the carillon the staff
editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com
holly funk
executive director business@carillonregina.com
jacob nelson
production manager production@carillonregina.com
morgan ortman
advertising manager advertising@carillonregina.com
ty cote
technical editor shae shackman carillontechnical@carillonregina.com multimedia/graphics editors multimedia@carillonregina.com graphics@carillonregina.com copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com
sarah carrier rooky jegede aurel dumont
news editor news@carillonregina.com
sara birrell
a&c editor aandc@carillonregina.com
hannah eiserman
sports editor sports@carillonregina.com
vacant
op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com
sarah nakonechny
distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com
kyle anderson
staff writer
hammad ali
staff writer
gillian massie
news writer
a&c writer
liam o’connor matt thomson
sports writer
vacant
web writer
vacant
contributors mikhaela aguilar, sonali currie, brad fraser and rayanne gwilliam
vol. 64
board of directors holly funk, lindsay holitzki, joseph holoein,, dustin smith, jacob nelson and cassandra byblow (honourary member)
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 July, 2021 | Volume 64, Issue 1 | carillonregina.com
news
Between a new President at the University, the exposure of thousands of unmarked graves on residential school sites across Canada, another socially distanced Pride month, and a heat wave that broke century-old records, this first issue in volume 64 of the Carillon will have you eating up information and getting riled right alongside us. We’re looking forward to a full year of getting back to our roots by being a loud and clear voice for all students, and hope this issue can provide clarity, solidarity, or at the very least, a few much needed laughs.
Ramadan and learning
news
p.3
Ramadan is an important celebration for many Muslim students around the world, but some profs can have a take it or leave it attitude.
Prez Jeff Q & A
arts
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Topics include indeginzation, enviromental concerns and tutition, (obviously.)
sports
sports
Pandemic Pride pt.2
p.9
Though barriers about, current Pride celebrations give a peek into just how accessible this month of celebration and remembrance could be.
op-ed
Holly Funk Editor-in-Chief
photos
cover................................ news.....................................ikhsan sugiart news................................mikhaela aguilar a&c...............................................pixabay sports.........................................holly funk sports.........................................holly funk op-ed.............................................pixabay
Resilience
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Brad Fraser talks about his kinship with NBA player Chris Paul and the comfort he finds in their shared rocky road to success.
Sex toy sports
p.12
It’s BAAAA-ACK! And hornier than ever.
Shifting perspectives
p.17
Staff writer Hammad Ali contends with
his complicated feelings in relation to Canada’s history.
news
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editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | july, 2021
Muslim students get mixed results seeking support during Ramadan University needs clearer policies holly funk editor-in-chief Three months ago, during finals season for the winter 2021 semester, Zona Iftikhar – a student at the University of Regina – began talking to some fellow psychology students about the challenges she and other Muslim students were facing while writing finals during Ramadan. Most people have heard the term “Ramadan,” but those who aren’t Muslim often have misconceptions around its timing, its significance, and the religious obligations involved. This becomes an issue when Muslim students seek much needed supports from professors or faculty and are brushed off due to not only a lack of understanding, but a lack of interest in understanding. To remedy this, Iftikhar said, “It all starts with education, and I feel like people need to know the importance of Ramadan to us and what our obligations are, because there’s a lot of people who simply don’t know.” Ramadan is the ninth month in the lunar calendar followed by those in Islam, which, as Iftikhar explained, means that the timing of Ramadan shifts back roughly 10 days each year in the solar calendar that the University’s calendar is structured around. This year, Ramadan happened to fall during finals, which was a new experience for many students in the current undergraduate cohort. Ramadan is a physical, mental, and spiritual reset that purifies one’s intentions. From sunrise to sunset, participating Muslims will fast from not only food and water, but also smoking, vaping, chewing gum, sex, and some will even forego music and television. The purpose of fasting to such a de-
gree is “to get rid of these habits that you’ve accumulated over the past year that aren’t necessarily healthy for you,” Iftikhar explained. This shift is not passive, and fasting helps support it by reminding participants “to count your own blessings because we’re all fortunate to have food on our tables and a house to live in,” Iftikhar said. “There’s a lot of people that aren’t (fortunate) so that’s the main purpose of Ramadan in Islam. To realize that there’s people out there who don’t have food on their tables, that don’t have a proper living or the necessities in life, so this really humbles us.”
and Iftikhar mentioned that many students took to working between 9 p.m.-3 a.m. while they didn’t have to fast. This worked well with the common take-home structure of finals last semester, but the scheduled finals – especially those from 7p.m.-10p.m. – do present an issue. Amin Hassan, an engineering student at the U of R, said that that particular timing is a problem because it conflicts with when those who fast are supposed to break their fasts. “It’s required as part of the daily routine during Ramadan. You have the option to prepare yourself for the day by waking up early and eating and
really my problem, and you guys should’ve planned ahead for this,’ so most had to wait until 10 p.m. to break their fast.” Fortunately, Hassan went on to say that responses of that sort are not the norm. “This is just one situation where a professor did this, but outside of that, most other professors are generally more lenient around Ramadan time.” In the winter semester, Iftikhar asked sessional lecturer Rob Nestor in the Departments of Sociology and Social Studies, as well as Justice Studies and SUNTEP for an extension, and was met with understanding and empathy. “For me it was an easy
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It’s part of our religion so we don’t complain about it, but having a community that’s understanding or having people around you be understanding on the days where it’s rough, it’s just nice to know that if I need to ask, I’ll have that support. – Zona Iftikhar
While this period is often approached with excitement and anticipation, there are worries as well due to the physical stress one’s body is put through. For Iftikhar, “It’s hard because you’re not sleeping well, you’re not eating, and I know I personally cannot focus without any food. I get migraines, iron deficiencies, and I need my coffee or I feel like I can’t get through the day.” In addition to the lack of food often comes a lack of sleep as prayers can go as late as 1 a.m., yet can also start as early as 3 a.m., so some people only get an average of 3-4 hours of sleep per night during the month of Ramadan. This change in routine also impacts ideal working conditions,
drinking before sunrise, but right when sunset hits and the azan goes off, that’s when you’re supposed to break your fast.” Participants are to adhere to this timing, which occurred roughly between 8p.m.-9p.m., but wasn’t possible for students taking exams that required Proctortrack. “The longer you extend it is usually unpreferable because you’ve already put yourself through the day fasting,” Hassan added. “It’s important for anybody to do so, not just for your health but also religiously.” Hassan also mentioned the experience of a friend in engineering who asked their professor to accommodate this religious obligation, and was brushed off with ignorance. “He said ‘It’s not
decision,” Nestor noted in his statement. “In order to find success in the classroom I believe that students do not only have to put effort towards their academic studies, but that they also have to have a life outside of those studies that allows them to experience all they can while in university.” Nestor credits his approach to influence he received early on from local elders, which stressed using kindness in every situation. “It is a pretty simple thing to do and if it can help a student find success both in their academics and in life then all the better.” Asking for support during religious holidays remains difficult due to the negative and harmful reactions of some, but Iftikhar
mentioned a simple way professors can let students know that they will be respectful and understanding regarding religious obligations: say so in the syllabus. “It really becomes discouraging because you don’t know if you should ask or shouldn’t ask, but I guess if profs even put something in their syllabus like: ‘if you have any religious obligations, come see me,’ that puts me at ease that if I ever do need it, I can ask my prof easily and maybe they’ll understand.” Nestor acknowledged that “Some might suggest that some students might read this and try and take advantage of situations. That may be the case for some, but I have found if students are treated with respect and you consider their request, they will hopefully show you the same respect when requesting an extension […] Overall, from what I have experienced in close to 25 years in the classroom, students are for the most part genuine when seeking an extension.” Other methods of support for Muslims students during Ramadan suggested by Iftikhar include a scheduled break they can use to break their fast and pray, or having snacks provided at in-person finals so that students can easily adhere to their religious obligations before returning to their academic obligations. “It’s not like we’re asking for a month of leniency,” Iftikhar mentioned with a laugh. “I know this is something that we need to do. It’s part of our religion so we don’t complain about it, but having a community that’s understanding or having people around you be understanding on the days where it’s rough, it’s just nice to know that if I need to ask, I’ll have that support.”
Ikhsan Sugiarto via Unsplash
University calendar built around Christian festivals.
july, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4
news
Q&A with new U of R President Jeff Keshen No promises for tuition freeze
liam o’connor news writer Dr. Jeff Keshen is the new President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Regina. He officially stepped into the role on July 1, 2021. Keshen was formerly the Vice-President of the Grenfell campus of Memorial University in Newfoundland, and has a Ph.D. from York University where he concentrated on the history of war and conflict. Memorial University is highly rated by students in several categories, according to the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). In an interview with the Carillon via phone call, Keshen discussed tuition, Indigenization, hobbies, and more. Back in 2019, tuition was raised for the eleventh year in a row; roughly a 36 per cent rise in tuition since 2008. Are you planning on raising tuition while you’re president? Honestly, I do feel for the students here. I know the tuition has been going up. It was an issue also out in Memorial.
of poverty out there as well, so that’s a hit. The budget is strained to the hilt. The [Memorial University is the] second largest claim on government revenue debt servicing (right below healthcare). The government called in someone who did a report on economic recovery, it recommends massive privatizing, it says that the university should be cut significantly on government funding. I think we need to dig in and make sure education is accessible and affordable for students. How do you plan on improving indigenization at the U of R? I was just on a call that involved the First Nations President and we were talking about reconciliation day. I said that I don’t feel comfortable as a white male making decisions on truth and reconciliation. The whole point of it is that we listen and take our lead from Indigenous people; then, respectfully and hopefully engage that process. Generally, the curriculum needs to “additionalize”, you need to use more speakers and more elders.
impact on civil liberties and the lessons on that second major area that I ended up publishing on, which was better, to be quite frank with you. The second major area that I studied was family on the front lines. That dealt with the home front, and the experiences of children, women, and veterans. How important are the university’s environmental goals going forward as President? I think on a number of fronts, they’re very important. One of the goals coming forward from the chair will be to create an Office of Sustainability. I think that we really need to support our researchers and highlight researchers who are working in the resource sector for more sustainable options going forward. What changes do you want to make at the U of R? I’m always honest about that and I do not think I have a complete understanding after only being here for a week, I’m not sure what the gaps are yet, so I need to really dig in and find where the gaps are. A lot of students and faculty don’t know you that
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I understand the budgets, but I want students to know that I am aware of the financial burden that’s there. I do not want to make a promise at this stage, but I know that families suffered out of the pandemic, I know that students are continuing to suffer. I’m going to need some time on this. – Jeff Keshen
Mikhaela Aguilar
President Boomer loves Bo Diddley, WWII nostalgia.
I get it, I mean both our children are going to be attending this year in fall. It’s a big whack load of money. I can’t promise it. I understand the budgets, but I want students to know that I am aware of the financial burden that’s there. I do not want to make a promise at this stage, but I know that families suffered out of the pandemic, I know that students are continuing to suffer. I’m going to need some time on this. Memorial University just announced that they are doubling tuition for domestic students from $2,550 to $6,000 a year. As a school that once had one of the lowest tuitions in Canada and one you were the Vice-President of, what is your take on the recent raise? There’s a lot of people who live out in the Northern Peninsula, Grand Falls, by Social House. There’s a lot
If we humble ourselves, we will be more successful. We need to take a step back and follow. I want them to tell me what needs to be done. What are the university’s plans for distance education going forward and will there be permanent distance education options? Absolutely, I think we’re gonna have to see going forward after providing infrastructure to do it. We’re gonna have to provide support for professors who ensure that the online courses that they’re developing are quality. It also provides an interesting option for international students who might want to start a degree in their home country and then come here for a period of time, and that can be a lot more accessible. Your Ph.D. focus was on war and society, could you expand on what in specific you researched? My first area was propaganda and censorship and its
well yet, so what kind of hobbies do you have? I like jogging kind of slow, so if people see me out in Harbour Landing they can take pity on me. I work, so I don’t have a lot of hobbies. If I unwind at the end of the day, I’ll turn on Netflix. Favourite movie and album? They span from classics like, On the Waterfront, Batman, and Mission Impossible. I like a lot of bluegrass like Bo Diddley. [This article has been edited for length and clarity.]
july, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 5
news
Heat highlights need for local action on climate Regina falling behind targets
liam o’connor news writer At the beginning of July, Saskatchewan was hit by a heat wave that broke records across the province. According to Environment Canada, areas such as Lucky Lake and Saskatoon both reached temperatures of 40 C. Regina peaked at only 35.3 C, but that still smashed its previous record of 33.9 C, which was set more than a century ago, in 1886. The worst of the heat dome occurred with hundreds of fatalities in Western Canada, especially in British Columbia, where the town of Lytton suffered the hottest recorded day in Canadian history at 49.6 C. During the peak of the heat wave, Lytton was ravaged by fire and the entire town of 250 residents had to find shelter in a nearby town. 90 per cent of the town has been destroyed. In an interview via Zoom, Dr. David Sauchyn, a professor and researcher in geography and environmental studies, explained how the heat wave occurred by stating, “the circulation of the atmosphere is such that it brings an area of high pressure and hot air to Western Canada and if it’s moving slowly then the heat builds up. If it is dry then water has a cooling effect, so if there’s not much water it’s going to amplify the heat.” He then referenced Yellow Grass and how they were previously experiencing a drought, so they were hit hard by the heat wave; giving them one of the hottest temperatures in Saskatchewan.
Matt Palmer via Unsplash
Biodome (1996) >>>>>>>>> Heat Dome (2021)
When asked about how climate change has played a role, Sauchyn said, “these natural systems are now happening in a climate that has been warmed by human beings […] it is a very serious event […] even to think that we would have a temperature of almost 50 C in Canada is almost inconceivable,” Sauchyn said. “Hundreds of people died in B.C.” He emphasized that water is a key factor in whether it is simply a better year for crops or, alternatively, if there is no water then there will be drought, and
carbon emissions, that’s a local initiative […] climate change is a global phenomenon, but it has local impacts.” The university wants to hire someone for a sustainability position to report on their greenhouse gas emissions and determine more ways to be environmentally friendly. They also want to work with governments on different levels to develop technologies that can help. Additionally, the university wants to put more of a spotlight on environmental research.
are: environment, transportation, and infrastructure. The environmental aspect promises more trees and canopying, where the trees cover the streets more to make them more cool and habitable. Sauchyn said “Regina is a little bit behind, certainly urban planning can shelter us from the heat […] we realize how important green space is in times like this.” He added that “it’s the most vulnerable parts of our population that most need these public spaces.” The transportation section
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We like to whine and complain about our winters but they are actually much warmer than they used to be. – David Sauchyn
worse, heat domes. On a local level, the city and University of Regina both have their own plans to combat climate change via uregina.ca and regina. ca. University of Regina The U of R has a plan that is constructed of three main components: reduce greenhouse gasses, using the school as a “living lab,” and reducing the amount of waste and usage of water. Sauchyn said that “it’s good the university is trying to reduce their waste and
Lastly, the university aims to closely watch the usage of water on campus to learn where it is being wasted. Expanding on that, prioritizing research on water supply and consumption is also integral to the university. The end goal for the university’s plan is for a “25 per cent reduction in [their] ecological footprint.” City of Regina There are three parts to Regina’s plan which are slightly more simple than the university’s. They
speaks about encouraging citizens to buy and use electric vehicles and designing communities to be more efficient for the members. Sauchyn believes that this sector in particular plays a large role in the success of a sustainable city by stating, “the transportation model in Saskatchewan is to own a car.” He said that shifting from that model is a necessary component of a climate solution. “Transportation is a big part of the solution.” Finally, the city describes
that infrastructure will need to be more efficient in terms of energy use, water, and carbon dioxide emissions. The City of Regina plans on being 100 per cent renewable by 2050. More heat waves in the future: When asked what the future of Saskatchewan is going to look like if climate change continues to worsen, Sauchyn responded, “we have these numerical climate models […] and they give us an idea of what the future could look like and they include heat waves, but they include a much warmer winter, which is the clearest indication that the climate is changing in Saskatchewan. We like to whine and complain about our winters but they are actually much warmer than they used to be.” One of Sauchyn’s former students is now a meteorologist and is already feeling the consequences of the heat wave. His student will need to adapt for the future climate, Sauchyn explained, “that they are going to have to change their methods of recording temperature because they didn’t expect to have to record temperatures this high. The sensors they have weren’t made for 50 C. Climate change forecast called for this kind of heat decades from now, but not in 2021.” According to Environment Canada the average temperature of winter has gone up 3.3 C from 1948 to 2020.
july, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 6
news
Indian farmers’ strike enters its second year Strike has international implications
hammad ali staff writer While the rest of the world came to know about the Farmer Strike in India only in late November 2020, the movement leading to a full-on strike had actually begun in June 2020, in the Indian state of Punjab. This was when the Indian parliament went ahead with the bill that heavily deregulates the Agricultural Produce Market Committees in individual states, effectively forcing farmers to sell
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protest against the new bill. By November 2020, farmers from all over India drove in over 200,000 trolleys and tractors towards the border of Delhi, the capital of India. These protests have now been on for a year, and it has not been easy in the midst of a global pandemic and the changing seasons. However, as many of the farmers have been quick to emphasize, they are not deterred by fear of the virus or the hardships of sitting in protest in the borders of Delhi right through winter, be-
unions, believes this act of community solidarity is essential in communicating the peaceful intentions of the farmers, made all the more important in the wake of government propaganda accusing farmers of being anti-national and under the control of separatist movements based out of Punjab. The government response, unfortunately, has been almost exclusively oppressive and violent. From denying water supply and internet access to the protest sites
Greta Thunberg, among others. To many, this movement has become a symbol for the principles of democracy on which the Indian state was founded. A year since its inception, the farmer protests have also incurred a significant death toll. On January 26, 2021, Navreet Singh, 25, died while participating in a tractor rally. The police accounts claim his death was due to head injuries sustained in a tractor accident, however the family of the deceased allege that he died
at the protest sites in and around Delhi, victim to the hardships of the weather and living conditions in the makeshift tents. No small number have died in road accidents while travelling from their villages to Delhi. Throughout April and May 2021, India had been in the news worldwide due to setting the world record for new COVID-19 cases and deaths. While a tragedy in itself, these events seem to have overshadowed the farmer protests, to the extent that several
As many of the farmers have been quick to emphasize, they are not deterred by fear of the virus or the hardships of sitting in protest in the borders of Delhi right through winter, because if these laws come into effect, their lives and livelihoods are over anyway. – Hammad Ali
directly to private businesses. Further, the bill meant that the government would no longer be offering price regulation, which led farmers to fear that private corporations will drive down prices, leading to the loss of land and assets for smaller farms, which represents 85 per cent of all Indian farmers. On a more global scale, this will affect the world supply and prices of rice, wheat, lentils, and a wide collection of spices. The movement began in June 2020, when farmers in Punjab blocked freight railway lines in
cause if these laws come into effect, their lives and livelihoods are over anyway. In fact, mindful of the challenges the average person is facing in these times, thousands of farmers and their families currently in Delhi have set up community kitchens, providing free food and essential goods to hospitals, and in bus and railway stations for people having to travel in the midst of a recent COVID surge all across India. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella organization representing over 40 farmer’s
to charging protesters with sedition charges and the mysterious disappearances of over 100 protesters, there has been an escalating crackdown on protesters, leaders, and media covering their side of the narrative. Amnesty International, and parliaments around the world, have already issued statements on the farmers’ right to peacefully protest for their interests. There has also been overwhelming support from peasant communities around the world, the Indian diaspora community, and celebrities like Rihanna and
from gunshot wounds from bullets fired by the Delhi police. Journalists who reported on the family’s claims have been charged with sedition, and one freelance journalist was arrested by Delhi police. He has since then been granted bail. As of this date, there were also five suicides between December 2020 and January 2021 in protest of the new farmers’ bill. At least one of those who died by suicide was facing overwhelming debt as a consequence of the new policy. More than 400 farmers have died
individuals, when reached out to for a comment, actually admitted that they have not kept up with the news. If past protests are anything to go by, this benefits the government, who essentially need only to wait for the world media and the global community to forget about the plight of the farmers in India and move on to the next sensational news. As we have mentioned before, this will have long term implications for the supply and demand of agricultural products all over the world, including Canada.
Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash
When ears of corn listne better than your government, you’re doing it wrong....
arts & culture
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editor: hannah eiserman aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | july, 2021
2SLGBTQIA+ Pride in a pandemic: part two
Regina’s second year of pandemic Pride paves the way for accessible celebrations and initiatives
hannah eiserman arts editor Even though the pandemic halted many social events, concerts, and exhibits, it couldn’t stop Pride. For the second year in a row, Regina held its modified, COVID-compliant festival. Queen City Pride and UR Pride worked together closely on festival events, so kēr, a program coordinator for UR Pride, spoke to me about how the festival went this year, despite restrictions. When asked about how attendance was at events she attended, kēr was extremely pleased with the turn out. “The numbers were great,” she says – and that may be partially because what a socially distanced Pride lacks in bodily proximity, it makes up for in accessibility. Many Pride events this year were virtual, distant, or go at your own pace. Queen City Pride’s Digital Pride Guide meant anyone with internet access could find the scoop on the what, when, and where of this year’s events. Not only did this guide include a digital calendar, but it also included tags that indicated key words describing what the event was focused on, any age limits or recommendations, information on accessing the online platforms for the event, and admission costs. This feature made finding a suitable event for your interests much easier. kēr spoke passionately about the importance of accessibility, and how this year’s virtual Pride removes some of the barriers commonly preventing many people from attending Pride events. “Previously, Pride was exclusionary,” she says, “in that we didn’t have ways for people in areas that don’t have their own Prides
to participate.” kēr also mentions some of the groups that tend to be left out, noting that at some in-person venues, “we didn’t have disabled people; we didn’t have immunocompromised people,” but that when events go virtual, “we’re able to invite folks who never would have been able to, people from regions and countries that aren’t particularly free.” While Pride events obviously hope to reach as many people as possible, the core desire is for them to be accessible to the people who need them most. “Even events that only two people came, that’s still okay,” kēr says. Any attendance is good attendance, because while it is important to get out (or in some cases this year,
tal win for the queer community, is hindered by the knowledge that the vote was not unanimous. It passed with a vote of 263 to 63 – with a good amount of those 63 being Regina’s own Conservative MPs (like Andrew Scheer, for one). Additionally, the bill has now been halted by the Senate to be taken up in September. Equally close to home is the issue of homelessness among queer youth. In a Facebook post from June 7, Lulu’s Lodge, “a 5-bedroom supportive transitional home for LGBTQ2S+ youth aged 16-21 facing homelessness in Regina,” reports 92.3 per cent occupancy and also notes that they sometimes have a waitlist. Youth often require access to
“when people think of Pride, I know they think of the parade, and that is a problem,” but what is important to recognize is that “so many communities have so much groundwork happening, and grassroots work happening.” What kēr seems to really want people to know is that Pride is as diverse as its people. She says there’s something for everyone: organizations and places that host theatrical events, games, picnics, sexual health clinics and educational outreach. We certainly saw all of that this festival season. “And those things benefit people outside the LGBTQ community,” she emphasized. “It’s a build it and they will come situation.” Sometimes, there’s so much
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Come to as many events as you can. They will satiate you in ways you never even knew you needed to be. – kēr
get online) and connect with the community, it’s equally important to pay homage to what Pride was really about: the fight for the rights of the queer community and to raise awareness of issues they still face. Despite what the community has to celebrate this year, there are still advancements needingprogress still needs to be made for the safety of those in the queer community. Even the recent news that our parliament passed a bill banning conversion therapy (a torturous practice used to attempt to “convert” people into heterosexuality, incorrectly labelled as “therapy”), though a monumen-
this type of group home because they are at risk of homophobic or transphobic violence from their own families. They also often are not safe in other group homes, and as a result are at risk of facing more violence compounded with potential homelessness. Queen City Pride’s programming seemed to acknowledge the need for such tough work, and alongside fun trivia events, drag shows, and parades, made space for educational events such as online seminars. Seminars such as “Identity and Privilege,” “Diverse Families,” and “Harm Reduction and Sexual Health” were streamed via Zoom. kēr says that
to do, it’s hard to know where to start. kēr recommends the parade to first timers, “as cliché as that is.” She marvels at “the amount of joy it brings people, y’know?” She admits that “It has lost some of the radicalness it should ideally have, and I hope comes back. But I’m also not complaining that it’s a bit of a family day and kids are just, you know, in all their rainbow gear, and with the flags and whatnot. For a lot of kids, that is the first time they see themselves. Like in real life, out of TV.” When asked about her hopes for Pride month in the future, kēr speaks very animatedly about the thought of continuing
“a hybridized system of Pride, moving forward.” She says that “if [healing from the pandemic] happens and we’re able to go out and enjoy outside again, I think we shouldn’t forget the infrastructure we’ve created around virtual things.” kēr exclaims, “Let’s make it virtual! Let’s make it such that someone in, you know, Yugoslavia, can tune into our Pride and enjoy, and see our things.” “And also,” she adds cheekily, “I too would like to see how they do it in Yugoslavia! kēr touches on a very important point here: that when we celebrate Pride, we celebrate living in a country that has marriage equality and is ever moving towards being safer and more inclusive. When we celebrate Pride, we celebrate those that made safe, socially distant, virtual Pride possible – those who threw the first bricks at Stonewall and decided enough was enough. And most importantly, when we celebrate Pride, we acknowledge there is more work to be done in order for many 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals to be safe and accepted not only in our communities, but in the world. “Come to as many events as you can,” kēr says, to encourage anyone who is still hesitant. “They will satiate you in ways you never even knew you needed to be. You will learn so many new things, you will gain so many new friends and so many connections. You know, you’re going to eat, you’re going to dance – you’re going to cry, sometimes. Pride can be sad sometimes, and sadness is okay. Because [we’re] recognizing that we’re standing on the backs and the shoulders of so many people who suffered before us.”
Pixabay
It’s just a pride flag. No one has been outside in nearly two years.
july, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
8
Restaurant review: Bar Willow Eatery Summering on the biggest deck in Regina @ Bar Willow Eatery
sonali currie contributor With the COVID-19 restrictions easing off gradually in Saskatchewan, people are eager to get back to social gatherings and participate in all those sunny experiences that summer has to offer. If you are on the hunt for a place in Regina that offers fantastic views and good food, be sure to check out the Bar Willow Eatery. A friend from work recommended the Bar Willow Eatery to me when I mentioned I was looking for restaurants in Regina that had a patio and a countryside vibe. I was pleasantly surprised to see gorgeous photos for the Bar Willow Eatery available online – and they showed me it was just the place I was looking for! Tucked in a cozy nook of the Wascana lake, the eatery is known for having the biggest deck in town. The restaurant is accessible by bus, car, or bike, and has ample parking space off the Wascana lake. The restaurant is located in the heart of the city, yet its lakeside patio balances the divide between city and nature, offering patrons calmness and serenity. While walk-ins are subject to availability, I chose to make a reservation on their easy-to-navigate website. As I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by the
pleasant sound of soft rock and the scent of chilled beer. I realised just what I had been missing for all these isolated months during the pandemic! I only had to wait a couple of minutes before I was directed to the table of my choosing by the hostess at the entry desk. Unlike other places in town, the Bar Willow Eatery is open long hours on weekends, as late as nine p.m., but closed on Mondays. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating options. I chose to enjoy the view outside on the deck for the evening and was certainly not disappointed. My table was close to the edge and offered an excellent view of the lake and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. I loved basking in the soft warmth of the setting sun, watching people kayak on the lake and Canada geese trooping across the sidewalk. For those folks always seeking the perfect Instagram shot, the deck is a perfect place to capture some spectacular golden-hour moments. The restaurant offers a wide range of menu options, both food and drink, to choose from. I ordered their tacos with sauteed mushrooms, kale cream cheese, pico de gallo, and marinated cucumbers with a classic Willow Sangria and a Gran Margarita. A serving of two tacos per order
was more than enough to satisfy one person. The Willow Sangria is made of red wine, aperol, raspberry simple syrup, orange juice, soda, and fruit. The Gran Margarita, made with fresh squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, just a squeeze of orange juice, Espolon tequila, and Gran Marnier, comes finished with a salted rim. The two drinks were very refreshing and simply perfect for a warm summer evening. The service was prompt even though it was a busy Sunday evening. The waitstaff were polite, quick, and friendly. As more people started to pour in towards late evening, the staff worked swiftly to make space and accommodate their new guests. I particularly enjoyed the pet friendly deck; it was wonderful to see customers enjoying drinks and food with their furry friends playing close to them. I do think that perhaps having more vegetarian options on the menu would add to the dining experience and cater to even more guests, as the current menu is a bit limiting if you have dietary restrictions. However, I would still strongly recommend people to visit the Bar Willow Eatery regardless, for the food, ambience, view, and easily accessible location.
Sonali Currie
Mmmmm. Tacos.
Etsy store spotlight: Chemist Creations Etsy products are made with love – Amazon’s are not
gillian massie staff writer
The newest craze of Instagram and Etsy stores have been providing customers with some super unique items. The accessibility of Etsy and Instagram stores makes shopping from your couch incredibly convenient and safe during the pandemic – not to mention the opportunity to find one-of-akind items! This week I sat down with the owner of Chemist Creations, Abigail Unrau, to chat (email-toemail) about what it’s like to operate an Etsy and Instagram store. Abigail is going into her fifth year at the University of Saskatchewan to finish her Honours degree in Chemistry. What made you begin your Instagram/Etsy store? I have been dreaming of making resin flower jewelry for two years and had finally made the jump to invest in it. However, Facebook marketplace [is] not [a] hot market for jewelry. Etsy is the place where people go for handmade jewelry, and a [great] starting place if you don’t have a huge following. I [also] wanted an outlet for all my creative energy. I wanted to do more making, but craft supplies are insanely expensive. Through selling my handmade items I have been able to afford to explore a wide variety of mediums. What kind of items do you make for your Instagram/Etsy
store? What are some of your best sellers? My best sellers on my social media are my custom pet sweaters – people send me pictures of their dogs and I turn it into a monochrome, abstract photo that I can easily transfer onto clothing. People love their pets (including me), so it’s no wonder why these are so popular! [On] Etsy, my best sellers have been my rings and anything with Forget Me Not flowers in them. [They’re] so small and beautiful; I find that dainty jewelry has been a lot more popular than any kind of “statement” earring I have made.
Do you get your materials from anywhere particularly special? Do you create or gather your own materials? I have almost completely transitioned into growing and pressing the flowers that go into my jewelry! It’s taken a few months as flowers don’t bloom overnight, but I have quite a bit in my stock right now and am hoping to grow enough to last through the winter! What has been the hardest part of operating an online store in the middle of the pandemic? I can’t say whether the pandemic has hindered my sales or
not since I started it in March, but I think the hardest parts are building a brand and waiting. When I say building a brand, I mean everything that goes into packaging items. [I have had to order] business cards, care cards, return labels, thank you cards, and much more. This all takes a lot of time and creativity and is very important in displaying what your business is about. [It also] play[s] a very big part in whether people share your items on social media or shop with you again. When I say waiting, I mean waiting for orders to come. Not knowing whether people will buy
Abigail Unrau
A good pair of earrings that can cover up a multitude of cosmetic maladies.
your items or not. It takes a while, but it is worth it. Every month that I have had my store up sales [have increased] almost exponentially. What are your best tips and tricks to navigating and achieving the online business world? TAKE GOOD PICTURES! Good pictures are what sell your items. I’m lucky to have a DSLR camera that takes fantastic photos, but it’s not necessary with how well phone cameras work these days. Make sure you have a neutral background and good lighting. Then, once you’re done taking photos, edit them! I use Lightroom, which is a free app and very easy to use. What is the best part about being an Etsy store owner? One of the things that brings me the most joy in my life is igniting joy in others. I want to make items that make people happy. I want to do something with my business, such as [making] a $1 donation from every sale to a local charity! I have [also] done fundraising events in the past and plan to do more in the future. So far, I have made donations to [Saskatoon Dog Rescues,] OutSaskatoon, and Prairie Harm Reduction. This month my donation is going to the IRSSS. I love helping others and I can do it a lot more with my business than ever before. Find Abigail and her fabulous items on Etsy & Facebook at “Chemist Creations” and on Instagram @chemist.creations.
july, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
9
Game review: Mass Effect Legendary Edition Bioware’s remaster of the Mass Effect series serves up sweet nostalgia, but fails to shock
matt thomson arts writer Over the past 14 months, between unemployment, COVID restrictions, and a dreadful mix of boredom and existential uncertainty, I spent most of my time either exploring the internet, buying stuff online, or numbing my dull existence by latching onto any form of audio-visual stimuli within reach. Well, here I am, 40 pounds heavier, significantly more broke, and with nothing but a bunch of random stuff in my apartment to show for it. Until a remastered version of one of gaming’s beloved trilogies, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, was released to shuffle up my regular routine! For those who don’t know, Mass Effect is a sci-fi RPG videogame series from the Edmonton based game studio Bioware, first released for the Xbox 360 in 2007. To oversimplify things, you play as a Human Alliance commander named Shepard aboard the S.S.V. Normandy and travel around the galaxy interacting with a variety of alien species while making friends with your crew mates, shooting stuff, and making important decisions throughout the entire series. The initial trilogy ended in 2013 with the final DLC release for ME 3, after which a spin-off, Mass Effect Andromeda, was developed by a new team and eventually released as a complete disaster in early 2017. During the 2020 Game Awards, Bioware (or what was left of it) released a teaser trailer for a new Mass Effect game to the surprise of basically everyone before announcing a remastered version of the original trilogy for Playsta-
Wikipedia Commons
We all know that should be Jane Shepard on that promo material, let’s be real.
tion 4, Xbox One, and PC, titled “Legendary Edition”. My history with the franchise started in 2010, after I bought the PS3 version of ME 2. At the time, I was a 14-year-old pubescent who spent almost all of his free time in his parent’s basement playing video games, so naturally I took to Mass Effect like an 80’s glam-rocker to cocaine. A year and a half later, I pre-ordered the collector’s edition of ME 3, played it for almost a week straight, and like many others was met
(while clunky at times) still largely hold up. ME 1 has the most traditional RPG elements out of the three, as looting equipment and managing your team’s weapons, armor, and special abilities are all core parts of the game. You’re also constantly flooded by a billion side quests throughout the entire game which vary widely in terms of enjoyment from fun, to repetitive, to a tad drawn out. Overall, the game holds up as an enjoyable, unique experience filled with hours of great content,
disjointedly mediocre. The crew, however, along with their loyalty missions, are arguably the best part of the entire series, and are the glue which holds the rest of the game together. The gameplay, unfortunately, has aged very poorly, and is the barest bones example of seventh-generation third-person shooter I can think of. This isn’t helped by the fact that combat sections are much more frequent and are an absolute slog to get through from start to finish. Compared to the first
“
Revisiting the fictional universe I had fallen in love with as a teenager proved a solid experience, and the developers put enough elbow grease into the remaster to make Mass Effect worth another go for old-timers and newcomers alike. – Matt Thomson
with sheer disappointment upon reaching the end. Still, even with the abysmal ending, I held mostly fond memories of the games going into my recent playthrough of Legendary Edition, and in all honesty, that fondness has only grown. So, how do the games stack up 13 years later? Out of the trilogy, the first game has received the most TLC and overall improvements from this round of remastering. While the graphics are acceptable, the gameplay and exploration components have been sharpened to a fine point, and the overall writing and story elements
a fantastic musical score, a memorable bastard of a villain, and a great ensemble of side characters. While many, including myself, held ME 2 up as a shining masterpiece and the uncontested best in the series years ago, upon replaying it I can certainly say that attitude has changed. The dialogue, banter, and crewmates are all extremely well-written and performed, yet the story itself is somewhat lackluster. The villain(s), while serviceable, aren’t especially awe-inspiring and lack any real charisma or memorability, and the story beats are
game, ME 2 has received relatively little attention in the way of remastering, and a few details aside is basically just a slightly shinier port of the original game. ME 3 is bit of an odd entity. The gameplay is easily the best of the three, as it strikes a nice balance between ME 2’s cover-based shooting and ME 1’s RPG elements. The combat overall has been refined to a sharp edge – it’s fast-paced enough to keep from becoming a drag and includes a wide enough range of enemy types and weaponry to stay interesting. Crew members, character
dialogue, and mission-stages are all incredibly well done, even if the overall experience is somewhat narrow and incomplete. There is no online component this time around, though, which is a bit of a shame but not entirely surprising. Overall, ME 3 is probably the best of the trilogy, with a rather good plot; except that Legendary Edition opts to retain the original ending of the series. Which, frankly, is absolute garbage even nine years later. To oversimplify things again, my month-long journey with Legendary Edition, while marred occasionally by aged mechanics, distracting quirks, and a total lack of narrative catharsis, was still a pretty-fun jaunt through memory lane. Revisiting the fictional universe I had fallen in love with as a teenager proved a solid experience, and the developers put enough elbow grease into the remaster to make Mass Effect worth another go for old-timers and newcomers alike. The characters you meet along the way remain as iconic as ever, and the overarching story is still compelling and effective, even if the conclusion is as trash as it is. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition made me harken back to all those after school hours I spent with a Dualshock 3 in my hands and has revitalized my appreciation for the experience Bioware first gave me 11 years back. In short, I still like Mass Effect, and for the first time in a decade, I’m actually interested to see where the future takes this series. Andromeda, though, is still terrible.
july, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
10
Art Out Loud brings hope to local artists Festival delights community of patrons and artists amidst pandemic concerns
holly funk editor-in chief Though the performance and exhibition of art has been inhibited by the pandemic over the past year and a half, the creation of art has been occurring all the same, and through the festival Art Out Loud, locals were able to showcase much of what has been inspired. Artists and attendees alike gathered in downtown Regina on June 28 for the event, which mainly took place across Victoria Park, the Scarth Street strip, and the Cornwall Centre. Mackenzy Vida, a mentee artist at Art Out Loud, explained that the event all began with an open call from the National Arts Centre. Vida and others at the Globe Theatre “reached out and said that we would love to be a part of it. Lo and behold, Regina, Saskatchewan got chosen, which is incredible!” The selection was like a breath of fresh air for the individuals involved as they returned to the joys of designing and planning live performances and instalments once again. “This is the first real event that theatre artists and technicians have been able to have,” she said. “This is the first time we’ve had work since the pandemic, and it has been a huge honour.” Co-artistic director of the festival, Sierra Haynes, said that their selection process for artists and instalments took an openarms approach from the start. “I don’t think it was so much looking for specific things in artists, this was more a showcase to show what artists were doing on their own anyway. There was no audition process, it wasn’t a pickychoosy type of event, just about lifting up the pieces of art that have been made during COVID and getting them in front of an audience.” Vida described the festival as
Holly Worby
Art exhibit, or crime scene? Stay tuned to find out.
“an interactive festival of sound, theatre, comedy, dance, and all types of performance.” Live performances included a land acknowledgment performance by Indigenous artist Teddy Bison and his family who graced attendees with dancing and drumming multiple times throughout
In addition to the land acknowledgment performance, the festival included a small plot of land in the north-east corner of Victoria Park that had been painted like a map of Saskatchewan. This map was further marked with the borders of Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 that fall
to locate and acknowledge which treaty they are a part of while learning the names of the First Nations groups included in that treaty. Those who were able to find a table at the Copper Kettle, the Fat Badger, Avenue Restaurant, or Circa27 in Hotel Saskatche-
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It’s been really evident, the importance of the arts during these times and how much we all miss it, and how much we all feel like a part of us was missing for so long. – Mackenzy Vida
the day, poetry in both Arabic and English by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish read by 3arabizi: يبرع/ يزيلجناand Arthur Milner, and the live curation of personalized verses done by Greg Ochitwa.
within what is now Saskatchewan, and had markers with the names of each of the First Nations groups whose land we are on. It was made interactive with the addition of smaller yellow flags for attendees to stake, allowing them
wan were able to listen to radio theatre performances written and performed by local artists and troupes. Haynes mentioned that she contributed a piece, “a voice mail piece, so it’s a series between two people trying to catch each
other up on their lives,” which was written specifically with radio theatre in mind. “Adapting theatre in this way is an incredible feat. The arranging and adapting of processes. Once upon a time radio drama was a big deal, but we haven’t seen much of that in the last few decades, so having a festival celebrating that is incredible.” Vida’s participation in the festival as a mentee artist included the opportunity “to shadow under professional scenic painters, professional carpenters, and it was basically like ‘Here, I’m going to show you how to bring this idea to life and be a part of the creation process.’” She mentioned tearfully that “It’s been really evident, the importance of the arts during these times and how much we all miss it, and how much we all feel like a part of us was missing for so long.” There was a tangible air of excitement among artists, volunteers, and attendees at the festival as they had the chance to get back to the events and opportunities that make them excited about life. The Art Out Loud festival was just one aspect of a larger event across Canada, Grand Acts of Great Hope, in which Vida said “each of the pieces have to do with reconnecting with the community and what it means to connect with one and other. Just to celebrate being together again.” While the event itself has passed, Vida also mentioned that “At the end of [the festival] each of the groups are having a video made that’s going to be available on social media and the National Arts Centre’s website, as well as it’s going to be playing projected on their [building’s] windows so anyone who walks by in Ottawa is going to see our work in little Regina, Saskatchewan.”
sports
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editor: vacant sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | july, 2021
Chris Paul’s late career resilience inspires perseverance What do an NBA pro and a mature student have in common? brad fraser contributor With the Phoenix Suns’ entry into the NBA Championship against the Milwaukee Bucks, Chris Paul is finding himself in unfamiliar territory. Throughout his largely successful NBA career both on and off the court, Paul has never made it to the NBA finals up to this point. Marred by injury, it has become a regular playoff occurrence to listen to a stunned crowd as the superstar falls to the ground, injured and unable to continue to the playoffs. While many athletes battle injury, the sheer volume of calamity that befalls Paul is truly staggering. These injuries include a hamstring injury in the 2015 Conference Semifinals, a broken hand in the opening round of the 2016 playoffs, another hamstring injury in the Western Conference Finals in 2018, and numerous other injuries throughout the regular season. Referred to by many as the “Point God” – a play on words to his position: point guard – Paul again suffered injury with a shoulder contusion in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, just a few weeks ago. Seeing Paul regularly fumble with the ball, passing up open shots and uncharacteristically turning over possession to the opposing Lakers was a clear sign that all was not right. Though the Suns ultimately won the series with a hampered Paul, many commentators felt that Paul was the benefactor of an injured Laker’s team, and finally saw the injury streak end in a series vic-
tory. At this point, Chris’ injury luck starts to sound like a modern re-enactment of the biblical story of Job; we see the Point God experience the reality of being merely a man as he was again struck and unable to play. COVID-19 reached a vaccinated Paul, and suddenly the star had to miss not one, but two basketball games in the Western Conference Finals to finish going through both the league and the NBA Players As-
three-point attempt landing went bad. When asked at the end of game by ESPN’s Malika Andrews about his wrapped and injured hand, Paul was quick to quip: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” with a wry grin on his face as he continued to persevere. At the age of 36, Chris Paul continues to grind and strive for greater things – to achieve victory with his teammates and fulfill the long-envisioned dream. At the age of 30, I have seen many par-
unlike how COVID has affected long haul patients. Throughout the next 15 years, nothing quite followed the path that I first envisioned. I found myself adapting to correspondence school before the technology of video calling connected us, and attending numerous hospital visits before masks were more than a fashion statement. Sudden deaths occurred in the family as mental health challenges came to the forefront, life-changing trauma
“
At the age of 36, Chris Paul continues to grind and strive for greater things – to achieve victory with his teammates and fulfill the long-envisioned dream. At the age of 30, I have seen many parallels between his life and mine as I now enter post-secondary education for the first time. – Brad Fraser
sociation’s mandates of a mandatory minimum isolation from the team. Crisis and Chris Paul are all too often met in tandem, and no amount of paid sponsorship from the American corporate giant of State Farm Insurance has prevented or kept him on the court – until now. Defying all odds, at the time of writing, the Phoenix Suns are up 2-2 in a best of seven series. The Point God is playing through undisclosed hand issues, the rehabbed shoulder contusion, and a near-rolled ankle after a recent
allels between his life and mine as I now enter post-secondary education for the first time. In 2005, just as Paul was starting his NBA career, I started the academic endeavours of high school with great hope and encouragement from countless family members, eighth grade teachers, and friends. The junior boys’ basketball team was tried out for, and despite battling a stomach flu, a position on the team at guard was achieved. A few games into the season, a flu interrupted the start to a successful ninth grade year, not
was experienced where PTSD was found instead of healing, loved ones received disability diagnoses, and numerous other perilous stops along this strange road of life became milestones. I have an academic career that didn’t see a high school level of education until much later in life. In 2020, 15 years after beginning and being told it was either “crucially important” or “entirely irrelevant,” I completed both grade 12-level English courses online. Perhaps it is fitting then that in the year of 2021, as we all look
to leave the bubbles of our pandemic restricted lives, that Paul and I continue to persevere and aspire for more. While no athlete deserves a singular pedestal, may the collective perseverance of sports give us each the opportunity to strive towards our own championship and trophies in life. Whether it is a literal or metaphorical cold tub, a nagging, old injury or a current one, let us do the work of therapy. When seasons of our life seem to come to a close earlier than expected, let us start the work of off-season immediately and get back in whatever gym we can to stretch and strengthen ourselves. Let us surround ourselves with teammates and coaches that we are willing to experience the ecstasy of winning with, but also the agony of defeat that leads to further practice and training. When the pressures and stresses of balancing our time come our way, let us be reminded by sports and the value of rest. Let us renew ourselves for the next season, or semester, ahead. The outcome of Paul’s Final’s Championship, and my pursuit of a university degree, are still unknown. What is clear, however, is that no matter what life throws our collective way, we each now share a common thread with every living person on this earth. When the voice of our own inner anxieties questions our ability to persevere and continue, let us be like Paul and continue to grin in the face of our inner dialogue, then knowingly and resiliently say: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Image manipulated by Holly Funk using Canva
Much like standard Regina construction, the route to our hopes and dreams is never as smooth as we’d like.
july, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 12
sports
Sex toy sports 2.0: The fuckening For those with more sex toys than sports equipment
holly funk editor-in-chief It’s nearly been a year since my first Sex Toy Sports article, and I still haven’t heard from anyone who tried out the last set of games I proposed (as expected, but still…) so I decided to toss together a few new ideas. Here’s your fair warning: these are obviously not family-friendly games, but they’d be good for some laughs with the right crowd, and at the very least are fun to come up with. These games are dedicated to everyone with a competitive streak who happens to have more sex toys than sports equipment, and especially for those who like using objects in ways they weren’t designed to be used. Whether it involves going to climbing walls or setting up your own rigs in the wild, rock climbing has been increasing in popularity for years. Now to avoid getting banned from a business forever I’d recommend not trying this first game at an actual climbing wall, but you’re all adults, so I’ll trust you to use your judgement in establishing the right setting. While this game’s instructions are simple enough, playing it successfully requires an astounding amount of compassion, perspective, and ability to compromise, making it the perfect combination of physical and interpersonal workouts. All you’ll have to bring to your location of choice is enough climbing gear for half the players, enough blindfolds for half the players, a dildo with a suction-cup base, and as many cock rings as there are teams. The teams are made up of pairs, with the first player of that pair being a climber whose goal
Image manipulated by Holly Funk using Canva
What people who receive unsolicited dick pics really want to do to those who send them.
is to scale the wall – cock ring in hand – and place it over the dildo at the top of the wall. The winning team is the first team to get their cock ring over the dildo successfully, regardless of the number of slips or falls that occur. The catch? The climber is blindfolded, and only has the verbal instructions of their navigator (who stays on the ground) to tell them which direction to head in and where the next best grip spot is. In this game, dubbed Trust(or)fall, communication is key. The best approach to take would involve the
looking for ways to get their blood pumping, I have a second game that doesn’t require near as much physical exertion as it does quick reactions and snap judgements. It was inspired a few months ago by the Canadian Health Agency’s promotion of glory holes as a way to socially distance during sex when COVID cases were quite high, and since you’re all responsible people who would never defy health orders, you all obviously have glory holes installed in your homes now. To avoid leaving them sad and lonely now that cas-
no nice, orderly, civil decision making here, it’s whoever grabs it first – and stands alone on one side of the wall while another person grabs the stopwatch, and the other five file behind the wall with the strap-ons and cucumber. A rock-paper-scissors tournament quickly occurs among the group, with the winner grabbing the cucumber and the other four players on that side of the wall donning one strap-on each. The length and girth of the strap-ons and cucumber aren’t a main focus here – it’s how you use them that will
“
It was inspired a few months ago by the Canadian Health Agency’s promotion of glory holes as a way to socially distance during sex when COVID cases were quite high, and since you’re all responsible people who would never defy health orders, you all obviously have glory holes installed in your homes now. – Holly Funk
navigator clearly outlining their perspective and what they identify as the next best option to their climber, while being receptive if they discover the climber is unable to fulfill that want, and altering their respective approaches to suit the circumstances of the other. Y’know, sort of like how good communication in relationships is supposed to work anyway. For those who are maybe a little less sporty but are still competitive, love a laugh, and are
es have gone down, here’s a game curated especially to increase its use. To play, you’ll need a decent sized and very firmly placed glory hole set up with five holes drilled through, four strap-ons, a good sturdy paddle, one cucumber per round you plan on playing, at least six people prepared to play the game, and an additional person with a stopwatch or some other way to keep time. One person grabs the paddle – there’s
make the biggest difference. Much like whack-a-mole, Whack-a-Strap requires the individual playing to use their smacky-device to hit a target that pops through the holes; in this case, it’s the people wearing strap-ons who will be thrusting through the holes with the aim of being quick enough to avoid being whacked. The goal of this game for the individual with the paddle is not to hit the most strapons, nor to have the quickest reac-
tions, but to see how long they can play (hence the stopwatch) before accidentally hitting the cucumber, which the rock-paper-scissors winner will be brandishing enthusiastically through the holes. The game is over once the cucumber has been paddled, or “whacked off” to use the technical term, and then players are shuffled so that each person in the group can see how long they’re able to last without whacking off. Maybe you’re not the type of person who’s into playing sports with others, but you’re still curious about new ways to play with yourself – don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you. To end off, here are some specially curated ways you handy folks can enjoy your solo play time: - Instead of learning to juggle with separate balls that fly all over the place when you, as a learner, inevitable drop them, grab some Ben Wa balls and learn to juggle the pair in each hand before scaling up - Instead of booking massages or going to your scheduled physio appointments, invest in a vibrator that sends sensations real deep so you can DIY those sessions - Instead of taking the time to learn how to bowl properly, perfect your granny-bowling stance by practicing while wearing an ankle spreader - Instead of learning how to listen, communicate, and work as a team towards a collective goal, put on a blindfold and teach yourself to echolocate (and avoid further conversations from most who witness the process)
july, 2021
sports
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
13
A guide to professional wrestling for the uninitiated Has there been progress since the ‘90s, or is wrestling still just a violent cheese-fest?
shae sackman technical editor
When you talk to new people and start spending more time with them, you inevitably end up being exposed to their hobbies and interests. Maybe their idea of fun ends up being letterboxing, or a deep (hah) interest in rocks and minerals. You could be lucky enough to wind up in the company of an avid baker. Rather than kayaking or chess or record collecting, the hobby I wind up being adjacent to most often is professional wrestling. It is inescapable and inevitable; the time to take this sign from the universe and actually learn about it has finally come. To find answers to the questions I had from the outside looking in on the world of wrestling, I located my most wrestling-invested associate, Adam Witt. There were a lot of questions that I needed answers to: how does one end up getting invested in a spectacle most people refer to as a fake sport? Do people who watch professional wrestling consider it a real sport? Do the wrestlers actually get hurt? What kind of snack options are available at wrestling venues? Starting simply, I asked how Witt got into wrestling. “It’s one of the last remainders of my relationship with family. My estranged brother got me interested in the WWF when I was about nine years old.” He explained that this time period was during the height of the Monday Night
Wars with World Championship Wrestling and the WWF – a golden age for wrestling. Witt said that one of the things that kept him interested in wrestling was the live show aspect of the matches. Retelling one of the moments in wrestling that had the biggest impact for him, Witt said “there was a storyline where a swamp-man cult-leader named Bray Wyatt was trying to convince him to join the Wyatt Family, his swamp cult. They played this story, as they do, over months. As the story with the Wyatt Family rolled out, the crowd revolted. They – we – didn’t want this to go down.
Just like the intricate relationships, grudges, and histories in wrestling, professional wrestling’s status as a sport is very complicated. “There is a lot more athleticism than there was in the most public days of wrestling.” Due to the carnival-beginning ways of the practice, Hulk Hogan lifting up 600 pounds of Andre the Giant was once the height of professional wrestling. A display of brute strength was the form’s most iconic image for a long time. Witt said while that was once the case, “you now have wrestlers like Will Ospreay doing incredible gymnastic feats that, on
adult tone – increasing raunchiness, sexualization, and vulgarity were the Attitude Era’s calling cards. With this era achieving the highest number of viewers yet and shaping the rising familiarity with the sport in the public sphere, conclusions were drawn. Talking about some of those conclusions, Witt continued: “When you see wrestling in the news, it’s negative, and some of the fame that comes with wrestling encourages it. When this is all the layperson sees, why wouldn’t they think that it’s just as corny as it was in the 1990s?” Even with these common
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I was at my house screaming at my TV, feeling like a kid again. I was 25 years old. I was watching a company that’s tried to do the same thing for most of my life change on the fly. – Adam Witt
WWE did something they had only done in rare cases, if any, up to that point: they listened. On an episode of their weekly Monday show, Raw, Bryan fought against the Wyatt Family, climbed to the top of a steel cage, and led the entire crowd in a chant. I was at my house screaming at my TV, feeling like a kid again. I was 25 years old. I was watching a company that’s tried to do the same thing for most of my life change on the fly.”
the surface, might seem less like wrestling. That might be true, but I’d argue that it makes wrestling more of a sport.” Professional wrestling and its status as a sport is a polarizing topic, but Witt goes on to explain that being an individual that enjoys the show is even more touchy. “Wrestling was most public during the steroid trials, the Chris Benoit murders, and the Attitude Era.” The Attitude Era was from 1997 - 2002, and had a more
attitudes, Witt points out what watching professional wrestling can provide something that other sports simply can’t rival. “The athleticism is unmatched. The storytelling can be moving and can be done in incredibly long form. I’ve seen wrestling stories unfold over twenty-plus years; if you’re really doing it right, that kind of drama can happen multiple times in a night. Wrestling’s greatest asset is that there is no kind of storytelling like it, on the
physical and mental level.” Sharing hobbies and interests as a way to get to know somebody can be fun and insightful. When asked how he would get someone into watching professional wrestling, Witt outlined his plan: “I would get them to join my swamp cult. Truthfully, there’s no good answer to this. I have a batch of matches I recommend and will watch with people because they do what wrestling does best: they tell anywhere between twenty and thirty years of story in twenty to thirty minutes.” Going back to the evolution of professional wrestling over the years, Witt points to the shift in viewing platforms as making the sport more varied and accessible. “There’s such a staggering variety of wrestling out there that it’s impossible to think of something I can’t find. There’s high drama; there’s athleticism unchained; there are people all over the world beating each other up in backyards and putting it on Youtube; there are so many options to watch in person or in your home.” It’s an interesting time to get interested in professional wrestling, even just by accident because your friend’s hobby is infiltrating your life. “I watched what I consider to be a dark age of wrestling with the Attitude Era, and now there are more companies than anybody knows what to do with. I’d almost like there to be less wrestling, but what I’d really like is for more people to sit me down, cook some popcorn, and show me their favorite matches.”
Adam Witt
A match so intense that no camera present could capture a clear image due to the haze of musk.
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sports
Olympic policy changes spark outrage If you think sports aren’t political, you’re not paying attention sarah nakonechny op-ed editor Since the cancellation of the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020, the world has eagerly been waiting their rescheduling. However, many regulations have been put into place and many disqualifications have occurred which have caused some fans and athletes to become uncomfortable with the way in which things have been unfolding, and the implications that it may have for all parties involved. Whoever said that sports aren’t political never would have anticipated this. First up, the International
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volume and therefore do not provide added room and stretch for it to hold athletes’ hair effectively. The decision made to ban these caps continues to add to the problem of discrimination for Black individuals in the aquatics community by acting as a barrier to potential participants. Next up is the disqualification of five different track sprinters from competing in certain events at the 2021 Olympics. These distance sprinters were barred from competing in any events that have a distance between 400 meters and a mile. The reason? Their natural testosterone levels are too high. Distance sprinters must
Sha’Carri Richardson who was supposed to be competing in the 100-meter dash. Richardson was barred from competing and put on a one-month suspension after testing positive on a drug test for marijuana. This substance is legal in 18 states and has not been proven to enhance athletic performance in any way, which has many outraged as a result of the ban. What sparked a larger uproar was when Richardson revealed to the press that the reason she had used marijuana was to help her cope with the death of her mother not long before the testing took place. Regardless, the regulations have been set by
ants are a problem, organizers are still accepting athletes and their coaching teams into the country without hesitation which means that any country who is choosing to send their athletes and training teams are knowingly putting them at risk to compete. Athletes who are choosing to attend the games realize that this is one of the biggest stages that they will compete on in their profession. The Olympic committees also realized that and are reinforcing the ban that was originally put into place during the 1968 games stating that athletes are not allowed to demonstrate any kind of political expression during the
tensity for this year’s games as the Black Lives Matters movement is still very prominent in Western countries. As well, the fight for 2SLGBTQAI+ rights in Eastern countries, including the hosting country Japan, are ones that will be forced to go unaddressed as a result. Any kind of act whether it be in the form of clothing or physical action will result in the athlete being disqualified. Moving forward, policies may continue to change, improve, or prove to be more problematic than originally considered. Those saying that sports are not political never anticipated the outrage that would come out of this year’s
Athletes who are choosing to attend the games realize that this is one of the biggest stages that they will compete on in their profession. The Olympic committees also realized that, and are reinforcing the ban that was originally put into place during the 1968 games stating that athletes are not allowed to demonstrate any kind of political expression during the games. – Sarah Nakonechny
Swimming Federation has rejected the use of Soul Caps. For those unfamiliar, Soul Caps are a Blackowned brand of swim caps that was designed to provide properly fitting caps for athletes with natural Black hair. The reason for the Federation’s decision to ban those competing from wearing these caps is because they do not fit the ‘natural form’ of the individuals’ head. This ruling stems from the way in which the Speedo 50 caps fit an individuals’ head as they do not possess the same amount of
have a testosterone level below 5 nanomoles per liter, so if those disqualified want to compete, they are required to take medication to alter their natural levels. If they choose not to alter their natural chemistry this way, they will only be permitted to compete in events where the distance is less than 400 meters. The latest of the disqualifications was the Namibian sprinters at the training camp hosted in Italy. While looking at the competing sprinters, we cannot forget to talk about gold medal prospect
the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and therefore must be upheld by all countries competing regardless of their own laws around the substance in question. Tokyo has recently announced that they will not be allowing spectators at any of the Olympic events. COVID-19 variants are spreading quickly in the country, and as less than 50 per cent of the country’s citizens are vaccinated, they are wanting to minimize the influx of people that the Olympics would bring to their community. Although these vari-
games. Rule 50, as it is referred to, has been around for over 50 years and is still being upheld. It states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.” Upholding this kind of ruling for so long speaks volumes about the way in which we navigate our world. Athletes are not allowed to rock the boat to help those who are not fortunate enough to have the same platform as it will cause those watching discomfort. This idea has heightened in in-
Olympic games, and likely believe that sports aren’t political due to policies like Rule 50 that prohibit athletes from fully conveying their experiences. From the perpetuation of systemic discrimination, flaws in the assistance of the athletes’ mental health, and the risk that is put on the physical health of those who will be competing, there is much to stay updated on. For anyone watching the games this year, remember everything that is being implied on that podium.
Ron Cogswell via Flickr
Something you can see at an NFL game but not the Olympics.
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editor: sarah nakonechny op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | july, 2021
Modern Day Handmaidens
Welcome to the horrors of our modern utopia
Monty Luv via Unsplash manipulated by Morgan Ortman
A tale as old as time, a handmaiden left to deal with her master’s sheets.
[CW: sexual assault, emotional abuse] In 1985, Canadian author Margaret Atwood published The Handmaid’s Tale, which has recently been increasing in popularity and continues to grow its platform. Atwood has published a second book in the series, The Testaments, and has taken the original to the big screen as a television show. What is so appealing about this series that keeps people coming back, wanting more? Is it purely entertainment value or is it the opportunity for conversations to be born out of the plot? One of the most prominent topics that is covered within this series is the topic of women’s rights. This is a large topic to unpack as it presents itself in many ways throughout the series. Talking about a woman’s right to choose, personal boundaries, freedom, and a right to access medical procedures are just a few that are looked at throughout The Handmaid’s Tale. These topics are ones that we should be familiar with as they are something that women all over the world are forced to live with in some capacity on a daily basis. Whether that means that their rights have directly been taken away or they are helping to fight for the rights of women in other places, this is a fight everywhere. Women are considered objects for the pleasure and entertainment of the men around them, and do not have a right to make decisions regarding what happens to their own bodies. One of the most prominent issues that comes to the mind of many is the consistent harassment and barriers that women are faced with in regard to their own reproductive rights. In the United States women are not permitted to have an abortion after a certain number of weeks depending on the state in which they are in. What is known as the “Heartbeat Law” prevents women from having an
abortion as soon as the fetus’ heartbeat can be detected on an ultrasound monitor. This can happen as early as five to six weeks into a woman’s pregnancy, a time when many women won’t yet know they’re pregnant and will then be forced to carry the pregnancy to term. In European countries, laws vary from 18-24 weeks before women are no longer permitted to have an abortion, while others will not allow them to undergo the procedure after the first trimester is completed. In Germany, there is mandatory counselling that women must go through
Oftentimes the groups who have made the decisions about these laws are led by men and religious groups who apparently would rather women attempt back-alley abortions, putting their lives at risk [EIC note: so much for pro-life, huh] in order to perform these procedures themselves rather than providing trained medical staff to perform them in safe, sterile environments. Within the context of The Handmaid’s Tale, women do not have control of their own bodies either. They are sorted into categories such as wife or handmaiden, and
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Whether it was women fighting for the right to work or the fights that continue about our right to choose, The Handmaid’s Tale continues to be relevant. – Sarah Nakonechny
before experiencing a three-day waiting period, and only then are they allowed to undergo the procedure. Women must fight every step of the way in order to undergo the process. Whether that fighting is due to the legal barriers put in place, convincing a counsellor that they are mentally sound enough to make decisions about their own bodies, or dealing with the potential repercussions from their family, friends, or community, it is extremely difficult and harmful for the women who are going through this process. It is their body, yet they consistently have to try to prove that they are able to make decisions about it in their own best interest.
what happens to their body after that is determined by the status that they have been given. Those who have been deemed fertile are classified as handmaidens and will be expected to bear children after forced sexual encounters with men in power, as it is their duty to repopulate. Although it is a traumatizing experience for the handmaiden to be taken advantage of by these men, there is no option to reverse the effects of the intimate act. These women are being mentally and emotionally traumatized through these encounters, and are further traumatized by being forced to bear these rapists’ children. Not only does this series showcase the
lack of control that women have regarding what they can do with their bodies, it also shows how easily men disregard women as people and consider them to be their property to do with what they see appropriate. For example, in this series the women are named based on the names of the men who control them. For example, there is a character who is referred to as “Ofglen” because she is the property of a man named Glen. She is no longer considered to be her own person, capable of making her own decisions, but rather is property to be owned and manipulated. For women in our current world, we are often forced to follow traditions that demonstrate that we are property of the men around us. No matter how hard we try and fight the way we are expected to act, the traditions that we follow still hold the view of us as property to be controlled. Weddings, which are believed to be beautiful ceremonies where two families are coming together, are actually one man giving away their property to another man; the handing off of the soon-to-be wife by her father to her soon-to-be husband holds the symbolism that she is not her own person. She was and always will be under the control of a man, free to give her away if they choose. Although we are given the illusion of being free to choose, we never really have been. Margaret Atwood has done a phenomenal job of creating a story that stands the test of time. Whether it was women fighting for the right to work or the fights that continue about our right to choose, The Handmaid’s Tale continues to be relevant.
sarah nakonechny op-ed editor
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july, 2021
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Their body, your opinion
Who’s next on the media chopping block?
Stephen LaVoie
Another woman trying to live her best life while the gaze of others falls upon her judgingly.
It is no secret that the media influences what the current ideal feminine figure should be. Although socially we are beginning to accept more body types, more than a few female celebrities have been made prime candidates for body politics. Women who were extorted by the media and determined to be fat or obese got the brunt of media manipulation, twisting how other women think of themselves in comparison. The Jessica Simpson weight debate splashed across the covers of many tabloids in the early ‘00s after her leading lady role in Dukes of Hazzard. Simpson was viewed as an incredibly desirable heroine within the film, then gained weight after
loss she has been applauded, but when she gains weight, she is scrutinized. Just about all of Jessica Simpson’s acting career has been side-tracked by the influence of the media and how they objectified her body. Not only does this approach terrorize Simpson, but it has promoted a dangerously unhealthy diet culture where only thin is considered beautiful. Britney Spears has also been mercilessly ridiculed for her body weight before and after her 2008 breakdown. As one of the most influential pop figures of the ‘00s, Spears was hypersexualized by the media, then fat-shamed and extorted to make people believe she was undesirable. While hy-
of how the media can trap somebody in the public eye by influencing how the rest of the world views them. The 2008 breakdown is a perfect example of how the media kicked Spears while she was down – something that has not fully been recovered from as her father used this to justify conservatorship of Spears. While the #FreeBritney movement has garnered much support for Spears over the past few years, the media’s influence on Spears deeply and negatively impacted her well-being. The media could have done investigative work into her conservatorship and helped her rather than critique her adherence to the current ideal feminine figure and behaviour.
shame her for the weight that she had lost. The media is consistently fixated on what they look like rather than their own ambitions, achievements, or well-being. 10 years ago it was socially normal to perceive somebody solely based on their looks, and not much has changed from that mindset. As people are starting to call out the media’s depictions of women, they are slowly beginning to gravitate away from outrightly shaming the way individuals look based on their appearance and weight. A common theme for all of these women was that they experienced more scrutiny about what they looked than what they were doing – something consistent in
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Even if Simpson had gained considerable weight, it wouldn’t be an excuse to extort her body for the entertainment of others. Bodies change, and it is unrealistic to assume that your body will stay the same throughout your entire life. – Gillian Massie
the movie. The shocking part of Simpson’s “extreme weight gain” was that there really was no weight gain at all. Even if Simpson had gained considerable weight, it wouldn’t be an excuse to extort her body for the entertainment of others. Bodies change, and it is unrealistic to assume that your body will stay the same throughout your entire life. A prime example of mockeries made against Simpson’s weight was when she was very famously depicted as obese in Eminem’s 2009 music video, “We Made You,” which is incredibly offensive. All of Simpson’s media coverage is still related to her weight; since her recent weight
per-sexualization and fat-shaming can be upheld or exposed in the media, both have side effects as contributors to body politics. When Britney performed at the 2007 Video Music Awards, which was set to be her comeback performance, she was met with intense fat-shaming for her looks which caused further media scrutiny. Soon after, her 2008 breakdown occurred where she shaved her head at a saloon before attacking a paparazzi member with an umbrella. Rather than the media being concerned about her mental state, they focused on her newly shaved head and appearance at the attack. The whole instance is an example
Kelly Osbourne was in the spotlight from a young age with rock super-star father Ozzy Osbourne, and was a star on the TV show The Osbourne’s. This show was the first celebrity reality TV show that showcased a personal view of the lives of a famous rocker family on their days off. Kelly was only a teenager when the series first began airing in 2002, a highly influenceable age due to the adjustments and growing pains of becoming an adult. Ridiculed for style and weight, Kelly was relentlessly gone after for her looks. When Kelly had a drastic weight loss in the ‘10’s for her debut on Fashion Police, many continued to thin
female media spectacles today. These incredibly harmful attitudes towards women’s bodies should have been stopped before they even started. Dismantling body politics will help break down the cultural acceptance of commenting on weight loss and weight gain and, who knows, it could even redirect the media’s focus towards actual news.
gillian massie staff writer
july, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
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The experience of a shifting perspective on Canada “But we’re better than the U.S.” has never been a good excuse
[Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419] I have moved to Canada twice in my life. The first time was to British Columbia in 2008,, but I eventually returned to my home country. Most recently, I moved to Saskatchewan in 2016. I must admit that the first time it just worked out that I ended up coming to Canada, but the second time I had made up my mind about Canada. That it was where I wanted to be, even though I have a sibling, and no small number of extended family, in the United States. I am not the only person in my social circle who made the decision of Canada over the USA. Many of my peers have moved to Canada over the last decade, and many more continue to do so. We all seem to have felt that if we must leave home and family in search of better opportunities, Canada is the place we want to be. Of course, for many of us there was one overarching reason not to live in the USA. While this may well be a worldwide phenomenon, in my part of the world there are grievances about the problematic past the USA has and the role they continue to play in nations around the world. The Middle East, and South and Central Asia specifically have suffered due to the foreign policy of the USA. My own nation, Bangladesh, almost lost their war of independence due to the Nixon-Kissinger duo’s insistence that Pakistan not split up right at the time they were looking to improve relations with China through help from the military regime of Pakistan. Furthermore, there are concerns around the history of America’s mistreatment of its own citizens at various periods in history, from slavery, to internment camps for Japanese Americans, to the convenient whitewashing of the USA as being the story of immigrant success with little to no mention of the people actually indigenous to the land. Even today, the USA has problems like the a lack of proper healthcare, poor infrastructure, and police brutality. Certainly, the results of the presidential election in 2016 did nothing to help
the impression that the nation continues to support and enable a very specific demographic’s ideal. In comparison, many of us had always felt that Canada did better at treating its citizens with dignity. Naive as this may sound in the light of the past several weeks, I used to believe that Canada did not have a disappointing track record of human rights abuse, internment camps, and forced assimilation. In fact, during my brief stay in BC I was under the impression that Canada had a much better relationship with its Indigenous groups. I am not sure why this was the case, possibly because I was not as
does not solve real-world obstacles placed in someone’s path systemically. Coming back to my positive impressions about Canada, the past few weeks have of course made me reevaluate my opinions. The best I can say now is that Canada has better PR compared to our neighbor to the south. A friend of mine is moving to Canada this fall, and we have been having long conversations preparing him for the move and sharing the things he can look forward to. Coming from a densely populated and poorly governed small South Asian country, there is much to look forward to. Recently, he asked me about
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I used to believe that Canada did not have a disappointing track record of human rights abuse, internment camps, and forced assimilation. – Hammad Ali
politically aware, or that the issues were not as widely discussed in my circles then. Once I arrived in Regina in 2016, I began to feel like I was missing a big part of the picture. I began to learn more about the grievances of the First Nations groups in Canada and the continued poor treatment of our Indigenous, Inuit, and Métis populations. As an immigrant, one thing that continues to bother me is how many of us arrive in Canada and within six months have bought into every stereotype and negative myth about Indigenous people. I have written about this before, but it bears repeating: we need to stop serving as the token model immigrant, and we need to stop believing in the absurd propaganda that anyone who wants better opportunities just needs to work hard. Generational trauma, isolation, and constant prejudice everywhere you go are real barriers. Having a positive attitude sounds nice, but it
the residential schools and the discovery of thousands of unmarked graves across Canada. Suddenly, our shared narrative of Canada being a utopia fell apart and we had to talk about what that means. The families that never saw their children again and were never granted the closure of knowing their child would not be coming back, and the residential school survivors who remember classmates disappearing. I told my friend how I wish those immigrants who accuse Indigenous people of just being lazy would pause to consider how difficult it would be to heal from the trauma of being taken away from their families and forced into these schools, especially with the barriers currently in place that make existing supports inaccessible to many. There is a chance that if the last residential schools had closed far before I was born, I would be less emotionally overwhelmed while processing the news. This
could falsely seem to be a distant horror, like many others in human history. However, it’s important to note how much of our lives are shaped by where we are born, which we personally have no control over. For example, if I had been born to Indigenous parents in Canada instead of my family in Bangladesh, I’d have likely spent some of my life in a residential school. Empathizing with that experience has helped me adjust my perspective; how can you avoid that while wondering if they lost someone to these “schools,” wondering what it is like to live with those memories. I do not suddenly hate Canada. If anything, I am sorely disappointed precisely because I love this country and the promise it holds to many who, like me, wanted to make a new home in a society founded on kindness and empathy. It has been heavy, the thought that this country that gave me the opportunity to pursue graduate studies and live a highly fulfilling life has a history of denying not just opportunities, but life itself, to so many. I want to end with an appeal to fellow immigrants. Just because we may not have been here when residential schools were operating does not absolve us of responsibility. Every opportunity we gain, every structural support we enjoy has come at the cost of those who were denied countless rights. The point is not to focus on the guilt, but to acknowledge this reality and to realize that if we glorify Canada as a model nation, we contribute to the pain of those it has historically oppressed and continuous to oppress. If we perpetuate the myth that hard work is all you need to make it in Canada, it denies how many are burdened with weights and barriers that cannot just be willed into nothingness. Canada must do better, and if we genuinely want to feel love and pride for this nation, we need to hold it accountable.
hammad ali contributor Pixabay
Is Canada really what it comes across to be?
july, 2021
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op-ed
The risks and rewards in reopening Saskatchewan Mask or no mask, we can still tell you are smiling There is no argument that everyone is sick of COVID – there are zero benefits to its presence. However, there has been continuous arguments about what the best course of action is to manage this global pandemic. There have been protests, mandatory mask policies, social distancing, restrictions on gatherings and business capacities; the list goes on. Along with that come many inconsistencies in terms of the job market, economy, housing, government funding, and policies. Nothing has proven to stay the same for too long. There is risk in Saskatchewan reopening so early. It has not been long since wearing a mask wasn’t mandatory, and as vaccines distribution is still not comfortably high there is the possibility that people may get their hopes up too quickly. It is important to keep in mind that while it feels like Saskatchewan is entering the monumental stage of reopening, that status is still subject to change. Although great progress has been made it is important to not become doe-eyed deer, eager to get out into the world and do everything that we used to but metaphorically running into traffic. While back-to-normal is ideal, it is important to still remain realistic and cautious, and not expect too much too soon. On that cheerful note, there are positives to look forward to as well, like the fact that we will be able to celebrate milestones and important occasions in our lives and the lives of those we love. Apart from that, businesses in the service industry that did not have the means to adapt as well to restrictions could start to see more regular revenue. This would include restaurants,
hotels, bars, churches, and so on. Other businesses will be opening their offices, allowing for more in-office collaboration and socialization. Little luxuries we had once become accustomed to and never thought of losing will become new again. Whether that is going to the movie theatre and having full seating choice, spending a little less time in the hospital if you work in healthcare, being able to freely see loved ones in care homes, or traveling with ease between communities. Though traveling too far
can be done. It is best to remain patient and aware, waiting for real progress before moving too far. Regardless, it will be a serious perk for people to be able to enjoy nature even more; many people helped themselves cope with COVID using nature, but it will now be more involved. Instead of being in your own yard or a smaller piece of property, there will be campsites, more places for RVs, and more outdoor summer group activities. Events like farmers’ markets,
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It is important to keep in mind that while it feels like Saskatchewan is entering the monumental stage of reopening, that status is still subject to change. – Rayanne Gwilliam
may remain a bit taboo, being able to travel safely at all is a beautiful baby step. However, it is important to consider that not every province is running on the same timeline, and it is clear that not every country will be operating under the same rules either. This may result in it being some time until a quality standard is in place for different types of travel. People in long distances relationships, those waiting for K1 visas or work visas, and students studying abroad are all in circumstances where different jurisdictions dictate what
road trips, big community garage sales, and theme parks will also be enjoyed this year. Considering we have an extremely limited window of time in Saskatchewan to enjoy such activities, that news is welcome. The last thing to keep in mind is to be respectful of other peoples’ beliefs and decisions. While we no longer have a mandatory mandate to wear masks, we do have the freedom to choose to wear one. We should do our best to be respectful of others as it truly does not affect us if someone chooses to wear a mask. Also, refrain
from pressuring others about their choices relating the masks, vaccines, and other personal matters. You will never agree with everyone and their decisions all the time, and being aggressive, hateful, or disrespectful will not make them any likelier to hear you out. Those approaches also have the potential to cause them to be against educating themselves on the topic because of their unpleasant emotional response to how they have been approached based on their decisions. It is necessary to be as diplomatic, patient, kind, and respectful as possible, whenever possible. I’d advise you to only intervene when the above tactics do not work and the behaviour is harming that individual or others. No matter how prepared we have become, how long it has been studied, or how much we learn about in history, none of us have lived through a global pandemic exactly like this one before. This experience is new to everyone. Dealing with something that we have never experienced and coping with these circumstances is going to be hard on everyone. There are a multitude of struggles that could be present during this, or that have worsened or been created by it. Things like physical health complications, mental and emotional health, people facing unstable work or home environments, and houselessness. Let us all do our best to remain open minded and understanding while we navigate what we all hope will be the end of this. Fingers crossed, everyone!
rayanne gwilliam contributor
Daniel Schludi via Unsplash
If you look long enough you should be able to see the microchips.
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editors: sarah carrier, rooky jegede graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | july, 2021
