No 11
FEB. 25
MAR. 10
Vol 46
NAV I GATOR VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRESS
FREE
11
19
14
A NATURAL INDULGENCE: FROM TEAT TO TREAT
MINOR HOCKEY LEAGUES PENALIZE PARENTS FOR UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
UNDER THE SKIN OF JULIE DIVES
Tucked away on a rural property just off the highway in Fanny Bay, Karen Fouracre and Jaki Ayton raise a rambunctious and joyful group of Toggenburg goats.
The Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association has started banning abusive spectators from minor hockey games.
The artist’s upcoming exhibition, Mementos, will present an array of mixed-media sculptures, etchings, and wood burnings with animal motifs and the unifying theme of memento mori.
Contents
NEWS
04
05
06
07
Editorials
VIU Theatre: A Servant of Two Masters
Nanaimo-Ladysmith NDP address environmental plans
Upcoming Portal reading at Zocalo Café
Annual Seedy Sunday
Christy Clark’s balanced budget lends no relief to BC students
UFO Day and Islands Short Fiction Contest
08
09
10
11
12
Bill H-51
Museum news: The gray whale
Art and activism
A natural indulgence: From teat to treat
Wide awake and sleeping
FEATURES
The long commute: Culture shock
A natural indulgence
Point of VIU
ARTS
14
15
16
17
18
Under the skin of Julie Dives
Essential viewing: Man on Wire (2008)
Movie review: The Theory of Everything
Movie review: Inherent Vice
Student Affairs
19
20
21
22
Minor hockey leagues penalize parents for unsportmanlike conduct
Men’s basketball dominates home finale
Women’s basketball powered by comeback victory
Odds and Ends Comics
Women’s volleyball rolling into Provincials
Buccaneers returning home in search of win
SPORTS
Men’s volleyball finishes season in third place
Clippers clinch Island Division, await playoffs
02 CONTENTS
THE NAVIGATOR
No 11
Letters
We are hiring for next year! CALL FOR RESUMES Now accepting resumes for the September 2015 through April 2016 school year. Deadline: Wednesday, February 25, 11:59 pm. • Please submit resumes to The Navigator office, bldg 193, rm 217, or email <editor@thenav.ca> • The Navigator offers unparalleled work experience for students, a casual yet professional office environment, only two scheduled shifts per month, good times, and regular salary paycheques. • For more information, call 250-753-2225 or email <editor@thenav.ca>
Managing Editor
Supervises and organizes the overall production of the newspaper from start to finish; writes one editorial per issue; approves final pages before they go to the printer; meets with the business manager to keep informed of the financial situation of paper and participates in financial planning; accepts responsibility, in consultation with the business manager, for any administrative duties that may come up in the general running of The Navigator office (letters, responses to phone calls, etc.); reports to the Board of Directors on production and personnel issues, and assists in the development of policies and procedures; participates in the Hiring Committee; and resolves conflicts that may arise in the office.
Associate Editor
Assumes editorial responsibility for the features section (six pages); writes one editorial per issue; takes on the responsibilities of the managing editor when required; participates in copy editing for all sections and helps enter editorial changes on production weekend; participates in layout and assembly during production week; calculates and presents an expense report to the business manager or bookkeeper detailing contributor payments for each issue.
News Editor
Assumes editorial responsibility for the news section (four pages); arranges for contributions, seeks out stories on campus that are timely and relevant to the student population of VIU, and edits submissions; monitors the editorial process for the news section and approves pages; gives approved pages to managing editor for final review; participates in copy editing for all sections and helps enter editorial changes on production weekend.
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Assumes editorial responsibility for the A&E section (five pages); arranges for contributions, writes reviews and features, and edits A&E submissions; monitors the editorial process for the A&E section and approves pages; gives approved pages to managing editor for final review; participates in copy editing for all sections and helps enter editorial changes on production weekend; and maintains the events calendar.
Assumes responsibility for the sports section (three pages); arranges for contributions, writes content for section, and edits submissions; and participates in copy editing for all sections and helps enter editorial changes on production weekend.
Production Manager
Oversees the process of organizing the paper for production; in case of illness of either the managing editor or the associate editor, the production editor fills in; schedules, co-ordinates, and tracks copy through the editorial and proofing process; using the Chicago Manual of Style, the Canadian Press Style Book, and CP Caps and Spelling as a guide, the production manager prepares editorial style sheets that outline house preferences regarding numbering, punctuation, spelling, and other text elements; works with copy editors to edit contributors’ work during production week.
Copy Editors
Assists the production manager during production week; edits contributors’ work for spelling, grammar, house style, content, and format; does fact checking as necessary; enters changes to text and saves the edited versions to the network files; proofs copy on production weekend; and checks copy for format and any errors.
Web Editor
Provides existing website with a fresh new look at the beginning of every volume; moves all articles from the print edition to the website between the time the paper is finalized (Sunday) and the time it meets the public (Wednesday); demonstrates above-average computing and communication skills; and possesses technical computer skills and can assist with troubleshooting, computer training, and maintenance of office computers.
Ad Sales Representatives
Sells ads and meets sales goals under direction of business manager; seeks out new clients; makes sure each client is on the master ad list for each paper requested with the correct size and price for invoicing; possesses excellent time management skills and is selfmotivated; contacts clients far enough in advance so deadlines can be met, and be paces themselves in order to provide quality client service; passes on information and materials from clients concerning ads to graphics staff and directs construction of the ads; and sends proofs of the ads to the advertisers for confirmation.
All submissions must be original work of the author. Editors reserve the right to refuse submissions, and to edit for space or clarity.
CONTRIBUTORS Sebastian Barkovic Stephanie Brown Sacia Burton Jennifer Cox Jay Feaver Bertie Gregory Jon Hiebert Iona Kearns Michael Olson Michi Main James MacKinnon Drew McLachlan Chantelle Spicer Glenda Stroomer Spencer Wilson
No 11
Produces, or supervises the production of, all graphics/ photos/illustrations that appear in the paper; designs, in consultation with the managing editor, the graphic elements of the newspaper and any signage or promotional material for the newspaper; supervises the layout of all articles in the paper; and trains and supervises the graphic assistants.
Graphic Design Assistant
Sports Editor
• To submit, visit <www.thenav.ca> or email <editor@thenav.ca>.
Art Director
Works with the business manager on the production of ads for clients and assists art director when required.
Social Media Manager
Ensures Facebook and Twitter are constantly being updated and finds related work and media from other presses to retweet and connect with; works with web editor to make sure related new media is being included with the articles (links, related videos); plays an avid role in connecting The Navigator with student paper resources, such as Canadian University Press (CUP), Canadian Writer’s Association (CWA), and Free Media; and proficient in Wordpress administration, Google Analytics, and other tracking mechanisms to calculate ROI of advertisement budget.
Multimedia Producer
Has strong video shooting and editing skills; produces fresh, new media for the web, including audio interviews, video street surveys, and entertaining short videos; and works with the section editors to provide video coverage for their stories.
Online Reporter
Responsible for making sure content is frequently going up online so we can have timely, relevant news content going up as it happens; reports, edits, and uploads stories from Nanaimo’s community and VIU campus as they break; stories will be short and succinct and can cover any subject (news, sports, arts, and features); has basic editing and Wordpress skills to copy edit and upload their own stories.
www. thenav .ca
THE NAVIGATOR WELCOMES READER CONTRIBUTIONS
Letters to the editor should be no more than 400 words in length. The Navigator does not pay for letters. Opinions expressed in The Navigator are expressly those of the author and/or artist and do not reflect the views of The Navigator staff.
900 Fifth St. Bldg 193, rm 217 Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5 T: 250-753-2225 F: 250-753-2257
STAFF
Leah Myers Editor-in-Chief
Natalie Gates News Editor
Jessica Reid Graphic Designer
Molly Barrieau Online Reporter
Lynne Williams Bookkeeper
Rio Trenaman Art Director
Ben Chessor Sports Editor
Dahlia Yuen Graphic Designer
Brendan Barlow Social Media Sp.
Christine Franic Business Manager
Alexandria Stuart Associate Editor
Kelly Whiteside Production Manager
Shaina Bolduc Ad/Sales Rep
Antony Stevens Web Editor
Gareth Boyce Board President
Denisa Kraus Arts Editor
Molly Barrieau Senior Copy Editor
Gabby Flemming Ad/Sales Rep
Elissa Doerksen Multimedia Prod.
THE NAVIGATOR
LETTERS 03
Editorials
Eat veggies and be merry Leah Myers Editor-in-chief The Navigator Sometimes you just need a reminder to eat your greens, especially when living the student life. It’s easy for junk food to slip from the occasional snack to a diet staple. My personal, latest reminder was just before the New Year, when I was invited to my first vegan potluck. When my boyfriend and I first arrived at the potluck, we set our dish down and waited for others to arrive with theirs. The host, a raw, nut-free, seed-free vegan suggested we all bring a list of ingredients, because even though all dishes were vegan, attendees might have other dietary requirements. I was determined to make something that she could eat, so I made a finger hors d’oeuvre: zucchini discs topped with guacamole, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and spices. Other delicious vegan dishes included a spicy thai marinated kale
salad, piggies in a blanket with veggie hotdogs, chickpea curry with basmati rice, and strawberry energy balls for dessert. I learned some new recipes, and tried new foods, like persimmons, which are a wonderfully sweet treat when they’re nice and ripe. Like most niche subgroups, this group of mostly strangers were thrilled to be introduced to like-minded people. The atmosphere during the event was of pleasant discovery and discussion, and whether they adopted the vegan lifestyle for cultural, religious, ethical, or health reasons, they were all equally passionate about the diet choice. And veganism is a substantial lifestyle choice—something that affects you everyday. My boyfriend and I were the only non-vegans at the event, but of course we were equally as happy to eat the delicious array of treats. The vegan guests were happy to enlighten outsiders about their lifestyle. And even though I wasn’t really there for work, that’s any journalist’s happiest situation. During our stay, there were only a couple incidents where it felt like I was trying to be converted to veganism, or judged for not being one, but, as a general rule, if you’re going to step into someone else’s lifestyle or culture, you have to be open-minded. You need to have a good sense of humour and roll with the punches, and you have to be open
to criticism. It’s really the only way you’ll learn. Since the potluck, I’ve been inspired to eat more fruit and vegetables, and to keep striving to make healthier decisions. I recently splurged and purchased this wonderful kitchen appliance called a spiralizer, which cuts vegetables into pasta-like noodles. Now my go-to recipe website is <inspiralized. com>, a food blog dedicated solely to spiralizer-inspired recipes. This just goes to show how there are resources out there for whatever specialized diet fits your wants and needs. So, boys and girls, fruit and vegetables are on your plate— eat them? I want you to be happy and healthy. I don’t want you to struggle through sugar crashes and root canals. And for myself, I want better food to be available in restaurants, schools, and supermarkets, and that will only happen if together we raise our food standards. I want our kids to be educated about food and learn healthy cooking in school, and that will only happen if we raise our voices. And contrary to what many junk-foodies believe: eating well is not complicated, and a frozen pizza is not cheaper than a bundle of carrots. And if you need a bit of inspiration to get going, try attending a vegan potluck, joining a health-conscious cooking class, or even just taking a stroll down the produce aisle and picking up a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried before. You just might like it.
An Empire by any other name Alexandria Stuart Associate Editor The Navigator
Every year, as we approach Victoria Day weekend, the debate about Empire Days rears its ugly head. And it is ugly; even the most closeted racist reveals themselves by refusing to acknowledge that the word “Empire” is loaded with meaning, and damaging to the spirits of those that were here before the British forced colonization upon them. This year’s foofaraw is particularly heated because the Nanaimo Empire Days Celebration Society’s (NEDCS) grant funding from the City was called into question. Words are important. Words have power. Celebrating Empire Days is tantamount to celebrating the devastation that continues to haunt First Peoples here generations later. The word “Empire” has power and history and comes with a lot of bad feelings. Celebrations of Queen Victoria’s birth have been ongoing in Nanaimo since 1863. According to the NEDCS website, the society, “Founded to celebrate Queen Victoria’s birth-
day on May 24, [it] has become an organization of citizens concerned with the heritage of Nanaimo and the future of its young people.” Interestingly, the term “Empire” doesn’t appear anywhere on the site, except in their name, of course. But here’s the thing: as the power of the Empire, seated in the United Kingdom, waned they thought it prudent to drop the word “Empire” from their celebrations. They adopted the more inclusive term, “Commonwealth,” without any apparent loss of heritage or history. That was in 1958. If the Brits don’t think celebrating “Empire” is a great idea anymore (and they haven’t for a long time) who are we, humble Nanaimo, to push the point? NEDCS actually registered their non-profit society in 1965, seven years after the UK moved past the word “Empire.” Really, Nanaimo? So special, are we? From the outside, NEDCS seems to be ruled by antiquated thinkers who have dug in their heels and refused to acknowledge that “Empire” is not “just” a word, that words that were okay in the past aren’t okay today. People have said that a name change would erase 140 years of history. I don’t see that the UK lost any of its history when it changed to “Commonwealth Days.” And I’m not so sure that this history could be so easily erased anyway—it has left deep scars. This history of colonization and subjugation by the British Empire isn’t going to be forgotten any time soon. If “Empire” is just a word, then why fight so hard to keep it? (This is the local peanut gallery’s primary argument.) Obviously it has a deep emotional meaning for proponents
for the NEDCS who recently voted 14-3 in favour of keeping their name, even though it means they won’t receive much-needed grant funding from the City to run the event. At press time, the NEDCS executive and board was recommending that the membership vote to cancel this year’s event, but that meeting date was unconfirmed. These people are so principled, so offended, that they’d rather see the event die than accept change. It has also been said that the Society feels bullied by City Council for withholding the grant funding. Want to talk about the power of words? The word “bullied” is pretty loaded itself, and its wanton use here reveals some inconsistencies in the thinking of society members who aren’t, it turns out, particularly thoughtful about the language they use. There’s an irony here that we’ll save for another day. Back to the money. It should be said that Empire Days hasn’t sat well with a lot of people in town for a long time, and our newly elected City Council chose, finally, to take a stand. Continuing financial support of NEDCS is tantamount to approval, and it turns out the majority of the current Council are unwilling to continue supporting a celebration of “Empire.” Nonprofit organizations of all kinds are welcomed to apply for grant funding from the City—free money—each year to ease the burden of carrying out their work. The City determines who will receive that funding. Let’s be clear: the City is not withholding the NEDCS’ funding—it wasn’t theirs in the first place.
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04 EDITORIALS
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No 11
News
VIU Theatre: A Servant of Two Masters
Tom Favreau in rehearsal for VIU’s spring play. NATALIE GATES
Photo courtesy Natalie Gates
Photo courtesy Natalie Gates
The student actors rehearsing their lines, preparing for the March 5 debut show.
THE NAVIGATOR
The theatre department is taking on a modernized version of an Italian commedia dell’arte play, A Servant of Two Masters, for its spring production. Commedia dell’arte is a form of Italian comedy that originated in the 16th century and was characterized by masked characters. But the department’s version has been modified by losing the masks, and adding more modern elements. The play’s director, Ross Desprez, found a formal English translation of the original Italian script and re-wrote it into more modern, conversational language. The play is a take on an old-fashioned farce with lots of bright costumes and a
cartoon-y, colourful set, assistant director Belle Warner said. The actors have worked hard since the beginning of February, building sets themselves and rehearsing regularly. They have also coordinated with some professionals in the production of the play. “We get to work with tech and lighting people, as well as a costume designer,” Warner said. “That’s a good experience to have.” Public Relations Officer Liz Kraft gives a synopsis of the play: “Clarice’s dream of marrying her true love is shattered when the man she was originally promised to seemingly
returns from the dead. What no one realizes is that the returned fiancé, Federigo, is actually his sister Beatrice in disguise. Beatrice’s plans work well until her sneaky servant, the trickster Truffaldino, signs on to serve two masters in the hope of double wages and double dinners. Chaos and hilarity ensue.” “I believe this play is so attractive because it holds a little bit of something for everyone,” Kraft said. “There is slapstick humour, and academic humour intertwined.” The show runs from March 5-14 at the Malsapina Theatre. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, and $12 for adults.
Annual Seedy Sunday NATALIE GATES
THE NAVIGATOR
The annual seed exchange event, Seedy Sunday, will provide education and activities to the public about organic seeds and sustainable communities on March 1. “People get to exchange organic seeds instead of going to the store to buy them,” coordinator Glenda Stroomer said. “The seed swap is the core event, but we also have local vendors.” The 65 vendors will be selling organic seeds, plants, herbs, fertilizers, bee houses, rain barrels, and other tools. In addition, there will be an activity centre for children put on by the NS3 Science on the Move fair, as well as six educational workshops that will focus on home gardening, local agriculture, and sustainable practices which do not rely on the use of toxic chemicals. “We will also have some master gardeners there to answer questions,” Stroomer said. Seedy Sunday is put on by the Nanaimo Foodshare Society and the Nanaimo Community Garden Society, and has traditionally taken place on the first Sunday of every March for the past 11 or 12 years, Stroomer said. Admission is $3. The event will take place at Nanaimo District Secondary on March 1 10 am – 3 pm. Attendees should be sure to bring their own well-marked seeds to trade at the seed exchange table. There is still space for additional vendors; contact <seedysunday@shaw.ca> if you are interested in participating as a vendor or have any further questions.
No 11
A child participates in last year’s Seedy Sunday festivities.
THE NAVIGATOR
Photo courtesy Glenda Stroomer
NEWS 05
Nanaimo-Ladysmith NDP address environmental plans NATALIE GATES NDP Deputy Leader and Environment Critic Megan Leslie and Nanaimo-Ladysmith NDP candidate Sheila Malcolmson spoke about the party’s environmental initiatives at a town hall event on February 16. “NDP is the only party that has a bill to meet greenhouse gas emission targets and the only party recognized by the House of Commons that is committed to putting a price on carbon,” Leslie said. In 2011, the NDP became the official opposition party with a proposition that promotes the Environment Assessment Act. According to Leslie, the Act aims to protect sustainability across Canada by ensuring projects avoid major environmental harms, to encourage cooperation between federal and provincial governments with respect to environmental assessments, and to ensure timely and thorough environmental assessments. A trigger system, where assessments occur when an environmental concern arises, is no longer in place in Canada, Leslie said. Instead, there is now a list of things (bodies of water, fish species, etc.) that are protected. This list can be changed by Cabinet. “Many things aren’t on the list,” said Leslie. For example, there have been changes to navigable water laws. “The list of water protected used to protect everything that could
THE NAVIGATOR
Sheila Malcolmson and Megan Leslie at the February 16 town hall event. float a canoe,” Leslie said. “Now, 99.9 percent of rivers and lakes in Canada are not protected.” Leslie also stated that changes in budgets have heavily reduced the amount of environment checks per year. She then stated that Canada can have a successful economy while still being sustainable. “There are more jobs in green energy sectors than oil sands,” she
said. “Why are we making these investments into oil sands but not into green strategies?” Leslie also addressed the NDP’s belief that there should be carbon pricing that uses a cap and trade mechanism. This means there is a guaranteed legal limit on the quantity of carbon Canada can emit each year, Leslie said. “This will ensure justice, both
Photo courtesy of Natalie Gates
social and economic,” she said. “We would then take revenues from it and invest it in programs we all benefit from.” Malcolmson said she believes students and young people often live more sustainable lives and are therefore environmentally conscious. She hopes they will think about the environment and proportional representation by voting in the next election.
“Proportional representation resonates with students because they want their vote to count,” Malcolmson said. “At [a Fairvote Canada event at the Vault Cafe] I asked who voted and only half put their hand up,” Malcolmson said. “When you look at other countries that use it, you see more women, minorities, and young people represented.”
Christy Clark’s balanced budget lends no relief to BC students MOLLY BARRIEAU On Tuesday, February 17, the BC Liberals released their budget in Victoria. The following day, Christy Clark spoke at a luncheon in Surrey rather than attending the legislature in session at Parliament in Victoria. Clark joked and laughed at the luncheon, boasting her third consecutive balanced budget as her time as premier. She intends to use the $879 million surplus to pay off the province’s $5 billion debt incurred over four years from 2009 to 2013. The Globe and Mail said in an article Tuesday that while this balanced budget is good for BC in general, it was only accomplished by “shortchanging areas such as education. “And Ms. Clark has made balancing the budget a big part of her political brand.” However, while this news is good for Clark and her party, it does not change anything for BC post-secondary students, who suffer high fees and interest rates on their BC student loans. Zachary Crispin, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-BC (CFS-BC) said, “Interest rates in Canada have never been lower, yet this government charges the highest interest rates on student loans in the country.”
06 NEWS
THE NAVIGATOR The CFS-BC explains that with interest at two and a half to five percent, a BC student can end up paying over $10k on “the average student loan” in additional interest. “Every other province charges less than what BC charges,” said Michael Olson, Executive Director of the VIUSU. Olson added that provinces like Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador have eliminated the interest on their provincial portions of student loans. In a poll conducted for the CFSBC, 77 percent of students want to see interest rates eliminated or reduced in some way, along with 80 percent of British Columbians deciding that the increased interest and high fees make it harder for students to continue or finish their degrees. The CFS found that the cost of education tax credits and savings schemes for the 2013-14 year was $2.83 billion, which exceeds the $2.46 billion loaned for The Canada Student Loan Program that same year. “This $2.8 billion, if used instead for upfront grants, could allow every dollar loaned by the Canada Students Loans Program (CSLP) to be a non-repayable grant.”
Working with the CFS-BC’s Squash the Squeeze campaign, the VIUSU has collected over 2000 postcards that will be sent to the office of BC’s Minister of Advanced Education, Amrik Virk.
The VIUSU Debt Wedding on February 19 went off without a hitch. The event aimed to inform students about the high interest rates paid on student loans. Molly Barrieau
THE NAVIGATOR
No 11
Upcoming Portal reading at Zocalo Café JENNIFER COX Portal fans north of Nanaimo won’t have to travel far to attend a sneak preview of the latest edition, which is scheduled for publication in April 2015. Portal has partnered with the Laughing Oyster Bookstore to host a literary reading for the magazine’s Comox Valley fans. The event will take place at 7 pm on Thursday, March 12 at Zocalo Café, a hub of literature and culture in downtown Courtenay. The evening will include a selection of readings that showcase the poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction of current and past Portal contributors. The event will feature 2015 contest winner Lorin Medley, as well as a talented line-up of writers, including Jessica Key, Philip Gordon, Francine McCabe, and Courtney Poole.
CONTRIBUTOR Zocalo Café has a wide selection of beverages and tapas on their menu. Arriving early to secure a table is recommended. Over the course of the evening, attendees will have the opportunity to pre-purchase copies of Portal 2015, which will be available for pick up at the Laughing Oyster Bookstore in early April. Past issues of Portal will also be available for purchase. Portal magazine is VIU’s annual full-colour literary magazine, publishing a selection of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, scripts, artwork, and photography. Zocalo Café is located at 208 Fifth Street, Courtenay, BC. For more information, visit the Portal Facebook page or email <viuportal@ gmail.com>. Everyone is welcome at this all-ages event.
Portal 2015 Managing Editor, Jessica Key, reads an excerpt of her non-fiction piece Snakes and Ladders during a reading at the VIRL.
Photo courtesy of Portal Magazine
UFO Day and Islands Short Fiction Contest NATALIE GATES
Sometimes projects get started but never seem to get finished. These events encourage
Photos courtesy Natalie Gates
people to complete and submit their work
No 11
THE NAVIGATOR
From textiles and art projects to creative writing, Islanders have opportunities this spring to practice and showcase their work. The Nanaimo Arts Council is hosting an Unfinished Object (UFO) Day, as well as co-sponsoring the Islands Short Fiction Contest. The Nanaimo Arts Council will be hosting its third UFO Day of 2015 as an opportunity for people to collaborate with their incomplete creations. While the idea started with textile and beading projects in mind, it is not at all limited to that, executive director of the Nanaimo Arts council Sarah Schmidt said. Bring anything that is portable to work on,” Schmidt said. People can simply drop in at the Harbourfront Library on March 21 between 11 am and 2 pm. “Some people have come and finished projects that were seven years old,” Schmidt said. “The collective sharing of skills and information people get is great.” The Short Fiction Contest is also sponsored by the Vancouver Island Regional Library as well as the Vancouver Island University Department of Creative Writing and Journalism. It seeks entries of up to 2000 words in three categories: Adult (19 and over),
THE NAVIGATOR Youth (13 to 18), and Junior (12 and under). Over $2k in prizes and cash will be awarded to the winners and finalists. Last year, the contest drew over 75 entries. “We’ve been able to raise the prize amounts this year, which we hope will attract even more interest from writers throughout the Islands area,” Schmidt said. Judge of the Adult category this year is VIU Creative Writing instructor and Governor General’s Award-winning author Robert Hilles, while VIRL librarians Jennifer Seper and Justin Unrau will judge submissions in the Youth and Junior categories. The entry deadline is March 16, 2015. Entry forms are available on the Nanaimo Arts Council website <www.nanaimoartscouncil.ca> and at the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery (North Town Centre, 4750 Rutherford Rd). A $20 fee is charged per adult entry, or $15 for Junior and Youth entries. Winners will be announced at a reception on Thursday, April 23 at 7 pm at a Nanaimo library branch TBA. The winning entries in the 2014 Islands Short Fiction Contest may be read on the VIU Creative Writing and Journalism website at <viu.ca/crew>.
NEWS 07
Features SEBASTIAN BARKOVIC
CONTRIBUTOR
Bill H-51 I don’t know my Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as I should. Yes, I study politics, but I’m nowhere near as well-read as your typical freedom-suppressing Conservative. Speaking of which, you have most likely heard about Bill C-51, the one our government put forth in Parliament a few weeks back. For those of you that haven’t, the new anti-rights and freedoms, sorry, “anti-terror” bill will increase the power of Canada’s spy agencies such as CSIS and CSEC. Bill C-51 is mainly focused on terrorism, but its powers extend to any national security threat.
STEPHANIE BROWN
The bill allows arrest for any so-called “promotion of terrorism.” This is contentious since it will be the government that decides exactly what that means. If they see your videos, social media posts, or blog as “promotion of terrorism,” it will give them grounds for arrest. Additionally, the bill allows the agencies to freeze bank accounts, cancel travel plans, delete online materials, use preventive detention, issue peace bonds, and conduct search and seizure without warrants, among other things. There is no reason to stop there.
Since this bill is loved and agreed on by the majority, how about a new bill that will help more Canadians than ever? Bill H-51, “Canada’s Anti-Heart-Disease Bill.” In the past few years, terrorism has tragically taken the lives of a handful of Canadians, but heart disease, according to Statistics Canada, has been busy. It’s the second leading cause of death in the country, taking nearly 50 thousand lives per year. Now, tell me that isn’t a grave threat to national security. What I am proposing in Bill H-51 is double, even triple, the powers that Bill C-51 has granted our spy agencies. What could possibly go wrong with expansion of powers? There has never been abuse before, right? With H-51, CSIS and CSEC will be able to monitor your smoking habits, your blood pressure, how physically active you are, and, most
importantly, your Instagram feed to be sure you aren’t posting pictures of food with “what they believe to be” high levels of saturated fat. The agencies will be able to give you preventive detention if they don’t believe you are maintaining a healthy weight, limiting your alcohol intake, or allowing your stress level to get too high. Say hello to a long and free life. If you find yourself eating fries and a cheeseburger, you could be issued a peace bond under the new law. That would require you to keep the peace and all those trans fats out of your diet. Posting about some authentic Italian pizza on your food-and-travel blog while vacationing in Italy? Think again. Canada’s spy agencies will now be able to delete the post, cancel your flights, and freeze your bank accounts. You can thank them later.
Most importantly, don’t forget those 30 minutes of exercise a few times per week or you’ll wind up on the business end of a surveillance van. The more Canadians we keep alive, the more they can contribute to the salaries of our hardworking Senate. It’s an infinite loop of win-wins. Perhaps you are against this new bill. You may even be thinking that it endangers our civil liberties. You may also believe this is a slippery slope to the abolishment of our Charter. If this is the case, you can expect the Conservative government to label you a “heart-disease sympathizer.” You don’t want that. Just remember, it’s all in the name of better health. Who knows, if this bill works out, maybe next year we can introduce an Anti-Diabetes Bill, maybe with an Anti-Influenza Amendment tacked on for good measure?
CONTRIBUTOR
The long commute:
Culture shock
So let’s talk about an issue that’s close to my heart: culture shock. I know you’re thinking, “That won’t happen to me.” Yeah, I thought the same thing when I was still in Canada. It’s easy to feel that way, especially when you are traveling to another English-speaking country. It’s easy to buy into the notion that the transition will be easier because you don’t have a language barrier. I can now stand back and state without a doubt that the adjustment into an English-speaking country can be even more difficult. Sure, you speak the same language, but it’s that very fact that stops you from preparing for the different kind of English they might speak, and the completely different culture attached to the speaker. The main things I have noticed are small. For example, an extension cord is an extension lead, a line-up is a queue, and so on. Sometimes it’s easier if you go to a country where you don’t speak the language at all—it’s easier because everything is different so it’s consistent. It’s these small differences that grab your attention and cause confusion when you aren’t expecting it, like tripping on your own foot, or a fork in the road you weren’t prepared for. The problems arise from the cultural gap—there isn’t a lot of patience for English-speaking stu-
dents who appear to struggle with English. Mohammad, a fellow student, mentioned that culturally, “They expect you to just know,” especially if you do speak English. This leads to the ultimate shock from the cultural difference. In this scenario, the shock came out of a state of perceived judgement. It was easy for me to interpret the British culture’s anti-social behaviour as judgemental. I found it extremely difficult to strike up conversations with people, or engage at all, and instantly thought it was because they knew I was foreign. It ruined my first few weeks as I struggled to assimilate, trying to be accepted. Eventually, I realized it wasn’t judgement, it was a social cultural difference. The English just don’t strike up conversations with a stranger on the bus as much as Canadians do. They also make very little eye contact if they don’t know you well, and so my overt attentiveness was unsettling for them. So what did I learn? In the process of thinking everyone here hated me, I was actually creeping them out by trying too hard to make eye contact and initiate interaction. The trick to avoiding culture shock is realizing and accepting, that there’s probably a completely different culture in your host country. Make no assumptions, and keep an open mind.
Point of VIU DREW MCLACHLAN / CONTRIBUTOR
Do you worry about student debt?
Anna Ali, 21, Business
Deanna Atkinson, 32, Dental Hygiene
Graham Villette, 19, Jazz Studies
Joy Ngenda, 18, Undeclared
Payton Dan, 19, Geoscience
“Yes, it adds up to a lot, and it’s not something you want to worry about once you’ve graduated.”
“Yes. Once you’ve finished school you’re supposed to be getting a fresh start, but instead you have this huge debt above your head.”
“No. I’ve actually managed to stay out of it so far, but next year is a mystery. The field work I’m going into doesn’t offer much unless you’re the best, so maybe I’m a little worried.”
“Until this moment I wasn’t worried about it; thanks for reminding me. It’s a crippling worry and I try not to think about it.”
“Yeah, being in that much debt puts you so far behind everyone else when you’re looking for a job after school.”
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THE NAVIGATOR
No 11
Museum news: The gray whale JAMES MACKINNON & IONA KEARNS
CONTRIBUTORS
From the reefs in the Broken Group in Barkley Sound all the way up the coast towards Cape Scott, roughtly 150 to 200 gray whales spend their summer here. Perhaps it’s the sheer size of the ocean that makes it so alluring to most people, or the fact that, while it makes up more than three quarters of the surface of our planet, we know so little about what’s living in it, and where. For as long as humans have been traveling on or around the sea, we’ve been obsessed with what it provides, and the mysteries within. Stories of Serpents and Kraken have haunted mariners for centuries. Seafarers off our coast are no different. Those involved in the commercial whaling industry often referred to the “Devil Fish,” a beast who lashed out so violently when speared that hunters’ boats were regularly smashed to bits. Today, these Devil Fish are known as the gray whale, one of the most prominent marine mammals on our coastline, and they have an amazing story. The history of the gray whale parallels many other species in our oceans. Historically, it is believed there were similar populations in all of the oceans of the world, each making warm-cold water migrations much like our Eastern Pacific population today. For thousands of years, small-scale aboriginal hunts, including those on our coast, played an important role in the shaping of their population: for the Nuu-Chah-Nulth nations along Vancouver Island’s west coast, the annual taking of one whale per village as a food source was important as a rite of passage for young men. Whaling at this scale was never a threat to the gray whale population. But beginning in the 1500s and reaching its peak in the 20th century, the international commer-
cial whaling industry had serious negative impacts on global whale numbers. Today, this Eastern Pacific group is the only population of gray whales left on the planet that has rebounded to anywhere close to pre-commercial hunting numbers. Having fought their way back from the brink of extinction, they have recovered their numbers off our coast and perform the largest migration of any mammal on earth, swimming 9000 kms annually from Alaska to the Baja Peninsula. Their presence off the West Coast of Vancouver Island is also an important indication that spring is on the way, and offers one of the most exciting seasonal happenings locally. With large individuals measuring 15 metres long and weighing 30 tonnes, the gray whale is one of the largest animals we see in this part of the Pacific. With a population of approximately 20 thousand individuals in the eastern North Pacific Ocean, these whales get their name from the mottled-grey patching that develops on their skin, scar marks that develop over time from an array of parasites living in and under the skin. The gray whale, like most marine mammals, has a thick layer of blubber beneath its skin to keep it warm in cooler waters. But the young are born without this layer. To keep the calves from perishing in the colder waters of the north, the entire population migrates about halfway down Mexico’s Baja Peninsula to one of a few warm water lagoons where pregnant mothers give birth. The unladen conceive here too. While perfect for birthing, these
Staff at VIU’s Deep Bay Biological Station assemble gray whale bones. Michi Main
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southern waters have essentially no food, so by late January or mid-February the population begins to move northward again, needing to feed. Having gone three or four months without eating, weight loss becomes a serious threat, driving the population north. Like most of the world’s large whales, the gray whale is a baleen whale; it lacks teeth but has a “filter” of long skinny plates hanging off its top jaw. Imagine your top teeth being replaced with a curved hair comb, and you get the picture. Gray whales have numerous techniques for feeding, like skimming the surface of the water or sucking at crevasses in reefs, but most commonly they will scoop great mouthfuls of sand or mud from the bottom of bays and filter out small shellfish and larvae. On a good day these huge animals eat more than one thousand kilograms of food made up of morsels that are smaller than your pinky fingernail. In pursuit of this food source, gray whales swim north to their feeding grounds in the springtime where they will stay until the fall sends them south again. In March and April, when we see gray whales off our coast, the vast majority of them are bound for the Bearing and Chukchi Seas, in search of the shallow, productive sandy bays they will feed in. But every summer a small group of resident animals stop their migration early and spend their summers feeding in the bays and coastlines of Vancouver Island’s West Coast, and this is where they are most easily viewed over the course of the summer season. From the reefs
Gray whales from the air.
in the Broken Group in Barkley Sound all the way up the coast towards Cape Scott, roughly 150 to 200 gray whales spend their summer here, feeding and taking part in important pre-mating rituals. This small sub-population has been the subject of much study by conservationists and biologists over the last couple of decades. Nowhere else on their entire migratory route do groups of animals return so consistently, year after year, while the rest of the population continues on to Alaska. Chances are, they’re here exploiting some unique food sources. Attempts have been made to tie the presence of productive old growth forest ecosystems to the presence of these resident gray whales with some success. Regardless of why, their summer-time presence on our coast is both interesting and exciting. So, will you see a gray whale in the waters off Nanaimo? Possibly, but it’s unlikely. Every couple years, one or two might make a quick stop through the Gulf Islands and into the Salish Sea before continuing up the West Coast, but your best bet to see one of these animals in the wild is to visit a coastal hotspot like Ucluelet or Tofino. Beginning in early March, thousands of locals and visitors line the shorelines of these communities where onlookers can watch dozens, even hundreds, of whales each day swim by on their way up the coast. Charter companies start their season at this time, offering float plane and boat trips to see the whales and other wildlife in the region. Also around the corner is season 29 of the Pacific Rim Whale
Bertie Gregory/Atleo River Air Service
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Festival, which celebrates the annual return of Vancouver Island’s resident gray whales, as well as the other species that make up our amazing coastal ecosystems. Running March 14 to 22, the festival is full of wildlife expeditions, nature walks, kids’ events, and evening concerts. The VIU Deep Bay Marine Field Station, just 45 minutes north of Nanaimo, is putting together a project called “Raise a Whale.” Approximately five years ago, a gray whale carcass was found in Sooke, BC and buried soon after. This past year the remains were dug up and all the bones were gathered and cleaned. Now the project is in its final stages, with volunteers and scientists working hard, repairing the bones before reconstructing and mounting it in the Field Station building. Once completed, the public will be able to come and view this incredible project up close. Closer to home, the VIU Museum of Natural History in bldg 370, run by a group of passionate students and faculty members, features a great collection of gray whale bones and baleen, as well as artifacts and examples of many other species of animals and plants found around Vancouver Island. New displays are being put together weekly, and throughout the springtime the museum team will be holding draws for fun prizes. The museum is open to students and the public on Mondays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, and Thursdays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. More information is available on their Facebook page and at <viu.ca/museum/>.
Surface feeding gray whale. Jay Feaver
09 FEATURES
Art and activism CHANTELLE SPICER
CONTRIBUTOR
Marrying activism and art enriches the conversations we want to have. It engages all the senses and gives people the opportunity to participate in a discussion about what’s good and what’s worth making a fuss about.
A sample of the cups that were created following the kick-off event for the collaboration at the Vault Cafe. Sacia Burton
A major challenge in starting and maintaining social movements—political, environmental, humanitarian, or any combination thereof—is engaging people to get involved, as well as staying motivated. Successful social activism rests on the ability to provoke people’s perceptions, thoughts, and actions in positive and innovative ways. By joining with artistic and activist communities, social movements are able to overcome many adversities. The issue is given the ability to create a new visual landscape and language, form new collective identities, and redefine meaningful citizenship. This collaborative endeavour has a long history and bright future of success in furthering the general awareness of controversial issues. Ranging from fine arts to street arts, graphic designers to performance artists and musicians, these artists are inspired to create something beautiful and moving by social injustice, natural degradation, and the other harsh realities of our contemporary existence. Coupled with the power of the political and scientific voice behind most activist movements, art provides a new way to encourage the public to participate. I personally have a special interest in the global environmental crisis and wildlife issues (habitat fragmentation and decreasing population) that are attached to it. When looking at the science-based facts of the issue, the statistics come like body blows—they are staggering and bleak. Sometimes it’s hard to see beyond them to a solution that the entire planet, or even a local community, can get on board with. Data alone will very rarely influence a person to make big changes in their life; most often they leave people feeling overwhelmed or defensive. By creating a new language of information through music and art—presented through humour, colour, representation, poetry, or song—the general public can be engaged in a new way, through the heart. By connecting to human emotions, the data transcends itself into a new realm of meaning that can inspire real change. Art has been a way for humanity to express individual and community identity, articulating who we are, where we come from, and where we are going, since primitive man put charcoal to wall. In today’s social environment, this kind of expression has an indisputable place in social activism. Using the many aspects of the arts allows for emotional connection, and also provides a new way to transmit information,
ideology, and communication, reduce fear or anxiety, or provide a rallying point of solidarity. It is powerful. Solutions, a VIU club dedicated to bringing information on the issue of sustainability to campus, are tapping into this power with their Love-a-Mug campaign, which focuses on human consumption habits. Sacia Burton, facilitator of Solutions, understands the importance of utilizing the artistic side of activism to make changes. “I think art and activism both come from the same place inside somebody, the part that isn’t satisfied with what’s going on in the world and wants to stir things up. Marrying activism and art enriches the conversations we want to have. It engages all the senses and gives people the opportunity to participate in a discussion about what’s good and what’s worth making a fuss about.” At tabling events over the past month, Solutions has given away over 70 donated mugs, coffee shop gift cards, and new VIU travel mugs to raise awareness of Love-a-Mug. Recognizing the positive impacts of art in social movement, members are collaborating with students in VIU’s art program, friends, frequenters of the Vault Cafe, children, and anyone else who’s willing to join them in the creation of an installation for the campus. This installation will speak to the habitual use of paper cups and how this leads directly to the disposal of 58 million cups per year worldwide. Disposed-of cups gleaned from bins (and even friends’ hands) will be washed and given to the artistic community to be painted, written on, spray painted, or drawn on in any way the creator sees fit. The project kicked off on Sunday, February 8 at the Vault Cafe, where Solutions members handed out cups to willing participants, turning it into a fun and motivating event which will continue every weekend at the café, as well as student residences. The collaboration will continue until the end of March, when all the cups will be gathered and strung with lights for display in different areas on campus. The group hopes to mount installations in the cafeteria or library for maximum visibility. For information on how to get involved with this community art project, Trash-to-Treasure, contact <viusolutionsnetwork@gmail.com> or visit the event’s Facebook page, #LoveaMug Art Project: Trash to Treasure.
A natural indulgence JENNIFER COX Tucked away on a rural property just off the highway in Fanny Bay, Karen Fouracre and Jaki Ayton raise a rambunctious and joyful group of Toggenburg goats. As small-scale farmers, they take pride in the fact that they know their goats by name. Best friends since high school, they have been raising goats since they purchased this property together 18 years ago. The resourceful pair determined that co-ownership would help them realize their dreams faster, so they pooled their finances, bought a small farm on Holiday Rd, and haven’t looked back. “It was Jaki who was huge into goats,” Fouracre says, “so we started breeding and showing, starting off with 16th and 17th place, and now we have grand champions.” Feeding and caring for their goats is a labour of love, so when an opportunity arose to provide
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CONTRIBUTOR goat’s milk to Saltspring Island Cheese Company, they jumped at the chance to have their animals earn their keep. They formed Snap Dragon Dairy to meet a growing demand for goat’s milk, but when they found themselves with milk leftover they knew they had to develop a secondary business plan. “Everyone was making cheese and some are making it really well,” says Fouracre. They didn’t want to compete with existing businesses on the Island. In 2012, they launched Legato Gelato, crafting small-scale artisan gelato, hands-on through every step in the process. Demonstrating her morning milking routine, Fouracre jokes that dairy processing plants are only slightly more regulated than nuclear reactors. “Everything is recorded,” she says. Intimate knowledge of the goats in
her care helps ensure that Legato Gelato is made with 100 percent wholesome, natural ingredients. She knows what her goats have eaten for breakfast, and believes that their diet has a direct affect on the high quality gelato produced. “I’ve raised them all from babies. I know their personalities, how much milk I can expect out of them. I know them intimately,” she says. They milk the goats twice a day until they have 30 litres of milk. Then they transport it to the Canadian Cultured Dairy Plant in Royston (the home of Tree Island Yogurt), where the milk is pasteurized. The pasteurized goat’s milk is mixed with Legato Gelato’s secret recipe that includes organic eggs, organic sugar, and organic cornstarch. The batch is cooked for several hours, forming a rich, flavourful custard that’s ready to mix
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with a coulis of fresh fruit. All the berries, of course, are sourced from local farms. Legato Gelato is processed in a commercial kitchen at Lush Valley, a community kitchen that’s shared with other local food producers as part of a shared vision, promoting the production of local food. The kitchen is an ideal space for smallscale food production, and Fouracre appreciates having access to it. As business grows, she hopes that more people will become open to trying goat’s milk. “Some people have a built-in negative attitude towards goat’s milk. My mother has never had goat’s milk in her life, but she knows it tastes bad. She won’t even try it,” says Fouracre as she puts together samples to share. Once people have tried gelato they are able to see the flavour difference firsthand, and
better understand its value. “Gelato is much denser than ice cream, and because we are only using real food, our flavour is more intense,” she says. “Most ice creams, if you read the ingredients, are not even made with real dairy anymore. They are made with emulsifiers and preservatives. Our gelato has none of that. We’re using real food from start to finish. And because we’re raising the goats we know exactly what they’re eating.” Knowing where their food comes from is important to Fouracre and Ayton. They joke that when the hundred-mile diet was popular, they were following the one-mile diet, purchasing their food from neighbouring farms and vendors at the farmer’s market. They share the same philosophy on eating local: “It’s important for our community and important for our health.”
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A natural indulgence:
From teat to treat JENNIFER COX
2 1
3
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5 AS NUMBERED 1. Each flavour of gelato is given a name inspired by local ingredients and places like Ironwood Strawberry, Wild n’ Free Blackberry, Cougar Smith Raspberry, Snapdragon Chocolate, Island Breeze Honey Vanilla, and Wild Spring Nettle. 2. Snap Dragon Dairy’s Toggenburg goats are grand champions. 3. The goats are milked every morning and evening. The milk is transported to a dairy plant in Royston for pasteurization. 4. Pasteurized goat’s milk, mixed with a specially formulated secret recipe, creates a rich custard. A delicious coulis of high quality locally sourced fruit—strawberries, blackberries, raspberries—is mixed with the custard and processed in a gelato machine. 5. Jaki Ayton and her partner Karen Fouracre’s herd of goats are like family. They raise them from babies, and know each one’s name and distinct personality.
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6. Legato Gelato is packaged in containers for sale all over Vancouver Island in stores and at farmers’ markets.
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11 FEATURES
Wide awake
and sleeping
Dating a person with narcolepsy Author Anonymous, Source <narcolepsycanada.ca> • Never plan anything for early in the morning. If you do, be sure to allow extra time. Often I find it very beneficial to tell my girlfriend we need to be somewhere 30 minutes before we actually need to be there. Yes, this may be considered lying, but it’s at least somewhat effective.
Physiological effects of sleep deprivation include:
• When waking up my girlfriend, I tend to wake her up 30 minutes before she needs to get up—just long enough for her to take her medication. Okay, yes, I wake her up and force them down her throat, in a loving way of course, and then let her go back to bed for 30 minutes. This way, when it’s actually time to get up, the medication has had a chance to work its magic. It also gives me time to use all the hot water before she gets into the shower. • Any time can be nap time and nap time is always a welcome suggestion. As a shift worker, this particularly works great for me, as I have always been a firm believer that nap time is happy time. • Having a pillow or something soft nearby is never a bad idea. • Having a slightly macabre sense of humour is never a bad idea either. • I have found a little extra planning goes a long way and being realistic with how much we can do together in a set period of time is key. Working in a snack/nap break is a good way to keep the day running smoothly. • Understand that tired days happen. Consider these like snow days when you were a kid. Sometimes everything gets canceled. Unless you were that poor kid whose parents dropped you off on their way to work and you sat around all day wishing you were home playing Nintendo. • Pillow barriers help protect you from the sometimes violent acting out of dreams. • The first thing I always tell my girlfriend when she wakes up from an unexpected nap or particularly realistic bad dream: You were asleep; it was not real. You’re safe, you’re awake, I am real. • People like to help or feel like they are helping even when no help is required. Then again, I guess seeing someone sleeping on the grocery store floor can be quite alarming for some. I’ve found that almost everyone accepts that no help is needed if I’m honest with them, and explain my girlfriend has narcolepsy; she is just sleeping and everything is just fine. If they look at me blankly after I say the word narcolepsy I will often say it’s like a seizure, simply because people unfortunately understand this better. Only once have I had to back that up with the explanation that I am in fact a medical professional and never once have I been asked to prove it.
ALEXANDRIA STUART It’s the middle of class and you’re overtaken by fatigue. Not just an uncontrollable case of the yawns, but the urge to put your head on the table and sleep. It may transcend an urge—your head may fall involuntarily and you are immediately in a deep sleep. To the untrained eye it could look like a simple lack of manners. A more compassionate eye wonders whether something is wrong, if they should be getting help. To a trained eye, this looks like a rare neurological condition, narcolepsy. To Ciro Di Ruocco, fourth-year Visual Arts Major at VIU, it looks familiar. Worldwide, narcolepsy affects approximately three million people. Narcolepsy falls into the category of orphan diseases—those that affect only about one in two thousand people. Only about a quarter of sufferers are diagnosed and receiving the appropriate treatment. Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep attacks, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and disrupted night time sleep. Sleep deprivation can have adverse affects on the brain and cognition and cause fatigue, daytime sleepi-
THE NAVIGATOR ness, clumsiness, and weight loss or weight gain. Cataplexy is another symptom; a strong emotional reaction can bring on a sudden physical collapse that can be as extreme as full body collapse, or relatively minor like slack jaw. Di Ruocco is no stranger to cataplexy: “In Art History, I would sit in the front row of class. On occasion, I would fall out of my seat and be greeted by the floor.” While not everyone who has narcolepsy experiences cataplexy, it is something that’s unique to narcolepsy. No other disease has this symptom. “The most terrifying time was when I hit the floor at Dr. McGrail’s feet,” Di Ruocco says. “The class had a laugh, but Dr. McGrail continued lecturing. I appreciated that he continued lecturing without mentioning it.” It’s important to raise awareness about narcolepsy, Di Ruocco says, because some undiagnosed people may not have any idea what’s going on with their bodies. Some symptoms of narcolepsy don’t sound that foreign—it’s a matter of degree. This makes narcolepsy difficult to diagnose because some
symptoms, like chronic fatigue, are common to many different conditions. Diagnosis includes a sleep study, which must be conducted under strict conditions in a hospital, but access to a sleep study can be a barrier for many sufferers and delay the process. On average, it takes seven years to diagnose from the first appearance of symptoms, usually between the ages of 10 and 30. Di Ruocco had some experiences early on: “Working in Capri, Italy at my uncle’s ristorante Lo Zodiaco, I fell asleep with a tray of wine glasses in hand. The glasses all broke and my uncle cried ‘Mama Mia!’” Misdiagnoses like depression, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea are common. Whether or not there is a diagnosis of narcolepsy, the dangers of chronic sleep deprivation are very real. Attention lapses due to sleep deprivation can extend into critical domains with life-or-death consequences. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) reports that one in five serious motor vehicle injuries is related to driver fatigue, with 80 thousand drivers falling asleep behind the wheel every day. 250
thousand accidents per year are related to sleep. Di Ruocco was one of those statistics, causing a crash that left him seriously injured and another driver temporarily paralyzed. “That was a real wake up call,” he says. Medications, lifestyle adjustments, and alternative therapies can improve the lives of those affected by narcolepsy. As there’s no safe way to replace the particular brain transmitter that sufferers lack (hypocretin), treatment of the symptoms is the only option. After Di Ruocco was diagnosed in 2003, he tried many combinations of treatment. Today, he’s stabilized on a combination of stimulants and sleeping medication. The Disability Services Office has helped him chart a path and access accommodations that make it possible for him to continue studying at VIU. “It’s important to note that falling asleep is only a small part of it,” Di Ruocco says. “It’s not funny to me when I fall asleep in class. I find it to be incredibly awkward, embarrassing, and it consumes my thinking at times.” In any case, he says, it’s important to take con-
trol of, and responsibility for, your condition. Openly sharing about his experiences is one way of raising awareness. “You’ve got to put yourself out there.” He received a warm reception in Denver, Colorado at the N[Art] Exhibition and 29th Annual Narcolepsy Network Conference in October. VIU made it possible with an award from the Student Travel and Conference Fund. Taking these sorts of risks is really important, he says. He also received a 2014 VIU Art and Design Club Service award. The only Canadian patient advocacy group that specializes in narcolepsy, Narcolepsy Awareness Programs and Services (NAPS), was founded to increase awareness through education and establishing locally-based services. They take a modern approach, making use of social media, flash mobs, and online campaigns. On March 7, Di Ruocco will be part of Suddenly Sleepy Saturday as a part of Project Sleep’s international SLEEP IN. People are invited to give sleep a chance by staying in bed during the weekend of March 7 and 8 to raise awareness about sleep
health and sleep disorders during National Sleep Awareness Week. Suddenly Sleepy Saturday is scheduled the day before we turn our clocks ahead to daylight savings time, so even those who don’t have narcolepsy may experience symptoms like sudden sleepiness or daytime drowsiness, just like those with the condition. It’s a chance for people to raise awareness and money at the same time. Modeled after John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s famous Bed In protest, participants are encouraged to stay in bed all day or even all weekend, and invite friends and the media to join them. Project Sleep will be conducting a Google Hangout to check in with the various SLEEP INs around the world, and Kendall Patrick and the Headless Bettys will play an intimate bedroom webcast. The link will be available on March 6 at <kendallpatrick.com>. For more information about Project Sleep, and to get involved with the SLEEP IN event, visit <project-sleep.com> or <facebook.com/ ProjectSleepAwareness>. You can learn more about narcolepsy at <narcolepsycanada.ca>.
Source <narcolepsycanada.ca> • aching muscles • confusion, memory lapses or loss • depression • hallucinations • hand tremor • headaches • malaise • stye • periorbital puffiness, commonly known as “bags under eyes” or eye bags • increased blood pressure • increased stress hormone levels • increased risk of diabetes • increased risk of fibromyalgia • irritability • nystagmus (rapid involuntary rhythmic eye movement) • obesity • seizures • temper tantrums in children • yawning • mania symptoms similar to: • attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) • psychosis
Arts
Under the skin of Julie Dives
Courtesy of Julie Dives
DENISA KRAUS
CONTRIBUTOR
Taxidermy From Greek taxis ‘arrangement’ + derma ‘skin’ (Oxford Dictionary)
The original idea behind taxidermy was probably the trophy of the kill, but I want to look at it as appreciating the beauty of an animal and capturing its essence.
There was a day when Julie Dives tried to decide between becoming a vet or an artist. Although she followed the creative draw, and pursued a BFA in Visual Arts at VIU and Emily Carr, deep down, Julie stayed in love with animals. She is equally enchanted with the soft fur of a purring, living body and the macabre beauty of death, the tactile nature of animal skin and the creative possibilities it offers both as a subject and a medium, namely for printmaking and sculpture. Her upcoming solo exhibition, Mementos, will present an array of mixed media sculptures, etchings, and wood burnings with animal motives and the unifying theme of memento mori. Combining different techniques and different media, Dives creates reproductions of live and dead creatures through complex, labour- and time-intensive processes. Like faux taxidermy, her newest passion for producing life-like animal portraits using chicken feathers. Since these pieces are the flagship artworks of the exhibition, The Navigator spoke with the Nanaimo-based artist about her unusual approaches and rare tastes.
You use chicken feathers as the main medium for your faux taxidermy technique. Where can we find the appreciation for the chickens? I do appreciate the chickens too. The way I look at it is I’m showing the beauty of the feathers, which is not necessarily appreciating, but showing. The feathers are taken from meat birds. Somebody ate that chicken; it wasn’t killed for the feathers. So for me it’s an act of recycling. I use a lot of roadkill, dead mice, and things like that.
Where does your fascination with animals come from? I’ve always been an animal freak. I had a pet crow and a pet duck. I always drew animals and their anatomy and bones. Biology always fascinated me, too. I’ve always felt this connection to animals and built relationships with them easily. I appreciate them. Why taxidermy?
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look beautiful and make people think about that—about death as a pretty thing. Yes, your work is rather on the dark side. And it shouldn’t be pretty but it is! (laughs) So one day you woke up knowing you want to make animals out of feathers? It was literally an idea that just came to me and I rolled with it. The bear started it off. ‘Let’s make a bear out of feathers!’ It got me into this whole taxidermy business. I met this taxidermist in Richmond, and he taught me how to work with the material and how to do the modeling. The rest I just figured out.
How do you work with road kills? I don’t use them for taxidermy, but for printmaking. Like when I roll a dead mouse in ink and stamp it. I want to use these animals and have them appreciated even after their death, like the dead birds I find, photograph, and then woodburn or draw. It’s like in the Victorian era when people took photos of their dead relatives—to have that kind of memento that we were all born and we will all die.
How do you explain your method of connecting with an idea of an animal through the feather of a different animal, or making etchings of silkscreens and other complex techniques instead of just taking photographs? It’s about the personal time I spend with the works, and the relationship with the art. I’ve always been attracted to crafts and creating something physically, with my hands, and spending time learning labour-intensive techniques.
Is dipping the animal in ink an attempt to connect with the particular dead animal or to embrace the idea of death in general, then? I think both. But during the process of making the print, it is the connection with that specific animal.
Can you describe the process? I start off with the idea of the animal I want to recreate. My work is very detail oriented, and I spend so much time with it that I build a relationship with the work. It takes so long, I grow an appreciation for the animal.
What inspired you to seek taxidermy as a creative technique? It was aesthetically pleasing to me. I’ve always loved bones, antlers, and things like that. I started doing it to make death
Don’t you feel sad when they get sold? Yeah, that’s sad. I mean, I love it when they find a home, because it feels good to see money after you make art.
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You choose animals from a very specific geographic area as subjects. I’m inspired by what I see around me. So we’ll never see a giraffe in your body of work? Funny; I’ve just never been inspired to do something like a giraffe. It’s animals around me that I work with often— unless I am commissioned to do something specific and then I have to download a photo and get a copyright. I want to work with photos I’ve taken and experience that animal myself. I’ve never encountered a giraffe. Your taxidermy works are very tangible objects, almost begging to be touched and felt. Is that a reaction or emotion you are after?
That’s it! That touch, the texture! I love it when people think that it’s a bear at first, and only then they realize it’s made of something different. Then they really want to touch it. And I don’t know anybody who would want to touch a bear. I have some other fun projects. I made a book out of dog fur; each page is a different fur, a different breed. And you’re holding a big clump of fur, and it looks like a cake from a side with all the different layers. I must say I would hesitate to come visit you in your house. (Laughs) I have some weird stuff in my house. Like this vintage turtle that wasn’t taxidermied properly and has gold bead eyes. I found it for $5. But the most disturbing thing in my house is my live cat.
There is a revival of stuffing or freeze drying people’s pets as a way of keeping them even after they die. Will you taxidermy your cat one day? It’s weird to think about that. I’ve never actually stuffed a creature, even though a friend asked me to taxidermy her cat for her. I have skinned a squirrel, and I have played around with different aspects of taxidermy, like the modeling and putting all the sculptural aspects together. I have often pondered on making a scarf out of my cat’s fur. You know, when she comes to bed in the morning and lays around my neck, I pet her belly and think ‘I want to keep her when she goes.’ But I wouldn’t be able to do it myself. Where do you see yourself evolving as an artist? I’ve been getting a lot of commissions for pet portraiture lately, which is great. I enjoy making someone happy by reproducing their animal in the form of art and I want to continue with that. And I want to make my living creatively, as an artist, so I’m probably going to apply for a tattoo apprenticeship. The woodburning really kicked it off for me in terms of using a tool, so I think tattooing is the next step in my career. I can imagine that you won’t be able to stick with just the ink and needle, and instead involve other media in your tattooing style. Maybe feathers under people’s skin? I’ve always been a bit weird I suppose. I once had a roommate in Vancouver who did a series of drawings using his own blood. Every week he needed his blood taken and the first person he could think of that would be comfortable taking blood was me. So I watched a YouTube tutorial and did it.
Denisa Kraus
Mementos will be on display on the First Friday Art Night (March 6) at The Bee’s Knees Community Cafe on 208 Wallace St. For more info, visit <beeskkneescommunitycafe.com>. To view Julie Dives’ work, visit <juliedives.com>.
Essential viewing:
Man on Wire (2008) SPENCER WILSON When first hearing about Man on Wire, it’s hard to imagine this will be an entertaining or engaging film. And yet, the documentary about Philippe Petit’s 1974 highwire walk between the Twin Towers manages to not only be a great film, but one of the best documentaries of all time. Petit begins by telling us an experience he had as a young boy while waiting to see the dentist about a toothache. While sitting in the waiting room, he sees an ad in a magazine for the building on the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Center. Overcome with the desire to high-wire walk between the towers, he decides to skip his appointment so he can swipe the magazine to hang onto his “dream and obsession.” By this time, it was 1968 and Petit was 17. At the age of 16, Petit had already taught himself how to high-wire walk and how to do every
No 11
CONTRIBUTOR trick possible on the wire. This led to a couple of illegal, high-profile, and risky high-wire performances between the towers of the Notre Dame Cathedral in 1971 and across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1973. In between those times, Petit and his cohorts worked for six years on how to pull off a high-wire walk between the Twin Towers. The documentary is very much narrative-driven, with interviews from Petit and those associated with the stunt, as well as Petit reading passages from his book To Reach the Clouds, driving the story and themes of inspiration. The footage switches between masterful uses of Ken Burns’ Effect photo shots, footage of Petit practicing and organizing the stunt with his friends, and staged scenes depicting how the stunt was executed. The staged scenes are what really help the movie tie everything together.
Obviously, not every aspect of the operation could have been captured on film, but James Marsh’s objective portrayal of the interview stories brings life to what was happening. In a way, the operation part turns the film into a fantastical crime film, which is how Petit describes feeling about the operation in the days leading up to its execution. Even though we know that Petit succeeds, the film’s excellent build-up of tension makes it feel like there is a sense of danger, making the victory that much more satisfying to witness. The most amazing aspect of Man on Wire is that James Marsh manages to hide his own take on Petit’s life inside the film. When we are first introduced to Petit, we are given footage of him surrounded by his friends, and everyone being interviewed talks about having the same dream of helping
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Petit pull off this stunt. Once the stunt is over, there is suddenly a disconnect between Petit and the rest of the group—one that is so strong that it makes one of the main conspirators, Jean-Louis Blondeau, cry during the interview over that loss of friendship. Now famous, Petit is depicted in the company of very few, and at the end of the film, alone. Hidden within Petit’s messages to follow your dreams is the warning of what might happen to those who are not ready for fame. Man on Wire took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2009, and rightfully so. The film showcases a lot of James Marsh’s strengths, which are not as evident in The Theory of Everything. It is a wonderfully unique and beautiful documentary experience, and one that any person should take the time to watch.
15 ARTS
Courtesy of guardian.co.uk
Movie review:
The Theory of Everything SPENCER WILSON
CONTRIBUTOR
There is something to be said about a Stephen Hawking docudrama that moves the man himself to tears. Based on the autobiography Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Hawking’s ex-wife, Jane Wilde, The Theory of Everything attempts to charter the degradation of his physicality due to ALS and how he overcame it. Although Hawking’s scientific work and his life struggles are significantly underplayed in the film, Eddie Redmayne gives an extraordinary performance as Hawking, which alone makes the film worth watching once. The film opens to Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) racing his colleague on a bicycle. The year is 1963 and Hawking is still very mobile and unfocused. Whether it is intentional or not, many viewers will recognize Hawking as the brainiac who never shows up to class except to demonstrate how smart he is by doing the teacher’s challenge questions last minute. Hawking is working towards his doctorate degree at Cambridge and is uninspired about what to do a thesis on despite working with one of the fathers of modern cosmology, Dennis Sciama (David Thewlis). During this time, he has an awkward yet charming encounter with Jane Wilde, an arts student who would become his wife. As Hawking’s relationship with Jane and Penrose mathematics continues to grow, so does the appearance of his disability. In the beginning, there are a few tiny moments where Hawking picks something up just conspicuously enough to look suspicious, and soon this evolves into him possessing an increasingly unnatural gait. Before he has finished his thesis on Properties of Expanding Universes, he is diagnosed with motor neuron disease (now known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS) and given two years to live. Hawking and Jane swiftly marry and, despite his stature, manage to have three children and exceed the expectations of Hawking’s predicted lifespan. The lifestyle begins to weigh heavily on Jane, who has her own writing and ambitions she wants to accomplish. Despite being married to a science-minded atheist, Jane is a devote Christian, and befriends a widowed pastor named Jonathon Jones (Charlie Cox) who then helps the family due to loneliness and an attraction to Jane. Tension in the family builds as Hawking has to have a life-saving tracheotomy, making life in the household even more of a struggle. Director James Marsh’s approach to dramatic films is a
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convoluted one. Marsh is a powerful documentary filmmaker who knows how to blend truths to make his own statements on a given person or event, but the same cannot be said for this docudrama. The only parallels that Marsh attempts to draw are scenes in the beginning where Hawking is repeatedly shown as a leader, and scenes where Jane has to struggle with her scientific and religious sides by having both Hawking and Jonathon in the same room. The quiet depiction of Hawking’s physical degradation is well executed, but after the charming opening scenes between Hawking and Jane, any emotion left ends up feeling sterile. Marsh begins focusing too much on images that have a muted beauty, which greatly subtracts from the emotional portrayals. The greatest flaw comes from the lighting, which is deeply over-saturated in every scene, to the point where it feels like it was shot in a hospital. It becomes so overdone at some points that it looks like they took Vaseline and rubbed it over the camera lens. Scenes that should have depicted extreme feelings of hardship end up coming off as dull and unemotional, and the opening scene is so laughably colour-altered that it looks like the film is running on a Windows ‘98 computer that can’t keep up. This leaves the only saving grace of The Theory of Everything, which is Eddie Redmayne. His performance is so convincing that you may mistake him as the real Hawking in later scenes, although that is partially thanks to a stellar make-up department. Redmayne had the enormous task of not only copying Hawking’s earlier and current mannerisms, but also nailing down the timeline for ALS symptoms. Redmayne’s dedication is summarized in an on-set story about how he would remain motionless and hunched between takes, to the point where the alignment of his spine had been altered. Everything from his electrically goofy young performance to his struggle to form words later on is remarkable. Redmayne has done his research and fully deserves this year’s Oscar for Best Actor. Despite the performance, it’s not entirely enough to save the film. The Theory of Everything is worth watching one time to see Redmayne’s performance, but the rest is ruined by poor art direction and a lack of focus. We are left with a film that fails to fully recognize Hawking’s brilliant achievements in cosmology despite his limits, and are instead left with someone who helped people feel good about themselves.
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No 11
Movie review:
Inherent Vice SPENCER WILSON Leave it to legendary director Paul Thomas Anderson to immaculately adapt the first ever film of a Thomas Pynchon novel. Diving into the world of Inherent Vice feels like you are revisiting Boogie Nights (1977), but with a touch of oneiric reality thanks to the cast’s heavy drug use. Inherent Vice reads like the 2009 novel, but that doesn’t hold it back from using the language of film to the best of its abilities. Oneiric filmmaking has been a long staple of multi-Oscar nominee Paul Thomas Anderson. Although his films are often rooted in reality, the editing carries careful attention to flowing through events like they were memories, maintaining just enough ellipses so the audience can understand the effect without getting lost. This style is not used as heavily as it was in Anderson’s last film, The Master (2012), which helps the film flow as if you were reading the book. Inherent Vice opens with the mysterious hippy, Sortilège (Joanna Newsom in the first film), telling us about private investigator and heavy narcotics user, Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix). Doc’s old girlfriend Shasta (Katherine Waterston), who has now become what Sortilège calls “of the straight world persuasion,” approaches him with a case involving her boss, powerhouse real estate developer Mickey Wolfman (Eric Roberts). Shasta says that Mickey’s wife and his wife’s boyfriend are orchestrating a plot to throw Mickey in a mental institute. Doc takes on the case while still taking on side jobs, and soon finds that many of them intertwine with the recent disappearance of Mickey Wolfman and the presence of the insidious cocaine cartel Golden Fang. The drug-crazed atmosphere heavily invokes that of California in Joan Didion’s Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1968) (if Slouching were a comedic mystery novel) thanks to
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Courtesy of cubacinema.com
CONTRIBUTOR Doc’s “thinking comes later” form of detective style. Following Doc’s every move is the hulking, crew-cut sporting police detective Christian “Bigfoot” Bjornsen (Josh Brolin), who carries a bizarre working relationship with Doc throughout the case. Bigfoot is also on the look for the recently disappeared Mickey Wolfman and suspects Doc has something to do with it after wrongly accusing him for murdering one of Wolfman’s associates, who also happens to be of the Aryan Brotherhood. Why Bigfoot gives Doc a break is never made clear, but his interactions suggest that he used to be a hippy just like Doc. Understanding the plot beyond that point will probably require you to Wikipedia the rest of it. Similar to Howard Hawks’ confusing filmnoir The Big Sleep (1946), Inherent Vice does such a good job of evoking the atmosphere and aesthetic of the time that it’s easy to get lost in all the long eyelashes, sparkling lipsticks, marijuana fogs, one-inchtoo-short dresses, and ‘60s stoner rock songs—and this is for a film that takes its time. Film-wise, there isn’t a single wasted shot or cut in the movie. As Doc gets higher, the camera closes in more and more on him, to the point where simple things passing the screen become startling, as if you were too strung-out to expect them yourself. When Doc isn’t doing drugs, the sometimes incredibly long takes are juxtaposed by seconds-long sex scenes that make sex feel like just another drug that the characters take for a quick thrill. Inherent Vice may not be one of Anderson’s best films thanks to the difficult plot, but that doesn’t matter when the language of the film does such a good job of evoking the landscape of 1970s Los Angeles. What it lacks in clarity it makes up for in beauty and laughter. Like any Paul Thomas Anderson film, this one deserves a watch.
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Student Affairs DENISA KRAUS, MICHAEL OLSON
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4
1
5 AS NUMBERED 1. A student marries his student debt in a mock wedding organized by the VIUSU on Thursday, February 19. (Photo by Michael Olson) 2. Wellness Wednesdays brought complementary back massages to the Upper Cafeteria. 3. VIUSU Student Elections in full session. 4. Life Drawing takes place every Wednesday from 6 - 9 pm in the Visual Arts building (rm 213) for a suggested donation of $5.
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5. Larissa Thelin of Sustainability Solutions Network hands a gift card to one of the winning participants of the #LoveAMug Instagram contest.
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No 11
Sports
Minor hockey leagues penalize parents for unsportsmanlike conduct BEN CHESSOR
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The Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association has started banning abusive spectators from minor hockey games. The banning of spectators comes as part of the association’s attempt to put a stop to verbal harassment against players and on-ice officials. The league has already issued bans to eight parents who were involved in incidents of abusive behavior. But these initial fan ejections may be just the beginning. The association stated last month that if incidents like this didn’t come to an end they would look into holding some spectator-free weekends, allowing on-ice officials, players, and coaches into the arena once the game begins. Banning all spectators from minor hockey games seems like a rash action, but it starts to make more and more sense all the time. Over the years, there have been some frightening incidents at minor hockey games involving parents. The most
startling incident took place back in October 2013 in Palm Beach, Florida, when Matthew Supran, an enraged parent, ran onto the ice and physically assaulted a player who elbowed his son during play. Obviously Supran’s incident is one of the most extreme cases of spectator-related abuse. But other actions, such as heckling officials and opposing players have become much more common place at minor sporting events. Referees of minor hockey games are children, often only a year or two older than the players they are officiating. These kids are just learning how to properly official games and make the right call. Abusing these children as they try their best to make the right call is both unfair and malicious. VIAHA president Jim Humphrey says the abuse makes it difficult for minor hockey leagues to find referees, as more
and more would rather hang up the skates than deal with the insults and threats from enraged parents. In January, the association even had to cancel a few games because they could not find referees to officiate them. “In the last seven weeks we’ve probably lost 20 officials already,” Humphrey said in an interview with CTV Vancouver. Abusive minor hockey parents have always been a problem for the sport at the grass root levels, so it’s nice to see that VIAHA is finally taking a stand to protect its volunteers against abuse. Banning abusive parents from witnessing games is the proper tactic. If you, as a reader, are lucky enough to be able to have children who can play hockey, remember that everyone on the ice is doing the best they can, not just your child. Hopefully the message that abuse must stop will be received before a few bad apples ruin the experience for everyone.
Men’s volleyball finishes season in third place BEN CHESSOR After a rough final weekend of the season, the VIU Mariners’ men’s volleyball team is looking ahead to the Provincial Championship. The Mariners dropped their final two games of the regular season to their Island rivals, the Camosun Chargers. On Thursday, February 19 the Chargers came into the VIU gym and picked up the win in three sets: 25-19, 25-20, 25-16. A few nights later on Saturday, February 21 the Chargers once again defeated the Mariners in straight sets: 25-20, 25-22, 25-16.
THE NAVIGATOR The Mariners had won their last two games before playing the Chargers, as the team had picked up backto-back wins against the College of the Rockies Avalanche on Thursday, February 12 and Friday, February 13. The losses against the Chargers mean the Mariners will have to settle for third place in the PacWest standings. The Mariners finish the season with a record of 15-9, good for 30 points on the season. VIU will finish six points back of the Chargers (18-6) in the race for second place in the standings and a bye
into the semi-finals of the Provincials. The Douglas College Royals finished the season in first place in the standings with a record of 21-3. With the regular season over, the Mariners look towards the Provincial Championship which will be held February 26-28 in Victoria. The Mariners will take on the sixth place Capilano Blues in the first quarter finals. The Mariners finished the season with a perfect 4-0 record against the Blues. Capilano finished the year with a record of 5-19 on the season.
Men’s volleyball
GP
MW
ML
Pts
Douglas College Royals
24
21
3
42
Camosun College Chargers
24
18
6
36
Vancouver Island University Mariners
24
15
9
30
Columbia Bible College Bearcats
24
13
11
26
7 Fraser Valley University Cascades
24
7
17
14
Capilano University Blues
24
5
19
10
College of the Rockies Avalanche
24
5
19
10
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SPORTS 19
Men’s basketball dominates home finale BEN CHESSOR
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The VIU Mariners put on a clinic during their last home games of the season, picking up dominant victories over the visiting Columbia College Bearcats and Kwantlen University Eagles. With the victories,
the Mariners finished the season undefeated on home court in the PacWest this season, amassing a 10-0 record. On Friday, February 20 the Mariners took on the Columbia Bear-
cats. The Mariners dominated the game early, taking a 37-7 lead after the first quarter. They expanded their lead in the second quarter, taking a 64-30 lead into halftime. The Mariners’ offense continued
Men’s basketball
GP
W
L
Pts
Vancouver Island University Mariners
19
18
1
36
Langara College Falcons
19
16
3
32
Quest University Kermodes
19
14
5
28
Douglas College Royals
19
10
9
20
Camosun College Chargers
19
8
11
16
Capilano College Blues
19
6
13
12
Kwantlen University Eagles
19
2
17
4
Columbia Bible College Bearcats
19
2
17
4
to roll in the second half as they scored 120 points for the first time this season, picking up the 121-59 win over the Bearcats. The Mariners’ offensive outburst continued the next day against the Kwantlen Eagles. The game was tight early on, but the Mariners finished the first quarter with a big run to take a 33-13 lead. In the second quarter, the Mariners jumped out to an early 42-14 lead. At halftime, they had a 67-29 lead. VIU managed to surpass the 100-point barrier before the fourth quarter even began. As the team led 103-48 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Mariners surpassed their season high in points, which they set the previous day, with a 136-63 win over the Kwantlen Eagles. The Mariners
outscored their opponents over the weekend 257-122. The Mariners have an 18-1 record, good for 36 points on the season. The Mariners are four points ahead of the second place Langara Falcons, who have a 16-3 record on the season. The Mariners don’t play any other home games this year, but the team does have two more games on the road before the Provincial Championships. Their last games are on Friday, February 27 against the Capilano Blues and Saturday, February 28 against the Quest Kermodes. The Mariners will also be the top seed at the Provincial Championships, which will be held in Abbotsford from March 5-7.
Women’s volleyball rolling into Provincials BEN CHESSOR The VIU Mariners’ women’s volleyball team ended the regular season with a loss as the team dropped their final game of the regular season against the Camosun Chargers on Saturday, February 21. The two teams split the first four sets with the Chargers taking the first set 25-21 and the third set 25-19. The Mariners captured the second set 25-16 and forced a fifth set with a 25-21 victory in the fourth. But, ultimately, the Chargers came out victorious, dominating the final set 15-4. The loss to Camosun snapped the Mariners’ eight-game winning streak. VIU hadn’t lost a match since January 23. The Mariners and Chargers also faced off in the last home game for VIU on Thursday, February 19.
THE NAVIGATOR The Mariners opened the match by taking the first set 25-18. VIU then took a quick stranglehold on the match by picking up a 25-21 victory in the second set. A tightly contested third set went to a tie-breaker before the Chargers kept the match alive with a dramatic 28-26 victory. But, in
the end, the Mariners came out strong, dominating the set and sending the fans home happy with a 25-13 victory in the fourth set. The loss was just the third for the Chargers all season. The Mariners finished the PacWest regular season with a record of 16-8, good for 32 points
and third place in the PacWest standings. The Mariners finished two points behind the Capilano Blues for second place in the standings. Next up for the Mariners is the Provincial Championships, which will be held February 26-28 in Victoria. At the Provincials, the
Mariners will take on the sixth place Douglas Royals in the quarter finals. Douglas finished the season with a record of 6-18 on the season. The Mariners will come into the Provincials full of confidence as the team won 12 of their last 14 games going into the tournament.
Women’s volleyball
MP
MW
ML
Pts
Camosun College Chargers
24
21
3
42
Capilano University Blues
24
17
7
34
Vancouver Island University Mariners
24
16
8
32
Fraser Valley University Cascades
24
13
11
26
College of the Rockies Avalanche
24
11
13
22
Douglas College Royals
24
6
18
12
Columbia Bible College Bearcats
24
0
24
0
Clippers clinch Island Division, await playoffs BEN CHESSOR
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As the British Columbia Hockey League season is entering its final weekend, the Nanaimo Clippers still await an opponent for the first round of the playoffs. The Clippers celebrated Family Day with a 5-2 victory over the Powell River Kings. The win clinched the BCHL’s Island Division, the team’s first division title since 2008. The division title ensures that the Clippers will open the playoffs at home on Tuesday, March 3 at Frank Crane Arena. The Clippers will have to wait until the regular season ends to know who they will play in the opening round. Only five points separate second place for fourth in the Island Division.
On the ice, the Clippers suffered their first three-game losing streak of the season during the team’s interior road trip on February 13, 14, and 15. First, The Clippers dropped a 4-2 decision to the top ranked Penticton Vees. The next night, Nanaimo opened the scoring in Vernon on a Jake Jackson powerplay goal. But Nanaimo couldn’t muster any more offense, falling 4-1 to the hometown Vipers. Nanaimo ended the road trip with another 4-1 loss the next day, this time to the West Kelowna Warriors. The Clippers returned home on February 20 to take on the Powell River Kings in the team’s second-to-last home game
BCHL Island Division Standings
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
Nanaimo
56
37
16
0
3
77
Victoria
55
26
18
1
10
63
Powell River
56
26
20
1
9
62
Alberni Valley
55
26
23
2
4
58
Cowichan Valley
56
20
32
2
2
44
20 SPORTS
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of the season. The Clippers took a 2-0 lead midway through the first period on goals by Cole Maier and Nicholas Gushue, but Nick Halagian got the Kings on the board before the end of the period to cut the Clippers’ lead to 2-1. Nanaimo took the game over in the second period. First, Jake Jackson finished off a beautiful passing play to put the Clippers up 3-0 five minutes into the second. Three minutes later, Devin Brosseau fired his 11th goal of the season past Kings start, Brett Magnus, to give the Clippers a 4-1 lead. In the third period, the Clippers got goals from Jacob Hanlon and Sheldon Rhemple to secure a 6-1 over the Kings. The Clippers’ victory came in front of 2148 fans, a season high for attendance. Guillaume Decelles made 33 saves in net for the Clippers to pick up his 34th win of the season. Decelles leads all BCHL goaltenders in wins. The Clippers have one home game left before the end of the regular season: February 27 against the visiting Victoria Grizzlies. The Clippers will also be at home for playoff games on Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4. Puck drop for all games is at 7 pm. Tickets are available at the door prior to puck drop or at the Clippers’ team store located at Beban Park.
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Women’s basketball powered by comeback victory BEN CHESSOR
THE NAVIGATOR The Mariners’ women’s basketball team picked up the come-frombehind victory in their final home game of the season over the visiting Kwantlen University Eagles on Saturday, February 21. The two teams ended the first quarter tied 10-10 and traded possession of the lead early in the second quarter. But as the quarter progressed, the Eagles started to pull ahead and took a 29-24 lead into halftime. In the second half, the Mariners chipped away at Kwantlen’s lead, but the Eagles still held a 41-40 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter.
Drew McLachlan
In the fourth, VIU completed the comeback, taking the lead early in the fourth quarter and never relinquishing it. The Mariners outscored Kwantlen 19-7 in the final quarter and picked up the 59-48 win. The day before, the Mariners picked up a victory over the visiting Columbia Bible College Bearcats. The game was tight through the first quarter, but the Mariners jumped out to a 36-26 lead at halftime. VIU stretched their lead to 56-38 with a dominating third quarter en route to the 65-45 win over the Bearcats.
The Mariners finished their home schedule with a record of 8-2 on the season. The Mariners’ 16-3 record gives the team 32 points on the season. The team currently sits in second place in the PacWest standings. The Mariners’ final two games of the season are on Friday, February 27 against the Capilano Blues and Saturday, February 28 against the Quest Kermodes. The Mariners will then prepare for the Provincial Championships, which will be held March 5-7 in Abbotsford.
Women’s basketball
PL
W
L
Pts
Quest University Kermodes
19
19
0
38
Vancouver Island University Mariners
19
16
3
32
Douglas College Royals
19
12
7
24
Capilano University Blues
19
10
9
20
Camosun College Chargers
19
9
10
18
Kwantlen University Eagles
19
5
14
10
Columbia Bible College Bearcats
19
3
16
6
Langara College Falcons
19
2
17
4
Buccaneers returning home in search of win BEN CHESSOR
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The playoffs have started in the VIJHL, and the Nanaimo Buccaneers are locked in a series against the Comox Valley Glacier Kings. The winner of the best-of-seven series moves on to the league’s semi-finals, and the loser sees their season end early. The Buccaneers got off to a good start in the series, winning game one of the series on the road 5-2 in Comox Valley on Tuesday, February 17. The Buccaneers opened the scoring in game one on a goal by Garrick Heathcote less than four minutes into the game. Then Quinlan Moore scored with just nine seconds left in the first period to give Nanaimo a 2-0 lead after the first period. The Buccaneers got two goals in the second period to put the game out of reach. First, Jordan Levesque scored on the powerplay to put Nanaimo up 3-0. Then, Trent Bell added a shorthanded goal before the end of the period to give Nanaimo a big 4-0 lead heading into the third period. The teams were back in action for game two in Nanaimo on Thursday, February 19. The two teams entered the third period of game two tied at 2-2. In the third period, the Glacier Kings took their first lead of the game on a shorthanded goal by Dylan Sampson. But Levesque scored for Nanaimo with just over five minutes to play to send the game into overtime. But overtime lasted just 47 seconds as Grayden McInnes fired a one-timer past Buccaneers starter Jakob Severson to tie the series. Game three was on Saturday, February 21 in Comox. This time it was the hometown Glacier Kings who jumped out a big league. Comox Valley scored four first-period goals to take a 4-0 lead. Nanaimo fought back throughout the game, even cutting the score to 4-3 on a goal by Joe Gage midway through the third period. But Comox captain and former
Drew McLachlan Buccaneer Derian Hamilton scored an empty net goal with one second to play to give Comox Valley the 5-3 victory. Game four of the series is set to take place in Nanaimo on Monday, February 23 at 7 pm. The Buccaneers will be looking for a big victory, as they don’t want to find themselves down 3-1 in a seven-game series for the second straight year. Last season, they won the first game of their series against the
Campbell River Storm before losing the next three games of the series and ultimately being eliminated in six games. If the Buccaneers win on Monday night or Wednesday night in Comox, they are guaranteed to play game six in Nanaimo on Thursday, February 26 at 7:15 pm. All Buccaneer home games are played at the Nanaimo Ice Centre located across from the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.
VIJHL North Division Standings
GP
W
L
T
OTL
Pts
Campbell River
48
39
4
1
4
83
Comox Valley
48
23
19
1
5
52
Nanaimo
48
22
18
3
5
52
Oceanside
48
7
38
2
1
17
No 11
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SPORTS 21
Odds & Ends Comic by Jon Hiebert
Comic by Rio Trenaman
ODDS & ENDS 22
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No 11
February
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
25
26
27
28
Business Networking Lunch and Learn
New Faculty Connections
Midnight In Paris: Speakeasy
Fibber Magees, 131 Selby St
VIU Nanaimo campus, bldg 305 (library), rm 509
To Light A Candle: Canadian premiere of documentary by Mazir Bahari
FREE 11:45 AM – 1 PM
FREE 8 – 9:30 AM
VIU Cowichan campus, Auditorium FREE
Nanaimo Entertainment Centre, 46 Nicol St $15 (tickets available <eventbrite.ca>) 9 PM – 2:30 AM
7 – 10 PM
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
Spring Sundays at Milner Gardens
From The Maritimes: Lennie Gallant
Karma Yoga
Simonholt, 6582 Applecross Rd
Live At Longwood: Emma Plant, David Buchanen, and Steve Gordfrey
First Friday Art Night: Julie Dives – Blue Poppy and The Bees Knee’s Community Café
Boards Games Afternoon
Milner Gardens and Woodland, 2179 West Island Hwy
Science & Technology Lecture Series: Rats About Town
Longwood Brew Pub, 5775 Turner Rd
208 Wallace St
$5.25 (students $3.15) every Sunday until March 29, 11 AM – 3:30 PM
Bent Tree Wellness, 123 Nicol St
by donation $30 door / $26 advance at Simonholt, Cranky 5:30 – 6:30 Dog, and Fascinating Rhythm
FREE 7 – 8 PM
09
10
Swing Into Spring with VIU Music Students and Nanaimo Daybreak Rotary Club
Work Harder Not Smarter: Ease Your Reference Pain
Classical Coffee Concert Series with Sarah Hagen & Friends
VIU Nanaimo campus, bldg 305 (library), rm 503
The Port Theatre, 125 Front St
$45 (includes entertainment, dancing, and gourmet appetizers)
Cost N/A
FREE 5 – 9 PM
Harbourfront Library, 90 Commercial St FREE 1 – 4 PM
8 PM
8 PM (early show)
08
Beban Auditorium, 2300 Bowen Rd
VIU Nanaimo campus, bldg 356 rm 109
FREE
$27.50 (students $15)
1:15 – 2:45 PM
10:30 AM
7:30 – 11 PM
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