Issuu

NEWS

Frozen out of Frost Fest

Band dropped from lineup after threatening to criticize UMSU PAGE 3

COMMENT

UMSU's treatment of BDS amoral

Sanderson rebuts

An indefensible mess PAGE 10

In defence of grants over tax credits PAGE 11 ARTS AND CULTURE

The final bow The Middle Coast preps farewell show PAGE 17

VO L 1 0 5 · N O 2 2 · J A N UA RY 3 0, 2 0 1 9 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

Index

VOL. 105 NO. 22 January 30, 2019

SPORTS

The road less travelled Bisons senior bucks family trend PAGE 22

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Garett Williams

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BUSINESS MANAGER Sohni Tappia

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EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Malak Abas

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NEWS EDITOR Malak Abas

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ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Emelia Fournier

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DESIGN EDITORIAL

Ford's fight against fees

DESIGN EDITOR Kellie Huynh

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GRAPHICS EDITOR Evan Tremblay

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PHOTO EDITOR Asha Nelson

Student unions are crucial structures

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PAGE 8

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PHOTO EDITOR Quincy Houdayer PHOTO ASSOCIATE Alex Decebal-Cuza DESIGN ASSOCIATE Ernest Zarzuela GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE Scott A. Ford

REPORTERS NEWS Tyler Brass

SCIENCE David Zirangey COLUMNIST Kenny Ingram COLUMNIST Rebecca Balakrishnan ARTS Amin Montazeri ARTS Zachary F. Sigurdson SPORTS Kellen Taniguchi

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS

MANITOBAN 109 HELEN GLASS U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A N I TO B A WINNIPEG, MB R3T 2N2

ARTS AND CULTURE

“New Magic Valley Fun Town”

Prairie Theatre Exchange presents East Coast comedy PAGE 19

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News

News Editor: Malak Abas Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Band critical of UMSU BDS position dropped from Frost Fest “Essentially we were blackmailed,” says UMSU president MALAK ABAS, STAFF

PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER

n artist slated to perform at UMSU’s Frost Fest — which was abruptly cancelled last week — was dropped from the bill after telling organizers he would publicly criticize the union’s recent condemnation of the Canadian Federation of Students for affirming its support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. After the fourth annual Frost Fest was cancelled with only days notice last week, UMSU president Jakob Sanderson cited “a primary act that was no longer able to perform at the event” as one of several reasons the event was called off. But Rory Ellis, bandleader for Live Band Karaoke — a musical group that provides live backup to karaoke singers — said he did not withdraw from the event but had the performance cancelled after informing organizers the band would use the appearance to publicly criticize UMSU’s position on BDS. “I actually didn’t pull out,” he said. “I made UMSU aware how uncomfortable we were with their decision but did not offer to withdraw.” In an email exchange with UMSU organizers a week before the scheduled performance, Ellis suggested Live Band Karaoke’s appearance be cancelled but that the band would expect to be paid as per the contract. In another email later the same day, Ellis rebuffed an offer to discuss UMSU’s position with Sanderson. He wrote that the band was not offer-

ing to withdraw from the contract ments to change their policies.” advertising the event promoted six but that “We are vocal proponents During the last regular meeting DJs and six comedians slated to of human rights and we will vocalize of 2018, the UMSU board passed a perform. our displeasure with UMSU before motion condemning the Canadian Some acts performed at the and after the performance.” Federation of Students for affirming Hub despite the cancellation and A follow-up email from organizers support for the BDS movement at its Sanderson said if any performer has cancelled the performance. annual general meeting in November. not yet been paid, “they certainly Frost Fest was cancelled five days UMSU’s motion called the fed- will be.” later. eration’s affirmation of support “an In an earlier interview, Sanderson “We’re working musicians and los- unnecessary and ill-considered inter- also cited low ticket sales for the event, ing a paycheque is a big deal to us,” vention into international politics for which Ellis said he does not believe. Ellis said, adding that the band was a student federation.” “I think UMSU is trying to make paid its entire $675 appearance fee. Sanderson said the decision to it out like this was a financial decision While it was not initially dis- cancel the performance was made to avoid a political embarrassment,” closed what primary act was removed because the event was not “a political he said. from the lineup, “They don’t Sanderson conw a nt p e ople “I think UMSU is trying to make it out firmed it was Live to know that Band Karaoke. blowback from like this was a financial decision to avoid He said while their decisions is a political embarrassment” — Rory UMSU did techwrecking their nically cancel the plans. I also don’t Ellis, bandleader, Live Band Karaoke performance, it believe that low was due to cirticket sales alone cumstances outwould have ended side the union’s hands — namely occasion.” the event. As far as I could tell, they that the band would only perform “It didn’t seem like something that were still planning on going ahead if they were able to “vocalize [their] we would want to do for the students, until this mess.” displeasure with UMSU before and to turn this into quite a controversial Sanderson said UMSU saved after the performance.” issue,” he said, “so we tried to pursue money overall by cancelling the event. “We had no intentions of ever can- other performers instead.” He said the total cost has not yet been celling the performance,” he said. Sanderson said that while the dis- finalized. “Essentially, we were blackmailed pute was “certainly a contributing fac“We are certain that we were able into cancelling the performance.” tor” to Frost Fest’s cancellation, it was to recoup a number of costs and that The BDS movement calls for non- not the deciding factor and the event we saved more money by cancelling violent activism to, according to the would have most likely gone forward than if we had gone ahead with the movement’s official website, “end should other issues not have occurred. performance.” international support for Israeli vioSanderson said every other artSanderson said dropping the band lations of international law by forcing ist scheduled to perform was paid off the bill was not about BDS or any companies, institutions and govern- following the cancellation. Posters UMSU motion — but rather that it

would have made the event “inhospitable” to attendees. “We would never have a band that is actively coming with the expressed purpose of speaking ill of the organization, regardless of any political issues,” he said. Ellis said the band would have vocalized its disapproval “mostly” with UMSU’s condemning of the Canadian Federation of Students’ support of BDS, rather than focusing on the union itself. “To me I would be criticizing the people for making that decision, not just the decision,” he said. Sanderson called the band’s conduct “extremely unprofessional” but said there is a place for members of the public to critique UMSU within UMSU spaces. “People can criticize UMSU whenever they want, and they do quite often,” he said. “And that’s fine. But we are not going to be paying a musical act to perform at our event with the expressed purpose to come and criticize us.” Ellis said the band has no regrets concerning the cancellation and said his position remains unchanged. “I think they want to have their cake and eat it too, claiming to be apolitical in this decision but also siding with Israel,” he said. “I’m not sure how an elected union is under the impression that their commentary on international politics can be apolitical.”

News

News Editor: Malak Abas Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Landmark murder case subject of U of T prof lecture A year after the controversial acquittal of Gerald Stanley, professor talks Indigenous injustice QUDUS ABUSALEH, STAFF

Indigenous people were subject to peremptory challenge by Stanley’s lawyers.” Peremptory challenges allow defence counsel to excuse a juror from the selection process without reason,

“I'm also not saying if that question was asked it would necessarily have cleansed racism from any of the jury’s deliberation, but at least it would have tried” — Kent Roach, U of T professor

reveals some worrying details. “All of a sudden, during this testimony, there is something wrong with Eric Meechance.” He said Meechance was approached by Stanley’s lawyer with a picture in hand of the loaded gun found in Boushie’s vehicle. “He wanted him to identify the gun, but the picture that was chosen also showed Colten Boushie dead on the ground.” Roach said that in Cree customs, “showing someone dead interferes with their journey, their after-death journey.” He added that the situation was indicative of a wider misunderstanding of Indigenous cultural practices in Canada’s justice system. “Again, I mention this because too often there has been misunderstanding and too often Canadian justice has been Indigenous injustice,” he said.

Bill C-75

PHOTO BY ALEXANDER DECEBAL-CUZA

ne of Canada’s most prominent law professors was at the U of M Thursday to discuss one of Canada’s most prominent legal cases. The U of M faculty of law’s Robson Hall Distinguished Visitors Lecture Series welcomed University of Toronto professor of law Kent Roach to deliver a lecture based on his latest book, Canadian Justice, Indigenous Justice: The Gerald Stanley/ Colten Boushie Case, Thursday. On Aug. 9, 2016, 22-year-old Colten Boushie of the Cree Red Pheasant First Nation was killed by 56-year-old Gerald Stanley in the rural municipality of Glenside, Sask. Stanley was charged with seconddegree murder. Upon the conclusion of the trial in January 2018, the jury found

Stanley not guilty after 13 hours of deliberation. What followed was a nation polarized by the decision, and a public outcry of injustice from the Indigenous community and its supporters. Roach said exploring the history between the Canadian government and Indigenous communities reveals a significant catalog of what he called “Indigenous injustice,” which in turn presented itself through the jury selected to decide the Stanley murder case — none of whom were Indigenous. Roach said with nearly 17 per cent of Saskatchewan being Indigenous, the absence of any Indigenous representation on the jury “triggered” his initial concern with the case. It was later reported that a pool of

750 potential jurors had been summoned to the town of Battleford, Sask. According to Roach, when the trial was announced, only 178 of 750 potential jurors attended at the Battleford Community Centre. “My own reconstruction, based on the transcript and media accounts, suggests that there were at least 20 Indigenous people out of that 178, so it was underrepresentation but still a significant amount,” he said. Eventually, potential Indigenous jurors were excused. “About a dozen were excused for hardship reasons and these often reflect socioeconomic factors,” Roach said. “Three were excused because they were related to the Boushie/ Baptiste family and then five visibly

a practice that has been historically Two months following the acquitused in a discriminatory manner. tal of Stanley on second-degree Roach said the final 12 jurors murder charges, Bill C-75, which were selected following over a year proposes to institute several changes of public unrest motivated largely by to the criminal code, was introduced undertones of racial division. This before the House of Commons. came to a head in August 2016, when Roach said the most important then-premier Brad Wall made a plea proposal is to remove peremptory on Facebook urging citizens to stop challenges, which follows recomexchanging racist comments across mendations made by Chief Justice different social media platforms. Alvin Hamilton and Justice Murray Roach said he believes the jurors Sinclair more than 25 years ago in the were not properly analyzed for pos- 1991 report of the Aboriginal Justice sible racial discrimination, and said Inquiry. he does not know “why no attempt Although Roach said he supports was made on the public record to ask the bill, which is currently under final that question.” review in the Senate, he emphasized “I'm also not saying if that question his belief that the goal of more repwas asked it would necessarily have resentation on the jury is a “starting cleansed racism from any of the jury’s point.” deliberation, but at least it would have “We need to think about guns, selftried.” defence and violence,” he said. “And we need to go to back the Indigenous witnesses treaties, self-government, Indigenous Roach noted that while there were law systems [...] We cannot allow this a couple of Indigenous witnesses to continue.” brought before the jury, including Eric Meechance, the trial transcript

U of M assistant professor launches children's book Author hopes book will “naturalize” Cree language for kids DAVID ZIRANGEY, STAFF

ree language skills are embedded supposed to deliver to a relative, she Vancouver to Edmonton. Hunt have drove around for 25, 30 minutes in a fun story for children in a U is faced with the task of finding fresh and his then-partner came across a and never found it.” of M assistant professor’s new book. pahkwêsikan. sign in the Shuswap area that read “It was a lot of fun when we were Dallas Hunt, who teaches in the Thrown into trying to find it, it faculty of arts, held the official launch an adventure, she got ridiculous [...] and live reading of his children’s book, seeks the help of and so I was like “It’s really to naturalize or normalize the Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock, animal relatives ‘Well, that might Cree language at a very early age” — Dallas be a kid’s book Jan. 22 at the Migizii Agamik foyer. — including sîsîp Awâsis and the World-Famous (“duck”), wâpos one day,’ and sure Hunt, assistant professor, faculty of arts Bannock tells the story of a young (“rabbit”) and enough.” Cree girl, Awâsis. maskwa (“bear”) The book When Awâsis loses her kôhkum’s — all of which she meets along the “Bannock,” but after searching, nei- includes a pronunciation guide for (Cree word for “grandmother”) way. ther could find the place advertised. the Cree words used in the book and freshly-baked pahkwêsikan, or banThe story was based on an expe“We tried to find it and we couldn’t a bannock recipe. nock — a type of fry bread — she was rience Hunt had on a trip from find it anywhere,” he said. “We must “It teaches and that’s one of the pri-

mary functions, I think,” Hunt said. “It’s targeted toward young kids and it’s really to naturalize or normalize the Cree language at a very early age.” Hunt said the story, and the educational content within it, was written for children from all walks of life. “It’s for Cree children specifically [and] other Indigenous children,” he said. “But I also think that there are other ideas in the text that I think will be applicable to non-Indigenous children as well.”

VOL. 105 NO. 22 January 30, 2019

News

PMUSER journal kicks off publishing year

Scientific research journal looking for undergrad students MALAK ABAS, STAFF

he Proceedings of Manitoba’s good stuff,” he said. The future of PMUSER, accordUndergraduate Science and “But at the end of the day, it’s [...] ing to Guillas, will include outreach Engineering Research (PMUSER) the research process, the dissemina- and getting the word out there to journal kicked off the new publish- tion phase, and that’s kind of where STEM students that this service is available, and subsequently shining a ing year with a launch party for the I am right now. release of its latest edition Monday. “So it’s almost like I’m a messiah, spotlight on the researchers that do PMUSER is a peer-reviewed I have to let the good people know submit research. “I think for volume five, I think undergraduate journal which covers, about the research that’s been done, according to its website, “a wide range and the hard work done by these for next year, I want to have more students.” awards,” he said. of scientific disciplines.” While the journal was founded at While PMUSER receives some “I want more people recognized. the U of M, it accepts any research funding, including from the faculty Perhaps I’ll go through the old ones work carried out in Manitoba by of science and the faculty of agricul- and point out what [research] is undergraduate really resonating — I wouldn’t say the students. “I think for volume five, I think for next best, but as someVolume four of the journal thing that really year, I want to have more awards” — River was published sticks and touches Steele Guillas, editor-in-chief, PMUSER online Dec. 31, the heartstrings.” Gu i l las sa id and with it came the introduction PMUSER provides of a new editor-in-chief for the 2019 ture, many of the journal’s costs have undergraduate students a relatively edition — third-year nursing student to be covered by the editors, a fact unique service at the U of M — the River Steele Guillas. that Guillas said under-represents chance to have their work published. “For me to get to hold a science and Guillas said the process of editing how important the publication’s work a scientific journal and the scientific is. engineering research journal and to research process are similar in many “It’s a necessity,” he said. know that I’m going to be published ways. “It’s a commodity that needs to be in one of these,” he said. “This is a real thing, it’s different “Being an editor-in-chief, it’s a lot recorded and published because withof emails, it’s a lot of budgeting, pro- out the undergraduates, the grad stu- when you actually hold it and get to posals, organizing, texting, all that dents don’t have that helping hand.” experience that with your own senses.”

PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER

UMGSA establishing operational expense account

Expenses were originally paid out-of-pocket and reimbursed by executives TY BRASS, STAFF

he University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) council passed a motion to establish an expense account and corresponding debit card during its Jan. 23 meeting.

“I anticipate that the account will not hold more than a few thousand dollars at any given time” — Cody Ross, UMGSA VP internal UMGSA vice-president internal Cody Ross said the account will be used for “operational expenses and purchases from establishments that do not accept cheques.” “Specifically, we anticipate using the debit card to pay for UMGSA

events, council meeting catering and UMGSA advertising materials,” he said. Due to restrictions on current UMGSA accounts, such expenses were paid out-of-pocket by members of the UMGSA executive team or staff who would be reimbursed afterward. “Our current account that is used for day-to-day expenses requires that transactions are approved by two signing authorities,” said Ross. “At our current financial institution, a debit card can only be associated with a single signing authority account. "Also, by adding an additional account, we can limit the funds that are accessible by a single signing authority or debit card holder.” The current account requires two signing authorities because it holds larger amounts of money. The new account will have a limited balance and is only meant to cover smaller expenses. “It is likely that we will establish

PHOTO BY ASHA NELSON

a guideline for a maximum account balance in the forthcoming policy. I anticipate that the account will not hold more than a few thousand dollars at any given time,” said Ross. The exact policy for the account and card is yet to be set out and will not be able to be used by the coun-

cil until another motion is passed of our governance and operations approving the policy. manual, which will require an addi“We will be crafting a usage policy tional motion to be presented to the for the debit card via the UMGSA UMGSA council.” bylaws and policy committee prior to Ross said the motion would ideally obtaining the debit card,” said Ross. be presented at the UMGSA’s Feb. “This policy will likely be incor- 27 meeting. porated into the finance section

News

News Editor: Malak Abas Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

David Barnard to leave U of M in 2020 Presidential search committee to begin selection process in February JACOB SINGLETON, STAFF

mbitious candidates will soon be with 15 members in September 2018. vying for the top administration The resolution indicated the new job at the University of Manitoba. members would be for Indigenous In early February, the presidential representation. Rady Faculty of Health Sciences search committee will begin community consultations to develop a vice-dean (Indigenous) Catherine position profile for the next U of M Cook and faculty of education profespresident. sor Frank Deer are those appointees. President David Barnard will be Their role, in addition to normal comleaving the role in June 2020 when his mittee duties, is to provide an “additerm concludes. Barnard has served tional Indigenous perspective and the role as U of M president since voice to the work of the committee” 2008. according to the presidential search The committee is tasked with committee membership website. first developing the position profile The U of M administration hired — through a consultation process — executive search firm Perrett Laver and then selecting and interviewing to help find candidates. Perrett candidates for the U of M presidency Laver’s assistance in the search, in against the position profile. conjunction with the suggestions and Ultimately, the search committee nominations provided by the wider will submit a single recommendation university community, will help to the U of M board of governors. The construct the pool of candidates the board will vote on whether to appoint search committee will judge. the prospective candidate. The comAccording to the presidential mittee must submit its recommen- search committee principles, the dation to the board of governors by committee will maintain the “overNov. 30, 2019. all responsibility for the recruitment The committee consists of 17 uni- and evaluation of candidates,” while versity community members, includ- the board has the “power to appoint ing two students: UMSU president the president.” Jakob Sanderson and UMGSA presiThe administration is asking dent Carl Neumann. However, the that “all informal inquiries” into the committee only recently grew to 17 presidential search be submitted to a members. Perrett Laver employee named Emily On Jan. 11, the board held a special Jarvis. meeting by conference call to pass a Whoever is appointed by the resolution so two additional members board of governors will assume the could be appointed to the commit- position and responsibilities of presitee. The committee was approved dent and vice-chancellor on July 1, 2020.

A Cold Week QUINCY HOUDAYER

A couple escapes the cold in downtown Winnpeg Saturday. This week is expected to be the coldest of the winter so far, with temperatures expected to dip below -40.

VOL. 105 NO. 22 January 30, 2019

News

Trial for man accused of slaying transit operator wraps GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

he trial of a 24-year-old man accused of killing a Winnipeg Transit bus driver in an altercation on the Fort Garry campus on Valentine’s Day in 2017 has nearly wrapped up. Brian Kyle Thomas was charged with second-degree murder after

Irvine Jubal Fraser, 58, died in hospital after suffering numerous stab wounds in the early morning hours of Feb. 14. Crown prosecutors presented the last of their evidence to a jury Monday. Closing arguments are

expected today. Prosecutors told the jury Fraser was killed following an altercation after Thomas refused to exit the bus at the final stop around 2 a.m. Thomas was apprehended on the frozen Red River by a Winnipeg Police canine

unit shortly after. A coroner testified that Fraser was stabbed six times, with one severing his jugular vein and puncturing his trachea. His left lung had also collapsed. At the time, university adminis-

tration said Thomas had no evident association with the university, either as a student or staff. The incident renewed discussion surrounding the safety of Winnipeg’s transit operators, sparking rallies calling for increased security measures.

UMSU changes executive titles, responsibilities Governance committee says changes will balance position workloads TY BRASS, STAFF

he UMSU board of directors passed a motion to change various responsibilities and titles of the board’s executive positions at its Jan. 24 campus meeting. The motion, which was presented at the U of M’s Bannatyne campus, passed unanimously. According to the motion, the amendment to the UMSU governance and operations manual is meant to create “larger categories of responsibilities that executives have the capacity to oversee in the manner they see fit, whether this means the hiring of, and delegation to, staff members for certain projects or a more hands-on approach.” Two executive positions will also

have their titles changed in order to fit their new responsibilities. The vice-president of student services (VPSS) position will become the vice-president of student life position. Supporting documentation to the motion refers to the role’s new responsibilities as “focused around providing students with the opportunities and supports to succeed in their day-to-day student life.” The vice-president external (VPE) position will become the vice-president community engagement as the role will be “focused around providing opportunities for engagement with both the campus and broader communities.” The motion’s supporting docu-

mentation runs through the goals of “contradictory responsibilities, as well the ideal UMSU executive portfo- as an overly structured formulation lio delegations, and states that the of executive duties, that leaves little current executive portfolio does not room for delegation and little room achieve those goals. for innovation.” According to the document, the The motion, which was moved roles of the UMSU president, the by the UMSU governance commitvice-president of advocacy (VPA) tee, also says “UMSU would likely and the VPSS have larger workloads benefit from giving thought to the than the vice-president of finance and major purposes of the union, what operations (VPFO) and the VPE, the authorities are under each, what resulting in the VPFO and VPE skillset is required for each, and how focusing on “creating their own pri- the portfolios can better reflect that.” orities” while other executives are The document suggests that in busier with assigned responsibilities. comparison to other student unions, The document contains an analysis UMSU is lacking in three primary of current executive responsibilities areas: funding self-sufficiency due and a proposal to redistribute them, to their over-reliance on student stating the current model results in fees, the union’s limited role in social

programming and external advocacy leadership. UMSU’s work toward autonomy from student fees has been well-documented over the past year. The union announced it had been working toward a feasibility study examining the possibility of building a new, UMSU-owned student union building at its 2018 fall annual general meeting, a goal which UMSU president Jakob Sanderson said would make the union “less reliant on student fees.” The changes to the organization’s governance and operations manual will come into effect May 1.

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Garett Williams Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Students need student unions Doug Ford’s Conservatives afraid of youth who know how to organize MALAK ABAS, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

hat do you do when you’re a recently-elected government leader looking to create a future generation of subservient, unorganized workers? You sow the seeds of antiunion sentiment in the youth. Earlier this month, the Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) government and its leader Doug Ford introduced a wave of post-secondary education reforms. While there is not enough space here to completely break down just how flawed the entirety of the changes are — under the guise of a 10 per cent cut to tuition, low-income students were stripped of financial aid services and a six-month grace period for beginning repayment of student loans — let us home in on the “Student Choice Initiative,” which will allow students to opt out of any ancillary student fees they find non-essential. Under the new system, students will be able to drop out of any nonessential campus fees, meaning student union fees, they think they don’t use. The yearly fee students are required to pay in union dues ranges

depending on the university — here at the U of M, UMSU fees are just over $100 per term, or $225.16 per year.

For many university students, some of whom enter university as teenagers, their campus student union is also their first foray into the world of labour organizing Here are just a few of the services those fees provide to you and your fellow students: scholarships and bursaries, sustainability services, membership in student advocacy group the Canadian Federation of Students, student group support, the UMFM radio station, childcare and — yes —

the Manitoban. Ford’s initiative is a repackaged version of American-style “right-towork” laws, which dictate that workers, regardless of whether or not they benefit from the contracts negotiated by unions, can opt out of the associated fees. Ford — who dropped out of university after two months — may not be an expert on post-secondary academia, but he seems to have an understanding of the average person using them. The $225 UMSU fee, surely a drop in the bucket for Ford, can be the difference between making rent or paying for groceries for a university student. When Ford’s government announced the changes in front of a podium that read “For the Students,” it was perhaps easy for some to accept — any dollar-and-cent savings are good savings, right? This logic crumbles under even a superficial second glance — remember that these changes hurt low-income students and students repaying loans first — so one must investigate further: why does Ford want to take the storied Conservative tradition of union busting to Ontario

campuses? For many university students, some of whom enter university as teenagers, their campus student union is also their first foray into the world of political organizing.

If saving $200 is the difference between making rent or buying groceries, the answer isn’t to kill the advocacy group, it’s to demand the advocacy group do more to serve you Consider the mindset of Ford, who himself has expressed anti-union and anti-worker sentiments steadily throughout his career — one of the most recent examples was his rollback of recently hard fought labour reform laws with a bill that included freezing the minimum wage for two years and

removing worker supports. Of course, it is in his best interest to target a vulnerable group — students, many of whom do not have a lot of expendable income — and present them, under the guise of providing them autonomy, the ability to rescind their power to hold government accountable when they may need the dollars and cents more than ever. Ford’s underlying motivation is to do whatever he can to instil a selfserving attitude in students that, if he is lucky, will follow and guide them for the rest of their working lives. Ford benefits from teaching the future workforce of Canada that if you do not personally use childcare for parents pursuing an education or a student group that supports LGBTTQ* students, you have no reason to support it. Ford would rather cut out the middle man and have the worker do the union busting themselves. Student unions and the services they provide are powerful and Ford knows it. Just days ago, he tweeted a CBC news article covering the alleged misuse of funding by Ryerson University’s student union, waxing poetic about how this story proved why the Student Choice Initiative would benefit students in the long run. What he ironically (or even worse, purposely) was ignorant of was that the story was broken by Ryerson University student newspaper the Eyeopener, a service provided to students because of student unions. A service that not only keeps its union accountable, but the wider provincial government as well. This editorial specifically references a story of alleged misuse of union funding because the point here is not that the student union, or any union, is a perfect bastion of advocacy. But they are crucial structures. If they weren’t, Ford wouldn’t be so frightened of them. As students, it is in our best interest to hold student unions accountable in the same way they, when they are working properly, hold our government accountable. Demand more from your student union. If saving $200 is the difference between making rent or buying groceries, the answer isn’t to kill the advocacy group, it’s to demand the advocacy group does more to serve you, be it through demanding economic support through grants or tax breaks, more accessible scholarship and bursary programs or the pursuit of free tuition for all students. If — or, more likely, when — our own premier, Brian Pallister, comes a-knocking with similar tactics to turn students against your student union, don’t let a millionaire and his think tank of millionaires convince you that giving you the choice to opt out of union fees is anything other than another case of the wealthy taking advantage of the vulnerable by putting a price on your power.

Comment Comment Editor: Jacob Singleton Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

UMSU, neutrality and crocodile tears President Sanderson’s farcical position on BDS JACOB SINGLETON, STAFF

he only person who is convinced UMSU is neutral on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement is UMSU president Jakob Sanderson. Back in 2013, the main student group organizing on-campus BDS events — Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA) — had its student group funding pulled and was banned from UMSU spaces. The motion ousting SAIA has never been repealed, revoked or condemned by another UMSU motion since. The motion banning SAIA claimed the BDS movement was anti-Semitic on the grounds that it was against Zionism — the project to expand the ethno-state of Israel to encompass all of Palestine. The motion was not only disgusting slander against the Jewish people who organize against Israeli apartheid, but also a total violation of free speech. Sanderson claims, however, any students who want to revive the SAIA will be able to have student group funding and use UMSU spaces. Yet, under the existing UMSU framework, a SAIA student group would be short lived and have no protections. There is nothing stopping Sanderson or anyone on UMSU from simply pointing to the existing ban if they get irritated with a new SAIA and muzzling them like they have

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

in the past. And what SAIA student group would want to emerge in the current climate created by Sanderson? Beyond embarrassing the U of M student body by casting the university’s collective vote against the Canadian Federation of Students’ motion affirming support for BDS at the federation’s last annual general meeting, this UMSU executive went on to condemn the federation’s support for BDS in an UMSU motion. There is no conceivable justifica-

Yet, under the existing UMSU framework, a SAIA student group would be short lived and have no protections tion for rejecting an affirmation of the BDS movement, especially at the Canadian Federation of Students’s level. The federation is designed as a political institution. It takes up several different political campaigns every year to advance causes prioritized by its membership. One such cause this year was supporting the long-standing BDS

movement. Those who are paying attention to the struggles of the Palestinian people will remember the sickening violence Israel used against protesters along the Gaza-Israel border fence in early 2018. The Israelis killed 214 Palestinian protesters and injured over 18,000 more. Many were injured from live ammunition fired into crowds of defenseless Palestinian protesters by Israelis soldiers. Of those shot, 1,400 had three to five holes torn through their bodies. For this alone, a call for economic retaliation against the Israeli government is entirely justified — if not too forgiving. Now, stack this with the entire history of the Palestinian people’s struggle against the occupation of their country and the lived experience of Israeli apartheid — tell me how you can be neutral? If that doesn’t move you to action, you must be blind. I don’t claim to know where Sanderson’s personal politics lie. But I know that on paper, he is against the BDS campaign. He made that clear when his executive presented a motion to the UMSU board of directors to condemn the Canadian Federation of Students for affirming its support of the BDS movement. Yet in the time since Sanderson voted to condemn support for BDS,

he still maintains USMU will provide a platform for students who support BDS. But one must consider Sanderson’s actions before his words. From one corner of Sanderson’s mouth he talks about resuscitating SAIA and from the other he condemns using UMSU to facilitate BDS political advocacy. Just last week Sanderson’s executive cancelled the entire Frost Festival after the main act told UMSU they would voice their support for BDS and disapproval of UMSU’s actions.

But one must consider Sanderson's actions before his words Rather than deal with the ramifications of choosing “neutrality,” Sanderson destroyed the platform dissent might be expressed on. No one should take Sanderson’s word on protecting free speech. No one should take Sanderson’s word on advocacy. He has argued supporting BDS alienates Jewish students yet ignores the millions of Jewish students and people — including many Israelis — who oppose Israel’s treat-

ment of the Palestinian people. In doing so, he attributes Zionism to an immutable feature of the Jewish people. What level of arrogance does it take to infer great anti-Zionist Jews like Norman Finkelstein are somehow less Jewish than the people bulldozing Palestinian homes in the West Bank? Sanderson claims supporting BDS amounts to merely social justice, which he has been quoted as saying is “not an appropriate use of student funds.” Instead, Sanderson prefers to conjure the image of 62,000 discounted breakfasts as being more valuable than what UMSU’s money toward the Canadian Federation of Students is spent on. Those are the words of someone who is no friend of student advocacy. If Sanderson wants to reverse course, he must pass a motion officially condemning the motion from 2013. He must pass new UMSU bylaws that protect free speech and dissidence. These kinds of bylaws will limit UMSU’s action against some student groups we all wish to silence. If UMSU can silence our enemies, it can silence our friends. Let the student body police undesirable speech on campus and let Sanderson play president in the basement away from such power.

VOL. 105 NO. 22 January 30, 2019

In defence of lobbying for up-front grants Re-allocating funds away from tax credits could put more money in students’ pockets JAKOB SANDERSON, UMSU PRESIDENT

advocacy priorities, that Indigenous is not borne out in practice. student leaders are included in Beyond this, we cannot work our lobby weeks and all briefs under the assumption that finanare prepared in consultation with cial aid received years after graduIndigenous students. ation is the same as financial aid As for the criticisms of the policy received at enrolment. Students in itself, I still feel strongly that the need must take on more work hours majority of students will be much to pay their tuition up front, which better off if our proposal is imple- is likely to decrease their academic mented. Before students make up performance and mental health. their minds on this going into the Even still, they are likely to require next lobbying cycle, they should at student loans, of which $200 milleast hear both sides of the argument. lion in debt is annually defaulted n recent weeks, stories in this As I mentioned, a major point of on, despite the tax credit program. publication have offered their criticism is that students who come The bottom line is that you can’t pay fair share of criticism of the UMSU from households with income above tuition with a tax credit and this executive for its support of re-allo- the grant cut off mark are excluded money could be more efficiently cating the $1.5 billion federal tuition from receiving grants. used towards upfront grants. tax credit into upfront grants. This much is true, but the cut off The other argument Gonzales The criticism, most fully outlined for grant eligibility is significantly makes is that UCRU should not in Joseph Gonzales’s pointedly titled higher than the median household play in the government’s sandbox by “UMSU executive advocating for a income in Canada of over $70,000 arguing for re-allocations. Instead, terrible mistake,” has three main per year. Students living in house- we should focus on expansionary planks. holds with incomes of over $100,000 goals like free tuition. First, UMSU executives have — the cut off for means-based grants Unfortunately, free tuition does not done proper consultation before — are likely to have parental assis- not exist. making this an advocacy priority tance in paying for tuition. We Publicly funded education does in its work with Undergraduates should, and do, advocate for more exist and successfully in many counof Canadian Research-Intensive flexibility in student aid programs to tries. But if we’re honest about what Universities publicly funded education means, (UCRU). Second, conit is that free eduWe are essentially asking the highest ver t ing ta x cation comes via income brackets to pay more in taxes credits into increased taxes g ra nts w i l l — primarily paid to provide upfront tuition releif a l low some by those in the highest income students to fall through the cracks because grant account for students who pay their quintile. systems are based on household own tuition despite high household This is not a dissimilar concept to income, whether one’s parents pay incomes, but this is a solvable and what we’re advocating for. for their education or not. Third, relatively minor problem compared By re-allocating the tax credit student unions should focus on to the number of issues with the tax to grants, we are essentially asking expanding the total aid available, credit system as it exists currently. the highest income brackets to pay not re-allocating existing funding A major flaw with the tuition more in taxes to provide upfront tuiand ultimately focus on achieving tax credit is that it does a poor job tion relief. While I agree we should of providing financial assistance to be focused on increasing student free tuition. Of these arguments, the first is those who require it the most: 37.7 assistance as much as possible, we per cent of tax credit claimants are must realize the tax credit is a woemost salient. Since UCRU’s conception three within the top household income fully inefficient program, an opinion years ago, it has functioned as a quintile, while the lowest 60 per shared by the parliamentary budget gathering of student union execu- cent of income earners claim just 41 officer and the previous governtives at major institutions, who share per cent of credits. This is because ment of Ontario, which instituted similar a preference for knowledge- students earning under $10,000 per UCRU’s proposal provincially and year have no ability to claim their increased grant funding for low- and based, tangible advocacy goals. We have had petitions presented credit due to being under the income middle-income students. in the House of Commons, received tax threshold. Even if one does not like the It seems antithetical to anyone’s structure of current grant programs, promises from government and countless letters of support from ideal student assistance program for a re-allocation of the tax credit MPs and committee chairs for our high-income students to be nearly toward universal subsidies would be asks, and will hopefully see our pri- three-times as likely to benefit far preferable than the current sysorities reflected in the next federal compared to low or middle income tem. If re-allocated, each student in budget and election. students. Canada could immediately receive a That being said, as UCRU grows As well, under the current system, $750 subsidy per year on their tuition. in stature, there is a need for greater only $500 million of the $1.5 billion Re-allocating the $1.5 billion proconsultation with the 250,000 stu- allocated to the program each year gram annually could provide enough dents the organization represents is actually claimed by students. The grants to give 230,000 students free rest is either claimed by parents or tuition each year. Just by unrestrictacross eight U15 universities. UCRU is currently in the midst goes unclaimed entirely. As of 2014, ing the unclaimed tax credits alone, of a strategic plan toward a more unclaimed tax credits had exceeded all two million students in Canada formalized structure. UMSU VP $27 billion. Gonzales dismisses my could go to university for free for external Owen Black is chairing critique of unclaimed tax credits as two years. this initiative and we will look to moot because credits carry forward. So perhaps I was wrong. You can ensure more opportunities are given His point is theoretically correct, but pay tuition with a tax credit. You for all students to contribute to our the $27 billion in unclaimed govern- just have to end the tax credit proment money is evidence this theory gram first.

Comment 11

Comment Corner

A collection of some of your social media responses to Manitoban stories published this past week.

UMSU executive advocating for a terrible mistake I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who was in disbelief when I first heard about this absurd idea. -Mohamed Soussi Gounni

Band critical of UMSU BDS position dropped from Frost Fest days before event cancelled UMSU are such cowards. Where's the blackmail? How about you just let bands perform and accept the consequences if you choose to hire a band that wants to call out your terrible politics and hatred of human rights. -Andy Vineberg Jakob Sanderson needs to look up the word "blackmail" in the dictionary. UMSU has been cowardly for a while and its undemocratic withdrawal from CFS against the wishes of the students who voted in a plebiscite to remain in CFS is a sign that they are only concerned with money-making and not actually representing students. Their cowardly refusal to condemn provincial post-secondary funding cuts and the U of M forcing budget cuts on faculties and departments but not cutting administration spending is repulsive, as well. -Stephen Berg Why would they stick their nose in that type of political mud puddle in the first place? -Alex Borecky

Students’ federation convenes education for all committee Cuts are happening in everything, education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc. This is important and has to be done now. -Dianne Mccue Why does no one discuss the cause of the issue, but only the symptoms. Why is education cost so high? Increases significantly outpace inflation, yet the student gets no more value. Few people talk about that. -Frano Sailer

Mandatory vaccines the answer to growing global issue Totally. We should just make our children have every single vaccine available to mankind. We will create a world of supermen. This sounds like an awesome idea! -Randall Pete Shank This is a slippery slope! If they want to make any vaccine mandatory then the government will also need to have a vaccine compensation board and vaccine court and be prepared to pay for any child or adult that has a life-altering reaction to any vaccine. Forced vaccinations are against our constitutional rights and no one wants the government to force any medical procedures. There are way more adults that are under-vaccinated, who haven’t received any boosters. The only boosters that are routinely given are the TDaP during pregnancy and the flu shot. How often do you hear of men going in and getting booster shots for DTap? Adults are more of a risk to babies then children. Focusing on 1 death of an unvaccinated child is so 1 sided, why not do a story on how many people die of influenza who have been vaccinated? -Dusti Richardson We shou ld have Government make all of our decisions. They should tell what we can eat because fast food is unhealthy. They should arrest us for drinking or smoking. We should be forced to exercise everyday. Anyone who disagrees with them should be locked up. -John Alcock

UMSU Frost Fest cancelled after low ticket sales Funny Sanderson’s quote didn’t include that the primary act dropped out because of UMSU’s tacit support for genocide in Palestine -Rory Macfarlane

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VOL. 105 NO. 22 January 30, 2019

Comment 13

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14 Comment

Comment Editor: Jacob Singleton Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Shields alone will not solve the root issue of violence Systemic problems require systemic solutions KENNY INGRAM, STAFF

GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY

he City of Winnipeg intends to install safety shields on every single Winnipeg Transit bus by January 2020. This comes at the behest of

Winnipeg Transit bus drivers who have continually called for improved safety since the death of fellow bus driver Irvine Jubal Fraser. However, in the wake of the

emotion surrounding Fraser’s death over half of bus drivers in Toronto methamphetamine. and the trial of the alleged perpetra- do not even use the provided shields. In other words, this issue truly tor, there are still some important This is because of both the issue of comes full circle. concerns and questions that remain extra glare the shields generate, as Years of neglect from politicians unanswered. well as the feeling of claustrophobia. more interested in pandering to social Missing from this conversation is All of this echoes the opinions conservatives than addressing dire a close examination of the catalyst for of Charles Dixon, a veteran bus issues of public health have come the entire movement to install shields. driver for the Coast Mountain Bus home to roost. The call for bus shields began with an Company in Burnaby, who had been While 10 Canadians continue incident where not only did a transit assaulted 14 times in 25 years. He to die from overdoses each day, the driver not follow correct procedure, argued that more than just creating health of Manitobans is in the hands but a shield would not have protected a physical barrier provoking com- of Premier Brian Pallister who holds him. parisons of the public servants to zoo the demonstrably ignorant view that animals, it would not actually prevent supervised injection sites — which verbal or physical assault. a 2014 review of 75 studies found Still, even if shields Far worse than just creating a promote safer injections and reduce physical barrier between public serv- overdoses — “draw drug dealers” and were installed in all ants and citizens to positively interact “crime.” city buses Fraser’s is the fact barriers are only a singleIf politicians fail to address the pronged, Band-Aid solution to a far root of the highly-publicized probdeath would not bigger problem. lems, the Band-Aid solutions proStudies have shown regular use posed will inevitably lead to meager have been prevented of methamphetamine can be associ- progress. by the shield Bus drivers provide a vital service ated with a far greater risk of violent to this city. They sacrifice significant behaviour. To think violent crimes as we portions of their lives by working split Keith Eyrikson, the crown attor- know them today in Winnipeg, and shifts to satisfy the public’s need for ney, said Fraser took it upon himself in turn violence against bus driv- economical transportation. to forcibly remove the passenger. ers, is not connected to the crisis of These workers deserve a respectful Transit drivers should never meth and opioids would be naive. and safe work environment. put themselves in a position where Aggression and violence are not The city and province owe them they must physically confront any simply isolated variables. at least this. passenger. Since 2012, Winnipeg has seen an Whichever approach Winnipeg Still, even if shields were installed 890 per cent spike for possession of takes to solving the specific issue in all city buses, Fraser’s death would meth. Along the same lines, police of violence on buses, it is important not have been prevented. He removed seized over 12,000 grams of meth to remember that this issue is only himself from what would have been in all of 2017. In January of last year one drop in a sea of issues associthe safety area to physically remove alone, that number was over 5,800 ated with an extensive drug problem the passenger. A shield could not grams. which should have been adequately have protected Fraser. Drug crime, property crime addressed long ago. Other issues arise when looking and violent crime all saw increases Any real strategy to reduce vioat the implementation of shields in in 2017 compared to the previous lence must deal with the totality of other Canadian cities. Carlos Santos, year. Winnipeg police have been the problem. the leader of the Amalgamated clear: they have seen a substantial Shields alone will not address the Transit Union in Toronto has stated increase in other crimes related to root cause of this violence.

Romanticizing your career is a dead end

Stop searching for your career soulmate REBECCA BALAKRISHNAN, THE WORK LIFE

There is no such thing as a soulmate when it comes to your career. Just like in the world of romance, career’s reputation is fraught with misconceptions. There is the assumption we will progress gracefully and linearly from high school to university to perfect, fulfilling jobs as though we are effortlessly checking items off our bucket lists. This stereotype is just as damaging as romcom fallacies such as love at

first sight and the knight in shining cate our view of romance, they also you are compatible with any of your cided. They feel they must uncover a armour. stamp on healthy careers. It is OK to career possibilities before you make clear target job in order to be happy. Your career is not a predictable be undecided. It is OK to take risks, a commitment. This paralysis is a function of the soulbuild-up to a cinematic smooch fail and figure things out gradually. And even if you immerse yourself mate fantasy. where suddenly and romantically Stop searching for your one-and- in a field, this does not prevent you A career is a journey not a everything falls into place. Reality only when it comes to your career. from continuing to grow, changing destination. is much more complex. Instead, enjoy the journey. Embrace and taking on new adventures later. Yours is already happening, Most millennials can expect to opportunity and seek out the activi- Just as you outgrew your geeky high whether or not you have realized it have around 15 different jobs in their ties that bring you joy. school lover, it is completely normal yet. lifetimes. This trajectory suggests Your career is not about monog- to outgrow a profession and move on. Your career will ebb and flow. It a murkier reality than many young amy. It is okay to date around a bit. Be brave enough to put yourself will hit terrible turbulence that will workers expect. out there and try make you question what the hell you There is more new things in are doing with your life. Your career is not about monogamy than one right the name of your It will refocus, with life becoming occupation for career. Let go of the priority in your work life balance. everyone. This the restrictive Or vice versa. career consultant enjoys her career, Maybe even engage in a little career vision you had for your future. If you are lucky, your career will but a career as a librarian, teacher polygamy. It is okay to piece together a mean- also reach fulfilling peaks of honeyor occupational therapist could have Be promiscuous. ingful career out of more than one moon proportions, where you feel been equally meaningful. Have a one-night stand with an position that will fulfill you in dif- fully engaged and excited about what For each of us there are multitudes occupational idea you are not ready ferent ways. you are doing in that moment. of possible happy endings, but still to take home to mother. In the gig economy of the current Just as modern romance has prothe myth of the one true occupational You would not marry someone era, flexibility of this sort is ideal. gressed beyond society’s historical love persists. you had not taken for a test drive or Some young people are paralyzed expectations, bring your expectations Just as societal pressures compli- two. You need to determine whether by the anxiety of being career-unde- for your career into 2019.

Diversions 16 Graphics Editor: Evan Tremblay Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

PALLISTER-BABY

Is not impressed with people who want to base budgets on actual funding numbers...

PREVIOUSLY...

The trapper came from an old village, deep in the The people forest. there knew of the warren beneath the world of the living. They told tales of the Shepherd and the rabbits.

And they prayed to them, when the beasts emerged.

No.18

But when nothing answered, the trapper left the village, resolute to find that warren for himself... ...to find the power that could save their village from the beasts.

But it escaped him.

He came close once.

Albeit, not in one piece.

Before Phlox. that piece proved its worth.

And when ...and the trapper failed... finally faced the beasts

...It offered him one second chance.

It’s been decades since that day.

“RESISTANCE IS FUTILE”

SCOTT A. FORD #BOREALCOMIC CATCH UP ON BOREAL AT THEMANITOBAN.COM

And even if he ever goes back to his village, there might not be anything left to save.

It brought him here...

When he was resurrected back above, those powers stayed underground.

His crusade turned into revenge. The forest has consumed him.

He had a taste of that power once. He won’t let it slip away from him again.

Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Emelia Fournier Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

The Middle Coast taking final bow Staple local act talks farewell show, future solo projects EMELIA FOURNIER, STAFF

he Middle Coast, comprised of Dylan MacDonald, Liam Duncan and Roman Clarke, will be playing their EP release and farewell show Feb. 2. This will mark their last performance as a band “for the foreseeable future.” The band has been playing together for seven years, since high school. “We’re all kind of sad about it, to some extent, because we’ve been doing it for so long [...] We’ve learned so much and grown so much all together,” said Duncan. “It’s a pretty special experience to have with your best buds.” The Middle Coast worked hard to get better and perform as often as they could. “At 19, or 18, or whatever, there was nothing other to do than tour, because none of our songs we wrote at that point certainly were not going to go to radio or anything like that,” said MacDonald. They would record their shows, then watch them back taking notes on how to improve. Their work ethic as musicians, combined with their friendship, made them a long-lasting trio.

“I feel like I learned how to play music in this band” — Liam Duncan, the Middle Coast “I feel like I learned how to play music in this band,” said Duncan. “It’s been totally life-changing in a really positive way for me.” “We learned a lot about people for sure,” added MacDonald. “It’s a strange relationship, being in a band, even more intimate than a romantic relationship in many ways.

PHOTO BY CALLIE LUGOSI

I’d probably say I know these dudes maybe better than any romantic partner I’ve ever been with. I’ve certainly been with them longer.” “I’ve been your most consistent sleeping partner,” replied Duncan. The three have been undergoing an adjustment period, transitioning from working as a band to working as separate solo artists. “Life is definitely different,” said Clarke. Clarke, Duncan and MacDonald went from rehearsing together around five days a week to working mostly alone in their own basements. “What I’m noticing now that I’ve booked my own tour and done a bunch of stuff that I used to do for the Middle Coast for myself, writing grants, booking tours, making a record, it’s just a lot more pressure on

one person,” said Duncan. “If you look at a lot of people who lowed by a record in June. He will The accomplishments as solo end up doing really well, half the be touring as a solo act in the spring artists are satisfying, but the three time they’ve all gone through, like, and has some festival performances no longer experience their victories four different bands they’ve put their scheduled for the summer. simultaneously. whole life into for years.” MacDonald’s upcoming solo “The shared wins and shared losses, The decision to wrap up the record’s release date is undeterthey’re kind of unparalleled,” said Middle Coast also gave the band- mined. His record is mellower than MacDonald. mates the opportunity to reflect on the Middle Coast’s music, falling into Despite the challenges of going their experience as a band and their the singer-songwriter or roots genre. solo, wrapping up the Middle Coast creative priorities, according to “I’m really proud of a lot of the was necessary for the musicians. MacDonald. work that we did, and we’ve had some “The whole process of realizing Clarke will be releasing a record in pretty hilariously fun and weird expethat the band was not necessarily April and touring as Joey Landreth’s riences together,” said Duncan. the thing that I wanted to commit drummer. The release of their last EP and all my creative energy to [...] was a He has a few festivals lined up as a final show ends the Middle Coast’s massive exercise in learning how to solo act, to be announced later. run on a high note, where they will “If I do pretty well you’ll probably perform their favourite original songs. be just like honest with yourself, and honest with the people that you care hear my music in like an Ardene’s one about,” said Clarke. day,” he joked. His music is a fusion Catch the Middle Coast’s final “At some point there’s just a reali- of R&B, funk and pop. show at the Good Will Social Club Feb. zation that’s like, you only have so Duncan is taking his sound in a 2. Online tickets are sold out. Limited much creative energy and creative more rock ’n’ roll direction. His first physical tickets are still available at the time,” said Duncan. single will be coming out Feb. 8, fol- Good Will box office.

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Emelia Fournier Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

18th Art from the Heart show and sale Two decades of support for local inner-city, lower-income artists ZACHARY SIGURDSON, STAFF

The Art from the Heart show and sale runs Feb. 8-9 at the University of Winnipeg's Axworthy health and RecPlex.

he 18th annual Art from the Heart show and sale is a twoday exhibition featuring works by Winnipeg’s inner-city and lowerincome artists. All proceeds from the show go directly to the artists. The show's website states, “While every Art from the Heart artist is unique in terms of age, ability, education, ethnic background and art

practice, what all our artists share is a passionate commitment to making art.” Andrea Roberts is this year’s exhibition co-ordinator. She is responsible for co-ordinating the art and artists along with a crew of 30 volunteers. “I think that it’s a really unique event in Winnipeg,” Roberts said. “It is a community event that

brings people from all over Winnipeg, but it’s really focused on supporting inner-city and low-income artists. It has a great, really open and fun feel to it — people can come and bring their kids and there is always music, and there’s really, really affordable art, too. “It’s a really accessible event that people feel welcome at.” Winnipeg garage-pop trio

PHOTO BY DUNCAN MCNAIRNAY

Mulligrub will be performing on opening night, and guest DJs from Nostalgia Radio CJNU 93.7 PM will spin on the second night. The sale provides an opportunity for Winnipeggers to support their artistic community without a hefty price tag. Without a high cost barrier, the sale boasts a large turnout. “We get hundreds of people every

night — five to six hundred people over the weekend,” said Roberts. Art from the Heart began as a grassroots organization in 1999 at the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre in downtown Winnipeg. They have since expanded to include over 200 artists who participate during their various events and workshops throughout the year, most notably the Art from the Heart show. Partnerships with different Winnipeg non-profits and arts organizations such as Art City, Studio Central, the Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews Community Association, the West Broadway Community Organization and many others have allowed the event to grow. Art from the Heart recently began working with Stony Mountain Institution, a prison located approximately 24 km north of Winnipeg. Last year, one artist from Stony Mountain was featured. This year, there will be works from five inmates. Organizers hope this will bridge a gap between inmates and the downtown Winnipeg community. “Every year we work on trying to bring in more artists that maybe wouldn’t have heard about Art from the Heart,” said Roberts. “We’ve developed this very loyal cohort of artists that come back every year to launch the show.” The continued support of this community of artists has helped keep the event going. The Art from the Heart show and sale will run Feb. 8-9 at the University of Winnipeg’s Axworthy Health and RecPlex, 350 Spence Street.

“Little Dead Lady” adds depth to Ibsen’s minor characters

Naked Theatre Productions creates original play for Ibsenfest AMIN MONTAZERI POUR AGHA, STAFF

s part of the Royal Manitoba follows the lives of minor characters his protagonists. Little Dead Lady was created using Little Dead Lady also features Theatre Centre (MTC)’s 19th Irena, the Nun and the Rat Wife. “We decided that we wanted a collaborative process called devised original dance and movement choMaster Playwright Festival celebrat“Ibsen was so ahead of his time, as to create a play about those three theatre. reographed by Davis. ing the works of Henrik Ibsen, Naked far as actually writing female charac- women, those three characters, and “We each chose a character from Little Dead Lady takes place in an Theatre Productions will be opening ters,” said Marie. expand on their stories because they each play and we sort of started doing unspecified time period, abstracted its curtains for Little Dead Lady. “Considering he was writing plays didn’t necessarily get told in the plays individual exploration of the char- from the linear time constraints of Naked Theatre Productions is a in the late 19th century, there was sort written by Ibsen,” said Marie. acters and then from there we com- more conventional theatre pieces. Winnipeg-based theatre company of no one really bined their stories “It’s quite contemporary,” said co-founded by Rebekah Anne Marie writing plays that to create a narra- Flynn. “Ibsen was so ahead of his time, as and Sarah Flynn, who are also its centred around tive, which is now “Like, the characters are technico-producers. This play marks Naked female characters, what we’re workcally from the 1890s, but it’s not a far as actually writing female Theatre’s seventh production and let alone had fully ing on together period piece.” characters” — Rebekah Anne Marie, their second year participating in the developed female with the director MTC’s Master Playwright Festival. characters, like to have the narraLittle Dead Lady will be running co-producer and performer Little Dead Lady is the creation of Nora Helmer in tive clarified and from Jan. 30 till Feb. 2 at Video Pool Marie, Flynn and Jenn Davis, who A Doll’s House or to tell a new story,” Media Arts Centre. also perform in the play. Hedda Gabler in said Flynn. sTickets are available for $15 or by This darkly comedic production Hedda Gabler.” The play’s tagline, “We can’t all This new story shows how remark- IbsenPass at the door. For more informabrings together three of Ibsen’s plays: Marie, Davis and Flynn sought to be Hedda Gabler,” playfully draws able these characters really are, show- tion or to reserve tickets, email nakedtheLittle Eyolf, When We Dead Awaken develop some of Ibsen’s minor char- attention to how unassuming minor ing Irena, the Nun and the Rat Wife atreproductions@gmail.com. and The Lady from the Sea. The play acters as intricately as he had written characters can have their own rich navigating their own tragedies with inner worlds. humour.

VOL. 105 NO. 22 January 30, 2019

Arts & Culture

Review: “New Magic Valley Fun Town”

PTE premieres Daniel MacIvor’s latest work AMIN MONTAZERI POUR AGHA, STAFF

Daniel MacIvor and Andrew Moodie star in Prairie Theatre Exchange's New Magic Valley Fun Town.

rairie Theatre Exchange (PTE) will be presenting the premiere of renowned Canadian actor, playwright and director Daniel MacIvor’s latest play, New Magic Valley Fun Town, running Jan. 24 to Feb. 10. Sitting in a full house during the opening night, audience members were given a night of laughter and sorrow as the characters’ stories developed. New Magic Valley Fun Town is built around Aristotle’s dramatic structure, where the play follows a linear progression throughout its crises leading to its climax. MacIvor plays the lead role of Cape Bretoner Dougie, whose chill-

ing performance grabbed most of the audience’s attention on the play’s opening night. MacIvor set his most recent play where he grew up, in Cape Breton Island, N.S, where the protagonist Dougie enters the stage carrying his groceries, Tim Hortons coffee in hand. We are introduced to Dougie’s complex temperament from the ruckus that he sets upon the stage, presenting elements of comedy and drama. The play’s humour is amplified as the characters Sandy and Cheryl join the stage. We then learn that the family is preparing for Dougie’s

reunion with his best friend, Allen, ing with him the common past that whom he hasn’t seen for over two he shares with Dougie. Dougie and Allen’s reunion is decades. In preparation to greet Allen, Dougie has done a little snooping a night of happiness and buoyancy through Facebook to see who his old and drinking and dancing. Yet the pal is today. atmosphere shifts as the old friends A dark current runs beneath the revisit their memories, forcing each laughter and commotion among the character to confront their interconcharacters. nected pasts and present. The repeated mentioning of A significant merit of this proDougie’s past with Allen alludes to an duction is director Richard Rose’s explanation that would clear the mist masterful interpretation of the script. around why Dougie lives in a trailer, Within a single act, the actor must suffering from depression and OCD. smoothly transition from a cheery Allen, played beautifully by the disposition to one of overwhelming award-winning actor, director and despair. playwright Andrew Moodie, sets Such a shift in play is best seen foot on stage with a suitcase, carry- when the overall mood changes with

PHOTO BY LEIF NORMAN

Allen bringing up the topic of their childhood. Rose’s direction coherently orchestrates the juxtaposing scenes. A talented cast and crew coupled with the experienced, award-winning MacIvor makes New Magic Valley Fun Town a comedic drama worth seeing. Tickets for New Magic Valley Fun Town are now on sale. For ticket information and show times, visit the PTE Box Office on the third floor of Portage Place, call 204-9425483, or visit www.pte.mb.ca.

Arts & Culture

The Grey Jay PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER

Arts & Culture Editor: Emelia Fournier Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Sports Sports Editor: Jason Pchajek Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Bisons hunted by Thompson Rivers Wolfpack

Playoff chances take major blow after U of M swept KELLEN TANIGUCHI, STAFF

olf packs are usually less successful hunting Bison compared to other prey — but this weekend was a feast. With a pair of losses to the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack over the weekend, the U of M Bisons men’s volleyball team suffered a major setback in its quest for a post-season berth.

Friday

The two teams went back-andforth throughout the remainder of the frame, but four more kills from Dobbert helped the visitors take a 2-1 set lead with a 25-21 win. Ben Carleton smacked down four kills in the fourth set for Manitoba, three of which helped the Bisons to an early 7-2 lead. The home team led 11-6 before Thompson Rivers put together an 8-1 scoring run created by six Bisons errors. The Wolfpack took the lead and never looked back, winning the set 25-23 to take the match.

The Bisons dropped game one of the weekend 3-1 to the Wolfpack Friday at Investors Group Athletic Centre. Kevin Negus had eight kills for Saturday Thompson Rivers completed its the Bisons, while Dustin Spiring pounded down seven kills and got sweep of the Bisons Saturday with down for seven digs. a 3-1 win. Manitoba competed, but the Wolfpack offence was too much for the home team to handle. The visitors “These two [games] hit a total of 58 kills and the Bisons hurt us, losing converted on just 30 kills themselves. The teams exchanged points in the these” — Garth opening set, with the Wolfpack leadPischke, Bisons men’s ing 24-22 late in the frame. However, Manitoba scored four consecutive volleyball head coach points to win the set. Dylan Sutherland served up two aces, while Negus and Spiring each Dobbert was unstoppable again, had a kill during the 4-0 scoring run. Tim Dobbert was strong in the hitting 19 kills for the visiting second frame, slamming down eight Wolfpack. Negus led the Bisons with balls for the Wolfpack. Neither team 13 kills and Sutherland had a game- the set before the visitors closed out the frame with five straight points, was able to put together any scoring high 10 digs. “I’m really proud of the way we including two Dobbert kills. runs, and Negus’s three kills kept Manitoba within striking distance. played here,” said Bisons head coach The Wolfpack had an early 5-0 run The Thompson Rivers offence Garth Pischke. “A little disappointed in the second set, with the help of broke through late and an Anton in some of the bad breaks we got in two Sam Taylor Parks kills. Negus this game and that could have made had three kills for Manitoba, but Napolitano kill won the set 25-20. Thompson Rivers used its offence to The Bisons jumped out to an early a difference.” Dobbert was strong right out of propel the club to a 25-20 set win. 5-1 lead in the third set, thanks in large part to two Sutherland aces. The the gates and knocked down seven Manitoba staved off defeat in the visitors responded with five unan- kills for the visitors, while Spiring third set with a 25-19 win. The visitors swered points, which included two hit three for the herd in the first led 16-15 when the herd laced together frame. The Bisons led 22-20 late in a 6-0 scoring run that featured three Dobbert kills, to take a 6-5 lead.

PHOTO BY QUINCY HOUDAYER

Spiring kills. University of Winnipeg Wesmen The third set was the only time and 12-4 Trinity Western University the Bisons could contain the high- Spartans to try and make the dance. powered Wolfpack offence and a “These two [games] hurt us, losing Taylor Parks service error gave the these,” said Pischke. “They’re mustherd the win. wins for us for sure, for us to have any The Wolfpack offence got back on chance of making the playoffs.” track in the fourth set and rolled to a 25-18 set win and the match. The Bisons will be back on the court The Bisons now sit at 7-11 on next week to face the University the season, tied with UBC for the of Winnipeg Wesmen. Game one is final playoff spot. With four games Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. CST and game two left, the herd must now play the 5-11 is the next day at 6:45 p.m. CST.

Public Information Session Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2) The City of Winnipeg invites you to attend a public information session regarding plans for the upcoming 2019 construction season for the Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2) Project.

Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Location: CanadInns Fort Garry, 1824 Pembina Hwy., Ambassador Room F (lower level) Format: Drop-in (come and go) For more information, visit: winnipeg.ca/southwestrapidtransitway. For inquiries or for those who require alternate formats or interpretation in order to participate, please contact the project team at 204-927-2354 or swrt2inquiries@pcl.com by February 6, 2019.

Sports

Sports Editor: Jason Pchajek Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Off the ice, onto the court and never looking back Senior Spotlight: Tori Studler

Bison Briefs JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

Women’s hockey pushes streak to six

KELLEN TANIGUCHI, STAFF

The Bisons women’s hockey team continued its winning ways on the weekend with a sweep of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. Scoreless through 20 minutes in game one, Mekaela Fisher opened scoring for Manitoba. Karissa Kirkup notched her sixth of the season 10 seconds later to make it 2-0 Bisons through two periods. The two sides traded goals in the third — Courtlyn Oswald and Natasha Kostenko scoring for the herd — as Manitoba took the game 4-2. It was a goaltenders’ duel in game two, as Lauren Taraschuk turned aside 40 of 41 shots for the Bisons in a 2-1 shootout win. Lethbridge netminder Alicia Anderson stopped 55 of 56 in the loss. Alexandra Anderson had the lone goal for Manitoba in regulation, while Jordyn Zacharias potted the shootout winner. The Bisons have now won six straight games and sit tied with the University of Alberta Pandas at 53 points. However, Alberta holds the tiebreaker, putting Manitoba second in the conference.

Bisons basketball downs Thompson Rivers

PHOTO BY TREVOR HAGAN

f she had followed her family’s passion, Bisons left side Tori Studler may have grown up to be a hockey player. Instead, she forged her own path. “I played hockey pretty competitive growing up,” said Studler. The Grosse Isle native grew up a multi-sport athlete but eventually time constraints forced her to make a choice. She gave up playing hockey to take volleyball more seriously, and said it was hard since her father is “a big hockey person and he didn’t know anything about volleyball.” At age 13, Studler played for the Junior Bisons, and this was the point she said she knew volleyball was the right choice. “I just loved the speed of the game and how quick it was,” said Studler. “I liked the team aspect and the culture of volleyball is very fitting for myself.” Bisons head coach Ken Bentley first noticed Studler when she was in Grade 10, playing for the Junior Bisons. Seeing the potential the young player had, he asked Studler if she would like to play at the University of Manitoba.

U of M was not the only option She said that while it was a difficult for the five-foot-eleven left side, but decision to make, she determined it was the clear front runner. her schooling was most important. “I went on some other recruit“It wasn’t very flexible with my ment trips and then just found that volleyball schedule, so I decided U of M would be the best fit for me,” that I would put school first,” said Studler said. Studler. “I wanted to be here with my family and see them in the crowd all the time and that’s really impor- “I just loved the tant to me.” speed of the game The decision to join the Bisons under Bentley helped Studler and how quick it develop as a player, and it all started was” — Tori Studler, with something the Bisons bench boss told her when she arrived at Bisons women’s the U of M. volleyball left side “There’s a quote that I remember Ken telling me on my first practice here,” said Studler. “He said ‘No elite athlete feels 100 per cent.’ [What] he meant Very quickly, however, Studler by that is, you need to push your- got the itch to come back. self and physically push yourself, “After not even the first week mentally push yourself, or else you of school, I was still here every aren’t going to get any better. And Wednesday practicing and I was I still abide by that still to this day.” working out, and Ken and I were From there Studler has been in conversation the whole entire a constant in the Bisons lineup — first term about how I was going until this season. to come back,” she said. A conflict between the demands Ultimately, sitting out was too of her coursework and the Bisons difficult and she made sure she pushed Studler to sit the year out. could return to the court.

“I switched a few courses around to make volleyball work in the second term, so I could balance both of them,” said Studler. “The last weekend of the first term I came back and played against Brandon and that was exactly why I came back. I had the most fun ever playing with the girls and being out there, so it was easy.” Now, with less than three weeks left in the season, the Bisons are set to play the University of Winnipeg Wesmen in a pivotal series for the herd. Studler, though, is looking forward to the cross-town matchup for more personal reasons. “My best friend plays at the U of W, so this year’s going to be weird for me to play against her, but it’ll be good,” she said. This friend is Wesmen left side Kalena Schulz, but the two try to avoid talking about volleyball when together. “We try not to talk about it too much because we’re both very competitive,” said Studler. “We just kind of [think] whatever happens, happens, but we’re very competitive and still give it our all no matter what.

With a pair of wins in their respective series, the Bisons basketball teams blanked the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack over the weekend. In game one for the men, the Wolfpack entered the second half with a slim 30-28 lead. The Bisons dropped 23 points in the third quarter while only allowing eight from Thompson Rivers, riding the momentum to a 64-54 win.After Thompson Rivers got out to a 20-11 lead in the first quarter of game two, the Bisons dialed up the pressure. Manitoba outscored Thompson Rivers the rest of the way, en route to a 73-66 win. The men now sit ninth in the conference and clinch a playoff spot. The women’s basketball team meanwhile inched closer to clinching a playoff berth of its own. Manitoba dominated game one in an 81-56 decision. After outscoring the Wolfpack 20-8 in the first quarter, the herd did not let up, pacing its opponents the rest of the way. Thompson Rivers showed some life in game two, but Manitoba still came away with an 86-68 win. Manitoba killed any Thompson Rivers confidence in the second quarter by outscoring its opponent 31-17. With two games left in the season, the Bisons sit in 11th at 8-10. With a win — or a MacEwan University Griffins loss — next weekend, the herd will clinch a playoff spot.

VOL. 105 NO. 22 January 30, 2019

Sports

What hockey gods giveth, they taketh away

Bisons keep slim playoff hopes alive with split against Lethbridge in weird weekend JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

PHOTO BY TREVOR HAGAN

irst there was heartbreak, and then there was hope for the U of M Bisons men’s hockey team on the weekend. With a split series against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, the herd now clings to hopes of a playoff berth by its fingernails.

Friday

Normally, after a game the Wayne Fleming Arena hallways are loud with music and laughter, but after a heartbreaking 5-3 U of M Bisons men’s hockey team loss to the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, there was silence. “The guys battled hard. We knew what was on the line,” Bisons captain Brett Stovin said. “You can only ask so much of the guys — we were rolling with our older guys and guys that have played a lot of minutes throughout the year. We put the fate of the team on the guys’ backs that have carried us throughout this year.” Throughout the game, there were many times where it seemed the hockey gods were with the Bisons. Early on, down 1-0, Bisons goalie Byron Spriggs lost the puck after a shot. The puck rolled under the goalie, who swatted it away and onto the stick of a Pronghorns attacker. Spriggs threw himself in front of the follow-up shot and the puck glanced off his shoulder, dancing along the goal line but staying out. Then, heading into the second

period knotted 1-1, Lady Luck again up, get ready to come back and com- cally have a chance to make the playsmiled on the herd. pete again,” Sirant said. offs, so let’s rebound today, get these Mitchell Dyck broke into the “Show character, show profes- points and go into UBC Friday night.” Lethbridge zone and threw the sionalism, [and] get ourselves as The Bisons started the bouncepuck into the slot. The throwaway mentally ready to win tomorrow. back game early when Henry picked shot deflected off a streaking Jeremy Mathematically, there’s still a chance up a pass from Colton Veloso, circled Leipsic and past Garret Hughson for to make the playoffs.” to the point and snapped a shot into a a 2-1 Bisons lead. “We know that we’re mathemati- crowd. The puck flew past Hughson Blake Orban tied the game for cally still in it,” Stovin said. and in off the post for the 1-0 Bisons Lethbridge late in the frame, sending “But it’s a very tough spot — we lead. the two teams into the third tied 2-2. have to win out and Lethbridge has Stovin scored to make it 2-0 Lethbridge regained the lead off to lose out. So the fate of our season is Manitoba early in the second. From a Sam McKechnie goal and then in our hands […] so you focus on your there, the game took an odd turn. Manitoba’s Adam Henry struck own game, you look to your older During the celebration, Spriggs shorthanded. players that are graduating this year was forced to the bench by the referWith sustained pressure, Henry and you just go to work for them and ees, sending Dasan Sydora into the walked in and threw a shot on goal. battle for them.” goal. Thomas Lenchyshyn intentionThe puck weaved ally sent the puck through a crowd out for a whistle and under the arm the next play, “We put the fate of the team of Hughson to tie allowing Spriggs on the guys’ backs that have carried us the game 3-3. to come back. Then the It was “because throughout this year” — Brett Stovin, luck turned in Byron went too Bisons men’s hockey captain Lethbridge’s far out of his net toward the centre favour. A McKechnie line,” Sirant said. shot was stopped “The referee by Spriggs but the rebound popped apologized, [he said] he didn’t want right to Ryan Chynoweth for the Saturday to call it but he had to call it, so we 4-3 goal. Then, with the Manitoba Fans got a little bit of everything had to do that.” net empty, a Jeff Rayman clearing Saturday in a 5-1 Bisons win over the Spriggs had a slightly different attempt hit the stantion and rolled Lethbridge Pronghorns. There were perspective on the play. into the net. scraps, weird calls, plenty of goals “You know what, I should know Head coach Mike Sirant was and the Bisons were able to keep the that by now but yeah I kind of forgot that was a rule,” Spriggs said. at a loss for words following the playoff dream alive. game, ending the media scrum after “I broke my stick behind the net “Before the game we talked about answering a single question. character and professionalism,” Sirant playing the puck and I went to just go “Regardless of the outcome today, said. get a new stick and all of a sudden I the message was [to] keep our heads “The reality is, we still mathemati- saw the refs talking to the coach […]

so I guess I’ve got to learn that for future reference.” Then, with a Jonah Wasylak goal making it 3-0, the game reached a boiling point. Liam Bilton entered the Lethbridge zone and was clipped up high by Evan Wardley. The referee’s arm went up but the two continued to exchange barbs, eventually erupting into a scrum after the whistle. At the same time, Manitoba’s Brett Brooks and Lethbridge’s Spenser Jensen got involved in a duel of their own. When the dust settled, Bilton and Wardley received misconducts while Jensen and Brooks were each dinged with offsetting minors. A bit of levity came to the game a few minutes later as Veloso potted his first career Canada West goal. “It was awesome,” Veloso said. “Felt like it took a while but it’s nice to get it out of the way.” The Winnipeg-born forward joined the herd following the holiday break and added two assists for three points on the night. From there things stayed at a low simmer. Lethbridge broke the goose egg halfway through the third and Stovin scored his second of the night to seal the 5-1 win. The Bisons head to Vancouver next weekend to take on the UBC Thunderbirds. Puckdrop for game one is 9 p.m. CST on Feb. 1 and 2:30 p.m. CST for game two the next day.

LOQUITUR IPSA RES RES IPSA LOQUITUR

Part planetarium show and part rumination on Alice in Wonderland, the nature of rabbits, and heroes, The Local Sky Tonight is an off-kilter guide to the stars. The Winnipeg debut of this performance (approx. 45 minutes) will be followed by a discussion of the cosmos and the imagination featuring a panel of local scientists, artists, and thinkers. Curtain time is at 7:00 pm, doors open at 6:15 pm. Reception to follow

The Local Sky Tonight:

A Shawna Dempsey & Lorri Millan Performance

Tickets available at UMHumanities.com: $5 for students (by donation), $10 general admission (by donation). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

@LocalSkyTonight