend that in terms of this specific issue, the CSA at the University of Guelph does not reach out to the Guelph Palestinian Students Asso-

ciation for our opinion or feedback because no matter what we say, we have been silenced and shown time and time again that our voices, our opinions, our families, our lived experiences and our lives do not matter’,” Wilkinson continued.

The GPSA added that the CSA “may as well just leave the original statement up at this point” and that they will not be participating on any statements regarding the Palestinian people and the CSA moving forward.

Commenting on her experience sitting on the subcommittee, Wilkinson said “after hearing about personal experiences of people that I never thought I'd be interacting with, I appreciate them a lot more.”

“I hope that everybody kind of remembers that at the end of the day we're all just humans trying to help each other,” she said.

The subcommittee had originally recommended turning off the comments on the final statement.

“I think we just need to understand the impact that having the comments section turned on might have in that post - it's just going to flare tensions,” said board director and subcommittee member Daniel Neiterman, during the meeting. “You're going to have people going at each other in the comment section.”

Neiterman reminded the board that the “the whole purpose of the subcommittee was because the CSA Board of Directors initially made the wrong calls, and we made decisions without proper consultation.”

The motion was changed to

5

I hope that everybody kind of remembers that at the end of the day we're all just humans trying to help each other include enabling comments as open communication with students is a key part of the Central Student Association’s mandate.

The board continued debating the statement and individual clauses in the motion. The clause that mentioned repairing the relationship between the CSA and GPSA was sent back to the subcommittee.

The motion to put out the final statement was approved and the statement was posted on Nov. 16.

The Aftermath

“I think the CSA should completely get out of the business of passing statements on political issues,” the anonymous board director said.

They added that the student association should be looking out for their students instead of getting involved in politics.

“I think the CSA has the responsibility to be there for all students and I think something sim-

ilar to the new statement that we pass should become like a standard moving forward on what should be passed pretty much given any type of situation happening,” they said.

The board director also mentioned the lack of support for Israel and how that feels for Jewish students.

“This is where I think a lot of the anger stemmed for Jewish students… You know, the original statement we passed - it didn't take a stance on Israel-Palestine,” they said. “It took a stand against an act of violence that was committed against 1400 people in Israel.”

The board director also mentioned that they’ve noticed a rise in antisemitic behaviour since the Israel-Gaza conflict began.

“You just see all of the hate that came with that [conflict],” they said. “For me particularly, that's kind of how it's impacted me. It made me realize how ingrained antisemitism is into people's minds and how they don't even realize it.”

They also added that the

conflict is affecting local Jewish community members in very real ways.

“We have board members who had families who were killed in that attack,” they said. “We have Jewish students in our community who had family members who were killed in that attack.”

used, and if the fees are being used in the ways the CSA had promised.

“It’s also for students to understand where they’re paying us fees. They’re paying fees for our services, the bus pass, health and dental, and just understanding where these [are] coming from,” Alam said.

Although students can attend regularly scheduled CSA board meetings, they can’t vote in them or submit motions. So if students are looking to be able to

do either, the AGM is their opportunity to do so.

For students that couldn’t attend this year’s AGM and are interested in knowing what happened, they can check out the AGM website where the meeting minutes will eventually be posted. The AGM website also has resources for how to submit motions, how to participate in the meeting and a summary of Robert’s Rules of Order, which is how the AGM and all CSA board meetings are conducted.

The board director encouraged others to do research from both Israeli and Palestinian news organizations to get an unbiased account of the events occurring in Gaza.

“Something that I personally have done is look at every side's news and sources that come out to understand what the extremes are saying, so that you can kind of build the picture for yourself on what's actually happening and I think everyone would benefit a lot from that,” they said.

Anyone who wishes to get in touch with their CSA board representative, can find contact information online at csaonline.ca/ board/directory.

Did you attend the AGM? If not, here’s a breakdown of what it is and why it’s important CARLOTA SOUSA

T

he Central Student Association, (CSA), hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) this year on Nov. 22. The AGM is meant to discuss formal business items and approve audits and bylaw changes. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity for students to submit motions, exercise their student membership by voting, and have their voices heard by the CSA. “This is the place where students get to bring forward motions. This is the place where

students are the ones voting,” explained Shaima Alam, CSA president. “There’s very few places where we get the opportunity

ICON BY JUICY_FISH

to actually directly hear what the students want from us.”

Alam highlights the importance of why the AGM is held and why it’s critical for students to attend.

"Coming out to show up in person to the AGM is the actual way [students] can take action to the feelings they feel,” she said.

Additionally, the AGM discusses how the CSA uses certain student fees. Students get to see if they agree or not with how some of their student fees are being

6

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | NEWS

THE ONTARION

Fraser is the director of the Arrell Food Institute and a geography professor at the University of Guelph. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

Dr. Evan Fraser appointed to be on the United Nations Panel of Experts on Food Security Learn more about how Dr. Fraser is striving to make a difference in existing systems of food security, agriculture and sustainability PAULA HENRY-DURU

A

ccording to a news release from the University of Guelph on Oct. 27, one of U of G’s professors was appointed to be on the Steering Committee for the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

Dr. Evan Fraser was appointed to be on this committee due to his expertise and outstanding scientific contribution in the fields of food security and nutrition. From the 77 total nominees, Fraser was amongst the 15 members eventually selected to be on this committee.

This committee evaluates the science behind global security and nutrition and provides informed and evidence-based advice to the United Nations’ CFS upon request.

Fraser has continuously

demonstrated a drive and passion for food security, sustainability, and agriculture on both local and international levels.

As the director of the Arrell Food Institute (AFI), Fraser is involved in developing safe, accessible, and sustainable food systems on a local, national, and international scale . From the agricultural practices behind our food, to the way technology and marketing play a role in the final food products we consume, the AFI is committed to ensuring that these systems are available to all, and Fraser is an integral part of this mission. More information about the AFI can be found at arrellfoodinstitute.ca.

Fraser is also one of the leaders behind the Food from Thought research program at the University of Guelph. This program strives to

tackle key issues in food and agriculture both locally and around the world by working with expert food and agriculture researchers from the University of Guelph. This initiative integrates important agricultural elements like livestock, biodiversity, and ecosystems into ongoing research by using digital applications to solve major challenges surrounding food security.

Further details about the Food from Thought program and its missions can be found on their website at foodfromthought.ca.

In addition to this, Fraser is the founder of the initiative ‘Feeding 9 Billion’, which began as a 13-part web video series in 2012 that discussed food security strategies that could be implemented to prevent a food crisis for when our global population hits nine billion

by 2037, by estimation. That web series has evolved into a food security initiative based out of the University of Guelph that aims to educate youth about “issues of food, agriculture, and hunger globally.” You can read more about the Feeding 9 Billion initiative and its resources at feeding9billion.com.

When speaking with the university on this appointment in a recent news release, Fraser said he was “honoured and thrilled to have been appointed to the HLPE-FSN of the UN Committee on World Food Security."

“I am delighted to be working at the highest level internationally to help create more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems,” he said.

Dr. Charlotte Yates, the President and Vice-Chancellor at the

University of Guelph, said it is a “tremendous honour” to be appointed and that it’s “a testament to his significant contribution to food security and nutrition globally."

“I am very happy to see his commitment to research and innovation recognized through this appointment,” said Yates in the same release.

Guelph Minister of Parliament Lloyd Longfield also expressed his enthusiasm for Fraser’s recent appointment to the HLPEFSN of the Committee on World Food Security.

“Dr. Fraser’s work as founding director of the Arrell Food Institute has contributed to our understanding of food systems, which will be a valuable asset to solving global food security and nutrition challenges,” said Longfield in the release.

ISSUE 195.4 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

7

Working to improve accessibility on campus A look at accessibility at the University of Guelph ATHAVI NISHAANTHAN

P

icking what university to go to is a tough decision. People consider a variety of things when deciding where to go; the professors, the research facilities, the scenery and nature. For some, choosing a school is all about the accessibility of a campus.

Lauren Rand, an international firstyear student at the University of Guelph, said she feels the university is lacking.

Rand has Muscular Dystrophy FSHD, a condition that causes muscle deterioration. She now requires a wheelchair due to the deterioration in her legs. Despite this, Rand has always lived a rather independent lifestyle, only occasionally needing minor assistance as the muscle deterioration in her arms causes trouble with steep hills for long distances and on uneven or unsmooth ground.

There were various reasons why Rand decided to come to the University of Guelph. Accessibility was one of the biggest. Before coming to Guelph, Rand met with Student Accessibility Services, (SAS),

and was under the impression she would have no trouble living on campus or getting to her classes.

So far, Rand has run into numerous issues on campus. One of the biggest ones is housing. As an international student, Rand lives on campus. She made sure to get into accessible housing, however, the building is placed at the top of a hill and because of this, she requires assistance to go back to her house as she can’t get up the hill alone.

Rand has met with SAS to discuss her concerns and issues. However, she said she still doesn’t know if she’s being heard. She said she’s “inclined to believe that [her] reports will go unheard, based on how unprioritized accessibility issues seem to be.”

Indira Naidoo-Harris, an Associate Vice-President for Diversity and Human Rights, said that Diversity and Human Rights are committed to creating an environment for everyone.

“Making education inclusive and accessible is a key pillar of excellence at the

U of G,” she said. “We work hard to ensure students, faculty, and staff experience a strong sense of belonging at the university and if there are challenges, we work to find solutions.”

Diversity and Human Rights admits that accessibility is an ongoing process to meet the needs of everyone in the community. Currently, they are working with accessibility experts across the institution to update and enhance two accessibility-related online learning modules.

In addition, the Accessible Service Provision module and the Making Education Accessible Module are being updated to reflect current best practices and new Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards to provide our community with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to bring accessibility principles into their daily lives at Guelph.

Naidoo-Harris assures that although accessibility is a work in progress, it is important to them.

“Everyone’s needs are different, which

means there are various barriers for different people,” she said. “It can be challenging at times to accurately identify all the existing and potential barriers for our community, and address them efficiently.”

Accessibility is a major, ongoing issue in the community. As Naidoo-Harris put it, “everyone’s needs are different.” What’s accessible to one might not be to another.

However, working toward creating a more accessible environment is a step in the right direction.

ICON BY FREEPIK

Indira Naidoo-Harris, an Associate Vice-President for Diversity and Human Rights, said that Diversity and Human Rights are committed to creating an environment for everyone. PHOTO PROVIDED BY TAYLOR PIPE

LAST CHANCE!

2024

ARTS ISSUE Accepting creative writing, design, visual and performance art pieces.

For more than 30 years, The Ontarion has featured the work of emerging and amateur artists in an annual special issue. In the ’90s, it was called the Arts Extra.

In the ’00s it was the Arts Supplement. Most recently it’s been the Arts Issue, but no matter what it’s called, this is your chance to share your artistic creativity with your community! Whether you could give Van Gogh a run for his money or are a beginner, we invite you to help us continue the legacy of showcasing and celebrating a diverse range of art pieces by submitting your work.

Submit your work to tpipe@theontarion.com

by Dec. 6, 2023

THEONTARION.COM

ARTS & CULTURE 12 | TAYLOR SWIFT

11 | BOOK REVIEW

9

13 | FAIR NOVEMBER

Local authors, organizations come out for annual Book Bash Vocamus Writers Community’s annual Book Bash helped support local authors and generated broader conversations JORJA ALLEN The modest book launch group has now grown to include more than 100 authors. PHOTO PROVIDED BY STACEY ASPINALL

O

n Nov. 5, the Vocamus Writers Community hosted their annual Book Bash at the Guelph Farmers’ Market. The organization, which began as a modest book launch group in the Hope House gym, has now expanded to include between 100 to 150 authors.

There were 37 book features this year, with 32 local authors, and 20 organizations, such as The Dragon, Guelph Public Library, and even Magic Pebble Books from Elora, that contributed to the friendly and exuberant atmosphere.

Kate Anderson, an author who had a stand at the event in previous years, commented, “I find it very inspiring, coming here… just to sort of see how much creativity is in the city, and the diversity.” She further noted that the City of Guelph and its community attracts artistic individuals, providing for its continued importance in the arts world.

“I love the fact that there's a lot of writing that you can get exposed to here that you wouldn't find at the library." she said. I wouldn't miss this event for the world.”

The event did increasingly well this year in regards to its turnout. Especially with its appeal to younger attendees through the

University of Guelph student support, and the incorporation of more family-friendly activities with free children’s books in the Reading Room, storytelling, a take-a-bookleave-a-book table, and prizes.

Governor General’s Award winner Thomas King even attended the event, signing books and engaging in friendly conversation. Nominee of the Governor General’s Award and professor at U of G, Karen Houle, also had her Composting Queens project on display. Here she depicted the transformative power of nature for cultural objects that books represent, inviting individuals to call into question their connection to the material.

The event offered the opportunity for authors of all ages to showcase their work. Thirteenyear-old Elianna Wylie has lived in Guelph her entire life and found the Vocamus Writers Community online last year. With the help of their support, she was able to organize a table with five of her books displayed.

The Vocamus Writer’s Community is an established non-profit group that offers resources and plans events such as the Book Bash to encourage writing, reading, and publication in and around Guelph. They provide support for

authors of all backgrounds and genres through book launches and promotions, one-on-one consultations, free workshops, social events for networking, and annual anthologies, along with the opportunity to publish works through their Vocamus Community Publications program.​​These resources are completely free and extremely inclusive in all aspects of their design!

The uniqueness of this event was that all the authors were local and works self-published, making for a variety of fascinating new reads to acquire! The call for support of local authors is important since many self-published works often go unrecognized, mainly due to the fact that these books rarely end up on bestsellers lists. Now more than ever the importance of diversifying our bookshelves is pertinent. Attending local events such as the Book Bash is a simple and inspirational way to accomplish this.

Fiore Guido, founder of Magic Pebble Books, noted the importance of supporting local authors since there is “a lack of national network for self-published authors” due to the fact that “there is no national distributor for self-published authors,” and as such these authors require ex-

tra support when marketing their books.

The Book Bash was extremely effective in supporting Guelph’s local authors. Vendors noted an increase in sales this year in comparison to previous years when the event was held. The community of Guelph was united by various authors and attendees of the event.

Dárá Nolan, another writer at the event, described the community as “very inclusive” and “very friendly.”

“Vocamus putting on these events really helps enhance, cultivate, and really care for all of the writers and readers in Guelph and Wellington County. It really brings people together and helps enhance everybody's individual practice as a writer and a reader in the community,” said James Nowak, local writer and book artist.

Jeremy Luke Hill, Managing Director of the Vocamus Writer’s Community encourages readers to “read more broadly and read local.” Catherine Reilly who works with Vocamus and runs their genre group asserts that Hill has a lot to do with the success of the event. Specifically, she says “he's so enthusiastic and so passionate about poetry and writing, so I think a lot of [the event's success] hinges on his involvement.”

When talking with Hill , he noted that his favourite part of the Book Bash this year was the new young demographic that seemed to integrate itself into Guelph’s book enthusiast community. He noted that in order to create “a society that is capable of having real conversations and capable of dealing with difficult issues… we need people who are thoughtful and informed, [people who] read about other things openly.”

He stressed that this practice of reading, “keeps us cultured, informed, and [even] human.” In thinking about this, Hill invites individuals to engage with art at least once a week in one way or another.

Hill also encourages anyone interested in joining the Vocamus Writers Community to be in touch. He notes that there are plenty of ways to be involved and that writers of all ages are welcome! If you are interested, you can contact them at vocamuswriterscommunity@gmail.com.

Be sure to check out the Book Bash next year or browse this year’s current selection of featured local books online at vocamus.net/community/featured.

With such a unique and diverse selection, there is sure to be a book for everyone!

10

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | ARTS & CULTURE

THE ONTARION

Arpit’s Music Review: "Uptown Intern #333" by LTtheMonk "Why do you want to intern here at Uptown?"

ARPIT SHAILESHBHAI VAGHELA

The album tells the story of the Uptown Intern. PHOTO PROVIDED BY TAYLOR PIPE

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.

O

riginally from London, Toronto-based rapper LTtheMonk fuses hip-hop and pop sounds into his latest album. “Uptown Intern #333” is a journey of an intern who desires to work at Uptown Records, hoping to discover his New Monk Swing.

“Uptown Intern #333” is laced with hip-hop, synth melodies, and R&B-themed tracks where LTtheMonk provides his perspective on topics such as childhood love, nurturing strong romantic relationships, and escaping from reality.

as the Coca-Cola vs Pepsi war, the rivalry between two giant corn syrup companies during the 70s and 80s. LT compares this war with the ego that often ruins the perfect relationship between two partners. LT describes the metaphor for the power couple, and how ego can make two people compete with each other, or work together and be a way stronger partnership. The track is laced with an old-school hip-hop beat that takes you back to the 90s West Coast hiphop scene.

The Interview: This track begins with the skit where the interviewer at Uptown Records questions the intern regarding his interest in working in the firm. He describes his previous work experience such as working at Domino's Pizza, as a soccer coach, rapping for Mo Bee at the local club until 3 a.m., and giving Childish Gambino two copies of his demo mixtape. He believes that by doing all of these side hustles, he deserves to be at Uptown Records. It is a pretty good opening to an album as you can feel the enthusiasm and groove in the production as well as in his voice.

Uptown Demo #001: The track gives me Biggie Smalls vibes. Everything from the beat to LT's flow feels like a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. I think this track might be the best-produced track of the album.

Reminder: Reminder is all about childhood love. LT describes how seeing women from Canada and the United States reminds him of his first love back when he was in London. LT considers his love for music as his childhood love and he doesn't want to lose the spirit of creating music while he is going to work as an intern. I like those soft synth melodies in the background. The overall vibe of the track is euphoric and positive.

Pepsi Challenge: LT talks about obstacles that people usually come across when they are in romantic relationships in this track.

LT talks about the phenomenon known

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

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

Disney Vs. Reality: The 80s synth-waveinspired track discusses how Disney creates a fake reality where everything is perfect and nobody is suffering from any issues.

LT uses this analogy with his current relationship with the music industry. The first half of the album mostly covers happy and inspiration-themed topics but it soon becomes clear that after that joyous relationship our main character was building may not be so joyous in reality after all.

Unfortunately, I feel the album starts to fall apart after the track Disney Vs. Reality.

The second half of the album feels hollow in comparison to the first half. The tracks are not terrible at all, but the tracks don't get their point across. Monk tries his best to engage the audience with the intern's story but it seems like he fails to keep the momentum and attention of the listeners as the second half continues.

Uptown Intern #333 is a great attempt

by LTtheMonk to tell the story of an enthusiastic intern willing to work at the world-renowned music label to obtain his musical goal. The intern, LTtheMonk, has pursued every side hustle he could to be where he is now and he doesn't want to stop here, he wants to push himself even further to get his ultimate achievement: His own New Monk Swing.

Overall, a pretty solid and enjoyable album. Monk’s musical stylings can only get better as his career progresses and he continues honing in on his retro-funk-inspired bars.

RATING: 80 / 100 OR 4 / 5 ICON BY FREEPIK

BEST TRACK OF THE ALBUM: REMINDER

ISSUE 195.4 | ARTS & CULTURE

THEONTARION.COM

11

Ontarion Book Review: In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas A historical fiction that will reshape and deepen your understanding of Black Canadian history CARLOTA SOUSA

I

t’s the mid 1800s and Lensinda Martin lives in a southern Ontario community created by refugees from the American South that escaped enslavement. She is a young Black journalist that’s responsible for writing the testimony of an old woman that has killed a slave hunter. Lensinda assumes it’ll be easy and straightforward to get a confession from the old woman, but it ends up being the opposite.

The old woman wants to do more than confess. She offers a deal that Lensinda must agree to if she wants to get any information.

The deal is an exchange of stories; for each story that the old woman shares, Lensinda must share one in return.

This commences a journey of intertwined histories and narratives about survival, family, love, the Underground Railroad, and the intricacies of Black and Indigenous relationships.

Lensinda’s world is forever changed as she questions what she thought she knew and learns about the old woman’s stories and secrets.

Kai Thomas does an impeccably thorough and thoughtful job of giving voice and life to narratives that are not often found

in historical fiction. In the Upper Country dives into the theme ofhumanity’s relationship to land and nature. It explores the complexities of the beauty, danger, and safety that can be found in this relationship.

One of Thomas’ first sparks of inspiration was when he saw a photograph of John “Daddy” Hall, a man of African and Indigenous descent who had lived a long and remarkable life.

“I feel like John ‘Daddy’ Hall has kind of been with me in some respects through the course of working on this novel,” said Thomas in an interview with The Ontarion. “I thought about him a lot, just his life and the legends and the stories and the records of his life, had just been this wonderful path that I’ve followed.”

“And [it] has provided just such an extraordinary lens to look at the past through. It's definitely one of the origin points of the novel… for me.”

Thomas also had a personal desire to connect with nature and foster a relationship with the land, which he was able to do by seeking jobs that allowed him to work outside. This impacted how he was able to portray and write

Kai Thomas attended the University of Guelph and graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING

In the Upper Country explores Black Canadian history from a new and intimate perspective. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING

nature scenes.

“As I’m learning about lumber and wood and trees, I’m learning about the nuances and distinction between old forest and new forest and forest health,” he said.

“And learning how to read the land for how humans have interacted with it in the past...it all feeds a project like this, [one] that’s really deeply concerned with the land and how humans interact and live with and on the land,” explained Thomas. “There’s a number of scenes that are descriptive of land and nature and natural things, so being in nature is the only way I know how to approach writing scenes like that.”

It was also important to Thomas to discuss how Black and Indigenous relationships existed and overlapped in the 1800s, as it is not often represented in fiction.

“Historical fictions that I had

read were primarily concerned with the relationship between people of European descent and whatever the other is, and you know, that’s the story that I was used to,” he described. “It’s an important story and an interesting one, to be sure, but what I realized is that it’s not the only story.

“I’ve had plenty of encounters and experiences in my personal life where, you know, having conversations with Indigenous people and we’re talking about things like identity and land, and relationship to land, dispossession, and displacement, and political power, and the relevance of alliances, and the places where marginalized people are kind of pitted against each other.”

When asked about what he wanted university students to take away from reading In the Upper Country, Thomas mentioned that it was important for him to not in-

hibit his creative process by limiting himself to a specific message.

Rather, he had intentions and hopes for what he wanted readers to take away from his novel.

“With this work of fiction, I hope for it to be something that encourages people to expand the way they think about history generally, and expand the way they think about Canadian history,” he said. “That it helps spur critical thinking about ideas of nationhood, ideas of land, [and] nature.”

Thomas continued, “I hope that reading the book… encourages people to put it down and put down screens...and be inspired to connect with the natural world around them in the ways that some of the characters might have experienced. If the spirit of the book does help galvanize our capacity as humans to be better stewards of our earth, then I would love that.”

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | ARTS & CULTURE

12

THE ONTARION

2023 (Taylor’s Version) “The music industry” is bigger than ever as she embarks on global Eras Tour, becoming a billionaire ANDREEA BURLACU

W

hen Taylor Swift released her 2010 hit Mean, she clapped back at country critics, singing, “Someday, I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me”. 13 years later, the superstar proved herself right, and all her haters wrong. As of 2023, Swift boasts an iconic discography, a loyal fan base, a sold-out Eras Tour, and a net worth of over $1 billion . She’s doing more than “living in a big, old city” – Swift is completely ruling 2023.

Devoted Swift fans often dub the star “the music industry”. She breaks records at every turn in her career, dominating the Billboard Top Ten and releasing songs that resonate with millions of Swifties.

Her catalogue spans everything: devastating break-up ballads, upbeat synth-pop bangers, yeehaw country twang, and poetic indie-folk. Her literary legacy has inspired university courses worldwide, including one at Queen’s University in Kingston. Here, students devotedly study her stanzas, complete with their Easter eggs and melodic metaphors in the course “Taylor Swift’s Literary Legacy”.

Swift’s Eras Tour further proves that she’s a mastermind. The three-hour performance, which spans Swift’s 19 years of releasing hit after hit, was almost universally described as a career highlight.

CNN describes that Eras could become the highest-grossing tour ever.

According to TIME, multiple cities thanked Swift’s Eras Tour for boosting their local economies after the pandemic. Devoted fans shop for outfits, merchandise, dining, and accommodation, totalling hundreds of millions of dollars.

Armed with friendship bracelets and polishing up nice in bejeweled costumes, Swifties sell out stadiums and scream/sing her entire discography.

In case you didn’t survive the “Ticketmaster Great War,” the concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour was released in cinemas worldwide this fall. It also became the highest-grossing concert film of all time within its opening weekend, according to Forbes.

Apple Music stated that Swift has “reached a new realm of superstardom” in 2023. Her re-recorded albums are outperforming her original versions as Swifties relive Swift’s musical eras. These albums also feature completely new Vault Tracks, which fans excitedly await.

Consistently, Swift is the most-streamed female artist on both Apple Music and Spotify. Cruel Summer, which was first released in 2019, was one of the biggest songs of this summer. At time of writing, it’s still #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Tracks from 1989 (Taylor’s Version), which was released Oct. 27, 2023, are also climbing the charts.

Although 2023 was full of

wins for Swift , she has always been a generation-defining success. You could even say she’s never gone out of style.

Swift’s hold on the music industry is undeniable. Throughout her career, she has advocated for artist rights, reclaimed her master records, inspired a confessional style of songwriting, and influenced hundreds of artists.

Swift’s success is largely in thanks of her Swiftie fanbase, some of which have adored the star since she had a Southern accent.

Swift’s songs are the soundtracks to so many stories. She interacts with fans through social media and “Secret Sessions”, where she plays albums before release dates and bakes her iconic chai cookies.

The recipe for these can actually be found in this issue’s holiday section!

If you’re a Swiftie in Guelph, there are several great ways to meet other fans. The CSA is hosting a Taylor Swift Dance Party on Nov. 24 from 8-11 p.m. That’s the night where you forget about the deadlines, dance like you're made of starlight, and celebrate Swift’s upcoming Toronto tour dates. You can also get involved with the U of G Swift Society, which can be found on Instagram @uogswiftsoc.

If you’re not a fan of Swift, I would recommend giving her songs a second chance. She’s got country bangers perfect for Aggie

From Cruel Summer to Forever Winter, Taylor Swift shines in every season.

ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY PAIGE STAMPATORI

Pub, chill songs for study sessions, and pop songs for when all you need is to Shake It Off. Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, this globally adored blonde

cat lady has had an unforgettable year. With her coming to Toronto next year, I’m sure she’ll continue to see success she’s only imagined in her Wildest Dreams.

CFRU'S MONTHLY TOP 10 ALBUMS 1. MIDSWIM** Sneak Behind the Dreams In Your Head (Self-Released) 2. FAITH HEALER* The Hand That Fits The Glove (Mint)

6. JEREMY DUTCHER* Motewolonuwok (Secret City) 7. LAND OF TALK* Performances (Next Door)

CFRU93.3FM

@CFRU93.3

CFRU_radio

WWW.cfru.ca

3. BRY WEBB** Run With Me (Idée Fixe)

8. GEORDIE GORDON** Tambourine (Victory Pool)

4. MELTT* Eternal Embers (Nettwerk)

9. ALLISON RUSSELL* The Returner (Fantasy / Concord)

For the creator in all of us!

10. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE Isn't It Now? (Domino)

CFRU offers FREE training, use of high-quality recording equipment, and (remote) opportunities for on-air and behind-the-scenes projects.

5. ASTRAL SWANS & CHAD VANGAALEN* Split EP (Stoner Bird) *CANADIAN ARTIST

**LOCAL ARTIST

Give it a try today!

Email volunteer@cfru.ca to learn more.

FAIR NOVEMBER

THEONTARION.COM

ISSUE 195.4 | ARTS & CULTURE

PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCON

13

SPORTS & HEALTH

14

THE ONTARION

15 | RESOLUTIONS

14 | STORM

Guelph Storm rolls into OHL season With departure from last season’s point-leader Matthew Poitras, can the team pick up the slack?

OWEN TSIPTSIS

T

he Guelph Storm are already a quarter of the way through their season. The team is currently standing at eighth place overall in the OHL rankings. With their season running until March, there are still many opportunities to watch them play.

Last season the Storm finished sixth in the conference which matched them up against the Sarnia Sting in the first round, who the Storm would fall to in six games. So far this season, the Storm are fourth place in their conference and must stay within the top eight in order to be

eligible to play in the playoffs.

Last year's points leader for the team, Matthew Poitras, had 95 points in 63 games, which placed him sixth in the league overall.

He has moved on this year, however, and is now playing with the Boston Bruins in the NHL, where he currently has eight points in 15 games. Poitras’ departure has left a gap in the Guelph Storm that must be filled and so far, right winger Jett Luchanko has stepped up his game. Since only managing to score 14 points in 46 games last season, he has majorly increased his production, contrib-

uting 17 points through the first 17 games of the season.

As well, Guelph Storm defenceman Micheal Buchinger, who led the defensemen in points last year with 65, also has 17 points through 17 games this season.

For university students who want to attend upcoming games, tickets can be found on the Storm website, tickets.guelphstorm.com, with a reduced fee for students to attend. Most games take place between Thursday and Sunday atThe Sleeman Centre, located in downtown Guelph.

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

No experience needed!

The Guelph Storm host home games throughout winter until March. PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNSPLASH

For more information visit theontarion.com/volunteer

ISSUE 195.4 | SPORTS & HEALTH

THEONTARION.COM

15

If you have any questions about the USHINE program, you can contact them at ushine@uoguelph.ca. PHOTO PROVIDED BY TAYLOR PIPE

Setting new year’s resolutions isn’t always as easy as it sounds Here’s some advice, tips, and an on-campus resource that can help you set your 2024 resolutions CARLOTA SOUSA

A

s you get ready to ring in the new year, you may find yourself struggling to come up with new year’s resolutions or avoiding them all together. Some of you may have even come up with too many. So let’s break down how to tackle these problems so you can head into 2024 with new year’s resolutions that you’re excited about!

The first part of making new year’s resolutions is figuring out what your resolutions, or goals, are going to be. This may seem obvious, but it can get pretty complicated. You might find yourself wondering what your goals should be about and how many you should set. To help answer these questions, the University of Guelph's Successful Habits in Education program, (USHINE), have provided some insightful tips.

The USHINE program is a peer-to-peer mentor program that helps students set, work towards, and achieve their wellness related goals. Students can expect to be paired up with a trained peer

mentor in one-on-one meetings throughout the semester.

“Overall, our goal is to increase student’s confidence and give them the resources they need to be able to achieve their goals [and] reach their potential,” said Nikita Alwin, a senior peer mentor for the USHINE program. “Some of the areas we provide support are things like nutrition, sleep, physical wellness [and] self-care.”

If you’re struggling with what goals to make, try brainstorming ones that stem from the areas that Alwin mentioned. Another tip is to start with just one goal, so that you don’t overwhelm yourself. A benefit to this is that a lot of the time when we set and accomplish one goal, it can motivate us to set more goals.

“If you just pick one and focus on it, it will end up having an impact on the other areas of your life that you want to improve on, just naturally,” explained Rebecca Skelton, the USHINE program supervisor.

When making a goal, aim for it to be a SMART goal, which stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-targeted.

“So we want to set something small and specific and you want to set a goal that you know is attainable for you and then work your way up to things that are more complex,” Caitlin Duthie, another senior peer mentor for the USHINE program, explained.

“We also make a point to encourage students to track their progress.”

Duthie participated in the USHINE program during her first year of university with a goal of wanting to exercise more frequently. With the help of her peer mentor, she set a more specific and attainable goal of walking for 30 minutes, three times a week.

“I found since then, I’ve been able to implement going outside more... and it made me start to enjoy going for walks,” Duthie said.

“I think that doing that with my

peer [mentor] was really helpful for me to start the habit of just moving my body.”

Remember that the goals you set are your goals, you want them to be enjoyable for you and to add positively to your life, like how it did for Duthie. This will also make it easier to stay motivated to accomplish your goals because there’s a less likely chance that it’ll feel like a chore.

“If your goal is attached to a ‘should,’ that’s probably a clear indication that there’s some sort of external factor or focus at play,” explained Dr. Julia McArthur, clinical psychologist and University of Guelph professor. “Whereas if you can say ‘I want to,’ there’s a better likelihood that that’s coming from within you, from a values-based place within you and that there’s more likelihood that you’re going to stay motivated.”

Sometimes though, as you work towards accomplishing a goal, you may find that it doesn’t align with your wants anymore.

McArthur poses some great questions to get us thinking about this: “The real irony of setting goals is that we’re setting goals to create change for ourselves, right?

And so as we evolve, wouldn’t it make sense that our goals would evolve with us?” she said.

Try to keep these questions in mind as you make your way through the new year because you may find that your goals no longer relate to what you want and ultimately aren’t serving their original purpose anymore, and that’s okay!

Setting goals shouldn’t be a cause for stress, rather it should be a time when you set attainable and exciting challenges for yourself that you may not have had the time or energy to do before. Your goals may change over time and you might even ditch some, both of which are part of the process.

Most importantly, give yourself compassion, be flexible and have fun as you set your new year’s resolutions!

Arkells take over Sleeman Centre The iconic Canadian rockers played a sold-out show full of hits, new songs, and a cover of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 TAYLOR PIPE

A

group of McMaster students performed at Guelph’s Hillside festival in 2009. In 2012, they played Hillside again. The next year, they played a sold-out show in Peter Clark Hall, a venue on campus with a capacity of 400.

Ten years later, thousands of fans put on their leather jackets and headed down to a sold out show at Sleeman Centre to dance the night away with the group that went on to become one of the biggest bands in Canadian music: Arkells.

The band started their U.S. leg of the At Your Service Tour in late September this year, including stops in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. The Canadian portion of their tour kicked off in Guelph on Nov. 9. The royal city has a special place in the band’s heart as it is guitarist Mike DeAngelis’ hometown.

“The best part about playing in Guelph is seeing Mike’s family,” said Max Kerman, frontman of the band, in an email. “Mike grew up in town and went to GCVI. His folks made us a big Italian dinner the night before we played The Sleeman Centre.”

Opening act K. Flay warmed up the crowd with radio hits like Zen and Blood in the Cut. Her onstage presence and unhinged performance set the tone for a night of great music and showmanship.

After much anticipation, Arkells started their set with Past Life and quickly went into fan-favourite Leather Jacket. The electricity was heightened when the band brought out their horns ensemble, the Northern Soul Horns, for the energetic protest anthem People’s Champ. Here, the band highlighted the Northern Soul Horns with staged choreography and paid an homage to Jay-Z and Rick James

by referencing James’ song Give it To Me Baby.

“We’re constantly inspired by going to shows and seeing other artists perform,” Kerman said.

Mid-show, Kerman recalled the band’s early beginnings at Hillside Festival, where they wrote Never Thought That This Would Happen.

When the band continued their set, the crowd didn’t miss a beat as they sang along to Reckoning and 11:11.

In order to capture the fans’ smiles, Kerman handed his phone to the audience. The videos, which are posted on Arkell’s Instagram account, are a collection of the evening’s happy memories.

The band then slowed it down with a few songs from their latest album, “Laundry Pile”. To match the album, the band hung up t-shirts with “ARKELLS” adorning the front. When it came to choosing the songs for the setlist, it was methodical.

“We have made four records since 2019 so we have a lot of new tunes to choose from,” Kerman said. “There are a lot of new fans who’ve never seen the band, but we always have the repeat customers in the back of our mind when we are conceiving a setlist. We want to work extra hard to impress them.”

Then, the band recalled their beginnings with a medley of songs from their debut album "Jackson Square." The Arkells later described on social media that it was symbolic of them having to play smaller shows when they were first starting out, and they wanted to recreate the feeling of playing in a crammed venue.

“We try to build on our skills, and it comes from a desire to not repeat ourselves,” Kerman said.

“We’re still a rock'n'roll band at our core, but every year we add a few new tricks up our sleeves.”

A unique inclusion to the At Your Service Tour was a phone line that was available for concert-goers who wanted to request specific songs. When the phone was picked up, a voicemail was played requesting the song Strong as an homage to a loved ones’ fight with cancer.

This inspirational track united the crowd with a sense of compassion and community.

After, the mood lightened as Kerman danced throughout the

sold-out arena, linked arms with a fan, and chugged a beer during Dance With You. Fans flocked to wherever he was in order to get a glimpse of the frontman.

The show finished up with electric songs like Years in the Making, Knocking at the Door, and a cover of Dolly Parton’s country classic, 9 to 5 - or so fans thought.

After an enthusiastic crowd chant, Arkells came out for an encore, performing My Heart’s Always Yours and Skin. During the final song of the night, You Can Get It, opening act K. Flay came out to sing her featured verse on the track.

From a group of university students at McMaster, to playing a sold out show at Sleeman Centre, the band has come a long way.

Kerman offered The Ontarion advice for anyone in post-secondary who is thinking of starting a band and becoming the next Arkells.

“The great thing about being in a band is that you get to share the load,” he said in the email.

“I’d recommend looking for people who have specific skills and interests that you don’t have. Everybody can offer something different to the group. Discipline and focus is important, but that will come if you’re doing something you enjoy.

So try to find ways to enjoy every part of it.”

PHOTOS BY TAYLOR PIPE

18

OPINION

THE ONTARION

The Explore program lets you learn French, meet friends, and create memories – all for the low price of free My five-week Chicoutimi adventure helped me explore my own worldview and connect with others ANDREEA BURLACU

W

hen I ordered a “grande” at Starbucks, I was expecting a medium latte like I’d order in Ontario. Imagine my surprise when the barista handed me a drink the size of my head, a “grand” covered in a mountain of whipped cream.

I left the cafe alone, on the streets of Chicoutimi, Québec - armed with my amateur French and the biggest latte I had ever seen. Everything seemed new in this town I affectionately called “Middle of Nowhereville.” One week in, and I still hadn’t adapted to this new language.

I was on the Explore program last summer, a government-funded trip that allows you to spend five weeks in a new Canadian city.

The goal is to learn French by exploring the city, living amidst francophones, and attending university-level French courses. After excitedly packing my bags and saying goodbye, I flew from Toronto to the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.

Here, I made a bunch of

My “Chicoutimère” Céline and I in downtown Chicoutimi. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANDREEA BURLACU

friends from all over the world: the United States, Britain, France, and Turkey. We got to know one another in French because there was a no-English rule on campus. Our mornings were spent conjugating verbs and learning vocabulary in the classroom. In the afternoons we participated in activities like karaoke, sports, short-film making, and journalism - which was right up my alley.

But I found that most of my French learning would happen off campus. I was surprised at just how francophone Chicoutimi was – as I walked down streets, kids would speak in French as they played, and I would overhear teens using French slang as they gossiped in the malls. As we went out to bars and clubs, I danced to French karaoke and ordered drinks in French.

I found myself improving within each week. By the last week of my program, my Starbucks coffee was the right size.

Traveling with Explore helped me connect more with my parents, who immigrated from Romania in their late thirties. I imagine their culture shock, their longing to understand the fashion, the food, the sayings overheard on the street. I see them standing alone outside the airport, suitcases empty but minds full of opportunity. They didn’t know their future, or the languages and cultures that surrounded them.

But now, my parents agree that moving across the world was the best decision they’ve ever made.

I love the connections I made with Explore. My host mother Céline and I got really close – she made me jewelry that I still wear every day. I affectionately named

Me treetop trekking through the beautiful mountains. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANDREEA BURLACU

her my “Chicoutimère”. Céline cooked me traditional Quebecois cuisine and took me out to museums, beaches, and restaurants all across town. She didn’t speak much English, but was incredibly patient with me as my French slowly improved. Also, there was my roommate Emma, who would lay with me on the backyard swing until early morning, looking up at the stars and laughing about boys. I still text her almost every day, and we’re planning to go to Nova Scotia with Explore again next summer.

When I decided to take a chance on Explore, I didn’t expect it to be this amazing. It’s lovely to try out life in a new place, pretending to be a local even if it’s only for five weeks.

I would 100 per cent recommend Explore to anyone looking for an adventure. The program is almost entirely free for university students, it looks great on a resume, and it offers credits that can be transferred to your Guelph degree. You can even stay past the five

weeks and take up a job in the city.

It’s also really fun trying activities like treetop trekking, folk dancing, whale-watching, and whitewater rafting. Whether you’re looking for a fast-paced city like Montréal

or a quiet town like Trois-Pistoles, you’re sure to find a location for you.

The 2024 deadline to apply is Feb. 6, and you can apply at englishfrench.ca. On y va!

A gorgeous view of Saguenay scenery. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANDREEA BURLACU

THEONTARION.COM

HOLIDAY STUFF

20 | SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS

22 | HOLIDAY BAKING

19

25 | HOLIDAY FASHION

Glen Eden ski resort is just a half hour drive from campus. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

5 fun act ivi t ies you can do t his winter season We researched what there is to do around Guelph this winter so you don’t have to YASMINE SULIMAN

A

re you a summer or winter person? Some people see winter as a beautiful season, full of cozy sweaters and fluffy, white snow that gracefully blankets the town. While others dread it for the shoveling, slush and constant cold.

Personally, though I love Christmas, I’m a summer girl all the way. There just seems to be so much more to do in the summer; swimming, tanning, beach trips... and nothing beats that warm, sunny feeling. However, this year I am determined to flip that mindset, because in Canada, you can’t get one without the other.

Here are some fun things you can do in and around Guelph to make winter a little more bearable, and who knows maybe us winter haters will even start to look forward to it.

skate in downtown Guelph’s Market Square. Perfect for a cute and fun date activity or time out with friends. And when your feet get too tired to skate another inch, you can end the night with a nice warm cup of hot chocolate from one of downtown Guelph’s surrounding coffee shops. The rink is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and is just a six minute drive or nine minute bus ride from the university.

Skating in Market Square

Tobogganing at Moe/Mole Hill

If you own a pair of skates, strap ‘em on and go for a leisurely

Take your mind off all the stress of being a university stu-

dent and stress out about whether it’s called Moe or Mole Hill instead. This place is so great if you’d like to take a trip back to your childhood.

Remember how fun it was speeding down a snowy hill, tumbling, and getting a face full of snow, but laughing without a care in the world? Even if you have never tobogganed before, why not bring out your inner child and enjoy goofing around with your friends racing down the Moe/Mole Hill. This is the perfect, and totally free, opportunity to create memories for you and your friends that will last a lifetime, and it is just a three minute drive or 11 minute bus ride from the university.

Glen Eden Show off your skiing and/or snowboarding skills, or learn a new skill at Glen Eden ski resort in Milton, a half hour drive

from the university. Don’t own the right equipment? No problem. They have everything you need for rent. Ski and snowboard rentals are $45, and beginner lift tickets are $50 online and $55 at the gate. And, if you're really into it, you can get a season pass.

Check out their website, gleneden.on.ca, for more details.

Spirit of the Season Downtown Guelph is hosting a two-day festival called Spirit of the Season on Dec. 1 and 2. Celebrate the season with the Mayor’s Tree Lighting, two new holiday shopping markets, a Santa Parade, and, for the athletes out there, a three km Santa Parade Run for charity that will commence before the parade.

All participants will be wearing Santa suits. So, get there early to check out all the festivities. For more information check out their website: guelphsantaparade.com.

Enchanted Witches Holiday Market Love going to markets? Especially holiday themed ones?

Register online on Eventbrite for free to attend the Enchanted Witches Holiday Market, a “Sip and Shop” event happening at the Royal Canadian Legion in Guelph - Branch 234 – just a six minute drive or 24 minute bus ride from the university. The market will take place on Friday, Dec. 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 9 from 4 to 9 p.m. There will be a variety of local vendors, artists, and great witchy wares. Plus, there’s also Santa’s Bar to go to.

Visit eventbrite.ca for more details.

There are a bunch of winter activities to do in and around Guelph to make the cold season a little more bearable, especially for us Scrooges. So get out there, try new things, and make sure to bundle up because it is going to get very cold.

20

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | HOLIDAY STUFF

THE ONTARION

A holly jolly sustainable holiday Low-waste winter decor options are great for your wallet and the planet ILLYRIA VOLCANSEK

T

he winter holidays are one of the most decorated times of the year. Malls, homes and city streets are filled with bright lights and sparkly wreaths galore, spreading cheer to those who are still humming along to Mariah Carey. Unfortunately, most decorations purchased at the store are destined to end up in a landfill.

This creates a ho-ho-whole lot of waste.

According to CBC, during the winter holiday season, waste generation increases by up to 25 per cent. Luckily there are plenty of sustainable decor options that don’t require too much DIY knowhow or money from your rapidly diminishing bank account.

Homemade decor might not be a fix-all for pollution, but it's certainly a fun and festive way to give an over-salaried CEO a jolly middle finger.

Compostable garlands

Holiday cards

For an eye-catching garland or wall hanging, start off with a sturdy strand of string or rope– whatever you have on hand. Using that as your base, you can tie on various homemade ornaments. Some of my favourite ideas are dehydrated orange slices, pine cones, evergreen scraps, cranberries, and crocheted stars if you’re crafty like that.

For a traditional look, you can pop some popcorn and leave it to dry for a couple days. You can then string them together using a needle and thread, adding other ornaments as accents.

Holiday cards are incredibly fun to make and customize for your recipient. They can make your sentimental messages even more heartfelt. Try combining colourful paper with magazine cuttings for a cool scrapbook look. Or skip the physical card entirely and design one online, no paper required.

ICON BY ARANAGRAPHICS

Upcycled or reusable gift wrapping

Using salt dough is a simple and creative way to make some unique new ornaments or home decor. Simply combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour with ½ cup of salt and ½ cup of water, roll it out flat and shape into whatever sparks your imagination. Make sure to leave space to string a ribbon through if you’re planning on

Oh, gift wrap. So beautiful, so iconic, so disposable. Despite being made of paper, most of it isn’t recyclable or even reusable. But there’s plenty of other options out there that are vibe-y in their own lower waste way. One idea that I’ve used a few times is wrapping gifts in newspapers. Using a colourful newspaper, such as The Ontarion,

Sleigh Ride

by Miley Cyrus

Ho Ho Ho

by Sia

Last Christmas

by Wham!

Sophia Photo & Graphics Editor

Patrick Executive Director

Mariana Marketing Coordinator

Paige Graphic Designer

hanging it. Bake at 250 F for two to three hours, or until solid.

Salt dough ornaments

Holiday Jingles Drummer Boy (Feat. Busta Rhymes)

by Justin Bieber

Holiday cards are incredibly fun to make and customize for your recipient.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

can brighten up your presentation.

Accent with ribbon, evergreen clippings or pine cones for a unique look your gift recipient will appreciate just as much as that dinosaur wrapping paper from Dollar Tree.

For a reusable option, you can also try your hand at Furoshiki, a traditional Japanese method of gift wrapping with cloth, which looks absolutely stunning.

This season, try out handmade decor rather than stopping at Stone Road Mall. Who knows, maybe making sustainable decor can become your yearly holiday tradition!

White Christmas

by Michael Bublé with Shania Twain Laurie Accountant

Believe

by Josh Groban Abbey Archive Assistant

O

R U

A T S

S K C I P FF A Nonsense Christmas

by Sabrina Carpenter Andreea Arts & Culture Editor

Santa Baby

by Eartha Kitt Yule Shoot Your Eye Out

by Fall Out Boy Taylor Editor-in-Chief

Carlota News Editor

All I Want for Christmas is You

by Mariah Carey Olivia Copy Editor & Fact Checker

ISSUE 195.4 | HOLIDAY STUFF

THEONTARION.COM

21

Historic holiday traditions Investigating the roots of various holiday traditions, from the British pantomime to Chinese red envelopes EMMERSON JULL

W

inter is the time to get cozy, spend time with friends and family, and celebrate. Many cultures participate in winter holidays with beloved traditions that bring together loved ones. Here’s a history of holiday activities, from here in Ontario to around the world.

Many winter holidays incorporate food traditions, which can exemplify a region’s values and attitudes throughout history. U of G history professor Rebecca Beausaert points to historical Canadian cookbooks as a representation of our changing social landscape.

In 1967, the federal Department of Agriculture published “Cooking for Christmas”, a pamphlet that illustrates Canada’s growing multiculturalism.

Recipes originated from France, Germany, Poland, and Britain, including the celebratory fruitcake. Beausaert said the pamphlet demonstrates how “non-Anglo traditions were becoming increasingly common,” and reinforces “the survival of immigrant foods” in Canadian society.

What is deemed “the best holiday food” is an often contested topic, but perhaps no rivalry is taken as seriously as the Jewish debate over latkes and hamantashen. Latkes, eaten during Hanukkah, are potato pancakes fried in oil to commemorate the magic oil that burned for eight days.

Hamantashen, eaten on Purim, are sweet, triangular pastries that represent Haman, the villain in the Purim story. In 1946, a rigorous, academic debate was sparked at the University of Chicago over the merit of these two foods, which now takes place annually.

The latkes vs. hamantashen issue was even brought to Toronto in the 1970s, when two Canadian attorneys settled the debate in their formal wigs and robes (it was a draw).

Eating, drinking, and being merry during the yuletide season is a shared sentiment, which was taken literally by the British long ago. The British pantomime tradition celebrates the yuletide season with unruly song, dance, and comedy. Professor Jennifer Schacker, who teaches in the School of English and Theatre

Studies at U of G, is an expert on the pantomime tradition.

“Pantomime is a form of musical theatre, incorporating comedy, cross-dressing, and audience participation into familiar fairy tales and nursery rhymes,” Schacker said. It was established in the early 18th and 19th centuries, when theatres were under strict royal censorship, and people were looking for new venues to share social commentary. Schacker said that the “political edge” of pantomime remains today, and “a great pantomime will contain lots of wordplay as well as references to all sorts of current events.” Pantomime is a quintessential tradition today, with both kid-friendly and adult-only shows across Britain.

“The long tradition of crosscast roles in British pantomime has made it an important historical touchstone for some contemporary LGBTQIA+ theatre,” Schacker said.

Some former British colonies have their own distinctive and thriving pantomime tradition, like in Jamaica, where local references shape pantomime into a nationally relevant form of theatre.

Cultural expression is also an important value for Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday now celebrated around the world. This holiday is unique due to its secular beginnings—it was established in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a Black scholar and activist, to commemorate African-American heritage and empower the Black community. Kwanzaa is seven days long, each day aligning with one of the Nguzo Saba (Swahili for ‘Seven Principles’), which include Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Co-operative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).

These principles are represented by seven candles in the Pan-African colours: three red, one black, and three green. The black candle represents the African people, the red symbolizes their struggle, and the green represents their hope for the future.

Culturally rich, colorful traditions are essential to the Lunar New Year, a Chinese festival be-

Kwanzaa is seven days long, each day aligning with one of the Nguzo Saba (Swahili for ‘Seven Principles’), which include Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Co-operative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

ginning on the first new moon of the Lunar Calendar. Red envelopes, or hongbao in Mandarin, are filled with small sums of money and gifted to family and friends as a symbol of good fortune, since the colour red is believed to represent energy, vitality, happiness, and luck. Although the origins of this tradition are contested, certain legends emphasize the use of bronze coins (sometimes wrapped in red paper) to ward off evil spirits from

children.

Lunar New Year is also a time to start fresh. U of G history Professor Norman Smith described, “Legend has it that this was a time when a monster would come to the world to eat people and livestock.” Therefore, fireworks and firecrackers ring at midnight on New Year’s Eve to drive away evil and celebrate new beginnings. At this time of year, people thoroughly clean the house, shop for new things,

and return home to spend time with loved ones. Families feast on dumplings shaped like silver ingots, longevity noodles, fish, which symbolize prosperity, and kumquats, which symbolize good luck.

Around the world, the winter season represents unity, celebration, and good food. As we celebrate these holidays, it’s nice to examine our own heritage and to explore the history of different cultural traditions.

22

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | HOLIDAY STUFF

THE ONTARION

5 winter baking recipes to sweeten up the season From peppermint and gingerbread to toffee and chai, these winter flavours will get you right into the holiday spirit ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY ELLIE PETRAK

Saltine Toffee

Ingredients: ◊ Saltine crackers (enough to fill your baking sheet/approx. 1 package) ◊ 1 cup unsalted butter ◊ 1 cup brown sugar ◊ 1 tsp brown sugar ◊ 1 tsp vanilla extract ◊ 1 bag chocolate chips (milk or dark) ◊ Festive toppings, like sprinkles, candy canes, or crushed M&M’s Instructions: ◊ First, lay aluminum foil or parchment paper in a baking sheet and spray the top of it with non-stick cooking spray.

Next, add a single layer of saltine crackers to the baking sheet. You want them to cover the entire surface, so feel free to break crackers in half to help them fit. ◊ To make the toffee: In a small pot, heat the butter until fully melted. Add in the brown sugar and bring to a boil.

Cook for 3 minutes while toffee bubbles, stirring occasionally. Once it stops, immediately pour toffee overtop of the crackers and bake for seven minutes at 350 F. ◊ Remove the crackers from the oven and let sit for a minute, then sprinkle the chocolate chips over top. Add the baking sheet back to the oven until the chocolate is soft. Remove and spread the melted chocolate chips over the entire surface, covering all the cracker edges. Then sprinkle festive toppings of your choice . ◊ Let the baking sheet cool completely. Once it’s cool to the touch, add it to the fridge for three to four hours.

Peel off the aluminum foil from the bottom of the toffee. Add the cracker candy to a cutting board and slice it into squares.

Candy Cane Shortbread

Ingredients: ◊ 1 lb. butter ◊ 1 cup icing sugar ◊ ½ cup cornstarch ◊ 3 cups flour ◊ 1 tsp vanilla ◊ 2 crushed candy canes Instructions: ◊ Beat the butter and icing sugar until well combined, then add the other ingredients. ◊ Beat the mixture until it has the consistency of whipped cream. ◊ Drop by half spoonful on a greased baking sheet. ◊ Bake for 15 minutes at 350 F.

◊ ½ cup molasses ◊ ½ cup hot water ◊ 2 cups all-purpose flour ◊ 1 tsp baking soda ◊ 2 tsp ground ginger ◊ 2 tsp ground cinnamon ◊ ½ tsp ground cloves ◊ ½ tsp salt Instructions: ◊ Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9x5 in. loaf pan with parchment paper (or grease and flour the bottom and sides), and set aside. ◊ In a large bowl add butter and sugar.

With a hand mixer (or stand mixer) on medium speed, mix until fully combined. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until creamed and fluffy for about a minute. Scrape down the sides of your bowl. ◊ In a separate small bowl, add molasses and hot water. Stir until well combined. ◊ In a third bowl, whisk (or sift) together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. ◊ To your butter mixture, add half of your dry ingredients, stirring until incorporated. Then, add half of your molasses mixture, stirring until incorporated. Repeat once more, adding your remaining dry ingredients and molasses mixture. Stir until just combined (make sure not to over-mix, this can cause your bread to turn out tough and dense). ◊ Pour batter into a loaf pan. Tent loaf pan loosely with foil (remove foil halfway through baking. This ensures that the top of your bread doesn't burn).

Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. ◊ Transfer loaf pan to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before removing from the pan and slicing. Optionally, dust with confectioner's sugar or serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Peppermint Patty Squares

Gingerbread Loaf

Ingredients: ◊ ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature ◊ ½ cup brown sugar ◊ 2 large eggs at room temperature ◊ 1 tsp vanilla extract

Ingredients: ◊ 3 ½ cups powdered sugar (a little more may be needed) ◊ 3 tbsp butter, softened ◊ 2 to 3 tsp peppermint extract ◊ ½ tsp vanilla extract ◊ ¼ cup evaporated milk ◊ 2 cups chocolate chips ◊ 2 tbsp shortening Instructions: ◊ In a large bowl, combine the first four listed ingredients. Add milk and mix well. ◊ Spread mixture onto a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment

◊

paper. Refrigerate for one to two hours or until firm.

Melt one cup chocolate chips and one tablespoon of shortening in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Spread over the chilled mint mixture and continue to chill until chocolate is set. Flip bars over and carefully peel off parchment paper.

Melt remaining chocolate and shortening, and spread over the mint layer.

Chill until set. After becoming firm, bring to room temperature and then cut.

Taylor Swift’s Chai Cookies

Ingredients: ◊ ½ cup unsalted butter ◊ ½ cup vegetable oil ◊ ½ cup sugar ◊ ½ cup powdered sugar ◊ 1 large egg ◊ 2 tsp vanilla extract ◊ 2 cups flour ◊ ½ tsp baking soda ◊ ¼ tsp salt ◊ 1 chai tea bag Glaze Ingredients: ◊ 1 ½ cup powdered sugar ◊ ¼ tsp nutmeg ◊ ¼ tsp cinnamon ◊ 3 tbsp milk or eggnog Instructions: ◊ Preheat the oven to 350 F, then grease a large cookie sheet. ◊ Beat the butter and add vegetable oil. ◊ Add sugar, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla. ◊ Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. ◊ Cut open the chai bag and add in its contents. ◊ Chill the soft dough for approx. one hour. ◊ Line cookie sheet with 12 dough drops, then press evenly and coat with sugar. ◊ Leave for nine to 12 minutes in the oven. ◊ Mix the glaze ingredients together and add when cookies are cooled. Top with cinnamon or nutmeg.

ISSUE 195.4 | HOLIDAY STUFF

THEONTARION.COM

23

The December holiday breakdown Your guide to the most wonderful time of the year ANDREEA BURLACU

T

he holidays are here! For many that means Christmas trees, presents and old Saint Nick. However, there are a plethora of holidays that take place in December that you might not know about and might even want to celebrate!

Historically, the middle of winter was when the world celebrated the winter solstice, around Dec. 21. This time meant the worst of winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days with more sunlight. Now we have holidays that gather us together and make the cold a little more bearable. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular December holidays that are sure to warm your heart.

Christmas – December 25, 2023 or January 7, 2024 Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the spiritual leader of Christianity. The name comes from “Cristes maesse”, which means “Christ’s mass” in Old English.

Christmas can also be a time to gather with family or friends for those who are not religious. The date Dec. 25 was chosen by Pope Julius I to coincide with the winter solstice, while Eastern Orthodox faiths observe the holiday on Jan. 7. Before Christmas on Dec. 6, Saint Nicolas Day is celebrated with gifts left inside children’s shoes.

How to be festive: ◊ Gifts from Secret Santa gift exchanges or from Santa himself, who is said to come on Christmas Eve and leave gifts under the Christmas tree ◊ Watching Christmas movies such as Elf or Home Alone ◊ Singing carols like Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer ◊ Decorating a Christmas tree or Christmas cookies ◊ Going to religious celebrations such as Midnight Mass

Las Posadas – December 16 - 24, 2023 In the Latin American community, Las Posadas (“The Inns”) is a nine-day religious festival that commemorates the journey Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem to give birth to the baby Jesus.

Families re-enact Mary and Joseph’s nineday journey to Bethlehem and their search for shelter in a posada, or inn. The holiday ends on Christmas Eve, when Jesus was born, and Christmas festivities begin.

How to be festive: ◊ Breaking open piñatas filled with candy, toys, and money ◊ Reading passages of scripture and singing Christmas carols ◊ Decorating with poinsettias, whose nine leaves represent the nine-day journey ◊ Enjoying Latino dishes such as bacalao biscayne Hanukkah – December 18 - 26, 2023 Also spelled Chanukah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple after the Jewish people reclaimed it from the Syrian Greeks. The Jewish faith was banned entirely until the Maccabees liberated the temple, winning Jewish people the right to practice their religion. After, the Jews used one day’s supply of oil to provide light, but miraculously, the oil burned for eight days.

Now, Hanukkah is a festival of lights where the menorah is lit for an eight-day celebration. Hanukkah also coincides with the winter solstice to celebrate light in the darkest of winter.

How to be festive: ◊ Playing dreidel, a spinning top game with Hebrew words that determine how many gelt coins you receive ◊ Lighting a menorah, usually in front of a window ◊ Eating fried foods such as potato latkes and sufganiyot to celebrate the oil burned ◊ Singing celebratory songs and exchanging gifts with loved ones ◊ Observing Hanukkah at a temple Kwanzaa – December 26, 2023 - January 1, 2024

ICON BY WINNIEVINZENCE

Kwanzaa, derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" meaning "first

Kwanzaa spread to Canada by 1993 and can be celebrated alongside other winter holidays such as Christmas. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

fruits," celebrates African family, community, and culture each year. The first Kwanzaa was celebrated in 1966-1967 after race riots in the Watts area of Los Angeles in 1965. The seven-day celebration, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, celebrates the seven values or nguzo saba: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Kwanzaa spread to Canada by 1993 and can be celebrated alongside other winter holidays such as Christmas.

How to be festive: ◊ Capturing mambo yote mazuri, or “all things beautiful” by making memories with your loved ones ◊ Decorating your home with a mkeka (a woven mat) and fruits and vegetables ◊ Lighting the kinara, a special candle holder with room for seven candles ◊ Giving sentimental gifts, often with meaning behind them ◊ Honouring African culture with traditional recipes like jerk chicken and Jollof rice New Year The New Year rings in a fresh start in our lives with unique cultural traditions.

Here are some of them: ◊ Americans watch the ball drop in

Times Square The Spanish eat 12 grapes to symbolize each strike of the clock at midnight ◊ Haitians celebrate the New Year and Haitian Independence Day by eating pumpkin soup because it was a delicacy that enslaved Black people were not allowed to have ◊ Romanians sing the Sorcova with a decorated twig used as a magic wand to transmit health and youth New Year’s is especially important in Asian cultures. In Japan, their New Year’s is called Omisoka, which entails a deep cleaning of the home and kadomatsu decorations using pines. The Chinese New Year, which occurs in February 2024, has celebrations with firecrackers, fireworks, and red clothes and decorations. Also, young people are given money in red envelopes. ◊

Not Celebrating It’s also okay to not celebrate the holidays! Take the winter break as a time to relax and see some friends. There are many great ways to celebrate the season, such as ice skating, building a snowman, or making a warm cup of hot chocolate.

However you choose to enjoy the holidays, the winter season has something for everyone. Even if you just want to stay home and watch the snowfall with your dog.

24

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | HOLIDAY STUFF

THE ONTARION

Gifting with heart: the Guelph guide to holiday shopping Embrace the charm of your community by choosing to shop locally this holiday season

LOREL DANIELOV

W

ith the holiday season quickly approaching, there’s no better time to celebrate Guelph's craftsmanship and individuality while shopping locally for the perfect gifts for your loved ones. By supporting local businesses, you are helping your community thrive. There’s bound to be something perfect for all your gift-giving needs.

So, join us as we explore the heart of our community and make this holiday season memorable!

From Vintage Instincts to Sunday Blooms, Guelph's shops offer something for even the pickiest gift receivers. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

Vintage Instincts If you or your loved ones are streetwear fans, Vintage Instincts is the store for you. Located at 16 Essex St., you can discover the charm of this one-of-a-kind local vintage store. With various unique and retro pieces, Vintage Instincts offers a carefully curated collection to help you find the perfect gift for your fashion-forward friends. In addition, you'll be supporting a small business and embracing sustainability. So, give a gift that will make your loved ones stand out by choosing Vintage Instincts.

1998. If you have someone in your life that you find is hard to shop for, this is the spot for you; with the perfect mix of silly and sweet gifts, you can’t go wrong with shopping here.

Harmony Jewelry & Co Jewelry can make a perfect gift, and if you're looking for something a little more personalized for a special someone , thenHarmony has you covered. With locations in downtown Guelph and at Stone Road Mall, this store offers sustainable, cute, and unique products with customization services. By shopping here, you’re supporting a company that uses ethically sourced and recycled materials. So, choose Harmony for your local, personalized jewelry finds.

On the Verge If you’re looking for unique, handmade gifts from an environmentally sustainable shop, then On The Verge is the place for you. The local boutique on 5 Quebec St. in downtown Guelph has been bringing smiles to happy customers since

55 WYNDHAM ST. N • (519) 763-5544 DRAGONGUELPH.COM • @DRAGONGUELPH

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ORGANIZED PLAY EVENTS: POKÉMON TcG: LEaGUe

WEDnESdAyS @3Pm, FrEe!

MAGIC ThE GAThERINg: CASUaL COMmANER WEDnESdAyS @5Pm, FrEe!

FlESh & BlOoD TcG: CASUaL ThURsDAyS @6Pm, FrEe!

DUNgEoNs & DrAGONs/ TtRpGS 8-WEeK SEaSONs, $20

DISnEy LORcANA TcG: FIRsT ChAPtER LEaGUe ThURsDAyS @3Pm, FrEe!

MAGIC ThE GAThERINg: FrIDAy NIGhT MAGIC FrIDAyS @5:30Pm, $20

DrOP-IN DUNgEoNs & DrAGONs

ALtERnATINg SUNdAyS @1Pm, $5

WARhAMmER 40K & KILl TEaM COMINg SOoN!

ICONS BY FREEPIK

Sunday Blooms You can never go wrong with flowers, so come check out this beautiful, warm, and welcoming florist shop at 214 Woolwich St. Choose the beauty of freshness and naturally inspired alternatives to traditional gifts. Because, hey, who doesn't love flowers? Besides flowers, you can also get home decor and accessories. You can even grab a coffee on your way out because Sunday Blooms doubles as a cafe!

As we navigate this holiday season, let's remember the power we hold to make a positive impact in our neighbourhoods. Shopping locally is more than just a transaction; it's an investment into our community. By supporting local businesses, we can nurture economic growth, celebrate unique craftsmanship, and foster a sense of community. This holiday season, let's make our gifts thoughtful and consider shopping local.

ISSUE 195.4 | HOLIDAY STUFF

THEONTARION.COM

5 fabulous fits to wear this holiday party season Spilling the eggnog on this season's trends MARIANA ERAZO

T

he holidays are a joyful time of year.

School is done, Christmas is around the corner and everyone is hopeful for the new year. In the midst of all this, you will most likely be attending many different types of gatherings so you’ll need to bust out your most stylish pieces and make a statement. If you’re having trouble putting together some night time looks here are our recommendations.

Metallics Every year when the holidays roll around we start to see the resurgence of metallics. They’re flashy and fun and can be incorporated into any outfit in many different ways. A lot of the time people tend to shy away from metallics as they feel they are too intense but that doesn’t have to be the case.

You don’t have to wear big sequins or head to toe metallics to sport the trend. If you’re looking for a more toned down look you can opt for a nice shimmery top, some jeans and a stylish pair of going out shoes like heels, loafers or boots.

If you’re prepared to make a bold statement, a metallic dress or pants can turn heads at any holiday party. Many accessories are also available such as metallic sunglasses, shoes, and bags making it the perfect subtle yet stylish touch. So venture out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid to shine!

Leather Looks Integrating different textures into your outfits will make people think you really know what you're doing. It’s something so simple yet effective. Something we see come back every fall/winter is leather. Leather is able to seamlessly blend into both casual and formal attire, making it a versatile fabric. If you’re looking to add a pop of edge into your party outfit, try adding some leather pants and pair it with a simple top. Or you could do it vice versa and add a leather top with a pair of trousers or jeans to balance out your look.

Leather jackets have also been all the rage recently with celebrities like Hailey Beiber seen wearing them all the time.

There are so many different styles to choose from like leather blazers, oversized leather jackets, leather bombers, and so many more.

Leather is the perfect way to add a touch of boldness to your holiday fit.

Chunky Knit Sweaters You may think sweaters are more of a comfy and stay-at-home thing to wear but if you know how to style them properly, sweaters can be your new going out piece. The holidays are cold and the majority of the

time party attire does not tend to be the most comfortable. A sweater offers the ideal combination of comfort and style. Chunky knit sweaters are a fun, more textured version of a regular knit sweater and can be layered or paired with a flashy pair of pants to enhance the outfit.

As mentioned earlier, leather pants would make a perfect pairing and provide that contrast between casual and dressy.

Different accessories like belts, jewelry, and scarves can be incorporated into the outfit to spice it up. You can even get yourself a fun patterned sweater which would be a unique way to include some of your personality into your look.

Satin Satin is a timeless fabric that fits perfectly into the holidays with its elegant feel.

If you’ll be attending a more upscale holiday party satin is the way to go with its sleek and polished look that can help you exude sophistication. Satin button up shirts go nicely with a pair of dress pants, some tailored jeans or even a simple mini skirt for a look that presents a well put together appearance.

Dresses are another reliable option if you're going for that dressier look. They come in so many styles like strapless, bodycon and backless. You can choose some fun holiday colors to wear like a deep red or emerald green and be both festive and fashionable!

Velvet Velvet outfits are something we never fail to see during the holidays. Not only are they stylish and festive, but they’re also cozy.

Velvet eludes a sense of luxury and when you wear it you’ll be feeling like a million bucks. You can get pretty much any article of clothing in velvet, like blazers, trousers, shoes, tops, and accessories. It's important to bear in mind that velvet itself makes a bold statement so try not to go overboard with multiple velvet items.

Outfits look best when velvet is paired with other materials. That doesn’t mean limiting yourself to plain fabrics like denim, have fun with it and mix velvet with leather, chiffon, silk, or whatever your heart desires. If regular velvet is still not enough for you and you want to take it to that next step then don’t forget about crushed velvet.

The unique texture of crushed velvet sets it apart and looks neat when it's caught in the light. Who knows, maybe you will love it so much you’ll be rocking velvet all year round.

This holiday season, play around with your style and play with textures. It's a great season for dressing outside of the box - so have fun and get experimental!

Leather jackets are making a comeback and have been seen on famous fashionistas like Hailey Bieber. PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNSPLASH

25

26

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | FUN STUFF

THE ONTARION

BECAUSE WE ASKED...

What are you doing over winter break?

“I’m gonna get a crap load of Hennessy, I’m gonna pour it in my fricking eggnog, and I’m gonna get turnt on Christmas with my family and my boy Stephen right here. I’m gonna play mad shinny, I’m gonna drink mad rum, and I’m gonna get mad crazy gifts.”

Kai Fox 3rd year, BioMed "Spending time with my distant family."

“Start baking… I’m gonna make blueberry muffins.”"

“Applying to vet school.”

Sylvia King 2nd year, English & Sociology

Lana Abdulmalek 5th year, Psychology

Stephen Dawoud 4th year, Animal Bio

“See my family…might go to Scotland. No idea.”

“Spending time with my family and working.”

“Having a beary good time reading The Ontarion.”

Christian Fraser Employee at Planet Bean

Dale Perlmutar 4th year, Sociology

Begging Bear Longtime Guelph resident

PHOTOS BY ANDREEA BURLACU

THEONTARION.COM

ISSUE 195.4 | SPECIAL ONTARION ARCHIVE FEATURE

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Ontarion has been around since 1951 and we’ve witnessed some pretty historic moments. This is a new feature that will focus on noteworthy articles pulled from our archives that are of interest to our readership today.

We’re currently in the process of fully digitizing our archives and creating a searchable directory. If you’d like updates on when this project is complete, sign up for our newsletter by emailing info@theontarion.com

27

28

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | FUN STUFF

THE ONTARION

THE ONTARION'S CLUB OF THE MONTH Club Name: The French Club Club Since: After a period of inactivity, the French Club was re-started in 2020 by a student, Bella Vas, as her project for an experiential learning course in French. This year, under the direction of Prof. Dawn Cornelio, we host events that focus on Francophonie and how French can be fun for everyone!

Club Mission: The French Club (le Club français/LCF) is YOUR francophone community on campus! LCF offers students a way to improve their French skills while socializing at our events throughout the academic year. Our goal is to unite all students on campus with a common interest in the French language and French culture. We welcome native and non-native French speakers as well as students in any program with no previous French knowledge!

Fun Fact: Even if we’re called the French Club, we provide a community for all francophone cultures and dialects, from Cajun to Creole, Laurentian to Parisian - we’d love to share more about the francophone world with UofG students.

How can others get involved: If you’re interested in getting involved in the French Club, the first step is to join us on GryphLife, where you will be invited to all our events. Next, follow us on Instagram @uofg_frenchclub. Here, you can check out recaps of previous events, receive useful info, and learn about French programs at UofG. We are also actively recruiting executives for various roles! You can reach out to us at clubfran@uoguelph.ca or send us a DM on Instagram anytime!

If you want to be the next club of the month, email tpipe@theontarion.com

15% OFF FOR UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH EMPLOYEES Offer valid 7 days a week, until 4:00 pm.

Certain restrictions apply

185 Stone Road W, Guelph, ON

519-836-8882

ISSUE 195.4 | FUN STUFF

THEONTARION.COM

29

DECEMBER TO-DO LIST FRI DEC 1

SAT DEC 9

FRI DEC 15

CFRU Station Tour • Dec. 1-4, 12:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.

• UC Rm 201 • Open to all U of G students

The Femmes Rebelles Fall Student Showcase • Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

• Guelph Curling Club • Cost to participate: $20 early bird, $27.50 general

Sparkles in the Park • Dec. 15 - Jan. 1, 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

• Riverside Park • A nightly celebration where you can walk among holiday lights in Riverside Park during the holiday season

SAT DEC 2 Guelph Santa Claus Parade • 5:30 p.m.

• Downtown Guelph

THURS DEC 21 WED DEC 13

SUN DEC 3 December Learn to Crochet • 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• UC • Open to all U of G students

Stuff the Sleigh for a Stray • 4:30 p.m.

• UC • Celebrate the season of giving by helping homeless animals and donating what you can to help a shelter animal

Take Home the Holidays Market • 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• 2 Gordon St., Guelph • Open to all

Better Sleep Program • On-demand; you can begin today!

• 5 session ON-LINE program, one lesson e-mailed to you each week and lifetime access • Strategies to fall asleep (or back asleep) more easily & get more energy from sleep • Cost to participate: $20 for U of G students Stress Less for Tests • On-demand; you can begin today!

• 3 hour ON-LINE program delivered upon payment, with lifetime access • Strategies that decrease test anxiety and enhance performance • Cost to participate: $10 for U of G students

PETS OF THE MONTH S IN C E

1 9 51

MEET MURPHY!

MEET ARCHIE!

MEET CHARLIE!

MEET HENRY!

Breed: Domestic Shorthair Photo: Olivia Strutt Age: 6 Fun Fact: Murphy loves to hide around corners and swat at people walking by

Breed: Domestic Longhair Photo: Erin Mihelcic Age: 11 weeks Fun Fact: Archie has tons of energy! His favourite hobbies are eating treats & biting feet

Breed: Domestic Shorthair Photo: Carlota Sousa Age: 18 Fun Fact: Charlie loves KFC drumsticks

Breed: Domestic Longhair Photo: Erin Mihelcic Age: 11 weeks Fun Fact: Henry has tons of energy! He loves bouncing off the walls and biting toes

WANT TO SUBMIT YOUR PET TO BE FEATURED? Email tpipe@theontarion.com with a photo and the information above!

PUZZLE PAGES

THE ONTARION

CROSSWORD 2

3

4

5

12

13

16

17

19

6

7

8 14

20

26

21

28

33 36

29

37 40

32

55

56

38

41

42

45

43

46 48

51

52

57

58

61

62

59

54 60 63

65

66

SIN

64

53

19 CE 51

50

31

22

35

47

Across 1–___ all-time high 5–Sign of things to come 9–Mornings, for short 12–Mower brand 13–Skin openings 15–Read a bar code

16–Put a lid ___!

17–Medicine 18–Sicilian spewer 19–North Star 21–Enduring 23–Thin woodwind instrument 24–Explosive letters

25–Woody tissue 28–Undergo autolysis 33–City on the Rhone 34–Commedia del’___ 35–Snakelike fishes 36–Kung ___ chicken 37–Take an oath 38–Call for help 39–Let ___ 41–9th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 42–Florence's ___ Vecchio 44–Pericarp 46–Bugs 47–Proverb ending?

48–Mayberry lad 49–Dampen 53–Dog-houses 57–Suffix with buck 58–Beat it!

60–JFK postings 61–Stitched together 62–Country singer Tucker 63–Squealed 64–Civil War inits.

65–Org. 66–Blind piece Down 1–At the summit 2–___ avail 3–Seed cover 4–Zero 5–Choice 6–Bullwinkle, e.g.

7–West ender?

8–Singer Young 9–Play opener 10–Jazz flutist Herbie 11–Hitch or glitch 14–Disperse 15–Colonize 20–Baseball stats 22–___-Cat (winter vehicle) 25–___ lazuli 26–Fit to be tied 27–Sphere 28–Narrow mountain ridge 29–Mormon state of western USA 30–Type of question 31–Monetary unit of Poland 32–Curved letters 34–Flabbergasts 37–Least fresh 40–Prolific inventor 42–Nabokov novel 43–Unity 45–Siamese, calico, or tabby 46–Tarzan, e.g.

48–Green-lights 49–Not fem.

50–Mine finds 51–Caucus state 52–Final Four org.

54–Footnote abbr.

55–Actress Turner 56–Army N.C.O. 59–"ER" extras

FUN FACT: Red squirrels make mushroom jerkey to prepare for winter ICON BY AMETHYST PRIME

51

49

30

15

34

44

11

24

27

39

10

18

23 25

9

CE

1

SIN

51

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE | FUN STUFF

30

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, GRYPHONS!

THEONTARION.COM

ISSUE 195.4 | FUN STUFF

PUZZLE PAGES

Novice Sudoku by KrazyDad, Volume 3, Book 3

Sudoku HARD#1SUDOKU

EASY SUDOKU 3

4

5

6

8

2

7

7

1

4 5

3

5

9

6

5

4

1

3 3 4

2

6

9

6

5

3

5 6 7

3

4

9

9 3 1

8

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

4 5

1 3

University Centre

4 3

1 8

6 2

7

6

8

7

5

© 2013 KrazyDad.com

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

CRYPTOGRAM

Tips:If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.

1. Use a pencil Need awill littlenot help?

Thefor hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle.

2. Letters stand themselves.

Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers page 3. There two used one-letter words: "i" if youare really getcommonly stuck. and "a" 4. The most common letters in the English language are: E, T, A, O, I, and N.

A cryptogram is a collection of words - often quotations - where each letter has been consistently substituted with a number.

The Ontarion Inc. Room 264 University of Guelph N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca 519-824-4120

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

-- Jane Bryant Quinn

1

8

8

31

Editorial: x 58250 Advertising: x 58267 Accounts: x 53534 E DITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Taylor Pipe

News Editor Carlota Sousa

Arts & Culture Editor Andreea Burlacu

Sports & Health Editor OPEN POSITION

Copy Editor & Fact Checker Olivia Strutt PRODUC TION STAFF Graphic Designer Paige Stampatori Photo & Graphics Editor Sophia Marcon OFFICE STAFF Executive Director Patrick Sutherland Accountant Laurie Arnold Circulation Director Salvador Moran Marketing Coordinator

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Mariana Erazo Archive Assistant Abbey Hanks BOARD OF DIREC TORS

N V J

D T P M F

V R A

E T N

R

A W Z M J

President

N T F R C

Paula Henry-Duru Chair of the Board

N V J

D T P M F

V R A

E T N

R

Katelynn Huong

E M T D

Vice President Finance Jaidyn McCrae

N V J P J 'S R

YT

AI HV

AN PRYEJ P

NVZYE

AR CA

RA

AN PRYEJ PA

Vice President Communications

DVJY Hi

VJ M MT

nt

:N

,M =T

=L

*OPEN POSITION Staff Representative Paige Stampatori DIREC TORS Thea Basic

2

3

E M M

14

4

A

R

A

B

N

E

S

S

A

D

H O C

29

30

20

28

V

35

40

I

L

45

A

I

64

N

A

R

L

I

Y

A

B

B S A

N

A

N

E

S

T

S

25

26

E

S

L

36

A

I

A

N

7

S

22

S

I

51

C

E

O O

K

L

E

T

R

E

R

E

Y

A

N

T

O N

I

A

S

C

E

65

70

73

T

43

L

U

R

S

37

K

59

T

A

19 10

M

16

T

O

A

T

I

48

T

E E

44

O N 33

E

A

R U

T

T

62

63

S

O

H

R O

A

T

A

R

N

S

S

A

S

O W A

67

39

L

49

L

S

R

R O

53

E

66

34

N O

I

60

I

S

N

N

D E

I G

13

T

S

38

I

12

U

19

23

51

11

P

56

"T Y G

WTPJ

AMJJ L

'N Z M

E N C ANSWERS FROM ISSUE 195.3

E

32

U M

A

B

S

I

D

55

27

9

C

52

R

58

S

L

47

8

R

31

U G H

42

46

S

6

D

54

I

72

21

A

41

P

69

E

R O M

O

57

R

18

24

T

50

A

R

15

D

17

E

SI

5

B P T E,

68

61

S

S

K

E

E

P

E

N

C

E

R O

T

E

71

74

3

6

8

1

2

7

9

4

5

2

9

4

3

8

5

1

7

6

7

5

1

6

9

4

8

3

2

9

3

2

8

7

1

6

5

4

5

4

6

9

3

2

7

8

1

8

1

7

4

5

6

2

9

3

4

7

5

2

1

8

3

6

9

6

2

9

7

4

3

5

1

8

1

8

3

5

6

9

4

2

7

SUDOKU #2

1

NVJ

SUDOKU #1

SJ PWZ N

CROSSWORD

-

HVPZANWRA

Jordana Glowinsky Avneet Grewal Alex Lefebvre Annie O'Keefe

6

3

1

7

4

9

5

8

2

8

2

9

1

5

6

3

7

4

5

7

4

8

2

3

6

1

9

7

6

3

2

8

4

9

5

1

4

9

2

6

1

5

8

3

7

1

5

8

9

3

7

2

4

6

9

4

6

3

7

8

1

2

5

2

8

5

4

9

1

7

6

3

3

1

7

5

6

2

4

9

8

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP, NEVER GONNA LET YOU DOWN, NEVER GONNA RUN AND AROUND AND DESERT YOU

IF YOU FEEL "BURNOUT" SETTING IN, IF YOU FEEL DEMORALIZED AND EXHAUSTED, IT IS BEST, FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYONE, TO WITHDRAW AND RESTORE YOURSELF. - DALAI LAMA

CRYPTOGRAM

WORD JUMBLE

CONTRIBUTORS JORJA ALLEN LOREL DANIELOV PAULA HENRY-DURU EMMERSON JULL ATHAVI NISHAANTHAN ELLIE PETRAK ARPIT SHAILESHBHAI VAGHELA YASMINE SULIMAN OWEN TSIPTSIS ILLYRIA VOLCANSEK 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 2023 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-inChief. 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 Master Web, Inc.