The Carillon - Volume 64 Issue 13

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 tech@carillonregina.com

shae sackman

multimedia/graphics editors

multimedia@carillonregina.com graphics@carillonregina.com

sarah carrier rooky jedege

copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com

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 staff writer

vacant hammad ali

staff writer

gillian massie

news writer

syd mcwilliams

a&c writer

jorah bright

sports writer

victoria baht

web writer

vacant

william spencer

vol. 64

contributors

board of directors holly funk, lindsay holitzki, joseph holoein,, dustin smith, jacob nelson and honourary members hammad ali, cassandra byblow, morgan ortman

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 sixty 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 December 2 - January 12, 2021 | Volume 64, Issue 13 | carillonregina.com

news

In this final issue of 2021, I’d like to thank all the contributors who chose to send us their writing and images, as well as our staff who do all they can to make sure each issue is unique, genuine, and tells stories from the most accurate angles possible.

This has been a positively exhausting year, but we made it. To echo an article from earlier this year, we all found a chance to make it through everything we couldn’t see a way through. I guarantee there were things you weren’t sure how to handle this year, but you handled them. That’s a big deal. Whatever fresh hell 2022 might throw our way, remember that you beat 2020 and 2021. You got this.

Flying cops

arts

p.3

Despite Regina giving a higher percentage of its annual budget to policing than Calgary, Edmonton, or Montreal, Regina Police Service wants an aircraft for Christmas.

Spafford Books

arts

p.7

Spafford Books is Regina’s own mystery bookshop filled to the brim with History. Much like the knowledge within it, the store has a history and identity of its own.

op-ed

sports

Holly Funk Editor-in-Chief

photos

cover......................................sarah carrier news.................................................brano a&c.......................................gillian massie a&c......................volodymyr hryshchenko sports.....................................shawn henry op-ed.....................................danie franco

Olympic artistry

p.11

Skateboarding is now an olympic sport, but the strength and artistic feats present are Olympic in itself.

Accepting help

p.14

Sarah Nakonechny discusses how it means more to hear from yourself than others that accepting help is okay.

December happenings

p.9

From cat cafes to university plays, here’s everything happening this December in Regina!

news

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editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

Regina Police Service once again seeking millions more for budget Other neglected social problems grow

syd mcwilliams and sara birrel news writer and news editor The city of Regina recently went through a round of pre-budget talks. In the proposed budget for 2022, the Regina Police Service (RPS) is requesting an additional $3.5 million in funding, which would be a four per cent increase in their budget over 2021. The proposed total operating costs for 2022 are $103,695,300. RPS say they are aware of the fiscal constraints caused by the pandemic, have reduced spending in all possible areas, and reduced the request for additional personnel, putting them behind on their growth plan. This is to say that rather than seeing 27 new personnel added to the force, it will see only 24.

Activists in the city have pointed out that the $3.5 million increase could allow an overdose prevention site to operate 24/7 in the city for the next three years.

The service is also making a bid for an airplane, or “aerial support unit,” which would need ongoing and significant funding for staffing, maintenance, and fuel, and which goes against the city’s Renewable Regina plan meant to reduce the amount of pollution coming from the city. According to documents, SGI has offered up to $120,000 in supportive funding for mapping or thermal imaging if the police service buys the plane.

Many different factors create police budgets, but the majority of any police service’s budget goes to paying its staff. RPS has 634 permanent employees and 15 casual full-time employees that in total take up 88 per cent of their operating costs. The 2022 budget allows for hiring one deputy chief, 16 police positions, and seven civilian positions. Regina

has a lower cop to population ratio than the Canadian average, with only 166 officers to every hundred thousand people, and the average being 185. However, the city of Regina also spends a more significant percentage of its annual budget on policing than much larger cities like Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal. Another reason the city is seeing an increase in police expenditure is a general increase in operating costs due to inflation, vehicle operating costs and insurance, salary and benefit changes, increased facility operating costs,

feel uncomfortable dealing with their own neighbours who have a mental health crisis or are using drugs.” Many organizations within the city, such as the Heritage Community Association, have spoken out about the way the police budget eats up money that could have gone to community services. In the past, Police Chief Evan Bray has also said that investment in social justice issues is something that is extremely important “to make a long-term and sustainable difference in [..] health and happiness and wellness in our community [and] in

and for mentally ill people, especially racialized and Indigenous people, these encounters can be deadly. Despite all this, the police funding continues to increase because we haven’t been able to separate them from the work they shouldn’t be doing anyway, allowing them to focus on other crimes and reduce their operating costs.

Rick Ruddell, a professor of Police Studies at the University of Regina said, “Whenever you start talking budget, you have a lot of people say, you know, well maybe we should call up people other than police to deal with

“

I’m sick of seeing people treat the cops as some kind of neutral third party, or as a mediator between community members who feel uncomfortable dealing with their own neighbours who have a mental health crisis or are using drugs.

– Kale MacLellan

and other general expenses such as vet care for the K-9 unit. Police Chief Evan Bray was the highest paid civil servant in Regina last year, with a salary of $257,375.

Police budgets, in general, have been a contested issue for years now. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, protests swept across the United States and Canada, and many activists called for the police to be defunded and for the money to go to organizations working on reducing the root causes for crime, such as poverty, addiction, mental illness, and homelessness, rather than criminalizing those causes and relying on the police to remedy them. Kale MacLellan, a Regina antipoverty organizer, said, “I’m sick of seeing people treat the cops as some kind of neutral third party, or as a mediator between community members who

crime and safety as well.” He added that “We need to ensure as a society that those supports, instead of police, are going to be funded and resourced to the point where [those groups] can deal with” the social determinants of crime.

Many people present at the last budget meeting are taking issue with how the police budget has gone up almost 20 million dollars since 2016, yet crime levels haven’t decreased. Still, there is a lot more to consider than just crime numbers because police are responding and using resources for a lot more than what is regarded as a crime in the traditional sense. For example, police are called to overdoses, to mental health crises, and to situations like people being poor in public places. These encounters with the police can often be violent,

these things then when we can save money and reduce the police budgets, and they have a point.

One of the problems though, is that very few of these agencies are able to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So, the police just become the people you call in because there’s nobody else who’s going to deal with the problem.” However, the primary reason that other agencies are not able to respond 24/7 is not a lack of willingness on their part, but rather the fact that they don’t have the financial and structural resources required to do so.

The RPS has made efforts to more appropriately respond to mental health services by creating their PACT team, which pairs a police officer with a social worker to respond to crises. However, the PACT team is still responding to crises with a police officer,

and there is no guarantee that these interactions will not result in arrest or other violent harms against the individual in crisis, or cause psychological anguish.

“I don’t think people understand how awful it is to see people literally fill with terror when they find out the cops are here,” MacLellan said.

But figuring out how to change the system isn’t as easy as simply pulling funding from the cops to give it to other organizations. Those organizations would need the infrastructure to deal with situations, and to do that, they also need funding. So, upon speaking with Professor Rudell further about how the culture of policing is changing, the answer might be that “you might actually require a period of time of double funding, where you have to support those addiction services, plus the police. And then maybe the hope is that you know, those addiction services, mental health services will actually reduce demands on the police to enable them to focus more on their core policing and save money to reduce budgets.” Which is to say, the city of Regina might have to put their money where their mouth is and actually commit to funding organizations and programs that address the social determinants of crime.

The Regina Police are going to see another increase in budget for 2022. The city needs to find a way to support crime reduction services and create a system that allows police not to respond to calls regarding mental health or addictions without jeopardizing those services while a transition happens. Until that point, the police will continue to demand more funding. But changing an entrenched system is a lot easier said than done, and it will be a while before we see the changes that so many people are demanding.

Brano via Unsplash

A pink piggy bank with a coin being put inside, surrounded by many more coins.

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4

news

B.C. flooding made worse by forestry practices People saw this coming

syd mcwilliams news writer Logging practices and other forms of environmental interference play in a major role in BC’s severe floods and their catastrophic impacts over the past two weeks. Beginning on November 13, when an atmospheric river brought record-breaking rainfall to many communities in BC’s south and interior, the province began to experience massive landslides, overflowed rivers, stranded towns, and destroyed highways – all of which contributed to NDP Premier John Horgan declaring a state of emergency. The state of emergency was declared to help mitigate the stress on transportation systems, aid in the transport of essential goods, and support the province in the recovery process. The state of emergency applies to the whole province, and ensures resources can be delivered in a coordinated effort to protect the people of British Columbia.

Approximately 17,775 people were evacuated from their homes, and many vehicles were trapped by landslides, unable to move for days. Search and rescue teams were deployed to the landslide, and the body count is up to four at present. In coordination with the Red Cross, British Columbia’s government has secured financial assistance for those placed under an evacuation order, and those eligible houses can receive up to $2,000. Also, in response to floods, residents and essential workers in BC who must travel to or pass through the United States are exempt from COVID entry requirements.

Jamie Morris via Unsplash

Oh no, what’s that in the distance? Consequences, you say?

In response to the floods, the First Nations leadership council in BC has called upon the provincial government to declare an indefinite state of emergency. They stated that the extreme and continuing weather events prove that it is no longer just a climate crisis but an ongoing climate emergency, and people’s lives are at risk.

Many First Nations communities were left stranded by the floods with very little warning and have been left to navigate the complicated provincial funding that doesn’t address the needs of their

British Columbia. His research focuses on how forest management, logging, and forest disturbance affect the way the natural environment is able to respond to an influx of moisture.

B.C.’s logging has affected the watershed, an area of land that drains streams and rainfall to common outlets such as the outlet of a reservoir or the mouth of a bay, and, according to Alila, “Most watersheds have been heavily logged over the last couple of decades. And when we say heavily logged, you’re looking at

ery] twenty years event very easily, because the effect of logging on the flood regime depends not only on the amount of cut blocks but how much of the watershed was logged percentage wise,” said Alila.

Alila added that “the larger the flood event, the more frequent it becomes. And therefore, we’re not just affecting the one in five, the one in 10, the one in 20, we’re affecting the full range of return period. Changes like this to the flooding regime have major implications and consequenc-

“

So the flooding regime in general, whether the high flows or the low flows is like the blood traveling in our veins, anything goes wrong with it, then the whole ecosystem is basically in jeopardy.

– Younes Alila

communities.

The floods in BC are extreme and were made worse by the logging practices in the province.

Clear cutting is a method of tree removal where all trees in an area are removed. It is the most common form of tree removal because it is an easy and efficient way to gather lumber. Unfortunately, it is also a major reason for the severe flooding in the province.

The Carillon spoke to Younes Alila, a professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management at the University of

30 per cent of an entire watershed, 40 per cent, 50 per cent, even 60 per cent of an entire watershed.”

“In a nutshell, my research over the last 10, 15 years has repeatedly corroborated the following conclusion that the flood regime, particularly in the snow environment, is highly sensitive to logging and sometimes depending on where you log, even just 15 per cent, 20 per cent of the watershed being logged could actually change a once in every hundred years [flood] event into [an ev-

es on the geomorphology of the channel on sediment, transport downstream on water quality on fish habitat and aquatic life from the stream. So the flooding regime in general, whether the high flows or the low flows, is like the blood traveling in our veins; anything goes wrong with it, then the whole ecosystem is basically in jeopardy.”

In summary, clear-cut logging in BC, which is still a common practice, has caused the forests to no longer perform as they should, and the clear-cut areas

take decades to return to their previous functionality; because of this, floods will only continue and become more frequent.

Climate change only exasperates the problems already produced by logging. Climate change is creating bigger, more extreme storms that push the already unstable environments to flood more intensely. In addition, the frequent and intense forest fires are creating soils in the watershed that repel water, turning the areas into a giant runoff. More research needs to be done to see how climate change and logging work together, but there is no doubt that they, in conjunction, are making the situation worse.

British Columbia is trying to repair the already massive damage caused by the water and simultaneously take shelter from another storm system that has been moving through the province in the last couple of days.

They haven’t had time to breathe, and according to professor Alalia, “this is just the tip of the iceberg, and we are up for big surprises.”

Scientists have been warning the government and the public of this for over a decade. Unfortunately, the logging practices in BC are aggressive, proper rules aren’t often followed, sections are clear cut too close to each other too frequently, and only time will tell if the government takes enough action to reduce the chances of these major floods happening in the future.

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon | 5

news

New workplace legislation offers protection for gig workers Working continues to suck

hammad ali staff writer In a press release on November 18, 2021, the Government of Saskatchewan announced that it has introduced a number of amendments to the Saskatchewan Employment Act as part of the regular review process, including an amendment regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. The statement expressed hope that these amendments will help build a better and safer workplace for employers and employees in the province.

The most prominent amendment, which the release also devotes more attention to, is one that addresses the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace.

This amendment clarifies that any unwelcome action of a sexual nature constitutes harassment.

Further, the amendment also mentions that this definition of harassment, and any associated legislative process, will now also cover independent contractors, student/interns, and volunteers.

This makes Saskatchewan one of five jurisdictions that specifically reference sexual harassment at a legislative level, and also cover in-

Annie Spratt via Unsplash

Being alone together is the best way to work.

terns, contract workers, and volunteers. The release mentioned that these amendments are a result of regular reviews of The Saskatchewan Employment Act. Additional amendments address issues regarding bargaining units as it pertains to employees at the supervisory levels.

environment, including protecting vulnerable workers. These amendments will help us build a stronger, safer and healthier Saskatchewan.” On Twitter, Premier Scott Moe stated that the amendments will better support employers and employees.

We also reached out to the

to find out more about the background that led to a review of this aspect of the law, and what tangible benefits workers in Saskatchewan can hope for.

Bell explained that previously, the harassment provisions as mentioned in the Saskatchewan Employment Act did not offer

“

Given that the most prominent amendment relates to the definition of, and coverage for, sexual harassment, we wanted to find out more about the background that led to a review of this aspect of the law, and what tangible benefits workers in Saskatchewan can hope for.

– Hammad Ali

Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan is quoted in the press release, saying “The legislation that governs our employers and employees needs to address the challenges of the modern work

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour for comments, speaking to Eric Bell, who is Strategic Advisor to the SFL. Given that the most prominent amendment relates to the definition of, and coverage for, sexual harassment, we wanted

protections for independent contractors, students, and volunteers from harassment while at work.

“These changes have been necessary for some time, but are arguably needed even more today due to the changing nature of work

– more and more folks are working as independent contractors and ‘gig’ workers – working for companies like Uber and Skip the Dishes. These workers are more vulnerable, face precarious working environments and are more prone to harassment. The SFL has been calling for these changes for some time and so we are pleased that this amendment has been made,” said Bell. He also added that with this aspect of the amendment, the act now covers the vast majority of workers in the province, including students who are in work placements or internships.

Bell also added, “All employers will now have a duty to provide a working environment free of harassment for all employees, including independent contractors, volunteer workers and students. The amendment will help make sure that workers who are in these positions are able to enjoy a safer working environment, free of harassment. If in fact they do still face harassment, they will also now have the mechanisms through which to seek redress of their grievances.”

Joshua Lawrence via Unsplash

Special delivery: consequences for sexual harassment!

arts & culture

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editor: hannah eiserman aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

“Magic” buried in Regina’s hidden store, Spafford Books The mystery begins trying to find the entrance

gillian massie staff writer This small bookshop hidden in the shadows of Regina buildings proves that there is still magic in each corner of the city.

Spafford Books is a place for intellectuals and dreamers, with a coveted fountain of knowledge beaming from the academic library and bookshop. Entering through a hidden back-alley entrance, through a squeaky metal door, you can find owner Leah Spafford at her desk organizing and cataloguing books while bookstore resident Oxford the dog sits on the back of a recliner greeting guests. Spafford’s love of books shines through in her value of each antiquarian book she acquires.

“It is magic, touching history, and becoming immersed in it,” Leah says. “With significant volumes, you become part of the provenance. You become part of this story… a step in the journey [of] the item. And it feels wonderful to be a part of it, it builds up a part of history.”

Unlike any other bookstore, tours are available to graze the rich history of the building and the items within it. Sections of antiquarian books are divvied up into sections to great extent. With large directories from Indigenous to Prairie Canadiana, the store is perfectly organized and catalogued with rich history stuck between each corner. Employee Robin Clark only grazed the surface of the history of books in the store, telling me about the stories behind antiques like a Cree typewriter, to wallet-sized pornography for men, to toothpick sculptures ordaining the tops of

Gillian Massie

Spafford Books greeter Oxford, sitting in wait to take book lovers into the cave of wonders.

bookshelves.

Running a bookstore comes as second nature for Leah, who learned the tricks of the trade from her father, Richard Spafford.

“We lived in the back of the bookstore when I was a kid,” Leah says. “I quite literally grew up underneath this particular desk.”

Richard got his start at book selling by watching a friend in Saskatoon make his living off of buying and selling antiquarian books before getting involved

own method since the beginning of establishment – let your reputation speak for itself, and the people will come to you. Spafford Books has remained in the shadows of Regina’s busy streets entirely on purpose. The hidden bookshop is for the curious, which is why it attracts different academics, historians, or those who stumbled upon the back-alley entrance.

When Leah began to take over shop, she began encouraging a few more visitors a week from once or twice a week to once or

well-known Regina areas such as the Antique Mall and Centennial Mall until another major event struck: the internet was created.

Richard Spafford – a true introvert at heart – fled to a different location where he could be pursued by academics, historians, and those curious enough to find his book shop. Leah reminisced with a laugh about her father frantically packing up shop and leaving to “hide in a warehouse, hang out with my dog, and drink wine.” A section in the store is dedicated to the late Richard

“

Employee Robin Clark only grazed the surface of the history of books in the store, telling me about the stories behind antiques like a Cree typewriter, to wallet-sized pornography for men, to toothpick sculptures ordaining the tops of bookshelves – Gillian Massie.

himself. He worked under many booksellers, learning how to appraise and find value in each of the books. Working under different booksellers provided him with the confidence to work as an independent, and he then established his own business. The Spafford family moved to the Regina area, where the bookstore scene was slight in comparison to Saskatoon. Richard began focusing his store to antiquarian books as well as developing a large variety of Prairie Canadiana.

Spafford Books has adopted its business model from Richard’s

twice a day. When Leah began making maps for people to find the store her father had said “but people will be able to find us then!”

Spafford Books was not always located off Broad Street. It spent many years hopping to different locations, originally getting its start as “The Book Cellar,” located in the basement of a quaint townhouse on 13th Avenue, in the Cathedral area. Later they moved into a separate townhouse, which is now occupied by Dessart Sweets Ice Cream & Candy Store. The bookstore also resided in other

Spafford humorously labelled as “the largest Dyke section” in Canada with any books pertaining to the name.

Spafford Books has found its ideal location after years of fast moves. The building is an old Hudson’s Bay Company cold storage warehouse for furs. Although it is a bookstore now, the origins of the building remain by the embellished tin ceiling.

“There’s a feeling of history that fits with the mystery of the store,” said Spafford. “Its palpable, its memory contained within the stone walls.”

The old warehouse is rich with history like the books within it. Around every corner there is a new section full of knowledge, reeling in guests of the establishment. Scattered between the catalogues of books are other items of history that brightly accent the store. A trip around the store is like sitting in a villain’s library to plot your next scheme, but instead of a cat sitting in your lap you have Oxford the dog laying right at your feet.

In this profession, knowing how to appraise books is essential to fully immerse yourself into the knowledge of the story, from research to background information. Appraisals have come to a halt during the pandemic, but that’s not to say that Spafford doesn’t miss new clientele walking through the door.

“Every time you do an appraisal, you have to learn everything about the thing,” explained Leah. “If it’s a person, you learn everything about the person, and the time that they were in, and how they slot into history and the significance of them and the historical value of that, and so that’s the learning part that I miss a lot.”

The bookshop dives down the rabbit hole of knowledge and takes great care of the books contained within its walls. Of course, every great bookkeeper needs a break, and so there is always a puzzle on the go at the store to pass the time.

All of this is to say that Spafford Books is undoubtably the best place in Regina to spend the afternoon in the pursuit of knowledge.

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon |

arts & culture

7

Norval Morrisseau’s Power Lines at The Mackenzie The work of the Mishomis of contemporary Indigenous art comes to Regina

hannah eiserman arts editor Many Faculty of Arts students take Art 100 to fulfil part of their degree requirements, and I’m sure many will remember a few key works from that course, for better or for worse. I know I could do without the memory of Marcel Duchamp’s urinal piece, cheekily entitled Fountain (1917), for example. On the other side of the spectrum, being an artist from that course I remember for the best of reasons, is Norval Morrisseau, whose work I have admired ever since.

Miskwaabik Animiiki (better known as Norval Morrisseau) was an Anishinaabeg artist, a residential school survivor, and has been called the Mishomis (grandfather) of contemporary Indigenous Canadian art. I hesitate to mention that he was a residential school survivor, as that aspect of his biography has been overly sensationalized particularly by settlers, but I do think it’s important to know when viewing his work. He is known for painting in bright colours and with a particular style.

When the press release for the Mackenzie Art Gallery’s exhibit Power Lines came to my inbox, I was positively thrilled. I have thought about Morrisseau’s work for years since first encountering it in that Art 100 classroom and was so excited to get to see it in person. But his work was even more magnificent than I expected it to be.

One of Morrisseau’s most famous works, “Androgyny,” is hanging at the top of the stairs on the way up to the gallery. It slowly comes into full view as you climb the stairs, and once you get to the top, you are completely immersed in it. I knew it was a large paint-

Hannah Eiserman

A photo of the sign for Power Lines, an exhibit that actually contains no power lines.

ing, but I was not prepared for just how large it really is. It was simply breathtaking and completely consuming. I could have spent my whole visit lost in the sunrise-like shape of it. I was actually nearly moved to tears, but a security guard popping up like a whack-a-mole to greet me pulled me out of the moment – though I’m sure I wouldn’t be the first or the last person to openly weep in the halls of the Mackenzie.

The exhibit is only one room

immediately noticed that all eyes were on me – literally. The eyes of Morrisseau’s figures stared directly at me, followed me where I went, and were actually quite disturbing. Part of this I attributed to my positionality as a settler: coming into a gallery of intimate work depicting Morrisseau’s wife and child, sacred Anishinaabe characters, and his variations of Biblical characters felt like trespassing.

I wouldn’t say this feeling completely quelled by the end, but I

ing I could do about it but accept it. Talk about a memento mori.

I also adored Morrisseau’s “Mother Earth.” As one may guess from his famous piece “Androgyny,” many of the figures Morrisseau depicts are very androgynous, and Mother Earth was no exception. The backdrop is bisected into yellow and blue, representing both day and night and land and sea simultaneously, and Mother Earth herself is bisected too. I noticed the right

“

Balance and symmetry are so key to Morrisseau’s work, as is the concept of a “circle of life,” which are all represented in his paintings, from the structure of Androgyny to Adam and Eve. – Hannah Eiserman

of the gallery, sharing space with the collections Community Watch and Beyond the Stone Angel: Artists Reflect on the Deaths of Their Parents, which were also both stunning. I had the privilege of experiencing the exhibit by myself – there were no other patrons inside when I visited. The room felt very full, between the energy radiating from the artwork and the boom of Morriseau’s voice from a speaker overhead.

The speaker is curiously placed, so I found I couldn’t understand what he was saying until I stood directly in the middle of the gallery, which was clever, as it put the listener in a precarious spot: to be watched.

When I entered the gallery, I

certainly felt more welcomed into the space once I noticed that the work demanded extra respect and care from me as a spectator.

The quality I love most in Morrisseau’s work is how he depicts the spirit world, which is why three of the largest paintings in the exhibit were my favourites.

Though I was completely terrified by “Shaman Astral Guide I” and “Shaman Astral Guide II” and their aforementioned intense and unflinching gaze, I started to feel a surrendering deep within myself while looking at them.

The two paintings are massive, stretching over halfway to the ceiling. If these two figures were really coming to take me into the spirit world, there would be noth-

side of her body has a breast, and the left doesn’t, which I thought symbolized a balance of masculine and feminine energies. And of course, “Androgyny” was a favourite of mine before I saw the exhibit.

Seeing Morrisseau’s work in real life was a very different experience than viewing it in photographs. Of course, this goes for any piece of artwork: being able to see the brush strokes inches from your face revolutionizes the experience. The exhibit brought out aspects of his work I hadn’t noticed before. Since the eyes felt like they were watching me, I paid more attention to them. They were so much more mournful that I remembered.

I also noticed how violent and dark some of the subjects of Morriseau’s paintings were. He’s known for his colourful depictions of spiritual beings, but many of his paintings were actually on brown paper with natural toned acrylic. Those were the darker paintings, ones that were occasionally grotesque and bloody, like “Onaman Beaver Blood Legend” and “Man Beset by Leeches.”

I noticed these darker aspects present in the colourful pieces too, like in his depictions of Christ, Adam and Eve, and even “Shaman Astral Guide I” and “Shaman Astral Guide II.” The intense gazes were part of this, of course, but I found Morrisseau’s depictions of Biblical figures displayed in and amongst figures of Anishinaabeg culture and stories even more unnerving. It was while looking at these Biblical depictions that I was reminded of the fact that Morrisseau was a residential school survivor and knowing a bit about the weaponization of Catholicism in those schools weighed heavily on me.

Balance and symmetry are so key to Morrisseau’s work, as is the concept of a “circle of life,” which are all represented in his paintings, from the structure of “Androgyny” to “Adam and Eve.” This is why I remarked earlier that the exhibit is smartly set in a square room instead of a hallway like the other two exhibits.

It moves the spectator in a circle through the paintings, through that unsettling feeling of being watched, through Morrisseau’s pain and joy, and out the other side. I came out feeling transformed.

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon |

arts & culture

8

Album Review: Ruin

The Amazing Devil’s new album absolutely Ruins our A&C writer

jorah bright arts writer Do you ever find something that speaks to the very essence of who you are so deeply that it engraves itself into your very bones and refuses to let go? Something that seems to call to you in the dead of night when you have yet to accept that you are truly and completely alone? When you stand on the threshold between submitting to the fact that you are irredeemable and holding out hope, just for one more minute, that you can still be good? If you’re like me and relate to all of that, let me introduce you to the Amazing Devil.

The Amazing Devil is a band composed of Madeleine Hyland and Joey Batey. You may recognize Joey Batey as the “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” guy from Netflix’s The Witcher. The genre of their music is described as lyrical alt-folk – or what I like to call it, emotional catharsis. Many of The Amazing Devil’s songs are written by Batey and performed and produced by both Batey and Hyland. On top of that, Batey performs many of the instrumentals for the songs. They released their first album, Love Run, in 2016.

I discovered The Amazing Devil in the spring of 2020, and to say I am a different person because of their music would be an understatement. When I first heard their second album The Horror and the Wild, I finally had a moment of quiet. All the panic and all the thoughts in my head stopped just for a moment, just for the music that cut through it all.

They released their third album, Ruin, on October 31, 2021.

Within the last month since the album has been released, I have not listened to a single song that is not on that album. If Spotify Wrapped didn’t stop counting in November, I would’ve broken mine.

Despite listening to this album for over a month, I still don’t know all the words. And even the words I do know come up with new meaning, new context, and new feeling every time I hear them. I certainly don’t know what all the lyrics mean – but also, it feels like there’s a piece of me, deep down, that I buried a long time ago, that knows exactly what each word means. There is a piece of me that tries to dig up its own grave every time I listen to their music, and I let it – because when I hear the songs, how could I stop it?

The album opens with “Secret Worlds.” It has a steady drum beat and a melody that makes you want to scream alone in the woods. It’s a perfect opening to make you feel transported into the world of Ruin. It has the energy of a child who fought so hard to climb to the top of the tree to call out to the world that they did something impossible, only to fall and shatter; and who, after they shattered, wasn’t the same child anymore and they carried the weight of all their pieces until they were an adult.

Next up is “The Calling” – my first cry of the album, but certainly not my last. It’s hard to encapsulate the overall ouch factor this song has, but it is a good

The Amazing Devils

The Amazing Devils in the forest – and they definitely don’t look like they’re going to murder you.

feel without consequence. I have spent the last month haunted by the lines “I tried, I really fucking tried” and I encourage you to also spend your time haunted by those

“Drinking Song for the Socially Anxious” encapsulates that perfectly. It has a needed balance to the tears shed right before “The Calling.” and the lines “I don’t

“

When I first heard their second album, the Horror and the Wild, I finally had a moment of quiet. All the panic and all the thoughts in my head stopped just for a moment, just for the music that cut through it all.

– Jorah Bright

hurt. I spend a lot of time burying my feelings because I’m afraid of who I might be when I let myself feel, but this song breaks down all of those boundaries. It creates this rare safe space that allows me to

words.

The next one is fun. It’s called “Drinking Song for the Socially Anxious.” Parties are scary and give me major anxiety and

Mathew Foster via The Amazing Devils

find this easy like you” are pure brilliance. The number of times people have told me that talking to people is easy is unmeasurable, and to hear the absurdity of that statement so clearly reflected was immediate catharsis.

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you try you are destined to fail, and the universe has predetermined this outcome for you? Introducing the next song on the album, “Blossoms”: I listen to this song every day. Do I know what it’s about? No, absolutely not. Does the line “as I make myself acquainted with the saint of never getting it right,” punch me in the gut every day?

Yes, and I still listen to it every day. The very essence of who I am vibrates in tune with this song when it plays. I have never experienced the same feeling that I do when I listen to this song at any other point in my life and I do not believe I ever will.

I’m going to keep my review of “Chords” very brief because if I think too deeply about this song, I will sob. I’ve already cried twice writing this. The song is about children growing up and leaving their parents’ home. It is good.

It is so good. There are so many emotions and I just need you to trust me on how good it is.

The penultimate song of Ruin, “The Old Witch Sleep and the Good Man Grace,” is a total of nine minutes long – and it is nine minutes of divine glory in song form. It starts as this soft ballad and then it lets loose. It feels like a prison built of bones shattering. It is beautiful, it is haunting, it is powerful, and it is freeing.

There is so much power in every word, in every sound, in every glorious second of this song.

The chorus says, “You are in the earth of me / My head’s not yours it’s mine,” and may I respectfully say, holy shit? And for a double holy shit moment: “You’re brave because they broke you. / Yet broken, still, you breathe.”

It feels like taking an icepick to a mountain and hitting the exact spot needed to cause an avalanche. Broken things can still work. It seems like the opposite of the definition, but broken things can still work. And this song screams it into the marrow of my bones and refuses to let go.

There are two remaining songs on Ruin: “Ruin” and “Inkpot Gods.” “Ruin” is currently sitting at my most played song on Spotify and “Inkpot Gods” is my personal favourite song from the entire album. And that is why I will not spoil it for you, dear reader.

Take all of these songs as they are, come up with your own interpretations, but allow them to take you on a trip and trust that you will not be the same when you return.

Ruin is an album about rejecting who you are and yet accepting the change you are going through. It’s about hope for who you become and creating your own legend. It’s about believing that those around you are enough, and maybe, just maybe, eventually believing it about yourself, too.

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon |

arts & culture

9

What’s happening in December?

Holiday events for some solo study break time or quality time with your family

jorah bright arts writer Happy holidays! ‘Tis the season to spend time with your families and go to events with those you love.

Or go alone – we won’t judge you!

Here in Regina, there’s plenty to do over the holiday season.

On December 4, Mitchell Lawler will be at The Mercury Cafe & Grill as part of his Day One Tour. “Day One” refers to Lawler’s upcoming EP. Lawler’s music falls under a combination of different genres including pop and hip hop. He has played at large music festivals across Canada and shared the stage with many of hip hop’s current biggest names. Tickets to Lawler’s show are relatively affordable compared to big name tickets, and to attend the show you must be fully vaccinated.

On December 8, Cat & Nat will be putting on a show called “In Real Life & Real Clothes” at the Conexus Arts Centre. Cat and Nat are mothers that have an audience of primarily women and moms. They have a best-selling book and have garnered millions of views on multiple social media platforms. For those looking for a

night of comedy and realism, or an early Christmas gift for Mom, Cat and Nat will be here in Regina.

If you’re single and looking to mingle, Excalipurr Cat Café is hosting a singles mixer on December 9 at 7 p.m. The event takes care of the “are you a cat person or a dog person?” question, because that can definitely be a deal breaker if not addressed right away. Snuggle some adorable kitties, play some board games, and meet some new people!

Closer to Christmas Day, there is a three-night show featuring Elvis tribute act Rory Allen. Allen will be performing on December 17, 18, and 19 at the Regina Casino Lounge. The show is called “A Rockin’ Elvis Christmas.” Allen was born in Saskatchewan and has previously shared a stage with Regina’s own Symphony Orchestra. This is a great early gift for family members who only listen to the holiday songs from the King of Rock.

For students looking for a quick break from all their studying as the semester draws to a close, the University of Regina Music Department has a plethora of upcoming music events.

On the evening of December 2, The U of R Concert Band under conductor Brent Ghiglione will be performing their concert entitled “Where Words Fail, Music Speaks.” They will be accompanied by the Queen City Brass Band who is conducted by Mark Preece. The Concert Band’s performance is free for all U of R students so long as they have their student ID. The concert will be streamed live on their Facebook page or can be viewed in person at the Riddell Centre here at the university.

The following night, December 3, the University of Regina Percussion and Ensemble and New Music Ensemble will be performing their winter concert.

The performance will be held at the ShuBox Theatre in the Riddell Centre at the university or streamed through Facebook live on Friday evening. Similar to the Concert Band’s performance, it will be free for U of R students with their student ID. And there are some things to do this December in Regina!

I hope you enjoy your time with family and friends and experience some arts and culture, wherever you may be for the holidays.

Volodymyr Hryshchenko via Unsplash

A person trapped behind glass in a Santa hat and mask, presumably from a year ago because I think we’ve all gone back to not missing the monotony of Christmas parties again.

TV review: Hellbound The new Korean Netflix series that proves you really can judge a show by its title

amina salah staff writer

Hellbound is a South Korean show that premiered on Netflix last week. It’s expected to be a hit, as it continues climbing up Netflix’s ratings. It’s presumably so popular because of the way it successfully stretches over many themes, like the supernatural, crime, cults, and possibly zombies.

Hellbound is a show that is bound to scratch the itch left behind by Squid Game. It was created by Yeon Sang-Ho, who is also known for the fantastic film Train to Busan that featured Gong Yoo, one of South Korea’s best actors.

While watching Hellbound, it was immediately obvious to me that the director was also behind Train to Busan. The camera work, the cinematic blue editing, and the apocalyptic theme are also seen in Train to Busan.

During the six episodes, the audience is welcomed to a complex world of cults and powerful leaders. The premise of Hellbound is seemingly simple: certain individuals are given a decree by an angel who tells them that they have a specific amount of time left on earth. The angel also tells them the exact hour and the exact date they will die. This, of course, would scare anyone, and thus the characters are seen frantically freaking out and going off to secluded places to die. Amidst all of this, there are also a cultish group of people known as The Arrowhead who terrorize the people that are marked to go down below instead. If The Arrowheads find out you are bound for hell, you and your entire family are seen as evil sinners. The cult leader believes that this means

that the world is ending, and it is a sign from God to be better people.

Hellbound is a beautifully created show with incredible CGI. The cinematography is minimalistic and brutal. Viewers should be warned that the show includes lots of bloodshed and some burned bodies. I wouldn’t recommend watching if you are easily scared.

What makes Hellbound interesting to me is that it invokes fear in you. This is not the normal jump scare type of fear. Rather, this is a psychological fear that makes you dread the inevitable – death.

The show is based off of the Webtoon The Hellbound, where the creatures from hell are these tall, giant, dark gray beasts. They torture the person before burning them to death and leaving their burnt body for the public to see, right before literally vanishing into thin air. In the original, there is a cult group, New Truth, that believes these creatures are a sign from God. They livestream the deaths of the people given the hellbound decree. One of the characters, Min Hyejin, a lawyer who is against the New Truth, creates her own company which helps people bound for hell disappear smoothly in order to keep their fate from being broadcasted. New Truth uses these people to spread their own agenda without a care for those who are bound for hell.

The show ends with a harrowing revelation and what seems to be a hint of a possible season two.

Netflix has not yet revealed whether there will be a season two, but here’s hoping there will be! I refuse to spoil the ending because I need everyone and their mom to watch the show to find out – and be just as spooked as I am.

Netflix

The Netflix poster for Hellbound which has the series name, someone being burned alive, and three sasquatches coming to drag them to hell.

sports

10

editor: vacant sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

Taking games from courts to couches

Learn how the U of R’s creative media team puts together the best experience for game viewers

victoria baht sports writer Last week, the Carillon took you through an interview with Braden Konshuh, the sports information director at the University of Regina, and he highly suggested that we do an interview with Morgan Fleury and Matt Degenhardt, two interns for the creative media team. They have been working side by side for four years, and are going to be graduating this year with degrees in film production.

They wanted to share with you what it looks like to put on a game for the Regina Cougars, and the ups and downs of the job.

How did you get this job, and what past education or training do you have?

Degenhardt got the job by being at a welcome barbecue where the dean of kinesiology asked what program he was in, and then suggested Degenhardt come see him in his office where the job began. He started just working the camera, moved to director of replays, then eventually he started to run the shows.

Fleury started looking into this job during her second semester after hearing the stories from Degenhardt, as she wanted a piece of the action. She contacted the dean of kinesiology as well, also starting off on the camera before working her way up the ladder.

Who is all involved on your team and what are their main roles?

When it comes to game night, Degenhardt and Fleury focus on the broadcast and not experiencing any technical difficulties, but the entire team works together.

Everyone has an equal value in production and everyone else

Scott Graham

Paper’s always more satisfying to work with – fight me about it.

oversees the “getting in the zone” part. So, they get their equipment set up, have people directing, setting up replays, making highlight packages, taking pictures, and camera operators right on court side.

What happens when you have more than one game happening at once? Who helps you with that?

Fleury explains the crew comes in an hour before the game and starts off with downloaded graphic packages, then they run the show separately. Recently, either Fleury or Degenhardt have been heading to the hockey rink while the other stays at the univer-

learn. This media team itself has improved so much over these past four years, but there are still more ways to improve in upcoming years.

Can you give a step-bystep run down of the action?

When a game is going on inside of the production studio, they can control everything from inside of their control room from a tricaster. Before it is game time, Fleury and Degenhardt prep for the game by making scripts for the game, schedule who is coming for each game, and what their roles are. Then, once the teams arrive, it is time for the action and to start the broadcast.

areas too.

What is your main goal of the job, and what is your favourite part?

Fleury’s main goal is that she wants everything to go smooth, start to finish, including set up, streaming the game, following the script of the game, and the tear down. Her favourite part is feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment for having great content for Canada West and watchers.

Degenhardt’s goal is to get the Cougars and Rams to one of the most recognizable Usports brands. His favourite part involves gaining and having four years of career work before graduation,

“

Experiencing the growth every weekend since I’ve started, we have gone from having a little folding table to an entire control room.

– Matt Degenhardt

sity for a basketball game. Then the two teams split up, set up all the gear, and start the stream.

Once the game is over, they clean up, come back, and do it all over again the next day.

Degenhardt wanted to add that “people don’t realise how much prep work actually goes into making a sports game happen live.” It involves looking and planning ahead a week, and constant improvement to give their entire team an equal chance to

This involves making sure they are on the correct channel, have the correct information, making sure the score board is working along with all angles of the cameras, and confirming that the commentators have their script and content. It all concludes inside of the control room where they can take in camera inputs, and they can switch between the feeds live to show what is happening on the court, twitter, recordings, highlights, and other

and “experiencing the growth every weekend since I’ve started, we have gone from having a little folding table to an entire control room.”

We understand you made some content for convocation in a gymnasium; what did work on that involve?

Convocation was very different this year because it was done inside of the university, and the media team was in charge of streaming it rather than it being

at the Conexus Arts Centre. Although, it sounds like something both Fleury and Degenhardt are proud of doing for the school, as they made it enjoyable for the people watching at home, made sure the students could watch themselves walk across the stage and their friends, and they made sure the switches for presentations and speeches were smooth and produced well. For something that they did for their first time, it went extremely well. To have 800 or more viewers at home, and the people watching in the gymnasium is extensively important for not just the university but the media team as well.

Where do you plan on working once you graduate?

Fleury wants to work making movies and finding work in the art department and film design side.

Degenhardt wants to work in broadcast producing. He explains “I like the administration side over the creative side. I like the process of the prep being stressful for three hours, then the next day it’s something new.”

Any recommendations for what would help people get into a job like this?

Both recommend just reaching out. This entire team is made up of students who work hard and well. The entire team helps represent the university on a public front. If you are involved with film, journalism, or kinesiology, and want the chance for more experience, just reach out!

Now you know more about the stress happening behind the television while you watch a basketball game from the luxury from your own home.

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

11

sports

Olympic sport or public nuisance?

Regina skateboarder questions the reasoning for the distinction

will spencer contributor On July 23, 2021, the 2020 Olympic games began. An aberration in many respects, the games added a number of new sports to entice young viewers to an aging institution. The most salient addition (I am well aware I am biased; my apologies to the other sports) was skateboarding. Here, for the first time, countries around the world watched people compete in an Olympic version of a skateboard contest.

There were two categories of skating – street and park – each further divided into female and male divisions. Some skater pundits asserted that this would be the end of the baleful treatment of skateboarders, that the Olympics could precipitate change in the eyes of the public. They would finally see skateboarding for what it is – a communal activity that fosters creativity, and physical and mental well-being. I know it is too close to call, not far enough into the past; nor are we far enough into the future for us to see the effects. However, as of now, none of this has happened.

On November 5, 2021, I opened Instagram to waste time (let’s be honest: it’s a fucking waste of time, regardless of how much I/we spend on there). I maneuvered my left thumb to the top of my phone, selecting from the bevy of stories available to me. I noticed a friend who seldom updates had posted

a story, so I clicked. It contained a Regina spot infamous for street skateboarding – the basis for the Olympics’ street competition – the BDC building on 12th Avenue. If you have not been there, or have not noticed it, there are granite ledges that line the east and south facets of the building, extending out as a sort of buffer to the actual building. Under blithe observation, you may have noted that the ledges were often smeared with a black substance, a glaze of some foreign material:

only feature it lacks being bars for its windows. The ledges that abut the building delineate the extent of its reach, containing patches of grass unintended for anything other than the act of viewing.

Thus, the ledges are a barrier demarcating the presence of wealth and capital.

But the ledges have a different, more intrinsic value to us skateboarders. What is the intrinsic value of a thing? It’s something that a thing has by virtue of being that very thing, whereas ex-

sic value of the ledges. However, this has been stymied by a decision made by the executive of BDC to remove foot-long sections of the edges of the ledges in the shape of triangular prisms every single foot. Thus, it is impossible to grind or slide for any length.

If you look at the ledges now, you will no longer find the aforementioned wax; you will find a desolate space that was vindictively desecrated.

It was the communal aspect that lent the ledges the most val-

“

If you watched skateboarding in the Olympics, you watched skateboarding detached from its essence.

The exchange of intrinsic value for extrinsic value; the quantification of movement into dollar signs.

– Will Spencer

wax.

A skateboarder put it there.

We (I was one of them) put that wax there so that we might utilize the ledge outside of its original purpose. The BDC building is not beautiful; it is an austere tomb for business. There are columns that line the faces of the building, maybe an attempt to invoke the regal architecture of ancient Greece. Between the columns, a few exiguous windows sit encased in gneiss. As the building extends upward, the floors take on the quality of a prison, the

trinsic value is a concept assigned atop the actual thing. The ledges then, by virtue of being ledges, may have many intrinsic values.

They could be benches, used as a weight, even a projectile if so desired, or they could be a thing to skateboard on.

That’s exactly what we did.

We skateboarded on the ledges, performing tricks by sliding and grinding on the edges. By virtue of this act, the ledges and surrounding area transmuted into a communal space with intrinsic value, contingent upon the intrin-

ue for me in the way they brought skateboarders together as a space to be and interact communally, but also by being a mere marker of community, because I could see those ledges and have memories cascade through my mind much like Proust when he took a bite of madeleine dipped in tisane. This type of value is wholly incomprehensible to the BDC executive, for it is not quantifiable in dollar signs. If you watched skateboarding in the Olympics, you watched skateboarding detached from its essence. The exchange of

intrinsic value for extrinsic value; the quantification of movement into dollar signs.

Allow me an aside. I recently watched Jagger Eaton (the USA skater who won bronze in street) play a game of skate in a separate competition called “SKATE.” For those that do not know, a game of skate is a direct indication of a skateboarder’s skill, whereby two skaters compete to eliminate the other in a game similar to basketball’s “HORSE.” They take turns, with one skater performing a trick and the other attempting to replicate it. Every missed trick earns you a letter from the word skate, and the first person to earn all five letters loses the game. Eaton won bronze in Tokyo, yet was roundly defeated in the game of SKATE. So, who is good? What does “good” mean? And what does this have to do with a ledge in Regina that has been made unskateable?

Both events are connected to skateboarding and value, where that value is found, and where that value is made moot. It appears that the activity that I enjoy that propagated a new sport in the Olympics does not belong, as it does not create value in the expected sense and seems to destroy extrinsic value in the process. Actions unquantifiable by dollars will always be misunderstood.

Subsequently, the activity that gave rise to a new Olympic sport continues to be seen as vandalism, nonetheless generating tens of thousands of dollars (at least).

Shawn Henry via Unsplash

Do you even kickflip?

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon | 12

sports

Yoga in pools...with cats...in nature...oh my!

Who’d have thought there’d be so many yoga variations in Regina?

gillian massie staff writer Getting active is sometimes hard when you are an unmotivated person, like me, which is why I have started pursuing unique experiences to encourage staying active. I started trying my hand at yoga and have since come to realize the ridiculous amount of unorthodox yoga sessions that exist within Regina. Even though these experiences may not be for you, you can still have the street credit saying that you did it.

As a person who cannot touch their toes, I have been inspired to begin yoga for multiple reasons. First, as a beginner runner, you really need a recovery day to stretch out your limbs after a big week. Second, it would be badass to be able to touch my toes.

The first experience is right here on campus in the Kinesiology building. Stand up paddle-board yoga is one of the aquatic activities offered to students and faculty through the University of Regina Recreation Services. While yoga certainly challenges your balancing abilities, standing on a paddle board takes it to another level. My entire experience was

quite wobbly and challenging, but I did come out of it more level.

I was quite worried that I would fall right off into the drink, but the paddleboard was quite stable once I got on it. While I thought that appropriate attire would be a swimsuit, many were wearing your typical stretchy pants and a tank top. I still chose to wear my yoga clothes over my swimsuit, just in case, but was not in fear of getting wet as soon as we started the session. Paddle board yoga is truly a memorable experience that I would try again. If you would like to give it a try, run on up to the second floor of the Kinesiology building across from the FLC and sign out a day pass to try a session before you commit to a full semester program.

Another opportunity that is purr-fect to practice strength and mobility with is around the peacefulness of cats. Excalipurr Cat Café has been holding occasional “Yoga with Cats” nights that invite you into a professionally led yoga session with the company of some resident feline friends. Yoga with cats is a fabulous way for animal lovers to get in a good stretch while supporting a small business.

Keep your eyes peeled on their Facebook page to see when their

next Yoga with Cats night may be. Tickets are minimal to leave enough room for guests and kitties alike.

When it’s not being occupied by protests or marathons, the lawn of the Legislative Building has been occupied in the summer months by yoga classes. Regina yoga studio Bodhi Tree held daily sessions outside of Government House. Even better, it’s free for all to join. Taking advantage of Wascana park is always worthwhile, and in the company of wildlife makes it all the better. Out of all three experiences, this was the most relaxing, with the sounds of nature all around.

Beginner yoga has been an incredible recovery experience for me, but it’s also shown me how difficult it can be. I have noticed how important core and upper body strength are, and how I am completely lacking in both.

Some of these experiences have challenged me in new ways and have made me want to try more unique yoga sessions. Switching things up helps to rejuvenate my interest in fitness, you just have to know where to find the unique opportunities.

Timo Volz via Unsplash

Oooooh big stretch!

First season prep with Cougars women’s flag football

Head coach Wilchynski and player Metz talk prep, practice, and potential opportunities

victoria baht sports writer

A lot of readers may not know that the University of Regina has a women’s club flag football team. This league is just starting up across Canada, and they are putting forward a team to play a championship in May. This week, we did an interview with one of the coaches, Cole Wilchynski, and one of the players, Brenna Metz.

First up, Wilchynski!

What was your history with football before coaching with this team?

I grew up in the football community, and after high school I started working for Football Saskatchewan. Being a part of Football Saskatchewan gave me the opportunity to work for the Regina Youth Flag Football league ran by Mike Thomas, the Regina Adult Flag Football League ran by Brenden Bennett, and finally the Regina Girls High School Flag League.

I also have had the opportunity to coach at all those levels, and at the National level with women.

What position did you play?

I was a linebacker as a player, so naturally I like watching the defensive side of the game but flag football is such an explosive and exciting game to watch, and big plays can happen on either side of the ball at any time.

How many coaches are involved in your team and how many players?

Currently there are three coaches involved. I am the head coach. Payton Kuster will be tak-

ing lead with our second team and Drew Hamilton will be assistant coaching and helping will skill development on both teams.

How does the season typically look for student-athletes?

As a brand-new program, we just started up this year. Steph Buehler, our team manager, and Megan Donnelly, our player representative started putting things together at the start of the school year. We just started our evalua-

tions and will practice a couple times a week leading up the Regina Adult Flag Football (RAFF) season at the start of January. We are going to utilize that league and weekly practices as our preparation for the National championship at the East-West Bowl in May. Along the way, we may set up some mini competitions with fellow universities if they are ready to compete prior to the championship.

What are your goals for the team this season?

As a coach, I obviously want to see us come home with a national championship. I also believe we have the players and experience at the national level to do so. Bu most importantly, I want to see us set up the groundwork for a program that can continue to grow and gain traction. It is a new sport at the university level so it is important for us to continue the work of growing the game, and with the players involved, I believe [we] will.

Canva image manipulated by Holly Funk

Literally could not make it any simpler.

Are there any main rules that are different between flag football and tackle football?

Well, flag football is a five versus five league, and does not include any elements of tackling.

The sport has allowed for athletes from all different sports to be able to succeed. We see a lot of athletes from other Cougar programs participate in flag football in our city.

Next, lets see how Metz feels about the beginning of this season!

How long have you been playing flag football?

I have been playing for six years now. I started in the [Regina Youth Flag Football League], then played on the provincial team for two years as well as my high school team. I then continued playing in the RAFF. How difficult are your practices on a scale of one to ten, and can you explain why?

Typically, practices are a six on a scale of one to ten because the motion can get repetitive, and involves a lot of running.

What is your position, and what are you mainly good at in that position?

I play receiver, and I’m good at receiving a strong pass and running really fast up field. I also play and really enjoy defence, and I am good at anticipating where [players] are going to try and intercept.

What is the hardest part of playing football?

The hardest part of playing flag football ball would be flag pulling, because if you miss it can sometime be hard to recover, and good hand eye coordination [is required] to pull the flags.

op-ed

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editor: sarah nakonechny op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

The Rittenhouse verdict

Yet another example where “upholding the law” does not equate to justice For a little while last summer, the world was watching with a mix of shock, disbelief, and genuine concern as the USA seemed to have been brought truly and irrevocably face-toface with the deep-seated systemic racism of its government and law enforcement.

Protests and civil unrest erupted across the country and was the subject of around the clock media coverage. During this, we heard about a 17-year-old from Illinois who got his hands on an assault rifle, and crossed state lines to act as a vigilante against the protesters before killing two men and injuring a third. This past week, Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty of all the charges against him. There are quite a few other nations around the world where a teenager can pick up an assault rifle, drive across state borders, and open fire on anyone that makes him feel threatened, like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Come to think of it, they only got to that state after prolonged exposure to the USA; maybe the problem is with the USA? There is a lot to unpack when someone shows up with a gun, panics, and shoots people who are responding to his initial posturing, then gets to claim self-defence as a motivation for his actions. Put simply, even if we concede that on that day in Kenosha, Rittenhouse was merely defending himself, one must not lose sight of the fact that he would not have been there in the first place if not for his own decision to attend as a sort

of armed militia. Sadly, Judge Schroeder did seem to lose sight of this fact. It can be argued that once he dismissed the charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and curfew violation, important context was lost about the situation.

It sounds like we are dealing with Kyle minding his own business, living his own life, when people showed up in his front yard to threaten him. Now I am aware that even in that case, it is up for debate if his actions were appropriate. We will get to that in a bit.

For now, I think it is important we recognize that important context was not considered.

Kyle Rittenhouse illegally obtained a firearm and illegally traveled to Wisconsin. By all accounts, he tried to emulate some character out of a dystopian movie and found that he could not take the heat. He panicked, and even during the trials made a point of being a cry-baby about it. We cannot judge the charges of homicide, attempted homicide, and reckless endangerment, without taking his initial actions into account.

Ever since the verdict, those in the right of the political spectrum have been emphasizing the same point over and over: that regardless of how we feel or what we think

“

We always want to ask ourselves if this law is in the spirit of democracy, equality, and basic human dignity, among other things.

We all know, whether we want to admit it or not, how a Black teenager would have fared if he had an assault rifle and was walking around in city streets.

– Hammad Ali

Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

We can dream.

about this case, the law has been upheld. As far as established laws are concerned, we are supposed to accept that Rittenhouse has not done anything wrong, and justice has been served by finding him not guilty. I am not a legal expert, but as I have already hinted, I feel that the jury was compelled to overlook, or remove from consideration, very important contextual information without which the application of law simply makes no sense. However, once again I am willing to concede that the letter of the law was upheld. Unfortunately, throughout history and across the world today, just upholding the law is not enough.

Fifty years ago, a white man in South Africa could have a black man, or really any person of colour, arrested for being in the same train compartment as him. Barrister M.K. Gandhi, the future leader of the Indian Independence Movement, was in fact thrown off a train for protesting this. On that occasion, the letter of the law was upheld.

How many of us would like to return to those simpler times?

In the early to mid-90s, the Taliban took over Afghanistan for the first time. Using their interpretation of Shariah law, the Taliban assaulted men who did not grow full beards. They stoned women who tried to go to school or work. They destroyed beautiful sculptures dating back thousands of years, because Shariah law forbids sculptures under the pretext that they lead to idol worship.

In the USA itself, there was a time not too long ago when women or persons of colour were not allowed to vote. The democracy and universal franchise America is so proud of, and often tries to export to other nations (with a side of bombs) was not a thing in the USA until the 60s. India possibly had true universal franchise before the USA did, despite only attaining its independence in the late 1940s. Returning to the point at hand, less than a hundred years ago, an American who worked, payed taxes, and possibly fought in a war for their country could still be refused the right to vote.

If the point I am trying to belabor is not clear yet, it is often not sufficient to uphold the letter of the law. We always want to ask ourselves if this law is in the spirit of democracy, equality, and basic human dignity, among other things. We all know, whether we want to admit it or not, how a Black teenager would have fared if he had an assault rifle and was walking around in city streets.

But again, that is a topic for another day. Today I am saying, even if every single written law was upheld, that it does not make acceptable what Rittenhouse did. If a teenager can illegally obtain an assault rifle, drive into the middle of a tenuous situation brandishing his gun, and still be found not guilty of the slightest provocation, then laws need to be updated, not blindly upheld.

I am not delusional. I am fully aware that even with all the perfect laws in the world, the USA has its challenges. I am aware that a Black teenager with a gun would not have fared as well in this case. I think in the last few years we have established a Black teenager without a gun, just trying to walk home, would not have fared as well. For now, though, I just want to point out to all those Rittenhouse supporters who insist that the law was upheld – that is not always a good thing. Sometimes it just means you need better laws.

hammad ali staff writer

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon |

op-ed

Needing help is not a sign of weakness

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Admitting that you need help is hard, accepting it is harder When things are hard, we’re always told that we need to talk to those that we’re close to. Lean on the support group around you as they are what will you get you through the hard times. Nobody ever talks about how hard it can be to lean on those people to begin with, though.

As we take a moment to pause and think about those in our lives that we can depend on, we can recognize that this may look very different for each of us. We may choose to lean on our family, close friends, a significant other, or a combination of people in different roles. Sadly, the leaning is the easy part even if it might not always feel that way.

It is easier to complain about the things that are going wrong in our lives and to have a friendly face to scream into the void about the endless injustices in our world with. But what do we do when that person decides this is something that they can help do something about? That is not something that happens as often as the mutual complaining and can be extremely hard to interact with, especially if it is something that we are not prepared to be offered or don’t know how to accept.

Now this help may present itself in a variety of ways. It may be an offer to drive you somewhere, to loan or just simply give you money to help you through a difficult financial spot or maybe looking into resources and contacts on your behalf. It always appears like the help that is offered in times of crisis and need is always so much harder to accept than the help offered when we are in a more stable, neutral state.

Why is it harder for us to accept help and assistance when we’re in times of crisis and turmoil? That is arguably the time in our lives that we need this help the most, so why can’t we just accept the nice actions of those around?

In my experience, the things that are being offered during these harder times always seem like they are “high stakes” offers compared to the things that are being suggested during other more stable times. It is much easier to accept a $2 coffee because

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it is being offered. During these times of trial, we are often our own biggest critic.

Accepting that others can provide you with the things that you are unable to provide for yourself can be a hit to the ego that many of us are not prepared for when in these situations. It is hard to not feel looked down upon when you are unable to provide for yourself in a way that is needed, meanwhile others are able to offer that like it is nothing.

When we look at situations where help

Why is it harder for us to accept help and assistance when we’re in times of crisis and turmoil? That is arguably the time in our lives that we need this help the most, so why can’t we just accept the nice actions of those around?

– Sarah Nakonechny

you forgot your wallet than it is to accept a $100 grocery bill being paid for you because your hours were cut at work. Even though the groceries are the thing that you really need to have to be functional and nourished for the week, it is so much harder to accept that larger offering of assistance.

It’s not just the quantity or significance of the help that can make it hard for us to accept this, it is also the timing in which

is being provided, we oftentimes look at it from the perspective of the person who is providing the assistance. The time, energy, or resources that they are using and how good of a person they are because they are providing solutions and assistance to these problems.

We can’t forget to peer over at the person who is receiving the help and take into consideration their thoughts and feelings. It

is easy to feel as though we are not worthy of help, and although it is harder in the long run, it oftentimes appears to be easier to try and get through whatever hardships we’re faced with on our own. The acceptance of help comes with the social expectation that you will be able to provide something in return once you have regained your footing, or that you will somehow pass along that gesture to someone else. That amount of pressure alone to undertake that social expectation by accepting assistance yourself can be enough to push people away from it.

Admitting that you need help is never an easy thing, accepting that help and everything that it comes with can be an even greater challenge. As much as we want to grab the world by the horns and take it by storm every day, that is not always in the cards. Even the mighty fall, and sometimes you need someone else to dust you off and straighten your crown before you continue to rise.

Accepting help and admitting defeat are not interchangeable ideas like we often believe. By accepting the generosity and sincerity of those around you, you allow yourself to be placed in a better situation to not only improve your own life but to improve the lives of those around you in return. We cannot pour out of an empty or broken glass; let others glue you together and fill you back up before sending you back out into the world to continue on with your regular day-to-day.

sarah nakonechny op-ed editor

Danie Franco via Unsplash

Stop perceiving me please.

dec 2 - jan 12, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon |15

op-ed

Caring for yourself during the final stretch End of semester always increases the risk of neglecting our needs

As the semester comes to an end and the weather cools down, it becomes even harder than usual to keep up with the changing weather and the semester becoming busier.

If you are in a funk or state of burn out, then know that you are not alone. Unfortunately, this will not make finals go away, as much as I’d like them to disappear. Thus, I often find myself figuring out how to stay on track and keep on top of things.

It is that time of the year where one cannot afford to slack off or fall behind. You blink and suddenly you have four papers, four exams, two presentations, and more.

Amidst this all, it is important to find that specific time during the day where your brain can relax and take some time off to recharge. Even if an hour or two is all you have, it is all you need.

When I was new to university, there were times where I had no idea how to navigate university life. I would often find myself accidentally falling asleep in the library in the middle of my study sessions. This was a clear sign of my messed-up sleep schedule. I decided then that I would fix my sleep schedule. A healthy sleep schedule will do magical things to you. It will help you stay on track, be on top of your assignments, and help with time management. Furthermore, it will be hard to do exams when you’re sleep deprived.

When it comes to papers, projects, and assignments, I like to do things in steps.

First, I spend a day or two strictly on research. I like to gather all my sources and put them in one file. While doing this, I ensure that I have cited all my sources in the appropriate format for my course. It is easier to cite from the start than at the

very end. When I’m reading my sources, I like to take notes on them in a different file and save it. This makes it easier to write my papers. By the time I am done with my research notes, it usually takes me an hour or two to write the actual paper. Research is what takes the longest to complete.

I then edit and proofread. One of the most helpful websites for me has been Grammarly. Trust me, this is not an ad.

I always use the free version and it is still helpful and always improves the quality of my paper. Sometimes, when an article is too long, I like to use Wordtune. Essentially, it summarizes your article and tells you

from. I have also encountered classes where the Chicago format was used. MyBib is a fantastic website to use that helps with citations of all formats, I highly recommend it to all students.

When it comes to the end of the semester, food is one of the most crucial means of surviving and maintaining your sanity.

I love meal prepping throughout the year but especially during finals. I usually prep healthy meals like soups, but I like to leave room for indulging as well since it is easier to get stressed. I am the type of person who forgets to eat when I am busy, so I make reminders to have meals during finals. I

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I would often find myself accidentally falling asleep in the library in the middle of my study sessions. This was a clear sign of my messed-up sleep schedule.

– Amina Salah

what the most important points are, and is extremely detailed. Of course, I absolutely do not plagiarize the summary, but reading the summary before turning it into my own words is helpful. Sometimes it helps reading things in easier terms as the jargon used can be extremely overwhelming at times. I prefer to use APA citation over MLA. APA follows the order of the author’s surname, initials, the date the paper was published, title of the source, location of the publisher and finally the website it was retrieved

am naturally gifted at cooking thanks to my parents. I love roasting Japanese sweet potatoes (they must be the Japanese sweet potatoes, not the orange ones) and topping it off with a side of salmon or tofu, drizzling some hummus on it and having it with white rice or quinoa on the side for a full meal.

I also love oatmeal. I make mine using steel cut oats because they taste much better than regular oats. I always make my oatmeal with unsweetened vanilla oat milk

because it turns out creamier than normal.

I like to top mine off with some peanut butter, agave, and frozen berries. StudentRecipes.com has over 4,000 quick and easy recipes tailored to students. When I need some food inspiration, I like scrolling through Recipepuppy.com. It’s a website that allows you to search for recipes based on the ingredients that you already have in your refrigerator.

For organization, I love using Notion.

It is a tool that places all your work in exactly one area. It keeps track of your work and even helps you stay focused. Habitica is another website that makes fun games which help you accomplish short term goals by tracking your progress and offering you rewards for your productivity. If you’re a student, I’m sure you have heard of Quizlet. I love using it to help me study for all my classes, and using the free games and flash cards to help me remember certain details.

The most important thing is taking your vitamins. As students, we often forget to take care of ourselves. I always say that the most important relationship that you will ever have been the one that you have with yourself. Your body is valued, and it is important that you nourish it mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is easy to forget that sometimes our bodies need certain nutrients to thrive. Everyone is different which is why it is better to see a doctor so you can know what it is that your body needs.

amina salah staff writer Annie Spratt via Unsplash

Self-care on a budget, baby.

graphics

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editors: sarah carrier, rooky jegede graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | dec 2 - jan 12, 2021