NEWS
Sleepy students Exam and end of term pressure mean taking care of body and mind to stay awake. P2
HOLIDAY SPECIAL
CAMPUS
Natural nurture
Early child education heads outdoors in new natural setting to teach kids. P3
PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS | WWW.LANGARAVOICE.CA
Xmas breakfast
Donors to the Langley Christmas Bureau get special holiday surprise with Santa. P4-5
NOVEMBER 27, 2024 • VOL. 58 NO. 3 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
Food funds future
Donation from Chartwells will give new student opportunities By KORALEE NICKARZ
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hree departments on campus hope to benefit from a new donation from the company that runs food services at Langara. The $125,000 donation will go to the Langara College Foundation and will be distributed to the office of equity, diversity and inclusion, department of nutrition and academic success centre. The donation was announced Tuesday on campus during a ceremony by Denis Salle, regional vice president of operations for Compass Group, which owns Chartwells, the operator of Langara’s cafeteria and food services. According to Salle, the donation is not just about dollars, but investing in the future. “It is ensuring that the students have the resources to succeed,” said Salle. Joy Walcott-Francis, director of equity, diversity, and inclusion, thanked the foundation and Chartwells, and said the gift would continue to allow Langara to foster a sense of belonging for students and staff. “We want to be known as the institution that is inclusive,” said WalcottFrancis. According to Gayathri Murthy, department chair of the nutrition department, the fund will help students to gain confidence in both their skills, as well as support students and alumni in their professional growth and success. “We always wanted to have a networking and mentorship program for all our third-year college students. Finally, with this fund, we can make that happen,” said Murthy. Joyce Wong, associate director, library and academic success centre, said the funding will enable Langara to create more work and professional opportunities for student leaders. International student Nneka Mimi Brown Osondu, who is in her second year of studies in the business administration program, said she believes the funding is proof that Langara is committed to ensuring every part of student life is taken care of, as well as a reminder that her dreams are with investing in. “Let this gift be a reminder that we are capable of great things,” said Osondu.
Akino Gunstone of Urban Source on Main Street holds up beaded bracelets at the store on Tuesday. MAJENTA BRAUMBERGER PHOTO
An era of Swifty millions Vancouver ready for Taylor Swift best day By MAJENTA BRAUMBERGER
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aylor Swift’s world dominating Eras Tour stands to inject millions into Vancouver’s economy as it roars into Vancouver for her final stop next month. Booming prices for accommodations and Swifties eager to find merchandise in local stores will generate an estimated $157 million in economic impact, according to Destination Vancouver and BC Pavilion corporation, the owner of BC Place. The shows at BC Place on Dec. 6, 7 and 8 are expecting approximately 163,000 fans, many of whom will be seeking short-term accommodations. Early December is historically slow for Vancouver’s hotels, but with over
82,000 rooms apparently booked by Swifties, short-term rental prices have ballooned. Booking website Agoda quotes a one-night stay in a room with a double bed and private bathroom at the YWCA Hotel close to BC Place at $241 on Nov. 29. On Dec. 7, the night of Swift’s second Vancouver show, the same room with a shared bathroom costs $1,005, about four times the previous price. Individual residents are also cashing in, listing their rooms on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for thousands of dollars a night. Even those not looking to profit, like Vancouver resident Jessica Sopher, have noticed the demand. “I wasn’t trying to rent out my room, and a friend contacted me
asking if I would be willing to rent my room to his friend for $500 U.S.,” Sopher said. Vancouver businesses are eagerly taking advantage of the economic boost. A walk down Main Street, an area of Vancouver popular with tourists and locals alike, reveals multiple clothing retailers with custom Taylor Swift window displays, showcasing clothing and accessories Swifties can purchase for the concerts. Judy Hanvey, supervisor of the Still Fabulous Thrift Shop, said their Swift-inspired displays clothing and other merchandise have drawn in plenty of shoppers with demand so high that it has been hard to keep up. “We do the windows and they’re all sparkly and silver and what have you, and then people buy them,” Hanvey
said. “So as fast as we’re decorating the windows, we’re selling the windows.” The craze goes beyond clothing. Some craft stores have seen a surge in bead purchases, as fans craft their own lettered bracelets as a tribute to Swift. Melanie Elias, owner of the art materials store Urban Source, said she ordered extra beads to prepare for Swifties, but they’re still selling out. Akino Gunstone, Urban Source’s creative lead, attributes the trend to concertgoers creating costumes for shows. “I think more and more women dress up for concerts, which I just think is a really fun thing,” Gunstone said. “With Taylor Swift, her fans maybe didn’t start it, but they kind of really did it. They just really made it happen.”