SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Santosh Chandrasekar social@thecord.ca
PHOTO EDITOR VACANT photo@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Bachir Miloudi photos@thecord.ca
EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING HEAD Simran Gajbhiye events@thecord.ca
Hadiya Abedin Jasmine Abel Wintana Okbamariam Afeworki Andrew Eaton Sneh Leighl Maddie McGrath Elizabeth Mendez Ojus Rawal Clara Rose Jack Vrolyk
EDITOR’S CHOICE
"My mom." - Ramez Garras, rst-year science student.
"I look up to my aunt." - Isabella Toma, thirdyear biology student.
" My mom." - Chris Hakim, rst-year science student.
BACHIR MILOUDI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
"I'm a writer and I love horror, so Mary Shelley. She's the pinnacle that I'm aiming for." - Phinn Paleshi, rst-year History student.
"My mom. She was my best friend during high school. When I had no one else to talk to and I felt socially isolated, my mom was there for me. She 's a mother and a friend and I think that is something that can help you and a lot of other people." - Aidan Lin, third-year computer science and psychology student.
SANGJUN HAN newsdirector@thecord.ca
INTERNATIONAL
International Day to Combat Islamophobia on the 15th
United Nations dictated day of observance highlights challenges faced by Muslim community worldwide
SANGJUN HAN NEWS DIRECTOR
On March 15, Canada will celebrate International Day to Combat Islamophobia, an observance designated by the United Nations in 2022.
is day highlights the challenges encountered by numerous Muslims and calls for renewed dedication to ending prejudice and bigotry. Its designated day represents the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shooting, where two consecutive mass shootings took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15, 2019.
Islamophobia is not a recent phenomenon in Canada. According to Canadian Encyclopaedia, hate crimes targeted toward Muslims increased by 253 per cent between 2012 and 2015. During this period, the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting that claimed the lives of six Muslims and the 2021 pickup truck assault on the visibly Muslim Afzaal family in London, Ont. resulting in four fatalities took place.
“People often associate Muslims with numerous misconceptions, such as the belief that all Muslims are violent and aggressive people,” said Duha Emardi, the education coordinator at the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. “ at Muslims constitute a homogeneous community or that Muslim women, particularly those who wear hijab or niqab, are inherently
subjugated.”
She explained that these prejudices are propagated by Western media, especially in mainstream outlets, increasingly in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack. European colonialism also shaped perceptions of Muslims and contextualized these biases historically.
“ ese perceptions not only encompass individual biases, but also extend to institutional and systematic levels,” said Nuzhat Jafri, the executive director at the Canadian Council of Muslim Women.
e National Council of Canadian Muslims said that from 2016 to 2021, Canada experienced the worst homicide incidences targeting Muslims among the G7 nations. ey recorded a 1,300 per cent rise in hate acts against Muslims and Palestinians since Oct 7,
2023. e existence of legislation targeting Muslims, like Bill 21 in Quebec and the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act at the national level, indicate that Islamophobia continues to a ect numerous lives across Canada.
According to Sherry Morley, the corporate communications specialist of the Region of Waterloo, the region stands against Islamophobia and any other forms of hate and discrimination. She said the region is committed to addressing Islamophobia and any forms of hate and discrimination by acknowledging the day’s signi cance including Ramadan and Eid to raise awareness about the Quebec City mosque attack through the Green Square campaign. is initiative was started by the National Council of Canadian
Muslims to remember the victims of the Quebec City mosque attack and provide sta with opportunities to learn and create awareness about topics related to Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination.
“ e growing xenophobia, fear and attacks on migrants also have correlations with Islamophobia. We also see the intersections of it and other forms of oppression in the experiences of women, Black Muslims, disabled Muslims and queer Muslims,” Elmardi said.
Jafri explained how this can serve as a reminder that all oppression is connected and that to ght Islamophobia, we must ght against all other forms of oppression.
e rst step to combat Islamophobia is to educate ourselves
and increase awareness, but it’s a constant process that requires simultaneous action.
“We continue to hold out hope that we can unite and do what is necessary to make sure that Islamophobia and racism are not accepted or normalized in our communities and that this work is not limited to one day a year but rather is an ongoing and sustained e ort,” Jafri said.
Morley said that the region shows no tolerance for Islamophobia, racism and all forms of discrimination and hate. It continues to work to address these issues in our policies, including the Code of Use By-law. With this by-law, the Region of Waterloo will continue to work to create a positive space by deterring hate and harassment and addressing non-compliance.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/UN HUMAN RIGHTS ON YOUTUBE Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights giving a speech on March 15, 2024.
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE/FELTON DAVIS ON FLICKR Sign held by a protesor in New York City after the Christchurch mosque shooting.
Trade tensions continue to rise across Canada
Waterloo Region holds its breath as tari implementation threat
SANGJUN HAN
NEWS DIRECTOR
e Waterloo Region is bracing for economic fallout as trade tensions continue to rise between Canada and the United States.
Imposition on U.S. imports, such as steel and aluminium, won’t impact the Waterloo Region as much as other locations, such as Hamilton and Sault Ste. Marie.
According to a report by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Southwestern Ontario ranked third among regions most a ected by the U.S. and Canada’s trade tensions. e automotive and parts manufacturing sector would be the second most negatively impacted by U.S. tari s.
“ is would suggest business contracting and potentially closing, leading to local unemployment increases,” said Brian McCaig, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University specializing in economic development and international trade.
Cities including Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo, Brantford and Guelph are located east on Highway 401 and specialize in producing auto parts, other advanced manufacturing, machinery and equipment with agricultural exports.
For example, Guelph is home to Canada’s second-largest auto parts maker, Linamar.
McCaig also said there’s not much that can be done since the real motivation for the tari threats is unknown.
“If Canada retaliates by imposing tari s on imports from the U.S., there will be a double whammy, as it will hurt Canadian consumers and Canadian-based rms that import inputs from the U.S,” McCraig said. He also said retaliation might be necessary to prevent or reduce the threat of U.S. tari s
Karen Redman, a politician and the chair of Waterloo Region, voiced her concern regarding the growing trade tensions.
On Feb. 3, Redman released a statement requesting the Waterloo Region sta to explore options for action, including limiting the impact of tari s on regional services and exploring potential procurement measures.
“Our community is facing an uncertain time. It goes beyond policy, politics, or trade. is is about people and the strain this is going to put on so many in our community,” Redman said.
Economic concerns about job loss and business closures are growing across the region. Businesses like Ethel’s Lounge are adjusting to new practices to cope with the e ects of the tari threats.
Chris Gardener, the kitchen manager at Ethel’s Lounge, said they won’t purchase any more alcohol and beverages from the U.S. and opt to buy those in Canada.
“All businesses are a ected by the tari s. People are spending less in times of uncertainties,” Gardner said.
Some businesses, particularly those that export to the U.S., are already experiencing a drop in orders as U.S. purchasers become more concerned about the possibility of a 25 per cent tari on their purchases from Canadian rms.
Trade tensions will not only impact employment and prices for goods, but also a ect Canadian productivity.
As local businesses brace for the impact of trade disruptions, McCaig suggests several strategies to help mitigate the economic fallout. ese include expanding exports to new markets, liberalizing trade across Canadian provinces and o ering temporary subsidies to the hardest-hit rms.
“ e tension will lower investment as rms wait to see what happens in March,” said McCaig. “It will cause rms to spend more time and resources developing new strategies for coping with the trade tensions.”
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ SHOULD WE LIVE HERE ON YOUTUBE Downtown Kitchener.
Canadians move to buy local as tariff threat continues
Community-first mindset brings groups across Canada together to shop mindfully
MADALYN MOSTACCI MANAGING EDITOR
In early February, United States President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada. A lower tariff of 10 per cent was applied to energy resources.
Although initially delayed, the tariffs are set to take effect on Mar. 4.
Trump, who is also imposing similar tariffs on Mexico, stated to White House reporters that the process is moving quickly, as he believes the U.S. has been treated unfairly by both Mexico and Canada.
“We, as a smaller economy than the United States, do tend to rely a little bit more on international trade for a variety of things and for us in particular, the United States is by far the most important trade partner,” said Jeff Chan, associate professor of economics at Wilfrid Laurier University and director of the Laurier Centre for Economic Research and Policy Analysis.
In his response to the tariffs
PROFILE
on Feb. 1, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized to Canadians that now is the time to choose Canada.
As Canadians prepare for a potential trade war with the U.S., a growing “Buy Canadian” movement has emerged, encouraging people to support the local econo-
my instead of opting for American products. Many Canadians have responded positively to the “Buy Canadian” movement, demonstrating strong support for their local economies.
O SCANada, Shop Canadian and Buy Beaver are a few of the apps created by entrepreneurs across
Sasha Tease brings the joy of Drag
This article was cross-published with The Community Edition.
Mattie James is a community facilitator and local drag artist known as Sasha Tease.
When James moved back to Waterloo region in 2021, they found a thriving queer community.
“I just wanted to come home and reconnect to family and friends from high school, so I didn’t expect to stay here,” James said.
“But once I was here, I was kind of blown away by how much more community there was than I previously felt as a young 20-something,” they said.
Since their return, they have created events like the Clap Back Queens at the Apollo Cinema and currently produce and host Drag Bingo and Drag Open Stage at AOK Arcade and Bar.
The Clap Back Queens show involved watching early 2000s films with strong female characters that teach us how to “clap back” and stand up for themselves.
In their events, they always emphasize the importance of community for queer individuals.
“I’ve been to a few of [Apollo’s] interactive events, and I thought
it was so fun and super engaging,” James said.
I’m fighting the urge — and encouraging other people to fight the urge — of individualism and thinking that you can be self-sufficient and get everything you need from yourself... especially as queer folks.
- Mattie James, local drag performer.
encouraging other people to fight the urge — of individualism and thinking that you can be self-sufficient and get everything you need from yourself...especially as queer folks,” they said.
Drag Bingo takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at AOK and usually brings out a crowd of about 40 to 70 patrons.
James uses this event to bring in local drag artists who have some experience and want to continue growing their career.
They use the shows as a tool of mentorship for their fellow drag performers and co-hosts.
For James, mentorship and learning from their fellow community members is very important.
“And I thought something like this, but for queer folks to get together in the same space, watch a movie and just be silly and fun and laugh would be incredible,” they said.
Drag Open Stage, which started on May 21, 2023, supports new talent in the drag community and works to reduce barriers to entry through a drag donation closet.
It also provides a space for seasoned local performers to expand their audience reach.
Many costumes, wigs, clothing, jewelry and shoes were donated by community members.
James said they value community connections and creating space for queer folks.
“I’m fighting the urge — and
“[One thing] I work with Spectrum on is an arts program that we are just developing and launching at the end of March” James said.
“And that one is super exciting, super new…and the goal for that is to just help queer folks develop their creativity,” they said.
James works with Spectrum to facilitate multi-sport and arts programs, and teaches a drag-inspired dance program called Sasha and Play through the City of Kitchener.
Their drag-inspired dance program is run through the City of Kitchener.
For more information on how to get involved and join in on the fun, make sure to follow Sasha Tease Events on Eventbrite or follow Sasha Tease on Instagram @ iamsashatease.
make them easier for shoppers to identify.
While the “Buy Canadian” movement is a unifying response to the looming trade war, identifying Canadian products is not always straightforward.
“There are lots of examples of different sectors where it becomes very difficult to feel confident that this thing I’m not buying or buying is American or Canadian,” said Patricia Goff, professor in the department of political science at Laurier.
Goff explained that the only way to be certain of a product’s Canadian origin is through the “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada” designations.
the country that assist Canadians in choosing local products while shopping. Each app allows user to scan barcodes while shopping.
Some grocery stores, such as Brandon Tremblet’s Independent Grocer in London’s Wortley neighbourhood have started labelling Canadian products on shelves to
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency , a food product that has a “Product of Canada” distinction must have all or nearly all of its major ingredients, processing and labor sourced from Canada. A “Made in Canada” distinction means even if ingredients are sourced from other countries, the last significant transformation occurred in Canada.
While challenges remain in buying only Canadian products, the “Buy Canadian” movement has encouraged many to support the local economy and show economic solidarity.
BACHIR MILOUDI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Cans of Tim Hortons soup.
CONTRIBUTED
PHOTO/KAT WEX Sasha Tease.
ADRIAN QUIJANO NEWS CONTRIBUTOR
Editor’s Note: The women in our lives
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On March 8, International Women’s Day will be celebrated across Canada.
This year, the Government of Canada’s theme for the celebration is “Strength in every story.”
When I learned what this year’s theme would be, it got me thinking about the women in my life who have gotten to where they are today through unique ways. The most important of these is my mother.
You can gather that being named Brontë meant that I was born into a family that had a taste for the arts – particularly English literature.
This is true, as my mother was an English major in university, and named me after Charlotte Brontë, one of her favourite female authors.
Despite my mother’s love for academia and her desire to become an English professor, upon having me, she made the decision to homeschool me.
While I have mixed emotions about homeschooling now as an adult, I cannot deny the amount of time and effort that my mother took into raising me at the loss of her own personal career ambitions.
This is something that I do not take lightly and greatly thank her for.
Due to her sacrifice, I was able to have a childhood where I had the opportunity to explore my creative horizons beyond the everyday 8 to 3 school monotony.
I had the opportunity to take my English classes through an online-based program called the Classical Learning Resource Center and enjoyed it so much that I took classes during the summer months as well (insane, I know).
Without my mother’s influence
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in my life, I would not have been exposed to these opportunities. Thinking of it now, the ripple effect of not being homeschooled would have made my life vastly different. I can say that it is unlikely I would be in this role today, which makes me furious as it has been one of the highlights of my life and I will be very sad to see it come to an end.
While I have been lucky to have a mother who is eager to be included in my life, I know that not all are so lucky. If you do not have a close relationship with your own mother, I hope you know that the relationship you have with the women around you who you look up to is just as important.
Equally important are transgender women, who are still overlooked in conversations surrounding International Women’s Day. We see you, and this day is for you as much as it is for cisgender women. There is room for all, and if you are excluding trans women from conversations surrounding International Women’s Day, then you are missing out on a vital part of the conversation. As the theme for this year’s celebration makes apparent, there is “strength in every story.”
While our mothers are the first women we know, we come across many in our lives who will have an impact on us. Friends, sisters, coworkers – even those you are acquaintances with.
Each woman I have come across has had some impact on my life. Without them, I would be a lesser woman myself.
So, as you head into International Women’s Day this year, take time to notice the women in your life who have had an impact on you or who are out doing the work in our communities. Take them out for a coffee, let them know you admire them and keep the conversation going.
The work does not start and end on March 8.
Together, we can work towards equality for all women, hand in hand.
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Why does the box office suck?
MADALYN MOSTACCI MANAGING EDITOR
In 2022, Paramount Pictures’ Top Gun: Maverick revolutionized the box office due to Tom Cruise, star and producer of the movie, refusing to let it debut on streaming services.
In the wake of that unconventional decision, the box office and the act of going to the movies have, sadly, still sucked.
Every time I check movie listings, I am left disappointed.
Hollywood keeps churning out remakes and cash grab films, often starring the same handful of actors.
When I finally come across a trailer that piques my interest, the movie is only in select theatres for a few weeks before becoming exclusive to a streaming service
I’m not don’t subscribed to.
At the Cannes Film Festival, Cruise spoke to the audience following Top Gun: Maverick’s standing ovation.
He explained that debuting the film on a streaming service was never an option and later cited his reasoning.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with theatre owners. The people that serve
the popcorn, the ones who make this happen,” he said.
Also at the festival, Cruise conveyed his feeling that going to the cinema is a unifying experience.
The excitement of checking showtimes for a new film, (emphasis on new), and finally heading to the theatre to watch it after a long day or week ranks among my top ten favourite feelings of all time.
Yet I find myself experiencing it less and less.
While it might be the only thing I agree with Cruise on, I firmly believe that going to the movies is a universally positive experience for most people and something that desperately needs to be preserved.
That is exactly why I was hopeful following the run Top Gun: Maverick had following after its theatrical debut on May 27, 2022.
Cruise advocated for the film to have a 120-day theatrical window — meaning Top Gun: Maverick would not be available on streaming platforms, DVD, or anywhere else during that time.
Ultimately, the film was theatrically exclusive for 90 days.
Even with Cruise’s compromise, its theatrical exclusivity was a major factor in Top Gun: Maverick’s success as the film brought in close to $1.5 billion dollars worldwide.
Why aren’t other production companies and producers opting to do the same?
It would be unfair to claim that
every film with a decent theatrical window will perform as well as Top Gun: Maverick — the star-studded cast and nostalgic appeal played a significant role in its success.
However, a solid theatrical run has proven beneficial to a film’s success.
The longer it remains exclusive to theatres, the longer it stays relevant and exciting in public conversation.
In an interview with the Toronto Sun, Paul Dergarabedian, senior analysis at the global media analytic company Comscore, shared his observations of Top Gun: Maverick’s success.
“The film proved that the movie theatre experience is undeniably unique, undeniably important and clearly as relevant as ever for audiences in the modern streaming era, and that is no small thing,” he said.
I’m sure the main reason most production companies choose minimal or no theatrical window is to maximize profits for a small percentage of powerful people within their companies.
Nonetheless, this growing trend leaves moviegoers who enjoy the experience of the theatertheatre disappointed.
While the box office has other issues, streaming platforms and short theatrical windows are major factors contributing to why it sucks.
BRONTË BEHLING
RYTHAM SAHNI/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Puzzle 1 (Easy)
Puzzle 3 (Hard)
Puzzle 2 (Medium)
Puzzle 4 (Evil)
Solutions
Dear Life is your opportunity to write a letter to life, allowing you to vent your anger with life’s little frustrations in a completely public form. All submissions to Dear Life are anonymous, should be no longer than 100 words and must be addressed to your life. Submissions will be minimally edited for grammar, spelling or punctuation. All submissions must be sent to the QR code by March 24 to be featured in our April issue.
Dear Life,
Dear Life
I’m going to miss my university home.
Dear Life,
Why are we losing an hour of sleep?! I want to feel rested.
Dear Life, March is such a nothing month. I hate it more than January.
Dear Life,
Once in awhile, I think I’m settled in my life. e next thing I know, I’m thrown into a lurch again. Why do you have such a cruel sense of humour? All I want is to feel secure and comfortable. I know I will never be able to a ord a house, but is being able to a ord groceries really such a luxury?? I thought that you were my friend, Life. Turns out you’re not.
Dear Life, Everyone is clowning on me for saying that the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to win this year. I really do believe it! ey have a great team, and they have been playing well consistently in my opinion. When you meet me at the celebration parade, don’t say I didn’t tell you so!
CORD-O-SCOPES
Aries (March 21 — April 19)
Take this month to unwind, Aries. Focus on improving yourself, your goals and your relationships. Try creating a new routine, one that feels right for where you are at.
Gemini (May 21 — June 21)
Final exams are just around the corner. Instead of procrastinating and worrying, start preparing now. Create a plan, be mindful of your time and stay on top of your current course work.
Leo (July 23 — Aug. 22)
It’s time to give back, Leo. Spreading love in your community will bene t you just as much as it will bene t others. Start with one kind act a day and see how that has a positive impact on you.
Libra (Sept. 22 — Oct. 23)
Take a deep breath, hold it for a while, then exhale. You need to relax and let go of your stresses, Libra. While that is easier said than done, try taking active steps toward mental clarity this month.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 — Dec. 21)
Take control of your life. You have all the necessary tools to lead the life you envision, you just need to apply yourself. Find the motivation deep within yourself and apply it
Aquarius (Jan. 20 — Feb. 18)
Just because momentum has died down, does not mean you give up the goals you set in January. Em- brace the struggle you’ll endure in order to reach your goals and your ideal outcome will materialize.
Taurus (April 20 — May 20)
Consider looking for a summer job, Taurus. Something special and made for you is out there, all you need to do is look. Have a friend edit your resume and get applying.
Cancer (June 22 — July 22)
It’s time to take a leadership role in your life, Cancer. Take on new initiatives, set new goals and achieve what you have been wanting to achieve. You already have the tools needed, get moving.
Virgo (Aug. 23 — Sept. 22)
is month will bring new friendships, Virgo. Make sure to keep an open mind and an open heart. You never know what unfamiliar faces will become the most important gures in your life
Scorpio (Oct. 24 — Nov. 21)
is month, take time to slow down. You’ve been in highly intense situations since the beginning of the year and now it is time for your much needed rest. Be a little sel sh and do things that serve you.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 — Jan. 19)
Spring is just around the corner! With the changing seasons, embrace change in your own life, Capricorn. Allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Embrace all that comes your way this month.
Pisces (Feb. 19 — March 20)
As the weather changes, take advantage of the natural world around you. Go for a walk in the park or study outdoors. If you can’t do that, make an e ort to breath in the fresh air of spring at least once a day.
SANGJUN HAN/NEWS DIRECTOR Ghanaian Nightlife performance featuring Nii Osabu.
SANGJUN HAN/NEWS DIRECTOR Drum workshop.
SANGJUN HAN/NEWS DIRECTOR Members of the Afrovibes Festival. Tobi Taiwo, Oluwayanmife Fajemirokun and Peter Pearse-Elosia.
SANGJUN HAN/NEWS DIRECTOR Regan the Dragon.
SANGJUN HAN/NEWS DIRECTOR Zimbabwe and South African dance workshop by IZimba Arts.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/DT KITCHENER ON INSTAGRAM Poster for the Downtown Kitchener Travellers Tour that took place on March 2.
Creating a toolbox of voting resources
Editor-in-Chief Bronte Behling examines resources that assist in educating young Canadians about informed voting.
“Young people have the ability to make electoral decisions and decide elections, yet many people feel that they’re not heard by politicians and that the policies and politics don’t reflect the real, lived experiences or issues of young people.
- Amanda Munday, executive director of New Majority.
On Jan. 6, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Parliament would be suspended until March 24 as he resigned from his position of prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
With a federal election due this year, eligible voters across the country will be returning to the polls.
However, voting turnout across Canada has seen a worrying decline since 2015 where voter turnout percentage sat at 68.3 per cent. Since then, it fell to 67 per cent in 2019 and 62.6 per cent in 2021.
While it can be argued that the drop could be a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a study done by Statistics Canada shows that the most common reason eligible voters did not cast a ballot was due to not being interested in politics at 32 per cent.
How can this worrying statistic be remedied?
One organization looking to get Canadian youth involved in politics is CIVIX Canada, a charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civics and citizenship education. Around since 2003, CIVIX Canada has involved over 11,000 schools in CIVIX projects and developed five civic education programs.
“The overarching theme or goal of our work is to get young people in Canada as engaged in politics and government as possible,” said Dan Allen, the chief program officer of CIVIX.
He added that many young people feel that their vote does not matter.
“One of the meaningful things that we observe in the youth who take part in the programs we run is that they learn more about the issues that are managed or impacted by the government,” Allen said, expanding on the importance of voting and how there has been a “mixed bag” of student reactions when it comes to an interest in being able to vote .
The organization was also involved in the creation of three federal election information tools including Youth Vote Compass, Pollenize and Party Leader Q&A.
Youth Vote Compass gives students the chance to share their perspective on political issues to help inform them which political party they most align with, Pollenize showcases where each political party stands on key election issues and Party Leader Q&A allows students to ask political leaders questions.
Another key organization working to get youth involved
in voting is New Majority, a non-profit, non-partisan group working to mobilize young and first-time voters.
“it’s important for young people to vote in all elections — municipal, federal and provincial. Millennials and Gen Z’s are the electoral majority, and so young people have the ability to make electoral decisions and decide elections, yet many people feel that they’re not heard by politicians and that the policies and politics don’t reflect the real, lived experience or issues of young people,” said Amanda Munday, the executive director of New Majority.
Like CIVIX, New Majority has a variety of tools to help voters become more informed.
One tool is vote.newmajority.ca, a website that walks voters through planning to vote, shows them the candidates with their platforms and gives them the option to pledge their vote so they receive a reminder on election day.
“There’s lots of places to look up platforms for candidates and what they’re running on, but we find that a lot of the reason that a lot of people don’t vote is because they’re just missing some of those logistical barriers,” Munday said, explaining how the organization helps young people make voting plans.
A final resource for young voters is Fair Vote Canada, a national citizens’ campaign for proportional representation.
Their website, fairvote.ca, has numerous resources to keep voters up to date on election information, including a fact checker made to evaluate claims and misconceptions.
An example of this is a section on extremists, where the organization debunks misconceptions surrounding the term. Other useful sources on the organization’s website include detailed documents on proportional representation and resources for teachers.
“What we see in a proportional system with people who feel like when they vote, that vote matters and that vote contributes to something is that people have far more of a reason to turn up at the ballot box, and that’s why we believe in proportional representation,” said Emerson Howitt, the community engagement coordinator for Fair Vote Canada.
With all these resources available to young voters, have Canada’s major political parties chosen to work with any of these organizations?
CIVIX Canada’s annual Rep Day sees Members of Parliament attend schools across Canada to hold educational
“
meetings where students can ask questions. Between 2020 and 2023, 182 members of parliament participated in 560 Rep Day meetings.
“When Rona Ambrose was the Conservative Party leader, she went to a school in Alberta. Elizabeth May from the Green Party has been to a number of schools over the years,” Allen said. “We’ve had members of all parties take part.”
When it comes to those who have collaborated with New Majority and Fair Votes Canada, results have been mixed.
New Majority has had every leader from all parties of the previous federal election send in short one-minute clips to encourage young people to vote.
“We definitely reach out to all parties,” Munday said. “We often hear lots of encouragement and support around our efforts and increasing both youth voter turnout and getting young people excited to make a plan to vote. The parties are supportive, and we also find student unions are really supportive in institutions themselves.”
Fair Votes Canada have received support from the Green Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party.
“Within the other parties, the Liberal Party is unfortunately not a big fan or proportional representation right now, but we know a lot of individual Liberal MPs are supportive of it,” Emerson said.
The Conservative party have also not given direct support, but the team at Fair Votes Canada are working to gain their support.
For those looking to volunteer with these organizations, there are numerous opportunities available.
“We are preparing for the election which might be coming in the spring. If that’s the case, we will be definitely needing help with our distribution,” Allen said.
Similarly, New Majority has volunteer and paid positions. For federal elections they have a national campaign of phone bankers, poll walkers, canvassers and relational organizers where young people are paid $150 for six hours of work.
Finally, Fair Votes Canada is looking for volunteers to get the word out about proportional representation.
With a variety of organizations and resources available to inspire young people to vote, it is more imperative than ever that they have the correct tools at their disposal to make an informed decision when voting.
Arts & Life
LIZZDREW REVIEWS
arts@thecord.ca
When all you can eat turns into all you can sleep
ANDREW
Talk about food, food and more food.
For our second annual Valentine’s Day edition of LizzDrew Take On e ‘Loo, we were in the mood for something that would give us a real challenge for our tummies — and what better way to do that than an all-you-can-eat dinner at Izakaya (although it will come up as Jinzakaya on Google).
Located by the Shoppes of Uptown Waterloo and around the corner from Waterloo Town Square at 75 King St S., lies a cute, quaint and aesthetically fancy authentic Japanese restaurant. e ambience of this restaurant will make anyone feel like they entered a bougie, upscale and stylish property that may turn o a less-than-rich university student. But fret not dear readers, although this luxurious eatery may make your pockets quiver with anticipation of the bill, it is well worth it if you are looking to splurge on your date for a special occasion or willing to pay the price for some ne eats.
Already buzzing from our pre-
meal drinks at McCabe’s (loyal readers might remember our previous review), we happily endured the 30-minute wait for a table, especially when it led us to a cozy, semi-secluded spot. Elegant dividers between the tables added just the right touch of intimacy, setting the stage for a perfect date night. Our friendly server wasted no time taking our drink orders. Andrew opted for a sapporo beer, while Lizzie went for a classic mojito. When they arrived, served in massive glass mugs that looked more like small shbowls, we were momentarily intimidated. But fear not — your devoted writers rose to
the challenge, savoring every drop like the seasoned pros we are. As any veteran to an all-you-caneat menu would know, choosing one dish was simply not an option. As we hungrily lled out our order sheet, we absently remembered that our famished stomachs may be too small to meet the demands of our eyes. To start, and to share, we ordered a miso soup and seaweed salad to prepare us for what was to come. Shortly after (and we mean short), we were consecutively served our order, including the bacon wrapped asparagus, spring rolls, calamari shrimp tempura, butter corn, pan fried strip loin
steak, beef teriyaki with rice, fried chicken wings, crabmeat tempura and salmon sashimi. Of that huge list, the beef teriyaki with rice, chicken wings and crabmeat tempura were our favourites, providing all the salty and savoury avours even the hungriest of patrons could want. Now for the real reason we went — the sushi. Because we were somewhat mindful that we couldn’t possibly eat everything this diverse menu had to o er, we chose three di erent variants of sushi rolls that came with eight pieces an order. ese were the cheese prosciutto roll, the Godzilla roll and
the Izakaya roll. With savoury and bright avours, we couldn’t have asked for a better selection of rolls. ere’s nothing bad that we can say about them. Overall, Izakaya is an amazing, yet exclusive sushi spot with enough food to put anyone (including your dear reviewers) into a deep food coma. Although it may be a little pricey, there is more than enough going for it to justify the cost. If you do end up going, tell them LizzDrew sent you.
Ratings: Ambiance: 9 out of 10
Drinks: 7 out of 10
Food: 9 out of 10
A ordability: 4 out of 10
BACHIR MILOUDI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Jinzakaya, located at 75 King St. S.
BRONTE BEHLING/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Need to get rid of the March blues? Try a DIY spicy sunshine smoothie
Let’s face it, the winter months can feel depressing. From overcast skies and below freezing temperatures to an in ux of assignments and looming midterms, it can be di cult for students to look on the bright side.
By now, the high of the holiday season has worn o and while life may not be all sunshine and rainbows, there are ways to lighten up each day.
I call this smoothie the “spicy sunshine” because it will provide a boost of vitamin D and some natural warmth that will light your inner re.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this “berry” bold bevy:
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Blender
• 1 cup of frozen strawberries
• 1⁄2 cup of frozen mangoes
• 3⁄4 cup of water
• 3⁄4 cup of orange juice
• 1⁄8 cup of fresh ginger root
• Splash of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1⁄8 teaspoon of cayenne
First, measure out your frozen fruit (strawberries and mangoes) and transfer to a blender.
From there, add equal parts water and orange juice. Feel free to use bottled juice (i.e. Tropicana) or fresh. I typically use bottled since it’s always on-hand in my house
and convenience is key.
Next, cut a couple slices of fresh ginger and add it to your smoothie base. Alternatively, you could consider using ginger powder.
In this case I would recommend using about a quarter teaspoon since ground spices are more potent.
Fresh ginger is better, and using it in this form really allows the heat to come through. Finish o your smoothie with some lemon juice for additional tartness alongside honey and cayenne pepper.
Blend contents until smooth, garnish with a fresh strawberry if desired and serve immediately. is recipe makes about two glasses worth of smoothie, so in the spirit of friendship, I suggest sharing with a friend, roommate or signi cant other. So, if you’ve taken a shine to this recipe, grab a blender, a buddy and get making.
First Contact nishes lming at Laurier
CLARA ROSE NEWS CONTRIBUTOR
Wilfrid Laurier University’s lm production club, the Filmmakers of Laurier, has just nished lming First Contact, a sci- comedy movie written, directed and created independently by Laurier students.
In production since early September, this adventurous project is currently being edited down into shape, ready for the big screen.
In January, the club spent three days lming the movie with professional-grade cameras, lighting and sound equipment.
Boosted by the talent of crew and actors, the production has fully wrapped and nished as of Feb. 2 at 1 a.m.
It will now be moving from lming to the editing stage.
With many students both behind and in front of the camera, this passion project has been a showcase of the hard work that Laurier students are known for.
“Being back on a set was nothing short of inspiring for me. Coupled with being surrounded by such hardworking individuals, First Contact was a comfortable and fun environment in which to learn and create,” said Taylor Stezinar, the lm’s director.
“Filmmaking is so rewarding spiritually, and when you meet new and amazing people every day who share your passion and eagerness to learn more about this form of storytelling, it boosts my hopes for the future of the industry,” she said.
Written by Ewan Casaletto and Avery Groves, First Contact has spent nearly a year being re ned and perfected.
Inspired by the sci- genre, the pair faced the challenge of creating a visual experience for their alien-loving audience.
With costumes designed by Arran Byrne, all elements of the lm came together to create a strong 2000s indie aesthetic.
Featuring a variety of locations, such as Princess Cafe and Lazaridis Hall, the lm invites its audience into a world full of colours and stars.
BRONTE BEHLING/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Micheal Tahirovic, the lead actor and main character of the movie, worked all three days of the production and had this to say about his experience.
“It’s my second time working with this crew and it has been a blast. e level of professionalism on set mixed with a reasonable
Being back on set was nothing short of inspiring for me. Coupled with being surrounded by such hardworking individuals, First Contact was a comfortable and fun environment.
- Taylor Stezinar, director of First Contact.
amount of goo ng o made this one of my favourite productions to work on,” Tahirovic said.
Also among the crew was producer Lauren Miatello.
She worked hard behind the scenes to make sure everything was running smoothly and within the time constraints, keeping all cast and crew on time.
“I loved producing First Contact and working with everybody on the team this year. I was immediately drawn to this project when I read the screenwriter’s script pitch last May,” Mitalleo said.
“ e story is so fun and light, and I love working on sets with a silly energy, especially when it’s many students’ rst times on set. Everyone on this team is so talented, the hard work put into this by the crew truly speaks for itself. I can’t wait for everyone to see the nal project,” she said.
Now moving onto the editing stage, Laurier students should stay tuned to be the rst to see First Contact.
Follow the club at lmmakersoaurier to hear more.
MADDIE MCGRATH ARTS & LIFE CONTRIBUTOR
Could A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms represent a legitimate heir to HBO’s Game of rones legacy?
Following the success of HBO’s Game of rones, various adaptations of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire universe have been rumoured to be in the works. e rst prequel series, House of the Dragon, premiered in August of 2022. In 2025, there will be a new series ready to stream.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on a trilogy of novellas a ectionately referred to as the Dunk and Egg stories by fans. e Dunk and Egg books follow hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his peculiar child squire, Egg.
Martin stated that his favourite stories to write in his A Song of Ice and Fire universe are the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms novellas.
e stories are reminiscent of a buddy-cop storyline with Martin’s usual A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy elements and complex storylines. ere are three novellas: “ e Hedge Knight”, “ e Sworn Sword” and “ e Mystery Knight.” e series is set to adapt one novella per season. Chronologically, the events
of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms take place about 70 years after the events of House of the Dragon and a century before Game of rones Even if you haven’t seen Game of rones, binge-watching House of the Dragon is an easy and fun way to catch up on the political history of Westeros.
If you are a superfan of Martin, you will probably know that he got his start in the lm industry as a writer and producer. He has even been credited as an executive screenwriter and producer on Game of rones, though he has made it known that he had practically no involvement in the later seasons. Regardless, this makes him a knowledgeable source to critique the screen adaptations of his work. While Martin seemed to tolerate Game of rones, he made it clear that there are many aspects of
House of the Dragon that he would change. Fans are growing frustrated as Martin appears to be xated on nitpicking House of the Dragon Recently, Martin has ranted on his blog that the show inaccurately portrays House Targaryen’s “Team Black” sigil. In the show, Team Black’s sigil shows a dragon with six legs instead of two. It is the common consensus among fans that Martin should be spending his energy nishing the books rather than blogging about smaller errors. But things have been looking upwards for defenders of Martin, as he has blogged that the new Dunk and Egg adaptation is “as faithful an adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for.”
e rst season is set to air with six episodes and will focus on the events of “ e Hedge Knight”. At the start of the rst story, the young
squire, Duncan, grapples with the loss of a mentor and the only father gure he has ever known, Ser Arlan. Aimless and out of options, Duncan travels to Ashford to compete in a tourney as a hedge knight. On his travels, he meets Egg – a strange, bald, young boy who he eventually takes on as his squire. After a serious incident, Duncan has no choice but to participate in a trial by combat.
Compared to other A Song of Ice and Fire adaptations, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has a signicantly more modest budget. Game of rones had a roughly $50 to $60 million budget for their rst season, while this number for House of the Dragon was signi cantly higher at $200 million. is was likely due to the extensive computer-generated imagery (CGI) used for the dragons. Before you start to worry
about the quality of this new adaptation, remember that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms focuses mainly on adventures, political schemes and tourney dramas.
Starring as Dunk and Egg respectively are Peter Cla ey and Dexter Sol Ansell. Cla ey is best known for his role as Dunstan in Net ix’s popular Vikings: Valhalla and has even had a part in Small ings Like ese (2024) starring Cillian Murphy. Ansell, at only 10 years old, has appeared in projects like e Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) as a young Coriolanus Snow and e Midwich Cuckoos, a John Wyndham adaptation.
Fresh o the popularity of My Lady Jane (previously endorsed by George R. R. Martin himself) and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is Henry Ashton, playing the current reigning monarch during the rst novella, King Daeron II Targaryen. Ashton has a range that translates from comic relief to twisted villain, which makes his upcoming portrayal of King Daeron a performance to look forward to.
You can stream A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO later this year. In the meantime, get ready for the series release by reading the book and catching up on both seasons of House of the Dragon
Senseless sensibilities: Making noise in KW
On Feb. 1, e Union in Kitchener played host to a noise festival called Senseless Fest, the rst of its kind put on in Kitchener-Waterloo. e one-day festival was organized by local noise musician and impresario Connor Kurtz, who performs under the name Important Hair and organizes local shows under the name Senseless Sensibilities. As a normie whose closest habitual contact with noise music is a track by Japanese pioneer Merzbow that I use to nd dropped bluetooth earbuds, sat down with Connor to learn what any of this means.
Noise music is a musical genre that eschews the formulas and rules like melody and rhythm that form the structure of every pop genre from hip-hop to country, presenting a more abstract kind of sound art intended to break barriers and re ect each individual performer in a unique way. Each performer approaches the art in distinct ways, and the lineup at Senseless Fest re ected this, showcasing a diverse range of in uences from punk and techno to sampled pop and folk music.
According to Kurtz, an unassum-
ing 30-something whose unassuming and pleasant demeanor contrasts remarkably with his chaotic live performances, the only absolute necessity is volume.
“It’s loud. After that it can kinda be whatever you want it to be,” he said.
In the early 2000s the genre hit a commercial peak in the west after heavy metal music labels started marketing noise to metalheads. With this increase in visibility came a demographic association with metalheads and the toxic masculinity that plagued metal culture at the turn of the millennium and continues to this day.
But noise music has come a long way since then. Over the last 20 years the genre has undergone a conscious decoupling with heavy metal and a migration toward closer association with underground experimental do-it-yourself communities and punk-derived genres like screamo becoming a haven for left-of-center politics and queer performers. Now, according to Kurtz, “despite the music’s reputation, it’s not really an edgy group of guys that are playing, it’s mostly a bunch of softies and nerds.”
is shift toward inclusivity and accessibility was re ected in not only performers and audience at Senseless Fest, but also the structure of the festival. Unlike something like Lollapalooza or Coachella, the whole festival took place in one day, in one room in
the suburbs of Kitchener. e last set of the day was nished before 11 p.m.
While trying to explain the culture of modern noise, Connor described an incident at a show he’d played in Toronto as a perfect metaphor for where the modern culture of noise sits.
At this show, a faux-mosh pit had broken out — instead of the violent pinwheeling, two-stepping and spin-kicking that are typically native to punk mosh pits, audience members had armed themselves with the studio venue’s pillows and spontaneously launched into a pillow ght.
Modern noise music embraces punk rock’s aggression, but dodges its most violent and toxically masculine tendencies. In practice, this means that the night passed without any disruption from drunk guys who are just looking to hit someone in the face. e festival represents a landmark in a mission that Kurtz has been pursuing for years — constructing a healthy, welcoming and self-su cient noise scene in Kitchener-Waterloo. e edgeling scene has to deal with the economic limitations of making underground music. e small size of the scene means it is di cult to nd venues; it costs money to put on shows and noise shows don’t usually make money. Because of this, most commercial venues don’t host them. e historical lack of scene in Kitchen-
er-Waterloo and the invisibility of the genre isn’t immutable; Kurtz has seen his scene evangelism over the last few years pay o in the gradual emergence of a scene in KW, evidenced by the proliferation of new acts like Septentrionel, withoutfeathers and Liral.
According to Kurtz, there’s still a long way to go.
“When I’ll really believe that a KW scene exists is when a noise show happens in Kitchener that I didn’t have any involvement with and I can go as just an audience member,” he said.
A performance at Senseless
Despite this, Kurtz remains hopeful. “I think a lot of people want to be loud and obnoxious, yknow?” he said.
ere’s an element of universal appeal to the idea of being given total freedom to let out whatever’s burdening you. As he summarized it at the end of our conversation: “Here’s me, here’s how I feel, here’s it in your face and you can’t ignore that this is how I feel.”
e full audio of the festival is now available on Senseless Sensibilities’ Bandcamp at a pay-whatyou-can rate.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SCREEN CULTURE ON YOUTUBE Title card from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 trailer.
MUSIC
NATE DAWES ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/OWEN KURTZ
Fest.
SNEH LEIGHL ARTS & LIFE CONTRIBUTOR
Seven albums to kick o your spring on the right foot
March comes with a lot of reasons to celebrate, from Mardi Gras to St. Patrick’s Day, but this year, everyone’s favourite day of March is the 20th, the rst day of spring.
After an especially cold and snowy winter, you can get ready for sunnier days with this collection of albums to start your spring right.
“Ram” – Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney (1971) is album is a testament to the pure rock musicianship of the early 1970s.
e music itself puts Paul and Linda’s relationship on display as their synergy and mutual understanding bleeds through each song to create a very unique, comfortable feeling.
You’ll feel things as you listen, but not so much that you’ll want to turn it o . It’s a very cozy listening experience.
“Flower Boy” – Tyler, e Creator (2017)
FILM RECOMMENDATIONS
Tyler, e Creator focuses this album on self-re ection.
Sometimes the best driving force for personal development is your very own car, and “Flower Boy” places the listener right in Tyler’s passenger seat.
Produced by Tyler himself and with a collection of features including Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy and Kali Uchis, the experience is guaranteed to take you through a variety of genres and emotions.
“Alligator Bites Never Heal” –Doechii (2024)
Enter spring the right way with Grammy award winner and TikTok star Doechii.
As her rst mixtape under a major label, “Alligator Bites Never Heal” guides the listener through an analysis of Doechii’s struggles on her journey to stardom.
While some of the singles were rst released as a part of her “Swamp Sessions” series, they work together as a cohesive and groovy whole.
“Songs In e Key Of Life” –Stevie Wonder (1976)
Widely regarded as one of the best albums ever made, “Songs In e Key Of Life” will make you groove, sing and ask, “Is that Gang-
sta’s Paradise?”
After almost quitting music to move to Ghana and work with children with disabilities, Wonder took two years to make this album.
When he nished, he released a masterpiece to the world full of positive vibes and social commentary.
is album is an essential piece of any record collector’s collection as well as any spring playlist.
“SEYCHELLES” – Masayoshi Takanaka (1976)
As jazz fusion was being reimagined across the water, this debut album from Masayoshi Takanaka became an example of what changing your perspective can do.
Takanaka rede nes how we listen to jazz music and essentially helps create Japan’s jazz-rock-fusion scene by making jazz universally enjoyable.
With a tropical feel, this music is designed to be moved to and forces you to at least tap your toes.
“Strange Satisfaction” – Woody and Jeremy (2020)
To summarize this album in a few words: Total and utter groove. If you want to boogie down like your grandma probably did, this is the album for you.
Woody and Jeremy paint their magnum opus with a bass guitar and a collection of friends.
Every chord, every note and every strange addition to their melodies ts e ortlessly in the puzzle of “Strange Satisfaction”. ere isn’t one note in this album that you can’t dance to.
“Giant Steps” – John Coltrane (1960)
John Coltrane is a supreme jazz icon. “Giant Steps” is a window into a time where pushing the
boundaries of jazz happened in eeting moments.
Coltrane’s improvisational skills are so strong, it was described by jazz critic Ira Gitler as “sheets of sound.”
Listeners can easily get lost in the intense power of Coltrane’s tenor saxophone lines. e album encapsulates the vibe of sitting outside on a warm spring night, listening to the sounds of the neighbourhood and watching the stars go by.
Indian cinema: A brief history and lms to watch
Just in 2024 alone, India produced over a thousand lms across 20 languages. ere were as many lms produced in the south Indian languages Tamil and Telugu as Hollywood itself in 2024.
In 2023, RRR , a Telugu lm directed by Rajamouli, also won the Oscar for Best Original Song with “Naatu Naatu.” With many Indian lms crossing borders and reaching di erent parts of the world, including Japan, China and North America, let’s take a look at the history and origins of Indian cinema. India was very much a part of the initial wave in the origins of cinema, which began in the late 1800s, with many Indian and British artists in colonial India experimenting with di erent photographic mediums. While many argue that Shree Pundalik (1912) by Dadasaheb Torane is the rst Indian lm, Raja Harishchandra (1913) by Dadasaheb Phalke takes that honor, as Phalke shot, edited and processed the entire lm in Mumbai. Shree Pundalik, however, was shot by a British cameraman and processed in London. is trend continued in south India, with the rst Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu lms being released between 1917 and 1930. Dadasaheb Phalke is also regarded as the father of Indian cinema, with the Government of India honoring
artists in his name since 1969. His role was pivotal in indigenizing lm production in India. e origins of Indian cinema are deeply rooted in musical theatre and street plays. In fact, Shree Pundalik was also a recording of a stage play, while Raja Harishchandra was a popular play adapted to lm. With many theatre artists migrating to lm media, India’s transition from the silent era was lled with loud performances, music and songs. In an interview with lm critic Baradwaj Rangan, Tamil lm director Vetrimaran recounts this history when pointing out the uniqueness of Indian cinema. He further references his experience during the Oscar campaign for his lm Visaranai (2015), where people were often perplexed by the loud emotions in the movies.
“ at’s how our people are. When someone dies, we don’t hold somber funerals; we hit our chests hard and cry out loud,” he said. is brings us to the socio-cultural context in which Indian cinema evolved.
Indian cinema, in its very origins, dealt with many regional ethnicities and issues, along with an overarching colonial trauma. Art was a tool of escapism for the masses for centuries, and the new medium of lm took that place in the 1900s. e introduction of songs and tropes such as the victory of good over evil were all part of the stories, emphasizing this aspect. e adaptation of mythology and history was also prominent, especially in the rst two decades of independent India.
Films like Mayabazar (1957), Mughal-E-Azam (1960), Pazhassi Raja (1964) and Karnan (1964) are still celebrated today. Even now, Indian cinema attempts to re ect the society around it, providing deeper insights to the masses. is was pivotal for a young, independent India in the 1950s and 1960s. For instance, some of the earliest lms produced in Bombay were about migrants and their struggles, re ecting the nature of Bombay at that time as a bustling colonial industrial city. In fact, many early workers in the lm industry were
also migrants who came to the city as textile industry workers. is extends to south Indian lms as well. Vigathakumaran, the rst Malayalam lm made in 1930 by J. C. Daniel, openly discusses caste issues plaguing colonial India. Mother India (1957) is yet another example of this trend continuing post-independence in 1947. With new technologies emerging and digital platforms making lm-watching more accessible, Indian audiences today are part of a global diaspora. e new wave of
larger-than-life pan-Indian lms, starting with the Tamil lm Enthiran in 2010, connected Indian lms to global cinematic sensibilities. For instance, the Hindi lm Dangal (2016) made a huge impact in China, while Kevin Feige, during his promotional interviews for Avengers: Endgame, spoke about how Enthiran was one of the inspirations for staging Avengers: Age of Ultron is upcoming decade will be important for Indian cinema as both technology and audiences continue to evolve.
JACK VROLYK RADIO LAURIER STATION MANAGER
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/DOECHII ON YOUTUBE e cover image of Doechii’s album “Alligator Bites Never Heal.”
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/DVV ENTERTAINMENT ON YOUTUBE Clip from RRR’s trailer.
SANTOSH CHANDRASEKAR ARTS CONTRIBUTOR
OPINION EDITOR
ABIGAIL DOMBROVSKY
opinion@thecord.ca
Laurier’s favourite holiday or by-laws’ worst nightmare?
ADAH POZZOBON OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
On March 17, the streets of Waterloo transform into a sea of green as students gather to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Wilfrid Laurier University students, along with visitors from surrounding schools, turn the city into a giant block party bringing both excitement and chaos.
While it may be the most anticipated day of the year for many students, it is a nightmare for residents and law enforcement.
Saint Patrick’s Day is meant to celebrate Irish heritage, commemorating the patron saint of Ireland and the arrival of Christianity in the country. The holiday includes cultural celebrations like parades, traditional music and family gatherings.
In Waterloo, the day has been stripped of its cultural significance and repurposed as an excuse to drink excessively and take over the city streets. This is in complete contrast to another major celebration in the region, Oktoberfest, which, while centred around alcohol, retains its cultural roots with German food, attire, music and tra-
ditions. The difference between the two highlight how Saint Patrick’s Day has largely been commercialized and reduced to little more than a massive street party.
Laurier students have long made Saint Patrick’s Day their unofficial school holiday and in recent years, the City of Waterloo has struggled to contain the event. What started as a massive gathering on Ezra Avenue eventually prompted city officials to act, fencing off the street and increasing police presence. Despite this, students quickly adapted, shifting the party to Marshall Street. This cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement
and students makes one thing clear — no matter what the city does to curb this event, Laurier students will find a way to celebrate.
The impact of the annual festivities extend beyond the student population. For Waterloo residents who are not participating, Saint Patrick’s Day is an inconvenience at best and a disruption at worst.
The streets become impassable, parking restrictions are enforced and homeowners deal with noise, litter and occasional vandalism. The city deploys extra officers and resources to maintain order, but the sheer volume of students makes it nearly impossible to con-
What’s with the theme of the 2025 Met Gala?
Regarded as the most prestigious fashion event, the Met Gala is hosted annually and will be taking place this year on May 5.
The event is a charity fundraiser for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and marks the opening of the department’s yearly fashion exhibit.
The event regularly raises eight-figure sums, with tickets priced at $75,000 each or $350,000 per table.
This means that the attendees are consistently made up of high-profile celebrities, socialites and the elite one per cent.
Many who observe the Met Gala from the outside compare the event to a dystopian spectacle — similar to seeing members of the Capitol in the Hunger Games series parade in lavish outfits. Meanwhile, the rest of us watch from the districts.
At last year’s Met Gala, model and influencer Haley Kalil faced
backlash for posting a tone-deaf TikTok video in which she quoted Marie Antoinette’s infamous phrase, “Let them eat cake,” outside the event where pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered.
Incidents like this highlight why the Met Gala leaves a bitter taste for many. The event, at its core, exhibits the extreme wealth inequality in society.
I firmly believe that celebrity worship and the idolization of figures who have the power to create real change but choose not to is a deeply ingrained issue in our society.
However, dismissing the Met Gala entirely as a pretentious and meaningless event may be an overreach.
Especially when you consider how the gala and its accompanying exhibit draw attention to topics that might not otherwise receive mainstream attention.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibit is entitled Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
The exhibition draws inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity
Black dandyism embodies
high-fashion menswear that has historically served as a form of resistance against racial, social and gender norms.
In a press release, the Met clarified that the exhibit would explore the cultural and historical evolution of the Black dandy, examining its origins in the 18th century to its modern expressions in 21st-century cosmopolitan cities.
The relevance of the 2025 cochairs was recognized following their announcement.
Along with editor-in-chief of Vogue Anna Wintour, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Colman Domingo will co-chair the event.
Lebron James has been named an honorary chair and other influential figures make up the host committee.
This includes Ayo Edebiri, Angel Reese, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sha’Carri Richardson and Spike Lee.
The Met Gala remains a paradox — both a symbol of excess extravagance and a platform for meaningful artistic and social discourse.
However, its influence in elevating cultural and historical narratives, such as the 2025 exhibit on Black dandyism, should not be overlooked.
trol every aspect of the celebration.
Perhaps the most telling aspect of Laurier’s Saint Patrick’s Day culture is how it has outgrown its origins.
It’s no longer just a student celebration — it’s a regional attraction. Students from other universities travel to Waterloo to take part in what is considered one of the biggest Saint Patrick’s Day events in Ontario. This influx of visitors only amplifies the scale of the celebration and the challenges that come with it.
So, what’s the solution? The reality is that Saint Patrick’s Day at Laurier has become an institution
in itself and despite the city’s best efforts, the tradition isn’t going anywhere. I would argue that instead of trying to suppress the event, Waterloo should embrace it and provide designated areas for celebration, like how Kitchener-Waterloo hosts Octoberfest.
Others may believe that stricter enforcement and penalties could curb the chaos. If history is any indication; students will always find a way to keep the party going.
The question remains: is there a way to balance both perspectives and will Laurier’s most famous holiday continue to be Waterloo’s annual headache?
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/LUKE SARAZIN Ezra Street sign.
MADALYN MOSTACCI
MANAGING EDITOR RYTHAM
Hollywood is continuing to bank on nostalgia
Hollywood has repeatedly recreated lms and shows in the form of sequels, such as Inside Out 2 and Moana 2, and reboots of shows like Gossip Girl, Full House and Bel-Air
ey are inescapable — each time we open Net ix or walk into a movie theatre, reboots have prime real estate.
Hollywood studios constantly pull from past successes and attempt to recreate that glory.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the nostalgia of reboots and sequels.
A sense of familiarity comes with them and there is an understanding of the story and the characters’ upcoming adventures.
Audiences have a preexisting attachment to the piece, a sense of loyalty to the characters and an openness to seeing the story from a new perspective.
Inside Out 2 does a great job of attaching past character development and approaching it through a new con ict.
It ties past character arcs while still appeasing a new audience.
Unfortunately, that example is the exception and not the rule. Nine times out of 10, sequels are a Hollywood cash grab.
ey do not add substantial value to the story world, instead tarnishing the original by contradicting character development and story arcs.
ere are examples riddled throughout romantic, coming-ofage and comedy lms.
Some examples include To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Grown Ups 2, where even though some roles are reprised, they present similar problems to the rst without bringing along the character development.
Hollywood expects past audiences to crave a sense of childhood or nostalgia and pitch reboots/ sequels to make money. A prime example is Disney’s remake of princess movies. Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and e Little Mermaid are live action versions of the original animated classics that did not need to be made.
None of these remakes added anything special or distinguishable from the original. ey in some cases destroyed the magic and whimsical nature of the worlds, such as the live action remake of Winx Club. ere was a loss of light and enchantment to
the show compared to the animated version.
ose stories already exist in animation form so why invest in creating new and unique lms that will appease today’s audiences? I believe executives do not want to risk investing money, time and e ort for it to fail. Remakes and sequels guarantee that past audiences will watch.
Even though they do not enjoy the lm, the backlash is worth the money they spend to form that opinion.
Without an initial audience, it is di cult to spark interest and create buzz around a lm. Hollywood executives are aware and prefer bad reviews over the non-existent numbers.
I am not the biggest fan of reboots because there are so many creative people ready to bring new stories to life.
Constantly being stuck in past glories will prevent beautiful storytelling. I do not mind sequels, but not every lm or TV show needs one.
Once or twice is understandable, but some lms are created to be one story.
Adding onto it destroys past storytelling. I feel there is never a shortage of ideas and creativity within Hollywood. Rather, there is an abundance of greed.
e 4 Nations face-o showcases Canadian identity
Amidst international tari s and tension, on Feb. 20, Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid scored the decisive goal for a 3-2 victory, winning Canada the 4 Nations championship and possibly initiating a convincing political push-back.
With a federal election likely coming, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation and the 47th President Donald Trump’s orders
for full Canadian dependence, Canada’s victory is more than simply confetti and cheers.
Instead, it marks a change in perspective - a shift towards unity not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
From coast to coast and community to community, Canadian fans were huddled tight around each other, cheering in elation after McDavid’s shot zipped past US goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
“ at American team is as solid as you’re going to nd. ey’re solid all around, but we just found a way in a tough building just to get it done,” said McDavid in an interview following the game.
ousands cheered with an even more incisive frenzy displayed on
social media after the game had ended.
Canadian corporations like Canadian Tire joined in on the momentous victory.
HockeyCanada’s Instagram posted with the caption “O CANADA” to which Canadian Tire’s Instagram account, @canadiantire replied “Can’t beat us at OUR game.” ese passionate Canadian responses run deeper, marking not only a pushback to Donald Trump’s trade war threats and 51st state rhetoric, but a spark of Canadian nationalism that has been internationally unclear for a long time.
University of Toronto political analyst Robert Schertzer commented on the topic: “People often
remark that Canada has no real national identity. at we are simply not American, or that we are so fragmented by regional identities that we have no shared sense of being one community,” he said. is statement stems from an observation of how, for a signicant amount of time, the diverse identities in Canada have blurred into an unclear national identity. is poses questions such as “how exactly are Canadians together?” and “what commonalties do all Canadians share?” While tempting, this unfortunately common perspective fails to acknowledge how Canadians have managed to progress forward and reconcile di erent worldviews
despite these competing nationalities.
With a multicultural vision in uencing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to making progress towards reconciling a dark Indigenous past, Canadians have found ways to protect and respect the diverse cultures that its citizens are composed of. In doing so, the country has been able to form a unique identity of its own.
is unique identity was on full display on Feb. 20.
It’s fair to say that aside from the broken beer glasses and the eruptive celebrations, a key takeaway from the game can signify one thing— the restoration of Canadian unity.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/CLAUDIO SCHWARZ Hockey game.
BRONTE BEHLING/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
WINTANA OKBAMARIAM AFEWORKI OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
OJUS RAWAL OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Laurier seniors re ect on legacy after Senior’s Day loss
e Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks women’s basketball team fell 72-63 to the University of Guelph Gryphons on Senior Day, Feb. 8, at home.
Guelph took control early, outscoring Laurier 28-14 in the rst quarter and extending their lead to as much as 18 points in the second. Laurier struggled to contest perimeter shots, allowing four wide-open three-pointers in the opening quarter. Guelph capitalized, shooting 52.6 per cent from the eld and converting four of ve free throws.
Laurier battled back, outscoring Guelph by seven in the second and third. Laurier brie y led in the third before Guelph took over. Laurier remained within striking distance in the fourth, keeping the de cit between ve and 10 points throughout the fourth, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Fifth-year guard and child studies major Renee Armstrong led Guelph’s o ense, nishing with a
MEN’S BASKETBALL
game-high 23 points, ve assists and seven rebounds. She shot 9-15, hit three threes and grabbed four steals. ird-year guard and sports management major Hannah Bourbon contributed a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 40 per cent from three and 83 per cent from the freethrow line.
Laurier shot 39.1 per cent from three but attempted 10 fewer than Guelph, who defended the perimeter well, while the Golden Hawks struggled to close out on outside shooters. A more aggressive threepoint approach might have shifted the game in Laurier’s favor.
Despite the loss, standout performances emerged.
Fifth-year guard and perennial Ontario University Athletics AllStar Cassidy Hirtle, an economics major, led the Golden Hawks with 21 points while shooting 3-6 from three.
ird-year forward and biology major Kate White, who has made 142 career threes, recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 4-10 from beyond the arc.
Fifth-year guard and business major Miranda Campbell, despite being limited to 20 minutes due to foul trouble, played a key facilitating role in the second half. She had
three assists and key passes that spread the oor.
After the game, Laurier’s seniors re ected on their time with the program. ree-time U SPORTS
Academic All-Canadian Miranda Campbell spoke about how her years at Laurier shaped her both on and o the court.
“I had such an amazing experience at Laurier. I didn’t really know what to expect coming in, but I
ended up meeting some of my best friends — something I will cherish for the rest of my life. We had so much fun, whether it was practices, away tournaments or games. It was always a great group of girls every year and that made everything so much better,” she said. Campbell also emphasized the bond she shares with her fellow seniors as they wrap up their careers together.
“When I rst came in, there weren’t many vets, so we had an opportunity to help shape the culture of the team. Now, we’re seeing the bene ts of what we built,” Campbell said. “I’m going to miss all of them a lot. ey’re some amazing, amazing people.” Laurier secured a playo spot but saw their season end in the OUA First Round, falling to Guelph 71-56.
Golden Hawks miss playo s, special guest attends game
e Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks men’s basketball team fell short on Senior Day, losing 78-70 at home against the University of Guelph Gryphons on Feb. 8.
Guelph led throughout, extending their advantage to 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Turnovers plagued both teams, totaling 43, but resulted in just 37 points — only a quarter of the game’s total scoring.
Defensive intensity remained high, with 25 steals combined. Laurier’s star guard Taye Donald, a fourth-year arts major, led with four steals.
Shooting woes plagued the Golden Hawks, who managed just 37.5 per cent from the eld and 25 per cent from beyond the arc.
One bright spot was rst-year political science student and guard Nathan Vergin, who shot an ecient 5-for-8 and converted all four of his free throws.
Despite the loss, Laurier’s seniors re ected on their journey. Donald shared his path to Laurier.
“It’s been crazy. I started in
Golden Hawks vs. Gryphons on Feb. 8.
season was the lack of big-guard cohesion.
e team boasts two talented veterans: 2023-24 U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian Taye Donald and January 2024 Laurier Athlete of the Week Ethan Passley.
However, both guards are ball-dominant scorers, which is hindered by pick-and-roll bigs that lack stretchability.
Another challenge was rebuilding team culture after the departures of key Laurier players and Serresse.
Under interim coach Cavell Johnson, newcomers are still adjusting to a veteran-led program.
Despite this, ashes of potential emerged.
Nathan Vergin made a name for himself after dropping 30 points against Windsor in January and being named Laurier Athlete of the Week that same month.
Junior College in Kansas, but it wasn’t what I expected. I reached out to Windsor, but it didn’t feel right. en, Justin Serresse messaged me. When I visited Laurier, I joked, ‘So, Windsor told you I’m coming back to Canada?’ He said, ‘Nah, man. I was just checking up on you.’ Since then, Laurier has taken me in as their own.”
A familiar face was in the crowd
for Senior Day — former head coach Justin Serresse, who led Laurier from 2016 until 2024 before joining Raptors 905 as an assistant coach.
Watching his former players brought back memories and reinforced his coaching philosophy.
“I am big on mentorship and transformational leadership. For me, it’s all about seeing those guys
evolve,” he said. “ e fact that I was able to get an opportunity for my own career to grow resonated well with them. And by coming out here and watching them, that’s all I’m doing.”
Laurier ended the season 9-13, tied with two teams for the nal two playo spots but fell short of a postseason berth.
One problem Laurier faced this
Another standout was rst-year guard Aiden Whalen, who averaged 10 points and ve rebounds while shooting 38 per cent from three and 80 per cent from the freethrow line.
His best performance was on Valentines Day against Windsor, recording 23 points and 11 rebounds on highly e cient shooting splits of 54/60/100.
Looking ahead, Donald had a message for the young group.
“Just be true to yourself, and the basketball gods will pay you.”
BIRNAVAN VARNACUMAARAN/SPORTS EDITOR Laurier women’s basketball team on Jan. 13.
BIRNAVAN VARNACUMAARAN/SPORTS EDITOR
BIRNAVAN VARNACUMAARAN SPORTS EDITOR
BIRNAVAN VARNACUMAARAN SPORTS EDITOR
Golden Hawks dominate Carleton Ravens with 5-0 victory
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women’s ice hockey team delivered a commanding performance on Feb. 8, securing a decisive 5-0 victory over the Carleton University Ravens at home.
This marked Laurier’s third consecutive shutout, showcasing both offensive depth and defensive discipline.
With this win, the Golden Hawks completed a series sweep over Carleton and solidified their position in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings as they prepare for a critical matchup against the Nipissing University Lakers.
The opening period was a tightly contested battle, with both teams struggling to generate sustained offensive pressure.
Laurier’s breakthrough came midway through the period during a power play, as second-year business student Ella Jackson capitalized on a net-front scramble to open the scoring. Just under two minutes later, fourth-year criminology student and captain Hayley Szymanowski doubled the lead with a precise wrist shot off a feed
MEN’S HOCKEY
from third-year economics major Kylie Laliberte, who orchestrated an end-to-end rush.
The Golden Hawks entered the first intermission with a 2-0 advantage, setting the tone for their relentless play.
Laurier’s dominance continued in the second period, highlighted by a stifling penalty kill and aggressive forechecking that limited Carleton’s opportunities.
Midway through the frame, second-year kinesiology student and defenseman Kamryn Szumlinski notched her first goal of the season, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Golden Hawks’ defense, anchored by rookie goaltender Sarah Howell, maintained composure under pressure, denying Carleton any sustained momentum. Howell’s poised performance included several key saves, preserving her shutout streak.
The final period saw Laurier amplify their offensive output while maintaining defensive rigidity.
Jackson netted her second goal of the night, deking past a defender before roofing a backhand shot.
First-year health sciences student and forward Marieve Roussel then scored her inaugural OUA goal, picking the corner after regaining possession.
Carleton resorted to dump-andchase tactics but could not solve Howell, who turned aside all 30 shots for her fourth shutout of the
season.
The game underscored Laurier’s balanced attack, with veterans and newcomers alike stepping up. Szymanowski’s leadership shone through her timely scoring and playmaking, while Jackson’s twogoal performance reinforced her role as a clutch offensive threat.
Rookies Szumlinski, Roussel and Howell demonstrated the program’s depth, with Howell earning praise for her composure from
head coach Kelly Paton.
“Sarah’s composure under pressure has been instrumental,” Paton said. “Her ability to read plays and communicate with the defense sets the foundation for our success.”
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Paton emphasized areas for improvement, particularly in physical battles.
“We addressed the need to ramp up our battle level post-game,” she said. “Against top teams like
Nipissing, simplicity and quick decision-making will be critical.”
The Golden Hawks face a quick turnaround against the east-leading Nipissing Lakers, a matchup that will test their ability to execute under playoff-like intensity. This victory reinforces Laurier’s status as a contender and highlights the program’s ability to develop talent across all roster positions, a formula that could prove decisive in the playoffs.
Looking back at the 2024-25 men’s hockey season
The Wilfrid Laurier University men’s hockey team may not have impressed on paper this season, but a deeper look beyond the stats reveals a story of resilience, grit and moments that couldn't be captured in the numbers. Throughout the season, we saw some improvement and some great performances from players such as second-year business
student Thomas Lenart, who led the team in points with a total of 17 points in 28 games.
The team was strong offensively, only seeming to struggle with defense. Callum Chisholm, a second-year kinesiology student, commented on the team's strengths following their game against the University of Guelph Gryphons on Jan. 18.
“Once we get in the other team’s zone, we do pretty good. I think we just have to do a better job defending, transitioning and getting it there,” Chisholm said.
Despite defensive struggles, the team's goaltending was strong. All four of the teams’ goaltenders finished the season with save
percentages above 80 per cent, with rookie goaltenders Tristan Malboeuf and Paris O’Brien both finishing above 90 per cent.
The team was largely made up of younger athletes, which put the Golden Hawks at a slight disadvantage compared to those with a more experienced team. But that didn’t stop the Hawks from working hard to develop their personnel and learn from every game.
“We’re building,” said first-year arts student Brendan Anderson, following their game against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Nov. 10. “We’re getting better every day, and we just have to keep trying to get better and better.”
Although the Golden Hawks only secured two wins after the winter break, their close-scoring games showcased a noticeable improvement in performance, proving they were playing with greater strength and determination compared to before. The Senior Night game against the University of Windsor Lancers on Feb. 15 had an unfortunate ending, with a final score of 6-4 in favor of the Lancers. But that didn’t stop the Golden Hawks from having a good game to honor the graduating athletes.
The senior athletes mentioned at this game included fourth-year arts student and team captain Patrick Brown, fourth-year arts student and assistant captain Sam Rhodes,
fourth-year arts student Evan Benwell, fourth-year business student Tyler Davis and fourth-year economics major and goaltender Stephen Giansante.
The loss of these players leaves a big gap to fill for the next season, but it also presents an opportunity for younger players to rise and take on more significant roles in the team. While the 2024-25 Wilfrid Laurier men’s hockey season may not have been successful in terms of wins and statistics, it showed promise for the future.
If they continue to work hard during the off-season and build on their experiences, the Golden Hawks could come back stronger and more competitive next season.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/GARRISON OOSTERHOF Laurier women's hockey team.
JASMINE ABEL/SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR Men's hockey vs. Guelph Gryphons on Jan.18.
HADIYAH ABEDIN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
JASMINE ABEL SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
MONDAYS - THURSDAYS
6 a.m. - 11 p.m.
FRIDAYS
6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
SATURDAYS
8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
SUNDAYS
8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
RESULTS
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 2025
Women’s Curling vs Laurentian 12:30 p.m.
Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Sudbury
L 3-5
Women’s Basketball at Waterloo
6 p.m. PAC Gym, Waterloo
L 58-66
Men’s Ice Hockey at TMU
6:15 p.m.
Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto
L 2-8
Women’s Ice Hockey vs York
7 p.m.
Sun Life Financial Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex
L 1-2
Women’s Curling vs Western 7:30 p.m.
Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Sudbury W 14-2
Men’s Basketball at Waterloo
8 p.m.
PAC Gym, Waterloo W 63-51
SUNDAY, FEB. 2, 2025
Women’s Curling vs Brock
9 a.m.
Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Sudbury W 6-4
Women’s Curling vs Queen’s 12:30 p.m.
Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Sudbury W 9-3
Women’s Curling vs McMaster
4 p.m.
Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Sudbury
L 3-5
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5, 2025
Women’s Basketball at Guelph
6 p.m.
Guelph Gryphon Athletic Centre, Guelph W 63-52
Men’s Basketball at Guelph
8 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEB. 13, 2025
Women’s Ice Hockey at Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Varsity Centre, Toronto W 4-2
FRIDAY, FEB. 14, 2025
Women’s Basketball at Windsor
6 p.m.
Toldo Lancer Centre, Windsor L 64-71
Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre, Guelph L 79-89
FRIDAY, FEB. 7, 2025
Men’s Curling vs Toronto
8 a.m.
Galt Country Club, Cambridge W 6-3
Swimming vs OUA Championships
10 a.m.
Pan Am Center, Markham
Men’s Curling vs Carleton 4 p.m.
Galt Country Club, Cambridge L 4-6
Women’s Ice Hockey vs Carleton 7 p.m.
Sun Life Financial Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex W 5-0
SATURDAY, FEB. 8, 2025
Swimming vs OUA Championships
10 a.m.
Pan Am Center, Markham
Men’s Curling vs McMaster 9:00 a.m.
Galt Country Club, Cambridge W 10-3
Women’s Basketball vs Guelph 1 p.m.
Athletic Complex Gym, Waterloo L 63-72
Men’s Basketball vs Guelph 3 p.m.
Athletic Complex Gym, Waterloo L 70-78
Women’s Ice Hockey vs Nipissing 3:30 p.m.
Sun Life Financial Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex W 2-1
Men’s Curling vs Windsor 4 p.m.
Galt Country Club, Cambridge W 10-3
SUNDAY, FEB. 9, 2025
Swimming vs OUA Championships 10 a.m.
Pan Am Center, Markham
Men’s Curling vs Queen’s 9 a.m.
Galt Country Club, Cambridge W 4-3
Men’s Curling vs Brock 12:30 p.m.
Galt Country Club, Cambridge W 8-7
Men’s Ice Hockey at Western 3 p.m. ompson Arena, London L 2-4
Men’s Curling vs Carleton 5 p.m.
Galt Country Club, Cambridge L 5-8 ATHLETIC COMPLEX
Men’s Ice Hockey vs Carleton
7 p.m.
Sun Life Financial Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex W 7-6
Men’s Basketball at Windsor 8 p.m.
Toldo Lancer Centre, Windsor L 69-75
SATURDAY, FEB. 15, 2025
Women’s Ice Hockey vs TMU
3 p.m.
Sun Life Financial Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex L 2-3
Women’s Basketball at Western 6 p.m. Alumni Hall, London L 63-74
Men’s Ice Hockey vs Windsor 7 p.m.
Sun Life Financial Arena, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex L 4-6
Men’s Basketball at Western 8 p.m. Alumni Hall, London