Halloween needs to be more sustainable

By

-

October 30, 2024

excessive Halloween decorations/waste, potentially in a store setting like Spirit Halloween or a house that's decked out — ILLUSTRATION: Winnie Shen / The Peak

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

Halloween is just around the corner, and the unsustainability that comes with it is what should really give you a scare. Halloween waste amounts to a staggering 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste, equivalent to 83 million plastic bottles. To add to that, over 83% of Halloween costumes are thrown into landfills each year. Halloween is my favourite holiday, and every year, I try to put an effort into celebrating sustainably. Just because Halloween thrives on consumerism doesn’t mean you have to buy into everything that’s advertised. Halloween can be just as fun and festive when it’s eco-friendly.

Each year during the haunting season, waste from festivities, decorations, costumes, individually wrapped candies, and more end up in landfills. Avoiding individually wrapped chocolates and candies is hard — I get it, there are health and safety concerns in accepting unsealed candy from strangers. It’s difficult to do much about this candy-coated truth, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try at all. There are other ways that Halloween lovers can enjoy the holiday without being wasteful. While we can’t reduce our waste with a flick of our witchy spell-binding sustainability stick, making conscious decisions can help save the planet and your wallet.

There’s no shame in jazzing up an old fit and giving it a makeover. You can make your own costumes from old clothing, or reuse ones from previous years. Another activity that’s been growing in traction these days is costume swaps — either in an organized group, or among friends and family. Consider checking out your local thrift store for used outfits and accessories. It’s time to move past the consumerist idea that you need to have the newest, trendiest costumes every year. The same is true for Halloween decorations — and any holiday decorations, for that matter.

It’s easy to assume that one day a year can’t do much environmental damage, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Small actions add up, especially considering that almost half of Canadians participate in Halloween.

Remember to compost your Jack-O-Lanterns and any other pumpkins that aren’t edible. Have some extra leaves lying around in your yard that you spent way too long raking? Use them for fall props and add a little autumnal pizzazz to your outdoorsy décor. If you’re hosting a party or get-together, try to use reusable cutlery, plates, and napkins. If this isn’t possible, look for paper plates and napkins that can be composted in your city compost or recycled properly. When decorating, try to use repurposed and recycled decorations, and if you’re making decorations, use old craft supplies and materials that you’d find around your house or lawn. DIY costumes and homemade décor are not only a great way to participate in a more sustainable Halloween, but they also make the experience more personal. Why not create a one-of-a-kind handmade decoration, or add a personal touch to your costume if you can? The reduce, reuse, recycle rule applies to Halloween too — loving the holiday isn’t a good reason to participate in mass consumerism.

Transit to SFU should be improved

By

Peak Web

-

October 30, 2024

0

a busy SFU parking lot — PHOTO: Prerita Garg / The Peak

By: Yasmin Hassan, Staff Writer

This isn’t the first time we’ve written about the unfortunate parking circumstances at the SFU Burnaby campus, and it’s clear that it won’t be the last until some real reform happens. It seems my silly idea of driving into the pond was not the first of its kind, either. But why is it that, as an institute that is largely a commuter school, the everlasting issue of effective parking and bus routes persists every year? The inaccessible and inconvenient modes of transportation available to students are in dire need of improvement.

While the R5 RapidBus, 143, 144, and 145 lines are there for students to get to SFU, most people have to transfer between lines to get to them and make their way up the mountain. This is especially true for people from smaller cities like Maple Ridge, Langley, and rural areas. This highlights a bigger issue of public transportation needing to be prioritized and elevated to a higher standard for efficient use among people. This is especially considering it’s difficult to opt out of the U-pass — not using transit or having a vehicle isn’t a valid reason to opt-out. While the distant gondola project may be helpful, it wouldn’t hurt if the university pushed for bus access that would actually take you to SFU directly.

When there’s a convocation, I don’t even bother driving up to campus because I know the parking lots will be jammed up until the early evening when all my classes are over. Seeing the construction, which is somehow always going on around UniverCity, makes me think about how a majority of the parking lots at SFU have now been sold as realty developments for highrises and apartments. I find it quite interesting that the school’s priorities lie within generating wealth by selling off land (which, really, isn’t theirs in the first place) to developers that turn plots into apartment buildings that will most likely be twice as expensive as the cost of residence. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all for more housing. But the reality is that these units aren’t built to be affordable, and many students — especially those who travel a long distance — rely on finding parking.

I don’t mind driving, nor do I mind bussing, but there’s a clear issue when both modes of transportation are equally mediocre and obviously not a priority to SFU. Perhaps if transit options were more accessible, fewer students would even feel the need to drive to campus. The system is inefficient and needs reform. If I’m taking a substantial amount of time out of my day to get to school an hour or two earlier, counting for traffic, bus cancellations and delays, it almost makes me not want to show up to class in the first place. And while TransLink certainly plays a role in this dilemma, public universities do have a sway in public policy. For a school that’s rated the top comprehensive university on a yearly basis, it’s concerning how inaccessible it can be — especially for the majority that commute to class.

SFU women’s soccer is off to a red-hot start

By

Peak Web

-

October 30, 2024

0

A player with a red uniform on and a maple leaf in the top corner kicks the ball around multiple players in white. — PHOTO: Gordon Kaslich / FastTrackSportsPhotography

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

The SFU women’s soccer team is off to a fleeting start this season with a .731 winning percentage as of October 25. The Peak interviewed the two senior captains on the team, Katie Richardson and Kate Cartier, to discuss their leadership roles, the team’s success, and more.

“Starting off really strong is indicative of how hungry we are this year for this win,” Richardson said. “Having the taste of that winning style and attitude we had last year, it just has made us even more eager to do well this year.

“Our team is so fantastic this year and we have such a tight-knit group that our care for each other on and off the field is honestly what drives our winning mentality.”

Leadership roles are invaluable when it comes to supporting new members on the team. The transition to university-level soccer is a tough one, especially regarding the “intense and competitive” nature of the NCAA. “It’s a lot of physicality and athleticism, where certain teams ride on skill, but also more of a physical game,” Cartier said, stressing that “each team plays very different and specific to their strengths.”

With Cartier being from Kelowna, and Richardson originally from Ottawa, they both understand firsthand the struggles of being away from home. “It made me realize that I need to dial in to the process and understand who I am as a young individual on the team and understand my role,” Richardson said of joining the team in 2020. This helped her progress the following year, when Cartier joined the team. “You’re so good at your club team when you’re younger, but when you come to university everyone’s good,” Richardson said. As a leader, letting the team know that “they’re allowed to be upset” is key to moving on from a loss. “Your perspective of a loss changes how you compete and how successful you are,” Cartier added.

“You really don’t know what you’re getting yourself into until you get past that one game, and then you’re moved onto the next,” she said of taking the season day-by-day. “You can’t look too far forward. You really gotta be in the moment, and focus on what’s next, and prepare for each game so specifically.”

From “balancing academics and friendships and relationships,” to handling sports-related pressures and the drive to keep up winning streaks, university athletes deal with lots. “It gets really overwhelming,” Cartier added. “The days that we miss in school get to be very challenging, and I know that’s another type of stress and a hurdle that people have to go through, and I don’t know if people truly understand what it takes to stay on top of things.” With SFU being “a tough academic school,” she said, “you just can’t afford to fall behind in soccer or academics.” However, having mentors and resources to reach out to is key to “development and success,” and making the situation easier.

As the only Canadian member of the NCAA, there’s a sense of pride. “It’s rewarding,” said Cartier. “You’re at a school that people recognize.”

Playing at the elite level against Canadian teams, Richardson said, is “a great battle” but doesn’t compare to “the caliber that the American teams have, in terms of physicality.” The school spirit in the US is something that the team has to grapple with while staying focused.

“Everyone believes and knows we’re capable of so much, but to start a season off as well as we have, it’s just like more motivation to keep pushing, and it’s nice to be rewarded,” Cartier noted. Playing back home all summer and honing their skills is fundamental to the team’s success during the season.

“We’re just looking to surpass what we accomplished last year,” Richardson added, praising the team’s energy and commitment. “That’s a really big driver in how we’re gonna progress, and what we’re gonna do in practice.”

The team’s current record comes from the efforts of all staff and players involved. “Everyone is so committed, and they just want to see how far we can go,” said Cartier. “Our staff is the most supportive, and they go into training sessions understanding, but they are also there to push us each day and remind us of what we’re doing it for.”

Performing under pressure is the team’s incentive in quenching their thirst for success. “We’re not just fighting to get to the top, we’re also fighting to just stay at the top,” Cartier stated passionately. “It’s new to our team to have the pressure of being at the top of the table,” she added of the season’s fiery start. “We’ve always been a team fighting for a spot into the top four to compete in the semi-finals and finals.” The team wants to make the comfort of their top position “a little less stressful” going into this year’s finals.

Both Richardson and Cartier spoke with passion, holding their coaches and teammates in high regard. It’s clear to see why they’re the captains of the team. As their season progresses, they’ll be bringing their leadership and expertise with them both on and off the field to take the SFU women’s soccer team to the top, one goal at a time.

October 31 is approaching and I’m not ready!

By

Peak Web

-

October 30, 2024

0

Six students sitting in a lecture hall. Three are wearing Halloween costumes. One is dressed as Darth Vader, one is dressed as Santa Claus, and the other is dressed as a lion. — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

By: Hana Hoffman, Peak Associate

Are you still contemplating whether to be cute or scary? A character or an object? Don’t you worry; I’ve got tons of ideas in store for you. Take a look at this list of Halloween costume ideas from a genius.

The Deceptive Benefit-Maximizing Employee

Are you looking to save up money to spend on Halloween candy clearance sales on November 1? Avoid the parking fee at SFU by driving the rare ‘80s Domino’s Pizza delivery car to campus. To make this ruse more convincing, you must dress as a Domino’s Pizza delivery person (just walk into a Domino’s Pizza and ask the employee for their uniform). Pretend you’re just quickly bringing some pizzas to an SFU club party, but in reality, you’re attending the party for the rest of the day. The campus parking security probably won’t charge you for doing your delivery job. If they do ask you to pay, just give them some yummy pizza, and they’ll probably let you go!

Darth Vader says “later”

On October 31, you need to nap during the day to save energy for the Halloween parties happening later. If you have school, fully dress up as Darth Vader so you can close your eyes and sleep during the lecture without anyone noticing! If you’re a good student and still want to review the lecture materials after the Halloween chaos, press the red button on your suit, and it’ll record the whole lecture. You’re welcome for this clever idea!

The Intelligent Intimidator

Safety first! Those concerned about safety while trick-or-treating at night should consider dressing up as a lion so that if you come across a coyote, they’ll get scared and run away. Maybe I should call this costume the lie-on because you’d be spreading a lie that you’re a lion. Don’t just dress up as any lion; try to be like Scar from The Lion King for the scar-iest look!

The “October Fools” Initiator

If you’re a class clown type of person, then here’s a good prank. Dress up as Santa Claus on Halloween and say phrases like “Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!” This will confuse people about what occasion it is. And encourage your friend to dress up as Rudolph so they can say, “Oh deer, did y’all not realize it’s December 25 today?”

The Spotlight Taker who saves the day

For those who, unfortunately, have a long lecture to attend on October 31, I have a solution for you and your homies. Have a conversation with your professor to get to know their interests, and dress up as their favourite character so they’ll spend the whole lecture talking about how awesome your costume is! That might even lead to the professor ending the lecture early due to the excitement of Halloween. It’s worth a try, ain’t it?

The Guilt Exposer

I sense that some people previously wrote to Peakie for advice but didn’t take Peakie’s input seriously and gradually forgot about those words of wisdom. So, dress up as Peakie’s envelope from Dear Peakie (IYKYK), go talk to the people who’ve written to Peakie before and ask them how their life has been going ever since their questions were answered. Look at the guilty reactions of those who forgot about Peakie’s advice. (By the way, Peakie will tell you who to find).

“Dat Boi” who’s never late

If you struggle with being fast, dress up as the meme with the green frog riding a unicycle, also known as Dat Boi. That way, you’ll be equipped with an extra wheel to help you get to places twice as fast! Just think about how much more candy you’ll end up with than regular kids who travel by foot from door to door.

Ninan Auassat platforms the self-told stories of Indigenous youth

By

Peak Web

-

October 30, 2024

0

A group of Indigenous youth sit by a lake and watch as the sun begins to set in the background. — ILLUSTRATION: Yan Tin Leung / The Peak

By: Abigail Streifel, Peak Associate

Content warning: mentions of genocide, racism, and suicide.

Filmmaker Kim O’Bomsawin wants us all to learn from Indigenous children and young adults. Her documentary, Ninan Auassat: We, The Children, premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and focuses on the lives of individual Indigenous youth. The documentary is invitingly familiar, celebrating the mundane beauty of everyday life, and powerful, addressing the struggles faced by Indigenous Peoples.

The film follows children and youth from three different First Nations across Quebec — the Eeyou Istchee Cree, Atikamekw Sipi, and Innu — as they go about their lives, sharing their thoughts and aspirations. The experiences of many different age groups are represented, including four siblings ranging from early childhood to young adulthood, three preteen boys, and a group of teenage girls. The film is unique in that adults are almost entirely absent. Instead, young people are given the space to express themselves. The lack of narration from adults allows them to tell their own stories in their words. I felt like I was really getting to know them through listening to them speak and watching their day-to-day activities.

Between beautiful shots of serene lakes and snow-covered streets, the film’s subjects talk directly to the camera, often about their goals. Their passion for their communities is clear: one hopes to open a shelter for stray dogs in Pessamit, while another wants to become an architect to improve the buildings in Manawan. Watching Ninan Auassat feels somewhat like visiting these communities yourself. I felt like a guest encouraged to tag along on a fishing trip or a bike ride through the community. The film invites us to experience life alongside the people in it, taking us on a journey from one child’s first day of high school to another’s first birthday. This welcoming atmosphere is what makes it work so well.

The documentary seamlessly blends happy moments with candid discussions of difficulties. I found this to be an important reminder to adult audiences that children’s struggles are no less real or difficult. The transition between more lighthearted scenes and poignant moments addressing their challenges — including intergenerational trauma, racism, and suicide — feels respectful and natural. Both positive and negative aspects of life are explored, making for a successfully thorough film.

O’Bomsawin, an Abenaki director known for her documentaries on Indigenous issues, answered questions about the film following the screening at VIFF. She spoke about being inspired by the need for positive portrayals of Indigenous youth in the media. With this compelling motive and emotional depth, it’s no wonder Ninan Auassat: We, The Children won the TIDES Award for Best Canadian Documentary at VIFF. The film took over six years to create, and the care put into it is obvious. It is sincere and thoughtful in its focus on the details of its protagonists’ lives. The unique perspectives it explores are also important. Young people need powerful platforms from which to speak, and this film gave many Indigenous children and young adults that opportunity. The best way to learn about someone’s life is to listen to what they have to say, and this documentary makes that possible.

Creative Corner: Cosplaying to get into the Halloween spirit

By

Peak Web

-

October 30, 2024

0

A person holds a ruler-labeled stencil down on a sheet of marked paper. Using another hand, they use a pen to trace around the stencil. — PHOTO: Michael Burrows / Pexels

By: Cindy Wang, SFU Student

I’m a digital artist who loves to draw and design my own original characters. It’s been a passion of mine since I was a teenager. However, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, my mental health has rapidly worsened from the stress of university, resulting in art block. My passion for drawing has been dwindling for a while, but this year, I found a way to break out of that funk. I got out of my comfort zone and took up a new creative hobby.

Dressing up isn’t exclusively a kid’s activity — it should be for everyone who wants to bring out their Halloween spirit. I wanted to dress up for Halloween, but when I went to the store, the costumes were so expensive. I didn’t want to spend $90 on something I was never going to wear again, so this spooky season, I decided to try DIY cosplaying.

Cosplay involves dressing up as popular characters from media as a year-round hobby (by buying or creating a costume). I’ve done a bit of cosplaying before, particularly in high school. I made a Kagamine Rin cosplay for one Halloween and a Todoroki Shoto cosplay for another. Although I enjoyed making those costumes, I haven’t created any more since I started university. I enjoyed making those costumes a lot back then and I wanted to start pursuing it again, so this year, I made it my mission to do it differently. This season heightened my Halloween spirits and gave me a new passion project.

At first, I was a little overwhelmed. Although there were a lot of characters I wanted to dress up as, their designs were too complicated — I didn’t have enough time to prepare all the necessary materials. As a beginner cosplayer, I decided to create a simple costume using old clothes from my storage. I rummaged through my closet and found an old green dress. I looked up “characters with a green dress” and saw an old childhood favourite — Fiona from the Shrek movies.

Since Fiona’s dress was pretty similar to mine, I decided to try replicating her costume. She had some yellow linings on her dress, so I cut up an old yellow shirt of mine and glued it on my waistband and neckline. For the flower pattern top, I decided it was easier to paint the details with some gold paint. A bit of pride swelled in me as I admired the finished design — both from how it looked and how I made it. To finish it off, I went to the costume shop, bought a wig and some green face paint, and made the ogre ears out of cardboard. The cosplay turned out pretty good for a low-budget project and I was proud of my work.

It felt amazing making my Fiona cosplay. It was a lot of hard work, but the finished product was worth it. Not only am I excited to dress up as her for Halloween, but it also helped me overcome my art block. I’ve even taken up drawing again! This spooky season really inspired me, not only with reigniting this high school hobby of mine, but also with helping me get back into my artistic passions.

Burnaby barred from speaking out against TMX under $20.1 million deal

By

Peak Web

-

October 30, 2024

0

This is a photo of the Trans Mountain Burnaby Terminal tank farm. — PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

By: Mason Mattu, SFU Student

The City of Burnaby recently struck a $20.1 million deal with Trans Mountain Corporation to prohibit any negative public communications about the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project (TMX). This comes after the city published a risk assessment report investigating the “potential for disaster from a major incident at a Trans Mountain Pipeline facility.” The report details risks such as oil spills, tank fires, and explosions at the Westridge Marine Terminal and the Burnaby Mountain Terminal.

This $20.1 million deal, dubbed a “community contribution agreement,” comes with a promise from Trans Mountain to invest in emergency planning and safety enhancements. The deal prohibits either party from publishing “any negative public communications” about the other “whether based on fact or opinion or otherwise.”

In 2019, Vancouver experienced the height of protests against TMX. Trans Mountain Corporation is a Canadian Crown Corporation that has operated in Canada since 1951. Their latest project, TMX, will see oil transported from Alberta to BC for export. In 2020, “the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, the C’eletkwmx (Coldwater People), and a coalition of smaller Indigenous Nations” expressed concerns about protecting the environment and their rights.

Though the City of Burnaby agreed to the deal, Burnaby mayor Mike Hurley stated in 2019 that the expansion of TMX “[ignored] public safety and environmental threat to people whose lives and property will be at risk moving forward.” This year, however, Hurley told CBC that the “reality is, those tankers are coming in now. There’s one getting filled every day.” He added, “Oil is still flowing through Burnaby Mountain and down to that loading facility [ . . . ] and we can’t be prepared without an agreement with TMX about how that’s going to be managed.”

Burnaby councillor Alison Gu told The Peak, “The City of Burnaby, particularly myself, remain opposed to the project, but have little to no tools for recourse.” She also said, “what should be happening is supporting municipalities who are faced to bear the brunt of decisions made at other levels of government.”

Duff Conacher, a representative from Democracy Watch, expressed his concern on this issue, stating that Trans Mountain “has essentially bought the silence of the city, and at the same time, the city has essentially gagged itself.”

In addition, Green Party leader Elizabeth May said, “This type of agreement should not be legal in Canada,” in a statement on October 8. “Our governments, at all levels, must have the ability to openly scrutinize and hold companies accountable for actions that threaten public safety and the environment.” She added, “Since TMX is a Crown Corporation, this is public money shutting down free speech.”

In a statement to The Peak, the City of Burnaby stated, “The community contribution agreement signals our commitment to public safety, recognizing that the most effective way to ensure the safety of residents is to work collaboratively with Trans Mountain.” They added that the deal “does not restrict mayor and council from voicing their opinions on matters concerning Trans Mountain.”

Trans Mountain is currently finishing construction on the Burnaby terminus on top of Burnaby Mountain, close to SFU.

What Grinds Our Gears: TikTok’s constantly-changing layout

By

Peak Web

-

October 30, 2024

0

A Tik-Tok screen on a phone — PHOTO: Ivan Radic / Flickr

By: Dani Santos, SFU Student

Change isn’t always good. Especially when that “change” happens every couple of weeks.

To me, TikTok is a form of escape. An escape should be something that provides comfort, joy, and familiarity. But how am I supposed to feel a sense of familiarity when TikTok’s layout changes every time I open it!?

TikTok has experimented with different kinds of feeds their users can choose from: Friends, Following, For You, Explore, Shop, and even a STEM feed.

Sure, it’s nice to have all these options to choose from, but why do some occasionally disappear and reappear? Sometimes they even move and switch around different spots. It’s disorienting! There have been moments where my mind has been conditioned to press the “Friends” button at the bottom of my screen for it to have been moved to the top and I end up pressing the “Shop” button instead and it grinds. My. Gears.

I just wish TikTok could just decide on a layout and stick to it for as long as possible (or at least for long enough for users to get used to one).

Your Red Leafs Halloween costumes

By

Peak Web

-

October 28, 2024

0

Four costumes for one SFU sports team. Volleyball is a girl with orange hair wearing all black and a Pac-Man costume. Track and Field is a girl dressed in X-Men’s Wolverine costume, with a yellow jumpsuit and blue boots gloves, shoulderpads, and shorts. Wrestling is dressed in a Sonic costume that is blue with spiky hair. Soccer is dressed in a gray astronaut costume while kicking a ball. — ILLUSTRATIONS: Cindy Wang / The Peak

By: Yildiz Subuk, Staff Writer

Halloween is the perfect opportunity for groups to coordinate costumes. If you’re part of a team, discussing what to wear for this holiday can be a great bonding experience, but picking from the endless possibilities can be overwhelming. The Peak has researched and found some fun group costume suggestions for SFU Red Leafs teams to try out this spooktober.

Track & field

The X-Men saga has provided pop culture with one of the most diverse casts of characters. These superhumans are not gods, but individuals whose unique gifts make them stand out. They’re the perfect team costume for those who love comic books, but also those looking to pull off a dynamic and eye-catching costume. There are hundreds of characters with all sorts of variations to choose from. If you’re looking for fairly simple costumes, the ones from the film X-Men First Class work the best, as they only require a black and yellow jacket with black pants. The Red Leafs track and field program is filled with some remarkable athletes, so what is more fitting than dressing as some of the most iconic superhuman characters from a beloved franchise?

Men’s & women’s soccer

Space is key when it comes to soccer. Understanding how to find, create, and take advantage of space is integral to a team’s performance. On the pitch, teams work together to find and navigate whichever empty space can be found. Who else are experts at navigating space? Astronauts. Well, maybe not that kind of space, but close enough. There are plenty of places one can draw inspiration from when it comes to astronaut-themed costumes — the Apollo 11, with their bulky white suits, the Nostromo crew outfits from the film Alien (1979), or even the characters from Star Trek’s iconic crew the U.S.S. Enterprise. Instead of shooting at a net, this Halloween, shoot for the stars!

Men’s & women’s wrestling

While wrestling isn’t all fighting, a combat sport invites some rowdy but exciting costume opportunities. For these teams, The Peak suggests dressing as your favourite character from the video game series Super Smash Bros. While Mario, Luigi, and Sonic the Hedgehog are all great choices, there are a lot of other great fighters to choose from. You could dress as Kirby (wear a big sumo suit and paint it pink), Bowser (if you have a big turtle shell and a bit of an attitude, you are set), or if you are wholesome and cheery, try Toad. The wrestling team knows better than anyone how to win a battle with endurance, strength, and the ability to push someone off a platform. You are all Smash Bros characters at heart.

Volleyball

Volleyball requires an immense amount of coordination, which means the best costume suggestion for the team is one where everyone comes together. Pac-Man and the Ghosts may not seem like conventional choices, but think about it — the ghosts are always trying to coordinate ways they can trap and defeat Pac-Man. For this group costume, one person (maybe a coach) can dress up as Pac-Man while the rest of the team goes as different coloured ghosts!

Horrorscopes: October 28 – November 3

By

Peak Web

-

October 28, 2024

0

An illustration of a girl, stars and astrological signs strewn in her hair. — ILLUSTRATION: Marissa Ouyang / The Peak

By: Sarah Sorochuk, Peak Associate

Aries
March 21–April 19
Aries! The Karens of fall. You have just awakened in time for spooky season and are entering your natural state. Be aware not everyone is like you! They won’t care when you are possessed and order every fall-flavoured drink off the menu at your local café. But we will get testy when you inevitably complain that the drink doesn’t have enough pumpkin, cinnamon, or syrup. So you might be in your natural habitat, but fall will bring the evil out of the rest of us.

Taurus
April 20–May 20
I see you! I know you, and we both know that you will be getting into that stash of candy far before October 31 shows up. We both know you will be hitting the stores, buying the bulk boxes of chocolate, chips, and candy — and keeping a pile for yourself. I’m sure you are already a regular who buys candy at every store you visit. So why not take advantage of the spooky season?

Gemini
May 21–June 20
Moody, impulsive, devious, guarded, and possibly acting childishly. Are you Beetlejuice? Do your negative traits align with all the good ones from Betelgeuse? I bet you’ll watch it in theatres and then ask why Beetlejuice seems so familiar. Don’t ask me; the answer’s within yourself.

Cancer
June 21–July 22
This is supposed to be your time of year! Fall romances! And yummy fall flavours. But now you remember October 3, when it was National Boyfriend Day, and you were sitting there alone. Once again, you are living without a cute autumn romance. The best you have are the boyfriends and girlfriends within the pages. Bring your favourite romance novel to an upcoming Halloween party to show your suitors exactly what you’re looking for.

Leo
July 23–August 22
It has become “Sweater Weather,” and you are rushing to all the stores for the hottest new knit sweaters to fit the aesthetic with a PSL in your hand. Your bank account might be screaming “no,” but your shopping obsession and the love for a new outfit take over and say “yes!” The new sweater will be yours, and now you’re all stocked up for fall with a full Hallmark-style wardrobe. However, since it is Halloween, expect the price of looking fantastic to be horrifying.

Virgo
August 23–September 22
You all tend to be perfectionists — so good luck carving and hollowing out your pumpkins. The slimy, gross insides do have to come out. RIP Virgos. Since you’re looking for things to stay calm and in control, this is the wrong season for you. It’s Halloween, nothing is normal, but do not worry, you’re still the pick of the pumpkin patch, darlin’.

Libra
September 23–October 22
Libras, we know you. And we know you have been hoping and dreaming of living your Red era with a cute autumn romance like Taylor and Travis in a football stadium after the Superbowl. So you are probably going to dress up as Taylor’s Red era and your friends, as her other eras for Halloween. But we know that the majority of you, (90%) are going to end up looking like evermore. We all know the season, “All Too Well.”

Scorpio
October 23–November 21
Like Regina George, you want to control everything from the people sitting with you to your friends’ clothes. But reality check time, Scorpios, you can’t bully or even fight the weather. The leaves will change colour regardless. Goodbye summer warmth, and hello, fall cold. But don’t let that stop you from showing some skin. “Halloween is the one night a year when [anyone] can dress like a total slut and no other [people] can say anything about it . . . ” Although if you are itching for a fight, I hear arguments over the most popular Halloween movie of 2024 are all the rage.

Sagittarius
November 22–December 21
We knew lots of people would attend fall kickoff. Including the YOLO, free Sagittarius, who has approaching midterms they should be studying for. But then again, Sagittarius are typically business students and what do you really have to hand in? Business plans? Colouring sheets? Aside from that, be safe out there peeps, enough movies have shown the group of friends at a party screaming YOLO tend to die first.

Capricorn
December 22–January 19
Self righteous, you are the killer in the story. Don’t blame everyone from running from you this Halloween, you feel it don’t you? Did something happen and now you’re a changed person? Are the spirits taking control? When you zone out, or become distracted, how much control of your physical form do you really have?

Aquarius
January 20–February 18
We all want to be the Rory Gilmore of fall, but you know who tops everyone? Aquarius, with their “it girl” quirks, and wannabe fall vibes. They are bound for trouble this Halloween. Or the alternative is spending the whole night indoors with a good book and a coffee. Either way, Aquarius are going to have a spook-tacular night for themselves.

Pisces
February 19–March 20
Pisces, best to go out this Halloween! Ideally a corn maze with your friends, where with your dreamy escape from reality vibe you will surely get lost. Allowing the possibility of your own Lara Jean moment in the meadow. Where you get to live your happily ever after, only after getting tragically lost in a maze. I hear “cat and mouse” has been a popular game recently. Best not to lose your opportunity for a fall romance to be replaced with a “Corpse Bride” style situation, and Halloween funeral.

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

FOLLOW US