Over The Edge Volume 20 Issue 8

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Volume 20, Issue 8 overtheedgenewspaper.ca

January 8, 2014 ote-newspaper@unbc.ca

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Next Submission Deadline: January 22nd, 2014

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Support is always needed and no experience is required, help make Over The Edge Newspaper better. We want to hear from you! Call us at (250) 960-5633, tweet us @overtheedgeunbc, email us at ote-newspaper@unbc.ca and be sure to like us on facebook. For more information, please visit our redesigned website www.overtheedgenewspaper.ca.

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Over The Edge is the University of Northern British Columbia’s independent newspaper. Our office is located on the 2nd floor of the NUSC building in room 6-350.We are an equal opportunity publication which represents students in the UNBC and Prince George community. Our publication supports student writing by welcoming news, arts, sports, culture and opinion articles as well as photography, comics, and creative writing submissions. Every year, we provide employment as editors, designers, and managers to students with a passion for journalism and are always looking for motivated individuals to work and volunteer in our collaborative environment. Over The Edge offers competitive advertising rates for space in our print publication as well as online.

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New Year, New Pawblems: by Shelley Termuende University Press and the National Wire.

Over the Edge is a member of the national university and college student newspapers co-operation, which helps to provide services and editorial content for its member publications.

One of the awesome services CUP provides is the opportunity for members’ content to be published on a nationally renowned newswire service which allows our stories to be republished in other members’ papers. This year alone, we have had our OTE content published on the wire increase by 100%. Last year, we had zero articles released to membership. This year we have had a steady stream of one article

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n honour of Over the Edge’s 20th anniversary and the fact that this issue marks our 200th issue, we have compiled a list of our New Year’s resolutions for 2014. Over the Edge is committed to ensuring we follow through on these 10 key goals for 2014.

1. Improving our notoriety on a national scale through Canadian

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per issue, on average, proving to be strong enough for publication on the wire. It is no question, this increase in useable content is due to our amazing writers, contributors and editors. Their continued dedication to strong and informative content means our national influence and respect will only get better with each OTE publication.

2. Establishing strong relationships with local businesses to improve our reputation,and ad revenue.

This semester we have garnered an unprecedented amount of ad revenue for our organization. As a non-profit, we are dependent on ad sales to keep us afloat. The majority of our student levies are currently being used to produce the bi-weekly print publication, and therefore we are relying on additional advertisements to secure our honorariums, attend Canadian University Press regional and national conferences, and finally,

pay for our software and capital requirements such as Adobe Suite and Cameras. Ensuring we have a steady stream of ads means we can have our revenue match our expenditures.

Promoting ourselves within the community is a huge priority when it comes to securing our name locally. We can say great things about our publication but unless we can prove it, our word does not get us very far. This past year, we have had the pleasure of working with great community members while planning and conducting last October’s Western and Prairies regional conference. In addition, the support of the community has made it possible to achieve so much, for our little paper, through ad revenue and contributions, that we have to offer our extreme gratitude and thanks for their continued support throughout this year and into next.

3. Supporting local food providers.

The opportunities for great, local food are always increasing in Prince George but are often underutilized by we university students.

There are better and healthier alternatives to Eurest’s massproduced diet. The Over the Edge team has always been committed to supporting the local University Farmers’ Market, The Bread Guy, the Corner Store (for that fast snack before class), your student union’s own Degrees coffee, and the Thirsty Moose Pub. I am not kidding when I say Degrees crafts a better Chai Tea Latte than Starbucks, and “the Moose” is on our shortlist for food providers for our upcoming Annual General Meeting on 30 January 2013.

4. Acquiring grants for office capital, and software upgrades and creating summer employment opportunities.

We are taking the advice of CFUR radio – hoping to follow in their success - and will be applying for multiple grants in an attempt to create two new summer positions which are the continuation of our joint CFUR-OTE position of Multimedia Editor as well as a grant-writer and advertising specialist. We are also hoping to improve our office with the help of grant money. While we have been able to cover the awful state of our office walls with posters and picture frames, and hide our floor with desks and office chairs, it is clear our space needs some serious TLC. 5. Better sports coverage!

Over the Edge’s sports section has always been a point of contention between our staff and with our readers. The main responses we have had to deal with include statements such as; “why bother, who reads that section anyway?”

“If we wanted to know about sports, I wouldn’t look at OTE.” and my personal favourite, “Sports articles are boring and are all the same… where is the originality?”

6. Improving our out-of-print content and influence.

With the addition of our new position of Multimedia Editor, Over the Edge is going to be starting a weekly news and review blog on our website, we will be creating a social media promotion strategy including twitter, Instagram, vine and facebook to engage with our readers on a more diverse series of platforms. Our goal is to be able to compare to online intensive news providers in a hope to increase our online presence with original content.

provide us with content that you find interesting. Over the Edge is representing you, so tell us how we can do it better and how we can get you involved.

8. Partnering up with other local media. CNC publications, CBC Radio North, The Prince George Citizen, and The Prince George Free Press for internships and job shadowing.

Job shadowing opportunities and internship opportunities have been in the planning stages for months. Over the Edge has tentative agreements with The Citizen and The Free Press, and we have already offered one of our CBC Radio internships to one of our contributors from across the divide at CFUR radio. This year, Over the Edge will be working on cementing job placements and outlining the conditions of these internships.

9. Practicing Investigative Journalism.

While Over the Edge has made huge

improvements in regard to our article content, the bar can still be raised. Last year, Over the Edge was able to assist in creating a safer walking pathway from Neyoh and Keyoh to the central university, and we were proud to offer an outlet for students to voice concerns and act to bring about positive change for the university as a whole. It is no question that in order to effectively change a current practice, or expose an unfavourable practice being conducted, research and attention to detail is fundamental.

It is not an easy endeavor to investigate stories not commonly covered in media (locally or nationally) but we hope to see our editors divulge into the task, and we welcome you to join us in our pursuits.

10. Great Hair, style, and natural sex appeal. (Which, let’s be honest, we always had and will always have).

No clarification needed. For proof, inspect the head of our culture editor, Tyson Kelsall. He is available at your discretion.

7. Increasing and strengthening our volunteer program and volunteer base.

While we have made huge strides with our volunteer base this year, we know that we could do a lot to improve our opportunities for our membership to get involved.

We would like to see every one of our members be actively involved with our publication, after all you are paying for it, so why not make the most of it? We are always looking for people to take photos, write articles and

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It is no question our sports section has needed attention in the past, and it is more obvious still that a dedicated sports reporter and sports fanatic is needed in order to cover the section properly.

Along with a passion for sports, this editor must be able to bring

in their own unique style in order to draw in a loyal fan base. On our second sports editor this year, this section in particular is consistently improving. You have our word that as a team we are doing our very best to improve this section and are actively seeking out contributors – this could be an opportunity for you - to report on WHL and AJHL games, CIS Varsity games with your UNBC Timberwolves, and local sports events. 2014 is already shaping up to be a big year in sports for Prince George and we are all gearing up for extensive coverage of the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

News

Cyclone Phailin ABC News

Disasters 2013: An Overview Nicole Halseth News Editor

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013 is officially over. Now, while the apocalypse did not happen, 2013 was nonetheless very active in terms of natural disasters. Though this is by no means an exhaustive list, some of the most significant natural disasters of 2013 included: Typhoon Haiyan - Philippines Typhoon Haiyan, considered to be one of the most powerful tropical storms to make landfall, hit the central area of the Philippines on 8 November 2013. With a storm surge of 13-feet and winds up to 235 mph, Haiyan caused widespread destruction and wiped out much of the infrastructure in the area.

Almost 6,000 people were killed, and up to 3.6 million have been displaced. Disaster response, slow to reach the affected areas, is still ongoing.

Typhoon (Cyclone) Phailin - India Phailin was the strongest cyclone to have hit India in over 14 years, affecting nearly 13 million people in the northeast part of the country

in October 2013. The storm caused widespread destruction, with heavy rains and winds up to 150 mph, and around 50 people were killed.

Almost one million vulnerable populations from coastal areas were evacuated prior to the storm by the government and aid agencies.

Hurricanes Manuel and IngridMexico Two tropical storms hit western Mexico in September of 2013, causing mass flooding and landslides. 200, 000 people were affected in Guerrero state, and Acapulco was hit by mudslides of up to five feet. Disaster relief is ongoing.

Earthquake - Central Visayas, Philippines Just three weeks before Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, they were subjected to a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in the same area.

It killed 222 people and displaced 350, 000, and destroyed or damaged around 73, 000 buildings.

Tornadoes - United States

With up to 200 mph winds, a large tornado cut a 12-mile path through the area around Oklahoma City on 20 May, 2013. The tornado destroyed and damaged homes, including two elementary schools, and killed 24 people. Only a week prior to this larger tornado, up to 10 smaller tornadoes hit North Texas and killed six people.

Long term disaster response and rebuilding is ongoing.

Other large-scale natural disasters of 2013 include: earthquakes and tsunamis (February) in the Solomon Islands; earthquakes (April) in Sichuan, China; drought (May to present) in Southern Africa; floods (June) in Uttarakhand, India; floods (September) in Colorado, US; floods (October) in Southern Asia; drought (ongoing) in West Africa.

While the New Year has begun, it is important to remember the tragedies of the old one. Many people, communities, and countries around the world are still facing the repercussions of these events every day, and will be recovering for some time. Relief efforts

continue, in many cases, and you can still become involved. If not, remembering these incidents is a small way you can continue to show them respect.

According to the National Post, Canada can expect some extreme weather of its own early in 2014, in the form of a series of intense temperature shifts from freezing to mild. While not on the level of the disasters mentioned above, this predicted weather is believed to be so severe that Environment Canada is already devising a plan to replace the current system of issuing wind chill warnings with a new system of Extreme Cold Warnings, to compensate for significant drops in temperature that are not accompanied by wind chill. This new program may even be introduced sometime in 2014.

Given the severe cold front that has recently hit parts of North America, many of us are (unfortunately) acutely familiar with this subject.

So bundle up, keep a keen eye out for the weather warnings, and fight the chill any way you can. Stay warm Canada!

News 5

Canada’s Supreme Court Eliminates Prostitution Laws Nicole Halseth News Editor

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n one of the most important rulings since the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was enacted in 1982, and with significant effects on the future of the Canadian legal landscape, the Supreme Court has ‘struck down’ Canada’s major prostitution laws.

These laws prohibited brothels, communicating with clients in public, and living off the profits of prostitution. This follows a court challenge filed by current and past sex workers.

According to an article on The Globe and Mail's website, the Court claims “the bans on street soliciting, brothels and people living off the avails of prostitution create severe dangers for vulnerable women and therefore violate Canadians’ basic values.”

On behalf of a unanimous court, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin wrote that “the ruling is not about whether prostitution should be

legal or not, but about whether Parliament’s means of controlling it infringe the constitutional rights of prostitutes.”

McLachlin also claimed “Parliament has the power to regulate against nuisances, but not at the cost of the health, safety and lives of prostitutes,” and that “the prohibitions all heighten the risks. . . . They do not merely impose conditions on how prostitutes operate. They go a critical step further, by imposing dangerous conditions on prostitution; they prevent people engaged in a risky – but legal – activity from taking steps to protect themselves from the risks.”

The Supreme Court of Canada suspended the ruling for one year, in order to allow Parliament time to respond. As such, Justice Minister Peter MacKay will have to decide whether or not to adopt new prohibitions, and if so, how to ensure any new prohibitions will be in accordance with the Supreme

Terri-Jean Bedford, along with two other women, filed the court challenge that prompted this action.

BBC World News

Court. In a statement, MacKay claimed that the government will look at pursuing new prohibitions.

Should this be the case, any new laws would have to seriously address the safety of those engaged in sex work.

In defence of their ruling, the Supreme Court cited the role of the state in making many sex workers more vulnerable to violence. The court also explicitly outlined how each of the three previous prostitution laws caused harm to individuals. According to The Globe and Mail: “The ban on brothels prevents prostitutes from working in safer indoor locations, and is ‘grossly disproportionate to the deterrence of community

disruption;’ The law against living off the avails of prostitution is intended for pimps, but also bans ‘legitimate drivers, managers, or bodyguards. . . accountants or receptionists;’ The ban on street soliciting is intended to take prostitution out of public view to prevent nuisance, but endangers prostitutes by preventing them from weeding out dangerous clients, and is therefore grossly disproportionate to its purpose.”

The future impacts of this eradication of Canada’s prostitution laws are uncertain, but what is certain is that this will continue to be an important issue both nationally and locally.

Global Homosexual Law decriminalize gay sex by the Delhi High Court. Though the Delhi High Court said “gay sex between consenting adults should not be treated as a crime,” the Supreme Court said the ultimate responsibility for changing the law rests with the parliament.

BBC World News

Nicole Halseth News Editor

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bove and beyond the media storm surrounding Russia’s ‘gay propaganda ban,’ and its various international reactions, especially in regards to the upcoming Olympics in Sochi, developments in international homosexual rights continue.

According to an article on the BBC World News Website, “the Indian government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court asking it to review its decision to reinstate a 153-year-old law that criminalizes

homosexuality.”

This review has been based on the premise that the reinstatement of this old, colonial law violates “the principle of equality.” It follows significant backlash, in the form of protest and criticism from numerous levels of Indian society, as the ruling to reinstate the law was considered a “huge blow to gay rights.”

On 11 December 2013, the Supreme Court of India reinstated a law to criminalize homosexuality, overturning a 2009 ruling to

The government said, in its petition filed with the Supreme Court, that “the position of the central government on this issue has been that the Delhi High Court verdict... is correct.” While the petition awaits a final decision in India, developments continue in different areas of the world. According to an article on the BBC World News website, “Uganda's parliament has passed a bill to toughen the punishment for homosexual acts to include life imprisonment in some cases.”

This bill, originally put forth in 2009 as a private member’s bill, also makes it possible for individuals

who do not report gay people to be potentially given a prison sentence, and bans any promotion of homosexuality.

Though the bill passed, the prime minister opposed the vote by stating that an insufficient number of MPs were present.

These activities have made it very difficult and dangerous for gay rights activists and individuals in Uganda. Opinions on the matter are divided both internationally and within the country.

These two instances, coupled with the developments on gay laws in Russia, represent only a fraction of the activity within the sphere of global homosexual rights.

However, as international attention surrounding these issues increases, more developments are likely to continue. This will impact the overall state of homosexual, and human, rights around the world in the future.

Culture Tyson Kelsall Culture Editor

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arsha Walia, currently a Vancouver-based activist, has just released her first book via AK Press in the Anarchist Interventions series. Walia is a member of No One Is Illegal, and a grassroots activist in her own right, especially within the area of Vancouver’s downtown eastside; so, the work is not an analysis done by a far-off academic, but by a woman on the front line.

Walia points out in an interview with the Canadian Dimension that she had fears of individualizing this anti-oppressive movement with the release of her book, which is probably why she is far from being the only contributor. As a collective shapes the current struggle, and the actions are more successful when people are working together, the book reflects this, deliberately or not. The book consists of several separate accounts from migrants,

Walia Takes On Migrant Justice a dialogue between other activists on their stances and theories, and a preface by prominent feminist and intellectual Andrea Smith.

The book itself, Undoing Border Imperialism, manages a unique, strong balance of being quantitative and qualitative, experiential and investigative, creative and academic, and all that is within a concise, accessible style of writing. The book features poetry, prose, and textbook-style, logical/rational writings. Undoing Border Imperialism ties together many oppressed groups and social movements, with a distinctive focus on the parallels between colonialism and the oppression of migrants, especially migrants of colour. With an underlying theme that global capitalism is dependent on the global flow of capital, while still punishing the global movement of the labour, especially the labourers (who are

most vulnerable) and must move to follow the capital accumulation: money moves freely, but there are borders put onto people. The book converges on the great paradox of constructing certain people to be illegal, while the government itself is often acting illegally on non-ceded Indigenous lands within the borders of Canada and the USA, and especially within British Columbia, where a great majority of the land has never been legally given up. However, it also outlines differences felt within this web of solidarity, and the difficulties of certain contexts when it comes to mobilization and action. For example, if someone is about to be unjustly deported from Canada, but does not recognize other forms of oppression, such as feminism, and acts harmfully towards women, how does a feminist activist play a role in this person or group’s liberation? Within these linked groups, there is much overlap in

working against the current system and power structures; however, there are also different priorities and means of getting to the end goal.

Undoing Border Imperialism succeeds in covering the basic understanding of the violence and oppression brought on by the state, both by the creation of certain policies and the ignorance of historical Indigenous laws; as well as covering the power of community, whilst articulating big and small victories that have been achieved over the past years. However, it also delves into the more profound details, the problems and the positives inside the world of social justice activism.

Lastly, it possesses a certain urgency for people to stand up and act, now. As the blurb on the back cover indicates, activists should probably have a copy of this book in their backpacks.

Postal Canada: End of an Era Tyson Kelsall Culture Editor

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ith the ever-growing, universal accessibility to electronic communication, for many the phasing out of Canada Post’s home delivery was definitely on the horizon. For some, perhaps it was further away, a slow procedure. After all, for many urbanites, having the mailperson drop by each morning has been a tradition since the 1880s. However, some did not see it coming at all.

In fact, many critics of Canada Post’s plan argue that this was the worst possible route to take. This argument stems from four main factors: Canada Post has been a profiting entity for 18 of the last 19 years, there will be 6,000-8,000 jobs permanently gone, certain segments of the population who rely on Canada Post’s home delivery could be further isolated and/or marginalized and, lastly, some see economic solutions based on postal services in other countries.

The only year Canada Post did not profit in the past 19 years was in

2011, in which there was a long strike. So, as journalist Ethan Cox points out, the only year where Canada Post was in the red was more due to politics, and not a lack of usage from the Canadian population. Labour groups, including the CUPW (Canadian Union of Postal Works), of course, have also lamented the job loss.

Canada Post management has argued that many of the jobs that will be phased out would come through retirements. However, the number of employment opportunities will surely be fewer, as there will be less work to be done. It brings up the question of whether a crown-corporation which is profiting should be cutting jobs. When it comes to taxpayersubsidized programs which are run like businesses, it also creates the question of whether the consumer should be treated as a customer or a shareowner. Theoretically, house delivery is most needed by people who have physical difficulties walking, whether due to age or disability of some kind, especially in the parts of Canada with long, harsh winters. Deepak Chopra, the

Is time running out for Canada’s public postal service?

Canada Post

CEO of Canada Post, argued that senior citizens would welcome the extra exercise, which was criticized harshly. In some other countries, where the question of whether or not the time of the public postal service has reached its end, they expanded their services using the infrastructure that was already in place, instead of phasing it out.

For example, Germany has postal banks, which provide citizens easy banking access, as well as low costs.

In Canada’s rural communities, where there are already post offices, this has been seen as one useful alternative to shrinking services provided by Canada Post.

Prince George is perhaps the ideal

town in which to analyze the debate on whether or not house delivery is essential postal service.

With its isolated, yet somewhat large population and winter weather, the people of Prince George have a fairly good excuse to demand home delivery. For some, the community mailboxes may not be a big ordeal; it might enhance their relationship with their neighbours as they bump into the same people over and over again. On the other hand, for some sections of the population, communication through postal services might become impossible on an icy day. In any case, a tradition is shedding its skin, and a new era of communication is upon us.

Culture 7 Remembering Nelson Mandela

Business Insider

Tyson Kelsall Culture Editor

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n 5 December 2013, the world lost an extremely resilient and intelligent man. The ex-South African president and freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, passed away at the age of 95. Mandela is credited for being a key figure in ending the apartheid regime in South Africa, and is often remembered through his wise quotations. He served 27 years as a political prisoner, and is revered for still having hope in the potential for humankind despite that.

In the wake of his death, it seems many groups and people of certain ideology who once strongly opposed Mandela and labeled him a terrorist, have begun to twist his history around. It did not take long for conservatives and liberals alike to paint Mandela as a nonviolent, peaceful activist who was wrongly done by. However, many are arguing that Mandela should be remembered for who he truly was. For a time period, Nelson Mandela served as the

head of the militant wing of the African National Congress, called the UmKhonto we Sizwe, also known as MK. The MK was an organization that held violent protests in response to the white supremacist government of South Africa. In 1987, the late Margaret Thatcher proclaimed, “The ANC [African National Congress] is a typical terrorist organization ...

Anyone who thinks it is going to run the government in South Africa is living in cloud-cuckoo land.” Ironically, one of the first political leaders to give a statement of sorrow on Mandela’s death was self-identifying steadfast Thatcher supporter, David Cameron, the British Prime Minister.

Furthermore, Nelson Mandela read the works of Karl Marx, and upon his first face-to-face meeting with Fidel Castro, swiftly said, “Before we say anything, you must tell me when you are coming to South Africa.” Before that, Nelson Mandela was a staunch Castro supporter. In fact, it was a little ironic that Bill Clinton expressed grief at the loss of Mandela, but

never took him off the US terrorism watch list during his presidency or until he was a 90-year-old, in 2008.

The US continues to boycott Cuba and shade the Castro regime as a horrid one, at best. Mandela was also closely associated with the South African Communist Party, which he was a member of before his imprisonment, and afterwards he appointed ex-leader Joe Slovo as the Minister of Housing during his presidency.

Some critics of Mandela’s postdeath conversation have concluded that people are remembering Mandela’s Martin Luther King Jr. similarities, but forgetting his radical Malcolm X side. Although Mandela effectively stood up to world powers and attempted to end a racist regime out of the love for his people and justice, prominent Slovenian communist philosopher Slavoj Žižek pointed out that the socio-economic problems of black South Africans still remains today, even without a legal apartheid state. He points out that Mandela’s true desire was to end poverty,

Mandela himself once saying, “Like slavery and apartheid, [poverty] is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings," and his focus was especially with the poverty felt most by the South African black population. Žižek concluded, “If we want to remain faithful to Mandela’s legacy, we should thus forget about celebratory crocodile tears…We can safely surmise that, on account of his doubtless moral and political greatness, he was at the end of his life also a bitter, old man…His universal glory is also a sign that he really didn’t disturb the global order of power.”

Nelson Mandela was undoubtedly a passionate, strong person. After a long stay in prison, he still believed in the power of reconciliation. He loved people. He stood up for his beliefs, but also took compromises in hopes of helping his oppressed brothers and sisters. Perhaps if we do indeed support him, we should remember, mourn, and celebrate the great Mandela for who he really was.

Feature

Inroads Journal

The

Enbridge Pipeline Receives Conditional Approval Nicole Halseth & Tyson Kelsall News & Culture Editor

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fter years of debate and discussion, the Northern Gateway pipeline has received conditional approval from the panel conducting an environmental assessment of the project on 19 December 2013. The pipeline will connect Alberta’s oil sands with a port in Kitimat, and has long been a controversial topic among the various interest groups. The Northern Gateway pipeline project is a proposal to carry bitumen mixed with condensate from just outside of Edmonton, AB to Kitimat, BC. The conditional approval by a federal joint review panel, composed of only three members, has concluded that the $6.5 billion project is in Canada’s best interests, and the risk of severe environmental harm is minimal.

However, they also concluded the pipeline might have serious impacts on grizzly bear and caribou populations, though they also concluded this damage could be mitigated.

The Vancouver Sun reported that only two out of 1161 people spoke in favour of the pipeline, meaning 99.8% of community members spoke against it. Luanne Roth, the project’s coordinator, finds it unbelievable that the JRP managed to put their own opinion above basically every testimony, especially considering that many of the speakers were experts in

a variety of areas. Many have questioned whether or not the JRP was doing legitimate, honest work, or whether it had already made its decision from the outset, based on the federal Conservatives’ blatant support.

According to an article by CBC News, with this tentative approval comes the recommendation for 209 conditions to be imposed on the project. These conditions cover a variety of issues, from the technical design of the pipeline to the completion of pre-construction studies.

According to an article by The Prince George Citizen website, Enbridge, the company that owns the project, has said that “the project is needed to give Canadian oil producers access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on selling to the United States, which is ramping up its own domestic production.” However, opponents to the pipeline have vowed that they will not cease pressuring governments to reject the plan. Opposition to the pipeline largely centers on potential harm to wildlife and habitats, as well as infringements of First Nations’ rights.

Josh DeLeenheer, spokesman for the Sea to Sands Conservation Alliance said in regards to the plan: “We believe that in order for this project to proceed it would require First Nations approval and social license - neither of which it has at

this point."

In response, Enbridge president and CEO Al Monaco claimed the company still plans to reach out to opponents in the coming months to listen to their concerns, despite the approval. In a conference call, Monaco said "it's hard to expect you're ever going to get full support with this kind of project…I think we've seen that dynamic play out in our history in Canada for many years around projects that are nation-building like this."

The panel that approved the project covered numerous issues. The most important of these was the issue of diluted bitumen in water, in regards to potential oil spills in freshwater or off the coast. Should an oil spill occur, it would be necessary for clean-up crews to understand any potential effects. This would be vital in assessing the potential risk of the project. In regards to this issue, the panel concluded further research was needed.

The Prince Rupert Environmental Society, a main opponent to the pipeline, has taken on serious projects before; they took part in the creation of the local recycling depot and worked diligently on putting a moratorium on fish farming around the north coast of BC. However, Luanne Roth says that none of these projects feel big in comparison to the scale of the Northern Gateway pipeline. Roth also points out the importance of local knowledge. The people

that live in Prince Rupert, around the coast, and near the Skeena know the value of their homeland.

According to Roth, since container ships started coming into the Prince Rupert harbour seven years ago, there have already been two serious accidents; including one ship running aground. She said that local people have seen and experienced boating accidents over the years, and know the realities of rogue waves: they are rare, but they happen.

This campaign focuses on salmon and other seafood. Roth says that the annual average for wild BC seafood harvesting is 200 million kilograms. Theoretically, that could be about two billion meals a year. The campaign challenges the idea that the damages caused by a spill or tanker accident could be fixed by the capital earned by tar sands emergency fund money. The concern is grounded in reality; 25 years after the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, there are still lingering environmental concerns. The Exxon Valdez was a crude oil spill, which, with current technology, is less damaging than the bitumen that Northern Gateway is proposing to transport.

Proponents of Northern Gateway praise the economic boom that it will bring, but is the risk worth it?

As of now, most local, concerned citizens stand in solidarity, saying that it is not.

Red Granite Pictures

Arts

Scorsese Continues to Shake up Hollywood Laura Mooney Arts Editor

movie industry itself were not overly pleased.

ontroversial director Martin Scorsese has yet again made headlines with the release of his latest film, The Wolf of Wall Street, and has caused quite a stir with some of the movie industry’s largest contributors. The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, portrays the real life story of infamous stockbroker Jordan Belfort and his less than honest rise to Wall Street glory.

Based off of Belfort’s autobiography of the same name, The Wolf of Wall Street has quickly grabbed the attention of movie-goers for its crude nature and its blunt examination of a man ruled by greed who uses his money to exploit his darkest fantasies.

However, while the average person is rushing to the theatres to see Scorsese’s over the top tale of corruption, the members of the

Members of the Academy, who are responsible for the movies chosen for Academy Awards nominations, are no strangers to Scorsese’s violent and curse-filled films, however The Wolf of Wall Street seemed to blow all of their other past judgments of Scorsese out of the water. In early December during a showing of The Wolf of Wall Street to the Academy members at the Samuel Goldwyn theatre in Los Angeles, the film was rumoured to have caused a bit more than just a few raised eyebrows. Articles released in the following days from The Daily Mail and The Guardian stated that during the Q and A that followed the screening of the film, Scorsese was approached by multiple members of the Academy, including screenwriters and actors, who screamed at the director, telling him his film was disgusting

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and vile. Actress and Academy member Hope Holiday, who had attended the event, went on to post a condemning rant on her Facebook page, claiming that the showing was “three hours of pure torture, nothing but the same disgusting crap over and over again,” and that Scorsese should be ashamed of himself.

Scorsese is more than used to the Academy not enjoying his films, with the exception of the family friendly romp Hugo, and has even become quite famous for his record- breaking amount of F- bombs and violent scenes that he loves to include in his films.

Scorsese has received negative feedback from Academy members for nearly all of his films, including Goodfellas and The Departed, so The Wolf of Wall Street being negatively received was no surprise for him.

This raises questions though: is the negative feedback surrounding

the film simply a by-product of the outdated, overly conservative members of the Academy? Or has Scorsese finally gone too far with a film? Although the film is an interpretation of Jordan Belfort’s autobiography, much of the content was, naturally, exaggerated for the purpose of entertainment. The Wolf of Wall Street has been released only in limited theatres at the moment, but it has already become infamous for its blunt and graphic sex scenes, drug-fuelled content, and certain scenes that would make even those with strong stomachs cringe. While the film has received overly good reviews from critics and average movie patrons, and will even make a decent amount at the box office, the public will simply have to wait to see if Scorsese has finally gone too far and will be snubbed the Oscar nomination that he very much deserves.

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Arts

New Year’s Resolution: Get Involved with Local Art!

Laura Mooney Arts Editor

L

ose weight. Drink less. Eat better. These words are only a small fraction of the promises one usually make to themselves once the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve, and let’s be honest, within a couple of weeks those promises are forgotten and thrown aside for another year. So this new year, instead of making a resolution to improve yourself on the outside, make the choice to better yourself on the inside by enriching your life and doing something you may not have done in past years; go out more and experience all that your local community has to offer.

We are fortunate to live in an area that has been working towards facilitating art and entertainment options for young adults through a variety of mediums, and what better time is there to start exploring all that Prince George has to offer than in the new year.

So grab some friends and open yourself up to the growing art community in Prince George.

If local artists are what you are looking for, Prince George has many options based on what your preferences are. If you have never been to any of our local galleries, now is the perfect time to go, and the best way to start is at the top with our largest gallery in town, the Two Rivers Gallery. The Two Rivers Gallery is currently featuring some very unique exhibits from fantastic local artists, so not only will you get to spend a day out of the snow, you can experience some of the best local art that Canada has to offer, right here in our little city.

If you like your art with a little edge, look no further than Will Gill and his featured exhibit entitled “Bloodredlife.”

Born in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Gill’s exhibit features mixed media works that draw inspiration from the news and nature, and all have a common theme of violence.

Gill stated in an interview that the purpose of the exhibit is to attempt to draw together a supposedly connected world

that is so disconnected from the suffrage of others. His paintings feature prominently red overtones and are jarring to the eyes, with the purpose of being a shock to the senses. This unique gallery is only here for a limited time, so it may be a good spot to begin your involvement with local art.

If local music is your preference, then January is the perfect month to go out to see some great local shows. If you prefer more of a quiet night with a glass of wine, then Oak and Thistle’s featured concert series is definitely for you. With the local artists performing at some of Prince George’s favourite cafés, including Ohh Chocolat and Shiraz, these small events are a great way to discover some of the more contemporary artists we have here in Prince George.

Featuring violinists, Celtic bands, blues- rock, and much more, the Oak and Thistle concert series has quickly become one of the most diverse musical series currently in Prince George and is a great way to expand your musical horizons and

get involved with local music.

If small and quiet is not really your scene, then mark your calendars for the upcoming Coldsnap festival, which will be happening from 24 January to 1 February. The weeklong winter music festival features a variety of unique artists, many of whom are from right here in BC, who will be preforming at multiple locations around town.

From electro-dance rock, to folk music, to even a slam poetry night, the Coldsnap festival is the perfect place for anyone who is looking to get out into the community and experience the best that local music has to offer in an extremely fun setting.

So forget physical improvement resolutions and instead opt for changing your life for the better by experiencing some of the great upcoming art events that Prince George will soon be home to. Make this New Year’s resolution one that you will not throw aside, and make it one that will leave you with lifelong memories.

Beyoncé: the Visual Album

Jay Z, unabashedly leaving nothing to the imagination. But once you get past the initial shock of the content of the first two singles, the album has a lot of heart under the surface and often delves into topics Beyoncé has never before discussed with her fans.

The Wife

Laura Mooney Arts Editor

O

n 13 December 2013, Beyoncé shocked the world when an unannounced album was released to the world via iTunes, and naturally the music- loving world went crazy. The former Destiny’s Child star quietly released her fifth album without any press or announcements simply because she stated she was tired of the same old song and dance when it came to album releases, and she claimed that when it came to her fans, she did not need to push or promote her music for them. So in true Queen Bee form, Beyoncé proved her own theory correct with her new album selling nearly 100,000 in

the first three hours, successfully causing iTunes to temporarily overload and shut down, and had sold over 600,000 copies three days later. Besides successfully redesigning the way future albums will be released, Beyoncé also successfully redesigned her musical direction, for a sound that is not only more mature and free, but is also more liberating than any music that has come from a female artist in the past year.

To be blunt, the first word that comes to mind when listening to the album is sex. The image is everywhere, from the romantic “XO” to the erotic novel that is “Drunk in Love,” Beyoncé explicitly describes her (ahem) relations with

We all know that Beyoncé has always been a confident woman, and she is definitely not afraid to show it. In the upbeat dance track “Flawless” she sings about how the media portrays confident women as being conceited and unladylike, and although this is touchy subject matter which raises multiple feminist issues, Beyoncé pulls it off flawlessly. Of course though, Beyoncé is not without her own insecurities. Perhaps the most revealing song on the album, “Mine” confronts the issues Beyoncé had to face once she made the change from being a wife, to being a mother. Lines such as “Been having conversations and breakups and separations/ I’m not feeling like myself since the baby/ Are we going to make it” show a more vulnerable side

to Beyoncé when it comes to her relationships, and shows the world that even though she may be one of the most beautiful women in the world, everyone has their insecurities, especially when it comes to relationships. Perhaps the most touching song on the album however, which comes across as being more heartfelt than any of the other songs, is simply titled “Blue,” in which Beyoncé sings a beautifully crafted ballad for her baby girl Blue Ivy that is full of all of the love and adoration that fills any new mother.

The album shows that over the years Beyoncé has listened to her fans and has evolved to fit the changing music scene, often adding in a techno sound to her music that could be mistaken for any of the current top 20, all while still maintaining the amazingly powerful voice that made the world fall in love with her in the first place. All in all, through her music Beyoncé still proves that she is exactly what she has always claimed to be, a diva.

Blackfish Makes Waves

Laura Mooney Arts Editor

D

eath and mistreatment are not the first words that come to mind when one thinks of the oceanic playground SeaWorld, however with the release of the growingly popular documentary entitled Blackfish, things have been changing for the famous water park. Blackfish investigates what daily life is like for the captive orcas at SeaWorld once the glamour vanishes, the doors have closed, and the public leaves for the day, and exactly what it is that goes on behind those doors is leaving viewers of the film speechless and outraged.

The film follows the life of one specific orca named Tilikum, a male who is currently living in captivity in SeaWorld Orlando. While Tilikum at first was thought of to be one the most intelligent, welltrained and cooperative creatures to ever be brought to SeaWorld, the film showcases the now famous incidents where Tilikum finally snapped and it resulted in the deaths of two capable orca trainers, and one SeaWorld visitor.

While SeaWorld tried to pass off

the incidents as mere mistakes, Blackfish is making sure that the public is aware of each and every detail that led to Tilikum’s outbursts. From his heartbreaking kidnap from his pod at only two years old, to his 29 years in captivity, the story of Tilikum’s life is a hard one to watch, but it is a tale that director Gabriela Cowperthwaite knew had to be told. While she had originally set out to make a film exploring how humans relate to large predators, once she read the stories about the deaths occurring at SeaWorld, Cowperthwaite knew she had something interesting. Through interviews with past SeaWorld trainers and animal behaviourists, Cowperthwaite explored the mistreatment that Tilikum and the other orcas all experienced at the hands of the trainers who merely thought they were “doing their jobs.”

The film was released at the Sundance film festival in January of 2013, and was immediately picked up for a more wide spread release.

While director Cowperthwaite knew her controversial documentary would attract attention, it seems to be rapidly

approaching a fame that even she did not dream of. Thanks to its wide spread release in US theatres and its current availability on Netflix, Blackfish has developed a strong and dedicated following determined to spread the word of the film, and make SeaWorld accountable for its indiscretions, and it seems to be working quite well.

Since the film’s release, SeaWorld has seen a massive drop in attendance, and a mass cancellation of bands, including The Barenaked Ladies, and Heart, who were supposed to play at the park later this year. The park owners are denying that these events are in correlation with the release of the film, but SeaWorld stock has dropped nearly 25 percent, and one of the directors of SeaWorld, David D’ Alessandro, sold off nearly $1.3 million of his own personal stock in the company, as though he knew the company was in trouble.

There has also been an increase in protestors that have taken up residence outside of the SeaWorld gates, armed with signs informing the public of what was shown to them in the film.

While the forces against SeaWorld

Arts 11 seem to have the upper hand at the moment, the CEOs at SeaWorld are by no means taking the battle lying down. In interviews with CNN and multiple news sources, executives at SeaWorld have called Blackfish’s accounts of their treatment of the orcas inaccurate propaganda. They go on to state that the deaths were nothing more than miscalculations on the behalf of the trainers, but they have yet to release a comment about the death of the visitor.

Despite their attempts however, only time will tell how much the public believes their defence, or if the company will be able to recover from this serious blow.

Although the film is a tough one to sit through, and some of the images will stay with you for the rest of your life, Blackfish is clearly an important example of the power that a small independent film can have when the subject matter is presented in the right way, and the motivation for change is present.

While the film may not have convinced everyone, the fact that it has opened up the once closed doors to a respected company is an achievement all on its own, and its success will hopefully continue to grow.

Sports

New Year’s Fitness Goals

Adam Vickers Sports Editor

2. Set Reasonable Short Term Goals. A big problem people run into when they set their New Year

4. Have a Plan. Having a plan is the most important thing to have when trying to meet fitness goals.

Often people go in without a plan and a few days later get bored and

Following these simple ideas it shouldn’t be to long before reaching those 2014 New Year's fitness goals. Just remember to why you are doing this and what you will get out of this in the end.

Health is the pathway to a better life. Health is a product of being

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1. Eat Your Vegetables. One of the best ways to lose weight is eat more vegetables, which are essential to a healthy diet and help curb a big appetite. Vegetables provide essential nutrient for the body and don’t carry any carbs, therefore, vegetables can be eaten in large portions and won’t cause weight gain. The more vegetables, the better!

3. Let People Know Your Goals.

Letting people know what your short term or long-term goals helps keep a person liable for reaching personal goals. People often feel pressure to complete a task much more often when they know that others will be watching to see if they actually achieve these goals.

It also lets people see that a person is trying to reach fitness goals and others will often give moral support to those that are at least sticking with it.

ymus.

ith the new year people always start flocking to the gym, crowding both equipment and the all-familiar hamster wheels (treadmills). The question is how do we keep these goals within reach?

Every year the gym is packed in January and suddenly in February is empty. Here are the top 4 ways to keep to your New Year's fitness goals.

leave. Having a plan helps track progress; helps develop a routine, and helps keep you on track. Tracking progress is important to see that one is actually getting work done. Developing a routine makes it easier for a person to go to the gym because it is part of the schedule. Missing the gym becomes more difficult, because you feel guilty if you miss a workout.

All the previous factors contribute to help a person stay on track because a plan is a plan and to abandon the plan is to fail reaching fitness goals.

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resolutions is that they set yearlong goals and try to achieve them within a month. Setting reasonable short term goals help a person see the progress of their labour, which is important to reaching any goal.

Without progress, we do not go anywhere.

fit and being fit is a product of hard work and determination.

Hard work and determination made easier by the tips about and hopefully those New Year's fitness goals will be reached in the near future rather than later.

World Junior Hockey: Players & Potential

Edward Island, producing notable NHL players including Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux. The OHL includes Ontario, Michigan, and Pennsylvania producing numerous notable NHL players, the best current alumni being Steven Stamkos.

Canada’s Jake Paterson makes save against Germany, Frank Gunn | The Canadian Press

Adam Vickers Sports Editor

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ith end of the World Junior hockey tournament we thought it would be good to get an idea where the best players for the World Junior’s come from.

Players come from all over North America and Europe, but one league in particular produces the best in the world. The league that produces the most world junior hockey players for the World Junior Championship is the CHL (Canadian

Hockey League). The CHL is the most competitive junior league in the world and players come from all over to play in the CHL. The CHL is organized into three leagues; the Western Hockey League (WHL), The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League(QMJHL), and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The WHL includes BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Washington and is the league home to the Prince George Cougars. The QMJHL is the league local to Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince

Although there have been a large number of NHL players and world junior players being produced in the CHL, there are a few different league that do produce talented hockey players. These leagues include the Swedish Elite League (SEL), the Kontinental Hockey League, and the NCAA. The Swedish Elite League is a professional league in Europe that used to be biggest league in Europe. The SEL is not a league geared towards juniors, but they do produce a number of junior players. The Kontinental Hockey league, KHL for short, is another professional European located in Russia. The KHL used to be the Russian super league and is another

league gear towards professionals and not towards junior hockey players. Probably the most well known league is the NCAA, which is the college hockey league of the United States. The NCAA produces NHL talent as well but they are often at a bit of a disadvantage because of their short seasons on comparison to the CHL, KHL, and the SEL. All these leagues produce the best NHL talent the Sedins from the SEL, Alex Ovechkin from the KHL, and Ryan Kesler from the NCAA, but as it goes, the CHL has a play represented on nearly every team in the World Junior Hockey Championships. The World Junior Hockey Championship is a great way for countries to show off their countries’ prospects to the NHL as well as give young players a chance to play for their country. As other countries become stronger so does completion to the CHL and perhaps a junior hockey league will be produced in Europe in the future.

The Super Bowl’s Top Contenders Adam Vickers Sports Editor

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he road to Super Bowl XLVIII is a long and treacherous journey; it starts in August and ends in the glory days of February and January.

This year’s road to the Super Bowl features some knockout offense and defenses as well as a couple teams that have just found a way to win. First, we will look at the top contenders, and then we will look at the rest of the teams at the X-factors. The top contenders for the Super Bowl this year include The San Francisco 49ers, The Denver Broncos, The New England Patriots, and the Seattle Seahawks.

The 49ners are last year’s runner up to the Super Bowl, losing to the Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens.

San Francisco’s record this year was a solid 12-4, which gave them one of the best records in the NFL. Lead by third year veteran quarterback Colin Kapernick, the 49ners are a prime candidate to win the Super Bowl this year because they are a team that is well balanced.

Offensively, San Fran averages just over 25 points per game as a result of a strong pass game and the third best rushing offense in the NFL. The stars to watch out for in the San Fran offense included Colin Kapernick, Vernon Davis, and Frank Gore. Defensively, San Francisco was the third best defense in the league only allowing 17 points per a game. Stars to watch out for on defense include Ahmad Brooks, Justin Smith, NaVorro Bowman, and Patrick Willis.

The Denver Broncos finished the season tied for the league best record of 13-3 and for that reason is a major contender for the Super Bowl. Lead by future hall of fame QB Peyton Manning, Denver boosts a league best offense producing 37.9 points per a game.

Denver’s offense is one that could go down as one of the best

in the history of the NFL. Denver’s highflying offense passed for over 340 yards per a game and move the ball more than 450 yards per a game, easily best in the NFL. Players to watch out for are Peyton Manning, Demayrius Thomas, and Julius Thomas. Defensively, Denver is nothing special, but because of their ability to outscore, Denver has become a big contender for the Super Bowl.

The New England Patriots have won a number of Super Bowls with QB Tom Brady and coach Billy Belichick. The Patriots are not a star-studded team, nor do their stats reflect a star offense or defense. The reason New England is contenders for the Super Bowl is because they are winners. The Pats ended the season with a solid record of 12-4 and have the coaching and quarterback ability to win big games. Whenever the Pats are in the playoffs, you can never count them out because they know what it takes to win in the playoffs and because they have Tom Brady The Seattle Seahawks were touted as the leagues' best team throughout the season. The Seahawks finished with a record of 13-3, tied with the Denver Broncos for best in the league. Like division rivals, San Francisco

49ners, The Seahawks have a strongly balanced team. Offensively, the Seahawks are dynamic with a QB who can run and pass, creating big plays from nothing and running back Marshawn Lynch who is one of the best in the business leading the Seahawks to the fourth best rushing team in the NFL. Defensively, the Seahawks are the best in the NFL allowing less that 15 points per a game, tops in the NFL, allowing only 243 yards per a game, also best in the NFL, and only allowing 172 yards passing per a game, again best in the NFL. Put simply, defense wins championships and for the best defense in the NFL the Seahawks are a team surely looking to be in the Super Bowl.

One thing that is certain about the road to the Super Bowl is that nothing is certain, like playoffs in any sports the contenders are not always the winners.

Sometimes you find special players who can make all the difference, these players are the X-factor. The teams with the X-factor are the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Green Bay Packers.

The Carolina Panthers’

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X-factor is Cam Newton, Newton is the innovated the running QB winning rookie of the year in by running for 14 touchdowns setting an NFL record all while throwing for 4,000 yards and breaking Peyton Manning’s single game record pass for over 400 yard in a single game.

Philadelphia Eagles X-factor is LeSean McCoy, McCoy is one of the best running backs in the NFL and helped bring Philadelphia’s rush game to number one in NFL. McCoy is fast and very elusive and holds this years rushing title of 1,607 yards.

Indianapolis Colts’ X-factor is Andrew Luck. Lasy year, Luck broke Cam Newton’s record for passing by a rookie QB throwing for 4,158 yards. Luck has lead the Colts to an 11-5 record, beating some of our big contenders including the Bronco’s, 49ners, and Seahawks.

The Green Bay Packers’ X-factor is none other than Aaron Rodgers; Rodgers is a former NFL MVP and has been out most of the season.

Rodgers is among the best QB’s in the league and has been injured for most of the season. Although he has been injured most of the season, the Packers have found a way to stay in the playoff picture but with the return of Rodgers the Packers become a legitimate contestant for the Super Bowl.

One thing is certain; with the Super Bowl right around the corner is anyone’s game. Although underdog teams that have not been mentioned, they are not the most likely candidates to win the Super Bowl but having made the playoff they still have a chance. If one thing is certain, it is that having a chance is all anyone needs and it will be exciting to see what big upsets await in the upcoming NFL playoffs.

Sports

i d M s ea s L H N o

2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Jamie Sabau | Getty Images

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ate

Adam Vickers Sports Editor

B

eginning with the eastern conference and the Atlantic division we find the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightening, and Montreal Canadiens fill the top three spots in the NHL. Boston leads with 56 points, Tampa Bay is second with 54 points and Montreal is third with 52 points. Boston has been consistent up to the mid half of the season keeping near the top of the eastern conference all season. Tampa Bay despite losing their best player, Steven Stamkos, have found a way be successful in their division. Tampa Bay is a solid team; look for them to move up as the season goes on and Stamkos returns. Montreal had slow start to their season but since then have found a way to win games, much due to good goaltending by Carey Price.

Next we look at the Metropolitan division by the Pittsburgh Penguins with 61 points followed

by Washington with 46 points and Philadelphia Flyers with 44 points. Pittsburgh has easily held the eastern conference and will continue to do so as long as they have the two best player in the

NHL, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Washington been a bit weak lately, only going 3-3-4, but as the season goes on look for Alexander Ovechkin to get better and see the team do better as well.

Philadelphia on the other hand has been very good lately going 7-21 in their last 10 games. Much of Phillies' success has come from the outstanding play of their top scorer Claude Giroux and look for them to make a move in the division as the season continues.

Currently in the wild card race in the Eastern conference are the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, and New York Rangers. All the teams in the wild card have been consistent, with Detroit being the exception, but as the season goes on look for some of these teams to capitalize on poor play by teams in their divisions. All the teams’ mentioned are full of playmakers and look for some of them to come up big as we get in the late part of the season.

Now for the Western Conference who has been much stronger than the east; starting with the Central division we find Chicago in first with 66 points, St Louis with 61

points, and Colorado with 54 points.

Chicago has had great goaltending this year, despite losing number one goalie Cory Crawford, and currently holds the title for best team in the NHL. With a number of games in hand on teams below them look for the game to close quickly. St Louis has also been a solid team this year, strong on the puck and on a current win streak of four games straight. Look for St. Louis to push for top spot as the season continues. Colorado, on the other hand, had a great start to the season but since has had a hard time. With a record of 4-2-4 in the last ten Colorado will need to rebound soon not to lose track on a spot in the playoffs.

In the Pacific division Anaheim leads with 65 points, San Jose is in second with 58 points, and Los Angeles is in third with 54 points.

With a record of 9-1 Anaheim has been stellar of late and have been strong throughout the season.

Look for them to be consistent throughout the rest of the season even if pressured by many teams in their division. San Jose is has also been a consistently strong team and look for them to continue to put pressure on Anaheim for the division lead. Los Angeles has also

been a strong team but of late they have lost five straight and are on a bit of a cold streak. Do not expect them to be there long, as LA has a lot of players who can elevate their game and bring them back to winning form. In the wild card race Vancouver, Phoenix, Dallas, Minnesota, and Winnipeg are all in the running. All these teams have put consistent pressure on division leaders to keep their game up and as the season goes on look for teams most of these teams to find their groove and move into a divisional spot and push teams out of playoff contention.

At this point in the season the West has been the stronger conference and also been the harder conference to move up in.

Vancouver has consistently played well but has done little to surpass divisional teams like LA, San Jose, and Anaheim. Look for the west to remain this way and see little change in the teams making the playoffs. In the east look for a lot of change in the standings as teams like Washington continue to exhibit poor play. The eastern conference playoff picture is hardly set so look for much to change in the months to come.

to start the new semester.

Kelley Ware Finance Manager

T

he new semester has begun! It is hard to think that it has been over a month since our last issue.

So much has happened since then: final exams, final assignments, Christmas, and New Years. It has been an exciting time this last month. If you are anything like me, finals and last assignments were stressed over and you were checking your UNBC account religiously to find any updates on your grades. Then you were finally done. It was time to just go home and spend time with family and friends. Maybe you were lucky like I was and went on a trip for your break. Either way, hopefully you enjoyed your time off and are ready

It is always an interesting time in January. A new semester comes with new classes and new classes come with new routines. The university experience begins again.

For some people, January is a busy time with not just classes, but activities beginning again after the holidays. Sports and clubs are kicking off once again. Not only do I have my new classes, but clubs and dance are all starting back up. I also have two separate conferences (because January is evidently conference month) to attend.

As this issue is circulating and you are reading it, Shelley our Editor in Chief; Jasmine the Copy Editor; Isabelle the Production

Coordinator; and myself are all in Edmonton for NASH, the national conference for Canadian University Press. This conference brings together student newspapers from all over the country. With speakers, panels, discussions, and commissions to attend and be part of, we are hoping we will be able to bring back some valuable information and tips to make Over the Edge even better. These should include writing and design tips to show ways to improve the overall look and content of the paper. As well, the particular theme this year should provide me with good insight and tips to the business side of the paper to make it run more smoothly. With luck, I will learn more financial tips to provide the

Shelley Termuende | OTE

Kelley’s “Korner:” Back to January Craziness UNBC Life biggest bang for our buck.

Hopefully your January will be as good as mine. Maybe a little less busy, but good. As well, hopefully this semester will be even better than the last for you, for myself, and for our newspaper.

Canadian University Press Celebrating Over 75 years

Toronto (CUP)

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ew Year’s Day 1938 saw the birth of a unique and important organization in Canadian print media. As the sun rose over snowy Winnipeg delegates from 17 papers shook hands and signed papers, creating the Canadian University Press.

While the organization has gotten older, the participants haven’t; we’re still students or recent grads, learning about our craft by doing.

We like to look back, but we’re still here; we still pound the pavement, poke our noses where we shouldn’t and write stories for, by, and about the post-secondary students of Canada.

Today’s CUP sees an organization spidering across the provinces.

A two-person national office hunkers down in the basement of a former bicycle store in Toronto.

The chair of the board and the National Francophone Director both happen to share cities this year in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Board members might span the greatest distance ever this year, from Prince George, BC to Sydney Nova Scotia. We have six reporters working on original content placed strategically and three editors curating content from our member papers in sports, arts, opinions, humour, and features.

We’re more than student journalists working together. We stand for things. When we find out about a paper in trouble we try to intervene (if the paper wants us to). We’ve struck partnerships with other media organizations like the Communications Workers of America - Canada (CWA Canada) and Journalists for Human Rights. Perhaps most important, historically, is that we’ve provided

or played a part in the training of many of Canada’s journalists.

Many schools don’t have journalism programs, and while many have appeared in the last ten years, a common way for journalists to get into the industry was — and is — to write for a student paper, proving a skill set by using it on a regular basis.

That training now comes from a few different places. One may become a bureau chief and spend time writing for CUP, learning by doing at a provincial or regional level and interviewing important policy makers and breaking stories.

Some are now part of the CWA Canada mentorship program, meeting with a professional with years in the industry. Others attend the conferences and go to workshops with practical skills explained by people in the industry.

In addition, the conferences offer

Thank you to the following restaurants that supported Northern HIV and Health Education Society's fundraiser “Eating Out For Youth Education”: Café Voltaire,

Mom’s Place

College Heights 2 for 1 Pizza

Sassafras Savories

Grama’s Inn Restaurant

Shiraz Café and Restaurant

Hummus Brothers Tapas Bar

Spicy Green in the Hart and College Heights

Kelly O'Bryans

Taco Del Mar

Community participation eating out and media support especially CKPG, The River and Drive, are greatly appreciated.

a chance for cross-pollination as students from Vancouver Island to Prince Edward Island share experiences and what they learned, which at times can be cutting edge ideas as students tend to be more experimental than the mainstream media.

Since that cold day in 1938, the organization has seen the good times and bad times: wars, recessions and the forming of modern Canada (CUP predates the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian flag, and Superman). While we’ve changed and adapted with society, our ideals remain kindred with so many other students before us, to bring journalism to the students.

If you want to get into this sort of organization, I’m absolutely certain your paper is looking for volunteers.