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Former SFU mascot candidate grilled by hiring manager

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Peak Web
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McFogg in an office looking super serious. Outside there's a line of mascots waiting to be interviewed to be his replacement.
ILLUSTRATION: Dan Kinanti / The Peak

By: Izzy Cheung, Staff Writer

I sit down at the table, its surface cold against my trembling hands. The smooth papers rustle beneath my palms, my fingers pressing deep wrinkles into the material. I shouldn’t be nervous — I’ve gone over every scenario in my mind and prepared myself for any possibility. I’ve studied this for years, and I know that I’m qualified. But as I stare across the table, at the face that I know will be judging me more than I’ve ever been judged in my entire life, I know that my nerves are justified. 

His stare is sharp, laced with a façade of kind understanding, but clearly tormented deep under the surface. Those eyes have seen horrors over the years that no one could speak to but him. It’s ever-so indicative of the immense pressure that comes with a position like his. 

He watches me, gently tipping his red cap as if attempting to say hello. It’s a gesture that welcomes and threatens me: “You’re permitted here, but only if I like what you have to say.” Actions like these are only the tip of his commendable iceberg. 

As we sit in silence, his eyes dart from my face to the sheets of paper that are now laid out on the table. A headshot of my face sits in the corner of the page, along with a blurb about my life and some of my greatest accomplishments. He seems to gloss over all of those, instead searching for different information. 

“So,” he finally speaks, his voice gruff and tinted with a Scottish lilt, “You’re looking to replace?” 

“Absolutely not, sir,” I correct him, shifting my hands beneath the table so he can’t see how much they’re trembling. “No one could replace you. I’m only hoping to bring my talents to the community in the same way that you do. I would never regard myself as your replacement.” 

His thick brown eyebrows furrow, matching the downward curl of his moustache. “How do you think you can serve this community when you don’t want to replace me?” 

“Nobody wants to take your place,” I plead. “We all respect you so much. There’s no way we would be able to meet your standards—” 

“If you claim to not be able to meet my standards, then you shouldn’t even be here,” he cuts me off abruptly. “I know you have the potential. I know you have the talent. But if YOU don’t even think you can take my place, nor can you properly show me that’s the case, then I don’t see why you’d even bother trying to come here in the first place.” 

Dread seeps through my skin. “Mr. McFogg, please—” 

He shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. “None of you candidates take this position seriously enough. All of you walk in here with your tails tucked between your legs in fear of the fact that I’m going to yell at you. Why do you think it’s been so long since I retired? Why do you think no one has taken my place since then?” 

McFogg flings his arms out suddenly, and my chair screeches against the floor as I jolt myself backwards in anticipation. “I was enjoying my much needed time off before I was called back to help find my replacement.” He rants, his voice now at the pitch of a yell. “This school, it’s like a ball that I’ve been chained to for years, and I can’t be set free until I know that the community is taken care of. If you cower when I yell at you, I know you’ll never be able to handle the pressure that comes with this position. I need the best replacement possible, and I sure know that it isn’t you.” 

I can’t take any more of it. The chair crashes to the ground in a heap as I stand up, the form of McFogg blurring through the tears in my eyes. I hear him grunt a gruff “good riddance,” before I take off, pushing through the door and past the rest of the mascot-hopefuls who will also inevitably have their dreams crushed the minute they sit down in front of the dog. 

Video games that helped me cope with health anxiety

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Peak Web
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A moody illustration of person with long disheveled hair in a dark purple-lit bed room playing a game on a console, things sprawled on the floor and star-themed decor on the wall.
ILLUSTRATION: Sandra Cao / The Peak

By: Abbey Perley, Assistant Production Editor

Content warning: mentions of illness and death.

Illness anxiety, previously called hypochondria, is a type of anxiety where the affected person constantly believes they have a serious medical problem. For me, every new freckle signals cancer, and the common cold will kill me. This thinking defines large chunks of my life by rendering me physically and mentally weak for days or weeks in a row, despite how unfounded my worries are. It can even create new physical symptoms that I never had to begin with to convince me that I’m seriously ill. 

When these periods began, I turned to video games as distractions, and accidentally stumbled on my greatest coping mechanism: games that made me think about myself. Here are two single-player games that helped me reflect on my relationship with health anxiety, and how they’ve contributed to my healing. 

Celeste

Celeste is a 2D-platformer released in 2018. The story follows Madeline, a girl who wants to scale the fabled Celeste Mountain to combat her own depression and anxiety. Soon into her climb, Madeline discovers Badeline, a ghost-being that embodies what she considers to be her worst qualities. Badeline haunts Madeline through her entire climb, aggravating the environment and discouraging her from continuing. Slowly, the subject matter transforms from a game about climbing to the journey of a girl struggling to accept all parts of herself. Through dialogues with NPCs, we learn about Madeline’s relationship with mental health and see her grapple with what will ultimately allow her (and the player) to reach the top of the mountain. 

I found myself wrecked over Madeline’s tumultuous relationship with Badeline. Bundled in elegantly saturated pixel art and melodic original soundtracks was the relationship between the part of me that had health anxiety, and the part of me that wanted it gone. I’d never understand that these two beings were supposed to be united as clearly as I did while playing Celeste. Although not directly related to health anxiety, the journey up the mountain showed me that I should stop trying to destroy what I didn’t like about myself. Instead, I should speak to the fears that created my anxiety, and work with them to fulfill their needs of keeping me safe. 

Spiritfarer

As stated by the developers, “Spiritfarer is a cozy management game about dying” (released in 2020). They’re right; you play as Stella, the grim reaper in a world made up of stray islands on a vast colourful sea. Her job is to house spirits on her boat and help them fulfill their last wishes before sending them to the afterlife. To do this, you as the player complete quests, cook food to feed the spirits, and build them cabins to sleep in while they travel with you. 

Something that hit me quickly was that each character I met and cared for was already dead. Does that mean I didn’t care about them, or thought they didn’t matter? No; it was the opposite. Whether I learned they died old or young, or to dementia, or cancer, the process of housing them on my ship until they were ready to pass on comforted some of the fears that probably created my health anxiety in the first place. The game’s soft-hearted quests, gentle piano soundtracks, and meticulous 2D animation nurtured the first positive feelings I’d had about death in years. Admittedly, this game was difficult to play due to the subject matter, but when I was forced to send my spirits to the afterlife, I was reminded that their beauty and richness in death mimicked how they led their lives, and that I should live life proudly, too. 

Commissioner of Indigenous Languages discusses importance of language preservation

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the SFU Burnaby Campus’s reflection pond and the academic quadrangle building surrounding it.
PHOTO: Allyson Klassen / The Peak

By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer

Content warning: mentions of residential schools and anti-Indigenous racism. 

After Canada’s implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act in 2019, aiming to support the reawakening of Indigenous languages in Canada, the Office Commission for Indigenous Languages was founded. The first Commissioner of this independent organization, former Stsmél̓qen ((Skeetchestn) Chief, Dr. Ronald E. Ignace, gave a keynote address at SFU to discuss the importance of this initiative. His lecture started off SFU Multilingual 2024, a yearly week-long festival to uplift and celebrate diversity and language. 

“Canada has a history now known to the world as cultural genocide,” Ignace said, referencing the history of Indigenous languages being systematically repressed by colonial powers. These acts “gave rise to our Indigenous languages being silenced, oppressed, and stigmatized by colonial policies, legislation, and systemic, racialized abuse.” Through the implementation of residential schools across Canada, many Indigenous children were separated from their cultures, heritage, languages, and identities. 

“These are purposeful acts. By targeting our languages, they are targeting our identity,” he said. While the colonial powers’ goal “was to take the Indian out of the child,” Ignace stated the Commission’s initiative is to “put the Indian back into the child.” 

According to UNESCO, there are over 70 Indigenous languages spoken across Canada. Every Indigenous language spoken in Canada is considered at risk due to a lack of speakers. Yet, since 2016, speakers of Xa’islak’ala (Haisla), Halq̓eméylem (Halkomelem), Haíłzaqv (Heiltsuk), and Michif all increased by over 33%. “It is through language that children receive their cultural heritage,” Ignace said. 

Among numerous initiatives, the Commission is working on research for a language directory. This “research involves determining what are root languages, versus dialects versus regional variations.” 

Ignace is the former Chief of the Stsmél̓qen Indian Band, leading the community for more than 30 years. He also served as Chairman of the Secwépemc (Shuswap) Nation Tribal Council and president of its cultural society. “It is the truth of the struggle of Indigenous Peoples and survival, especially over the past 30 years that have led me here today,” he said.  The objective of the Commission is “to assist Indigenous people across the country, to breathe life back into our Indigenous languages.

“I think it’s important that we understand each other’s rights so that we can make proper space for our languages to be properly honoured and respected,” Ignace stated. “All languages are sacred languages.

“There’s hope, and it’s in the Indigenous Languages Act and the precedent it sets. It took 30 years of struggle to get to the promulgation of that act.” 

Clean Air 604 aims to create safer arts spaces

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Peak Web
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ILLUSTRATION of an intimate open mic event where people are wearing N-95 style masks covering their noses. Someone is speaking into a microphone and people are socially distanced from each other and having a good time. There is an air purifier in the background.
ILLUSTRATION: Sonya Janeshewski / The Peak

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor

Clean Air 604 is currently fundraising to make Vancouver venues safer by “providing events with free masks, air purifiers, and more” in response to the lack of COVID-19 precautions at arts and culture events. 

“The current state of accessibility for Vancouver arts and culture events is dismal,” said Hamzah Mansour, the founder and organizer of Clean Air 604. “Many people have been pushed out of spaces since the start of the pandemic, especially since COVID-19 protections were completely dismantled and abandoned starting in 2022. It is a central belief of mine that everyone deserves access to arts and culture in their communities, and disabled people are very often overlooked and left to either take on unreasonable and unfair risks or miss out entirely,” he added. 

Currently, Clean Air 604 has raised $350 of their $1,300 goal. On their website, the organization notes upcoming events and which precautions will be in place, such as whether masks are required and if air purifiers will be used. While Mansour noted that the organization cannot eliminate all risk of infection and that the responsibility to do so should fall on the government and public health, Clean Air 604 is “committed to doing anything we can to help our community.” He said, “We only exist as a reaction to their inaction.”

Their upcoming goals include expanding their library of materials, such as air purifiers, to lend at events and organizing events outside of the arts. “We want to keep having a stable inventory of masks to provide free of charge at events, with a variety of types and sizes to accommodate everyone,” Mansour explained. 

Clean Air 604 is not the first organization of its kind. “Clean Air initiatives have been starting around the world for over a year, with a notable example and main inspiration for our project being Clean Air Club based out of Chicago,” Mansour said. Clean Air Club also provides a map on their website noting where similar initiatives are based, such as Clean Air Ottawa.

“It’s already very hard being a musician in one of the most expensive cities in the world, and the lack of mitigations and protections in place at shows not only puts attendees at risk, but also puts artists themselves at greater risk, many of whom belong to marginalized groups. The artists that are most at risk of being pushed out of these spaces are among the most important voices to have at a time like this and are voices we can’t afford to lose,” Mansour added.

Upcoming events include Sorcery & Solidarity, a “BIPOC centered Magic and Healers market” that will sell “zines, candles, jewelry, ceramics,” and more. Past events listed on their website include Sumud صمود: Poetry for Palestine, a reading at the Vancouver Black Library, and Under The Table, an open mic for queer and disabled writers.  

“While I’m able-bodied and not immunocompromised, I still see the importance, from those around me and those speaking out, of ensuring disabled people are not forgotten or harmed,” Mansour said. “This is definitely something that anyone can help with, even just going to one of these events and being an advocate in that way. Wear your mask, bring some friends, and encourage them to wear theirs,” he added. Mansour also said that asking events and venues directly can encourage them to create safer spaces and protect against COVID-19. “Encourage masking at your workplace or in your labour unions, mention mask blocs and how high quality masks (N95s and similar) can be provided for free. Anything you do helps and it’s never too late to start taking precautions or add more layers of protection.” 

Sex workers need legal protection

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Peak Web
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Woman lying on a bed, wearing lingerie
PHOTO: Valeria Boltneva / Pexels

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

Content warning: mentions of sex trafficking and sexual violence. 

Sex workers should be treated professionally, and are worthy of respect. Canadian legislation is very behind in properly recognizing sex workers. The criminalization of sex work endangers workers’ safety and rights. In Canada, sex workers are still not protected if they experience harassment, or need to seek legal assistance. Without legislation that protects sex workers, their jobs will continue to be stigmatized both socially and systematically.

Historically, sex work has been seen as a shameful occupation and is still frowned upon by many individuals today. The stigma surrounding sex work often revolves around the assumption that these jobs are a last resort for people who are desperate to make money. This is not necessarily the case. For many, their sex work careers allow them to express themselves creatively. Some sex workers are in the profession for the benefits of making extra money to cover things like everyday expenses and tuition costs, and others genuinely just enjoy their work.

The lack of regulation for sex work makes it easier for clients to harass them, putting them at risk of violence. Bill C-36 claims protect sex workers, yet criminalizes their work by declaring it “a form of sexual exploitation.” The supposed “safety legislation” of the Bill exposes sex workers to more risks, harassment, and potential arrests. For example, Bill C-36 makes it illegal to run bawdy houses, yet they are one of the safest ways to conduct sex work. The lack of access to such houses leads to increased isolation, posing risks for sex workers. 

Another example is how some sex workers have the ability to screen clients prior to engagement in their activities. Monitoring allows sex workers more safety by weeding out potentially dangerous clients, but not all sex workers have the luxury to choose their clients due to financial restraints. This shows a systemic issue with how some sex workers can afford better protections, while others can’t guarantee their safety.

Sex trafficking is another problem that results from little regulation. For these reasons, it’s extremely pertinent to have more regulations and labour rights put in place to differentiate between what is legal and consented, and what is not. Bill C-38, which is an Act to amend the Criminal Code, was passed to prevent exploitation and sex trafficking. Strengthening protection against sex trafficking enables safety for sex workers by reducing violence and discrimination.  

Perceptions and legislation surrounding sex work still have a long way to go regarding adequate protection and visibility, as sex workers are at an increased risk of violence — with up to 50% of them experiencing sexual violence. Not only is this true for the legal system, but when it comes to sex workers seeking support and treatment in medical care, the healthcare system can still be judgemental of the profession. Interactions with professionals outside of the sex work occupation shouldn’t come with bias. Sex workers still face discrimination today — especially minorities such as disabled, BIPOC, or 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, who face higher risks due to systemic vulnerabilities. 

Today, the lack of respect and understanding for sex workers is still a problem. The stereotypes that surround these jobs are problematic and harmful to workers’ confidence, safety, health, and rights. Recently, New Westminster’s city council passed a new protection policy to promote safety and security for sex workers, in collaboration with them. Proper regulations need to be implemented to facilitate the needs and rights of the workers. Insight from sex workers must be included so that a positive shift is made to garner safety and protection in the sex work occupation.  

The Bright-er Side: Back to School

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Peak Web
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Photo of an empty SFU lecture hall
PHOTO: Jin Song / The Peak

By: Jin Song, SFU Student

It’s that time again! 

My alarm goes off before the sun is up. Bleary-eyed, I crawl out of bed to wait in the cold, dark morning for the bus that’s running late. At my lecture, I realized that I really should’ve studied more during reading week while frantically scribbling down the lecturer’s trigonometric integral solution.

It’s easy to take our careers as students for granted and forget that for most of history, most people were illiterate. Even today, education is out of reach for some 244 million children globally. That we can devote so much of our attention to learning new things and improving our skills is truly an honour. That’s not to say that formal education is the only path to happiness, but those who want the opportunity should be able to get it. 

Education is, at its core, a progression of the self. How glorious it is that we have access to it, alongside so many other passionate students and aided by professors who want to see us succeed?

But at the end of the day, when all else is said . . . reading breaks are nice exactly because we have the opportunity to go back to school. They wouldn’t be breaks at all without the more mundane, difficult, and academically rigorous weeks of the year.

SFU student surveys local beaches for microplastics

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of sand that contains multiple pieces of small colourful plastics.
PHOTO: GaiBru Photo / Inside Water

By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer

“Plastic is everywhere. We see, use, and integrate it into our lives every day,” said Helen Wong. Initially inspired by the lessons she learned from an environmental science studies class by Dr. Anna Hippmann, Wong became “inspired to do [her] own research, especially on microplastics which we don’t typically see at first glance, and learn more about their impacts on the world around us.”

Microplastics are defined as particles of plastic that can permeate through soil, water, and air, and can be caused by the breakdown of plastics in the environment, like cigarette butts, cosmetics, and polyester clothing. Over 460 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, while less than 9% are properly recycled. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), microplastics can be absorbed through the skin, and have been found in placentas. 

Wong, a fourth-year environmental science student at SFU, is conducting a sample study of microplastics along beaches in the Lower Mainland, where she aims to “understand the relationships and correlations between microplastics on beaches, oceans, and coastlines.” The Peak reached out to Wong for more information on her studies. 

Wong’s surveys of these beaches require hours of collecting samples of sand, which “involves digging, sorting, and filtering” it to search for microplastics. These samples are then further sifted with a sieve to collect pieces of microplastics buried in the sand. “Any pieces [ . . . ]  larger than one millimetre could potentially be a microplastic,” Wong explained. “I squeeze, examine, and collect the pieces in glass vials to bring back to the laboratory to analyse afterwards.” 

These samples Wong collects aren’t necessarily microplastic, she said. “In the laboratory, I examine the pieces using a special microscope that will tell me their properties,” such as the size and colour of the material. These samples are then sent to a separate laboratory for a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The FTIR machine uses infrared light to scan for organic or inorganic material, like plastics. “I’ll be able to determine if the pieces are plastic using FTIR and be able to quantify them from there.” 

Wong has plans for furthering her studies of microplastics, noting that she “only collected data over the span of four months from September to December.” She said these months may not be “representative of an entire year’s worth of data,” since the currents and tides of the shoreline change over a year. Wong is aiming to conduct a “literature review on research done during other times of the year, as well as winter, to get the bigger picture and understand how they relate or influence one another.” 

The samples of sand Wong collected are from Jericho Beach, Kitsilano Beach, Sunset Beach, Hadden Park, and Barnet Marine Park in 2023. She will use this data for her honour’s thesis. With plans to extend beyond her thesis project, Wong wants to “determine which beaches might be good candidates for a potential beach survey program.” After her program ends, she plans to continue her research in this field of environmental sciences. 

Council Chats: motion for SFSS petition for fall reading break passes

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Peak Web
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This is an illustration of a graphic that reads “Council Chats.” The image also has two text boxes to symbolise messages being sent.
ILLUSTRATION: Andrea Choi / The Peak

By: Eden Chipperfield, News Writer

On February 29, The Peak attended the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) bi-weekly Council meeting via Zoom. The meeting consisted of topics including a motion proposing a petition to support the fall reading break and funding for the Software Systems Student Society’s (SSSS) System Hacks Hackathon event.

Fall Reading Break Motion Passes

Vice-president of equity and sustainability Priyanka Kaur Dhesa submitted a motion to start a petition calling for a fall reading break in the school calendar year. The motion read, “Mental health and well-being is a prominent concern among post-secondary students; whereas reading break helps alleviate stress faced by the student body during the semester.”

The motion put emphasis on how SFU is “currently one of the only post-secondary institutions in Canada to not offer some form of a fall reading break.” Other institutions such as UBC and UVic have three designated reading break days in the fall semester. The motion calls for the Council to collect support from students through a petition to advocate for a fall reading break. 

The motion declares that SFSS “call upon SFU and relevant bodies such as SFU Senate to implement a Fall Reading Break for the Fall 2024 semester as a pilot.” 

Geography councillor Jeffery Collinson said they supported the motion as long as “SFSS works with SFU, to make sure that it’s added responsibly.” Collinson noted concern that a possible fall reading break will push the winter semester break further back than intended. A vote was held to circulate the petition on behalf of the SFSS. No dissent was expressed, and the motion was passed. 

Funding for SSSS System Hacks Event
The Software Systems Student Society (SSSS) submitted a motion to the Council to request funding for the 2024 Systems Hacks event, which is set to take place on March 4 at the Surrey campus. The SSSS has held the Hackathon event since 2017. The theme for the 2024 Hackathon is “Chaos Hacks.” The event spans over 12 hours and is beginner-friendly to encourage participants to build creative projects. 

The proposal for a grant was presented by councillor Tal Zaloilov, requesting $6,000 for the event. The SSSS team had collectively fundraised $4,000 from funding and external sponsorships. With the additional funding from SFSS, the total ticket cost for one person would be $40, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a t-shirt, and prizes for attendees. Zaloilov added that the cost of the Hackathon has increased due to SFU’s budget cuts. They reported they have reduced expenses by hiring their A/V tech for the event. 

Councillor Sam Killawee expressed concern with the grant because the Council is moving toward the end of their term year. He questioned whether the grant was feasible within the current SFSS budget. Killawee clarified that he supported the Hackathon, but wanted to be sure the Council could “support this event without increasing the SFSS deficit.” Temporary operations organizer Sindhu Dharmarajah clarified, “We are well over our allocated budget line. This would come from our grants line item. By our funding guidelines, we did approve $4,159, and this is an annual event, a large event that does happen.” Dharmarajah reminded the Council that the Hackathon was pre-approved for over $4,000 and that if overspending does occur, the following year’s budget should reflect those numbers. 

A vote then occurred to provide SSSS with the grant of $6,000 for the System Hacks Event. Killawee abstained from voting, and the motion passed without dissent. 

Need to Know, Need to Go: March into this month’s events

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Peak Web
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an illustrated calender that says "Need to Know, Need to Go"
ILLUSTRATION: Courtesy of The Peak

By: Saije Rusimovici, Staff Writer Saije Rusimovici, Staff Writer

Jade Circle: a multidisciplinary performance by Jasmine Chen 
Where: Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Rd., Richmond 
When: March 6–17, see website as showtimes vary

Brought to audiences in association with Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, Jasmine Chen’s Jade Circle will “inspire you to rediscover and reclaim your mother tongue.” A “second-generation Taiwanese-Singaporean immigrant,” Chen crafts a beautiful story of reconnecting with her grandmother through language. In relearning Mandarin and learning more about her grandmother’s past through conversation with her mother, Chen “finds her place within the legacy of her matriarchs.” The performance, a combination of storytelling and captivating body movement, runs 45 minutes long. Following the performance, there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions. English subtitles will be offered for the Mandarin portion of the performance. General admission is $30, and student rush tickets can be purchased for $25 at the door or online on the day of the performance.

Writers for Readers 
Where: Richmond Public Library (Brighouse Branch), 7700 Minoru Gate #100, Richmond
When: Wednesday, March 13, 2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Join Richmond in their first-ever writers festival! The event will feature live book talks, with three local writers: bestselling mystery writer Iona Whishaw, true crime author Eve Lazarus, and the author of the memoir East Side Story, Nick Marino. Registration is required for the book talks so make sure you reserve your spot online as soon as possible! The event will also feature local Richmond authors including children’s book author Udayana Lugo, past writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House Isabella Mori, and long-time Richmond resident Fred Pawluk. Visitors will have the chance to talk to local authors about their work and purchase copies of their books. 

SFU’s Printemps de la Francophonie: A month of free activities to celebrate the French language
Where: SFU campuses and across the Greater Vancouver area, see website for a full list
When: March 1–31

The month of March is dedicated worldwide to celebrating Francophonie (French-speaking) language and culture. This spring, the Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs (OFFA) brings a variety of free cultural, academic, and professional events to the SFU community. Events include a movie night at Coquitlam Cineplex theatres presenting the Québécois film Ru. This film tells the story of a family’s journey emigrating from Vietnam to Québec. There will also be a Franco trivia night, writing workshops, and an expo for bilingual career opportunities among many other fun events. Check out the event webpage for more information and a full list of events. 

Lunch Poems poets present wise words on family connections

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Peak Web
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An illustration of a person sitting down in front of a mic and a red curtain backdrop on a stage in front of an audience.
ILLUSTRATION: Ananya Singh / The Peak

By: Aedan Smyth, SFU Student

On February 21, I attended a Lunch Poems event at SFU’s Harbour Centre campus. This recurring event happens online and in-person on the third Wednesday of every month, where two poets are invited to show off their work to an eager audience. Presented by SFU’s Continuing Studies program, this month’s poets were two award-winners making their communities proud.

Sneha Madhavan-Reese is a Detroit-born Ottawa-based poet whose emotive poetry books have been tethered to astronomy. She won Arc Poetry’s 2015 Diana Brebner Prize, which recognizes a “National Capital Region poet, who has not yet been published in book form.” Onjana Yawnghwe is a Shan Canadian poet based in Vancouver who’s written several poetry books, many of which create larger narratives. The Small Way, about a woman coming “to terms with a spouse’s transition” got her nominated for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Her most recent book, which is 20 years in the making, is We Follow the River. Released March 1, it’s about a family’s escape from military violence in Myanmar, “sifting through family history and grief, and alighting across cultures and continents to find a home [in Canada].”

The reading’s theme was family and material connections, and each poet’s interpretation was unique. Yawnghwe began the reading with excerpts from her variety of books, including the two mentioned above. She spoke as if contemplating every word, articulating them clearly so every letter resounded within the audience. She also read from a book she collaborated on called Vancouver City Map. The reading brought to life minor details of the constant hum of Vancouver, like the trolley buses, which she said “throw minute sparks into a buffet of clouds.” The work also referenced “mountains nudging the city into the sea” — a nod to the natural beauty of the area and its North Shore mountains. In a poem from Fragments-Desire, she mentions a “museum of memories,” to reflect on life’s tempting choices, love, and past lost relationships.

Like Yawnghwe, Madhavan-Reese spoke with deep reflection, building the audience’s sense of her depth and detail sentence by sentence. She discussed the nature of the universe and connections to her father in her book, Elementary Particles. Based on the past, the book stems from thoughts about how matter makes up the building blocks of the universe. It’s dedicated to her connection with her late father, who had a big impact on her writing and life. His influence is evident in his featured poem in her book. She reminisced about how she helped him pronounce the names of students in his chemistry class and how he answered her universal questions about life and the galaxy. In her writing, Madhavan-Reese talks a lot about the importance of togetherness in maintaining family and close-knit circles. She also touched on ritualism and how even the simplest traditions can be inspirational. 

These poets left an impact on the crowd with their words as everyone left with smiles on their faces, and when each completed their readings, the audience erupted into thunderous applause. As a first-timer to Lunch Poems, it was an amazing experience to hear from two authors who created meaningful work using their own experiences and demonstrated the power of words. You can find both poets’ books at bookstores like Massy Books and Iron Dog Books, and keep an eye out for future poetry readings. Attend the next SFU Lunch Poems event online on March 20, where there will be more wordy wisdom to share from other poets. 

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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