Violence against Indigenous women in Canada
John Ergon Golpe ’24 ContributorSpring 2023
In Memory of Yash
The Crusader News is not the same without Yash Varma. This letter is a small way of honouring his memory.
Yash’s kind heart, his sense of responsibility and care, and his radiant energy were unlike any other. Along with many other areas of the school, Yash served The Crusader News. It is thanks to Yash Varma and his partner, Darius Martin ’24, that we have a thriving online platform: thecrusadernews.ca. Yash did everything not just with due diligence but with a beaming smile. Working with him in assembling the newspaper, in drama, and in the Human Rights Initiative are where my mind escapes to when thinking of Yash. With every encounter, Yash managed to be the light in my day and managed to make each moment a memorable one.
Rest in peace Yash. You are, have been, and your memory will continue to be, the light in our days, even if you are not here with us.
On December 1, 2022, Winnipeg Police charged Jeremy Skibicki with the murder of three Indigenous women. Those included The names of the deceased are Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Rebecca Contois, along with the murder of a fourth victim identified as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, also named Buffalo Woman. This tragic loss of life is unfortunately nothing new. However, Stats Canada has reported a recent upward trend in violence towards Indigenous women as far back as 2018.
According to a 2018 report, two-thirds of First Nations and Métis women have reported experiencing physical or sexual abuse in their lifetimes, some being as young as 15 years old. Across Canada, Indigenous women were more likely to have been targets of abuse than non-Indigenous women: 64% of Indigenous women in the Atlantic, 62% in Central Canada, and 61% in Prairie provinces reported being victims of abuse.
Read more on pg. 11
2023 SPHS STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Read more on pg. 13
13 Past Midnight Preview
Sean Ehmann ’24
OpeningNight
We will continue to honour Yash’s memory in our final Issue, Volume 76, in June.
With profound sadness,
Ilia Mehr BakhshEditor-in-Chief of The Crusader News
Mark your calendars everyone! This May a production that you will not want to miss is coming to St. Paul’s. The St. Paul’s High School Dramatic Society presents: 13 Past Midnight by Billy St. John, a thrilling murder mystery taking place in the esteemed Murray Hall! The stage is set for the play when a powerful producer, Victor Winslow, invites his show’s guests for a murder mystery party where things take a twisted and dark turn...
To solve the mystery of 13 Past Midnight, come down to Murray Hall Thursday May 25th, Friday May 26th, and Saturday May 27th for an unforgettable evening of murder and mystery.
76 Issue 3
Volume
AMDG
Red dresses hanging along a sidewalk Wednesday near Dr. Charles Best Secondary School in Coquitlam. Red Dress Day aims to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. (Ben Nelms/CBC) The image on the dress is of a 4-year-old Cree girl named Serenity who was forcefully taken by the government and placed into a negligent foster family who failed to provide safety and care. This mistreatment led to her passing.
Moreinformationonpg.14
The passing of legendary musicians in 2023
Sawyer Ramsay ’24 Copy Editorsidered one of the greatest of all time, becoming the guitar player for Led Zeppelin. After leaving the Yardbirds, he formed the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart on vocals, as well as the Beck, Bogert and Appice group.
It is only a few months into the year and numerous legendary and fundamental musicians have already passed away. Whether this year is cursed or not, hopefully it will not become a routine. COVID-19 was bad enough as it is, but, recently, big names in the music industry like Jeff Beck and David Crosby have passed away.
Jeff Beck is considered among the greatest guitarists who ever lived. After being in a variety of small bands playing Buddy Holly songs, his first recognition began when he replaced legendary guitarist Eric Clapton as lead of the Yardbirds in 1965. He left the group in 1966 and was replaced by Jimmy Page who is also con-
Jeff Beck also went on to have an extensive solo career. He is listed in Rolling Stone’s Top 5 Guitarists of all time, and he is known to have a unique and inspiring guitar tone where he uses string bending and the whammy bar to create a dreamy, and mystical tone. He has been incredibly influential and many famous guitar
Jordan Peele: excellence in film
Sports Editor
Jordan Peele is a director, writer, and producer who has emerged as one of the most exciting and original voices in modern cinema. Best known for his work in the horror genre, Peele has built a reputation for crafting terrifying stories that carry deep meaning. Using his own experiences as an African American as inspiration, Peele’s biography has influenced his films, Hollywood, and the world. Peele is one of the greatest filmmakers of our time and he undeniably exemplifies excellence in film.
Peele was born in New York City in 1979 to a mixed-race family in a predominantly White suburb. This experience would go on to influence much of his work, particularly in the way that he explores issues of race and identi-
ty. Peele first rose to prominence through the comedy duo Key & Peele, which he formed with his friend and fellow comedian Keegan-Michael Key. The show, which ran from 2012 to 2015, was a success and highlighted Peele’s skills as a writer and performer.
However, it was Peele’s directorial debut in 2017’s Get Out that brought him fame as a filmmaker. The film tells the story of a young Black man who visits his White girlfriend’s family, only to discover a sinister plot to transplant White people’s brains into Black bodies. It was a critical and commercial success. What made Get Out so remarkable was the way that Peele used horror as a vehicle for exploring issues of
players were inspired by him due to his longevity in a competitive space. Beck has explored a wide variety of genres including Rock and Jazz Fusion, and he has created some of the most memorable guitar sounds ever. It was devastating to hear of his passing and his death was acknowledged by guitar players and music lovers all around the world.
David Crosby was no less influential than Jeff Beck, being a member of two of the world’s most famous rock bands of all time. Crosby first became recognized as a founder of the iconic folk-rock group “The Byrds”. The Byrds were among the pioneers of psychedelic folk-rock music, turning folk songs electric. Their pioneering of folk gave them the classic 1960s sound like that of
the Beach Boys, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Eagles. Crosby was a guitar player, backup singer, and song-writer for the band who contributed to what became known as the California sound.
Additionally, Crosby was a founding member of Crosby, Stills, and Nash who often played with Winnipegger Neil Young in Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. This band also pioneered 60s and 70s psychedelic folk-rock sound, releasing timeless songs like “Ohio” and “Teach Your Children”. Crosby was a very important musician who helped create a summertime sound with his contributions to both these bands and more.
It has not been the best year so far for music fans. People like Canadian country icon, Ian Tyson, and American composer, Burt Bacharach, have also passed away recently, causing even more sorrow.
race and identity. The film’s imagery and symbolism drew heavily from the African American experience and its exploration of the “sunken place”—a metaphor for the way that Black people are often silenced and marginalized in American society—resonated with audiences around the world.
Peele then directed 2019’s Us, a film that once again used horror to explore themes of identity and otherness. The film tells the story of a family who are terrorized by their doppelgängers and was widely praised for its ambitious storytelling and stunning visual effects.
His most recent film Nope (2022) is an overall commentary on the history of Black people in cinema, and how they often go unknown. The film is also the first in the horror genre to use IMAX cameras in filming.
In addition to his work in film, Peele has also made a name for himself as a producer, with credits on hit shows The Twilight Zone and LovecraftCountry. His production company, Monkeypaw Productions, is dedicated to telling stories that push boundaries and challenge audiences. What sets Peele apart from many other filmmakers is his ability to combine high-concept storytelling with a strong social message. His films are not just scary: they also deeply thought-provoking, and often leave audiences pondering issues of race, identity, and power long after the credits have rolled.
To put it simply, Jordan Peele is a visionary director and storyteller who has made a significant impact on modern cinema. With his ability to weave social commentary into his horror films, he has carved out a unique niche for himself and other members of the Black community, and continues to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.
Luke Perrett ’242
Creating nothing out of Something
Darius Martin ’24
Website Editor
The new Disney Pixar Movie Lightyear is a story within the Toy Story franchise, viewed by a young Andy. The movie is about the events that influence him into buying a Buzz Lightyear figurine. This background information is more or less useless, and with the Toy Story franchise having a fifth installment in 2023, the movie feels unnecessary and it would have been better to slowly layout the backstory for Buzz within Toy Story 5
The movie starts off introducing us to our main character, Buzz, and the organization he is with, the Space Rangers, building up for to the main story. Buzz and the Space Rangers are marooned
on a planet and are trying to return home. Thise build-up was done well, giving us an in-depth view of Buzz and his personality, as well as setting up two potential endings for the movie: Buzz needing to fight against either aliens or his past comrades to escape.
group of criminals, commanders, cats, and klutzes from the colony who work together to save their home.
obviously included to add comic relief, but the cat already fulfills that task.
The main plot of the movie revolves around Buzz trying to rescue the colony. The main principal cast consists of a rag-tag
New York Fashion Week 2023
Contributor
Fashion is a part of our global culture that celebrates diversity in all sizes and colours. Fashion Week is a biannual event occurring across the globe. The four cities that participate are New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
The purpose of Fashion Week is a time for the industry’s top designers to present their upcoming collections in a series of runway shows and presentations. Two are held each year to showcase designer collections for the following seasons: February reveals the later fall/winter season collections of its year and September showcases those for the spring/summer season. Fashion Week is seen as cultural hotspot in the world of fame and fashion and many celebrities use this as an opportunity to partner with designer companies and attend
the shows.
This year, New York kicked off its Fashion Week on February 10. Fashionistas revealed many fabulous collections and various celebrities attended. The collections emphasized everyday wearability, where designers Gabriela Hearst, LaQuan Smith, and Sandy Liang showcased their collections that could be put right into your closet.
While designers Rodarte and Thom Browne revealed their more whimsical and fantastical collections, such unique themes are expected at prime fashion events. Friday set the mood as high fantasy, hosted inside the neoclassical Williamsburgh Savings Bank.
In many movies, groups are formed by seemingly random people, all with specific and useful skills, to accomplish an important task while adding comic relief through differing personalities. In Lightyear, we definitely have this. The skills and personalities provided by each member of the group are simple: a rough independent woman who knows about technology and weapons, an excited and confident young woman who is training to be a space ranger, a well-trained soldier who prefers to work alone or with experienced people, a robotic cat that can analyze people’s emotions and provides necessary help, a man who is clumsy and easily distracted, and the commander who does nothing but obstruct everybody and brag about his favourite writing utensil. This pin-wielding man was
The movie could have had a more satisfactory ending. Lightyear is imperfect and awfully simple in plot. The movie’s plot direction was predictable, and the ending could be figured out before the main plot began, leaving me disappointed and bored. There were far better ways to end this movie.
This movie had almost no character development. Buzz agrees to work with rookies, the commander agrees to leave the planet, and that is it. No bad guy becoming good, no major lesson, no overwhelming change of heart, and, although acceptable for a children’s film, it lacks originality and theme.
Lightyear is a movie that has useless characters, a replaceable plot, and no purpose for being created; a “meh” addition to the Pixar roster. 6/10
Rodarte kicked off the official schedule with his gothic fairy themed collection, transforming the runway into a glittering banquet. Throughout the week, we saw various celebrity appearances not only in the audience but on the runway. David Harbor, Bella Thorne, Lil Nas X, Ice Spice, and Sam Smith were regulars, attending in the front rows wearing products from designers Michael Kors and Coach. Lindsey Lohan was also spotted attending in the front row, with her siblings Ali and Cody walking the runway.
While Fashion Week can seem flaunty and insignificant, the influence that the collections have over mainstream fashion trends are evident. Unlike trends set by online influencers or fast fashion brands, the fashion houses that create outlandish looks make their way into mainstream me-
dia. Although outfits and designs are not copied from the designers, the textures, silhouettes, and shapes of the clothing are what are taken and used to set future trends.
We see this today: brands affordable to the general public take these elements and incorporate them into their clothing. Last year’s fashion week saw themes of Victorian silhouettes and lavish knit pieces. Throughout the past months, trends saw a resurgence of corset ridged tops and knitwear like cardigans and sweaters. Since elements in fashion often are cycled from past decades, the incorporation of these themes consistently updates and revives clothing hobbies such as thrifting and upcycling.
Fashion Week is time to celebrate the creative minds of diligent designers and see our favourite celebrities dressed up for the occasion. It is important to analyze events such as Fashion Week to better understand the trends of our future and to continue to support the people who make the fashion industry thrive.
Liam Galaugher ’233
Daniel Stipanovic ’25
Contributor
reach Seattle while encountering Cordyceps and other dangers.
The show excels at representing the video game and diving deeper into the story and depths of the world. When making an adaptation, the world needs to be
acters, showing the true colours of these people and how they react to hardship. This allows new viewers as well as those who are long-time fans of the game to enjoy the show.
One of the main parts of The
when they finally appear onscreen, it is terrifying. The makeup and the effects used on the Cordyceps are impressively lifelike and terrify the audience at every turn.
The Last of Us follows the recent trend of video games becoming TV shows. Based off the video game by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us shows the resilience of humankind and our struggle for survival in a hostile world.
The Last of Us is about a man named Joel and a girl named Ellie, following them across America after 20 years of a fungal outbreak. These Cordyceps take control of the host’s brain and force them to infect other humans.
Ellie is immune to this infection and there is a chance that she is the key to a cure. Joel and Ellie journey across America to try to
expanded upon and shown in ways the video game cannot do justice.
Unlike many before it, this show succeeds in this. It mainly accomplishes this with the char-
Super Mario Bros. Movie review
Joseph Lewin ’25
Contributor
Finally, after months of anticipation, the Super Mario Bros. Movie is finally in theatres. After writing my article about the controversy surrounding this film, I was excited but still a little nervous about the finished product. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I like how it turned out, albeit with a few flaws. I thought that, while Chris Pratt’s “accent” wasn’t great, he still helped make the movie enjoyable.
An issue I had was that the plot felt a little simple and predictable. You could always tell what was going to happen next. The plot was enjoyable and entertaining with lots of action and pretty good jokes. However, the one thing that the plot lacked was depth. The challenging thing about a movie adaptation like
this is that it’s hard to write one based on a game that has perhaps one of the simplest premises ever: bad guy kidnaps princess, and hero rescues her.
Last of Us is the Cordyceps and the horror of these creatures. The series outdoes itself in depicting these petrifying creatures. They are not on screen every time the writers have a chance, building suspense and fear. However,
The acting choices for this show were superb. There is a variety of well-known actors and unknown actors. Pedro Pascal and Nick Offerman offered the much-needed star-power for the release of this show, while Lamar Johnson and Anna Torv are not as well-known but are still breathtaking in their performance.
The show finds a good balance, keeping a lower budget by not using as many big-name actors and it still has recognizable names to draw viewers in.
I personally greatly enjoy The Last of Us and am excited for the second season.
9.5/10
jokes. The characters, however, I felt were somewhat simple.
For example, there was hardly any actual mention of Princess
run by the two brothers shortly after resigning from their former job.
I also appreciated easter eggs that were sprinkled throughout the film, including renditions of music from past games, hidden details, and characters, especially in a film like this. Unfortunately, easter eggs and hidden details cannot completely save a movie from its flaws and shortcomings.
There is a huge gap that you have to fill in order to produce a full feature-length movie, which ends up creating a lot of weird, stale, and slightly unenjoyable moments. But you need to hand it to the writers as they took such a seemingly simple plot and expanded it.
For the most part, the plot was enjoyable and entertaining, with lots of action and pretty good
Peach’s origins, with only one scene in the entire movie mentioning it, barely exploring her origin at all.
Even so, I thought it refreshing to see Peach in more of a leading role, rather than simply being a simple “damsel-in-distress.”
I liked the backstory of Mario and Luigi as it explored the possibility of a plumbing company
One of the several redeeming qualities of this film was the fact that it was way better than 1993’s Super Mario Bros. Movie, a video-game adaptation disaster. And as a result, that film became an example of what not to do when adapting a video game into a movie.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. While it isn’t perfect or “amazing” by most people’s standards or the standards of the critics, it’s still pretty good, nonetheless. While no film is flawless, I felt that this was worthy of a decent score.
The Last of Us: review
7/10
4
The state of relief in Turkey and Syria
Samay Dadlani ’24 Copy EditorOn February 6, 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southeast Turkey and northwest Syria, killing more than 47,000 people, tearing apart thousands of families, and leaving several communities reeling from the catastrophe. Two weeks later, on February 20, two more earthquakes hit Turkey’s southern province of Hatay, killing an additional 300 people.
These earthquakes have intensified the dire humanitarian situation in these nations, leaving millions in need of assistance. Both countries are appealing for relief aid from numerous nations across the world, as they wrestle with the aftermath of
this catastrophe. Just a few days later, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the authorization of 185 million USD (roughly 250 million CAD) in humanitarian assistance, including providing shelter materials, food packs, clothing, and more to affected areas.
across both nations. Moreover, the US has loosened some of its sanctions against Syria for a couple of months to ensure that the earthquake relief efforts are still flowing and that the nation’s rebuilding efforts are not hampered.
chological stress, ruined hospitals, collapsed schools… This is the hard part”, said Ryan.
After seeing the calamity, Blinken said, “When you see the extent of the damage, the number of buildings, the number of apartments, the number of homes that have been destroyed, it’s going to take a massive effort to rebuild.”
Supplies have been flown into Incirlik (a USAF base present in southern Turkey) and are being distributed to several villages
Alongside the United States, the UN and WHO are providing a significant amount of assistance by delivering medical supplies to assist survivors evacuated in the aftermath of the earthquake’s wave of destruction. In addition, more than 120 WHO trucks have travelled to the border crossings between Turkey and Syria to provide amputation equipment, intravenous fluids, and several other immediate medical supplies.
Mike Ryan, director of the WHO’s emergencies program, has travelled to Turkey to examine the devastating conditions there: “We have to help those who’ve been injured, people with amputations, people with psy-
Liberal Party plan to tackle climate change
aiming to help Canada transition workers from fossil fuel industries to green energy industries.
Contributor
When it comes to climate change, the science does not lie. The planet is warming up, and governments around the world are taking measures to ensure a safer future. Canada’s Liberal government, led by Justin Trudeau, has committed to several such measures, including signing the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016, and their newly introduced climate plan in 2022.
In March 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau introduced Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, an ambitious plan that aims to lower emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. The plan includes 9.1 billion CAD in new investments. This program follows many of Canada’s climate initiatives, such as carbon pricing and the Paris Agreement, all aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In addition, the new climate plan has a new sustainable jobs initiative
While the Liberals have been happy to talk about their goals to reduce climate emissions, they have not been phenomenally successful in fully committing to their promises.
According to Environment Canada, Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions have been rising from 2016 until
Through 2021 and 2022, emissions rates stayed near the 2020 levels, despite some small fluctuations.
Furthermore, from 2016 to before the pandemic, Canada’s emission rates in various sectors, including land-use, gas, and coal, either stayed steady or increased. These are concerning figures if Canada wants to reduce its carbon emissions.
Most data tracking Canada’s prog-
The European UnionU countries have also played a notable role in humanitarian assistance, providing life-saving relief. For instance, France has sent 71 rescue specialists alongside K9 dogs, as part of the emergency medical team, to help locate survivors trapped under the wreckage. Furthermore, the country has donated hundreds of thousands of euros to the Red Cross to help support Turkey and Syria.
These earthquakes have left both nations in a state of trauma and distress, impacting millions of people. Although it has been months since the news have has been headlining, the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria speak to the evermore globalized world. Ongoing worldwide relief efforts will be necessary to help both countries recover after this cataclysmic disaster.
2019/2020).
With that in mind, Canada’s emission rates very closely resemble data from other major emission producers, such as the United States and China, where they have also only stayed the same or worsened. Canada’s climate goals are by no means unachievable.
The targets Canada set during the Paris Agreement and in the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan would make a momentous change in the current state of the climate. The problem seems to be the Canadian government simply does not want to commit to take the measures they set out to achieve.
The federal government’s purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline in 2018 is an example of a move in a direction away from their net-zero goals.
2020, growing from 715 megatons of emissions in 2016 to 740 megatons in 2018, taking a significant drop to 672 megatons in 2020 (although this drop can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic).
ress in terms of climate change since the Liberals took power show a common trend: Canada’s climate situation has been terribly similar year after year, either staying the same or worsening (except for
While it is true that there must be a balance between economy and climate, the Canadian government’s actions do not align with the severity of the societal calamity that climate change threatens to cause, and the adverse effects of their decisions will only continue to grow if they and other governments do not put words into action.
Rodmehr Filizadeh ’255
Spy Balloons?
William O’Donnell ’24Contributor
THE SCIENCE
From January 28 to February 4, a high-flying balloon roamed above the skies of North America. It violated Canadian and American airspace, sparking a diplomatic incident with China—the country the balloon originated from. The balloon was downed by an American F-22 fighter jet after it crossed the entire continent, causing many to question North American early warning systems’ ability to respond to threats. To gain a better understanding of the implications of this incident, it is useful to review the history of observation balloon technology.
Diego Bueti ’24
Contributor
THE POLITICS
Out of sight, an information war is being waged by the world’s most powerful nations. Trillions of dollars have been spent and there is still no end in sight. The latest news in the evolving world of intelligence is the Chinese Spy Balloon incident.
On January 28, a mysterious balloon was spotted over Billings, Montana. This balloon, originating from China, had travelled for thousands of miles, crossing over North America before being shot down off the coast of South Carolina.
China claims that the balloon was simply a weather balloon blown off course, requesting for the downed balloon to be returned, much to the chagrin of American authorities. Nevertheless, the balloon currently resides
Balloons have been used for observation ever since 1783 when Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier took flight in the first crewed hot air balloon. Crewed balloons were used to spot enemy troops during the American Civil War and both World Wars. In more recent conflicts, including the war in Afghanistan, surveillance balloons known as aerostats provided full-time infrared and colour footage above areas with high concentrations of American soldiers. Balloons are inexpensive, easily deployed, and can observe locations in high detail over lengthy periods, all distinct advantages over spy planes and satellites.
However, balloon observation is not limited to military use.
According to the American National Weather Service, weather balloons are released from almost 900 locations, twice a day. These balloons are typically six metres in diameter with transmitters which send temperature,
with the FBI and is being dissected for information. This altercation has spelled disaster for the already strained diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and China. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recently cancelled a trip to Beijing over
pressure, and humidity data back to the ground every couple seconds. Notwithstanding China’s assertion that their rogue balloon was monitoring the weather, its design indicates that it was monitoring American military installations.
date. By taking a path over missile silos in Montana and being equipped with propulsion and strong transmission technology, the dominant conclusion is that the Chinese balloon was launched with the intent to spy.
the incident, this could disrupt decades of diplomatic progress. The Biden administration has claimed that this balloon is not alone and exists as a part of a much larger surveillance system which spans the globe.
Why would China do this? To understand this question, one must look at the past and current situation within China. In 1979,
According to American General Glen D. VanHerck, China’s balloon was 61 metres tall and equipped with solar panels, unlike smaller weather balloons. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the balloon had “limited self-steering capability,” and the inclusion of solar panels suggests that its mission was to be longer and more energy intensive than a regular weather balloon battery could accommo-
the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) introduced the One Child Policy to control China’s out-ofcontrol population growth. The policy was officially removed in 2015. This means that for forty years China was only having children at half of replacement
China’s use of balloons for espionage purposes does not come as a surprise. Last April, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army published a report on special aircraft, stating that balloons could be used to “suppress enemy air defence early warning systems and shield air attack forces to carry out their missions.” Furthermore, using a balloon to mobilize an enemy air defence system is an inexpensive way to assess their ability to respond to real threats, exactly what happened over North America. China’s balloon built upon centuries of technological development and espionage strategy, showing that balloons still have a place among more conventional tools of war and national security.
boom left before facing a demographic crisis, and therefore must act now.
This also explains why China is taking such brash action in the South China Sea, claiming massive swathes of ocean territory where it lacks a legitimate claim. It also explains their policy towards Taiwan and now their violation of US airspace with the balloon.
levels.
This is a terrifying reality for the CCP as in the next twenty to thirty years, the number of working, young adults will plummet.
My theory is that the economic effects of this policy have led to China’s bold display of its military and economic power. China only has a few years of economic
China currently dwells in a brief period where it can be economically and militarily powerful enough to be a world player, but this window will not last forever. China’s surveillance over the United States was likely to scope out the military capabilities of the U.S. to try to ascertain whether the U.S. would defend its allies in the case of an attack. Of course, with the balloon being spotted and shot down, all the information within it has been lost to US intelligence agencies.
6
Britain’s Economic Crisis
Maksim Thomas ’25
Contributor
The picket lines have never been so crowded in Britain. In some of the biggest strike actions since the days of Margaret Thatcher in the 80’s, hundreds of thousands of union members have voted to strike. The strikers come from a variety of professions, including ambulance drivers, firefighters, teachers, civil servants, border police, university staff, nurses, rail workers, physiotherapists, and postal workers. Unions voted to strike throughout this spring season, and are set to strike throughout much of May, grinding the rail, medical, bureaucratic, and education sectors to a halt.
In a country that has seen abysmal economic growth over the past 10 years, this mass mobilization of organized labour is seen as a foreseeable outcome
to a decade of inept governance, reckless economic policy, and out-of-control inflation. Britain is the only G7 economy to not recover to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Britain’s economic growth will fare worse than even heavily sanction-stricken Russia. The IMF predicts Britain’s economic
growth to be -0.6% in 2023, the only major economy predicted to shrink this coming year.
According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, the national inflation rate is sitting at a brutal 8.8%, the highest it has been for over 30 years and the highest
of any G7 nation. Skyrocketing housing prices, destructive interest rates, a bureaucratic mess of a health system, an economy teetering on the edge of recession, and a cost-of-living crisis all come because of massive government ineptitude. Unions, though heavily restricted by government regulations, have begun strike action to bargain for their fair share in wages. In what they call a “real terms pay cut,” inflation cuts into their stagnant wages, so while salary is still the same, rising cost of living and inflation has destroyed the already strained wallets of many Brits. Most unions are asking for raises in line with inflation, as well as benefits.
Strikes, one of the largest cost-
The Future of The Royal Canadian Air Force
Joseph Lewin ’25
Contributor
The first four aircraft are expected to be delivered to the U.S. in 2026 to the U.S. as the RCAF prepares the required facilities and
sia’s Sukhoi SU-57s, and China’s Chengdu J-20s. The F-35s were introduced in the early 21st century and have been in service in
of-living crises in the world, and a collapsing economy are all plaguing the ruling Tories. According to current polls, the opposition Labour party is over 20 points ahead of the Conservative Party (Tories).
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss crashed the UK pound, worsened inflation, and inflamed every domestic political issue through her disastrous “mini budget”, all before being booted out, becoming the shortest serving PM in history. Truss’s successor, Rishi Sunak, is now struggling to keep control of his party, and previously hardcore Brexiters are doubting their decision to leave the EU. The UK has become a laughingstock of the world, and the Tory party is seeing voters leave their party in droves over the current crises.
To many, it is hard to eat, to find a place to live, or even to heat their homes. Discontent with the current government is rife in the public. Can the Tories stage a comeback, or will the UK continue to dip into recession territory? Only time will tell.
For several decades, The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has been flying the McDonell Douglas CF-18 Hornet which was introduced in early 1983. However, on January 9, 2023, the Canadian government announced they would be purchasing brand-new Lockheed Martin F-35s to augment their aging fleet.
Canada announced that they purchased 88 F-35s at an estimated total of roughly 19 billion CAD. Government Officials estimated the full cost of owning and operating the jets over the coming decades would be 70 billion CAD, ensuring the long-term protection of the second largest airspace in the world.
trains its pilots for the F-35s. The F-35s are likely to be received by Canada in 2029. The CF-18s have dutifully served our country for decades. However, they cannot keep up with the sleeker, faster, more maneuverable, and more technologically advanced fifth-generation fighters like America’s F-35s and F-22s, Rus-
many countries since then. This deal has been years in the making, as the former Cconservative government expressed their interest in purchasing the F-35s.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as part of his platform in 2015, vowed that he would not buy the F-35s but instead “one of
the many lower priced options that better match Canada’s defense needs.” The acquisition of the F-35s therefore goes directly against what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said just eight8 years earlier.
The delivery of the F-35s will occur in “tranches” meaning that Lockheed Martin will build and deliver the F-35s over a set period. Canada’s acquisition of F-35s is a big step for the future of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Canada has just started the process of purging themselves of their aging fleet while other countries have completely replaced their fourth-generation fleets with fifth generation fighters, leaving Canada slightly behind. As we all progress further into the future, become more advanced, and develop more advanced technology and weapons, it is important that we can defend and counteract respond to these technologies and weapons to protect our country.
7
ChatGPT – The Future of AI
Samay Dadlani ’24 Copy Editor
By now, you probably have already heard of ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer). Yes, the fancy AI tool that can construct essays or even write blocks of computer code upon your command.
Developed by OpenAI, an American Artificial Intelligence research company headquartered in San Francisco, ChatGPT was launched on November 30, 2022. Within just five days of release, it served more than one million users.
Even though we are already familiar with other sorts of virtual assistants including Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, etc., ChatGPT out-performs them all with
the ability to answer extremely precise questions in immense detail. This chatbot is impacting the future of AI, but what makes it so unique?
According to OpenAI, “ChatGPT is an advanced artificial intelligence tool. . . [and an] optimized version of GPT-3, a language model that can generate human-like text and perform a wide range of tasks. ChatGPT is designed to understand and respond to natural language
natural language processing is important. It can learn from large amounts of data, becoming better at understanding users’ needs and providing accurate responses. ChatGPT has significant implications for the future of AI, and its responsible development and deployment is crucial for promoting human well-being and social good.”
ChatGPT is programmed to comprehend informal human language and provide accurate
ences its usage within communities.
The chatbot is open to everyone, free of cost, and one has access to millions of different answers to questions ranging from the impossible Pre-Calculus homework to learning how to make HTTP requests in JavaScript. This software has attracted not only the eyes of innumerable individuals, but also the eyes of the world’s leading technology titans including Microsoft and Google.
In fact, in late January, Microsoft had sealed a $10 billion investment in OpenAI and is rumoured to be intensifying its rivalry with Google by incorporating AI technology like ChatGPT into Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and more.
queries, making it ideal for use in customer service, education, and other applications where
answers based upon its library of sources. Alongside that, its easy accessibility significantly influ-
Evan Peters, World Speech Champion
Isaac Lavitt ’25 Copy Editorcompetition, and we were ecstatic to embark on this journey. Evan placed second in that event. It soon became common for judges to find Evan after each
pazazz pizzazz and flair, placed second in the Iimpromptu and Persuasive Speaking categories. Although narrowly missing the top-ten, Evan left that tournament with many memories and a newfound confidence.
With its wide range of uses, astounding ease of use, and many advanced technological improvements, ChatGPT provides a glimpse at the future of artificial intelligence.
On April 4, Evan Peters returned to St. Paul’s after competing in the 2023 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in South Africa. After a gruelling week of debate, persuasion, reading, and improvisation, Evan placed fifth overall in the tournament. However, Evan’s greatest accomplishment was in the Persuasive Speaking category.
Competing against speakers from across the globe, Evan was crowned number one persuasive speaker in the world. I have had the privilege of watching Evan grow as a speaker and a person and I would love to share that story.
I met Evan last year at the Garden City debate tournament. For both of us, it was our first
round to compliment him on his intelligence and zeal. That May, we qualified for junior public speaking nationals in Vancouver. “Qualified”, however, was an overstatement. As the pandemic was ending, Canadian schools decided to hold a championship, and without the time to hold provincial qualifiers, Manitoba simply sent the most experienced debaters from each school. Evan, bringing his usual
Soon we found ourselves in the tenth grade. We began preparations for the public speaking provincials at Balmoral Hall.
Evan wrote a beautifully crafted speech on the moral and environmental misdeeds of the coffee industry; he did not yet know this speech would bring him to the top of the world.
Evan practiced his oration daily, constantly refining and reworking. When the tournament arrived, Evan performed with his fervour and gusto, receiving the Rupert’s Land award for his top placement in the event. With that, Evan qualified for public speaking nationals.
Within weeks, Evan was onstage again with his speech, competing for a chance at contending at internationals. The tournament, located at St. John’s Ravenscourt (SJR), included speakers, judges,
coaches, and alumni from across Canada. When the dust settled, Evan placed sixth in the competition, one short of qualifying for internationals. However, a student from SJR forfeited his spot as he had already qualified through a different competition.
Evan brought the spirit of St. Paul’s to South Africa with him. With classmates, peers, parents, teachers, and friends watching from home, Evan climbed the ladder, reaching the finals in debate, and the grand finals in Persuasive Speaking. There, in front of thousands, Evan addressed the crowd with his incredible charisma and confidence.
By the end, Evan brought home trophies, memories, and friendships. With this inconceivable occurrence achievement, Evan embodies the ideals of the St. Paul’s community, constantly seeking the Magis.
Therefore, I can safely say that, on behalf of St. Paul’s High School, we congratulate Evan Peters for his success, achievements, and victory.
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A pilgrimage to Italy!
James Lovallo ’23 Contributoron a tour about Enzo Ferrari’s legacy and his path to victory. Following our tour of the muse-
streets and packed markets, amazement was around every corner. After leaving Florence,
It was only a few months ago when a school trip to Italy was announced. Long before I was accepted onto the trip, my excitement grew. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and finally, we departed Winnipeg on March 22nd. After hours of flying across the seas, 32 eager St. Paul’s seniors landed in Venice on March 23rd.
Beginning our 12-day long pilgrimage, the first two days were filled with tours throughout Venice and Murano, most memorably witnessing an amazing demonstration of Murano’s world-renowned glassmaking. After a few hours on the road, we arrived at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and embarked
um, we rode the bus to Florence.
Our stay in Florence was magnificent, it being my favourite stop of the trip. For starters, we visited the house of Dante Alighieri and, the Accademia Gallery, and we participated in a beautiful mass at the Duomo (Florence’s Cathedral). As we ventured through the tight
Rome was next. We explored the Colosseum, an even more breathtaking landmark at night, the vast Roman Forum, and other remnants of the ancient empire.
On the morning of the 29th, we were privileged to be present at athe Papal Audience, allowing us to come within feet of the
Holy Father. A tour of the Vatican museums ensued; after the audience, most notably, we saw the art displayed within the incomparable Sistine Chapel. After our trip to the Vatican, parts of Rome such as the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain were explored, two pieces exemplifying Italy’s architecture and pure beauty.
On our final day, an unexpected trip to Pompeii, allowed for us to witness the evacuated city and the saddening remains of its inhabitants.
After 12 days of tours, pasta, and plenty of churches, our group returned home, having made new memories and friendships with their brothers.
Diving into World War history: France, Germany, and Belgium
Ilia Mehr Bakhsh ’23
Chief Editor
Flanders and Vimy Ridge. We had the chance to honour those who fought in the First World War, and visiting the Vimy Ridge Memorial Site left a lasting im-
students: Liam McConnell ’24 and Matthew McConnell ’24, found a family member whose name was inscribed on the gate.
Perrett ’24 and I scootered around the city and visited the Italian-inspired buildings and the English Garden.
This past Spring Break, I had the privilege and pleasure of going on one of the Europe trips with Mr. Dainard, Mrs. Kochanski, Dr. Puchniak, and Mr. Schroeder, along with 29 other amazing grade 10, 11, and 12 students.
We left Winnipeg to Paris on March 23rd. In Paris, we were mesmerized by the brick-road streets, the gothic-style churches, and the Haussmann-style apartments.
From March 23rd to March 25th, we visited the Louvre, walked the Parisian streets, passed by Sorbonne University, and the Arc du Triomphe. We also visited Versailles, and watched the Eiffel Tower shimmer in the cold evening sky.
On March 26th, we went to
pact and sense of patriotism.
On March 27th, we continued our trip by visiting to Passchendale Memorial Park, Tyne Cot National Cemetery, and In Flanders Fields Museum. We also had the chance to explore the charming town of Ypres in Belgium. There, we had some exceptional Belgian waffles and Belgian chocolate.
We then made our way to the Menin Gate where two St. Paul’s
The McConnell brothers were invited to participate in Ypres’s daily service in remembrance of those lost.
After our visit in Ypres, we returned to Paris on March 28th and visited Montmartre and the Sacré-CouerCoeur. Going to Montmartre, purchasing art from a local Parisian and going atop the Sacré-Coueur were some of my favourite parts of the trip.
On March 29th and 30th, we traveled to Munich by train where we visited the Marienplatz, BMW headquarters, and had the most extraordinary gentlemen give us a tour of Munich.
In Munich, Sports Editor Luke
On March 30th, we visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, which was the site of one of the first concentration camps built by Nazi Germany. For all of us, the most powerful and emotional part of the trip was this visit. The educational purpose of this trip was truly fulfilled during this visit.
We also traveled to Nuremberg where we visited the Documentation Centre, a Nazi-history Museum, and the Nazi Party rally grounds. We then had a few hours to explore the city of Nuremberg.
After many educational opportunities, rainy days, evening strolls, and eating exceptional pastries, we returned home on April 1st.
I will cherish every memory I made on this trip and thank the teachers who planned this experience for us.
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Noah Neves - Manitoba’s best running prospect
1:52.95, which is also a provincial record.
Luke Perrett ’24 Sports EditorAs one enters the Cass Gym, they are surrounded by hundreds of championship banners, many of which are from track and field. Despite the students’ massive successes at the high school level, one student continues to achieve athletic success that ends up in the record books.
Noah Neves ’24, a 16-year-old track and field star from St. Paul’s High School. Outside of school, he runs for the club Tough Track, along with fellow student Sean Ehmann ’24. Neves is considered one of the best U18 runners in all of Canada, as he sits 4th alltime for the 600m with a time of 1:21.20, and 3rd all-time in the 800m with a speedy time of
Most recently, Neves competed in the Boeing Provincial Indoor Classic where he set the record for the fastest U18 800m time with 1:55.77. He also won the 400m event, setting his indoor PB, with a time of 0:50.70.
Neves has said: “It has been a great year so far and winning this was just another step towards my
Junior Hockey at St. Paul’s
Luke Perrett ’24Sports Editor
St Paul’s has always had a strong hockey program, but the school is also home to many other players who take a different route with their athletic careers. Although many play AA or AAA, a select few get the opportunity to play in the MMJHL and the MJHL.
Goaltender River Leslie Toogood ’23 and forward Kai Elkie ’23, have suited up for the Winnipeg Blues of the MJHL throughout this season. Despite being on the second-last-place team, as a rookie, Elkie has 10 goals and 30 points in 50 games played, putting him 13th in rookie scoring league-wide.
Another goaltender, Ron Cailo ’23, has been on the sheet for a game with the Selkirk Steelers. Aiden Wuerfel ’23 has signed his letter of intent with the Vird-
en Oil Capitals for the 2023-24 MJHL season.
Also notable, goalie Jacob Armstrong ’24 is an affiliate of the
goals. It is not all about the record for me, but the record helps to set a time that I can push myself with.”
Earlier this year, Neves set his 800m personal best of 1:52.95 at Boston University, at the David Hemery Valentine Invite.
Recently, the track has been making headlines for its constant production of PBs and records. This can be attributed to the “optimal
physics with an exciting atmosphere … An asymmetrical bank that reaches an 18-degree slope helps runners conserve energy as they round the turns” (from Boston University’s News). It is also built with rubber-topped plywood, which helps create higher energy. This is proven as four new records have been broken since December 1, 2022.
Later in March, Neves travelled to New York City to compete in the Nike Indoor High School Nationals.
Unfortunately, Neves ran a 1:54.48 time in his 800m heat, placing him seventh. Although this was not the result Neves was hoping for, this was a great experience for the young star. As he stated before leaving for the “Big Apple”, this was the biggest event that he had ever participated in. With a full season ahead, keep an eye on Neves as he will continue to try and break the U18 800m national record.
It was a tough decision for me to leave high school hockey … I went to a great organization that opened doors for me that I could not have opened any other way. Going in, I had been worried about the negative stigmas behind junior hockey; however, a lot of those stigmas were proven untrue in my year with the Canucks.”
and Marc Samyn ’23 with the Charleswood Hawks.
Two younger students have gotten time with the Winnipeg Freeze of the MJHL. Nick Carlson ’24 played his first game with the Freeze in early February, and in his second game, scored his first goal.
Winkler Flyers, following his 60th overall selection in last year’s draft.
Seven other students have suited up in junior this year but in the MMJHL. Jacob Phillips ’23 has played full-time for the first place St. James Canucks, netting 3 goals and 16 assists in 42 games.
Here is what Phillips had to say about the switch to Junior Hockey: “All summer I was considering making the move to the MMJHL.
Part-time players in the MMJHL include Jonah Crossland ’23 with the St. Boniface Riels, Porter Holland ’23 with the Fort Garry Twins, Kai Smith ’23 with the St. James Canucks, and Jackson Zuk ’23, Jack Derrett ’23, and Wylie Garchinski ’23 with the Charleswood Hawks.
Other students who are affiliated with MMJHL teams include Brendan Macdonell ’23, Dario Machia ’23, Jack McFeetors ’23 with the St. Vital Victorias,
Here is what he had to say about the moment: “So we broke out of our zone, and I passed the puck to Leno (Nathan Lenoski). Leno toe-dragged around the Blues’ defence and made a quick move around the sliding defender. He passed me the puck to then go over the goalie’s shoulder. After I scored, I was just excited to put the team back in a winning situation (unfortunately we lost in overtime) … The team was just so supportive of me after that goal.” The second player to suit up for the Freeze is first-year St. Paul’s student Nathan Glavina ’24, who has 1 assist in his 3 games played.
Good luck to all the players heading into playoffs, and good luck to the members of the class of ’26 entering the MJHL draft!
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Violence against Indigenous women in Canada (continued)
In comparison, 45% of non-Indigenous women in the Atlantic, 43% in Central Canada, and 48% in the Prairies reported similar experiences. A 2018 report reveals that this series of incidents is another ramification of Canada’s past attempts at the cultural assimilation and genocide of Indigenous peoples.
Through the Indian Act, the residential schools’ system, and other forms of discrimination, past attempts at assimilation and genocide have resulted in rampant substance and domestic abuse within Indigenous house-
holds. The effects of which have created a dangerous environment for Indigenous women. In addition, a lack of access to education and healthcare, as well as high unemployment, have left Indigenous women stuck in impoverished neighbourhoods and susceptible to crime. Worsening this situation even further is the ineffective police involvement in the cases of murdered or missing Indigenous women.
Many attribute the worsening of crime in impoverished neighbourhoods to lack of effective police involvement. In Vancouver, following the death of
Many faiths - one burning planet
Baljot Rai ’24 in partnership with other contributors
Deputy & Religion Editor
As the Earth cries out amidst a climate crisis, destructive natural disasters, and the exploitation of natural resources, we are all called to reflect upon our relationship and sacred harmony with the environment and Creation. For millennia, religion has been a prominent influence on the moral and ethical beliefs and lifestyles of people and structures of civilizations. In our diverse world, we, as people of faith, are called to action—a call, directly from God, to realize the connection between our spiritualities and the environment, and to restore the sacred harmony created between humankind and nature. This call is universal, a call extending to all religions, and a call that will only be heard and executed through collaboration and cooperation with one another. Christianity, Islam, the Hindu Dharma, the Sikh faith, and First Nations spiritualities all have strong beliefs surrounding the conservation and preservation of the environment.
[Disclaimer: No student who has contributed to this article is a scholar in the religions we discuss in this article. We are, however, members of these religious communities. This article does not cover all faiths represented in our schools, but we recognize
that all religions endorse the care of the planet.]
21-year-old Tatyanna Harrison in May, grieving mother Natasha Harrison spoke out against local law enforcement at the October 4 Sisters in Spirit vigil. She criticized the lack of communication between police departments surrounding missing persons cases; this which had forced her to commence her own investigation into her daughter’s death.
Here in Winnipeg, families of the victims, as well as community advocates, have called for the resignation of Winnipeg police chief Danny Smyth. This came after the police’s refusal to search the Prairie Green landfill, believed to
be the location of the remains of two of the four Indigenous women who were killed.
The police chief defended this stance stating, “We have no starting point… It wouldn’t be feasible at this point.”
As Canadians, it is our collective duty to right these grave wrongs in whatever ways we can. We must advocate for improved police involvement in the investigation of missing Indigenous women and console the grieving families that will foreverstill await the return of a mother, a sister, or a daughter who will never come home.
do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. Allah does not love the corrupters” (Al Qasas 28:77).
Islam stands firm that any threat to God’s Creation is an act of forgetting the gift of Earth which humans are granted.
Both the Catholic Church and its community believe that, because we are all made in God’s image, we are tasked with being the stewards of all Creation as His partners. In the Book of Genesis, it is stated that God instructed the first humans to, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over... every living thing... on the Earth” (Genesis 1:28). God gave us the freedom to rule the Earth and its diverse inhabitants, but He also entrusted to us the responsibility of being its caretakers. To honour God is to honour His Creation.
Islam, another Abrahamic faith, addresses issues such as over-consumption of Earth’s resources. The Qur’an, Islam’s Holy Scripture, indicates that humans should “eat and drink; but waste not by excess, for Allah love the not the wasters” (Al-A’raf 7:31). The Qur’an also addresses Earth as God’s gracious gift, and calls on people to cease corruption and end the misuse of Earth’s resources: “And do good as Allah has been good to you. And
Although there is no concrete or one-size-fits-all view on conservation in the Hindu belief, the environment is still a matter of great importance. As such, there can be many different interpretations regarding conservation.
One of them surrounds ideals of simple living, living with the environment instead of taking from it. Another interpretation of this belief has to do with fulfilling one’s dharma. Respecting, caring for, and overall stewardship for the world around us is an excellent way to find peace within oneself. Thus, the conservation of our planet can largely be rooted in several fundamental Hindu beliefs.
Founded in the 15th century, the Sikh faith strongly believes in recognizing the presence of the Divine in every person and the Lord’s manifestation in all of creation. The sacred Sikh scripture states “Air, water, earth and sky—the Lord has made these His home and temple.” Thus, at the very heart of the dharma and Sikh lifestyle is reverence for the Earth and, in a present-day per-
spective, a need for conservation and an urgency to take action. The seventh Sikh master, or Guru, Himself, emphasized the need for unity and sacred harmony between humankind and nature. Humans create a reflection of their inner state in the environment around them, and one’s environment deeply affects their levels of conscience; thus, it is essential to respect the Earth as a temple of the Lord and to develop sacred harmony with Creation.
First Nations spirituality and beliefs are rooted deeply in the Creator’s works—the moon, the land, the water, and the Earth are all celebrated and respected. The First Nations peoples recognize the land as a gift from the Creator who sustains humanity, thus, we are obliged to be good stewards of the Earth and to sustain sacred Creation. The recent protests by Indigenous communities against the construction of pipelines display the reverence they have for the land: that the land and Earth’s resources must be kept as the Creator created them. Furthermore, in First Nations spirituality, the Earth, the elements, and the land are celebrated through a variety of ceremonies, including Powwows (in which the drum is recognized as the heartbeat of the land), and the Sun Dance.
These religions and spiritualities bring thousands of years’ worth of knowledge and understanding together and, however different, encourage us to care for our Common Home.
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The importance of the Rosary
John Ergon Golpe ’24
Contributor
For centuries, the Rosary has been entrenched in Catholicism and highly regarded as a sacred item. Notable saints Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II have frequently prayed the Rosary and encouraged its widespread use. But where did it come from, and why do we continue to use it today?
Despite historical disputes regarding the origins of the Rosary, a majority of theologians and Popes have accepted that it was St. Dominic who introduced the Rosary as a meditative remedy to heresy in Christendom. In 1208, St. Dominic travelled to France to preach against a heretical doctrine that took root in Europe
from the eleventh to thirteenth centuries called Albigensianism. This was the idea that everything spiritual was inherently good and anything corporal and the Earth itself was inherently evil, and the creation of Satan. This radical notion gave way to the popular belief that salvation could only be achieved through physical liberation from the flesh.
aid in his fight against Albigensianism. After fasting and praying for three days, a great ball of fire, accompanied by three angels, suddenly appeared in the sky, followed by the arrival of the blessed Mother Mary. It was she who answered his call for help in the form of her psalter, or prayer, which consisted of 150 repetitions of the “Hail Mary”, organized into decades by the “Our Father.” The Blessed Virgin instructed St. Dominic to preach certain mysteries or events with the psalter, specifically those pertaining to the life of Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection contradicted the Albigensian heresy.
for and trust in Mary, leading them to recognize her as their mother, the mother of every believer”. It is through an intimate connection with the Mother of God that we can develop an intimate connection with Jesus.
Every day, I regularly seek solace in reflection as I spend 20 minutes praying the Rosary either alone in my room or on the road. Everywhere I go, I always have my Rosary with me as a constant reminder to anchor myself in my faith when I feel I am straying away from God.
At Toulouse, France, St. Dominic took refuge at a nearby forest, where he prayed to God for
Because of the Rosary’s connection with Mother Mary, many Christians today are concerned that excessive devotion to her may make Jesus less significant in comparison. However, in the words of Pope John Paul II, “The words ‘Behold, your mother!’... express Jesus’ intention to inspire in his disciples an attitude of love
You too can reap the benefits of the Rosary as well, but only if you dedicate yourself to this practice. If you have not already, I urge you to make it a habit to set aside a portion of your day to pray the Mysteries of the Rosary. This humbling and meditative experience can be done alone or shared with loved ones. With this powerful tool by your side, we can all better the world and ourselves one prayer at a time.
The NHL in the Southern U.S. – made to be or a failed project?
Rodmehr Filizadeh ’25
Contributor
geles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes have all won the Stanley Cup. Despite this, hockey in the south continues to get be routinely
In addition, southern teams such as the Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks have routinely been near the bottom of the league in terms of attendance percentage, which begs
However, the Coyotes, for example, do not have a large market, and consistently poor performance means that the franchise is in danger of relocation.
The NHL’s history in the southern United States goes all the way back to 1967 when the league added two new teams in California: the Los Angeles Kings and the California Golden Seals. The Kings had mild success, reaching the playoffs in some early seasons. However, change came in 1988 when they acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers, easily the biggest trade in the league’s history.
Gretzky’s popularity accelerated the growth of hockey in the south and, in 1991, the league brought another California team, the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Seals only played nine seasons and were the least successful franchise of the 1967 expansion.
Southern NHL teams have had reasonable success. The Los An-
questioned.
Recently, there have been talks about the potential relocation of the Arizona Coyotes in the face of floundering performances and poor attendance rates, made worse by losing their lease at their arena. The Coyotes resorted to playing out of Arizona State University’s Mullet Arena with a capacity of a mere 5000.
prompts the question: Is there enough support for southern NHL teams?
The question of support for southern teams varies from team to team. Franchises such as the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings have plenty of support. Fanbases in both Las Vegas and Los Angeles are large enough to support their respective teams.
Another danger to hockey in the south is visibility. Northern and more popular teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadiens usually get more broadcasting time than southern teams, contributing to the slower growth of teams in the region. The value of southern NHL teams is also lower than northern teams.
The Kings are the most valuable southern team, but they are 8th in value in the league. The rest of the southern teams are all in the bottom half of the league, in terms of value, with Arizona and Florida last and second last in the league, respectively.
Although NHL franchises have been hit-or-miss so far, there is consistent support for many of the teams. The league could, however, support the floundering teams by increasing broadcast time.
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2023 SPHS STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Luke Perrett ’24
The month of May brings a lot to St. Paul’s. There is the Bing Crosby speech competition and Paul Herriot Spelling Bee, the start of sports like rugby, golf, and ultimate, and then the student council election! Each Spring, the student body votes to select their President and Vice-President for the upcoming school year. Speeches and questioning periods have already been delivered and run by the current student council. This year, three teams are running for these prized titles: Team LEGO, Team OTF, Team RAD. Although some ideas are shared by all platforms, each ticket presents their own unique view on how they can create a great year for students.
Team LEGO is here to “build a foundation for a better education,” says presidential candidate Ryan Waller. Without a doubt the biggest part of their platform is their app, “Pauly”, an iOS application that tracks school events from Teams, the Community, and Powerschool all in one place—plus other helpful features. Waller says the student body should vote for team LEGO since they are, “committed to providing achievable promises and are extremely hard-working.” When asked why Ryan chose James as his running mate, he explained: “because we both value the importance of grades, but also realize the value of diversifying the views of the student council through the different hobbies and interests we both share.” With this quote, Waller references areas of the school where he and Chapman participate including athletics, drama, and The Crusader News
Presidential candidate Ellyas believes that “the student body should vote for OTF because we offer things that would benefit students of all grades.” These ‘benefits’ include promises to allow the grade 9 and 10 students to leave campus on lunch and spares, to bring food trucks to the school, and OTF presents a new concept for the school: Summer Sports Day.
When talking about choosing Aziz as his partner, Bensaglam explained that, “We work really hard at getting the things we promise done and that is simply why we chose each other.” It should be noted that Aziz is not present during the student council election campaign due to previously organized travel plans. Team OTF has brought some fun into the election with comedic videos which can be found on their Instagram page. This type of campaigning has and will continue to appeal to many students.
Team RAD “wants to make your school year as exciting as it could, be [it] bringing forth the ideas of a dance, March madness event, and [an] Assesippi ski trip to St. Paul’s.” The school has not had a ski trip before, so this new idea is definitely something that may intrigue voters. As RAD noted in their speech, gaining approval from the St. Paul’s administration for a school dance is a difficult task. But according to candidate Downey, “Team RAD takes initiative, making sure every promise made will become true, and we don’t take ‘no’ as an answer.” When asked why he selected Sawyer Ramsay to be his running mate, Downey explained that Ramsay is a “reliable co-worker and isn’t afraid to do what he wants, no matter what the rules say.” This bold statement shows that team RAD truly wants to stick to their motto that they “Won’t take ‘no’ as an answer.”
On Monday May 15th, students will have access to vote for one of the parties. It is important not only to vote, but also to put thought into your decision. Remember, the winning party will oversee events such as Spirit Weeks and the Walk for the 2023-24 school year.
If you have any questions for the teams, or would like to learn more about their platforms, you can either stop a candidate in the hallway or contact them through Instagram. You may find the Instagram handles on page 14.
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Team LEGO: Ryan Waller ’24 for President and James Chapman ’24 for Vice-President
Team OTF (Only the Fam): Ellyas Benzaglam ’24 for President and Ibraheem Aziz ’24 for Vice-President
Team RAD (Really Awesome Dudes): Xavier Downey ’24 for President and Sawyer Ramsay ’24 for Vice-President
2023 SPHS STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS Instagram handles
13 Past Midnight preview (continued)
Sean Ehmann ’24 Copy Editor
The stage is set for 13 Past Midnight when the powerful and cunning producer of soap opera Hold Back the Night, Victor Winslow invites the show’s cast to his mansion for an evening of excitement.
Once the cast and crew are all gathered, Victor informs them that they will all be participating in a pretend murder mystery game.
However, before the game starts Victor lets the cast know that in the morning, he will be announcing who will be let go from the soap, only adding to the numerous motivations of the cast and crew against him.
In a shock, once the game begins, someone is murdered...
Student Showcase: Artwork
who is murdered? Who is the murderer? Are there grievances, disputes, or hate amongst the cast and crew of Hold Back the Night?
Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased from Mr. Comeault or Ms. Janzen in the library.
You may purchase your tickets through cash or cheque to “St. Paul’s High School”
John Tatlonghari ’26
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William Lewin ’23
@teamlego2023 @oft.sphs @radstpauls
Student Showcase: Artwork
Happy Days: St. Paul’s Fashion Show!
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Charles Copp ’23
Luke Horton ’24
Max Hamm ’24
Mason Hamm ’24
Dear St. Paul’s,
Ilia Mehr Bakhsh ’23 Chief EditorOur third Issue this year brings together some of the major events of late Winter and early Spring. You may take a look at the work of Diego Bueti ’24 and William O’Donnell ’24 in their deep dive into the balloons that roamed our skies a few months ago, and about ChatGPT, thanks to Samay Dadlani ’24. Honouring
Across
1. You find them at birthday parties and above intercontinental missile facilities
3. The new conservatory at Assiniboine Park
6. The location of the recent fashion week
8. He was elected Bishop of Rome on 13 March
2013
10. He was blinded by the light
11. It is our common home and we celebrate it each Earth Day
13. It is an infamous AI text bot
17. The St. Paul’s Dramatic Society play for 2023
19. It refers to an area where sports are played
21. One of the countries visited on the Spring Break trips this year
22. It is a digital encyclopedia, despised by teachers
23. The largest lake in Manitoba
26. They represent SPHS in sports
27. They played the Jets in the first round of the playoffs
28. The fungus in The Last of Us
Down
2. He won against Ian Nepomniachtchi for the World Chess Championship
4. This area north of the 65th parallel is threatened by climate change
5. It moves diagonally on a chessboard
7. He represented SPHS at an international speaking tournament placing 1st in one category
9. One of two star cross’d lovers
12. Ilia Mehr Bakhsh’s character in this year’s play
14. A term for three goals scored in a game
16. The Our Father and the Hail Mary are examples of this
18. 5’6 and 6’2 are examples of this
20. The first six letters on a keyboard
24. We celebrate this planet on April 22
25. It is played with an oblong ball and no helmets
Photo Credits
Yash Varma - Luke Perrett
Jeff Beck: Erik Kabik Photography/MediaPunch/IPX/AP; David Crosby: Taylor Jewell/ Invision/AP
Jordan Peele - AFP via Getty Images
Lightyear - Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
New York Fashion Week - Lexie Moreland/
WWD
The Last of Us - HBO
Super Mario Bros. Movie - Universal Pictures
State of Relief in Turkey and Syria - Bulent
Kilic/AFP
Violence Against Indigenous Women - Ben
Nelms/ CBC
Spy Balloon - 1; SETA, 2; Randall Hill/ Reuters F-35 Planes - USAF
ChatGPT - Andrey Suslov
Evan Peters Wins! - Evan Peters
Noah Neves Running - Luke Perrett
Nicholas Carlson Hockey - Luke Perrett
St. Dominic Receives the Rosary - Luca Giordano
Many Faiths for One Planet - Mat McDermott
/ GreenFaith
NHL Map - Sport League Maps
Earth Month, one of our newest contributors, Rodmehr Filizadeh ’25, has written about the federal government’s plans to tackle climate change. Deputy and Religion Editor Baljot Rai ’24, along with other contributors, provide us with religious views on caring for our environment.
We also cover some of the work students do outside their studies. Copy Editor Isaac Lavitt ’25 has written about Evan Peters ’25 who represented not just our school, but our country in South Africa at the World Debating and Public Speaking Championships and was awarded 1st in Persuasive Speaking, and 5th overall in the world!
Sports Editor Luke Perrett ’24 brings our attention to Noah Neves ’24 who set the record for the fastest U18 800m time in the history of the Boeing Provincial Indoor Classic. Perrett also brings our attention to some of our school’s hockey athletes who pursue their athletic interests with strong dedication.
It is always a pleasure to see students gathered around the school, or in our newsroom, discussing the headlines and finding inspiration to write. Student engagement is what brings The Crusader News to life. As a grade 12 student, my time at The Crusader News and at St. Paul’s High School will soon end. I will miss
the lively energy that encompasses our school.
In closing, I would like to express my grief once again for the loss of our friend Yash Varma. His boundless energy and dedication led us by example. He will be so dearly missed.
AMDG, Ilia Mehr Bakhsh Editor-in-Chief of The Crusader NewsCrossword by Isaac Lavitt ’25. Answers online at thecrusadernews.ca
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 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
Editor’s Note
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Comic by Toe Toe Moo ’24
