Volume 62 Issue 18

the carillon the staff

editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com

john loeppky

executive director business@carillonregina.com

jacob nelson

production manager production@carillonregina.com

jeremy davis

advertising manager advertising@carillonregina.com

ty cote

technical editor frank nordstrom carillontechnical@carillonregina.com multimedia/Graphics editors

multimedia@carillonregina.com graphics@carillonregina.com copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com

kate thiessen sarah carrier morgan ortman hannah senicar

news editor news@carillonregina.com

sara birrell

a&c editor aandc@carillonregina.com

ethan butterfield

sports editor sports@carillonregina.com

tyler meadows

op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com

taylor balfour

distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com

kyle anderson

staff writer

elisabeth sahlmueller

staff writer

marty grande - sherbert

news writer

ben schneider

a&c writer

holly worby

sports writer

brian palaschuck

web writer

julia peterson contributors issac tamlin, adeoluwa atayero, brittney lietner, paige hamann, hammad ali, c.c, rachel balfour and jill bader board of directors

Vol. 62

Erickka Patmore, Lindsay Holitzki, Maddie Ouelette, Dustin Smith. John Loeppky, and Jacob Nelson

the paper

227 Riddell Center University of Regina - 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2 www.carillonregina.com Ph: (306) 586 8867 Printed by Star Press Inc, Wainwright, AB The Carillon welcomes contributions.

Opinions expressed in the pages of the Carillon are expressly those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. Opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in the Carillon are those of the advertisers, and not necessarily of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. or its staff.

The Carillon is published no less than 11 times each semester during the fall and winter semesters and periodically throughout the summer. The Carillon is published by the Carillon Newspaper Inc., a non-profit organization. land acknowledgement The carillon is written on treaty four territory. As such, the staff recognize that we are living, working, and telling stories on and of Indigenous lands. We recognize that we are on the traditional homelands of the Nakota, Lakota, and Dakota peoples, along with the homeland of the Métis nation. The carillon understands that it is pointless to acknowledge the land on which we work without speaking to our commitment to telling stories and prioritizing voices that further the return of the land to its place sacred place in the cultures of those that live here. the manifesto In keeping with our reckless, devil-may-care image, our office has absolutely no concrete information on the Carillon’s formative years readily available. What follows is the story that’s been passed down from editor to editor for over forty years.

In the late 1950s, the University of Regina planned the construction of several new buildings on the campus grounds. One of these proposed buildlings was a beltower on the academic green. If you look out on the academic green today, the first thing you’ll notice is that it has absolutely nothing resembling a belltower.

The University never got a belltower, but what it did get was the Carillon, a newspaper that serves as a symbolic bell tower on campus, a loud and clear voice belonging to each and every student.

The People’s Friend; the Tyrant’s Foe

The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper Since 1962 February 6th - February 12th, 2020 | Volume 62, Issue 18 | carillonregina.com

news

cover

This week’s cover is dedicated to the ones we’ve loved and lost.

We also discuss the controversy following the recent JDC west competition, The STF preparing for a potencial fight with the govenment, and we have an interview with the band Theory.

arts

arts

STF to consider sanctions P.4

Global Game Jam

The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation is voting on wiether or not to give their barganing team the power to sanction the goverment.

Regina played host to a Game Jam this past week. Marty Grande-Shebert gives us the inside scoop on the creative endevours produced inculing union solidarity, meta game-coding and ghosts.

sports

P.6

op-ed

Theory

P.7

Theory (Formerly Theory of a Dead Man) is making their way through the praires. Our own Ethan Butterfield chats with the band about their tour, music, and some heavy stuff.

graphics

Also, we’re hiring for news writer and a and c writer. Email your resume to our editor at editor@carillonregina.com.

photos

cover................................... rachel balfour news......................... wikimedia commons a&c......................... marty grande-shebert a&c.......................... wikimedia commons sports.......................... Alexandru Manole op-ed.................................... taylor balour

Mental Health and Kobe P.13

Loss

P.14-17

The tragic passing of Kobe Bryant has been met with an outpooring of emotions from fans from all walks of life. Tyler Meadows touches on the one silver lining we might gain from this experience.

This week op-ed is dedicated to those we have lost. Editor Taylor Balfour and our contributors discuss their experience with grief.

Jillian Bader

P.18

Second-year film student Jill Bader focuses her lens and eyes on campus.

News

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Editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | February 6 - February 12, 2020

JDC West debate overshadowed by controversy Debating a humane society

ben schneider news writer From Jan. 17-19, the University of Regina hosted the annual JDC West (Jeux du Commerce West) competition for business students across Western Canada.

The competition is divided into four spheres: academic, debate, athletics, and social. The debate portion of this year, however, received extra attention due to several controversial resolutions or topics.

An-Te Chu, an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia who is studying biochemistry, has worked as a volunteer debate coach for both the Simon Fraser University (SFU) and University of Victoria teams.

This year he helped the SFU team as an assistant coach. Chu did not attend this year’s event, but it was brought to his attention that several of the chosen motions for this year’s debate competition made students uncomfortable and were not appropriate arguments to make at a business-oriented debate competition.

“JDC West is unique from parliamentary debate because [it] is inherently supposed to be business-focused, so typically, JDC motions are not super political.

Bad motions get set all the time, but these were uniquely bad because [they] inherently made so many students uncomfortable and that’s the main issue I take with this. It’s not that the topics were set, it’s just that there was no apology and there has been no apology. The board has [not] been very transparent at all,” says Chu. In a letter to the Carillon, Chu wrote: “Students were asked to defend the removal of housing assistance from vulnerable peoples, support legal erasure of Indigenous identity, and in the quarterfinals, my students were asked to advocate for removing all financial assistance to cope with fentanyl overdoses.”

The official rhetoric of the resolutions in question read as follows: “-This house regrets both historical and modern development of public policies that acknowl-

edge or otherwise rely on the distinction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.

-This house would cease all financial and program support specifically intended to cope with overdoses on fentanyl.”

The list of resolutions obtained by the Carillon from the JDC West Organizing Committee lacks any mention of the removal of housing assistance but does include a resolution around mandated injection sites in Canadian cities as well as regretting government action to combat climate change.

Quite a mixed bag.

As explained by a member of the organizing committee who has asked to remain anonymous “Both teams get a resolution, kind of like the topic. The side ‘government’ has half an hour to [determine] what that topic would mean to them to push through and then side ‘opposition’ is looking for that motion to fall. The resolutions are meant to allow the ‘government’ to define what that resolution means. It allows them to choose what that narrative looks like.”

“The debate competition is designed to provide competitors with a safe and structured environment to debate current political, economic, and societal topics that are affecting our world today in order for students to develop those independent decision-making skills, and the ability to critically analyze both sides of an argument regarding hotly contested items.”

“The point is that we want people to leave having that ability to analyze current issues and not just take what they hear in the media or if they hear somebody talking about a current issue, they have the ability to see both sides of the argument and feel confident in themselves to contribute.”

Chu takes issue with this process, arguing that the environment is not in fact safe or structured enough to allow students to debate in an informed way.

“You’re thrown this topic and you have thirty minutes to prepare.

This isn’t something you can really research and put yourself into a place of understanding.”

“The way I teach my students

is unique from the other coaches because everyone coaches it like a business debate competition, which it is, but the way I coach, because I come from a different debate background, includes much more social issues.”

Based on other debate experience outside of JDC West, Chu touched on the role of an equity policy. “Generally, at debate tournaments there’s an equity policy which is essentially HR for debate, which allows you to address complaints, especially if offensive things are said. The fact that [JDC West] didn’t have [this policy] and they chose to have these vulnerable motions opens them up for a lot of criticism.”

“These topics could just be avoided. If you choose to set them, you should probably set out some guidelines and take precautions and recognize that it’s going to be controversial and people will feel uncomfortable. If people feel uncomfortable, you should address that, especially if these students are paying to be in this competition.”

Turning once again to the resolution around what Chu defined as “legal erasure of Indigenous identity,” the anonymous member of the organizing committee refuted such claims and offered their interpretation of the resolution.

“That has nothing to do with erasing Indigenous Canadians whatsoever. It’s all around policy and how policy is created in government.” The organizing committee elaborated, formulating a hypothetical stance for government side. “Basically, it’s saying, ‘the government acknowledges Indigenous people, but policy should be made with all Canadians in mind. We shouldn’t be segmenting them into different groups and cultures. We’re all Canadians, we’ve had lots of time to work together to become one community, one nation’.”

While this opinion is not representative of the committee itself, it’s still clearly what can only be described as ‘a garbage hottake’ for anyone to propose. Too bad that equity policy was absent.

Chu said in response, “That is actually a topic that is somewhat discussed in academia: how

you can reform the Indian Act. But no one proposes removing legal identity. There’s no point in having these debates when students know nothing about these issues. That just causes people to say harmful things. There’s a high likelihood that someone said something offensive or [felt] pressured to say that because that’s the stance they have to take to win.”

Chu also pointed out that, while defunding fentanyl is a current parliamentary issue, when applied to debate it loses its relevancy without a budgetary context. “Sometimes it’s a political reality in terms of government funding [which] sometimes has to be cut from things, but it’s not a question of if it’s morally right or wrong.

“Often there’s debates [that are] slightly uncomfortable because that’s not your true belief, but in this case, if your friend has died from fentanyl, you should be able to protest.” Chu notes, however, that the worry is that JDC West would somehow punish these schools who speak out.

The same member of the organizing committee mentioned previously viewed Chu’s anger as a product of competitiveness. “I believe [Chu] had an issue with [the fentanyl resolution] because this is the one that his SFU team was eliminated on. The tough part is that SFU, the team that [Chu] coached, has had a very good track record at JDC West in the debate category. They won the competition last year, they’re typically in the top three, so the fact that they were eliminated on this debate in the quarter finals where they would place in the top eight rather than the top three….

I think this is his way of trying to condemn the competition and skew it as unfair or unjust.”

Chu rejects this notion completely. “I honestly do not care about my team winning or losing. It’s one of the first things I teach: winning and losing is not the whole point. You get a whole year of preparing and learning to debate. It’s the skills that you take away.”

“I’m most mad because, if I’m a student, I feel the pressure of having to win this for my

school and you can’t talk to your coach. You’re left in isolation.

You’re given this topic and are sitting there for thirty minutes like ‘what do we do?’

“I tried contacting some of the sponsors. I only got a response from one of them. For me, it’s the lack of response that’s very frustrating and the optics of it for sponsors … this is terrible. That’s the reason why the business competition usually plays it safer with motions, because they have sponsors they have to care about.”

On Jan. 19, Chu posted this to Facebook: “Woke up this morning to hear that my students were asked to defend, in the quarterfinals, the topic: ‘The House will cease all financial support to cope with overdoses on fentanyl’. Beyond inhumane.

The JDC Board of Directors: ADAM DANYLEYKO, KELLY BONNEAU, BRANDON CHAPMAN, KATIE TURNER, JORDAN BINOTTO, TANNER ASSIE, GORDON CHANDLER Fucking resign you goddamn morons” When asked if he stood by these comments, Chu stated, “I would totally stand by what I said.

It could’ve been more diplomatic, but I personally don’t feel like I should back down in my response to it.”

The member of the organizing committee that spoke to the Carillon concluded that, “A member from our board of directors reached out to [Chu] and said if he feels like these were one-sided resolutions or anything like that, then we’d definitely like to hear that input for next year’s competition.”

“This is one person’s opinion and I think lots other of people would refute that. The organizing committee is made up of good people who helped a lot of students build confidence in themselves and inspire them to do good things in their community and this complaint is coming from one person who didn’t even attend the competition.”

JDC West has yet to issue an apology.

pixabay

“No, you’re problematic!”

February 6 - February 12, 2020

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 4

news

STF bargaining an important part of union landscape student-teacher support not on the table

john loeppky editor-in-chief On Feb. 10 and 11, members of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federations (STF) will head to their own version of the polls. They are not voting for a new political figure, but rather whether they give their bargaining group the go ahead to impose sanctions against the government. The STF, the representative for all public educators in the province, has been in bargaining for nine months.

Unlike other unions, including the University of Regina Faculty Association, the STF has been in the media a lot since their contract expired. STF President Patrick Maze says that a media-forward approach is needed in order for his members to get the deal they have put on the table – one that includes increases over all three years of the deal as well as measures on class composition and sizes – and for the public to understand the importance of the federation’s position and goals.

“I think education is a matter that’s of critical importance to everyone right across the province, and even if people, members of the public, don’t have children they still rely on the public education system to make sure that graduates out of grade 12 are able to be employable and that

Wikimedia Commons

The office of the STF doesn’t have picket signs … yet

they’re able to be good civic members, and that they integrate into society well.”

In the interview, Maze said that the measures towards regulating class sizes and class composition have to do with an influx of EAL (English as an Additional Language learners) students as well as the variety seen across the province’s many school divisions in terms of demographics and the need for inclusivity.

“We know that inclusion is a good thing but the problem is inclusion, in order for it to work, needs to be supported properly.

We need to make sure that students have all the supports that they need and that it doesn’t just all fall on the classroom teacher to support all students. And so then, in many classes in the cities … we’re finding that the numbers are high and the composition is out of whack, and we need to make sure that our schools are properly supported otherwise it just ends up being teachers in damage control and putting out fires all day … Teachers go into the profession in order to make a difference, and they want to help their students, and if you’re going home at the end of the day each day feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, and not feel[ing] like

you’re reaching students, then, you know, you kind of question what the purpose is and you end up being burnt out.”

Saskatchewan’s Minister of Education, Gord Wyant, positioned the government’s deal as “pretty good” in an interview with the Star Phoenix’s Alex McPherson. It has been widely reported that the government has been engaged in “urgent consultations,” but the STF wants a commitment at the bargaining table. Maze said that effort has been hampered by the move away from binding arbitration and towards conciliation as part of the federal Bill 62. Now decisions made during conciliation, which the STF walked away from last month, are not binding.

Instead of a neutral party committing both sides to an outcome, conciliation only asks that the two sides sit down at a table and talk, for all intents and purposes.

The latest bargaining update placed the blame, unsurprisingly, on the provincial government.

“The STF Executive is seeking for the STF membership to send a strong message to government by providing an overwhelming vote in favour of sanctions.

The recent failure of the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to engage in meaningful

negotiations during conciliation resulted in the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee bringing the conciliation process to a close.”

When questioned on the possible next steps that could follow the mid-February vote, Maze said that student-teachers, like those in the University of Regina’s program haven’t been considered specifically aside from being called, as he said “honourary members” of the federation.

Education students on internship are required to pay for a full semester’s worth of tuition while they are unpaid by the school division. Maze says he’s “on the fence” about the arrangement because the work of a student teacher does not mean less work for the supervisory but insisted that “the intent is to pave a better future for them.”

“It’s an interesting relationship … I mean there are benefits, obviously, to interns that get to work an actual classroom, who get to work with a, usually, veteran teacher and learn from them, and of course it’s part of the requirement of getting the teacher’s certificate, but as far as compensation, that hasn’t really been discussed much with me or to the bargaining team that I’m aware of.” [Editor’s note: it is unethical

to require people work for you for free in order to receive accreditation.]

The last time a movement such as this was started was 2011.

That round of bargaining saw voluntary service, like extracurricular events, withdrawn. As one example, the provincial track meet was cancelled that year.

Maze said he didn’t want to “tip the hand” of the federation in terms of what sanctions could mean, but said that there is a wide range of possibilities.

“It’s not easy for anyone doing any kind of job action, any sanctions, which could include withdrawal of voluntary service like extracurricular or it could include up to a full scale walk out.

Nobody wants to do that, and nobody wants it to get to those points, but that said, how do you make a difference if you don’t take a stand once in a while and let government know that you’re not going to be pushed around?”

February 6 - February 12, 2020

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 5

news

Traitorous Trudeau supports local small business Tim’s gets short shrift isaac tamlin contributor On Jan. 20 Justin Trudeau was seen buying doughnuts for a day full of cabinet meetings from Oh Doughnuts, a local business located in Winnipeg. However, some people were outraged that this doughnut shop sells their doughnuts for a whopping $35 per dozen regular, or an even pricier $47 per dozen for specialty doughnuts. With the growing deficit, people were outraged to see Trudeau buying expensive doughnuts when the good old Canadian staple, Tim Hortons, was just down the way for a much more sensible $10 a dozen.

But how bad was buying from Oh Doughnuts? As Oh Doughnuts pointed out in a response on Twitter, they are a locally owned business and they employ 30 people who have a benefit plan. They pay their employees a liveable wage, not a minimum wage. They buy all their ingredients locally, and make their doughnuts fresh, in store, daily. They even do their part for the environment by composting their organic waste and recycling their packaging. They could be the poster child for an ethical Canadian small business.

Tim Hortons on the other hand, can hardly be called a

Canadian business. After their 2014 takeover by Burger King, merging into what is now known as Restaurant Brand International, Tim Hortons is 51 per cent owned by 3G Capital, an American-Brazilian firm. While their headquarters are located in Toronto, only a third of their board has to be made up of Canadians. And it’s only a little suspicious that Burger King merged with Tim Hortons involving a tax inversion into Canada at a time when the business corporate tax rate in America was 39 per cent while Canada had a lower tax rate of 26 per cent.

That’s not the only issue with Tim Hortons. They have been removing breaks and benefits from their staff in order to cut costs.

They continue to pay their employees minimum wage, and not a dime more, and they are constantly fighting against unionization. There’s even been a recent controversy in Winnipeg where Tim Hortons locked out their own employees over a 10-cent raise. They also do not compost, and their cups continue to have a plastic film in them, so they cannot be recycled, resulting in them creating literally tonnes of trash every year.

In short, the decision to buy doughnuts from Oh Doughnuts may have been a simple decision

Pixabay with manipulation by John Loeppky

As Canadian as capitalism

from a snacky Prime Minister, but he made a choice to go with a more ethical and environmental company, and supported a growing small business. That was an important sale to the small business, whereas a similar sale would mean nothing to Tim Hortons.

Sometimes, doing the ethical,

environmental thing costs a little more. Now if the government would apply that decision-making strategy to their politics as much as they do their doughnut purchases, then we might get somewhere.

“In short, the decision to buy doughnuts from Oh Doughnuts may have been a simple decision from a snacky Prime Minister, but he made a choice to go with a more ethical and environmental company, and supported a growing small business” – Issac Tamlin

Arts & Culture

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Editor: ethan butterfield aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | February 6 - February 12, 2020

Developers reach high score at Global Game Jam Regina Gaming never looked so good

marty grande-sherbert staff writer Many of us love to play games – video games, board games, or tabletop RPGs. Many of us also take for granted, though, that for any game to exist, a great amount of labour is needed for everything: creating a script, writing a code, creating sprites for every NPC, or designing the actual rules so that they make sense and don’t fall apart. For all of these jobs, we have game developers to thank, and for people who are really enthusiastic about games, the game industry can be an absolute dream job – or, if it’s really just a labour of love, a super time-consuming but equally fulfilling hobby.

Learning all the necessary skills to successfully develop your own games, though, can be a long and difficult road. “Game jams” are events that attempt to start people making games, events that also ease the discomfort when it comes to the development learning curve. In a game jam, people come together to create a game in a certain amount of limited time.

At the end of the jam, no matter how many bugs the game has – whether people have a complete game or not – participants can know that they at the very least produced something and learned something about game development.

One of these jams, the annual Global Game Jam (GGJ) in Regina, took place at Innovation Place just off campus this week from Friday, Jan. 31 to Sunday, February 2. The GGJ takes place all over the world every year, with new countries joining all the time.

Marty Grande-Sherbert

Look at all those games

“Think of it as a hackathon focused on game development,” the GGJ website explains. On Friday, the registered participants of the jam gather in their respective physical locations (Innovation Place, in Regina’s case), and watch a keynote presentation with advice from game developers.

Then, they spend the next day and the morning after working on and finalizing their games, until they present demos for all participants on Sunday morning.

The GGJ’s website boasts that it is the largest game jam event in the world that takes place at physical locations, and there are a number of traits it has that keep it particularly interesting and easy to join. First, people of all experience levels are welcome at the GGJ; it’s okay if you’ve never designed a game before. Second, you can also design board games at the GGJ! Personally, I’ve recently been very interested in tabletop development and design, so this was the thing that caught my interest.

Third, every GGJ has a theme, announced on the Friday to get the developers thinking about what their game could be about. There are also a number of “diversifiers” if the brainstorming still isn’t kicking in – these are interesting gameplay quirks or fun twists that the games could be designed with, such as the “conlang” diversifier, where the game incorporates a fictional language, or the “feel your breath” diversifier, where gameplay makes the player physically out of breath.

The Carillon attended the

GGJ Regina game demos on Sunday afternoon, where about 20 games were presented. This was a very impressive turnout, according to Kai Hutchence and Johannes Moersch, who were two of the organizers and lead developers at this year’s jam. The average number of games at a physical location is generally around 11, and Regina regularly has one of the largest sites for the game jam in Canada.

“Turnout was amazing this year,” Hutchence said in a final speech after the demos. “If we band together, we can do amazing things . .. the future is bright for game dev in Saskatchewan, thanks to all of you.” Hutchence also commended Regina in particular for the way it develops games in a small community: “Regina might not have a history with the [gaming] industry, but what we do have is that prairie spirit.”

Here are just a few of the cool, creative, and downright fun-sounding games that were presented as demos at Global Game Jam Regina 2020. The theme this year was repair.

Truly Ghostly: A game where you play as the ghost of someone who has died a tragic death, able to interact with objects and NPCs in the world without being seen.

Your mission in the game is to repair your widowed wife’s relationships with her friends and future spouses. It uses pixel graphics, a comedic script, and is described by its small development team as an “Undertale-type” game. Made in the Unity engine.

Busted Beach: You move onto an island inhabited by villagers whose houses, and relationships, have all been destroyed, and have to repair them all. There are plenty of side quests, and as you complete them, the music of the game gets more complex.

You can also create your beach village’s theme song at the beginning of the game; this gave me an Animal Crossing vibe. Also some funny dialogue. Includes a starfish character named Chad.

control the helicopter Co-op uses to helicopter its scab workers to the refinery, and the more scabs you take to work, the more inefficiently the refinery is run. Essentially, if you’re good at the game, the flares inside the refinery will become so dangerous they cause the apocalypse. If you don’t take any scabs in, the picketers outside the refinery will succeed in their negotiations, and you’ll lose the game – but the world won’t end.

Games are art!

Scandal: A board game where players are space politicians, trying to “repair” their broken reputations. You receive a random scandal on a card – a deep, dark secret that can be revealed or overcome – and have five rounds to gather support and votes before the big election. Includes “voting blocks” that the politicians can appeal to with made-up space demographics, and the abilities to fundraise, take a bribe, do some opposition research, or even engage in gerrymandering.

Segfault: A meta-game where you have to fix your broken game’s code from the inside by completing in-game quests. This one had some absolutely awesome music with original singing in a conlang! Whew!

Geoff’s Workshop: This was actually a fully functional escape room that one developing team set up in a tent inside Innovation Place. In it, you try to find an old toyshop owner’s lost marble that will activate a Rube Goldberg machine inside. Finding the marble requires that you solve some puzzles, having to do with the toys inside his toyshop.

Co-op Copters: A game made in solidarity with the Unifor workers who have been locked out of the Co-op refinery since Dec. 5. You

If any of these games sound fun, and you’d like to see which other ones are out there, the Mackenzie Art Gallery will be holding a free “show-off night” on Thursday that wants to display these new games in an artistic context. John Carol from the Gallery says this is an effort to “bridge the gap between the art ... and game scene,” two worlds that certainly can and should overlap.

February 6 - February 12, 2020

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |7

arts & culture

Banding with Butterfield: Theory of a Deadman Say Nothing or say something ethan butterfield a&c editor Theory (or as they’re formerly known, Theory of a Deadman) is a well-recognized name within the realm of Canadian rock ’n’ roll. From the emergence of their self-titled album, to the major success of Scars and Souvenirs, to finding their new sound in their newest album Say Nothing, Theory has been able to produce songs that span the years and provide listeners with something interesting each time.

On the subject of Say Nothing, I was fortunate enough to discuss Theory’s new release with bassist Dean Back, who discussed the album’s relevance, the songs, and what the future holds.

So, the band was originally called Theory of a Deadman, but has since been shortened to Theory, why the name change?

I think it’s something that, over the years, people have started referring to us as Theory.

Theory of a Deadman is a long tongue-twister of a name. And I think that, for people that might not be familiar with our music, I think there’s a picture, when you hear that name, I don’t think it represents what the band is all about. I think it also sort of signals an artistic change in the band, we were progressing as a band and our music was changing a bit. And I think it’s easier to say Theory. Other bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, nobody calls them the Red Hot Chili Peppers, they’re the Chili Peppers. Stuff like that, I think it’s easier.

How do you guys feel about the new album, Say Nothing, being so close to release [at the time of writing]?

Oh, it’s so exciting, this record was finished just last spring. So, we’ve been sitting on it for a while now, and we’re super pumped that the day is finally coming tomorrow [Jan. 31]. We’re super proud that the way that this record came out. Our new single, “History of Violence,” is out right now and getting great feedback, people are connecting with it. We’ve started playing it live and the reaction to the song is amazing, and we just can’t wait for everyone to hear the rest of the material.

How do you guys feel coming back to Regina?

Ah, we love getting out to the prairies. It’s been awhile since we’ve been in Regina. We’re excited to get back. It’s funny, ‘cause Canada, we always tour in the middle of winter; not sure why that is [laughter]. We expect it to be cold. I’ve packed my mitts and my scarf, and ready to do it.

Yeah, the fans and the people in the prairies are just so awesome, we love seeing them, such friendly people. We’re excited to get there.

Now, there’s a greater focus on heavy topics with the release of this album. How do you go from singing the songs you did in Scars and Souvenirs like “Hate My Life” to

singing songs like “History of Violence” in Say Nothing?

Right, I think it’s a progression of the band. We’ve grown up as people and as songwriters.

I think those Theory of a Deadman songs in the past have been written, and we’re excited to explore new topics. I think Tyler (the lead singer) as a lyricist, on the last record Wake Up Call, he wrote a song called “Rx.” The lyrics were about the opioid crisis in the world and how it was affecting people, and it was so nerve-wracking to release that song because it was a heavy topic.

And something like that is something the band has historically never really done. So, we were really putting ourselves out there, and the song was reacted to so well. And, for a year and a half of touring, there were countless people thanking us for shedding a light on this topic. It made their life easier knowing that there’s other people out there, it created a bit of a community where people could talk about it and remove a bit of a stigma. So I think, that was kind of like the green light for Tyler to lyrically look at other things in the world that are worth

talking about and worth getting in touch, and letting other people know that are struggling with other problems that there’s help out there and you’re not alone.

It also gives us an opportunity to partner with charities and associations that help people that are struggling. We’re selling pens at our show now, with all of the proceeds going to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. I just think that it’s a progression of the band, and just us growing up as people and maturing. \For those wishing to catch Theory’s Regina show, they’ll be

performing at the Casino Regina on Feb. 13.

“… for a year and a half of touring, there were countless people thanking us for shedding a light on this topic.”

– Dean Back

Wikimedia Commons

A shot from a tour stop in Leeds

February 6 - February 12, 2020

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |

arts & culture

8

Every Brilliant Thing review The theatre seen ‘round the “globe”

adeoluwa atayero contributor For whatever reason, when I think of a one-person show, the first word that comes to mind is cringe. It may have something to do with the many parodies I have seen over the years or maybe it is my fascination with the audacity of an actor who thinks that they, and they alone, are enough to entertain an audience for a long period of time. Whatever it is, It didn’t leave me thrilled to see Burnt Thicket’s production of Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe.

Upon entering the venue, I noticed how small and intimate the performance space was.

While I was still taking in the ambience of the venue, a very bubbly Jenna-Lee Hyde (the one and only cast and performer) walked up to me and handed over a piece of paper which read “525924Track 7 on every great record”.

Then she said, “During the show, I’m going to call out the number 525924 and I’m going to need you to shout out the words on this paper. Can you do that for me?”.

I nodded fervently and attempted to return the saccharin induced

EveryBrilliantThing_Archival029

Every Brilliant Thing came to stage across Canada this year

bubbly smile she still had on. She said thank you and moved on to the next person. Now I was intrigued.

In a matter of minutes, the lights dimmed and the show began. On the surface level, one could summarily describe Every Brilliant Thing as a 75-minute play about a girl who grows up with a suicidal mother and how this affects her psyche as she becomes a woman. However, for those who experienced the magic that is Jenna-Lee Hyde for those 75 minutes, it was much more than that. It was stand-up comedy act, a trip down nostalgia boulevard, a tragedy, and a therapy session all rolled into one.

First of all, I have to admit that I was wrong about the play being a solo show. Every member of the audience was given a piece of paper like I was and had a role to play at some point during the course of the show. Kudos to Jenna-Lee for picking the perfect personalities for the various roles and making the superbly choreographed show feel spontaneous and seamless. The audience got to play an array of characters

such as: The veterinarian, her father, her love interest and the old couple who gives her juice. The show begins with her mother’s first suicidal attempt when she was seven. In an attempt to make her mother feel better, Jenna’s character begins to make a list of brilliant things. The list begins with very naive and bright things like “wearing a cape” and “rollercoaster”. As she grows older, however, the list becomes her survival mechanism for dealing with hurt leading up to the moment her mother finally taker her own life. The collaborative element of the show, where audience members read out one brilliant thing that the main character had taken note of, became an introspective experience that many of the audience members probably did not foresee.

Jenna’s ability to transition between comic and drama queen within the blink of an eye was the true marvel of the show. She took us on a very bumpy life journey but told each story distinctly and captivatingly. There was a moment in the show when Jenna’s character calls her elementary

school counsellor years after her mother commits suicide that had the entire room teary-eyed and in sniffles. The breaks in Jenna’s voice and the waning innocence in her eyes made her performance more than believable, it made it real.

Duncan Macmillan’s masterful dialogue is also praiseworthy as it carries a pace and emotional connection that can only be described as genius. Aiding Macmillan’s dialogue and Jenna’s acting prowess was Charlie Peters’ lighting. The show had no intermission but every time you would begin to be tempted to think about the show’s running time, something would happen with the lighting to draw you deeper into the show.

It cemented the intimate and engaging dynamics of the play in a way that was impressive because of how naturally and timely the switches occurred.

The play, which was shown during mental awareness week at the University of Regina, is an amazing conversation starter for the topic of depression and suicide. What makes this play particularly spectacular is how delicate-

ly it handles the “second-hand smoke” effect it has on the family and loved ones of those left behind.

Without a brilliant cast and crew, a show like Every Brilliant Thing runs the risk of being overlaboured, lifeless and being too cathartic. However, the show was handled with a team of people who knew what their job description was – make people think but also make them feel good. Not once did one outshine the other and not one beat was missed in the entire 75 minutes. Possibly one of the more brilliant additions to theatre in recent history, this production was without a doubt a triumph on every level.

“… for those who experienced the magic that is Jenna-Lee Hyde for those 75 minutes, it was much more than that. It was stand-up comedy act, a trip down nostalgia boulevard, a tragedy and a therapy session all rolled into one.” – Adeoluwa Atayero

February 6 - February 12, 2020

arts & culture

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |

9

Breaking Benjamin – Aurora Review Remixes and remasters

ethan butterfield a&c editor It’s no secret to those who know me that I’m a massive fan of the hard rock group, Breaking Benjamin. I’m actually hoping to get a tattoo of their logo on my arm one day soon. Instead, the tale Breaking Benjamin recently released their brand-new album of old and new reimagined classics.

The band, who changed their line-up semi-recently due to legal issues, put together a wonderfully atmospheric and almost haunting musical alignment (look at all those words that show I go to a university).

The album, titled Aurora, not only features reimagined classics, but also collaborations from other artists. One of my favourite tracks, “Dance with the Devil” from Phobia, Adam Gontier (formerly of Three Days Grace and currently of saint Ansonia) lends his well-known vocals to help propel an already fantastic song further skyward. Another is “Failure,” originally introduced in Breaking Benjamin’s last album Dark Before Dawn, which features Michael Barnes of rock group Red. Lastly, the song “Dear Agony” from the album of the same name gives us a duet with Lacey Strum of Flyleaf. Now that’s what I call a callback.

Moving away from collaborators and getting into the actual remixes, I swear that Breaking Benjamin actually fixes a few of their more debatable (in terms of quality) songs. For example, “Red Cold River” from

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Album review sans a bassist

their newest album Ember, felt a little harder sound-wise, but the smoothed-out guitar and vocals make for a much more fluid experience. Another track, “Failure” (as mentioned above), felt way more heavy than necessary and the Aurora version, once again, simplifies it.

I think the thing that really stands out most about this album is the fact that Breaking Benjamin is not afraid of reworking their old music. They’re not one of those bands that looks at a song they’ve created and sees it as a one and done. They reimagine, redo, reuse, recycle, and turn it into something new. Although it’s different, it still retains that classic sound that everyone (or every fan) knows from them. They don’t slowly work their way into a new genre and try to branch out to a newer fanbase for the sake of having a younger, newer fanbase.

They know what they know, and they rock it almost every time.

All in all, everything about this album, whether it been the remixes, the collaborations, or the actually meaning behind the bands thought process, it all screams Breaking Benjamin.

Sure, some might view it as angsty rock, but its angsty rock that I absolutely live for. From “So Cold” to “Dear Agony”, I love it all and cannot wait for what this band has in store. Fingers crossed for a full-length acoustic album – not like we’ve been waiting or anything.

Sports

10 Editor: tyler meadows sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | February 6 - February 12, 2020

Cougars reflect on heightened exposure NHL festivities highlight the women’s game

brian palaschuk sports writer The NHL’s best gathered in St. Louis Jan. 24 and 25 for the 2020 All-Star weekend to participate in the usual overhyped skills competitions such as fastest skater, hardest shot, and the sluggish 3-on-3 tournaments. However, at this year’s iteration, twenty women made the trek to the music city to advertise a product that has been poorly marketed to the sporting community: women’s hockey.

NHL fans will fondly recall Kendall Coyne-Schofield’s cameo at the 2019 edition of the event where she flew around the NHL ice in 14.3 seconds, shy of McDavid’s winning 13.3, but faster than Arizona’s Clayton Keller and on par with many of the male skaters. After the media storm that ensued, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upped the ante for 2020, promising a full 3-on-3 game between the top women’s hockey players from Canada and the United States.

Unlike the usual sloppy men’s game, the women’s 3-on3 brought welcome speed and excitement. It was end-to-end action with Canada’s star Philip Marie-Poulin leading the way with her smooth skating and incredible hands. Both Alex Cavellini and Anne Renee Desbiens put on a show for the St. Louis crowd in their respective nets.

The Canadian women won 2-1 and it made for the best hockey of the weekend. For Cougar Women’s Hockey captain Jaycee Magwood, the game brings great exposure for the sport.

“I think it’s very important for the women to get the exposure and for people to see how much skill the women have to offer. Kendall Coyne’s fastest skater time just proved how talented the women are compared to some of the best men in the world.”

The Killarney, Manitoba native was exposed to hockey through her brothers, but quickly became aware of women’s hockey.

“I grew up in a hockey family with an older brother and a twin brother. My family all played hockey before me so naturally that’s what I started to do when I was old enough to learn to skate.

Growing up I remember Cassie Campbell as one of my hockey idols.”

Magwood splits her fandom between the men and women’s leagues but appreciates the importance of exposure to grow the women’s game.

“I really enjoy watching both women’s professional and NHL hockey. I think that if the women’s game had more media time it would be a lot easier for more people to keep up with their games and support both the men and women.”

Cougars Head Coach Sarah Hodges also weighed in on the Elite Women’s 3-on-3 competition.

“I think it’s important just to get that exposure. I think the athletes are really good and it’s a good sport. It’s a different sport and I think mainstream people aren’t exposed to it enough, so I think for it to be at the All-Star game is huge.”

“It is a different game, but I think the athletes are equally as talented and more talented in some areas than the men.”

Coach Hodges makes a great point. The leagues are not the same, but one is not necessarily inferior to the other; varsity hockey backs this up. Speaking as a fan, I do not have a preference between men’s and women’s varsity hockey and the rest of the fans seem to agree. Across Canada West, men’s and women’s hockey post very similar attendance numbers, ranging from 100-300 fans per game. Of course, this doesn’t hold up at all in the professional level where women’s hockey has perennially struggled.

The inclusion of Elite women’s 3-on-3 by Bettman couldn’t have come at a better time for women’s hockey. One of the two premier women’s hockey leagues, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, folded on May 1, 2019, just two years after adding financial stipends for the players. With the league folding, there is just one professional women’s hockey league left, the National Women’s Hockey league. Despite the existence of the current league, the opportunities for athletes are still lacking, especially the financial ones. Because of this, Coach Sarah Hodges, says that calling the current system “professional” is a bit of a stretch.

“I think to call the old league professional is kind of disingenuous.”

Hodges cites the experience of Cougar alumni Toni Ross.

Ross, who was a Canada West All-Star during her Cougars career from 2011-2016, went on to represent the Calgary Inferno in the CWHL. Like many players who are not top tier stars in the women’s hockey world, Ross had to do much of her travel and practice at her own expense. Having the income to practise is one of the problems Hodges identifies with women’s hockey.

“Hopefully they can get something back together that works. I don’t think you need to be paid a huge salary, but you need to be able to practise every day. That’s the good thing about university, they are able to practise every day.”

For current Cougars captain Jaycee Magwood, her future is still uncertain.

“At this point I am applying into policing, but also keeping my options open. A few girls that I

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The women showcase their skills

used to play hockey against have went overseas and it looks like a lot of fun, so I’m not one-hundred-percent sure of my future plans.”

Magwood is one of Canada West’s elite players, ranking sixth in points and third in goals in the conference. For her, the disbanding of the CWHL and subsequent lack of opportunity in North America has been a major setback, but she still has hope for the future.

“For sure it’s a setback for women’s hockey after all the progress the women’s game has made over those few years. It obviously affects this generation of female hockey players but with all of the effort and support the women are putting back into the game it will hopefully pay off for the next generation.”

This support has been strong in recent months from all aspects of the hockey community. In May of 2019, the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association was founded to lobby for player rights. Since then they have been working to grow the game and help to build a program with viable salaries for their athletes.

They have received vocal support from NHL personalities such as Tie Domi, Ron Maclean and Paul Bissonnette. NWHL teams have also partnered with NHL teams, such is the case with the

Boston Pride and Boston Bruins.

Canadian Athlete Assistance carding is another source of income for the players, but that too is lacking. For all women’s hockey players in Canada there are just 40 cards available. These cards range from development cards to senior cards, and financial allowance ranges from $1000 CAD to $1700 CAD per month. For post-graduate athletes without sponsorships or other financial support systems, this is hardly enough income to survive. The carding criteria are also innately subjective, which means that it is difficult to allocate the 40 available cards to the best players.

While there are opportunities right now for the top women’s hockey players, the real problem is for players like Magwood who are in transition. For men at a similar age and skill level, there are three major leagues in North America: the ECHL, AHL and NHL, as well as numerous leagues in Europe. While women’s hockey can deliver a potentially better product than those leagues, especially lower tiered leagues like the ECHL, they do not have the chance. Coach Hodges summarizes the bottom line: “There’s not a lot of opportunities, which I think is a bad thing for those athletes.”

Many people in the hockey community have weighed

in on the problem of getting women’s hockey out there and making it profitable. The CEO of the always controversial Barstool Sports, Erika Nardini, who helped to build the media empire, suggested potentially using a tournament-based model to grow women’s hockey.

“You go ten weekends a year, six games, it’s a festival environment.”

In opposition, the WNBA uses a similar model as the NHL to varying degrees of success. Per the New York Times, the WNBA has lost over 10 million USD in every year of its existence. This comes despite the league gaining increasing television viewership overtime, with the hope being that eventually the league will reach a point of profitability. Whatever the solution is for women’s hockey, the first step is clear: to increase viewership and awareness.

The NHL’s Elite women’s 3-on-3 was a great step in the right direction, but they need to do more to promote women’s hockey so that players like Magwood can get the opportunities they deserve.

February 6 - February 12, 2020

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 11

sports

Chiefs win for first time in 50 years Where did you watch the big game? At Mahomes…

ethan butterfield a & c editor Well, Patrick Mahomes is going to be the new Tom Brady isn’t he? Oh no, go ahead and take the league by storm. What?

Kansas City is down by 10 late in the fourth? Meh, just throw a couple of touchdowns, energize your defence to make a couple of key stops and there you have it, your very own Super Bowl.

Honestly, why do we even play the other three quarters of football? Mahomes may as well have his own custom-made visor that just shows it’s the fourth quarter every quarter, the man would put up eight TD’s a game … I’m not upset, you’re upset.

So yeah, if you didn’t hear the 49ers lost in the big game and the Kansas City Chiefs took home the ultimate prize of the NFL. Me being salty aside, it was actually a pretty decent game all things considered. There was never a dull moment throughout, it was tense, it was high-octane, it was some other term that sports broadcasters never fail to repeat again and again. When it was 1010 heading into the second half, I thought, “This is going to go to

Saden via Flickr

Chiefs win 31-20

overtime isn’t it? And Mahomes is going to score, isn’t he?” Well, yes, but no.

Props where props are due, Patrick won the Super Bowl MVP (deservedly so). You can’t argue the kind of talent that is put on display game after game with this young QB. The man is 24 years old and he just played on the biggest stage of them all like it was Thursday Night Football. Let me say that again: 24! I’m 25! Really puts my life in perspective, I’ll tell ya. Mahomes is killing it and his run of success doesn’t look to be slowing in the slightest.

Now, before moving on to other aspects of the Super Bowl, I’ll make a quick statement about the status of my Carillon Super Bowl prediction streak, it took a harder dive than the Falcon’s Super Bowl lead. 2-1 as it stands now. Honestly, it’s kind of a relief because now I don’t have to annoy everybody with this anymore. I’m sure my editor-in-chief is more thankful than most (probably the sports editor as well). [EIC’s Note: No Comment] Super Bowl 54 was quite the

event. The halftime was actually pretty decent this time around.

Mostly because Adam Levine wasn’t taking off another article of clothing every time he thought he was losing the crowd (yeah, you look hot Adam, but maybe if you performed better people would actually pay attention). No, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira (who were more than a little suggestive, I’ll admit) decided instead to, you know, put on a halftime show during the Super Bowl halftime.

Crazy how that works. I personally wasn’t familiar with most of the songs of display, but they were enjoyable enough and I didn’t find myself saying “play the one everyone knows!”

The second half was one momentum shift after another.

Kansas City seemed to be doing well, and then San Francisco would make an interception, but then Kansas City would make a hell of a drive and control the ball well. It was really just a back-andforth type of game. I thought the 49ers had things in the bag when they went up on Kansas City with six minutes left in the game, but

then Mahomes did the Mahomes thing, and Kelce did the Kelce thing and they won. I would try to describe that better, but that’s literally what happened.

Also, Chris Jones of the Kansas City defence was all over the ball. Every time Jimmy Garoppolo thought he had a clear avenue to throw, Jones would sneak a hand up and swat it out of the air. So, congrats to the Chiefs’ defence showing up to the big game. There were other big play-makers, of course, but I feel Jones deserved the most praise for his presence in-game. [Editor’s Note: Props to Eric Fisher who kept Nick Bosa from sacking Mahomes 10 times. Any other tackle would have given up 10 sacks].

Also, I’ll just make this statement here. For fans of Kansas City that came out to the game dressed up in certain attire, that’s not okay, and you know the fans that I’m talking about. Yeah, it’s the Super Bowl, but racism doesn’t stop being racism.

Super Bowl 54 was actually a solid entry into the catalogue of big games. I mean, it was way

better than that New England Patriots versus Los Angeles Rams game, what was the final score in that one? 13 – 3? Yeah, I’ll take a 31 to 20 final total over that any day of the week. Not that there isn’t something to be said for defensive Super Bowls but, you know, score.

“… but then Mahomes did the Mahomes thing, and Kelce did the Kelce thing and they won. I would try to describe that better, but that’s literally what happened.” – Ethan Butterfield

February 6 - February 12, 2020

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 12

sports

Amou Madol is a Cougar and a unicorn

Regina athlete represents on track and in the field

brian palaschuk sports writer Competing at the Golden Bear Open Track and Field competition on January 17, Amou Madol of the University of Regina Cougars made her U Sports automatic qualifying time for the second time in her two years of U Sports eligibility. At the meet she jumped 1.71m, a personal best and better than her Canada West bronze medal performance in 2019. The jump was a big step in the right direction for the second year Cougar.

“It was actually very exciting because last year I auto qualified, but this year was more exciting I think because to be able to do it again shows that I’ve grown and become better and that’s also a personal best so it was a good feeling to jump higher this year.”

However, even more impressive than Madol’s jumping prowess is her multi-sport versatility.

The biology major who aspires to go into pharmacy represents the Cougars in both track and field and soccer. Madol is a unicorn; it is incredibly rare for an athlete to reach the elite varsity level in one sport, let alone two. So how did

University of Regina Athletics

Madol shines on pitch and in the pit

Madol end up competing in two wildly different disciplines?

“I’ve been playing soccer since I was 10, so I’ve always been doing soccer, and I kind of just did track for school and for fun. I’ve always been more serious about soccer, but then in high school I did track a bit more and then Wade [Huber, the Cougars Track and Field coach] approached me and talked to me about it. He opened my eyes to the possibility of doing both.”

Madol is a product of Regina’s own development system.

She played soccer through the local ranks and competed for Archbishop M.C. O’Neil High School on the track. While many athletes are well-rounded, to an outside perspective, the running-dominant sport of soccer and the explosive jumping events in track seem incongruous. I asked Madol how she discovered her aptitude for high jump.

“I didn’t really do long distance in track, I kind of was a sprinter, so high jump kind of came with that and I just started jumping.”

Madol “just started jump-

ing,” and she hasn’t stopped since, posting a top-ten finish in her rookie U Sports season. She is already looking for more.

“I think in my first year when I did go to Nationals, I was very nervous and intimidated by all the other athletes. I didn’t feel like I really belonged in that atmosphere even though I did auto-qualify.”

“This year I want to go in and be more confident and just control what I can and compete.”

Before she gets back to Nationals, Madol will attempt to defend her medal at the Canada West Championships in Saskatoon on Feb. 21 and 22. However, the medal is the last thing on her mind heading into the meet.

“When I approach competition, I just go in thinking that I want to jump my best, I don’t really set a goal where I want to medal, but that would be a bonus.

I go in and just jump because I know I can and whatever happens from there I take it.”

Madol is one of the leaders on a Track team that is on the rise. In 2020 the team already has posted several auto-qualify-

ing times and even a U Sports leading performance in the men’s 4×800m relay. As someone on the inside, even Madol has been impressed by her team’s performance.

“I think the track team is doing very well this season all the different groups, the jumpers, the distance runners, the sprinters, they are all elevating so that’s good to see.”

Madol’s two sports are about as different as it gets. In soccer, she plays centre-back, a defensive position that is about sitting back and controlling play of the game.

In track, she is in one of the most high-pressure explosive events, one where you have just seconds to decide the fate of a season’s work. I had to ask, which one does she prefer?

“I don’t think I could really choose because I like both for different reasons. Soccer is more of a team atmosphere where in track I kind of focus on my own thing.”

Madol’s schedule truly epitomizes that of a multi-sport athlete, and she credits her coaches for helping her to manage the demands of these wildly different

disciplines.

“Wade (Huber) and Bob (Maltman) do a really job of making sure I don’t overwork myself.

In the soccer season I just focus more on soccer stuff, and then once the soccer season is over, I go to track and in the summer I try to do both.”

Madol also acknowledges that it isn’t easy to have success across two sports, and she is grateful for the opportunity she has been given.

“I really enjoy it. I try not to take any day for granted because I am just thankful, I was able to do both because not a lot of people do. I take it day-by-day, enjoy every day and just train hard.”

“I really enjoy it. I try not to take any day for granted because I am just thankful, I was able to do both because not a lot of people do. I take it day-by-day, enjoy every day and just train hard.”

– Amou Madol

February 6 - February 12, 2020

sports

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |

13

Men show vulnerable side, and it’s okay!

WHAT? Men can cry on tv too???

tyler meadows sports editor Mental health awareness is so prominent in media right now for all the right reasons. Now sometimes this can be just lip service; however, after the tragic passing of nine people in a helicopter accident on Jan. 26 that included basketball icon Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and other members of the sports community, I witnessed something meaningful. Men crying on television.

Not only did men cry on television but they videotaped themselves and put it on social media for everyone to see. This may not seem important, but I view it as a huge step forward in promoting mental health awareness and what real masculinity is about.

It sucks losing a close friend, and to many NBA players that is what Kobe Bryant was to them.

I saw and heard grown men crying on television for everyone to see, grown men supporting each other in a difficult time, and that is something that has rarely been seen on a grand scale. Dwyane Wade posted a video of himself on his Instagram story, talking about his feelings, weeping while he spoke. To me that is such an important message to the young fans around the world. Men cry, and it’s okay to cry when we are hurting like that. Losing someone very dear to us is not a time to stuff all that emotion down, lock the lid and wait to explode on a

random person or a loved one.

We can share that emotion and our peers will not call us names for us, we will not be labelled as weak, or “not a real man”.

More to this point, nearly every person I saw interviewed and asked questions were either trying their best to hold back the tears or sobbing openly. Journalists were doing the same. Everyone that I listened to, whether they had met Kobe or not, talked about their empathy for the loved ones who are left behind to mourn. They were able to express that sadness even thinking about how they would feel if it was their loved one who was gone, or how their loved ones would feel if it happened to them. To me this is a welcomed change in the media. I don’t want to see more tragedy, but when there is tragedy, I hope that no one will feel ashamed to feel their feelings. Those feelings of loss, tragedy, and empathy are a part of the human experience that we all share together. I watched, listened, and read at least 50 hours of coverage of the helicopter tragedy and came away feeling much better about humanity because of kindness and sincerity displayed.

Now to get all hippie on you, hopefully that can translate into everyday life, because the world can always use more love and kindness. Peace out. man (read in the voice of Tommy Chong)!

Alexandru Manole from Pixabay

Kobe was one of nine who died in a helicopter crash in February

Sinclair sets new international goals record 185 goals and counting for the Canadian legend.

elisabeth sahlmueller staff writer Last Wednesday Christine Sinclair, the Canadian women’s soccer team captain made sports history. After scoring her 185th goal, Sinclair set a new international record for most goals scored, a record previously held by American Abby Wambach. Sinclair’s 185th goal was one of two which she scored during the team’s first match of the CONCACAF championships.

Seven minutes into gameplay, a penalty kick earned Sinclair her first goal, which was followed shortly by a second after an assist from forward Adriana Leon at the 26 minute mark. These two goals contributed to the team’s 11-0 victory over the St. Kitts and Nevis team and enabled Sinclair to tie and then topple Wambach’s previous record. Now, Sinclair is regarded as “the world’s all-time leading scorer,” a significant and extremely well-deserved accomplishment for this talented, passionate, modest and inspirational athlete (as quoted on a CBC online article).

For the past 20 years, Sinclair has impressed the world with her skill and “inspired many people and players along the way.” I’ve

always been amazed by Sinclair’s performance and a similar attitude is emphasized by third year University of Regina soccer player, Taylor Bubnick. “It [is] always exciting to watch her play.” She has “a type of magic that [encourages] me to work hard at practice and strive towards excellence.”

Bubnick also has a deep appreciation for Sinclair. “The longevity of her career … [proves] she takes excellent care of herself [in terms of] her nutrition, recovery, training and fitness.” She also considers Sinclair very admirable because she always “[directs] the spotlight away from herself and talks about the team and [their] performance.”

Prior to this match, Sinclair stated that although she was excited for the opportunity to break this record and proud of all she has achieved throughout her career [so far], she was more focused on doing well in this, and subsequent CONCAF matches, in order for the team to advance to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

“I’d like to get it over with … in a positive way … so that it doesn’t become] a focus for the team in the coming weeks” (quoted from an online CityNews article).

Unsurprisingly, Sinclair’s opportunity to break this record

University of Regina Athletics

Sinclair inspires Bubnick (9)

gained significant media coverage over the past few months. As Bubnick stated “185 goals don’t just happen, they take years of hard work and performing when it matters most.”

After seeing Sinclair break this record, Bubnick, myself, and many others who have closely followed this story were “ecstatic.” Immediately after her 185th goal, there was an explosion of congratulatory messages circulating on social media, including

one from former record holder Mia Hamm, which stated “You continue to carry yourself and the game to new heights” (as quoted on an online Sportsnet article).

Bubnick also emphasized how Sinclair has been an incredible role model for Canadian youth. With Sinclair’s accomplishment, “the younger generation of soccer players” have an incredible opportunity to dream bigger … [and believe in] the idea that one day they too, can achieve

something great.”

To quote Prime Minister Trudeau, “congratulations @Sincy12 - you rock!”

Op-ed

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Editor: taylor balfour op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | February 6 - February 12, 2020

On losing my younger sister This section contains multiple trigger warnings for death, suicide, and accidental drug use. For those who need support, counselling services is available at 306-585-4491 and Mobile Crisis can be contacted at 306-7570127. Much love, the staff.

Wow. I never thought I would ever need to write an article like this, but here I am.

My name is Taylor, and on Feb. 2, 2019, my little sister Rachel passed away all alone in her university dorm room. Her body wasn’t found until Feb. 5, 2019.

By the time this article is published, the one-year anniversary of her death will have passed. I will be in Vancouver, holding the hands of my loved ones, crying over the fact that my best friend, my life partner, the friend who saw me through everything, is gone forever.

The past year of my life has been a blur, but calling it a nightmare is an understatement.

On Feb. 5, 2019, I woke up at my then-boyfriend’s house. I went to my creative writing class, passed time by browsing through Facebook instead of working on homework, and got a text from my Dad that initiated the worst anxiety I would ever feel in my life: “Have you heard from your sister?”

My gut assumption was that my sister was mad at my parents for something. I figured that I’d text her – seeing as we talked about everything – and would ask if something was wrong. To this day, I hate that the message I sent her was: “Yo dude, how’s life?”

Two hours later, I arrived at home. I found my Mom in her room, crying, telling me that she called the day off work and booked an emergency flight to Edmonton.

“I think she’s unwell, and you two mean the world to me.” She had said to me.

Hours later, while I was up in my room attempting to eat, wanting to stop worrying about how none of us had heard from her in almost four days, there was a knock on the front door. I felt my stomach clench when I heard a voice I didn’t recognize say, “Are you Mrs. Balfour?”

The rest of that day feels like a blur.

I remember exiting my bedroom, wanting to see who it was, and stumbling down the stairs when I spotted a police officer in my living room. I will never forget the sound of him saying “I’m sorry to tell you this, but your daughter was found deceased this morning.” I remember bits and pieces of the sounds of screaming and crying.

I remember watching my parents collapse onto the couch and the floor.

I remember my heart feeling so heavy that I couldn’t breathe. I felt as though I was dying, and that day a part of me had.

Because after Feb. 5, 2019, I never felt whole ever again.

The weeks following, I needed to deal not only with the inevitable approach of her funeral, but I needed to dodge the ru-

jackets, and animation. She loved coffee, and bagels, and late-night trips to Denny’s.

She wanted to animate, but was pursuing her dream of a computer science degree.

None of that mattered when people learned she died because of drugs. Then, the stigma took hold, and the view of the beautiful, driven, talented woman was tarnished with the stereotypes of a “druggie” with people refusing to look further into it.

People didn’t realize that it was because she struggled with her mental health.

People didn’t realize it was because she was anxious and depressed, struggling with the weight of the world on her shoulders. They didn’t care that she had to wait weeks for access to counselling services, and they didn’t care that when she cried for help, her school didn’t listen.

No longer did people look at her for who she was, people began to look at her for how she died. I hated that. So, I decided to change it.

I started frequent charity campaigns for Canada Learning Code: an organization that teaches young women and new Canadian immigrants how to code in hopes of expanding diversity in the career field. It is because of Rachel that I’ve begun preaching for safe supply and harm reduction in Canada to make access to drugs safer.

It’s because of Rachel that this section exists today: our memorial issue for the loved ones we cherish and lost. This section is in memory of Rachel, of Professor Abu Abdullah Ziauddin Ahmad, of Rascal, of all of us. This section is because of Rachel, but now, it’s for everyone.

To this day, I regret that on the night she died, I was at a student film party. I was dressed in lace, wearing my favourite dress with matching heels, and texted Rachel saying I couldn’t help her locate the Netflix password because I was out. I would do anything to take that night back, but I can’t.

What I can do is make every day I still have matter for her. As my trauma counsellor told me: “Everything you do now, you do for you and her.” This section is one embodiment of that.

I hope you enjoy this memorial issue.

I send love to anyone and everyone that’s hurting. My heart is with you. I send you love and kindness, and I know that Rachel does too.

After all, this is all for her.

Taylor Balfour

mours. The people messaging me prying for information, the friends of hers from high school digging for dirt, the classmates – who I knew bullied her – approaching me in the university halls, expressing their sorrow.

And in response, being too tired to put up a fight, I needed to bite my tongue, just trying to survive the days.

Because of this, I was isolated by the people I thought loved me. The amount of friends and loved ones that cut me off

during my time of grief because they “didn’t know how to deal with me” was tremendous. This is why friends of mine ditched Rachel’s funeral and haven’t spoken to me since.

In June 2019, we learned that Rachel had taken a combination of drugs laced with fentanyl – what inevitably caused her overdose and ended her life. It was deemed accidental.

Rachel was a straight-A student, a tech whiz; a woman who loved Slurpees, leather

taylor balfour op-ed editor

“Rachel was a straight-A student, a tech whiz; a woman who loved Slurpees, leather jackets, and animation.” – Taylor Balfour

February 6 - February 12, 2020

op-ed

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On losing my dog

NeedPix

Amid loud noises and chaos, I have etched in my memory the moment when everything blurred and all sounds ceased as I looked in a box full of dogs and saw a tiny puppy asleep with his nose nestled in the corner. As I looked at him, he woke up and our eyes locked. That was the moment our hearts fused. I knew in my innocent, threeyear-old heart this was a special moment I would never forget. My life was forever changed.

I really don’t remember life before Rascal was in it. We truly grew up together.

His dog bed was my size, and I remember that when he lost his baby teeth, I shared my tooth fairy money. I remember dressing him up in doll clothes and putting him in my rickety, plastic doll carriage for rides around the house. I have hundreds of pictures from over the years of him sitting with twenty-some stuffed animals or dolls: the most patient, content dog, just happy to play together.

We were inseparable. Rascal and Brittney. A unique and undeniable bond.

Throughout the years, he and I spent a lot of time together where it was just the two of us. In elementary school, I would come home after school and have an hour with Rascal where we would go for a walk or cuddle at home and I’d tell him about my day. He would always race to the door, being so happy to see me.

In high school, all my homework was done with Rascal asleep on my lap. Every stressful math problem was a little more bearable with his head resting on my arm, knowing no matter what marks I got or how I did in school, he would love me all

the same. In every hard time, he was there getting me through. It was the greatest gift he gave me. I am so lucky that I was able to be there for him in return.

Eighteen years is a long life for a small dog. Eighteen long, happy years of craziness, sass, independence, selflessness, and unconditional love. He had a big personality with a vast range of emotions. Somehow, he could look at you and say, “I love you, but I’m doing this my way” just through his eyes. Maybe that was just with me. I knew him and he knew me that well.

In the last year or so of his life, he started to slow down. He needed two eye surgeries which was hard on his little body.

He started to have trouble walking, and his bad eyes made him bump into things easily (which bothered him as he was stubbornly independent).

I started to become his senses for him: his eyes when he couldn’t see, his feet when he couldn’t walk, his ears when he couldn’t hear. Although things started to go, he was still such a happy dog. He loved to be outside and go for walks. When it became too difficult for him, I bought a baby stroller and would bundle him up to push him around the park, just like the baby doll carriage I used to push him in when we both were little. It was a special memory to relive.

His last month was when it got hard.

We knew the end was near. It was hard to move him too much because his body was so fragile. I would sit next to his bed and play guitar while he slept because the vibrations and sounds and having me nearby would keep him calm. I would play “The

Lion Sleeps Tonight” as he would sleep, and I knew he was content. When it got to a point where I could barely touch him, this was my way of showing him I was there and loved him.

I fed him by hand and gave him water every ten minutes. I never left his side those last two weeks. It was excruciating.

My heart was shattered but I kept pushing.

I had to because I had to be there for him after every moment he’d been there for me.

Truly, every moment where I didn’t think I could go on, he was there.

And as hard as it is to help someone in their transition from life to death, it is the most beautiful gift life has to offer. Rascal taught me the true meaning of unconditional love. I truly would do anything for him, and those two weeks I solely focused on doing everything I could to have him happy until the end.

Saying goodbye was inevitable. I know dogs don’t live forever, but holding him in my arms during the ride to the vet was a moment I was never prepared for. Those last moments, I thought of every happy moment and put my head to his to give him all the memories to take with him. To feel every piece of happiness, every warm feeling of sunshine of joy of laughter of contentment of togetherness. Every immeasurable fiber of my gratitude to have had him in my life. He was my everything, and I know I was his.

As he took his last breaths, I pet him and sang him a song I made up as a child. I would sing him this song every time the fire alarm would go off from the kitchen and he would shake, during every thunderstorm to

drown out the booms. I sang it before every goodbye when leaving on a trip so he could hear my voice in his head until I got home, before his surgeries to calm him down and send him in with me in his heart. The song is about angels watching over you, and I truly believe that as I felt him let go, angels came to take him on his next walk where I couldn’t hold his leash.

It was a few months until I could pick my guitar back up. I remember the first time I played “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” without him there. It wrecked me, but in the most beautiful and cathartic way. As saddened as I am that he’s gone, I feel wholeheartedly grateful for the many years I had with him. It was a difficult time to learn how to live without him – I didn’t know a time in my life when he was not there – and every new moment I had to experience without him was a change and a shift. I still think of him every day.

I am so lucky to have had Rascal in my life with all the life lessons he taught me.

I hold our memories close to my heart always. My ‘Little Lion’ now sleeps at peace, and I know there is no greater gift than knowing I was a part of his life from beginning to end; from that first moment seeing him with his nose tucked in the corner waking up to look at me, to his last breath with that same little nose tucked in the corner of his bed as we said goodbye.

brittney leitner contributor

“I truly believe that as I felt him let go, I knew angels came to take him on his next walk where I couldn’t hold his leash.” – Brittney Leitner

February 6 - February 12, 2020

op-ed

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |

On losing my friend A special friend of mine taught me that if you hold someone’s hand and squeeze it three times, it means “I love you.” In fact, I am not afraid of squeezing hands or letting others know I love them thanks to her.

Tori had the most vibrant personality out of anyone I have ever met. Her ability to laugh at herself made others feel so comfortable, and her contagious laugh often resulted in sore cheeks and tear-filled eyes.

To be her friend was like being the luckiest person in the world – yet her friendship was not rare. Tori made an effort to befriend as many people as she could, including each one of her teammates. This is how I was fortunate enough to be around her.

Being on the basketball court with Tori was incredible. Her constant encouragement made everyone feel like they belong and that they were good enough to be there. She did not make you feel less than her, even though she was ridiculously talented and had an incredibly strong work ethic. Any team would be lucky to have her.

Losing Tori to suicide was one of the most heartbreaking experiences I have ever had. Not only did I lose a bright light in my life, but as a young girl suffering from severe depression, losing this incredibly strong soul made the idea of taking my own life seem even more plausible. In fact, Tori was the first person I confided in regarding my mental health, and she did not make me feel alone or ashamed.

Tori took her own life when I was in the deepest part of my depression, and I could not fathom living if someone as strong as Tori could not bear life. Nearly two months after Tori’s passing, I was about to attempt suicide, but instead chose to reach out to a coach in that vulnerable moment.

Since that wakeup call in July, 2017, I have completely changed my life. With the help of my counsellor, medication, and my family, I was able to fall in love with life again. Of course, it was not an easy endeavour, but I knew that Tori wanted me to be happy.

Although I made a positive change in my own life, I knew that I had to do something to make sure that no one ever felt as alone as Tori and I did. I organized a fundraiser that raised over $5000, and have shared my story at three large events.

The support I have received is amazing, but I know I can do more. I know there are people that need people like Tori, and I want to be that for them.

Every day I miss Tori and am thankful to have known her. I just wish I could squeeze her hand three more times. She taught me to always squeeze a hand three times, because one day that hand might no longer be there to hold. So, I encourage you to find a hand and squeeze it tight.

paige hamann contributor

“I know there are people that need people like Tori, and I want to be that for them.”

– Paige Hamann

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February 6 - February 12, 2020

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On losing my bhaiya

Courtesy of Hammad Ali

I was born into a rather large family, and rather late in my parents’ life. My father was one of twelve siblings, and I was born nearly twelve years after my sister. I’ve never counted, but feel pretty confident that I have around fifty cousins. Most of them are much older than me.

I have a first cousin, my aunt’s eldest son, who is nearly fifty years older than me. He has lived outside of Bangladesh for nearly all of my life, and the first time I remember meeting him was in 2008 when I was visiting Vancouver. I fondly remember how there was no hint that we had never seen each other before. We fell into the mould of a sibling relationship right away, as if we had grown up together.

That has probably been my greatest blessing: cousins who are as old as, if not older, than my parents, and yet treat me like a sibling. I have been incredibly fortunate to have all that love and mentoring in my life. But one name – one relationship – will always stand out.

Growing up, we used to tease my father that he loved this particular nephew of his more than he loves his own children.

Today, my father and my cousin have both left us. I pray that they are somewhere together, sharing stories.

Professor Abu Abdullah Ziauddin Ahmad. My first cousin, nearly 45 years older than me. My first memories of him are as a tall man with heavy-framed glasses,

dressed in a tailored suit with a cup of coffee in hand as he leafs through a newspaper. This image of him was a constant from the many times I accompanied my father in visiting him, whether to his workplace or home.

I was outside Bangladesh and never got to see him in the last few months of his life after the cancer diagnosis. I am grateful for that. In my memories, he will always be impeccably dressed, dapper and dignified.

The cancer has not been able to eat away those memories.

Dr. AAZ Ahmad was bhaiya to me: a word that means brother and is used to address one’s elder brothers in my culture.

Maybe that is why it was years before I realized that this man, who so affectionately asked me about school or offered me treats when I visited and was a brilliant physicist.

That, and he had worked all over the world, in places like Imperial College, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Atomic Energy Centre, to name a few. To me, he was just the narrator of the funniest stories.

But as I grew older, I got to know more of his serious side. He would ask me what I was doing in school and share stories of his time as a student. I still remember there was a time my parents were inexplicably worried that I read way too much, but bhaiya stood up for me; he told them to let me read anything and everything I wanted and that there would be no reason ever to

regret it.

While I am not sure there are zero reasons to regret how I can pick up a book and forget everything else, bhaiya defended and encouraged my reading habit. I am not sure when, but we started a ritual.

Every year, a few days before my birthday, he would call and ask me what books I would like. There was always the implicit message: I would get all the books I wanted, but not anything else, and bhaiya never went back on his word. Every year on my birthday, he would show up with the books I had asked for.

Well, except that one year when he called to inform me that he had started reading the book I asked for, and I would only be getting it once he was done first.

Thursday, Jan 18, 2018, a text message from his son informed me that my brother was no more. We knew this was coming.

He had been fighting cancer for months, and finally it took him. Just like it took my father, his favourite uncle. Part of me wants to wish they are somewhere together now, sharing jokes and laughing heartily. Maybe enjoying good food. They both did love food.

I do not know, I do not know if I will ever see him again, but I know one thing.

I know that every morning when I pull up pen and paper to approach a research problem, the dream of being a scientist like my bhaiya guides my hands. I know that

when I try to explain a difficult concept to a peer, my bhaiya’s impeccable teaching style guides me. I know that when I ask a family member about school, I am trying to sound like bhaiya.

As long as I do these things, my bhaiya is alive in me. May his memory be a blessing.

hammad ali contributor

“In my memories, he will always be impeccably dressed, dapper and dignified. The cancer has not been able to eat away those memories.” – Hammad Ali

February 6 - February 12, 2020

op-ed

Like a brother

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It’s been almost two years now since I lost my brother. While he wasn’t related to me or my other siblings through blood or law, he had been, in every other regard, a part of my family for as long as I can remember.

On the Ides of March, 2018, on his way home from work, he was needlessly robbed of a bright future by a negligent driver running a stop sign. In less than a second, although I was unaware for two and half more hours, my life had gone through an irreversible and preventable change.

The following days were a cycle of stoic shock, emotional breakdown, and quiet pain. Despite my dread and discomfort, I attended his funeral. The church was completely full when I arrived, and without a word I sat with the rest of my family. My mouth was cemented shut through the ceremony, and as soon as it ended, I silently walked out.

Throughout the eulogies, gospel songs, sobs, and well-wishes, all I could think about was how I would never be able to say good-bye. Silly as it may sound, I think that fact almost caused me as much trauma as his passing did.

That funeral felt like a mockery of what he meant to me. Throughout my life, him and my four siblings spent countless

hours together in my parent’s basement doing all sorts of kid shit.

We listened to punk-pop records, raged epic battles with Nerf guns, swapped stories, and passed PS2 controllers between us for an unhealthy amount of time. His presence was one of familiarity and tension-less companionship, of unspoken brotherly bonds and unconditional friendship.

As I grew, our relationship maintained the childhood connection I’d lost with almost everyone else. Our conversations weren’t about issues or contemplation, just carefree banter. There was PlayStation, GameBoy Advance, after school ballparks and playgrounds, and, when I was older, absolute ragers. He was a reminder of better days. Even when he went to SIAST and I entered high school, our relationship was never warped by adulthood. Any time we were together, the spirit of our early years returned. He was a needed constant in my life, one I knew would never leave me.

Even when I stood at his grave site for the first time, that feeling was still there.

Writing this now, him being gone doesn’t quite click. At times, I’ll find myself wondering what he’s been up since we last met until the left side of my brain remembers, “Oh right, he’s gone.”

For months, it went on. All the while,

I kept staring at the one cruel fact I could never change: I can never say good-bye.

Months went by, life returned to somewhat-normal, and I eventually accepted those words as what they were: fact. Yet, despite all of that, something funny happened.

During one insignificant night, in an insignificant place, during an insignificant week, fact became fiction. Call it a dream, a spiritual visitation, whatever, what I needed the most came out of nowhere. I found myself walking down a familiar flight of stairs to a familiar basement to a familiar presence. Sitting on a couch with a controller in his hand, as if the past seven months never happened, my lost brother turned his head and greeted me with a simple, “Hey, man.” I said “Hey” in the same manner and sat next to him without an ounce of ceremony.

For what seemed like eternity, the two of us sat and talked while swapping the controller back and forth. We joked with ease, we talked about this and that, all while listening to the other tap away at buttons.

Eventually, I checked my watch and said I had to go. He glanced at me for a second, said, “Alright, see ya later man,” and focused on whatever game we’d been playing. As I walked back up the stairs, I looked

back one more time. I smiled, glanced at the TV screen, and continued climbing. In that moment, I finally embraced fact: I can never say goodbye to my brother because I will never have to.

My brother, ‘Colt’, will always be part of my childhood, my life, and my experience. He will always live in my memory, be my connection to long summer days, and will always be my source of unconditional comfort. That, dear reader, is a fact.

c.c. contributor

“At times, I’ll find myself wondering what he’s been up since we last met until the left side of my brain remembers, ‘Oh right, he’s gone.” – c.c.

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Editors: sarah carrier, morgan ortman, kate thiessen graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | February 6 - February 12, 2020

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February 6 - February 12, 2020

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