The Runner: Vol. 7 Issue 7 by The Runner

December

2014

Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s independent newspaper since 2009

No Words The muzzled state of science in Canada

Burnaby Mountain

Featuring Eagles’ Den

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Masthead

The Runner

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December 02 / 2014

In This Issue #BestPhoto featuring Kwantlen’s finest

from @KPU_rec on Instagram (KPU Recreation) Each week we’ll pick our favourite photo from the Kwantlen social media community. To submit your photo, use the hashtag #kpufall.

News................................................... 05 Active KSA strikes out...in a good way.

Features................................................ 08 Harper and science had a pretty bad break-up.

Opinion................................................ 10

Burnaby Mountain begins to see results, but is it enough?

Columns................................................ 11 Japan’s difficult relationship with recessions.

Culture.................................................. 13 Magical variety shows IRL.

Procrastination...................................... 16 Featuring a very hard Sudoku. “#KPU does #Movember! Only 10 days left! Join our team with your Mo or help by donating (http://mobro.co/kpu-ksa-team) @kpustulife#KwantlenU #kpufall #kpurec”

EDITORIAL DIVISION The Runner is student-owned and operated by Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, published under the Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society.

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www.runnermag.ca Vol. 07, Issue no. 08 December 02, 2014 ISSN# 1916 8241

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Cover Art: Danielle George

CONTRIBUTORS Daniella Javier, Aileen Tran, Chris Yee, Joseph Keller, Kyle Prince, Rick Kum, Hailey Logan, Marissa Partridge, Rosaura Ojeda, Danielle George The Runner recognises that our work, both in and out of the office, takes place on unceded Coast and Strait Salish territories, specifically the shared traditional territories of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Sto:lo and Tsawwassen First Nations. Our name is inspired by the hun’qumi’num meaning of Kwantlen, which is tireless hunters or tireless runners. Just as Kwantlen is adaptable and changing so is The Runner.

Contributing Editor / Kier-Christer Junos @kierjunos

Production Editor / Roland Nguyen production@runnermag.ca

Staff Writer / Tristan Johnston Co-Art Director / Mark Stewart photos@runnermag.ca @markstewart

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From the Michael Brown.

The Runner Editorial Board

The Runner

December 02 / 2014

Editors EDITORS /

This past week, with victories against Kinder Morgan on Burnaby Mountain, and growing movements against state oppression in Ferguson, Missouri in the United States, has been a useful reminder that people power does have, well, power. Unfortunately, there has been a serious lack of discussion circulating on either of these events, as celebrities and funny videos have once again taken priority. It’s actually important that you take the time to pause, and start paying attention to topics that actually matter. Ferguson in particular deserves a special amount of attention, because what’s happening there is not garnering nearly as much discussion as it warrants. On Aug. 9, Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black male, was shot by a white police officer, Darren Wilson. In his testimony, Wilson said that Brown’s face looked like a “demon.” As Vice pointed out, “It must not be taken lightly that a white man, endowed with firepower and authority by the state, used the term ‘demon’ to defend ending the life of unarmed black teenager.” Currently, there are riots happening in Ferguson. They’re happening because on Nov. 24, the police officer who shot Brown was not

indicted by a grand jury. They’re happening because on Nov. 24, the systemic racism that exists in the United States (and Canada) reared its ugly head once more. They’re happening because on Nov. 24 people once again were given cause to speak up about an injustice. There are some comments circulating about the riots in Ferguson, painting participants as “violent thugs” or criticizing looting. There are also comments that suggest rioting is not the way to accomplish change. In some cases (say, a hockey game that didn’t go your way), rioting is not the answer. Rioting for sports is ridiculous, sorry. The Ferguson riots, however, are completely justified. There are examples in history of riots accomplishing social change, and not all of them have been peaceful. As an article in Al Jazeera America pointed out, the Stonewall Riots of 1969 provided great strength and accomplishment to the gay rights movement, the 1965 Watts Riots were important for the civil rights movement in the U.S., and the 1886 Haymarket Riot was key in the labour movement’s organization of trade unions. What’s happening in Ferguson matters. It matters because it clearly demonstrates that racism continues to exist. We see it here in Surrey, perhaps most recently during our municipal election when candidates who were people of colour at their campaign signs

defaced by graffiti, and throughout Canada-an easy example are racial slurs that are used frequently in conversation that are not even acknowledged as being racist, or the fact that a police presence does not translate to a feeling of safety for everyone. An article in The Anti Media reminds us that: “Minorities are faced with much higher rates of police violence, however nearly everyone that is victimized by police and the drug war are part of the working poor, regardless of race. This is a war on freedom, with heavy racist and classist tones, which need to be acknowledged.” In 2012, a campaign called Black Lives Matter was launched. It was inspired by the murder of Trayvon Martin, a 17-yearold who was posthumously put on trial for his own murder, after his alleged murderer George Zimmerman was acquitted for his crime. It is a call to action to the anti-Black racism that permeates society, and “affirms the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, black-undocumented folks, folks with records, women and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. It centers those that have been marginalized within Black liberation movements. It is a tactic to (re)build the Black liberation movement.” Black Lives Matter has gained growing acknowledgement in recent months as they joined the fight for justice in Ferguson. It is a

Editorial

Marissa Patridge / The Runner

special movement because it addresses the intersectionalities of oppression that exist, and they emphasize the need to take the fight off of the internet and into the streets. The movement against state oppression of people of colour is growing, and you need to pay attention. If caring about celebrities is your thing, cool--but don’t make it your only thing. Recognize the importance of the suffering and oppression that exists, and take an active part in working to change it. Don’t tune out the world, just because you think the issues are too complex to understand. We are at a point in our lives when information is incredibly accessible, and although your time may be limited, I guarantee that issues like these are worth the little time you have. It is also worth keeping in mind that by keeping silent, or remaining “impartial” you are only furthering the agendas of those in power. Some of the worst history oppressors have gotten away with atrocities because too many people sat idly by and let it happen. I know that we have the power now, together, to fight the fight and be successful in creating a society we can be proud of. You owe it to yourself, and you owe it to our world. It’s time to do your part, and actively join the solidarity movement against a state that treats someone oppressively because they’re a person of colour.

Calendar

The Runner

December 02 / 2014

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Get Snappy with Us! Join us on Snapchat for our countdown to winter break! Steps:

1. Follow us on Snapchat: @runnermagkpu. 2. Each day you’ll get a snap from us telling you what to spy. 3. Send us a snap of that thing! The more you snap, the higher your chance of winning! Answer the riddle every day to increase your chances!

I Spy Winter Break Nov. 21 to Dec. 5

THREE CHANCES TO WIN REAL PRIZES Category 1: Spied the most! Category 2: Most creative snaps! Category 3: Most snap selfies!

Tuesday Dec. 2 Interwoven World - Identity and Fashion Would you like to learn how fashion choices have evolved over the centuries? Come to the Interwoven World exhibition to learn more about our global culture, our clothes and ourselves. Until July 2015, Richmond Museum (1807700 Minoru Gate, Richmond). Free.

Wednesday Dec. 3

What’s Up This Week! with Daniella Javier!

December 02nd – December 13th

Green Wednesdays — “Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story” KPU’s school of horticulture is currently holding the seventh season of Green Wednesdays: a series of challenging documentaries that explore what we eat, and what we need to sustain our species. All movies are open to the public as well as KPU students, faculty and staff. 7 p.m., KPU Langley Campus (Room 1030). Registration recommended. Admission by donation.

Thursday Dec. 4 Designer Spotlight Calling all fashionistas! Get your exclusive sneak peek behind the runway curtain and learn about the process behind runwayready fashion. Preview collections of over 35 emerging fashion designers ahead of the Spring 2015 Fashion Show. You’ll also be able to meet graduating students from the 2015 KPU fashion design and technology class. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., KPU Richmond Campus. Free.

Wednesday Dec. 10

Saturday Dec. 6 Christmas at FlyOver Canada Experience FlyOver Canada en route to the North Pole! Enjoy a Christmas themed pre-show, preboarding experience before the ride over Canada. There will also be decorations, lights, music and food to brighten your visit. Until Jan. 4, 201-999 Canada Place, Vancouver. $19.95.

Sunday Dec. 7 The 2014 Rogers Santa Claus Parade It’s back! This year’s parade will feature marching bands, dance troupes, festive floats and community groups. Come join in on one of the Lower Mainland’s biggest winter events. 1 p.m., 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver. Free.

Tuesday Dec. 9 Mary Poppins Come watch your favourite magical nanny fly over the rooftops of London and feel like a kid again! This family musical features unforgettable songs including “A Spoonful of Sugar”, “Chim Chim Cher-ee”, and many more. Until Jan. 4, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (2750 Granville St at 12th Avenue). $29+.

Van Dusen Gardens Festival of lights Experience the Festival of lights with the family over the holidays. Van Dusen Gardens is transformed into a frozen winter wonderland with over one million lights decorated around it. Families can stroll through themed areas and enjoy many other activities such as the Dancing Lights show on Livingstone Lake. Until Jan. 4. Van Dusen Gardens (5251 Oak St, Vancouver).$15.

Thursday Dec.11 The Spirit of Christmas Tour Come experience a festive tour through Vancouver’s most impressive Christmas sights. The tour will begin in Gastown, then continue to Canada Place for the FlyOver Canada experience. You’ll also visit Jack Poole Plaza, Stanley Park, English Bay and Van Dusen Gardens. This tour will definitely get you in the holiday spirit! Until Jan. 4 2015, 305 Water St, Vancouver. $70.

Saturday Dec. 13 Christmas Open House Experience an old-fashioned Christmas at the Historic Stewart Farm. Visit the farmhouse decorated for a pioneer Christmas, listen to live music, sample baked treats from the woodstove, and enjoy hot apple cider and hot chocolate. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Historic Stewart Farm (13723 Crescent Road, South Surrey). Admission by donation.

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A Lucky

The Runner

News

December 02 / 2014

TR iI k K eE S tr Mark Stewart / The Runner

Active KSA puts on bowling event, has plans for more.

Kyle Prince Contributor

Active KSA strikes again, this time with their bowling event at Commodore Lanes in Vancouver. The perfect middle ground between the Surrey and Richmond campuses, and easily accessible by transit, this event helped bring out students from both campuses for a night of fun and a little frivolity. The Active KSA team hopes to get people

together outside of school in fun and interactive environments, promoting friendships and a healthy lifestyle. As an added bonus, these events are a good way to help visiting international students explore Vancouver and make new friends along the way. Tabitha Swanson and Victor Cortez put this event together through Active KSA, and aim to set up further events on a month-bymonth basis to keep students involved and interested in life outside of schoolwork. In seasons with more inviting weather,

Active KSA has led students on hikes, and for those more interested in something indoors, they offer a wide range of fit-camp activities with information available on their website. On bowling night, students from Kwantlen were split between three lanes, so it was difficult to take in everything at once, but word has it there was somebody throwing burritos around. Even if that wasn’t true, it was a lively evening with music and laughter at a welcoming bowling alley. Commodore Lanes features five-pin bowling and plenty of pool tables, so

there was plenty for everyone there. Unfortunately, a tally of high scores wasn’t sent over since a machine at the bowling alley malfunctioned, so nobody got the secret prize. That just means there’ll be more prizes for future events, which is something worth keeping in mind. Movember dodgeball, another Active KSA event, occurred on Nov. 28. It was likely their last big event for the semester.

KPU prof predicts success of university place offerings

Mark Stewart / The Runner

Understanding the role of big data.

Tristan Johnston Staff Writer

“I did it for myself, as a modelling exercise. The university published their own set of results, but it seems a little elementary with graphs and numbers, and I just wanted to dig a little deeper,” says Stephen Peplow, a data analyst and professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He teaches statistics and economics at various levels. He recently published “Predicting the Uptake of a University’s Offers of Places,” which notes that universities mail out many offers of enrollment to potential students who never reply. The paper draws from a dataset of just under 13,000 students, which Peplow notes is “not a lot.” “I wasn’t working for the university, but I was using the university’s dataset. I published

it because I thought people might be interested, more in the method and the technique than the actual results, but the results are quite good,” he says. “It’s an assessment tool, to try and save time, but that’s not why I did it.” He clarifies the elementary nature of the paper. “I could calculate the chance of someone taking up an offer [from KPU] with about 80 per cent accuracy.” Some of the findings were interesting, such as the low response from 18-year-old students, and the high responses from mature students. Younger students, just coming out of high school, likely send out university applications to many universities, then pick from the ones they get offers from. Mature students might be coming to KPU for specific courses or trades. Peplow notes that with his model, someone could link it up with a spreadsheet, and attach a response probability next to students’ names.

“This is just people who’ve actually been offered a place at Kwantlen. They’ve been through the application procedure and received the offer letter. It would be interesting, but I don’t have the data for people who come to Kwantlen, what type are more likely to come. If I had more data at an early stage in the process, then I could run the same thing. This is not rocket science, universities in the United States do that,” he says. “It’s very similar to predicting how people are going to vote in elections.” The more physically close you are to Kwantlen, the more likely you are to accept the offer. “I also tried other things, like whether or not they lived close to public transport. The beauty of this sort of thing is if you can get in things like bus routes. Nobody likes to pay parking.” He also found that people who were going into trades rarely dropped an offer. He sup-

posed that it was related to KPU’s reputation as a good school for trades, and that there are few trades institutions in the Surrey and Langley area. He found similar results for students who are accepted into KPU’s school of design. “It’s almost unheard of them to drop an offer, because it’s quite hard to get into and it’s very good,” he says. “You have a lot of money going into the Chip and Shannon School of Design.” However, he emphasizes that these are just examples. The new word is “predictive analytics” or “predictive modelling,” and with more data it becomes even more accurate. “Let’s say I was sitting in the registrar’s office with a computer, and every time someone takes up an offer, drops this, drops that, then the model could be live,” he says. “And I could make real time predictions. That’s what big data does.”

News

The Runner

December 02 / 2014

Hailey Logan / The Runner

Eagles* Den coming to KPU

New reality show-inspired competition provides opportunity to students.

Joseph Keller Contributor

Entrepreneurs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University will soon get a chance to transform their ideas into cold hard cash as Enactus KPU hosts the first KPU “Eagles’ Den” competition. As the name implies, the event is inspired by the

popular entrepreneurial reality show, Dragons’ Den. The event is currently still in the planning phase but its organizers are aiming for a February 2015 debut. Winning teams will receive an opportunity to turn their ideas into a reality. “We’re really looking for people to be creative and come up with ideas that would be sustainable [and] that would create a positive impact,” says Enactus KPU president Zain Askari.

Marissa Patridge / The Runner

New Majors and Minors Approved by KPU Senate New programs to be available in near future.

Joseph Keller Contributor

The range of educational options continues to grow for students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Throughout the year, the KPU senate has been busy working out and approving a set of new major and minor programs for students to enroll in. Dana Cserepes, the former

vice-chair of the senate, and current chair of the KPU senate standing committee, says that the new additions will fill in gaps as part of the senate’s academic and strategic plans. ”When we became a polytechnic university, there was a recognition that we didn’t have science degrees. So that was an area that as a polytechnic university we felt was an appropriate one to move into,” says Cserepes. “Up until recently, we haven’t had an academic plan or a strategic plan, so go-

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Eagles’ Den will be structured in similar fashion to its CBC counterpart but with a few key differences. Teams of students will apply with ideas that support what Askari calls Enactus’ “triple bottom line,” meaning that the ideas will promote a positive social, environmental and economic impact. Ideas should also have qualities of leadership, creativity and teamwork. From the applicants, Enactus will select 12 teams that will present their ideas to a panel of judges in a Dragons’ Den-esque format. From that group the top three finalists will be selected by the judges. Unlike with the source material, ideas will be judged primarily on the good they can do for the community in accordance with the aforementioned triple bottom line, rather than on their potential for profit. “In the original Dragons’ Den it’s more about them investing money into [the ideas]. Here it’s more of a competition,” says Enactus KPU’s vice president of marketing and communications, Kiran Johal. “For Dragons’ Den it’s usually an established business already. Here it’s a valuable idea.” Each of the three finalists will be awarded funding to help get their ideas off the ground. First place will be awarded $1000 in startup funding, with second place receiving $500, and third place receiving $250. In addition to the funding, each finalist will receive mentorship from Enactus KPU to “help them turn their ideas into reality.” As of now the judges are yet to be announced, as Enactus is still in the process of deciding who will be best for the job. What is known is that the judges will be a mix of KPU faculty and local professionals whose backgrounds make them experts on the

type of community-oriented ideas presented by the contestants. There will be five judges in total. Enactus is a global, non-profit organization that operates in 36 countries. Founded in 1975, the organization has branches in hundreds of universities around the world, with KPU’s Enactus chapter being formed in 2011. The organization’s stated goal is to “enable progress through entrepreneurial action.” Other activities from Enactus KPU includes their Sidekicks initiative wherein they work with local high schools to offer at-risk youth free mentorship and tutoring. Askari was inspired to organize Eagles’ Den when he saw last year’s Enactus national competition in Calgary, which is a similar format to this competition but on a larger scale. Planning has been going on since the end of October, and the next step in the process will be to get the word out through posters, social media, and word-of-mouth. “What really sparked the idea is that we need more innovation from students,” says Askari. “We need people to come up with ideas and be creative. People are always stuck inside their classroom settings—they’re not really thinking outside of the box. That doesn’t allow them to grow mentally, and this provides that platform to inspire creativity.” “We hope to see more and more creative ideas coming in as far as applications go,” says Johal. “We just really hope that people take advantage of this opportunity and come out to unleash their inner entrepreneur,” Askari adds. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 25. Submissions will include application forms and business plans. Submissions must be submitted to info@enactuskpu.com.

ing forward when new degrees are proposed we very much will be looking at how they fit with the academic plans that the institution has.” Among the new programs to be offered are a minor in medicinal chemistry, a diploma in brewing and brewery operations, a certificate in non-governmental organizations and non-profit studies, a bachelor of arts minor in language and culture, and a bachelor of arts major in applied geography. Also currently pending approval from the Ministry of Advanced Education is a bachelor of business administration in communications. These programs are being approved now in large part because of the sheer amount of time it takes to develop a degree program. The process involves consulting with local businesses, professionals and industries to get a sense of what it is they are looking for in the educational background of potential employees. Also considered are student demands—what students are interested in learning about. This type of research is collected into an internal concept document to be considered by the institution. Once that is completed, a second proposal is created for the Ministry of Advanced Education to look at the curricular aspects of these programs. “These are not documents that you can develop quickly,” says Cserepes. These new programs were planned in

such a way as to be distinct from comparable programs as other local universities, such as SFU or UBC. For example, the new Bachelor of Arts Major in Applied Geography, as it’s name suggests, is specifically designed to be applied in a career-oriented industrial setting so as to fit in with KPU’s polytechnic mandate. Similarly, the bachelor of business administration in communications was designed with a focus on writing and oral communications, in response to feedback provided from local employers as part of the development process. “[We spoke to employers] in terms of ‘we think this is a good degree but is this the sort of graduate that you need in your company,’ so I think one of the things that distinguishes the degrees coming forward is that practical, hands-on component that will distinguish our students from graduates of other universities,” says Cserepes. Cserepes couldn’t give a timeframe on when exactly these new programs will be available for students to register. The main reason for this is that while they have been approved by the senate committee, they still need to go through the approval process from the budget committee to work out costs. Students or prospective students interested in these programs will need to keep an eye out for further announcements to find out when they can sign up.

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The Runner

News

December 02 / 2014

Mark Stewart / The Runner

Politicians host town hall on mental health Addressing the stigma.

Rick Kumar

Trigger warning: Article discusses suicide.

“I belong to a club I don’t want any more memDanielle George / The Runner

Surrey*s vital signs drop DROP Report on quality of life gives Surrey a “D” grade.

Tristan Johnston Staff Writer

A recent report by SurreyCares suggested that Surrey is lacking in several areas, most notably crime and public transportation. The report draws on data from 571 respondents in an online survey, as well as data from Statistics Canada. 49 per cent of respondents are “satisfied” with quality of life in Surrey, with 35 per cent “somewhat satisfied” and 12 per cent “unsatisfied.” Crime was overwhelmingly the largest concern of Surrey residences, regardless or income group, ethnicity or gender. Along with the rest of the developed world, crime in general has been in decline. Within Surrey, crime has dropped 11 per cent since 2009, with car thefts dropping by 29 per cent and violent crime dropping by 37 per cent. However, Surrey still has 12 per cent more crime than the B.C. average, with 28 per cent more property crime and 32 per cent more break-and-enter. However, it should be noted that percentages can be misleading. Homicide is “205 per cent” higher in Surrey than the BC average, which sounds scary, but this is 5.06 versus 1.66, respectively. The youth crime drop of 37 per cent is more significant, despite being a smaller number, with a difference of around 1,500 crimes in 2009, versus 1,000 in 2013. Michael Geller, a political observer, said

that, “It doesn’t matter whether if it’s real or not, it’s perceived,” in an interview with the Vancouver Sun. He was referring to the public perception of crime, and how it influenced the recent municipal election. “It’s a number one issue, all the candidates say ‘this is the number one issue, ‘I mean one of the candidates - McCallum - has actually named his party after the desire for it to be a safe Surrey.” The report also notes that homelessness and mental illness need to be examined in relation to crime. Nearly one in five children live in poverty, and 41 per cent of Surrey food bank users are children. Public transportation is another major concern, with Surrey being the largest growing municipality in B.C., and having a large built-up area. Surrey has too many one-storey buildings, which take up much more land area than above-store apartments, which of course means further distances must be travelled to get from one part of the city to the other. TransLink has been considering plans to introduce an LRT in the future, which would start at Surrey Central, with links along Scott Road and towards Langley. Linda Hepner, Surrey’s new mayor, has said that public transit is one of her priorities. It is unlikely that Surrey is happy with such a low grade, although it remains to be seen whether any actions will be taken in order to improve in its Vital Signs.

bers in,” said Carol Todd, the late Amanda Todd’s mother, to a captive audience. Todd, along with a diverse panel of speakers and officials, was present at MLA Sue Hammell and MP Jinny Sims’ town hall meeting on mental health and suicide prevention on Nov. 22. Todd has been touring schools and sharing her story in hopes of preventing other teens and young adults from going down the same path her daughter Amanda did in October 2012. According to Todd, “Mental health should be proactive, not reactive,” and she urges young adults struggling with mental health issues to “Not be afraid to talk about it [and to] find someone to talk to, no matter who they are.” Todd also expressed concern for those who want to help but don’t know how. “Take an initiative. If you see someone and see that they’re feeling down, ask them how they’re doing. Something so simple can make such a big difference.” The meeting room adjoining Strawberry Hill Library that hosted the panel was overflowing with members of the community, even exceeding fire and safety standards. A large turnout of mothers, fathers, friends, and other family members of those who’ve committed suicide were present, and it was clear they wanted to open up the discussion on a larger scale. “You need to host these events to connect with the community and hear their voice. You need to hear their voice to know how best to represent them, to help them,” says Hammell. Perhaps one of few MLAs hosting such an event, Hammell chose this specific date for the town hall meeting because Nov. 22 was National Survivors of Suicide Day—a day when the friends and family of those who have died by suicide can join together for healing and support, as was the case in that crowded room.

“Mental Illness is not preventable, but suicide is,” says Simon Fraser University student and speaker Tara Joshi, explaining her lifelong battle with depression and suicide. Having attempted suicide before, Joshi left no room for ambiguity in her efforts to prevent further attempts. “I don’t want to sugar coat anything, that’s not what mental illness is about.” Joshi refused to succumb to her illness and made a choice to speak to a councillor. “The thing about mental illness is it doesn’t go away unless you get help.” A survivor of suicide three times over, Joshi shares her story with other young adults and teens facing depression and suicide to tell them that even if you go to the darkest places you can return. “I was there, but I now I’m here, I’m here in university, and I made it because I got help.” According to Statistics Canada’s most recent census, one in four people who committed suicide in Canada last year was a teenager or a young adult. While these statistics provoke conversation, they are too often swept underneath the rug and discussed behind closed doors. Mental health issues such as depression, and discussions centering on suicide, remain as stigmatized as ever. Sims accredits this stigma to a lack of awareness. “When you have a broken leg people can see it, ask about it. Mental health isn’t so; it’s not something we wear on the outside.” Many stories have been shared, but the discussion is far from over. It is both Hammell and Sims wish that this dialogue be continued in the community where it can do more good, and ultimately save lives. If you are worried about yourself or a friend there are services in the Lower Mainland you can contact. Suicide Prevention Crisis Line has a 24hr hotline available at (604) 820-1166. SPEAC: Suicide Prevention Education & Counselling can also be reached at (604) 584-5811. If you find you’re dealing with grief after a loss SAFER Suicide Bereavement offers individual counselling for people experiencing grief from a loss, they can be contacted at (604) 879-9251.

Feature

The Runner

December 02 / 2014 Danielle George / The Runner

The Politics of Science in CANADA Canada Canadians speak out against Harper’s restrictive policies.

Joseph Keller Contributor

The policies of Stephen Harper’s majority Conservative government towards science and research over the last few years have been unpopular among the scientific community, to say the least. Since the federal Conservatives won a majority in the House of Commons in 2011, the way in which government scientists are able to share information has been drastically altered. To address this issue, scientistsandorganizations from across Canada and around the world have been speaking out against government policy that they claim is detrimental to scientific freedom and advancement. “I would say [the difference is] night and day from the standpoint of access to scientists. That is completely new. That’s a creation of the Harper government,” says Kwantlen Polytechnic University professor Dr. Paul Richard, who before coming to Kwantlen had extensive experience as a scientific researcher. Previously under other federal governments, the process of speaking to a government scientist was rather simple. Now, the federal government is increasingly stingy when it comes to allowing access to these researchers. Richard gave the example of a recent rainstorm in North Vancouver that some had suspected was linked to climate change. In a situation like that where a journalist is reporting on a matter of environmen-

tal science, their best resource would likely be to speak to a scientist from Environment Canada. Unfortunately, in order to speak to these experts, journalists have to go through a government representative and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get that approval. It’s this “muzzling” of scientists (to borrow the language of some critics) that has lead to criticism and claims of government censorship from members of the scientific community. “For journalists, this usually means that if they get an answer at all the topic is too old by now,” says Richard. Contributing factors to the claims of censorship stem from what seems to be a focus specifically on environmental science when it comes to restricting access to researchers. At this point these suspicions are substantiated mostly by anecdotal evidence from researchers, but an inquiry from the federal information commissioner is currently underway that could confirm these suspicions. However, it is evident that the findings of environmental research are often highly inconvenient. “Usually the environmental story is not one that meets a governmental good,” says Richard. “It’s like that knowledge is not welcome . . . even more so when that knowledge comes in conflict with government policy.” These critiques extend to the way funding is being allocated to scientific endeavours as well. To be fair, Canada like most other developed nations has historically had issues with scientific funding across many federal administrations. However, over the last few

years researchers have increasingly seen greater difficulty accessing federal funds, particularly for environmental research. “We’ve seen the government really cut away from grants that go towards fundamental research, and instead that money goes to specifically targeted pots. Normally, the researcher needs to have an industrial partner so the quality of research has been really eroded, particularly in the last five years,” says Richard. The controversy surrounding these issues has caused a wave of dissent from scientists, concerned citizens and organisations around the country and abroad. Dozens of editorials have been published in various publications decrying the state of science in Canada. Protests have sprung up around the country and various organizations have launched initiatives in response. Among these organizations is University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre. “I think there has been a huge inefficiency introduced by these policies,” says Chris Tollefson, the executive director at the centre. “Beyond that, I think scientists that I talked to feel that they are not being allowed to fully engage with the public around these issues.” It was for this reason that Tollefson’s organization and their client organization Democracy Watch elected to contact the office of Canada’s information commissioner Suzanne Legault. They made the request in 2013, asking her to conduct an inquiry into the federal government’s policies regarding communication from government scientists

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to the people. It’s the hope of the centre that this inquiry will provide a concrete explanation of these policies and answer the question of whether or not they are constitutional. “This particular client, Democracy Watch, was concerned that these policies were fettering the free flow of information from scientists who are working on behalf of the public . . . These policies were fettering the communication of these research results to the public, and the ability of Canadians to stay informed was thereby being undermined,” says Tollefson. “We had confidence that the commissioner possessed a legal mandate to get to the bottom of this. We felt that of all the various legal avenues available that this was the one that would likely have the most chance of not only shining a spotlight on this problem, but in getting it fixed,” he explains. The request was quickly accepted by the information commissioner and a full inquiry into the federal government’s policies and practices on this issue is now in progress. No timeframe has been given on when the results of this inquiry will be released, but an announcement will be made prior to the release. Other responses to these policies have taken the form of public protests. In July of 2012 for example, a group of scientists gathered at Parliament Hill to protest the widespread budget cuts to various environmental science programs and the axing of the long form census in what the protesters called “The death of evidence.” Another protest was held this past September at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The rally saw approximately 100 protesters, and among them was famous Vancouver academic David Suzuki. The protest was set specifically to address the stifling of government scientists on issues such as the Northern Gateway pipeline. This past October, an open letter to Harper from hundreds of concerned scientists around the world was published regarding the “rapid decline in freedoms and funding” for scientists seen in Canada. The letter cites the harm being done not just in Canada but around the world as a result of these policies. As a cumulation of these events, as well as scientists’ widespread frustration with the Harper government, the Professional Institute of Public Service of Canada (which is the union representing government scientists) stated that they will be taking a more active approach in protesting the government policies heading into the election year. This ends the PIPSC’s previously neutral stance. Thus far the Conservative government has shown no sign of bending to any of these critiques. Heading into the election year, it’s likely that we will see more dissent from scientists and activists around the country. As the pressure builds, one must wonder how much longer the federal Conservatives can stay this path of censorship.

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The Runner

December 02 / 2014

Campus Life

Opinion

The Runner

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December 02 / 2014

Kier-Christer Junos / The Runner

Kinder Morgan protesters need to pipe-up on Burnaby Mountain Movement’s strength needs more focus.

Kier-Christer Junos Contributing Editor

Throughout last week, as the protests on Burnaby Mountain heightened, I lurked what seems to be the most active Kinder Morgan protester organization group on Facebook, among others. I also climbed up the mountain and stood at the police tape myself, trying to understand the news firsthand. When I went up there in the rain on Nov. 24, the mood of the sparse crowd and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was surprisingly mild and agreeable. The weekday probably accounted for the lower attendance, but nevertheless, the mood in the crowd was still agreeable. A septuagenarian was arrested—cordially and premeditatedly— and it was nothing like the passionate and incendiary video streams of this protest’s genesis, that I saw days prior. This protest’s symbolic arrests had become the trend. Honestly—online and at the police line— I didn’t see an effective protest. The protesters look united on the mountain, but it’s a different story online. People are arguing about what really needs to be done

to stop Kinder Morgan. Dissonance already exists in the group, and I fear its growth may stunt the efforts of this protest. In group comment threads, it’s shown that some people prefer the effort of the peaceful arrests, and some tout—sometimes, vehemently—that something more aggressive needs to be done. Since then, I’ve found the group to be more moderated, and though this crops out trolls and obvious extremists, it has left out some creative voices that could strengthen the effort. First, this is a cause for many. In covering First Nations’ news, First Nations elders have told me that aboriginal people, over the years, have gained agency in this country regarding environmental decisions and more. Subsequently, many First Nations usually spearhead environmental movements with zeal, but this protest on Burnaby Mountain sees people from different walks of life walking up to the police line. Middleclass citizens, senior citizens and even some children are among those protesting against Kinder Morgan. It could be argued that a lot of these protesters prefer a pacifistic approach. Some sing songs, address the crowd over megaphone and, of course, get “arrested,” but these aren’t good enough. The

RCMP are happily accommodating these peaceful arrests, even raising the police tape to help arrestees cross. Multiple people have posted blogs about their arrests, explaining the pleasant nature of their respective arrests. Indeed, this reality has pacified the spirit of the protest, framing these symbolic arrests as semantics. The story continued off the mountain: protesters met at the Supreme Court in Vancouver on the morning of Nov. 27, where energy infrastructure company Kinder Morgan appealed to increase their injunction time to Dec. 12, to keep protesters away from their drill sites. At the courthouse, what the protesters did accurately characterizes effective, creative, peaceful protesting. Protesters, with their signs, literally locked their necks against the Supreme Court door handles with Masterlock U-bolt bike locks. One of the lockedup protesters, in a video, encouraged the use of the human body for protest. The symbolism of this action is commendable in its simplicity. The action impedes the working bodies of this institution from simply using a building entrance. That, to me, is awfully poetic and impactful, and I’d be surprised to hear that one of those working bodies forgot about it on the way home.

The Supreme Court declined Kinder Morgan their injunction extension, meaning they had to finish excavation work by Dec. 1. This victory for the protesters should be admired, but it should also be remembered that this is likely the first of many battles between protesters and Kinder Morgan on Burnaby Mountain. In these future battles, if protesters fail to find a common ground stronger and smarter than quiet pacifism, then I worry this protest will become sterile. I definitely don’t suggest protesters fuel their effort with blind rage, or to characterize themselves with violence. Really, protesters should be looking to the First Nations elders for prudent leadership. British Columbians should also show their passion at the police line, if they’re against it. British Columbians should be more creative in protesting Kinder Morgan, if they’re against them. British Columbians should be angry that their premier—who, by the way, once represented the riding of Port MoodyBurnaby Mountain—hasn’t said a word. Singing songs, speaking from the heart and being symbolically arrested all have merit—but these efforts are still too damn quiet. Last I checked, civil disobedience was supposed to make a sound.

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The Runner

December 02 / 2014

Columns

Going Global Rosaura Ojeda / The Runner

The Failure of Abenomics.

Tristan Johnston Columnist

On Nov. 17, Japan announced that they were in yet another recession, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for snap elections yet again. Since September of 2006, Japan has gone through six different prime ministers, with Abe having served twice. This turnover rate is so high because prime ministers often resign when their approval rating is low, or they are perceived to have failed in some way. Visitors to Japan in 2012 would have noticed that everything was expensive— even more so than usual. In that year, the exchange rate was $1.30CDN for every 100 yen, which means that everything was approximately 30 per cent more costly. Today, the exchange rate is around $1.03CDN for every 100 yen, which is far more affordable for visitors to the country. If you’re a massive company though, this is far more significant. Japanese products are more affordable when the exchange rate is in favour of importers. This means that compared to two years ago, all Japanese goods are much cheaper because of the price of their currency. Importing a cellphone for a lower price may seem quaint to a consumer, but businesses would save millions of dollars when they import 100,000 of a product. The situation can also

be good for Canada, as it means the United States might buy more oil and lumber. This is potentially an effect of what’s being referred to as “Abenomics,” the economic policies of incumbent Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe. For context, the Japanese economy has been unremarkable for the last 25 years. In the 1980s, business people were told to study Japanese language, as that’s what “everyone would be speaking.” This wasn’t the case. A combination of economic policy, a culture of saving and lack of innovation has put Japan in its current financial position. A contentious issue over the last few years has been sales tax. The Japanese government raised sales tax from five per cent to eight per cent in April of this year, which was surely a factor in the falling of spending. There are still plans to raise the tax yet again to 10 per cent. These taxes are likely needed to address Japan’s debt. The United States is often known as being the country with the most total debt, but Japan easily has the most as a percentage of its GDP, currently around one quadrillion yen, or $10 trillion USD. The United States can get away with their high debt ($17 trillion) because their country is constantly producing and growing economically, while Japan has been stagnant for the last 20 years. Japan also has a hard time injecting money into the economy via stimulus, as they have a culture of saving. In the United States, stimulus

money is spent in some way, whether by makework projects, hiring people or somehow helping the economy directly. In Japan, stimulus money often goes into savings accounts. One part of Abe’s policy is to inflate the currency, setting a specific inflation target of two per cent per year (for comparison, Canada was 2.4 per cent in October). By February 2013, the Japanese currency lost 25 per cent of its value against the American dollar, but the Japanese stock index TOPIX rose 22 per cent. While the yen losing value is good for those outside of the country, it makes imports more expensive for the Japanese, a country which needs to import most of its resources. For instance, Japan needs to import almost all of its oil, which it doesn’t subsidize. This change in currency is extra troubling for consumer spending when a tax hike is coming at the same time. Abe believes that this is a temporary setback, and this will be balanced out by more exports for the country. Another problem facing the Japanese economy is their labour force. The population is aging, with a third of the national budget going to pensions and healthcare. Birth rates there are the lowest in the world. The interesting facet to this is that their birth rates aren’t much lower than Europe and Canada. According to the United Nations, in 2012, Japan’s fertility rate was 1.41 births per woman, which isn’t significantly lower than Canada (1.66). It is worth noting that two births per woman is

to break even, and more than two on average usually implies a growing population. Unlike Canada and Europe, Japan has a very different immigration policy. This was expressed by Abe himself when, on a TV program in June, he said: “In countries that have accepted immigration, there has been a lot of friction, a lot of unhappiness both for the newcomers and the people who already lived there.” Like Abe, many Japanese don’t favour immigration to the same degree as European nations or Canada, with two-thirds of the population saying they were against it in a poll conducted by newspaper Asahi Shinbun in 2010. The only other wealthy country in the world with a tight immigration policy is South Korea, but they have a massive tech industry (Samsung, LG, Hyundai, etc) and a growing economy. There are also gender imbalances in the Japanese workforce. Though attitudes towards women in the workplace are changing slowly, currently, more women than men graduate university in Japan, and due to the low birth rate, employers are more confident that they won’t go on maternity leave. Shinzo Abe himself has expressed, several times, a desire to see more women in the workforce. Tristan Johnston holds British-Canadian dual citizenship, and has lived in both Berlin and Vienna for six months each. He has visited Japan on four separate occasions.

Columns

The Runner

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December 02 / 2014

?????? / The Runner

The *F* Word Fame should stand for nothing.

Aileen Tran Columnist

Trigger warning: Article discusses sexual assault

We need to start believing sexual assault victims. In the light of the recent outbreak of multiple sexual assault allegations against certain celebrities, it has become evident that there is an old, and on-going epidemic of famous people getting away with sexual violations with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Two of the many reasons why celebrities are often protected and excused for their cruel behaviour are their fame and wealth. They have enough money to pay (repeatedly) their way out of trouble, victims are frequently emotionally incapable of following through with lawsuits, people not tend not to believe the victims, and the credential of the celebrity offers a front for the audience to think they “would never do such a thing.” These celebrities are not only from Hollywood but also include stars from YouTube and television. Woody Allen, Jian Ghomeshi, Bill Cosby and Sam Pepper are but a small fraction, and they’re the ones who have been most recently exposed. There are dozens more that have been accused, including America’s sweetheart, Britney Spears. Sexual assault and rape cases are extremely difficult to prosecute because of the lack of physical evidence. When multiple victims are coming forward against a single abuser, even after a long period of time, the allegations should be taken seriously because technically, all these victims

are witnesses of the same crime. On Feb. 1, famous movie director Woody Allen was exposed by his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow, for molesting her. Allen denied any allegations that he inappropriately touched her. However, this is hard to believe when there was evidence including a babysitter’s testimony stating that she witnessed sexual behaviours from Allen towards his stepdaughter. Allen had also been in therapy for alleged inappropriate behavior towards Farrow with a child psychologist as early as 1991, before the case was taken to the authorities and information was released to the public. Allen responded to the allegations by saying, “The age of seven, a vulnerable child is taught by a strong mother to hate her father,” claiming Farrow’s mother coached her to go against him out of spite from their terrible break-up. However, it didn’t help his case when Allen’s ex-wife found nude photos of her other adoptive daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, taken by Allen. He later continued a relationship with Previn, who was 19 at the time, while Allen was 56. Unfortunately, charges for child molestations were dropped because Farrow was too emotionally fragile to deal with it in court. According to a recent Washington Post article, 16 women have come forward to publicly claim that they have been sexually abused by Bill Cosby, 12 of them saying he drugged and raped them. Many of these cases have been excused because of insufficient credible and admissible evidence. Cosby’s attorney stated “The new, never-before-heard claims from women who have come forward in the past two weeks with

Pauline Tiongson / The Runner

unsubstantiated, fantastical stories about things they say occurred 30, 40, or even 50 years ago, have escalated far past the point of absurdity.” Cosby’s attorney is basically asking where these women were years ago when they were sexually assaulted, asking why they didn’t come forward right after when it happened. This happens in many sexual assault cases, and it becomes problematic in seeking justice for rape victims. The same issue rose from the case of Jian Ghomeshi, where after his former girlfriend came forward with allegations of sexual abuse, more women (a total of nine) spoke up claiming to be one of Ghomeshi’s victims. In some instances, when a victim of an abuser has the courage to come forward with the allegations, other victims of the same abuser will feel secure enough to speak up as well. Between 60 to 90 per cent of sexual assaults go unreported, with reasons varying from victims feeling ashamed, scared or that nobody would believe them. Especially when the celebrity is well-known, their fans will defend them against the allegations. Sam Pepper, a previously famous YouTuber known for his “pranks” that involved inappropriately groping women on the streets, was bombarded with accusations of sexual assaults and rape from many different women. Most of the victims chose to remain anonymous but those who came forward with their name were faced with threats and vicious hate by Pepper’s fans. After the “prank” videos were taken down, Pepper posted a response video stating his groping videos were a “social experiment” and were intended to raise

awareness to sexual harassment towards men. Laci Green, a popular YouTube sexual health educator exposed Pepper and responded with, “At the end of the day, regardless of what you call it, a ‘prank,’ an ‘experiment’ or ‘awareness raising,’ when you touch someone without consent, when you force them to be sexual with you, when you pressure them, that is harassment, violent, assault.” Pepper was subsequently dropped from YouTube and other sponsorships; however, despite evidence of sexually explicit messages that Pepper sent to underage girls, there were no legal consequences. Many of the women were afraid to testify, some claiming they were threatened by Pepper himself. Just like Bill Cosby and other celebrities, Sam Pepper is protected by his fame and is bluntly ignoring the allegations and basically getting away scot-free. The similarities in these cases, in that the celebrities were not reprimanded for their actions, should be frightening to us. Sexual assault doesn’t suddenly invalidate the talent of a given celebrity, but it also does not mean their talent should outshine their horrific actions against these victims. This expands beyond celebrities: it includes fame at all levels, including the popular high school football players that were defended against allegations in the Steubenville High School rape, in fear of ruining their career. Those who commit sexual assault should not be able to hide behind their wealth and popularity. Aileen Tran is studying Journalism and Creative Writing at KPU. She enjoys destroying patriarchy and long romantic walks to the refrigerator.

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The Runner

December 02 / 2014

Culture

Fireside Chats with Alan Davis Finding funding for KPU.

Samantha Thompson Executive Editor

For Alan Davis, president of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, issues relating to money are something he’s frequently dealing with. “I have to say, running the university is increasingly like running a business,” he says. “The financial aspect of it is increasingly on your mind. It’s nice now and again to go to an event where that’s not an issue, or a committee meeting where that’s not the issue.” “To see students actively engaging in their learning, and faculty actively engaging in their teaching and scholarship, that’s where the action is, and that’s where the fun stuff is . . . for a while you can forget about the fact that we have to get back to the spreadsheets and the arguments about who gets what, and what can we afford and not afford. But that’s the job, [although] I’m sure there must’ve been a period at one point in history where you didn’t have to think that.” Post-secondary education in British Columbia is underfunded, with KPU in particular lacking necessary funds. The university recently submitted a letter to the Select Standing Committee on Finance of the provincial government, requesting that the government take action against this underfunding. Davis says he understands the difficulties the government is under, but “KPU is

behind everybody, and [the government] need[s] to help it to serve the people of this community better; [they] need to help us.” He points out that there were a series of planned cuts they knew about, and the cuts mean that every year KPU’s operating budget has been decreasing. Currently, the institution is working on a budget that appears to be short $2-million next year. Each year, post-secondary institutions can raise domestic tuition a maximum of two per cent, which means that KPU has to find the money elsewhere. “I firmly believe that we will be able to deliver the programs that we promised next year,” says Davis. “We’ll have to find a way through efficiencies, be creative to find the $2-million.” “We have been cutting the last few years, it gets a little harder every year of course . . . so you have to be hopeful, you have to look forward, you have to look at alternative revenues.” International education is one such alternative revenue, but Davis emphasizes that KPU doesn’t favour international students over domestic. “The fact is they do help us grow, because they provide the extra revenue helps keep us programs going for domestic students,” he says. KPU has also been expanding its continuing professional studies offerings, which are often worthwhile because they are attractive to a diverse range of people and frequently the programs pay for themselves. In the south of the Fraser region alone, Douglas, Trinity Western, Langara and SFU are all offering these

Hira Matharoo / The Runner

continuing professional studies programs. “It’s pretty crowded, but we’re smart people. We can find ways to cut our costs, to lobby the government for a better deal, to create and diversify our revenue streams,” says Davis. KPU has also been relying on the Kwantlen Foundation to increase revenue, through fundraising and “friendraising” ventures. “We’re pretty good at fundraising . . . if you look around and you see what other people do, there are some opportunities for people to donate to our cause . . . either naming rights or to be participants in higher education because they really believe in what we do,” says Davis. “The work of the Foundation board is very important, both for scholarships for students and for fundraising and friendraising.” Despite the funding shortfalls, KPU continues to look to the future and to ways of expanding their offered services to the region. Earlier this year, they announced plans for a fifth campus, located in Surrey Centre at called “KPU Civic Plaza.” The building won’t open until 2017, but Davis says that once it’s finished, the hope is that the building and the programs held within will pay for themselves. The new campus will be the focus of fundraising, and will potentially have sponsors’ names, similar to what SFU has done at its Harbour Centre campus in downtown Vancouver. “You’re going to see more of that,” says Davis. “We’ve probably been somewhat be-

hind in tapping into people’s wealth, who are willing to share with us. They see the value of donating to us, and in exchange for naming . . . It is one way on the capital side we can grow the university and create more opportunities.” “On the other hand, it’s taxpayers’ money-it’s either taxpayers’ money or it’s student’s money. We’ve got to be very very careful and invest it in ways that make sense, and which can show in a sense a return on the investment.” Although KPU and Davis are on the lookout for new funding opportunities, Davis emphasizes that the problem goes deeper than funding just the institution. He argues that receiving government funding for KPU is only one side of the problem-that seats can be opened up, “but if people can’t aﬀord them then what’s the point?” “Our domestic enrollment isn’t skyrocketing, it’s soft, and I think it’s because in some cases people can’t aﬀord to come to school,” he says. He believes that it’s important students have support. “It’s pretty standard that the investment that you make in someone as a society, to make sure they have an education, the knowledge skills and attributes to become an engaged citizen, to have a successful career--is worth a lot more,” he says. “Hopefully the government sees [postsecondary funding] as an investment, and not as a cost.”

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December 02 / 2014

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The Runner

December 02 / 2014

Culture

Mark Stewart / The Runner

Museum hosts variety shows to keep the past alive Langley Centennial sees high turnout for historic events.

Chris Yee

Contributor

Without too much exaggeration, one could say the Langley Centennial Museum is in the time travel business. Recently—relatively speaking—a number of exhibitions at the museum have been accompanied by variety shows of various kinds. When a travelling exhibition about the popular entertainments of the turn of last century, Voices of the Town: Vaudeville in Canada, turned up in town last year, the museum put on a show of its own at the Fort Langley Community Hall to go with it. Organized by musicologist and entertainer Douglas Fraser, the event was well received by locals. “We could have filled the theatre twice, easily,” Fraser says. “The show went off really well . . . It was quite a joy to put together and see completed.” Another local favourite was the fashion show the museum hosted as a companion to this summer’s exhibit of pre-Second World War fashion, Art Deco Chic: Women’s Clothing of the 1920s & 1930s. According to the Township of Langley’s cultural services manager, Peter Tulumello, it attracted young and old alike; indeed,

a considerable number of the people who came were teenaged retro enthusiasts. “It was remarkable,” says Tulumello. On Nov. 1, scores of people came to the Chief Sepass Theatre to see the Langley Centennial Museum’s Remembrance Day-themed variety show, Until Everyone Comes Home, which sold nearly 200 tickets. A companion to the Mementos and Memories: Langley and the Second World War exhibit, which ran from Aug. 17 to Nov. 11, Until Everyone Comes Home was a co-production of the museum and the school of the arts, media and culture at Trinity Western University. Fraser served as master of ceremonies for the event, which featured musical accompaniment by TWU’s jazz quintet and a cast of local talent, including Langley Has Talent winner and Kwantlen Polytechnic University scholarship recipient Hayley Bouey. Until Everyone Comes Home was a re-enactment of the variety shows put on for those fighting overseas during the Second World War by the likes of the United Service Organization (“Until Everyone Comes Home” is the USO’s motto) and the Canadian army and navy. Getting the re-enactment just right can be a bit of a challenge. Karen Lee-Morlang, who founded the Lady Larks, a quartet dedicated

to the vocal harmonies of popular 1940s swing trio the Andrews Sisters, says their performances entailed “a lot of rehearsal.” “Often a lot of this music hasn’t been properly scored or written on sheet music,” Lee-Morlang says. But it was also an opportunity for the Lady Larks to exercise a bit of creative flair, embellishing their outfits and the performance itself. “We listen to the music and then we adapt it so it has all the vocal harmonies [and] sometimes what we do is add an extra harmony for me,” Lee-Morlang adds. In addition to singing, she accompanies the quartet on piano. “And after the music feels really good, we think up dance moves that will coordinate with the music.” According to Tulumello, Until Everyone Comes Home was also a celebration of pop cultural history – and of Canada’s role in shaping it. Take the story of songwriter Ruth Lowe, a Canadian who wrote Frank Sinatra’s first major hits, “I’ll Never Smile Again” and “Put Your Dreams Away (for another day)”. “Here’s the connection,” says Tulumello. “We had a Canadian songwriter, and a famous American who made the song really big, and it actually launched his career.” “Put Your Dreams Away (for another

day)”, a hit for Sinatra during wartime, became the closing song for his performances through the years. “It was one of his favourite songs,” Tulumello adds. “Basically, he was recorded as saying that this song took him from nowhere to somewhere.” “It was such an important song to Frank Sinatra that, when he died, that was the song played at his funeral.” Until Everyone Comes Home was more than a showcase of world and pop history. It was also a shared, intergenerational experience, connecting the veterans in the audience and their descendants – something Tulumello points out. “It’s trying to draw upon the emotions [and] a recognition of how important music was [during the war], and how that brought [the troops] some comfort during what was really a terrible time,” Tulumello says. Perhaps that shared experience is the most important thing about the museum’s variety shows in general. “They’re really a gift to the community,” says Fraser, praising Tulumello on his work. “[Tulumello]’s a history buff, he’s a museum man, and he puts on nostalgic performances for the community that are really a feather in our cap.”

Procrastination

The Runner

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December 02 / 2014

SUDOKU SUDOKU

Horoscopes

No. 109 No. 109

Previous solution Previous- Medium solution - Medium ToughTough

1 5 3 81 95 63 28 49 76 2 4 7

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Sagittarius Nov. 23 - Dec 21

Capricorn Dec. 22 - Jan 20

At four consecutive pints of ice cream you feel like an inhuman monster, at five you begin to feel like a world champion.

“YOLO!”you shout in existential terror as the final, strained tethers snap and you begin to plummet into the ceaseless cavern below.

Yes, a seance for your dead cat is absolutely the best way to teach your kids about mortality.

Pisces Feb 20 - Mar 20

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20

The revolution will not be televised.We have The hills are alive with the sound of music! far more direct forms of communicating the Unfortunately, that music is Dubstep. I’m trying revolution these days. totellyoutoprepareforanearthquake.

The solutions be published here in thehere nextinissue. The will solutions will be published the next issue.

CROSSWORD Across

1. Antipasto morsel 6. Organization 11. Inquire of 14. Rot 15. ___ Mio 16. Certain Ivy Leaguer 17. Connected series of rooms 18. "Lou Grant" star 19. Posed 20. Third Gospel 22. Steak order 24. Small mechanical devices 28. Carve 30. Lazy 31. Alert, knowing 32. Orchestra section 33. Capital of Scotland 37. Obtain, slangily 38. On one's toes 39. Ten of these equal one dong in Vietnam 40. Bewitch 43. Schemes 45. ___ de Leon 46. Young roarer 47. Small upright piano 49. Purposeless 50. Trimmed 51. Invitation letters 52. From ___ Z 53. Deplete 56. City in West Yorkshire 61. Accelerate 62. Actress Witherspoon 63. Not odds 64. Enzyme ending 65. Glacial ridge 66. It's a wrap

Down

1. Takes too much 2. Romanian coin 3. Henri's here 4. Large container 5. Blind 6. Steeps 7. "___ quam videri" (North

Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 3

20 24

Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 23

Everyone that’s come before has already It’s already too late. been forgotten. Why would you be any different?

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19

I think it’s about time to abandon your responsibilities, hide away in a secluded underground location, and really lean into the idea of becoming a supervillain?

Leo Jul 24 - Aug 23 OH! Oh my God ... The Squeakquel. Because they’re chipmunks. I just got that!

45 47

Libra Sept 24 - Oct 23

The piece of obscene graffiti you spray- Today’s the day to embrace your fellow man, painted onto the wall of a firehall when so get out and spread the love! (Except for you were 12 will remain the greatest Kevin, you stay the hell away from that guy.) accomplishment of your life.

Virgo Aug 24 - Sept 23

Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 22 The stars are trying to tell you your future, but they’re written there in Braille. Reach on out and touch the stars.

Carolina's motto) 8. Imperial unit of weight 9. Suffix with glob 10. Agitate 11. Greek fabulist 12. Slope 13. Bird of prey 21. Shoshone language member 23. Chicken cordon ___ 24. Small canyon 25. Dined at home 26. Eats to a plan 27. Deity 28. Eddy 29. Pessimist's word 31. "Die Fledermaus" maid 33. Choose 34. Geneva's river 35. Entrances 36. Emcees 38. Teen spots? 41. Mayberry moppet 42. Graceful roundness 43. Skin eruptions 44. Chat room chuckle

46. Actress Tyler 47. Satisfies 48. Establish as the truth 49. According to 50. Graph prefix 51. Trick 54. Paris possessive 55. A mouse! 57. Sister of Zsa Zsa 58. Ballad ending 59. Kind of fingerprint 60. Nine-digit ID

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