WIC HOWLER
THE SLOW DEMISE OF THE BLACKFOOT MOBILE HOME PARK
By: Dana P (Grade 11)
For many members of the WIC community, driving past the Blackfoot Mobile Home Park along Blackfoot Trail is a daily ritual that signifies the beginning and end of the school day. That won’t be the case for much longer For the past few years, the mobile home park has slowly been dismantled, obviously making way for something new Construction on the park began between 1962 and 1966, according to historic aerial photos of the City of Calgary By 1975, the mobile home park was fully developed
Over time, as the area filled with city amenities, there was close access to things such as parks along the river and shops down the hill Impractically, there was no sidewalk to make it to those locations. The people in the park seemingly had to drive everywhere The aerial photos also show that in around 2008, the mobile home park started its slow decline Each year, multiple homes left their lots True dismantling of the park began in 2023, when they removed all the buildings still on the property and cut down the trees It looked like a scene from the 2012 film, The Lorax.
(An aerial photo from 1975. By this time, the park was completed )
If it is like other mobile home parks in Calgary, people were slowly evicted. Many of them could not take their mobile homes with them as the homes were old, making them hard to move without being damaged, and many mobile home parks either are full or don’t allow older homes. Owners had to start over. In recent years, a couple of other Calgary mobile home parks, Midfield and Caravan, made news because the city-owned properties were being sold for development It is possible that the Blackfoot Mobile Home Park was not in the news as much because it is not publicly owned, and private landowners can sell when they want. Still, it is hard to not feel bad for the residents of the park who were displaced A Google search for the park will come up with sites like southernmobilehomes com where a Blackfoot Mobile Home Park home was sold for $1000 CAD due to the need of a quick sale.
The bare land will be converted into housing with townhouses and apartments by the new owner, Cedarglen Living. There are going to be about 500 units in multiple six-story buildings with plans for pathways to Sue Higgins dog park and shopping necessities in Deerfoot Meadows Currently, there is a large sign on the land advertising “condominiums starting from the $200,000’s” which is less expensive than most condos advertised in Calgary.
This higher density housing will be better for the city in the long run to address the current challenge of rapid growth. Densifying the inner-city will reduce long commutes leading to less greenhouse emissions Still I wonder
FALL 2024 FASHION TRENDS
WHAT’S IN AND WHAT’S OUT?
By: Liana W-A (grade 10)
What's In for Fall 2024:
For Fall 2024, fashion embraces bold outerwear like oversized coats, capes, and voluminous puffers, combining drama and practicality. Designers are focusing on textures and exaggerated silhouettes to make a statement while providing warmth The revival of ‘90s grunge brings plaid shirts, ripped jeans, and chunky boots into the mix, modernized with sleeker silhouettes and bold colour accents. Tailored suits and structured blazers are also key trends, offering a polished, professional look that can transition seamlessly from day to night. Rich, earthy tones such as deep browns, rusty oranges, and muted greens set a nature-inspired tone for the season, adding warmth and sophistication. Bold accessories like chunky jewelry and oversized scarves are essential for enhancing even the simplest outfits
What's Out for Fall 2024:
In contrast, minimalist designs are fading, making room for more expressive silhouettes and statement pieces. Skinny jeans are losing popularity, replaced by relaxed fits and wider-legged pants, which emphasize comfort without sacrificing style. Fast fashion's flashy, fleeting prints are being overshadowed by timeless, sustainable designs that focus on quality and craftsmanship.
Fall 2024 Summary:
Overall, fall 2024 celebrates bold, expressive styles that blend nostalgic elements with modern flair With individuality at its core, this season offers a variety of choices from dramatic outerwear to tailored blazers and edgy grunge-inspired fashion!
REFERENCES
1 COHEN J A (2024 FEBRUARY 19) THE BEST FALL 2024 TRENDS TO SHOP RIGHT NOW HARPER’S BAZAAR HTTPS://WWW HARPERSBAZAAR COM/FASHION/TRENDS/A46826009/FALL-2024-TRENDS/
2 HOLZMAN S (2024 MARCH 7) THE 10 BIGGEST FALL 2024 TRENDS FROM NEW YORK MILAN AND PARIS MARIE CLAIRE HTTPS://WWW MARIECLAIRE COM/FASHION/FALL2024-TRENDS/
3 JACKSON L & ABBAS T (2024 OCTOBER 2) 5 FALL 2024 FASHION TRENDS YOU CAN SHOP RIGHT NOW VOGUE HTTPS://WWW VOGUE COM/ARTICLE/FALL-2024-FASHIONTRENDS
4 LAI R (2024 AUGUST 15) 10 AUTUMN FASHION TRENDS YOU’RE GOING TO SEE EVERYWHERE – TRUST US GLAMOUR UK HTTPS://WWW GLAMOURMAGAZINE CO UK/ARTICLE/AUTUMN-WINTER-FASHION-TRENDS-2024
5 MIDLIFECHIC (2024 SEPTEMBER 6) AUTUMN FASHION TRENDS 2024 - WHAT’S NEW? MIDLIFECHIC HTTPS://WWW MIDLIFECHIC COM/AUTUMN-FASHION-TRENDS-2024-WHATSNEW/
6 SHANE J -L (2024 AUGUST 5) FALL FASHION TRENDS: WHATS IN AND WHAT’S OUT FOR 2024 JO-LYNNE SHANE HTTPS://JOLYNNESHANE COM/FALL-FASHION-TRENDSWHATS-IN-AND-WHATS-OUT-FOR-2024-2 HTML
7 SMITH J H (2023 DECEMBER 21) 14 KEY FALL 2024 FASHION TRENDS YOU NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW GLAMOUR HTTPS://WWW GLAMOUR COM/STORY/2024-FASHIONTRENDS 8 SWANEY E (2024 OCTOBER 11) FALL IS OFFICIALLY HERE HERE’S YOUR 2024 FALL FASHION CHEAT SHEET BUZZFEED HTTPS://WWW BUZZFEED COM/ELIZABETHSWANEY/HERES-YOUR-2024-FALL-FASHION-CHEAT-SHEET
9 (N D ) ELLECANADA COM RETRIEVED OCTOBER 17 2024 FROM HTTPS://WWW ELLECANADA COM/FASHION/TRENDS/FALL-2024-FASHION-TRENDS
CLUBS AND COUNCILS - RECONCILLIATION CLUB
By: Lora H (Grade 7)
The Reconciliaction Club, ledhosted by Ms. McIvor, celebrates and promotes the culture of Indigenous peoples in WIC.
The Reconciliaction Club is all about recognizing the Indigenous community in Canada. It was made with the goal of encouraging awareness and understanding the problems that the Metis, First Nations, and Inuit peoples faced in the past and continue to encounter in the present It also seeks to increase understanding of the peoples’ cultures that their society has built and taken with them over the years
The events the Reconciliaction Club hosts are influenced by their goal to focus on Indigenous learning and acknowledging the sacrifices that the people have made along the way With the help of the club’s wonderful host and executives, the Reconciliaction Club helped put together the Truth and Reconciliation assembly and will also be promoting Métis week in November, as well as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls sometime in May If you want to participate in the Reconciliaction Club, consider joining! By joining the club, you’ll get many chances during the year to help the club set up various events throughout the school year. For example, you can help by creating posters on Canva and hanging them up around the school, making bulletin boards, as well as simply being an ally for their objective of acknowledging Indigenous influence On Wednesdays, you can sign up in Ms McIvor’s room, room 35B, or if you see the co-presidents and founders of the club, Anya and Téa, in the hallways, you can talk to them as well. You can also always take it a step further by signing up to volunteer at the events the club has planned for the school year, continuing to encourage awareness of Indigenous culture, and much more. As a final note, I would encourage you to sign up if you think it is something you would like. The co-presidents will be graduating this year, and there is a need of someone to take over and continue to run what they have created to keep the changes the two have made.
The Diversity, Inclusion and Pluralism Committee, better known as the DIPC, focuses on creating a safe space for students to express their culture and beliefs.
The DIPC is led by Ms Rumberger and Ms Grey-Sortland, and it strives to be a place for students to show their cultural backgrounds, express themselves freely, and be a space where they feel they belong. The committee hopes to instill lasting changes in the school, long after the current executives graduate
The DIPC’s main events have a concentrated focus on exposing students in WIC to cultures from around the world. The plans they have for the year include arranging the yearly Multi-Cultural Lunch in March, where students will have the option to bring food from their cultural backgrounds and will also be promoting Black History Month and Asian Heritage Month, taking place at some point in February and May respectively. If you want to be involved with these events and you want to participate in encouraging diversity in WIC, the group gathers in room 33 every second Monday, and you can sign up there Joining gives you the chance to volunteer throughout the year at the various events, to speak at assemblies, to build your character, and to grow in confidence If you are committed enough to eventually reach the role of an executive, you will plan announcements and events as well as making sure the committee runs smoothly. Even if you decide not to join, you can still be someone encouraging diversity simply by being a good person, but of course, if you have Mondays free there is nothing stopping you.
The DIPC has encouraged and continues to encourage the importance of diverse cultures, and it has become a huge cornerstone of acceptance and belonging in WIC. At the club, students talk about their experiences, and there are also people ready to listen. So, once again, if you’d like to help the club expand that feeling of belonging and continue to keep these ideas of the importance of diversity, perhaps even years after the executives have graduated, don’t be scared and sign up The participants are extremely nice and welcoming, and Ms. Rumberger and Ms. GreySortland would be happy to have you.
QUEER ICONS IN HISTORY
By: Elle M (Grade 11)
Marsha P Johnson was born August 24, 1945, in New Jersey She was known for her activism with homeless transgender youth, her involvement during the Stonewall riots, and spreading awareness about AIDS and HIV. From a young age, Marsha had always enjoyed wearing dresses and other women’s clothes, but she faced harassment and bullying during her youth which forced her to stop dressing the way she wanted to. Shortly after graduating high school at 17 years old, she moved away to New York City with only 15 dollars and one bag of clothes Once in New York, she became a drag queen and officially took on the name ‘Marsha P Johnson’; the ‘P’ in her name stood for “Pay it no mind” which came to be her motto later in her life. Marsha’s life in New York was not easy, as she was an openly gay, transgender woman of color and, because of this, she faced lots of discrimination Because of how little work there was available to her, she was involved in sex work and worked as a waitress who occasionally performed in drag shows. In 1969, Marsha was intensely involved with the Stonewall Inn and advocated for the resistance against hate for queer people
When Stonewall was raided by the police, Marsha stayed, and over the course of the days of protest that followed the raid, Marsha led many protests and riots After the riots, Marsha committed her life to advocate for queer rights and raising awareness about H.I.V and AIDS. She became a more prominent figure in the drag scene; she got noticed by Andy Warhol; and he featured photos of her in his book, “Ladies and Gentlemen”. She also co-founded the organization “Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries” (STAR) with Sylvia Rivera, another transgender girl who was a longstanding friend of Marsha’s. This place helped transgender youth who had been cut off by their families In 1990, she got diagnosed with H I V ; however, she spoke openly about being diagnosed with it and tried to erase the fear and stigma that revolved around people who had it.
Sadly, in 1992, Marsha died and, although it was ruled a suicide, many argued that it was murder. This was largely backed by the fact that 1992 was when hate crimes and violence against the queer community was at its height Moving into the 21st century, Marsha was widely recognized as one of the most influential faces for the fight for queer rights She has a waterfront park and monument dedicated to her in New York City, along with many books, documentaries, and articles.
Keith Haring was born May 4, 1958, in Pennsylvania He always had a passion for art and learned how to draw cartoons from his father. Haring had much inspiration from Dr. Seuss and Walt Disney He was an openly gay man who made artwork that reflected his views on political and social issues in the world. In his early years of secondary school, he attended Pittsburgh’s Ivy School of Professional Art in 1976. After two semesters of going to school there, he dropped out because he discovered his lack of interest in commercial graphic art During that same year, he moved to New York City and began attending the School of Visual Arts there During his time at school and around the city, he became friends with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, Madonna, Andy Warhol, and Yoko Ono Haring’s journey of art was inspired by the graffiti that was taking over various areas of New York In 1980, Keith took notice of the blank panels in the subway that were of typical use for advertising. He used white chalk to draw on these panels all throughout the subway station and between the years of 1980-1985, the subway recognized Haring and would talk to him about his art. Throughout these years, Haring’s art gained even more traction Eventually, he made murals in Times Square, designed campaigns for brands such as Swatch, and helped with advertising for Absolut Vodka Haring designed sets and backdrops for theatres, and even had his own exhibition in the Soho Art Gallery
In 1986, Keith opened the ‘Pop Shop’ in Soho, London This store sold various things with his artwork on it such as t-shirts, buttons, and posters. Keith Haring always valued social and political commentary within his works, in addition to his iconic colorful, pop-art graffiti style; he also had short messages in many of his works. His most famous being his “Crack is Wack” mural that he painted in 1986 responding to the crack cocaine epidemic that was seizing NYC at the time Many of his public works were created for orphanages, charities, and hospitals Haring also made a mural for the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, painted on the western side of the Berlin Wall three years prior to its fall, and held many artist workshops for children in places such as Tokyo, New York, London, Amsterdam, and Bordeaux In 1988, Keith was diagnosed with AIDS. He began to advocate for safe sex and spread awareness about AIDS through his art but also by starting the Keith Haring Foundation In 1990, Keith died from AIDS related issues and his funeral was held on May 4, 1990; the day that he would have been 32 years old Over 1000 people attended the service and his work is still used for brands, referenced, and relevant in today’s art scene.
HARINGCOM RETRIEVEDOCTOBER17 2024 FROMHTTPS//WWWHARINGCOM/!/ABOUT-HARING/BIO MARSHAP JOHNSON ND) NATIONALWOMENSHISTORYMUSEUM RETRIEVEDOCTOBER17 2024 FROM HTTPS//WWWWOMENSHISTORYORG/EDUCATION-RESOURCES/BIOGRAPHIES/MARSHA-P-JOHNSON KEITHHARING (ND QUEERPORTRAITSINHISTORY RETRIEVEDOCTOBER17 2024 FROMHTTPS://WWWQUEERPORTRAITSCOM/BIO/HARING OPENTABLENETWORK (2022 FEBRUARY2) LGBT+HISTORYMONTH-MEETKEITHHARING POPARTISTANDAIDSAWARENESS ADVOCATE OPENTABLENETWORK HTTPS//OPENTABLELGBT/OUR-BLOG/2022/2/2/LGBT-HISTORY-MONTH-MEET-KEITH-HARINGPOP-ARTIST-AND-AIDS-AWARENESS-ADVOCATE PICCOTTI T (2017 DECEMBER14) MARSHAP JOHNSON BIOGRAPHYHTTPS//WWWBIOGRAPHYCOM/ACTIVISTS/MARSHA-P-JOHNSON
M (2017 MAY31) STONEWALLRIOTS HISTORY HTTPS://WWWHISTORYCOM/TOPICS/GAY-RIGHTS/THE-STONEWALL-RIOTS
FUTURE: A CASE STUDY ON HOW CANCEL CULTURE COULD BE IMPROVED UPON
Basil M (Grade 11)
Over the last ten years, you have certainly heard of the concept of cancel culture Some of your favorite artists may have had cancellation attempts This could cause you to rethink following their music, podcasts, art pieces, or television shows. Some are widely considered to be justified, such as the removal of The Cosby Show from the air after Bill Cosby’s conviction of sexual misconduct Others are more controversial, such as Rex Orange County who was canceled over alleged sexual abuse but there charges were later proven false in a court of law.
While many disagree about the effectiveness of the "movement,” for lack of a better term, most people agree that the goal of cancel culture is to try celebrities in the court of public opinion because they are considered to be “larger than life” and therefore impossible to hold accountable otherwise. The number of celebrities who claim to have been the victims of cancel culture are countless It is a common strategy of the altright/conspiracy theorists to claim that they are being persecuted or canceled due to their beliefs Regardless of the reason for cancellation, many countermeasures have developed over time. These include claiming to be a victim of a witch hunt, such as Donald Trump; saying so many harmful things that people cannot keep up, like Kanye; and having those affiliated with you say ridiculous things to divert the attention, such as Rashee Rice and Harrison Butker.
Rarely has there ever been a person more deserving of a cancellation than Future. On September 20th, 2024, Future released his newest album, Mixtape Pluto. This is a powerful project for the seasoned rapper who has shown once more that he still can put out music that avoids the regular pitfalls of people his age making trap music. Future, whose real name is Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn, has a total of thirty albums, with two of those being deluxe albums.
At the age of forty, his songs still contain heavy discussions of heavy drug use, sex, and crime. Now this is nothing new for trap as a genre; however, the part that is the most interesting is how he, in this day and age, has avoided the usual scrutiny that comes with celebrities of his caliber It is a running joke in his fanbase that he is a player, but it is never truly taken seriously.
To date, Future has eight different baby mommas, with one more still being disputed. However, this is never accepted as something really hurtful to the children Future does pay child support to eight children; however, he is absent from all their lives, which creates untold damage to those children who are going to grow up having to accept the fact that their father would rather be in a club rather than taking care of any of his children
Drugs are another issue that Future has yet to truly confront in his art. Future’s drug use is pervasive throughout all his music However, the real-world consequences are never truly discussed outside of brief mentions in interviews. In a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone, Future discussed how the late rapper Juice Wrld told him that Future was the reason why he started drinking cough syrup, colloquially referred to as lean At the time, he claimed shock and apology for the damage that it had caused Juice Wrld. However, in his song "Overdose,” he was still rapping, “Got the whole world taking Xans,” which paints a different image of his perspective on drugs.
The reason why this is important is because Juice Wrld died of an overdose eleven months after that article was released Since the death of Juice Wrld, there has been no effort to hold Future accountable in any way There have been numerous artists who have gotten into trouble for what they have done in music, but it has always been largely ineffective Even if there was a cancellation attempt for Future, it would not undo any of the damage that has been indirectly caused by his art There needs to be another way to enact change
How can these problems be solved? The simple solution would be to try and increase the scrutiny applied to artists regardless of their level of fame However, this approach is heavily flawed Not only would it rob many people of the art, which may be genuinely great regardless of its negative societal impacts, but it would also only serve to increase the stigma around discussing subjects such as drug use or violence and further increase censorship This c ould cause the rebellious to rise and would do nothing to those already interested in the activities. The best solution would be one where artists educate in a way that actively informs the audience. There have been times when artists have tried and ended with results that are corny or uninformative However, those are the exceptions and education through art is important and successful examples should be noted.
A good example of this would be “Off Da Zoinkys” by JID, which is an active satire of the drug use common in popular media, as well as a discussion on the racial biases within the war on drugs, and it still serves as an incredibly enjoyable listen It tactfully discusses drug use in a way that is informative and entertaining This is not the only example either “The Art of Peer Pressure” explores how people in marginalized communities can be pushed to violence through peer influence as well as popular media. It, too, is a fantastic song that is very entertaining, even if the goal of the listener was not to learn more These songs are far and in between and are usually one-offs for the artists creating them. This could change though.
If artists were not socially pressured to stop making art but instead were pressured by their audiences to create constructive art that fights against the harmful effects of their previous art, they could have a true impact on their communities and end the cycles of negative influence. Future stated that he was born into a family steeped in two or three generations of criminal activity How powerful could it have been for him if the music he listened to actively discouraged drug use and excessive partying?
We may never be able to stop violence or substance abuse in life or media because it is what sparks interest, and when people are creating work based on their lives, they will often want to discuss what has had the largest effect on it which may very well be drugs and violence This makes sense because addiction is a disease, and having a violent childhood is not something that we as individuals can control. Yet, with enough support for those who are currently dealing with these issues and education for those who may in the future, there may be a world in which the homicide rates and substance abuse rates decline that extra percentage With any luck, the Juice Wrld of 2060 may stand a better chance of living a safe and fulfilling life until the very end.
References
Cummings-Grady, M (2019, August 27) Is Future problematic? A look at one of rap’s most successful misogynists Popdust
https://www popdust com/is-future-problematic-2640047407
Holmes, C (2019, January 17) Future changed rap for a generation He doesn’t know how to feel about it Rolling Stone
https://www rollingstone com/music/music-features/future-the-wizrd-profile-7792 20/ Reyes, L (2024, September 5) Why isn’t Rashee Rice suspended? What we know about Chiefs WR’s legal situation USA Today https://www usatoday com/story/sports/nfl/chiefs/2024/09/05/rashee-rice-kansas-c itychiefs/75072625007
TRUMP ASSASSINATION
By: Riley J (Grade 11)
July 2024: at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump narrowly escaped an attempted assassination when a gunman's bullet touched his ear. He was fired at during a speech he was giving on Saturday July 13 and only suffered minor wounds Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who had targeted Mr. Trump, managed to scale a warehouse roof, aim his AR-15-style rifle, and fire a barrage of shots in his direction. The security personnel swiftly shot and killed him But before Secret Service personnel could shield Trump, he was hit in the right ear and two other attendees were injured His wound was reportedly two centimeters wide, but he suffered only minor injuries. The FBI launched an investigation into the attempted assassination, but Crooks' motive remains unknown Authorities found bomb-making materials in Crooks' vehicle and home, as well as a remote detonator on his body The incident also sparked misinformation on social media, with some claims suggesting the event was staged or that Trump's injuries were faked.
September 2024: An extraordinary scene unfolded at Trump's Palm Beach golf course as the Secret Service agents found Ryan Routh hiding with an SKS semi-automatic rifle Agents were making security checks ahead of Trump when they spotted the muzzle of the rifle peeking out of the shrubbery. Routh had run off after being confronted by an agent who had fired shots. Routh did not shoot his gun during the incident but left it behind with two bags, a scope for a rifle, and a GoPro camera as he fled in a black Nissan SUV A witness was able to take a photo of the getaway vehicle and provided it to the officers working on the investigation. Because of that, the 58-year-old Routh faced one charge of attempted assassination Conviction could result in life imprisonment Routh is being charged for up to 20 years for two different gun-related charges.
October 2024: Vem Miller, a 49-year-old registered Republican and selfproclaimed journalist, was arrested at a Donald Trump rally in Coachella, California. The authorities found two guns and a high-capacity magazine in his vehicle. Miller claimed he was a Trump supporter who wasn't aware of California's stricter gun laws compared to his home state of Nevada
The arrest occurred when Miller's vehicle raised suspicions due to fake license plates Upon searching the vehicle, authorities discovered a loaded handgun, shotgun, and a high-capacity magazine They also found multiple passports with different names. Miller was taken into custody but was released after posting a $5,000 bail
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco expressed concerns about Miller's intentions, calling him a "lunatic" and suggested possible ties to the sovereign citizens movement. However, no formal charges have been filed regarding an assassination attempt The sheriff's office emphasized that the incident didn't compromise the safety of Trump or the attendees
/ Trump assassination attempt" by conceptphoto info is licensed under CC BY 2 0
Bibliography
Baldwin, S (2024, October 14) All of the attempts made on Donald Trump’s life Evening Standard https://www standard co uk/news/uspolitics/all-assassination-attempts-on-donald-trump-b1187681 html
What We Do and Don’t Know About Trump’s Ear Wound (n d ) Time Retrieved October 14, 2024, from https://time com/7003617/trump-ear-injuryshooting-details/
Law enforcement reveals more details on apparent Trump assassination attempt (2024, September 16) CNN https://www cnn com/politics/livenews/trump-assassination-attempt-election-news-09-16-24/index html
Watson, M , Rose, R , & Lybrand, H (2024, October 14) Federal officials say Trump was not in danger after man arrested with illegal weapons near campaign rally in California CNN https://www cnn com/2024/10/13/politics/trump-coachella-rally-man-arrested/index html
"Trump Attentat
2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS
By Neva K and Abby B (Grade 10)
This year, the 2024 Summer Olympics were held in Paris, France, and they were certainly a huge success all around. From their unique opening ceremonies on the Seine to the amazing performances by artists including Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, the introduction of breaking to the list of sports included in this year’s Olympics, and the almost 15,000 athletes and Para athletes who competed, it’s safe to say that Paris 2024 had us all hooked.
The Canadian athletes in the Summer Olympics performed extremely well, winning 27 total medals. This includes nine gold, seven silver, and eleven bronze medals. This broke our previous record of 24 medals in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. The largest number of individual medals was won by Summer McIntosh who, at only 17 years old, won three golds and one silver medal. Our first gold medal was won by Christa Deguchi in judo which was also Canada’s first ever gold medal in judo. Other notable Canadian athletes include Phil Kim (otherwise known as Phil Wizard), who won gold in men’s breaking, and Katie Vincent, who won gold in women’s canoe single (200m) and bronze in women’s canoe double (500m).
The top medalist teams consisted of the United States, China, Japan, Australia, and France as the top five teams The U S finished with 126 medals, 40 of which were gold. The U.S. continues to uphold their streak of medalists. In Tokyo 2020, they finished with 113 medals. In terms of individual athletes, Zhang Yufei (CHN) is first on the leaderboard for swimming and has collected a total of six medals Trailing not far behind is Marchand Leon (FRA), Huske Torri (USA), O’Callaghan Mollie (AUS), Smith Regan (USA), and McKeown Kaylee (AUS) all competing in swimming with five medals In addition to these outstanding individuals, some of the youngest athletes competed in this year's Olympics Zhen Haohao from China competed in skateboarding during the summer at the ripe age of eleven. She is claimed to be the youngest Olympic athlete to ever compete for China This makes for a significant age difference between the oldest competing athlete, Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo Cobo represents Spain in equestrian at the age sixty-five.
Furthermore, the 2024 Olympics had equal amounts of female to male ratios. As stated on the Olympic website, “For the first time ever, the ratio of athletes at an Olympic Games will be one woman to every man competing. It has been a marathon for women to get to this place, but this year, that all changes ” Additionally, the Olympic mascot this year continues to carry French legacy and historic symbolism The Phryges are “bright red caps” that have been a part of France’s history for quite some time. It has been worn at all major events including the construction of the Notre-Dame cathedral in 1163, the Revolution of 1789, the building of the Eiffel tower, and the Olympic games in Paris 1924, exactly one hundred years ago. They serve as one of the largest icons in the Olympics.
The Paralympics this year also went extremely well with about 4,400 athletes competing in the 22 sports featured China won the most total medals (224), followed by Great Britain (124) and the USA close behind with 104. Canada gained a total of 29 medals, ranking us twelfth overall We took home ten gold medals, nine silver medals, and ten bronze medals, with 126 Canadian athletes competing in this year’s Paralympics Some notable Canadian gold medalists include Nicholas Bennett in Para Swimming, Cody Fournie in Para Athletics, and Aurélie Rivard in Para Swimming
In conclusion, the 2024 Summer Olympics was one of the most memorable Olympics yet Many hardships, joyous moments, and years of determination went towards this past summer With the Eiffel Tower standing behind the beach volleyball courts, and the beautiful scenery of Paris painting the background of the Olympic games, many will be unable to forget these outstanding games.
REFERENCES
HINCKS, MICHAEL “FROM YOUNG PRODIGY TO GOLDEN VETERAN: THE YOUNGEST AND OLDEST STARS SHINING AT THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS ” INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, 31 JULY 2024, HTTPS://OLYMPICS COM/EN/NEWS/YOUNGEST-OLDESTATHLETES-2024-PARIS-OLYMPICS
“MEDAL TABLE ” OLYMPICS COM, HTTPS://OLYMPICS COM/EN/PARIS-2024/MEDALS ACCESSED 15 OCT 2024
“MEDALLISTS ” OLYMPICS COM, HTTPS://OLYMPICS COM/EN/PARIS2024/MEDALS/MEDALLISTS ACCESSED 15 OCT 2024
“PARIS 2024 MEDALS ” INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, HTTPS://WWW PARALYMPIC ORG/PARIS2024/RESULTS ACCESSED 15 OCT 2024
PEENE, SAM “PARIS 2024: FROM ICONIC VENUES TO GENDER PARITY, WHAT MAKES THESE OLYMPIC GAMES SO SPECIAL?” INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, 24 JULY 2024, HTTPS://OLYMPICS COM/EN/NEWS/ICONIC-VENUESGENDER-PARITY-WHAT-MAKES-OLYMPIC-GAMESPARIS-2024-SPECIAL HAMILTONCASTER COM, HTTPS://WWW HAMILTONCASTER COM/BLOG/ENTRYID /2245/7-FUN-FACTS-ABOUT-THE- PARIS-OLYMPICS ACCESSED 15 OCT 2024
HOW MIGHT THE ECONOMY INFLUENCE THE MUSIC YOU’RE LISTENING TO?
By: Mariana E (Grade 11)
Imagine the year is 2014. You turn on the radio and, instead of the usual melancholic, romantic ballads, you are serenaded by the infectious energy of Neyo and Pitbull’s chart-topping hit, Time of Our Lives. As the bass intensifies and the music swells, Pitbull’s inspiring interlude rings out loud and clear: “This for everybody going through tough times / Believe me, been there, done that / But every day above ground is a great day, remember that / Dale”. The lyrics resonate, building warmth in your core, inspiring and reminding you that, despite the challenges that may be faced, there will always be a chance to celebrate
A notable characteristic among the plethora of pop songs released in the late 2000s and early 2010s is the distinct lyricism Lyrics such as “I wanna take you away / Let's escape into the music / DJ, let it play” (Don’t Stop the Music, Rihanna), and “Tonight's the night / Let's live it up” (I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas), express a spirit of ecstasy and escapism These pop anthems inspire listeners to be resilient, even in the face of adversity. With the coinciding 2008 ‘Great Recession’, it was all a great distraction from the growing economic decline.
A poignant icon of this period in music is Steffani Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga With hits such as Just Dance, Poker Face, and Paparazzi, her early music captivated a large audience, inspiring a generation to “spin that record” and “just dance” However, the recession pop surge soon began to fade away, making room for “the next big thing” Lady Gaga’s music began to take a similar evolutionary path, straying away from her distinctive upbeat and carefree sound
"Lady Gaga ArtRave San Diego (14703156104)" by Alexis Martinez is licensed under CC BY-SA 2 0 Fast forward to the year 2020 which was marked by global panic and widespread lockdowns. The pandemic was not only a health crisis but also an economic crisis. The repercussions of the global lockdown are still evident today and have led to a significant inequality and increase in poverty
At this time, bedroom pop was all the rage, giving rise to artists such as Clairo, Beabadoobee, and Strawberry Guy, to name a few. In stark contrast, Gaga shifted away from the bedroom pop boom, releasing her fifth studio album, “Chromatica” to widespread critical acclaim However, while the album was energetic and catchy, it lacked much of Gaga’s daring and flirty charm that had been so abundant in her earlier works. Chromatica felt very status quo, as if very few risks had been taken during its production. This shift was duly noted by critics Pitchfork scored the new album lower than they had her debut record, “The Fame Monster”.
A few years later, an unusual resurgence in previously celebrated artists began Kesha released “JOYRIDE” to positive acclaim, rekindling the flair of her earlier hits. Charli XCX followed suit, releasing her widely anticipated sixth studio album
“Brat” , igniting the cultural phenomenon known as “Brat summer”. In addition to these, artists such as Troye Sivan and Chappell Roan began to shift out of their respective signature sounds, delving into lyrical themes reminiscent of the pop landscape of the 2010s
References
But is music more meaningful during periods of economic decline? Do artists create their best work only in response to significant earthly hardships? With the rollout of Lady Gaga’s upcoming and highly anticipated studio album that is due in February, only time will tell.
Dazed (2024, July 16) Recession pop is making a comeback Dazed https://www dazeddigital com/music/article/63132/1/is-recessionpop-making-a-comeback-kesha-charli-xcx
Dickler, J , & Solá, A T (2024, July 21) ‘Recession pop’ is in: Why so many listeners are returning to music from darker economic times CNBC ttps://www cnbc com/2024/07/21/recession-pop-explained-how-music-collides-with-economic-trends html Great Recession: What it was and what caused it (2009, August 26) Investopedia https://www investopedia com/terms/g/greatrecession asp
Kingsmore, V (2024, July 24) Is recession pop back in 2024? The Argonaut https://www uiargonaut com/2024/07/24/is-recession-popback-in-2024/ Lobenfeld, C (n d ) ARTPOP Pitchfork Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://pitchfork com/reviews/albums/lady-gaga-artpop/ Pitbull & Ne-yo – time of our lives (n d ) Genius Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://genius com/Pitbull-and-ne-yo-time-of-ourlives-lyrics
St Asaph, K (n d ) Chromatica Pitchfork Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://pitchfork com/reviews/albums/lady-gagachromatica/ World Bank Group (2022) Chapter 1 The economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis World Bank Group
HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS
Elle M (Grade 11)
Still confused on what to do for Halloween? Do you want to have a unique costume that will make people’s heads turn? Or maybe you just want an easyto-do costume that requires no effort but still looks good Lucky for you, this article will tell you just that As we get deeper into October, Halloween approaches faster and faster, but it seems junior and senior high leaves little time to think about that. It’s hard enough trying to get all your homework done, study for tests, get that monologue memorized for the school play, and go to sport practices and games. There just isn’t room for ‘and also deciding on a Halloween costume.’ Now with midterm season dawning on us, Halloween should be the last thing you need to worry about.
First, we’ll start off with costumes for people who want to do their own thing outside of a group Amanda Young from SAW Because reverse bear traps aren’t commonly for sale, here’s what you’ll need to make it yourself: a cardboard box, two plastic headbands, a hot glue gun, and some silver and brown markers. Once you have these materials you can find many videos on YouTube and TikTok on how to construct it! Another place to find inspiration for your Halloween costume is your playlist. Artists such as Chappell Roan, Britney Spears, David Bowie, and more often have outfits, from music videos, concerts, or award shows that are very easy to replicate for Halloween Take rapper Tyler the Creator for example. His eclectic style shines through both in his music and his outfits, which makes him the perfect place to turn for Halloween inspiration.
If you’re feeling like you want a simple costume, go for one of his most iconic looks on the red carpet All you need is a polo shirt, a baseball cap, and some pink shoes and you’re set. However, many of his other outfits are equally easy to put together His look from his performance of his hit song ‘New Magic Wand’ at the Grammys is instantly recognizable, a suit and blond wig the only two items necessary to create this costume. However, if music and movies aren’t your thing, there are still plenty of fun costume ideas for you to try this Halloween. One such option is to do a fun spin on a Halloween classic such as a clown. Instead of a rubber nose and oversized shoes, look for patterns like houndstooth and pinstripe on skirts or pants to help emulate the idea of a clown rather than outright dressing as one.
The beauty of this costume is that you can make it as bold or subdued as you’d like. If you’re a fan of eye-catching costumes, you can do a makeup look inspired by the Circus Clown Face Opt for bright eyeshadow and a vibrant, circular blush Or, if you are in the market for something a bit more subtle, look towards Pierrot clowns for inspiration. This character type, also known as the sad clown, has been around since the late 17th century, and continues to hold a very prevalent role in culture today If you’re looking to emulate this look this Halloween, keep your eyes peeled for baggy, white outfit pieces And if you’re looking to do a makeup look as a part of your costume, turn to a whitened face and dark eyeshadow to help create a clown costume that, while recognizable, is slightly less extravagant With an array of iconic film characters, musicians, and classic Halloween looks to draw inspiration from, there’s no shortage of places to turn to kickstart your Halloween outfit plans, no matter how much or how little effort you want to put into your costume. However, what if you’re not alone in your quest for the perfect Halloween look?
From bacon and eggs to peanut butter and jelly, some things are better together, and your Halloween costume doesn’t have to be an exception. Duo costumes have long been an essential part of the Halloween costume scene, but that doesn’t make coming up with ideas for them any less difficult. Of course, there’s always the classics such as an angel and a devil, but, if you want something a bit more stand-out, here are some ideas. You could go as Morticia and Gomez Addams, a costume that would require little more than a simple trip to the thrift store. For Gomez, look for any sort of old striped suit You can pair that with a penciled-on mustache and you’re Halloween ready. As for Morticia, all you need is a long, flowy black dress, and some red lipstick If you’re searching for a more niche Halloween costume, look no further than the film Coraline
This movie is abounded with iconic duos, such as Coraline and Wybie or the Other Mother and Other Father. However, if you and your other half want a costume that is truly one, or rather, two, of a kind, turn your attention to Miss Spink and Miss Forcible. To create this costume, you’ll need both a pink and green robe And if you’re looking to flex your makeup muscles this Halloween, these costumes would be perfect for you and your duo. Both Miss Forcible and Miss Spink have bold blue eyeshadow looks not unlike those seen on sixties icons like Twiggy, providing a fun jumping off point to help you and your other half create a makeup look as unique as your costumes
Finding costumes for a group can certainly be intimidating, be it for three people or thirteen, but many times it’s as simple as looking at your favorite tv shows and movies. Something like Mystery Incorporated from Scooby Doo or the Ghostbusters from the movie of the same name offer quick and easy pre-made costume options that are readily available at almost every Spirit Halloween and Party City around. But, if your group is in the market for a more high-effort costume, there are still plenty of avenues for you to explore. One unique idea is to go as different decades. This costume is perfect for groups with different levels of enthusiasm about dressing up for Halloween. If you’re feeling like you want to go all out, pick a decade like the 1920’s and immerse yourself in fringe and flapper dresses Alternatively, if Halloween isn’t your thing, but you still want to do something fun with your friends, go as the 2020’s and wear your everyday clothes! Another fun idea for a big group is to go as the mobs from Minecraft Like dressing as the decades, these costumes can be as high or low effort as you want.
For those groups looking for a quick and easy version of this costume, simply wear outfits that correspond to the colors of the mob you’re dressed as. For example, if you are going as an Enderman, focus on creating a primarily black and purple outfit out of whatever you have in your closet But, if your group is hoping to have more extravagant costumes, focus on creating outfits that not only incorporate the colors of your chosen mob, but their signature blocky look as well. One way this can be achieved is by painting squares on plain t- shirts to emulate the texture seen in the game. In addition, this costume idea also provides an opportunity for fun, single-colored makeup looks if you feel like you want a creative challenge. To conclude, although group costumes may seem intimidating, sometimes all it takes is a bit of color coordination, a well-done makeup look, or a trip to the nearest costume shop.
Be it with someone else, a group, or by yourself, sometimes all it takes to create an instantly memorable Halloween costume is a bit of creativity From musicians to iconic film characters, there is no shortage of places to turn to find inspiration for a costume that is quick, easy, and instantly recognizable. So, when you find yourself pressed for time this October, don’t let the scariest thing this season be the stress of not having a costume
CHILL & CHEER: TOP WINTER ACTIVITIES AND MARKETS IN CALGARY 2024
By Kennedy D (Grade 12)
As the leaves start to fall and the cold replaces the sun, finding things to do and staying entertained during the winter can be especially difficult. With schoolwork piling up and days getting shorter, it’s hard to bring yourself to get outside and have fun. We’re here to help with that. We have created a table full of the costs, locations, and five types of different winter activities you can do in November and December We’ve collected a few markets and nighttime activities that are great to do with friends, family, or solo!
"15/12/2009: Lights of Christmas" by MSVG is licensed under CC BY 2 0
Activity Name Cost
Art Market Craft Sale
Inglewood Holiday Night Market
Adult (18+) - $15
Student (13-18)$12
Date and Times Location
Dates: November 14-17 Times: November 1415, 10 a m - 9:00 p m November 16, 10:00 a m6:00 p m November 17, 10:00 a m5:00 p m
Calgary TELUS Convention Centre 136 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2P 0K6
YYC Foodies Festival
Calgary Holiday Geeky Gift Market
All ages - $5
General (13+)$10 Child (under 13) - Free!
Dates: November 23 – 24 Times: November 23, 11:30 p m7:00 p m November 24, 10:00 a m5:00 p m
Dates: November 23 – 24 Times: November 23, 10:00 a m7:00 p m November 24, 10:00 a m5:00 p m
The Quonset at the Crossroads Market 1235 26 Ave SE, Calgary, AB
All ages- $5
Lights
General (16+) -
$21 95 Child (315) - $14 95
Dates: November 15 through January 1 Times: 5:00 p m - 9:00 p m
Dates: November 15 through January 1
Times: 5:00 p m - 9:00 p m
References
Seven Chiefs Sportsplex Tsuut’ina Nation, 19 Bullhead Rd, Priddis, AB T3T 0A8
BMO Convention Centre 20 Round Up Way SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2W1
The Calgary Zoo 210 St George's Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6
“Geeky Market & Events Inc Geeky Market Events Inc, geekyevents ca/ Accessed 23 Oct 2024
Inglewood Night Market Inglewood Night Market, www inglewoodnightmarket ca/ Accessed 23 Oct 2024
Sarahsociables “Calgary Christmas Guide 2024 ” Sarahsociables, sarahsociables com/christmas-in-calgary Accessed 23 Oct 2024
“Show Details ” Art Market Craft Sale, 21 Oct 2024, www artmarketcraftsale com/craft-show-details/ Tickets yycfoodiesfest com/tickets/ Accessed 23 Oct 2024
“Zoolights Snow Globes ” Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, 23 Oct 2024, www calgaryzoo com/snow-globes/