Lettitor
Why you should call the cops in the case of an emergency Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief
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ecently, an acquaintance of mine had an unfortunate experience with a creep. A man approached the bench she was sitting on, put his arm around her, picked her up, and tried to walk away with her while insinuating they were now going to have sex. She got away and tried to draw attention to herself, but the guy kept following her until she called her parents to pick her up. She contemplated calling the police but figured they would never find the guy, so there was no point. She asked a friend for a second opinion who said that
calling the police could put more patrol in the area, which convinced her to report the incident. Since then, she says she noticed more cop cars patrolling her area, which makes both of us feel safer. This feeling is mirrored by students in a study by Carleton University from 2014 to 2017. Nearly 1,300 surveys were taken by students in Grade 9 in schools with diverse populations. Business Professor Linda Duxbury stated this of the study: “One dominant finding is every single group of students benefited and felt safer over time.” On another anecdotal note, I have also had to call the police when I was mugged a couple years ago. I was peevish about
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calling the cops because I didn’t have much experience dealing with the police, but they ended up catching the perpetrator and I got my wallet back. I understand people’s contentions with calling the police, but Natasha Aruliah, an equity, diversity, and inclusion consultant stated for the CBC that calling the police can help end racist attackers in the case of a hate crime. Of course, there is still a lot of debate to be had about how to deal with the deaths and injustices suffered by those at the hands of horrible police officers, but we cannot discount the benefits police protection entirely. This brings up a good point about why calling the cops is the best thing to do
Brittney MacDonald Business Manager Athena Little Udeshi Seneviratne Illustrators Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter Craig Allan Tania Arora EG Manilag Staff Writers Billy Bui Staff Photographer Jerrison Oracion Jonathan Pabico Brandon Yip Senior Columnists
Timothy Easling CJ Sommerfeld Contributors Cover layout Udeshi Seneviratne and Lauren Kelly Feature layout Udeshi Seneviratne and Christine Weenk
in the event of an emergency. In the case of a burglary, mugging, or other crimes, you should absolutely call the cops so the police can bring more patrol in the area so it’s less likely others will be hurt again. Furthermore, if they do catch the person, it will go on their personal record and if they do it again there will be harsher consequences. Getting a record of these incidents is a good resource for police to use in court if the criminal does it again or commits a more violent offense. Limes,
Jessica Berget Jessica Berget
The Other Press has been Douglas College’s student newspaper since 1976. Since 1978 we have been an autonomous publication, independent of the student union. We are a registered society under the Society Act of British Columbia, governed by an eight-person board of directors appointed by our staff. Our head office is located in the New Westminster campus. The Other Press is published weekly during the fall and winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. We receive our funding from a student levy collected through tuition fees every semester at registration, and from local and national advertising revenue. The Other Press is a member of the Canadian University Press (CUP), a syndicate of student newspapers that includes papers from all across Canada. The Other Press reserves the right to choose what we will publish, and we will not publish material that is hateful, obscene, or condones or promotes illegal activities. Submissions may be edited for clarity and brevity if necessary. All images used are copyright to their respective owners.
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News
news // no. 3 • BC government bans non-essential travel • The Third Trudeau Scandal • Canada Student Service Grant ...and more
Students wait for their turn at a road test › Update details when prospect drivers can book their appointment Tania Arora Staff Writer
Photo by Billy Bui
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hen BC shut down in March due to COVID-19, ICBC was no exception. People who had their driving tests booked from March onwards were cancelled. In the month of June when the economy started to reopen, ICBC announced that it would resume the commercial (Class 1 through 4) road tests. According to the new guidelines, tests are only by appointment. Upon arrival, the candidates will be asked screening questions as precautions for COVID-19. The examiners will also be provided with protective gear including masks, shields, goggles, gloves, disposable seat covers and more. British Columbians who had booked their class 5 or 7 tests had to wait. ICBC announced at the beginning of July that all non-commercial road tests shall resume.
The candidates who were supposed to take their tests between March 17 to June 26 were prioritized. They were or will be contacted by ICBC. Students wanting to take their tests as soon as they are legally allowed to should book their tests in advance. Some services such as proving driving experience, paying for tickets, or changing addresses can still be done online or by phone. According to the recent update provided by ICBC towards the end of July, it is now proceeding to the next phase of its “road test resumption plan.” To lower the backlog of people wanting to take their tests, drivers can now book their road tests after August 24. There will be some walk-in appointments available, but ICBC warns that they are very limited. Delays will continue, as thousands of candidates are waiting for their turn. Customers are expected to arrive on time with the required identification.
What’s in the black box? › College congratulates graduates with special swag Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter hat’s better than receiving your college degree? Having the issuing institution send your degree and an assortment of party favors for you to celebrate. In June, Douglas mailed graduating students their respective degree parchments and several souvenirs to allow graduates to celebrate their achievement in lieu of the usual convocation ceremonies that were cancelled due to the pandemic. Douglas announced that degrees would be mailed to graduating students on the COVID-19 update webpage. Weeks later the college unveiled that degrees would be mailed in a special box via the @ douglascollege Twitter account. “Hey June 2020 grads! Sorry you’re missing out on convocation this year. But we’ve got something special to help you celebrate your accomplishments from home. Keep an eye out for one of these boxes in the mail!” “The idea was a collaboration between the Registrar’s Office and the Marketing and Communications Office, with both areas working to figure out how to help students celebrate graduation in the absence of a physical convocation,” said Regan Lal, Associate Director of Communications in the Marketing & Communications Office at Douglas College, via an emailed statement. Douglas confirmed that each box contained the graduate’s individual
Photo via DouglasCollege.com
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Douglas College credential, a card from the college president and the dean of each graduates’ faculty, a card from the Alumni Association and an alumni pin, black and gold balloons, silver, gold, and black confetti, a ‘grad 2020’ celebration banner, and a package of Douglas College
50th anniversary chocolates. Finally, as a keepsake, the college included a graduation cap with a 2020 tassel. “Every student that was qualified to graduate and applied by the college’s deadline was mailed a box. This includes our new alumni in the United States and
abroad,” said Lal. According to the college, the graduation box initiative cost less than the traditional series of graduation ceremonies honouring new graduates, and all boxes have been shipped to the 1510 students who graduated from Douglas this summer.
news // no. 4
theotherpress.ca
Canada Student Service Grant › Deadline to apply is August 21 Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter
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OVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the employment prospects of many Canadians. One group that has been hit hard by employer’s inability to hire is students, as the pandemic cancelled internships and plummeted summer jobs. Many students typically use the income earned during the summer months to fund their education or living expenses, so the loss of summer income places some students in a precarious position. To mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, the Government of Canada created the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) to provide financial support to post-secondary students and recent high school and post-secondary graduates. Late in June the government announced another program to support Canadian students: the Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG). The CSSG provides a monetary grant of $1,000 to $5,000 for hours spent volunteering.
“Canadian students are looking for ways to make a real difference in their communities,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a statement announcing the grant. “With these new investments, we are giving them the support and connections they need to have a positive impact during COVID-19 and gain the skills needed for future success.” The newly instituted program has been recently mixed in a scandal including the government awarding a sole-source contract to the WE charity to administer the program. The charity withdrew from their appointed administrator role days later. The grant has not been officially cancelled. According to the grant website, an individual is eligible if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or have Refugee status, and are younger than 30 as of December 31, 2020. They also must be enrolled in and attending post-secondary education during the spring/summer or fall of 2020 or have graduated from a post-secondary
institution no earlier than December 2019. The eligible individual would have to accumulate volunteer hours, to a maximum of 500 hours, between June 25 and October 31 of this year to receive the grant. The grant pays $1,000 per 100 volunteer hours and is capped at $5,000 or 500 hours. “People are more aware and want to get involved, because they see what’s going on around them,” said potential Canada Student Service Grant recipient Zoé Hould-Massicotte. “Situations like COVID-19 make us think about our place in society and who we are as individuals.
We’re realizing how important it is for us to get involved and how we can make a tangible difference in people’s lives.”
Haida Gwaii is closed › BC government bans non-essential travel
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ith 20 COVID-19 cases, 13 of them active, the BC provincial government has banned travel to Haida Gwaii. In a statement released on July 30, the Council of the Haida Nation says it is “pleased that BC has aligned with our efforts to protect Haida citizens and citizens of Haida Gwaii by issuing an order to restrict non-essential travel to the islands.”
Haida Gwaii has been closed under Haida Gwaii law since March 23. In a statement released on March 24, it was stated that “travel to and from communities on Haida Gwaii will be limited to essential services only.” With a population of around 5,000 people, the island has been reported to have 12 hospital beds. As of July 30, there are 20 cases of COVID-19 on Haida Gwaii, 13 of them considered to be active. In BC, there are 29 new cases since July 29, with a total of 242 active cases. The British
Columbia Weekly COVID-19 Surveillance Report for July 24 to 30 says that “detections in BC have recently increased, but the risk remains low overall.” In a statement on their website, Northern Health said that every case is a “epidemiologically linked” case, which the BC Centre for Disease Control defines as “people who were never tested but were presumed to have COVID-19 because they developed symptoms and were close contacts of a laboratory confirmed case.” Chief Councillor of the Skidegate
Photo by Karen Neoh
Lauren Gargiulo News Editor
Band Council, William Yovanovich called the closing of Haida Gwaii a “reset button,” stating, “it will help our local efforts in controlling the outbreak of COVID-19.” While the Provincial Government’s order is recent, requests for non-residents to stay off the island due to COVID-19 outbreak concerns have previously been publicly voiced by Haida Gwaii residents. A change. org petition created in July called for the end of “the blatant disrespect of the Haida Law.” Earlier this month, two fishing lodges reopened despite the state of emergency declared by Haida Gwaii law on March 23. One of the owners of these fishing lodges, The West Coast Fishing Club, has been critical of BC’s decision. Brian Legge thinks his business should have been exempt for several reasons. In an interview with CBC, he states that “we have 36 staff who were doing well, functioning well and are now unemployed.” Legge also said that his business had employed all the necessary safety precautions, that the club is isolated, and airlift could be utilized to take those who could be sick directly to the mainland. Donald Edgars, Chief Councillor of the Old Massett Village Council, commented that he thought that the decision to reopen the fishing lodges was “disrespectful.” On the current closing, he stated that the “leaders of Haida Gwaii have done all that we can to keep COVID-19 from coming to our communities. Our EOC and health teams have been preparing for this day,” he said. “I’m glad to hear BC has aligned with Haida Gwaii’s measures, and we are all working together on this pandemic response. Keeping our Elders and communities safe is our top priority during these difficult times.”
issue 33// vol 46
news // no. 5
The Third Trudeau Scandal
› Prime Minister’s family receives large financial compensation from charity
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going to notice a billion dollar contract given to people who are very close to the prime minister’s family?[...] When asked straightforward questions about whether
to their communities, not about benefits to anyone else.” Morneau’s ties are his daughters, Grace Acan and Clare Morneau. Grace is
Photo of Justin Trudeau via Wikimedia Commons
or Halifax would notice if there was a $400 expense they didn’t pay. You’re saying that a $41,000 expense happened right under your nose and you didn’t know about it until the rime Minister Justin Trudeau has been very day you were set to rocked by yet another testify at a parliamentary ethics scandal—his third committee?” breach of the Conflict of Despite all the Interest Act—thanks to his personal connections involvement in the selection to the charity, neither of WE Charity as the Trudeau nor Morneau distributor of a $900-million recused themselves from Canada Student Service discussions. The contract Grant program. Both Trudeau which would have seen and Finance Minister Bill $43.5-million allocated Morneau have family ties to to WE to administer the the charity but failed to recuse program was supposed to themselves from discussions distribute the remaining involving the organization. $500-million to students. Both Trudeau’s mother, The $912-million total Margaret, and his brother, figure has been suggested Alexandre, have received as being dependent on financial compensation from interest in the program. WE for speaking at various At least 20 events. Margaret totalled organizations were $250,000 for 28 separate supposed to have been appearances and Alexandre considered, but many were $32,000 from eight different never actually contacted. occasions. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has defended Trudeau, Trudeau’s wife, was the decision to award the also paid for her participation contract to WE: “Quite in several WE Days; she frankly, when our public still runs a podcast through servants looked at the WE. Additionally, all three potential partners, only have been reimbursed for the WE organization had their expenses—separate the capacity to deliver the from speaking fees—with ambitious program that Margaret, Alexandre, and young people need for this Sophie Grégoire averaging summer that is so deeply $5,998, $2,447, and $3,618 per impacted by COVID.” event respectively. Trudeau However, his words have himself has spoken at many drawn disbelief from those WE events—allegedly without in the charity sector. ever receiving funds. “It is absolutely The available data incorrect to believe directly contradicts what that WE is the only WE has said on the matter: organization in Canada “The charity has never that can implement this paid an honorarium to program, and there is these individuals for their no doubt that in order involvement in these to deliver what they’ve programs and events.” The committed to, they will charity also said that Sophie have to collaborate with Grégoire Trudeau’s role as an other organizations,” said “ambassador and ally” has Maryann Kerr—CEO been “entirely on a volunteer of the Medalist Group, basis and travel expenses a boutique firm that related to this involvement provides philanthropic and were paid for by WE Charity.” organizational health services Bloc Québécois Leader to the social-profit sector— Yves-François Blanchet When asked straightforward questions about whether his family to CBC. Paula Speevak, summarized the thoughts of some others in office, saying was receiving money from WE, the prime minister should have told president and CEO of Volunteer Canada addressed that Trudeau “cannot create a the truth and he didn’t tell the truth. That’s why he’s in trouble.” that concern directly, noting program which seemed to be that her organization had custom made, tailored for an been contacted by WE organization, that gave $250,000 about making use of their of contracts to his mother, his family was receiving money from WE, a contract employee and Clare has spoken contacts for a fee. A main concern for $30,000 of contracts to his brother, while the prime minister should have told the at three events. Morneau also went on two Speevak was the slippery slope of stipends his own wife is a spokesperson for the same truth and he didn’t tell the truth. That’s WE trips with family in 2017; one trip was for volunteers, calling out the program’s organization. All of that is unacceptable why he’s in trouble.” to Kenya and the other to Ecuador. The structure that essentially works out to $10/ […] For a few months, I think the prime The Prime Minister’s Office responded travel costs amounted to $41,366—a total hour: “We felt it was really important that minister must step aside and leave the you don’t give the impression that you’re function, the responsibilities, to the deputy to this by mentioning that Trudeau’s family that he quickly reimbursed to WE when “engage with a variety of organizations and the story broke. “I did not know that those paid for volunteering. We don’t want prime minister […] because for the time support many personal causes on their own expenses were not paid. I did not have any people to be paid less than minimum wage being he cannot be considered as being accord. What is important to remember awareness of that. It was a mistake and I and for it to be called volunteering. We qualified to keep doing the job.” here is that this is about a charity take responsibility for it.” wanted there to be clarity—volunteers give NDP MP Charlie Angus was similarly supporting students. The Canada Student Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre their time freely because of their passion or frustrated on a CBC broadcast: “Did Service Grant program is about giving didn’t accept the finance minister’s apology. compassion.” they really think that people weren’t young people opportunities to contribute “The average Canadian living in Red Deer
Timothy Easling Contributor
• Interviews with BC Sports Hall of Fame Curator and a former Olympian the historic event ...and that's everything!
Photo via BC Sports Hall of Fame
Sports
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Remembering the 1954 ‘Miracle Mile’
› Interviews with BC Sports Hall of Fame Curator and a former Olympian the historic event Brandon Yip Senior Columnist
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he month of August marks a notable sports anniversary. On August 7, 1954, the “Miracle Mile” captured the hearts and imagination of the sporting world. The event helped put Vancouver on the world stage as an attractive destination city for hosting high-profile sporting events. The race featured two runners sharing the spotlight in this epic four-lap event: Roger Bannister of England at 25 years old and John Landy of Australia at 24 years old. The momentous occasion occurred at the Empire Stadium in Vancouver during the final day of competition at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games (BECG). Prior to the Miracle Mile, Bannister became the first man to run the mile in under four minutes at a race in Oxford, England on May 6, 1954—with a time of 3:59.4. It was a triumph that many considered humanly impossible in 1954. A month later on June 21, 1954, John Landy would break Bannister’s record at a race in Turku, Finland—with a time of 3:58. The stage was now set and the world would be
watching the two men meeting weeks later at the BECG for the mile race at Empire Stadium in Vancouver—with 35,000 people in attendance. Remarkably, the race would be shown live on CBC television and journalists from all over the globe were in attendance covering this much anticipated race. The starting gun was fired—the race was under way. John Landy would have a significant lead during the first part of the race. He looked strong and confident while maintaining good consistent strides. Bannister was trailing in the pack and it appeared that victory for Landy was inevitable. However, during the final lap, Landy while running around the final curve, glanced to his left to gauge where Bannister was. It would prove to be pivotal, as Bannister made a late surge and sprinted past Landy to his right to win the race. Bannister, exhausted, collapsed into the arms of an official. Shortly after, Bannister looked for Landy and the two men embraced in a show of good sportsmanship. Bannister finished the race with a time of 3 minutes 58.8 seconds, followed by Landy with a time of 3 minutes 59.6 seconds (0.8 seconds behind
Bannister). Canadian runner Rich Ferguson notably finished in third place with a time of 4 minutes and 4.6 seconds. The race also made history for having two runners in the same race run the mile in under four minutes. The Miracle Mile would be celebrated; Roger Bannister appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated in January 1955— and was hailed as the first Sportsman of the Year in 1954. As well, the race would become immortalized with a statue depicting both runners—sculpted by Jack Harman and unveiled in 1967. The statue would later be moved to the north end of Empire Fields in July 2015, the area where the famous race occurred. After the Miracle Mile, Roger Bannister retired from running and studied medicine to become a neurologist. He died in March 2018 at the age of 88. John Landy on the other hand became an author, avid butterfly collector, and governor of Victoria in his native Australia from 2001 until 2006. He celebrated his 90th birthday on April 12. Dr. Doug Clement, former Canadian Olympic athlete and sprinter was competing at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. He was a member of the Canadian 4x440 yard
relay team that won the silver medal. Dr. Clement remembers the Miracle Mile very well, as he was standing trackside watching the race unfold. “It was the event of the century bringing the first two men to break the four-minute barrier in the mile,” Dr. Clement said in an email interview with the Other Press. Jason Beck, curator at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and author of the 2016 book, The Miracle Mile, says the race helped solidify Vancouver’s reputation to host future prominent sporting events. “We were suddenly a destination and ‘big league,’” Beck explained in an email interview with the Other Press. “So, it’s an early defining moment for the city and the province as we grew into the international sporting destination that we’ve become.” The games even gave the locals an easy justification for their pride: “It gave us confidence that we were much more than another ‘village backwater’ which many thought Vancouver was in the 1950s. It was our entrance onto the world stage. We should be proud of the big moments in our history and celebrate these. There are fewer bigger than the Miracle Mile for BC in my opinion.”
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Arts
arts // no. 7 • An album review of ‘A War On Everything’ by The Glorious Sons • ‘Enter the Dragon’ and the inimitable Bruce Lee ...and more
Get ready for a stylish, comedic, and apocalypsepacked season!
Udeshi Seneviratne Illustrator
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he series, adapted from writer Gerard Way and publisher Dark Horse Comics, has a tighter and more adventurous
plotline than its predecessor. This season’s pacing and execution make it enjoyable to follow these emotional basket cases on their adventures of maneuvering disasters and figuring out how to stop yet another apocalypse. After failing to save Earth from the Moon fragment apocalypse in season
one, quick-witted Five (Aidan Gallagher) suggests they all time travel to the past, fix Vanya (Ellen Page), and return to the existing timeline. Their sure-fire plan is unfortunately hindered by some time jumping difficulties that scatter the super siblings across 1960 to 1963 Dallas. If that were not enough to worry about, the family also has another apocalypse to deal with. The siblings rebuild their lives in the years they land in, each with a profession different enough so that they are all prevented from crossing paths. Klaus (Robert Sheehan) becomes a cult leader, which is strangely fitting, and all the while is still accompanied by the bickering ghost of his brother Ben (Justin H. Min). Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) becomes a civil rights activist and Vanya (Ellen Page) deals with her amnesia in a barn. Luther (Tom Hopper) makes his living by fighting in an underground club, and his brother Diego (David Castañeda) is put into an asylum. Season two gives us more detail
Avant-garde music, outer space, and resonating themes
› Jon Hassell’s new album ‘Seeing Through Sound’ is everything we love about electronic jazz
Jonathan Pabico Contributor
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nyone familiar with Jon Hassell’s work will know about his unwavering talent to push the boundaries of genre music with his eclectic originality. His newest album Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume Two) promises immersive songs for any jazz lover to enjoy. The collection will garner new fans out of casual listeners and is worthy of any art house event. His ethereal electronic jazz soundtrack satisfies the senses with delightfully pulsating tones. One of his songs “Moons of Titan”—arguably one of the best segments in the album—employs soothing flourishes and soft percussion to create a relaxing meditation. Hassell’s experimental repertoire, albeit lacking any lyrics, would
be perfect for surreal sci-fi films like Blade Runner or The Twilight Zone. The album also has a compelling scope of mystery that alludes to the sublime vastness of the universe. The track “Lunar” balances eerie pings with sudden screeches from the synthesizer. This creates reverberating tension, reminiscent of an avant-garde horror movie taking place in a celestial world. As for “Cool Down,” the piece employs strong hits on the drum rim and infuses them with bizarre distortions. This evokes feelings of uncertainty—like that of the cosmos. These songs beautifully convey the wonders and dangers of space exploration. Beyond his other-worldly motifs, Hassell’s musical non-conformity encourages listeners to embrace their differences. The trumpet, synthesizer, and maracas from the song “Delicado” provide
playful oddities. Hassell’s track shows that what makes us unique may seem absurd to others, yet is still the best part of our true selves. However, the album may not be for everyone— especially those that prefer more traditional jazz music. Hassell’s subversive work would alienate fans of iconic musicians like John Coltrane or Billie Holiday for example. The songs have bold and sometimes strange approaches to their sound, so they require an extremely open mind that welcomes a refreshing take on a classic
into how the absentee father affected the siblings. Since the characters are made to fend for themselves for quite some time, they have more room to evolve. These inventive events give viewers a chance to delve into what makes each character unique, and see their heart-warming care for one another. New characters introduced also contribute to the colourful personalities of the Hargreeves family. However, some new villains appear to be overstuffing, such as the apocalypse-ensuring assassins replacing Cha Cha and Hazel but with much less personality and flair. The show still delivers with an unpredictable plot, humorous name calling, a killer soundtrack, and their innovative methods to avoid the armageddon. It exceeds season one in character development and ridiculously witty banter. If you are looking for bold one-liner material, this is the show for you.
Cover of 'Seeing Through Sound' by John Hassell
Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne
› A review of ‘The Umbrella Academy’ season 2
genre. If one wants to broaden their musical interests, then they may have a marvelous experience with the soundtrack. Jon Hassell’s Seeing Through Sound offers jazz fans a new breed of experimental music to add to their playlists. The riveting elegance from its calming songs give listeners an almost spiritual peace. Hassell’s album has the right moxie for anyone excited to begin a journey into the depths of electronic jazz.
arts // no. 8
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‘Enter the Dragon’ and the inimitable Bruce Lee › Interviews with the stars of this Brandon Yip Senior Columnist
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ruce Lee was like a shooting star. Like James Dean, he appeared briefly in the public’s psyche—and then he was gone. August marks the anniversary of when Lee’s seminal film, Enter the Dragon, was released in North America. Sadly, Lee died in Hong Kong at the age of 32 on July 20—a month before the film’s release. He had starred in only four films (Game of Death released posthumously in 1978). It was a short but memorable body of work. Lee possessed a dynamic screen presence with his good looks and natural charisma. He also revealed to be very articulate, introspective, and philosophical. After the release of Lee’s first Hong Kong film, The Big Boss (1971), he was a superstar. However, Lee dismissed the notion of being a “star,” and told this to noted Canadian author Pierre Berton in a rare TV interview: “I’m honestly saying this. Yes, I have been very successful. […] I do not look upon myself as a star; I really don’t—believe me.” John Saxon, who co-starred with Lee in Enter the Dragon as the character Roper, recently died on July 25 at the age of 83. He recounted fond memories of Bruce and the film in an interview he gave to the Other Press in November 2017: “Bruce was a goal setter. His legacy was what he had set a goal for himself. We never expected such a reaction from the very start. The movie touches people in a way hard to define. My wife has seen it seven times and says there are few movies she can see more than a few times. But this one is different.”
Bob Wall, who played the villain O’Hara, also has good memories of John Saxon and Bruce Lee—telling this to the Other Press in an email interview: “John was a very good man. […] John was a consummate actor and I admired how prepared, friendly, and calm John was on set. John and Bruce got along very well and appreciated one another’s talents. Like Bruce, John will be missed greatly. It was my honour to work with both!” Darnell Garcia, who played a gangster in Enter the Dragon, remembers the impact the movie made on him. “The movie in fact helped to open doors later in life for me as well, it got me into other films,” Garcia stated in an interview with the Other Press. Garcia and Jackie Chan were both stuntmen in this movie. “The film will endure and had Bruce lived, he would have taken on other roles and expanded martial arts in cinema in my opinion.” Legendary film score composer, Lalo Schifrin (who made the Mission: Impossible theme song), says he is proud to be associated with the film. “I became immediately seduced by the project because at the Paris Conservatory I studied Ethno Musicology, so I knew the details that made the music of the Orient so different,” Schifrin said in an email interview with the Other Press. He also recalls a funny encounter he had with Lee: “Bruce Lee, himself, asked me, ‘What kind of sports are you practicing, Lalo?’ My answer was ‘tennis.’ He said, ‘No, you have to do martial arts!’” Schifrin was inspired—he practiced with Lee himself
Illustration by Athena Little
cult classic on its anniversary
at a few points. Eventually Lalo got a black belt from Bruce Lee’s disciples. Remarkably, Enter the Dragon cost $850,000 to make—and it grossed $25 million from its initial North American release and $90 million worldwide in 1973. At this point, it has earned its original budget about 411 times over; it is one of the most profitable movies to ever have been made. Bruce Lee continues to be revered 47 years after his death. UFC president, Dana White, proclaims Lee to be the “godfather of mixed martial arts.” Late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant also stated that “Mamba Mentality” was influenced heavily by Lee. In addition, Lee’s image as a martial arts film icon has been discovered by a new generation of fans. Ryan Yip, a Vancouver resident, says Enter the Dragon is one of his favourite martial arts movies. “It had a much bigger budget than his previous movies and was the first of his movies to be made in English,” Yip said in an
email interview with the Other Press. “Lavish set designs, a Bond-like plot, and likable characters are only overshadowed by Bruce’s freakish athleticism and wonderfully choreographed fight scenes.” Finally, Bruce Lee had to overcome racial barriers early in his Hollywood career when he was unable to obtain substantial roles because of his race. Interestingly, in the same December 1971 TV interview with Pierre Berton, Lee was asked if he saw himself first as Chinese or as North American. Lee offered remarkable introspection and honesty, looking inwards beyond his own skin colour. Lee stated, “You know what I want to think of myself as? A human being. Because, I mean, and I don’t wanna sound like [what] Confucius [would] say, but under the sky, under the heaven man, there is but one family. It just so happens man, that people are different.”
Love and Canadian Rock
› An album review of ‘A War On Everything’ by The Glorious Sons Jonathan Pabico Contributor
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t was disappointing to find out that fans will not be attending the summer concerts of the Canadian rockers The Glorious Sons. The band cancelled their upcoming July and August tour dates for their recent album A War On Everything due to COVID-19. Regardless of this unfortunate news, people can be comforted and reassured by the fact that their newest soundtrack will easily outlast the pandemic. Contrary to the album’s title, most of the songs are not brooding contemplations about war. They are, instead, armed with
surprisingly simple themes about love and hope. At the same time, the collection reaches the precipice of punk rock with raw lyrics and fierce soundscapes. Tracks like “The Laws of Love and War” have gentle sounds from the acoustic guitar paired with soft vocals that provide a delicate break from the album’s more thrilling selections. With this, the band illustrates that they are not afraid of bringing heart and warmth to the rock genre. Despite this approach, A War On Everything is not as exhilarating as past albums The Union and Young Beauties and Fools. The Glorious Sons’ previous work had songs with more experimental subtleties and better arrangements. Their current collection feels more conventional,
even though the tracks have some innovative elements. The band’s playlist still provides the typical fun you would expect from a rock ‘n’ roll album ready to be blasted at full volume on your radio during a road trip post-pandemic. The song “One More Summer” has a satisfying guitar intro that retreats into a backdrop so that the unrelenting vocals and sharp beats from the drums can take centre stage during the chorus. While the piece is about past betrayal, the music can still satisfy your vacation needs with its vigorous rhythms. Many of the album’s tracks deliver positive tones that are enjoyable for any listener. One of the best takeaways is “Kingdom in My Heart”—it’s filled with uplifting energy. The intro’s rollicking claps
are infused with resonating guitar solos, and then they are followed by vibrant piano strokes. These style choices perfectly balance with lyrics like “life will rip us to pieces, and we’ll just laugh it off.” This dynamic song conveys how past hardships are made better by those still there for you today. The album may be underwhelming for those seeking the same level of boldness from past collections. However, the band combines straightforward themes with enthusiastic tracks to provide poignant melodies. If you’re looking for music to please your inner rocker, then The Glorious Sons’ A War On Everything is the answer to that quest. To stay updated with The Glorious Sons, visit the band’s official website.
issue 33// vol 46
arts // no. 9
‘Scott Pilgrim’ vs. the Box Office
› 10 years later, is it finally time for ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ to collect its coins? Craig Allan Staff Writer
Illustration by Christine Weenk
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The film didn’t even come close to making back its budget, only recouping $47.6 million of its reported $85-million budget.
n August of 2010, I was working at the SilverCity movie theatre in Coquitlam. While doing a check on a theatre I saw a scene from a movie. I had very little idea of what this film was, but the scene made me laugh. I looked at the marquee and it said the film was Scott Pilgrim vs. the World—a movie based off a graphic novel written by Bryan Lee O’Malley and directed by Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz’s Edgar Wright. The next day I bought a ticket to the movie; I had no idea what I was about to experience. Scott Pilgrim was a visual masterpiece—filled with great music, colourful action, and hilarious comedy. From its opening title sequence set to Sex Bob-Omb’s song “We Are Sex Bob-Omb” (also known as “Launchpad McQuack”), to Scott’s final battle with Nega Scott—who turns out to be just a really nice guy—Scott Pilgrim was like no movie I had ever seen. Practically perfect in every way. Sadly, while it achieved perfection, it was not appreciated in the real world. Pilgrim and his band Sex Bob-Omb were a box-office bomb. The film finished fifth on its opening weekend with only $10.6-million dollars total gross. It even lost out to “classics” like Eat, Pray, Love (second at the box office) and The Expendables (first at the box office). The film didn’t even come close to making back its budget, only recouping $47.6 million of its reported $85-million budget. How could this be? How could a film created with so much care and detail not only fail, but fail so hard? A month later, after seeing the film five times in theatres in a fruitless attempt to make the film profitable, I went into the theatre on a Tuesday night in September to find Pilgrim, now situated at the very
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last theatre in the back of the building, full from top to bottom with moviegoers. The sight made me believe that Scott Pilgrim may just have more life in it. As the years went on, this “epic of epic epicness” began to be realized; the film gained its much deserved moniker as a cult classic. The film has even been the study of scholarly articles, as some view it as a prime display of a transmedia narrative (telling the same story with using different media and technologies) in movies. Even though the film’s disappointing track through theatres became a memory, members of the formidable cast still sing the praises for the film. In 2020, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Scott Pilgrim, the movie will be playing in select theatres to mark the occasion. One of those theatres is The Rio. Excited at the prospect of seeing the visual spectacle of the film on the big screen once again, I bought a ticket for the first showing. Once again I was not disappointed. The movie was just as visually stunning as it was when I first saw it 10 years ago. When I was waiting in line to get into the theatre, I heard the usher say that the film was sold out. The film was only expected to have a limited release when originally announced, but due to the pandemic, my speculation is that it may very well get a wider release due to theatres being starved for content. With more screens and more chances for people to see it in its full visual glory with the surround sound that accompanies it, maybe this is the time where Scott Pilgrim KO’s the evil box office and finally gets the prize of the number-one spot. Sure, it won’t be the same as getting the millions it rightly deserves, but maybe it will help the film move on from gaining the power of love to gaining the power of self-respect.
COVID AND EDUCATION This pandemic has radically transformed schooling— how effective and fair is the change?
Vancouver resident Caitlin Barker had to do her exam for her Ontario university under the careful watch of a security officer looking at her through a webcam for three hours.
By Jessica Berget, Editor-in-Chief and Janis McMath, Assistant Editor
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irst COVID ruined our summer. Now, it’s ruining our fall semester. At Douglas College, all classes are being held online this semester—much to the dismay of students. Many students are unhappy with the prospect of a semester at Douglas completely online. Take student Craig Allan for instance. On his online summer semester, he states: “The classes I have been in have consisted of a lot of my classmates not really participating, which limits the teaching. I do think I would prefer online classes if they were properly designed. Not having to drag myself to campus or spend money on parking or a U-Pass would be great, and I would have more time to study or work after school since I am not spending what could be two to three hours on transportation every day,” he said. Most schools are pouring salt into the wound as many post-secondary institutions are also not lowering their tuition rates or refunding fees. Some schools, like Simon
Fraser University and University of British Columbia are going ahead with the scheduled fee increases too. Douglas College says their fees have not changed because students are still receiving full credits for these courses and that they are still able to use many of the school’s services, even if they are delivered alternatively. Yet many people, even Douglas College English Professor Chris Maguire, have called for tuition lowering because of the shift to online teaching and the controversy of how ineffective online classes are. Which begs the question: is online schooling worse than faceto-face instruction?
Arguments against online learning
One of the first and perhaps most obvious cons of online learning is how autonomy can be harmful in learning for many students. A contemporary study concludes that direct instruction is a big part of student success. A
survey by the Angus Reid Institute resulted in similar findings—60 percent of students say they feel unmotivated and 57 percent said they disliked the current learning arrangements. In a CTV News article, Preston Sauciukas (a Grade 7 student from Brantford) weighed in on the issue: “It’s really hard to focus because I have siblings and stuff all around the place.” He also said that he found it hard to ask his mom for help since she was busy with his younger brother and sister. Another contentious issue to consider is cheating. Online at-home exams obviously
would actually decrease student scores.
The positives of online learning
While it is obvious there are many educational benefits that come with face to face instruction, there are also many perks in online classes to consider. For instance, say goodbye to that pesky morning commute. According to a 2019 Bloomberg article, the average student’s commute is about 18 minutes long. The most common commute averaged at five to ten minutes, and a small percentage of students have commutes that go over an hour. Also consider the money you could be saving on gas and food from
and students have said they are afraid going to school. Some teachers are even suggesting students to wear masks. Yet nearly all universities are continuing with solely online teaching. Why is Douglas, and many other post-secondary institutions, not allowing in-person classes with some regulations? Some say it is to reduce the possibility of spreading COVID and to keep students safe, but this contradicts expert Dr. Bonnie Henry’s statement about schools being safe to open. Others argue the reason for having online classes only is colleges and universities catering to international students because of the money the school makes off of them. A Vancouver Sun article argues this point efficiently; foreign students often pays fees four times that of local pupils and this shows in the $22-billion dollars international students bring in annually. A Kwantlen Polytech University political scientist, Shinder Purewal, claims in the aforementioned article that his school would suffer without international students. “[KPU] relies so much on international students that it would collapse as an institution without their money. Douglas College may also be in the same boat in that regard. According to their 202o international viewbook, in 2019, Douglas hosted 3,700 international students from 90 different countries. According to the Douglas website, international student tuition currently is priced on a per credit basis. One full year of studying at Douglas costs international students about $18,000—plus fees of course. That’s about $66,600,000 dollars in tuition in 2019 if all those students studied for a full year. Having in-person classes, and thereby shutting out international students who left and cannot come back because of border closures, would certainly be a hit for the college.
going to and from campus every week. And, clearly, a lack of transmission of diseases and illnesses comes with online classes. However, this is all “silver-lining” speculation.
Why do only post-secondary students have to do online classes in the fall?
In May, Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a Province of BC video to teachers and staff that all schools were safe to open and described safety measures that have been put in place. Elementary and high school classes are beginning in-person teaching in September with a regulated number of students. It is worth mentioning though that many teachers
Why isn’t tuition being lowered?
As mentioned before, UBC and SFU are going ahead with scheduled fee increases. But it is also important to mention no UBC or SFU workers have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 as reported by the Vancouver Sun. While that is a positive, it can also be viewed as a negative. In some comparable Canadian universities, much of the budget is spent on paying the staff. According to a CBC article, “At Dalhousie University in Halifax, for example, compensation for faculty and staff is 72 percent of the total budget.” On this contentious issue, Douglas College English Professor Chris Maguire states that he knows students that use the food bank, so we should be reducing tuition. Thor Borgford, academic vice-president and provost at Douglas acknowledges the difficulty of the transition to distance education, but states this: “While the delivery format of our courses has changed, these courses continue to be taught by the same experienced faculty as they would be in person.” While is it true that the same experienced teachers will be available, Maguire does not believe that the quality of the education will be up to the same standard: “We weren’t prepared to do this. We pulled it out in a fortnight,” he states of the teachers creating online course material. “Mostly it wasn’t that terrible but if you teach skills like I do in languages, it’s not like I can just lecture—I have to do it synchronously with the class, I can’t do it asynchronously like some courses.” While elementary and high schools get into full swing next month, post-secondary institutions err on the side of caution by keeping with online class delivery. Whether it be for financial concerns or the health and safety of students we will never know. It may sound like a nightmare to students now, and it may seem like there are more cons than pros in online education—however, there are also many perks of online classes that go overlooked and we should all keep an open mind about the upcoming semester.
Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne
pose a threat to the academic integrity of the grading system and scale. Many classes are graded on a curve—so if students cheat, it can very literally impact the grades of students who did not cheat and were deserving of a higher grade. And the solutions for this issue aren’t exactly perfect either; Vancouver resident Caitlin Barker had to do her exam for her Ontario university under the careful watch of a security officer looking at her through a webcam for three hours. Many factors can influence how well a student takes a test (e.g., test anxiety), so it could be possible that such a method of security
Creative Works damned. the inferno awaits my arrival Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor By the teeming pool of sins I swim in, had I been religious, I may never have seen the sun again Though, of course, I see the sun everyday It’s sunlight gleams upon me knees buckle in those surrounding I stand triumphant It’s just how evil works in some Outer beauty deceiving innermost damnation You could not tell the difference Hath religion found regard, vice versa as well I may have drowned myself But as I have not There is no one to save you And that, is how I know there is no difference Whether God is real or not, it does not matter For either way we are alone in this You have no one to protect you, And I have no one to stop me
Progress She wore a loose-fitting black dress her hair pinned up in tight curls and long legs bare. She looked out across the divide their eyes met —his frantic hers grey-green and glittering from the light of the moon. She smiled suddenly then looked over as one of her slippers slithered off her foot and tumbled down blending into the street below. And without a beat more she pushed off and spilled through the air like an ungainly pigeon with clipped wings.
Illustration by Sonam Kaloti
Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor
Have an idea for a story? lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca
Life & Style
life & style // no. 13 • How this pandemic and Galiano changed my life • For high achievers who are stuck in a rut • One of BC’s most graceful waterfalls ...and more
The great and scenic Shannon Falls › One of BC’s most graceful waterfalls EG Manilag Staff Writer
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Photos by EG Manilag
Credit
ven amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, our family will always find a way to spend time together and witness BC’s jaw-dropping and amazing nature. I can say that it seems almost endless. Two Sundays ago, we went to Squamish to explore the great Shannon Falls Provincial Park. To my surprise, the falls are far beyond what you see in pictures—they are completely surreal. This natural phenomenon is unique—just like the rest of the waterfalls in BC. The falls, according to the BC Parks website, “is composed of a series of cliffs, rising 335 metres above Highways 99, making it the third-highest falls in the province, ranking behind 481-metre Della Falls in Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island and 396-metre Hunlen Falls in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park near Bella Coola.” The park is great not only for sightseeing but also for hiking and picnicking. It is also connected to Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. The parking lot has a decent amount of space, but it is always convenient to arrive early so you and your family can have the falls for yourselves. If you are going early, make sure to bring a jacket because it is going to be a bit chilly. The falls are simply amazing to look at. They are very tall and look quite dangerous, especially if you imagine yourself on top of the falls. Some hikers say that on top, the water pools are indeed crystal clear and extremely beautiful. For experienced hikers, Shannon Falls should be on your bucket list. I say experienced hikers because the terrain along the way is quite challenging—it is steep and there are lots of rocks to climb over. This terrain led to the loss of three YouTube vloggers two years ago, according to CBC News. This is not to instigate fear, but everyone should know that hiking through the top of the falls requires extra precaution—never come unprepared. What also makes the falls stunning is the towering trees that are surrounding it. They really add grace to the overall feeling of the place. The soothing sound of the tumbling water plays a role as well. Going there was an escape from society and was very refreshing. Shannon Falls is a genuinely nice place to hang out with friends and family. If you ever want to travel to Squamish or Whistler, make sure to stop at this scenic destination—you won’t regret it.
This terrain led to the loss of three YouTube vloggers two years ago.
life & style // no. 14
theotherpress.ca
For high achievers who are stuck in a rut › Inspiration, motivation, and a heck ton of colourful whiteboard markers Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor
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hen you’re stuck in a rut or a routine, inspiration can be hard to come by. Paired with a lack of motivation and organization, living like this can be completely debilitating. However, take heart! There are ways to overcome these blocks, or there are even tiny things that you can do to inspire and motivate yourself. To be honest, it all goes pretty much step by step. Just the tiniest effort can start the domino effect. So, let’s begin! Inspiration What else does anyone need? Inspiration is what makes us work for our dreams, but what are we without it? Even worse, what are we without a concise idea of what our dreams are? To combat this first block, here’s one idea I have up my sleeve to get you back on your feet. Vision boards may sound like a pointless arts and crafts project, but they are definitely much more than that. Whether you believe in manifestation or the law of attraction or not, the constant visual representation of your dreams will have a powerful effect regardless. Being reminded of what you’re working towards can be exactly the push you need on your bleakest days. Making a vision board is really up to the individual, but to start, you first can choose between a traditional or digital medium. Many people like to cut out pictures, quotes, and anything else that they find inspires them and represents a life they want to live. Vision boards are often displayed in a collage style, but really, the layout is up to you. I currently have a vision board with pictures of plant-strewn book rooms, LED-lit music studios, nightlife scenes, quiet study areas, and neon quotes reading “It’s only a crazy dream until you do it!” and “Screw it, let’s do it!” Possibly the best part of making a vision board is that the inspiration you take from it will lead directly into our next step:
Motivation To be inspired is to be motivated. Not everyone wants to live a hectic life going full throttle—and that desire is just as valid. However, for those who do: motivation is key. Making a vision board will remind you of why you are doing the things you do each day. If what you’re doing each day doesn’t align with the representation of your dream future, then I would suggest finding more ways to align your life in achieving your goals. It’s a lot harder to motivate yourself if you’re doing work that doesn’t have value to you or doesn’t align with what your heart truly desires. In this case, remember who you’re doing it for or the positives the work still offers.
Whether you believe in manifestation or the law of attraction or not, the constant visual representation of your dreams will have a powerful effect regardless.
Images by Sonam Kaloti
Organization Anyone who wants to conquer their dreams needs at least a bit of a game plan. Try making a detailed list of what your goals and dreams are exactly—including what they physically look like—and then make an extensive list of what specific steps you can take to work towards this future. Bonus points if you include the exact dates you want to hit certain milestones. Next, make a list of what obstacles may get in the way of achieving these goals. Then, make an extensive list of ways you can tackle these obstacles. It will go a long way. For your day-to-day life, invest in a journal to write anything from gratitude to your grand dreams and ideas. Also, keep a to-do list and a calendar. I like having a paper to-do list pad and a whiteboard calendar with many different coloured markers. Having all your duties cleanly organized and represented takes a huge weight off of your brain. Using some of these tactics in everyday life will prove beneficial to anyone striving towards achieving big dreams, and even to those who don’t exactly know what those dreams are yet.
issue 33// vol 46
life & style // no. 15
How locals are adjusting to the new rules › Observations of the David Lam campus neighbourhood during COVID-19 Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist
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he Lower Mainland is currently in Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan and things are kind of getting back to normal. While elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools will be open when school is back on September 8, most post-secondary institutions, including Douglas College, will not have in-person sessions and classes will be held online (likely through Zoom). It is also possible that the Other Press staff meetings will also happen through Zoom this year. As the pandemic progresses, more activity has started to occur in the neighbourhood of the David Lam campus—more businesses and restaurants have reopened and eased safety precautions since the beginning of Phase 3. Most of the time that I have been in the neighbourhood, the atmosphere in the New West campus has also been like that. The David Lam campus will still be open but student services (including financial aid), the registrar’s office, CEIT, counselling, and the library will not be offered in-person. Services will be available through the college’s website or
via phone and email. In the library, there are a lot of digital resources available, including streaming services with access to documentaries and educational material. Coquitlam Centre is not as busy as it used to be during this time considering the safety precautions in place to maintain social distancing. When going around the mall, you have to walk on the right side, and it is recommended that you wear a mask. You are even encouraged to wear a mask in the washroom! Some food places are open for takeout while Ricky’s is open with reduced seating at 50 percent capacity. On the topic of food, most restaurants are open for dine-in, depending on whether the restaurant can operate safely with the safety precautions developed by WorkSafe BC and BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. For example, half of the Bubble World near the campus is used for dining in and the other half is converted into a waiting area for takeout—which has a lot of space and is comfortable. At Snowy Village, the entire dining area is empty to allow customers to have space while waiting to get their shaved ice and OZ Korean Cuisine (which is a few blocks away) is still open for takeout if you like to eat Korean fried
chicken. In the case of C-Lovers Fish and Chips, the all-you-can-eat option is not available and meals are only available through takeout. Although Starbucks has safety precautions in place, it can get busy because of the warm weather outside. And they do “Happy Hour,” depending on the size of the location.
Parks near campus, including Town Centre Park, are open. They offer a large space and you can do a lot of active things as long as you participate in social distancing. Most of the David Lam campus neighbourhood is back in business, it seems.
Will convenience stores become a thing of the past? › An interview with Vancouver Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung
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hen driving down a residential street, you will tend to see the same things. Single dwellings, apartment complexes, and parks. But, in some areas, another sight can be seen. A store, right in the middle, with no other businesses around. These stores are convenience stores—they are not chains like 7/11.
Instead, they are local and independently run stores. Their name is accurate, as in some cases, they may be the only place to get food within a 20-minute walking distance. As time has gone on though, there seem to be a lot of boarded up corner stores. While there are quite a few in the city, convenience stores have been disappearing. Why are they disappearing? Is there hope for the future of the convenience store? To discuss
Photo by Billy Bui
Craig Allan Staff Writer
these questions and more, the Other Press contacted Vancouver Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung. She has proposed a motion to save and increase the number of convenience stores in the Vancouver area. Kirby-Yung believes that convenience stores have the potential to be an engaging part of a walkable green community: “They’ve served as focal points for social connection, fulfillment of daily needs, and they create an overall neighbourhood feel.” With Vancouver and other areas in the lower mainland wanting to become more walkable and connected, corner stores may be a better alternative than a big box store which may not be easily accessible by foot. While Kirby-Yung supports the continued operation of the standard corner store, she also sees the traditional store becoming a hybrid with a café or a gathering spot. Not only could this type of venture be a service to the community, but it could also be a place that builds engagement in the area. However, the convenience store life has been slowly disappearing in recent years. A 2019 UBC report pointed out that 364 of these types of stores had been demolished at the time of the report’s filing. “A lot of this was due to changing planning and zoning policies that moved to locate retail on to main streets, did not enable retail in residential neighbourhoods, the increasing cost of commercial space, as well as changes in consumer shopping habits. Now we’re seeing a renewed interest in local
and accessible amenities in individual neighbourhoods.” There is a bright future for the corner store in Sarah’s eyes: “When you bring up the topic of corner stores, everyone gets a smile on their face and has a story. They remember the family/people that ran the store and their names.” All of these shared positive memories leads this councillor to think that the population is craving these meaningful neighbourly interactions with others. She points out that COVID-19 has shown just how important local businesses are for those who don’t want to stray far from home. Kirby-Yung also sees corner stores in line with a green agenda since local services allow an area to become more sustainable. In my pursuit of this story, I tried to get the perspective of a convenience store owner. But, in my search, I found that many were just too busy to talk to me. In a way that shows the dedication these store proprietors have to their business. You can feel that when stepping inside and seeing everything—from milk and laundry detergent to imported foods that the owner has brought from their recent trip to Asia or the United States. There is a real charm to the establishments and a feeling that they are more sown into the community than a big box retailer. In the end, these are not just convenience stores, they are community stores that should not be overlooked.
life & style // no. 16
theotherpress.ca
Moving to a Gulf Island during COVID-19 › How this pandemic and Galiano changed my life Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor wasn’t ready. One can never quite be ready for much of the whole world shutting down. And, while millions of people were affected—some greater than others—my story is one of loss and personal devastation that actually turned out for the better. 2020 was my last semester at Douglas College before graduation. To have the satisfaction of graduating after putting in as much hard work as I had was all I could dream of and hope for! Instead, a semester of writing meaningful memoirs and poetry was cut short and I was forced into isolation on my birthday. Writing for the Other Press was one of the only things that kept me sane during the never-ending quarantine. At least my editors were still reading my words. The plan was to return to Indonesia for a month-long stay come September. But, when international travel plans were shut down, it truly felt like my independence was stripped from me. As someone with asthma, I have to take extra precautions against a respiratory disease such as COVID-19. So, I found myself reliant on my partner (working in an essential service) for income. When you’re in your late twenties and have to bum off your boyfriend, it doesn’t really help with self-esteem… I fought an internal battle with myself many times about whether to risk going back out into public and getting another job; I would secure some WhatsApp interviews, nail them, then hum and haw about my safety for a couple of days. Ultimately, the offers were never worth the risk, and that was truly frustrating considering the high cost of living in Vancouver and the hoops one has to jump through to obtain CERB payments. It felt like I was going to have to give up and take a step backwards in life: moving back in with the parents in Alberta. Eww. In a last-ditch effort, I thought of the broader and bigger picture: if college is over and I can barely afford to remain in my current home, what’s keeping me here? I began applying to a whack load of positions all over British Columbia, desperately searching for a job that I could walk to—to avoid transit—when I came across an ad for a barista on a beautiful gulf island off the coast of Vancouver Island. For shits and giggles, I applied. And the next day, I got a reply—and it wasn’t what I was expecting. The position was for a full-time baker on Galiano Island. I wasn’t ready. One can never quite be ready to uproot their entire life and move off to an island with a population that is just a little over one thousand people and only one part-time doctor during a pandemic. So, I turned down the offer. But when the owner of the bakery
Photo by Morgan Hannah
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was persistent, I rethought the offer and tentatively planned a trip out to the island, if only just to see what it would be like. Once I arrived on Galiano Island, I immediately fell in love with the place— stunning cliffside homes, white shell beaches with private swing sets, a quaint little “downtown,” and an even quainter community—I was sold! The best part was the exclusivity; not just anyone could get a job on the island. The next step was to find somewhere to live, however, my luck must have finally been changing. During my interview at the bakery, a customer walked in and happened to be advertising that her cottage was for rent. My partner and I went to check the place out and found it to be a wood and glass castle practically—and it was half the cost of our upper unit in Vancouver!
A month later, I’m settled on the island, living in the amazing home, and working as a full-time baker—waking up at 4 am, working hard, and bringing home the dough… pun intended. But this is not where my story ends. It turns out some evil forces were brewing in the shadows of the bakery and my demise was near. I was backed into a corner and forced to quit. Long story short, I was blindsided with false accusations that truly left me raw and untrusting, and panic began to set in. I just spent everything I had to move to an island with limited work opportunities in the middle of a pandemic and now was out of a job! What now? Day one without a job: I raged. I cried. I melted into the couch and stared out the window and into the forest surrounding me. Day three without a job: if not for my
partner, I wouldn’t have left the house. I’m glad I did though. Turns out the local inn was hiring. Originally, I applied as a housekeeper and then shortly found myself promoted to the front desk. Things were finally looking up for me again! A little time has passed since then and I finally have a routine developed again. My current job is better than the one I moved out here for, the people are great, and watching the sunset on a variety of semi-private beaches and hilltops has been tranquility at its finest. The cherry on top is that everything is within walking distance! I wake up each morning feeling more at peace than I have felt in five years. So, not a bad plan B during these unprecedented times. I can only pray that others might find suitable plan B’s for their uprooted lives too.
It turns out some evil forces were brewing in the shadows of the bakery and my demise was near.
Opinions
Have an idea for a story? opinions@theotherpress.ca
opinions // no. 17 • Online learning this quarantine is unproductive • Dealing with the rapidly growing interest in guns ...and more
Three years and three ethical violations › Why is it that Justin Trudeau must stumble from infraction to infraction?
Illustration by Athena Little
Prime Minister can have such demonstrably shaky judgment? In 2016 when the Aga Khan took the Trudeau family on an all-expenses paid vacation to his private island, PM Trudeau thought that there would be no conflicts of interest seeing as the Aga Khan had been a family friend longer than he had been (openly) lobbying Trudeau and his government. How could a prime minister not know full well that a lobbyist of any sort offering him a vacation would cause a backlash? How could a politician not see how that was a blatant attempt to curry favor? Fast forward a single year and PM Trudeau was in hot water again for the SNC-Lavalin bribery case. In no uncertain terms, ethics commissioner Mario Dion wrote, “The evidence showed there were many ways in which Mr. Trudeau, either directly or through the actions of those under his direction, sought to influence the attorney general.” Simply put, our Prime Minister exerted pressures on thenJustice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to reverse a decision on deferred persecution agreement. Further reporting concluded that while claiming to be protecting Canadian jobs, Trudeau was plotting and
Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor
“O
nce is an accident, twice is coincidence—but a third time is habit.” With this adage in mind, we can examine our honorable Prime Minister’s ethics violations. In just three years Justin Trudeau has succeeded in amassing an equal number of ethics blunders and misdeeds. When we peer into the office of our nation’s parliament and we look to the leader of our country, we expect to see someone of strong character and morale rigor. If they fall short once, they should be forgiven; if they stumble a second time, we should be critical but at least extend them a last chance; but a third infraction leaves us with no choice but to see their credibility as irreversibly tarnished. Maybe the most troubling question that we as Canadians can ask is how our
laying groundwork for the impending 2019 election. If nothing else, the SNCLavalin debacle exposed our PM’s cold, chess-like maneuvers to keep voters on his side. Trudeau has now exposed himself as uncaring or even unwilling to recuse himself with something as naked as promising a $900-million contract to an organization that has his own and his finance minister’s family on the payroll. Another question that we the voting public must ask ourselves in earnest is whether or not we can afford to give Justin Trudeau the benefit of the doubt once again. His wife hosted a podcast for the WE organization. His mother has been paid an estimated $250,000 by WE in speaking fees. His brother Alexandre has cleared a reported $32,000 from WE as well; two of finance minister Morneau’s daughters have had public ties to WE over the years (one of Morneau’s daughters is currently on contract with WE until the end of August) and PM Trudeau was aware of all of this. I do not see any reasonable way to excuse our esteemed leader for falling into what is clearly an avoidable ethics violation. The fact that he and his wife have been publicly tied to WE through speaking engagements and representation should have stopped him in his tracks with marked abruptness. There is little to no reasonable way that I can find to excuse this third (and hopefully
final) ethics violation. I am cynical enough to believe that Trudeau masks his corruption behind his handsome face and progressive wordplay; our PM knows that in the age of social media news cycles, being “softer” and better behaved than Trump is enough to keep one in good standing on the world leadership index. For all my cynicism there is no doubt that Canadians should demand much more from our Prime Minister than simply being better behaved on Twitter than Trump. Our Prime Minister should demonstrate sound judgment and respect for our ethical code at every turn; he should do more than “press pause” when a potential violation rears its head, and he must certainly not be caught violating our ethics standards three times in as many consecutive years. Our PM should inspire confidence and respect through a track record of good governance and sound decision making—not just an airtight photo op game and sloganeering. PM Trudeau has been a great face for Canada, on the condition that your inspection is never more than skin deep. It is high time for our country to firmly assert that we value ethical behaviour at every level of society and that we will not stand for this habitual disregard for the integral practices of good governance.
Online learning this quarantine is unproductive › It may have helped, but it is not enough EG Manilag Staff Writer
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t is important to understand that no type of learning model is ever perfect. Even the traditional model (classroom learning) has a lot of drawbacks. But, it is the best option available—whatever level of education you are in. However, because of this pandemic, post-secondary students have had no choice but to move into asynchronous online learning. This new type of learning model has been more of a pain than a gain—especially for me. Although I learned many things, it could have been done better through the traditional classroom model. There are a few reasons why I think distance and online learning are unproductive: Lack of interpersonal communication We all know that in our online lectures we have a discussion board/thread. The main
purpose of this is to provide us students a place to interact, discuss components of the course, and post relevant questions. Clearly, this is extremely helpful. But one thing to keep in mind is that only a few students use this function, unless the professor makes it mandatory (which hasn’t happened often to me). Why is it that only a small percentage of students use this function? I think this happens because students are afraid to post something permanent—it is easier to simply ask a question to the prof. We also tend to see the boards as unimportant because it is mostly just students interacting and discussions can easily go sideways. It is much better to direct questions to the professor via email—or just look to the internet for answers. This is viewed as a problem by many, considering that students miss out on gaining communication skills through conversations with other pupils (and the professor).
Skill-based and hands-on learning translates poorly This hassle is especially tiresome for nursing students, for example, who usually spend a decent amount of their time learning in labs. Many courses require a hands-on learning (e.g., food management courses) so learning them virtually simply won’t be as effective (or viable). Just like the types of learning styles, some learn better when experiencing or doing things (tactile learners), while others learn better at seeing things (spatial learners). For tactile learners, learning virtually could be a hassle. Furthermore, instant feedback is essential for many of these courses—a thing that is not consistently possible in asynchronous online learning. Lack of motivation It is really hard to learn (or spend time on education) during difficult times. In extreme circumstances, it is like
studying for a midterm while mourning. Unfortunately, this extreme scenario is true for some. This pandemic has really hit some hard. Not having a physical classroom makes it harder to focus. Computer illiteracy could pose a challenge to learning To attend class online, you need to have some basic computer navigation skills: the ability to log in, participate in virtual classes, submit homework digitally, and communicate with professors and students. Taking a quiz online can be a disaster—accidentally clicking the wrong button could instantly end it. It is not like a test paper; if you make a mistake you cannot necessarily easily erase it. Learning in a new environment, especially in these times, feels like being a lab rat. Online learning, although long attempted, is not yet as effective as it should be. There is still a lot of room for improvement.
opinions // no. 18
theotherpress.ca
Dealing with the rapidly growing interest in guns › This new movement could lead to disaster Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor
I
n my very first article for the Other Press I wrote about POC and LGBTQ+ individuals being essentially excluded from the gun rights conversation. I spoke then about how the negative image of gun ownership actively pushes the rest of us out of the conversation and into casualty from laws written to punish political opponents. There is a new day dawning as people increasingly lose trust in the government and police forces; for some, the presumptions about state guaranteed safety are falling away. Now, we are faced with a new problem: defending great ideas from their poor implementations. It has been documented that across Canada and America, gun purchases climbed as the COVID-19 outbreak created a climate of intense fear. Though it is bittersweet to see people realize that their safety ultimately resides in their own hands, the fact that it has been done in such a panicked manner—where people do not have access to the necessary training and practice conducive to safe gun ownership—is a problem. However, the political needle (in America) towards gun ownership will be forced to shift in the next few years; it will no longer just be conservatives who see the value in the Second Amendment. Suddenly, the people who once supported extreme gun control measures have been made subjects of
these measures in their time of need, be they mandatory waiting periods or license approvals. Laws that the people wanted are now being questioned by the voters themselves. How much this will influence the Democratic party is unclear, but they must change in the face of this new reality. Over the past few years black gun ownership in America has drastically increased. This trend seems to trace back to the election of Donald Trump, and Philip Smith, the president of the National African American Gun Association agrees. The association has gained 30,000 members since its inception in 2015. Smith credits this growth to black people suddenly seeing that the America they live in is filled with emboldened racists. This July 4, the Not F*cking Around Coalition (NFAC) and its founder Grand Master Jay led a march to Stone Mountain, Georgia. What attracted attention to the march was that everyone marching was African American and armed. Seeing as it took place in an open-carry state the sight was not in part unusual, but the message spread by Grandmaster Jay and his coalition was. Their willingness to engage in violence shows that the NFAC is unapologetic and tailor made for action. Though I can’t say for certain that all black gun owners are judged by these actions, nothing could have hurt the image of black gun ownership quite like Grand Master Jay’s gun ignorance and the negligent discharge by the NFAC at a Breonna Taylor
rally.
captured her child’s attention: “I said, ‘I’m watching the Edmonton Eskimos play the Saskatchewan Roughriders.’ Knowing as much about football as I did, she sat down and started cheering with me. I asked her, ‘Who are you cheering for?’ and she said, ‘The Eskimos because I am an Eskimo too.’” It’s frustrating that the narrative has been shaped so as to portray the entire Inuit people as being against the name when there are clearly many who have no issue with, or even like, the name. The Edmonton Eskimos even released a survey that found among the western Arctic community, 78 percent opposed a name change; in Nunavut, 55 percent opposed a name change; and in the eastern Arctic where results identified “little connection to the team,” 31 percent oppose a name change. Jackie Jacobson, the MLA for Nunakput, was “excited” when the team had initially decided to keep its name a few months ago. “It’s a good news story. I’m a full-class Eskimo, that’s how I consider myself.” In opposition to the survey, Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq wrote, “The fact that there was NO CONSENSUS means CHANGE THE NAME. I look forward to hearing from you as the member of parliament for 25 of 47 Inuit Nunangat
communities.” And she pretty much echoes the narrative in most media: some of us are offended so change it. But how is that fair to those who like the name? To those who find strength in the name? To those who are happy for a positive representation? Why is one side of the argument written off just because the other feels it should be? Because this isn’t just about removing a name. This is about imposing will. This drowns out any useful debate. If you’ve already labelled the other side as racist, and the general public comes to view that side as racist, you don’t need to have a conversation anymore—you’ve already invalidated one side. Without a word of actual discussion. That’s why it’s so upsetting to see so many Inuit lose a symbol of strength without even a struggle. Many of their voices ignored—those who defend their viewpoint labelled as racist. Isn’t it the least bit curious how all the papers ran the survey and the results, yet only ever had quotes to support the side opposed to the name? How is it that a survey that resulted in no consensus… was frequently reported upon as if there were a consensus? Duane Smith, chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC), was clear
The continued slow growth in representation that the black community needed in the Second Amendment fight was stricken by this. Worse still is a group that claims to be made of “highly trained” shooters that demonstrates poor muzzle discipline and suffers a negligent discharge resulting in injury. This instantaneously transformed them from an oddity group to dangerous LARPers. (Grand Master Jay claims that a member dropped their gun while fainting. He also claims that the shotgun was an older model without a safety, explaining why it went off easily.) You cannot stop people in a “shared” cause from having their own opinions, but you can suffer as their actions reflect on you; I see the NFAC’s misdeeds hurting black people in the eyes of those who looking for any new way to justify their prejudices AND hurting the legitimate good work of anyone who fights to correct the misunderstandings around gun ownership. Finally, there is the tragic misuse of firearms for self-defence. The case of Jillian Wuestenberg, a woman who pulled a gun during an escalating encounter, was just one of many examples of fear blending too closely with aggression. Though the Wuestenberg’s were being threatened with
Illustration by Athena Little
without proper implementation
physical harm, the moment Jillian stepped out of her car and pulled out her gun she needlessly escalated the situation. I support armed self defence but I must admit when things go wrong. There are certain responsibilities that come with firearm ownership and there must be a higher level of discipline practiced by anyone exercising their right to own a firearm. There is a duty to try every measure to retreat and deescalate a situation before using a firearm—it should only be seen as a last resort. There are great principles underlying the idea of gun ownership, but the movement is only as good as the people practicing it. With something as contentious as the civilian right to own lethal force, every misuse will have consequences whether it is the misapplication of the law or of the weapons themselves. If chaos rabidly descends on America, the mistakes may soon outweigh the good that has been done.
Eski-No’s
› Inuit voices invalidated Timothy Easling Contributor
“G
rowing up as a kid, I first caught on to a football game and Edmonton Eskimos were playing and I really thought it was our own team. I felt a sense of pride,” said Kenneth Ruben, of Paulatuk, N.W.T. Dominic Angutimarik from Igloolik, Nunavut, felt similarly about the Edmonton Eskimos name, conveying his thoughts originally in Inuktitut: “I wouldn’t want them to change their name simply because it’s just a title and, in fact, I feel honoured as an Inuk person to see the name Eskimos as they probably had thought that Inuit were capable people with integrity.” It’s voices such as these that have been lost in recent times. In the dash to decry the sins of the Edmonton Eskimos, the majority of mainstream media has completely invalidated the strong feelings of pride many Inuit associate with the name. Lorne Kusugak, a Nunavut MLA, has only fond memories of the Eskimos—first seeing them on TV in the ‘70s when his mother, Kukik Kusugak, a well-known and respected elder in the territory, came and sat down with him to see what had
about the organization’s stance: “The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation does not take exception to the term Eskimo as it is not derogatory in any way. It was developed by a First Nations group to describe a group of Inuit they were aware of.” The IRC is the body responsible for achieving the goals and interests outlined in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement signed in 1984—“the first comprehensive land claim agreement signed north of the 60th parallel and only the second in Canada at that time.” The CFL is not a major sports league. If you aren’t a fan, you likely won’t encounter much, if any, of its advertising, teams, games, news, etc. A great many of those who have spoken out against the name are not sports fans. The change has minimal impact for them. On the other side of the coin are those who watch football, love the team, and have a special place for the name in their hearts. In the decision to drop the name, have those against it really won anything? Will it change anything in their life? Will they ever think about it again? The only losers in this game are the unfortunate Inuit who looked for and found value in one of their only contemporary representations.
Humour
Have an idea for a story? humour@theotherpress.ca
humour // no. 19 • Pump up the volume • Unrealistic expectations 101 • Outdoor staycations are hot property this summer ...and that's everything!
How to not book a camping trip
Illustration by CJ Sommerfeld
› Outdoor staycations are hot property this summer
CJ Sommerfeld Contributor
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he long-awaited summer has finally dawned upon us. What screams “BC SUMMER” more than sleeping in our coniferous forests for a weekend? Nothing. However, this year, once the clock strikes 12:01—thirty days prior to a camper’s getaway date—nearly all public camping spots are booked. Fred Fir and Steven Spruce fought off numb fingertips and purple lips for three seasons while eagerly anticipating an escapade of camping during the summer months. It was almost that time of the year, the one where we riddle our lawn chairs and fleece-pullovers with campfire burn holes and finally use our $500-dollar
79-attachment multitool. However, little did these boys know, this season was not going to happen as they had planned. “At first we had a long criterion of what we wanted in our campsite.” Fir tells the Other Press during a Facebook Messenger Rooms interview with him and his camping buddy, Spruce. “Boat launch! RV hook-up! Hiking trails! Potable water! Outhouses!... But not too far a drive from Vancouver.” Spruce chimes in. In May, the two campers had read on their newsfeed that BC Parks camping spots would only be available for reservation thirty days prior to the booking date. They began searching for campsites which fit their criterion 47 days out. They wrote a list of the sites which they found, and at 7 am, 29 days and three-quarters out, they found that all the available spots for these campsites had
been reserved. “I was blown away—people must’ve booked all of them between 12:01 and 7 that morning.” Spruce tells us. They then began searching on private camping websites where people listed their own properties— their backyards and such—for people to rent and camp in. “There were vineyards, farmyards and backyards, but none of them fit our original camping criterion.” Fir tells us, shocked. As reservations for these campsites were open up to a year in advance, all the good spots had been reserved. The two boys explained to the Other Press that they then lowered their criteria and continued searching on the private campsite websites. “We got to a point, where we were like f*** it; we don’t need a boat launch, we don’t need a waterfall… we
didn’t even care if there’s potable water... it just needs to be a decent drive from Vancouver.” “I’ll even sh*t in a hole if we can’t get a spot with outhouses!” Fir interrupts Spruce. Yet still, the only available spots for the weekend which they desired were those in the Rockies. This mountain chain, however, was a tad too far a drive for just a weekend trip. “Here we were thinking that we’d be camping all summer, but really, we’ll be lucky if we even go once.” Spruce utters sadly. Long gone are the days where you can easily drive into the woods with flats of beer and some veggie-wieners to get drunk with the trees. If you want this to be a reality this summer, remember to book well in advance to secure a camping spot!
humor// no. 20
theotherpress.ca
Ridiculous hiring practices › Unrealistic expectations 101
Tania Arora Staff Writer
A
Illustration by Athena Little
How hard is it to write the exact title of the job?
Pump up the volume
n entry-level job, as the term suggests, is for a candidate who is about to enter the workforce. And with each passing year of experience, the salary expectations tend to rise as well. As normal as all this may sound, human resource departments of the past years don’t understand this. They have converted the process into a whole new form of a nuisance. The discovery started after my graduation when I started to hunt for job opportunities. The outcome is that no matter how much education I have, my lack of experience doesn’t even let me step into “entry-level” jobs. Why would someone with actual experience be applying for a beginner position and accepting lower pay? Where must the actual entry-level candidates go? Positions that are a level higher than entry-level positions have been seen with minimum requirements of five to eight years of experience. In such a time frame, a person could become an assistant director or at least a senior specialist. Brand new five-yearold companies have been seen looking for candidates with 7 to 10 years of experience for a director position. Should I finally say this— that one must spread their legs according to the size of their blanket? Also, I understand companies try to have candidates from different backgrounds, but that will happen anyway if employees are judged by their experience and not their name. What is the point of having questions asking for ethnicity? Now to criticize the so-called title of these jobs. How hard is it to write the exact title of the job? I always struggle in writing a resume explaining why I am interested in applying for a position that I know nothing about. My mind starts shooting different ideas. One of them being, of course, I need a job and you are hiring. Secondly, I like your office building… Eventually I just type an answer bragging about how great the company is.
› Fake crowd noise for spectator-less sporting events have given Dr. Bonnie Henry an idea Craig Allan Staff Writer
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s sports leagues like the NHL and the MLB come back, players must get use to the new normal of playing in front of no fans. This includes tarps covering seats, cardboard cut outs of fans in the stands, and pumped-in crowd noise from loudspeakers. The addition of the crowd noise has led to a lifelike atmosphere around the sport of play. This level of artificial activity has intrigued BC’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry. She is now looking to introduce this technology into open spaces like Jack Poole Plaza and Granville Street. Dr. Henry says that these noises will help people feel like they are back in the good old days when we were all basking in the glow of drunken yahoos and pre-pandemic life.
The areas in question will have large speakers hanging over and blasting crowd noise. Test run received reactions from passersby’s such as Jasmine Callender who said this: “IT’S SO LOUD! I CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING BUT THE NOISE!” Paul WaCarty stated “WHAT?! WHAT DID YOU SAY?!” Dr. Henry said the speakers will also be programed to make other sounds at certain times. These include construction work at 6 am, SkyTrain maintenance noise at 4 am, and a crying baby every five minutes. She also said, “I knew that this would make a lot of ‘noise,’ so I have also commissioned a home version of the speaker so that all British Columbians can enjoy these sounds in their very own bedrooms. Remember, the pandemic is not forever, but these sounds will be!”
Comics
Comic By Nova Sawatzky
Comic by Sonam Kaloti
people who think liking pizza is a personality trait
Comics
Comic By by Udeshi Seneviratne
What a children's conspiracy paper would look like
Crossword Caroline Ho Web Editor ACROSS 1. Action word 5. Complaint, casually 9. Arm muscle 14. Superfood berry 15. Train track 16. Earthen hue 17. “Africa” (1982) band 18. Jason’s ship 19. “Laughing” predator 20. Japanese theatre 22. Writer Victor 24. Breathable stuff 25. Relating to human body statistics 27. __ Aviv 28. Phalaenopsis family 29. Greek P 31. Videogame graphics, e.g. 32. Crow’s call 34. Like a simple mathematical relationship 38. Star in Cygnus 41. Navigational aid 43. Charcoal crayon 44. Playground fixture 46. Little lump 48. Android alt. 49. Ace 50. India’s largest city 53. Written doc. (abbr.) 56. Miscellanea 59. Before, poetically 60. Part of AD 61. Frying need 62. Pugilist 64. Farm building 66. Wee 70. One of the basic tastes 71. Decorative case 72. “My word!” 73. “Gotta go fast” character 74. Platter 75. __-moi DOWN 1. Tub 2. Green prefix 3. Large rodent 4. Like an artificial limb 5. Tamil or Thai, as scripts 6. Hearing organ 7. Stop sign’s number of sides 8. Baking staple 9. Hippie fashion 10. Frigid11. Have an ace up one’s sleeve, literally 12. Bert’s pal 13. Oyster output 21. “That’s neat!” 23. Lass 25. Pickling liquid 26. Dutch cheese 28. Curved moulding 30. Singer-songwriter Yoko 31. Floppy successors 33. Ashen 35. Early computer 36. “To you,” en français
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Monthly crossword: Our province!
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