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Line in the sand: University of Saskatchewan students track path of Enbridge pipeline

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By Anna-Lilja Dawson

Trip from Bruderheim, Alberta to Kitimat, B.C. involved capturing videos and interviewing residents

SASKATOON (CUP) — For 14 days in late July and early August, two University of Saskatchewan students travelled the 1772-kilometre route of Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. During this time they took photos, captured video and documented the personal stories of residents of the communities along the pipeline’s projected path.

Tomas Borsa, a political studies and psychology student, and Tristan Becker, a recent political studies graduate, made the trip from Bruderheim, Alberta to Kitimat, B.C. Teaming up with Skyler Flavelle from Whistler B.C. The group set out to create a multimedia project titled Line In The Sand.

Borsa blogged about their travels while Becker and Flavelle took care of the photography and videography, respectively. According to their website, the project will culminate with a published book “comprised of images, essays and commentary from those affected by the pipeline.”

The Northern Gateway pipeline is a project by Enbridge Inc., a Calgary-based energy company, that would carry an estimated 525,000 barrels of heavy crude oil a day from Alberta’s oilsands to Canada’s West Coast. The project is intended to open up access to emerging Asian markets, where demand for oil is at an all-time high.

Many communities nestled around the Northern Gateway’s planned pathway feel that the pipeline’s construction is beyond their control as efforts to protect their land have so far been futile, Borsa said.

He said the passing of Bill C-38, a 425-page omnibus budget bill that, along with several other new laws, allows the government to exempt federal projects from environmental assessment, greatly limited those who could speak at public hearings regarding the pipeline. In addition, Enbridge has provided strict mediation that has reduced the topics open for discussion and limited a speaker’s time to 10 minutes.

Borsa said the project was necessary to help share the opinions of those who are most concerned with the proposed pipeline.

What he found surprising was the clear-cut difference in public opinion between B.C. and Alberta. In B.C., where a vast amount of the pipeline will cut through First Nations territory, some communities oppose the pipeline so strongly that they have rallied together for a ban on oil pipelines and tanker projects within their territories. The majority of these communities depend heavily on already fragile ecosystems for their livelihoods and cannot afford the risk of an oil spill endangering the environment.

The militancy shown in communities facing serious risks was shocking to Borsa, who said that people will go as far as lying down in front of bulldozers to protect their land. The greater the risk to a community, the more open and willing the community members were to share their stories, he said.

Enbridge has offered communities along the projected path a 10 per cent equity stake in the project in an attempt to increase support for the pipeline. The company recommends that this money be used to fund cultural centres and build schools in their communities.

Borsa said that many communities have refused the offer and remain opposed to the pipeline.

He said that there is no middle ground to be found for communities that support the pipeline but still harbour concerns for the environment.

The few people that the group found who are in favour of the Northern Gateway project in B.C. were Shari Green, mayor of Prince George, and Joanne Monaghan, mayor of Kitimat. Both were unavailable for comment when they requested an interview.

Borsa found that Albertan communities were generally accepting of the pipeline, due to what he believes is simply more familiarity with the mining and oil industries. Economically speaking, Alberta has more to gain than B.C., with more job creation and much more money going directly to the province — Alberta will receive $30 billion over a period of 30 years while B.C. will receive $6 billion.

Borsa said that Albertans were more concerned with whether or not Canada should wait for the price of oil to rise before opening up to international markets or if the Asian markets are the best place for Canadian resources to be exported to.

He added that if the project does move on to the construction phase, Line In The Sand must return.

“It ramps up the urgency of us going back.”

The dangers of drunkorexia

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By Natalia Kubiak

SFU researcher first to examine long-term effects of saving calories for binge drinking

The two “D”s of young adulthood: dieting and drinking. Although they appear to be unrelated, in reality, they combine in a dangerous way. SFU researcher Daniella Sieukaran is the first to look into the long- term effects of “drunkorexia,” a term used to describe the practice of restricting meals in order to “save” calories for future binge drinking. Sieukaran followed 227 York University students aged 17–21 over a four-month period and found that students engaging in this practice were more likely to partake in risky activities such as unprotected sex and to overdose on alcohol. The rate of hospitalization was also higher for this group. Although, emotional eating and non-hunger-motivated eating are also forms of disordered eating, only dieting through caloric restriction positively correlated with an increase in risky behaviours.
Earlier American studies showed that 40 per cent of all students engaged in this pattern of behaviour. However, the lower legal Canadian drinking age needs to be taken into consideration when applying these numbers to the Canadian student population. Sieukaran emphasized the importance of realizing that this behaviour is observed in both females and males. While women are generally thought to be at risk from societal pressures, Sieukaran said that “we must remember that males are also receiving messages from family, friends, media, and society that they need to have a certain body: high in muscle and low in fat.” Both genders are plagued by information telling them to be healthy, active and to remain within their daily caloric needs. Thus, whereas women are motivated by the desire for thinness, men strive to avoid beer-bellies and to achieve muscularity. Regardless of gender, the drive for an ideal body image could be the primary motivation behind drunkorexia, although further research needs to be conducted on the matter.
Calorie counting at meal times is a common practice in a culture where disordered eating is increasing in prevalence. This caloric concern is now spreading into the area of alcohol. Despite not being a diagnosable eating disorder, like dieting, drunkorexia is often a gateway for more serious problems and has the potential of morphing into an eating disorder. The ease with which this transition can occur makes it crucial for universities to not only acknowledge the problem, but to implement strategies that can bring about change.
Sieukaran believes that “more awareness and education is key to minimizing risk. Young adults know that dieting can be dangerous, and on the other hand, they know that drinking can be dangerous. But they aren’t thinking about what the combined risks can be.” Therefore, students need to be educated and made more aware of the dangers at hand. Schools need to be “connecting the dots for these two behaviours,” as students often fail to recognize that the risks of certain actions, such as drinking, can be related to other behaviours such as poor dieting or unsafe sex. This discrepancy is why Sieukaran is focusing her research on the weighing of short-term gains against long-term risks by students in the context of drinking and dieting.
Prevention is the key method of minimizing the risks associated with drunkorexia. This is a growing phenomenon that requires more research in order to delve further into the causes and possible forms of treatment. For the time being, students need to be aware that this issue exists and not stigmatize those who admit having a problem. Openness is key and support is often much appreciated. When the new school year brings keggers, pub nights and beer pong, remember that a full stomach will help the hangover.

New Indigenous OLC website created

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By Graham Cook

 

Indigenous student researcher introduces the new site

 

The Online Learning Community at SFU has a new addition this fall.  The OLC website, which currently houses information pertaining to work integrated learning and career development, has added an Indigenous section to their site.

The Indigenous Online Learning Community website will feature programs, student services, traditional events, and other support for self-identified and non self-identified First Nations, Inuit, and Metis students.  It allows students to share their stories as well as employers of indigenous people to advertise positions in areas such as finance and government, among others.

Laura Forsythe, the indigenous student researcher, spoke with The Peak about the new website. Forsythe said, “The indigenous program researcher before me . . . had written a proposal for career services . . . to build partnerships with organizations outside of SFU for indigenous opportunities for employment.” She said that she “started on the website this summer and went into the community . . . from there I realized that we needed to build more of a sense of community and have one place to go for the students to find out everything they needed to know.”

She went on to explain that this is superior to having, for example, individual places for careers, support, and advising.  The students can come to this one place and “find out about events happening on campus, and find different, inspiring journey stories from all over BC and Canada.”

“One of the biggest bonuses we have with this is that it’s student run, those who curate the website are students, those who did the actual website design are students, and those who continue to add new information will be students, because every student can add to this website,” said Forsythe of student involvement with the project.  As well as Forsythe, other students involved in the co-op education program, such as Alice Chan, helped lead the project.

Another major aspect of the website is the Indigenous Stories section. It includes postings such as the one made by the president of the Metis Nation BC, Bruce DuMont, titled “How to Become a Metis Politician.” He advises that one “must always remember how you help your Community and Metis Peoples to enhance their lives.” Also present is an interview with a 17-year-old Squamish Nation member working with the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre.  When asked what advice she had for other aboriginal youth seeking employment, she replied, “Don’t underestimate yourself and your abilities.”

Forsythe added that she hopes the articles on this website will be able to inspire other indigenous students who may or may not go to Simon Fraser “to come here and achieve great things and build their capacity.” In the future, she said that phase two will be rolled out. It will include an aboriginal network where aboriginal students will be able to sign in and create profiles, and meet other aboriginal students on campus. This new feature will also help keep students updated on new information being added to the site and allow students to make an online resume to help with finding employment by allowing employers to contact them through career services.

SFU Continuing Studies adds new program

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By Graham Cook

SFU continuing studies, which provides courses at night and on the weekend to people who are older than the typical university student, has added a new program.  The Certificate in Professional Coaching is the only program of its kind in the Lower Mainland to have an affiliation with the International Coaching Federation—which found in a 2012 study that the demand for such services has increased.

Kon Li of Career and Life Planning engineered the new program and spoke about it with The Peak. He mirrored the ICF’s assertion, saying, “This profession has been growing drastically in the last ten years.” Li said, “We’ve been thinking of developing this since 2009 . . . we are excited that the program is up after almost four years of preparation.” He added, “There is a need for this sort of training . . . this program will appeal participants in the Lower Mainland, who are looking for coach training in a face to face setting.”

This program will allow its graduates to achieve ICF coaching certification and covers various parts of the field. Li said, “The program covers three levels of coaching:  individual, team, and organizational system coaching. . . . Graduates of the program can work as an internal coach for an organization or as an external coach providing services for a fee. This program also can be a professional development program for work performance enhancement.”

The courses will cover topics including individual and team coaching, organizational systems coaching, narrative coaching, working with feedback, resistance to change, and leadership.  The program takes seven months to complete and will be held on a part-time basis.  Li described that “The program is filling up quickly,” and classes begin at the Harbour Centre campus on October 6.  They will be holding an information session at the same campus on September 12 at 5:30 pm.

SFU student wins bronze medal at Olympic Games

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By Alison Roach

Jasmin Glaesser, a third-year computing science student at SFU, had the opportunity to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games this summer, and won a bronze medal for her race in women’s team pursuit cycling.

When Glaesser, a Coquitlam native, started cycling at the age of 17, she never imagined she would make it to the biggest competitive stage in the world. A former runner, she had several injuries and turned to cycling as a sport that would be kinder on her body. After borrowing an old mountain bike in the summer of 2008 from her father, SFU computing scientist Uwe Glaesser, Jasmin bought herself a road bike as a high school graduation present and started to get involved.

Of her beginnings in the sport, Glaesser says, “When I started, I never even considered making it to London.  It wasn’t even really a goal, because it didn’t seem realistic.” However, after she started cycling, Glaesser quickly found support from Cycling BC, the provincial governing body for the sport of cycling in British Columbia. Later on, and closer to the Olympic games, Glaesser says, “The [Canadian Cycling Association] National Team and all its associated coaches and staff provided a program for us athletes to really be able to excel, with the help this year of Own the Podium and the Road to Excellence program.” Fast forward to this year, and Glaesser has already won medals at the world track cycling championships in Melbourne, Australia, and at the World Cup in London, with her teammates Tara Whitten and Gillian Carleton.

Glaesser spent the year prior to the Games training with the National Track Team in Los Angeles, where they had access to an international-caliber velodrome and were surrounded by support staff. Says Glaesser of the experience, “While it was sometimes a challenge to be away from home for so long, I think it really allowed us to focus on the job at hand and to become a really cohesive and close knit team.” Trials for an Olympic spot were held in June, and Glaesser was named to the team.

The only significant bump in the road on her journey to the Olympics was qualifying to compete for Canada. Glaesser has lived in Canada for most of her life, but was born in Paderborn, Germany. A year ago, Glaesser still did not have Canadian citizenship, and so was ineligible to compete for Canada. “It was definitely an agonizing wait for my application to get processed . . . I finally became a citizen last September, and looking back I think the experience just gave that much more of an appreciation for what an honour it is to represent the maple leaf.”

Along with Whitten and Carleton, Glaesser travelled to London to compete. Their event, team pursuit cycling, is a 12-lap race between teams of three. In the first round, the Canadian team lost to Britain, but were fast enough to qualify for the race for bronze. Glaesser describes herself as being on autopilot just before the final round, but admits that “I remember being really excited and motivated.  It was at that moment that it kind of sunk in that we were in the Olympics and fighting for a medal!” In the final race, the Canadian team beat out Australia with a time of 3 minutes and 17.915 seconds to win the bronze medal.

The response back home has been huge. Glaesser says that the outpour of support and congratulations came as a bit of a shock after the extreme focus of London.  For Glaesser, “The best part though is having been able to give more exposure to track cycling so hopefully more young athletes become motivated and involved.”

For now, Glaesser is heading back to school this semester, where she hopes to major in computing science and minor in mathematics.  As for competitive cycling, she says, “Although I’m excited about what we’ve achieved so far, I think we have so much potential to still grow and improve. For myself, I am also looking to concentrate on road racing for a bit, so Rio is for sure on my mind.”

DSU Spotlight

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By Graham Cook

History Student Union

The History Student Union works with history students, professors, and other DSUs to host events at which people can relax and get their nerd on. In the past, we have held several history-themed Pub Trivia Nights at the SFSS Highland Pub, a history movie night, and two Bicker and Banter panels. In addition to this, we will be publishing the first issue of Borders, an interdisciplinary journal. We will be holding elections on Tuesday, Oct. 2, so please “like” us on Facebook and check out our blog to get updates as to how you can get involved with the HSU!

Physics Student Association

Students can get involved with the PSA by attending our meetings where we offer free pizza. We have held physics conferences, and most recently we had a pi day celebration where students paid to pie instructors in the face for charity.

Communication Student Union

The Communication Student Union (CMNSU) is a student organization at Simon Fraser University for all students of the communication program — majors, minors, as well as students currently taking any class offered by the School of Communication. Every semester the CMNSU organizes events for their peers and provides opportunities for students to gain valuable communication skills and volunteer experience.
The CMNSU works closely with the communication co-op to bring students fantastic events like the Annual Communication Symposium and Careers in Communication. Besides organizing events, the CMNSU produces swag for students, including extremely popular t-shirts. Every year the CMNSU also provides students with the opportunity to get their writing and photos published in our annual magazine, InContext.
If you would like to get more involved with your student union, please visit the CMNSU website [www.cmnsu.com], or send us an email at [email protected].
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cmnsu
Twitter: @cmnsu
email: [email protected]
Dance Student Union

Along with a small body of elected executives and any other students, we hold weekly meetings were we discuss all sorts of things pertaining to the Dance Area. Our union hosts a range of activities. We provide first aid kits in the dance studios, host artists from the community to give workshops to SFU dance students, and fundraise through bake sales and parties. We are a very small union and always ready to listen to new ideas — please feel free to contact us anytime if you’ve got an idea comment or question! [email protected]

Humanities Student Union

The Humanities Student Union publishes inter/tidal., an academic interdisciplinary journal which showcases poetic and prosaic pieces, visual art, and short essays. The HSU puts on a journal launch each year with installations by contributors and local artists, live music (from autoharp solos to dirty rap parties), and readings. The Railway Club, Centre A, The Waldorf Hotel, and W2 all played host to these annual events. We are closely affiliated with the humanities department and events put on by the Institute for the Humanities, and we generally shy from the dry side of student politics. Check out our website http://www.intertidalsfu.com/ for back copies of the journal, information regarding contributions and happenings about town. We always welcome new members, so send [email protected] line if you’d like to join in.

Interactive Arts and Technology Student Union

“IATSU represents the interests and promotes the design culture within the SIAT program of SFU. We host events to enhance the SIAT life with events that allow students to showcase their work, to learn more about the industry with professionals, and to meet and collaborate with their peers. Beyond events, IATSU works behind the scenes in the course structure of SIAT by providing feedback to upcoming changes with the student perspective in order to make every part of the SIAT life more enjoyable. If students are interested in helping with the operations of the student union, they can visit our website www.iatsu.com or e-mail us at [email protected].

Software Systems Student Society

The SSSS is a Surrey-based DSU that provides representation and various activities/benefits for all software systems students. Formed in the spring of last year, we aim to bring our membership closer together and provide fun events and informative workshops that would otherwise be unavailable. For instance, this fall is the first time software systems students will have a frosh event hosted jointly by their own DSU and the MSESS here at SFU Surrey. If you would like to get involved and help out with our events, watch for our emails about volunteering — or if you’re interested in jumping right in, our elections are coming up soon and you can submit yourself as a nominee for an executive position.

Computing Science Student Society

The Computing Science Student Society (CSSS) promotes the interests of students in the School of Computing Science. As a DSU we provide the resources to help computing science students be successful both academically and socially.
 The CSSS has a common room for all students which is located in room 9802 in the Applied Sciences Building, just off the atrium and next to CSIL. It offers $1.00 pop, five-cent photocopying, a free phone, and comfy couches.
Throughout the year the CSSS holds events including LAN parties, board games nights, Frosh Week, and other socials. CSSS meetings are held several times a semester, and are open to all computing science students.
To find out more about the CSSS and how to get involved visit our website at csss.cs.sfu.ca

Environmentmental Science Student Union

We volunteer for environmentally focused causes, host and facilitate talks from green-focused groups, and have fun and network among our members. We have a potluck once a semester, which is a great way for people to come out and meet us if they’re interested. The best way to get in touch with us is at this email address or to drop by our common room in WMC 2605.

Criminology Student Association

If you are a student majoring, minoring, or in a Criminology course at SFU then you are automatically a member of the Criminology Student Association.
We put on career fairs in order for students to meet potential employers in the field. We also organize panel events where students can meet professionals who have pursued grad school in criminology, as well as policing and law, to provide a venue to learn more about the career paths some have traveled upon. Some of our other past events include movie nights, frosh, paintballing, beverage gardens, and pub nights.

Economics Student Society

The ESS is a student union comprised of students majoring and minoring in economics, or any students taking economics courses. While it aims to promote thoughtful debate and discussion on current issues in this sphere, this organization seeks to build a sense of community by giving students the opportunity to bond and develop networking skills. To this end, the ESS executives have a tradition of arranging a wings night every semester. Declared economics students are encouraged to meet other fellow students, as well as professors from the Economics Department, in the presence of wings and beer served free of charge. Other notable events include the Economics Salon, where students are encouraged to share views and debate current economic issues. By becoming an active member of the ESS, you will have the opportunity to organize as well as provide input for these events. Furthermore, the many practical skills gained along the way will serve you well once you enter the workforce.

Peak Bear Watch

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The Peak conducted an investigation on the high amounts of bear sightings around Burnaby campus. This is what we discovered…

Created: Julian Giordano
Contact: [email protected]

Score: Ball and Biscuit – The White Stripes

Criteria for Enbridge pipeline good for B.C.

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 By Benedict Reiners
Photos by Eric Miller

Recently, in response to both the Alberta and federal governments pushing for B.C. to allow Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline to be built through the province, the B.C. government issued a set of five criteria that the project must meet in order for the province to allow it. These criteria aim to do a variety of tasks, and focus on the protection of the environment with three of the five criteria. The other two terms deal with B.C.’s financial compensation for its part in the project, and the rights of the First Nations who will be affected by the project. Though the terms laid are far from ideal, and will likely do little to even slow the project, let alone stop it, they represent the provincial government doing what it can with the little influence it has.

Criticism for the criteria has come from a variety of sources, with many, notably the Albertan provincial government, who say that B.C. should not stand in the way of such a large economic development. Environmentalists have opposed it too, suggesting that what B.C. needs to do is not simply set up a series of criteria, but rather refuse the project outright. However, even they must realize that they couldn’t just stop this project in its tracks, not with the current attitudes of both the federal and Alberta governments. Judging by the efforts of these two groups pushing this project forwards, the pipeline is likely to be made, one way or another, and at this point even environmentalists must see that the best that the provincial government can do is stall it, ensure that any spills will be cleaned up as efficiently as possible, and milk it for what it’s worth to the province.

One thing that the environmentalists should like is the inclusion of terms demanding an expedient, efficient cleanup. The fact remains that there is a high probability that there will be a spill at some point, sooner or later. When that happens, the best thing that opponents of the project can hope for will be that it will be cleaned up expediently, with as little damage being done to the environment as possible, and that those responsible for the project will be held accountable when such problems come to light. These criteria aim to make sure this happens.

The criteria have actually put the federal government in a difficult place, and could take them out of the process to some degree, something that the environmentalists should like. If the Tories push it through without accepting the terms of the criteria, they will look like the bad guys in B.C., and will likely suffer a blow to their popularity in our province. However, if they validate the terms, Alberta will respond similarly, and the Tories will risk offending their base. This may have even pushed the federal government towards supporting B.C.’s demands, had it not been for the fact that they already know that in all likelihood, almost anyone who would consider themselves environmentalists would not vote for them in the first place.

If anything, the best thing that the B.C. government did in the criteria to prevent the federal government from just pushing the project through was to involve groups other than just environmentalists. This is most prominent in the monetary terms, which instantly make sure that it’s in everyone in the province’s best interest to have the criteria implemented. This has also been done on a more narrowly defined level as well, with the inclusion of terms for B.C.’s First Nations. These terms mean that anyone trying to push aside the criteria is essentially attempting to push aside First Nations’ rights, likely offending many First Nations groups not only in B.C., but across the country. This may not have stopped either this government, or others before it from pushing forward projects in the past, but at least it means that, come Election Day, they may feel its consequences.

Although B.C. may not be the source of the oil heading through the pipeline, it will bear most of the risk for it. As such, it deserves to be rightfully compensated and given a say in how the project will move forward. We’re facing an uphill battle, but at least the province is doing what it can.

Dance majors push for emphasis on conditioning

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By Alison Roach

Jana Jacques and Meredith Page believe that there is a definite lack of emphasis on body conditioning and strengthening in dance programs

Second year SFU Dance majors Jana Jacques and Meredith Page are to be recognized for their research in dance overspecialization and injury. Jacques, 31, and Page, 24, have been chosen as presenters for the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) annual conference, to be held from October 25 – 27 in Singapore.

After their study proposal was unanimously supported by the SFU Faculty of Dance, Jacques and Page did a directed study in the spring 2012 semester, exploring what they believe to be a key cause of injury in dance: overspecialization.

Jacques and Page believe that there is a definite lack of emphasis on conditioning and strengthening in dance programs, leading to extreme strain on dancers’ bodies. Jacques explained that, “Dancers are athletes, but they don’t train like athletes. . . . No one is taking responsibility for teaching dancers to condition themselves.”

To test this theory, the two designed a conditioning program based on Page’s experience as a certified personal trainer that had more focus on strength training and aerobic capacity, as opposed to most dancing training, which revolves around dance-move-specific classes. They offered this program to the entire dance student body, and ran classes three times a week for 14 weeks.

“We had fitness testing three times, at the beginning, middle, and end. We also had a questionnaire given to the students trying to figure out what the perspective is on conditioning, if there’s a perceived value,” said Jacques. They were pleasantly surprised with the results. The questionnaires showed that there was actually a very high value placed on conditioning and strengthening, going against the perceived stereotype of dancers striving to look like small, delicate ballerinas.

The issue of injury in dance is an important one. Professional dancers are known to hit what is called the “40-year wall”: around age 40 their joints simply get too worn out to dance at that level any more.

Jacques feels a personal connection to this research, since she was injured herself. After studying dance for 13 years, she injured her knee repeatedly and had to stop.

“I think it’s really devastating to be passionate about something and suddenly to be injured and not be able to do it,” said Jaques.

She would like to see some sort of boot camp program in place for new students, a two-week conditioning program that would be run before any intensive dance training.

It seems that things may be heading in this direction already at a professional level, as Jacques said, “The aesthetics for dancers are changing, they’re lean and they’re strong. I’m sure they’re expecting full athletic training, and I think that message needs to come to dancers earlier.”

Page and Jacques will now be presenting these findings at the Healthy Dancer Canada Convention in Vancouver on September 16, as well as at IADMS. For now, Jacques and Page are focused on actually getting themselves to Singapore. Estimating their costs at roughly $6,000 for the trip, the two have been granted $2,000 from the SFU Dance Department, through the Iris Garland Program Enhancement Fund.

For the rest of the cost, they will be holding a fundraiser on August 5 at the Anza Club in Vancouver; a screening of the Victoria documentary, “The Whale.” The 19+ event will include food, drinks, and a raffle with prizes ranging from decorated cakes to the top prize of a $1,500 film equipment rental package from William F. White. Jacques hopes that their research into this area will affect some change in the way dance programs are run.

In the study detail Jacques and Page presented, they state that “With our findings, we would like to propose that a conditioning class be added to the SFU dance program curriculum. . . . We think this would help prevent injury and missed classes due to injury, as well as increase the performance level of SFU dancers and create healthy habits that could extend their dance performance careers.”

SFU grad scores food bank donations

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By Kelli Gustafson 

Richard Loat finishes up third annual Five Hole for Food national tour

On July 21, Five Hole for Food concluded their 3rd annual coast-to-coast tour of Canada in the 800-block of Granville Street. Many people turned out to watch and participate in the organized games of street hockey while raising awareness and donations for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

Simon Fraser University graduate Richard Loat founded Five Hole for Food (FHFF) to raise money for local food banks by bringing together Canadians through a common passion: hockey.

Each year, Loat and his team embark on a 19-day tour of Canada, visiting 13 cities along the way. These cities include: St. John’s, Halifax, Charlottetown, Saint John, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, and, finally, Vancouver.

This year, while in Victoria, FHFF collaborated alongside Topaz Hockey, a local non-profit organized outdoor street hockey club, in order to raise money for a local Victoria non-profit, The Mustard Seed.

Topaz Hockey was founded by Shane Nicholls and James Mallach of Victoria. Nicholls joined the FHFF team in wrapping up their season back in Vancouver earlier this month. “What an amazing experience,” Nicholls said after being invited to Vancouver, “the whole trip was life changing. It surpassed all expectations. I will make a promise to myself that I will not miss another Vancouver FHFF again.”

Nicholls played alongside Loat throughout the day in a variety of organized street hockey games. Three “courts” for street hockey were set up between Robson and Smithe on Granville Street, and included drop-in games, a kid’s game, a Corporate game, and a VIP game, which featured Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.

FHFF has had their most successful year yet, raising over 130,000 pounds of food across Canada. Victoria raised over 8,000 pounds of food, thanks to combined efforts from Topaz Hockey, while Vancouver alone raised over 43,000 pounds of food for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

In 2010, FHFF’s first tour, they raised over 6,000 pounds of food across Canada. In 2011, they raised seven times this amount (over 42,000 pounds of food), and this year they have nearly tripled the amount raised from last year. As FHFF continues to grow, they have captured the attention of many Canadians in this nationwide event. Loat and his project were featured in the unveiling of president Petter’s new strategic vision for SFU earlier this year.

To participate is as simple as bringing a food donation and your hockey stick.

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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