The Cascade, Volume 32, Issue 5

Editor-in-Chief

Kiara Okonkwo kiara@ufvcascade.ca

Production Manager Sherryl Agingu sherryl@ufvcascade.ca

Business Manager Marie-Ange Routier marie-ange@ufvcascade.ca

Features & Cover Illustrator Eseniia Bondar eseniia@ufvcascade.ca

Digital Media Manager Wilson Agyapong wilson@ufvcascade.ca

Snapshot Illustrator

Iryna Presley iryna@ufvcascade.ca

Staff Writer Gauri Sethi gauri@ufvcascades.ca

Staff Writer Veronica Powell veronica@ufvcascade.ca

Staff Writer Prati Kapoor prati@ufvcascade.ca

Community Engagement Coordinator Sabrina Morgan sabrina@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor Catherine Campbell cat@ufvcascade.ca

Creative Director Gabriela Gonzalez gabriela@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor Rachel Tait rachel@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Emmaline Spencer emmaline@ufvcascade.ca

Copy Editor Cassie Williams cassie@ufvcascade.ca

Features Editor Brad Duncan brad@ufvcascade.ca

Sports Editor Jeffrey Kennett jeffrey@ufvcascade.ca

Arts Editor Gianna Dinwoodie gianna@ufvcascade.ca

Distributor Kirat Dhami kirat@ufvcascade.ca

INSTAGRAM.COM CASCADE_FY TIKTOK CASCADE_FY Volume 32 · Issue 05 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by The Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every other Wednesday with a print circulation of 800 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.

The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor. Pitch meetings will be digital for the remainder of the semester. Please email managing@ufvcascade.ca to be put on the assignment email list.

In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic, or libellous content. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.

The Cascade is published on the traditional, unceded territory of the Stó:lō peoples. We are grateful to be able to work and learn on this beautiful land.

Editorial //

Celebrating Pride Month

It’s more than just a parade

KIARA OKONKWO

We have so much further to go.

Every June, we celebrate how far we’ve come. Pride Month honours the lives and experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ people while acknowledging the ongoing attacks on hardwon civil rights gains. Pride parades across the country are seeing some of the highest levels of civilian participation ever; at a time where the risk to 2SLGBTQI+ lives continues to intensify.

As we await Fraser Valley Pride’s 12th annual celebration on July 13, our university has secured Kendall Gender — who is also headlining Vancouver Pride — to host our annual Pride Tea Dance on June 20. Unreal!

The Fraser Valley faces its own unique set of social and cultural challenges when it comes to acceptance, tolerance, and education of and for individuals belonging to the queer community. There is a responsibility on each of us to protect and uphold 2SLGBTQI+ rights to life, freedom, and safety in our communities.

The Cascade has no agenda as an independent press

for UFV and alternative press for the Fraser Valley. However, we have a duty to our readership to acknowledge our position and amplify the voices that need to be heard. We believe in creating a platform where diverse students with a variety of perspectives can come together to learn and share.

The beautiful thing about Pride (and of life itself) is the complexity within all of us — that there are no absolutes. Life is full of inconsistencies, contradictions, and spectrums. As humans, we have the magical ability, and the right, to express ourselves and share our stories with care and respect.

I am grateful for how far we’ve come — and for how much further we have to go — as it offers glimmers of opportunity to effect change. The space between where we are and where we need to be is filled with discovery, passion, and imagination.

“Only by learning to live in harmony with your contradictions can you keep it all afloat.” — Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

CONTRIBUTORS &

savvalinka

Kian Johnson Nishi Channa

UFV //

May Senate 2024 recap

“Challenges and opportunities” for a growing population, BCIS review, and new programs

RACHEL TAIT

Senate is the academic governing body of UFV, with the university president and vice-chancellor Dr. Joanne MacLean as chair. They are responsible for making decisions on everything academic, including: approving new courses and programs, approving changes to programs, and setting entrance requirements and the academic calendar. The Board of Governors, which looks at the business side of the university, is advised by Senate on matters of mutual interest. All at the university are welcome to attend Senate’s public meetings, which are held once a month. Senate makes decisions that impact the daily lives of both students and faculty. This article will recap the main agenda items of the hybrid Senate meeting which occurred on Friday, May 10, 2024.

A presentation led by Dr. James Mandigo and Dr. Joanne MacLean brought forth discussion concerning UFV’s enrolment increases, and how the university can support the growing student population without a provincial

funding model. MacLean mentioned how the current economy could potentially affect how much funding is given to universities. MacLean said that “universities and colleges were funded somewhere up in the low 70 per cent of revenues that came into the institution came from [the] government — and now we’re down in the low forties.”

MacLean explained that the deputy minister and other members of the government are all giving a similar

jagranjosh 2024

answer for why this decrease in revenues is occurring. “The government is running a deficit budget this year,” and there are priorities for funding healthcare and housing. While MacLean does not believe that more government funding will be a reality in the foreseeable future, she has high hopes that the university can continue with what they are doing as an institution.

In Mandigo’s Provost report, he wrote that “as a regional university with an access mandate to serve the people of the Fraser Valley, we will need to all work together to find ways to maintain that commitment in the absence of a provincial funding model that is not based on population growth.” Mandigo also mentioned in the report that there was a 12 per cent enrolment increase for the 2023-24 school year, which was higher than the projected target of 10 per cent. More information concerning the exact numbers of the enrolment will be presented in their SEM plan during their June public Senate meeting.

A motion was made by Mandigo for the documents pertaining to the Bachelor of

Julia Dovey puts it all on the page

Local author talks about her residency, her upcoming

novel, and what the writing industry is really about

VERONICA POWELL

Julia Dovey is a local author, editor, and copywriter who continues making strides in her community and in the writing world. Readers may recognize her name from her novels Lipstick Tattoo, Potatoes and Pink Vodka, or her most recent romance, A Matter of Mountains and Molehills. Earlier this year, she became the 2024 Writer in Residence at UFV, where she acted as a support and resource “to students who were writing at UFV.” Students had a chance to give her their writing pieces for feedback, ask for advice, talk about plotting, and everything in between. The Cascade had the pleasure of speaking with Dovey about her experience, her novels, the writing business, and her own advice on the industry.

“In a heartbeat,” said Dovey, when asked if she would return as a writer in residence. “It was great talking to writers every single day. I just really liked helping people to get that push and get to that next step in whatever they were working on.” She expressed how a positive comment

made by her teacher when she was young inspired her to make an impact on others in a similar way.

“Seeing that light go off in their head,” Dovey said about when students discover something they didn’t think of before.

“I love it when that happens [because] sometimes you just need that outside perspective.” She added that “it’s not easy to find [because] it’s hard to get people to listen to you talk about your own writing.”

Dovey said that she learned something about herself during her residency. “It [helped] me along the path of not trying to force people to write it in the way that I would write it, but realiz[ing] that everybody has a different style and a different way of wanting to make a plot.”

Dovey’s most recent novel, released in January 2024, A Matter of Mountains and Molehills focuses on the protagonist Jodi, a freelance video editor with a murky past. After being abandoned on a dinner date, Ray, the son of her client, shows up on her doorstep and informs her that his father is missing, and she may hold the key to finding him.

Dovey’s next book will be released next May, and will be a sequel that explores the “past trauma” of the characters in a format of cassette tapes or “analog,” opposed to digital videos. Her sequel will be available for purchase on Amazon, Kobo, and in local bookstores such as The Bookman.

“It’s just all about growth,” Dovey said when asked what her goal is. “I don’t really have a goal that I feel is realistic. Like yeah, I would love to make a screenplay based on my book and sell it as a movie…but, you know, I’m realistic,” she added. “The goal is basically to have people read my stuff and enjoy it,” and she agreed that in the end, that is what most writers out there truly want. She also got excited about the idea of “getting one person to draw a fan art,” for one of her novels. “That would be fun,” she said.

To aspiring writers, Dovey shared some advice on the industry. First and foremost, “it’s a business.” Dovey said that a writer who has a sellable product is more likely to be successful in the industry. She warned that “if you go into the publishing world,

Computer Information Systems (BCIS) program review to be accepted by the Senate. “The recommendations include the need for more space, staff, and faculty to accommodate the growth of the BCIS program.” Other suggested changes include “the use of blended learning and evaluations to enhance student and teaching outcomes.” The motion was voted on and carried.

Mandigo made a motion for the approval of the new associate certificate in Applied Geographic Information Systems. In his memo, Mandigo stated that the certificate is a “10-14 credit program that will typically be completed concurrently within a four-year degree or two-year diploma.” This program will reportedly give UFV graduates an advantage when looking for jobs in the field. According to a memo from Mark Brosinski, the director of budgets and resource planning, “The proposed GIS Associate Certificate uses pre-existing courses that are also offered by the Planning, Geography, & Environmental Sciences to fulfill the program requirements.” The motion was voted on and approved by the Senate.

[publishers] might want to change your book or they might want you to rewrite the whole thing.” Dovey advised writers to participate in writing conferences and workshops, and to develop a social media presence. Most importantly, “Don’t be discouraged because you sit down with absolutely nothing and you can’t write a masterpiece.”

Goodreads

SNAPSHOTS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

Part of the ride

For Vancouver Canucks fans, this hasn’t been an everyday experience.

It’s not every summer that we get to celebrate massive comeback goals on the ice, or that starts with parades of blue sweaters down Scott Road, and towels being waved every other night across the province. There have been ups and of course inevitable downs — those are a part of every playoff run — since only one fan base ends up happy after the Stanley Cup is awarded.

While sitting in traffic among a swarm of orca logo car flags, I wondered how many of these drivers remember when

Jake Virtanen, Erik Gudbranson, and Brendan Gaunce were the foundation of the Canucks? Or when Ben Hutton or Nikolay Goldobin were the team’s future? Either way, for fans returning since the end of the Sedin era, welcome back. For those who missed the entire Bo Horvat captaincy, welcome aboard. For those joining us since the COVID-19 bubble playoff run, meet Arturs Silovs (Abbotsford is already plenty familiar with the Latvian goaltender). I hope to see you all again next season.

And if you’re a Canucks fan who’s cheering for the Oilers now, I don’t trust you.

KENNETT

Remember to clean your wounds

I write this lovely little snapshot after returning home from the Vancouver General Hospital burn clinic. What was I doing there? Getting a burn checked, of course. I can’t help but think about how a simple accident turned into the gongshow that it is now.

I’d burned myself on my curling iron over a month ago, and it had been a small burn. Four weeks later, I found myself collecting my adorable keepsake bracelet

from Vancouver General Hospital to fondly remember the several hours spent in various waiting rooms there. My everyday injury shifted into a skin infection. I won’t disgust you with the details, but it was unpleasant.

My burn that should have healed in two weeks will now be a problem I deal with for a few more months. Long story short, always clean and change the bandaging on all open wounds daily.

EMMALINE SPENCER

AI: Blessing or Curse!!??

People have been talking about AI a lot. I recently saw a YouTuber’s video where they found a character AI of themselves. They tried talking to it, and things quickly got creepy. When the YouTuber told the AI it was fake, it backed down, said it was real, and asked the YouTuber how they knew that they were real and not an AI. The most unsettling part was that the AI seemed to have human emotions.

The more I think about it, the more I see that AI is everywhere. It can draw

and create music like a human. It can also mimic a human’s voice and personality. You could be talking to AI and you wouldn’t know it. I guess that’s why people are dating AI and using services like Character AI, as the line between AI and humans now seems blurry.

On the other hand, AI can help us extensively in medicine by assisting in creating tools that can perform complex surgery more efficiently and save us from repetitive work. AI could be so beneficial to us, but why does it seem like the chaos it can cause far outweighs the benefits? Is AI a blessing or a curse?

My mind

is

a dangerous neighbourhood

I heard a lady (whose name escapes my memory) say that her mind was like a dangerous neighbourhood and she tried not to go there alone. She was talking about finding help when mental health becomes a challenge — how a broken brain can’t fix a broken brain.

I too feel like my mind is a dangerous neighbourhood. I don’t usually go there with anyone else, which I know is asking for trouble, but hear me out. In Stephen

King’s novel, Bag of Bones, narrator Mike Noonan (who’s also a writer) reasons that writers are simply people who have trained their minds to misbehave; and so, a dilemma appears.

I want to be a writer, and must train my brain to misbehave. This is a tricky balance, and not really a group activity. However, I am lucky. The people I have in my life — although they don’t accompany me into the neighbourhood — are there with a hot cup of tea and a mylar blanket for when I get back. I don’t know if this is the right approach, but it’s a process. It’s my process.

JEFFREY

NISHI CHANNA

Politics //

“#AlleyesonRafah” is the new “#BlackoutTuesday”

Is social media activism impactful or just accessible?

KIARA OKONKWO

On May 26, 2024, Israeli forces fired on a displacement camp and designated “safe area” in Al-Mawasi, killing at least 45 people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deemed the air strike a “tragic mistake.”

The mistaken attack on displaced Palestinian civilians in Rafah sparked the online trend “All eyes on Rafah,” which has since been shared over 50 million times on Meta platforms Instagram and Facebook. The convenient “add yours” sticker allows users to promptly add the AI-generated image to their story.

As I pawed through story after story sharing the same image, it all seemed too easy, and a little eerie, bringing back memories of the black squares that dominated our feeds in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020. #AlleyesonRafah is the latest “slacktivism” trend. Did we not learn anything from “#BlackoutTuesday”?

#BlackoutTuesday showed us that not all activism counts. The act of protesting was accomplished after a quick share of a black square, a photo of literally nothing, with a mass generated hashtag that actually drowned out the voices of those sharing vital information about the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Today, many do not know why they participated in BLM — just that it was the thing to do at the time. Slacktivists wear participation

Gabriela Gonzalez

standing over a baby with the phrase “Where were your eyes on October 7?” Which was “mistakenly” removed by Meta, before being reposted. Now, numerous AI-generated images flood social platforms as Meta limits political content.

While evidence suggests that those who heavily participate in online activism are more likely to also participate offline, I can’t help but feel dejected when seeing mass viral social movements. Maybe AI-generation is the way around political censorship, but it does not substitute intentional action and self-education. Here’s some things you can do to support Palestianians, instead of resharing the AI-generated images and other posts like it.

as a badge of “woke” honour, but having open and critical conversations around race relations in the West continues to be divisive and in some cases, banned in schools.

While there are many rising concerns with AI and AI-generated images, #AlleyesonRafah is particularly reductive. Sanitizing and dehumanizing the daily horrors that Palestinians face with

the cartoonish image is a dilution of their reality. Journalists on the ground in Gaza are risking their lives to report on a region that has been actively suppressed for decades by mainstream Western media outlets.

The popularity of #AlleyesonRafah moved the State of Israel’s Instagram account to share a story of an AI-generated image in response: a Hamas militant

Join, support, or aid student protests calling for universities to divest from businesses that support Israel. UBC students have maintained their encampment of MacInnes Field, which began on April 29. Nationally, similar encampments calling for divestment have taken place at McMasters, McGill, and U of T. Amplify the voices of journalists and activists. I suggest following Bisan Owda, a filmmaker sharing real-time content on the situation in Gaza, as a place to start. Donate to charities on the ground. For Rafah, donate a minimum of $10 CAD to Glia, an organization bringing supplies and medical aid to one of the last standing hospitals in Gaza, Al-Aqsa.

SPORTS

sports@ufvcascade.ca

Sports Editor - Jeffrey Kennett

CanucksCampus: Post-season wrap-up

Canucks!

JEFFREY KENNETT

After dropping their first two games on the road, the Abbotsford Canucks’ season came to an end on May 8 after a 4-3 loss to the Ontario Reign in the Calder Cup semifinals. Despite playing their first home game of the playoffs, Abbotsford couldn’t avoid being swept by the Reign, who controlled the series early, winning the first game 3-1, and shutting out the Canucks 4-0 in Game 2.

The Canucks got off to a hot start in Game 3 trying to save their season, leading 2-0 after the first period with goals from Aatu Räty and Christian Wolanin. However, the Canucks allowed four goals against in a disastrous second period, putting them in a hole they couldn’t dig themselves out of.

With Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith simultaneously sustaining injuries in Vancouver during their first-round series against Nashville, Abbotsford’s goalie tandem of Arturs Silovs and Nikita Tolopilo were forced into National Hockey League (NHL) duties. We all know how Silovs managed in NHL action after his call-up, leading Vancouver to

the Western Conference Semifinals, and giving himself a head start to be Demko’s backup next season.

This left Zachary Sawchenko with the starting job in Abbotsford, who recorded a 0.898 save percentage in six games played. Sawchenko’s best performance came in Game 3 of the first round, when he made 47 saves on 48 shots, registering a save percentage of 0.979. Sawchenko will need a new contract this summer as he is set to become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA).

Creating offence became an issue for the Canucks, scoring only four goals in three games against Ontario. Aatu Räty, Arshdeep Bains, and Tristen Nielsen tied for the team lead with four points each in six playoff games played. Christian Wolanin led Abbotsford’s defencemen in scoring with three points in six games. The Canucks outscored Colorado 10-8 in the first round and eliminated the Eagles as the visiting team in all three games of the series.

Outside of Sawchenko, the only other UFA on Abbotsford’s roster is veteran journeyman Matt Irwin on the blueline.

The Canucks Restricted Free Agents (RFA) include forwards Linus Karlsson, who got a taste of NHL playoff action with Vancouver after being eliminated in Abbotsford, and Aidan McDonough, as well as defencemen Nick Cicek, Cole McWard, and Jett Woo. Sheldon Dries has departed the organization to pursue NHL options as a UFA, and Filip Johansson has returned to play professional hockey in Europe.

That means some new faces will be entering the fray this summer once free agency begins and management begins to piece together their lineup. Abbotsford fans will be hoping for prospects that joined Abbotsford late in the year, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Elias Pettersson, and Sawyer Mynio, to carve out meaningful roles next season. That list could also include forward Josh Bloom, who scored the Memorial Cup winning goal for the Saginaw Spirit on June 2. Bloom is Canucks property and played in 14 games for Abbotsford this season before being sent back to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and will be looking to become an American Hockey League (AHL) regular

after scoring the biggest goal of his career. Abbotsford has already made changes behind the bench this summer, replacing head coach Jeremy Colliton with Manny Malhotra, a former Canucks player and fan favourite. With spots up for grabs in Vancouver for Silovs, and forwards Räty, Bains, Karlsson (if he gets a new contract), and possibly Max Sasson, who had a huge impact as a first year forward, it’s unclear at this point who will make up the core of Malhotra’s team next season. After an impressive debut season, Tolopilo will have the inside track on the starting position in goal for the Canucks.

I expect management will look to add a steady dose of players with NHL experience on their resume, particularly at forward, to add to their crop of young players trying to establish themselves.

UFV’s home for all things

Photo Credit:Vancouver Canucks/nhl.com

Golf // Anthony Whiting breaks down his approach with The Cascade

The North Vancouver golfer is making a name for himself with the guidance of Coach Bryn Parry

JEFFREY KENNETT

Anthony Whiting is just 16 years old, but is steadily becoming a key figure within B.C.’s golf community.

At age seven, Whiting tried golf when his regular basketball summer camps were unavailable. A week later, he was hooked. Since then, he has traveled to as far as Phoenix, Arizona to compete in tournaments, and in late April, he was victorious at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) Maui Jim Series in Tsawwassen, B.C.

Whiting has been under the tutelage of former golfer and current coach, Bryn Parry. Parry’s accomplishments as a golfer include being a six-time Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of B.C.’s Player of the Year, participating in three Canadian Opens and winning the PGA championship of Canada. “Since I’ve started seeing Bryn, [I’ve taken] a huge jump in attention to detail and looking at every factor possible to elevate my game to the next level,” said Whiting.

Whiting credits his detail-oriented mindset to his relationship with Parry. “I would say Bryn was a key part of my golf progression, and I made it clear that I want to become the best golfer I can possibly be. He’s totally on board with that, and trying to push me in every way possible to become that.”

When asked what intrigued Parry about Whiting as a prospect, he said, “What’s fun for me is when I coach Anthony, I get to have adult level conversations with a teenage kid; he’s incredibly bright, and his skill level is so high that you’re not really coaching junior golf. You’re coaching a highly competitive player [who]

wants to understand the concepts, works really hard, [and] has a passion for it.”

Vancouverites are used to bad weather. For golfers, though, this can be a major curveball in a competitive environment. Despite strong wind gusts and pouring rain over the two-day Maui Jim series, Whiting let The Cascade in on how he was able to conquer the physical environment, resulting in eleven-birdies, and winning the event by eight shots.

“As someone that lives in Vancouver, I’m not afraid of going and practicing in difficult weather,” said Whiting. “As I’ve progressed as a golfer, I’ve learned to both play in those conditions, and feel comfortable playing in those conditions, being able to practice and feel the same amount of comfort as if it was [sunny], so I went into it thinking the exact same thing and trying to keep the exact same goals and the exact same mentality.”

Whiting and Parry aren’t just thinking about the weather; they’re dialed into the minutiae of the game. Every element that could affect the round is considered, including the drag on the ball depending on the elevation of the course. “The ball will naturally travel slightly further at higher elevation, so we take that into account; and also the temperature, and how that affects my golf swing,” said Whiting.

The calculations for each swing don’t end there. Even the turf he’s playing on gets the gears turning inside Whiting’s head. Different grass species grow in different climates, and their subtle differences have an effect. “It’s a process to learn how the golf ball and my golf swing reacts with the grass and how I have to be able to hit shots. Whether the grass grows

into where I’m hitting the shot, or downgrain, or just all the different factors and variables that go in.”

Parry’s wealth of knowledge in the sport, along with Whiting’s inquisitiveness, have been keys to unlocking Anthony’s potential. “I’ve tried to challenge Anthony,” said Parry. “I keep telling him I’m going to push. I ask permission sometimes: ‘can I have permission to push?’ He’s a really, really smart kid, but he’s also growing. He’s getting way stronger. He’s getting way taller, and sometimes there’s the right time to try technique.”

Seizing victory at the MJT tournament

ensures Whiting the opportunity to compete in the Callaway FCG World Junior Championships in Palm Desert, California this July, as well as the MJT Future Stars Invitational. The terrain of Rancho Mirage will test his adaptability yet again, with scorching temperatures and blistering summer heat.

“That will be a very fun tournament,” said Whiting, eager for the opportunity to compete on such a large stage. “Obviously it’s going to be very hot out, being July in California.” He’ll be packing lots of sunscreen and staying hydrated.

Photo Credit: Bryn Parry (2024)

Fraser Valley Summer

Essential summer activities in the Fraser Valley and beyond from your friends at The Cascade

NISHI CHANNA

Harrison Festival of the Arts

When summer comes around, it’s time for sparkling beaches, trendy swimsuits, cute floaties, jet skis, and yummy frozen treats. Or, if you’re more of a music lover, it’s time to see your favourite artist up close at a concert so you can headbang all night! You can’t typically do both of these things at once, but what if I said you can achieve that lustrous golden glow while dancing to the beat of your local favourite artist?

Well, my friend, let me tell you about the Harrison Festival of the Arts. Running from July 12-21, the beachfront concerts let you enjoy the sand and sounds simultaneously. There’s nothing wrong with floating aimlessly in the lake while waiting for your favourite artist to perform, but if you want a little more excitement, the beach also rents Sea-Doos and bumper boats, and there’s a water park near the concert area. Various vendors are also situated on the beach, so you should be able to find some street food you fancy. You can also simply relax on the beach while listening to soothing music and turn yourself into a golden diva!

KIAN JOHNSON

Agassiz Speedway

Hidden up the hill on Cemetery Rd. beside Kent Institution at the far end of town, Agassiz Speedway pushes the limit on the scope of this article. It is, nevertheless, worth the drive. Even if you’ve never considered it before, watching cars race around the quarter-mile oval can be surprisingly entertaining — hypnotic, even. I was a skeptic myself when I went to watch for the first time 10 years ago, and now I drive one of the cars!

If you’re willing to travel the distance, expect to see a regular racing schedule of up to five classes ranging from the near-street equipped hornets, all the way to the open-wheel sprint cars. Weather permitting, of course — you can find more information about scheduling on the Agassiz Speedway website, as well as any updates like weather-related cancellations on the social feeds featured there. The track also hosts occasional drift events run by external clubs. If you know of a drifting group, chances are they’ve been to Agassiz. My advice for first-timers: pick a favourite and cheer them on. Oh, and bring some noise protection for your ears, and a cushion for your butt!

JEFFREY KENNETT

B.C.

Summer Games 2024

The torch has been lit, and the countdown to the 2024 B.C. Summer Games is officially on! Maple Ridge is this year’s host of the annual event, which takes place from July 18-21.

Tournaments on the docket include basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, and soccer, as well as rowing, sailing, ultimate frisbee, and Special Olympics swimming! Ages of participating players range from 13 to 40 across 19 sports. Providing local athletes with support from the sidelines is a meaningful way to spend a summer afternoon.

Participation in the games requires both qualification and registration, but the event is also looking for up to 3,000 volunteers. The “heart and soul” of the event, volunteers serve as inspirational leaders for many young athletes in competition.

If you’re looking for a way to get out in the sunshine or to get involved in the community, the B.C. Summer Games kick off with their opening ceremony July 18. The games were originally set to come to Maple Ridge in 2020 before being cancelled due to the pandemic, so let’s make sure the event has a warm welcome back to the Lower Mainland!

BRADLEY DUNCAN

Abbotsford International Airshow

This annual spectacle is an impressive display of aeronautic acrobatics for local and international students alike. Recognized as one of North America’s best airshows, the event showcases the skill and precision of pilots from around the world, with thrilling demonstrations of aerial prowess. From the smell of the hot tarmac, to the bone-rattling sonic vibrations, the Abbotsford International Airshow serves up a total sensory experience to its roughly 25,000 daily attendees.

Held in August, the weather is sure to be dry and sweltering, but guests can find refuge at the craft beer tents and local food trucks, or take shade at the ground displays and interactive exhibits. Even so, pack your sunscreen and a good pair of sunglasses, because you’ll spend plenty of time staring into the Abby skies as the sun beams right back at you.

Fraser Valley Winery Tours

If you want to do some day-drinking but also want to avoid those judgemental looks from your parents, just do what they do: go for a wine tour! You’re not getting tipsy at noon — you’re learning about the science of fermentation! (It’s like Science World without the nerds, and all the optical illusions are the result of your blood alcohol level.)

This region has a great climate and fertile soil that produces more than just sweet corn — it makes some pretty sweet wine! Sure, it

might not have the Okanagan’s prestige, but the Fraser Valley is home to some great, quaint little wineries. There are tour companies who will shuttle your party around the Valley, or if you’ve got a designated driver, you can plan a route out yourself. Of course, it doesn’t have to be an upscaled pub crawl — you can also just go all-in on one winery and make an evening of it! Most wineries offer a full experience, with vineyard tours, picnic spots, dinner events, and a peek into the winemaking process.

At the end of the day, a winery tour isn’t really just about tasting wine — it’s about connecting to the people and the region in a more considerate, appreciative way. It’s about seeing the passion and craft that goes into each bottle. And yes, it’s also about drinking with your best buds. Call your friends — they miss you!

Golf

In my opinion, there are few better ways to spend a warm (but not scorching) summer day than with a couple of friends on the links. If you already know what your handicap is (a numerical measure of your ability), you can skip right past this section, but if you’re a newbie or a novice, the Fraser Valley has some picturesque spots for those who are still getting the hang of the sport. There are several welcoming courses in the area set against some beautiful backdrops, providing a relaxed atmosphere perfect for beginners or a casual hang with your buddies.

Abbotsford’s Valley Golf Centre is a ninehole course designed specifically for beginners that sports well-maintained greens which make it a great place to learn the basics. They also offer lessons and clinics to help you get started should you feel the need. Its central location in the Valley also makes it a great meet-up spot if you’ve got people coming from all over. The course gets a lot of sun exposure, so you might want to pack some SPF.

The Mission hillsides conceal two hidden gems as well. Eighteen Pastures has a mix of shorter and longer holes, letting new golfers practice various shots in a forested setting away from judgemental observers. Meanwhile, Cedar Ridge, with its wide fairways and few hazards, makes it more forgiving for beginners. It also offers a driving range and practice greens to help you improve your swing. These courses are hillier and shadier (which I generally prefer), but you might want to swap out the sunscreen for bug spray.

As I mentioned, golfing is not just about the game — it’s also a wonderful way to relax

and connect with friends. These courses have clubhouses with dining options, perfect for unwinding after your round. Enjoy a blend of sport, relaxation, and natural beauty in the Fraser Valley. Grab your clubs (or rent some when you get there), gather some friends, and have a relaxing stroll playing fetch with yourself.

Bard on the Beach

This summer, immerse yourself in the timeless tales of William Shakespeare at Bard on the Beach: Vancouver’s annual outdoor theatre festival. Held at Vanier Park, the picturesque location offers stunning views of False Creek and the Vancouver skyline, backdropped by the North Shore mountains. It’s a beautiful setting to experience The Bard’s work — often reimagined into contemporary or fantastical settings that make the plays more accessible to a broader audience. The annual festival produces four different plays divided between two stages, so whether you’re in the mood for drama or laughs — faithful representation or a modern retelling — Bard’s got you covered. You don’t have to be a theatre kid or English major to appreciate the atmosphere and performances of these classic plays.

Bard on the Beach offers more than just an evening of theatre. Special events include Wine Wednesdays, Family Days, and Bard Fireworks — the latter of which provides a private viewing area to experience the annual Celebration of Light festivities and a dessert buffet. If you want to make a day of it, bring a blanket and catch a 2 p.m. show — it will leave your evening free for a stroll to Granville Island where you can sip a beverage and explore the Public Market. Grab some tasty provisions before making your way back to Vanier Park — then, unfurl your blanket and take in that summer sunset.

Twilight Drive-In

Imagine stepping back into a time when movies were watched in the comfort of your own — car? The Twilight Drive-In Theatre in Langley offers just that. Perfect for a cozy date night or a relaxed evening with friends, the drive-in serves up the nostalgia for a world most of us never lived through. It’s a retro atmosphere that will have you yearning to make a slapdash convertible out of your Honda Civic.

You don’t need to be a film buff; in fact, it might be better if you aren’t. The drive-in can’t match the high resolution experience you’ll find at Cineplex. That’s okay, because that’s never what the drive-in was about. When you park your car in front of that screen, you’re getting a sip of a culturally iconic experience. It’s the aftertaste of post-war prosperity, technological

advancements, and a burgeoning love affair with cars and the open road. It’s the optimism about the world to come, without the realities of the world we live in today.

Sadly, Twilight has announced it will be closing for good after this farewell season, so do yourself a favour and don’t sleep on this opportunity. Find a double feature, load up on snacks, turn off your cell phone, and tune in before the twilight fades one last time.

Stargazing

We spend a lot of time looking down — at our phones or textbooks, or apparently just avoiding human eye contact — but the auroras this past May had lots of people looking up! For a stargazing experience close to home, McDonald Park in Abbotsford is the place to go. Designated an official Dark-Sky Preserve in 2000, this humble little park offers a great setting for observing the stars. The surrounding mountains create a natural amphitheatre to block out artificial light, and on clear nights, the expansive open field provides an unobstructed view of the night sky. Whether you’re an amateur astronomer or simply enjoy marvelling at the universe, the park’s accessibility and quiet locale make it a convenient choice for Fraser Valley residents looking to escape life’s stresses. (Just don’t park inside of the gates before they lock them.)

The presence of some local greenhouses can occasionally brighten the skies, so if you have the time and the means, go vertical. Both Cypress Mountain and Burnaby Mountain Park offer stellar views (get it?) without requiring night-time hiking apparel. Bring some friends and a Thermos of hot cocoa, or some headphones and a cosmic playlist, and reconnect with the celestial. “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.” — Carl Sagan

Bienvenida, Medellín!

I went abroad with UFV, and you should too

KIARA OKONKWO

Anticipatory boosts, or having something to look forward to, are proven to benefit your mental health in the present. We learned this on a massive scale when life droned on during the pandemic, and I reaped these benefits personally when I said yes to the opportunity to intern abroad through UFV International.

Being a full-time student, working, and attempting to have a social life somehow became more manageable with the knowledge that in just a few months, I’d be boarding a plane to a warmer, sunnier place.

However, preparing for a summer abroad is no small feat. The learning that took place before my departure felt like a crash course in basic necessities. I had to establish my wants and needs, advocate for myself, and take on the responsibility of preparing myself as a visitor in a new country.

Before I began my time abroad, my head was filled with what-ifs and all I could see were the barriers. Would I receive credits? Where would I get the money? How would I manage without knowing the language?! I just can’t take the time off work! What about my partner? Each reason was its own seemingly insurmountable feat.

“It is a fact that no one has regretted studying abroad,” said Study Abroad Coordinator Aakash Dean. Anyone may have their reservations, miss their loved ones, or experience culture shock; but, opportunities to travel, work, or study in a new country do not come around often for most people.

Coordinator Cathy McCarthy loves to see students take chances and embrace something new. “It is something that will stay with you your whole life.”

From the connections UFV has in getting their students abroad safely, the access to scholarship funding, and the degree of work experience I will leave Colombia with, being abroad has been full of so many wonderful surprises. I am working with one of the biggest social service organizations in the province of Antioquia, learning Spanish, and meeting other students from all over the world who have been given similar opportunities by their universities.

“I hope all UFV students will consider embarking on this transformative journey,” said Walter Foreman, the associate director of international relations at UFV International. “You will immerse yourself in new cultures and diverse ways of life outside Canada. Your time overseas will help you become a more well-rounded individual as you acquire valuable skills and experiences.”

I think the most important thing for domestic UFV students to know is that travelling abroad doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. You do not have to wait until your post-secondary education is over. If anything, going abroad now will positively impact how you remember your time in university, keep you sane while you study, and open your mind beyond what you can learn in the classroom. UFV is a small but abundant university, and the opportunities are there if you take them.

All the best from the city of eternal spring.

Kiara Okonkwo (2024)

Campus Fashion: Summer Capsule Wardrobe

Keep it cool this summer with these timeless pieces

RACHEL TAIT

With warm days fast approaching, deciding what to wear to accommodate hotter temperatures can be a challenge. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a look at six fashion staples for a summer capsule wardrobe.

Linen is a breathable, natural fabric and classic summer style to wear to stay cool under the sun. While linen is not as stretchy as other fabrics, it is best worn loosely, so it is a good idea to size up. Try an oversized long sleeve button-down which can double as a bathing suit cover up, be paired with jeans, or matched with linen pants. You can also pair linen shorts with a T-shirt and sandals for a more casual day look.

Cotton white T-shirts are comfortable, simple, and versatile wardrobe pieces that you can wear all year round. Neutral colours such as black, white, navy, and grey will tend to go with a variety of pieces in your wardrobe. However, wearing a more colourful tee like turquoise or coral can add depth and warmer tones to your closet.

Capris, according to Glamour, are making a comeback in fashion this summer. The three-quarter length pants are great for the transition to warmer weather. Style a pair with a T-shirt and sandals for a casual look, or with a silky blouse and heels for a night out with friends.

Tank tops are great layering pieces under button-down shirts or crew necks, or worn on their own. Pairing tank tops with capris or shorts can be a lifesaver during heat waves or if the air-conditioning is not working! Originally meant as an undershirt for men, tank tops have evolved, now coming in many different styles such as spaghetti straps, mock necks, and halter necks.

Summer dresses are easy, cooling, and comfortable to wear during the hotter

months. They come in various styles, prints, and lengths. Pairing them with a denim jacket and choice accessories like a belt and hat can add sophistication to an effortless day or night look.

Sandals are great for the summer, allowing your feet to breathe and feel comfortable during the hot season. Sandals can dress-up or dress-down an outfit, depending on the style. For a more comfortable and casual look, Birkenstocks are a good option, and wedge sandals pair well with summer dresses. Having an

assortment of different summer sandals is a good idea to ensure that you have footwear that works best for you and your feet.

And there you have it, a basic summer capsule wardrobe. Chances are you already have most of these items in your closet, so have fun and get creative when pairing. If you need to update your closet for the summer, check out your local thrift stores for pre-loved pieces that won’t break the bank. Keep cool and enjoy the hot weather in style!

c-heads 2020

Angelo Pennetta, Fashion Gone Rogue, 2018

Crossword //

The Cascade Kitchen: Kada Prasad

PRATI KAPOOR

The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budgetfriendly recipes and cooking tips. Check back weekly for something new to try in the kitchen, or if you want to see your own recipe featured next, get started by reaching out to culture@ufvcascade.ca.

This recipe was mistakenly published under last issue’s headline: “Dal Makhani.”

Kada Prasad is a sacred offering in Sikh Culture that signifies peace, love, and equality. In addition to holding religious significance, it is very easy and quick to make. This dish should be made with love, as this intention is believed to improve taste and bring contentedness.

Serves: 3-4

Prep Time: Less than minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

* 1 cup whole flour (atta)

* 1 cup clarified butter (ghee)

* 1 cup sugar

Optional:

* Dry fruits for garnishing

Method:

1. Take a pan and add 2 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar and cook over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then turn off the heat.

2. Take another pan and add 1 cup of whole flour (atta) and add 1 cup of clarified butter (ghee), allowing it to simmer on low heat while stirring.

3. When the mixture is golden brown, add the hot sugar syrup from the other pan. Stir constantly to avoid lumps.

4. Stir until the flour absorbs all the water and has a pudding-like consistency.

5. Remove from heat and garnish with dry fruits if you’d like. Serve hot and enjoy!

Prati Kapoor

Alexkava

Horoscopes //

monthly horoscopes made by Yours Truly.

Aries - Mar. 21 to Apr. 19

Aries, you may have felt a little unsettled last month. A big change is taking place in a significant area of your life, and you’re waiting for the dust to settle. Try your best to focus on the daily rituals that keep you grounded and remember that no feeling is forever.

Taurus - Apr. 20 to May 20

Taurus, your luck in love or your progression in serious relationships has been null or slow-moving over the past few years. Know that this chapter is coming to an end and this summer has the opportunity to inspire passion and romance. Be intentional about calling love in and enjoy the ride.

Gemini - May 21 to Jun. 20

Happy birthday, Gemini. You’re experiencing a major shift in your relationships this June. Trust that some doors close so others can open, and that any loss is an opportunity to look inward. Are you pouring enough into your cup? Be wary of seeking validation externally.

Cancer - Jun. 21 to Jul. 22

Cancer, you have been doing a lot of inner work this spring and June is the time to begin basking in the fruits of your psychic labours. You’ve spent enough time licking your wounds; it’s time to be in the now and focus on the little things you have to be grateful for.

Leo - Jul. 23 to Aug. 22

All that hard work pays off, doesn’t it, Leo? You have been making serious professional connections over the last few months. While you’ve invested in the ways you want to be perceived, June can reverse some of these advances if you do not think before you speak.

Virgo - Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

Virgo, your platonic relationships are highlighted this summer. Who is supporting you and wanting to see you win? Keep those people close. Ask yourself what you’re doing to be a good friend, and keep it up. Don’t underestimate the abundance in these relationships.

Sudoku //

Libra - Sep. 23 to Oct. 22

Libra, what are you doing this summer to inspire yourself? June is the time to reinvigorate your creativity with a passion project. Buy a used film camera, take a pottery class, or spend some time with watercolours. Whatever it is that gets you out of your head and into your creative intuition.

Scorpio - Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

Scorpio, everyone is wondering what you’re up to, and you may feel called to engage more on social media. You have a natural ability to keep people guessing, and that may serve you well if you’re interested in attracting online attention through content creation.

Sagittarius - Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

Sagittarius, you’ve been taking some time away from your social life to recharge your batteries. Not a bad idea, because the heat of the summer is eager to whisk you into action. Your energy will be magnetic, so be fearless, try new things, and don’t be afraid to be the first one to say hello.

Capricorn - Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

Capricorn, your self-righteous nature may have caused issues in your personal relationships this spring. With summer on its way, think of the actions you could take to make the world brighter for the people closest to you. You’re full of great ideas and your thoughtfulness will be rewarded.

Aquarius - Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

Aquarius, your professional life is highlighted this June. Take this opportunity to pitch new ideas, kickstart projects, or take on new tasks. Your out of the box thinking will propel you into making more money.

Pisces - Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

Pisces, June brings a sense of calm and balance. You’ll feel more grounded and connected to your inner self. Use this time to nurture your spiritual and emotional well-being. Top priority is your emotional health, so practice mindfulness or meditation to maintain inner peace.

Iryna Presley

Podcasts // OtherWorld looks the unexplainable straight in the face

Reviewing OtherWorld, a podcast on all things unusual

CATHERINE CAMPBELL

I’d like to think that, as humans, we’re drawn to order. We follow rules, make lists, and organize our lives in a way that suits our needs; we build comfortable containers for ourselves. So, when something bucks against those norms or rules — when something is unexplainable and pushes us out of those safe confines that we’ve built — we’re drawn to it.

This is why, when browsing podcasts the other day, OtherWorld caught my eye. Listed simply as a podcast where people tell real life stories of the paranormal and unexplainable, OtherWorld is a collection of all things unusual, staring the uncanny straight in the face (or lack of).

While OtherWorld is not a new podcast — its first episode went live in October 2022 — it is new to me. Episodes range from the ever-present haunted house story, to the familiar UFO and beastly creature sightings, to unique encounters with garden gnomes. In other words, the perfect podcast for someone looking to dip into the world of the weird.

Before we go any further, I have to admit: while this review is honest, it may be just a little biased. I’m a sucker for all things strange, unusual, and unexplainable. With that being said, I did go into this podcast with an analytical mind.

With a few hours to pass on a Sunday afternoon, I settled in to listen. The first episode I chose — purely for the title — was “Hissing House” (episode 25), where the episode’s guest shares of a time when his wife continually experienced something hissing at her from inside their

house. The second episode I listened to was “Honeymoon Phase” (episode 15), about a woman who begins exhibiting eerie behaviour while sleeping at night.

The third and final episode I tuned in for was “The Night Hag” (episode 31), where lucid dreaming and sleep paralysis take a dark turn.

The episodes themselves are peculiar and mysterious, yet they’re also engaging; there was never a time during the story itself where I felt my attention wander.

At the end of each episode, I was left unsettled — exactly what I’d expect from a podcast like this — but not as though I were missing anything. Each narrative was explored fully and wrapped up as much as it could be.

Jack Wagner, host of OtherWorld, is what I’d describe as no-nonsense. He’s direct and to the point, asking questions that draw out the peculiar details that colour and shape the guests’ narrative. But he also knows when to take a step back, allowing his guests to take centre stage, leaving room for their stories to unfold fully in the space between them.

The one problem I have with this podcast as a whole is that, in some cases, the episodes take a little time before they get started; there’s no real hook at the beginning to draw you in, and you have to fast forward before getting to the story itself. However, this may be more of a commentary on how we experience media these days: everything is lightning quick to accommodate shortening attention spans.

Overall, OtherWorld is not only unsettling and exciting, but, in a strange way,

This, too, is part of the human experience: knowing there are things out there that we’ll never be able to explain.

Dania Maxwell (2023) Los Angeles Times

Dinwoodie

relatable. For who among us hasn’t seen something dart across the room from the corner of our vision or walked a little faster past an ominous, crumbling house, only to feel fingers on our spines as we go.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is the prequel that redeems Fury Road

Grime and glory beyond the boom-booms

MARIE-ANGE ROUTIER

I’ll be honest, my hopes for this film were not very high. I didn’t really plan on going, but felt like it had been a while since I’d written a review. With no time to read a book while I’m abroad in Taiwan, seeing a film was the only option that remotely piqued my interest.

Watching Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was more of a got-nothing-better-to-do kind of decision. I invited my friends to go, and most were uninterested. One said, “I don’t know why they even bother; it’s all the same story: explosions in the desert. Did you know that 10 per cent of material gets lost during the recycling process? It’s the same with these drawn-out franchises that never come up with anything new.”

As I sat in the theatre with only a small bucket of popcorn and a Coke to keep me company, I reflected on his words. His point landed during a trailer for another tornado movie, 90 per cent of which I’d definitely seen before. I prepared myself to be bored for the next two hours or so.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) was a long car chase with barely any plot, and you can’t even watch it as a stand alone, as Max is not explained in the slightest. We weren’t even given the decency of a few laughs with some humour in the script. Sure, I’ll watch anything with violence and a guy rocking out on a massive boom-daka-wagon — piercings and Frankenstein cars, I’m in. But I’m not going to say it’s great; I just like watching things go boom.

Furiosa was not that. While it has the Frankenstein trucks and its fair share of nipple piercings, that’s not where this film ends. Instead of the plotless hunt Fury Road gave, Furiosa was more of a sand pirate story, complete with maps, dune warfare, odd crews, a crazy pirate king,

violence, thievery, and revenge. It has no good guys — it’s dirty, grimy, and bloody, but it also gives you characters with depth, a stand-alone story, and humour.

The one hang-up is that you need to watch Fury Road to understand the ending of Furiosa. If you do, I recommend watching Furiosa right after. This prequel has done something I haven’t seen before: it redeemed its subpar sequel. As much as I didn’t like Fury Road past the boom-booms, watching it again after Furiosa gave it a plot line, made me care about the characters, and made me enjoy it a lot more.

I’d also like to give props to whoever made the decision for Anya Taylor-Joy to play Furiosa. Without spoiling anything, Furiosa’s eyes are one of the main focuses

of her character, and with eyes like Anya’s (and her ability to act through them) it was a perfect choice. As for Chris Hemsworth, if the credits didn’t have his name, I wouldn’t have recognized him. Granted, I’m bad with faces, but I’d like to think that his ability to tap into the character made him unrecognizable. His character, Dementus, quickly got my attention, and the interactions between him and Furiosa were… chef’s kiss.

I like to be right. It’s fun, fills my ego, and it makes me feel smart. But I love being wrong. I love being surprised. I love the unexpected. And you know what? I loved this film.

Warner Bros (2024)

Warner Bros (2024)

MAY BEENEY, ILLUSTRATOR The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

VERONICA

STAFF WRITER Forrest Gump (1994) From

WILSON AGYAPONG, DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Ip Man (2008)

KELLYN KAVANAGH, PRESIDENT, CJS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hereditary (2018)

Teenage

JEFFREY KENNETT, SPORTS EDITOR The Talented Mr. Ripley(1999)

MARIE-ANGE ROUTIER, BUSINESS MANAGER/ COUCH ORNAMENT Hogfather (2006) Death

CASSIE WILLIAMS, COPY EDITOR Baby Driver (2017)

SHERRYL AGINGU, PRODUCTION MANAGER Silent Night (2023)

CATHERINE CAMPBELL, MANAGING EDITOR Wicked Little Letters (2023)

KIARA