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United Way BC releases new resources for emergency preparedness

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Peak Web
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a birds’ eye view of of a forest shrouded by wildfire smoke
BC Forest Fire and Smoke over the mountain near Hope during a hot sunny summer day. British Columbia, Canada. Wildfire natural disaster

By: Yashita Dhillon, News Writer

As wildfire season approaches, United Way BC has released two emergency preparedness guidebooks, one targeted at seniors and the other at families. They provide detailed strategies to plan for potential natural disasters across BC’s varied regions, including checklists for emergency kits, detailed plans for evacuation scenarios, and tips on dealing with power outages and insurance matters.

The Emergency Preparedness Guide for Seniors, developed in collaboration with the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Katzie Seniors Network, was funded by the Ministry of Health. The Extreme Weather Preparedness Guide for Individuals and Families is designed to help residents prepare for extreme weather conditions and is supported by the province’s Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

The Peak spoke with Tobias Jones, the emergency response manager for United Way BC, who highlighted the need and nature of the guidebooks. Jones explained they primarily aimed to have all emergency preparedness related information in one place. The guidebooks also include tailored training to account for “personal circumstances and doing a personal assessment,” and training that “outlines the difference in types of responses to emergencies.”

Both guidebooks contain information about preparing beforehand for a variety of natural disasters and weather, including earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. It also takes into consideration care for those with disabilities, items for hearing and mobility, and service animal accountability. Both books have blank pages for individuals to write contact information, keep checklists, and medical information. 

“It’s about bringing people together. It could be a simple thing as a block party, but that’s about building community in the face of an impact.” — Tobias Jones, emergency response manager, United Way BC

The guidebooks were also written with the knowledge that much of the extreme weather being warned against in the books are induced by climate change. BC has seen a spike in wildfire activity due to warming weather, especially in the drier summer seasons. 

The creation of these guidebooks was driven by the need for easy-to-understand emergency information that was readily accessible, especially with regards to media literacy. “A lot of the information around emergency preparedness exists online,” Jones said. United Way BC is distributing physical copies around BC, leveraging their connections with other non-profits and agencies.

Looking ahead, they plan to update these resources based on feedback from community workshops and the evolving nature of emergency response. “We retrospect every response we do, both internally and externally, and through that process, new tools and new ways of engaging are identified,” Jones said.

He also highlighted the importance of community engagement in enhancing the effectiveness of the guidebooks. “We’re currently working in the Fraser Valley after the 2021 floods. We’re still there, three years later, working in places such as Princeton and Merritt, that were both impacted by floods and fires, and the Fraser Canyon, the community surrounding Litton which was devastated a couple of years ago.” He stressed that engagement from local residents is crucial not just for immediate preparedness but also for long-term recovery and resilience. 

Jones highlighted, “It’s about bringing people together. It could be a simple thing as a block party, but that’s about building community in the face of an impact such as flooding.” 

Canada Post stamps raise awareness for endangered frog species

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Peak Web
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a close-up image of an Oregon spotted frog in marshland
PHOTO: Teal Waterstrat / Flickr

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

Canada Post has released new stamps to help raise awareness for two endangered frog species in Canada, the Fowler’s toad and the Oregon spotted frog. The Peak spoke to Eli Yarhi, manager of stamp development at Canada Post, on raising awareness for endangered species and its impact on the environment. 

“The two endangered frogs featured on this stamp issue, they can tell us a lot about the changes that are occurring within the natural world,” Yarhi said. He noted “amphibians are resilient [and] it takes a considerable amount of environmental damage to reduce their populations.” Yarhi pointed to frogs being “indicators for environmental health.” According to Wildlife Preservation Canada, the rising and decline in frog population and health reflects the health of the ecosystem they reside in. 

Yarhi noted this isn’t the first time Canada Post has brought awareness to endangered species. The campaign to commemorate and raise awareness for at-risk species has spanned since 2006. In 2019, they issued stamps for endangered turtles, and did the same for whales in 2022. 

“Saving frog habitats means making our own habitats healthier.” — Manager of stamp development, Eli Yarhi, Canada Post

In Canada, the Fowler’s toad is only found in Ontario, off the northshore of Lake Erie. The Fowler’s toad has been on the endangered species list since 2008, due to degradation of their habitat. These toads struggle with breeding, burrowing, and hibernating because of land development and recreation. The Oregon spotted frog is only found in the Fraser Valley of BC, but originates from Oregon and Washington State. These spotted frogs are severely endangered with only a few hundred left. They also struggle with habitat loss due to development and extraction of resources. They both have brown, spotty colours and reside in areas of shallow waters. With their numbers dwindling, these two species are at severe risk.

“Saving frog habitats means making our own habitats healthier,” Yarhi explained, as both frog species featured on the stamps face threats and “habitat loss from human activity and invasive organisms and pollutants.” Yarhi stressed these frogs “need intervention as soon as possible.” 

The stamps were designed by Jocelyne Saulnier (Joce Creative), and illustrated by Emily S. Damstra. Yarhi explained “there is a competitive process for selecting design concepts, and therefore, designers.” This proceeds to the stamp advisory committee, where the winning design is chosen. Yarhi commended Damstra for illustrating the frog stamps in such detail that they “leap off the page.”

“We did work with experts in the field to really ensure that we were putting together illustrations that are anatomically correct right down to minute detail,” Yarhi said. The stamps have been available across Canada since April 15.

For more information, visit Canada Post’s website.

SFU labour studies seminar navigates oil and gas

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Peak Web
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a white and red oil rig on the ocean
PHOTO: Jan-Rune Smenes Reite / Pexels

By: Hannah Fraser, News Writer

On May 8, SFU held a labour studies seminar, “Shutting Down and Cleaning Up: The Labor Regimes of Oil and Gas Decommissioning.” Peder Østring from the University of Oslo in Norway led the discussion to explain challenges and possibilities “for a just transition” in oil and gas decommissioning, and what this means for the oil and gas workforce. The Peak attended the event for more information.

Oil and gas decommissioning is the “final stage of any oil or gas project and poses significant technical, economic, social and environmental risks.” Decommissioning is involved in the process of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Responsible decommissioning is done so that the producing area is “left in a safe and environmentally acceptable condition.”

In the seminar, Østring explained there has been an “immense development in the last five decades of oceanic built environments,” like pipelines producing oil and gas in the North Sea. He asked what we must do to handle the “urbanization process of the ocean” to keep the climate crisis within the carbon target of two degrees celsius in accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement. He added, “Norway and Canada have a lot in common as oil-producing states.”

“The process of cleaning up and shutting down is in no way unique to the North Sea,” he continued. “$120 million was set aside in subsidies” to clean up abandoned oil wells in 2020 in BC.

“Shutting down this industry will lead to a society-wide calamity,” Østring said. “Norway was already a welfare state before finding oil in 1969.” This means, similar to Canada, there were more publicly-owned jobs before the monopolization of privatized oil and gas companies. With over 70,000 Norweigians currently employed in the oil and gas sector, he noted turning away from this aspect of the economy isn’t easy. 

 “Building [a] future society in a carbon-constrained world would have to entail making use of that physical infrastructure already inherited from fossil capital.” —  Peder Østring, climate policy scholar

Østring discussed a high overlap in skills needed to work in the oil and gas industry, and the renewable energy industry, suggesting the transition of workers from one industry to another could be easy. “The scaling up of decommissioning would at least absorb some people working with the expansion of the oil and gas industry,” as the plugging and abandonment of oil rigs as part of decommissioning also provides jobs, he said.

Østring pointed out that the labour unions in Norway “generally are favourable to expanding the fossil fuel industry.” The country’s “oil tax break” of 2020 also created “huge incentives to start up new oil and gas projects,” posing more challenges for a shift away from these labour systems. While Canada plans to enact a “just transition” away from fossil fuels, advocates worry these targets are too vague in nature and don’t convey the specific steps necessary to achieve net-zero emissions. 

However, Østring said “the largest part of an oil platform is made of steel, but also contains a substantial amount of aluminum [and] copper,” which are materials that are “needed for the construction of wind turbines.” Research grappling with cutting emissions while “constructing a whole new landscape producing renewable energy” suggests that “building [a] future society in a carbon-constrained world would have to entail making use of that physical infrastructure already inherited from fossil capital.” 

But, “if the loss of unrestrained logic of capitalist value gets to dominate, the most likely outcome is that disused structures in the ocean” are shipped to the Global South such as areas of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Once there, ships and machinery can be cheaply dismantled for scrap metal. However, this practice results in “both pollution and precarious labour conditions,” but “will secure the highest profits,” Østring explained.

Østring expressed how a local oil and gas union he visited during his PhD work felt positive about moving towards decommissioning, yet they still supported “continued national investments in oil and gas projects.” According to CBC News, union representatives for Unifor, a Canadian public sector union, “don’t object” to Canada’s transitions away from fossil fuels, but hope this shift doesn’t “leave workers behind.”

Jane’s Walk Vancouver invites conversation and change

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Peak Web
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A scenic,street-level view of Vancouver’s Chinatown
PHOTO: Coen Devlin / The Peak

By: Hannah Fraser, News Writer

From May 2 to May 5, Vancouver’s Jane’s Walk Festival held citizen-led walking tours through Canadian neighbourhoods. Jane’s Walk honours late Canadian writer, urbanist, and activist Jane Jacobs by promoting her idea that “cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” The grassroots organization “encourage[s] participants to observe, reflect, share, question, and collectively reimagine” the places they live in. The Peak corresponded with Maria Jácome, a coordinator for Jane’s Walk Vancouver, for more information.

Jácome said Jane’s Walk celebrates the present and our ability to discuss our collective past in the present. “Jane’s Walk Festival encourages citizens to dialogue both about what they love and is working well in their neighbourhoods, as well what is not and encouraging dialogue about positive changes that can be made in the future.”

The dialogue that takes place during Jane’s Walk involves storytelling and oral history that have been part of Indigenous traditions for thousands of years. “It’s important to recognize the significance of storytelling in creating powerful connections,” she said. Jane’s Walk works to create a space where “leaders and participants alike” can experience the power of connection.

 “Rich conversations sometimes are difficult conversations, and as organizers of Jane’s Walk Festival, we are open and accepting of this.” — Maria Jácome, Jane’s Walk

Jacobs’ 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, discusses “how cities function, evolve, and fail that have become conceptual pillars” for modern-day city planners, urban activists, and policymakers. 

The tour New Chinatown and Cedar Cove led participants through Vancouver’s Chinatown and gave a detailed history of the neighbourhood. Jácome said Jane’s Walk does “outreach to various communities of different heritages, including Asian heritage, to try to persuade walk leaders to organize a walk with various cultural topics.”

A local city planner and executive director of Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders, which advocates for improved public transportation in the Metro Vancouver area, led the kick-off event for Jane’s Walk Vancouver. It highlighted the poorly planned and managed transit “pain points” in Downtown Vancouver. 

Experiencing our neighbourhoods and the problems that take place there first-hand “could motivate people to take action and make positive changes,” said Jácome.

Jácome said Jane’s Walk “doesn’t have a [specific] focus at all, that’s kind of the whole point.” Rather, “it’s really up to leaders what they want to focus on.”

Other walks this year included Productive Lands from Past to Present, a walk led by a “passionate team of three urbanists” to discuss culture and tapestry in the False Creek Flats of Vancouver. The Kitsilano Missing Middle Midrise Walking Tour was another walk exploring the history of “where apartments in Kits are allowed to be built.”

Though Jane’s Walk began in Toronto, they now hold walks in many different countries and cities globally. Find more information at janeswalk.org.

Stop asking me to do things

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Peak Web
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Caricature of a burglar wearing a black mask, a striped shirt, and holding a bag. They are gesturing to be quiet by putting their index finger in front of their mouth.
ILLUSTRATION: Den Kinanti / The Peak

By: Sonya Janeshewski, SFU Student

Everyone always says sharing is caring. Well, people who believe that are the reason we will never move forward as a society. Once you’ve made your bed, you have to lie in it. You ask me to hold the door because you’re carrying suitcases and pushing a stroller? Maybe you should have thought of that and grown a couple extra arms. It’s just common sense. Is this The Plaza Hotel? Have you mistaken me for a butler? I’m fairly sure that’s racist somehow. Ugh, people have way too much audacity these days.

I mean, humans are not living things. We aren’t supposed to be social. We are meant for solitude and independence. Translation: stop bothering me and do it yourself. Why would I drive you to the airport? Am I an Uber? A taxi service? We all know you’re rushing to your ex’s apartment in a doomed attempt to finally make him commit to you, despite knowing full well that his bedroom looks like an abandoned fishmonger’s stall and his face looks like the fish. Maybe if you miss your flight, it will give you time to see how ridiculous that is. Don’t make your decisions my problem. I’m just trying to avoid being social at all costs.

As mentioned earlier, one of the main issues in society today is children. Trust me, I’m not a hypocrite. I admit to having once briefly been a child, but I was in a very dark place and regret that phase deeply. It’s just that children these days have no manners. They seem incapable of pretending like they don’t exist and making it impossible for me to pretend they don’t exist. They also have no sense of safety. Do you know why they call it stranger danger? Because you should never endanger someone with the presence of your child.

The other day at the park, I was approached by one of these creatures who demanded (well, they asked politely, but I still felt offended) I return the soccer ball that had rolled near me. I proceeded to tell them not to speak to me as I could be a kidnapper, but they seemed undeterred. So much so that I started wanting to kidnap them after a while, so I proceeded to explain that if you do not leave now, the only thing you’ll be getting is a restraining order (because that is a completely rational thing to say to a minor). This earned the frankly childish reaction of tears, but I was merely teaching this child a lesson about not talking to strangers! I suppose no good deed goes unpunished. Perhaps if more people were like me, we wouldn’t have so many adults trusting strangers either. 

The number of times I have been asked to watch people’s phones or bags or babies while they left for some ridiculous reason, like needing to use the bathroom, is absurd. Eventually, I got so tired of being asked to watch that I just started taking them. I mean, they should not have trusted their valuables with a stranger, who could be a thief who would just up and leave with it! Soon, I taught so many people this lesson that I was taken to the police station. All I have to say as the modern-day Robin Hood is that people these days just don’t understand how good a person I am. 

Peakie gets outdoorsy

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Peak Web
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Mountains near a body of water. The reflection of the mountains is visible in the water.
PHOTO: eberhard grossgasteiger / Pexels

By: Yasmin Hassan, Staff Writer and C Icart, Humour Editor

Dear Peakie, 

I want to preface this by saying I was a runner before running became cool. I’ve been in the pain cave, I’ve had nasty blisters, I’ve pooped in unfortunate places. I am also a vegan, which makes me doubly better than anyone else. So here’s my issue, I accidentally swallowed a fly while chasing a PB. It all happened so fast! How can I atone for my sins?

Sincerely, 
At least I got some protein

Dear At least I got some protein,

Sounds like the great outdoors hasn’t been treating you so kindly. It may be because you’ve been leaving unwanted gifts in its domain. It’s clear that running gives you the runs (how ironic). Perhaps it’s time for some self-reflection; is that diet really doing you any good, pal? Too many beans, lentils, and fibrous veggies, mixed with an ambition to beat a personal best, will give anyone a distressed digestive system. You’re vegan, eating all the veg; maybe that fly was Mother Nature’s way of saying you need balance in your diet (or to leave some for the rest of us). Quick fix? Wear a beekeeper’s helmet while you run. Keeps the bugs out, and you won’t be able to see your smartwatch, which means you won’t be focused on hitting any PBs; just keep running!

Bon appétit,
Peakie

Dear Peakie, 

In my free time, I like to engage in what I call colonial LARPing, which is when I go outside and pretend that I am Simon Fraser himself. I do this by looking at bodies of water, pointing dramatically, and claiming that I discovered them. I would like to take it to the next level by engaging in fur trading. I keep seeing these signs around Burnaby Mountain advertising bears, but I have yet to spot one. Do you have any tips? 

Sincerely, 
Wannabe Explorer

Dear Wannabe Explorer,

I admire your adventurous spirit, which truly embodies that overly ambitious white man core. As for furs, you’ve really gotta work your way up to bears. Have you ever seen an oversized tree rat (also known as a squirrel)? Start with those, and then once you’ve used your furs (perhaps a fuzzy pair of socks), prepare yourself for bear hunting! Slather yourself in thick, organic honey to ensure you don’t lose grip on your hunting rifle. Then, strap pieces of sashimi-grade salmon onto your arms, just in case you get hungry. Finally, take a bushel of all kinds of garbage in order to ward off your natural scent; they do have a really good sense of smell and might remember you! If hunting doesn’t work out, try LARPing in the fur section of your local thrift store; imagine the shock Simon Fraser would have if he saw those prices.

Happy hunting!
Peakie

Dear Peakie, 

Last week, I was on a hike with my partner. When we got to the lookout, I asked them to take some photos of me and they said, “One second.” They then got on one knee and proposed. I was like, “What?” and asked if anyone was filming this. They said no. So, I was like, “OK” and asked if they had secretly been filming me over the years so they could make a cute TikTok. THEY ALSO SAID NO! So, I was like, “No, please try again in a more crowded area with professional photographers and videographers.” AITA for not wanting a non-documented proposal? 

Sincerely, 
If someone gets proposed to in the forest and nobody hears it . . .

Dear If someone gets proposed to in the forest and nobody hears it,

Can we call ourselves assholes for having standards? For wanting a slice of the romanticized life we see on TV and dream about? They say embrace reality? I say create your reality; don’t listen to what everyone else says. As that one white woman once said, haters gon’ hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. You deserve Bollywood-level production for your proposal. I’m talking 2013 random flash mob-level effort, and that’s the minimum. Your partner should feel grateful they get to revise their first attempt, like editing an essay! And if they still don’t deliver, let’s just say Peakie would treat you right.

Best of luck (and call me),
Peakie

I don’t know how to feel about Kung Fu Panda 4

By
Peak Web
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silhouette of people watching Kung Fu Panda on a movie theatre screen
ILLUSTRATION: Aliya Nourlan / The Peak

By: Jin Song, Peak Associate

It’s hard to understate the impact of Kung Fu Panda (2008) on pre-teen me, along with many others. The scene revealing the truth behind the secret ingredient is something I still think about to this day. It tells us that the most successful, powerful thing you can be is yourself — truly yourself. This message of identity is universally important, but it was extra special to me coming from an intentionally Chinese-inspired movie. Representation matters . . . even when it’s from anthropomorphic animals. It’s Chinese North American in the best way possible and crafted with so much heart.

From the kung fu stances to the deliciously rendered food, this series is one of the best examples of positive East Asian representation I have seen. We’ve come a long way from the likes of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Full Metal Jacket. So many parts of Po’s characterization resonated with me, like his love for dumplings and his nerdy excitement over martial arts. The thing that impacted me the most, however, is his search for identity and discovery that it’s everything put together that made him himself. His relationship with his family also calls to the intersection of filial piety so prevalent in many Asian cultures. Mixed with the desire to do things your own way — it’s an ode to the coming of age.

Kung Fu Panda shows us how our protagonist, Po, becomes the Dragon Warrior, a kung fu prodigy described in an in-universe legend. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) has Po grow into his role and confront his past. In Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), Po grows beyond his role by becoming a teacher and taking on more responsibilities. So when I heard the news of a fourth movie, I was perplexed. Po’s arc was complete. What else was there?

Despite this, I went into the theatre on May 2 with an open mind, and came out rather confused.

Let’s be clear: Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) is not a bad movie. The animation is gorgeous, the shots are dynamic, the scenery is a love song to Ancient China, and Jack Black’s voice acting is flawless. Po’s adoptive goose father (Mr. Ping) and biological panda father (Li) are my favourite parts of the film, and I could not stop smiling every time they were on screen.

“This message of identity is universally important, but it was extra special to me coming from an intentionally Chinese-inspired movie. Representation matters . . . even when it’s anthropomorphic animals.”

Yet, something is off. I don’t necessarily disagree with the central theme of the film — change and its necessity — but the way it’s executed feels clunky and breaks immersion. Shifu, Po’s kung fu teacher, tells him it’s time for him to pass the mantle on and stop being the Dragon Warrior so he can be a spiritual leader instead . . . which would make perfect sense if Po was old or not in tune with his spirituality.

The audience has seen Po work so hard to become the Dragon Warrior, not only for himself but for those he wants to protect. To see him need to give up this role for such an absurd reason feels like a backsliding of his character. Throughout Kung Fu Panda 4, Po is still the kindhearted, silly panda beloved by fans, but it seems like he’s confused about his place in the world. It’s a strange characterization decision on the part of the writers, considering Po has previously figured out his identity. 

In Kung Fu Panda 3, there’s a scene where the main villain asks Po who he is. His response? “I’ve been asking myself that question. Am I the son of a panda? The son of a goose? A student? A teacher? I’m all of those things.”

Po’s character arc is complete. Early in the movie, Po himself all but acknowledges this. The unfolding plot doesn’t do much for his, the newly introduced Zhen’s, or anyone else’s character for that matter. There’s also the strange exclusion of the Furious Five, which was very awkwardly explained. Though the previous three movies were very much for kids, they still took themselves seriously, whereas this film had jokes crammed in left and right. The vibe was “quirky, silly TV episode” rather than a genuine installment to the otherwise heartfelt, thoughtful series. Altogether, I felt like this was, indeed, a cash grab, rather than a project born of passion. I don’t doubt that the individuals who worked on the film are passionate, but I’m sad to admit that I feel disillusioned by the corporation. 

In all, I’m honestly not sure who thought that we needed a fourth Kung Fu Panda to begin with. Po has grown as a character throughout the original trilogy of movies, and so have we the audience. The core of Kung Fu Panda is its emphasis on personal identity, and while this latest installment is still entertaining, it’s sad to see where it stands in context to the previous movies.

The nice weather is back and so is Peakie

By
Peak Web
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Ants walking on a stick in front of a sunset.
PHOTO: Prabir Kashyap / Unsplash

By: Mahla Rae, SFU student and C Icart, Humour Editor

Dear Peakie, 

I think it’s time for me to be brave and ask a question that I’ve been avoiding for years. 2024 is the year I don’t let anything hold me back. Asking questions is how we learn and grow as people. There is no reason to be afraid. I’ve read this column before, I know you do tend to be judgemental, but maybe you are also turning over a new leaf. So, here I go. Deep breath in, deep breath out . . . What in the world is a canuck!? 

Sincerely, 
Don’t tell the hockey bros 

Dear Scaredy, 

Your bravery in admitting this is . . . interesting. Turning over a new leaf is important and can be very scary. Fortunately for me, I’ve never had to go through this and never will. Your comment on past perceptions of me as judgemental, while clearly wrong and coming from a place of jealousy, are noted. I would never claim to be perfect, because everyone I’ve ever met has directly (or indirectly) agreed that I am, so there is no need for me to say it. Based on the over explanatory tone of your message, I can tell you are from Canada. In this case, the fearful rambling before your question is understood, especially with your mention of the hockey bros. Clearly, you are aware that the Canucks are Vancouver’s hockey team, so it should be quite obvious that a canuck is an individual hockey player on said team.

Regards,
Perfect Vancouverite 

Dear Peakie,

There’s this guy in my class that I think is sooooooo cute. Like next level hottie. So obviously, my plan to catch his attention was to be as mysterious as possible. Did you know there’s a wikiHow page for that? When he and I got paired for a group project, I knew I had him. Given that wikiHow’s tip number five is to “avoid being available 24/7,” I just never responded to any of his messages about the project. Today was the day of our presentation and he was staring at me intensely the entire time. What else should I do to have him fall head over heels for me?

Mysteriously, 
Coquette Enigma

Dearest Coquette Enigma, 

You have come to the right place, all of my Hinge practice has led to this. WikiHow is essential to starting any plan to catch a guy’s attention, but the next phase will seal the deal. Since you’ve already grabbed future pookie’s attention, now you need to work on making him come to you. While wikiHow recommends making eye contact for two seconds, you should actually stare directly at him until he makes eye contact regardless of how long it takes. Once eye contact is made, hold it until he gets intimidated enough to look away. Do this repeatedly as often as you can throughout class. By the end of class he will come up to you to talk. This next step is IMPORTANT! Before he speaks you need to cut him off immediately and ask what his problem is. Out of only 102 attempts, this has worked 30 times. Follow these steps and you will have a fellow forever in love with you.

Xoxo,
Gossip Girl 

Dear Peakie, 

The ants are determined to make my home theirs . . . and honestly, who am I to stop them? Can I carry 50 times my bodyweight? Nope, I cannot! I tried to buy ant traps online from London Drugs, but with the store closures, who knows if they’ll ever get here. So, I’ve decided to pivot and make my home more welcoming to these earless guests. Obviously, I’ve been leaving food out for them. What else should I be doing?

Hospitably, 
Mi casa es tu casa 

Dear new ant host,

This is a fantastic inquiry and I’ve got tons of suggestions! Some might call me a “good bug host” wink wink. One quick and easy trick is to find your favourite fabric, like your favourite sweater, and cut it into strips to lay out around the food you’ve left out so they can nap comfortably when they get sleepy after they eat. Next, a perfect investment is an essential oil diffuser. Put in relaxing or energising scents which are perfect for your lungless little friends. They will soak them up through the holes covering their body providing a constant full body aromatherapy. Put these tips into action as soon as you can and watch your new guests become roommates!

Best, 
Peakie

Food for Thought: The journey of matcha

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Peak Web
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A spoonful of matcha powder on a wooden board alongside a matcha whisk and cup of green tea.
PHOTO: Matcha & Co. / Unsplash

By: Kaja Antic, Staff Writer

With summer weather right around the corner, many are turning away from cozy winter mochas and are looking for a new caffeinated option. Some tend to prefer classic iced coffees, while others may look to try the more colourful options on the menu.

An option that has become increasingly popular over the years is the iced matcha. Yes, these also come in hot varieties, but its vibrant green colour is usually only seen through the clear containers of cold drinks. This powdered tea offers around 70mg of caffeine per cup, making it a more moderate option compared to brewed coffee, which can yield between 100mg to 140mg per cup. With its earthy taste and thicker texture, this drink has been introduced in many North American cafés in recent decades, though its origin dates back centuries.

The plant that green teas come from — camellia sinensis — is thought to have been cultivated in China over 2700 years ago for medicinal and consumption purposes. Tea preparation methods evolved over the following centuries, with the origin of powdered green tea first coming up during the Tang Dynasty, which lasted from the 7th to 10th centuries. Steamed tea leaves were compacted into bricks for ease during transportation. The tea itself was prepared by pulverizing the leaves within these tea bricks into a fine powder, which was then mixed with salt and water. 

“Consuming matcha was seen as a way of attaining enlightenment, and ceremonies continue today with the purpose of intellectual exchange and care for continuing traditions.”

In the Song Dynasty, which lasted from the 10th to 13th centuries, the focus shifted to whisking this tea powder with hot water, similar to how matcha is often prepared today in cafés around the world. The term matcha stems from the combination of Japanese words “matsu,” which means to rub, and “cha,” which means tea. This tea mixture was introduced to Japan in the late 12th century by Zen Buddhist monk Myouan Eisai. 

After returning to Japan from his Zen studies in 1191, Eisai also brought back green tea seeds with him, having learned the whisking methods that were used to create the caffeinated drink. Eisai noted the tea improved his Zen meditations, with the drink eventually becoming a staple in the Japanese tea ceremony — an art known as “chado.” Consuming matcha was seen as a way of attaining enlightenment, and ceremonies continue today with the purpose of intellectual exchange and care for continuing traditions. 

The movement of these tea seeds would revolutionize the powdered drink, creating the difference between matcha and other powdered green teas. Matcha comes from tencha tea leaves that are grown in the shade, whereas other green powder teas come from the same tea leaves grown in the sun. The shading process adds the amino acid theanine which interacts with caffeine to create the sense of “calm alertness” that Eisai described. 

Today, there are two common grades of matcha. Ceremonial is the more refined grade that is used to make traditional matcha tea when whisked with hot water, while culinary grade is more coarse and bitter, and is often used in baking as well as matcha lattes. 

Iced or not, matcha lattes are my personal favourite, and I highly suggest trying it if you never have. Renaissance Cafe on SFU’s Burnaby campus is my usual go-to for matcha lattes (I particularly like them made with oat milk). Whether you are looking for a new iced caffeine source for the summer, or a calming energy boost for the winter, matcha is perfect for any season — and there are centuries of history to back up its popularity. 

Navigating the soaring costs of groceries

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Peak Web
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produce stand in a grocery store isle
PHOTO: Jin Song / The Peak

By: Yasmin Hassan, Staff Writer

If you’ve recently gone grocery shopping, you’ve likely noticed concerning rises in food prices. Why has everything gone up a couple of bucks, but the portions have gotten smaller (also known as shrinkflation)? Why have the prices for staple items skyrocketed in the past few years with little consensus on why? Why are our wages so low, and our produce prices incredibly high? These are just some questions many people like me are asking. I’m no economist, I’ll admit that right now. But, that doesn’t mean these terms aren’t worth trying to understand, nor does this mean we shouldn’t hold powerful parties accountable.

Many people are speculating why grocery giants have done little to change the costly nature of buying food. Back in March 2023, CEOs of the largest grocery store corporations (Loblaw, Metro, and Empire) met before Parliament to defend against accusations of profit-mongering, or, as the NDP might call it, “greedflation.” I’m not the only one who thinks these costs that affect food inflation aren’t entirely up to supply-chain mishaps or the carbon tax. It’s a bit unrealistic for company CEOs to expect people to afford basic necessities like food, hygienic products, and other commodities when they’re economically unobtainable. 

The NDP passed a bill to lower grocery prices and increase the extent to which the Competition Bureau has the power to prevent large corporations from abusing their dominant positions in the market. On top of that, organizations like the community union ACORN have also taken action in the form of protests and calling for increased taxes on corporate grocery profits, but some are saying that that’s not the answer to our problems. Another thing you might’ve seen is the recent Loblaw boycott — Loblaws is Out of Control — that started as a sub-Reddit, grew to 70,000 members and is now happening across Canada. The reasons driving these grocery prices up are like a trifle cake: too many layers. We can sit here and blame greed (a valid point) or the general rise of inflation, but the bottom line is that there are so many interchanging factors that have an unforeseen effect on consumers. 

This isn’t just about how food prices have risen —  this all boils down to a reflection of the overall high cost of living in Canada right now.

And how do our farmers feel about this? How have they been affected? Executive director of the BC Association of Farmers Markets, Heather O’Hara said farmers who sell at farmers markets are “not necessarily interested in volume and better margins” and that “the goal of a conventional mass grocer is different than the goal of a farmers market.” As much as no one’s immune to food inflation, farmers are impacted in a similar way. Although many say it’s better to shop locally and support your farmers, which I totally agree with, sometimes it can be pricey! It’s all fair game, though, because oftentimes, the heightened cost of production is reflected in the cost of the product. 

So, what can we do? Will fixed-price ceilings or prize freezes work? I doubt it. Prize freezes, according to some (and me), seem like a bit of a publicity stunt coming from the major grocery corporations in order to please the public for a while. Price controls won’t do anyone any good in the long run, because one way or another, the corporation’s expenses will be cut so they can continue to pocket outrageous profits — and that might mean actions like layoffs. Canada also relies heavily on imported food, especially during winter, so limiting exports won’t be beneficial either. But it’s not completely miserable. Some say that if we can increase food resilience —  which means diversifying food sources to reduce the risk of shortages due to importation or weather — and reduce domestic trade barriers, it might help bring costs down. Wage push inflation might also help in propelling the momentum for wages to catch up to high prices, but that will definitely take time. 

Although it is getting better, wages are low and slow to catch up to the rate of inflation at this point. Even if we might be getting paid more, prices are still rising beyond pay increases, which makes the overall cost of living really uncomfortable. Raising wages is important, but this doesn’t guarantee prices stop surging. If inflation is slowing down, and people get higher wages, that could lead to more spending which only makes inflation worse! Ultimately, wages need to keep up with inflation rates. Many of us will never be able to buy a home in the Lower Mainland at this rate, and that’s not to mention find an affordable apartment to rent — so why not at least make basic necessities something that’s accessible? Why should a family of four expect to spend an average of $16,297.20 on food this year? That’s not even accounting for people who have to choose between putting food on the table or paying rent for the month; how is it fair to them? This isn’t just about how food prices have risen — this all boils down to a reflection of the overall high cost of living in Canada right now. We should hold grocery giants responsible when guarantee price gouging, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only solution to this mess. What is clear is that the government needs to make affordability a top priority.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us:
[email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024