the carillon the staff
editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com
holly funk
business manager 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 copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com
safal gangwani rooky jedege aurel dumont
news editor news@carillonregina.com
sara birrell
arts & cutlure editor aandc@carillonregina.com
hannah eiserman
sports & health editor sports@carillonregina.com
katherine mutschler
op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com
sarah nakonechny
distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com
chandra wassill
staff writer
hammad ali
staff writer
gillian massie
staff writer
anima salah
news writer
syd mcwilliams
a&c writer
jorah bright
sports writer
victoria baht
contributors mason hausermann, amir said and vineet sharma board of directors holly funk, lindsay holitzki, joseph holoein,, dustin smith, jacob nelson and honourary members hammad ali, cassandra byblow, morgan ortman
vol. 64
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 March 3 - March 9, 2022 | Volume 64, Issue 20 | carillonregina.com
news
Students on COVID In this issue we proudly highlight the variety of work, talent, and opportunities here in Saskatchewan while still maintaining focus on the day-to-day barriers faced by those living on this land. As we draw closer to the end of this academic year, I’d like to remind that we’re always looking for students to contribute their original content, and that we’ll be starting our hiring process for next year quite soon - please stay tuned.
news
p.3
What are students thinking about the university’s decison to revoke vaccinatuon and masking requirements for the Spring/Summer semester? We asked a few to find out.
Feral hogs
arts
p.6
“How do I kill the 30-50 feral hogs that run into my yard while my small kids play?” is not just a meme. The population of wild pigs has ballooned over the decades and it could be catastrophic.
sports
arts
Coldest night
p.7
Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina, shares on the intersectional factors at play for homeless individuals living in Sask.
op-ed
Holly Funk Editor-in-Chief
photos
cover......................................brett mayson news.................................morgan ortman news................................................pedrik a&c....................................heather shevlin a&c.......................................michelle berg sports.....................................glenna haug op-ed.......................european union 2017
Flat-Out
p.9
Learn how U of R grad Adrian Halter and his co-writer/producer Jenn Sharp used the docu-series boom to highlight ingredients in Sask and those who use them.
Ice Fishing
p.13
Longtime ice fisher Victoria Baht outlines tips and tricks for this pastime perfect for the prairies.
Small governments
p.15
Hammad Ali looks at the phenomenom of small government support and how governments are not the problem, the way we think about them is.
news
3
editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
Student perspectives on campus COVID policy Return to campus fraught
hammad ali staff writer The Winter 2022 term at the University of Regina started with remote learning. Course add/drop deadlines were updated to allow students to make necessary changes to their plans, and students were also asked to provide evidence of having received a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. Since then, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe took to social media to state his feeling that it is time to get on with life, that COVID-19 is now a part of the rest of our lives, and we must find ways to live with it. Towards this end, on February 14, Saskatchewan became the first province in Canada to revoke the vaccine requirement in public spaces, the need for self-isolation and monitoring of symptoms by anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, and also announced a date for the removal of the mask mandate. Strictly speaking, private businesses are still allowed to have their own health and safety measures; most have been happy to drop their vaccine requirement and are potentially going to drop the masking requirement as soon as the province does. Soon after the announcement of relaxation of public health measures by the province, the University of Regina announced their own policies. The university is still going to ask for proof of vaccination from regular visitors to campus such as faculty, staff, and students enrolled in courses. Masking requirement stays in place until further notice. All individuals who are going to be on campus were also urged to regularly self-administer rapid antigen tests. On February 24, an email to the student body announced that the Spring/Summer 2022 semester will see a full return to university facilities and operations, with all health requirements revoked. While the official email says students who wish to wear a mask are welcome to do so, it seems likely that many will hesitate to do so. We reached out to a few students to find out their thoughts on the evolving situation in the province
Morgan Ortman
Hoooney I’m hooome (with a case of COVID)
and on campus. What are your thoughts on the removal of vaccine requirements in the city, and the upcoming removal of the masking requirement? N: “I don’t really know. I think that the city believes they are doing what is best. I think that the removal of the mask mandate is premature, as COVID cases are still on the rise, but if the government thinks this is the best course of action then what can we do?” Gillian: “I am frustrated with the removal of vaccine requirements. I feel like we have folded to peer pressure. It makes no sense to remove masks, the transmission rates will skyrocket and the healthcare system will crumble.” Nathan: “I believe the removal of the vaccination and masking
to be safe on campus. I hope at least the mask requirement stays and test kits be made available for students. The campus continues to have a vaccine requirement for regular visitors, but not infrequent visitors. What are your thoughts on this? Gillian: “As a person who lives in residence, I no longer feel safe in my own home with the fact that there will be unvaccinated infrequent visitors. If students hold a dorm party (...) we could have a massive outbreak on campus.” Nathan: “I think they should keep it consistent and still require everyone to have their vaccinations, but I do understand that since the government is removing all requirements it puts the university in a tougher position to have
mask mandate is good because with people coming back on campus, I want to make sure that it is as safe as can possibly be on campus, which includes wearing masks when indoors.” Tayef: “At this point, it is hard to know what is adequate, but wearing masks is the least we can do. However, if there is any new variant or the spread becomes uncontrollable, I would expect the government and university to take measures to protect everyone, instead of believing the rhetoric of “Learn to live with the virus.” There is no learning to live with something that kills fellow citizens, we cannot be that selfish and ignorant.” Sameer: “I feel this is a crucial step to ensuring the safety of everyone on campus. COVID is
“
There is no learning to live with something that kills fellow citizens, we cannot be that selfish and ignorant. – Tayef Ahmed
requirements is an impulsive decision done to appease a very vocal minority. I believe this increases the risk to the already vulnerable population. It has already been shown that there is an increase in deaths since the announcement so it will probably continue to rise until more people in Regina catch COVID and overwhelm our already overwhelmed hospitals.” Tayef: “As the vaccine requirement comes from the provincial government, I blame the provincial government. While I agree to a return to normal, ignoring current public health data is not a clever approach to dealing with the pandemic. The U of R is not a big university, and with the classes being held in cramped rooms, we are likely to see outbreaks of COVID-19 cases. There is no way
a tougher mandate on who is allowed to visit.” Tayef: “I believe that vaccination is the way to get out of the pandemic. I hope the U of R community believes in vaccination, and gets vaccinated before returning to campus. Adapting to the truth and ditching the conspiracy theories around vaccination is crucial.” Sameer: “Although statistically, the infrequent visitors have a much lower risk to spread the virus, I feel there should still be a vaccination requirement.” It appears that the campus will have a masking requirement in place for the rest of the Winter 2022 semester. Do you feel this is adequate and/or fair to the student body in general? N: “I think that having the
a global pandemic that is taking lives, affecting economies, and causing crises. Considering all that, I don’t think having a mandatory masking requirement is a big issue.” Once the masking requirement is lifted in the city/ province and campus, do you think you will continue to wear a mask? Why or why not? N: “I think I will continue to wear a mask in crowded places such as the university, grocery stores, etc. I have gotten used to wearing a mask and feeling safe with it on and it is going to be a big change when people have the option of whether or not they want to wear a mask. I will continue to wear one so I can be as safe as possible.”
Gillian: “I think that I will continue to wear a mask because I do not want to get sick, have to miss class, get behind on class, fail because I missed class, and then cry because I failed and have crippling student debt.” Nathan: “Once the mandate is lifted, I feel I would still continue to wear my mask as I see it as an extra protection for myself and others, at least until COVID becomes more endemic in nature.” Tayef: “As long as COVID is here, I will wear masks in public spaces. There will be some changes to our surroundings, but we remain responsible to act logically and fairly.” Sameer: “I will continue to wear a mask until the cases in the city have dropped substantially. The mask does not restrict my freedom in any way, but provides safety against the virus. Arguments such as “not all masks are 100% effective” can be made, but something is better than nothing.” Tayef added “I am devastated that the university administration has continuously avoided questions and made last-minute changes. Students had to fight for many things when they should have been focusing on their studies and mental health. I also stand in solidarity with the faculty members who have done everything they can to provide proper education. I know COVID has been stressful for everybody, and we actively cooperated with everything initially. The decision to come back to campus led to the loss of thousands of dollars for students who had to pay for accommodation and move from different countries. Many international students would have come here in Fall if classes remained online for this semester. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Students are always the victim.” Sameer also added a message for his fellow students: “Please get your vaccines. Please wear a mask when out in a public space. We can all get through this tough time, but only if we all come together as a society and do our part: take precautions.”
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4
news
Meili’s resignation calls attention to NDP’s internal machinations Anyone want a job?
gillian massie staff writer Three years after beating out Trent Wotherspoon for the job, NDP Leader Ryan Meilli has stepped down from the position. Meili’s resignation comes after the Saskatchewan Party took the northern riding of Athabasca in a shocking upset. The NDP have held the riding for almost 25 years, but on February 15, Jim
port his leadership. She highlighted that many caucus member are “maintaining power, rather than pulling it together.” Ogle went on to say that the new leader of the NDP will have to address the “toxic and unwelcoming” party culture. She says that the NDP will begin gaining more support when they begin welcoming new ideas and different people into the caucus. Ogle announced at the end of the
has not governed Saskatchewan since 2007, when Lorne Calvert was defeated by the Saskatchewan Party under Brad Wall. Saskatoon Centre MLA Betty Nippi-Albright has announced that she will not be running for a leadership position, despite being a spotlight candidate for the position. In an interview with Postmedia, Nippi-Albright said that despite her “ability to lead and to bring new people” she was not
“
Critics suggest that issues within the foundation of the NDP have created a harmful environment that is more focused on electoral gains than principles. – Gillian Massie
Lemaigre, a former police officer, came from behind to take the position from incumbent Georgina Jolibois, the former mayor of La Loche. Lemaigre got 1146 votes to Jolibois’ 900. The change in leadership has led to questions about the NDP’s internal operations. Critics suggest that issues within the foundation of the NDP have created a harmful environment that is more focused on electoral gains than principles. Deanna Ogle, one of the vice presidents of the Saskatchewan NDP took to Twitter to discuss how the NDP “undermined” Meili and failed to sup-
Twitter thread that she would be resigning from her executive position with the party. Leader-Post columnist Murray Mandryk also commented on the sense of entitlement within the NDP caucus, saying it needs to change if they have any hopes of electoral gains. “If New Democrats are serious about ever governing this province again, some of them badly need to get over the notion they have a divine right to do so because of their moral or intellectual superiority,” wrote Mandryk. The NDP, which has long considered itself “Saskatchewan’s natural governing party,”
willing to enter the leadership position until racism is addressed in the chamber. “Until we address racism and we make a priority of addressing racism legislatively, we are not going to get anywhere.” Nippi-Albright’s statement came after the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) announced their support for Nippi-Albright via Twitter. “Here is an opportunity for Saskatchewan to finally have a bold, charismatic, and strong Treaty First Nations Indigenous voice leading provincial politics,” wrote the FSIN. “Someone who will do the right things
RyanMeili2013 via Wikimedia
Dr. Who?
for the next generation. That leader is Betty Nippi-Albright.” Nippi-Albright will continue to be MLA for Saskatoon Centre. Other high-profile Saskatchewan politicians like Trent Wortherspoon, Regina Rosemont MLA, and Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark have announced that they will not be running for the position. Candidates that have not yet been ruled out are Carla Beck, MLA for Regina Lakeview, and Aleana Young, MLA for Regina University. Young visited the Uni-
versity of Regina a few weeks ago to speak at the ‘Freeze the Fees’ international student tuition rally where she encouraged students to campaign at the governmental level. Meili has been the official Opposition leader since elected in 2018. He was first elected as the Saskatoon Meewasin MLA in 2017, and was then later re-elected in 2020. In his spare time, he is a physician who has been vocal about keeping COVID-19 restrictions in place. Rooky Jegede
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 5
news
After the Emergency Measures Act, what comes next? An inquiry yet to come
syd mcwilliams news writer On February 14, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to deal with the ongoing occupation and border blockades in Ottawa. The Emergencies Act allows the federal government to exercise temporary special powers that might not be appropriate in normal circumstances to deal with matters of national security. However, the actions taken under the act are still subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and governments are not allowed to suspend civil
Dillon Kydd via Unsplash
Supporters of fascism wave Canadian flags at semis.
space which allowed the protesters to be removed. It also allowed the RCMP to share information about the convoy supporters with financial institutions and have accounts frozen. Just 10 days after the act was put into motion, Trudeau revoked it, releasing a statement that said he believed the situation had reached a point that the province could now deal with it on their own. Nearly 200 people were arrested during the act, and almost 400 are facing charges, with most of the organiz-
simply grandstanding against the federal government, particularly if they are near elections and all those things, or is it a combination of them? So I think there’s a bit of both in the cases of Alberta, and Saskatchewan under premier Moe and Kenny.” says Dr.Allan Tupper, a professor of Political Science from the University of British Columbia who specializes in Canadian politics. Now that the act has been revoked, its use will be subject to review, and some organizations are
lowing problems. And those who have the opposite view will see it as a precedent about the positive use of the act and see here’s how you can really see it as differentiated from the war measures act, which was out of date at that point.” The War Measures Act was replaced in 1988. The act itself did not account for the newly entrenched Charter of Rights and Freedoms and still allowed for civil liberties to be suspended. The War Measures Act also did not re-
careful. It would not stand either judicial review, parliamentary pressure, or public opinion if federal governments began to use it routinely. It is for extra extraordinary purposes, and the act makes it very clear,” says Dr. Allan Tupper. “It lays out a set of criteria which justify its use, and those are obviously subject to debate and so on, but it’s got a structure to it that makes it difficult to use it for ongoing governance problems, and it really does demand a much higher test. So, I mean, you have
“
I think this is a question that’s always there, is the provincial government actually opposed to the use of this act for issues of principle or issues of policy, or is it simply grandstanding against the federal government, particularly if they are near elections and all those things, or is it a combination of them? – Allan Tupper
liberties. There are five different types of emergencies outlined in the act: national emergencies, public welfare emergencies (such as natural disasters), public order emergencies, international emergencies, and war emergencies. This is the first time the legislation has been used since it replaced the War Measures Act in 1988, and its use has become controversial, much like when Justin’s dad, Pierre Trudeau, used the War Measures Act in the seventies to deal with the FLQ in Quebec. The use of the Emergencies Act allowed the government to make the area in front of Parliament Hill a prohibited assembly
ers already behind bars. The use of the act has been controversial, with many people actively and publicly disagreeing with Trudeau’s choice to use it. Some experts have said that the criteria were not met to declare a national emergency. Some premieres, including Scott Moe and Jason Kenny, actively fought against it and threatened to pursue legal action against the government. “I think this is a question that’s always there, is the provincial government actually opposed to the use of this act for issues of principle or issues of policy, or is it
still pursuing legal action against the government. A joint committee of parliamentarians will review the use of the act and, within 60 days, the circumstances leading up to it will also be reviewed. Regardless of opinion, Trudeau’s use of the act sets a precedent for its application in the future. When asked, Dr. Allan Tupper said “Of course, it will obviously always set precedents. In some people’s minds, this precedent is that this was a prime example of a case where the act should not have been invoked. It did the following things, and it impacted this, and the following resulted in the fol-
quire consultation from the provinces of parliament’s approval as the cabinet was authorized to act alone when the act was used. After Pierre Trudeau used it, he promised to review its use, but his Liberal government was defeated with it untouched. Brian Mulroney’s Conservative government repealed and replaced the act. Following two years of political turmoil due to the coronavirus pandemic, it can be hard not to wonder why Trudeau chose to use it now instead of during the height of the pandemic. “The act is made for particular circumstances and you have to be very
very clear political limits, and you just can’t go around sort of saying, well we’re worried about the pandemic, we’re calling the Emergencies Act.” The Emergencies Act is arguably the most powerful piece of federal legislation. Its use is nothing to be forgotten about, and its controversial nature will for sure be used as firing power in the next election. But the act did what Trudeau wanted, and the border blockades and occupation of Parliament Hill have ended. Only time will tell the full impact it will have.
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 6
news
Intelligent, resourceful wild hogs wreak havAre Judas pigs the answer? syd mcwilliams news writer Wild pigs are an invasive species that are a massive problem across many parts of the world – but in Saskatchewan, they have taken up a stronghold, and we are on track to see more wild pigs running around the province than people. The pigs cause issues for farmland, they can negatively affect ecosystems, and they also carry diseases that could profoundly impact Canada’s swine farming and our pork exportation. Wild boar were brought to
“
the pigs would survive the winter – but they proved resilient and started burrowing and sleeping in the snow. “There are probably three major factors that make them so successful,” Says Dr. Ryan Brook of the Canadian Wild Pig Research Project. “They have this incredibly broad diet, so they eat agricultural crops, they will eat amphibians, they’ll rip up the ground and eat roots and insect larva, and they might take down an adult whitetail deer. They will eat roadkill and any dead rotting things. They will gobble up any
So there’s no breeding season. There’s no birthing season. It’s just constantly, have young wean them off, get pregnant, have another bunch. And then the third one is that they’re highly mobile and incredibly intelligent. And so when they get shot at, they become nocturnal, they hide in heavy cover and they’re just really, really good at avoiding people. And so those combined make them one of the most successful invasive species on the planet, they’re living on all continents except Antarctica, and they spread rapidly. So they’re incredibly well
at one time. The judas pig method involves capturing and tagging one pig, tracing them, and finding the larger groups as they are notoriously difficult to locate. When asked why he thought the issue of wild pigs is once again gaining more media attention than it has in the past few years, even though it has been an ongoing issue, Brook said, “...there has been quite a dramatic increase in discussion about wild pigs in the last two years, and the major driver behind that as far as I can see is that African swine fever is a global crisis going on. It’s quite a
and we couldn’t sell our cattle to any other country. That would be very similar kind of response with African swine fever and so that’s what’s raised the interest, unfortunately. It’s coming very late in the game where now we have missed that window to eradicate wild pigs in Canada, but we have the opportunity to reduce them dramatically. We have the opportunity to move them from large areas of the province, but there is a what we call, or I would refer to as, a wild pig stronghold in east central Saskatchewan that has a very, very high density of
...there is a what we call or I would refer to as a wild pig stronghold in east central Saskatchewan that has a very, very high density of pigs, and they’re established over very rough country with the mix of lots of forest and wetlands and agriculture. So I do not believe is realistic to expect the eradication in that area. – Ryan Brook
Canada in the 80s and 90s in an attempt to diversify farming practices. There was a foreseen large market for the animals, and farmers were also encouraged to crossbreed them with domestic pigs in order to produce larger animals. However, when the market for the pigs plateaued in 2001, a lot of the farms essentially went out of business. Some farmers let the pigs go; others simply escaped because of poorly built enclosures. In some instances, over 200 pigs were released at once, but the concern wasn’t great because many believed there was no way
agricultural crops from potatoes to corn, they love corn, especially. And so they will eat almost anything.” “And they also have this really insanely high reproductive rate,” Brook continued. “Wild pigs, the average litter is six. So they have a much, much, much higher reproductive rate. And in fact, they can have multiple litters per year. So, you know, you compare an elk of one per year to a wild pig where the average is 12. That’s a massive difference in reproductive rates. So multiple litters per year, and these animals are reproducing continuously across the year.
adapted and caused tremendous environmental damage.” In order to stop the spread of the pigs an open hunting season was declared, but it had the opposite of the intended effect. When the pigs began to get shot at, they did in fact become quite good at avoiding humans. Brook has recommended a toolbox approach to the problem as no single method will effectively deal with the ever-increasing issue. Such measures include helicopter capture and removal, using a judas pig to track and eliminate groups, and using trained extermination groups to eliminate entire founder groups
major disease in Asia and Europe, and of course, Africa as well to a lesser degree, but it’s a swine only disease. So it’s not going to affect humans, but it does affect domestic pigs and treated domestic pigs, and so there have been many million domestic pigs killed in the last few years because of African swine fever. And the reality is if it came to Canada, I understand from, from experts that it would be catastrophic to our swine industry. Very similar if not worse than when we had BSE or mad cow disease. When we had one case in 2003 in Alberta, and that shut down every single border,
pigs, and they’re established over very rough country with the mix of lots of forest and wetlands and agriculture. So I do not believe is realistic to expect the eradication in that area.” The Wild Pig Research project maintains a Facebook page that contains information and videos of the group tracking, capturing and working the pigs. It also includes access to a Google Earth file that maps the distribution and number of wild pigs across Canada, specifically in Saskatchewan and Alberta, where they have been a massive problem.
Pedrik via Flickr
Someone better tweet at Jason Isbell asking how to fix this if we don’t have assault rifles.
arts & culture
7
editor: hannah eiserman aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
The Coldest Night of the Year Q&A with YWCA CEO Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen gillian massie staff writer It might have not actually been the coldest night of the year, but realities can be much crueller for Regina’s homeless population in harsh Saskatchewan winters. The Coldest Night of the Year event took place to advocate and raise money for homelessness. Funds raised went to My Aunt’s Place affiliated with the YWCA, which is the only homeless shelter for women and children in Regina. On February 26, walkers gathered at St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral to set out on a two or five kilometre walk around Regina. After a clan of yellow-toqued walkers returned from their stroll, they were treated to a warm meal in the cathedral. In attendance was Mayor Sandra Masters, who expressed her gratitude to the YWCA for supporting Saskatchewan’s homelessness crisis. “We walk in support of those who struggle to find a workplace, food to feed their
panhandles, which I think is a very traditional way of looking at homelessness. More than 50 per cent of the people who experience homelessness in our city are women and their children. Homelessness can look like couch surfing, or it can look like living in an unsafe or precarious situation. I think people can participate by learning, by educating themselves, researching what it looks like, looking into some of the organizations across the city who work with (the) homeless population. What is a common misconception of homelessness in the Regina area? I think a common misconception is that, that homelessness affects men who maybe are struggling with addictions, and that is the furthest thing from the truth. I think what I would want people to know the most is that family homelessness is a real crisis in our community. Homelessness also disproportionately effects Indigenous people. The last point in time
What does trauma awareness look like within the YWCA Regina? We do work from a trauma informed place. So, recognizing that offering services to people regardless of where they’re at and what’s going on is important. Our services are open to people if they’re actively in an addiction or if they’re using, and we don’t turn people away because of that. I think also recognizing that people have an ability to determine what is their best choices for themselves is an important piece of that as well. What is your mission for the end of today? I think the end goal today is to raise awareness around family homelessness, but also to inspire people to have a conversation past today. For the next 365 days until we do this again, it’s about really acknowledging that there are systems at play that we must be aware of and recognize every single day, and break down some of those barriers so that folks aren’t trapped
“
It’s not just an issue of not having a house, but it’s also an issue of the systems and institutions that create barriers for people who are marginalized. That’s what traps people in homelessness. – Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen
families, and those who might be filled with fear and frustration,” said Masters. “As we walk together, we’re supporting organizations whose commitment and work transformed people’s lives, and we can express how grateful we are to such organizations.” At the beginning of February, the City of Regina executive council announced that they would be going ahead with the controversial rapid housing initiative. “The City of Regina is committed to making our community a better place to live,” said Masters. “As we work in partnership to reduce homelessness, as we work together to find ways to reduce domestic violence and intimate partner violence, and a whole host of other issues that I’d like to say we’re all on the same page for and aligning and making things better here.” CEO of the YWCA, Melissa CoomberBendtsen, sat down to chat about the event and stigma surrounding homelessness. How can people participate in advocating for homelessness if they cannot do so directly? The biggest piece for us is about advocacy and education around homelessness. Particularly around family homelessness, that homelessness in our city doesn’t just look like a man who sleeps on the side of the street or who
count that happened in our city, over 80 per cent of (homeless) people counted were Indigenous. There is an intersectionality of vulnerability of racism that exists...members of the gender and sexually diverse community just disproportionately affects homelessness, more than not. Same with newcomers and folks that are racialized. It’s not just an issue of not having a house, but it’s also an issue of the systems and institutions that create barriers for people who are marginalized. That’s what traps people in homelessness. So, at a point in time when somebody needs a home is one thing – what traps people in that cycle is the barriers and systems that do more harm than good. What support system should be offered for homelessness that are not currently being offered? You know, I think that there are a lot of services in our city and our not-for-profit sector that serves homeless individuals, are incredibly good at what they do. I think what’s missing is an understanding of trauma, and an understanding of the roots of trauma that are from colonialism and really looking at how to support people through that trauma. The by-product of it is addiction, mental health, and then of course, homelessness. Not looking at the roots of that cause I think is what’s missing.
in this cycle. What are you planning on doing with the fundraised money? The money goes to support our programs at My Aunt’s Place, which is the only homeless shelter for...women and children in the city of Regina. It supports our outreach team that does lots of work around diversion services. It helps women pay for arrears so that they can get a new housing. It helps them supply the furniture that they need when they move into new housing. So, there’s a whole smattering of supports the money that’s raised today will help. Why is the event called “The Coldest Night of the Year?” “The Coldest Night of the Year” is actually a nationally branded event. So there are people walking today, at this time across Canada, that are walking to bring awareness around homelessness across the country. The name itself comes from that nationally branded program, and we are an affiliate of it. We did not choose the name itself, but I think it comes from a place of really recognizing the struggles that one would have to face being homeless, and particularly in the winter in Saskatchewan. Heather Shevlin via Unsplash
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
8
Western Development Museum tour Spot the differences between Boom Town and Red Dead Redemption 2
jorah bright a&c writer Museums are a great place to learn more about the history of the place you are at. The use of models and historical items enable museums to bring history to life. I recently had the opportunity to go to the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon with friends and check out the exhibits and attractions. One of the main attractions of the Western Development Museum is Boom Town, a life-size
SriMesh via Wikimedia
A photo of the Western Development Museum that was taken during better days – sunny and snowless.
cars than horses on the street, showing a change in the times. There was also a blacksmith’s shop and a general merchant’s store, which makes you feel like you’re playing Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s fascinating to see the prices of things in 1910, especially with current discussions of inflation and cost. Above the general merchant was the dentist’s office leading to the upper balcony. The dentist’s office wasn’t incredibly exciting, but that might be be-
were unable to go inside the cell due to restrictions. Then there was the church, prepped and ready for a funeral, showcasing mourning clothing and coffins for both adults and babies. Next to the church was a school with a Union Jack flag flying outside. While it feels like the Canadian flag has been around forever, the maple leaf wasn’t instituted as Canada’s flag until the 1960s. The school’s chalkboard was written on, showing what kids
nying sheet of paper as a guide; as adults, it was still fun to do the scavenger hunt. We didn’t get the sheet guide, but we didn’t need it. Around Boom Town were little signs featuring a bike and a letter of the alphabet. It makes you feel incredibly accomplished to find one of these letters. During this museum visit, a group of children were doing the scavenger hunt while my friends and I were looking at the things in the drug store. One of my
slice of pie was $3. I highly recommend the Boom Town Café if you’re looking for a good, cheap lunch while at the museum. In the middle of this museum with historical items and exhibits was a fun house, which felt super out of place. Inside the fun house was a hall of mirrors and a couple of clowns. Sure, it was fun for kids, but I found it strange and off-putting. The strangest part of the museum was the bathrooms. The women’s bathrooms have
“
I spent the longest time in the bank, comparing what they have to the bank robbing mission in Red Dead Redemption 2 with my friend, and I found it to be one of the most interesting buildings in Boom Town. – Jorah Bright
model of what the main street in a Saskatchewan town would have looked like in 1910. You can walk down the street, enter buildings, and see what it would have been like to walk down the street. Starting on the left side is a simple house with a car parked out front. In the front yard of the house was a bike, one with a giant front wheel and very small back wheel; I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything less comfortable looking in my life. Next was a harness shop with a horse and buggy parked out front. The vehicles on the street create an interesting perspective of wealth in this time. Very few people could afford cars and some only had horse-pulled wagons. There were many more
cause I left quickly due to the fact that dentists scare me. Next was the drug store and the doctor’s office above it. The fun part of the doctor’s office was trying to name all the different medical tools on display in the room, even though I was quite bad at it. It was interesting to look at the drug store and observe the different types of medicines that were used then, and what’s still used now. Some of them showed ingredients lists – many had a significant amount of alcohol in them. Following this was the police station, which had audio clips of what it was like to view crime as an officer in 1910. Inside the station was a jail cell that is open during non-COVID times, but we
would have learned in the 1910s. I don’t want to spoil everything in Boom Town, so I’ll finish things off with my favourite spots. As someone who writes for a newspaper, I loved the Daily Phoenix newspaper office and seeing the equipment they used to create the paper. The clock repair store was surprisingly interesting, being able to see all the different ways people used to tell time. I spent the longest time in the bank, comparing what they have to the bank robbing mission in Red Dead Redemption 2 with my friend, and I found it to be one of the most interesting buildings in Boom Town. There is a scavenger hunt around for kids with an accompa-
friends works in the medical field and was explaining what some of the medicines do when a gaggle of children walked into the room, pointed at my friend and yelled “You!” because directly behind my friend was the letter U for the scavenger hunt. My friend turned around with the most confused and panicked look on his face as these children approached him with pointed hands before realizing they were going for the sign behind him. It was incredibly funny, and one of my favourite moments from the museum trip. Part of the museum is the Boom Town Café, a little restaurant. The menu is small but has enough for a sit-down lunch. A cinnamon bun cost $2.50 and a
four open toilets and two private stalls. You can just use the toilet out in the open if you truly want to while at the Saskatoon Western Development Museum. I don’t understand the reasoning behind this. There is no logic behind open toilets. Is anyone actually using them? Why? I barely scratched the surface of what’s available at the Saskatoon Western Development Museum, and I highly recommend you check it out for yourself at 2610 Lorne Avenue in Saskatoon if you have a chance. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
9
Flat-Out Food returns for a second season
Adrian Halter talks collaboration with author Jenn Sharp, restaurant recommendations, and more
hannah eiserman a&c writer Adrian Halter, a University of Regina grad with a BFA in Film and Video Production, met Jenn Sharp in 2018 while they were both working at Agribition. After they started collaborating on another project, they got to talk about the idea for Flat-Out Food. “I had already kind of had this idea for a food documentary that followed just one ingredient from how it’s grown, to how it’s used, to like, chefs using it,” Halter says. The idea was to “focus on the ingredient and not on the people behind it.” “[Jenn] started telling me about her book and all the stories,” Halter continues, “and I was like, you know, I have this idea about a documentary that focuses on one ingredient, and you have all these people that you have interviewed for your book, and all these amazing stories…I realized what my idea was missing was the people behind these ingredients.” Halter knew he liked the documentary format from his time at the university, making his first short film post-grad in 2016. He says his passion has “grown and grown” since then. Flat-Out Food combines one of Halter’s other passions: food. “I’ve always been a huge fan of cooking shows and food documentaries of all sorts,” he says. “The climate and the appetite (no pun intended) has grown so much in the last five-six years…now you find documentary everywhere, on all the streaming platforms.” His company, Halter Media, has three full-time employees, while the show has a production crew of seven. He and Sharp cowrite and co-produce the episodes. Halter directs all the episodes alongside the director of photography, Adam Burwell. The team features three other University graduates: Preston Kanak, a camera operator, Joel Tabak, a camera assistant on the show, and Kaitlyn Schropp, a field producer. The editor of the show is also a U of R grad. When asked what surprised him most about filming the second season of Flat-Out Food, Halter says it really still comes down to the
ingredients. “These ingredients are in your grandma’s garden or your garden,” he says, “things you don’t think about. Maybe you go to the farmer’s market and they’re there, but these people and these chefs are taking these ingredients, they’re changing them and elevating them into something you would never, never imagine. And I think that’s pretty wild.” The show has also given Halter experiences he could never have expected. “When we filmed in 2020,” he says, “I had never had a chanterelle mushroom. Never seen one, never touched one, never ate one...the best ones in the world come from Saskatchewan, and that’s pretty cool...they smell like an apricot, and if you eat them raw they taste kind of peppery, but if you cook them that spiciness goes away again. It’s the most amazing mushroom that I’ve ever had.” What Halter wishes people to know about the Saskatchewan food scene is that “(t)here’s so much variety and so much creativity…a lot of really talented people in our province and (the show) showcases that to promote Saskatchewan and the food artisans.” When asked
Michelle Berg
That’s pretty for a dead thing.
exist with jack pines that grow in the middle of the prairie…you go to the northeastern part of the province where the roads are built through rock cliffs and there’s so many amazing things to see, and you know, that also goes for the restaurants. There’s so many
eries in Saskatchewan are in Regina,” in his opinion, “but there’s lots across the province.” In Saskatoon, he recommends Hearth, Primal, and Odla. If you’re interested in getting out of the city and going a bit rural, he suggests Solo Italia in Ogema, The Grotto
“
...I think the thing that’s so special about those restaurants is they’re also, like just by the nature of the way they do the work, they’re using ingredients that are close to home. It’s like a really true taste of Saskatchewan. – Adrian Halter
about what he’d say to folks who are hesitant about exploring, Halter says “it’s not just the restaurant scene” that people should reconsider exploring, “it’s the province as a whole.” “People are really quick to want to go travel somewhere else because they’re like ‘oh, it’s more exotic, or there’s better restaurants, and there’s more to see.’ Our province…being so big, you know, you go from the boreal forest to the grasslands to the lakes to Cypress Hills – this place that shouldn’t
amazing restaurants where people should go, experiment, and try something that maybe they haven’t tried before. And I think the thing that’s so special about those restaurants is they’re also, like just by the nature of the way they do the work, they’re using ingredients that are close to home. It’s like a really true taste of Saskatchewan.” Halter thinks all the restaurants in Flat-Out Food are worth a try, but he also suggests The Sky Café and Luna Kitchen and Bar here in Regina. “The best brew-
in Vibank, or Harvest Eatery in Shaunavon. Mable Hill in Nipawin was featured in the premiere episode of season two, which he also recommends for after a day at Tobin Lake. One thing I found fascinating and beautiful about Flat-Out Food was that the crew really seemed to consider the implications of a docu-series following ingredients grown on Saskatchewan land. The third episode of the first season, “ohtâpamihowin,” discusses the issue of Indigenous food sovereign-
ty. Halter does say, however, that it wasn’t their intention to highlight that issue. The documentary “really becomes the story of the people.” “In [that episode] we didn’t have a goal” Halter says. “Diana Bird happens to be an Indigenous food sovereigntist, and that’s the story that she wanted to tell…It’s really more about opening it up to the people that are participating.” It’s certainly an issue the producers wanted to be conscious of. “Being a White male in Saskatchewan of settler ancestry, it’s not my place to tell these stories,” but he adds, “I do have this vehicle to give other people to tell their own stories.” The season premiere features some Métis people from Île-àla-Crosse, one of whom, Jordan Burnoff, is “an incredible advocate for not only her community, for Métis people, but for Indigenous sovereignty when it comes to energy,” Halter says. “We do know that we need to try to represent all the people in our province with this show, and we try our best to reach urban and rural centres but also Northern communities as well.” The first episode of the new season of Flat-Out Food premiered on February 23, but you can watch season one on the CityTV website and catch new episodes on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. CST. Michelle Berg
Watch out for the mealworms, guys.
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
10
“My Wedding Stories?” More like “My Divorce Stories”
Sims 4 fans angered by broken new game pack
jorah bright a&c writer
Dinosaur918 via Wikimedia
This Sims diamond is as low quality as their new game pack.
On February 23, the Sims 4 team dropped a brand-new game pack called “My Wedding Stories.” When the trailer was released in early February, Sims fans were excited to finally have a change to weddings. They hoped that weddings would be less buggy, and guests would stop standing right in front of the arch your sims were getting married at. Instead, they got the worst Sims pack to ever be released. Even worse than “Journey to Batuu,” that one Star Wars game pack that still doesn’t make any sense. And yes, worse than “My First Pet Stuff” which includes almost no objects and requires a $50 DLC (downloadable content) to play. “My Wedding Stories” is horribly broken, full of bugs and glitches. Before the pack was released for the public, it was given to a group of content creators known as EA Game Changers. For the first time, the Game Changers had to state in all their videos about the pack that it was not final software, and all the Game Changers swiftly realized it was because the game is barely playable. Let’s break down what’s wrong with “My Wedding Stories.” To start, the cakes don’t work
right and are not great in practice. Some cakes only have eight slices, while others have 12. The cakes ingame look massive, yet only serve 12 sims. What’s even worse is the shelf-life of the wedding cakes. Regular cakes in the game last for 24 sim hours – wedding cakes last twelve. When it takes your sims 16 hours to get married because the pack doesn’t work, the cake expires by the time you get to it – and that’s if you can even drag the cake into your inventory if you made it at home. In the trailer, they made it appear like when you did a cake tasting, your sims would respond negatively or positively so you knew which one to get – but they don’t do that. They have no opinions on the cake, and that’s not the first instance of the trailer being different. In the trailer, they show that everyone will take their seats and sit down. This is a big deal for weddings because sims are always standing around and talking with each other instead of sitting down for the ceremony. It’s a huge piece of the pack, and it doesn’t work. Sims refuse to take their seats. A few will, but not enough for it to work. Sims still talk with each other and do push-ups in the middle of the aisle. Your guests refuse to do what they’re told. This is just one example of ceremony activi-
ties not working. The spousal kiss is broken. When your sims kiss, their faces don’t touch; it’s off-putting. Sims will also get stuck not doing what you told them to, and then they’ll pee themselves in the middle of your wedding. One of the options in planning a wedding is setting a dress code…but not one guest will follow it. They all just show up in their everyday wear. Before “My Wedding Stories,” sims would at least show up in their formal wear, but not anymore. Speaking of clothing, there just isn’t any for men. For women, there’s a huge array of dresses; for men, there are less than 10 options. And say you bought the pack, realized it’s broken, but still want to have a base game wedding. Too bad, you can’t. The pack completely replaces the wedding event, and all your weddings will be broken. Modders are doing their best to fix “My Wedding Stories,” but players on console can’t access those mods and their games are just broken. EA needs to fix “My Wedding Stories,” but who knows how long that will take. The pack simply doesn’t work. They knew the pack didn’t work before release because Game Changers made videos about it, yet here we are with a broken pack.
On Breaking Bad spin-off Slippin’ Jimmy
Is the spin-off of a spin-off just too many spins?
amir said contributor
Breaking Bad is consistently rated by both critics and fans as one of the greatest television shows of all time, with its compelling plot and captivating characters enthralling audiences since its debut in 2008. After an electrifying and satisfying ending in 2014, not to mention a spin-off and a movie that (hot take) was illogical and not necessary to the show’s storyline, showrunner Vince Gilligan has decided to continue the expansion of the hit television show’s universe in the most logical way: by creating a spin-off…of the show’s spin-off. Slippin’ Jimmy, an animated
The Peabody Awards via Wikimedia
spin-off of Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul, is set to debut this spring. The show will follow Jimmy McGill (better known as Breaking Bad supporting character and Better Call Saul protagonist Saul Goodman) and his friends getting themselves into all sorts of wacky shenanigans in the Chicago suburbs. With Rick and Morty animators and Better Call Saul writers collaborating on this show to produce a parody of beloved cartoons like Fat Albert and Peanuts while remaining faithful to the source material, this series is set to be, for lack of any other better terminology, an interesting spin-off. Having read that and realized how many times the term
“spin-off” was written, one question arises: is this show really necessary? Slippin’ Jimmy aims to showcase Saul Goodman’s troubled past, but here’s the thing: the already-existing Breaking Bad spin-off, Better Call Saul, exists for precisely the same reason. It brilliantly showcases Saul Goodman’s troubled past, both as a child and as an adult, and expands his character, elevating him from the goofy comic relief character he was in Breaking Bad to a tragic and multi-dimensional anti-hero. Giving him one spin-off, and one with the same tone as Breaking Bad at that, is one thing – but a spinoff of the spin-off? That seems a bit excessive.
A photo of the cast of Breaking Bad that must be from like, two spin-offs ago.
Saul Goodman’s childhood has already been described in enough detail. We know everything we need to know about Saul: that he was a scammer who swindled people in his neighborhood, including his own father, simply because he felt like it. Using Better Call Saul to showcase his childhood has helped fans understand the tragic character of Saul Goodman in greater depth. A comedic cartoon telling the exact same story but with slapstick humor and parodies? That cheapens not only his character but the dramatic nature of the franchise as a whole. It may be soon to say definitively, but judging by the promotional materials released thus far, this contributor is not im-
pressed. This trend of unnecessarily expanding fictional universes as a marketing gimmick for subscription services like Netflix and Disney+ is a disconcerting one. Star Wars, DC, and Jurassic Park are among the prominent franchises that have gone down this road, and it seems that Breaking Bad’s once-infallible legacy is being trodden upon for commercial benefit, with Slippin’ Jimmy set to make its debut exclusively on AMC+. It’s sad to say that, as a die-hard Breaking Bad fan who has seen the show over a dozen times, I’ve had enough of the expansion and want the franchise to end.
sports & health
11
editor: katie mutschler sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
Food for thought: interview with dietitian Ken Mullock We all need to eat, so let’s talk food katherine mutschler s&h editor I was doing work (by which I mean I was scrolling on Instagram) one evening and I noticed Ken Mullock, an old colleague of mine, was going to be doing a livestream cooking class with @ urallkinected on Instagram. I love food, and I love talking with old colleagues, so I took this opportunity to watch the stream and hear about Mullock’s work, philosophies on food, and his upcoming goals. First, I watched the livestream Mullock put on. The recipe was for a feta cheese and lentil quesadilla. When the ingredients were introduced, Mullock would explain the health benefits of the food. Along with the health benefits, Mullock explained that food should be enjoyable. He would give foods we could substitute in the recipe to make it to our own taste. “I am a fan of recipes, but also a fan of not following the recipe,” Mullock stated. When talking about kombucha, he said “people act like kombucha should be something you consume, but if you don’t like it, there are many other things that are good for your gut health.” Overall, it was a fun experience. My friends heard me in the practice hallway asking them to help me answer the questions Mullock asked during the chat. After the live stream, I talked to Mullock about his philosophies on food and health. My first question for Mullock was about his inspiration for becoming a dietitian in the first place. Mullock explained that he has always been intrigued by food: “everybody eats, and everybody needs nourishment, and we all get that in different ways.” He then went on to explain that he was inspired by his own journey of working with a dietitian when he was younger. Food is also a way he can be creative: “I love to create things and use a fun approach, but I also really love science and health. What I like about being a dieti-
tian is you can combine those things into a specialized career.” He explains every dietitian has a different approach, and being a dietitian is like teaching. Mullock also loves the education aspect of his social media, as he can teach people in an untraditional setting. I then asked Mullock how being a dietitian has changed his philosophy on food. He explained that before he became a dietitian, he was excited for the nutrition aspect of food. He said, “I [thought I was] going to learn everything about nutrition, and what the healthiest foods are.” As he went through the dietitian program, he realized there is no one “healthiest food,” as everyone has different needs and food has different benefits depending on what it is. “Food has so many roles in our lives beyond the nutrition it provides,” Mullock stated. He then explained food holds traditions, culture, social aspects, and even enjoyment. Nutrients and all of these aspects are important. He said, “It is important to appreciate everything food can do for you.” For Mullock, he is excited that food brings people together. Food is something we all have in common. One of the things I noticed on Mullock’s Instagram is that he has the term “trans-health navigator” in his bio. Mullock explained,
“
Ken Mullock
SAY CHEESE! (Get it? Because it is an article about food).
The position also means working with different medical fields to ensure that transgender people are getting the best care possible. Although this position is not focused on food, it focuses on general health. Mullock explained that in his training to be a dietitian, he learned a lot about health as a
school, I wasn’t sure what my career path would look like. I would think, ‘What if I don’t find a job,’ or don’t fall into something I love doing. Everything is working well, and I am loving the experiences I am having, and I love the way I get to help in so many different areas.” It is an exciting time to be
It is important to appreciate everything food can do for you. – Ken Mollock
“I am a non-traditional and non-conventional dietitian. I do things that dietitians may not have traditionally done. One of those roles is a trans-health navigator.” As a trans-health navigator, Mullock helps transgender people find different health services. This will help people find hormone therapy or gender affirming surgeries.
whole, and that we need to meet the patient where they are at for their needs to be met. Now that Mullock is officially a registered dietitian, I asked him if he has any goals moving forward. Mullock accepted a job as a clinical dietitian in hospitals. He said, “I am just loving where life is taking me as a dietitian. As I was going through
a dietitian, as the world is starting to see food in different ways. When I mentioned to Mullock that I have noticed that fitness communities online are starting to see food as something to enjoy, he said “I’m a big fan of saying nobody should ever feel bad about anything they’re eating.” We talked a little near the end about our own relationships with
food. Mullock and I were both vegan for a bit, and both struggled with the idea of starting to introduce animal products into our eating again due to the social guilt. Mullock said that he had to remember his philosophy on food, and if he said no one should feel bad, he had to follow that as well. People can get offended, but at the end of the day it is our own decisions. Being 100% vegan isn’t for everyone. Mullock’s philosophy is that we should eat foods that connect us to culture, family, and enjoyment. Mullock gave us a lot of food for thought in this interview. As someone who has lived through seeing extreme diets online, it was nice to talk to a dietitian with such a holistic view on health, food, and culture. You can follow Ken Mullock on Instagram at Ken.Dietitian, and you can rewatch the recipe livestream on urallkinected. I hope this gives everyone a new perspective on food. Go out, find the foods you love, and eat the foods you enjoy.
Ken Mullock
Can you pass the salt?
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |12
sports & health
NBA All-Stars wrap up
This year’s event was a slam dunk
amir said contributor
After much hype and build-up, the 2022 NBA all-star game was played on February 20 in Cleveland, Ohio. This was the 71st edition of the event and a commemoration of the National Basketball Association’s 75th anniversary. The prelude to the game was filled with anticipation and drama around issues, like the James Harden trade and Kevin Durant’s injury status. With a historic spot in the NBA timeline and an entertaining prelude, the game made up for the excitement of fans by undoubtedly being one for the books. To catch up on the highlights of the game, I would recommend reading my previous two articles on the subject; this one is the conclusion of my 2022 NBA all-star game article trilogy, and the significance of the event is infinitely more impactful with an understanding of the lead-up. As a quick recap, the eastern and western conference teams were respectively captained by Brooklyn Nets small forward and twelve-time all-star Kevin Durant, who was unable to play due to injury, and Los Angeles Lakers small forward and eighteen-time all-star LeBron James. Teams Durant and LeBron had the following rosters: Durant starters: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers; Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies; Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics; Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks. Durant reserves: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets; Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns; Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz; Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls; Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks; Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs; Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves; Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors. LeBron starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls; Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets.
Keith Allison via Wikimedia
Think fast!
“
The prelude to the game was filled with anticipation and drama around issues… the game made up for the excitement of fans by undoubtedly being one for the books. – Amir Said
Lebron reserves: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat; Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks; Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers; James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers; Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz; Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns; Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors.
As a diehard Raptors fan, seeing Fred VanVleet on the court for his first all-star appearance was incredibly exciting; with 21.6 points per game and an overall outstanding performance both as part of the Raptors and as an NBA player this season,
his selection was well deserved – he certainly earned it. While he only played for nine minutes as a reserve, he excelled on the court and showcased the skill that earned him a spot on the team: he earned six points, two rebounds,
and three assists, which, as a first-time All-Star from an under-represented team sharing the court with NBA superstars like Luca Dončić, Jimmy Butler, and LaMelo Ball for just nine minutes of playtime, is no small feat and deserves recognition. The game’s highlight, without a doubt, was Stephen Curry. With a hard-earned reputation as the NBA’s best three-point shooter, he showed everybody that after a relatively recent dip in his performance this season, he was still on top. He earned a whopping 50 points for Team LeBron. On top of that, he broke five allstar records: most points in a single quarter with 21, most 3-point goals made both in a game and in a half with 16 and 8 respectively, and most 3-point shots attempted both in a game and in a half with 27 and 16 respectively. It’s no surprise that he earned the coveted MVP title for the game. Under the leadership of LeBron James, who had won the award three times prior, it’s no surprise that Team LeBron handily defeated Team Durant with a final score of 163-160. It was a close game, with 10 seconds left on the buzzer when LeBron made the game-winning fadeaway shot. Both teams played admirably and the event raised considerable funds for charity: Team Durant earned $300,000 for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Team LeBron earned $450,000 for The Kent State University I Promise Scholars Program, and Stephen Curry personally vowed to donate a grand total of $108,000 to Metro Cleveland Public Schools based on his game performance. With the event giving fans a historic game while showcasing the talent of some of the best basketball players of all time and raising both funds and awareness for important causes, it’s safe to say that the 2022 all-star game was a resounding success. This contributor (and millions of fellow NBA fans) can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year’s game. Hopefully we’ll get more Raptors representation!
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
sports & health
13
Ice fishing review Grab a pale and hit the ice
victoria baht s&h writer When you think of the perfect weekend, what does it entail? For some of us, it may involve relaxing on the beach, getting a tan. For others, it may involve a self-care weekend with a Starbucks coffee in one hand and a great book in the other. For some people, a perfect weekend involves going ice fishing with some friends and catching some fresh fish for dinner that night. This week, the Carillon is going to take you through a review and experience of what it is like to go ice fishing in Saskatchewan. I have been going ice fishing for most of my life, which means I have a couple of stories in my mind. What do you imagine when you think of the ice fishing sport? Does it make you think of wearing all the winter gear possible, sitting on a pail over a hole? Basically, that is exactly what the experience is. When you go ice fishing, you want to make sure you have the essentials. For me, this is what it entails: a pair of long johns or leggings and a long sleeve for your base layer, a good standard sweat suit, and an outer layer that
involves boots, ski pants, winter coat, mittens, toque, and some hand/boot warmers. Now that you have enough winter gear to feel like you are walking around like a marshmallow, it is time to go fishing. My family typically fishes in shallow water. We normally try to stay in the range of 20-30 feet deep to catch some walleye. Once you find your spot, you have to get it ready. What is a good way to get the perfect ice fishing hole? The standard way to do it is with an auger. You can go all out and get an electric or gas motor, or can go old fashioned style. Now that you have drilled a hole, what is next? You bring out an ice fishing rod and put some bait on it – a minnow will do the trick. Now turn away, vegans (or if you are squeamish). You can puncture two holes through the spine and back out, or you can go through the spine then slightly near the head (no matter who you ask, though, they will have a different technique – trust me on that). Once you have the bait on the hook, you have to make sure you get deep enough to find some fish. You can do that by letting out your line. Once it gets a bit curly or wavy, then you know you are
at the bottom. Stop letting out the line and reel a bit up. Now you just have to sit until you feel that bite. Once you feel a nibble on your line, tip the rod just a little towards the hole to make sure they suck in all your bait. Then, time to set your hook! Make sure you don’t reel in too fast; that’s what my dad and grandfather always taught me. You should reel a bit, then make sure your line is still tight and with the fish still attached. Once you bring the fish out of the hole, it is time to bring the fish off the hook. For some of us, this may be the worst part; for some of us, it is the best part! You want to grab the top fin with the base of your hand to make sure you have a good grip. That way it cannot squirm away! Now time to take it off the line. You can decide to keep it or put it back in the water. Then you keep going! That is the experience of ice fishing, a pretty classic Saskatchewan sport. Go catch some fish. Go take part in an outdoor sporting activity and tell us all about it next issue. The Carillon would love to hear about it!
Glenna Haug via Unsplash
MILF: Man I love fishing!
Sleeping week (I mean reading week) Don’t tell my professors I slept all week instead of studying amina salah staff writer
Reading week? More like sleeping week! When I was in my first year of university, I genuinely used reading week as an opportunity to read and prepare ahead of the semester. Now, in my final year, I can’t be bothered with this nonsense. My philosophy is that the semester will be busy whether I read ahead or not. I like to use reading week as an opportunity to rest because I know that once classes start again, I will be swamped. It is important for me that I take this time off as a chance to paint, do some yoga, knit, and catch up on all of my favorite shows or re-watch my comfort shows for the 80th time.
I can’t begin to emphasize how important it is to rest. This will aid you in letting your mind, body, soul, and brain rest instead of working overtime on survival mode. Without rest, it is difficult to do anything. Athletes take rest days. Body builders take time to rest after training. Rest is necessary for our survival. I have made sure to get as much sleep as I possibly can and to focus on my health and nourishing my body because I know that when school starts, I will be unable to sleep as much I would normally want to. Reading week has also been a time for me to make hearty, healthy meals and indulge when I want to. Since in-person classes are starting very soon, I have used this time to work on setting healthy habits that
will make the transition to in-person classes easier; one of these habits has been meal prepping. I am the type of person who can eat the same meal for an entire week and still be happy. I don’t like to think about what I will eat or what I need to cook day-to-day. Thus, I like to prepare my meals ahead of time so that I can focus on the important things I need to do. As students, it is very easy for us to forget to nourish our bodies. It is easy to forget to eat or to forget to take our medications and vitamins. However, it is important to figure out a way where you can remember to do the things that are good for your well-being. Reading week for me has been a time for re-establishing those habits in my life so that the semester goes by
seamlessly. I want to build a strong foundation so that I will be able to deal with the difficult things that are coming my way, such as papers, midterms, tests, presentations, and exams. As a result, I have made it an effort to set some rules for myself that will aid me in returning back to in person classes. One thing I have been doing to prepare for the transition to in person classes during reading week has been going on walks. I know, I know. Who one earth would want to go outside in the dead of winter, let alone for a walk?! It is absurd to think about. However, I find that walking is one of the healthiest ways for me to get some exercise in. It is how I get my steps in. Walking allows me to bask in the beautiful scenery, to feel the clean,
crisp air as I walk. It allows me to explore my city and my neighbourhood. Walking reminds me to be mindful of the things that are important to me. It reminds me to take some time every day to take care of myself. All in all, reading week has been a much-needed blessing. I have slept well, eaten well, exercised, and taken care of my mind, soul, and body. For that, I am grateful. It is a privilege for me to be healthy during the pandemic, and that is something that I make sure to never forget. To be alive, healthy, and breathing is a privilege that we must always be grateful for – there are many who wish to be in our shoes.
Shane via Unsplash
This could’ve been us, but we were studying.
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 14
sports & health
Cougars versus Bobcats Who is ready for a basketball game?
victoria baht s&h writer Are you a new student and debating if you should go to a sporting event, but may be a tad nervous? Maybe you used to go sporting events all the time and got a little bit out of habit since COVID-19, and you are debating what it is like to be back in the stands. Well, the Carillon is here to tell you what it is like to be in the stands in person inside of the Kinesiology, Health and Sport Building. I found out the Cougars are doing a fundraiser for Shoot the Cure, also known as the Kevin Tell Legacy Fund. This fund is to honour and to remember Keven Tell, who passed away this past January. If you go on Instagram and find the Cougars women’s page, the link is in their bio. So far, they have raised over $15,000 in donations. So, Carillon readers, after this article try to hit that link if you can donate some money – we are sure the Cougars team will be thankful for your donation! What a great way to spread awareness and get a donation. It was great to hear about, and I hope you enjoyed learning about that, too. Although, we came here to watch the Cougars play, so let’s get you into the game! I went to the game on February 24 where the women’s basketball team had their second last regular season game against
Brandon. When you first walk in, be prepared to scan a QR code to buy your tickets online if you did not purchase them before the game – and if you are a student make sure to bring along your Student ID so you can get in for free! Now that you are in, sit where you please and pick a spot that is comfy. The venue has lots of spots to choose from! When it was time for jump ball, the Bob-
the key. The first quarter ended with the score being 15-14 for the Cougars. While the teams figure out a game plan, us spectators have two minutes just to relax or talk with our friends about the feelings we have about how the game is going – then it is time to start back up again. Because the score was so close, the Cougars wanted to make the Brandon team feel some at-home pressure, and man
ees and did not agree with a call that was made for a foul. This is some interesting action you can see on the stands compared to on the television. But not even the pressure and a bad call stopped the Bobcats. Both teams kept the pressure up, finishing the first half of the game with a close score of 37-26 for the Cougars. As the teams head to the locker room for a quick break, us spectators can catch a break too.
“
We hope they play well in play-offs, and we cannot wait to see what the Regina Cougars have in hand for their 2022-2023 basketball season. – Victoria Baht
cats won. The first quarter of the game was pretty steady for both teams. The Cougars started out fresh and ready to go in the game. Reid started out the game with two three-pointers (are we surprised though?) to start off the Cougars hard! Even though the Cougars had some three-point shots that were good for the team, the Brandon team made the spectators think twice with their wicked fast passes down and around
did they do a good job. The Cougars put on the pressure for the Bobcats as they made them count down the shot clock. An insight us spectators get when we are sitting in the stands and not watching on TV is the crowd and benches yelling “d-fence.” You can hear the coaches get riled up, and the parents too. Well, just before the half time, the Bobcats coach got a little upset with the refer-
Go freshen up or grab a snack from the vending machine before the second half ! Straight from the start of the third quarter, the Cougars were putting on the pressure using a full court press. The full court press was definitely making a difference on the Bobcats which made the third quarter not the greatest for the team. It ended with a result of only one three-pointer from the Bobcats in the third quarter from
Misskey. This brought the end of the third quarter score to 62-30 for the Cougars! The Bobcats still had time to bring in some action, although that was not the case. The Cougars kept up their lead, and kept bringing on the full court pressure. Even though the pressure was there, the Bobcats brought it back as well. The Bobcats defense was good and kept the Cougars down to only scoring 10 more points in the last quarter, with an ending score of 72-45 for the Cougars. All and all, it was a solid game put on by both of the teams and both played great! This was the second last game of the regular season. When it comes to the end of the season, the senior players leave the Cougars team as they graduate, so the Carillon would like to make a shout out to Faith Reid, Zoe Hartmann, and Kaitlyn Tontia, and say thank you for playing so hard over the past years! We hope they play well in play-offs, and we cannot wait to see what the Regina Cougars have in hand for their 2022-2023 basketball season. Most of the information in this article is from the game firsthand, but some information is from the U of R women’s basketball Instagram page. You can go to https://www.reginacougars. com/sidearmstats/wbball/playby-play for game stats.
Victoria Baht
Do they sell mini-donuts at basketball games?
op-ed
15
editor: sarah nakonechny op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
A look at the small government
How our opinions of the government are influenced and what it can mean for us moving forward
European Union 2017 via Flickr
At least he has good hair.
There are several things that have frequently been on the news and on my mind in the last couple of years as the world tackled a pandemic and significant economic tumult. The most salient of those things has been the authority that a duly elected government wields over their constituents. While this is not a new debate, I have been following the latest in the debate of big vs small government, taxation, and the possibility of government overreach and abuse of power. It seems that there is a right-wing camp across the western world that believes government is inherently bad, and the less of it we have around, the better. This camp enjoys substantial support from corporations and billionaires, because these are the first groups to enjoy the benefits of tax breaks and other budget cuts that small governments often make. What baffles me is why these proponents of small government also seem to hold sway with the common people, those who cannot afford cuts to infrastructure, healthcare, and other public spending. After all, this camp is very clear on how they will balance the budget without raising taxes. It does not take a financial genius to figure out that this means cuts to existing government services. In my limited reading of these issues, it appears that nowhere in the world is this phenomenon more prominent than North America, particularly our neighbour to the south who insist on exporting their way of life and philosophy of governance all over the world sometimes on the back of fighter jets, but more often through media and online propaganda. I am aware this sounds unkind, but it is nevertheless true. The US glorifies small government and individual freedom and will constantly push this viewpoint on everyone as gospel. The more worrisome aspects of this propaganda include their enshrinement of gun rights, something they have been guilty of pushing on Canada and Australia for the past several years. Thankfully, not much has come of it. In other ways, though, much damage has been done to more civilized forms of government, in Canada and elsewhere, due to this insistence that govern-
ment is evil and incompetent and must be curtailed and kept small at all costs. One highly visible impact on Canada has been the pushback that provincial and federal governments faced when trying to do the right thing in terms of public health and safety measures during the pandemic; the odd thing being that the US government was doing those same things. Nevertheless, fringe media and social media “experts” kept drawing false parallels to dictatorial regimes, apartheid states, and predicting that the government of Canada is about to pack people off to concentration camps because we were asked to get a vaccine that could save lives and that didn’t cost a single penny to the individual, and to keep a mask on when out in public spaces. Personally, this betrays the privilege we
rights? I am no expert, but I am willing to share a hypothesis that, if true, might also show us how this issue can and should be addressed. There is little point in denying that the US and Canada are founded by, and flourish due to, an influx of immigrants. The US is proud of their narrative about how they let in the most oppressed and downtrodden people, who then, on the wings of the freedom provided by America, reach dizzying heights of glory and achievement. A huge part of this narrative rests on the fact that these immigrants, wherever they are from, did not have the same degree of rights and freedom that North America affords them. While this may be controversial to say, this claim was in fact true for a large part
“
The answer to potential abuse of power, is not to take away every single authority and reduce the government to a paper tiger. – Hammad Ali
enjoy in this part of the world. I have lived in oppressive, tyrannical regimes. They do not try to pay for your healthcare and make affordable daycare options available. Another big tell is that they do not let you spew silly conspiracy theories on Facebook. In fact, usually the first thing such regimes do is censor social media or get rid of internet access for common people. However, all these things have been discussed extensively in the last few weeks and months. That is not what is on my mind today, as I write this. I have honestly been thinking about why this narrative of small government sells. Why are so many willing to believe that any authority granted to a government must necessarily end in a dictatorship and the abuse of human
of the history of these nations. Some of the first immigrants to North America were from Europe, where their lifestyles, politics, or religion, were seen as suspect by the establishment, usually some European monarchy. In the last eight decades or so, many immigrants have been from the former Soviet Republic, the Arab states in the Middle East, and parts of South and Central Asia that have fallen under dictatorial rule. Of course, some day I will have to write about how many of those dictators were empowered by the US in their coups. However, the fact remains that many of us left our homes because they became a hotbed of tyranny, suppression of freedom and rights, and sometimes downright ethnic cleansing. When you have seen a
government that sends people in plain clothes to take away your parent who never returns, I guess it makes sense to buy into the narrative that government is evil. Europe has evolved. Most European nations today are models of democracy, and at least one South Asian nation continues its struggle for a more perfect state. The same US that does not believe in publicly funded services remains the biggest proponent of a publicly funded military and police force. So, the government cannot be trusted with the coverage of prescription drugs, but it is fine that they have a stockpile of nuclear warheads and assault rifles. Sounds like a mixed message. I do not feel as though I am more naïve than the next person, but I see a very false parallel when a government is accused of overreach because it wants to provide better health and dental insurance. However, I acknowledge that many of us fear that what begins with healthcare will end in a police state – to which my answer is to get involved at every level. Keep the government accountable. The answer to potential abuse of power is not to take away every single authority and reduce the government to a paper tiger. The answer is to give them our consent, the consent of the governed, to enact legislation that benefits the common people, not corporations. I fully respect the spectre of government overreach that many of us are haunted by from our homes, but a false analogy only plays in the hands of those that, in fact, do not respect a true democracy. My home country was used in the 80s and 90s by the US and other proponents of small government as a testbed for budget cuts. Believe me when I say that leads to tyranny and oppression more than anything else ever will, because a small government that no longer provides direct services to you no longer remains answerable to you.
hammad ali staff writer
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
op-ed
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
16
Romanticizing Walmart
Despite its bad reputation, Walmart truly is a glorious place.
A staple of American culture being forced on us – Walmart, the multinational retail conglomerate, has its iron hooks in me, and I am sick of the slander that surrounds this wonderful, universal store. While Walmart has certainly been graced by the weird, it is undeniably the most practical and magical place I have ever shopped. As a wee child, travelling to Saskatoon for a city trip was not complete without a trip to the Walmart supercentre. Where else would you stop on your way home for everything that you forgot to buy? Not only can you get groceries, but you can also stock up on craft supplies, get your family photos printed, replace your blender, and watch the movie of the day on one or all
“
cage and causing the balls to explode from the confinements of the bungee cords. The Walmart ball pits are a true staple of my childhood. I was never daring enough to attempt the infamous challenge, but it certainly had me convinced that it would be like landing on a cloud. Despite the lore, there is something that is undeniably charming about Walmart. It is the loudest and quietest place I have ever been. There is always noise, like a crying baby or an employee stocking shelves, but they always blend into white noise. You do not feel like you are wandering through the void but somewhere pleasant, like a nature hike with low priced laundry detergent. The tranquility within the supercentre
keep, Girlboss” with the peace sign emoji on it. Most of my Walmart trips take more than an hour and often only feel like 15 minutes. Walmart is magical and mysterious in its own unique way, but it is also a lawless city. The absolute obscurity of people that are too lazy to take their items back to the right section when they decide not to buy them has me in hysterics. My brain goes into limbo when I see a jug of milk sitting in the clothing section next to a T-Shirt with a grouchy Tweety bird on it saying “What do you expect from me? It’s Monday!” Walmart is truly geographically diverse. Seeing items that belong in the home section travel all the way over to the gar-
Keurig pods to help me get through early morning classes. I have even gone into Walmart to record noises of things that I did not want to pay for from SFX stores. The look of passivity on the Walmart greeters’ face when I frolicked in the store with a recorder, microphone and boom pole was something I will never forget. I just got a kind-hearted smile and wave from the yellow-vested man. It really made me think about what the Walmart greeter must have seen during his time manning the store front. If a university student carrying audio equipment was the least of their troubles, I cannot imagine what goes on during the late hours. Walmart is the working class’s store. All
Seeing items that belong in the home section travel all the way over to the gardening section has me thinking like a poet: the places it’s been, the things that it’s seen! – Gillian Massie
the varying sizes of flat screen televisions. Once you were finished at the check-out, you could head on over to get a snack at McDonalds or Tim Hortons. Why go out for dinner and a show when Walmart provides all of that and more by just walking through the sliding doors? Walmart has gained a bad rap over the last few years; we have seen years of Walmart lore. Internet trends such as “People of Walmart” showed customers in compromising outfits and hairstyles or people pulling up to buy groceries in their pyjamas or costumes. There is no shortage of political slander T-shirts that you cannot wear anywhere other than your house and Walmart as you certainly cannot wear them to work. It was hard to forget the classic 2013 Walmart “ball pit challenge” where someone would jump over top of the
is unmatched. You do not even notice all the employee’s bustling around stocking shelves and disappearing behind doors. I always seem to tune out the intercom, paging workers to different departments across the store. I could never understand the intercom anyways, but that is beside the point. Time does not exist in Walmart. Time begins to slow with the friendly Walmart greeter ushering you in the sliding doors. From there, you can begin to travel down the glossy cement towards whichever section you would like. Perhaps you will peruse the magazine rack and indulge in ridiculous tabloid headlines like “Pete Davidson and Queen Elizabeth are getting married!” From there you may look at the clothing section and debate buying a graphic T-Shirt that says “Gaslight, Gate-
dening section has me thinking like a poet: the places it’s been, the things that it’s seen! I will never recover from seeing a customer leave a tube of mascara in a freezer. The number of shenanigans and tomfooleries that occur in the aisles of Walmart honestly seems like it’s encouraged at this point. Racks of bicycles and skateboards are on full display, ready to be ridden down the aisles. The sports section has free weights for purchase that are often used for power lifting competitions by the rack. Baseball bats out on display have already been broken in before purchase by contributing to the mini grand slam. The accessibility of Walmart is unmatched. Even in my darkest hours nobody has come through in a situation like Walmart has; whether I’m in need of a glue gun to help me finish a project or
kinds of people shop at Walmart whether it’s their day off from work and they are wearing their three-year-old sweatpants, or they are just getting off work from an office job. Despite some of the exotic and absurd outfits that people might wear to buy deodorant, it is typically made up of everyday schmoozes who are just there to buy something nice to eat, wear, or do. The beauty of Walmart is that they perfectly embody the consensus of cringey working-class trends. Minions are still sported on T-shirts and fidget spinners still exist in the toy section. Cringey trends are only a faint reminder of the power that Walmart holds. It has the power to unite the working class.
gillian massie staff writer
Benchapple via Wikimedia
Despite its bad reputation, Walmart truly is a glorious place.
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
op-ed
17
A simple Saskatchewan beauty
As the land of the living skies, Saskatchewan holds a unique beauty to be appreciated.
Darby P. Via Unsplash
Saskatchewan, land of the never-ending landscape.
There is an emptiness that can be found here. In the lands where the bison once roamed with a thundering command, now there is just the lone coyote calling for his mate. The whiskey jack may sing breaking the ever-present haunting silence, as white tails stalk around the decrepit grain elevator. There is a beauty to be found here. The barley fields illuminated by the morning sun are baptized with dew as a mourning dove ascends to the heavens with its melancholic song. Perhaps the odd creek or thicket remain, haven for the mallard and drumming ruffed grouse, respectively. There is nostalgia found here in the bailing, card playing, or late night working in an old shop until only the overhead lights pour out into the dark Saskatchewan night.
To travel on any dirt road, one is accustomed to the sight of an old farmyard. The traveler’s eye may catch the most minute of detail. Alone an abandoned farmhouse rests; its siding barren from exposure and time. Weeds populate the barn and tool shed, chamomile and dandelions grow wild where the cattle once proudly stood. The dugout rests unmolested, safe for the muskrat and wood frog who reside in its sandy bank. Isolation is a common theme when describing the prairies, an endless flat plain that travels straight to the horizon, unbreakable. Perhaps this isolation is the beauty – open country, a final frontier, a wild west. The Main Track Café rests where highway 13 intercepts with the 39. Its
patrons consist of all kinds; old farmers talking about the good old days, filled with early mornings and late nights in the field that have now passed; a long-haul truck driver might pull over and stop here for a bite to eat before he hits the road and continues his long journey once again; a traveler might get a coffee before he travels onward upon the endless prairies. In small towns like Avonlea, Kamsack, and Halbrite there is mystery and intrigue that would make anyone stop and ponder what hidden treasurers lie within the town; that pondering following the traveler as they continue to drive through the golden sea of canola. A train whistle cry can be heard throughout the prairies, or perhaps the soft sputter of rainfall cascading down the
front of your windshield, or the static hiss of the radio, only slightly being able to make out Hank Williams coming through your speakers. Life and death are commonplace in the prairies; a gopher racing across the asphalt towards the safety of the ditch in the summer or a fox stalking a field mouse under the winter’s heavy snow. There is an isolation found here, where the lone towns rest peacefully in the shadow of old grain elevators. There is beauty found here, where even during a lonely car ride in these empty lands the sight of a doe with her fawn will remind us of the beauty of the isolated prairies.
mason hausermann contributor
Winter road trip 101
Winter driving is a beast that one should always be prepared to battle against Living where we do and being the stubborn generation that we love to be and hate to admit that we are, you bet that we’re not going to let a little snow and cold keep us from hitting the highway. Despite the confidence we may have in our abilities to get from point A to point B in one piece, there are a few key dos and don’ts that I recommend you should follow when preparing to hit the highway in our unpredictable winter climate. Do: make sure that you pack yourself a roadside emergency kit, especially when making a longer trip or when you’re leaving with less-than-ideal conditions in the forecast. This should consist of items such as water, food like trail mix or protein bars, a candle and matches, a blanket, and a spare change of clothes in case you end up getting wet. You want to be able to ensure that you can stay warm and dry if something happens. Some extra things you may want to consider packing as well are cat litter to help you get traction under your tires, a shovel to allow you to clear access to your muffler easily if you get stuck, and a first aid kit. Don’t: under-pack just because you think that there is a low chance that something is going to happen. Just because it hasn’t happened before or there is a low probability of it occurring doesn’t mean that it won’t happen this time. It’s better to have it and not need it than to wish you had it. Do: check the conditions of the highways that you’re going to be driving on and ensure that you map out your route ahead of time. This is especially important if you’re travelling somewhere new. As the weather can be unpredictable, it’s never a bad idea to look at potential alternate routes in case you need to change course due to road conditions or accidents that you may come across. It’s also useful to know cities and rest stops on the way so you can judge when you may
need to stop. Don’t: assume that the estimated time that your GPS gives you is the actual time it’s going to take you to get there. Ice and snow will force you to drive slower; on top of the need to stop for fuel, food, and the washroom, it’s always wise to account for extra time in your travelling. This is very important if you’re facing a commitment that requires you to arrive at a specific time. Do: make sure that you enjoy the drive to wherever the roads take you. Look around at the scenery, stop in cute little towns, listen to the local radio stations, and just have fun on the adventure. We’re so worried about where we’re going that we oftentimes forget to enjoy the ride along the way. Don’t: forget to complete any needed maintenance on the vehicle that you’re taking. It’s so easy to just turn the key and get going; skipping a walkthrough is when you’re going to get yourself into trouble. Make sure that you have tires appropriate for the weather and that they’re full of air, ensure your fluids are full, top up your gas tanks before leaving, double-check that none of your lights/signals are burnt out, and make sure that you have windshield wipers that work properly. Of course, you can choose to ignore these suggestions. We all have things that make us comfortable when choosing to travel. Whatever it is you choose to do to prepare for the wintery highways, ensure that you stay safe and get where you’re going in one piece. There is no point in skipping preparation steps just to end up broken down and stranded.
sarah nakonechny op-ed editor
Sarah Nakonechny
You call that bad weather? You haven’t seen bad weather.
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
op-ed
Unease and anticipation of face-to-face learning
17
The dreaded and hope for preparation for the shift back to campus
As March 1 approached, many students grasped the reality of going back to school in person after two years of online classes. I can’t help but feel completely unprepared, although I have tried my best to prepare myself. For the past two and a half years I have been wearing hoodies, PJs, and sweatshirts at home, slowly drinking my warm cup of tea every morning while treating my Zoom class as a podcast. I have not used my planner since the day we switched to online classes. I just did not feel that it was necessary. I’ve been on
know how to navigate academic relationships. I feel uncomfortable speaking to other students in class. I just do not have the energy for anything, and that is the harsh truth. The one thing that makes me nervous is going back to in person exams. I don’t know how any of us would just show up to a room full of hundreds of chairs all perfectly positioned with teachers and TAs walking around keeping an eye on everyone. I have no clue how I managed to get through that before. Now, after years of
my heart full. I especially love getting on the bus early in the morning when it is still dark, and the sun has yet to rise. A few days ago, I finally got my planner out after months of it collecting dust. I thought it’d do me good to finally fill it out. By the end of it, I almost had a heart attack from seeing how many deadlines I had for March and April. I think filling in my planner made it feel real that we are truly going back to school on March 1. Since the start of reading week, I had been refreshing my email every day, waiting for an update
would be draining for both students and professors. All my classes are in person except one. I am going to be on campus every week. The one thing I am excited for is to finally be able to get my steps in. I love going to the university because I enjoy walking around the campus. I do it to get my steps in, but also to help with any day-to-day anxiety or worries. Any time I am stressed I like to take a walk. I find that it is helpful to get my mind off classes for some time and just focus on the scenery. The university is
“
I personally believe that the university is making a mistake by deciding to have in person classes start in the middle of the semester, with less than two months left in the term. It seems quite pointless. – Amina Salah
survival mode. I can’t remember the last time I had a full eight hours of sleep, or a well-functioning sleeping schedule. The first thing my mother told me when I mentioned that I would be back to in-person classes soon was that she was happy that I would now be forced to fix my sleeping schedule. Prior to the pandemic, I was always someone who planned extensively. I had detailed to-do lists. I had backup plans for my backup plans. To this day, I still am a planner, but much more relaxed. The pandemic has changed me and many students in ways that we had never expected. It has ruined any remaining social skills I have. My anxiety is at an all-time high. I don’t
online exams with one-hour timeframes instead of the usual three, I have no clue how I will handle my first in person exam. My body is shivering just thinking about it. Yet, simultaneously, I welcome this new beginning. I think it is exactly what my mental health needs, as much as I am dreading it. I cannot wait to finally get back on my fashion game and wear all the cute outfits I had planned to wear before the pandemic started. My favorite thing to do every morning is turn my diffuser on and light some candles while I get ready for my online classes. Now, I will squeeze in a morning workout, get ready for school, and drink a latte, before making my way to school. I love mornings; the crisp air makes
saying that in-person classes would be cancelled. I guess it is time for me to accept the inevitable. Maybe it would be a good time for me to start rebuilding my social skills. I personally believe that the university is making a mistake by deciding to have in person classes start in the middle of the semester, with less than two months left in the term. It seems quite pointless. Some students are already well settled into their online classes. I think the university should just cut its losses and start an in person semester in the fall. It just makes more sense to wait until the fall. I can’t help but feel that by the end of March the university might decide to hold classes online again. I hope that does not happen because it
an aesthetically pleasing place filled with lots of greenery, light, nature, and art. For example, there is the beautiful piano between the education and Riddell buildings. The chapel at Luther is a gorgeous space that provides healing. The First Nations University is stunning to look at; the architecture is simply breathtaking. Going back to in person classes might just be what we need for our emotional well-being. It might be exactly what we need after some years of dreadful Zoom breakout rooms and anxiety inducing proctored exams
amina salah staff writer Mikael Kristenson via Unsplash
Want to bet how many aren’t paying attention?
graphics
19
editors: safal gangwani, rooky jegede graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
mar 3 - mar 9, 2022
graphics
carillonregina.com | the carillon |20
