The Crusader News - June 2023 - Vol 76 Issue 4

The Crusader News

Crusader Rugby Champsionship

Read as Crusader Rugby player, Nathan Macdonell ’23 recounts the rugby trip to St. Louis, as well as the undefeated regular season, leading to the Crusader taking home both the city and provincial Rugby championship.

Read more on pg. 6.

Uniqueness: A Student’s Perspective

Naren Sivasankar ’23

Wherever you go at each stage in your life, you meet all sorts of people, each with different interests and personalities. This is simply known as uniqueness. Uniqueness can be analyzed through different means, one of which is social interaction. Some may fit in whilst others may have a harder time. Although feeling like an outcast is universal for everyone, I have felt it at a very personal level.

In the early years of my childhood, I knew I was different. Lots of people may not know this about me, but I have autism. During those early years, everyone seemed to be into the same things such as playing in the sandpit and creating paintings. However, the isolation factor kicked in when I reached middle school and high school. From there I discovered that everyone’s palette of interests expanded and became quite selective over time. People would find their groups and engage in enticing dialogue about their interests, whether it be sports or just anything in common.

Continued on pg. 4.

A Tribute to Yash Varma

Abnormal Normalcy

Isaac Lavitt ’25

This year was normal. That is abnormal. Over the past three years, the world has been struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. As we have returned to normalcy, we gained insight in our year without COVID and we grew as individuals and as a community.

In the fall of 2021, we returned for the first full year since the lockdowns. Grade nine students entered the school with face masks and apprehension, not knowing St. Paul’s before the world was turned upside-down. We looked onto a community that should have existed but was splintered.

Student Council Farewell

The Student Council was busy this year, trying to re-establish school traditions and events. Led by president Jacob Brisebois ’23 and vice president Noah Friesen ’23, they organized a variety of initiatives for the school and broader community. Read Jacob’s farewell addres on pg. 7.

Among the restrictions and irregularities, we found a place for ourselves. Still learning, we fought to find a status quo. As football, debate, and drama started their seasons, some joined, while other watched from the socially distanced sidelines. However, the year trudged onwards.

Maroon and White Farewell

Composed of a dedicated group of grade 12 students, the 20222023 Maroon and White society had a very productive year of service and leadership, raising over $10,000 for community organizations, leading masses and helping at school events. Read M&W president, Caleb Pereira’s farewell address on pg. 7.

By March 15, restrictions were dropped; March 26 signalled the reunion of SPHS, BH, and SMA at The Walk. Throughout this time, the community was rebuilt. By June, hope for complete normalcy was in the air.

Continued on pg. 4.

Everyone Welcome

June 2023 marked St. Paul’s High School’s second “Everyone Welcome” campaign, featuring a student presentation, educational resources, a tie-dye event, and more.

Read as Liam Galaugher ’23 and Varen Bautista ’23 write about the importance and message of this campaign on pg. 5.

Pages 2 & 3

I remember one day walking into rehearsal for 13 Past Midnight, our Spring drama production, where I saw Yash Varma and his cast-mate Caleb Pereira ’23 rehearsing their roles for the show. They brought their creative twist to their dialogue with allusions to Star Wars, both being huge fans.

He was engaging, humourous, and filled with curiosity. He always questioned everything around him, thinking how he could make things better. How he could get a better shot on his camera. How he could design The Crusader News website to be more coherent. How he could support the Youth in Philanthropy in their work to support the community. How he could better master the Rubik’s cube. How

he could better master the piano. How he could better write for The Crusader News…

Yash, without fail, managed to brighten the day of anyone who crossed his path. Knowing him for three years, he without fail, brought a smile, a chuckle, optimism and curiosity into my world. I simply became used to seeing him every day. I became used to the joy he brought to my world when he retold a funny story or presented his favourite films and music in the newsroom.

I became used to my numerous interactions with him from the Human Rights Initiative to drama. I became used to his contagious positive energy that lit the

A Tribute to Yash Article Title...

room without a shadow in sight.

He could bring love and life to anyone. It seemed as though he could live forever.

When the unthinkable happened, I was no longer greeted with a smile upon entering the newsroom. I was no longer accompanied in our various club meetings, rehearsals, or friendly interactions. This I was not used to. This void I was not used to. I felt the greatest void within my heart, within my life, and within the greater community. His light was, simply put, no longer shone.

Dwelling on the memory of a most compassionate and inspiring young man never fails to en-

courage more curiosity, selflessness, and motivation to create change. Yash, as I thought, will live forever. His energy will always be an inspiration to bring love and life to the world around me, regardless of the hour.

Rest in peace Yash. Your memory will live on. Thank you for being the light in our days…

Ilia Mehr Bakhsh ’23

Unforgettable

While no series of words, regardless of how eloquent they may be, can ever capture Yash’s contributions to our community, and the bright light he brought into our lives, his peers remember him—Yash is truly unforgettable. The depicted word-spalsh includes words his peers found represented Yash best. Yash lived up to the virtue of being a true Man for Others. For his dedication to always look beyond himself and be benevolent, we

will forever remember Yash. We will cherish his outgoing and exuberant personality, and his incredible wit and intelligence. And despite all of his greatness, we will always remember Yash’s humility, and how friendly, caring and approachable he was. From the “hello” we shared in the bustling school hallways, to our deep philosophical conversations, I will forever remember Yash for being himself - unforgettable.

A Reflection by Luke Perrett ’24

I was fortunate to bond with Yash starting at the beginning of grade 10, when he convinced me to come to a photography club meeting. I had no desire to be there in the first place, but his joy for the art got me hooked. We began spending lots of time together whether it be taking pictures, attending Youth in Philanthropy meetings, or working in the newsroom.

This past summer, we really bonded a lot, especially after starting our photography business. I am so proud to have been able to run it alongside one of my best friends, as he showed not only his skills in photography, but also how he liked to run things in an orderly fashion. He also taught me that I should nev-

er be afraid to try new things, such as this past summer when he convinced me to see a horror movie “Nope”, which is now one of my favorites. I am very thankful he convinced me to try something new, and I will remember the film even more since I got to see it with him.

Also, for the first time, this year I got to have classes with Yash. To be completely honest, I think I would have failed physics without the hours Yash put in making sure I understood every concept and equation. And more recently, I got to experience what it was like to have Yash in my English

A Reflection by Varun Subramanian ’24

Yash and I have been neighbours for eight years now, and I would say that he was by far the best neighbour I have ever had. When hearing of his passing, one of my first thoughts were of memories that I have made with him. I feel that the best place to start was when we first met.

When I moved in, I think Yash had been living there for about a couple months. For our house warming party, my parents invit

ed the Varmas over, and my mom made me talk to Yash. I am very happy she did. I don’t recall every single detail, but I remember I that I did not catch his name on the first day, but he knew mine. 9-year-old me used to call him “dude” until my mom told me his name. This is where we clicked.

We began hanging out at his place often, because he had the better video game console, the Xbox 360. The day Neeti Aunty and

Yash asked me whether I would like to join them for dinner at Boston Pizza for his birthday was the day I realized how close our families truly were. Although we may have not met each other’s extended family, we would occasionally talk about them—and obviously say positive stuff. But when it came to school, we had only become classmates this year, despite having attended the same school just for two years. I joined St. Paul’s in grade 10, and he is

class. To call him a great speaker would be an understatement— whether he was volunteering to speak a part in Shakespearian performances and skits, trying to answer a difficult question or debate a topic, he was always able to captivate the audience.

There is not enough time in the day to go through all my memories of Yash, or to list everything he was great at, so I’ll try my best to summarize. He was the best speaker, the best leader, the best photographer, and most importantly the best friend to everyone. Yash, you were the light in every room you entered. All that I know, is that wherever you are just got a whole lot brighter with your presence. Rest easy, Yash.

somewhat the reason I decided to join.

So, Yash, wherever you are up there, I would like to thank you for all that you have done for me and thank you for all the memories that we got to share together.

“A Guide to Hinduism”

“Why Cameras Will Always “Tyler Perry” “The Best Spare Spots: Ranked” be Better than Smartphones”

Isaac Lavitt ’25 Copy Editor

(Continued from pg. 1)

The 2022-2023 school year started with a bang. Cross country athletes won in provincials, Spirit and Mission weeks came and went, and Homecoming kicked off the year. Advent signaled hope for the school as the Spring Break trips to Europe were announced. TFR initiated new students into the brotherhood of St. Paul’s, welcoming newcomers to the rebuild St. Paul’s.

Uniqueness

Naren Sivasankar ’23

Contributor

(Continued from pg. 1)

Moreover, I noticed that while my peers were very outgoing and had an easy time socializing with others, I found communication and social interactions challenging. I was the type of person who preferred to chill in their room instead of having a huge blast at parties. I turned out to be a follower rather than a leader.

Often, I would hear people have conversations about topics that I could not relate to and did not apply to how I spent time outside of school. It was hard for me to contribute to these conversations, to the point when all my friends were fluently conversing with each other, and I would be the odd one out. I would then think to myself, “Why am I even

Students were in classrooms, hoodies were out, and the pandemic was long forgotten. Hockey broke into the finals against Garden City, and Winter Sports Day gave a well-deserved break to the students. We were also witness to student achievements in debate with many debaters qualifying for nationals’ tournaments and even international speech tournaments.

Volleyball and basketball re-entered the gymnasiums, and rugby and ultimate returned to the football fields.

The Class of ’23 played their fashion show and prepared for their graduation. The Bing Crosby saw rising stars of Tristian Whelan ’26, Thomas Basta ’25, and Hussian Syed ’24 taking the stage alongside Zach Sadowski ’26 (from class 9-3) who proved victorious in the Paul Herriott Spelling Bee.

Ryan Waller and James Chapman, as Team Lego, were elected to Student Council.

The dramatic society’s 13 Past Midnight proved to be a smashing success, reviving the former glory of St. Paul’s theatre with stunning performances from Ilia Mehr-Bakhsh, Jackson Lachaine, Oscar Lavitt, Bradley Barrientos, and Caleb Pereira who took centre-erstage as grade 12 students in lead roles.

St. Paul’s High School is on a path

of renewal. As new students enter the school, we welcome new voices and new opportunities. In every generation, there is an event that shakes the world. For us, it was COVID-19. With the world shaken, however, fruits are sure to fall. These occasions gave St. Paul’s the chance to rebuild better.

here?” Whenever I tried to initiate a conversation, it would be an exchange of “Hi” and “How are you doing?,” at most and then die down not even a second later.

I feel and think differently, and have a different mentality than most, which played a role in my feeling emotionally and mentally distant from everyone else and the activities they partook in. Many of the barriers that I faced in my life ultimately lead to the birth of my YouTube channel “Twenty. Productions” (make sure to like and subscribe if you haven’t already).

I began taking interest in filmmaking, photography, and coding. When I started the channel, the meaning behind it was very simple: I wanted to record an event and upload it to a platform so people could watch it. But now, it is evolving into something more for me because communication and social interactions were major obstacles throughout my life. I use the channel to visually tell fluent stories. Filmmaking, along with

other camera work involving sports, led to me having detailed and engaging conversations with two of my close friends, Luke Perrett ’24 and Ron Cailo ’23.

As the year progressed and I continued to pursue my passions and work, it established me as “the lone wolf of the pack.” I am a person who is unique, one of a kind and stands out from the rest, and this label is symbolic of who I am as an individual.

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Some people may be social butterflies whilst others might prefer to spend time alone. Ultimately, you are destined to only be yourself. Your personality, strengths, interests, and other aspects are what make you unique. Nobody should have to change any aspect of themselves just to gain approval or validation from another person or a group of people. In the long run, it is a million times better to stand out than to conform with the crowd. To anyone who faces any kind of barrier, just remember you are unique and brilliant the way you

are and be comfortable being yourself.

All in all, my journey at St. Paul’s drew me out of my shell and encouraged me to take the strides to become the best version of myself. I am blessed to have great friends alongside an amazing support system who helped me thrive.

From a young child diagnosed with autism to a high school senior in the graduating class of 2023, I am honoured to say that I have come a long way and I will continue to make my impact. I do plan to remain behind the scenes as my privacy means a great deal to me. I strongly feel that I have left my mark on St. Paul’s and I am glad you many of you were here to witness it. Thank you, St. Paul’s, for everything in the past four years.

Luke Perrett ’24 Sports Editor

At St. Paul’s, grade 11 students take Religion 45S where they learn about a handful of major world religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. A major part of the class is the annual “Faith Roadshow,” where all grade 11 students visit various houses of worship around the city. This year, the students visited three places: the Winnipeg South Sikh Centre, the Dr. Raj Pandey Hindu Centre, and Temple Shalom.

The morning began with the visit to the Winnipeg South Sikh Centre where students learned about Sikhism from Mr. Rajinder. Students were required to cover their hair with cloth upon

entering. In the Sikh faith, covering your hair is important as it is a sign of respect for the sacred text, and the acknowledgement of a higher presence. Following the presentation, some students were able to see the sacred Sikh text, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. Before leaving for the next house of worship, students were fed the traditional food Pakora, a fritter consisting of potatoes and onion, which is seasoned in gram flour and then deep fried.

brought into a hall filled with statues of deities. Mr. Kirit Thakrar and Priest Venkat Machiraju answered many questions from students about a broad range of topics. One question that was remarkably interesting was “Why are there swastikas everywhere?” The hosts provided a particularly good response, explaining how, when a swastika lays flat, it is a symbol of prosperity and good luck. However, the Nazis used the sacred symbol in the wrong way, causing confusion about its meaning. Following the question period, students were fed an unbelievably delicious lunch, consisting of naan, Chana Aloo (potato chickpea) curry, and rice.

same synagogue prompted great discussion between Rabbi Finkel and students, as he explained the differences between the different branches of Judaism. Rabbi Finkel explained how in the past, relations between different denominations of Judaism (especially involving reform) have not been pleasant, and that there was a lack of respect. However, he explained that he hopes to continue repairing relations between all denominations of Judaism.

The next house of worship we visisted was the Dr. Raj Pandey Hindu Centre. Unlike the Sikh centre, students did not have to cover their hair, but had to remove their shoes before entering the temple. Students were

Everyone Welcome

Liam Galaugher

& Varen Bautista ’23

Contributors

Everyone Welcome is a mission rooted in our values of education, commitment to justice, and the Jesuit value of “youth leading in a hope filled future,” and is spearheaded by students of the Human Rights Initiative (HRI).

Our mission is to spread awareness and educate staff and students about the 2SLGBTQ+ community, the harm of homophobia and transphobia, and how we can build a more accepting school environment. We aim to dispel stereotypes, discrimination, and marginalization not only within our school community, but also in our wider St. Paul’s community.

Everyone Welcome is not a campaign but a mission. St. Paul’s takes pride in its embrace of the brotherhood, community, and inclusivity. These core values at St. Paul’s are something you may identify with as a student, and our mission is part of continuing this embrace. We do not aim to wave a rainbow flag for a shallow trend without genuine intent or context. Our mission is to demonstrate that everyone within our community—regardless of how they identify—is welcome.

Everyone Welcome was created last year to address homophobia and see changes many students hoped for in our school community. This message is the foundation of the symbol we use for Everyone Welcome, which is heavily inspired by the rainbow pride flag. The history and the symbolism of the pride flag dates back to 1979, when American artist Gilbert Baker created the first rainbow flag to symbolize strength and resilience after the Stonewall riots that took place 10 years earlier: The red represents life, orange-healing, yellow-sunlight, green-nature, blue-harmo-

The final stop of the day was at Temple Shalom, just a few minutes away from St. Paul’s. Upon entry, students had the option of wearing a Kippah. Right now, the temple is home to two separate congregations, which Rabbi Allan Finkel explained very well. Having two denominations in the

St. Paul’s High School would like to thank the Winnipeg South Sikh Centre, the Dr. Raj Pandey Hindu Centre, and Temple Shalom for welcoming us students into your places of worship and answering our questions about your faith. We would also like to extend thanks to Dr. Puchniak, Mr. Borges, Mr. Martinez, and Mr. Costa for organizing and supervising this especially important St. Paul’s experience!

ny, and violet representing spirit.

St. Paul’s is a Jesuit school that aims to embody Jesuit values within the community and within our education. One value of the Jesuits which Everyone Welcome embodies is cura personalis. Meaning ‘care for the whole person’ in Latin, this value of Jesuit education emphasizes every person is a unique creation of God. Cura personalis calls for respect for diversity, and promotes holistic care for the mind, body and spirit. Taking care of the marginalized and promoting justice requires love, compassion, empathy, and understanding, all principles of the Catholic faith and Ignatian spirituality. Here at St. Paul’s, we are committed to magis, meaning ‘more’ in Latin. We encourage you to do more, take these values and see them into your own life.

You may think homophobia and transphobia doesn’t exist in our school, or, you may think it is acceptable as long as it is just a joke. But heavy discrimination does exist in our school. Just because something does not di-

rectly affect you does not mean it does not exist. If you would not say something out loud in public, do not say it at school, or online. This includes homophobic slurs said in our hallways, or malicious rumours spread online or behind someone’s back. Our school community has no room for blatant ignorance, homophobic or transphobic bigotry, or disrespect for one another. The creation of a more tolerant, understanding, empathetic, and supportive school community is through you—the students. Everyone Welcome is a continuous effort to build more acceptance, understanding, and love within our school community. Let’s make everyone truly welcome at St. Paul’s.

’23

Nathan Macdonell ’23

Contributor

This year, the Varsity Crusader Rugby Team season started early. The team was invited to travel down to St. Louis to play in St. Louis University High School’s (SLUH) second annual All-Catholic Rugby Festival. The team trained indoors at St. Paul’s and the WSF Soccer complex for weeks ahead of their departure to St. Louis.

On April 14th, the day after we arrived, we volunteered with a few SLUH students at Guardian Angel Settlement Association, a non-profit organization that helps underprivileged youth. The boys did a variety of tasks such as gardening and cleaning up classrooms. The people at Guardian

Angel loved having volunteers and the players all enjoyed helping the St. Louis community. The team was then treated with St. Louis-style pizza and toasted ravioli before getting a tour of the SLUH campus. The St. Paul’s Varsity rugby team finished off the night with an MLB game where the St. Louis Cardinals played the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Day three of the trip had our team play two tough opponents from Kansas City: St. Martins and St. James Academy. Unfortunately, the team lost both games, with the first game being a huge learning curve with some players who had just experienced their first-ever rugby game. In our second game, the team lost only in the final seconds, but proved that they deserved to be at this tournament.

Day four would be the team’s biggest test as they would finally get to play SLUH, who at that point was 2-0 in the tournament.

The team was up for the test battling hard all game, but SLUH defeated the Crusaders leaving the boys with a 0-3 record which didn’t reflect the growth the team showed over the weekend. Day five marked the end of this great trip with the team traveling back to Winnipeg eager to start their own season. The team knew that their experience at St. Louis would only make them better prepared to start their own season.

The Varsity Crusaders dominated when they came back to Winnipeg late May, going undefeated in the regular season. The team captured the city final banner after beating the Dakota Lancers. In early March at the provincial

semi-finals, the team dominated Croquis Plains, winning 50-12 to punch their ticket to the provincial final. The team played the Dakota Lancers, a familiar opponent they faced a week prior. The team battled hard all game with the score always being tight, and the Crusaders triumphed over the Lancers, defeating them 27-19. This season was amazing for the Crusader Rugby program, noting that success came through hard work, comradery, and coaching.

Kanye West’s downfall: Conscience outweighs Capital

Contributor

From the day Kanye West began creating his own music in 2003, his voice became one of the most prominent in the hip-hop and pop culture industry. Along with musical attributes, Kanye West has been outspoken about the hard-hitting issues personal to him despite the ways in which they have led to his downfall.

Kanye West has made it quite clear that he has bipolar disorder, otherwise known as BPD, going as far as to place the saying, “I hate being Bipolar, it’s Awesome” on the front cover of his eighth studio album, Ye. Since impulsivity is a major side effect of BPD, much of what Kanye West says in the moment has no true reflection of his personal views.

Around 2019, Kanye West began

a complete religious transformation, becoming a born again Christian and releasing the album Jesus is King to encapsulate his new findings. As great as this may have been for Kanye West’s mental health, his radical religious views quickly enveloped his whole life and political stance, giving birth to a whole new and destructive era of Kanye West.

said. To follow the trends of cancel-culture, the world attempted to rid itself of any piece of Kanye West.

Companies such as Adidas, Gap, Footlocker, and many more terminated all contracts with Kanye West shortly after his anti-Semitic comments. He was temporarily banned from Twitter to restrict his public outreach in a point of mental insecurity.

in the near future. Since Kanye West’s “Yeezy” line of clothing made up around 8% of Adidas profits, the company’s bottom line was affected.

On December 1, 2022, a fully masked Kanye West made an appearance on Alex Jones’s InfoWars where he stated, “I like Hitler.” Although this idea was supposed to relate to the rationale that God loves everyone, no context could excuse what he

While dropping Kanye West from these companies did improve their public image, a clear conscience is not always the best thing, economically. According to CBS News, Adidas’s decision to cut ties with Kanye West costed them $734.2 million USD (estimate of $1billion CAD) out of pocket due to unsellable product, along with a $1.77 billion USD (estimate of $2.4 billion CAD) projected loss

Due to the grave impact of this cancellation, Adidas plans to sell the unsold Yeezy products soon, even though Kanye has no official association with the company. Regardless, speculation has risen that this continuation of sale has led to a discrete $679.8 million USD (estimate of $900 million CAD) deal with Kanye, welcoming Kanye West back into the foreground of Adidas.

If Kanye West ever wants to be placed under the spotlight again, it is necessary for him accept the fact that words should be spoken with clear conscience and context. On the flip side, if companies such as Adidas want to maintain their clean repertoire, they need to be willing to sacrifice profitability for longevity.

Max Kochan ’23

Maroon & White Farewell

Caleb Pereira ’23 Head Copy Editor

disabled population through a series of lunchtime activities and presentations.

The M&W hosted many addi-

about ending violence towards against women and children and distributed pins for all men to wear as a sign of respect and solidarity. The M&W ran numerous

In addition to the monthly participation in liturgy, helping at the Grade nine Orientation, Tribute Dinner, in-person Open House in January, and at both Parent Teacher Conferences, the M&W members have been very busy this year.

Amidst a return to normality, this year’s Maroon & White Society (M&W) was eager to leave a lasting impression on St. Paul’s and the community. To say we were a passionate group is an understatement. This was a group that always held high standards and constantly put themselves forward for the betterment of those around them.

We chose Our Place/Chez Nous and Manitoba Possible, two incredible non-profits, for our Mission Weeks. We provided both with monetary donations raised by the students and staff. Additionally, we organized and assembled bagged lunches on two occasions for the patrons of Our Place/Chez Nous while raising awareness for Manitoba’s

tional fundraisers and awareness campaigns. We organized educational activities during Black History Month in February. We partnered with the Rotary Club of Winnipeg and organized a clothing and book donation drive to deliver warm winter clothes to children living in Northern Manitoba. We promoted the Moose Hide Campaign, bringing awareness

Student Council farewell

canteens during weekend sport events in the Multiplex and donated all profits to the poor in downtown Winnipeg. We organized the school’s first “Get Involved Fair” in early October, had a booth at Homecoming to promote mental health support at Kid’s Help Line, welcomed Principals of the Jesuit Schools Network to St. Paul’s in November, and fundraised for Thrive.

I am beyond honoured to having served as President of M&W this school year. The M&W possessed such a hunger for growth and support while maintaining the effort to be Men for Others. Amidst the plethora of accomplishments throughout this year, many of us still yearn to do more. As we graduate, I only wish the best of luck to next year’s M&W, that they may continue the growth of St. Paul’s and not just volunteer but serve.

Thank you St. Paul’s.

Caleb Pereira ’23 President of 2023 Maroon & White Society.

First, I need to begin with a final “Hey Boys, Jake Brisebois - Student Council President here with another announcement.”

As another incredible academic year closes, I am extremely proud of all we have accomplished and the participation that I saw throughout the year.

Throughout the school year, the Student Council has worked tirelessly to organize various events, initiatives, and projects aimed to enhance your overall school experience. We have successfully hosted engaging social activities, supported clubs and extracurricular activities, and have seen our boys take wins in all aspects of our community at

St. Paul’s. However, it is important to recognize that none of this would have been possible without the relentless efforts of our incredible student body. From the talented editors and artists both visual and performing who showcased their creativity, to the gifted athletes who we cheered on and watched accomplish

other graduands embark on new adventures, I want to express my sincere appreciation for their invaluable contributions to our school. They have left an indelible mark on our community, and their legacy will continue to inspire us all.

Finally, I would like to extend

tal in shaping our experiences and preparing us for the journey ahead.

As we all part ways for the summer break, I urge you to take some time to relax, rejuvenate, and reflect on the memories we have created this year.

I sincerely appreciate you for granting me the privilege of serving as your Student Council President. It has been an honour and a humbling experience. I wish each and every one of you a safe and enjoyable summer filled with joy, growth, and new adventures.

I thank you all, for everything.

Your 2023 Student Council President

great feats, every one of you has contributed to the tapestry woven with our school’s achievements.

As we, the Student Council, and

my deepest gratitude to our dedicated teachers, staff members, and administrators. Their unwavering support, guidance, trust, and commitment to our education have been instrumen-

Jake Brisebois ’23

Jacob Brisebois ’23

Contributor

Editor’s Note: Farewell

Ilia Mehr Bakhsh ’23 Chief Editor

My first instance engaging with The Crusader News was in grade 10 when I was dragged into the newsroom and encouraged by a few grade 11 writers to write. Since then, I discovered the pleasures of writing, editing, and collaborating with other members of The Crusader News community at St. Paul’s High School.

I admire the newspaper’s commitment to engage with as many students as possible and to re-

Across

5. The original copy and paste tool

8. Open to ____: a grad at grad

9. “N Scenarios” to “nine across”, quite the scrambling of words

10. Douyin in China, owned by ByteDance in the West

12. Found on the last page, preceded by “the”

13. Splendid colour for submarines, rivers, and pages

16. The 2400m run is an example of this

18. Twenty-second most populous city on Earth

20. Company known for making COVID vaccines

22. A fun place for fries at the school

24. The search for something greater, some would say the “more”

25. The big tests at the end of the year

26. One of the characteristics of grads at grad

27. Grads should be intellectually _____ at grad

Photo Credits

Student Council Inauguration: Luke Perett

Images of Yash Varma: Courtesy of Luke Perrett

Winter Sports Day Crowd: Affan Faiz

St. Paul’s Building: Winnipeg Archtitectural Society

13 Past Midnight: Luke Perrett

Gurudwara: Luke Perrett

Everyone Welcome: Mr. Jason Hurton

Crusader Rugby: St. Paul’s High School

Kanye West: Kanye West/AP

Maroon and White Society: Luke Perrett

Student Council: Mr. Joel Adair

The Staff of The Crusader News

Staff Moderator, Mr. Laurence Broadhurst

Chief Editor, Ilia Mehr Bakhsh ’23

Deputy & Religion Editor, Baljot Rai ’24

Head Copy Editor, Caleb Pereira ’23

Politics Editor, Nathan Poklar ’24

Arts & Culture Editor, Siwon Jengsuksavat ’23

School Life Editor, Oscar Lavitt ’23

Science & Tech Editor, William Hudson ’24

Sports Editor, Luke Perrett ’24

Politics Copy Editor, Sean Thomas Ehmann ’24

Arts & Culture and Religion Copy Editor, Isaac

Lavitt ’25

School Life & Sports Copy Editor, Samay Dadlani ’24

Science & Tech Copy Editor, Sawyer Ramsay ’24

Website Editor, Darius Martin ’24

main worthy of the title “student newspaper.” This year, we realized that the newspaper could include more stories about students’ lives on campus. We have determined that the future of this newspaper should be leading in School Life In its earlier history, The Crusader News was rooted in providing School Life news, such as the results of tournaments, winners of contests—whether in-school contests and tournaments or not—and celebrated more stories about students’ school lives. Reflecting on the past, our goal moving forward is to focus more on the students’ stories rather than global ones.

I have had the pleasure to work with a great team of editors this year as Editor-in-Chief. Our

Down

1. The new app promised by LEGO in the recent elections

2. Surname meaning to jury-rig a solution

3. This year’s class is the class of _____

4. Apple calls upon people to do this differently in a famous campaign

5. Ugly faces on the sides of buildings

6. A word for pens and pencils or a word for not moving

7. Cancelled rapper

11. This year’s JUG room

14. A joker or clown

15. One part of “R&R”

16. Namesake of a famous university, first name Simon

17. Country celebrated on July 1

18. A characteristic of a grad at grad

19. First name of the Alberta premier

21. Winners of the NBA finals

23. Grads should be committed to this

24. She brought us here

Crossword by Isaac Lavitt ’25

Copy Editing department, led by Caleb Pereira ’23, delivered on catching grammatical and factual errors, while our team of Section ditors delivered on making their respective sections cohesive, engaging, and inspired by the latest events.

I have worked more directly with the newspaper moderator, Mr. Broadhurst, who never fails to bring originality, broader perspectives, and wise words to the publishing process. My Deputy Editor, Baljot Rai ’24, has been most helpful and generous with his time and efforts to editing, finding images, and putting together our layouts. He has done so well that he will be Editor-in-Chief of Volume 77 of The Crusader News. He will be con-

ducting his work with his deputy, Isaac Lavitt ’25.

Thank you to all contributors, editors, teachers, and administrators who continue to engage with and believe in our newspaper. We, as The Crusader News, pride ourselves in the community we form. My hopes are that this community will continue to flourish and grow in its indefinite future.

Farewell St. Paul’s and farewell to The Crusader News. It has been a pleasure.

A.M.D.G.

Ilia Mehr Bakhsh Editor-in-Chief of

The Crusader News

Toe Toe Moo ’24

Comic Artist