The Navigator Vol 47 Issue 10 by The Navigator Newspaper

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Vol 47

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navigator VA NCOU V ER ISL A ND U NI V ERSIT Y ST U DEN T PR ESS

Scars of love at Neck Point

Dinner and a view

Date movies

The first thing my girlfriend wants is a picture together, but in the aged cement beneath our feet, we find something else to photograph: the first of many scars of Neck Point.

Instead of Netflix, why not get outside and talk to your partner. Spending time outside with your loved ones can be invigorating regardless of the weather.

Ten movies that may make great Valentine's Day dates (or effectively ruin them).

contents

news

features 08

08 04 Earth: Shawnigan Everyday Lake community watershed at risk

08 Editorials

arts 14 08 08 04 Kindergarten: Da Bin Ich Wieder The Danish Girl movie review

VIU professor to speak about Indian residential schools

Mulan: Better with percussion

You jelly, bro?

A welcome change of scenery: One act plays at the Malaspina Theatre

06 Vandana Shiva coming to Victoria

Point of VIU

Make your own of Nanaimo's newest museum exhibit

Don't ask me where I am; I'm using a GPS

16 The best and worst movies to watch on Valentine's Day

The MUNsters are at it again

18 BCHL refs put to the test with Grizzlies in town Nama'spray: De-stressing yoga mat spray

VIU Services: Advising Centre

sports & lifestyle

19 08 04 schedule Mariners' Mental Health Matters: Female sex bias and mental illness

20 Dinner and a view

The strange street names of Nanaimo

Don't go melting my heart

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Scars of love at Neck Point

23 Calendar

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letters

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CONTRIBUTORS Sacia Burton Michael Robert Caditz Chris Dwyer Reid Eccles John Hill Leah Laberge

Zoe Lauckner Jeff Sieniewicz Spenser Smith Chantelle Spicer

You don’t have to be a journalist to get published in the Navigator. We encourage creators to submit poetry, art, comics, photo essays, editorial cartoons, and coverage of events on campus. Send any inquiries or content to <editor@thenav.ca> or visit <thenav.ca>.

THE NAVIGATOR IS Molly Barrieau Editor-in-Chief

Emily Johnston Graphic Designer

Antony Stevens Associate Editor

Avery Crosson Graphic Designer

Kaytee Davis Art Director

Gabby Fleming Ad/Sales Rep

Natalie Gates News Editor

Shaina Bolduc Ad/Sales Rep

Catherine Charlebois Sports & Lifestyle Editor

Megan Wolfe Social Media Sp.

Brendan Barlow Arts Editor

Lynne Williams Bookkeeper

Kelly Whiteside Production Manager

Christine Franic Business Manager

Lori Shwydky Copy Editor

900 Fifth St. Bldg. 193, rm. 217 Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5 T: 250-753-2225 F: 250-753-2257

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THE NAVIGATOR WELCOMES READER CONTRIBUTIONS

All submissions must be original work of the author. Editors reserve the right to refuse submissions, and to edit for space or clarity. 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.

Congratulations to Izabel Kazenbroot-Guppy who won a pair of tickets to The Sheepdogs concert on February 21 at the Port Theatre. Corrections: In issue nine, the Navigator published “There has bean a conflict brewin’” and was not clear that the decision for Jumpin’ Java to leave campus was reached in a mutual agreement between VIU and the coffee shop. The Navigator incorrectly named the Board of Directors when quoting the communications of VIU. In “The case on VIU’s proposed new student fee,” the Navigator incorrectly named David Witty when quoting Ralph Nilson. All changes have been made to the online articles. Send any letters to <editor@thenav.ca>.

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editorials

Curvie and Ken Molly Barrieau Editor-in-Chief

Dear Mattel Inc., Hi. Yes, it’s me: former storyteller, fashion designer, and architect to the 11-inch disproportionate toy you so famously tout. I heard, after 57 years, you decided to switch things up this week, unveiling a new line of diverse and realistic dolls. These additions are now taller, shorter, and curvier than the original, boasting seven skin tones, 22 eye colours, and 24 new hairstyles. (I applaud you for finding over 20 different colours for dolls’ eyes.) First things first, that “Evolution of Barbie” commercial is a little underwhelming. The casting director really wowed with the one-of-every-colour group of girls, because I definitely remember my childhood playdates being that well-managed. Secondly, “girls know it doesn’t matter what shape you come in, that anything is possible”—as said by Tania Missad, Director of Consumer Insights—is probably the last thing girls are considering when their parent gifts them a short, curly, hazeleyed doll in denim shorts. Sure, your new Barbie can be a doctor, teacher, astronaut, or stay-at-home mom, and yes, she looks like your cousin, but anything was possible before you bought her and her motley cohort. As soon as these dolls hit the market, a quiet stir began to rumble in the stomachs of those unrepresented in the launch, especially Ken. If Barbie wants to relate to as many women as possible, then surely her man must mirror the expectation, thus creating Dad Bod Ken. Sayonara six pack—make room for soft, round-bellied Ken holding a beer.

Once #DadBodKen hit the social media fan, the slactivists took to the keys, asking for overweight Barbie, post-partum belly Barbie, and even a transgender doll. If you’re going to include some, you need to include all women. However, these well-meaning internet citizens are not your target demo, am I right, Mattel? I’m not sure about other kids, but my Barbies slept around, left clothes on their bedroom floor, fought with their Kens, and made an obscene amount of Barbie-sized pancakes fresh from my own human-sized kitchen. Their friends cut their hair and changed their name to Adam because Ken went AWOL, taking his place in the relationship, and then fatally lost their heads, limbs, and toes during a homicidal sugar-high. And I turned out to be a healthy, self-loving, and selfconscious woman. I didn’t look at her extraordinary legs and hate mine in response; I simply made her a cool homemade sock dress, ruining my mismatched collection. Nonetheless, I do support your revamped idea to appeal to my generation, who will soon be having children, and I will nostalgically want to get my (female- or male-identifying) child the doll they want. And if they want a tall, slender, busty blonde, or a short, curvy, bright-eyed dark-skinned doll, I will let them decide. So, Mattel, when’s the busted up Hot Wheels Oldsmobile with a missing tail light coming to the market to encourage kids not to expect a Mustang when they grow up? Yours truly, Molly Barbie-loving Barrieau.

STOP STOPPING THE PRESSES Antony Stevens Associate Editor

EDI TOR I A L S

It was January 2015 when I thought I had my foot in the door in my niche videogame journalism sector. I was just starting to write for <Canada.com> and was selected to be a core contributor there, catching the eye of the relevant editor with the National Post. Not three weeks later, I received a message from my editor saying <Canada. com> was going into limbo and that he was going to be temporarily migrated into the National Post. He didn’t say it, but I knew right away I was shit out of luck. Over the next 12 months, Postmedia, the mega-conglomerate newspaper network that owns the Vancouver Sun, the Province, and a myriad of other publications, announced layoffs every couple months until finally announcing that it would be merging newsrooms at the end of January this year. I know how I felt losing a volunteer contributor gig—it must not have felt much better to find out your newspaper is no longer your newspaper. Barely a week after the last Postmedia news, the Nanaimo Daily News, one of our two daily locals, announced it would be closing its doors after over a century of publication. VIU Journalism professor Rich Dunstan spoke to CBC about the news, saying, “Nothing stays the same—not even newspapers.” That’s something I can deeply attest to as a writer and editor for the Nav. We constantly cycle staff as people graduate or otherwise move on, so the vision for different sections and for the paper as a whole is different every year, sometimes every semester. It’s not

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just a visual overhaul, but a change in personality. When I started this position as associate, I knew what I wanted to do differently than my predecessor Alexandria. She was amazing at what she did and I didn’t want to just fill the gap. Our Editor-in-Chief slash O’ Captain My Captain told me that her vision for the paper was more magazine-like than it has ever been. So, for my third, once again drastically different, spread, I wrote a sardonic piece about love and the Singularity—not your typical newspaper fare. One of the things that makes VIU interesting is its hybrid Creative Writing and Journalism program. Typically, in other schools, the programs would be separated by a 10-foot pole, but here they’re complementary, and what feature articles end up being is somewhere in-between journalism and creative non-fiction. It’s strange, but a hell of a lot of fun. I just want to make sure you readers are enjoying it. If you’re not, let us know. We got a lot of great reception on some of the news stories we ran last issue, but what about the rest? If we’re not covering something you want us to, then pitch it, or send us your stab at it. As a reader, this newspaper should be your newspaper just as much as it is ours. I don’t want you to feel like you’ve lost your newspaper. So keep in touch—we’re right here.

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VIU PROFESSOR TO SPEAK ABOUT INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS John Hill

The Indian Residential School (IRS) system has become more Contributor familiar to Canadians in recent years, but the terrible aims of the schools, the abuses that occurred there, and the sheer scale of the project remain hard to grasp. At 10 a.m. on February 19 in the Malaspina Theatre, Professor Laurie Meijer Drees of VIU’s Department of First Nations Studies will give a presentation on residential schools as part of the Arts and Humanities Colloquium series. For more than 100 years, continuing until the 1990s, over 150 thousand First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were removed from their homes and sent to government-funded, church-run residential schools with a clear goal: “To eliminate parental involvement in the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development of Aboriginal children,” as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) explains on its website. This familial and cultural fracture resulted in a lasting trauma, both for the individuals involved and for the broad community of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The TRC, established as part of the settlement that won when former IRS students successfully took the government and churches to court, the body was tasked with finding the

truth of what happened in these schools, and with inspiring healing and reconciliation in all Canadians. Its final report was published in December 2015. Meijer Drees, who holds a doctorate from the University of Calgary, worked for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a researcher for its Missing Children and Unmarked Burial Project. Entitled “Why We ‘Care:’ Thoughts on Canada’s Indian Residential School History, Medical Care, Consent, and the Law,” her talk will investigate the significance of that TRC Final Report and will offer an overview of residential schools, published histories, the work of the TRC, and recent community-based initiatives. In addition, Meijer Drees uses newly-released details gained from her work as a TRC researcher and oral historian to illustrate and share perspectives on why the need to care about this history remains important. Meijer Drees notes that the report supports and builds on the survivor testimonies that have so far provided our insights into these institutions. On the positive side, she sees that Canadian citizens have responded to the TRC’s work with a variety of community-based public initiatives aimed at increasing wider appreciation and understanding

of this history, ranging from blogs to workshops, cultural events, and public lectures: Canadians’ efforts to cast light on this history are now gaining momentum. Nevertheless, Meijer Drees speaks of the “dark shadow” that the residential school system continues to cast over the nation, and observes that “despite the TRC’s efforts to acknowledge and record residential school experiences, impacts, and consequences, many gaps in our collective understanding of these institutions still exist.” Part of the problem is the fact that the multifaceted history of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools is very complex, and the sheer volume of this material in itself poses a challenge to our collective understanding and action. The new National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg houses seven thousand video statements of survivors and intergenerational survivors of the schools, and millions of documents from government and churches. Meijer Drees questions how we make sense of these “schools” and what happened in them, and who should be interested in these histories and why.

Make your own of Nanaimo’s newest museum exhibit Catherine Charlebois

Nestled in the back, past the Bathtub The Navigator Race relics and the First Nations art display, lives the Nanaimo Museum’s latest exhibition: Characters, Con Men, and Celebrities. Featuring 30 historic Nanaimo residents in 200 words or less, the exhibit has all sorts, from the prominent, like Mayor Frank Ney, to the lesser-known, like early 1900s brothel madame Millie Clayton. The exhibit, running from February 1 to May 7, hopes to inspire museumgoers to draw their own conclusions. “It’s about the people that didn’t make it in traditional exhibits,” says Aimee Greenaway, Nanaimo Museum’s Interpretation Curator. “Our subjects are people that didn’t fit into regular research.” From BC’s first African American school teacher, to a Chinatown entrepreneur, to the infamous Brother XII mistress Madame Zee, the exhibit is one that highlights the overlooked and seeks to let the public decide which categories its subjects fall into, whether it be a character, con man, or celebrity.

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The lack of archival matters available for this exhibit had the museum staff create art inspired by some of the biographies in lieu of the traditional picture and biography. The biggest challenge, says Greenaway, was presenting the facts carefully to let the audience decide for themselves. “With so many different people from high profile to petty thieves, we had to be careful about presenting the information,” says Greenaway. “We hope to eventually take these biographies and incorporate them into the pre-existing exhibit.” Museum visitors are encouraged to visit the Nanaimo Museum’s Facebook page to vote on their favourite, or submit their answer in person via the slot box at the museum. The Nanaimo Museum is hosting a presentation for the exhibit on February 16 and April 2 from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Pre-registration is required and costs $5 per person. For more information, visit <nanaimomuseum. ca> or call 250-753-1821. Displayed in prominence on Nanaimo Museum’s sign are some of Nanaimo’s greats. Natalie Gates

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VANDANA SHIVA COMING TO VICTORIA: HOW A. NEW AGRICULTURE CAN MOVE US. INTO THE FUTURE. Chantelle Spicer Many questions and

concerns are being raised regarding food security on a global scale, as well as on our Island. With the costs of fruits and vegetables noticeably on the rise, it is becoming a reality affecting our diets and wallets. More and more, people are beginning to realize that the value of food lies not only in the fact that it keeps us alive—though that is very important. Food systems not only keep us healthy, but also, if done in non-industrial methods, increases the health of the land and communities who use it. It is really a whole new way of viewing ourselves and food as a living part of the planet. A major player in this movement is Vandana Shiva, a doctor of quantum physics from India, who recognized a need for the continuing of traditional systems within this increasingly industrialized world—a peace that needed to be created not only through the act of farming itself. This included a celebration of the earth’s natural diversity with accessibility to knowledge regarding the land and organic farming practices, which had been lost. By encouraging this, a symbiotic relationship could be formed between farmer and land, which would work to heal the wounds created by years of chemical dependency under the Green Revolution. At the heart, states Shiva, is the idea that “seeds are the first link in the food chain and the repository of life’s future evolution,” which is based on re-establishing the access to natural seeds for farmers everywhere. Shiva’s passionate viewpoints on agricultural globalization has spawned grassroot organizations worldwide which educate the general public on the importance of organic growing, which nurtures the cyclic dependency that humans and natural well-being have with each other. Traditional agricultural practices on a global scale may help secure a stable food supply for all people into the future. Her efforts support the ideals of ancient Indian texts, some dating back to 2500 bc, that impart the significance of agriculture once held within these societies. The land and its proper utilization, including seed collection, sowing, planting, and disease management held an important position for traditional farmers of these times. This art of cultivation has been handed down from one

Contributor

“In nature’s economy the currency is not money—it is life.”

generation to the next through folk songs, rituals, riddles, and proverbs. With the onslaught of modernization in agriculture, the old values have fast disappeared except in tribal cultures. The issues of agriculture and its adaptations for climate change are incredibly complex issues and require the implementation of solutions and adjustments that may come from unexpected places. Traditional agricultural systems were the product of centuries of accumulated experience which included an understanding of ecological limitations as well as the socioeconomic structures around them. By rekindling this relationship, societies may be given the chance to better adapt to our changing world. By empowering citizens around the world to revolt against large corporations which support the inadaptable, monoculture styles of agriculture, Vandana Shiva is assisting in this shift. Recognizing the destruction of our relationship to the land, Shiva states: “We have taken the idea of industrialization and imposed it everywhere to deny the processes of actual creation, production and reproduction…shifting this ideal might bring down corporate power and monopolies, bringing about a reclassification of what wealth means in relation to human well-being.” The success of Vandana Shiva’s revolution is hard to quantify. However, the real impact Shiva is making is with her campaign to bring awareness and education to the people of the world. Having

Vandana Shiva at Navdanya Learning Centre in India.

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<navdanya.org>

published 20 books and numerous journal articles, along with being the recipient of 22 awards since 1993, she has been touted as the voice of Mother Earth and proclaimed an “eco-goddess” by many. Through this global acclaim she has acquired from her science-based and compassionate voice, she has begun a true revolution in the minds of people around the world. It is in these thoughts that true change can happen through the questioning of progress, reconnecting to our natural ecological systems, and respecting life itself expressed in the form of a seed. Shiva will be in Victoria on Monday, February 29 at the Farquhar Auditorium on the UVic campus. The event will be held from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in collaboration with Harmony Foundation, LifeCycles, and UVic’s Institute for Studies and Innovation in Community University Engagement. A discussion on the connectedness of food systems to the environment and communities will wrap up with questions. This will also include information on how you can connect with local movements and food initiatives. Shiva will also be available for book signings. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at <www.tickets.uvic.ca>.

<ecotrust.org>

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The MUNsters are at it again Natalie Gates

IInspired by VIU’s Model United Nations (MUN) club, students will The Navigator soon have the opportunity to earn academic credit from a new MUN course. Dedicated to training students to participate in conferences, as well as develop attributes such as public speaking and diplomacy, MUN encourages students to engage with topics of global politics and develop skills for further studies or professional work. The new three-credit course will begin in September, as the MUN Executive team has been working with political studies professor Mark Williams over the past several months to develop the content. “My motivation for developing a model UN course came from the positive feedback that I was hearing from VIU students about MUN,” Williams said. “The club was growing rapidly and the students had so much passion for participating in these simulations. Students were putting in a lot of working hours to prepare for the summits, entirely on their own time, and I thought that they should have the opportunity to get course credit at least once during their program of study.” Since members of the VIU MUN club come from any field of study—currently there are students from Political Studies, Global Studies, History, Computer Science, Biology, and Economics to name a few—the MUN course will be offered to all students who have at least second-year standing. “We wanted to make sure anyone on campus could take this course, as it would be fantastic training for Model UN conferences,” said VIU MUN Acting President Shantel Beute. Students are not required to be part of the club if they enroll in the course, but it would be

VIU URGED TO TAKE ACTION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

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The VIU MUN delegation at the 2016 UBC MUN conference in January.

beneficial in order to attend conferences with the VIU delegation, Beute said. The VIU MUN club started off with a bang this semester by attending the UBC MUN conference at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver from January 8-10 with its largest delegation yet. “The big difference in this trip to UBC was not only the size of our delegation, but the fantastic diplomacy and skilled debate shown by VIU’s delegates,” said Beute. Beute stated that she is seeing progress in the club as members grow their confidence in participating in debates and discussion. “We now have many veteran members which we can confidently pass the torch to when the current senior students graduate,” she said.

It could be considered a miracle that all 193 countries at the September The Navigator 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Summit agreed to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 sub-targets. Maybe, if that is possible, is it possible to actually attain all these goals by their 2030 deadline? Highlighting the new political landscape in Canada, members from the BC Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) asked VIU students and members of the public this question after their presentation during VIU’s International Development week on February 1. The BCCIC is a civil society organization that networks people, groups, and organizations in BC working towards sustainable development, with the vision to engage all British Columbians in global citizenship and issues. SDGs are built on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) created at the turn of the century, which were aspired to be reached by 2015, but were not completed. The eight MDGs established universally-agreed upon objectives for things such as eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, preventing deadly but treatable disease, and expanding educational opportunities to all children. Born out of a more collaborative and universal approach, the 17 new SDGs are more expansive and include social, environmental, and economic pillars that the MDGs did not. At the VIU event, BCCIC communications officer Kareen Wong asked the audience whether the SDGs are idealistic, realistic, or both. When asked to illustrate by a show of hands who thought the SDGs are achievable, the verdict was split. One reason for the doubt surrounding the SDGs may be the fact that some individual goals appear to contradict each other, but “these tensions and contradictions in the SDGs inspire action and aspirational thinking,” claimed BCCIC Event Coordinator Dan Harris.

Natalie Gates

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Sarah Abdulkafi

The delegation plans to attend both the UBC and UVic conferences again next year, but would also like to look into the potential for an international conference or the possibility to host another Model UN Conference for high school students as we did in 2011 and 2006, Beute explained. Until then, the club is always open to new members. “We are always looking for eager students to take on an executive position, as it is important to foster leadership in the students of our club,” said Beute. Meetings currently take place Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. in bldg. 356, rm. 336. Email <mun.viu@gmail.com> for more information.

Wong explained that the SDGs are about the acknowledgment that these issues are universal and not confined to borders. “We are all developing countries now,” she said. “It’s about public life, expressing interests and value to others, and growing democracy,” she said. BCCIC Board of Directors member Colleen Hanley highlighted the “fundamental shift” on these issues that took place on October 19 with the election of Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party, stating that while the Conservatives did not accept universality, the Liberals now do. She explained that Canada’s growing involvement in climate, putting forth an inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women, and taking leadership roles by encouraging others to join movements is essential to making progress with the SDGs. “If Canada can do it, other countries can as well,” she said. “We’re all in this together.” Yet, politicians do not hold all of the answers, as partisan burdens on society will always have the potential to cause challenges. To combat this, the responsibility falls to civil society to act as a “check and balance,” Wong said. She explained that BCCIC is an important resource for British Columbians to get involved and take actions to work towards these goals because BC is not a hub for international development. “Achieving these goals will be super tough, but I believe we can do it,” she said. While the new political landscape is a starting point to Canadians making progress with the SDGs, it is each of our individual actions that will make the real impact, said Hanley. “Get involved, contact your MPs, just do something.” You can contact BCCIC by emailing <info@ bccic.ca> or visit their website, <bccic.ca>, for more information. For more information on the SDGs, visit <sustainabledevelopment.un.org>.

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EVERYDAY EARTH:

Shawnigan Lake community watershed at risk Chantelle Spicer

It doesn’t get more everyday earth than Contributor water. Water is our most valuable resource—giver and taker of life—and I am searching to get to know it better. After researching and writing last issue’s column, “Going with the flow,” I realized I could not examine issues surrounding watersheds in the Vancouver Island area without examining the turmoil over the Shawnigan Lake watershed. In the summer of 2015, many community watersheds of eastern Vancouver Island, including those in Nanaimo and Parksville, were under water-usage restrictions, proving how vulnerable they are to climatic conditions. So why is it that so many watersheds, such as the one in Shawnigan, are facing increased pressures of contamination due to human decisions? As has been evidenced by previous years of droughts and higher-thanaverage temperatures, the value of these waters as a vital resource will only become more prevalent. During the last year, many news articles, media reports, blogs, and Facebook posts have chronicled the situation happening with our southern neighbours in their quest for safe drinking water and healthy waterways. Protesters wave signs, speeches are made by residents and corporations, and deeply held values about the quality of water (in terms of natural, spiritual, or literal value of the resource) are shaken. Perhaps even more tragically, deeply held beliefs that the provincial government is looking out for its residents and lands are destroyed. Let’s go back in time: A gravel pit supplies tiny, fractured rocks to many corners of the Island for multiple uses, as managed by Cobble Hill Holdings. Many of these pits exist on the Island, all governed under the Mines Act of 1996. This particular pit resides on land which is 5.2 km up-slope from Shawnigan Lake, a body which supplies the nearby community with clean, quality drinking water. Adjacent to the pit is Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) parkland, which is used by wildlife and area residents alike. The park is a rural, tranquil home to eight thousand residents within the Shawnigan Lake area whom, in 2012, had no idea they were to be thrust into the global spotlight in regards to the value of clean water and the dishonesty of industry and government. In early 2012, a permit was requested by Cobble Hill Holdings/South Island Aggregates (SIA) to begin dumping soil contaminated with hydrocarbons, phenols, arsenic, lead, and chlorids from Victoria harbour into their active rock quarry.

The request sat in contrast to the legislation of the Mines Act, which required developers to remediate pits with clean soil only. The company explained to both the concerned Shawnigan citizens and government that a geological consultant, Active Earth, had tested the area and found the bedrock to be made of impermeable granite. To further reassure citizens, the company offered to protect from leaching by lining the dump with clay and a rubber blanket, making it impervious for over 10 thousand years. The permit was granted in March 2012, allowing for the disposal of 100 thousand tonnes of contaminated soil every year for the next 50—a total of five million tonnes of toxic soil—and SIA would begin profiting from the disposal of their difficult chemical burdens. Shortly after permit’s approval, the Shawnigan Residence Association (SRA) received information from a whistle-blower within SIA that the information the company had provided was inaccurate and potentially dangerous. In response to this, the SRA hired their own independent hydro-geologist who found that the bedrock, which had been under the stress of the industry and explosives for years, was a bed of faults and fractures. With this new information, the SRA turned to the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the Environmental Appeals Board to shut down soil dumping operations. Instead of litigation, what the SRA found was an MoE ready to fight against them, and an Appeals Board working to protect SIA operations. This led SRA member Al Brunet to wonder what the overall benefit of the permit is that the MoE is willing to fight so hard for it at the cost of its own residents. Further information was leaked to the SRA in 2015 that an affiliation had been created between South Island Aggregates and their scientific consulting company, Active Earth. This raised pressing concerns regarding the validity of the scientific independence of the report, as well as the permit itself. Today, both the permit and the operations continue unabated. “We [Shawnigan],” Brunet says, “have come to realize it doesn’t matter what makes sense and what doesn’t.” The SRA turned to its own local community and the Supreme Court in search of justice. Currently, two actions against SIA exist, one with the SRA and one put into effect by CVRD, whom claims that SIA is not complying with local legislation which restricts the dumping of contaminated soil within the Valley. During all legal proceedings, SIA has continued to dump its toxic soils into the contested area.

The turmoil has created a community which extends beyond Shawnigan and into both Nanaimo and Victoria, as well as questions of government power and its commitment to environmental health. Many people in the area are sensitive to quality of water, loss of property value, and impending human health concerns which are intrinsically related to the health of the environment. It has also created a community which has strengthened through its resolve; on January 6, 2016, hundreds of people took to the streets to protest against dumping operations. After three years, the Shawnigan Lake issue is showing no signs of going away as neither the provincial government nor the community are willing to give up on their differing, deeplyseeded values. Citizens of Victoria have become increasingly concerned, as a portion of their own watershed, the Sooke Lake Reservoir, is connected to Shawnigan Lake through underground aquifers, showing—once again—that all water is connected. Our Island, like the rest of the world, is a web of connections through our waterways, both seen and unseen. The crisis surrounding Shawnigan Lake is precedent setting. Every other privately-owned water source, including our own Nanaimo Lakes Watershed, is at risk of reaching the same situation. Any gravel pit existing or being created in BC could become a site for dumping contaminated soils created by industry, regardless of environmental risk. A lot can be learned from what’s happening at Shawnigan Lake. One of the most important things is that the true value of water can never be monetary. It is a transient and vital force on the landscape upon which all life depends. Take time in the near future to visit a local body of water—whether ocean, marsh, river, or lake—and spend some time with it. Let your mind flow like the water itself, and remember how precious the relationship is. For all of its history, water has been a sign of community and well-being, the lifeblood which ties all people together and to the land. It would be amazing to see it return to this state. For more information on the Shawnigan Lake Watershed and the soil dump, please visit The Shawnigan Residence Association at <www. thesra.ca> where you can also donate to the cause or become a member. Or visit the blog of SRA Director at <www.soniafurstenau.ca>.

VIU Services: Advising Centre Kelly Whiteside The Navigator

You should never be afraid to ask for advice, whether it’s a personal health struggle or a tough course load at VIU. Advisors are there to help you through every step of your university career, from choosing a program, to solving problems, enriching your experience, and preparing you for graduation. As an incoming student, advisors will help you navigate the VIU website. They will research post-secondary education and training with you, as well as career options. Your advisors will take the time to get to know you, and work with you to determine your goals and create a plan that complements your needs. You will be informed of VIU policies, and student rights and responsibilities. As a continuing student, advisors will help show you opportunities available to you on campus. As you come across problems, they will be there to help you work through them and stay on track. It’s their goal to lead you to becoming self-regulated and self-directed, and to support you

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on that journey. If you are a student looking for advice, consider browsing the Advising tab on the VIU website or, even better, making an appointment with an advisor on campus. On the VIU website in the Advising area, you can find links to selfassessments, career possibilities, plan-makers, financial aid and awards, degree and diploma information, study skill tips, and more. Degree advisors are available for each program. A list of degree advisors can be found on the VIU website. The Advising Centre is located in bldg. 200 on the top floor. Advisors are available for drop-in appointments Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the exception of Wednesday, when advisors are available from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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features

POINT OF VIU JEFF SIENIEWICZ | CONTRIBUTOR .

“DO YOU FIND EMOTIONAL VALUE IN VALENTINE’S DAY OR IS IT SOLELY A CONSUMERIST HOLIDAY TO YOU?”

DARBY CRONAN

ZOE GRACE

SHANE TALLIO

DENISA KRAUS

KELSEY MAIS

Physical Education

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Digital Media Studies

Nursing

“I mean, it gives people an excuse to do something nice for someone else, but why not do that on the other days of the year anyway? Personally, I prefer February 15, as all the chocolate’s halfprice.”

“It doesn’t mean much to me. For example, I’m looking forward to Family Day more than Valentine’s Day. As a student, the day off gives me more time to catch up on work and enjoy the day.”

“I think it has value in both ways. But the stores definitely drive on our sentiment, take advantage of it, of how we are told to feel on that day, even if we feel the same year-round.”

“I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day really. Even when I have a boyfriend we keep it laid-back and just relax together.”

“I work in retail, so I see a lot of people going crazy with chocolates, or underwear with kisses on them, the works. But I also like to celebrate with my boyfriend, and I like how it gives people another reason to celebrate their love.”

YOU JELLY, BRO? Chris Dwyer

Immortality: the stuff of legend, myth, and fantasy. Contributor It’s the subject of countless works of fiction, deeply rooted in humanity’s fear and comprehension of its own limitations. But what if I told you that at this moment there are creatures in the murky depths of our oceans who possess such an ability? One question you have to ask yourself: Even if you could live forever, would you want to? Some would consider it man’s greatest achievement, but others an endless curse. Luckily, this conundrum has never crossed the mind of this animal—maybe due to the fact that it has no mind to cross, no brain, not even the hint of a centralized nervous system. In its place, a neural net, a sign of primitive origins. The creature in question is a jellyfish. Not just any jellyfish though, but an immortal jellyfish with an ability so unique that there is no other living organism that possesses it. Turritopsis dohrnii (T. dohrnii), aka the “Immortal Jellyfish” is, well, biologically immortal, as it is no more impervious to death by disease or the jaws of a shark than you or I. In fact, it even ages. It, too, has to cope with cellular degradation and the loss of its cells’ ability to repair themselves, eventually leading to decreased immune function as well as the impairment and even loss of some bodily functions. Like most jellies, it begins its life as a freeswimming tiny larvae known as a planula. These planula swim around and eventually settle on the sea floor or attach themselves to docks or pilings. Once settled, they give rise to an entire colony of branching polyps firmly attached and immobile. When fully developed, free-swimming “medusae” bud off from the polyps and begin feeding on various species of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Once fully grown and sexually mature, eggs develop in the walls of the female

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Courtesy of <amnh.org>

Immortal Jellyfish.

medusas’ manubrium (stomach and gonads) and the female is able to mate. If the eggs are fertilized by a male jellyfish, the fertilized zygote (egg) then develops into a planula and eventually settles its own genetically-unique polyp colony. This is where your normal, run-of-the-mill, gardenvariety jelly would age and eventually die, but T. dohrnii is able to revert back to its sessile-polyp form and give rise to tons of genetically-identical medusae, continuing the potentially endless cycle of biological immortality. This ability is thanks to transdifferentiation: the process of differentiated cells (cells which have already developed from undifferentiated cells or stem cells and become specialized cells) being transformed into completely different specialized cells. Because the tissue responsible for this process is found only in the bell surface (the bell being the aptly named “body” of the jellyfish) and circulatory canal system, transformation is characterized by deterioration of the nontransforming cell types such as the rest of the

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bell and tentacles. The remaining tissue begins to develop many of the same structures characteristic of the hydroid or sessile stage. When the planula develop into branching polyps, these medusaderived polyps also bud off into free-swimming medusae. However, this time they are genetically identical to the medusae stage before it—a ton of little, genetically-identical jellies to carry on its legacy. This result has been replicated in the laboratory. Some scientists were able to witness this cycle occur up to 11 times. Not only were they able to replicate and record these results, but they discovered that the medusae were able to revert back to their polyp stage at any point in their free-swimming lifecycle. From freshlybudded, tiny medusae under a millimetre in size, to much larger, sexually-mature examples who have previously mated, the T. dohrnii is unique in achieving biological immortality. Not exactly what you had in mind? Maybe there isn’t much to be jealous of when it comes to this jelly after all.

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features

DON’T ASK ME. WHERE I AM;. I’M USING A GPS. Michael Robert Caditz Contributor

The Navigator

A satellite found us.

Another drizzly Wednesday night in Vancouver. My Mount Pleasant evening is winding down as I leap into my car determined to catch the last ferry of the night back home to the Island. I’m counting on a trouble-free drive, otherwise I’m stranded in the big city overnight with nowhere to go and I’ll miss my morning Media class. Google Maps, on my phone with GPS, is there for me 90 per cent of the time—but not this time. I pull into still-heavy traffic, fumbling with my phone and barely managing to specify “BC Ferries Tsawwassen Terminal” as my destination. Nothing is working. The app is locked up and won’t recover. Although I’ve travelled the route 100 times, I’ve never paid attention to where I was going. Each trip I just play dumb and rely on the turnby-turn directions offered by my “trusty” GPS. With the GPS refusing to serve me this time, I’m left impotent and helpless with no idea how to get to the last ferry. My time is cut to the wire, and panic begins to set in. I have visions of spending hundreds on a hotel (or sleeping in my car) and ruining my chance for an A in my once-per-week class. I fumble with my phone while turning left and right, or just aimlessly going straight, praying that the GPS will somehow recover, become my friend again, and save the night. I inadvertently became caught up in a frenzy of heavy traffic leaving a gigantic stadium, and the GPS finally falls in line and guides me (at 130 km/hour) to the ferry just in the nick of time. I’m the last car on.

it’s a stormy, summer afternoon in northern new mexico. i’m relying upon gps to guide me from my home in santa fe to a camping trip in arizona. through the heavy rain, i just barely make out that i’m crossing the dam at abiquiu lake. suddenly my gps tells me to turn right. into the lake. i did not listen.

I’m driving cross-country, this time in Wyoming. Distances are vast; the sky is wide open. The GPS has chosen the “best” route for me, which I assume, by default, is also the fastest. The map offers some alternate routes that look mostly like squiggly lines, and my fingers struggle to expand and contract the map using my perfect multi-touch-squeeze-technique. It’s too difficult to see much on such a small screen, so I just accept the default route. Later, I flip to the textual turn-by-turn directions, hoping to see things more clearly, but all I see is “Left turn on 43rd St. 20 miles. Right on Broadway. 80 miles. Left on Main St.” No mention of what towns, county, state, or even country these streets are in. Finally, it dawns on me: I’m not supposed to know where I am or will be—I’m just supposed to input my destination,

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shut up, stop thinking, and follow the turn-byturn directions.

i’m on a 300 mile straightaway on interstate 90 in montana. i’m getting hungry and need to pee. why do I have this unreasonable desire for the gps to inform me of the distance and time to the upcoming cities on my route, so i can make an educated plan? and why do the turn-by-turn directions simply indicate “go for 300 miles” with no mention of what i am “going” over, through, or off?

I eventually became educated in my Media class (to which I somehow arrived, notwithstanding the failures of the GPS), and now I fully understand: When the explicit message is “Turn left,” the implicit message is “Think before you do it.” The media which conveys the messages are Google Maps and my phone. Together, these comprise the encoding context. Similarly, the decoding context should be able to unwrap the explicit and implicit messages, which should be received by me, the recipient, as, “I suggest turn left, but you need to check first if that’s what you really want to do (or whether you’d prefer to drive into a lake).” Now, on the other hand, when the explicit message is “Drive 100 miles, turn left, drive 50 miles, turn right…,” the implicit message is “Don’t think, just do it.” These messages, along with the media, comprise a different encoding context. The decoding context, therefore, needs to be different; and should be able to unwrap the messages; and they should be received by me as, “Just go where I say and don’t think about it. Make life easy for yourself. You’ll stay dry.” Each of these examples require the appropriate decoder: Either the think decoder or the don’t think decoder. Or perhaps, even better, I could design a single complex decoder (at the expense of simplicity) which delivers messages such as, “In general, don’t think about where you are going, but specifically engage in a last-second episode of thinking before driving into a lake.” And perhaps I need yet an additional decoder which unpacks an encoded message as, “While you’re following my directions and I make your trip simple and enjoyable, make sure to memorize each turn along the route, in detail, because next time I might malfunction” To avoid confusion, anger, frustration, expense, and missed Media classes when using Google Maps on your Android (and probably other types of phones as well), be prepared with several “decoders” and know when to use them. And don’t necessarily expect relaxation, enjoyment, or simplicity—nor to know where you are—unless you toss your phone into a lake and travel the good old-fashioned way.

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features

THE STRANGE STREET NAMES OF NANAIMO Spenser Smith “Spenser, you have two de-

liveries,” says Khoung, as he points at two tall paper bags stuffed with Chinese food, “The first one goes to 262 Twiggly Wiggly Rd. The second goes to 3338 Dingle Bingle Hill Rd.” Khoung goes back to peeling carrots. Meanwhile, I’m giggling to myself as I struggle to fit both bags in my arms. I start to wonder: Who came up with these wacky names? According to Nanaimo native Paul Gogo, former mayor Frank Ney is responsible. Gogo, the keyboardist for the band Trooper, wrote Ney’s biography, Frank Ney: A Canadian Legend. Ney served as Nanaimo’s mayor intermittently for 21 years from 1968 to 1990 and was known for his outlandish personality and penchant for dressing up as a pirate. As well as being the mayor, he was also a developer, which gave him the power to name streets. Gogo, in an interview with CBC, said that Ney would court investors by offering to name streets after them, or, in the case of names like Twiggly Wiggly, “He would just ask his kids to come up with funny names.” Leave it to a pirate mayor and his children to put their stamp on a city.

Contributor

1 — Bergen-Op-Zoom is a city in the Netherlands and is home to the Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery. Ney served in the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Airforce as a pilot in World War II. 2 — Bob-O-Link and Chick-a-Dee refer to bird species. 3 — Twiggly Wiggly the Magic Clown is a listed business in Nanaimo’s Yellow Pages. I think I know where Twiggly Wiggly the Magic Clown got his name from. 4 — Bowstring Close is part of Sherwood Forest, a neighbourhood where each street name is Robin Hood-related. Other street names in the neighbourhood include: Robin Hood Dr., King John Way, Nottingham Dr., and Locksley Pl.

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SCARS OF LOVE AT NECK POINT Antony Stevens The Navigator

It’s the first day of February and the morning radio show is already talking about Valentine’s Day. I guess “already” is disingenuous—they’ve been talking about the date since the department stores changed from Christmas decorations to candied hearts. I’m in the car on my way to Neck Point Park— listed in the top three of “Things to Do in Nanaimo” according to Trip Advisor, and what one user called their “favourite park on the Island”—and the weather is as gloomy as a late winter morning gets without spilling buckets of rain. The sun has only just hobbled out of bed on the crutches of thick clouds, and I know the first thing my girlfriend wants is a picture together in front of the blotted sunrise by the boathouse to add our captured souls to the myriad of filtered #neckpoint photos on Instagram. But in the aged cement beneath our feet, we find something else to photograph: the first of the many scars of Neck Point.

April

Chris

In June 2009, as part of a plan to expand and upgrade Neck Point Park, the City of Nanaimo purchased 1.7 hectares of private land, including a boathouse lookout and its concrete perimetre. According to the Neck Point Master Plan in 2010, the park was closed to the public prior to the completion of said upgrades—included in which were renovations to the boathouse and its surrounding concrete slabs to better facilitate weddings. At some point, likely in the middle of the night, April and Chris snuck onto the property dressed as raccoons and clawed their names and adoration into the wet concrete, leaving their love imprinted like a hickey on Neck Point. April and Chris had the right idea—a quick Google search for “what should I write in wet concrete” leads to the response “you and your partners’ initials, in a heart… Never goes out of style.” The cavemen drew and carved into stone to tell stories, Michelangelo saw beauty in etching rocks, and likewise Sappho is immortalized in a marble bust. It doesn’t matter if concrete consists of mere chemicals and aggregates—the same principle applies. There may be 63 Nanaimo-based women named April on Facebook, and we may never know if her love for Chris will last as long as that stony impression, but each time someone notices that slab beneath their feet at Neck Point, while the boats beat on against the docks across the harbour, an idea will form—a dream, a memory. I don’t recall a Chris, but I do recall an April—the month of cherry blossoms and first kisses. As much as inscribed stone tablets tell us the memories of the lost, they inspire ideas of what could be: Love.

overlook the various points of interest throughout the park, from the “toughest place on Earth” (where each pebble on the shore has been smoothed by the tide into stones like wet silk) to “a place to rest” looking out over Last Beach. Some of Neck Point’s scars are concrete. Others are spectral. Sitting perfectly adjacent, a taut arms-length apart, and atop a grassy bluff are two benches of loving memory. To “share their joy of [the] view” reads a plaque on one. During the day, the view is the epitome of serenity; a vast, stretching horizon of breathing waters and the foggy reflection of the sun and nearby islands. On the rare night, dipping your toes in the sea might cause an awakening; the phytoplankton, single-celled and sensitive to agitation, glows a neon-blue when touched— “phosphorescence” to some, “bioluminescence” to others, “otherly” to the rest. The response of the phytoplankton is almost conscious—a chemical activation that could be mistaken as fear, or excitement, or an attempt to say something— possessed. Even in solitude, there is no loneliness where there’s love.

for “left,” and R for “right.” If you put together a left and right half, you get a whole. Now, what happens when you combine two wholes? The Singularity. The end of mankind. And it’s only further confirmed when you look at the 10. Do those numbers look familiar? They’re the components of digital binary—the underlying code to Instagram algorithms and our AI overlords. Now look at the 08. Flip it on its side and you have infinity divided by zero. Rest in peace, universe. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Oh, it’s probably just a save-the-date. Len and Rita aren’t from the future at all.” That’s where you’re wrong: <theknot.com> explicitly lists October 8 as a wedding date to avoid. Len and Rita would never make such an amateur mistake. They didn’t just leave a mark on an arbutus tree, but a scar on the very fabric of space and time for the love of the human race.

I lower my phone after taking the final photograph. I see it now: the scars of Neck Point are all ripples through time— captured and frozen memories of past love, current lovers, and lovers from the future. Len and Rita were trying to warn us. The first-date tree <3 The hashtags keep us distracted. We upload our information At Neck Point Park, you can’t pass an arbutus tree without and forget about the scars. Others, and our own. They’re seeing the initials of some star-crossed lovers scarred into everywhere—the scars of love are what make our world what its fleshy-red bark, no matter it trunk or branches or root. it is and us what we are: The arbutus gets its attention for how unique it is; not only Human. is it native to just a sliver of the world—our temperate northwestern coast—but its bark is unique in that it’s redder than a cedar, and softer than a birch. Here are less than three facts about the arbutus: 1. Its wood is some of the hardest 2. Despite being a deciduous tree, its leaves remain during the fall (instead, its thin bark curls and peels to reveal a riper bark like the way humans are much fleshier on the inside. That’s why it’s called the first date tree; you can cut your name into a layer of the bark, come back a year or two later when it’s peeled, and then do it again). In all of its oddities, the arbutus stands out in the latewinter season as one of the only trees still bearing colour, and as such remains traditionally romantic year-round—an easy choice when deciding where to etch your name, such as L and R did below:

L+R 10 • 08 2016

There are only two possible readings of the markings above: L (henceforth Len) and R (Rita) are time travellers. Or, they Memorial benches pepper the salty coast of Neck Point. The are not. My vote is on the former and here’s why: August 10 late Otto is said to have sailed his own race. Karl is flying with is due to be a half-moon, but if you read the date as October the eagles. Andre offered sweet memories. And Larry probably 8, it’s due to be a half-moon as well. One half-moon plus one would have liked it, whatever it may be. The benches each half-moon equals one full moon. Now, look at the initials: L

In loving memory

Antony Stevens

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arts

KINDERGARTEN:. DA BIN ICH WIEDER.

Courtesy of Jasper Anson

Arnason in Kindergarten.

Aubrey Arnason.

Courtesy of Jasper Anson.

Brendan Barlow The Vancouver Island

Short Film Festival (VISFF) begins on February 12, and will feature works from filmmakers from all over the world. Including Vancouver’s Aubrey Arnason, who wrote, co-directed, and starred in her short Kindergarten: Da Bin Ich Wieder. Kindergarten tells the story of Aubrey, a jingle writer who finds herself disqualified from working for a new client after it is revealed that she never completed kindergarten. As a result Aubrey must go back and finish kindergarten in order to work on the new jingle. Along the way she learns some valuable lessons and gains new perspective on her life. The film has the surreal feeling of a Wes Anderson film. On top of all of that, it’s funny The Navigator

and charming. Arnason is a very likable presence and commits to her role and all of its absurdity. Kindergarten also casts very young children who give dynamite performances and give the movie a very real feeling. On a technical level, the film is very well shot and put together. The use of static frames create an interesting storybook feel, which only serves to add to the surreal nature of the film. According to Arnason, Kindergarten is actually based on a true story. According to her the film is “based on the fact that [she] never attended kindergarten… [and her friend] found it to be quite funny, and jokingly said that [she didn’t] seem to have many attributes that one might have learned in kindergarten.” From here she expanded the story, and added her own brand of comedy to the piece, clarifying that she “of course didn’t go back to kindergarten” as an adult, but thought the idea of having missed out on basic skills like sharing, writing, or even waiting in line was an interesting and funny idea for a character. Aside from the VISFF here at VIU, Kindergarten will also be heading to the 2016 Providence

Children’s Film Festival in Providence, Rhode Island. When asked about whether Kindergarten had been a children’s film intentionally, or if it was simply the way things rolled out, Arnason said “when I first wrote it, I didn’t picture it as a children’s film, but then the reality set in that we needed a kindergarten class, and so we would have five-year-olds on set…I think the film then became a children’s film [as a result].” Intentionally for children or not, there’s no denying that Kindergarten has a broad appeal. It is an extremely bright and energetic film that is well-developed and whimsical all at the same time. While children will surely get something out of it, it’s not a film that talks down to children or tries to hide dirty jokes for adults, somehow toeing a line that many feature films aimed at children fail to find.

The Danish Girl movie review Catherine Charlebois

I’ve been looking forward to Eddie Redmayne’s next project The Navigator ever since his spectacular performance in The Theory of Everything as Stephen Hawking, but I was not prepared for this. Filled with raw emotion and stunning cinematography, The Danish Girl depicts the struggle of Einar Wegener (Redmayne), a late 1920s Danish landscape painter as he transitions into a woman. Married to Gerda Wegener (played by Swedish actress Alicia Vikander), a successful artist of herself, the couple first appears to be unshakeable in their love for each other. As the plot unfolds it is clear that Einar, is fighting between the two halves of himself—Einar, the body he was born into, and Lili Elbe, the woman who is struggling to emerge. With the help of his wife, Einar undergoes the first attempted sexual reassignment surgery, though not before heartbreak, abuse, and being classified as mentally unstable by several professionals, and undergoing radiation therapy. As the movie unfolds, what appears to be an awkward and quiet man slowly blossoms into a confident, coquettish woman. In two hours, Redmayne undergoes a drastic character change where, at the end, he is almost unrecognizable as anything but Lili. While Lili undergoes her metamorphosis, Gerda also faces her own apprehension and demons. How does a wife who has been married to her husband for almost a decade cope with the loss of a spouse who is standing right in front of her? After much reticence from Gerda, including putting a curtain between each other in their marital bed, Gerda strives to be a beacon of hope and a steadfast support for a struggling Lili,

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showing her tricks, tips and the ways of women, going so far as to use Lili as the subject for her paintings. As her paintings rise in prominence, Lili even makes appearances during showings. From beginning to end, I was riveted to the screen, fully immersed as Academy award winning director Tom Hooper, known for 2012’s Les Miserables and 2010’s The King’s Speech, utilized close-ups to showcase emotions and still shots of beautiful scenery for transitions. Courtesy of <telegraph.co.uk> The real Lili Elbe, subject of The Danish Girl. The blend of plain settings to the opulence of Art Deco styles leads the audience to focus more on the powerful and emotion-eliciting subject matter is done delicately, unfolding character development than to be distracted by the all the while managing to be thought-provoking, and exploring surrounding environment. the nuances of sexuality and identity. The most shocking aspect of the film are both the graphic Winner of two Screen Actors Guild awards and nominated nudity and the fact that it is a true story. for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award, Golden According to <telegraph.co.uk>, the Danish king granted the Globe, and with Redmayne and Vikander in the running for an couple an annulment and the divorce became official in October Oscar, this film deserves all the hype it is getting. of 1930. Gerda later remarried to an Italian who squandered her finances, leaving her penniless. In an age where the world is just now becoming more accepting of transgender people and their issues, the overwhelming courage of one woman, especially in this time period, is more than enough to garner my thumbs up for this film. The way in which the cinematographer treats such a

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arts

Mulan: Better with percussion

Courtesy of <centerstagechina.com>

The Red Poppy Ladies’ Mulan.

Brendan Barlow On February 5, the Port Theatre was host to the Nanaimo Chinese Cultural The Navigator Society’s 2016 Lunar New Year Gala. The evening featured traditional singing and dancing performances from local artist groups which ranged from adorable to interesting and beautiful. These performances were enjoyable to be sure, but the icing on the cake came in the form of a 90-minute percussion performance of Mulan. Mulan was performed by The Red Poppy Ladies, the first allfemale percussion group in China. The ladies combine elements of Kung Fu, dancing, and fantastic percussion techniques. Utilizing everything from massive, traditional Chinese drums to fans, The Red Poppy Ladies offer something truly unique in their performance of Mulan, which they have honed in over 2500 performances all over the world. These performances have included a show at the Sydney Opera House, the Opera House of Cairo, and a performance at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

A WELCOME. CHANGE OF. SCENERY:. ONE ACT PLAYS AT THE. MALASPINA THEATRE. Sacia Burton Contributor

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While the show these massively talented ladies brought to Nanaimo appeared to be a pared down version of their usual show, there’s no denying that the performance at the Port Theatre was something special. The skill and power behind the drummers would offer some serious intimidation to even the most seasoned percussionist. Combined with the style and stage presence brought forth by each and every member of The Red Poppy Ladies makes for one of the most unique theatre experiences I have had in a very long time. Each chapter of Mulan is an experience unto itself, and I found myself genuinely surprised by the different percussion instruments utilized in the different pieces. Most surprising was a number where hand fans provided the entirety of the percussion and another which utilized the sounds made by turning the lights on pretend torches on and off. Perhaps more striking than that were the visuals, using a large screen and an exciting light show that created a surprisingly epic feel to what was a relatively small performance.

At the peak of my winter hermitdom, I was summoned from my social slumber to attend the One Act Festival at the Malaspina Theatre. A true antidote for the winter blues, the selection of one act plays were altogether earnest, heartfelt, and rousing. From January 27 – 29 the Satyr Players hosted the festival. All five shows were original works, with a handful of local writing talent on display (including VIU theatre professor Ross Desprez). Local talent shone in all areas of production: the shows were all directed, acted, designed, and crewed by students. Making creative use of the range of spaces available, the evening was reminiscent of a quirky Fringe festival. If you are unfamiliar with such a magical theatrical phenomena, I recommend that you begin your research on the subject post-haste. Spoiler: Fringes are known for their use of odd spaces and evocation of many giddy tears. Each venue within the theatre was unique. Starting in the foyer and ambling through various portions of the stage and backstage area, we were ushered to each destination by Master of Ceremonies (and Satyr Players club member) Michael Unger. Conventional rows of chairs were aided by floor mats and standing room to fill each space. The division of space between audience and performers was blurred, inviting us to feel

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The entirety of the performance contains no dialogue, with the percussion and supporting music being the focus, as well as the occasional impassioned yell from different performers, and yet the show packs a punch of emotion and intensity that proves you don’t need words to tell a story. The only criticism I have isn’t even of the show itself, but of the person sitting directly in front of me using their cellphone at full brightness on a regular basis which, for the record, is completely inappropriate in any theatre setting. That aside, Mulan was an enchanting and almost hypnotic show, and I strong recommend getting out and seeing it should you find yourself in the position to do so. You can find more information about The Red Poppy Ladies by going to <mulanthemusical.com>. You will also find a trailer with clips from the performance there.

absorbed in the action of the plays. The use of small, dynamic spaces was incredibly effective in creating an enjoyable theatrical experience. Throughout the night we were graced by a nostalgic account of a simpler technological era; a story of the existential grief of losing a friend; a playful account of the writing process amidst a flurry of distractions; the tale of a loud-mouthed and ill-fated crime family trying to regain their clout; and a scene of rambunctious, spunky elders planning a heist. While nobody walked home with an Oscar nomination, the performances were spirited, punchy, and enthusiastic. Perhaps I wear my heart on my sleeve, but I see the performance of theatre as an incredible act of vulnerability. Actors put themselves on the front lines for criticism and critique in the hopes of creating a temporary emotional connection with their audience. In the Malaspina Theatre, on a few cold evenings in January, those offerings were seen and well-received. Sometimes a scene change is needed to get out of one’s comfort zone. The endearing charm of fellow students willing to put themselves out there wooed and warmed my chilly, wintergrumpy heart.

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arts

The best and worst movies (to watch on Valentine’s Day)

Brendan Barlow Well, Valentine’s Day is coming. them. Here are five of each to provide some romance to you

Whether you are a huge fan or a despiser of this “celebration” of love, the fact remains that the day is upon us. In celebration, or not, of the day, I put together a list of movies that might make great Valentine’s Day dates, and some that would effectively ruin The Navigator

and yours, or just to you. All of these are love stories in their own way, some will be more warm and welcoming than others. It’s worth saying, up front, that many of these are good movies, it should be pretty clear which ones of those in “The Worst” I would actually recommend seeing.

THE BEST Love, Actually

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

(2003)

(2010)

Courtesy of <hercampus.com>

This exceedingly charming romantic comedy comes chock-full of some of the best Courtesy of <blackboxbelfast.com> actors that jolly-old England has ever given film. With performances from Martin Freeman, Emma Thompson, and the late Alan Rickman, you’re sure to enjoy at least one of the many intersecting stories this movie offers up. While not the Something a little bit different, but still a love story. Scott Pilgrim is bright, colourful, and biggest fan of romcoms myself, there’s no denying the charm of this one. If you’re bursting with energy. Directed by the spectacularly talented Edgar Wright, and starring looking for something brimming with hopeless romantics, then you’ll love this one. Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, this movie is an absolute blast. It’s a quirky and unique love story that takes on the deepest of our fears: that our significant other’s exes are super heroes. (2007)

Once

Young People F**king

(2007)

Courtesy of <irishamerica.com>

I would hesitate to call this a musical, but that’s probably the simplest way to put this, as there are live musical performances in the movie. It’s a wonderful, musical love story starring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. It’s a straightforward narrative, but it’s the soundtrack that sets the movie apart. Beautiful songs and amazing talent make this a really great watch.

The Conjuring

Courtesy of <thefabric.blogspot.com>

(2013) No, I’m not putting an adult film on the list, though this is definitely best viewed by adults. This Canadian comedy has a lot of heart, and presents the characters’ relationships in very real ways. It’s one of those rare movies that acknowledges that people have sex, that sex looks different to almost everyone, and that it’s a complicated and wonderful thing. It’s a genuinely funny and believable movie that I recommend wholeheartedly. Give it a chance.

Courtesy of <wordpress.com>

Perhaps one of the stranger ones on this list, but if you’re like me then sometimes a romantic evening involves a horror movie. There’s something great about putting on something frightening and curling up. This one is a genuinely frightening ghost story, and will make for a good adrenaline rush. Frightening, intense, and disturbing, The Conjuring makes for a hell of a date movie.

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THE WORST Blue Valentine

Teeth

(2010)

(2007)

Courtesy of <slantmagazine.com>

I can’t for the life of me figure out why people like this movie as much as they do. To be Courtesy of <postimg.org> sure, the relationship that Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams build is quite sweet, but it’s the complete breakdown of the relationship that makes this a hard watch. Personally, watching a couple self-destruct and treat each other like garbage really doesn’t do much A horror/dark comedy about a teenage girl who learns that she has teeth in her vagina. for me. It’s a bleak and unpleasant movie, which will certainly put the hamper on any I feel like, based on that information alone, you can figure out why it’s on the “bad” list. genuine desire to start a relationship. That said, if you and your date, or you on your own have a good (read: twisted) sense of humour, then this one might actually be perfect for you. It’s a unique and self-aware movie, but not one that is going to help anyone kindle their romance. (2000)

Requiem for a Dream

50 Shades of Grey

(2015)

Courtesy of <blogspot.com>

A bleak movie about addiction, to be sure, but there is also a love story here of the most Courtesy of <esquire.com> tragic kind. Jared Leto and Jennifer Connelly have a horrific, codependent relationship between themselves and drugs. On top of that, the movie is brutal and harrowing to get through. The soundtrack, slick editing, and fabulous direction make this a must-watch movie, but an absolute date-ruiner. I know what you’re thinking: wouldn’t a movie about kinky, BDSM sex be a great choice for a steamy Valentine’s Day movie? Well, sure, if that’s what 50 Shades of Grey was about, maybe it would be a good call. That said, however, the movie is instead about (2008) emotional and physical abuse, and a massively dysfunctional relationship. According to a Film Theory video, Christian Grey actually employs the eight steps that cults use to indoctrinate new members. There’s nothing sexy or fun about this movie; it’s gross and you should avoid it at all costs. (I am not saying that BDSM is gross or totally unsexy. I’m saying its portrayal in this story is.)

Dear Zachary

Courtesy of <gonneda.com>

Perhaps a documentary of any kind would be ill-advised when it comes to date movies, but this one would be a particularly bad call. Dear Zachary tells the story of filmmaker Kurt Kuenne as he works to memorialize a murdered friend for the son he will never get to meet. What happens to Kurt along the way is simply one of the most heartbreaking stories that I have ever seen on film. I’m happy to admit that movies make me misty or emotional from time to time, but this one was the first to make me weep. Avoid this as a date movie at all costs.

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A RTS

sports & lifestyle

BCHL REFEREES PUT TO TEST WITH GRIZZLIES IN TOWN

Reid Eccles

Referees keep an eye on the Clippers.

Reid Eccles

The Nanaimo Clippers were in Frank Crane Arena Friday, January 29 to Contributor face off against Island Division rivals the Victoria Grizzlies, and face off they did. The match was one of the more physically ruthless Clippers games in recent memory, and it seemed the British Columbia Hockey League’s (BCHL) officials were in over their heads. It started as any other game might, with the Clippers taking an early lead; a Nolan Aibel slot shot found its way out of the Grizzlies goaltender’s glove and over the goal line. This is when the Grizzlies began to play their game, finishing every check hard into the boards and not being afraid to take a few shots behind the referees’ backs. A minute after the Aibel goal, Clipper captain Devin Brosseau was penalized while retaliating to a late hit on teammate Sheldon Rempal. The Grizzlies went on to tie the game with Brosseau watching from the penalty box. With scrums after each whistle, the referees were overwhelmed, and their calls were inconsistent. Most penalties called could have easily been waved off and a few blatant major penalties, such as hits to players’ heads, were ruled as “roughing” minors or missed completely. Within a five-minute window it went from a Clippers power play, to four-on-four hockey, to an extended Grizzlies five-onthree. The Clippers somehow survived it all to immediately be put down a man again after retaliating to another late hit. The arena announcer at Frank Crane smartly called for another round of the local “school cheer off” to mask the booing and referee-heckling coming from the stands. A media timeout minutes later gave one Clippers fan the opportunity to be heard. “There’s two teams,” he yelled. It was an hour into the game at this point and the first period hadn’t even ended. Clippers forward Matt Hoover decided to take justice into his own hands and went headhunting. He lined up a Victoria forward with a massive open-ice hit that could have easily been a charging

Clipper Matt Creamer goes after Grizzly Kevin Massey.

penalty, and the crowd went wild—no penalty called. Still, the Grizzlies took the lead with 18 seconds left in the first, going into the intermission leading two to one. The rough gameplay continued into the second period, and the officials seemed to catch onto the Grizzlies’ dirty hits, but it didn’t slow them down. Already shorthanded, Grizzlies defenseman Cody Van Lierop dangerously drove Clipper newcomer Gavin Gould headfirst into the boards. Surprisingly, both players remained in the game, as Van Lierop received only a two-minute boarding minor and no game misconduct for the vicious hit. The Clippers’ top line capitalized on the ensuing five-on-three with Brosseau tying the game at two. Two minutes later, the Clippers regained the lead as Troy MacTavish redirected a pass from Sean Buchanen past the Grizzlies’ goaltender. The Grizzlies took the offensive again, effectively shutting down the Clippers’ forwards with brute force. Grizzlies’ Kevin Massey led the charge physically, demolishing Matt Creamer behind the play to the displeasure of the Clippers home crowd. Massey went on to score a beautiful goal low, short side off the post, and then followed it up with a minor penalty for boarding. The Grizzlies added another goal with two seconds left in the second—five to three for the Grizzlies. What remained of the Clippers’ game fell apart in the initial minutes of the third. After Hoover was penalized for an honest shoulder-to-shoulder hit, Lucas Finner was called for an awful tripping penalty and frustration boiled over; Clippers’ head coach Mike Vandekamp vocalized his displeasure with the officials and was quickly ejected from the game. Barely one minute later, Massey ended his own night with another vicious headshot to Matt Hoover. The referees finally demanded order on the ice as Massey received a major penalty for boarding and game misconduct to the home crowd’s pleasure. By the time everything got sorted out again, the game time had

Reid Eccles

almost elapsed three hours, and the two worn down squads played out a tame third period. The Grizzlies had an empty netter to cap off the most animated Clippers home game of the season. The Grizzlies won six to three. The match concluded with a combined 13 power plays and 22 individual penalties, including three game misconducts. It is entirely possible that the Clippers’ league-leading 283 penalties of the season (over 30 more than the runnerup West Kelowna Warriors) have created a bias in the eyes of the untested BCHL referees. Especially, when the second-least penalized team in the league, the Victoria Grizzlies, are the opposition. Looking at the Grizzlies’ season numbers, it is quite surprising they’d take so many bad penalties. That being said, if the post-season started today, the Clippers, with their commanding 11-point lead in the Island Division, would play the Victoria Grizzlies (fourth) in the opening round of the Fred Page Cup playoffs. With the physicality in the six to three loss Friday night, the Grizzlies may have been trying to send a message to the Clippers’ forwards—what to expect in a seven-game series—and with the added intensity of the post-season, it is common for officials to miss even more calls. Refereeing aside, the star of the night was Victoria goaltender Mitchel Benson (#31) who fought off 44 Clipper shots and allowed only one power play goal out of the Clippers’ seven attempts. (The following night, Saturday, January 30, in Victoria, the Clippers and Grizzlies played the second of back-toback brawls, however the Clippers managed to capitalize on three of eight man advantages, winning by a score of 7-2.) Tickets for Clippers’ games can be purchased at the box office at Frank Crane Arena starting an hour before puck drop. Tickets are only $10 for VIU students, and a free beer is included with admission.

Nama’spray: De-stressing yoga mat spray Catherine Charlebois The Navigator There have been many times walking into a yoga studio where I’ve wondered if, or how long in between uses, they wipe down their mats. I’m sure there’s a required standard, but I’ve always wanted my own, just to give it a wipe before I start using it to bend, stretch, and twist. Stumbling upon a yogi YouTuber from Texas named Adriene Mishler, I found the solution to my dilemma. With Natalie, the Nav’s fellow yogi and News Editor, I settled down to make our own cheap, quick, and easy DIY Yoga Mat Spray.

Ingredients • Distilled water • Essential oils* • Witchhazel astringent (alcohol-free) • 100 mL spray bottle (glass is better)

*Recommended as base oils are antibacterial tea tree or eucalyptus, and aromatic lemongrass and

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

lavender. The combination is ultimately up to you. Pick a cleansing oil (usually eucalyptus or tea tree) and one aromatherapy oil. For the purposes of the recipe, we chose eucalyptus and lemongrass. Instructions 1. Fill 3/4 of bottle with water. 2. Fill rest with astringent. 3. Use five drops of eucalyptus oil and five drops of lemongrass. 4. Add a little love (it is close to Valentine’s Day after all) and shake well. A multipurpose concoction, this can be used as an air freshener, a pillow spray, and it even makes a nice gift to a friend or loved one. When used as a mat spray, it is recommended that you spray the mat in sections and use a damp hand towel or wash cloth to wipe down.

NAV IGATOR

Simple ingredients like these are cheap and readily available in local stores. Natalie Gates

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sports & lifestyle

Mariners’ schedule BASKETBALL MEN’S

WOMEN’S

DATE Feb. 12 Feb. 13 Feb. 19 Feb. 20

(February 10 – February 23)

VOLLEYBALL

VIU VIU VIU VIU

HOME Capilano Douglas CBC KPU

TIME 8 p.m. 3 p.m. 8 p.m. 3 p.m.

DATE Feb. 12 Feb. 13 Feb. 19 Feb. 20

VIU VIU Camosun VIU

HOME COTR COTR VIU Camosun

TIME 8 p.m. 3 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m.

Feb. 12 Feb. 13

VIU VIU

Capilano Douglas

6 p.m. 1 p.m.

Feb. 12 Feb. 13

VIU VIU

COTR COTR

6 p.m. 1 p.m.

Feb. 19

VIU

CBC

6 p.m.

Feb. 19

Camosun

VIU

6 p.m.

Feb. 20

VIU

KPU

1 p.m.

Feb. 20

VIU

Camosun

5 p.m.

BADMINTON DATE Feb. 13-14

PACWEST Provincials

Surrey, BC

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS:

Female sex bias and mental illness Zoe Lauckner

We’ve all seen it, whether on television or in the real world, where a woman is depicted as the stereotypical crazy girlfriend or the psycho ex-girlfriend. Other likely renditions might include words such as neurotic, dramatic, hysterical, and so on—you know the tune. Maybe you’ve seen an episode of Family Guy when they come across a “crazy lady” and one of the main characters references Canadian actress Margot Kidder, the O.G. Lois Lane from the 1978 Superman? Why is it that the female comes to mind so readily when it comes to certain presentations of so-called abnormal behaviour, especially in the emotional realm? For those of you who don’t know Kidder’s story, as I didn’t until I began researching for this column, the successful actress experienced a psychotic break in the ‘70s. She had the courage to go public and share her experience—a brave act that’s now being used as a punchline, and is another example of a common go-to for stereotyping women as over-emotional, dramatic beings. When tracing historical records on the conceptualization of mental illness in regards to women, things get weird really fast. As with so many things, the roots go back to some ancient philosopher who undoubtedly had too much time on his hands to ponder the nature of things. In Greek mythology, the concept of hysteria began with a physician who, upon observing the behaviour of some women who would rather flee him than be his sexual slaves, equated their behaviour to madness, caused by their uterus being poisoned by lack of orgasms and “uterine melancholy.” Common symptoms of hysteria then included excessive emotions, insomnia, loss of appetite, and Contributor

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muscle spasms. Solidified still, Plato chimed in to agree, and added his own twist: that unless uteruses were joined with a man they would remain sad and depressive, causing mental illness. Sounds legit, right? I mean, it’s not like society at the time was extremely oppressive and controlling to women, and these conditions created an environment well-suited for development of mental illness. Then came Freud, who mainly studied mainly only so-called hysterical women, and chalked up his theory that mental illness was really based on an internal struggle between morals and unconscious sexual drives and impulses. Yep—horny and hysterical, our history set the stage for many more centuries of sex bias within the realm of mental health. Yet we’ve learned a lot since the ancient Greeks and even since Freud’s day, haven’t we? Hysteria as it once was has been stripped from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), but may argue that diagnoses are still ripe with sex bias (take a gander at the articles on histrionic personality disorder and anti-social personality disorder—a highly debatable subject I might tackle in the future). It’s true that the statistics often support the sex difference in diagnoses; with most mental disorders, women outweigh men in the number of diagnosed cases, especially when it comes to mood disorders. In any abnormal psychology textbook, the numbers are similar: women amount to 75 per cent of those who have agoraphobia (fear of crowded and/or public places), two thirds of women experience generalized anxiety disorder, 70 per cent of people with major depressive disorder are women, women outweigh men 10 to one on eating

NAV IGATOR

disorder diagnoses, and so on. Still, there are some stereotype-busting statistics too. Some might think women may primarily dominate diagnosis of a disorder characterized by an intense preoccupation with physical features, but in actuality, Body Dysmorphic Disorder is found equally in both men and women. By all accounts, the world of mental illness is not black and white; there is no capital “T” truth when it comes to sex differences in diagnoses— heck, one might argue that diagnosis itself is subjective and therefore always subject to bias. To quote one of my favourite punk bands, Operation Ivy, “All I know is that I don’t know / all I know is I don’t know nothing.” Lastly, it’s important that we ask ourselves what other reasons could exist for these sex differences other than the stereotype that women are overly emotional, fragile, and therefore more susceptible to mental illness. The fact is, women tend to seek treatment for mental health issues more than men, as it’s more socially accepted for them to reach out for help. This brings up a whole other world of bias against men, and how males in our society are expected to conform to norms that oppress their expression of emotions and therefore make them less likely to seek help when they need it. Let that be another conversation for another column. For now, just know that lurking behind the statistics we hear about mental illness is a whole world of bias that we can only begin to conceptualize. Ask questions. Think critically. Be awesome. Stay sane(ish), VIU. Until next time…

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

sports & lifestyle

Dinner and a view Catherine Charlebois

Valentine’s Day dates usually involve a lot of sitting and The Navigator inactivity. Instead of Netflix, why not get outside and talk to your partner this year. Spending time outside with your loved ones can be invigorating—regardless of the weather. Here are a few ideas to break up the monotony of Valentine’s Day activities.

Pipers Lagoon and Neck Point These two go hand in hand. Pipers is accessible, and the oceanic views are pretty hard to beat, with the long stalks of grass swaying in the wind. Anyone up for a nice stroll can’t possibly object. Bring your dog, make a driftwood shack, and have a picnic on the beach, then head over to Neck Point and relive your childhood by climbing the rock cliffs (being careful, of course). Bundle up, get cozy, and watch the waves hit the shores of Shack Island. The surrounding forest and the rock face makes for a perfect secluded kissing spot.

Grab a seat among the arbutus trees and admire the view at Pipers Lagoon.

Leah Laberge

For those willing to go all out, seeing Nanaimo from the top of Mount Benson is truly breathtaking.

Leah Laberge

Witchcraft Lake En route to Mount Benson, Witchcraft Lake is more of a swamp than its name suggests, though don’t let appearances fool you. With a nice boardwalk spanning from shore to shore, Witchcraft Lake has an easy 20 minute hike that’s a perfect, not-too-taxing adventure. Sit on a peak looking over the whole city and admire the view with your date—you’ll thank me later.

Downtown/waterfront What would this list be if it didn’t involve a classic walk downtown? Make an adventure out of it—grab a falafel wrap at the Thirsty Camel, or a gooey bun from Cinnamon Joe’s Cafe window, and go out on the town. Window shop as you walk by Commercial St. storefronts, and people watch as you make your way to the waterfront promenade. The downtown core is filled with little gems. Buy some coffee and stroll the harbour, warming up as you watch the seaplanes take off and admire the wares of local artists. For the evening, see if the Port Theatre has some tickets available, or go to the Vault for a beer and enjoy the live music venues. Regardless of what your Valentine’s Day plans are, whether this year has you single and ready to mingle, in a committed relationship, or anything in-between, bundle up, suit up, go out, be active, and have some fun.

There are plenty of places to go for a drink in downtown Nanaimo—if drinking isn’t your thing, just look at the architecture.

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

NAV IGATOR

Leah Laberge

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sports & lifestyle

DON’T GO MELTING MY HEART Catherine Charlebois The Navigator

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and the stores are positively blushing red and pink—maybe even purple. Forget run-of-the-mill name brand chocolates or sweets—this isn’t Halloween. Your sweetheart deserves the highest quality, locally-made, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Below are a few options, all handcrafted on the Island.

Cherub Chocolate Located in downtown Nanaimo, Cherub Chocolate is one of the newest chocolateries on Commercial St. Handcrafted and using single origin Belgian chocolate (where the cocoa is harvested from one region and is therefore easier to trace and more sustainable), and often local nuts and dried fruits, Cherub Chocolate prides themselves on “using the finest ingredients and handcrafting [their] chocolates from the ground up.” From a Nanaimo Bar Collection, to their new Rosette Truffles for Valentine’s Day, or the saucy Cappezoli Venere Truffles (also known as Nipples), Cherub has a lot to offer. From a nine piece box and a flower bouquet filled with chocolates, to their Exclusive Chocolate Box with over 100 chocolates and 2.2 pounds of sweet locally-crafted goodness, Cherub Chocolate has variety enough to satisfy even the pickiest Valentine. For more information, visit <cherubchocolate.com>.

Simple yet festive, Cherub Chocolate’s bouquets are a perfect Valentine treat. Courtesy of the Cherub Chocolate Facebook Page

Sweet Somethings Candy and Confections

Brownie Bombs are made of cookie dough balls covered in fudge brownie, dipped in chocolate. Who wouldn’t want that from a Valentine?

Located on Wesley St. across from the St. Andrew’s Church is downtown’s self proclaimed “Nanaimo Candy Headquarters.” Opened in 2013, owner and founder Carol Surtel is a firm believer that “sugary goodness is enough to brighten even the most sour of days.” Home of the Brownie Bomb with its variety of flavours, pecan clusters, chocolate dipped pretzel sticks, creamy fudge, and the ever classic chocolate heart boxes and chocolate covered strawberries available for pre-order, Sweet Somethings has something sweet (or salty) for every palate. Affordable and varied, you can even go in and ask for samples. For more information, visit <sweetsomethingscandy.com>.

Courtesy of <sweetsomethingscandy.com>.

A Wee Cupcakery Around the corner on Fitzwilliam St., nestled in-between two buildings, lies A Wee Cupcakery. Open Tuesday to Saturday, “Nanaimo’s first and Only Artisan Cupcake Bake Shop” has a multitude of cupcake flavours on offer and other specialty baked goods. Made fresh daily, the cupcakes rotate “depending on the mood of the baker. ” From vanilla bean, Ebony and Ivory, red velvet, Adam’s Apple, coconut cream cheese, Miami Vice, and French toast (to name a few), A Wee Cupcakery also has vegan and gluten-free options available, with sugar-free cupcakes upon special request. Starting at $3.25 each (alternative choices at $3.50), the store requires a minimum 48-hour notice for large orders and usually sells out fast. “Wee Ones,” for those wanting to indulge in small amounts, start at $9 for a minimum order of half a dozen. Creamy, local, and handmade, this makes a great choice for something a little different this Valentines Day. For more information, visit <aweecupcakery.com>. If local isn’t cutting it this Valentine’s Day, there’s always Vancouver-based Purdy’s Chocolate.

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A Wee Cupcakery’s cupcakes will have your Valentine salivating. Catherine Charlebois

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SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

page 22

Brandon Kornelson is a Sociology and History student. He hopes to become a journalist.

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February

SUN

MON

TUE

WED 10 On the Dock: Roberts Hall, Monique Hendricks, and Raymond Knight Dinghy Dock Pub, 8 Pirates Lane Starts 7:15 p.m.

THU 11 Worldbridger Film Series: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Bldg. 356, rm. 109 Starts 7 p.m.

FRI 12 VIU Valentine’s Dance Upper cafeteria

SAT 13 Vancouver Island Short Film Festival

9 p.m. – midnight

Malaspina Theatre

$5 – $15

2 or 7 p.m. $10 students

FREE

$20 advance

Valentine’s Day Couples’ Massage Course

“Telling Your Story” Memoir Writing Workshop

Maitri Studio, 164 Mt. Benson St.

McMillan Arts Centre, 133 Macmillan St.

1 – 5 p.m.

1 – 4 p.m.

$150

$100

Glow in the Dark Skate

Shrek – The Musical

Madchild

Dragon’s Den Auditions

Frank Crane Arena, 2300 Bowen Rd.

The Port Theatre, 125 Front St.

The Queens, 34 Victoria Cres.

6:30 – 8 p.m.

Doors 7 p.m.

Doors 9:30 p.m.

Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 101 Gordon St.

Regular admission rates

$15

$20

20 Annual Naked Bungee Jump for BCSS WildPlay, 35 Nanaimo River Rd.

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

FREE

$55

Nanaimo Global Film Festival

Led Zepagain – A Tribute to Led Zeppelin

Bldg. 356, rm. 109, Bldg. 355, rm. 203

The Port Theatre, 125 Front St.

First Unitarian Fellowship, 595 Townsite Rd.

1:30 – 9 p.m.

Doors 7:30 p.m.

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

See website for ticket details

$39.50

Wordstorm

JOIN THE NAVIGATOR ONLINE THENAV.CA /THENAVIGATORNEWSPAPER @THENAV_VIU @THENAV_VIU

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C A L EN DA R

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TUESDAY

FEB 23 VICTORIA VICTORIA CONFERENCE CENTRE 3 pm - 7 pm

THURSDAY

FEB 25 VANCOUVER VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE 3 pm - 7 pm

SEMINARS start at 2 pm

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