The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper and alternative press for the Fraser Valley. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting and is overseen by The Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority.The Cascade is published every other Wednesday with a print circulation of 800 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.
In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief and the corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length and will not print any articles or be a platform for any contributor or contractor who has shared racist, sexist, homophobic, or libellous content online in any form. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 200 words. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.
The Cascade is published on the traditional, unceded territory of the Stó:lō peoples. We are grateful to be able to work and learn on this beautiful land.
Editorial // The cheese: it’s still on our crackers
This editorial, I want to talk about Doug Ford. Why? Well, for those who pay attention to Canadian political headlines, you’ll likely understand when I say: because I think he’s fucking hilarious. While others may choose to turn the other cheek to their enemies, Doug Ford looks directly at them with his stupid little hat and his bucka-beer in hand and says: “I’m going to come down on you like an 800 lb gorilla!” Doug Ford’s cheese may have slipped right off his cracker, but it landed upon a pristine stack of salted, Canadian-made crackers. Sure, he’s a shit premier and has botched trade negotiations with his incessant Canadian PR campaign on American television, but at least he stands for something. While the jury is out on whether or not his frantic antics will actually do anything useful for the country, I’m happy to see that at least one of our politicians is standing up and matching Trump’s chaotic energy.
We love people who stand for things here at The Cascade — this issue embodies that. While we may not be prancing around on Fox News and quoting Ronald Reagan, we are prancing around campus and the local community. Unlike Ford, we aim to bring relevant going-ons and information that actually applies to the people we are accountable to — the students.
Our feature highlights the four year lie sold to us by the university administration. Who graduates in four years anymore? Not many of us, apparently. Find out why you’re always getting waitlisted on page 11.
In Ford’s very own home province (a place he may have forgotten he’s actually in charge of), Conservative MP Jamil Jivani wrapped up his “Restore the North” tour. Check out that bit of news alongside other relevant stories in our news section beginning on page 3. And in a tale as old as time, American imperialism once again rears its ugly head off the coast of Venezuela, check out that story on page 8.
Bringing it closer to home, we have a stacked sports section for you starting on page 10. With a spotlight on coach Al Tuchscherer’s 23 year journey leading the women’s basketball team.
Starting on page 19 the arts section is still eating leftover halloween candy as we review some of this year’s newest horror films. Dive into a review of Guillermo Del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the return of Ethan Hawke as “The Grabber” in Black Phone 2.
Wherever your cheese lands in this issue, we hope you have a cheap beer on hand to wash it down.
Darien Johnsen
NEWS BRIEFS
Conservative MP wraps up “Restore the North” tour
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani wrapped up his “Restore the North” tour on Oct. 17. The tour included visits to four university campuses in Ontario and was intended to spark dialogue amongst young men, who Jivani claimed are disenfranchised.
Jivani said that young men are struggling with unemployment, mental health, criminality, and a lack of attention from policy makers. The MP’s fourth tour stop at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) was reported on by Elliott Meijer from TMU’s student newspaper, The Eyeopener. Meijer recounted that the event started off with acknowledgments to the late political activist Charlie Kirk and right-wing political commentator Jordan Peterson. Discussion centred around issues of affordability, Canadian identity, and immigration.
In an interview with The Hub, Jivani expressed the need for conversation around the issues men are facing.
“I am working as hard as I can as a member of parliament to remind young men that they are not forgotten, that there are people in the political system who want to talk about their experiences and want to offer solutions…”
Last December, Jivani launched another public campaign titled “Protect Christians in Canada,” calling attention to what he described as anti-Christian bigotry and discrimination, and government overreach.
Man shot dead in West Abbotsford
On the morning of Oct. 27, 68-year-old-millionaire businessman, Darshan Singh Sahsi, was murdered by an armed attacker in the 31300block area of Ridgeview Drive. Security footage revealed that Sahsi was shot multiple times by the murderer through the car window of his vehicle just outside his place of residence. The shooter managed to escape in their own vehicle and first responders arrived shortly after, but were unable to save Sahsi.
The news of the murder led to three local schools in the area being warned of the shooting and were required to follow the “shelter-in-place” protocol. This procedure involves people staying safely inside due to a perceived danger until notified the danger has passed. However, no students were directly impacted after the fact.
It has also been confirmed that this crime was premeditated and Sahsi was directly targeted by the offender. The president of a recycling textile company called Canam Group, Sahsi reportedly had no known public adversaries and was considered a humanitarian to the community. At the time of this writing, the Abbotsford Police Department’s investigation on the matter is still ongoing and the shooter remains at large.
Local // Abby Care Packages helping communities in the Fraser Valley
How a team of sisters is bringing support to unhoused individuals
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
Abby Care Packages is a non-profit initiative created by Bhavneet Parmar and her sisters in 2020 that puts together and distributes care packages for the unhoused communities of the Fraser Valley. They have provided kits filled with essential items through the help of public fundraising. They also aim to raise awareness about the challenging situations affecting this group of people. Parmar shared with The Cascade the origins of the project and what their goals are for the future.
During the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic back in the winter of 2020, Parmar recalled how the media’s message was to stay indoors and avoid other people. At the time, Parmar and her sisters lived in Downtown Abbotsford, and they reflected upon the issues this message posed for the unhoused populations of the area.
Comet 3I/ATLAS reached perihelion
Fraser Valley Writers Festival at UFV
Running from Nov. 6-8, the Fraser Valley Writers Festival will take place at the Abbotsford campus of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in B101. This festival is designed to celebrate literature written in the Fraser Valley area. With 12 authors scheduled to be there, the festival will have a series of different panels, workshops, and recordings of live podcasts that cover a wide range of topics.
On Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m., there will be a Creative Writing Open Mic where writers are encouraged to participate. There will additionally be a reading done from visiting author, Andrew French. Nov. 7 is opening night, and from 7-9 pm, authors Charles Demers and Evelyn Lau are going to give “keynote addresses” and the reveal of next year’s Writer-in Residence is also scheduled for that evening.
Saturday, Nov. 8 is going to have special guest speakers hosting workshops, panels and live podcasts that focus on all genres of writing, giving special attention to poetry, non-fiction, and fiction. Set to be a fun event celebrating literature and writing, this festival is free and tickets can be obtained through Eventbrite.
LOCAL // On Oct. 29, the comet 3I/ATLAS reached its closest approach to the Earth’s sun in its trajectory as it traverses through the solar system. Discovered by the ATLAS observatory in Chile, this comet is the third one known to have come from outside the earth’s solar system and is expected to come no closer than 270 million kilometres from Earth. Its unique characteristics have attracted scientists’ attention, for multiple reasons, including its ability to transform in colour while passing near the sun, taking on a distinctive blue colour.
Harvard Professor, Astrophysicist, and Cosmologist, Abraham Loeb, has considered the possibility that 31/ATLAS’s origin may not be natural and suggested to Hindustan Times that its composition, stellar path, light emitting properties, and sun-pointing gas trail could indicate that it was created by extraterrestrial intelligence. Loeb also stated that while the comet is likely to be natural, the possibility of it using the sun’s gravity to change its course toward Earth in an Oberth maneuver should be seriously considered.
If its course stays on trajectory, 3I/ATLAS is expected to reach its closest point to Earth on Dec. 18, 2025.
“You’re hearing stay inside, stay indoors, don’t talk to people. It got us thinking that’s not an option for people who don’t have homes and are living outside. That’s quite literally a privilege.”
The idea of creating and donating care packages arose from an old familial value their parents instilled in them, which was to give back to the community whenever possible. Their family would donate meal kits to local shelters, which inspired them to create this non-profit and hand out care
packages to the unhoused communities.
“I always say that we know care packages aren’t gonna solve the problem, but that’s the inspiration of why we decided to do something. Even if it’s as little as a care package.”
Parmar expressed gratitude for the stable support and donations through GoFundMe given to Abby Care Packages as this enables the team to buy more quality items. They generally include packaged food, socks, and sanitary products for men and women. The type of products and the total number of packages produced vary every year, as the exact amount of donations can fluctuate. This is often the biggest challenge when it comes to creating the packages, but Parmar confirmed that at least 50 to 70 care packages go out every year, amounting to a total of over 400 packages distributed to date.
“We can really grow this and reach more people, raise more money from the community, and distribute more packages. That’s probably what excites me more, using our resources and [finding more] ways that we can grow this.”
Parmar said that what impacts her the most is connecting with the people they give the care packages to. She added that listening to people’s stories and speaking with them not only enabled meaningful conversations, but it also helped put into perspective how she may have taken basic
DARIEN JOHNSEN
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
RACHEL TAIT
Photo submitted by Bhavneet Parmar/Abby Care Packages
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 03
things for granted. From this experience, Parmar emphasized how important genuine human interaction is.
“It’s not even about the care package. It’s about that connection that you have with that person.”
Parmar hopes that Abby Care Packages will bring attention to the housing crisis that is affecting so many
people. She believes it is important to not turn a blind eye to the issue and that all change begins with acknowledgement and respect. She also stressed the need to recognize that this vulnerable population consists of real people with feelings, lives, and rights that matter.
“They’ve been exposed to many challenges [and] barriers, but it’s not just a group of people as a whole; they’re individual people with real life stories, with
real life challenges, barriers, and experiences that matter on an individual level.”
Parmar invited anyone desiring to support the project to help them grow through additional exposure so they can reach more people. She suggested interacting with their social media on Instagram and Facebook, visiting their website and sharing their message with other people as great ways to help support their initiative.
International // Relevant developments affect Russia surrounding Ukrainian conflict
Russian oil restrictions, dam strikes, and crimes against humanity
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
On Oct. 27, Russian international oil and gas company, Lukoil, announced that they will be selling their international assets after restrictions were put in place by the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (U.K.) due to the conflict in the Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and the U.K. aim to put financial pressure on Russia’s energy sector by cutting off Moscow’s energy revenue, therefore limiting their ability to finance their war against Ukraine.
These restrictions were also implemented because of Russia bypassing the oil import and export limits and its price cap. Presently, Lukoil has not publicly disclosed which assets will be sold.
Another Russian oil company, Rosneft, was also impacted by these same sanctions and they represent major barriers to those seeking to do business with the Russian oil companies and their affected subsidiaries. The reaction of Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that he considers these sanctions unamicable, but claimed they should not severely affect the country’s economy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky originally campaigned for greater restrictions to be imposed on Russia instead of targeting Lukoil and Rosneft exclusively. However, he later
remarked that it was a purposeful and strategic decision to impose restrictions on the two oil companies.
“It is precisely pressure on Russia that will be effective for achieving peace, and sanctions are one of its key components.”
Also reported on Oct. 27, there was a Ukrainian rocket strike on the Belgorod Reservoir dam in the Russian region of Belgorod which was later confirmed by Robert Brovdi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems of the armed forces of Ukraine. The breach was reported on Oct. 25, by Belgorod’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who said that the damage could risk flooding. This led to a temporary evacuation of around 1,000 residents residing in the surrounding areas, such as
Shebekino and Bezlyudiovka.
The dam was attacked by a minimum of six rockets that resulted in at least two confirmed hits, injuring two people in the process and causing extensive destruction. Although the dam did not collapse, a one metre drop in the water level was recorded. Gladkov’s office claimed that the situation was being taken care of and that water was purposely let out to help alleviate some pressure off of the dam.
In response to Russia’s drone attacks that scattered Ukrainian civilians living in the Zaporizhzhiga regions, the United Nations’ (UN) Independent Rights Commission reported on Oct. 27 that the actions committed by the Russian military were considered to be both crimes against
Abby Care Packages encourages people with any ideas or shelter suggestions to reach out to them via email at abbycarepackages@gmail.com. Fundraising usually begins during October and runs through the start of December, with donations being accepted through the project’s GoFundMe.
humanity and a war crime. The UN ruled that the attacks that targeted buildings, houses, civilians and first responders were purposely planned to force people to flee their homes while also targeting humanitarian distribution buildings.
At the General Assembly’s Third Committee at the UN, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry gave an in-depth report of the incident. The evidence included information from approximately 500 crime videos and 226 interviews that featured testimonies from Ukrainians affected by the attacks. All accounts are said to have been carefully and thoroughly inspected.
Specializing in handling cultural and humanitarian issues, the commission also looked into the purported Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian civilians. However, a number of factors such as inaccessibility to the location, fear for witnesses’ well-being, and the absence of answers from the Russian government have contributed to unsuccessfully determining what took place in that instance.
People’s lives remain at risk as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues. Russia also faces consequences such as the restrictions imposed on Lukoil and Rosneft, and the UN’s investigation of their attacks. With relevant updates happening regularly, the media remains vigilant of the developing situation.
The Abby Cat Daddy thinks paws-itive about supporting cats
Advocating for cats as new thrift store helps to raise funds
RACHEL TAIT
Local registered charity, The Abby Cat Daddy — the Feline Advocate Society, announced on Sept. 10, the grand opening of Pawsitive Thrift located in West Oaks Mall, Abbotsford. Founder, Logan Bryan, created an informative Facebook page that acted as a resource guide for local rescues in 2022, which later led to the creation of his charity. They specialize in the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, and rescuing community cats. Additionally, they help with adoptions and are currently organizing a Feline Food Bank and Outreach Hub. Bryan shared their future goals and plans for the thrift store with The Cascade in an interview and through subsequent follow-up emails.
What are your goals?
Our main goal and driving force for the entire organization has always been to address the overpopulation and health concerns of the stray, feral, [and] community cat population in Abbotsford, specifically.
…We have a bad overpopulation issue here, and it’s hard enough for locals to find placement with a rescue when they do find a cat. Currently, we are turning away about 30 cats a day.
… [If] it’s not an adoptable situation, you trap the cat, spay or neuter it, vaccinate [and] flea-treat it. Then you send it back to the [original TNR] site … within 24 to 48 hours. [This] is always our goal so that they don’t continue to create more babies.
Can you talk about the Feline Food Bank and Outreach Hub?
The Feline Food bank and Outreach Hub will be open before Christmas 2025, we will be supporting low income families and those experiencing short term financial burdens with food and litter for their resident cats. The Outreach portion of
it beyond the foodbank will tie into the clinic that we hope to have running in the early new year 2026, by providing low-cost pop-up dates for vaccinations, flea treatment, and microchips.
What are your strategies for maintaining a good workflow?
My philosophy is [to] train people to do more than what is needed, and give them the tools to be able to make those decisions.
…I don’t take things too seriously, and that’s because at the end of the day, we’re here for the cats, and making sure that [they] are the priority. As long as that is always the case, everything else we can figure out.
What inspired you to open Pawsitive Thrift?
When we first started as an organization, I was able to team up with a private donor
who paid for our TNR program, so the donations that we got would help top up surgical care that [was] needed beyond regular TNR, as well as help with our in-care stuff. Unfortunately, that private donor wasn’t able to do that anymore as of spring 2024.
… Last year [was] when I came up with the idea for the store, and we started fundraising in October 2024 for this. Then, our great veterinarian [Dr. Montgomery] teamed up with me to open the clinic inside the unit. We’re still working on that, [but] it’s not ready.
… The community support since opening has been insane. It’s been really appreciated, and it’s nice because we get to now have a face-to-face with the community instead of being decentralized.
How is Pawsitive Thrift unique from other thrift stores?
We have cats inside the store, in the
playroom that you can see [and] are available for adoption. You do have to do an application before you get to interact with them, and that’s for health and safety for the cats … it’s [also] our soon-to-be clinic and our food bank. It’s a central location for the rescues as well.
How can the community help?
We have on our website a tab that says “Get Involved.” There [are] volunteer applications there, as well as foster applications, whether you want to volunteer to do cat care, help in the thrift store doing sales, or pricing. You can also do cat care at our adoption centres and at both PetSmarts [in Abbotsford].
Are there volunteer opportunities for students?
Once we have our clinic up and running, vet students can help, apply, and get their practicum hours ... We do have two vet techs now supporting us, [they] volunteer caring for cats, vaccinating, doing physicals, and we would be open to having veterinarian students also doing that.
What advice would you give students interested in a similar career?
Part of me says don’t do it, because it’s so hard on the soul some days, but we need more people doing this. We need more people who are passionate, but [who will] also listen to the science. There’s a lot of science in what you do, and if you aren’t following scientific methods, you’re harming more than you are doing good … My biggest advice would be to start. Whether that means you’re fostering or you join an organization … find your cause, your niche, and advocate for that! Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Photo submitted by Logan Bryan / The Abby Cat Daddy
Coffee // Coffee, friend or foe
The reasonings behind coffee and its effects
HANNAH BARBON
Early mornings, between classes, and late night study sessions; what is found in all of these moments? Lattes, americanos, mochas, and more. At the heart of all these drinks lies one, very prominent ingredient: coffee. In many cases, coffee is what keeps students running. Yet, as comforting as it is to sip on a cup of coffee, especially with the colder weather catching up, I can’t help but wonder: is coffee a friend or a foe?
For many people and myself, drinking that cup of coffee in the morning can turn us from zombies to productive humans. It helps fuel late nights and make the endless amount of assignments and essays a tad bit more manageable. According to Katie McCallum in her article with Houston Methodist, caffeine blocks the chemical in our brain, adenosine, the one that tells our brains “hey, it’s time to get some sleep!” Hence the rush of energy we get after the
first few sips. Personally, I’ve found that coffee tends to give me enough focus and clarity to sit down and work when my brain refuses to co-operate.
Another factor as to why so many people drink coffee is the comforting aspect. I know I’ve always loved waking up on one of those rainy October mornings to the smell of coffee. The aroma wafting through my house, the warmth from the mug in my hands, and the first taste that makes everything seem so much better. Coffee tends to make those comforting connections and gentle memories, because of the chemical reaction in our brains with dopamine. In an article by The Aviary it is explained that dopamine causes a reaction of pleasure and when a person drinks coffee, it triggers that reaction regardless of the circumstance. And yet, as comforting as coffee is, it always has a cost. It seems like common knowledge that drinking too much coffee causes that gut-filling anxiety, or a mimic
of it. Suddenly your hands are trembling and you can hear your heart thundering in your ears, before a headache or worse, a migraine sets in. Not to mention the effect it has on our sleep when you’ve had a cup too late, I know personally there’s been days where I’ll have a cup in the evening and then I can’t sleep until well past midnight.
Though that’s not the case for everyone. When I asked a friend with ADHD how coffee affects her, she expressed that she simply drinks coffee for the taste. She expressed feeling immune to coffee in our conversation. For some people with ADHD it helps them focus and calm down and for those who don’t live with the condition, it may seem impossible to stop thinking and their mind starts racing. It’s hard to label coffee as simply “good” or “bad” when it all depends on the person and how they react to it.
It’s certainly a strange balance between comfort and chaos. We reach for coffee to help us feel alive and in control, yet at the same time, it can control us instead. The dependency, or addiction as some would refer to it, builds slowly over time, first it’s one cup in the morning, then another in the afternoon, and following that habit makes you realize your day doesn’t really start without that cup or two of coffee. Even when stuck in that habit the idea of giving up coffee is almost unthinkable, it’s like taking candy from a child, stealing a moment of joy.
So, for the end of my thoughts, I don’t believe coffee is exclusively a friend or merely a foe, no, maybe it’s both, or perhaps neither. Maybe it’s something that keeps us going through the days when they’re full of stress and blurring together, but it also reminds us that too much of something typically thought of as good can tip into harm or addiction. The trick to having a healthy relationship, I believe, is learning to respect and live with it. We can enjoy the comfort, the energy and the habit of having a cup but remembering to not let it run our lives.
Ultimately, that cup of coffee on the table at your study session, on the counter before school, and during your class can be what you make it. Whether it’s a friend, a foe, or both. Coffee is something that will always be there in the world, it’s a strong smell and familiar taste, and it’s up to us how much we consume of it.
A monthly subscription to a stronger community
As a student, there isn’t a lot of room in my budget for extras, but somehow I always seem to slide in a few coffees and sweet treats. So when I noticed myself saying “I don’t have enough money to donate” as I was holding one of said sweet treats, I realized that wasn’t actually true.
The cost of a coffee isn’t much, but as many parents and finance advisors say, it adds up — and that is also true for charities. If you make a habit of it like I’ve made a habit out of warm drinks and pastries, then it indeed adds up.
On CanadaHelps, you can find causes you care about by searching an issue and area. This site eases the mind because only registered charities are listed. One of my favourite features though, is the ability to easily set up automatic monthly donations.
Donating five or so dollars to a charity might not seem like much, but those regular donations, even if small, make a difference to people doing work for the causes I care about. I think that is worth sacrificing one of my cafe dates for.
BY KARA DUNBAR
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
Ode to the
I write this with hot, salty grease still caked under my nails. My rotisserie chicken sits beckoning on the kitchen counter, waiting for me to tear tender strips of juicy flesh from still steaming bones in the primal act of mastication. There’s something holy about those chucks of hot, moist meat entering my watering mouth. Every time I pick up one of these succulent, pre-cooked, ready-to-eat birds I risk it not even making it home. I have to exert every ounce of my willpower to not hang out the side of my car door in the Superstore parking lot to devour every dripping, savoury inch immediately (which I’ve totally never done).
Oh, Heavens! Rotisserie chicken! Where art thou at every hour of every waking moment! If only I could clutch your warm, inviting skin from morn ‘til dusk, so as to devour you every moonlit twilight! I’m insatiable for you! Sweet bird! My adoration for thou extends to the end of time, and beyond! I weep with desire for you! I ache! I moan! I cry out! Until we meet again!
BY DARIEN JOHNSEN
THE ENVIRONMENTALIST: The long journey of a short shower
From Norrish Creek to your bathroom
Welcome to The Environmentalist, your column for understanding the natural world. This edition is about our water here in Abbotsford and the looming question, where does it come from?
Every morning of your life I imagine you will perform at least one of the next three actions. Have a cup of coffee or tea, brush your teeth, or take a shower. The main ingredient for all of them is water, but when you open the tap, do you think about where that water comes from?
It all begins when rainfall and melted snow collect in the Dickson and Cannell Lakes. Dickson Lake serves as a storage reservoir which flows into Norrish Creek. This source provides approximately 85 per cent of the entire Abbotsford water supply. Downstream, water flows south for 10 kilometres until it hits the Norrish Creek water treatment plant where large debris, such as branches or gravel, is removed before entering in order to protect the pumps and pipelines inside of the treatment plant. Similarly, Cannell lake has an Ultraviolet (UV) water treatment plant, where a near identical process takes place.
Once the water is inside of both plants, it needs to be treated. This is achieved by passing water through a sand or membrane filter that is able to remove fine particles. If the water is still turbid, some coagulants may be added to help the sediment clump together to facilitate removal. The next step is disinfection. Abbotsford uses UV and various chlorine compounds in order to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites that the water might still be carrying. After a brief
stop, the water is screened to make sure it is safe for human consumption.
Before being distributed, the treated water is stored in two large reservoirs. One is located West of Abbotsford and another on the East of Mission. Combined they hold a total volume “equal to the size of a soccer field with a height of 7.5 metres” according to Our Water Matters Canada.
Finally, through hundreds of kilometres of underground pipes, it reaches our buildings. But who makes sure that the process works perfectly? It is thanks to the Abbotsford Mission Water & Sewer Commission (AMWSC) that two municipalities collaborate to ensure water safety while preserving our healthy watersheds.
This amazing system is expected to soon reach its limit due to urban and population growth, forcing both cities to update their water management master plans. The main solution that has been considered is exploiting the Abbotsford-Sumas aquifer, an internationally shared aquifer that is increasingly becoming the main water source for more people despite its fragility, with recent reports of nitrate affecting it.
As pressure increases, Abbotsford and the other cities involved need to sort out how to manage their increasing population’s demand. What should be prioritized? This is a very local issue and staying up to date with water source development. As the Lorax once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.” So, let’s care.
Life Lessons //
Not all friendships last and that’s okay
Possible reasons why a friendship didn’t persevere
PRATI KAPOOR
Have you ever looked back and pondered about how much you have grown and how many of your friendships have changed during the journey? Even though I have had multiple friend circles growing up, only a handful of them have worn well
through different seasons of my life. I always wondered why some connections stand firm while others are ephemeral. Since an early age, I have loved making friends. I still recall, in fourth grade, I wrote my entire class list on paper with the title ‘Prati’s Best Friends.’ Younger me would be flabbergasted if she
knew she wouldn’t even remember those names growing up. I think that happens with everyone at some point or another. When you make new friends, you expect them to last and when they don’t, it’s a hard pill to swallow.
rotisserie chicken SNAPSHOT
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade
FABIOLA CRUZ ALDERETE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 07
Something helpful that I learned is that there are multiple reasons a friendship can fall apart including miscommunication, misunderstandings, dishonesty, unmet expectations, and sometimes, without any reason at all. Personally, one of my major friendship fall-outs stemmed from unmet expectations, where both of us let go of a 12-year-old friendship and it was heart-wrenching.
In parallel, I’ve had an unwavering friendship for more than 17 years now. We’ve been through ups and downs in our friendship, going years without being in contact at all. So what makes this friendship different from the ones that have fallen off?
When you build new friendships, you build them on three pillars: Proximity, Timing, and Energy. If you want your friendship to flourish, you need to make sure your foundation pillars are sturdy. Proximity relates to being able to see that person often. Timing is the life stage you’re in and how much resonance you can build within your friendship. Energy is the personality aspect and how
World //
much you are on the same wavelength. I feel these pillars co-exist and each has its own blessings and challenges. It would be heart-warming to have all my friends in my vicinity, all in the same life stage as me and with our vibes in sync. But to me it’s an unrealistic dream because change is the only constant in life. Some friends will move out, some will have different dreams in different cities, and sometimes, adulthood will hit like a rock and it’ll be hard to stay in touch. While some friendships will fade away, new ones will settle in.
Through multiple breakups and new connections, I realize knowing what kind of friendships I want in life is extremely important. I’ve picked up a few pointers over the years that have helped me navigate my friendships. The first is that I cannot expect someone to love me if I don’t know how I want to be loved. Secondly, I learned to not shrink my personality to fit in — there is no point in having a fake conversation or changing your answers out of fear of being perceived negatively. Real friends accept you and don’t judge you.
Putting in the effort is important. No friendship will magically persevere
unless you show up at their lows, celebrate their highs, and maintain the three pillars. Send random updates, be invested in each other’s lives, and be present in your friendship.
If something bothers you, communicate it. Bring it up and clear it right away instead of letting it pile up until you get overwhelmed. There is nothing a raw and honest conversation cannot sort, it’ll either make your friendship stronger or give you more clarity.
One thing I am trying to incorporate in my life is recognizing if I am in the wrong and forgiving if it’s the other way around. It helps develop integrity, since it’s destructive to harbour resentment. No toxic blame game! Sometimes mistakes are made, but had you not made them, you would not be the grown person you are today.
Be grateful for the friendships that have persisted and those that haven’t. When you lose friends, you make room for more blessings and friendships to bloom. You do your best with the ones you have, and you let go if it’s time. Take this as a reminder to sort that fight out, call your friends, and tell them you love them.
The peace prize and the warships
María Machado wins Nobel as U.S. warships gather near Venezuela
LIAM PYPER
On Oct. 10, 2025, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to María Corina Machado, the leader and face of Venezuela’s democratic movement for reform. Two weeks later, the United States destroyed another suspected ‘drug boat’ off the coast of Venezuela, making it the 10th such attack, and deployed a large carrier strike group to the Caribbean. As Machado’s
movement grows ever more popular, hope rises for a long awaited democratic reform. But fears of a U.S. backed coup and the implications for democracy loom just as large.
Venezuela has been under the rule of only two men for nearly three decades: Hugo Chávez and his successor Nicolás Maduro. It is in desperate need of reform if its people are to have a voice in the politics of their country. Maduro’s claimed
victory in the 2024 election, which international observers called a “statistical improbability,” confirmed what most Venezuelans already knew: their votes don’t matter. It is in this context that Machado emerged as a symbol, representing what the Peace Research Institute of Oslo called “the spirit of our age.”
Despite being banned from running in the elections, she demonstrated incredible resilience by appointing Corina Yoris as her alternative for running. Machado’s platform advocates for liberal economic reforms, privatizing state owned oil, and increasing foreign investment. Machado’s advocacy for liberal reforms has struck home with many Venezuelans who have grown tired under a static corrupt regime. While Machado called for genuine change and seems to represent the Venezuelan people’s wish for reform, her growing international backing — and the history of U.S. interest in Venezuela — raises questions about sovereignty, regime change and whether a ‘democratic reform’ occurs at the behest of the people or an interested foreign party.
According to The Economic Times, the U.S. is framing its operations in the Caribbean and Venezuela as anti-narcotics while in reality, it is likely preparing to oust Maduro from power through force. Furthermore, the U.S. has an economic objective in Venezuela, which is of
course its oil. Very cliché. Here’s an eerie pattern; from Guatemala in 1954 to Chile in 1973, U.S. backed coups in Latin America were often justified as defenses of democracy but driven by economic self-interest, usually coming in the form of oil, minerals, and fruit. Machado did help her country, founding a voter registration organization and heading a democratic push for reform. One thing to note, however, is that she supports Donald Trump. She expressed during an interview with BBC “how grateful the Venezuelan people are for what he is doing, not only in the Americas, but around the world, for peace, for freedom, for democracy.”
Machado is in a complicated situation; she perfectly knows that the U.S. has its own ambitions, but also sees an opportunity to bring real change to Venezuela. This leads me to conclude that Maria Machado represents a step in a good direction for Venezuela, and I hope that she is able to succeed in her mission to bring democracy back to her country. But the interest of the U.S. is not altruistic, it’s transactional — measured by barrels of oil and stacks of cash. Venezuela deserves a democracy built in Caracas, not in the U.S.
Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
SNAPSHOT
Autopilot etiquette
I was recently a passenger in a car with autopilot enabled, and for those who don’t know me, I don’t like this growing trend in cars. Call me paranoid, but the idea of putting your life in the hands of an inanimate object as it rapidly navigates busy and unpredictable roads all by itself sounds like a death-trap. Before you say it, I don’t care if the driver can take control at any time. If you ask me, the driver should be in control all of the time.
As we — or rather the car — drove over the Mission Bridge, I felt as if some manners had been missed. I then realized that I would have appreciated it if the driver had asked us passengers first before switching on autopilot. Who knows, as much as I dislike the feature, the people-pleaser in me might have said yes anyway.
Maybe I’m overreacting, or maybe asking beforehand is just common courtesy. All I know is that you’ll never catch me in the driver’s seat of a car driving itself.
BY CAITLYN CARR
The life of a toaster
Have you ever used your toaster and thought “I wonder how many pieces of bread it’s seen?” Just me? Okay. Well, regardless, it was a recent question I had because I have an old toaster and it’s never broken down. It just keeps on toastin’. I’ve started to wonder just how long my toaster will live before it decides it wants to stop. It has to have toasted approximately 6,000 pieces of bread by now, and it’s got to give up at some point. When thinking about if and when it does, I feel an odd sensation of grief.
Sure, sometimes the lever doesn’t stay down on its own which is momentarily annoying, but I don’t want my toaster to die. Maybe it sounds weird, but my toaster has watched me grow up. Every morning before elementary school, that same toaster toasted the bread for my ritual cinnamon toast snack. It toasted my bread for those tuna, ham, or peanut butter sandwiches my mom always packed me for lunch. It keeps small memories, but they matter to me. So, for the sake of never losing them, what’s one more piece of bread?
BY VERONICA POWELL
Curiosities // The misunderstood nuances of talent
Talent might be hard work disguised as a natural gift
NATALIA TOSCANO MURUA
I’ll say it, I am talented at drawing, I have always been. From a young age, my family praised my little sketches of art and cherished them dearly. They would always highlight the same fact, that I had a talent for drawing and that I should keep nourishing it. So I did. Now I’m an aspiring concept artist and I’ve improved my craft by leaps and bounds. But is it really thanks to my talent? Or do I owe my progress strictly to hard work, practice, and learning? Is talent a construct made up by society or is it a natural given advantage? Let us find out what science has to say — whether talent is born or made.
I still remember the exact day where my journey began. I was so mesmerized by a video game with a particular purple dragon in it that I felt the urge to replicate him on a piece of paper. And then another one, and another, and I kept drawing ever since. I must’ve poured thousands of hours into drawing, which accounts for a lot of practice time. This lines up with Malcolm Gladwell’s theory that states a person requires around 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something. Gladwell’s research found that the difference between elite violin players and simple violin players was that the
more capable group had put in over twice the hours compared to the less capable ones. Interestingly, the study concluded that talent did not play a part in the result, with the only difference between the studied musicians and their performance being the amount of hours invested into practicing their chosen skill.
So then it’s true, my family gaslit me into thinking I had talent to take advantage of and encouraged me into sinking a chunk of my life into drawing! Well, not exactly. First of all, I don’t blame them for telling me I had a lot of talent for my age. There is a tendency to appreciate talent as something you’re naturally born with, which in this case relates to celebrating talent as a natural occurrence instead of a result of deliberate practice. I can see why the people that celebrated my talent for drawing did so in the first place, while in reality it might have been largely because of the sheer amount of drawings I pumped out weekly.
But that’s not everything there is to the story, because as it turns out, talent can play an important part in developing a skill. There are studies that suggest that people can be born with natural predispositions toward a certain discipline, with genetic factors playing a part in how well a person can execute and develop
within a specific discipline. Psychologist Zach Hambrick found in his research that practice only accounted for a fraction of the studied group’s ability to perform a certain skill, indicating that natural talent can give an advantage when executing a specific task.
The way I see it, for the most part, being “talented” at something is more about the combined circumstances that have led you to become good at a particular thing. There can be a natural predisposition and underlying genetic factors that encourage it, yes, but it will all amount to nothing if deliberate practice and hard work aren’t part of the equation. I feel like that accurately reflects my journey. I’m convinced I wouldn’t be at the place I am right now with my skill in drawing had it not been for the hard work I’ve poured into it, but also how natural it has always felt for me. I believe there is nothing you can’t learn with enough time and practice, but at the same time, if you have talent it can be a big push that can take you very far if you carry through with it. It’s worth it to celebrate your talents, I know I do, but I also know that hard work and practice is what will make or break how good one can become at something.
Illustration by Natalia Toscano Murua / The Cascade
Up the I5: from ‘Cats and Cardinals to Cascades
Dealt a rash of injuries to begin the season, UFV’s new recruits are making an impact
ETHAN PAULSON
Bennett O’Connor is a third-year point guard who joined the UFV Cascades men’s basketball team for the 2025-26 season. With the Cascades losing their starting point guard Takeshi Croke to graduation after the 2024-25 season, the team needed to fill the position and decided to dip into the international pool for premier talent.
The start of every basketball season is always an experiment. With the integration of new team members into the lineup, there was sure to be growing pains before the team found its footing. Furthermore, having key veterans Dario Lopez, Matthias Klim, and Clay Kurtz sidelined with injury was not the lineup coach Joe Enevoldson imagined he would be deploying against UBC and UVic on opening weekend. The team was in need of some scoring to step up in place of their three sidelined stars.
O’Connor, a native of Fall City, Washington, played for the NCAA Division II Central Washington University Wildcats in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference before transferring to the Skagit Valley College Cardinals. Now in his third year of college hoops (but his first of eligibility in U SPORTS), O’Connor has
found a new home up north in the Fraser Valley. O’Connor comes to UFV with an established pedigree. Despite seeing limited minutes in his freshman season at Central Washington, O’Connor and the Wildcats went on to win the school’s second GNAC championship. In his sophomore campaign, O’Connor transferred to Skagit Valley College, where he saw a major increase in playing time, averaging 26.9 minutes per game for the Cardinals. The point guard cooked with his extra minutes in his second season, averaging a solid 15 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
O’Connor’s breakout season with the Cards certainly caught the eye of Enevoldson, who was impressed with both what he saw out of the point guard on the court, and the positive words from Skagit Valley head coach, Carl Howell.
“[Howell] spoke really highly of him,” Enevoldson told The Cascade. “We went down and watched him play three or four times over the course of last year and brought him up for a visit. It was the right fit at the right time.”
The Cascades had a difficult schedule to start the season taking on a solid UBC team and ultimately dropped the game by a score of 85-67. Things did not get any easier in the team’s home opener as they took on the defending U SPORTS national
champion, Victoria Vikes, and once again fell short in a close contest with a final score of 84-76. Despite not getting a winning result, O’Connor helped keep the Cascades afloat. O’Connor averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over opening weekend, featuring a 23-point performance against UBC.
“We came out with a lot of effort, I’m proud of the guys,” explained O’Connor after the second game. “We shot a lot better tonight, [and] played a lot better than last night; we’re taking small steps every day.”
With one weekend of U SPORTS experience under his belt, O’Connor has left Fraser Valley fans with plenty to be happy about. Filling the shoes of former team captain Takashi Croke is going to be a difficult challenge for UFV, but with O’Connor’s experience across NCAA and JUCO basketball, maybe he can live up to the task. And as for why he reps #0 on the court, there’s a specific explanation.
“It’s how many people can guard me.”
Volleyball //
Engbers:
“I wasn’t sure if I’d be playing again”
When a massive turnover of players happens, new leaders need to emerge
ETHAN PAULSON
Staying the course is a great mantra. It not only perfectly describes the UFV Cascades men’s volleyball team as they set course on the 2025-26 season, but it also inspires hope toward reaching their long-term goal of a playoff berth. Though there may be rough seas as the team weathers the storm and finds its legs, this is a rebuilding team that is negotiating the departures of program stalwarts Jonas Van Huizen and Nimo Benne.
Confidence is everything. Teams and players go into seasons riding a confident high, only to have that feeling slowly drained with every loss like air leaving a balloon. While this may be a cause for panic, it is important for teams to realize that if hard work is consistent in their training, then the results will come in relation to their competitive cycle.
This could not ring any truer for
UFV men’s volleyball. The team opened the season against the Trinity Western Spartans and Winnipeg Wesmen, two of the top 10 nationally ranked teams at the time of writing. An 0-4 record and zero sets won to start the season is not ideal for the team after the first two weeks, but Head Coach Nathan Bennett acknowledged his team’s inexperience as a learning curve in the season’s early going.
“We’re getting exposed to quality teams. This season, all we’re looking for is little improvements from week to week.”
Roster turnover is a difficult transition; new voices needed to emerge from the locker room to lead the team through adversity. One of those voices this season is left side hitter, Comrie Engbers. Engbers is no stranger to facing adversity, as the fourth-year player has been working through a prolonged injury since last season. Engbers always had the desire to
come back and play volleyball, despite the possibility of the sport being taken away from him during the rehab process.
“To be honest, for the first stretch [of injury], I wasn’t sure if I’d be playing again,” said Engbers. “The motivation was [that] I don’t want to have a bum knee for the rest of my life. Once the rehab was on the right track, and I realized I’m doing well, I was excited to get back on the court.”
Being both a fourth-year player and a leader comes with a lot of responsibility on and off the court. Engbers is growing into his new role leading the team, just like the rest of this UFV roster is growing into theirs. The team has eight first-years making up just under half of the roster, meaning that the team will rely on the veteran experience of Engbers to lead them through their growing pains.
“[We’ve] got to keep our heads up. It’s obviously frustrating, but we can’t have
too high of expectations for ourselves to the point where it shatters our ego. If we keep our heads up and keep working hard, good things will happen.”
The drive to come back and compete displays the type of leadership that the Cascades are looking for. Although this season may be focused on development for future Cascades seasons, Engbers and the team don’t plan on going down without a fight.
“[You] never want to count yourself out. It’s gonna take some work — we’ve got to be better than this — we [have] got to turn things around fast, or it’s gonna be a long season.”
And while the results may not yet be presenting themselves in the win column, the team is building up a solid foundation of resilience to compete with the best of the best in Canada West in the coming years.
Photo courtesy of UFV Cascades
BROKEN The four-year promise,
University on your terms — or theirs?
SKY S. TERRONES
Back in 1906, a bunch of someones in the U.S. came up with a way to measure learning. Before long, four years became the magic number for a bachelor’s degree.
A century later, that still works… right?
That system — the Carnegie Unit — was designed to standardize high school curricula and college admissions, but it has also been used as the basis for the length of a degree. Though not enforced in Canada, the historic system is still reflected in many of UFV’s practices.
On June 6, The Cascade attended the Senate Public Meeting in which the 2024 Graduating Student Survey Master Report from the Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC) was discussed. The results showed an increase from the 2021 survey in the number of students reporting barriers to graduation — most often due to trouble accessing required courses.
President James Mandigo addressed the concern at the end of the presentation, assuring that UFV’s deans are committed to finding solutions.
Alas, with the arrival of fall registration came an uptick in waitlist complaints on the UFV subreddit. Not only that, but a UFV Properties Trust report found that students now take an average of 6.3 years to complete a bachelor’s degree — up from the historical 5.8.
If the average number of students is finishing in over six years, why are we still calling it a four-year degree? Is that timeline realistic, given institutional barriers and the demands of everyday life? And if it’s not, should that be made more transparent?
UNDERSTANDING THE CUSC SURVEYS
Dr. Sylvie Murray, Dean of the College of Arts, gave some insight into how these surveys are measured. She clarified that the survey data is generalized, reflecting national trends, not specific
details about UFV or individual departments, which makes the difficulties presented hard to tackle.
“That’s a global aggregated statistical information, and what I see is where the waitlists actually are each semester, and I act on that. But exactly how the work that I’m doing is going to reflect on the next survey and hopefully a greater student satisfaction, we’ll wait and see.”
These surveys are done every three years, with the next one happening in 2027 — far too late to help many students who are struggling right now.
THE IMPACT ON SMALLER PROGRAMS
One such student is Mevan Fernando, from the Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) program, who is now entering his sixth year at UFV. Though he hoped to graduate this year, he keeps facing delays because key courses haven’t been available.
Fernando switched from Psychology to PACS early in his degree. That’s when things got complicated. Around the time he declared PACS, the university was cutting courses across departments, and some of the requirements for his program were suddenly unavailable — including two classes he was supposed to take at the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC). After calling JIBC himself, he found out that they’d stopped offering those courses.
“The university didn’t even know those courses were no longer being offered [at JIBC] until, I’m assuming, I told them.”
Caught between the old PACS program and a new one still being developed, Fernando had to decide whether to stick with the original plan and risk not graduating or redeclare his major under its new version. He redeclared in Winter 2024, but many of his new required courses weren’t offered until this year, one of them being SJGS 101: Stewardship for Justice and Reconciliation, which is part of UFV’s newer Social Justice and Global Stewardship (SoJust) program.
“This program came out about two years ago, and now is the time those courses are finally being offered, which is kind of astonishing.”
Fernando is still working with his advisor to piece together a path to graduation, but without enough staff or timely course offerings, it’s been a long, frustrating wait.
“When you’re waiting for that approval or to hear back from them … it does become annoying after a while.”
Still, he expressed his gratitude for his academic advisor, who has even gone to higher-ups to try and find alternative courses for him; however, without official approval from the dean or leadership, there wasn’t much she could do.
“My academic advisor’s been super supportive since day one … but even then, [she] was also [left feeling] frustrated.”
Fernando acknowledged that he also had some setbacks of his own, having struggled with a few classes before eventually retaking them, which added to the delay.
He commented that the challenges he’s facing aren’t unique to his program either. He speculated that other small programs like Global Development Studies (GDS) are struggling too, mainly due to low enrollment. He’s seen courses get cancelled because not enough students signed up, making him wonder whether there’s enough interest to keep these programs alive.
“If our system is logistically failing students, then no amount of agency on their part is going to solve the problem.”
“These smaller programs — how much longer can they be sustained? How much longer are they going to exist?”
Dr. Martha Dow, director, Community Health and Social Innovation Hub, associate professor, School of Culture, Media, and Society, and former department head, noted that these situations are closely tied to waitlists and course planning, which become complicated as universities weigh whether to add sections or redirect students to try to keep classes full.
“What’s our decision-making about replacing, or adding, when you have a waitlist? Do we add another section? Do we look at other courses and therefore not add sections so that we can fill [those] up? … it’s not an unreasonable expectation for the university to try to maximize courses.”
However, this approach overlooks a key issue — students who need the required course to move forward are still stuck.
THE AGENCY FACTOR
Paula Funk, academic advisor for the Fine Arts, Design, and Media programs, said that since advising isn’t usually mandatory at UFV, some students navigate their programs independently with mixed results. With an emphasis on developing agency within students, Funk focuses on teaching students how to track their progress and plan ahead so they can take charge of their education.
“I’m always looking for a balance between ‘What do I need to tell the students that they just wouldn’t know otherwise?’ … versus … ‘Have I taught them to find the answers themselves?’”
While it’s not foolproof, she believes this approach helps students spot barriers sooner.
Jorja Johns, a Bachelor of Arts student finishing up her English major with a Creative Writing concentration, shared that she has been diligent about planning and has reviewed timetables throughout her academic journey. However, when the fall timetable was released, a required course she needed to graduate wasn’t listed. After revisiting past timetables, she found the course had only been offered twice in 12 semesters.
Johns went on to try to find a solution and described a disappointing experience with the advising office. When her appointment was cancelled due to illness, it wasn’t rescheduled, and the next available slot was weeks away — well past the point of being useful for her course selection. Johns shared that when she explained her situation over the phone, she felt dismissed as the staff member suggested she apply to another school instead of offering solutions, which left her feeling unsupported.
To avoid delaying her graduation, Johns took initiative and reached out to a past instructor, who directed her to Dr. Ceilidh Hart. Hart and Johns eventually arranged a substitute independent study
alongside a few other students to help them finish on time.
“Hart’s been amazing in the process of getting another class and getting me and a couple of other students able to do that on time — I really appreciate her for that.”
Funk acknowledged that when the system itself creates obstacles, student agency alone isn’t enough — it takes collaboration and flexibility across the institution to truly support them.
“If our system is logistically failing students, then no amount of agency on their part is going to solve the problem.”
According to Dean Murray, UFV is working on two-year course plans for all programs, which will be posted online and shared with advisors. Because not every course runs every semester — or even every year — she wants students to be able to see what’s coming so they take required courses when they’re offered.
“Sticking to those commitments as much as we can … would be better than what we’ve done so far … We cannot offer all the options, but informing students ahead of time is key, and we haven’t done a great job at that.”
MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND
Even when courses are offered, waitlists remain a real barrier as there often aren’t enough seats to meet student demand — a problem tied largely to UFV’s budget constraints. This is something that Rhonda Colwell, who has worked as an academic advisor for Arts for many years and recently switched to the Faculty of Science and Computer Information Systems (CIS) departments, noted in her experience. She emphasized that a lot depends on what the B.C. government decides to provide.
“We gotta figure out our relevance. And if we can’t deliver … a one-year certificate, a two-year diploma, [or] a four-year degree, do we wanna keep promising that?”
“There are courses being offered, but not enough seats to handle everyone — that’s a budget thing … It does come down to how much funding we get because we’re a public institution.”
Colwell recalled that when she first attended UFV in 1992 there were far fewer students, and waitlists were rare. Now, with enrollment growing every year, getting into classes has become a lot more competitive.
“Houses keep on getting built, so there are more people living here. And we try to bring in more international dollars because that’s the truth, that’s how we pay for some of the stuff that’s going on. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it.”
Domestic students pay $166.61 per credit whereas international students pay $752 — over four times more. International students also deal with the pressure of visa requirements — if a required class is full or not offered, they must still carry a full course load to keep their study permits, which adds up to a lot of dollars.
David B. Johnston, registrar and associate vice-president, enrollment management, noted that while international students often benefit from early registration and tend to plan well, there’s no special treatment if they can’t get into a required course. They’re encouraged to stay in close contact with academic advising, but in the end, it’s on them to keep their studies on track.
“Their study permit requires them to study 12 credits a semester. So, they tend to be very efficient because it costs them a lot … but there’s no special dispensation to take a course or get a course that’s not offered.”
THE SUMMER SEMESTER
Most courses open in fall and winter, and since summer is optional, Colwell noted that this makes it harder for students to take a full course load since only 100-level courses without prerequisites are usually available.
Colwell added that the summer semester is often split into early and late sessions, but it’s not realistic for students to manage multiple condensed courses in just one of those blocks. Most departments
“You should be able to do it as fast or as slow as you want, but … how much more [is] the university making from students by making them stay [longer]?”
prefer to offer their summer courses in the early session, which limits options for students who might need flexibility or are trying to build a full course load.
“Can the student actually get three courses in the full session when they’re upper-level requirements? No, not really.”
Colwell also described serious scheduling issues in the Science department, especially during the Summer 2025 semester — biology and chemistry courses didn’t coordinate, clashing into each other, so first-semester international Science students couldn’t take both. They need at least nine credits to stay full-time for their study permits, but with scheduling conflicts, condensed lectures and labs packed into early summer, it was just too much.
“Our suggestion, if they’ll listen to us, is that one, [that] they coordinate [their] schedule, and two, [that] all of [their] first-year courses are full semester.”
AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
Fabiola Cruz Alderete, a student in Environmental Studies and Natural Sciences (ESNS) with a focus on Conservation — has first-hand insight into some of the challenges facing the Science department.
Cruz shared her frustration with waitlists — even with priority registration and the right prerequisites, she was waitlisted for a required course because “reserved seats” for international students had all filled up, despite open spots in the class.
She’s relieved she got in this semester — missing it would’ve meant taking unrelated courses to stay full-time for her study permit.
“I got in this semester, but it would have been really bad if I didn’t, because I would have been stuck … I would have ended up doing random classes.”
Even though the Geoscience department posts its course plans early, it doesn’t always help — Cruz can still get waitlisted in a class with open spots,
Illustrations by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
Illustrations by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade
and if she can’t take the course, her progress is halted. She also recalled an issue she had with a course she needed to stay full-time and keep her housing. After being waitlisted for the class, she was also blocked from registering for the lab.
“If I am not a full-time student, I also can’t live in Baker. So, I was panicking … If I don’t get in, I’m not a full-time student, so I cannot live in the housing, and I have nowhere to go.”
Cruz explained that she puts a lot of effort into planning her courses — meeting with advisors, professors, and even the department head to request specific classes. Despite all that preparation, she still faces recurring issues like waitlists or unavailable courses.
According to Cruz, Biology and Geography courses are essential prerequisites for many majors, including hers, and she needs to take them now to stay on track. However, the registration system doesn’t prioritize students who need these courses urgently. She feels the Registrar’s Office
“It absolutely has to be doable, or we might as well shut the door.”
should take into consideration academic paths to make it easier to get into required courses.
“Registration needs to do it better, because it feels like they keep excusing [themselves by claiming] that students don’t watch the videos, [or] they don’t talk to an advisor, so it’s our fault. But when we are doing it right, they’re not. If we are putting in the work, you also have to put in the work to help us.”
Johnston said that a big change they’ve made lately has been reverting back to how waitlists worked before September of last year: they stay automated for the first eight days of classes, and when a seat opens, the student has 24 hours to register or the seat goes to someone else. Johnston claimed this helped reduce waitlists by 53 per cent in fall 2025, although no public release has been made just yet.
Separately, Johnston also stated that they’re collaborating with departments to ensure key courses are offered more regularly.
“We continue to work with academic departments … on making sure that the courses that students need are offered at least once a year, but sometimes that’s not always possible.”
THE ROLE OF CHOICE
When asked about the growing number of students taking over six years to graduate, Johnston noted that enrollment patterns suggest many are intentionally deciding to take longer. In his view, it’s less about systemic barriers and more about students making choices to balance university with other parts of their lives, thereby extending the time it takes to graduate.
Professor Dow agreed that many students never plan to finish in four years. They’re often juggling jobs, caregiving, and volunteer work while studying part-time.
Dow commented that course availability is only part of the equation, and even if these were fixed, the trend might not completely shift.
“Let’s say they could get all the courses they need for that four-year degree … I think it would shift things for some, but for many others it wouldn’t.”
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Dow remarked that universities need to rethink how they operate in light of students’ financial realities. If institutions can’t realistically support one-year certificates or four-year degrees, they need to reconsider whether advertising those timelines still makes sense.
“We gotta figure out our relevance. And if we can’t deliver … a one-year certificate, a two-year diploma, [or] a four-year degree, do we wanna keep promising that?”
While some students may be intentionally stretching out their studies, the problem remains for those being failed by the system. Cruz observed that students should have the freedom to move through their degrees at their own pace, raising concerns about how registration issues and extended timelines can lead to higher costs for students — and more revenue for the university.
“You should be able to do it as fast or as slow as you want, but … how much more [is] the university making from students by making them stay [longer]?”
Johnston stated that while the university tries to support all types of students, it’s tough to meet every need perfectly. UFV feels they’ve struck a good balance, but are still working to improve and better serve the community.
“We wanna be there for all kinds of students, but it’s really hard to be all things to all people … we think there’s a pretty good balance. But we’re not resting on our laurels and saying there isn’t more that we can continue to do to try and serve the community.”
Dow believes that universities need to better understand why students are there and what their academic goals and constraints are. Above all, she insisted that universities should respect all educational paths — whether fast-tracked or spread out over time.
The goal, Dow argues, isn’t just speed, but meaningful access and support. Institutions should do what they can to help students graduate on their own terms, whether that means offering summer courses, supporting credit transfers, or simply recognizing different life circumstances.
“We need to think very critically and really listen and think about structures that we can change and shift … I think that is our responsibility, and it absolutely has to be doable, or we might as well shut the door.”
In the interest of transparency, please note that a source in this feature, Fabiola Cruz Alderete, is a paid contractor for The Cascade.
Volleyball //
UFV women’s volleyball set out to show that the Cascades are no underdog
JEFFREY KENNETT
Velociraptors hunted in packs. They worked together as teams, systematically coordinating their movements to eliminate their prey. There was only one objective, kill. Fifth-year Cascades setter, Cailin Bitter wears a velociraptor necklace around her neck everyday, and the pack mentality is quintessential to a volleyball club’s success. Six players moving together on the court as a unit, thinking about only one thing: kill or be killed.
The Cascades have their sparkplug in Lauren Attieh. She commands the floor
with her exuberant presence throughout the game. Bitter, on the other hand, is UFV’s quiet and stoic veteran. But now, after leading by example for so many years, Bitter’s words hold gravity. When she speaks, as infrequent as that might be, everyone knows that it’s something important.
Bitter grew up playing club volleyball against the likes of Attieh, Mo Likness, Emily Matsui, and Alicja Hardy-Francis, who all joined forces on the same side at UFV, and developed a winning culture for the Cascades. It’s hard not to connect the dots between this team’s ascension and having Gabrielle Attieh join their squad for her final season in U SPORTS.
Coaches
// Not a killer; an assassin
The eldest Attieh sister brought championship experience from her time as a Thunderbird, but also a wise, calming, and steadfast approach to the game of volleyball.
That Cascades culture has been noticed by Volleyball Canada, who invited both Bitter and L. Attieh to international tournaments this past summer. In an interview with The Cascade, Bitter said she wants to bring faster ball movement from international play back with her to UFV. Of course, Attieh already has experience in a faster tempo style of game, but Bitter thinks her fellow Cascades will be able to keep up in a faster offence as well. Culture can often be a by-product of depth, and with UFV’s multiple threats on the court, if one person is having a bad day, there’s a good chance another can pick up their slack.
Bitter got a last minute phone call from the team’s head coach before Volleyball Canada’s NextGen team headed off to Colima, Mexico. He told her that one of their setters couldn’t make the tournament and that she was next on their list to fill the spot, which Bitter was grateful to accept.
“When I started playing volleyball, that was a goal, like, I want to go and
Tuchscherer family values
do this, play for Canada. When I got the chance this summer, it’s definitely not something you take for granted, because the first could be the last time. You never know. So I really tried to soak it in.”
The setter is one of volleyball’s most underlooked but important positions. A lot of times, they’re not the one with flashy kills, or sending bombs down the line. Bitter is relied upon to get the ball into the hands of UFV’s outside hitters, like the Attieh sisters, and Mandi Feist, who can put points on the board.
This Cascades women’s volleyball squad is focused on getting to nationals, which this year are being held locally at Trinity Western. After last year’s disappointing playoff exit, this is a team that now knows what it takes to be successful. Bitter puts 100 per cent of herself into the sport she plays, and sometimes, like last post-season against Saskatchewan, that means putting yourself in a very vulnerable position. She’s learned a lot about herself from playing with everything on the line, but mostly, that she isn’t capable of giving it one miniscule less than her entire being.
“I will put myself in that position time and time again, because volleyball is my passion. That’s what I love to do.”
UFV’s longest tenured coach looks back on the people and places that have made him who he is today
JEFFREY KENNETT
Growing up on a dairy farm means something always needs to be done. Cows need to be milked and fed their hay, barn stalls need to be cleaned, calves are being born, along with all the other routine maintenance involved with farm life. Farming instills old fashioned family values in that way. That might mean sacrificing time with your friends as a teenager to take care of things at home. Before the times of smart phones and Wi-Fi, it certainly meant creating your own entertainment. That’s why Al Tuchscherer hung up a hoop on the side of the barn at his Pitt Meadows family farm and played basketball on the loose gravel road for hours on end.
Tuchscherer was a troublemaker in class, and sports became a space for him to utilize his competitiveness in a constructive way. Many gravel punctured balls and trips to the principal’s office later, his family suggested he join the basketball team in grade six. He doesn’t remember why he was specifically drawn to basketball, but he does remember
where his competitiveness came from, an elementary school sports day. Now, sports days weren’t what they are now 30-40 years ago in the ‘70s and ‘80s, think of them as more of a track and field day, in which Tuchscherer remembers dominating in the first grade.
“I am winning all of these events, it resonated with me right there,” he said. “And I don’t know where that came from. I have no real idea, but I know that there was just a real drive to be successful in sports.”
The key to Tuchscherer’s game as he developed in the sport was versatility. All those hours practicing at the farm made him a dominant post player, but Tuchscherer remembers playing every position except point guard. Due to extenuating circumstances he forgoed playing college basketball and found his way into coaching. After one year as an assistant, he didn’t know if coaching was in the cards for him long-term. Nearly 40 years later, the grizzled Cascades head coach said he realized this might be a career for him when he took over the program at Pitt Meadows Secondary.
The job was a grade eight girls head coaching job that was being offered to him by a friend. After just one year of assistant coaching on a boys team, Tuchscherer was hesitant to accept the role. He began with the intention of letting his lead assistant run practices, but Tuchscherer said by the end of the first practice he was the one giving instructions. Tuchscherer credits that team with sparking the fire within him to continue coaching.
Just like how he doesn’t remember the specific reason he decided on basketball, Tuchscherer can’t place why he specifically chose UFV to complete his bachelor of arts degree in mathematics. That degree turned into becoming the basketball program’s head coach, and where he met his wife. Tuchscherer understands and embraces the challenges that come attached with a smaller university, and perhaps that’s why he’s had a prolonged impact in the UFV community.
“We’re the underdogs here, but I love being an underdog,” said Tuchscherer. “I love that side of it — I love finding a way to make it work and going to beat the big guys — there’s nothing that makes me
happier.”
Life is a funny thing. One path might not take you as far as you wanted and you have to veer off course. Al Tuchscherer never thought he’d be a women’s basketball coach. Now he’s been guiding UFV’s women’s basketball program for 23 years. Tuchscherer’s advice for whoever takes over when he decides to retire is to surround themselves with outstanding people and students, while always taking the opportunity to learn from the best.
“I get to coach in the same league as Lisa Thomaidis, and watch her be one of the best coaches in the country, if not the world. It’s pretty amazing. I’m just in awe of how far the women’s game has come. It’s getting to the point where I’m probably going to transition out of it sooner than later, and I’m excited that there’s probably going to be a long lineup of candidates that are going to want to take this job [and] probably at least half of them are going to be quality women candidates. That’s really exciting for me.”
Photo courtesy of UFV Cascades
SLAPSHOTS
Must be all the rain
Chasing kittens: a new olympic sport
The city of Vancouver is a lot of things; vibrant, multicultural, expensive; but what it is not is a city of winners. Success has been difficult to achieve for the professional teams in Vancouver. Sure, you could point at the six Grey Cups won by the B.C. Lions, but the most recent was in 2011; leaving the Lions with the longest Grey Cup drought of any team in the CFL’s Western Conference.
The Vancouver Canucks have made the Stanley Cup Final on three separate occasions, but haven’t been able to seal the deal on a championship. And even the newer pro sports franchises in Van city, like the Whitecaps, have yet to enjoy prolific playoff success since joining Major League Soccer in 2011. Recently, new Whitecaps forward and German soccer legend, Thomas Müller, said: “I have a feeling that Vancouver people, they accept not winning.”
Maybe he has a point, it’s not like Vancouver has had much to cheer for in recent years. And while Müller might be right about the city’s mentality, I am never going to stop thinking, ‘This is our year’ at the start of every Canucks season.
BY ETHAN PAULSON
Lately, I’ve been getting most of my exercise from chasing my roommate’s kitten away from all the food in the house. It’s a sport that requires heightened senses, fast reflexes, and careful strategy. If I put a plate of food down I have to keep my ears peeled for her tiny, feather-light paws jumping up on the table to snatch a bite. To feed my own cat I have to quickly set the food down where she eats, and wrangle up the kitten before she digs in faster than a strike of lightning.
The other day, I was in the kitchen and heard a rustling from my bedroom — it was my bag of jerky on the desk being assaulted by the sharp fangs of a tiny food gremlin. I sprinted back to my room and rescued my jerky before it was devoured in seconds. With my heart racing I realized, this is truly an Olympic sport that requires elite mental and physical stamina. I think I’ll write to the International Olympic Committee and pose it as a new category — after all, with the amount of work I’ve put into developing my cat-chasing skills, I’m sure to win gold in 2026.
BY DARIEN JOHNSEN
Lifestyle // Get yourself a skincare routine that actually works
Dispelling the myths and trends of the beauty industry
ANNA MCCAUSLAND
Remember back in 2014 when the 10 step Korean skincare routine landed in North America? It seemed like taking care of your skin was a lot of work and a ton of money. No one has 20 to 30 minutes, twice a day, to focus so deeply on their skin. Here’s the thing: a good skincare routine doesn’t need to be 10 steps. It barely has to be the four that’ll I’ll suggest. The biggest part of skincare is finding what works for you! Unfortunately that only happens through trial-and-error, but hopefully this list can give you a starting point to build a routine that works best for your skin. My credentials going into this list: I worked in retail cosmetology for almost two years and I’ve tried a bunch of stuff to better take care of my skin. Personally, I have quite sensitive and dry skin that happens to break out — a real mixed bag. I’ve tried almost everything under the sun when it comes to topical skincare remedies.
1. Cleansing
A good quality cleanser can really make or break a routine. There are so many different kinds of cleansers too. Finding the right one for your skin type is crucial. It’s really easy to go overboard with harsh cleansers because you want that “clean” feeling, but that can actually destroy your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Switching to a gentler cleanser can help. If you’ve got very sensitive skin, try a foaming cleanser. You don’t have to work it into a lather and, overall, it’s just more calming for the skin. If you’ve got really dry skin, try a cream cleanser. It seems almost counter intuitive but you can use it on dry skin (instead of the usual damp) thus saving you from rinsing away your natural oils twice.
And for my makeup wearing people: double cleanse. Your first cleansing can be a micellar water, makeup wipe, cleansing butter, or just your regular cleanser. Anything to take that makeup away so that your cleanser can do its job and clean your face!
2. Toner and Essence lotions
This is probably the step within this routine that, if you really need to, you can skip. With that in mind, you’re probably wondering “why even bother talking about it?” Toning or using an essence lotion is really helpful for seeing results in our next step. Both have been described to me as the ‘fertilizer’ of skincare. Toners help to rid your skin of those last bits of dirt and oil that can get missed during cleansing. Essence lotions do very similar things except instead they focus on prepping the skin to take in more moisture. Both help work serums deeper into your skin so that you see maximum results.
3. Treatment
Now that your face is clean and prepped, it’s time for treatment. This is where you can really address any concerns you might have with your skin — things like acne, dry skin, or wrinkles. There is a serum or cream for almost everything. If you like using pimple patches now’s a great time to stick a couple of those on too.
4. Moisturizer
Time to lock everything in with your choice of moisturizer. Someone with more sensitive skin might like the feeling of a lighter moisturizer, while people with drier skin might want the assistance from a heavier one. A huge help for keeping your skin healthier is getting a moisturizer with SPF. Using SPF not only helps your skin look more “youthful,” but it also helps prevent skin cancer and sun burns. So lather it on, even during a cloudy day!
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Illustration by Iryna Presley
Poetry // Evelyn Lau: from prose to poetry
A conversation with Fraser Valley Writers Festival keynote speaker
CAITLYN CARR
In preparation for November’s annual Fraser Valley Writers Festival (FVWF), The Cascade sat down with one of the festival’s keynote speakers, Evelyn Lau, to discuss her craft, the local poetry community, and the importance of literary events. The Vancouver author has 15 publications, including 10 poetry collections. Lau’s debut book, Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid (1989), was adapted into a CBC movie starring Sandra Oh, and between 2011 and 2014, she served as Vancouver’s Poet Laureate.
With an emphasis on topics like relationships and family, Lau’s work often delves into past personal experiences and raw emotions. When reflecting on her debut book, written when she was 18, Lau shared that Runaway offers a more unrestrained view of the often heightened emotions of being a teenager.
“It captured that adolescent mindset … it’s one thing to write about your teenage years 30 years later, and you can do it brilliantly, but you still don’t capture all that turmoil, the grand emotions, the ups and downs.”
In her most recent poetry book, Parade of Storms (2025), Lau explores
the concept of weather and environmental disasters. When sharing how the book came to be, Lau explained that she did not originally plan to write about climate change.
“I’m always a bit wary of poetry that makes political statements because sometimes the political message can override the craft of the poem … [but] I was drawn to the language around climate change … and I’m also really interested in emotional weather, so the balancing act in this book was balancing the interior emotional storms with the external ones.”
Lau has experience writing in many genres including fiction, non-fiction, short fiction, and poetry; however, she shared that she has always been more interested in writing shorter pieces instead of longer works. Having shifted her focus to writing poems, Lau believes poetry allows for more contemplation into the everyday aspects of life, considering it a form of meditation.
“You’re thinking deeply about one thing, maybe it’s a moment, or it could be a mood or an experience … and you sit with it, repeat the words to yourself, and think about the rhythm and the imagery and marvel at it.”
Still, Lau admitted that since pivoting
toward poetry, she does sometimes miss the cultural perceptions that can come with being a prose writer. She shared that, in her experience, people responded with more eagerness when she said she wrote novels compared to the reaction she often receives now when she says that she’s a poet.
“If you say you write poetry, [there’s often] a dead silence.”
Nonetheless, Lau is grateful for the liberties that can come with writing for a smaller, more intimate audience.
“In a way, it’s very freeing to write poetry because you don’t have all the trappings that go with writing a novel where … there’s all these demands on you in terms of sales. There’s none of that for poetry, you’re just completely alone with your art.”
Lau’s work has won the Milton Acorn Award, the Pat Lowther Award, a National Magazine Award, the Fred Cogswell Award, and has been nominated for the BC Book Prize and the Governor General’s Award. When asked about the role of awards in a poet’s life, Lau shared that their value extends beyond pure monetary gain.
“To see that your peers recognize what you’re doing as being valuable [and] that
you’re making some kind of contribution to the art that is worthy of being recognized is huge … I think poets definitely deserve every acknowledgement that they can get in order to give them the energy to keep going.”
When asked what advice she has for new writers, Lau said that they should avoid writing too large too fast, believing that doing so can distract from a writer’s attention to language. Instead, Lau encourages writers to start with a smaller concept and then expand on it.
“What I tell students is to go through a side door. So if you want to write about a relationship, write about it through something small, like an object the person gave you … and let the reader access the big emotion through that.”
Readers who want to hear more from Lau can listen to her keynote address on Nov. 7 in room B101 at the 2025 FVWF. Tickets are free, but visitors must secure their seat through Eventbrite beforehand.
“To hear a writer talk about their work is an inside look into [their] process and craft. If you’re interested in writing yourself, that can be really relevant to your own work.”
Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Campus Fashion: denim heaven
Five fall must haves of the season
RACHEL TAIT
This is Campus Fashion, your source of inspiration for seasonal trends, cool finds, and wardrobe basics to keep you looking stylish throughout the year.
While denim was first invented by French industrialist, Joseph André, in the 17th century, it was Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis who first obtained their jeans rivet patent in 1873. Still, there is no denying that this cotton twill fabric has undergone different transformations over the years. As jeans are constantly being revisited in this column, The Cascade took a different approach by looking at other styles that are made from this iconic fabric and that are trending this fall.
Jean jackets
This versatile transitional piece looks great dressed up or down. Wearing a medium dark-wash denim jacket and matching jeans with a white button-down shirt, white sneakers, and sunglasses makes for a nice, casual outfit. For cooler weather add a sherpa-lined denim trucker jacket over an oversized grey turtleneck sweater with black jeans and tall black leather boots.
Denim skirts
Much like jeans, denim skirts are a great basic to wear with sweaters, long sleeve shirts,
button-down blouses, and jackets. Denim pencil skirts in a dark blue wash look dressy when paired with a black cashmere turtleneck, a camel wool coat, and black heels. For a casual look, try a fitted navy polo shirt with a medium-wash midi denim skirt, a matching denim jacket, and tall dark brown leather boots.
Denim vests
A great layering piece, denim vests add character and structure to any outfit. A fitted dark-wash denim vest worn over a cream ribbed turtleneck looks great with camel dress pants and black ankle boots or ballet flats. A thicker denim vest over a black and white striped knit sweater dress, black leggings, and tall black boots helps keep the chill out on cooler fall days.
Denim shirt
Denim dresses
Denim shirts are convenient, comfortable, and stylish. They look great on their own or as a layering piece worn under a sweater or jacket. Try wearing a medium darkwash denim long sleeve button-down shirt with a white T-shirt, black jeans, white sneakers, a black crossbody handbag, and aviator sunglasses. For cooler weather, style a thick denim shirt over a black turtleneck and khaki corduroy pants with a cream down filled puffer jacket, black ankle boots, a black scarf, black toque, and matching gloves.
CULTURE
Denim can look more feminine as well, when done right. A denim shirt dress in a medium dark-wash with charcoal gray leggings, brown ankle boots and a long oatmeal-coloured button-down sweater looks nice for a casual brunch date. An indigo denim maxi length dress with a fitted black cardigan with beading, black strappy heels, and a black clutch purse transitions well into an evening look.
There you have it, five denim trends that are just as versatile and comfortable as a pair of your favourite jeans. Have fun this fall experimenting with different denim looks that suit your personality and style.
Crossword // STUDY BREAK
Sudoku //
Horoscopes //
Minerva the Mystic
Aries - Mar. 21 to Apr. 19
Oh Aries, it’s always something with you, isn’t it? You’re diving headfirst into some new plan, project, or scheme again. I know I can’t dissuade you from this next endeavour but I have a sinking feeling about this one, so I’ll just offer some advice in case you get in over your head: always wear a life jacket and don’t go swimming with sharks.
Taurus - Apr. 20 to May 20
The stars are recommending you take some time to reconnect with nature before the weather turns bitter. However, they also warn of instability and a lack of support. Best I can gather, it’s a warning. Wear proper footwear when hiking and be careful where you step. This will save you from falling head over heels and getting to know your local embankments too intimately.
Gemini - May 21 to Jun. 20
Even after the darkest nights, the sun will rise in the morning. And in the light of dawn, a cycle begins anew. In other words, your future is looking bright; you just need the courage to make it through the night.
Cancer - Jun. 21 to Jul. 22
Your sign is often associated with sensitivity and emotional responses. But what is commonly left out is how those things manifest. Right now, this could mean a flare up of your desire to stand up for what matters to you, and a stubbornness that won’t let you back down, even on the most trivial things. When someone asks “Is this the hill you’re willing to die on?” your answer is always yes.
Leo - Jul. 23 to Aug. 22
Whether you choose to flip a coin, draw straws, or roll the dice, you still have to decide on your preferred method of random chance. There is no avoiding decision-making and no one else can do this for you. Your fate is up to you.
Virgo - Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Stuck in the mud and just spinning your wheels? Working hard but gaining no traction? A lot of folks would suggest you push ahead slowly, throw sand under the tires, or try to dig yourself out. Not necessarily bad advice, but I’ll do you one better. Phone a friend, preferably one with a big fucking tractor, because you’re going to need some serious torque to get out of your rut.
Libra - Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
Put simply, you have to do things you may not want to be doing in order to manifest your dreams. Sorry, my friend. That’s life.
Scorpio - Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
When I say that you should connect with nature, in your case I don’t mean literally, but rather that you need to find harmony within your own true nature and sense of self. You don’t need to wander the woods to find a sense of peace, just be kind to yourself. Seek harmony through compassion.
Sagittarius - Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
It’s nice to have purpose in life and to have confidence in your own brilliance. Everything ahead looks clear. But take heed not to be blinded by your own brightness.
Capricorn - Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
It’s reasonable to fear the unknown. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know, and all that. But maybe, you should stop consorting with devils, demons, and the like and look for something kinder to you instead. You might not be so afraid then.
Aquarius - Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
Possessing the ability to fully control one’s own emotions and impulses is no small feat. In order to manage that, you need a whole lot of wisdom and self awareness. And baby, you got it! Just don’t go getting a big ego now.
Pisces - Feb. 19 to Mar. 20
Are you doubting yourself again? Are you down and out of luck or just kinda bummed about life? I can offer you reassurance if you’d like. But I think it’s more valuable for you to know that it’s in your hands to turn things around. Sometimes you just gotta believe in yourself, as tacky as that is.
The Cascade Kitchen: eating on a budget
DARIEN JOHNSEN
Science may show that eating nutritious, well-balanced meals is vital for maintaining your health — my bank account says otherwise. It says, Darien, we are once again scavenging and making dollar store meals this week. And I say, okay, bank account, you’re the boss.
Luckily, a pie shell at the dollar store only costs $2.25 — and my co-workers insisted that I try this delicious water pie recipe. When I asked them for the recipe they all just kind of shrugged and looked around at each other like they weren’t sure what I was talking about. Then I woke up from my dream and realized I was just having a nightmare about how broke I am.
Anyways, here’s a recipe apparently made during the Great Depression, but actually dates back to much earlier times, and was made when ingredients were scarce or unavailable.
I estimate that I could make about four of these bad boys from roughly 18 dollars worth of ingredients, coming out to $4.50 per pie.
Ingredients:
1 9 inch pie crust
1 1/2 cups water
4 tbsp flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla (I used artificial because who the fuck can afford real vanilla?)
5 tbsp of butter, hacked into five good chunks
Recipe:
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Pour the water into the pie crust
3. Mix together the flour and sugar in a separate bowl and sprinkle it over the water (apparently you’re not supposed to mix it)
4. Drizzle the vanilla over the mixture in the pie crust
5. Slap those slabs of butter on top
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, reduce to 375 and bake for another 30 minutes
7. Ur gucci
When you pull the pie out of the oven it’s still going to be all watery, don’t worry, you didn’t fuck up the most simple recipe known to mankind, just let it cool for a bit and it’ll get somewhat gelatinous (although still lacking any sort of fundamental structure). According to my roommate, this pie “tastes like depression,” so dig in and enjoy (or don’t, it’s actually not very good).
Music //
HUNTR/X vs Saja Boys: a fan’s soundtrack breakdown
Battle report: Honmoon sealed 13 weeks in a row
SHERRYL AGINGU
By now you’ve probably heard something about KPop Demon Hunters (2025) — maybe you watched the movie, caught clips on your for you page, or got curious about “Golden,” the track that dominated the charts for 13 weeks straight.
As a K-pop fan, I was hyped for the soundtrack — especially with two new fictional groups in the mix; and folks, they delivered. We got duets, unexpected collabs, and a spotlight on underrated talent. So, without further ado, here is my biased ranking of the soundtrack.
9. “Takedown” by HUNTR/X
This is a tango between the lyrics and bass, dancing with passion and intensity, demanding your attention until their dramatic exit. Through the song I feel the characters’ emotional turmoil — which I love — yet it also pisses me off. As someone who listens to music to lift my mood, I usually skip tracks like this one.
8. “Soda Pop” by Saja Boys
This song had me howling from the get-go, and my shoulders get a mind of their own every time I hear it. Essentially a debut track, it enthralls the audience and sets the stage for who the Saja Boys are. However, what puts this track near
the bottom is the sense of false group aesthetic — if I didn’t know any better, I’d think it was a cover.
7.”Jinu’s Lament” by JINU
It’s JINU’s voice and a bipa. Simple and well delivered, this song is a moment of relief in the midst of turmoil, offering
hope and a touch of satire. Its distinct non-intensity sets it apart — an asset, in my opinion, allowing it to justify why the track belongs to the story. Unfortunately, this track is only this powerful in the movie.
6.”Free” by Rumi and JINU
Beautiful duet! Chef’s kiss — the delivery, lyrical distribution, and melody just give me a burst of energy and, dare I say, hope for love. It’s popular because it marks a turning point in the characters’ relationship. Even without watching the movie, the song gives you enough context to piece together their story. Beyond that, it’s a song that hints at love but never fully commits.
5.”How It’s Done” by HUNTR/X
Perfectly paced — punchy, easy to follow, with tempo shifts that need to be studied. Nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for the vocal delivery. Each member CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Photo by Darien Johnsen
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 shines; talent on full display. They generate a shared energy that keeps you pumped right up to the final cord. It’s truly a masterpiece, and the only reason it’s not at the top is because it’s merely the beginning of HUNTR/X’s story.
4.“Your Idol” by Saja Boys Saja Boys’ authentic aesthetic. Everything comes unglued in this track, and it’s the first time I felt the full intensity of the members. Like it’s their last performance and they are giving it their all. At one point I thought it was created as a response to “Golden,” since there are some similarities. But now it sounds more like a villain’s final monologue. Theories aside, it’s great — a true “Golden” rival. Why is it in fourth place? When it ends, I feel abandoned. Like the curtain closed after
Rewind //
ACT I, and ACT II was left unwritten.
3.”Golden” by HUNTR/X
If “How It’s Done” set the bar high, “Golden” blew the roof off it. The composition satisfies, the vocals hit and the lyrics carry weight. It showcases the new group dynamic, but its success rests on a crumbling pillar about to give out. There’s turmoil buried in the track, and that first listen was an emotional roller coaster that left me in a weird zone. So no, it’s not my favourite — but it’s still top three.
2.“Score Suite” by Marcelo Zarvos This song is a hidden gem, showcasing what voices can do — from range to enunciation. It stands out on the soundtrack. Like sage, it burns slowly, cleansing the atmosphere, and listening to it makes me feel calm and rejuvenated. Post-movie, it was my top track — and a testament
to how I was feeling at the time. Even though I don’t listen to it often now, it still holds a top spot in my heart.
1. “What It Sounds Like” by HUNTR/X
I’m about to give nothing but my truth now. This is, hands down, the best song on the soundtrack. Its composition really gave the other two a serious run for their status. The whole group is flexing their
voices, with “the fans” tagging along. It’s the moment the gloves come off — differences are set aside and barriers are finally dissolved. The characters, once caged up, finally lay themselves bare to heal, and together they grow stronger. Fearless and undefined, this song lands the final blow. The battle was won. The final curtain has closed — for now.
Cascade Rewind:
Belgian waffles and butterfly effects
Ready for the mosh pit shaka bra?
SKY S. TERRONES
The world of games is a vast universe filled with wonder, heartbreak, and devastating choices that linger long after the credits roll. One game knows that all too well. It will make you second-guess your breakfast order. It will make you self-conscious about watering your plant — RIP Lisa. It will sweep you into a whirlwind romance that leads to an impasse, and whatever path you take, those actions will have consequences.
That game is Life is Strange (2015).
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Don’t Nod and Square Enix’s third-person narrative adventure tells the story of Max Caulfield, a photography student who discovers she can rewind time. On Oct. 7, Max has a vision of a catastrophic storm. By Oct. 11, she must figure out how to change the fate of her town and her relationships.
But Life is Strange isn’t only about supernatural powers. It’s an introspective journey where choices aren’t just gameplay mechanics — they’re philosophical dilemmas and moral crossroads. The hardest of them all? Belgian waffles vs. bacon omelette, obviously. I mean, how do you even begin to choose? I couldn’t. I spent 15 minutes debating with my little cousin how some sugary goodness might help us solve the mystery.
It was with him as my faithful companion that I decided to navigate this pixelated world that — despite its bending of physics — at times felt terrifyingly more real than the outside world. We investigated, solved puzzles, weighed our options, and braced the storm together. Those moments weren’t just play — they were connection, escape, and sometimes, even healing. Healing, because this is a queer game, and that meant the world to me: seeing a queer relationship as a possible choice
— not a side plot, not a token gesture, but a real, meaningful path. And imagine that: being able to choose love that represents you. It wasn’t the first game to do this, and at the time, there was even some pushback, as many felt that it wasn’t enough; yet, this is undeniably one of the few games that still made its representation feel honest, tender, and central. It was also lovely to see my cousin vehemently supporting this colourful path.
There’s a sense of kinship I felt with the main character, Max. Not just because you play in her shoes, but because we shared traits — a love of polaroids, a tendency to observe rather than speak, and fondness for those quiet moments where you sit and reflect on how strange life truly is. She doesn’t quite fit in, yet she manages to grab the attention of many. And Max’s estranged childhood best friend, Chloe? Full of reckless abandon and built-up rage, yet brave and fiercely loyal. These characters are relatable and well-rounded, and their relationship serves as the driving force behind this masterpiece. Having two women at the helm of the story is also a testament to a step in the right direction for video games.
Not to mention the soundtrack: a mix of melancholy and magic, echoing every emotional beat of the narrative. “Santa Monica Dream” by Angus & Julia Stone and “Obstacles” by Syd Matters — even a decade later — still trigger memories of gentle interludes, grief, and hope. Musical narrative needs to be explored more in video games and I will die on this hill!
It’s wild to think this all started with a small indie studio that dared to tell a tale that was raw and deeply human. That risk led to a franchise, and I would not forgive myself if I didn’t at least mention the comics that expanded one possible timeline and added even more depth to this universe. But beware: this universe is not for the faint of heart. I’m being
cereal here. If you dare take the plunge, prepare for the emotional damage.
Recently, someone told me video games are useless. That they don’t tell stories. The first game that came to mind to contest that idea was Life is Strange
A game that begins with a storm and ends with a choice that still haunts me. It’s tragic. It’s queer. It’s beautiful. And it’s proof that games can be literature, cinema, and therapy all at once.
Games aren’t just entertainment. They’re memory. They’re legacy. They’re the stories we choose to live — and sometimes, the ones we wish we could rewrite and freeze in time. Like Max, who longs to stay in a moment forever, but knows if she did it wouldn’t be a moment anymore.
Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One beautiful story.
A rom-com to chase away the winter blues
KARA DUNBAR
One would be hard-pressed to be immersed in the online world of books and not have heard of romance author Emily Henry. All of her books, at one point or another, have found their way into my recommendations and onto my to-be-read list. One, however, skipped straight to the front of the line with the announcement of its movie adaptation.
People We Meet on Vacation (2021) follows Poppy and Alex, two polar-opposite best friends. She’s based in New York City, living her dream as a travel blogger, while he’s rooted in their small hometown, working as a high school English teacher. For 10 years, they have shared one wonderful summer vacation together each year — until an incident two years ago, left them completely out of touch. This year, stuck in a rut, Poppy reaches out to Alex for one last summer trip — and maybe one last chance to address the elephant in the middle of their friendship.
I had so much fun with this book. The timeline jumps between the present and past vacations. Non-linear storytelling certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s definitely mine. Henry used the non-linear storyline to show the reader how this long friendship has progressed and built the tension and mystery behind what went wrong. There is a fair amount of travel description throughout the book, which can feel repetitive. But when it came to their vacation on Vancouver Island, I loved the way British Columbia was portrayed.
As much as I was entranced by the characters and their relationship, they make some truly infuriating choices — the kind that make me nod in sympathy to those who finish the book disliking
them. The collateral damage of their relationship on those around them was hefty, and I would have liked to see more consequences and a better apology — they got off way too easy.
Still, their chemistry had me entranced — the emotion and banter and little hints of more had me doing something I haven’t done in a while: binge reading. I paid for this book not just when I bought it, but also in caffeine after pulling an all-nighter reading it. I think that is the way to go with this book. The timeline is short, the conflict unfolds slowly, and the stakes don’t really change, so reading it over a longer period of time might feel like a drag. Set aside an afternoon or evening for this read.
What stood out for me the most was the emotional depth of these characters — entirely human and not without fault or relatability. The story is told from Poppy’s perspective, and as we get toward the end, we see more of her internal conflict. It put words to issues I wasn’t expecting to think about, and I finished this book with a tear-streaked face.
This made me all the more excited for the movie adaptation. The cast features Emily Bader and Tom Blyth in the lead roles, and is set to release on Netflix on Jan. 9, 2026.
What I will be looking for in this adaptation is a rom-com with a genuine heart. The book made me laugh and blush and cry, it was unashamedly hopeful,human, and fun. I can accept changes to plot and superficial details if the movie stays true to that spirit. Which I am hopeful about, as when speaking about the project, Henry said that since watching the first cut, she’s existed in a state of peace and excitement. Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar about the project, she commented that the
story explores how trying to stay guarded can lead to isolation.
“At its core, this movie and the book are about how easy it is to be lonely when we want to protect ourselves … I want people to leave knowing that they’re not too much, they’re not too little — they’re just right — and the people who are meant to be in their lives will accept and love the
amounts that they are.”
This book came to me at a time when I needed it. It spoke to issues I had recognized, and exposed ones I didn’t. It was an escape and it was a reflection; a door into another world and a mirror to look internally. For lack of a better term, it speaks to me.
Book cover sourtesy of Berkely Books
Movies // Dissecting del Toro’s Frankenstein
An English major’s thoughts on recent adaptation of literary classic
CAITLYN CARR
Having read Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) more than once, I went into Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025) with a number of questions. How will Victor be portrayed? What will the creature look like? Most importantly, how far will the plot stray from Shelley’s original masterpiece? After eagerly seeing the movie on the day of its release, I walked out of the theatre with my jaw on the floor.
For those unfamiliar with the classic 19th-century novel, Frankenstein (or The Modern Prometheus) tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who brings to life a creature stitched together with dead body parts. Soon after, chaos and tragedy ensue, leaving readers to wonder: who is the real monster — The Creature or its maker?
The Cascade decided to keep things fresh by dividing this review into sections based on different body parts, as per the Frankenstein brand.
Head, Torso
As much as I ultimately enjoyed del Toro’s Frankenstein, the first act had me skeptical. As a long-time fan of the original story, I was disappointed by the changes to Victor’s backstory, especially when it comes to his relationship with Elizabeth and his father. Not only that, but the way the film constructed the idea of who the true monster is felt spoon-fed at times with little nuance and limited room for discussion. Still, I kept an open mind, and I’m so glad I did.
As the film went on, I noticed that certain aspects were still faithful to the source material. Other than the depiction of The Creature, another book-accurate element in del Toro’s version was its use of a frame narrative. Much like The Creature — stitched together from different body parts — the story itself is a combination of different perspectives embedded within one another. Something I was also excited to see was the film’s incorporation of one of the book’s most iconic quotes; when Victor shares that he “pursued nature to her hiding-places.”
Del Toro’s Frankenstein is full of hauntingly beautiful visuals, however one scene in particular took my breath away. A staple in any Frankenstein adaptation, the scene in which The Creature comes to life was truly epic in del Toro’s version. Everything — from the murky shots of Victor’s gothic tower to the foreboding cracks of lightning — had me absolutely enthralled.
Another visually satisfying element
of this movie was the design of Frankenstein’s monster. With long limbs, hair, and yellow skin, del Toro’s creature sticks close to Shelley’s monster compared to other depictions that often include cartoonish green skin and bolts protruding from its neck.
Hands
Oh, how del Toro’s Frankenstein tugged at my heartstrings. The film plays up The Creature’s innocence and naivety, causing any scene where the monster is in pain or despair to leave that much more of a lasting impact. The movie also showcases an even crueller side of Victor, which made me further empathize with his creation.
The hands behind the making of the monster belong to Oscar Isaac — known for Ex Machina (2014) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) — who delivered an incredible performance as Victor. On par with the rest of his work, Isaac’s range is on full display in Victor’s passion, joy, despair, and jealousy.
While Victor still has a larger hand in the story’s plot, one character is given a bigger role in the movie than in the book. In the book, Elizabeth (Mia Goth) is presented as little more than Victor’s bride. However, in del Toro’s adaptation, Elizabeth plays a more active role, which pleasantly highlights Goth’s talent, as most famously seen in Pearl (2022).
Waist, Feet
Arguably the character that the whole movie rests on, The Creature is played by Jacob Elordi — known for Euphoria (2019-) and The Kissing Booth (2018). An undeniable shift from the high school jocks he’s played before, Elordi’s portrayal of Frankenstein’s monster left me pleasantly surprised. Elordi disappears into the role — both through his performance and the work of makeup and costume — conveying true understanding of such a tragic and complicated character.
Going into del Toro’s Frankenstein, one question haunted me more than any other: will The Creature speak in eloquent monologues like he does in the book, or will he be reduced to a handful of blunt words?
To my excitement, not only is Frankenstein’s monster articulate, but the low, gravelly voice Elordi uses for the role showcases a perfect blend of the character’s innocence and rage.
Was del Toro’s Frankenstein entirely book-accurate? Definitely not, but it’s still worth watching. This might be a hot take, but I don’t think film-adaptations always have to follow their source material to a tee. Something that works well in a book might not translate well onto the big screen. Are there bad film adaptations? Absolutely, but del Toro’s
Frankenstein is simply not one of them.
ARTS
Movies // Dead really is just a word in Black Phone 2
A sequel that dials up the menace and recovers from its dull predecessor
VERONICA POWELL
Upon seeing Black Phone 2 (2025), I was extremely intrigued — a stark contrast to how I felt about the first movie, The Black Phone (2021). While the first film was well-done, its plot felt stereotypical: a young child, stupidly walking alone is tricked into stopping for a corny, old-fashioned ploy, from the psycho trying to kidnap him. The kind of ‘80s naivety that’s been done so many times. The sequel, though, made a daring turnaround, with the plot carving out a whole new level of horror. Needless to say, I hadn’t expected to be gripping my friend’s hand so tightly.
Set in 1982, four years after the protagonist Finney Blake (Mason Thames) was kidnapped by The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), the plot now centres on a 17-year-old Finney and his 15-year-old sister, Gwen Blake (Madeleine McGraw), at a wintry Christian Camp in the mountains. The snowy landscapes are a quiet beauty at first, but turn disturbing when The Grabber taunts Gwen and attempts to kill his first escaped victim.
The stakes were definitely raised. This time, it isn’t just a physical fight with The Grabber, but a terrifying mental one, now that he has turned into an entity. Plus, the isolated setting — unlike the first film’s ‘hidden in plain sight’ approach — makes it increasingly scary. What really made me shield my eyes was the level of gore and disembodied violence. Listen, I can handle gore, but there is a line I scratch in the ice (pun very much intended). The brutality is unreserved and uncomfortable to watch, yet I was impressed by its flawlessness. It all ties with how the film catered towards an older adult audience, now that the protagonists have aged.
Finney and Gwen are satisfying characters to watch because they never lose their fiery strength and bravery, despite how much they’ve changed in other ways. It made for a great battle against the iced-over, devilish mask that haunts them in dreams and in reality. They’re no-bullshit, fearless kids, and when they said they weren’t afraid, I believed them. The wonderful acting done by Thames and McGraw helped execute that characterization well. This defiance didn’t take away from how unexpectedly emotional the story was.
Scott Derrickson (Sinister (2012), The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)), who co-wrote with C. Robert Cargill and
directed the film, took a risk by shifting the narrative lens away from Finney, but it ended up working incredibly well. It was the first time I’d seen a sequel invert the dynamic of its lead character. Going into the continuation of a story, you expect to see the evolution from the protagonist’s standpoint. In this movie, we uncover the traumatic aftermath, new origins, and family history through Gwen’s psychic lens — the secondary character. The perspective transitions from her unconscious visions to her conscious reality, with her abilities guiding the plot. I thought the story would feel imbalanced without Finney at the centre, but it was actually more rounded because Gwen brought answers to questions I’d carried from the first movie — ones Finney couldn’t have given. That shift makes our interaction with the villain remarkably different, without compromising a thing.
The film maintains a scratchy filter like an old roll of colour film, a tie to the time period, each time we enter Gwen’s visions and during Finney’s interactions with The Grabber — an intelligent way of tricking audiences. For the first quarter, it was hard to distinguish if what the characters were doing was really happening because the transitions were so seamless. While I loved how this effect kept me on edge, that back-and-forth routine did start to feel long-winded and tiresome eventually. It felt as if the creators were toying with audiences, making us wonder when the next big moment would come. However, just as I questioned it, the next scene came.
Amidst The Grabber’s terror, flashes of biting sarcasm broke through — sharp insults that added drama and a touch of badass swagger, never overstaying their welcome and letting the dread slip back in. Humour in horror is usually a big no-no for me, but it was so well-timed and impulsive, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Black Phone 2 was better than the first. The setting alone hooked me, but taking audiences beyond the grave demanded attention. Its emotional backbone and horrific foundation is skillfully crafted into a creepy and cold nightmare that grabs those who can and can’t see the threat. For its intensified horror, visual effects, and depth of storyline, it’s one of the best sequels I’ve watched and would absolutely rewatch.
CHARTS SHUFFLE
CIVL’s Aaron Levy brings you his second issue straight of all-time reshuffled classics for the autumn season, including the most inspiring storyline of the year in sports — the Blue Jays World Series run!
Guns N’ Roses - “November Rain”
“Sometimes, I need some time all alone / ooh, everybody needs some time on their own / ooh, don’t you know you need some time all alone? / and when your fears subside / and shadows still remain, ooh, yeah / I know that you can love me / when there’s no one left to blame”
Zeus - “OK Blue Jays”
By the time you read this, it will be too late, but still remember: “You’ve got nine men, you’ve got a hat and a bat, and that’s not all, you’ve got the bleachers, got ‘em from spring ‘til fall … and the umpire’s call. Waddaya want?! Let’s play ball! Ok, Blue Jays, let’s play ball.”
Serengeti - “Don’t Blame Steve”
This is a song I discovered over the past year, from an artist I hadn’t previously known — but I now adore Serengeti and his relentless Chicago sports references, including this song discussing everyone responsible for the Cubs losing to the Marlins in ‘03 — none of whom are named Steve Bartman.
Queen - “We Are The Champions”
I’m writing this — time check — on Wednesday, several hours before Game 5 of the 2025 MLB World Series between the LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. Hopefully, by the time you read this, one week later, Freddie Mercury’s simple words will be ringing out across Canadian downtowns coast to coast.
01. TAME IMPALA DEADBEAT
02. AV & THE INNER CITY AV & THE INNER CITY [EP]
03. ERIKA DE CASIER LIFETIME
04. SHAD START ANEW
05. SOMBR I BARELY KNOW HER
06. CULT OF VENUS ALGORITHM EP
07. ANNIKA CATHARINA YOU AND ME EP
08. KAYTRANADA AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!
09. INDIGO DE SOUZA PRECIPICE
10. DOMINIQUE ADAMS TO KEEP
11. WET LEG MOISTURIZER CO
12. DEBBY FRIDAY THE STARR OF THE QUEEN OF LIFE
13. TOPS BURY THE KEY
14. ALEX G HEADLIGHTS
15. BOKO YOUT GUSTO
16. BIG THIEF DOUBLE INFINITY
17. BLOOD ORANGE ESSEX HONEY
18. DANIEL CAESAR SON OF SPERGY
19. ALICIA CLARA NOTHING DAZZLED
20. MAC DEMARCO GUITAR
21. THE BETHS STRAIGHT LINE WAS A LIE
22. AFTERNOON BIKE RIDE RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
23. NO JOY BUGLAND
24. JAYWOOD LEO NEGRO
25. CATE LE BON MICHELANGELO DYING
NOVEMBER • TEMPÓ:QW E VENTS CALENDAR
HALQ’EMÉYLEM :
This month’s Halq’eméylem name is tempó:qw or “time for Chehalis River spring salmon.” Tempó:qw is Oct. 22 - Nov. 19.
12:00PM Here and There in My B.C.Chilliwack Visual Artist Association
@Odlum Brown Art Gallery, Chilliwack Cultural Centre
12:00PM - 03:00PM Pastries and Poetry Event
@Student Wellness and Experience
Lounch, UFV Abbotsford (S1111)
04:00PM Creative Writing Open Mic
@UFV Abbotsford Library Makerspace, Building G
06:00PM - 08:00PM Bunny Yoga
@UFV Abbotsford Campus, Student Union Building
07:00PM Fraser Valley Writers FestivalKeynote Address
12:00PM - 04:30PM Culture City: Fraser Valley Zine Festival @Clearbrook Library, Abbotsford
10:30AM - 12:00PM Rememberance Day Ceremony
@Veterans Memorial Park (45820 Spadina Avenue)
06:00PM Duke’s Pub Trivia Night
@Duke’s Pub, Chilliwack
12:30PM - 03:00PM Salmon Celebration Event
@Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, 5200 Sumas Prairie Rd. Chilliwack
11:00AM - 01:00PM National Philanthropy Day
@Evered Hall, Student Union Building 33844 King Road
07:30PM Gryphon Trio Concert
@Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, 32315 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford
The calendar most used today around the world is the Gregorian calendar (a solar calendar), while the Stó:lō calendar is lunar (each month is based on a full cycle of the moon’s phases). The dates on the Stó:lō calendar therefore don’t exactly match those on the Gregorian calendar. Sxw’exó:s skwí:x (Halq’eméylem moon name) in the Stó:lō calendar reflect the foods/resources available, the activities that usually take place, or the weather conditions that can be expected for each particular month.
07:30PM - 12:30PM Pining for Needles: Truth Sharing @UFV Chilliwack Campus, Building A, Room A2428
11:30AM - 12:30PM Craft and Commiserate @UFV Abbotsford, Thinkerspace, G124
12:00PM - 02:00PM Study Abroad Mini-Fair @Alumni Hall, Building B, UFV Abbotsford
04:00PM - 05:30PM Pave your own Career Path @Abbotsford Campus A225
12:30PM - 03:30PM Culture Market 4.0 @UFV Abbotsford Campus, Student Union Building
Some of the e vents require tickets, and most are online. If something catches your eye, take to the Internet for more details, including those about any safety measures for in-person events.
