The Weal March 2019 edition

Monthly Magazine of the SAIT Students’ Association

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theWEAL News

CONTENTS

SAIT Pride Week educates, and celebrates LGBTQ+ Students Q&A: Jim Szautner, Dean of the School of Manufacturing and Automation GLOW Festival brightens Calgary Women in Trades and Technologies celebrates International Women’s Day Kintsu Wellness injury prevention courses coming to SAIT

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Lifestyle Instructor of the Month: Catherine Theng, SAIT MRT instructor Wander-lustful? Let SAIT Destinations do the travel hacking for you Relaxation Tips and Tricks workshop is an effective tool for students The career… path or destination?

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Sports In his final season, SAIT Trojans Men’s basketball guard Ian Tevis dominates SAIT Trojans Women’s basketball guard Martina Allen reflects on time at SAIT King of threes: Trojans Men’s basketball guard John Smith sets team record SAIT women’s basketball season comes to an end

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Arts & Entertainment Making Treaty 7 puts on new history-packed play, “Okotoks” Pulling espresso for victory: Nintendo-themed cafe opening right outside SAIT Musician Rebecca Lappa looks back on her musical roots, and the path ahead.

Annual YYC Hot Chocolate Fest returns to keep Calgary toasty

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Opinions Does Wonder Woman lift heavy?

City right to take a (pint) glass half-full – perspective on drinking in parks Dastardly detoxes, catastrophic cleanses: be wary of fast health fixes Instead of opting out of student union fees, opt out of voting for the UCP

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News

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theWeal.com March. 2019

SAIT Pride Week educates and celebrates LGBTQ+ Students SAIT’s Gender Sexuality Inclusion Committee rolled out the rainbows in February.

Erik Rodney poses in the SAIT Photo major studio, showcasing his new Drag look, painted by Lincoln David as part of the Drag 101 workshop on Campus in Heritage Hall, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. (Photo

by John Watson)

Amanda McColl Weal Writer

T

his year’s SAIT Pride Week was one of the biggest ones yet, according to organizers.

“Because we have a bit of a budget to work with, it allowed us to do a lot of the things we always wanted to do,” said John Partington.

From Feb. 4 to 7, events were held across campus to celebrate SAIT’s LGBTQ+ community and how much it has grown.

When John Partington started as the transfer options coordinator at SAIT four years ago, he said he noticed a lack of LGBTQ+ events and community on campus.

“I was curious as to the reasons why, of course, but also what could I do to get involved,” said Partington.

Shortly thereafter, SAIT’s pres-

ence in the LGBTQ+ community started to grow. Twenty-two people from the staff and student body at SAIT participated in Calgary Pride three years ago. This past summer, SAIT’s LGBTQ+ community sent 96 people to Calgary Pride.

SAIT Pride was showcased to the community with events all week, started with the flag raising at 9 a.m. on Monday morning.

This was the fifth annual flag raising SAITSA has put on, though it was a little non-traditional this year, according to Jessica Beddow, VP Student Life.

“Currently the flag poles are under construction, so we don’t really have any,” she said.

There was rainbow hot chocolate at the event, regardless of whether the flag poles cooperated, or not.

The visibility of a flag raising is important for more than just a signal that the party has started, said Carling Brezinski, a first-year journalism student who identifies as bisexual and non-binary.

“It shows you aren’t alone in who you are,” they said.

“It’s a positive example, especially for those who aren’t out yet.”

The week continued with a Drag 101 workshop on Tuesday, which was a drag history lesson wrapped up with a tutorial on make-up tech-

niques, binding, tucking, and drag culture.

“We [had] kings and queens here to show you how to get into drag,” said Partington.

“We [had] a section in the Rainbow Reception to let everyone who wants to strut their stuff.”

There was also a clothing swap on Wednesday in the Johnson Cobbe Energy Centre, with all items on sale for $4 with proceeds going towards a new scholarship program.

“We want[ed] it to be LGBTQ+ specific, but it will depend on how much money we raise[d],” said Partington.

“We [had] the sale and a mix and mingle, so we [had] coffee and Timbits and rainbow Jenga and board games too,” said Beddow.

The Rainbow Reception was a celebration to show that there is space for everyone. There were performances from the Calgary Men’s Choir, drag shows, and performances from staff.

“It’s lots of camp and lots of fun,” said Beddow.

“It’s a chance to celebrate that SAIT is becoming a more welcoming and inclusive place,” said Partington.

“There’s lots of us here,” said Beddow.

“We’re here, we’re queer, we’re loud.”

theWeal.com March. 2019

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News

Ready for the robot uprising Jim Szautner, Dean of the School of Manufacturing and Automation, discusses industry trends, new teaching technologies, and staying ahead of the curve

Jim Szautner, Dean of SAIT’s School of Manufacturing and Automation, showcases one of many new CNC machines as part of the newly renovated Gene Haas Foundation Lab. (Photo by JP Pitogo)

Sean Feagan | News Editor

Jim Szautner has overseen SAIT’s School of Manufacturing and Automation as Dean for 10 years. We sat down to talk about providing cutting-edge education in an ever-changing field, industry trends, and new technologies enriching the learning experience at SAIT.

What’s happening in your community

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“Now, with a diversifying economy, we are looking at opportunities in some of the non-traditional areas for manufacturing. Places like construction, where we are seeing a lot of more pre-fabricated buildings being built.”

Jim Szautner

What is your role as Dean?

JS: I’m responsible for the entire operation of the school – making sure we are offering great programming for our students and making sure we have the right people to offer that programming.

How has the School of Manufacturing and Automation changed during your tenure?

JS: From a technological standpoint, there was a time when the automation program was once one of our least subscribed-to programs, but with the increase in automation technology, we are seeing that program become one of our most sought-after programs.

From an academic programming standing, we’ve increased the amount of flexibility in access to programs.

We now have a January intake for some programs and have classes in the evening and weekends – it’s not just about appealing to that full-time daytime learner. It’s also important to look at learners who come in midyear or after hours.

What is the future of the school in response to increased automation?

JS: We look at it from multiple fronts.

If you look at economic drivers, it was traditionally oil and gas, particularly in Alberta. So of course, our manufacturing sector has aligned to ensuring we could service that sector.

Now, with a diversifying economy, we are looking at opportunities in some of the non-traditional areas for manufacturing. Places like construction, where we are seeing a lot of more pre-fabricated buildings being built. It’s a lot more precise to do it in a manufacturing environment than on site.

Within oil-and-gas, we are moving from an economy of extraction of the resource to refining of the resource. We’re looking to taking automation into those areas, so they can optimize workflows and meet their production targets.

theWeal.com March. 2019

Are there any additions to the school, in terms of new technologies?

JS: Just this year, we purchased four new robots that we will be using in our automation lab. These robots will be replacing robots we’ve had for 14 years. We will be able to network the new robots, and use the latest and greatest technology on them.

We’ve also brought in new modular production stations. These are small little stations that are linked together to make a full manufacturing facility.

These ones that are 4.0 enabled allow us to collect data, but they also connect to older (3.0) stations, so it will be a bit of a hybrid between industry 3.0 automation and industry 4.0 automation. [Editor’s note: 4.0 automation includes machines capable of exchanging information, controlling each other, and interacting independently.]

On the welding front, one of our welder instructors, Adam Medrek, was the Cadmus Teaching Chair for 2014/15.

He wanted to research how simulation in welding can enhance the learner’s experience, but found that the simulation technology wasn’t there for students to developing as a welder. He asked students what some barriers to their learning are, and they said it was hard to see what their instructors were demonstrating. So he adjusted his research to find camera technology to capture the welding “puddle” and not get distracted by the ultraviolet light it gives off. Now we’ve set up welding cameras with large-screen TVs in our labs, so students can watch it live, or we can record it and play it back.

The School of Manufacturing and Automation has a school showcase on April 11, which demonstrates this year’s student cap stones projects.

theWeal.com March. 2019

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News

Glow Festival brightens Calgary Winter celebration illuminates downtown

Rhizome by Tom and Lien Dekyvere at GLOW in Calgary on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. (Photo by Sean Feagan)

By Sean Feagan News Editor

W

ith short days and record low temperatures, February was a trying month for Calgarians – but a winter lights festival helped to brighten spirits and encourage people to enjoy the frosty air.

GLOW Downtown Winter Light Festival was a fiveday celebration held Feb. 14 to 18, featuring light art installations, a fashion show, and live music along Stephen Ave. and 7th Ave. SW in downtown Calgary.

The event was planned and operated by the Calgary Downtown Association (CDA), a business improvement area representing almost 3,000 business throughout a 120-block area across downtown.

The event is intended to provide some illumination for both the people of Calgary and its businesses, explained Marco De Laco, executive director of the CDA. “We’re living in the dark days of winter and the dark days of our economy to some extent,” he said.

“GLOW is a beacon of light, and is something that is going to attract people to downtown.”

The all-ages event builds on a pilot event held in the fall of 2017, which showed that idea could be an effective way to engage Calgarians in the downtown core.

“It was a much smaller event to see if the concept of light art installations were compelling enough to entice people downtown,” said De Laco.

“It resonated with people that were able to experience it.”

What’s happening in your community

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theWeal.com March. 2019

The Face by Illuminart at GLOW in Calgary on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. (Photo by Sean Feagan)

This year’s iteration was bigger and better than the pilot, explained De Laco.

“What we have done this year, is we ramped up our focus and effort in making a better an experience,” he said.

“We doubled the number of light art installations, we’ve added food trucks, music, fashion, and we also created themes for each of the five nights.”

Performing musicians included Brad Sanders, The Static Shift, JJ Shiplett, and Michael Bernard Fitzgerald.

For those wary of the effects of Jack Frost, fire pits were provided along the route, as well as a warming station with gas heaters, sponsored by Brightside by ATB Financial.

The 16 major light installations, including the hilarious “Beakerhead Bunnies,” and the interactive “Wish Tree”

by Pitaya, were created by artists from Calgary, as well as Montreal and European countries including France and Belgium.

“We have quite an array of art and creativity – and an array of artists contributing to this event,” said De Laco.

The CDA is looking to establish GLOW as a yearly event, and expand it further.

“The vision of this event is to create a month-long winter celebration, that includes a restaurant and dining festival, live music festival, [and] glow theatre,” said De Laco.

“We really want to create a month-long winter hallmark event that gets people to come downtown and embrace winter in these long, cold months.”

theWeal.com March. 2019

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News

Women in Trades and Technologies Celebrates International Women’s Day

By John Watson Staff Writer

F

rom auto body repair to welding, there is no trade in which women cannot excel.

On Friday, March 8, SAIT will be hosting an inaugural celebration of International Women’s Day in the Irene Lewis Atrium, presented by Women in Trades and Technologies (WITT).

The WITT committee wants to emphasise, enhance, and promote women in SAIT’s trades and technologies programs, and demonstrate that women have a place in trade environments.

“A lot of girls decide trades aren’t for them without even giving it a try, because they can’t see themselves working in those areas,” said Reva Ramsden, Associate Dean for the Schools of Transportation, and of Manufacturing and Automation.

“Girls often don’t have any role models outside of their dads teaching them things here and there in their garage, much less a woman in the workforce they can look up to.”

Numbers from 2017 showed only 8.5 per cent of auto body apprentices were female, a number that begun to increase, thanks in part to organisations such as WITT. SAIT’s current fourth-period auto body apprenticeship has a bit more of a female presence, with a 21 per cent female population.

Ramsden said many of the women who begin a trades apprenticeship drop out around the time of the second period due to extenuating circumstances, or lack of opportunity to continue and finish their Red Seal.

Through her hands-on experience on various job sites, Ramsden confirms there are still prominent stereotypes that dominate trades on both sides. Women on-site will often mask their femininity to fit in by adopting a “tomboy” attire, she said.

SAIT is looking into expanding the numbers of female role models and staff instructors on campus.

In January 2019, SAIT brought on its first female welding instructor, Tanya Evans.

As one of SAIT’s 100’s projects, 100 philanthropic projects announced in 2016 as part of SAIT’s centennial, SAIT began offering one-on-one mentoring programs on campus for women, pairing industry professionals with female students in the trades to encourage both enrollment and continuation in their fields.

Ramsden shared that trainees have gone on to become mentors and encourage more women to give the program a try.

“I believe we owe it to students to give them at least this much,” said Ramsden.

“I encourage women not to close the door on trades until they’ve at least peeked through the window. I never saw myself in construction and my only regret is not doing it sooner.”

What’s happening in your community

A pilot, Darcie Cooper, takes a motheWeal.com ment in front of the Twin Otter after 9 March. 2019 her flight at the airport in Calgary on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Cooper decided to become a pilot five years ago and now she is flying for the Kenn Borek Air, which is a Calgary based company. Shot as part of the portrait project “Women in Men’s Dominated Industries.” (Photo by Eka Barnovi-MacNicol)

theWeal.com March. 2019

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News

The Two-line Headline Is Here This is an one-line deck

Natalie Ho is a construction manager for a Canadian airline. Right now she is building a hangar at the YYC airport that’s going to be the biggest hangar in Western Canada. Natalie chose to be a construc-tion manager, because she loves the feeling of building something that helps the city and a community.

(Photo by Eka Barnovi-MacNicol)

What’s happening in your community

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theWeal.com March. 2019

Kintsu Wellness educates body management at work and home Pair working to provide injury prevention courses to SAIT

By Sean Feagan News Editor

I

njuries in the workplace are far too prevalent, but fortunately two Calgarians are trying to make preventative approaches more widespread via injury prevention classes at SAIT. Adam Mercier and Benjamin Smith, two University of Calgary kinesiology graduates, founded Kintsu Wellness, an education program providing approaches to injury prevention.

The name of the program is a reference to Kintsugi, a Japanese artform in which broken pottery is repaired with gold lacquer, to “treat breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise,” according to My Modern Met. The pair are currently working to bring additional classes to SAIT to help students learn how to properly use their body at work and home to avoid injuries, and maintain function, said Mercier. “[Students] learn how to use their body, have that body awareness, and understand what injuries might happen in their particular trade, and how to avoid them to live a healthier lifestyle and have a better quality of life all around,” he said.

Those new to the workforce are most likely to get injured on the job: young workers aged between 15 and

24 years had the highest rate of losttime and disabling injuries in 2016 and 2017, according to the Government of Alberta’s 2017 Workplace Injury, Disease and Fatality Statistics Provincial Summary.

The most frequently cited injuries reported during that period were bodily reaction or exertion injuries, accounting for 41 per cent and 45 per cent of lost-time, and disabling injury cases, respectively. Included in this non-impact injury class are bodily reaction (slips, or trips not resulting in a fall), overexertion, and repetitive motion injuries, many of which are preventable.

Workplace injuries are particularly prevalent in the trades, with three out of four first-year apprentices experiencing some form of injury symptoms, according to Mercier.

Mercier experienced a workplace injury, which affected his personal and professional life and helped fuel his interest in injury prevention, he said.

“I started asking, ‘why are so many people being injured in the trades?’”

Mercier concluded that the injury prevention education and training that did exist was “infantile.”

“It’s not comprehensive – basically, you watch a video or are asked to read a manual.”

Mercier approached SAIT’s Athletics and Recreation about providing injury prevention classes at SAIT, and was provided a room to teach,

under the condition that he could populate the classroom with students.

Few attended at first, but the initiative gained steam, he said.

The pair are currently working with SAIT’s School of Construction to provide more classes on campus in the future.

“Hopefully, we will be able to start up the program again,” said Mercier.

Attempting to fight workplace injuries through prevention is a simpler and more cost-effective strategy than treatment, said Smith.

“Our society often practices a model of treatment – but treatment isn’t always sustainable,” he said.

“Treatment covers up symptoms, as opposed to finding their root, and preventing them in the first place.”

Without engaging in preventative practices, workers experience physical degradation, regardless of whether they are working at a desk or a more physically-active occupation.

“The body is a tool in any type of job or trade,” he said.

“If you don’t practice prevention, things like physical activity, proper movement, flexibility, and mobility, our bodies will break down – just like any other tool if you don’t maintain it.”

Mercier and Smith are currently seeking additional student support regarding perception for Kintsu injury prevention education at SAIT, via the following survey: https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/9PWJXRP

theWeal.com March. 2019

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Lifestyle

Catherine Theng is an instructor in medical radiological technology at SAIT. Theng is a SAIT alumnus, and worked at Foothills Medical Centre before coming to SAIT. (Photo by Tiffany Oud)

Your life outside of the classroom

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theWeal.com March. 2019

Paying it forward through teaching SAIT alumna has prepared students to work in the healthcare system for a decade

By Tiffany Oud Lifestyle Editor

I

n 2003, SAIT begun offering the medical radiological technology (MRT) program. Among its first students was Catherine Theng, who, 14 years after graduating, is now an instructor and program specialist.

Before teaching at SAIT, Theng worked at Foothills Medical Centre.

She began her teaching career in 2009, an opportunity she heard about from a former colleague.

“I had always thought about teaching in my later years… I was super lucky [that] the opportunity came up,” says Theng.

She emphasizes the importance of taking the time to find the right career path. Theng says she did not decide to take the MRT program until she was already pursuing another career, which she recalls was not a good fit.

“If things don’t seem to be falling into place for you, or if they don’t really feel right, [do] not be afraid to make a change.”

Since starting at SAIT, Theng has endeavored to be a supportive and fair teacher. When students understand a difficult concept, and “you see that ‘aha’ moment… that’s the most rewarding thing.”

For Theng, watching her class grow from brand new to the profession, to professionals ready to start their careers, is a rewarding part of teaching at SAIT.

The instructor hopes her students learn not only practical content, but also to “be open to giving and receiving feedback and applying it.”

Jenna Nichols is in her first of the two-year MRT program, as she has a keen interest in the healthcare industry, having previously worked in a medical laboratory.

She finds that the accelerated course comes with a challenging amount of content given to students in the first year. Despite the volume of new content, Nichols says Theng is a thorough and organized teacher.

“Catherine is very well suited to a more physics-type course – she has an amazing organizational ability,” says Nichols.

“The worksheets she creates for the class are amazing.”

Theng’s teaching style enables students to build concepts from the ground up, and she is always available for questions, according to Kaiwen Tung, another first-year MRT student.

Nichols says Theng’s way of teaching shows that “she does care, and [she] wants to see you succeed.”

Tung describes Theng as having a calming and professional demeanor, which he finds inspiring.

“She’s calm and clear headed, and it kind of makes you want to be like that,” states Tung.

Outside of the classroom, Theng is a mother of two girls, ages three and six.

They love to travel, and booking more plane tickets as the family grows hasn’t slowed down their adventures.

“My youngest, her passport is just stamped.

“When I was on my mat-leave year with her, we took her to Amsterdam and Turkey, when she was only 5 months,” recalls Theng.

Theng’s husband is self-employed, and together they buy empty lots and build homes, as well as do custom work.

When Theng isn’t at SAIT or spending time with her family, she sits on a committee that develops questions for The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CMART) national exams, which MRT students must write before working in Canada.

Theng is also on the review board for the Digital Radiography and PACS, a textbook used at SAIT, which she recognizes as one of her “career highlights.”

Another highlight for Theng is watching her former students succeed and thrive in their careers.

“Often they’ll come back and they’re excited to tell me how they did in their clinical, or when they’re working they’ll share stories about their development.”

Theng sees SAIT as that step towards success for her students.

“There’s always hard days – there’s always busy days, but just knowing I can make a difference for even just one student – who will then make a difference for someone in the healthcare system” is the kind of “paying it forward” that Theng says makes her job so rewarding.

theWeal.com March. 2019

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Lifestyle

Travel Hacks The Two-line Headline Is Here This is an one-line deck

By Carmen Cundy Lifestyle Writer

A student’s momentos of past adventures is sprawled out as they get ready for their trip abroad this summer. Many students want to spend their summers travelling but cannot afford too. (Photo by Jesse Boily)

Your life outside of the classroom

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E

scaping the brutal cold of Canadian winters can be difficult for those short on funds.

However, with a few travel shortcuts, students can find themselves sunbathing in a tropical destination or hitting up ancient ruins in Europe with money to spare.

theWeal.com March. 2019

“Depending on where and when, we have plenty to offer students, and teachers, too,” said Slater.

Hailey St. Germaine, a second-year travel and tourism student at SAIT, said that there are lots of ways for students to save money when booking a trip if they are careful.

Another great way for students to save money, according to Slater, is to sign-up for the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which is a “must have for all full-time students.”

“It gets you discounts when you are travelling at museums, attractions, entrance fees and more. It also gets you great discounts when you book with us at Merit Travel.”

“Setting a budget will help, be cautious of what you’re spending money on, and set boundaries for yourself,” she said.

By having the ISIC card, students can save anywhere from five to 20 per cent off adventure tours around the world with Merit Travel.

Germaine said that by planning beforehand, students can feel more prepared and less stressed out financially.

In addition, for those students who plan ahead, many companies offer early booking bonuses or have sales to help keep one’s budget down, said Slater.

SAIT Destinations, SAIT’s student-run travel centre, has plenty of deals for students, available throughout the year.

Currently, Destinations offers $150 off when a minimum of a seven-day trip is booked, a deal which can be combined with other offers.

Similarly, Danielle Slater, manager at Merit Travel at the University of Calgary, said Merit has deals for students year round.

“We have amazing rates on travel insurance, which is a must for anyone travelling. We also have special flight deals to Europe and beyond.

She added that planning ahead is key when it comes to saving money on your upcoming holiday.

“I always recommend booking in advance. It is far less stressful and you have time to think about your trip, save for it, and you have the most options at your fingertips.”

To take advantage of these great deals, give Merit Travel a call at (403) 282-7687 or email at calgary@merittravel.com, or visit Destinations at SAIT in Senator Burns.

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Lifestyle

Relaxation Tips and Tricks workshop is an effective tool for students

By Carmen Cundy Lifestyle Writer

S

tudents struggling with stress and anxiety this mid-term season can hit up the Relaxation Tips and Tricks workshop on March 6 at SAIT. The event, hosted by SAIT’s Student Development and Counselling Centre, is part of a series of workshops called Stress Less. The event takes place from 5-6 p.m. in room MB 228 of the Stan Grad Centre on SAIT’s campus.

The series includes workshops on stress management, sleep, and relaxation.

“The number one reason students

(Photo by Jp Pitogo/SAIT)

come to see us is for stress management,” said Julie Egers, registered psychologist at SAIT Stu-dent Development and Counselling.

According to Egers, the workshop is carefully timed so students are able to implement some of the strategies they’ve picked up from the workshop before the end of the semester.

“It’s done at that time of the semester where students are experiencing all the heavy demands of being a student. Some of the newness of the semester has worn off,” said Egers.

“We know[managing] stress is a big part of performance and academic success.”

The third workshop in the series, Relaxation Tips and Tricks, is a

50-minute workshop that focuses on relaxation strategies for students, including customized strategies for the students who attend the workshop.

The workshop will focus on three main areas of relaxation: mindfulness and breathing, visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation.

“Everybody is different. All three types of relaxation strategies are really effective, but some people prefer one over the other.”

Egers said the workshop gives students a chance to learn about the importance for relaxation strategies, but most importantly, it gives them a chance to practice and implement these strategies in their own lives.

If students haven’t attended the other workshops in the series, they are still welcome to attend the final workshop in the series, said Egers, who will be offering up free pizza for participants.

A “really effective” tool for students who are unable to attend the workshops is Therapy Assistance Online (TAO), which is developed by post-secondary counsellors for students, said Egers.

TAO is offered to SAIT students for free. Students can access the service through the SAIT website, but according to Egers, they must use their SAIT student email address to sign-up.

“TAO has a whole section on relaxation and stress. They have a lot of what we would cover in our workshops.”

“They’re free and can be used online, anytime, anywhere.”

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The career… path or destination?

Changing careers is easier with the help of workshops by SAIT Student Development and Counselling

By Patti Martin Lifestyle Writer

A

“Being able to embrace change means questioning the status quo and pushing yourself to find out what makes you happy,” according to SAIT Hospitality Management student Madison Friesen

year before g raduating high school, the counsellors in my school asked each of student to consider what we wanted to do for a living. My answer? I wanted to get out of my onehorse town. I just wanted to work and make my own money.

It’s not that simple anymore. Personally, I went through at least three big career changes, from working for VISA credit card services, to making lattes at Starbucks, and then working for an engineering company. Surprisingly, my coffee-making skills came in very handy for that last job, because many engineers are procrastinators who cram for a deadline more than most students I know.

According to Workopolis, Canadians can expect to hold 15 jobs in their lifetime.

Job-hopping is the new normal, and may be the most unconventional way to discover what you really want to do, or not do, in terms of a career.

Finding your path to “Zen” that comes with a paycheque is a challenge.

SAIT journalism student Debbie Chadwick went to school in the U.K., and felt she was given poor advice when inquiring about her career choices after graduating from high school.

“I was not told all the kinds of things that could be pursued,” Chadwick says.

Like many other girls, she was pointed in the direction of secretarial school. She caught on quickly and became good at her

job, though it was one that made her feel “squashed, like my brain was in a box with no light.”

Luckily, relocating to the east coast of Scotland with her husband led Chadwick to discover an arts program at one of the few schools in the area.

“It was like a window opening up in my soul,” Chadwick states.

She considers the paint splatters on her clothes and the dried clay under her nails as badges of honour in her journey to finding work she truly loved to do.

Being able to embrace change means questioning the status quo and pushing yourself to find out what makes you happy, according to SAIT Hospitality Management student Madison Friesen.

“I never want to stay in my comfort zone,” Friesen says.

“I want to be excited to live my life and wake up, and have fun working.”

Friesen is an accomplished student with two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts with a management concentration, and an advanced scientific diploma. When she began looking for work in the field of marine biology, employers told her she would have to be “at a desk” for five years before getting the opportunity to go out and do field work.

Friesen realized she needed to look closer at what she wanted to do. She realized she loved making people feel welcome, and was incredibly organized, which led her to a career in hospitality.

She has a simple piece of advice for anyone having doubts about their aspirations.

“Follow your gut,” Friesen states.

“If it doesn’t feel right, you probably should be doing something different.”

This past January, SAIT started hosting a series of free, specialized career search workshops for Calgarians to explore their options. Depending on which categories of age and work/life experience the participants fall into, there is a workshop customized to their issues, and needs.

“The Head and Heart of Career Planning” workshop is focused on young participants who are just starting to ponder future careers. In most cases, the attendees, called “career starters,” have not developed a career plan yet, even if they are employed while attending high school, or a post-secondary program.

Alternatively, the “New Chapter: Re-Design Your Life and Your Career” workshop is customized to mature individuals with backgrounds of one or more occupations, including homemaking. These folks are looking for a change in their career direction – in some cases, a complete 180 degree turn. The workshops are offered on an alternating monthly basis until June 2019.

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Sports

Guarding the Gold In his final season, Trojans guard Ian Tevis dominates

“I love SAIT, I love [Calgary], and me and the coach have a great relationship.”

Ian Tevis, SAIT Trojans Men’s Basketball player

By Brett Klassen Sports Writer

T

rojans men’s basketball powerhouse Ian Tevis is helping lead the team on their journey to gold in his final year.

Tevis, originally from Kent, Wash. made a name for himself while with the Trojans. As of Feb. 15, he’s racked up 51 steals, placing him on the top of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). He was also in the top five for points, with an impressive 330, and top-10 in points per game.

Tevis’ playstyle reached new heights after receiving a scholarship from the Red Deer College Kings. In the 2016-17 season with Red Deer College, Tevis was named the ACAC men’s basketball Player of the Year.

That outstanding season, his fourth year of eligibility, he averaged 23.6 points per game. During that season, his future weighed heavily on him.

“I was playing really well. Everyone kept asking me, ‘Are you going to come back or are you going to play pro?’”

Tevis said “That was the big thing looming over my head.”

He and his coaches decided to strike while the iron was hot, and stride towards playing professionally.

He contacted various agents, and got a great opportunity to go to Germany and play for TV Idstein. In Germa-

SAIT Trojans men’s basketball player Ian Tevis goes for a basket. The Trojans won their game against the Briercrest College Clippers with a leading score of 104-59. (Photos by Rorie Stannard)

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ny, he averaged 27 points and seven rebounds.

During his time overseas, he kept in touch with Trojans men’s head coach Marty Birky. Tevis credits his “having fun with the game” approach for the strong relationship he has with Birky.

“After every game, I would talk to the opposing coach, and I’d say ‘You know, I paid attention to the game. I like how you played me,’ Tevis said.

With an amazing skillset in the game, Tevis prides himself most on having fun on the court.

“A lot of players, they hold personal vendettas and they think everyone is their enemy. I think we’re out there having fun,” he explained.

“Just because we have different coloured jerseys, doesn’t mean we can’t have fun and be friends.”

However, he returned to the ACAC with SAIT for his final season of eligibility.

“I think we’re very confident about getting that ACAC gold,” Tevis stated.

“We’ve had one blemish on our record so far this year, and it wasn’t even to a team that was going to make the playoffs.”

The Trojans were on a 13-game win streak until a heartbreaking 81-80 loss against Olds College on Jan. 25.

Tevis said the loss was a “perfect storm,” and overlooking their opponents ended their win streak.

He is incredibly pleased to finish off his decorated basketball career at with the Trojans, and happy that it was with Birky.

“I wish I could have come here from the start,” Tevis proclaimed.

“I love SAIT, I love the city, and me and the coach have a great relationship.” “ [Birky’s] a really good coach. He’s a player’s coach, one hundred percent.”

The ACAC championships took place from Feb. 28-March 2 in Lloydminster, Alta.

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Sports

Highs and lows of hoops Guard Martina Allen reflects on her Trojans career “I’m happy to end it here.

“It’s kind of sad and bittersweet, but I’m happy I spent all five years here, I met a lot of friends.”

Martina Allen, veteren Trojans Women’s basketball guard

By Brett Klassen Sports Writer

V

eteran women’s basketball guard Martina Allen concluded her final year with the Trojans, possibly closing the doors to her career in the sport.

Allen has always been there for the Trojans, dropping a steady amount of points, and breaking into the top 50 for overall steals and re-bounds per game.

Allen’s journey to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) was rougher than most, since she sustained a serious injury while playing in her final season with St. Mary’s High School.

“I tore a ligament and it split all my bones apart, so they had to drill them back together, and I couldn’t play my first year [in the ACAC],” said Allen.

Allen, who is currently in the Bachelor of Business Administration program at SAIT, was originally going to play for the Mount Royal University Cougars.

Former Trojans head coach Donovan Martin contacted her and Trojans legend Alicia Tan to play with the team he built.

In addition to the appeal from teammates, Allen also wanted to go to SAIT to fulfill a family tradition of sorts, with both of her sisters – also former basketball players – attending the school. Hitting the end of the road of her journey with the Trojans, Allen has nothing but great memories and victories to hold close.

“I’m happy to end it here.

“It’s kind of sad and bittersweet, but I’m happy I spent all five years here, I met a lot of friends.”

The memory that sticks out most to her was her first season with the Trojans, in 2014-15, when the team won the ACAC silver medal in a tough 8061 loss.

Allen was also on last season’s bronze-medal winning team.

Playoff hopes for the Trojans this season, however, are dead in the water. Before their final game of the season, they were sixth overall in the

Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference, (ACAC) with a underwhelming 5-15 record, making Allen’s finale more bitter than sweet.

“I wish we made provincials, but I’ve been there every single year. I’m not going to be sad about it, but it sucks.”

Allen said the reason the Trojans didn’t fare well this season was because of the fresh team, almost entirely made out of players with only a year of two of eligibility logged in.

“We just had a lot of rookies, a lot of young players that didn’t really know how to handle being yelled at, or the coaching here,” Allen said.

She added that adaptability is crucial for the rookie’s success, and understands the transition from high school to college basketball.

Allen’s future with basketball is in the air. She was going to play on a pro team in Australia under her former coach, Donovan Martin, but is thinking of instead residing in Calgary and working.

Sports news and views for the SAIT community

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King of threes

Guard John Smith sets team record on a terrific Trojans team

By Brett Klassen Sports Writer

J

ohn Smith, guard for the Trojans basketball team, made SAIT athletics history in an

impressive season.

The Trojans are the kings of the southern division in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), with Smith being one of the of-fensive stars of the team.

Smith put his name in the Trojans record books during a game against the St. Mary’s Huskies on Feb. 2, setting a new single season record for three pointers of 74, dethroning the previous record holder Eddie Richardson III, who set it in 2004 with 73 three-pointers.

He currently leads the ACAC in total three-pointers and field goals.

He is also second in the conference for points per game and total points scored, racking up a total of 487.

From Lacey, Wash., Smith didn’t always harness his full potential in his former American conference, the Northwest Athletic Confer-ence (NWAC).

According to Smith, his coaches on his previous team at Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, Wash. were “very restrictive.”

“They would give me the keys only for a little bit,” Smith explained.

“It would always be, ‘Okay, we’re down, now go, now you can save us,’

instead of being able to step on the throttle from the beginning and win some games.”

Despite the restraint in Grays Harbor College, Smith credits his former team on readying him for the new breed of competition ahead of him.

“It was my first time being around and playing with grown men at all times,” Smith said.

“It was fun, I learned a lot. I learned a lot about work ethic, and what it means to be good at the next level.”

After leaving the NWAC, Smith was originally committed to Olds College, but a loss in the family disrupted his basketball career, and took him off the court for a year.

His former assistant coach asked him if he still wanted to play, and he found a home with the Trojans.

Smith praised the Trojans coaches for encouraging his high-performance playstyle.

“I’m a very intense guy; they don’t want me to dial back my intensity, they don’t want me to take less off of my games that I’ve been do-ing already,” Smith said.

“They want me to be great, and I always appreciated that.”

With most of his praise going to the Trojans coaching staff, Smith also tips his hat to the ACAC, especially their adoption of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules.

In other college leagues like the

John Smith helps lead the Trojans to victory against the Clippers. (Photo by Rorie Stannard)

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the shot clock is 35 seconds long. With FIBA rules, players only get 24 seconds, and play on a longer court.

“It’s a lot more fun. It’s a fastpaced game; you can break down the defence and you only got 24 seconds to do it,” Smith stated.

Knowing he was approaching the Trojans’ three-pointer record didn’t change anything about how Smith was going to play.

“I’m always trying to score. I shoot a lot of threes, so eventually they’re going to go. If they’re not going, they’re going to go later,” Smith said.

In the close 109-91 victory against the Huskies, Smith dropped a whopping 33 points, acquired five assists, and got three steals.

Smith and the rest of the nearly-undefeated Trojans were going for their third consecutive ACAC gold in Lloydminster, Alta. from Feb. 28-March 2.

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Sports

SAIT women’s basketball season comes to an end Injuries, inexperience lead to playoff miss

By Amber Sugai Weal Writer

T

he SAIT Trojans women’s basketball team had a tough season.

First-year guard Skyler MacDonald said the team played well, considering most of her teammates were also rookies.

Halfway through the season, the team lost many of their fifth-years to injuries, which MacDonald said were devastating.

The injuries reached their peak on Feb. 2, when the team played with just six players in an 80-61 loss to the St. Mary’s University Lightning.

With the injuries, rookies had to step up a lot. For instance, guard Maddy Douglas came off the bench with 22 points in a Feb. 8 win over the Ambrose University Lions.

MacDonald said the tough season “helped us rookies develop a lot.”

“We had lots of up and downs, it’s been a good learning experience for first-years.”

With the team out of playoff contention, they were managing with what they had left of the season.

Reflecting on their opponents, MacDonald said the toughest competitors were the Olds College Broncos and Lethbridge College Kodiaks. The matchups against those playoff teams helped SAIT’s first-years learn a lot about what they need to work on next season.

MacDonald thinks the team can work on communication on offence and defence.

“We all know what we’re doing, and what we’re supposed to be doing.

“If we are not talking to each other about it, we are not helping each other out,” said MacDonald.

The team displayed a strong effort on defense and build up a lot of energy on it, while they have a great structure for offense, she added.

With this being a developing season for the team,

SAIT Trojans Women’s Basketball player Anegor Wol goes for a two point lay-up in the first half of the game against an Ambrose Lions player. (Photo

by Rorie Stannard)

MacDonald hopes next season the team will be a lot smarter with their play, including fewer turnovers.

As of Feb. 20, with just one game left in the season, the team had the fifth-most turnovers in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), averaging 21.8 per game.

MacDonald says while the team can work on team dynamics, everyone played well when working together.

MacDonald summed up not making the playoffs as “rough, but with the way the season went, not unexpected.”

Okotoks brings passion, brutality and storytelling to centre stage Culture for the SAIT community

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Making Treaty 7 puts on new production

By Andrew Bardsley A&E Editor

M

aking Treaty 7 aims to educate and address history in a new production, “Okotoks.”

Making Treaty 7 was founded under the Calgary 2012 centennial initiative and became its own stand-alone organization in 2013. It is an Indigenous-focused arts group that tells the stories of Southern Alberta from the signing of Treaty 7 onward.

“Okotoks” tells the story of the 1870 Baker Massacre, where more than 200 women and children were murdered by the United States Army, and is focused around Holy Bear Woman, a young Black-

An Okotoks performance at the Banff Centre. (Photo courtesy of Making Treaty 7)

foot girl who survived the massacre.

“The government was told to strike them out [the Blackfoot] and hit them hard,” said Justin Many Fingers, Making Treaty 7’s artistic director.

Major Eugene Baker, then commander of the US Second Calvary Regiment, knew this camp was not the initial target of the military, but was hit anyways in retribution for an earlier transgression, according to Many Fingers, as well as historical documents.

“They just moved into the area and it was a new camp, so the men were out collecting resources.

There were about 400 people there.

“This were the elders, the parents and the children. So six children survived and Holy Bear Woman was one of them,” said Many Fingers.

Many Fingers is the director of the production, as well as a descendant of the survivors of the massacre. The play is meant to showcase the overcoming of adversity and tragedy, but to educate.

“She had almost 14 children and was almost erased, and it’s important to give them a voice and to continue my bloodline,” added Many Fingers.

The production has been five years in the making, with Many Fingers taking over artistic direction following the tragic deaths of Michael Green and Narcisse Blood.

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Arts & Entertainment

Pulling espresso for victory

New Nintendo-themed coffee shop to bring back memories

Ahmad Bahay, left, and Moe Chybli, right, are co-owners of Super Smash Café. SAIT students will have a convenient spot to both compete, and unwind with the cafe located across from the main entrance of the campus. (Photo by Rorie Stannard)

By John Watson Weal Writer

T

he familial sounds of a childhood Saturday afternoon are about to grace SAIT campus, with the opening of Super Smash Café across the street on 16th Ave. Sporting a similar vibe to cafés such as Hexagon in Kensington, Super Smash Café is set to have inhouse made snacks, baked goods, high end coffee and of course, all your favourite Nintendo console games.

“We’re hoping to be able to bring in every system from the NES to the Switch,” said Mohammed Chybli, co-owner of Super Smash Café.

Chybli, and co-owner Ahmad Ba-

hay aim to appeal initially to SAIT, the University of Calgary, and Mount Royal University students to check out the café.

“We want to set up a comfortable atmosphere and recreate a sense of togetherness with whomever you’re playing with,” said Bahay.

The idea for the café’s inception came about approximately six months ago, sprouting both from Chybli’s love of “Super Smash Bros.,” and his ambitious nature as an entrepreneur.

As a second-year business student at the U of C, and being surrounded by a family of entrepreneurs, Chybli said starting up Super Smash Café seemed like a natural thing to do.

Upon establishment of Super

Smash Café, Bahay and Chybli will be hosting various event nights in-house soon to be announced; of which will include a “Beat the Owners Night” when they will be taking challenges from anybody brave enough to step up to the plate.

“Whether you’re a Nintendo player or not, I encourage anyone to challenge me on any system, any game,” said Chybli.

“If you think you can beat us at Smash, come try!” said Bahay.

To find out more details about the café, and to follow their progress, the Instagram handle is @supersmashcafe, alongside the hashtag ‘beatorbebeat.’

Rebecca Lappa on her musical roots and her path ahead

By Mark Wiseman Weal Writer

O

n March 1, the Gallery House hosted Rebecca Lappa, giving music fans the opportunity to see one of Canada’s most promising young singers perform in one of Calgary’s most unique venues.

With seven albums released and five Canadian Folk Music Award nominations since 2011, Lappa has had a stellar music career, and she’s not even 25.

Lappa, who is no stranger to the Calgary music scene, is also a threetime winner of the Ship and Anchor Song Writing Contest.

Playing small venues is nothing new for the Edmonton native, as she’s been steadily playing venues of all shapes and sizes from a ridicu-lously young age.

“When I was around 10, or 11, I started taking my original music to open mics around the city,” said Lappa.

“At the time I stumbled upon this one open mic that was run by this really encouraging lady.”

That lady was Rhea March, who runs a youth mentorship program in Edmonton and programs the side stage of the Edmonton Folk Festival.

Through this connection, Lappa was given the opportunity to play around Edmonton, and even play the side stage of the Edmonton Folk Festival twice.

Lappa began her path into music because her parents believed in the educational and psychological benefits of music.

“My parents thought music was a good way to get children’s brains to be creative.”

As a child, Lappa was a keen story writer, and it was when she started

Canadian Musician Rebecca Lappa. (Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Lappa)

playing music that her journey as a songwriter began.

“My love of music and my love of writing smooshed together, which became song writing,” said Lappa.

Since then, she’s been an incredibly prolific songwriter, producing a wide range of material from pop to folk, and even a full album in-spired by Alfred Tennyson poems.

She’s spun all of these accomplishments into an award-winning career that has started to catch national attention, and allowed her to work with Juno Award-winning producers like Russell Broom.

She recorded a number of songs with Broom, who has worked with a number of well-known Canadian artists like Jann Arden, Corb Lund, and Chantal Kreviazuk.

“I learned a lot from Russell Broom when I was recording a record with him in Calgary a couple of years ago,” said Lappa.

It was Broom who got her thinking about the big picture when it comes to song writing.

“He got me thinking about what you want each individual instrument

to sound like,” said Lappa, who is happy collaborating with people because it is always an opportunity to learn something.

Collaborations like these lead to a number of different opportunities within the Canadian music scene, although sometimes these opportunities can be a bit uncomfortable.

Recently, Lappa experienced the long-standing musician rite of passage, the dreaded “trying to win over a big and potentially hostile crowd.”

Lappa scored an opening spot for Saskatoon-born rocker Reignwolf at Edmonton’s Starlight Room in November.

“It was a very scary moment because this room was packed, and all those people looked like they could beat the crap out of me,” joked Lappa.

Going forward with her career, Lappa’s lyrical focus has shifted from fantastical tales to telling more personal stories to illustrate a bigger meaning.

“My hope now with my music is to inspire people instead of just telling the story.”

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Arts & Entertainment

Drink up for a good cause Annual YYC Hot Chocolate Festival returns to Calgary

By John Watson Staff Writer

M

eals on Wheels has brought the annual YYC Hot Chocolate Fest back to town this past February for another hit month of unique chocolaty creations.

Meals on Wheels is a not-for-profit organisation established on Nov. 15, 1969 that started delivering food to the elderly in need from a church basement.

Since its inception, the organization has grown into a facility able to deliver approximately 1,850 meals per day to vulnerable Calgarians.

The YYC Hot Chocolate Fest was started in 2012 as a creative way to raise money to help Meals on Wheels, and bring about a friendly city-wide competition.

Local businesses involved were gunning for the titles of having the Best Hot Chocolate, Spirited Hot Chocolate, and special Cup that Runneth Over, all the while donating one dollar from every cup sold to support Meals on Wheels.

This year was the largest year yet for the festival, seeing more than 75 local coffee shops sign up to participate.

One of the more extravagant hot chocolates included the Cookie Monster Hot Chocolate, offered by Family Squeezed Lemonade. This sugar bomb is a tea infused milk chocolate topped with whipped cream, sprin-

“Pop it like it’s hot,” made by Rosso Coffee Roasters, located on 17th Ave, Calgary, Alta. (Photo by John Watson)

“Marie Antoinette,” made by Capuccini, located in Olympic Plaza, Calgary, Alta. (Photo by John Watson)

Culture for the SAIT community

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kles, and cookie crumbles, adorned with a skewer of cookie dough balls and cotton candy.

Jennifer Andrews, who operates Family Squeezed Lemonade, said 2019 was her third year participating in the festival.

“In our first year we did this unicorn hot chocolate, which was also quite a fancy drink.”

“We put everything together by hand, which makes it a bit of a challenge, but it’s absolutely worth it.”

Some of the other participating locations included Zen8 with a matcha and goji berry hot chocolate, Capuccini with a white hot chocolate with cherry compote, and Rosso Coffee Roasters with their butterscotch and caramel hot chocolate.

Having so many places participating in the festival, it was easy for Calgarians to assemble extensive lists of options they just had to try.

Veronica Makeiff, who was enjoying a ‘Pop it like it’s Hot’ from Rosso, said she had a list of approximately 35 hot chocolates she had an interest in sampling.

According to Meals on Wheels, last year alone, the festival raised nearly $35,000 through the sale of more than 20,000 hot chocolates in 2018.

Tallying over 2,300 votes at the end of February, the Best Hot Chocolate award went to Bush Lane Organic Market’s Pistachio Orange Blossom Bliss, while Spirited Hot Chocolate went to Cravings Market’s Cinnamon Spice Hot Chocolate.

The Light Cellar’s Black and Gold Hot Chocolate won the Cup that Runneth Over award, having sold 1,143 cups.

“Cookie Monster Hot Chocolate,” made by Family Squeezed Lemonade, located in Balzac, Alta.

(Photo by John Watson)

Opinion Does Wonder Woman lift heavy?

By Emilie Charette Opinions Editor

O

f course she does, and you should, too.

It’s easy to let worries hold us back from trying something new. Unfortunately, one thing a lot of women seem hesitant to try is lifting heavy weights.

Allison Lockhart, three-time winner of Canada’s Strongest Woman, weighed in on the issue.

Lockhart thinks much of it comes down to societal pressure and insecurity. Sometimes, when people see something outside the “normal,” their reaction is to judge or feel their own accomplishments are diminished.

“Humans are very judgmental and insecure,” she said.

Many women are also afraid to lift heavy because they think it will make them look bulky or manly. While it’s true that some

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What’s happening in your community

people put on muscle more easily than others, looking strong is not something of which to be afraid . Besides, women simply don’t produce enough testosterone to get big naturally.

“People are groomed growing up that men are men, and muscle is a masculine thing,” said Lockhart.

“It would be awesome if we could get to the point where muscle doesn’t give people the perception of masculinity.”

Unfortunately, these women are missing out on the multitude of benefits, both physical and mental, that strength training offers.

“The benefits are endless.”

Besides building strength, lifting heavy contributes to bone density, flexibility, and heart health. It can also prevent injuries, and can be very helpful for people who have weight-loss goals.

I started strength training as a way to deal with anxiety: it’s hard to focus on your worries when you have to concentrate on breathing and bracing.

Lockhart, a lifelong athlete, says the mental aspect is even more important than the physical.

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“It teaches you tenacity and helps you deal with stress management.”

Lockhart said strength training also helped her in her career.

“The things that I’ve learned from training and competing – I’ve taken those into every aspect of my life.”

Confidence is another huge benefit. Being able to flip a 400lb tire? It feels amazing, and you definitely walk a little taller afterward. That confidence doesn’t stay in the gym, but goes with you even after you leave.

The important thing to remember when worried about lifting weights is the role one’s own goals play. Yes, Lockhart has size and muscle, but that’s the product of a decade of hard work and the necessary nutrition. Women who don’t want to get bulky don’t have to.

“I always wanted to be big and bulky. I wanted to be huge,” she said.

“I thought it looked cool.”

For women who are interested in lifting weights but unsure how or where to start, local gym The Strength Edge has monthly women-only nights, called Women of Steel.

theWeal.com March. 2019

“It’s a great night. It’s just women, and it’s a really supportive environment,” said Lockhart.

The strength sports community is welcoming, inclusive, and ever-growing. The increasing popularity of strongman, thanks in part to Hafþór Björnsson and his role on Game of Thrones, means that the community of fans and participants is diverse.

More women than ever are getting interested in strength sports, but worry still holds people back.

It really is a community for everyone, regardless of whether they do Olympic lifting, powerlifting, or strongman.

“It’s a really supportive community. There’s no one standing around judging you on how you look or what you’re doing. Everyone’s just encouraging you.”

Never trying something new because of unfounded fears is no way to live, especially when the potential benefits are so far-reaching.

It would be amazing to see more women lifting heavy, and showing not just other people, but ourselves exactly what our capabilities are.

Allison Lockhart performs a Bavarian deadlift at the Strength Edge in Calgary on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. Allison won Canada’s Strongest Woman competition three times, and promotes that women should not be afraid of lifting, but they should learn how to do it to become stronger. (Photo by Patrick Concepcion)

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Opinion

A toast to drinking in the park City right to take a (pint) glass half-full – rather than halfempty – perspective on drinking in municipal parks

By Alex C. Procyk Weal Writer

P

icture this: it’s a bright, sunny, summer day in our fair city of Calgary. Not a cloud in the sky, birds chirping nearby, your friends, a barbecue picnic, and a cooler of beer, just a stone’s throw from the banks of the Bow. Hard to imagine? Sure, summer may seem like a distant fantasy with the weather we’ve endured recently, but what I really have difficulty comprehending is the whole “enjoying beers.” In spite of its legal status at the provincial level, the City of Calgary maintains a zero-tolerance stance against public consumption of alcohol at the picnic tables of our municipal parks.

Since January, local media has drawn attention to the sudden willingness of municipal government to consider the relaxation of these rules, once and for all. As reported in StarMetro Calgary near the beginning of the year, Ward 9 Coun.

Gian-Carlo Carra spoke to a level of vocal support from citizens expressed during recent Parks and Pathway Bylaw Engagement, pointing out, in light of last year’s debate on public cannabis consumption sites, that discussion has been had on “places you can publicly consume cannabis,” while someone still “can’t crack

a bottle of wine in the park.” Pretty half-baked, perhaps?

By willingly opening up a two-way discussion, the city is taking a more optimistic approach to this issue – a glass half-full attitude, if you will.

Even when booze is the topic of conversation, some sober common sense is undeniably clear with this proposal up for debate.

The reality is that nothing here is particularly controversial or against the grain. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission, (AGLC) as the province’s regulatory body, explicitly allows the consumption of liquor at recognized picnic tables when consumed with food.

The city’s consultation is focused on bringing in municipal standards that would be no different than the AGLC. Just as is already the standard with enforcement, instances of public intoxication, unruly behaviour, and irresponsible consumption can and would surely be handled under the paradigm of existing by-laws and legal structures. Allowing an open container in a public park will not mean a descent into unknown chaos.

Hell, you can even harness your inner Evel Knievel and bike down any stretch of Calgary’s 905 kilometers of pathway after chugging a 40oz of malt liquor; after all, the city’s discretion is to merely sanction those who

are breaking other rules while they’re out riding on their bicycle intoxicated.

As of writing, we have yet to hear the results of the city’s online public consultation. However, if the support for this initial discussion translates into broader enthusiasm, a pilot project for roll-out could be expected as soon as this summer.

The willingness to engage with citizens, and to give a pilot project a chance, is a good first step. It allows Calgary the chance to get in line with what the province’s liquor administrative body has already determined is rational and acceptable. It can give the adults of Calgary the chance to sensibly and responsibly enjoy a drink with their food and friends, at picnic tables throughout the city, this upcoming summer and in many summers to come.

If we can drink on a patio, or drink in our backyards, what should stop responsible and law-abiding Calgarians from pulling the cork on a bottle of prosecco during a picnic – an act otherwise indistinguishable from any other kind of outdoor drinking?

I think that’s some-thing we can all raise a drink to.

What’s happening in your community

31

theWeal.com March. 2019

Dastardly detoxes, catastrophic cleanses: be wary of fast health fixes

A smoothie may make for a good breakfast food, but drinking the watered-down and sugar-laden equivalent certainly isn’t. (Photo by Rorie Stannard)

By Emilie Charette Opinions Editor

W

e’ve all seen the articles that crop up in the new year, touting the latest celebrity-endorsed cleanse or detox.

Regardless of the type of cleanse, they purport to quickly “rid the body of toxins” and “reset metabolism,” which seem like a attractive options in a world increasingly obsessed with health and beauty.

Attractive though they may be, these cleanses are ineffective at best and dangerous at worst.

Thankfully, in the midst of all of the misinformation, Tim Caulfield, a health, law, and science policy professor at the University of Alberta, is on a mission to inform people about health.

“I do research into how health and science issues are represented in the public sphere, not only in pop culture, but more broadly, including social media.”

His entertaining and educational Netflix series, A User’s Guide to Cheating Death, explores the science behind popular health trends and celebrity-driven health trends, as well as cutting-edge science, and how it’s being presented to the public.

Besides exploring the science, Caulfield’s goal was understanding what attracts people to these health fads.

“We didn’t want to make something that was just a ‘gotcha!’ show that made fun of people that have strange health beliefs.”

However, cleanses are one thing he described as “scientifically absurd.”

For example, Well Juicery, a Canadian company that produces coldpressed juice and “superfood lemonade,” promotes their products as a way to “give your digestive system a break, eliminate toxins, and improve your energy,” according to their website.

However, one bottle of

their “Be Well” juice has 27 g of sugar, and none of fibre.

The American Heart Association recommends that the maximum amount of sugar women should ingest per day is 25 g. For men, the number is 37.5 g.

Well Juicery recommends drinking around five of their juices per day while doing one of their cleanses.

I have to admit to not being great at math, but 135 g of sugar per day for up to three days on the “cleanse” sounds a little high.

“You don’t have to pull your punches when you’re talking about detoxes,” said Caulfield.

“There really is no evidence behind them.”

There’s a perception that our bodies need to be cleansed regularly, or “tuned-up” like a car.

Caulfield believes people are partially drawn to cleanses as a way to punish themselves or atone for unhealthy habits – a form of self-flagellation.

“There’s this idea of ‘purifying’ your body.

“We used to do it with evil spirits, and now we’re doing it with toxins.”

On cleanses, people are deprived of essential nutrients, and can develop an unhealthy relationship with food.

If your body isn’t removing toxins properly, you need a doctor, not a juice cleanse, because it means your liver and kidneys aren’t working.

When it comes to health, Caulfield says that the old standbys of eating well, exercising, and not smoking are the only tried-and-true methods.

“There’s no magic.”

theWeal.com March. 2019

32

Opinion

Instead of opting out of student union fees, opt out of voting for the UCP “Besides offering health and dental insurance, SAITSA provides printing, discount tickets, Good Food boxes, and grants to students, among other things.

Many students don’t know what student unions do for them.”

By Emilie Charette Opinions Editor

J

oe Cool might have to find a new building on campus to hang around if the United Conservative Party (UCP) gets its way in the upcoming election.

Part of the UCP’s Member Policy Declaration on post-secondary is to “protect and guarantee the freedom of association of students by allowing individuals to choose, for themselves, whether to become a member of their students’ association.” This would mean students could opt out of paying student union fees, much like opting out of healthcare and dental.

While this may seem great at first glance – what student doesn’t like to save some money? – it could mean the death of student unions as we know them in Alberta.

According to Garrett Koehler, SAITSA VP External, student unions exist to give students a voice and improve their campus experience. Koe-

hler is the main liaison to all levels of government for SAIT students, and lobbies for student needs and interests.

Many students don’t know what student unions do for them. Koehler admitted that when he was a student at Mount Royal University, he had no idea what his student union fees were used for.

Besides offering health and dental insurance, SAITSA provides printing, discount tickets, Good Food boxes, and grants to students, among other things.

“Now that I’m a much more engaged student, I see the value it brings.”

“I’m in charge of bringing forward problems students have to government to try to get them to change legislation or create new legisla-tion to benefit students,” he said.

“We provide a lot of internal stuff.”

Losing funding could mean that student unions will be unable to continue functioning as they do.

“We’re concerned that it will inhibit our ability to provide services,” said Koehler.

Similar policies have already been implemented in Ontario, New Zealand, and Australia.

In Ontario’s case, optional student union fees were accompanied by a removal of the student loan grace period and a 10 per cent decrease in tuition fees.

Koehler acknowledged that student associations couldn’t force people to pay membership fees.

“We’re at a point where if the student wants to opt out, who are we to speak on behalf of the student and make them opt in?”

However, he also questioned whether students realize exactly what they could lose.

The saying goes that “you get what you pay for.” Students who enjoy the services provided by student associations should think twice before casting a ballot for the UCP.

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