Fighting for cleaning workers

Fighting for cleaning workers

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SFU community demands reinstatement of over 23 cleaning workers

Contract Worker Justice @SFU gathered supporters for a rally

HANNAH FRASER · NEWS WRITER

On April 10, Contract Worker Justice (CWJ) @SFU hosted a rally at Convocation Mall to demand the restoration of cleaning services and reinstatement of SFU’s contract cleaning workers. They were laid off by Best Service Pros (BEST) due to SFU’s recent reduction of cleaning services. BEST said they let them go due to “changing business needs.” The layoffs will take place starting May 17.

Most of these workers are “racialized, women, elderly, and immigrants” who have been denied better pay, and access to facilities and services like “daycare services, athletic facilities, and tuition reimbursement,” in addition to insufficient breaks, according to CWJ. They say their work at SFU involves “heavyhanded management practices, health and safety concerns, and inadequate equipment.”

CWJ said the reason for their continued exploitation as members of the community who are not directly hired is SFU admin’s “refusal to treat contract workers as equal members of the community,” as documented in their 2022 research report. Universities like UBC and UVic directly hire their food and cleaning workers.

The Peak reached out for an interview with Kabir Madan, an SFU graduate student and member of CWJ. He claims SFU

SFU study highlights need for Long COVID awareness

The study emphasizes the condition’s broad impacts

YASHITA DHILLON · NEWS WRITER

A report published in April by SFU’s newly-founded Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society (PIPPS) emphasizes the need for broader awareness and understanding of Long COVID among healthcare professionals and the general public in Canada.

Long COVID, as defined by the Government of Canada, represents a range of symptoms that can last months after the initial COVID-19 infection. These symptoms can vary widely but commonly include severe fatigue, brain fog, body weakness, persistent cough, and breathlessness. The condition can also impact the cardiovascular and neurological systems, leading to heart palpitations, chest pain, memory loss, and tinnitus.

The report underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing persistent health issues following COVID-19, to support affected individuals in managing their symptoms. Long COVID also affects healthy and vaccinated individuals, and the risk of Long COVID rises with each infection. The condition disproportionately affects women, racialized people, people with disabilities, and the 2SLGBTQIAS+ community. Jamieson spoke on the report at a panel host by SFU and said, “I implore you to examine your principles of community care and how this virus disproportinately impacts those most marginalized. This is a feminist issue, this is a queer issue, this is a race, class, and disability justice issue.”

The report consolidates findings from focus groups that included unpaid caregivers, healthcare providers, and

administration’s justification for not directly hiring cleaning workers is two-fold: “SFU apparently lacks management expertise, particularly for the night shift,” and “cannot afford the transition costs of moving from a third-party system to insourcing the cleaning staff, as well as the kitchen staff.”

The SFU community called to demand “the reversal of the layoff notices, safer working conditions for cleaning workers, and in-house employment of cleaning and food service workers.” However, according to Madan, SFU admin remains indifferent. “Since the April 10 rally, there has been no movement from SFU’s side toward making any commitments to rehiring laid-off workers and hiring all cleaning workers as direct employees,” he said.

“SFU is led by the university’s values, and decisions are being made with those values in mind, including a continued commitment to becoming a living wage employer,” SFU told The Peak. “However, as the university shared in early March, SFU also needs to restructure certain areas of its operations to increase efficiency and reduce duplication in order to meet a balanced budget.” The university cites the increase of lowtraffic areas since the COVID-19 pandemic for the reduction of cleaning services, “particularly in the use of office space where many staff work hybrid schedules. These changes in

use of space have reduced the need for certain services, such as the frequency of cleaning in low traffic areas and collection of office waste and recycling.”

According to Madan, “BEST continues to hire people in managerial positions despite having announced the lay-offs.” The Peak was not able to independently verify this claim. Outside the rally that was held, CWJ has been working with CUPE 3338 and the TSSU to involve faculty and the larger student body in their campaign.

For more information on CWJ and their campaign, visit their Instagram at @contractworkerjusticesfu.

individuals experiencing Long COVID. It highlights the prevailing stigma and disbelief surrounding the condition. Kayli Jamieson, who has had Long COVID symptoms since 2021, co-led the focus groups and shared her experiences with SFU News, noting the societal and medical oversight of the condition. “It’s an invisible and new condition,” she said, adding that “many people don’t believe that Long COVID is real or exists.”

This is a feminist issue, this is a queer issue, this is a race, class, and disability justice issue.

Statistics Canada reports that over 3.5 million Canadians have experienced Long COVID symptoms, with significant challenges in accessing necessary healthcare. Despite numerous studies, no definitive treatments have been recognized, leaving many to face symptoms without adequate care. The PIPPS report

notes “existing symptom management tools for similar chronic illnesses like ME/CFS are under-utilized and could be leveraged for Long COVID care and diagnosis.”

It also recommends several actions to improve care and support for those affected by Long COVID. These include enhancing public and professional recognition of the condition as a legitimate health issue and integrating comprehensive care approaches that address both physical and mental health aspects.

This includes education on Long COVID, health system navigators to aid in acquiring help for COVID and Long COVID symptoms and treatment, and overall recognition of Long COVID. The report also emphasised a prevention-based approach to education, teaching safety and responsibility surrounding COVID-19 and Long COVID. This includes “maskwearing, regular vaccinations, increasing paid sick days, or improving indoor air ventilation.”

Kaylee Byers, an assistant professor in SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences and the principal investigator of the study, emphasized, that the condition challenges our healthcare systems and highlights the need for stronger supports, not just for individuals but for entire communities affected by it.

PHOTO: GUDRUN WAI-GUNNARSSON / THE PEAK

PHOTO: GUDRUN WAI-GUNNARSSON / THE PEAK

KAYLI JAMIESON · STUDY CO-LEADER

LONG COVID CHALLENGES

BC teachers lobby to teach Nakba in BC schools

Parents for Palestine activists speak on the impacts of their advocacy

YASHITA DHILLON · NEWS WRITER

In March, the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) voted in support of a motion to lobby the government to include the Nakba in the BC curriculum. This was a result of the advocacy work of Parents for Palestine YVR, a grassroots collective representing parents and families from various backgrounds and faiths advocating for a ceasefire and end to the siege in Gaza. The Peak spoke to Sama Ghnaim, a Palestinian mother and co-founder of Parents for Palestine, alongside Tara Ehrcke, an educator of Jewish descent, who are leading this advocacy.

The Nakba, which translates to “catastrophe” in Arabic, describes the events from 1947–1949, during which over 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced by Israeli militias amid the establishment of Israel.

“My family lived it.” Ghnaim said. “My own grandfathers were displaced in 1948, and they ended up as refugees in Jordan. And so, to me, it’s not just history you read about in books,” she added. “It’s actually lived history, it’s lived experience.”

Ehrcke explained, “Being of Jewish descent, I feel a sense of responsibility because many of the ways in which I think members of the Palestinian community have been harmed have often been done in the name of Jewish safety.”

“I think, as a Palestinian first, and then as a mother, second, and as an educator, third, it is so important to learn about history in order for us to be able to move forward,” Ghnaim said. “We have generations of Palestinians that we are raising,

and for us to have any sort of idea of what social justice looks like, or what advocacy looks like, or what equity looks like, you need to actually understand the history in order to be able to move forward and actually drive real change in the world.”

It’s not just history you read about in books, it’s actually lived history, it’s lived experience.

SAMA GHNAIM PARENTS FOR PALESTINE

When approaching these topics to schools, Ghnaim was faced with rejection, often being told schools were “not equipped to handle anything that has to do with Palestine.” She added, “And do you know what that told me as a parent? It told me that history is repeating itself.”

Despite these obstacles, Ehrcke and Ghnaim remain hopeful about the impact of their work. They argue that by altering the educational blueprint to include comprehensive discussions of the Nakba, future generations of students will be better equipped to understand and engage with the world’s historical complexities.

“We can start the change. We may not see the change come to fruition during our generation’s time, but I feel like including the Nakba in the curriculum is going to help our children learn their history in school side-by-side with all of their colleagues, and all of the students that’s going to affirm and validate how they feel and validate their cause,” stated Ghnaim.

Ehrke and Ghnaim aim to ensure the Nakba is recognized not just as Palestinian history, but as a part of human history that deserves a place in educational narratives globally. “A lot of Palestinian history has been silenced, omitted. And the current moment is an opportunity for us to change that,” Ehrcke said.

Reflecting on the global solidarity expressed towards Palestinian struggles, Ghnaim added, “There is a chant that we say in every protest that says, ‘in our millions, in our billions, we are all Palestinian.’”

2024 provincial university budget not cutting it, says CUFA BC

The faculty association’s director discusses its impact on students

HAILEY MILLER · STAFF WRITER

The Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA BC) released a statement regarding the 2024/25 provincial budget and its impact on students, universities, and their resources. The Peak spoke to Annabree Fairweather, executive director of CUFA BC, about the issues brought forward by the confines of this year’s budget and ways to overcome them.

The budget allocated $3.89 billion to post-secondary institutions. According to Fairweather, this isn’t enough. She said CUFA BC “had hoped for more money to come into the sector,” to account for the growth and needs of university students in BC.

Fairweather explained that “the post-secondary budget does not take into consideration the implications from the international student cap that was announced from the federal government,” which will put a limit on the amount of international students coming to Canada. She said they need to work to “soften the blow of what will be a change in that revenue stream.” The decision will reduce the intake of international students by 35% for the next two years, with variations between provinces.

CUFA BC is an association that represents faculty members at universities across the province. They aim to inform the public of post-secondary education, advocate for students and faculty, and promote interests in the intersection between education and government-related matters. In their statement,

they noted international students “are more than an economic commodity.” They added, “There are people’s livelihoods at stake, and these changes erode the credibility of our universities to attract and retain students.”

She mentioned the need to address the province’s “job skills deficit,” which occurs when there is a shortage of employees who have the required skills for a job. Despite this, she said the budget is upholding the “status quo,” noting she is still “grateful that it’s not an austerity budget,” which is when the budget stays steady while providing minimal funding to support students and university needs.

While Fairweather said CUFA BC “welcomes the certainty of stable, reliable income,” she maintains the budget doesn’t anticipate that student enrolment has grown while faculty numbers remain stagnant.

She also said the government needs to build a strategy to address financial shortfall across institutions. “It can’t just be throwing money at the system,” she noted. “There is a lot of need for resources to spread around in all sectors of our province.”

Fairweather stressed the importance of institutions providing support for students, such as accessibility services and accommodations, mental health supports, and any tools required to support students’ needs in full capacity. “This is an area that’s going to have a huge collapse within our sector that’s going to deter students from continuing or finishing their studies,” she stated.

Fairweather said the province is working with the federal government “to minimize the impact of the budget and to figure out the next steps,” but she doesn’t “know what that looks like.” The question of “how will the government support institutions?” and whether or not the provincial government will provide compensation during a financial deficit remains.

In order to provide adequate resources and work around the challenges of the budget now and in the future, Fairweather emphasized the importance of vocalizing students’ needs and concerns so the budget can shift to reflect a more supportive environment.

PHOTO: AHMED ABU HAMEEDA / UNSPLASH

Sustainability means doing more than just recycling plastic

Recycling alone isn’t enough

The amount of plastic that occupies landfills isn’t talked about enough. Recycling plastic may seem like the best solution, but just because you recycle your plastics doesn’t mean they will be recycled properly — if even at all. Over 91% of plastics around the world aren’t recycled. Most are disposable and end up in landfills, and only 12% are incinerated.

Our focus should be on reducing and reusing before recycling comes into play.

Many cities in the Lower Mainland have recycling initiatives, but this comes alongside limitations regarding what is allowed to be recycled, and what is considered trash. Recycling is

TREND OR TROUBLE?

made even more complicated when certain plastics are allowed to be recycled and other plastics aren’t. To add to that, 25% of all recycled material in Canada is deemed “nonrecyclable by contamination,” according to CBC. Regardless of if or how we recycle our plastics, they stay on the earth; around 86% of plastics in Canada will ultimately end up in landfills.

The first step in tackling plastic waste is transitioning away from unsustainable products — notably plastics — and this needs to be done at both a personal and global level. Our focus should be on reducing and reusing before recycling comes into play.

An impactful way to recycle is material being made into other products such as shoes, bags, cans, shoes, papers, and even household surfaces like countertops — yes, my kitchen countertop is made from hundreds of layers of recycled papers and plastics! On a personal level, using reusable water bottles, cutlery, and bags are easy ways to reuse already-existing materials. This reduces the energy that goes into making and disposing of new or single-use plastics. Don’t forget that the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” is in that order for a reason!

Thrifting points to larger issues with our consumption habits

Consuming less is still your best bet

YASMIN HASSAN · STAFF WRITER

Do you ever find yourself scrolling on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest and falling into a rabbit hole of thrift hauls? Dazed and envious of the stuff people find — the lot of it all. So, you go thrifting in an attempt to score big like the people you see online, thinking you see a cute shirt, only to find a Shein tag staring back at you. In these past few years, many of us have tried to make more sustainable choices to ease off our carbon footprint, and buying secondhand is one practice that has become popular on social media. But, just as fast fashion brands have negatively impacted the environment, garment workers, and consumers, it seems thrifting has also shifted in its influence.

Consumerism has gripped modern society for ages now. To me, this rings to themes seen in movies like Fight Club or Trainspotting, denouncing the unquenchable thirst for unnecessary materials just for the sake of having them. Thoughtless overconsumption can creep back into thrifting despite its reputation of reversing the rising currents of fast fashion. When scrolling on my For You Page, why do I see haul after haul after haul of thrifted items that I know most people don’t need? The practice of thrifting itself is good when it takes away from the harmful impacts of buying new clothes, especially considering the excess of secondhand clothes. But when do we realize we’ve made overconsumption through thrifting a trend?

That’s also not to mention the flood of low-quality clothing that has found its way into thrift stores, dumped by their owners after realizing the quality isn’t meant to last. Donating an item may give it more life, but it can’t offset the impact of purchasing fast fashion in the first place. Obviously, buying fast fashion is better if you’re doing it secondhand, and not everyone can afford ethically-made clothing. But, amid the resellers, “throwaway” low-quality clothing, and overconsumption through pointless thrift hauls, thrifting quality clothing has

become incredibly difficult. This especially impacts those who might not have the funds to buy new or want to make an environmentally-conscious choice.

So, what can we do? Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. According to Oliver Franklin-Wallis, author of the investigative environmental book Wasteland, “only between 10 and 30% of second-hand donations to charity shops are actually resold in store.” Because of the “onslaught of fast fashion, these donations are too often now another means of trash disposal — and the system can’t cope,” he told GQ. Ask yourself: “Will this last me a long time?” “Will I wear this, or is it going to sit complacent in the back of my closet till the next spring cleaning?”

Thrifting quality clothing has become incredibly difficult for those who might not have the funds or those who want to make an environmentally conscious choice.

Fast fashion as a whole is detrimental to our society, but some brands are notably worse than others. Shein has mounting ethical concerns like labour violations, ecological damage, and copyright infringement. The long lines at their pop-up shop in Vancouver this past April only prove how large of a grasp fast

When it comes to making sustainable personal choices, recycling should ultimately be the last step.

To successfully reduce the creation and consumption of plastics, we need to completely eliminate them altogether, so that no more of these so-called recyclable materials continue to circulate landfills. This can only be done by transitioning away from plastics on a global scale and developing quality alternatives. Bioplastics are one alternative to standardized plastics, and include cellulose and hemp plastics that are slightly more sustainable.

That said, it still takes years for these plant-based plastics to break down, and sometimes they cannot be composted properly, despite their claims. This is why governments must invest more in finding workable and accessible alternatives, and those who have the means to make conscious decisions regarding plastic use should do so. We have the ability to collectively reduce our need for recycling overall. Reducing plastic use will lead to a change for the better, but in order to make a long-lasting impact, plastics need to be eliminated once and for all.

fashion has on consumers. Researching the practices of a brand on sites like Good On You before purchasing can help you make as conscious a decision as possible. You don’t have to be perfect to make an effort; every small decision adds up. Another option is to reuse items you already have, and consider repairs or alterations to extend their lifespans. You can also upcycle your clothes — that way you’re saving money and enhancing your hands-on skills! Bringing new life into an article of clothing you thought you didn’t need or know you had is magical. That long, awkward-looking T-shirt could be fitted and styled to your liking. For those jeans you don’t like, turn them into shorts, patchwork denim, or a denim skirt. That uncomfortable-looking sun dress that takes up space in the back of your closet is begging you to turn it into a flowy skirt you can actually wear.

If you’re thrifting, avoid buying in excess and search for high-quality products where possible — not the remnants of fast fashion trends that have washed up on the shores of the thrift racks. Things that last you a long time and are good quality will prove to be much more lucrative than any trendy top that someone could resell for ten times the price. Don’t let consumerism consume you!

ILLUSTRATION: DEN KINANTI / THE PEAK

HAILEY MILLER STAFF WRITER

PHOTO: PRERITA GARG / THE PEAK

It’s okay to cheer: let fans be fans

Vancouver Canucks fans, it’s finally our time

The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs have just begun. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the Vancouver Canucks have made it to the postseason. Blue car flags have been parading through the streets to celebrate this feat. But despite the Canucks’ stellar performance this past year, fans still can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to celebrating their favourite team. Although banter is common among NHL fans, the shame directed toward Canucks fans feels unique.

In the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) postseason, the Canucks beat the Minnesota Wild, and the reigning Stanley Cup winners, the St. Louis Blues, before their championship aspirations were dashed in the semifinals after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in seven games. The team was written off by many across the league before the 2019–20 season even began, though the fans were excited about this run nonetheless.

Without any achievements worthy of hanging a banner in Rogers Arena, and notably without the Stanley Cup itself, it seemed like nothing to truly celebrate. Sure, the team had made the playoffs without being expected to in an equally unexpected season, but they had fallen short of the ultimate goal, meaning any celebrations were seen as premature and childish by the larger hockey sphere.

It’s not a new concept to be shamed for celebrating a team’s achievement. In the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the elusive trophy for the second consecutive year, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in game five of the best-of-seven series. Tampa had high expectations being the reigning champions, but the Canadiens had barely snuck into the playoffs — earning the last spot in the postseason for the all-Canadian North Division.

The Canucks are one of 11 teams that have never taken home the Stanley Cup, and it feels like the sports world is yet to move past memories of the 1994 and 2011 riots. While what happened is beyond inexcusable, the entire community of fans is not to blame and should not have to pay the price whenever their team celebrates a win. Still, social media users are quick to attack Canucks fans whenever their team sees success. Popular X accounts have made countless anti-Canucks posts, including one proclaiming “some cities just can’t handle the playoffs,” after the mayor of Vancouver said the city would exercise caution when planning future outdoor watch parties.

Others have mocked Canucks fans for celebrating their game one win “like they won the Stanley Cup,” as if celebration should be reserved for the end of the playoffs. This running narrative that you’re only allowed to celebrate once you have the Stanley Cup is dismissive of the overall passion fans are supposed to have year-round. While the Canucks did earn the highest spot in their division before the 2024 Stanley Cup campaign, the previous years of chaos make this run even more special.

Before the 2020 “bubble” playoffs, the last time the Canucks had hosted a playoff game inside their Rogers Arena home was on April 23, 2015, a 2–1 win to force a game six against the Calgary Flames, who would defeat and eliminate them in Calgary two days later. Canucks fans were disappointed in this result, though the ache would only grow throughout the years as the city suffered a nine-year hiatus for playoff hockey.

of former Canucks head coach Roger Neilson — the man credited with the invention of “towel power” at playoff games after a 1982 show in which he waved a makeshift towel on a stick in defiance against game officials.

Some especially excited fans climbed the statue, with one able to place a Canucks 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs towel on top of the statue’s bronze towel. Videos of this celebration went viral in the hockey sphere, with NHL fans across the continent commenting on the spontaneous festivities. There were also fans parading through the intersection of Scott Road/120th Street and 72nd Avenue in Surrey, waving flags and one fan even carrying a creative replica of the Stanley Cup.

Even though it was only the first game of the postseason for the Canucks, it was a monumental occasion for fans. The first playoff game in four years? The first playoff game at home for nine years? This was the moment fans had been waiting for for nearly a decade. They were going to celebrate hard.

Canucks fans are finally able to celebrate the success of their team, rather than stir in anguish over the team’s failures.

When the Canucks roared into this past December holiday break at the top of the league, it was quite the achievement. Hockey in Vancouver was fun again, after years of disappointment, agony, and heartbreak. Canucks fans are finally able to celebrate the success of their team, rather than stir in anguish over the team’s failures. BC’s team led the NHL’s Pacific Division, set to play the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup quarterfinals.

After a comeback 4–2 win in Game One — which saw two Canucks goals scored in a record-breaking twelve seconds — Canucks fans young and old were positively buzzing. Outside Rogers Arena, excited fans gathered around the statue

Unfortunately, the rest of the hockey world did not take it as kindly. I woke up the next morning to find my X feed flooded with accounts making fun of the celebratory feeling spread throughout Metro Vancouver. “A guy is raising a replica Stanley Cup after winning game 1 of the first round. This is how you know these people are not used to witnessing playoff hockey,” echoed one of many posts.

Most of the comments online were mocking the fact that Canucks fans were this passionate after only winning one game, with numerous jokes from other fanbases about the Stanley Cup riots. The vast majority of us just want to celebrate in peace, and don’t want to be associated with a loud minority. Many of these social media cynics were also dismissive of the years leading up to this season’s playoff appearance, and pointed out that the Canucks had to win many more games to claim the city’s first Stanley Cup since the Vancouver Millionaires won it in 1915 — before the NHL existed.

Yes, the Canucks need to win more than just one game to win the Stanley Cup. Yes, they don’t have the playoff successes of most other teams in the 2024 postseason. Yes, the celebrations can be eccentric. But that’s the point. Being a passionate Canucks fan has been hard for so many in this past decade of darkness. It’s okay to cheer, celebrate, and revel in the team’s first postseason win in years. It’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Enjoy the ride.

PHOTO: JOSH APPEL / UNSPLASH

KAJA ANTIC · STAFF WRITER

Creative Corner

Learning to sew let me reclaim my sense of style

Imagine going to the mall and seeing an amazing outfit on one of the mannequins, but when you go to try it on, there is something slightly off about the way it fits. You buy it anyways, but whenever you wear it you find yourself tugging at the sleeves self-consciously, making hapless efforts to keep them in place.

As a tall girl, I have far too often found myself in this position. The constant adjusting and compromising with clothing produced according to standard measurements has not only impacted my confidence in the way I look, but also my enthusiasm to go buy new clothing. This made family trips to India all the more exciting, as travelling meant we could go shopping for fabric for custom-made kurtis. Finally, I had the opportunity to let my style reflect my personality, choosing bright colours, prints, and patterns according to measurements that I felt confident wearing. The sharp scent of fabric became closely associated with thumbing through prints at the local Indian markets and listening to the stories behind each richly embroidered saree in my grandmother’s closet.

While my internal designer always existed, the opportunity of learning how to sew my own clothes came in an eighth-grade textiles class. I started out with small projects, like learning how to sew seams and different types of stitches, which built foundational skills. After learning how to operate the machine — a reliable Singer Prelude — I was able to move onto projects where I could apply more creative thinking, such as quilting squares and customising clothing measurements for garments.

Quilting squares or paper-piecing is the sewing equivalent of “paint by numbers.”

For these projects, I started by searching for patterns that I liked on Pinterest and printed them out on a piece of paper. Then, I would go through my supply of fabric scraps in search of stronger cotton to use for the project. I would then lay them on the paper, sewing along the lines of the page to make seams on the fabric. After this step, I would iron down each seam, watching as the image slowly began to form as I repeated the steps. For these types of projects, I enjoyed the ability to incorporate fabrics with the shimmering and intertwining flower patterns present on the Indian suits and sarees that captivated my attention from a young age.

One of the best parts about some of the sewing projects I have made is the meaning attached to them. I love the process of selecting fabric at the store with my mom and debating which print would look best for the project I have in mind. Watching the look of pride on my mom’s face as she marvelled at a blue sweatshirt I made for her in a fabric that she chose was one of the highlights of my life — I treasure being able to share a passion of mine with her in this way. Another meaningful project of mine was a blue and gold summer dress that I made. When I first started sewing, I always dreamt of making a dress for myself. As I began to construct the garment, I experimented with the standard sizing on the pattern, cutting out some of the fabric pieces in the largest size to later take them in according to my own measurements or add fabric for a longer skirt length. The end result had a couple flaws, requiring a bit of hand-sewing to fix some details, but I’m still proud to have achieved my goal of making a summer dress customized to my size!

The greatest gift from the art of sewing, however, has been the ability to look past

Food for Thought

The transformations of adobo

As a second-generation Filipino Canadian, I grew up eating adobo. My favourite version of adobo is my mom’s “adobong manok,” or “chicken adobo,” which consists of chicken and chicken liver simmered in a savoury and tangy mixture of soy sauce and vinegar. After learning that adobo is also a part of Spanish and Latin American cuisines, I was intrigued. In Spain, the Caribbean, and Mexico, adobo is a seasoning or marinade rather than a dish. This prompted a question: why are there different versions of adobo, and how are they different?

In Spain, adobo consists of vinegar, spices, pimentón (peppers), fresh garlic, bay leaves, olive oil, and wine. The process of using vinegar for marinating and food preservation was used by Indigenous peoples in the Philippines “to preserve proteins,” before refrigeration, so the concept wasn’t necessarily new there, but it changed over time.

In the Philippines, adobo refers to a dish of meats or seafood in vinegar rather than a seasoning or marinade. The first version of Filipino adobo is said to be “adobong puti,” or “white adobo,” which mainly uses vinegar and salt. Soy sauce was added after Chinese traders introduced it to the Philippines. The most common version of Filipino adobo consists of vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaves, garlic, and black pepper. Different regions in the Philippines have their respective takes on adobo, with some adding turmeric to make “adobong dilaw” or “yellow adobo,” or coconut milk to make “adobo sa gata.” Adobo is a dish

small mistakes and focus on the bigger picture and the process to get there. Sometimes I have to redo the work I do, while other times, I have learned from it and moved to the next step of the project. Relaxing the constraint to complete each project “perfectly” let me become creative with my approaches to fixing mistakes and visualising what “end result” I desire from the project. It engages me with the entire process, from choosing the fabrics to wearing the garment.

loved by many Filipinos and is considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. The process of marination comes from the Spanish word, “adobar” or “to marinade,” from which “adobo” was later derived. As the Spanish colonized different parts of the world, this method of food preservation spread to the Carribean and Mexico.

When the Spanish arrived in the Caribbean in the 1490s, they introduced adobo to Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. Some ingredients such as garlic, olive oil, and wine were not readily available. This is how the dry brine version of adobo came to be. Adobo seasoning in the Caribbean consists of garlic powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, onion powder, and turmeric — sometimes vinegar or

orange juice is added for a sour kick.

The Spanish also brought adobo to Mexico in 1519. Mexican adobo is also vinegar-based but uses local ancho and guajillo, which are variants of chilis, instead of pimentón.

The version of adobo I grew up eating is Filipino adobo. I ate my mom’s adobo, adobo from restaurants, adobo cooked by my relatives, you name it — but each version was uniquely its own. Different versions of adobo don’t just reflect regional taste preferences — they also illustrate a history of resourcefulness and the strengthening of cultural identity through food. As an important part of daily life, food is interwoven into culture and identity, just as adobo has become an important part of cuisines around the world.

ILLUSTRATION: ANGELINA TRAN / THE PEAK

ILLUSTRATION: SANDRA CAO / THE PEAK

SAHEJ KAUR BHALLA SFU STUDENT

MARIE JEN GALILO SFU STUDENT

Rooster: a virtual portal to ancient China

This video game’s brush-like art style captures the essence of ancient Chinese culture

IZZY CHEUNG · ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

A parchment-like scroll is laid out on a flat surface. Perfectly imperfect splotches of watercolour red, gray, and green bleed onto the pages as they shift under your command. Black brushstrokes line up the scenes you are about to experience — paper lanterns, busy markets, and ornate pagodas. This is the world of Rooster, a “single-player point-and-click” video game that explores the culture of ancient China.

Created by the Toronto-based Sticky Brain Studios, Rooster is set to launch early in 2025. While it may be a bit of a wait to play Rooster itself, you can test out some of Sticky Brain Studios’ other phone-downloadable games like Loki’s Castle , an underwater puzzle-solving app with the cutest little player creature, and Kimono , a dress-up game that spans various settings and seasons. The things that stand out to me most about this studio’s games are the clean, cute, and charming art styles.

I’m not a huge video game aficionado, but I do like to play when a plotline intrigues me. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this game, but the soft, delicate art style of Chinese brush painting that danced across the screen was a surprise to me.

A spoilerfree review of The Inventor

A whimsical, creative, and refreshing joy to feast your eyes on

JIN SONG · SFU STUDENT

Sometimes, you watch a movie and you can feel how much fun the creators had making it. The Inventor is one of these movies.

This movie follows Leonardo da Vinci, the titular inventor, and his time serving King Francis I, the King of France at the time. Da Vinci is most widely known for his paintings today, but as you’d expect from the title, The Inventor focuses on his scientific developments instead. Without giving anything away, I would perhaps rename it The Explorer or The Investigator instead, as the core of the film is not his inventions — at least, not in my interpretation — but his discoveries.

I watched the movie not thirty minutes ago, and I already want to rewatch it. To be frank, this is entirely due to the animation. Fun and ceaselessly dynamic, it combines stop-motion with cloth dolls and 2D animation in a way I have never seen before. This was a bold decision: 2D and 3D often do not mesh well, but the two here added a layer of whimsical, silly joy that made me feel like a kid again. Every scene is gorgeous, with creative and thoughtful cinematography. It’s clear the creators poured their hearts and souls into this independently made project, and it’s so refreshing to see something born of such love and passion.

In a nutshell, the movie feels like a giant TED-Ed video — and I mean this in the best way possible. The

From the beginning, it was clear to me that this game’s art style would be one of its defining features. Watching the titular character Rooster run across the setting of an ancient Chinese kingdom reminded me of the paintings you’d see on old scrolls with browned, frayed edges locked behind an art gallery’s glass display window. The colours of the kingdom were muted in a way that made it look faded, as if they had been worn away by time.

From the beginning, it was clear to me that this game’s art style would be one of its defining features.

A melodic, flowy soundtrack reminiscent of windchimes accompanied my journey as Rooster, a member of the Chinese zodiac who is sent back in time to learn some important life lessons. To make it back to their own time period, Rooster encounters a series of mini-games, with one game representing each member of the Chinese zodiac. The games are simple — but the designs are not. Lush, elegantly-crafted backgrounds become the centerpiece of hide-and-seek games that leave the player searching for ingredients for the perfect gift. Each game ends with a member of the zodiac awarding Rooster with an important item for later on in the story.

This captivatingly crafty game provides more than just pretty graphics and stress relief. Pop-up question marks adorned like paper lanterns give players small tidbits about ancient Chinese culture. There were facts embedded within the game that I wasn’t even aware of — but I won’t spoil those for you. At its core, Rooster is a time-transcending celebration of Chinese culture that is represented through the beautiful artwork displayed on screens.

Rooster is available to be added to your Steam wishlist.

playful storytelling and plot is full of soul . It’s all rather straightforward; no intricate narratives or complex schemes here. Easily understood and accessible, there’s a quality of sincerity to it that is very endearing. Indeed, it’s not grand or sweeping, and therefore not extraordinary . . . but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Our protagonist, da Vinci, is driven, passionate, and brilliant. The movie does a great job of showing us his vast intelligence instead of telling us. I left this movie feeling a deep appreciation for the real-life da Vinci, who really is incredible! The Inventor has inspired me to look deeper into his life, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

It’s clear that the creators poured their hearts and souls into this independently funded project, and it’s so refreshing to see something born of love and passion.

This movie is, of course, a biographical film (biopic). It’s hard to discuss any biopic without bringing up historical accuracy. My preliminary research told me that the setting and circumstances depicted did, in fact, exist in history. Of course, no movie can be perfect and it’s perfectly acceptable — and preferable, really — to value narrative over getting each historical fact accurate. But for those who are curious, The Inventor has a hopeful ending, whereas real-life da Vinci’s last words are, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” This doesn’t impact my enjoyment or positive opinion of the film at all. It just makes me sad, actually, because da Vinci is one of the greatest minds of all time, yet he says this about his life? Ouch!

In all, The Inventor is a movie that I’m really happy exists. It frames science as something fun and dynamic and creative, with one of humanity’s great thinkers at its core.

COURTESY OF STICKY BRAIN

COURTESY OF ROUTE 54 PR

DA VINCI’S DREAMS

Summer study oases; they’re not mirages!

The Peak’s choice of summer study spots around the Lower Mainland

6552 Hastings St, Burnaby Everyday, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Nestled in Kensington Square, just down the mountain from the Burnaby campus, sits Ambit Cafe. Quaint, unassuming, but filled with wonders to excite. I recommend their assortment of dacquoises if you’re in the mood for a decadent French pastry. From sandwiches to salad bowls, there’s something here for everyone! Their freshlymade drinks suit any palate, whether you’d like something fresh and tart like tea or something smooth and creamy like a latte. You’ll find a place in Ambit’s orbit with ample seating inside and outside.

4114 Hastings St, Burnaby Sunday–Wednesday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Thursday–Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

If you haven’t already discovered this Australian bakery, what’s keeping you? Peaked pies are, by definition, meat pies with creamy mashed potatoes, mushy green peas, and gravy all stacked in one. Their wide variety of savoury options include the traditional Aussie or even the daring Hopper (that’s ground kangaroo meat in a cabernet merlot balsamic reduction). Don’t skip out on their spongey lamington cake (my favourite) or lemon meringue tarts. If you’re doing some early morning studying, you can grab their breakfast combo with your choice of breakfast pie/quiche served with a Milano coffee or Silk Road Tea. There’s lots of seating indoors and a cute little patio outside!

1196 Pinetree Wy #100, Coquitlam

Monday–Friday 7:00 am – 10:00 pm Saturday–Sunday, 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.

This popular Malaysian coffee chain has made its way to Coquitlam bearing tasty gifts! This place is known for its hot-outthe-oven coffee caramel buns, coming in a variety of flavours such as Strawberry Fields, Nutty Bun, and Rise & Shine. Since it’s summer, you probably want to cool down. Papparoti has just the thing: ice cream buns! This location has lots of indoor seating, but Lafarge Lake is just a short walk away if you want to sit outdoors and get that fresh summer air!

2624B St Johns St, Port Moody

Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

The name “Kaffi” originates from the northern Icelandic word for “coffee,” emphasizing how seriously they take coffee here. With a selection of highquality coffee and non-coffee drinks, they promise to “brew for coffee lovers and convert those who are not.” Try out their mushroom and brie croissant or a freshly made shakshuka to start your day’s study session. Desserts are perpetually changing, so why don’t you go in and discover for yourself? Kaffi offers lots of comfy seating inside the cafe and lots of outdoor seating. If you want a more scenic view, take a short walk down to Rocky Point and smell the crisp salt of the ocean.

3388 Rosemary Heights Crescent #148, Surrey

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Feeling breakfast, brunch, or baked pastries? Indigo Cafe is the place for you. It offers a great selection of drinks, pastries, bennies, and many other delights to fuel your studies. Something that caught my eye was the South Surrey Special Bacon Benny; you could say it’s dedicated to our hardworking Surrey campus students! If you’re not keen on getting coffee, try one of their smoothies or milkshakes to keep cool in the heat. This place offers cozy seating inside and relaxing outdoor seating for those who want to get some sun.

3433 Commercial St, Vancouver Saturday–Wednesday, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Thursday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

This unique bakery mills its own flour sourced from Canadian family farms to create a variety of baked goods, all made fresh in-house. There’s no shortage of savoury kicks, from pizza to savoury pastries. Don’t even get me started on the sweet options; do yourself a favour and try a hazelnut jam cookie. Not your thing? Try their blueberry lemon muffins or one of their parfaits. Wash your choice of goodies down with high-quality coffee, tea, or (if you need a buzz to get studious) their Hibiscus Gin Fizz! They have cozy seating indoors and out as well as a selection of baking needs on sale (in case you feel inspired to bake after cramming for your finals)!

PHOTOS:

Yasmin Hassan Staff Writer

Peaked Pies

A little bit of nature by my side, a little spa is all we need, a little beach is all I see

Written by Zobia Khalid

Illustrated by Victoria Xi

We can already feel the warmth of the summer days ahead of us, and while the climate of the Pacific Northwest might not be the tropical heat some want, we can still enjoy the summer. Whether you’re in pursuit of adventure, relaxation, or the chance to meet new people, BC’s islands are diverse and offer the perfect setting for a weekend escapade. Here are a few choices for island trips!

Salt Spring Island

This island has been home to Coast Salish First Nations, the Saanich, and the Cowichan First Nations for generations, with the earliest human activity recorded from over 4,000 years ago. A small island located on the coast of the Southern Gulf islands, it’s only 185 square km and has a total population of roughly 12,000 people. As is the case with most of the islands on this list, you can get there via BC Ferries. There are plenty of ways to move within the island: biking is a common method, but there are also buses. Salt Spring Island has a couple of villages. The more popular are: Ganges, Fulford Harbour, and Tiny Vesuvius Bay.

Ganges Village is the central hub of Salt Spring, hosting the majority of shops, markets, art galleries, and much more. There are two markets: the first one is a Saturday market featuring farmers, artists, and other small-owned island businesses ranging from seafood to jewelry. The second one is solely a farmer’s market which takes place on Tuesdays, but shopping is not all to be done here. Ganges hosts a wide variety of artistic, cultural, and physical activities — museums and art events, golf courses, hiking trails, camping grounds, and beaches. Beddis Beach is a popular spot to snorkel and relax. Related to the name, if you are looking for salt springs there are a total of 14. Most of them are in the Mineral Springs Resort, so you can enjoy the springs while you decompress from the day, but be sure to book now since they get filled up fast for the summer. To sum up, this island is best if you are looking to revitalize and unwind in nature.

Tofino

Located in Vancouver Island, Tofino is situated in the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples. Much like all of Vancouver, Tofino displays a diverse plethora of natural beauty, from sandy beaches to hot springs. The area is best known for physical activities like surfing, biking, kayaking, ziplining, and hiking, but there are plenty of options if you’re looking for a less active escapade; there are saunas, spas, meditation centers, and yoga studios for you to enjoy. If you’re looking for a weekend of nature, you can birdwatch or explore the marine life; after all, Tofino has over 200 “resident” gray whales that feed from March through October in the neighbouring waters — a bird or whale watching tour might be the perfect activity for the weekend! Tofino’s Village Green is the main center to meet people and during summertime, go to markets.

While it’s best to book a trip from June to August to fully experience the beauty, you can still enjoy the town at any other time of the year. Storm watching is the most fun from Chesterman Beach where there is Wickaninnish Inn, which has amenities specifically to enjoy the storm season. The Himwitsa Gallery displays authentic carvings, jade jewelry,

Cowichan knitting pieces, paintings, prints, and other gifts open for purchase. General art is displayed in the Mark Hobson Gallery, the Roy Henry Vickers Gallery, and the Tofino Gallery of Contemporary Art. One last stop in Tofino is the Ucluelet Aquarium, which showcases beautiful marine life. In short, this island is best if you are looking for a getaway to re-energize yourself.

Skidegate Village

Located on Graham Island and the farthest away island on our list, is primarily home to the Haida Nation, as it is located on Haida Gwaii. This is a small town of about 700 people. This village is perfect for harmonizing with nature, birdwatching, fishing, camping, boating, sailing, swimming, hiking, and wildlife touring, truly a one-stop place for the nature lover. Balance Rock, is a trail to enjoy the beach scenery and local fauna, watch the nearby waterfall, or take some photos with the titular rock. If you’re interested in seeing marine wildlife up close, you can rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore the Skidegate inlet — this area is amazing for finding a wide variety of fish, king salmon, coho, and halibut are very common here.

There’s more than nature, the Haida Heritage Center in Kay 'Llnagaay, offers cultural tours, including a weaving tour and canoe tour.

Mayne Island

Another little hidden gem. Just a short ferry ride from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, Mayne Island offers a tranquil environment to enjoy the beaches, trails, and local businesses. There are a couple of campgrounds, a cottage, and even a resort by the beach, all perfect options to have a little weekend getaway with friends or family, plus, you don’t even have to worry about dangerous encounters with the fauna, as this is a bear, cougar, and coyote-free island. Cycling around the island is a great way to move around, but you’ll also have the option to take a community bus, a donation-based bus that can take you anywhere within the island, though you’ll have to give them at least a 24-hour notice.

If by this point you are a bit tired of nature, you’ll be glad to know that, while small, the Mayne Island community has events around the year. Finally, just as Salt Spring, Mayne alongside Galiano, Pender, and Saturna islands form the five Southern Gulf Islands, meaning they all host the annual Tour Des Iles, a two-day festival. This tour offers plenty of events and activities to take part in, all unique to each island’s attractions and culture; music, food, and outdoor activities, the Tour des Iles is a perfect opportunity for a weekend adventure.

Finally, one of The Peak’s honorary mentions goes to San Josef Bay. Rated the best beach in BC, located on Vancouver Island, it has beautiful sandy shores, and scenic trails to enjoy. Our other mention goes to the Octopus Islands, part of the Discovery Islands nested in the north of the Salish Sea. This park offers beautiful landscapes, a great place to explore Quadra Island’s shoreline on a kayak, and even set camp in one of the campsites on one of the islets, just be respectful and careful of the local fauna.

Relentless reasons to (not) love spring

Achoo to all the allergies and ciao to the creepy-crawlies

Written by Halley Miller

Ah, do you smell that? Spring is in the air. Achoo! What’s not to love about the downpour of endless showers and a blossombudding, bug-infested season? All the pollen, creepy-crawlies, and hay fever really put a spring in your step.

There’s this spider in my house — let’s name him Cotton Eye Joe (“where did he come from, and where did he go?”) — and he acts like he owns the place. The dude thinks this is his luxurious lair. The least he can do is contribute to paying his taxes since it is tax season after all. You know how expensive it is to keep this place afloat? Never mind the unneeded expense of uninvited guests giving me the unwanted chills. Not to scare Mr. Joe from his slumber of a chilly winter, but, either pay up and leave me alone, or get out and gallop around the garden where you belong.

Why is it that spiders assume they have the automatic right to reside in my residence even when hibernation season is over?

C’mon, there’s a million places Sir Spidey could go, a million gardens he could roam, and he chooses to chill on my wall, my ceiling, dangling a web in plain sight? I mean, I am flattered, but really, he gives me the ick. He could be outside chillin’ with all the bees pollinating the flowers and buzzin’ about the trees, but he would rather stare at a wall all day. While I’m over here living a nightmare and trying to move heaven and earth to avoid him at all costs, curating a high-class Home Alone escape plan, he couldn’t be more unfazed. Isn’t there anything more exciting for him than watching paint dry and giving me a heart attack every time our paths cross? Watch me literally paint a wall just to get him out of the way.

Don’t even get me started on the fact that Cotton Eye Joe probably has a bestie roaming around. You can’t tell me he’s in one room, and then I go a few rooms over, and there’s the same spider again. There’s no way. Is he Spider-Man? Buddy boy simply cannot move that fast. Mr. Joe has clearly been keeping Sir Spidey a secret. The two are probably making out in a web somewhere, having a spring fling, and all their spidey children will suddenly appear — one for each square inch of my house. Oh, what a joy! It gives me shivers.

As if mustering up the courage to make eye contact with Cotton Eye Joe and somehow manage not to touch him while I put him out in the garden isn’t bad enough, I now have to contend with the matter of sneeze-inducing pollen that will immediately activate all the hay fever in the land. Let’s just hope his spidey spouse is an illusion, and I won’t have to do the same with Sir Spidey, too.

Don’t tell me I’m the only one who scrambles to shut the door faster than a lightning bolt from the downpour of spring showers every time I go outside, just to eliminate the risk of more stealthy spiders taking up residence in my unwantedbug-infested basement. It ain’t spring unless you keep watch like a hawk. You’ve got to scout out all the creepy-crawlies like a detective while sneezing up a storm at every speck of pollen, questioning whether every edge of a spider web is a hallucination (it’s probably not).

Just channel the good energy of the cherry blossoms and you’ll get through spring just in time for the humid, sticky, wild-fire blazen, climate change crisis of summer. But until then, happy April showers, and may they bring you May flowers — and even more bugs to boot! Buzz, are those the mosquitos already?

Get in girl, we’re

Dear diary,

Today, I watched a reel of a mother telling her daughters to go outside via a parody of Jojo Siwa’s “Karma.” Although I’d like to flatter myself and say that sentence would give a Victorian child a stroke, I know they consumed opium when they weren’t busy working 13-hour days. I get to thank Mina Le’s 32-minute video essay for that.

Back to “Karma” . . . Diary, girl, I have ants in my apartment and as a vegan I’m legally obligated to name them. I have chosen to name each one Teddy, Freddy, or Eddy. Just need to get a temporary tattoo of them on my arm to complete the fantasy. No wait, I was trying to tell you I think I should go outside. I’m not like a brain doctor or anything but not going outside for three days in a row is probably why I was elected mayor of SadTown (not to be confused with SadVille or SadCounty).

But diary, there’s no Internet outside. I mean there could be, but my phone is on 2%. When you’re walking outside, Barbra Streisand does not come up to you and say: “Give him my regards, did you take Ozempic?” Which would be an offensive thing to say, but definitely something I could make a TikTok about.

Anyway, I’m already doing so many other things for my mental health like taking my Prozac and it’s not causing me to sweat as much as it used to #IYKYK. So I’ve changed my mind. Going outside sucks! I don’t understand how going outside more could make me happier if no one outside gets my references. For example, no one outside is getting @communist_veggietales content recommended to them. It is so incredibly cringe for me to say that I’m not like other girls so I won’t . . . I’ll imply it.

Ugh, I knew writing down my thoughts would help. I’ve basically figured my whole life out in these past few sentences. The key steps to taking my happiness to the next level aka serotoninmaxxing are: 1. Locking in. More specifically, locking the fuck in. 2. Yapping. Oversharing is so in this summer. Gen Z loves it. Also, people on the bus need to know that vegetables don’t exist. 3. Comment “amen” under an AI generated image on Facebook.

TTYL diary (see what I did there? a little Y2K hommage).

P.S. @whoever is reading my diary right now, you’re welcome. It’s a lot better than Caroline Calloway’s book. I’d tell you to read it to fact check me, but if you buy it, you may never receive it, I fear. It’s called Scammer for a reason! (Yes, I watched D’Angelo Wallace’s two and a half hour video essay on it).

Written by C Icart

PHOTO: NITA / PEXELS

PHOTO: INSPA MAKERS / UNSPLASH

May 6–12

your weekly horoscopes

Here’s what you should do to survive “everyone is in Europe but me” season

Aries March 21–April 9

Just delete all your social media. You do not have the self-control to prevent yourself from typing, “must be nice spending your parents money *insert face blowing a kiss emoji here*” under an aesthetic Amsterdam pic posted by a girl you haven’t talked to since 2017. Quit while you’re ahead.

#SocialMediaCleanseNow

Cancer

June 21–July 22

Plane tickets are expensive. Daydreaming is free. Writing fanfic is also free. Grab a notebook and a pen and finally write that story about how the Hannah Montana characters meet up with the Glee characters in Genovia and they all have to work together to help Remy create a recipe that will top his legendary ratatouille.

#CrossoverOfTheCentury

Libra September 23–October 22

Go stand in the smoking area at your favourite local venue. Sure, tons of people have switched to vaping these days and the air smelling of fruit salad doesn’t quite give sitting on a patio in Berlin energy. But some people are still keeping old school and if you sit next to them and close your eyes, it’s almost like you can see the Victory Column. #BewareOfTheSecondhandSmoke

Capricorn

December 22–January 19

Perogis. They will warm your heart, they will warm your soul, they can be found in the freezer aisle at the grocery store. When you get to the checkout after your grocery haul having paid pretty much the same price as a flight, it will complete your European fantasy. #BoycottLowblaws

Taurus April 20–May 20

You can be honest, it’s just us friends here. You’re not mad that the person who ghosted you all semester and still got the same mark as you on your group project is daily vlogging their backpacking trip. You’re mad because your best friend is in the vlogs with them.

#CallTheBSOutSis

Leo July 23–August 22

Set your VPN to Monaco. It’ll feel the exact same as being there. Also, you keep rewatching the same shows and you need something new. Does this count as being a digital nomad? #StreamingSucks

Scorpio

October 23–November 21

The stars are telling me to tell you to download Duolingo. I, personally, have never used it, but I have been subjected to social media videos of their mascot. If I understand correctly, it will haunt you if you do not log in everyday to practice your Swedish. That’s something you want because getting terrorized by a bird seems like something that would happen to you in Sweden (I have never been there). #IKEAIsAlsoAnOption

Aquarius

January 20–February 18

Just cry babes. It’s okay, let it out. If you’re wondering what you did wrong, maybe it was buying all the gear and supplies for four different new hobbies this year. Maybe it was not responding to that email a Nigerian prince sent you once. Either way, it’s your fault the only destination you’ll be hitting up this summer is Coquitlam Centre.

#CryMeARiver

Gemini May 21–June 20

You did not take that SIAT elective for nothing. You are posting daily about living your Parisian fantasy from your East Van basement unit. #ProficientInPhotoshop

Virgo August 23–September 22

Go to the liquor store and buy a wine from a country you’ve never been to before (which is most of them). But don’t drink it, pour it in your bathwater. There are approximately zero studies that prove that this does anything beneficial for you, but when anyone asks, you can just look back at them condescendingly and say: “It’s vinothérapie” (it’s not).

#WineMomSkincare

Sagittarius

November 22–December 21

I know, I know . . . it’s not fair that your crush and their new lover have a YouTube channel dedicated to documenting their European vanlife adventure. How are they even doing that? Aren’t the roads too small? Anyways bestie you don’t even have a driver’s license. Go do that, mmmkay? #VroomVroom

Pisces

February 19–March 20

Have you heard of lying? When someone asks you if you’ve travelled recently, just tell them you were one of the military horses that escaped in London. Not one of the injured ones though, you have to keep it believable.

#IWantToBreakFree

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SUDOKU

LAST PAPER’S SOLUTIONS