HELLO NATION
CUTTING IT IN CIS
BOMB-SNIFFING DOGS ABOUND
Stephen Colbert takes his place as host
Men’s soccer looks for new beginning
Harper’s visit: a media experience
The leader of The Nation just had his first week of shows. So how are things going? • Page 9
They went 2-8-2 last year, how will they fare this season? • Page 11
What’s it like to go through a Stephen Harper press event as media? • Page 3
OMEGA THE
ISSUE 02 NO.
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SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
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VOLUME 25
A B Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
NICE OF YOU TO STOP BY
AS OLD AS YOUR PARENTS
Harper touts economy at local event
TRU celebrates its 45th
How far back do TRU’s roots go, and what should that mean to students?
1970
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Stephen Harper during his campaign event on Monday, Sept. 14. (Sean Brady/The Omega) • Page 7
BACK TO SCHOOL
BACK IN SERVICE
Local candidates at the Farmers Market
Campus fine dining makes its return
A schoolyard election forum at the Kamloops Farmers Market • Page 8
Culinary Arts program’s Accolades fine-dining restaurant makes its return • Page 5
2015
imagine the thought that goes through the minds of many new students is “Why TRU?” What makes our university one worth attending in a country with many other post-secondary institutions? TRU stands as one of few universities in the B.C. interior, and as the biggest university in the interior, it has to reflect a cultural and intellectual representation of the region. As crucial as the city has been in building TRU, perhaps even more important is how the university built Kamloops. Before the 1970s, the concept of a university town was alien to most of Western Canada. Now it’s hard to go anywhere in Kamloops without coming across a TRU alum. Graduates from years before keep our city running. Whether it be in accounting firms or newsrooms, fabrication shops or mills, the university has helped fill places of employment all over the city. • CONTINUES page 2
TRU’S 45TH
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45 YEARS: A LOOK BACK AT TRU HISTORY 1970
1971
1974
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 BY WADE TOMKO
1978
1985
TRU’s roots
A place like home
Prosperity through industry
A new way of learning
Rapid expansion
Demand for academic programs in B.C.’s interior leads to the creation of a post-secondary institution in Kamloops. Initially called Cariboo College, our university first started out as a community college funded by the B.C. government. Over 500 fulland part-time students attended its first semester in September 1970.
The campus is moved to its current McGill Road location. It would combine with another newly constructed building, the Kamloops Vocational School, which specialized in trade programs. At the same, Cariboo College opened a satellite campus in Williams Lake to better serve the region.
Cariboo College is amalgamated with the Kamloops Vocational School. Cariboo College starts launching the trade programs that TRU would become well known for.
The Open Learning Institute is created, allowing pupils too far away or too busy to still participate in Cariboo College’s many programs. This dramatically increases the college’s reach in rural B.C., as such participation numbers rise.
By 1985, Cariboo College saw its faculty and student populations increase many times over. Since its inception, the small community college had grown to include over a dozen buildings including the current library and gymnasium, as well as the Science Building and meat processing facility.
2001
That new sound UCC’s CFBX radio station runs its first show on April 2, after receiving CRTC approval.
2002
1998
1996
1989
1986
Steps to higher education
1000th degree awarded
A community college no longer
A big thank you
The Bachelor of Natural Resource Sciences is the first undergraduate degree to be offered by UCC. Our men’s soccer team would bring UCC its first national title in this year as well.
Only a year after the proclamation of the College and Institute Amendment Act, which gave UCC independent degree granting authority, the university grants its 1000th degree. Within the last five years UCC had expanded to include the Arts and Education building and the Campus Activity Centre.
Following a provincial government initiative to increase access to degree programs in B.C., Cariboo College is turned into a university college. Two years later, with the issuing of its first degrees, Cariboo College is renamed the University College of the Cariboo (UCC).
The City of Kamloops officially recognizes and thanks the college for its role in the community by declaring November 16-22 as “College Week.”
2005
Mastering your education
The university we all know and love
In collaboration with UBC and SFU, the university’s first master’s degrees are offered. This year also commemorates the opening of the International Building.
On April 1, under the Thompson Rivers University Act, the UCC and the B.C. Open University became the TRU we know today. In the same year TRU joins the International Student Exchange Program, and enrollment is increased to 7,500.
2007
OL comes home All Open Learning operations relocate from Burnaby to TRU’s new B.C. Centre for Open Learning building. TRU’s Williams Lake campus undergoes major construction, turning it into a modern facility.
2010
History is made In the same year as the university’s 40th anniversary, Josephine Gambaretto becomes TRU’s 40,000th graduate.
2012
A beacon for diversity TRU sees the number of international students skyrocket to over 2,500: an increase of almost 1,500 in five years. Renovations to our oldest structure, Old Main, are started in the same year.
Today Including Open Learning, TRU offers almost 200 programs to students all over the world. Creating nearly 2,000 jobs for faculty and staff as well, TRU has become well integrated into Kamloops’ community, economy and culture.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRU AND KAMLOOPS IS LONG AND COLLABORATIVE Wade Tomko NEWS EDITOR Ω CONTINUED (COVER) Back when TRU was the University College of the Cariboo (UCC), students learning how to operate heavy machinery got an early apprenticeship opportunity when they were asked to help in the construction of Hillside Stadium. Since then, Hillside has proved crucial in bringing residents from all over Kamloops together as a city sports venue. As recently as only a few years ago, nursing students set up flu immunization clinics throughout Kamloops to assist in the effort to combat the H1N1 epidemic. TRU marketing
and human resource students have given many non-profit organizations in the city a huge helping hand as well, providing logistics and mentoring for the Kamloops BCSPCA and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kamloops, along with many others. But even for a university so connected to its local community, TRU has continually been one of the most diverse places in B.C. In 2010, the B.C. Council for International Education recognized TRU’s International Days with the first ever Outstanding Program in International Education award. UCC’s original motto was “Quansem Ilep,” which in Chinook means “to strive ahead,” which is still fitting for the university today, as TRU.
OPINION & EDITORIAL
WWW.TRUOMEGA.CA
Affordable housing enters the fray Does Trudeau’s affordable housing plan apply to students? Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω Is Justin Trudeau’s plan for affordable housing something that should appeal to students? It’s great that some party leaders are talking about affordable housing. It’s an issue students want to hear about as they do the math at the beginning of the semester to see how much of their savings or loans they’ll be spending on housing. Typically, it’s going to be as much, or more than, tuition for a full class load. Not to mention the fact that students can’t really just pay for the months they’re here – many rentals require a year-long lease, despite the fact that many students only plan on living here for eight months of the year. But is Trudeau’s plan something that students should be interested in?
“We have a plan to make housing more affordable for those who need it most – seniors, persons with disabilities, lower-income families, and Canadians working hard to join the middle class,” he said in a Liberal party press release. Well, okay so students aren’t mentioned by name, but we’re certainly here in an attempt to join the middle class, aren’t we? We’re pre-middle class Canadians, aren’t we? Well, I suppose that depends on which program you’re in. Trudeau’s plan, which uses a fuzzy definition of infrastructure, includes a rollout of $125 million per year in tax incentives to “increase and substantially renovate the supply of rental housing across Canada.” The money will also go towards the construction of new rental housing. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says that in Kamloops, a two-bedroom rental
is going to run an average of $893 and that our rental vacancy rate is 5.1 per cent. The provincial average, likely lowered by Vancouver’s housing crisis, rests at 2.4 per cent. Given that, statistically speaking, rentals seem to be plentiful in Kamloops, why does it seem so difficult to get a rental in Kamloops? For one, I would say that students are largely new renters, meaning they don’t have the references that seasoned renters would carry with them. Second, students typically look for bottom-dollar housing. I know I did when I first got here in 2012, and it ended up being a complete mess. I lived in a hotel on Columbia St. for the first month before finding a North Shore basement suite a month later. The suite was terrible – certainly not a “legal suite” and barely better than the noisy, expensive hotel I’d just left. At least it was somewhere more permanent.
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Point is, I finding a suite for Oct. 1 is just as difficult to find a suite fro Sept. 1. The surge of students seems to create less supply for that time of year. This means that landlords can be more picky. Finally, students also face the possibility of being passed over by landlords due to the nature of their stay – they don’t typically want to stay for a full year, they’re likely not going to rent the same place next year, and they’re younger and therefore seen as more likely to be noisy partiers. When faced with multiple renter prospects, many landlords will likely go with the longer-term tenant with a longer rental history. So while Kamloops might have plenty of rentals available on paper, those places aren’t necessarily available to students, and increasing the number of rentals in general might not be the solution students need. editor@truomega.ca
Justin Trudeau speaks in TRU’s Grand Hall during his January 2013 visit, part of his efforts to win the Liberal leadership. (Sean Brady/The Omega)
THE OMEGA STUDENT NEWSPAPER • PUBLISHED SINCE NOVEMBER 27,1991
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Editorial Staff
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Production Coordinator Rachel Wood
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Literary and visual submissions are welcomed. All submissions are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality. The Omega will attempt to publish each letter received, barring time and space constraints. The editor will take care not to change the intention or tone of submissions, but will not publish material deemed to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. Letters for publication must include the writer’s name (for publication) and contact details (not for publication). The Omega reserves the right not to publish any letter or submitted material. Opinions expressed in any section with an “Opinion” label do not represent those of The Omega, the Cariboo Student Newspaper Society, its Board of Directors or its staff. Opinions belong only to those who have signed them.
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3 Stephen Harper’s visit: my media experience Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω As a new journalist and (apparently lifelong) journalism student, I find big events like Stephen Harper’s visit pretty fascinating. I tried to pay attention to how Harper treated the media as Prime Minister, and I was even more curious about how he would treat the media as a campaigning Conservative leader. Media were to arrive “no later than 8:20 a.m.” to the event. I met The Omega’s news editor Jim Elliot at the venue at 8 a.m. and we made our move towards the door. After we eventually found the right one, we walked in and were greeted by local Conservative campaign staff. We were asked to show some kind of ID to prove that we were reporters – something Jim didn’t have yet, but I was able to vouch for him, along with help from another reporter present. Local Conservative campaign staff members were friendly and seemed excited about the party leader’s visit. We signed in, leaving our contact information and business cards, and took a seat in a small, taped-off side area in the quiet warehouse. We were initially told we couldn’t leave the area, but that restriction was somewhat loose and unclear. And then the bomb sniffing dog arrived. A member of the RCMP emerged from a hallway and asked awaiting media if they knew that they would have to have their things searched. When we told him we didn’t know that, he chuckled and then sighed, saying that someone should have told us. No one seemed too upset by the prospect, however, and we lined our bags up on the ground for inspection. Other than some slobber on one CBC reporter’s microphone, our stuff was no worse for wear. About 15 minutes later we were quickly briefed and then led by a Conservative party member out of the room. The media area was set at the very back of the room, about 40 feet from where the Conservative leader would be speaking. After waiting for another five minutes or so, local Conservative candidate Cathy McLeod emerged to raucous applause to introduce the man of the hour. I took photos, Jim took notes and Harper spoke. After a 20-minute speech, Harper wrapped up and then turned to take questions from the media. At Monday’s event, the Conservative leader stuck with the format of only taking four questions. Journalists from Reuters, Canadian Press and Radio-Canada filled the national spots and Kamloops This Week reporter Cam Fortems filled the local spot. No follow-up questions were allowed – the Conservative leader answered on his own terms. Overall, the media felt like a nuisance to be tolerated. Things felt controlled and very much in the hands of the Conservative party, which could be seen two ways – either they’re very professional or they’re very paranoid. editor@truomega.ca
CAMPUS LIFE
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SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Incoming students share their hopes and fears for the coming year Camilia Souig Anna Kraugerud Emilie Irgens (Tourism) Souig: “I’m excited about meeting new people from different parts of Canada and the world and I’m excited to have new classes.” Kraugerud: “We’re from Norway. I’m excited about seeing Canada and what Kamloops has to offer and TRU as well, and meeting people from all over the world.”
Courtney Schalm Autumn Dickens (Arts)
Savannah Ballentyne (Science) Brianna Mueller (Business)
Dickens: “I’m probably most scared of paying for parking every day because it’s expensive.”
Mueller: “I’m most excited to make new friends” Ballentyne: “I’m nervous about it being a different setting, but I’m also excited because it’s different and I can meet new people.”
Lynden Sandy (Science) Sandy: “I’m most excited about learning.”
Braden Moritz Surbhi Spolia (Education and Skills Training) Spolia: “I’m mostly scared about what people think about me and I’m new to the school so I might get lost. I’m excited for the classes I’m doing with the ESTR course and excited to meet new people.” Moritz: “I wonder what other people will be like when they see me, that’s about it.
TUNES AGAINST TUITION
2015 line up included Said the Whale and Rykka and The Katherines
LEFT: Tyler Bancroft of Said The Whale wails with gusto at Tunes Against Tuition on Saturda TOP: The Tunes Against Tuition concert was a whale of a time with headliners Said The Whale on Saturday RIGHT: Rykka brought an energetic performance—and a mini trampoline—to the concert. (Marlys Klossner/The Omega)
Emmalee Pitcher (Arts) Pitcher: “I’m most excited to learn new things and experience what I want, and do what I want.”
NEWS
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Accolades reopens after year-long closure Campus fine dining restaurant plans to resume service on Sept. 16 Jim Elliot NEWS EDITOR Ω Accolades, the fine dining training program operated by TRU Culinary Arts is set to open its doors to diners for the first time in over a year on September 16. Accolades offered TRU Culinary Arts students the opportunity to work in a fine dining atmosphere and was named one of the top 100 restaurants in Canada by Where to Eat in Canada. “We had to close in order to rethink and restructure...It was becoming more about business than education,” said Culinary Arts instructor Ed Walker. Accolades will now be open only two nights a week: two fewer than
the last time it was open. The kitchen at Accolades will be staffed by Culinary Arts students enrolled in the Professional Cook 2 program. Professional Cook 2 is the highest level of culinary training currently offered at TRU. Although Accolades is a major feature of the Professional Cook 2 curriculum, Ed Walker said that the program did not suffer a decline in enrollment in its absence. “Our menu is predominantly local … I’d say 90 per cent of my ingredients come from local providers,” Walker said. Accolades will feature a six course menu. Some menu items include chicken consommé, chorizo ravioli, lamb two ways, (confit and grilled), risotto and apple rosemary reduction and crème brûlée with roasted
rhubarb compote. According to Walker, Accolades also partners with four Kamloops wineries and three Kamloops breweries. Service at Accolades will cost $39.95 per person, which Walker referred to as “the best deal in town.” This may be a fair assessment as similar multi-course meal events at the Brownstone, another fine dining establishment in Kamloops, range from $80 to $125. Along with training up-and-coming chefs, Accolades will function as part of TRU’s Resort and Hotel Management diploma. According to Maeghan Summers, a graduate of the program who is returning as an instructor, the program will give students unique experience “executing a fine dining service.” The main differences between normal
Looking for work on Campus?? HAVE AN APPROVED student loan? Want to Earn $10.45/hr?
Check Out the TRU WorkStudy Program Positions Include: § § § §
Research & assist with projects & campus initiatives Schedule and plan for events and festivals Sell tickets and usher guests at the Theatre Act as a student peer resource/tutor
Find these jobs – and over 100 more at the TRU Student Awards & Financial Support Office (Old Main Building)
Open to all full-time students currently approved for a government student loan, the Work Study program provides students with valuable paid work experience. Applications and eligibility guidelines are available at www.tru.ca/awards/work-‐‑study, or visit the TRU Student Awards & Financial Support Office (OM 1631, 250-828-5024).
food service and fine dining are the “slower pace of service and the level of product knowledge,” Summers said. Students enrolled in HMGT 1110, Catering and Service Management, will learn these skills by
participating in four or five services at Accolades. “Guests are extremely patient and forgiving because it is student-run allowing students time to learn,” Summers said.
Accolades has now reopened after a year-long closure. (File photo)
Back-to-School BBQ Winners At the recent BBQ, we pitched the following idea to visitors to our booth: today, we take your photo. Next week, if you find it in the paper, you’ll take home $50 to the TRU Bookstore. If you’re one of these lucky winners, email editor@truomega.ca and swing by OM2691 to claim your prize. Congrats!
ELECTION PRIMER
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? SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
How do we
DECIDE
Sean Brady
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω TRUSU has wholly embraced the get out the vote campaign put forward by the Canadian
IN THE RUNNING KAMLOOPS–THOMPSON–CARIBOO
Federation of Students–BC. “This Time We Decide” is meant to get students to pledge that they will vote and then making sure they know how and where to do so. But beyond the when and where, there’s a lot to know in
order to make an informed decision. Which party best represents your views? How does your local candidate reconcile those views? How well do they interact and communicate with the public? Who really has a shot at getting
What about the polls? 30.2%
31.3% 30.3%
Cathy McLeod Conservative Party of Canada Party leader: Stephen Harper
The incumbent Conservative has held the riding since 2008, when she took over from her fellow party member Betty Hinton.She last grabbed 52 per cent of the vote.
4.3% Bill Sundhu New Democratic Party
Party leader: Thomas Mulcair Sundhu is a newcomer to federal politics, with this being his first election. He takes over from former leader Michael Crawford, who took 36.9 per cent in the 2011 election.
Steve Powrie Liberal Party of Canada
Party leader: Justin Trudeau Powrie is taking his first run at office with the Liberals. He’ll be the third Liberal candidate in the riding in as many elections.
Matt Greenwood Green Party
Party leader: Elizabeth May Matt Greenwood isn’t new to the Green Party, but he is new as a candidate in the riding. He’s taking over from Donovan Cavers, who ran in 2011 and snagged 5.1 per cent.
Conservative
NDP
Liberal
Green
Source: ThreeHundredEight.com, week 7 figures
elected, and should that affect my decision? What do the polls say? Use this page as a guide to navigate the landscape of the 2015 Federal Election. Don’t forget to vote on Oct. 19 and to read The Omega for election news.
October
19
42nd Federal Election
Kamloops–Thompson–Cariboo This riding has around 90,000 voters, most of them living in Kamloops itself. The riding has voted in a conservative candidate for the past five elections, with the NDP in second place for the past three elections. In the last election in 2011, the NDP under Michael Crawford drew 20,983 votes to McLeod’s 29,682. In 2008, he came closer, drawing 19,601 votes to McLeod’s 25,209. The Liberals have fared worse as time goes on since 2004, then coming within 12 per cent to
Conservative Betty Hinton. In 2008, the Liberals drew 5,375 votes in the riding. In 2011, when their party captured just 34 seats of the House (down from 77), Liberal candidate Murray Todd pulled in 3,026 votes, or 5.3 per cent. Green support was strongest in 2008, when Donovan Cavers (now a Kamloops City Councilor), pulled in 4,430 votes for a share of 8.1 per cent. Otherwise, Green support has hovered around five per cent of the vote.
What about some tools to help me decide? There are a number of online tools and resources that you can use to help make a decision on how to vote on Oct. 19 – here’s just a few you might find helpful CBC’s Poll Tracker This website will show you historical poll values as well as combined and weighted poll results to give you the best idea of how the parties are polling. Poll Tracker also includes a seat-by-seat breakdown showing how the House of Commons would be divided up if the election were to happen today. Right now, it’s predicting a Conservative minority government, but results change often. The reason this site works so well is because it provides a comprehensive view of every serious poll conducted. It also explains its methodology and shows its work for those who like to know how conclusions were drawn. Vote Compass The second is CBC’s Vote Compass, which is a step-bystep “wizard” process that interviews voters to decide
how they should vote based on their views. It’s easy to use, very thorough and an excellent first step to any voter who is completely lost. It’s a bit of a time investment, but it’s time worth spending. ISideWith.com Third is a site similar to Vote Compass called ISideWidth.com. ISideWith is an American site, but also has a Canadian option. It puts a questionnaire to the wouldbe voter and uses these questions to determine which party best suites your views. StrategicVoting.ca Finally, if you’re looking to vote strategically, is StrategicVoting.ca. This site lists voting recommendations for those interested in ousting the Conservative party from office, and is therefore a partisan resource. The site lists its methodology on how it reached its results, as well.
FEDERAL ELECTION
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City host to Conservative leader Stephen Harper Harper touts strength of economy during campaign stop on the same day surplus is announced of oil. The commodity briefly recovered, but now sits at around NEWS EDITOR Ω $44 per barrel – something any newly elected leader would have to Prime Minister Stephen Harper deal with. spoke to approximately 200 Harper was also asked if he supporters at the Horizon North could provide any assurance of job industrial site on Monday, Sept. security for the remaining Horizon 14. The main subject of Harper’s North employees. address was the recently “I am certainly aware, being released budget report, which from Alberta, of the negative showed the Conservative impact of the falling oil prices “You know what they did government had maintained on the oil and gas sector … and a $1.9 billion surplus for the on parts of our industry that to this province. You can 2014-15 fiscal year. Harper are dependent on that sector. only imagine what they stated that the surplus was It is very concerning for us. would do to this country,” the result of an increase in “That is why we are making afrevenue and that the governfordable effective investments, Stephen Harper, in reference to the ment “predicted a mild deficit keeping our taxes down and possibility of an NDP government but it’s actually a surplus.” our budget balanced. Harper referred to Canada’s “Tax hikes do not balance economy as “an island of budgets. Tax hikes kill jobs.” stability” compared to the rest Harper’s visit was greeted by of the world, citing Greece’s approximately 20 protesters, debt crisis as an example. When asked about the proposed mostly from First Nations groups “The wrong decisions now on twinning of Kinder Morgan’s Trans and postal workers opposed to the taxes, on deficit, on spending will Mountain pipeline, which runs end of door-to-door mail delivery. cause real economic damage … the through the Kamloops area. Protesters carried signs which read security and the protection of our “The pipeline will go through “no more lies – Harper say your fragile economy, for our Consera rigorous environmental and goodbyes” and “Harper: Canada’s vative government is job number scientific assessment process and Nixon.” one,” he said. the government will make its deciKamloops Conservative candiHarper went on to criticize the sions based on that. We don’t make date Cathy McLeod introduced NDP’s past provincial government any secret of the fact that we want Harper. North Okanagan–Shuswap track record. to see resource development, but it Conservative candidate Mel “In B.C., you have seen them must be safe for our economy and Arnold, senator Nancy Greenein action, you know what they for our environment.” Raine, Kamloops City councilor did to this province. You can only In January, Horizon North laid Pat Wallace and Tk’emlups Indian imagine what they would do to this off 130 employees, 48 of them in Band chief Shane Gottfriedson country,” Harper said in criticism Kamloops, as a result of $48 barrels were also in attendance.
Jim Elliot
of the B.C. NDP governments of the 1990s. Alongside statements about the budget, Harper repeatedly referred to low taxes as a key component of the Conservatives’ economic plan. “Your money belongs to you, not the bureaucracy in Ottawa,” he said.
“
Stephen Harper during his Sept. 14 address at a campaign event at Horizon North in Kamloops. (Sean Brady/The Omega)
Protesters on location at Harper event Approximately 20 protesters were on-hand for the arrival of Stephen Harper and those attending the Conservative party campaign event. A group of six First Nations protesters played their drums for the duration of the event. Jim Elliot/The Omega (bottom right) Sean Brady/The Omega (top left, top right)
FEDERAL ELECTION
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SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Local candidates talk policy at Farmer’s Market
One absent at schoolyard candidates forum draws questions from those in attendance Wade Tomko NEWS EDITOR Ω Residents from all over Kamloops had a chance to meet local candidates and learn about their policies at last weekend’s Kamloops Farmers’ Market. Put on by the local chapter of the Council of Canadians, the event wasn’t as much a debate as it was a forum. Organizer and Council of Canadians member Anita Strong explained it as “a chance to come meet candidates and see what their parties are about.” Multiple social action groups were in attendance, as well, including Stop Ajax Mine, Vote Health Care and Save Door-to-Door Mail campaigns. At 10 a.m. Council of Canadians member and recurrent moderator Bruce Campbell called all candidates to the microphone to introduce themselves. As the candidates sat down, the crowd could not help but notice an empty seat. On it was a sign reading “Cathy McLeod.” Council of Canadians member and moderator Bruce Campbell explained said that “Cathy McLeod was invited to attend, but did not respond to [their] requests.” The forum was structured to allow those in the audience to write down questions to ask the candidates. The questions would then be mixed up and selected at random. Each candidate would have up to two minutes to answer each question. Matt Greenwood (Green Party of Canada) was the first to speak. Although he admitted that there are “less reasons to vote Green in this riding than in others,” that didn’t stop him from reaching out to undecided conservative voters. Appealing to their sense of traditionalism, Greenwood explained how Stephen Harper has sold out traditional conservative values in terms of democracy, veteran support, privacy and sovereignty. Next up was Steve Powrie (Liberal Party of Canada). Comparing the Conservative party to the U.S. Republicans, Powrie argued that the current state of Canadian politics has been diluted with rhetoric, false promises
and attack ads. He finished by reaffirming his stance on what Trudeau’s Canada would look like, saying “those who choose to protest against pipelines are not radical fundamentalists, but are expressing their democratic right to dissent. And a woman who chooses to wear a hijab, is not a jihadi warrior, but someone practicing their right to religious freedom.” Last to introduce himself was Bill Sundhu (NDP). Once he got to the microphone, Sundhu immediately took the opportunity to question McLeod’s accountability as MP. Explaining how her absence was an insult to local constituents, Sundhu garnered much support from the crowd when he promised that he would be a representative the people of Kamloops could trust and count on to do what is right. Calling his party “the agents of change,” he asked voters from all parties to do the right thing in the upcoming election and remove Harper, believing that his party is the right party to do so. The audience was not easy on the candidates when it came to questions, and everything from public health care and the combat mission in Syria, to social housing and the Trans-Pacific Partnership was on the table. For the most part, all three candidates present showed solidarity on issues in the face of the Harper government. All agreed to stop the continual privatization of healthcare and PharmaCare systems. Powrie called for more co-operation between the provinces and the Federal government and Sundhu wanted to focus more on prevention and long-term care within communities. Candidates also tackled student issues like the rising student debt and tuition costs. Sundhu told the audience that “the gift of knowledge is a basic human right” and promised that the NDP would make tuition “much more affordable,” and would pay for it by “eliminating income splitting and closing tax loopholes in order to provide revenue to fund our programs.” Greenwood said his party would add trade apprenticeship programs and paid internships available to
Canadians, stating that Canada is one of the most over-educated countries in the world and that “employers want work experience, not university degrees.” Powrie promised that the Liberals would lower tuition and student debt nationwide as well. Although he did not elaborate how exactly, he did say that funding skills training programs would be one of the first things they would do if elected. Although there were many other issues on which all three parties were in agreement, such as ending the bombing campaign against ISIS, implementing a national childcare service and stopping cuts to both Canada Post and the CBC, a few issues gave way to heated discussion between the candidates as they tried to pull voters over to their side. Powrie was the only one to admit that, if elected, the Liberals would run a minor deficit. Sundhu on the other hand, said that if the NDP takes power they will be able to run a surplus through raising corporate tax rates, stopping tax fraud and eliminating income splitting. Another area of major division was the topic of environmentally sustainable energy. Both Sundhu and Greenwood promised to evolve Canada’s economy towards clean, renewable energy by raising subsidies on oil and gas companies and taxing carbon “at the well.” Powrie was more careful here and said that the Liberals have yet to set targets, noting that co-operation between provinces is a necessary first step in order to achieve an appropriate and economically sound approach. Despite their differences in some areas of thought, all candidates ended the debate by calling on Canadians to elect a government who represents them fairly on the world stage and is transparent and co-operative in their policy. Although the idea of a coalition was floated around, neither Sundhu or Powrie really bought into it. Only Greenwood strongly voiced his support for a coalition, or in the very least, better co-operation, in order to defeat the Harper government.
Matt Greenwood, Green Party of Canada. (Sean Brady/The Omega)
Steve Powrie, Liberal Party of Canada. (Sean Brady/The Omega)
Bill Sundhu, NDP. (Sean Brady/The Omega)
ARTS
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A walk through time in Tranquille’s tunnels Marlys Klossner ARTS EDITOR Ω It’s 1958 and the future of Tranquille’s tuberculosis sanatorium is up in the air. It will close in a few weeks, and the livelihoods of those who seek treatment and work at the facility are in limbo. Everyone has a different opinion on the property’s future. This is the setting of Crossroads, a production commissioned by Tranquille Farm Fresh, where an audience is taken on a tour of some of the buildings and tunnels that used to be the King Edward VII Sanatorium. Along the way you will encounter a cast of characters, including employees of the doomed establishment, a doctor, a reporter and the farm owner whose wife is a patient. Starting at 8 p.m., the production capitalizes on the creepy elements of the abandoned compound while still keeping the integrity of the sanatorium’s good intentions. Although the atmosphere is eerie, the production is entertaining for all ages, and there are many tongue-incheek moments. Andrew G. Cooper, a TRU theatre alum who now serves as the artistic director for the Chimera Theatre Company, wrote, produced and acts in the show. Compared with last year’s show, Cooper said that this show was more exciting. “We have more actors, we have more buildings that we go into, there’s a whole new set of tunnels that have never been
seen by the public before, and the tunnels has really helped the show. The fact that the actors the story is set in the 50s, which play come together. make this feel organic is a credit is about 40 years after the hap“Being able to use the space to their improvisational skills. penings of last season’s producand learning how to use the At the beginning of the tour, tion. It’s a little more modern space has been a lot of work and the audience is split into two and has a lot of fun energy.” a lot of fun.” groups who accompany differWorking with the land and the Some of the best moments ent characters before swapping tunnels was a challenge, but and joining together at the Cooper was up to the task. end to find out the fate of “There’s a lot of ground the sanatorium and the to cover. When I write people so invested in its “Learning how to use the different scenes, I’m usually outcome. writing for a stage, so the A highlight of the night space has been a lot of audience stays in one spot is the use of a fully-restored work and a lot of fun,” and they watch the show vintage ambulance. The peAndrew G. Cooper,writer, producer unfold in front of them. This riod-appropriate costumes and actor in Crossroads one was a whole different also contribute to the show’s experience to make sure authenticity. that the audience was Crossroads runs every moving as the story moved. Friday, Saturday and Sunday It was a really different exnight from now until Nov. perience having to explore that, of the production are when the 1. For tickets, book through but it was really interesting and actors interact with the audithe Kamloops Live! Box Office. really fun actually,” he said. ence in character. This makes Private nights for groups can Cooper said that rehearsing in you feel like you’re a part of the also be booked for Thursdays.
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The characters of Crossroads include, from left to right, the son of the farm owner, the farm owner, a matron, a reporter, a nurse, a doctor, and a patient who is the farmer’s wife. (Marlys Klossner/The Omega)
Colbert takes his spot as Late Show host Entertainer hasn’t dumbed down his act at all, despite the bigger audience Sean Brady EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ω Stephen Colbert ended his much-beloved fake news show The Colbert Report last December. His tenure there stretched a solid nine years, and before that, he was riotously funny on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he set the standard for what a fake news correspondent should be. Colbert’s debut at the Late Show, which is perhaps the top job for a TV entertainer, is somewhat of an end-game job for a man with a long story to ultimate success. David Letterman retired at 68 and Colbert is 51. To imagine him in the job for the next 17 or more years isn’t much of a stretch when you consider the career of the man who came before him. So far, Colbert’s show is a squeaky pair of sneakers to Dave’s well-worn boots. It’s new, well-designed and polished, but everyone is a little awkward and no one yet looks like they belong there. But that should be expected – Dave
and Conan had long tenures of unnatural awkwardness too, and neither had the background Colbert does. When the leader of The Nation wears in his shoes a little, he’ll be an unstoppable machine of comedy and charisma. It’s so interesting to see Stephen Colbert in an uncomfortable position. It’s a testament to the wide range of skills required to excel as a late night host that someone as talented and skillful as Colbert can’t pull it off without some live practice. It also shows how few people there really are that can do the job well. Colbert’s insertion is the last strategic move by the late night network powers that be. By now, Jimmy Kimmel’s show has fully matured, Jimmy Fallon is thriving after replacing Leno and James Corden is doing something else after replacing cult classic Craig Ferguson. There aren’t many moves left to make in the late night game. Given Colbert’s nod to the “late night wars,” when, on his first show, he brought up a feed of Jimmy Fallon’s show and asked
who his guests were that night, things are probably going to stay this way for a while. Colbert and Fallon are the least interested people in rehashing old feuds that they’re now a generation removed from. It’s no accident that such a wide array of skills is required for this kind of job. The new entrants into the late night TV game have upped the bar, relying less on weird comedy and variety acts in favour of flash, broadly-appealing silliness and games with guests who we already know too well. So far, Colbert seems to be splitting the difference. Sure, he’s not weird like Dave was, but he’s also not generic like Fallon. His guest variety is a massive improvement over most other shows, too. Colbert plans on featuring CEOs, authors and politicians along with the usual late night guests like actors, comedians and musicians. The mix is sure to entertain, especially as the production figures out how to get these guests interacting with each other. The new Late Show is trying to play both
sides here, and once everyone gets comfortable, it will succeed in doing so. The host’s patent narcissism also comes into the mix, and I’m glad it does. From doing his own announcements to the domed ceiling of the Ed Sullivan Theatre emblazoned with projections of his face, Colbert puts his jokey pride on everything. He also can’t keep himself away from the musical guests, last week inserting himself into a performance by Paul Simon tribute band Troubled Waters, fronted by a man who looks and sounds remarkably like Paul Simon. Colbert can get away with the self-centred act though, and I think it’s interesting to ask ourselves why. I believe the answer lies in his past, in looking what he’s given us and what he’s gone through. We see it and we laugh, because while the over-the-top act is funny on its own, we also enjoy seeing Colbert happy and think “he deserves this,” and in doing that, we feel like we’re the ones helping him, just by laughing.
Longing for the limelight? Marlys Klossner ARTS EDITOR Ω Have karaoke nights started to feel like amateur hour? If you’re seeking some local musical talent, or wanting to showcase your own, there are several options. The Art We Are, if you couldn’t tell by the name, has an artsy, relaxed vibe. Their open mic nights are also poetry slams. If you’re seeking an appreciative crowd and you don’t mind going after a guy who says “Who am I?” in 20 different inflections, this one’s for you. The Art We Are is one of the only venues for underage artists, because they don’t have a liquor license. The Art We Are holds open mics every Friday night. The Commodore Grand Café and Lounge caters mostly to a somewhat haughtier audience. This is a more upscale venue, a full bar/restaurant with a five dollar cover. The Commodore patrons are night owls, with many late diners and drinkers. If you’re looking for a comparatively fancier setting with great energy, drop by on a Monday night. Cactus Jack’s, one of Kamloops’ small handful of nightclubs, occasionally has open mic nights, but these are few and far between. Cactus Jack’s is the biggest venue for open mics in town, and can give you the feeling of doing a real concert. There aren’t any open mic nights scheduled for the near future, but keep your eye on cactusjacks.ca. Cover charge is five dollars. Central Station Pub holds open mic nights every Thursday. Central is a laid-back local favourite. The mood is informal, friendly and supportive. This open mic is a new addition to the schedule at this particular bar. Central has a successful karaoke scene on Fridays, and their open mics have been gaining popularity. The Barnhartvale Coffee House only happens five times a year at Barnhartvale Hall. What is unique about these open mics is that they precede feature acts. Aspiring musicians can sign up on a white board and performances go down the list until it’s time for the main event. Unfortunately this means there may not be time for everyone to play, but if you get there reasonably early it shouldn’t be a problem. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the shows are family-friendly. Cover for coffee house nights is five dollars, but open mic participants get in for free. The coffee house is a non-profit run by volunteers and funded by admission. In the spring they also held an afternoon jam session hosted some of their featured musicians. To find out as soon as they announce a new date you can sign up for email reminders by emailing them at coffeehouse. barnhartvale@gmail.com.
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COMICS & PUZZLES
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C R O S S W O R D Ω Name:
By Cam Doherty
Welcome to Kamloops Welcome to Kamloops Complete the crossword below
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SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 Puzzle of the Week #1—Boys and Girls Welcome to a new year of puzzles. There is a group of four boys and four girls. If you randomly select two from the group, what is the probability that you selected one boy and one girl? This contest is sponsored by the Mathematics and Statistics department. The full-time student with the best score at the end of the year will win a prize. Please submit your solution (not just the answer but also why) by noon next Wednesday to Gene Wirchenko (<genew@ telus.net>). Submissions by others are also welcome. The solution will be posted the Wednesday after that in my blog (http://genew.ca/). Come visit the Math Centre (HL304): we are friendly.
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Your work could be featured on this page. If you can produce a weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly comic strip for The Omega, we’d love to feature your work! Email editor@truomega.ca if you’re interested.
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SPORTS
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WolfPack men’s soccer team looks for a new beginning Depth and experience will be key for the men to find success in the new season Cameron Doherty SPORTS EDITOR Ω The 2014 season did not go the way that the men’s soccer team wanted it to. Making the jump from the PACWEST conference to the Canada West conference of CIS, the highest level of university soccer in Canada, proved to be a challenging experience. The team posted a record of 2 wins, 8 losses and 2 draws, en route to a last place finish in the Pacific division of Canada West. But last season is in the rearview mirror and this is a team that has shown the ability to take the tough lessons they learned last year and build towards a stronger 2015 season. Pre-season was extremely promising for the team as a more confident group of WolfPack players displayed a tight defence and a greater urgency in front of goal to record five wins, all while still going through the tough process of getting to know new teammates. The man between the posts is a player that TRU will feel comfortable with, as fifth year goalkeeper Travis Froehlich has started in all of the WolfPack’s games each and every year he has been on campus. Froehlich more than proved his worth as a shot-stopper last year as his 81 saves in just 12 games were good enough for the fifth most saves in all of CIS soccer. Keepers play a much larger role than just stopping the ball however: “He’s the first guy to organize our team… if he’s not vocal and he’s not organizing, there’s breakdowns all over the park. But he’s able to take his role
as a leader and his experience as a player and just ensure that we stay organized and tight on defence,” said head coach John Antulov. One of those players that will be working with Froehlich to organize the defence will be centre-back Corey Wallis. A versatile player who can not only shut down opposing strikers but also roam up the field himself, Wallis scored a hat-trick in an August pre-season game. This team co-captain entering his fifth year will undoubtedly be a pivotal player for the WolfPack this season. Partnering Wallis at centre-back is second year defender Finlay McPhie, who had an outstanding rookie campaign in 2014, playing in all 12 of the WolfPack’s games. Perhaps the scariest thing for opposing strikers is that McPhie is still young. “I don’t think Finlay’s tapped his potential as of yet, and so far this season he has looked even better than last year,” Antulov said. With 14 players listed as midfielders, Antulov has undoubtedly achieved his off-season goal of acquiring more depth. The versatile players that are listed as midfielders allow Antulov to switch formations on a game by game, and sometimes half by half, basis. “A lot of the players we have in midfield are very diversified, they can play in the back [or] they can play up front as well too, so having that depth creates depth in other areas that those guys can play in as well,” he said. Returning to help stabilize the TRU midfield are fifth-year players Kyle Fertile and Braeden Burrows, who both missed the soccer season last year after being leaders on
the team in years previous. An attacking option from the midfield is always welcome and fifth-year Oriol Torres provides just that for TRU. When Torres has the ball at his feet he becomes nearly untouchable as he blows by defenders with ease; he led the WolfPack in goals last year with two in 11 games. Offence is the area that Antulov feels his team improved the most in over the summer. “Our ability to attack and score goals, with the addition of Mitchell Popadynetz and Ryan Glanville
and Kyle Fertile, those are key guys that are going to help our attack because they’re very offensive-minded players that are going to be able to do some damage.” Popadynetz and Glanville come to TRU with a winning pedigree as both have won national championships with the UBC Thunderbirds: Popadynetz two years ago and Glanville in 2007. One of Glanville’s key attributes is his presence on the ball and the ability to shield it from defenders. “That was one thing we lacked last year … you know we worked
very hard in winning the ball back and a lot of times it was given right back, and Ryan gives us that calming presence and ability to hold onto the ball and have players work off him.” This is a TRU team that enters the 2015 season substantially improved in all aspects of the game. Whether it is new players coming onto the team or players who have come back from the struggle of last season more experienced, it is clear that this is a team poised to take a step forward as the 2015 season gets underway.
TRU goalkeeper Travis Froehlich had the fifth most saves in all of CIS soccer last year. (TRU Athletics)
Women’s soccer to brave the road early
WolfPack women will go on the longest road trip in CIS this season Cameron Doherty SPORTS EDITOR Ω Whether by plane, train or automobile the TRU women’s soccer team will be spending almost all of September travelling across Western Canada. A regular season schedule that started Friday, Sept. 4 will see the women play six games away from Kamloops before finally playing their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 26. The longest-lasting road trip in Canada West soccer this year includes stops in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Prince George, Abbotsford and Langley for a grand total of around 6,700 km travelled, and includes six of the team’s 14 games played, before a ball even hits the turf for regular season action at Hillside Stadium. TRU athletic director Ken Olynyk said that weather concerns were the primary reasons for the strange schedule. “It’s because of weather, it wasn’t that way to start originally but we switched with Winnipeg and
played them earlier because of weather, which is kind of ironic because we went there and there was a thunderstorm and we played indoors.” With TRU originally slated to play both the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba at the end of October, the two teams from the prairies feared that a possible heavy snowfall could render their fields unplayable, so they contacted Olynyk about moving the games up the schedule. This wasn’t the only re-scheduling to take place. The University of Alberta and the University of Northern British Columbia also reached out to Olynyk to ask if TRU’s late season visits to their respective campuses could be moved up the schedule to avoid possible snow-related cancellations. Head coach of the WolfPack Tom McManus spoke about how hard the September travel could be on his team. “It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be very tough because they don’t get the chance to feel the comfort
of being at home and sleeping in their own bed and things like that. The big thing for crowds is getting people interested in it, so they get the hunger to see more, that’s one of the biggest problems as well, we want good crowds here this year to supports us and be able to help out,” he said. But McManus was also able to find a silver lining in the tough schedule. “From the bonding part, I think it’s going to be good because they’re going to be together and they have to work for each other.” Perseverance will be necessary over the course of the WolfPack’s first six games as playing on the road brings with it a multitude of problems: hostile crowds, gruelling bus rides and time spent away from both the classroom and home will all conspire against TRU. If the WolfPack wants to remain in the playoff hunt when they play their first game in front of a home crowd then the team will have to find a way to come together and grind out some results in a difficult situation.
Women’s soccer head coach Tom McManus. (TRU Athletics)
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THE OMEGA
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015