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2013 Brings Uncertainty for Harbour Center’s food court tenants

By
EIC
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Harbour Centre’s Food Court vendors have been served eviction notices

By Amara Janssens
Photo courtesy of DA Architects + Planners and SSDG Interiors Inc.

On April 1, 2013 construction will begin to renovate the 35-year old Harbour Centre Complex. The redevelopment will focus on revitalizing the street façade and expanding the food court. Norman Pearl, Senior Vice President of Polaris Realty Canada Limited (the company which manages Harbour Centre), said in a press release, “The changes are designed to enhance the complex, making it brighter, more welcoming, and easier to navigate.” However, the redevelopment plan has caused grief for the current food court tenants.On November 30, 2012, the food vendors were given four-month eviction notices and were told they could reapply to return after construction completes near the end of 2013.

Le Viet Cuisine opened in October 2010 and had eight years remaining on their 10-year lease. According to Harbour Centre Complex Limited, the eviction notices for redevelopment abide by the terms and conditions set out in their signed lease agreements. Trina Vo, daughter of the owners of Le Viet Cuisine says, “My parents bought this business two years ago, and put all their money into it.” Although they, along with the other food court tenants, have an opportunity to reapply in January 2013, they are unsure what exactly that will entail. “We have been given very little information,” Vo says. Vo’s parents paid $100,000 to take over from the previous tenants, and are unsure if they will need to pay more money if their application is approved. In addition, during the 8 months the food court will be closed for renovation, food court tenants will be responsible for storing all the equipment needed for their business.

Cookies of Course has been in the Harbour Centre Complex for 28 years. “They told me they don’t want any independent vendors, but want big chains,” says Alan, the owner of Cookies of Course. According to the owner, the forced evictions are devastating, and the business is not planning on reapplying for a new lease. Alan says he was told that the company is looking for $300,000 for new leases. “They want this to be a food court like Richmond Centre, but it’s a weekday 9–5 food court,” Alan says.

The terminated lease agreement has caused a ripple in Soup Zone’s plans for expansion. “I was planning to open a third store,” says the owner Ramzen, “unfortunately I can’t do it because I lost one store.” Harbour Centre Complex Limited says that the goal of the redevelopment is to bring a refreshed dining and shopping experience. In addition, the 14 food vendors who will occupy the redeveloped food court will be subject to higher design standards.

When it comes to who the new food vendors will be, Harbour Centre Complex Limited has not confirmed any vendors, but say they will consider “any submissions that are able to meet these updated requirements, whether that is from current or new vendors.” Many customers of the food
court are SFU students, faculty and staff members who enjoy the food choices and reasonable pricing. One vendor says he has between 100–200 students purchase his food every day. Harbour Centre Complex Limited says, “It is our expectation that among the food vendors there will be options available with similar price points to our previous offerings.” However, because specific vendors have yet to be confirmed, specific price points are not available.

SFU students develop youth mentorship program

By
EIC
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0

The Momentum Youth Development Project runs programs for male youth

By Alison Roach
Photos By PAMR

SFU student Ahmad Chamy and childhood friends Searaj Alam and Idris Barahmeh, all from Surrey, have started a mentorship program for young male teens in an effort to give back to their community. The program is called the Momentum Youth Development Project and involves a group of 20 young males ranging in age from 11 to 15 years old.

Starting this past summer, the three founders began holding events with different activities such as basketball and soccer games, or going out for coffee or lunch. Chamy said, “We focused mainly on things that would involve the community and give a lesson out of it; we wanted to show them what it is to be involved in the community.”

Chamy sees the focus on this age group as a way to prevent problems before they happen. He explained, “We saw a lot of [older] youth struggling with problems at home, drug abuse, and crime, so we figured if we pulled back the scale and focused on younger people, they would grow up knowing how to defend themselves.” The positive influence of an older male, that extra older brother figure, is an integral focus of the program. “The activities that we give them are kind of like a bonus. It’s more about developing that relationship with them,” said Chamy.

This community involvement came through in activities such as Momentum’s Movember campaign. The group hit the streets of downtown Vancouver to raise money as a group for the campaign. Chamy explained, “All our members are guys, so it was about teaching them the importance of men’s health.”

The program first started off at a small scale, with the founders first recruiting members through family friends, but the group has started to expand beyond that. “We stuck close to home,” Chamy said. “We chose people that we knew. Then those friends started telling their friends and suddenly we had five new members who we never knew before.”

The founders strive to keep the program affordable for the parents of their members, just asking for basic fees to help cover the cost of programs. The founding trio is also looking into applying for funding from some of the numerous companies in BC that fund community groups, in order to be “able to take on a little more [financially],” according to Chamy.

Momentum has big plans for the new year, already having planned the next four months of programming. These plans focus on a different theme for each month, with a goal of two activities a month. Themes and ideas for the upcoming months include personal development and inspiration, safety and security, and an Earth month. Chamy mentioned plans in the works to visit the Vancouver Police Museum, visit the BC Sports Hall of Fame, and get involved with relief programs in Surrey that plant trees in various parks in order to preserve green areas.

Chamy, who is a second year student at SFU, Alam who studies at Douglas, and Barahmeh who will be graduating high school in the spring, will all continue to be involved in the program, and with training older members of the project for more leadership-type roles. Chamy says starting and running the project has been personally fulfilling. He said, “I feel like I’ve seen results over the past couple months. I’ve seen kids change their attitudes . . . I may not be able to do a lot for the community, but this is something I’m able to do, and I believe that this is something that will really pay off in the future.”

Study looks at smartphone addiction

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EIC
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0

Cell Phone Provider Wind asked Canadians what they would give up to keep their phones

By Darryl Gallinger

WINDSOR (CUP) — A new survey suggests Canadians are becoming addicted to their smartphones; good news for those in the business, but phone dependency is a real problem. On behalf of Canadian cell phone provider Wind, Vision Critical recently conducted an online survey of 1,501 Canadians to determine what they would give up in order to keep their smartphones. “The response to pets was the most surprising,” said Alexandra Maxwell, a spokesperson for Wind. The survey shows that 17 per cent of smartphone users would give up their pets. “I just didn’t see that coming, but I guess some people just love their phones more.” According to the survey, 40 per cent would give up video
games, 28 per cent would give up alcohol and 23 per cent would part with coffee rather than give up their smartphone. “Surveys are a great way to check the pulse of consumers. With more and more Canadians switching to smartphones, we wanted to see just how much Canadians loved them,” said Maxwell.

“I’d feel pretty weird without my phone,” said Hanna Bellacicco, who wouldn’t give up her pet in exchange for her phone but would cut out coffee to stay connected. “It has to be near me. Even when it’s charging it has to be near me.”

Ken Hart, a psychology professor at the University of Windsor, was surprised by the results of the survey and said it could indicate an addiction trend. Hart defined addiction as a loss of control. “The person feels a compulsive need,” he said. “This overwhelming urge to engage in the behaviour
is very strong, and the person is unable to restrain themselves.”

“[Addictions] cause your life to become smaller and narrower, because other activities in your life are being displaced by this,” said Hart. “Important life goals that you’re trying to achieve don’t get accomplished, so you start becoming unhappy.” A Pew Research Center study of 2,200 Americans last March indicates that about 10 per cent feel they use their phones too much, suggesting people are becoming aware of potential abuse. “I use my smartphone every day,” said Allisa Oliverio, who admits to feeling like she’s addicted to the device. “Without it I think I’d be lost… it’s always with me; it’s always in my hand.” Oliverio said that she sets boundaries with her use, such as avoiding use when she’s hanging out with friends, since she views that as rude behaviour.

Other countries are already struggling with smartphone
addiction. According to the Toronto Star, South Korea has started a program to help children with their addiction to the internet through various gadgets, including tablets and smartphones. The South Korean government estimates that 2.55 million of its people are addicted.

Mohsan Beg, clinical director at UWindsor’s Student Counselling Centre, has not yet encountered issues of smartphone addiction among students. “We do see some internet addiction,” he said, adding that patients typically have issues with video game use. “[Students] engage in the technological world to escape the real world,” explained Beg. He said symptoms of depression are often tied to internet addiction and people often resort to escapism by playing video games to cope.

Hart said that improper smartphone use draws people’s attention away from the current task at hand, be that studying, driving or holding a conversation. “As an instructor, I see students use smartphones in class, even when they’re not supposed to,” said Hart, adding that despite his policy against mobile phones, students violate it regularly, even after seeing him confiscate phones. “It can be dangerous in the sense that it can harm their academic well-being.”

Hart said he was unaware of a program to treat such an addiction, but said that he could see an increased need for one in the future. “The larger problem is being distracted… maybe they’re addicted to distractions,” said Hart. “On the other hand… feelings of depression and loneliness can be alleviated by the smartphone, which is an outlet for social engagement.” Hart uses the internet mostly for work and engages in social media sparingly. He only uses a landline and doesn’t own a mobile. “I don’t need one,” he said with a laugh.

University Briefs – January 7, 2013

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EIC
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By Alison Roach

U of A Med students on top
According to the 2012 Canadian national medical licensing exams, medical students from the University of Alberta are the top class in Canada, receiving the higher marks than any of Canada’s other 16 medical schools. In addition to that, U of A medical students were also ranked first in the 2011 Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination. One graduate of the class of 2012, Dr. Naheed Rajabali, accredits the top ranking to the support given by administrators and teachers.

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TWU bird watches
Trinity Western University researchers are collaborating with Michigan State University and Cornell University in a new study that looks at bird damage to fruit crops in three major temperate zones across North America. The study will specifically follow cherry, blueberry, Honeycrisp apple, and wine grape crops for three years. The study has received a $2 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture as part of their Specialty Crop Research Initiative. The goal is to find ways for farmers to encourage beneficial birds and discourage pest birds.

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Queen’s researcher helps patients swallow
Queen’s University researcher Lawrence Hookey successfully performed the first endoscopic procedure in North America using a biodegradable esophageal stent. Stents are essentially tubes inserted in the throat, and are used to improve quality of life for patients with difficulty swallowing. The biodegradable stent is a mesh tube that holds the narrow of the esophagus open so patients can swallow goods and liquids more easily. Unlike conventional metal stents, the biodegradable stent does not slip out of place, and breaks down naturally so it doesn’t need to be removed.

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University of Ottawa launches nursing research centre
The University of Ottawa, along with the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), has launched the new Nursing Best Practice Research Centre. The new centre’s goals include promoting research, fostering collaboration and facilitating knowledge transfer among researchers and
practitioners, policymakers, educators, and administrators in Canada and around the world. The research centre will become a site for documenting the impact of RNAO guidelines for improving patient care patient outcomes.

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U of T researches evolutionary difference
University of Toronto researchers have discovered a genetic basis for fundamental differences between humans and other vertebrates, one that may explain why humans are vulnerable to diseases not found in other species. The process of alternative splicing, by which a single gene can give rise to multiple proteins, was found to have played a large role in the characteristics of species. One major finding by the team was that the alternative splicing process is more complex in humans and primates than in other vertebrates. This provides insight into the genetic basis for the complexity of human organs such as the brain.

Idle no more, lose rights less

By
EIC
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0

With its sweeping effects, there are no excuses for not getting involved in the push against Bill C-45

By Lana Friesen
Photos By Lana Friesen

On Dec. 21, 22, and 23, Indigenous people of many nations stood up with the visitors who have come to settle on un-surrendered and unceded Coast Salish territory in solidarity against Harper’s latest attempt to desecrate the environment and Indigenous rights in one fell swoop. Bill C-45 has already passed and has become law. The only positive change from Bill C-45 has been the response: the banding together of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and standing against Harper’s plan for further committing atrocities against people and the land in Canada. However, much more of this needs to happen to end this. Let’s start the push for action and change from the beginning.

Idle No More began in Saskatchewan with four lawyers who sought to stand up against Harper and Bill C-45. Sylvia McAdams called for Dec. 10 to be the Idle No More national day of action, and on this day and many since there have been, as Chief Stewart Phillips so aptly put it, thousands of people “of all races, of all colours, from all directions, coming together to speak as one voice” including 18 groups who wrote an open letter in opposition to the omnibus bill. Leaders of major Indigenous organizations were barred from entering parliament to contest the bill when it was first introduced in October 2012. Harper would not grant the opportunity to speak out against the bill in its initial stages, and this open letter was an attempt to do so, despite Harper’s muzzling discussion on this issue.

The situation Bill C-45 puts Canadians in makes me think of evictions of BC tenants — whereby tenants who do not respond to eviction notices are understood to be in tacit consent of the eviction. Although Bill C-45 has already been passed (largely as a result of barring public participation at numerous stages), Canadians should still express their extreme discontent with this bill and tell Harper about their abhorrence. Harper will continue taking advantage of Canadian citizens if they become or continue to be apathetic and politically inactive.

Becoming active does not take that much — simply write Harper either a note or a letter. Other ways to get involved include attending rallies and teachins, reading the numerous well written and informative articles appearing in newspapers, and spreading the word. Send Harper a strong message that his abuse of our parliamentary process is not acceptable.

Chief Theresa Spence protests the bill with a hunger strike, requesting that Harper and the Queen meet with her and other Indigenous leaders to discuss Indigenous rights. Despite the nation-wide attention she has aroused and the gravity of her promise to die for her people, Harper has promptly ignored the Chief, while tweeting insensitive things like “Mmmmm, bacon.” Spence has become a symbol of dedication to Idle No More, and has contributed to building support for the movement as she lends a human face to it — a human face that Harper unfortunately cannot bring himself to acknowledge.

One Chief that spoke out at an Idle No More peaceful demonstration at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Dec. 23 remarked, “We (Indigenous people) are still here, and are not behind a glass as in a museum.” Let us stand in solidarity with these peoples and force Harper to respect the sovereign authority they rightfully possess, rather than allowing him to treat them as the latest fad of Canadian Tourism.


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‘Tis not the only season

By
EIC
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1

Why we should be giving all year round

By Ljudmila Petrovic

Well, the holiday season is over and it’s time to get back to work. The season of giving sees piles of non-perishable goods and clothing being donated to shelters and charity organizations around the city. It seems that with the first jingles of the Salvation Army bells and the first croons of Christmas carols, we are suddenly inspired to embody all that the holiday spirit is meant to represent: appreciating what we have and giving to those less fortunate than us. Giving a few cans of Campbell’s soup we found in our cupboard will be enough to absolve us for all the times we walked past homeless people on the street, right? Wrong.

While it is certainly admirable to give at any time of the year, the need does not stop with our holiday parties. With reductions in the number of beds available in shelters, such as First United Church, there has also been a rise in the amount of people that are forced to sleep in the streets at all times of the year — be it in rain or shine or snow.

The 2012 Homeless Count found that Vancouver’s number of unsheltered homeless people jumped from 2011’s statistic of 154 to this year’s 306 people. BC’s homeless population is already a high-risk group, with a death rate that is at least 19 per cent higher than the general population. In fact, homelessness was at the forefront of the debates leading up to Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics; several deaths of homeless individuals in the preceding winter drew attention to the fact that maybe this city just wasn’t prepared to deal with “extreme weather conditions” and their effect on the homeless population.

Now, these are all just numbers that prove what we all already know: homelessness is an issue. We’ve heard it before, we’ve seen it before, and it’s not helping the situation to regurgitate these numbers and wail about past mistakes. I would rather draw attention to our own approach in how we attempt to help the situation. Except for a handful of year-round donors and good Samaritans, there seems to be a huge influx in aid around late November and December, as we all rush to atone for not giving a shit all year. I am not saying that it is wrong to give at this time; I am saying that the need is there all year round and we have to open our eyes and give throughout the year, not just when the cockles of our hearts are being warmed by multiple viewings of It’s a Wonderful Life.

Interestingly enough, it is January, and not December, that tends to be the coldest month in Vancouver, with average lows of less than one degree Celsius. The timing falls right around the time we’re all getting grumpy again and exchanging our chipper wellwishing for bitching about the weather.

Homelessness and need in our city are a constant and, while the solutions are more systemic than individual, reaching out throughout the year could provide for some much-needed support. The food banks that are brimming with cans by Dec. 25 are often more barren by February, but the need remains the same. Don’t wait for the mass production of Santa hats to spark your spirit of giving; if you can give anything — be it food, money, or time — do so at all times of the year, not just when you’re feeling like handing out Christmas miracles.

Results of election a setback for democracy in Egypt

By
EIC
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0

Religious minorities in Egypt lose more rights in the wake of the revolution

By Kai Yang Shiao

Almost two years after its start, the Arab Spring has unfortunately become the Arab Winter for Egypt. The Egyptian Revolution in early 2011 was initially met with great fanfare by many in the country and around the world, due to its success in toppling the autocratic regime of Hosni Mubarak. Unfortunately, the hope and optimism for building a democratic, tolerant, and progressive Egypt have now dimmed and been replaced by pessimism and uncertainty.

The country’s first ever free and fair elections last year turned out to be a double-edged sword. While many Egyptians were able to truly exercise their right to vote for their lawmakers and president, Egypt also witnessed the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political affiliate Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) as a potent political force as it gained a plurality in Egypt’s lower house, and its presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi was elected. Recent and ongoing events suggest that its influence continues to threaten the harmony and stability of Egyptian society.

As part of the process to complete its transition to democracy, a proposed constitution was drawn up, later passed in a popular referendum, and signed into law. Unfortunately, this process, was dominated by Islamists and was anything but democratic, as minority groups were marginalized and their views were not accommodated.

The ultimate outcome was a document reflecting the unfortunate exclusion of various integral elements of Egyptian society. While the document promises freedom of religion, it regrettably only applies to certain religious groups. Article 43 only guarantees freedom of worship for followers of “heavenly religions,” defined as Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. This therefore does not extend such a right to other religious minorities, such as followers of the persecuted Baha’i faith.

The newly enacted constitution also presents serious misfortunes for recognized religious groups, such as the country’s prominent Coptic Christian community. Article 212 authorizes the creation of a national regulatory body charged with oversight of public and private endowments. The provision places effective control of the Coptic Orthodox Church’s finances under the Morsi government and abolishes its autonomy.

Such blatant forms of state-sponsored discrimination and domination of religious minorities (along with Article 2, declaring Islam as the state religion and Sharia law as the main source of legislation) highlight the Muslim Brotherhood’s disturbing vision of Egypt as a country in which its Muslim majority must dominate at the expense of its religious minorities, with the autonomy and freedom of the latter being subject to the whims of the former. This newly adopted constitution sets the stage for the further division and polarization of sectarian tensions of the current social cleavages in Egyptian society.

The devastating consequences of the Islamists’ rise in Egypt are an affront to the Egyptian people’s right to live in an atmosphere characterized by respect, freedom, inclusiveness, and tolerance. More importantly, the lack of alternative powerful and well-organized political forces to counteract the rampant discrimination against religious minorities in Egypt raises question of whether the 2011 Egyptian revolution is bearing its intended fruits, or has simply given rise to a flawed democracy, characterized by the tyranny of the majority.

Beer 101

By
EIC
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0

Winter beers offer all the warm, fuzzy feelings of the season in a hearty brew

By Adam Dewji
Photos By Adam Dewji

I was originally going to title this article “Winter Ales”, but I soon came to realize that winter brews are much more than just ales. They are a marking of a season, a time of year that beer geeks like myself look forward to. Some of the best beers of the year come out around this time, each more diverse than the next.

What are winter beers, then? Well, when the season approaches, breweries tradi- tionally release brews that are more full-bodied, and gen- erally richer. They like to add their own touches, and brews often have unique and some- times experimental flavours. There isn’t just one type of winter beer though. They can range from “warmers,” to ales, stouts, and Rickard’s has even released an Oakhouse Winter Lager. There is a significant dif- ference between a UK styled “winter warmer” and a tradi- tional North American-styled winter beer (usually a flavoured pale ale). Likewise, other parts of the world also have their own twists on their beers; in Bel- gium, their winter brews are generally stronger in alcohol- by-volume, and flavoured with honey and orange peels.

English winter warmers are generally much more malty, and have a little bit of sweetness to them. Have you ever had a Christmas pudding? You know, figs, caramel, toffee, some dried fruits and such? Imagine all of those things thrown into a brew. They are strong, I must warn you. It’s not the best be- ginner brew, but it’s a plunge for sure. If you want to try a decent winter warmer this sea- son, something relatively local is the Snow Cap Winter Warmer from Pyramid Breweries in Se- attle. It’s available at the Surrey Central BC Liquor Store, as well as others.

North American winter beers are the ones that I’m much more familiar with. Un- like the UK warmers, they are generally loaded with Christ- mas spices — cinnamon, gin- ger, allspice, nutmeg, and some citrus peels. In addition, they have sweet flavours from sources like honey, cocoa malts, caramel, chocolate, and syrups. I prefer the North American- style brews, mainly because of the huge variety of beers. I’ve tried winter ales, winter lagers, and winter stouts. There are ups and downs to all of them.

If you’re looking for some good local North American winter brews, try the Dough Head Gingerbread Ale from Vancouver Island Brewery, or Valley Trail Chestnut Ale from Whistler Brewing Company. The Dough Head tastes like bit- ing into a gingerbread house, minus the icing. It’s delicious. If you are new to winter beers, simply try the local favourite Granville Island Lion’s Winter Ale (available at our very own Highland Pub!).

Then again, if you love strong, unique-tasting, hard- to-stomach brews, then I’d go for the Innis and Gunn Winter Porter. It’s not much of a por- ter at all, but it packs a wallop of taste, hitting you like a five- game suspension hockey hit to the head. I had to sip the 330mL for about half an hour, and at 7.4 per cent alcohol-by-volume, it’s one of the stronger winter beers available in your local li- quor store.

Well, there you have it. That’s your beginner’s guide to winter brews, and which ones are available at your local BC Liquor Stores. There are many more available at stores that cater to beer geeks like myself, but I’m still on a mission to try them all.

Sports spotlight: Lucas Ferritto

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EIC
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0


The Peak sits down with the comeback kid, Lucas Ferritto

By Clay Gray
Photos by Mark Burnham


Just outside of Toronto, Ontario is the suburban city of Hamilton, the place that number 19 Lucas Ferritto calls home.  It is there that a four-year old Lucas first laced up his soccer cleats — well, at that age, maybe it was his father that actually did the lacing.  Of course, Mr. Ferritto probably tied a lot of cleats that day, since he was also the coach.  Lucas attributes much of his understanding of the game to his father, saying, “I grew up with my dad coaching me, so, I credit him for a lot of my actions and characteristics that I bring out to the field.”

When number 19 was in high school his club, Mt. Hamilton Avalanche, hosted a showcase and SFU’s head coach Alan Koch was in attendance. Afterwards, Coach Koch approached him and offered a chance to come to Burnaby. Ferritto mulled his options over with his parents, Joe and Linda, and then made the decision to become a Clansman.

Sadly, in his first year at SFU Ferritto tore his right quadriceps, which also happens to be his kicking leg.  After spending his whole first year rehabilitating his injured leg, Lucas came back feeling strong.  However, he pushed the envelope a little too far and reinjured his quad. “I was definitely trying to push myself a little bit more than I should have . . . which caused me to strain it again,” said Lucas.

Two quad injuries in as many years would be enough for many people to call it quits, but after a few short months Ferritto was back in action. During the past summer, the deficit in his leg caused his right hamstring to tear, forcing Ferritto to the sidelines for a third time. However, diligence in rehab allowed Lucas to return in time for this season.  With his leg feeling strong, Ferritto played in the first three games this year, until a corner kick resulted in a fourth injury to the same leg. “I was devastated after having been out for so long, then coming back and seeing success and being sidelined again,” said Lucas.

Men’s soccer in the NCAA has a very short season, just 18 games. Due to the brevity of the season, Ferritto was unsure if he would be able to make it back in time to see the field again this year. In fact, Lucas said he was told by one doctor, “I should focus on something else in my life, since I’m probably not going to play soccer ever again.”  However, Ferritto wasn’t ready to pack it in yet, so he sought out other doctors until he found one who believed he could get Lucas back on the pitch. After missing most of the season number 19 was able to recover and saw a few minutes of game time during the regular season. Ferritto said, “Being the fourth time, I was really down on myself. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to come back this season. The help I got from my doctor had me return ahead of schedule.”

Some readers may be wondering, after so many injuries, why rush back for this year?  Well, the men’s soccer team happened to be 16–1–1 going into post-season play, this also being SFU’s first year of eligibility in the NCAA.  In the Clan’s first ever post-season win, the go-ahead goal came off the foot of none other than the comeback kid himself. Ferritto said, “The goal meant a lot to me, it was a personal goal as well.  It also felt really good to come back from the injury and be able to contribute again.”  The men’s soccer team has won two since then and is to traveling to Evans, Georgia this week for the Final Four round of the NCAA National Tournament. Lucas said, “Being the only Canadian team in the NCAA, it’s important that we show the NCAA that we are here to stay and that we belong here.”

BC nurses’ days off

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EIC
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Wellness programs are hurtful to nurses and the populations they work with

By Rachel Braeuer
Photos by John Atherton

There is little more infuriating than someone who doesn’t know shit about shit trying to tell you how to do your job. If you don’t believe me, ask a nurse. From knowing what being sick looks like, to getting a flu shot, they just don’t know how to do their jobs. At least, that’s what you’d believe if you trust Perry Kendall, the BC provincial health officer recently rising to fame for misquoting a Cochrane review in a Vancouver Sun letter to the editor in an attempt to vilify health care workers who don’t receive their flu shots. Don’t worry, though. He got his ass handed to him by Dr. Tom Jefferson, who works for the Cochrane Respiratory and Infections group (whose review Kendall misquotes) via his followup letter to the editor. This public repartee has caused an interesting turn. Now that facts are out of the way, the discussion can return to what it was before: workers are told they aren’t doing it right and publicly shamed for it. Except we aren’t talking about it.

The first instance of Kendall insinuating nurses aren’t taking due diligence was a two-for-one deal published by the CBC in August, with the media only latching on to one half of his barrage, despite the BCNU’s direct responses to the bullshit. Beyond indicating he would try to make flu shots mandatory, he spoke to nurses coming in to work despite showing signs of influenza. Out of context, this sounds terrible. What Kendall fails to mention is that nurses are being given disciplinary action for taking too many employer-defined sick days, despite being within the BCNU’s allowed 18/year for full-time nurses. If an employer deems that an employee has been sick too often, they get put in a wellness program. Seems nice enough in theory, but in practive it is a series of scheduled meetings between a nurse and their employer to see why they’re sick so often that have more to do with the employer making sure the nurse understands they won’t be getting the hours they’re used to, nor might they be allowed to put in for overtime if they continue to rack up sick days. This goes against the BCNU’s collective agreement. They have filed numerous grievances against a host of the province’s health authorities, but regardless, these wellness programs trudge on.

Nurses may show up to work despite exhibiting symptoms of the flu or other illnesses in an attempt to avoid these meetings, according to Margaret Dhillon, BCNU’s executive councillor. She stressed the rhetoric of concern these unsupportive meetings get shrouded in, the result of which is the wellness program, which works contrary to established sterile technique that these nurses would be well aware of. Furthermore, in most cases there are already [pullquote]Kendall fails to mention that nurses are being given disciplinary action for taking too many employer-defined sick days despite being within the BCNU’s allowed 18/year.[/pullquote]programs present in hospitals to deal with nurses who are experiencing serious health problems to facilitate unusual amounts of sick time. There is no need for these programs; they are essentially just a bully doppelganger of an already functional program. As provincial health officer, Perry Kendall should be aware of this, and yet he goes on the record with a letter to the editor defaming nurses. Meanwhile health care providers going to work sick for fear of disciplinary action.

This year I say we forego the yearly debate over the flu shot. I propose we have a discussion of working conditions instead, and think about the ways things like so-called wellness programs contribute to the flu killing a significant portion of “at-risk” populations, or maybe even about how being pressured to do a better job with fewer resources might be contributing to C. difficile virus that many hospitals are dealing with breakouts of while you read this, despite you not reading about it in the news, mainly because hospital employees would be fired in an instant if they breathed a word of it from their apparently influenza-filled mouths.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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© 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