The Cascade, Volume 33, Issue 07

C A SCADE the

JULES CÔTÉ FOR NDP MP 6

CIVL’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY 17

THE CASCADE TAKES THE JUNOS 22

Hootin’ n’ hollerin’ since 1993

NEWS BRIEFS

INTERNATIONAL // BC //

Turkey fights for democracy B.C. “Axes the tax”

On Mar. 19, protestors took to the streets after the sudden arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu four days prior to his nomination for the next presidential election.

İmamoğlu was to be selected as the next presidential nominee for the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which is the largest opposition force to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The authorities deny taking part in the alleged corruption investigation of İmamoğlu.

The ongoing demonstrations go beyond his arrest. Citizens are protesting against censorship, authoritarian forces, and denial of freedom of expression and congregation. Over 2,000 protestors have been arrested so far. The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has already imposed sanctions and implemented media blackouts for those attempting to cover the situation.

While covering the protests, BBC journalist Mark Lowen was also held for 17 hours before being deported by Turkish authorities. He condemned these actions and emphasized the gravity of the situation.

“To be detained and deported from the country where I previously lived for five years and for which I have such affection has been extremely distressing. Press freedom and impartial reporting are fundamental to any democracy.”

SKY S. TERRONES

On Apr. 1, B.C.’s government said goodbye to its consumer carbon tax — that was first put in place in 2008 — to better align with the new federal government’s movement to remove the carbon tax across the country.

B.C. Premier David Eby gave his rationale for the removal of the carbon tax.

“People shouldn’t have to choose between climate action and being able to afford their bills.”

However, this legislation doesn’t go without criticism. Even though the Conservative Party has angled for the end of the tax, Peter Milobar, Member of Legislative Assembly for KamloopsNorth Thompson, has spoken out about the quick change of mind by Eby.

“(We) obviously have been calling for the repeal of carbon tax for quite some time, and in fact, it’s quite interesting to see the epiphany that the Premier (David Eby) has had over carbon tax.”

The Green Party of Canada representatives weren’t too happy either as this takes away a critical tool in the fight against climate change.

Politics aside, the average driver will now be seeing the effects at the pump across B.C. — according to Abby News, gas prices have already fallen by approximately 17 cents per litre.

Trump’s tariffs spark global trade tensions

On Apr. 2, President Donald Trump announced additional tariffs set to begin at midnight the same day, with 25 per cent tariffs on vehicles imported from other countries. Specific to Canada, any Canadian parts of imported cars made outside the U.S. will also be taxed.

Trump also imposed a 34 per cent tax on imports from China and a 20 per cent tax on goods from the European Union (EU). Trump has declared the current situation as a “national economic emergency” and claimed that foreign nations have been using the United States. He wants to restore justice by bringing fairness to international commerce and generating “hundreds of billions of dollars” for the U.S. government.

The EU has imposed retaliatory taxes worth 26 billion euros ($28 billion) on American goods, including bourbon. Trump threatened a 200 per cent duty on European alcoholic beverages in retaliation.

It’s suggested that Trump’s tariffs could cause substantial harm to the U.S. economy and spark a global recession that may cause consumers additional expenses. His announcement has led U.S. stock markets to plummet as an economic slowdown in the future is predicted.

AbbyPD combats impaired driving with new signs

A new public awareness campaign to deter impaired driving has hit the streets of Abbotsford.

The Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) partnered with ICBC and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to place bright, red signs in spots where drunk drivers have been caught.

This new campaign comes in response to an increase in impaired driving around the Fraser Valley. Officers have caught nearly 74 per cent more drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol compared to the same term in 2024. In addition to hoping to deter people driving under the influence, 911 is highlighted at the bottom of the signs as a motivation for people to report any acts of influenced driving they witness.

Tanis Bieber, local road safety and community coordinator explained the overall goal of these new signs.

“We’re pleased to contribute to this campaign which shares our goal of reducing impaired driving and the devastating impacts on communities … All impaired driving crashes are preventable, and it starts with planning a safe ride home — before you start drinking. Use a designated driver, call a taxi or rideshare, or take transit.”

Local // DWS advocate stands their ground

The City claims individual requested belongings be removed from encampment

JEFFREY KENNETT

Brett Van Bergen, Drug War Survivors (DWS) Coordinator and advocate at Abbotsford’s city hall encampment refuted the city’s claim that an individual requested their belongings be removed from the camp while hospitalized on Wednesday, March 26. Aletta Vanderheyden, Communications and Public Relations Manager of The City of Abbotsford and Van Bergen shared their concerns and insight with The Cascade.

Van Bergen said that two by-law officers threatened to have him detained by police on-site after not allowing the hospitalized individual’s belongings to be taken to the city’s operations yard. After further consultation, the police told Van Bergen they would come back at another time.

Vanderheyden explained that the city was following an unnamed individual’s request.

“On Wednesday morning the City’s by-law Officers were advised that an individual wanted his belongings removed and secured offsite as he was anxious about leaving them at the encampment while he was in hospital.”

Van Bergen called it peculiar that neither of the by-law officers communicated the individual’s request to have their belongings stored during their conversation earlier that morning.

“We talked for about 15 minutes that morning with me questioning, but no mention of this important piece of info. When I spoke to the [hospitalized] person, they were angered that by-law wanted to store their belongings and were quite adamant that they didn’t want them taken away.”

In compliance with the MatsquiAbbotsford Impact Society v. Abbotsford court ruling from October 2024, Section x, the city must:

“Avoid dismantling shelters when residents are absent, unless there is clear evidence of abandonment.”

If a site is dismantled or abandoned, individuals are prohibited from returning to the camp, which is the only designated camping area for people experiencing homelessness in Abbotsford. Fewer than 10 tents remain occupied after the yearlong encampment; Vanderheyden said

all individuals have “repeatedly” been offered shelter by BC Housing.

Vanderheyden explained that the city received new information later that day that ultimately led to the individual’s belongings not being taken to the by-law yard.

“Later that afternoon, by-law Services was advised that contrary to what was communicated earlier in the day, the individual would like his belongings to stay at the encampment. Because of this, the individual’s belongings remain at the site.”

Sergeant Paul Walker of the Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) confirmed that officers were on the scene that morning in a peacekeeping role, and that no one was detained or arrested.

Van Bergen recounts that the by-law officers were “clearly” not acting lawfully in their assessment of the situation. He suggested that had a compassionate police officer not been on site, the situation could have played out very differently.

The DWS coordinator claims that a police officer on site agreed with him that there were limited grounds to remove the individual’s belongings, but would ultimately need to follow the orders of by-law enforcement.

“If I wasn’t lucky, and we didn’t have a cop that was going to listen, this person would have lost their spot or camp, their things would have been taken, and I would have been detained. And we shouldn’t be relying on a single cop being in a good mood that day to make sure that the law is being followed.”

The City of Abbotsford stated they will work closely with BC Housing to meet the housing, health care, and harm reduction requirements to support the needs of individuals in the camp. Meanwhile the City has been granted approval from the court to move forward with an appeal of that same decision. They previously applied for an immediate pause of the court order but were turned down.

DWS continues to protest for the designation of legal camping space for Abbotsford’s unhoused.

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

ANNA MCCAUSLAND

GAURI SETHI

CASSIE WILLIAMS

UFV president awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal

RACHEL TAIT

University President Joanne MacLean has worked at UFV for 13 years, first as the Dean in the Faculty of Health Science before becoming the University President in 2018.

On Mar. 5, President MacLean was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her hard work on behalf of the university. She opened up to The Cascade about the honour, her role, the new president, and her upcoming retirement.

Dr. MacLean has been president for nearly eight years, and in that time she has enjoyed working at UFV.

“I have such respect for the people of the university and it has been an honour and a pleasure to have [had] this chance to lead with them. UFV is a very collaborative place, a very egalitarian place, and I really have enjoyed everything that we’ve done, in all of the opportunities there have been for me as a dean and then as the university’s president.”

MacLean said that receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal was a humbling experience and unexpected honour.

“I didn’t know I was being nominated for the award. I simply received notification that I had been nominated by a member of the community, that I was to receive the award … receiving something like that makes you think. I know I’m being honoured because I’ve done work across my career of 40 years. I’ve done work in a variety of different areas, but I look back on that and none of that work was done by myself. It was done in collaboration with others.”

During her tenure, MacLean has seen growth at the university; she recounted some of the most rewarding aspects of her job.

“I think the most rewarding part of it all

was that it was a group effort to come up with a new mission statement and to identify some values that UFV and the people of UFV really buy into … [It’s] where you bring together people who really care about the institution, care about our work, what we do, and how we go about doing it.”

MacLean said that there have been challenges for her as president, especially the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020.

“I’m proud of the fact that we did stay open. The university is a big employer and that remained a part of the economy of the valley in that everybody who worked at the university stayed working; nobody lost their jobs and I think we did as well as we could in a very challenging situation.”

When asked how UFV is faring with the recent cap on international students, MacLean explained that the university

Submitted by Christina Forcier

does not go beyond 25 per cent of international students — in comparison with other institutions who have considerably larger percent targets.

“I think UFV has been able to manage for a variety of reasons. One is that we didn’t ever really overextend ourselves in the percentage of international students that we have here on the campus.”

MacLean also explained that UFV is in a good position, thanks to careful planning and never having a deficit in the budget.

“We’ve been very careful and I credit our finance team, our budgeting office, [and] I credit everybody in the university for not spending money that we don’t have.”

MacLean is excited for Dr. James Mandigo as he steps into the role of president; she believes he is the right person for the job.

“I think he’s a tremendous choice as UFV’s next president. I’m super happy for him. I think that James has demonstrated his leadership ability … at the crux of it, I would say that James absolutely loves UFV. He really is super passionate about the work of the university, the people, and

Submitted by Christina Forcier

our students … He’s the right leader for the right time and that’s critically important. I’m thrilled about it.”

Regarding her upcoming retirement, MacLean said that this was a decision that was not taken lightly. Variables like her health scare back in 2023 and her long career in education played a part in it.

“I believe that the leadership of the university is not meant to be for your whole career. I think being a president for seven or eight years and then handing it over to new leadership, new energy; someone with new ideas, [and] a new perspective — that’s the right thing to do.” Her advice for students is to not shy away from opportunities when they present themselves.

“Say yes to things, open up doors, and walk through them. Don’t be afraid to do that. Know that you’re going to fail at things and it’s okay. You won’t be successful in everything you do … We’re all going to have times when we don’t achieve what we hope to do and [we] just [need to] find ways to learn from it.”

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Canada // Spotlight on the upcoming federal elections

The time to exercise the right to vote is now around the corner

SKY S. TERRONES

Dr. Noah Schwartz is an assistant professor in the Political Science department at UFV.

On Mar. 23, Prime Minister Mark Carney called Governor General Mary Simon for the dissolution of the Parliament, effectively triggering the snap federal election for Apr. 28. The Cascade interviewed Dr. Noah Schwartz to gain insight into the upcoming election.

Last year, the polls favoured the conservative vote. Schwartz commented that people are getting tired of political leaders, mentioning Justin Trudeau’s long-standing term as prime minister and how the disappointing delivery of his promises created a negative response toward the Liberal Party.

“Being prime minister, you have to make difficult decisions, and those decisions are going to anger people … Trudeau started off with this promise of so-called sunny ways and doing things differently and, maybe [he] didn’t fully live up to that reputation. Then scandals came along, and that further tarnished his image. So, the shine had very much worn off, and I think Canadians were ready for a change.”

According to Schwartz, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre responded successfully as the opposing party should, capitalizing on the current government’s flaws and calling them out.

“He was doing exactly what the official opposition should do, which is exploiting, pushing the government on its weaknesses, and pushing them to deal with stuff that they don’t want to deal with.”

However, upon Trudeau’s resignation and Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs and annexing Canada as the 51st state, the polls have been a rollercoaster. The current situation poses changes to the ballot question — one which often reflects the most critical question voters need to consider.

“Trump changes what political scientists call the ballot question — ‘What’s the most important issue on the mind of voters?’ Before this, it was affordability … Now, the big question is, ‘Is Canada going to exist?’ So, people are thinking, ‘Who do I want standing up to Trump? Who do I want in that negotiating room?’ And this is where a lot of Poilievre’s strengths then become his weaknesses.”

Until recently, Schwartz couldn’t have imagined the rapidly changing election. Carney’s centrist views and notable CV appeal reassure the masses. In contrast, Poilievre’s lack of work credits and potential ties to Trump make Canadians second-guess their support for the Conservative Party.

Schwartz referenced the Mar. 8 radio interview with Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith, on Breitbart News, where she suggested the U.S. stop the rhetoric of the 51st state and tariffs as this was bound to hurt Poilievre, who was a better

candidate to work with Trump. This is something that created more questions that made followers reconsider.

“They may have supported him before because he was the resistance against Justin Trudeau, but now that Trudeau is gone, and Mr. Trump is in, the chess board has completely turned around.”

When asked how serious this threat of the 51st state needs to be taken, Schwartz emphasized how crucial it is to address the gravity of the situation.

“The United States spends more money on its military than any other country in the world … This is a militarily and economically powerful country, so when the leader of that country is making comments that undermine Canada’s sovereignty, we absolutely have to take it seriously.”

Schwartz referred to this election as the most historic of his life and recognized the high stakes riding on it. He encouraged students to make their voices

heard, reminding them that it’s easier for politicians to disregard the necessities of a group if they deem their vote unreliable.

“Whoever you vote for, please make sure to go out and vote. It’s so important that students and young people vote because politicians listen to the people that vote. If there’s a group of people that don’t vote, politicians know that they can ignore them, and historically, that’s been young people.”

The voter registration deadline is Apr. 22; you can find information on the Elections Canada website. Schwartz recommended scheduling on Google Calendar, setting reminders, and even booking off work if necessary because this will shape what lies ahead for the country.

“Get to the ballot box because this is your future that is hanging in the balance.”

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity

Eric0892, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Opinion Editor - Natalia Toscano Murua

Column //

The Environmentalist: lessons from wolves, beavers, and the balance of nature

The fall of a single species could spell disaster for dozens of others

SNAPSHOT

Tips from a first-time raver

When you think of raves, what comes to mind? Neon bikinis? Psychedelics? Lasers synced to loud music? Listen, I’m not here to tell you that you’re wrong, but there’s definitely more to it than just people in colourful outfits getting high. In fact, some sober ravers party just as hard, if not harder. I recently went to my first rave, and while I’ve been to concerts and nightclubs, this was unlike anything I’d experienced before.

The environment was super welcoming and there was a big emphasis on taking care of yourself and others. Strangers practiced a handshake for peace, love, unity, and respect (or PLUR) with fellow ravers and finished it off by exchanging colourful jewelry known as kandi. Plus, since dancing for hours gets you pretty sweaty, some beloved ravers waved their fans at the crowd to cool them off. People also walked around the venue handing out little plastic trinkets — I myself scored a red mushroom and a miniature Quagsire Pokémon. All in all, ravers are in no short supply of generosity and kindness.

Thinking of giving it a go? First of all, be safe and don’t take drugs from strangers. Secondly, practice PLUR and have fun!

BY CAITLYN CARR

Welcome to The Environmentalist, your column for understanding the natural world. Today we will be exploring the importance of biodiversity.

With more than 777 species having gone extinct since 1500, experts are calling this phenomenon Earth’s sixth mass extinction event. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, at least 47,000 species are facing the possibility of going extinct. The loss of this many species is highly concerning, but it might be an even bigger problem than it seems.

First, we need to understand keystone species: these are species that have a huge impact on their ecosystems, even more than any other organisms. The biodiversity of their specific habitats may crumble without them, since they play unique and irreplaceable roles in their respective ecosystems that directly affect its balance. The addition or removal of keystone species may result in a trophic cascade, which includes changes in populations, habitat structure, and nutrient cycling.

FABIOLA CRUZ ALDERETE

Keystone species fulfill one of three main roles: predators, ecosystem engineers, and mutualists. Predators keep prey species in check, such as how gray wolves prey on elk and hence control their population. Ecosystem engineers provide shelter and food sources for other species — a great example of this type are beavers building dams. Mutualists are two species that interact with each other and both gain benefits, such as how bees help pollinate plants.

After that terminology-heavy section, we can move on to some cool examples. One of the most remarkable keystone species are the wolves of Yellowstone National Park. In 1995, scientists introduced gray wolves back into the area after being extinct for about a 100 years, and what occurred in the following period was remarkable. The wolves, as the main predators of elk, changed the elk’s behaviour by making them move more often and avoid open valleys where they could be ambushed. With the wolves gone, the number of elk rose and they

began overgrazing, resulting in vegetation rebounding, which in turn brought in a number of herbivorous animals, including beavers. Their dams created wetlands that supported reproduction of fish, insects, and amphibians — this brought in birds. Further, the remains of prey the wolves hunted provided food for scavengers such as ravens, eagles, and even bears. The most amazing thing is that rivers changed because of the wolves; by allowing for vegetation to develop, riverbanks were stabilized, reducing erosion. The loss of keystone species not only impacts other species in the ecosystem, but the landscape they inhabit as well.

Learning more about the role of endangered species is important to understand the impact their loss can have on an ecosystem. It is crucial to act while there is still time for change, and the first step toward making change is learning about the topic, and what you can do to help. As The Lorax once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.” So, let’s care.

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

Illustration by May Beeney / The Cascade

Community//

Why you should consider donating blood

Relax with free snacks while also saving lives

CAITLYN CARR

Johanna Aguirre is a business development manager for Canadian Blood Services at the Abbotsford Plasma Donation Centre.

If you’ve ever wondered about the process of donating blood, plasma, or stem cells, look no further. To prove why you should consider being a donor, The Cascade sat down with Johanna Aguirre, a business development manager for Canadian Blood Services. To keep up with the demand for whole blood and plasma, Aguirre explained that the non-profit requires 100,000 new donors every year.

“It is quite a large number too, because that’s not recurring donors. It’s new donors that we need, and that is just to make sure that we have a very solid donor base.”

There are a lot of reasons why people should consider donating. It’s important to make sure that there’s enough life-saving donations to go around, and speaking from experience, donating can also be emotionally fulfilling. As for Aguirre, she believes that people should keep both themselves and their loved ones in mind.

“You never know when you’re going to be needing any of those products, or [if] a person that you love will be needing them.”

A common question is, why do British

Columbia residents not get paid to donate?

Aguirre explained that the non-profit is simply not able to pay donors and instead relies on the giving nature of others.

“This is based on the heart and generosity of people, and that’s how we engage people.”

While every blood type is welcome, there’s one blood type in particular that’s in especially high demand. People with O-negative blood are known as “universal donors” since their blood can be given to anyone, regardless of blood type. If someone needs an immediate blood transfusion, there might not be time to identify their specific blood type, in which case they can receive O-negative blood.

Did you know you can also donate plasma? For readers who aren’t familiar with the term, Aguirre provided an analogy.

“Think about it like a chicken noodle soup. The chicken being the red blood cells, the noodles being the white blood cells. The plasma is the broth.”

Plasma is a high protein element that accounts for 55 per cent of your whole blood and helps with circulation. The Abbotsford donation centre uses their collected plasma to make medications called plasma protein products.

“What ends up being used goes to patients with cancer, immune deficiencies, neurological disorders, organ transplants,

[and] kidney failures.”

People donating whole blood must wait roughly two to three months before donating again, but since plasma is mostly water, plasma donors can return every week.

As for the collection process, Aguirre said that the centre collects your whole blood, separates the plasma, and then returns every other component of your whole blood back to you. Since the process requires more steps than donating whole blood, it takes longer.

Whole blood donors typically bleed for about 10 minutes and spend roughly 60 minutes total at their donation centre. However, the collection process for plasma can take up to 40 minutes, so donors usually spend about 90 minutes at the centre. On the upside, the Abbotsford plasma centre comes with comfortable beds, TVs, and snacks from local businesses.

“It becomes more like downtime for you to relax … We want to make sure that they feel that this is a space where they [can] invite their friends, families, and colleagues.”

According to Aguirre, the need for local plasma donors is rising given the political tension between the United States and Canada.

“A lot of the medication that we are not yet able to make within Canada, we buy [from] international markets, mostly the U.S. So when you think about the political climate … we need more local support.

Aguirre claimed that while there is an urgent need for plasma, whole blood and stem cell donations are still vital. When it comes to stem cell donations, Aguirre claimed that it’s crucial to have a variety of donors.

“Canada is becoming very diversified, and when we’re looking for a perfect match in stem cells, it most likely will be somebody from the same background.”

Interested? Go to blood.ca to get mailed a cheek swab test to see if you’re eligible to donate stem cells. Curious to see if you can donate blood or plasma? Check out Canadian Blood Services’ eligibility tests or feel free to call 1-888-2 DONATE for more information regarding eligibility.

If you are eligible, visit blood.ca to book an appointment. If not, don’t worry, you can make a huge difference by encouraging family and friends to consider donating.

“That peer to peer conversation or invitation, it lands stronger.”

SNAPSHOT

Once upon a corn nut spiral

I was sitting in The Cascade office, as I do every day, attempting to work… when it hit me. The overwhelming urge to crack a tooth on a snack. In other words, I wanted some Corn Nuts. Specifically the ranch flavoured ones; and so my journey began… Cue the montage music.

First, I headed down to the Student Union Building vending machine where I knew they kept these bad boys stocked. To my disappointment, BBQ was the only flavour available — though I could see those little ranch jewels hiding in the background. So began my trek across campus to find what my heart had latched onto. With great dismay, I returned to the office, having scoured each building’s vending machines, with not a kernel to my name. Sweaty and discouraged, I plopped in my chair, utterly defeated. But my hunt did not end there. A gas station trip and grocery store run later, and there they were… gleaming at me in the Save-OnFoods bulk aisle.

I write this to you as I pop my jaw on my scavenged snacks. Thus adjourns the great corn nut quest of 2025; and they all lived crunchily ever after.

BY CASSIE WILLIAMS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

I was flipping through channels one day, just to see what was still on TV, when I stumbled on a NASCAR race. Now, I am a diehard Formula One fan and am slowly getting into IndyCar, so I thought “meh, I’ll give it a shot.” How much different can NASCAR really be? I’ve seen almost all of the Cars (2006-2017) movies. But the thing is, NASCAR in reality is a whole other ball game.

The amount of cars they have on track at once is crazy. They go four to five wide around corners, which if you know Formula One, that’s a rarity — but for NASCAR it seems to be at every turn. They get insanely close to each other to the point of touching and not spinning out, which is miraculous. Also, why are there stages? Three stages so three winners? It doesn’t make sense. The pit stops are so slow when you have only four people working in them and adding fuel. It feels like there’s no strategy and everything is just pure mayhem.

Now all this to say: I think I’ll stick to my structured Formula One rather than brave the chaos of NASCAR.

BY ANNA MCCAUSLAND

Jobs // Looking for a career? Consider the underrated

A list of underrated vs. overrated jobs and why they are so

VERONICA POWELL

I’m sure we all know about the jobs out there that can give us financial, physical, and even emotional success. Law, military, firefighting, teaching, or music — the list is endless. But the value of those jobs tend to dominate and disvalue many others that could be just as fulfilling and lead you to just as much success.

The subjectivity of job industries diminish the spotlight underrated jobs deserve, while the overrated continue to bask in the popularity. A job could be underrated because it isn’t glamorous, doesn’t earn six-figures, or won’t give you critical acclaim, but they are more necessary than we might realize and take just as much time and effort to become the best at. They need more devotees to give them proper recognition, and so I’ve sleuthed them out from the shadows of the overrated to start a trail of appreciation.

In analyzing the job spectrum, I consider two of the biggest underrated jobs to be data analyst and accountant. A data analyst collects, cleans, and examines data to solve problems or answer questions. They can also work in a multitude of industries such as business, science, and medicine. An accountant analyzes financial records and tracks a company’s income and expenses among other things depending on the type of accounting.

On the outside, these nine-to-five desk jobs can be seen as careers that require great attention to detail and math skills and don’t sound entertaining or stressfree. But the people who take on this work are the reason we get paid and the reason why we have internet searches that help us find the best results through language and images. These qualities may not be dire in the big picture, but they are necessary for our day-to-day lives, especially in a world of rapidly evolving technology which we become more and more reliant on.

On the opposite spectrum, a real estate agent is thought to gain big money and represent million-dollar homes. An architect could expect to receive big projects and make bank with their own unmodified designs, but ultimately it’s what the customer wants, not the designer. One could say the exterior is prettier than the interior. Real estate agents are also responsible for being knowledgeable about budgeting, building codes, and by-laws. If an agent doesn’t know how to talk to a client, they’ll know about it when the customer buys the property through a different agency, so the pressure

is real. Architects ride in a similar boat, as they might have their original designs subjected to adaptation and harsh scrutiny to fit the likes of customers or contractors. The outside image of someone’s home is important — everyone wants to feel good about where they live. With an architecture business, the design can contribute to how they make business, so the pressure is on for them too.

Underrated jobs’ biggest sub-category is the underappreciated, and I believe nursing falls into that category based on what I’ve observed from Fraser Valley medical institutions. The value of a nurse is high; they help to prevent diseases, care for ones with illnesses, and offer their expertise on how to improve and maintain our health. But it’s incredibly exhausting and takes a mental and physical toll on them. Nursing is a career largely dominated by women, and they’re seeing more job inequality than they should. Staff shortages result in a demanding queue of patients, but salaries don’t increase as often as they should, male nurses appear to be paid more for the same job, and working hours continue to extend.

On the other hand, a physician might get

put on a pedestal when compared to a nurse because of their line of work, which to me makes physicians overrated. Becoming a physician is a rigorous process; personally it feels like they get more visibility as leaders with more responsibility that not only comes with more money, but more authority and respect. The perceptions of these two jobs can be different despite both being important and necessary to society and humankind. Plus, if you’re a nurse or a doctor, you’re probably there because you want to help people and that is of the utmost value, yet one might be looked upon more highly than the other. All these jobs lead me to one conclusion; if you don’t know what you want to do with your life, try looking into jobs that aren’t a hot topic of discussion. It’s not just about providing recognition and appreciation for that field, but pursuing an underrated job can lead to unique knowledge, growth, opportunity, and possible value to your own life you never thought possible. Sure, an overrated job can do this too, but at least you might be less disappointed or dissatisfied because you went into a “cool job” that might not end up fulfilling you.

NASCAR is the wild west of motor sport SNAPSHOT

Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade

Advice // Breaking free from FOMO: make confident choices without regret

Understanding and finding your way through

HARPREET SINGH

Have you ever experienced mental stress when faced with multiple choices? One of these options could be hanging out with friends and the other might be staying home and studying for a test. This is what is known as FOMO, which is an abbreviation for “Fear of Missing Out.” In modern times, it has become more prevalent as a pervasive emotional experience rather than just a term.

In the age of technology, FOMO has become prevalent in students, with social media playing an important role in it. We are exposed to what is happening in the lives of others, which is specifically curated to match one’s interests through a platform’s algorithm. I am of the opinion that this makes people think less of themselves and simultaneously get these thoughts of missing out on the good things in life. For students, they might feel the fear of missing out on social events happening in a university environment because of academics or work. University students — especially freshmen — often go through this dilemma of choosing between social events or their studies. There is also a link between low self-esteem and FOMO among learners. Students with low self-esteem often look

UFV//

FOMO

for validation by attending social events that everybody they know is attending. As a result of seeking validation, there is a subconscious spike of anxiety for missing out on such events. Thereby, there is a strong psychological link between low self-esteem and increased vulnerability to FOMO.

Now the question of the hour is: have I ever struggled with FOMO? Yes, I experienced FOMO in my initial semesters when I felt the need to interact with fellow students. I bought tickets for several events, but was unable to be a part of them as I had to attend lectures or work. But with time, I overcame these desires as I started prioritizing tasks. I started feeling joy from the tasks I chose rather than

getting gloomy for things I couldn’t do. With both research and personal insight in mind, here are my recommendations on ways to manage and reduce the ongoing feelings of regret and disconnection caused by FOMO:

1. Embracing self-love: Socrates used to say “know thyself.” It indicates that one should know one’s beliefs and morals. Having confidence in one’s values and goals helps nullify the need for external validations.

2. Limiting exposure to social media: Stop comparing your life with the unrealistic snapshots of others’ lives online – after all, as Theodore Roosevelt wisely put it, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

New cafeteria expectations

NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA

It’s strange to think that I’m familiar with a version of the UFV Abbotsford campus that is transitory — a version of it that is not as it was before, nor as it will be in the future. This is because it’s in the process of transforming: more student housing is being constructed and the cafeteria is being renovated and expanded. To me, the sight of orange mesh separating the construction area, huge wooden structures poking out of plastic curtains, and heavy machinery is normal, because that is the only way I’ve experienced the campus so far. I often wonder what the cafeteria will be like, and the prospect of returning in fall 2025 to see it completed has me dreaming up all kinds of possibilities. Since the final version of the new cafeteria is yet to be revealed, I figured

there is no harm in engaging in wishful thinking. Here are my personal expectations for the renovated cafeteria.

The main thing I would love to see is comfortable seating near large windows. I am a big sucker for panoramic views, couple that with a cup of coffee, snacks of your choice, and an ideal spot to sit and do your homework? It already sounds perfect to me. One of the immersive architectural 3D renderings shows a space on the second level that looks like a promising space to sit and enjoy the view; the only thing that remains is to see what kind of seating will be available once it’s ready. In my opinion, something the current cafeteria lounge space lacks is sufficient power outlets, so that’s something I would be thankful to see addressed. Perhaps having power outlets in the floor near seating areas, or in strategic places in the walls

could draw in more students to stay in the cafeteria and help the place feel lively. Moving on to dining options, I expect Triple O’s to get its own spot in the cafeteria. Since my first day of class, the food truck parked outside S Building struck me as a temporary fix — it seemed like a vestige of what once used to have its own space. This was only my first impression, and even if that is not exactly the case, I still think it would be a game changer if Triple O’s got its own spot within the new cafeteria. No more waiting outside for a crispy cod burger on a cold, rainy day. Plus, having more food options near each other, specifically within a cafeteria, would be a good move in my opinion. That way, if you are feeling indecisive on what you desire for a meal, you don’t have to walk from one place to another to get to where you want to order from.

3. Opposite of FOMO: JOMO The “Joy of Missing Out” is about embracing the decision you made and living in the present moment. Ultimately, you will find yourself at peace as you understand that you can’t be everywhere and do everything.

4. Cultivate real-world relations: Establishing connections in the real world is something I consider far more beneficial than satisfying people on the internet. This helps by decreasing the desire for seeking social validation online.

FOMO is linked to low self-esteem, overuse of social media, and lack of self-realization. It all depends on perspective, and having awareness can assist us in choosing presence rather than comparison. So, next time you find yourself stuck in an identical situation ask yourself: is it truly meaningful to me? Remember, FOMO begins within us, and it ends when we have peace of mind within ourselves. It ends when we realize we are enough and worthy of love. This understanding marks an end to all of FOMO’s related dilemmas and provides us with a clear pathway to what is truly worth choosing.

Lastly, I hope the renovation of the cafeteria brings with it new dining options. So far, having a Tim Hortons on campus, as well as a Triple O’s and Fair Grounds is great, but imagine how much greater it would be if we were surprised with a newcomer! Personally, I think that either Mr. Sub or Freshii are great picks, as their menus would offer more variety for students looking to try something different and healthy. There is no telling what could happen in the future, so with some luck, we might get to see this happen one day. For now, I will hold my breath in excitement to see what the new area will be like — I can’t wait to experience the unravelling of the newest, coolest, and freshest addition to our campus!

Illustration by May Beeney / The Cascade

Imagining what the renovated cafeteria could potentially offer once completed

Editor — Darien Johnsen

TALES OF A SPRIN G SOUL CLEANING

Self-care words of wisdom from the Cascade editorial team

It’s the end of the semester, and finals are looming above us like the anvil over Wile E. Coyote’s head. Academic papers and InDesign files litter my desktop. I have so many tabs open on my browser I can’t see the preview for any of them. Yes, they’re all important, yes I will get back to them. I’ve begun moving at hyper speed, jumping from one task to another; is it possible to finish my assigned reading and at the same time complete my final project for graphic design without my mind exploding? I’m determined that it will be so even though my brain is glitching more frequently than a 2007 Windows Vista operating system — maybe now’s a good time to close those tabs…

morning sun even as I sit in class under the migraine-inducing fluorescent lights. Good god, it’s the end of the semester! If I can just wade through the sea of final projects I could touch it. Just a few more notes to take, another paper to write, and if InDesign doesn’t crash again, a final beautiful touch on that GDD 101 assignment.

Darien Johnsen, Features Editor

But wait! There, in the distance! Do you see it? It’s cresting over the horizon, smiling like a Teletubbies sunrise. I can smell sweet dew drops glistening on the grass in the spring

As the metaphorical greats say, it’s not bed rotting — it’s marinating. After a long stressful period in my life, I like to spend at least three to four days in bed doing as little thinking as possible to maximize my flavour potential. In order to tenderize my marinating body (and avoid crushing guilt), I make sure to take a 40 minute to one hour walk once a day.

Catherine Campbell, Managing Editor

Good food is essential; and by good I mean lots of protein and veggies, but also two different bags of chips (so I can switch it up), spicy wasabi peas, diet coke on diet coke, and chocolate always at the ready. Having sweet treats and delicious foods around are key to mental well-being at any time of year, but especially during my recovery times. Chocolate and diet coke are like little hugs for the soul; it’s verified folk science, ask anyone.

Alongside my strict marination schedule, I also like to spend time and energy doing things I don’t have the capacity for

I am the kind of person who needs a lot of time alone, especially during busy periods of life. And so when I start to feel like I’m about to sell all my belongings and move north, my go-to is to turn off my phone and lie on the floor — preferably with a cat nearby. Once I feel human again, I peel myself off the linoleum and make a cup of tea.

Blessed readers! We see you wading through the trenches of the semester, desperate for freedom. Take heart! The Cascade is here to hold your hand and gently guide you through the flames, so we can emerge like precious Jesus phoenixes after the semester closes its final tab. Our editors have gathered ‘round the fire to tell tales of a spring soul cleaning; we’ve assigned our best scribes to record these words of wisdom, and bless your eyes. Read on, babies.

during the semester, like reading books I actually like and creating art without having to hand it in and have it critiqued. Plus, now that I have the time to watch television all day, I can fit in my trashy reality shows and cinematic masterpieces (it’s about balance, baby). Checking off my Letterboxd watchlist is essential to my self-esteem (because I’m not just some philistine).

When this period of rejuvenation has ended and my will to live is restored, I pack my bags and head to one of the many surrounding beautiful islands. I like to hit up Victoria for a few days, and at least one Gulf Island for a camping trip (I’m not naming names because that’s my island, thank you very much). There’s something about being on an island and near the sea that is extremely healing for my soul. I become myself there, I feel awakened, refreshed, and once again full of life that the next semester will certainly drain out of me soon enough.

What I do next depends on the weather, where my heart is at, and how many hours of daylight are left. If it’s a Saturday morning and I won’t be swimming through the rain, you can bet your bottom I’m driving to the middle of nowhere to get lost in the woods, searching for owls and weird moss. If it’s 7 p.m. on a Tuesday evening, or I don’t feel like getting my

bones wet, I’ll get lost in a good book, coccooned in quilts my grandma made me.

And, because of who I am, at some point I’ll do some actual cleaning. I started working in coffee shops as a teenager, and I found that the ever-present anxiety that loomed over my shoulder was often quelled by scrubbing a cupboard door clean or re-organizing the tea shelf. Years later, this translates to my own space: when I start to feel the tasks build up and my free time get squishy, I storm the closet to

Rachel Tait, News

Editor

Cassie Williams, Copy Editor

When I prepare for exams, eating and drinking enough throughout the day is important for me because I get that energy boost I need. I can retain information more effectively, and I am more focused on learning the material. Having little health snacks like granola bars in-between meals and drinking lots of water are good self-care tips I follow each semester.

I believe that getting enough sleep is also important. However, it is not always possible when you are a student. Part of my self-care routine is sleeping in on days when I can, and going to bed earlier at night on a regular basis. I find that having a good night’s sleep before an exam helps me

When the end of the semester hits I, like the mighty phoenix, do not rise for many days, succumbing to the ashes (my couch). I instead opt for a slow descent into madness, becoming buried under the cinders that are my blankets. Before I can start catching up on my “fun to-do” list — aka the one not filled with more tasks than hours in the day — I rejuvenate in front of a television until my eyes are strained and my mind is emptied of any meaningful thought. Then I’m born again and on comes the plethora of unattended tasks I’ve deferred throughout the year. Primarily two of my favourite things: writing and reading. Although I am an English major, I find my “read” list on my phone at an all time low during the school year — she’s currently sitting at three from the winter semester, and yes two of those were class assigned. With the first sign of the sun comes that call to sit outside, or in a cafe by a window, and bask in cathartic pages of literature as I sip a $7 iced americano.

colour-coordinate my shirts or get down on the kitchen floor and put Cinderella to shame (the scene of her cleaning the hall floor, with the rainbow-hued bubbles, lives rent free in my mind).

Above all else, I do not turn my phone on. There is no amount of money someone can pay me to do so — not when I need to recharge; not when there are finals to write. The world will have to wait.

score better on a test. Once exams are over, I enjoy catching up on sleep; taking short 20 minute naps doesn’t affect my sleeping schedule at night.

Lastly, I find that doing fun activities after an exam is beneficial for my well-being, such as spending more time going on long walks or hanging out with friends. They are simple yet enjoyable to do. Walking in nature is peaceful and can also help build stamina. As a student, I tend to sit more than I should and walking is an exercise that is easy on the body as well as relaxing. I think it’s important to do things we really enjoy and anticipate doing. Often, we forget that it’s the little things we do for ourselves that make all the difference.

I revel in the joy that comes from being able to focus on my passion projects, or just being able to say yes without thinking when someone proposes a night out. Nothing but blue skies and an ember of hope after eight months of deadlines and stress. With these aforementioned blue skies comes a desperation to reconnect with nature after an extended period of nothing but blue “light.” I went on my first hike of the year last weekend and let me tell you, I need to do more.

Back to the phoenix, I think of it as my creativity and inspiration; a silent bird hovering in the sky for all eternity, but fleeting. It disappears and emerges time and again, never announcing its revival, ever the enigma. But with that first schoolwork-free day, I can be sure it will appear again, calling for me to write or produce something other than a graded assignment.

Photo by George Milton / Pexels

Anna McCausland, Arts in Review Editor

Sky S. Terrones, Jr. News Editor

The amount of notifications on my phone that I get throughout the semester is astounding — friends wanting to hangout, assignment reminders, and emails, emails, emails. My phone is tired. I say this not to try to say that I’m popular — cause I’m not — but to reveal my deepest fear: notifications. I’ve gotten to a point where if my phone isn’t in my back pocket, I can still feel it pinging. Phantom vibrations are no joke. I’ve tried screen limiting, do not disturb, even putting my phone in another room, but each time I still crawl back to it at first vibration.

The one thing that’s worked: turning it all the way off. It takes about 10 seconds for my phone to go from being a

There is indeed a light rising on the horizon. To me, that light is permission... permission to forgo crash position, finally let my body allow itself to collapse, and initiate the first stage of rebirth: (temporary) demise.

For three days to a week, my body collapses in order to heal and reboot itself after the raging war that had been balancing the end of the semester with work and life. However, the tricky part is how to successfully achieve a comeback instead of letting yourself go into oblivion.

hub of connectivity to a brick. The 30 seconds for it to boot back up is the perfect deterrent. No more pickups, no more quick checks, and no more notifications. Three months ago I would’ve scoffed at someone who recommended this to me. But now, the freeing feeling of knowing you can’t be contacted is beautiful. It gives my mind time to slow down and recover. There’s no more anxiety about missing something, because — let’s be honest — nothing is really that important that it can’t wait until tomorrow. So once this semester ends, the due dates are fulfilled, and the late night study sessions are over, I’ll be turning my phone all the way off to give my mind the TLC it needs.

Second, exercise. This is a privilege recommendation; of course, not everyone can move their body in a way that helps decompress. If you do have that privilege, then use it. I especially recommend activities close to natural elements — go on a hike, go to the beach, or even a loonie swim at a public pool, walk around until you find a cute dog and ask permission to pet it. These activities release endorphins, and if you can do them, then do so.

Natalia Toscano Murua, Opinion Editor

First, have a balanced schedule. Yeah, many tell you to do this, but no one actually does it. I promise it helps; having a realistic, reasonable plan makes a difference. Even if you are among those lucky ones who have nothing pressing to do and are just planning to have fun — have a loose schedule for that. It’s easy to break your previous carefully constructed itinerary, and having one now is not inherently bad. It can help you to reduce the stress of feeling like you’re wasting your time when you’re unsure of what to do with your day.

I am a person who tends to keep private about the machinations of my mind — it is capable of producing countless thoughts, just like an ocean produces waves. Over many years, I’ve learnt to gaze at an ocean of perplexities and concerns of my own creation without allowing myself to drown in it. Yet, when the tide swells too much for me to contain, I get washed away by a tsunami of torment. The end of the semester can be a tumultuous time, and for me, the tide tends to rise when nearing the end of it. It so happens that a tsunami hit but a few days ago as of writing this, and I am still in the process of floating back to the surface for oxygen. Yet amidst the chaos, I know I will be okay. I know what to do.

At times like these, I redirect all available energy to myself. I treat myself to some tea or coffee, to comfort food when I can, and give myself time to do whatever feels best at the moment. Everyone has different methods of coping, and for me, I find that a good cry is almost always the best cure. The body knows how to cry for a reason; it is there to help you release tension, it is there to tell you that an emotion is

Last but not least, hang out with your friends and family. Don’t get me wrong, as an introvert myself, I will happily stay in my cave with zero connection to the outside world. I’m not saying do this all the time, but it’s refreshing (from time to time) to have a social interaction that roots us to “reality.”

Spring break is not entirely a break when you have work (if that’s the case), but if you don’t at least take a mental break (time to yourself, good night’s sleep, great score to accompany your solo dancing), I assure you, collapsing won’t be exclusive to the end of the semester.

overflowing, it is your body’s way of telling you to take a moment for yourself. Whenever I feel excessively overwhelmed, I turn off the lights in my room, lay down with my earphones ready, listen to the music my soul gravitates toward, and then I cry. Its healing power is so comforting to me that sometimes I even acknowledge all I want is a good cry.

Crying can be a very vulnerable moment, and that is why I often give myself time alone to do so. Still, if I really need it, I will look for company and comfort, because I know everybody has cried at least once in their life, and that it’s a human thing to do. As odd as it may sound, if there is one thing I would like you to know, it’s that crying is okay. I feel like it is stigmatized and perceived as mostly negative, but to me, it is a symbol of relief and rebirth. If your body signals you to let it out, then allow it to do so. The end of the semester can be a challenging time, so it’s important to listen to your heart and mind. Grant yourself comfort and compassion, feel fearlessly, and let yourself flow with every tear.

Cascade Q&A: Takeshi Croke

Meet Takeshi Croke, the graduating 6’2” guard of the UFV Cascades men’s basketball team that lives, eats, and breathes all things sports. “Tesh” played three years for the Camosun Chargers, where he earned PacWest First Team All-Star status and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian honours before bringing the heat to UFV in his final two years. Off the court, you can find him training for a 10K, getting called “Unc” by the athletes he coaches, or mowing down food with friends (including, but not limited to, double-stuffed oreos minus any milk to dip them in).

How did you get started in basketball?

My soccer buddy started a basketball team in Grade 5 and that’s initially what got me into [it] ... My parents focused on me trying every single sport so when I was growing up, I did baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, track … [Soccer] was my favourite sport all the way up until Grade 11/12.

Why did you pursue basketball over soccer?

I got a good opportunity with Camosun [College] … I always figured I could go back to playing soccer … My parents told me ‘do what you please,’ … Soccer helped me a ton with basketball, basketball helped me a ton with soccer; it gives you the ability to think [how] the game works and [with] your footwork.

What is your favourite part about the sport? The IQ … different strategies and little nuances of knowing how the opposition plays and knowing how your

teammates play … Another one is the pace of basketball, I like how fast up and down it is. Soccer is fast paced too, but there’s also a lot of slow, low moments in the game. But basketball is quite constantly fast-paced, which I do really enjoy.

What have you learned from your coaches as a player that you take with you when you coach younger kids?

Teaching core principles, whether that is work ethic or being a team leader or whatever it is I think Joe [Enevoldson], Grant [Campbell], Noah [Nickel], Sly [Sylvester Appiah], Matt [Guynup], all those guys really preach core principles and it is something I think about a lot and something I try and pass on … We always talk about [that], at the university level, it shouldn’t be a skill for someone to work hard, that’s the bare minimum right?

Speed round! Would you rather fight one bearsized duck or ten duck-sized bears?

I would probably go with one bear-sized duck because apart from the beak, [there’s] nothing else [to worry about] really.

Sunrises or sunsets?

Sunsets, I don’t like waking up early.

What does it mean for you to be a Cascade?

Being bought in for the overall success of the group and wanting each of your teammates to strive and succeed, I think that would be the one pinnacle thing that comes up in my head.

Would you rather have one slug chase you for the rest of your life or suffer through one month of 100,000 slugs chasing you? Importantly, if the slug touches you, you turn into a slug for the rest of your life.

One month of 100,000 slugs … if I lock in for one month, it can’t be as bad as every single day for the rest of my life thinking about this one slug.

If you could teleport, where would you go first? I’d probably go to Japan … get a big bowl of ramen, that’s like my go-to, and it’s so good over there.

What is your pre- and post-game ritual?

[Pre-game] I usually always nap for sure … I do my own stretching, get myself ready, but not a ton of superstitious stuff … I don’t want to put headphones in because then I feel like no one can talk to me … [Post-game,] especially when my parents were here, we would go to Browns. I get the same thing every time, a burger and caesar salad. And then I’ll always watch the game we just played and I’ll watch either Camosun’s game, because they play at the same time, and watch all my buddies on that team, or I’ll watch the game [of] the next team we play.

And finally, what’s next for you after UFV? I’m gonna coach U16 and U18 [basketball]. We have a few good club teams [in Victoria] and I’ll be coaching one of them, I’m really excited … I picked up running just as a competitive thing to do and it keeps me busy, so I’ve been running a lot. I don’t really enjoy it … but I’m doing [a] 10K in Victoria at the end of the month, and then probably a half marathon in May.

Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

SHAYLA KIRBY

Photo by Eduardo Rubi / The Cascade

UFV // Rodgers debuts class on true crime ethics

Students team up with CIVL Radio to produce “Closer Than You Think”

SKY S. TERRONES

Dr. Kathleen Rodgers is an associate professor in the School of Culture, Media, and Society at UFV.

This past winter semester, Women, Violence & True Crime, a new course at UFV, transported students into the world of murder. The creator and teacher of this class, Dr. Kathleen Rodgers — alongside two of her students, Ava Bruintjes and Syd Reid — shared their journey with The Cascade

For Rodgers, it all started when she was listening to a true crime podcast and noticed a trend in its consumers.

“I realized though that there was something around the podcast going on that was really interesting, which was that women in particular were talking about violence around podcasts … not just the content, but also the violence that they experience.”

The idea grew from there as more questions arose regarding how the true crime genre shapes the perception of crime and violence against women. Rodgers took this as inspiration for the course.

“I developed this course as a way of focusing on some of the questions that I wanted to ask and also giving students an opportunity to do the same thing.”

Bruintjes, a fourth-year Criminology

major, commented on the importance of ethics within the course, as that was what initially drew her to Rodgers’ class.

“We spend a lot of time talking about ethics, about the different forms of true crime media … At the end of the day, people are profiting off of real life pain, death, and suffering. Regardless of how ethically you do it, you’re still making money off of it.”

As part of the course, students were given the opportunity to create a podcast and meet with industry professionals, including radio journalist Mike McCulloch and CIVL Radio’s Executive Director, Aaron Levy, with whom the students discussed their experiences regarding the ethics and delivery of different stories. Rodgers shared her gratitude for Levy, who provided insight into both the ethical and technical aspects of the podcast.

“We definitely could have done this without him, but it wouldn’t have been good. He made it great. He’s been incredible. I mean, just in terms of providing guidance, equipment, and training, like, amazing.”

The podcast, “Closer Than You Think: A Fraser Valley True Crime Miniseries,” consists of eight episodes discussing distinct cases within the Fraser Valley. Rodgers gave her students a choice:

analyze a pre-existing true crime podcast or make their own with a local case using what they learned in class. Reid shared that their desire to shine a spotlight on stories that hadn’t been covered appropriately, or hadn’t been treated ethically, led them to create their own episodes.

“There are a few racialized minorities and gender minorities that we’re trying to include. And it’s been very interesting.”

Bruintjes and Reid praised Rodgers for making the class instructive and fun and agreed that balancing entertainment and ethics was one of the biggest struggles. Bruintjes shared that it helped them to be conscious of the problems discussed in the course, which encouraged them to put a stronger emphasis on the victim rather than the glorification of the murderer.

“I think every single group is hyperaware of the common harmful tropes and stereotypes that a lot of podcasts play into, and they’re really trying to pull away from that and talk about the cases that don’t get covered by podcasts or talk about cases in a way that [is] not romanticizing the crime or uplifting the killer ... focusing on the victims, their stories, making sure that their voice is heard in a way that doesn’t take away from who they were as a person.”

What’s portrayed in podcasts isn’t always reflective of reality. Rodgers uses

a common true crime trope as an example: strangers portrayed as dangerous and something to be feared, when in reality, most violent crimes are committed by those close to the victim.

“We become conditioned to be afraid of those situations, but the kind of situations that we should be afraid of is the fact that we’re most at risk from the people we lock ourselves in with at night. We’re most at risk from interpersonal domestic violence. True crime doesn’t really tell those stories well. It focuses primarily on stranger violence.”

Rodgers believes that the course has been a success; her students have found a way to tell these stories in an entertaining and respectful way. She’s also optimistic that the true crime genre is slowly shifting for the better, and is eager to see what the future will bring.

“I do see changes happening, and I do see a diversity of stories being told in different ways. And I think that’s really exciting.”

Beginning on Apr. 9, tune in to this true crime podcast on CIVL radio (101.7 FM) Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.!

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity

UFV // You pay for a U-Pass, but what does it do?

Learn the perks of the public transit program as a UFV student

VERONICA POWELL

Attending university is expensive. From admission, to tuition and auxiliary fees, students put a lot of money into their schools. At UFV, the average student spends more than $130 just on our student union and other society fees. As of 2025, $43.29 of those fees are dedicated to the U-Pass. But what exactly is a U-Pass and what does it do for you? Let me explain!

UFV’s Student Union Society (SUS) works in partnership with BC Transit to provide students with accessible transportation options, discounts, and exclusive student perks, with the goal of promoting overall student wellness. This is the U-Pass program.

The U-Pass grants students unlimited access to most transit routes anywhere

throughout Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission — excluding route 66 until further notice. The program also grants free admission to a number of recreation facilities with the presentation of your student card. That includes both the Abbotsford and Matsqui Recreation Centres as well as the Mission Leisure Centre and the UFV Chilliwack Fitness Centre.

One of the U-Pass’s most convenient features is its mobile phone app. All students need to do is download the UMO Mobility app in which you can enter a benefit code, found in your myUFV portal, once you’ve paid your semester fees. It remains valid until the end of each semester, and your benefit code automatically renews at the start of each new one as long as your fees are paid.

In the app itself, you can save locations, routes, and stops that you visit often to your favourites. You also have the ability to see and manage your account balance and passes through the app’s wallet. It even lets you see trip options to your desired destinations prior to travelling, where it recommends the quickest way to get there and from which bus stops. It also estimates how long the journey will take and your approximate time of arrival. No more needing to look at the tiny wording on the bus stop signs — it tells you that too!

At the beginning of each semester, BC Transit allows for a grace period.

From Sept. 1-15, Jan. 1-15, and May 1-15 students don’t need a U-Pass or UMO app to use the bus. It’s also adaptive, offering the ability to opt-out each semester if you

only have online courses, have a documented disability and aren’t able to use regular public transit, or already make use of a BC Government bus pass. Making use of the U-Pass allows students to focus on their wellness; freeing us of the worries of transportation costs, complicated processes, and having to pay those pesky parking fees. Its ease of use is another perk — all you have to do is scan the barcode in the app when entering the bus and you’re ready for a ride! It’s also beneficial to the environment since it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the amount of student vehicle traffic on the road. We love sustainability. Even if you drive yourself to school with your own car, consider even just taking the bus once or twice to take advantage of your U-Pass. It might make a difference in your time as a UFV student.

CULTURE

Campus Fashion: refreshing your spring wardrobe

The top five must-have styles of the season

RACHEL TAIT

This is Campus Fashion, your source of inspiration for seasonal trends, cool finds, and wardrobe basics to keep you looking stylish throughout the year.

Spring is officially here! Cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, we’re blessed with rain showers for the coming flowers, and the weather is warming up. Out with the heavy winter coats and boots, and in with fresh spring styles! This season it’s all about pinks, florals, blues, stripes, and denim. Let’s take a look at what spring 2025 has to offer.

Pink Light, soft shades of pink are popping up this season. Dainty and pretty, pink is a

colour that is flattering and versatile. Try pairing a baby pink button-down shirt with a pair of light wash jeans, a khaki trench coat, a brown belt, and tall brown boots. If you’re looking to fancy it up, a baby pink sheath dress with a brown leather jacket, heels, and a beaded purse makes for a nice evening outfit for going out with friends.

Pastel blue

Another colour that is trending this season is light blue; a neutral colour that can go with anything and can be dressed up or down. When the weather warms up, pairing a blue linen top with matching pants, a white denim jacket, and white running shoes makes for a fun late spring and early summer look. For a more feminine twist, pair a light blue maxi dress with a

white cardigan, ballet flats, and a crossbody bag.

Floral patterns

The more flowers the merrier! With spring in full bloom, a nice floral print is the perfect match for this season. Pairing a flowy floral maxi skirt with a plain white crew neck, a cream linen jacket, and black loafers makes for an effortless casual look. Swap the linen jacket for a sleek coat, dramatic jewelry, and heels for a great evening look.

Denim dresses

A denim dress is another must-have staple this season that can be dressed up or down. For a casual look, try pairing it with a leather belt, tall boots, a cardigan, and an oversized handbag. For an evening

The Cascade Kitchen: basic bitch bread

Photo by Elyssa English

Prep time: 10 minutes

Rise time: 1-2 hours

Cook time: 25-30 minutes

Additional equipment:

⁤ Rectangular bread pan

Ingredients:

⁤ 3-4 cups flour

⁤ 1 ½ cups warm water

⁤ 1 tbsp active dry yeast

⁤ 1 tbsp sugar

⁤ 2 tsp salt

Method:

1. In a large bowl, mix water and sugar. The water should be warm to the touch, but not hot.

2. Add yeast to the water and stir gently. Let sit for 5-10 minutes to wake up the yeast. It should form a foam on the surface of the water.

out with friends, wearing a denim shirt dress under a fitted blazer with heels and a clutch purse is smart and sophisticated.

Stripes

You can never have enough stripes, and the thinner the better! A classic, black and white, thin striped shirt with black jeans, a white cardigan, and runners works well for a casual day look. For a more formal outfit, try a navy and white striped dress, a black leather belt, tall black boots, a black handbag, and a dark denim trench coat.

And there you have it, the top five looks for spring 2025. Add some soft pops of colour to your wardrobe and transition out of your winter attire with some fresh new looks this season.

The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budgetfriendly recipes and cooking tips. Check back each week 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.

Fresh, homemade bread is one of the universe’s greatest gifts. But, if you’ve never made it before, it can also be one

of the universe’s greatest mysteries. What is bread, really? How does it work? And what the hell is yeast?

Fear not, dear reader; allow me to demystify the process. I have the perfect recipe for you to dip your toes into the world of bread making. Metaphorically of course — please keep your feet away from the bread.

This is a simple, straightforward, basic bitch bread. All you need are a few ingredients, a fair bit of free time, and a little bit of patience.

3. Add the salt, then the flour one cup at a time, mixing slowly until fully incorporated. You may need to mix with your hands; the dough gets very thick.

4. Now, here is the sticky part. Depending on your flour of choice, you may need to add more; this is determined by the texture and stickiness of the dough. A little stickiness is normal, but if the dough feels wet

and sticks to your hands, it’s likely too wet. We want a consistency that feels moist but firm, and is easy to peel from your hands.

5. Time to knead! Spread a dusting of flour on a clean counter, set the dough on it, and knead for about five minutes. The dough should feel relatively smooth when you’re done.

6. Place dough into a clean bowl, cover with a towel, and leave to rise until it doubles in size — this should take about one to two hours.

7. You will know it is done rising by doing the “poke test.” Poke the dough with your finger. There should be a small indentation in the dough that slowly bounces back, but doesn’t fully fill in.

8. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.

9. Punch down the dough, then place in a greased pan. Cover with a towel and let rest for half an hour.

10. Place dough in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.

11. Remove from the oven, let cool, and enjoy!

If this is your first time kneading dough, I’d recommend looking up a video tutorial to see the hand motions.

//

Counterculture in the Fraser Valley

CIVL Radio celebrates their 20th anniversary with a documentary

CASSIE WILLIAMS

Ever wondered what a bag of psychedelic mushrooms can lead to? Turns out a #1 campus and community radio station, according to the 2021 Canadian Radio Awards. After a few too many of the aforementioned refreshments, Douglas McLean, UFV student at the time, thought about how UFV and its community were disconnected and was inspired to make a change.

Thus, CIVL Radio was born.

On Apr. 5, CIVL 101.7 FM celebrated their 20th anniversary at UFV’s Chilliwack campus — the location of their newest repeater tower. Once the tower is granted approval by the Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), it will allow the station to broadcast at 92.3 FM in Chilliwack permanently. This move will further CIVL’s goal of reaching not only UFV students and staff, but the wider community as well.

At the anniversary celebration, their new documentary, COUNTERCULTURE: 20 Years of CIVL RADIO in the Fraser Valley premiered. The idea of “counterculture” — lifestyle or attitudes that stray from the social norm — is well expressed in the documentary as we follow CIVL’s journey and how the station paved the way as a countercultural means of programming in the conservative Fraser Valley.

Kier Junos, CityNews journalist and the project’s filmmaker, spoke with The Cascade, sharing where the idea for the documentary originated from, and how it came to fruition.

“I’m just going off of project proposals I had seen in the past, [but] they wanted to be able to define the NCRA [National Campus and Community Radio Association] and its work in starting campus and community radio. They wanted to outline CIVL’s work in the community as well, and the impact it has had, and the involvement of its volunteers.”

Junos expressed how he wanted to do more with the documentary by explaining the struggles behind campus radio and aligning CIVL as part of the counterculture.

“We were able to take it beyond what the project prompt was of just defining the NCRA and its part of campus radio and what CIVL’s work [is] in the community. That stuff is well defined, but I’m happy we were able to maybe press the institutions that CIVL is pulled into and call into question whether or not they are participating in [and] uplifting CIVL in the right way, in what it could be, in terms of being

a beacon for arts and culture in the Fraser Valley.”

The event itself featured performances from local musicians including Franklyn Currie, a born and raised Abbotsford artist. Between songs, Currie shared some of his history with the underground culture that the CIVL documentary highlighted. The live music elevated the atmosphere of the event as everyone jived to the local talent.

Jordan Turner and Sara Church, two of the founding members of the radio station featured in the documentary, were in attendance at the celebration. Church helped in designing the original advertising campaign that would permit CIVL to collect a $3 fee from students to fund the radio station — a fee that still needs advocacy to this day in order to keep the station up and running.

Following the premiere of the documentary, a panel was held featuring members involved in the production, including Kiara Okonkwo, Lance Skullz, and Stephen Munga alongside Junos. Led by CIVL Executive Director Aaron Levy, the panel answered questions about the filming, how the documentary turned out, and what they were surprised to learn

premiere

during the process. A key question was what they felt success for the film would be. The consensus was simply getting the documentary out there, having students connect with it, and hopefully even get inspired to start their own creative community. Junos offered further thought on where he would like to see the film go.

“It would be nice to see this screened in the campus community radio sphere and show other stations or fledgling stations … if people in universities see this, they might be inspired to create a similar hub for community … maybe it’s a lit mag, or [an] online arts blog or something. Because I think the film really shows how many people [CIVL has] touched, and the breadth of community that is created as well.”

From a documentary premiere to live music, the CIVL celebration was one to remember, sparking a conversation about arts, culture, and community. There is hope that flame will continue to burn and spread, igniting the desire to further bridge the gap between community and culture, and make way for more creativity in the Fraser Valley.

Photo submitted by Aaron Levy

Photo submitted by Aaron Levy

Crossword // STUDY BREAK

Sudoku //

Horoscopes //

By: Madame LaCarte

Aries - Mar. 21 to Apr. 19

Group work can be frustrating, but they say communication is key. You know what else is key? Knowing when to walk away. If you were waiting for a sign, this is it.

Taurus - Apr. 20 to May 20

You have the Midas touch — everything you touch turns to shit. Oh sorry, did you think I meant the gold one? No, no, not you. You have the shit-Midas touch. The cure is easy however. Go take a nap.

Gemini - May 21 to Jun. 20

Take it from someone who froze time: no matter how much you pause your life, the rest of the world moves on with theirs. Take a step, move forward, and grow on with your life.

Cancer - Jun. 21 to Jul. 22

Trying to stay on your toes has you tripping up bad. You need to slow down and take a beat. Dance with your heart not your head.

Leo - Jul. 23 to Aug. 22

Stuck in the quicksand of your head you are. The pressure of your insecurities pulls you down deeper. Grab a vine, start to climb, and stop listening to your mind.

Virgo - Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

Your life is as balanced as your sleep schedule, and we all know you sleep as often as a squirrel on adderal. Just an observation; I have no solution for you.

Libra - Sept. 23 to Oct. 22

Is it gossip or is it a tactical release of sensitive information? Either way, it’s only distracting you from the real war. Your enemy is not in the field of battle — your enemy is in the mirror.

Scorpio - Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

Fuck the system! Screw the man! Rebel against all authority! It’s hard to rebel when I just want to stay in my rented home, eat corporate fast food, huddle in that blanket-hoodie the videos on my phone told me to buy from the online store owned by some evil guy, and watch episodes of shows that have been created with as much forethought as a sneeze. I get it; we need to stand and fight and the world sucks, but I’m going to be a trash dragon and cheer you on from the sidelines because I’m tired and cozy.

Sagittarius - Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

All that hard work is frustrating you. You’re getting it done, but it’s got you stressed out. I wouldn’t want to trigger an existential crisis, but does it really matter? Is it really that important in the long run? Will you be looking back at April 2025 on your death bed and say “yeah, overworking myself that month was the turning point of my life, and has made all the difference.”?

Capricorn - Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

When you tell your mom that you can’t come to dinner because you’re busy, when you tell your teacher you need an extension for the paper you’ve had all month to write, when you tell your friends you can’t hang out because you have to work, you are telling them all they are not a priority. It’s not a bad thing, and there’s no judgement, but that is the truth. Be mindful of what you prioritize in life. Everything is a choice.

Aquarius - Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

Life’s not fair! Waaaaa! Mommy always told me to share, but now no one is sharing with me. Teachers used to give me awards for showing up, but now I can’t win anything. Daddy said I could be anything, but I want to be someone else. Boo hoo hoo. That’s what you sound like. Annoying isn’t it?

Pisces - Feb. 19 to Mar. 20

You’ve been disconnected for so long your battery is dead. With no energy for empathy, apathy grows. Call up some friends and get away from yourself for some time. athy, apathy grows. Call up some friends and get away from yourself for some time.

Comic by Christina Smith

Television //

The kids aren’t alright and we’re all accountable

Adolescence tackles the consequences of online misogyny

KARA DUNBAR

Adolescence (2025) is topping Netflix charts with the most ever views of a miniseries and with a 99 per cent Rotten Tomatoes rating. The miniseries has prompted conversation and controversy by tackling the impact of online misogyny on today’s youth and how it’s accidentally abetted by passive, naive schools and families.

It all begins with a morning raid on the Miller family’s house, and the arrest of 13-year-old Jamie Miller for the murder of his classmate, Katie. Spanning 13 months, the series follows the police and the Miller family as they grapple with the heinous act. This is a murder mystery — but the mystery isn’t who, it’s why. Why did a boy coming from a relatively normal family, who was doing well in school, who had friends, murder his classmate?

Each hour-long episode is one continuous shot. Not only is this impressive from a technical point of view, but it also forces viewers to live with the characters. This format had me completely trapped within the story; I forgot that the pause button existed. While some may say the longer banter and conversations shared between characters is unnecessary time filler, I argue that these moments add to the intimacy and immediacy of the show.

While every performance lends itself to how raw and intense this show is, the highlight for me was the lead character, Jamie, and the acting debut of Owen Cooper. Episode three consists entirely of an interview between him and a court-appointed psychologist (Erin Doherty), with Cooper expertly riding the line between vulnerability and anger. The episode takes an unflinching look at a boy accused and doesn’t shy away from how complex and uncomfortable the situation is.

The show deals with how misogyny has found extremist roots online, and festers in spaces like the “manosphere” — a wide variety of men’s groups that often assert the idea that men are naturally dominant and that feminism is the cause of men’s personal and societal problems. Adolescence shines a light on how easy it is for these ideologies to impact impressionable youth, and how this can lead to violent acts like the one we see Jamie commit.

There are no easy answers given in Adolescence. We can’t just blame parents, schools, or social media for the indoctrination of young boys into violent worldviews. In an interview with Today, co-creator and actor Stephen Graham talked about the important role society plays in raising a child.

“You’ve heard that beautiful saying, it takes a village to raise a child, well I think what we’ve done with this is looked at it and said, everyone is accountable.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took time in the House of Commons to express his concern about online spaces that promote misogyny due in part to the Netflix miniseries on Mar. 19.

“This violence carried out by young men, influenced by what they see online, is abhorrent and we have to tackle it.”

This is part of a larger movement surrounding the show which has led to Netflix making the series available to screen for free in UK secondary schools, its creators meeting with Starmer, and various children’s charities advocating for safer online spaces.

To say Graham and his team achieved what they set out to do is an understatement. I have two teenage brothers, and they were all I could see as I watched Jamie. All I could think about was what

are they seeing, what are their friends talking about? If presented with dehumanizing views online or from peers, how do they process it? And what can I do? I cannot control what my brothers see online, what their friends show them, or what’s discussed in school, but I can ask them about it. Adolescence doesn’t give us a solution, but it provides the first step; it starts the conversation.

Photo courtesy of Netflix - © Netflix

Photo courtesy of Netflix - © Netflix

Books //

“They will not use my tears for their entertainment”

Revisiting 2010’s dystopia with Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping

CAITLYN CARR

In the 2010s, young adult dystopian stories dominated shelves. While the hype for such narratives has gradually declined, there’s still one series that fans refuse to leave behind. With five wildly successful films based on the book series and another on the way, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games (2008-2025) continues to be a long-standing veteran of this beloved era. Years after the original trilogy wrapped, fans are still asking for more stories from the world of Panem. Still, there’s one in particular that we have been craving, and after years of pleas, Collins has finally released a tell-all novel centred around Haymitch Abernathy, everybody’s favourite District 12 rascal.

Sunrise on the Reaping (2025) tells the story of the 50th annual Hunger Games, in which child-tributes must fight to the death in a televised broadcast until only one remains. Except this year comes with a twist: twice as many tributes. When 16-year-old Haymitch is forced to compete, he must leave his mother, brother, and girlfriend behind to entertain pitiless viewers in the Capitol. What the Capitol doesn’t know is that Haymitch has a few tricks up his sleeve, which he must conceal from President Snow’s watchful eye.

This novel sees the return of many beloved characters and is overflowing with callbacks to the original series. Every time I saw a familiar name on the page, I got a boost of adrenaline. This book also sees the return of the Covey, who were first introduced in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020). These musical nomads are given even more detail in Sunrise on the Reaping. Given the sort of man we know Haymitch will become, it was interesting to see a certain Covey member’s courageous nature through the eyes of a young Haymitch, who sways back and forth between

rebelling and submitting.

Sunrise on the Reaping drops an exciting amount of lore about Haymitch and his relationships to known characters, but most of all, this novel helped me understand why Haymitch became a shell of his former self. Fighting for survival against 47 other tributes is traumatizing already, but unfortunately Haymitch’s suffering didn’t end there. Honestly, if I’d experienced half of what that poor man went through in this novel, I’d be reaching for the bottle too.

When I first heard this book was coming, I was curious to see how Collins would keep readers on their toes when so many of us already knew the ending. Nonetheless, Sunrise on the Reaping was filled with unexpected twists and not once did it deviate from already established lore. Even though I knew how the story was going to end, this book still managed to leave me speechless.

One of the most impressive parts of this book was how consistent Haymitch’s character was with the rest of the series. He’s introduced in the original trilogy as an alcoholic recluse with little to no hope of the Districts ever being free of Snow’s reign. However, as the story progresses, he becomes an important figure in the rebellion that brings down the Capitol and ends the Hunger Games. Sunrise on the Reaping balances these two halves of Haymitch’s character perfectly by showcasing how his drive to rebel often clashes with his obedient nature.

Another part of Haymitch’s character that I loved seeing was his ability to work a crowd. His talent is evident in the original series, but I absolutely loved seeing it on full display through his own interviews and Victory Tour. Even though Haymitch changes drastically between Sunrise on the Reaping and the original series, Collins impressively maintains Haymitch’s core personality and capabilities.

While scenes like Haymitch’s heartbreaking goodbye to his girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird on his way to the Capitol and the gruesome deaths of many tributes are permanently engraved in my mind, I had trouble visualizing more complex scenes. Some of the vocabulary used was a little too specific — unless it’s just me who didn’t know what a berm was before reading. Nonetheless, Collins is no doubt an expert in detailed imagery.

While some have accused Collins of milking the series, both myself and other hardcore fans of The Hunger Games believe that her choice to continue the

series comes from a drive to discuss important topics regarding society, war, and politics. In an interview with David Levithan, Collins explained that her inspiration for Sunrise on the Reaping stemmed from Scottish philosopher David Hume’s criticism of inductive reasoning and his idea of implicit submission, particularly, “the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.” Given Donald Trump’s current oppressive rule over the United States, the ideas explored in this remarkable novel undoubtedly deserve serious consideration.

Book cover Sunrise on the Reaping by Scholastic Press

Entertainment // The Cascade takes on the JUNOs

Canada’s biggest night in music was iconic

ANNA MCCAUSLAND & KIARA OKONKWO

While the daily news cycle whirled in those final days of March, Canadian culture creators from across the country convened for the 2025 JUNO Awards at Rogers Arena on Mar. 30. The Cascade had the privilege to attend Canada’s biggest night in music.

Bubbly Bublé

Hometown hero Michael Bublé was all smiles walking the Skip Orange Carpet. Even he called out the recent comments coming from a certain president, stating “[Canada’s] not for sale.” In an epic opening number, Bublé performed his most iconic songs — “Feeling Good,” “Haven’t Met You Yet,” and “Home.” Alongside Bublé was Jonita Gandhi, who performed in Punjabi, Roxane Bruneau in French, and Elisapie in Inuktitut, with an original verse performed by Maestro Fresh Wes.

Chronically iconic

The first award of the night went to The Beaches, an all female rock band from Toronto, for Group of the Year, their second win in a row. This girl band knows how to celebrate a win, and Leandra Earl — the band’s bassist and self proclaimed “lesbian of the year” (see her instagram bio) — used her acceptance speech time to iconically advertise her own relationship status.

“Ladies, Canada, I am single!”

“The Gen Z Eminem” bbno$ — pronounced “Baby No Money” — a Vancouver based rapper that garnered fame through TikTok, rolled up to the Orange Carpet dressed as a toilet. After shedding the comically large outfit, bbno$ put on the show of the night flanked by drag queens — with the likes of Queen Priyanka and Tiffany Ann Co. — in his hit “it boy.” He brought all the charisma and swagger, while accepting the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award, and made the pretty pointed statement of “fuck Elon Musk” when speaking to journalists after.

Indie wins

Alternative Album of the Year winner nemahsis also clutched the Breakthrough Artist of The Year Award after a beautiful performance of her debut single “stick of gum.” The indie artist reflected on her long and rough journey getting to the JUNOs, and her approach to getting her career back on track.

“I was starting to work on Verbathim [when] I got dropped, I lost my label, my funding, my support system, everything. And I feel like I just wanted to pick up where I left off … [and get] that moment of like, Nemhasis is becoming Nemhasis, and I never got to do that.”

A lifetime of Canadian music

Two Canadian legends were recognized for their long and incredible careers in the music industry. Anne Murray accepted her Lifetime Achievement Award in a bejewelled Canada jersey. The night was also a celebration for Sum 41 who

were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte introduced the legendary pop-punk band ahead of their speech and final live performance together.

Indigenous representation

Indigenous artists were well represented with over 19 nominees, five winners, and performances from Elisapie, the hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids performing “RED FUTURE,” “ONE OF THE BEST,” and “FREE,” as well as their song “SHAPESHIFTER” featuring Tia Wood — who took the stage after and performed her breakout hit “Dirt Roads.”

New award category for South Asian music

The only rival to Sum 41’s final performance came from Punjabi artists Chani Nattan, Inderpal Singh Moga, and the

legendary Jazzy B — who lit the stage up with a bhangra and hip-hop fusion from their collaborative song, “Coolin’.”

The South Asian Music Recording of the Year is one of two new categories introduced at this year’s JUNO awards. AP Dhillon made history by being the first recipient of the award for his album

The Brownprint (2024). This new award category was introduced to recognize the genre’s impact on the Canadian entertainment industry.

“Canada has proven to be at the epicentre of South Asian music globally,” said the JUNOs in a September media release.

Canadian national identity?

As a country, we are looking to define ourselves in opposition to the dominant culture south of the border, and this year’s JUNO awards were emblematic of that broader question many of us are asking: what does it mean to be Canadian? Surprise: it isn’t one thing. Canada’s strength lies in its multiplicity, flexibility, and openness. The opportunities arising in Canadian arts and culture — and the chance to make a lasting impact — has never been stronger. I think the winner who spoke most to this shift is nemahsis, whose acceptance speech called on the shift happening in Canadian media:

“...all I ever wanted was to turn on [the] Family Channel, YTV, and just see somebody that looks like me. I didn’t think it would take this long, and I didn’t think I would be the one to do it, but I’m happy it got to this as a fully independent Palestinian-Canadian Muslim woman.”

JUNOS BTS Broadcast Rogers Arena, March 31 (Photo Credit: CARAS B STEPHM)

March 30, 2025 (Photo credit: CARAS RyOnes)

March 30, 2025 (Photo Credit: CARAS Morgan Hotston)

EVENTS CALENDAR

NOTE:

Some of the e vents require tickets, and most are online. If something catches your eye, take to the Internet for more details, including those about any safety measures for in-person events.

APRIL

11:15AM  12:00PM Culinary Arts Bistro

@5579 Tyson Rd, Trades and Technology Centre, UFV Chilliwack

6:30PM  8:00PM Open Mic Night

@Sidekick Brewing, 45530 Vedder Mountain Rd Unit 106, Chilliwack

10:00AM  2:00PM Community Health Fair

@UFV Chilliwack Campus

6:00PM  8:00PM Open Studio with Jennifer Shepit

@Open Space, 33765 Essendene Avenue #110 Abbotsford

4:00PM  10:00PM Big Bang Party/BBQ

@UFV - Abbotsford - Lot #1925, King Road, Abbotsford

5:30PM  8:30PM Movie Night Pop-up

@Building C, University of the Fraser Valley, King Road, Abbotsford

7:00AM Lakeland Flowers: Abbotsford Tulip Festival

@Lakeland Flowers, 3663 Marion Rd

10:00AM  3:00PM Mango Market

@Gateway Community Church, 2884 Gladys Ave, Abbotsford

1:00PM  5:00PM 2025 First Nation, Inuit, Metis Artisan Markets

@Mámele’awt Indigenous Education Centre, 3277 Gladwin Rd

5:00PM  8:00PM Generla Knowledge Trivia Night

@Old Yale Brewing 33738 Laurel Street Abbotsford

7:00PM  11:00PM Friday Night Blues Jam

@Eagles Hall, 33868 Essendene Ave, Abbotsford

9:00AM  11:00AM Easter Egg Hunt

@33844 King Rd Parking, University Way, Abbotsford

5:00PM  8:00PM Generla Knowledge Trivia Night

@Old Yale Brewing 44550 South Sumas Road Chilliwack

10:00AM  4:00PM Urban Jungle Spring Market

@Urban Jungle Greenhouses, 34586 Bateman Road

1:00PM  4:00PM Open Studio

@The Reach Gallery Museum, 32388 Veterans Way

3:00AM  4:00PM Free Archive Tour

@Chilliwack Archives, 9291 Corbould Street, Chilliwack

9:15AM Rich Weiss Memorial Race

@Tamihi Rapids Recreation Site, Chilliwack River Rd, Chilliwack

7:00PM  11:00PM Molten Blues Band at The Eagles Hall

@Eagles Hall, 33868 Essendene Ave, Abbotsford