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VPD executes arrest and search warrant on drug testing operation

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the outside of Dana Larsen’s mushroom dispensary. The bright pink and orange sign on the storefront reads “Mushroom Dispensary, Coca Leaf Cafe.”
PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer

On November 1, the director and founder of Get Your Drugs Tested, Dana Larsen, was arrested after a search warrant from the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) was executed. The VPD raided Larsen’s three Medicinal Mushroom dispensary locations. He was released without charges or conditions seven hours after his arrest. The arrest and search warrant came just days after the VPD arrested co-founders of the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF), Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx. The Peak reached out to Larsen for more information. 

Larsen, a lifelong drug advocate, started Vancouver’s third cannabis dispensary in 2008. After its closure in 2019, he had the idea to rebrand the East Hastings dispensary to check drugs for harmful substances, something largely inaccessible to many people who use drugs. Get Your Drugs Tested uses a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) machine to scan for harmful substances contaminating drugs. The operation is funded through sales of psychedelics from Larsen’s other businesses. He keeps his drug testing services free to customers, as he told The Peak in 2021, “I wouldn’t want to feel that, for the lack of a $5 bill, someone had an overdose and died.” To date, Get Your Drugs Tested has tested over 60,000 drug samples, “making [them] the world’s busiest drug analysis centre” of street drugs, Larsen said. 

“It just seemed to me, with the drug overdose death crisis happening in Vancouver and around the world, it’s something we can do to save some lives, to bring information and accountability in the drug market, and to push and shame, the provincial and federal government into offering this service properly,” he continued, noting the irony of funding this service through the sales of marijuana and psilocybin (magic) mushrooms. “It’s always drug users looking after each other.” 

Larsen said the arrest and warrant were “unexpected,” as he is normally on amicable terms with the VPD. The warrant allowed the VPD to seize dimethyltryptamine (DMT), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mushrooms, and coca leaf, which is used to make cocaine. All of these substances are naturally derived. “They really were quite aggressive in seizing these things,” Larsen noted. 

He suspects the arrest may have been politically motivated. Larsen said the investigation on him and the arrested DULF members began earlier this year when a cannabis company claimed Health Canada granted them permission to produce and distribute cocaine. “The story was used to attack the BC NDP, and because we sell coca leaf, we got in the news as well,” despite coca leaves and cocaine having different effects and uses. Coca leaves have been used for chewing and teas for centuries, with many Indigenous Peoples of South America cultivating the plant for medical purposes. The drug began to be refined, such as into powdered form, and sold as a stimulant over time. However, the effects of coca leaf versus the refined drug cocaine are drastically different — coca leaf has a mildly stimulating effect akin to coffee, but the stigma surrounding the leaf remains. Larsen suggested the VPD investigation, resulting in the confiscation of his coca leaf product, began after the Health Canada controversy. 

Larsen also added the raid on his businesses was not a good use of resources or time, noting an estimated 2,000 hours of investigation and $150,000 of expenses, only for him to reopen again days later. 

“The fact that I was released after seven hours, with no charges and no conditions, also shows prosecutors are not choosing to go after me,” Larsen said. This led him to speculate the raid and arrests were caused by an outside influence. He suggested the arrest and raid were executed in order to “push off criticism” of the VPD’s response to Vancouver’s drug policy. “So, they come in and do these raids as a way of quieting their opponents.” 

Larsen said Get Your Drugs Tested is planning a major expansion in operations, including two new locations and a mobile drug testing vehicle. 

Despite being funded purely through the sale of illegal substances, Get Your Drugs Tested offers same-day results, compared to government operations, which can take up to a week for processing. He said while it is a considerable feat that a grassroots organization overtakes a provincial mandate, Larsen said “it’s also really unacceptable” that the province isn’t more funded and prepared. 

Get Your Drugs Tested also works directly with Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Centre on Substance Use, providing both hands-on training for drug analysis methods and data on substance use. Vancouver Coastal Health recently designated Get Your Drugs Tested as an overdose prevention centre, allowing them legal permits to accept and handle illicit drugs, an act otherwise considered illegal possession and trafficking of substances. “Although we’re a group funded entirely by cannabis and mushrooms sold without permits and outside the legal system, we’re still kind of integrated into the legal system,” Larsen said.

The Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) was also raided by the VPD, and its two founding members, Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx, were arrested. DULF has been public about its operations for a long time, which include buying drugs off the black market, testing them for harmful substances, and distributing them to locals. DULF received $200,000 of funding from Vancouver Coastal Health, but that contract has stopped as of October 31.

“We live in a society where drug users are consistently demonized and attacked and marginalized,” both by people and by the government, the latter of which subjects people who use drugs to “incarceration, punishment, humiliation, demonization,” Larsen said.

Despite the stigma against drugs and people who use drugs, Larsen still has hope for the future. He noted people who normally would not be pro-safe supply or drug policy advocates are becoming avid activists after losing a loved one to policies that failed them. He also said fear-based and abstinence-based education surrounding drug use is not effective for teaching people about safe ways to use or avoid substances, as it can create an environment of division and repulsion, as well as recklessness. “This crisis is helping to radicalize people and bring them out and lose their fear.”

Belongings Matter report discusses property rights for unhoused individuals

By
Peak Web
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This is a photo of the Powell Street Tent City in Vancouver BC. Multiple tents are set up in a community space, with grass under them. Bikes and other belongings are standing up outside. No people can be seen.
PHOTO: Ted McGrath / Flickr

By: Eden Chipperfield, News Writer

The Government of Canada’s publications regarding property rights state, “Everyone has the right to the use of enjoyment of property individually or in association with others, and the right not to be deprived thereof specified in accordance with law.” However, some local activists have noted that this right is not always protected for the unhoused population. In response, a group of academics and harm-reduction experts came together to author the Belongings Matter report. 

The Belongings Matter report analyzes the current laws and policies surrounding the possessions of unhoused and precariously housed individuals in Canada. Their research has a strong message: “We need to recognize that unhoused people have property rights.”

Whether a blanket from childhood or a shirt from a memorable event, belongings hold importance and can help those who are unhoused and precariously housed survive. However, with the lack of support and the application of personal property rights, these vulnerable individuals are not protected. They can be a victim of stigmatization and dispossession, causing emotional distress. 

To discuss the report as well as strategies surrounding the report, The Peak spoke to SFU geography professor Nicholas Blomney, one of the authors of the Belongings Matter report. 

“The report emerged from a multi-year, multi-site research project into the ways in which precariously housed and unhoused people’s belongings are constantly being taken from them by others, such as bylaw officers, shelter operators, [and] landlords,” said Blomney. The seizure of belongings by shelter officials or rental owners contributes to the stigma that their items are obstructions, dangerous, or garbage. 

The report’s main findings included the lack of safe and secure places for the precariously housed and unhoused populations to store their belongings. They found evidence of routine and frequent seizures and destruction of belongings by officials and private actors, which ultimately increased their vulnerability. 

Those who find shelter in spaces for precariously housed and unhoused individuals are subjected to strict rules about bringing belongings into the space. These rules include limiting the number of possessions to two tote bins. Additionally, some spaces do not allow pets. “Many people told us that shelters were not safe spaces for their belongings as a result. Sometimes people would opt not to use them,” elaborated Blomney.

Many individuals experience challenges when staying in public parks and outdoor spaces such as forced camp clearouts. In September, a camp clearout occurred in Prince George. The raid left residents feeling abandoned and unsafe, expressing that the forcible removal of their belongings is stressful when there is no clarity on where people may end up. Loss of belongings includes tents, which can impact personal safety when impounded. In April, the Vancouver Police Department, with the direction of the City of Vancouver, cleared a large section of tents that was along the street strip, which left unhoused people feeling vulnerable and unsafe. 

The Belongings Matter report discusses how “capitalist liberal societies claim to protect property rights; [yet] they routinely deny rights to poor and unhoused people when it comes to their belongings. Put another way, they protect the interests of those who own land against those forced to use private and state land,” explained Blomney. 

An anonymous interviewee from the “In Their Own Words Section” of the Belongings Matter report recalled how it felt to have their belongings confiscated: “You can’t show somebody who you were once and your history has gone. You’re the only one who remembers.” 

Stigmatization around unhoused or precariously unhoused individuals can cause disinformation. The Peak asked how the Belongings Matter report would address stigmatization. “The report will not dismantle the stigma alone, but it can contribute to a wider recognition of a systemic problem that is based on inequitable, racist, and classist forms of discrimination and devaluation. Perhaps a recognition that we all value our belongings, whatever our social position, is a good place to begin.”

Council Chats: SFSS rejects TEDxSFU grant request

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

By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer

The Peak attended the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) meeting on November 8. Matters discussed include expelling councillors due to absences, the TEDxSFU conference, tuition refunds, and a number of committee elections. 

Councillor Resignations

The SFSS bylaw 15.7 states that if a councillor is absent from five scheduled meetings without stating regrets, or is absent from three consecutive meetings, it will result in expulsion from the SFSS and their seat will be considered vacant.

At this meeting, there were numerous councillors who had been absent for five or more meetings and are now considered resigned. The councillors resigned are as follows: biology councillor, Nicolas Bonilla, archaeology councillor, Seniha Inceoz, SFPIRG councillor, Tuleen Awad, software systems student society councillor, Ngan Ngoc Nguyen, interactive arts and technology student union councillor, Karishma Sen, Out On Campus councillor, Adriana Cumming-Teicher, film councillor, Sofi Badzio, and international studies student union councillor, Sebastian Mujica.

Mujica raised concerns about this motion, saying he was unaware of this policy and was told otherwise upon initial election. Vice-president internal, Ashely Flett, said this story was “a little unbelievable.” Councillor Bonilla said, upon his recruitment mid-year to the SFSS, the previous vice-president internal told him absences without regrets were tolerable, but “now I’m being told that it is policy.” 

Flett assured Mujica and the other councillors that they would be eligible for reelection to their positions within their respective societies and student unions. 

TEDxSFU Grant Request

The SFSS had previously granted TEDxSFU $2,300 for their November 11 event. TEDxSFU’s budget this year is $59,778. Prior to the November 8 meeting, they requested an additional $11,000 from the SFSS. The money would have gone toward flying speakers to Vancouver, catering for VIP members, venue space for 1,820 attendees, and reduced ticket prices for students.

No representatives from TEDxSFU were present at the meeting, and a discussion was held about the grant request. History student union councillor Emilio Da Silva raised concerns about the grant request, citing the severe deficit the SFSS is in. “This is an extraordinarily large amount of money, and I don’t know how the precedent of us spending this will set for other clubs,” he said. “I’m really worried that, in a few years, we may not exist anymore.” 

Criminology student association councillor Henry Do provided figures from TEDxSFU’s past events. He said from 2018–2022, venues have held around 400 attendees, while this year is hosting 1,820 attendees. Do also said TEDxSFU has sold over 600 tickets as of November 5. He noted the majority of seats had not been filled yet. “Their turnout has been good, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not good enough to book this venue.”

SFSS agreed to grant the original $2,300, but rejected the additional $11,000.

Tuition Refund 

Former vice president of finance Abhi Parmar spoke with SFU’s Senate about the tuition refund. He reported a resounding refusal from the Senate to administer refunds. 

In response, the SFSS will release a letter supporting the tuition refund campaign. The Undergrad Solidarity Society released a petition and letter demanding a tuition refund after the fall semester was disrupted due to the Teaching Support Staff Union strike. Despite the strike ending in mid-October, the USS is calling for a refund to compensate for time, effort, and money lost during the three-week job action. 

Committee Elections

  • Oversight Committee on Executive Officers: Sociology and anthropology student union councillor, Andres Sosa
  • Oversight Committee on Executive Officers: Geography student union councillor, Erik Makinen
  • Oversight Committee on Executive Officers: Political science student union councillor, Aliyah Apolonio
  • University and Academic Affairs Committee: Criminology student association councillor, Henry Do
  • Events and Student Affairs Committee: Thomas Leuth, VP university and academic affairs 
  • Member Service Advisory Committee: Thomas Leuth, VP university and academic affairs
  • Equity and Sustainability Committee: Residence hall’s association councillor Emmanuel Adegboyega 
  • Outreach Committee: The election was postponed 
  • Surrey Campus Committee: Thomas Leuth, VP university and academic affairs
  • Space Oversight Committee: Indigenous studies student union councillor Evan Accettola 
  • Vancouver Campus Committee: The election was postponed. 

Proposal to Change SFSS Logo

During the thirty-minute Q&A period, president Liam Feng suggested changing the SFSS logo. Others suggested a logo-designing competition to raise awareness for the SFSS and to build a sense of community and friendly competition.

Indigenous leader discusses UN reconciliation policies in action

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the outside of the United Nations headquarters. Outside the front door is a large row of numerous country flags, lining the grass.
PHOTO: Mathias Reding / Unsplash

By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer

Khelsilem is an Indigenous political leader, Chairperson of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), former SFU lecturer, and a leading voice for Sen̓áḵw’s affordable housing non-profit. The project is currently building 1,000 units of affordable homes and 6,000 apartments on Sen̓áḵw land. Khelsilem presented a seminar on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and how this policy is enacted in everyday life. The Peak attended the October 18 lecture to learn more.  

UNDRIP has been considered a crucial framework for Indigenous justice since its adoption by 144 countries in 2007. Despite the document being non-legally binding, mHe noted many countries have used its “comprehensive framework for addressing issues, such as self-determination, cultural integrity, land rights, and the right to participate in decision-making that affects our communities.” 

Khelsilem explained that UNDRIP was always meant to be an extension to the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights, but geared toward more vulnerable Indigenous communities who need extra protection and support. 

BC adopted the act as a framework for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, and it was adopted on a federal level in 2022. Khelsilem said progress has been “sluggish,” because acting on  Indigenous rights involves many logistical challenges, such as in translating this large, global document to fit a smaller, municipal scale.

Khelsilem described the term “reconciliation” as “a fraught term, at times, largely because of its abstract nature.” He explains many people have “an affinity for using abstract conceptual terms to try to articulate our goals and objectives.” The term becomes so muddled, it becomes largely meaningless and difficult to translate into action. “You can ascribe a lot of meaning to those words relative to your own morals or values. And then the word can end up meaning many things to different groups of people.” He explained this idea, noting oil and gas companies often use the abstract, conceptual values of Truth and Reconciliation to engage in environmentalist spaces. 

“Our rights as Indigenous Peoples come from our lands,” Khelsilem explained. “The work to develop the UNDRIP strategy in the city of Vancouver was never a negotiation, we never described it as a negotiation, it was a conversation and a project we were working on together,” and there were attempts to include and support everyone. 

Khelsilem’s main point regarding UNDRIP and how it correlates with BC’s implementation of Truth and Reconciliation comes from UNDRIP’s first Call to Action: “Indigenous Peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals.” Khelsilem honed in on the words “enjoyment” and joy,” and how Indigenous people deserve to feel joy in their rights and freedoms. Rather than stumble through technical, legal jargon to describe fundamental human rights, Khelsilem said this very first tenet of the UNDRIP charter states “the concept of joy is very human, and something many people can relate to.” By conceptually looking at the Calls to Action through the lens of joy, it becomes easier to visualize what that Act should entail. 

Putting Indigenous joy at the forefront of Truth and Reconciliation, Khelsilem called upon the audience of the seminar to propose a number between one and 43. Each number correlated with one of the UNDRIP’s 43 Articles. The first volunteer proposed the number 27; article 27 states Indigenous Peoples will be permitted to participate in the process of land management and control over territorial rights. Khelsilem explained how this article could be enacted through the lens of joy. “When I think about this, when I think about the full enjoyment, this is the ability for Indigenous people to actually participate and shape the outcome of things happening within their territories.” 

Another volunteer called out the number seven, which correlates to the article stating “Indigenous individuals have the rights to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty and security of person,” and have the right to freedom, security, and “shall not be subjected to any act of genocide or any other act of violence, including forcibly removing children of the group to another group.” Khelsilem related this Article to a recent legislation passed to allow Indigenous people’s right to control their own education. This allows First Nations to create their own school boards and curricula. “We can actually educate our children in our own systems of our own designs based off our own values.” 

“The joy you feel from seeing a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or the joy you feel in applying for affordable housing and getting accepted [ . . . ] there’s lots of things that bring joy.”

Mastering the Basics: Formula One

By
Peak Web
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photo of two F1 cars behind one another on the track turning the corner.
PHOTO: Todd Jiang / Unsplash

By: Kaja Antic, Sports Writer

Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of open-wheel single-seater formula racing. While the inaugural season was in 1950, the sport has been gaining momentum in North America only recently, partially due to the success of Netflix’s documentary series, Formula 1: Drive to Survive. 

Formula One Origins and Vehicles 
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for many motorsport events, including the Formula One World Championship. The competition is the highest class of racing for formula racing cars — or open-wheel, single-seater racing cars. For those who remember the 2011 Pixar movie Cars 2, fictional Italian racer Francesco Bernoulli is an example of this style of vehicle. 

The first Formula One World Championship was held in 1950, though the term was first coined by the FIA in 1946, and was used to describe some of the races prior to the first official World Championship.

The vehicles used in these races are the fastest racing cars in the world, regulated for the road courses used in the Grand Prix races. These specialty cars rely heavily on aerodynamics, especially the downforce generated from the front and rear wings on the car’s lightweight body. The success of these vehicles also depends on their tires, suspension, and the electronics within them.

The word “formula” in the sports’ title is a nod to the very specific requirements for the cars, as well as those driving them in these high-level competitions.

Grand Prix Races
Each F1 season contains multiple Grand Prix races, which are races held on circuits around the world, from Montréal to Melbourne and Monaco. The amount of Grand Prix races changes per season, though the number has increased in recent years. The 2023 season is continuing this trend with 23 races in 21 different countries, though the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix held in Imola, Italy, was cancelled due to flooding in the region, shortening the schedule to 22 races. 

The racing series is typically held over the course of three days, with separate events taking place each day. The first day and half of the second day are taken up by three free-practice sessions for the racing teams. The remainder of the second day is dedicated to a qualifying session, which determines the order of cars at the start of the actual race — with the slowest car in this session being placed at the back and the fastest car at the front. 

The main event occurs on the final day, with each Grand Prix having a different circuit and number of laps. The number of laps per circuit is determined by the lowest possible number of laps completed in 305 kilometres, with the only exception being the Monaco Grand Prix, which is determined by the lowest number of laps after a distance of 260 kilometres.

The Points System
For every Grand Prix, each driver and their team are awarded points based on the position they place in the race. The first driver to cross the checkered flag gets 25 points, the second gets 18 points, and third gets 15 points, with drivers four through nine earning 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, and 2 points, respectively, while the 10th driver picks up one. There is an extra point gained for achieving the fastest lap in the race, though only if the driver is within the top ten spots. 

At the end of each F1 season, the driver with the most points wins the FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Championship, and the team with the most points wins the FIA Formula One Constructors’ Championship.

The Teams
In each F1 season, there are teams owned by personal or corporate sponsors that are labelled “constructors,” who design key pieces for their team’s vehicles. Every team has two drivers in each race and is awarded the points gained by both participants.

For the 2023 F1 season, the teams are as follows: 

Red Bull Racing – Max Verstappen & Sergio Perez
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton & George Russell
Ferrari – Charles Leclerc & Carlos Sainz Jr.
McLaren – Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri
Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso & Lance Stroll
Alpine – Pierre Gasly & Esteban Ocon
Williams – Alexander Albon & Logan Sargeant
AlphaTauri – Yuki Tsunoda & Daniel Ricciardo
Alfa Romeo – Valtteri Bottas & Zhou Guanyu
Haas F1 Team – Kevin Magnussen & Nico Hulkenberg

The Champions
Verstappen was crowned the 2023 Champion after winning the Qatar Grand Prix. Although the season isn’t officially over until the last race in Abu Dhabi on November 26, after his victory in Qatar, none of the other 19 drivers could mathematically contend for the running.

Verstappen has won 17 of the 20 races this season for Red Bull. Perez, the team’s second driver, won the Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan Grand Prix races, with Verstappen placing second during both. The Singapore Grand Prix was the only race where a non-Red Bull won, as Ferrari’s Sainz took first.

Mercedes’ Hamilton is tied with retired driver Michael Schumacher for the most World Drivers’ Championships won with seven each. Verstappen has won the trophy every year since 2021. 

Ferrari has won the most World Constructors’ Championships, with 16 wins spanning from 1961 until the most recent win in 2008. Red Bull Racing has won the last two seasons, beginning with 2022, disrupting Mercedes’ eight-year consecutive run of winning the Championship. 

The 2023 Formula One season concludes soon, with the first-ever Las Vegas Grand Prix to be held on November 18, followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale on November 26. 

Christmas craft markets

By
Peak Web
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A vivid display of christmas decorations at Potter’s Nursery’s Christmas store, with snowy plastic christmas trees, santas, and other ornaments.
PHOTO: Pooja Singh / The Peak

By: Izzy Cheung, staff writer

If you know me, you know that Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year. Sipping hot chocolate, looking for the perfect gifts for friends and family while bundled in warm clothes . . . nothing beats that feeling. To get ahead of the game, I compiled a list of craft markets across the lower mainland where you can support local businesses while giving to your loved ones at the same time.

The Christmas Store by Potter’s Nursery 

Where: 19158 48 Avenue, Surrey 

Opening dates: From November 1 onwards: Saturday–Tuesday from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Wednesday–Friday  from 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. 

Price: Free 

There’s something for everyone at Potter’s Nursery’s Christmas store, from locally-crafted sweet treats to gifts for all of your favourite furry friends. While you’re there, check out The Dark Room — a 3,000-square-foot room that houses Christmas-themed paintings and candles. 

Vancouver Christmas Market 

Where: Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver 

Opening dates: Nov 16–30: Monday–Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday from 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; Sunday from 11:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Dec 1–Dec 23: Friday & Saturday from 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; Sunday–Thursday from 11:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Dec 24: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Price: Depends on when tickets are bought as tickets are limited. General admission starts at $15.99. Season passes and family passes start at $31.99 and $85.99.

A Vancouver Christmas classic, the Vancouver Christmas market opens its doors this season on November 16. Home to vendors such as Bon Macaron Patisserie, Cabin 9 Naturals, and Hook & Yarn Atelier, you’re certain to find unique handcrafted goods that anyone will enjoy finding in their stockings. 

Nikkei Craft Fair 

Where: Nikkei Cultural Centre, 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby 

Opening dates: November 18–19 from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 

Price: $5.00, free for attendees aged 17 and under, and seniors ages 65 and older

With over 90 craft and food vendors, food trucks, and craft workshops, Nikkei Craft Fair is perfect for finding cute pieces of art, stuffed or crocheted animals, and jewelry. With all these cute trinkets, who says you can’t buy yourself a Christmas gift?  

White Rock Museum and Archives’ Christmas Craft Market 

Where: 14970 Marine Drive, White Rock 

Opening dates: November 18–December 22, Tuesdays–Sundays from 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 

Price: Free 

Artwork, candles, and jewelry, oh my! The Christmas Craft Market at White Rock Museum and Archives will be open six days a week from November 18–December 22, making it the perfect place to stop by if you’re in need of any last-minute gifts. 

3rd Annual Christmas Market Extravaganza 

Where: 23022 88 Avenue, Fort Langley 

Opening date: November 25 from 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 

Price: Free

This Christmas market, located in Fort Langley’s Lions Hall, celebrates its third birthday this year and boasts a variety of vendors. Bring your own bag to store any gifts, goodies, or groceries you end up buying.   

Surrey Tree Lighting Festival 

Where: 13450 104 Avenue, Surrey 

Opening dates: November 25–26 from 12:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. 

Price: Free 

Heading to the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival’s Holiday Market comes with more benefits than just being able to shop their extensive supply of local artwork, Indigenous artisans, handcrafted skincare goods, or yummy treats. While you’re there, check out some live performances, take photos of the lights, and watch the tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on November 25.  

Vancouver Etsy Co. Holiday Pop Up 

Where: 115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver 

Opening dates: November 25–26 from 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. 

Price: $5.00 

Nestled in the Pipe Shop Venue, Vancouver Etsy Co.’s Holiday Pop Up will feature over 100 local businesses and craftspeople. Bring your friends, family, or pets for a fun gift-shopping experience.  

Director Tunku Mona Riza and VAFF bring a true rain town to Vancouver

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Peak Web
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A Cantonese family of four sitting at a dining table with various hot dishes, and bowls of rice. The daughter and father look at each other in a serious way, while the two sons look away with similar expressions. Behind them is a display shelf with many trophies and medals.
Photo courtesy of Tunku Mona Riza

By: Izzy Cheung, staff writer

With a seemingly endless supply of rain, many people refer to our city as Raincouver — but there’s another place across the globe that has claimed the title of “Rain Town.” Taiping, Malaysia, is endearingly called Rain Town due to its status as “the wettest town in Malaysia,” and sets the stage for director Tunku Mona Riza’s film of the same title. At this year’s Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Tunku Mona was able to bring the essence of a true rain town to Vancouver. 

The film, narrated mostly in Cantonese and partially in English, follows the story of the Choos, a Cantonese family living in Taiping. Through infusions of Chinese culture, memories worn down by the weathering of time, and the gut-wrenching circumstances of life, Tunku Mona and the cast of Rain Town transport audiences into the erratic environment of the Choos’ Taiping home. 

The Choo family is made up of five members, each of which are integral to the dramatic climax of Tunku Mona’s film. Mr. Choo (Kin Wah Chew), the family’s stern patriarch, expects the best for and from his family, exhibiting his pride to his friends and the rest of the Taiping community about his doctor-hopeful eldest son, Isaac (Fabian Loo). Because of this, it often feels as though his other two children, the sarcastic middle-sibling, Alex (Wilson Lee), and the youngest daughter, Ruby (Pauline Tan), are unable to live up to his expectations. This strain between members of the family is especially stressful to Aileen (Susan Lankester), Mr. Choo’s wife and mother of their children, who only wishes for the family to get along. The inter-familial conflicts dramatically stack upon one-another until the entire family finds themselves within a delicate situation that has them questioning the meaning of family itself. 

“I think in life and in film, we always focus on love, music, [or] arts as our passion, but we never really focus on loss,” actor Lankester said during a Q&A that was held after the screening. Rain Town explores loss in a beautiful yet heart-wrenching manner. The fractured family must navigate the perilous waters of their various struggles while simultaneously fighting to remain a family. 

The joyful moments between members of the Choo family make their eventual conflicts even more painful to watch later on. Depictions of Aileen and her children gathered around the kitchen table and laughing while making mooncakes brought a nostalgic feel to the film. I’ve never made mooncakes before, but Watching Aileen slam an old-fashioned wooden mooncake mould against the table conjured images of my own grandmother, who puts her own heart and soul into the food she makes. While not everyone has had the experience of making mooncakes, many have certainly shared the experience of sitting around a kitchen table with their family. 

“[Director Tunku Mona] had Pauline and myself going in for mooncake classes to ensure that when we did scenes where we’re actually making mooncakes or baking anything that our hands were moving with all the ingredients and we were literally making mooncakes as we were saying our dialogue,” Lankester laughed.  

Little details within the film made the aspect of family that much more meaningful. The family enjoying the dim light of a lantern hand carved by Mr. Choo, Aileen helping package up her daughter’s baked goods for delivery, and the wordless communication of a mother holding her son’s hand as Alex prepares to travel to Kuala Lumpur to start his business . . . all these moments spark reminders of the loving but fragmented bonds between parent and child. At its heart, Rain Town is a film about family — both the good sides, and the bad. 

Inside The Cherry Pit

By
Peak Web
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0
A black and silver microphone with a stand
PHOTO: Jukka Aalho / Unsplash

By: Saije Rusimovici

Editor’s note: Saije Rusimovici is the acting vice president of Creative Design for CMNSU.

The Cherry Pit podcast was born from the ambitions of members of SFU’s Communication Student Union (CMNSU) to combine their production skills with their passion for media studies and create a new form of online community. The podcast, hosted by CMNSU’s communications team, covers a variety of lighthearted and humorous topics. Wanting to break out from the traditional role of a student union, CMNSU aims to reach beyond the confines of the faculty and inspire everyone, not just communication majors, by producing content that has a high entertainment value. 

This isn’t the first podcast hosted by CMNSU members. Prior to the creation of The Cherry Pit, CMNSU produced a successful string of episodes of the podcast The Medium, The Message by CMNSU. Despite having an established podcast, the content was primarily focused on educational, communication-related topics. In early 2023, the podcast began to shift from communication to content that anyone, regardless of their major, could enjoy. From this shift came the eventual rebranding into The Cherry Pit in October 2023. 

This podcast revamp is looking to be an exciting feat taken on by CMNSU. In addition to the podcast, The Cherry Pit is also the title of an online blog written by the CMNSU communications team. Each post is different, following no specific theme or outline. Writers on the team are free to choose which topics they would like to write about, such as anti-bucket lists, travel tips, and self-care guides. Like the podcast, The Cherry Pit blog is a space for writers to freely express ideas with a hope of inspiring and humouring readers. 

Alan Röpke, President of CMNSU, is hopeful about the future of The Cherry Pit. Röpke wants CMNSU to stand out as more than just a student union. “Cherry Pit kind of signifies what we want that growth to look like,” he said. “Simran and her team represent this new wave of individuals who go into the world with a wide range of diverse multimedia skills. CMNSU will advance to be that space where people know of a student union for the content they produce, it’s a way of adapting to both students academic and entertainment needs.”

Simran Mann, vice president of communications for CMNSU and lead podcast host, provided The Peak with a behind-the-scenes look at how the vision for The Cherry Pit became a reality. 

The Peak: How did the idea for The Cherry Pit come about? 

Simran: In past years, CMNSU’s podcast has mainly catered to communication students, but we really wanted to reach a wider audience this year by moving beyond just academic and career-related topics. So we gave the podcast a full blown makeover! We started with the name, which was actually inspired by me accidentally swallowing a cherry pit during our first brainstorming session. It kind of started as a joke but it stuck. 

The Peak: What do you enjoy most about being a podcast host?

Simran: Honestly, I just love being able to sit down with my team [Jane Thompson, Chance Wasnuk, Melody Azimi, and Nercya Kalino] and have conversations about whatever random topic we have picked out for the week. Cherry Pit doesn’t really have a specific focus, which makes recording so fun because we just run with whatever’s on our mind that day. 

The Peak: What makes The Cherry Pit unique?

Simran: We’re a student-run podcast, but we don’t really make that our main focus. Since our content is pretty broad, you never know what you’re going to get. Sometimes we don’t even know until we start, but it comes together in the end!

The Peak: What is one of your favourite episodes so far? 

Simran: Definitely our second episode, “Things we should collectively leave behind in 2023.” We don’t hold back for this episode, especially on the topic of fashion trends.

The Peak: Why should people listen to The Cherry Pit, and where can they listen/interact with the podcast? 

Simran: I feel like The Cherry Pit [is an] easygoing and comfy listen that can appeal to just about anyone. It’s kind of like sitting down and listening to your best friends talk about whatever’s on their mind. 

CMNSU members are excited to continue building a community around the podcast and hope to attract listeners from all faculties across the university. In the future, they hope that CMNSU will be known not only for being a student union, but for the entertaining content they produce. The Cherry Pit is intended to be an integral part of CMNSU’s legacy.

Follow, rate, and listen to support The Cherry Pit on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Follow @cmnsu on Instagram to be notified when a new episode releases and for general updates on other CMNSU initiatives and events. 

Canada is too hasty to expand MAiD

By
Peak Web
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0
Some medications and a stethoscope on a table
PHOTO: Julia Zyablova / Unsplash

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

Content warning: mentions of ableism, death, Medical Assistance in Dying, substance use.

In June 2016, Canada introduced Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). It provides medically-assisted death for those with chronic, terminal health conditions and patients who cannot benefit from other treatment options. As of March 17, 2024, access will be expanded to those with mental illnesses, and includes those who have a history of substance use disorders. Expanding MAiD instead of investing in other treatment options sends the message that it’s not worth the government’s effort to support these individuals, or that their struggle has no other means of treatment. This is not true in most instances. There are other support options available that should be invested in before expanding MAiD. 

MAiD should only be available to patients in extreme circumstances. However, some individuals are offered MAiD when they don’t need or want it. In 2022, someone was trying to get a “wheelchair ramp installed at her home for the past five years” and was instead offered MAiD. Patients need to have complete autonomy over MAiD, and not be offered it unprompted. From 2019 to 2022, there were at least four confirmed cases of veterans being offered MAiD through Veterans Affairs Canada. An investigation took place as offering MAiD is completely unacceptable in these cases, and is not allowable through a non-medical circumstance. MAiD should not be used to devalue a disabled person’s worth or quality of living. 

MAiD includes a patient being told about the process, giving informed consent, being assessed by at least two practitioners, and exhausting all treatment options where applicable. To be eligible, the individual must be mentally competent, defined as “being capable of making health care decisions for yourself.” This is to ensure informed consent — typically throughout the assessment process, as well as immediately prior to administration. In the event that someone can’t give consent immediately before administration, they must sign a form ahead of time stating and allowing such consent. This is part of the issue. 

Since informed consent must be granted, it may be more difficult for some individuals with mental illnesses and substance use disorders to give their consent if they are not mentally competent, and are influenced by illicit substances or prescribed drugs. Though there are certain instances for which MAiD is appropriate for individuals with mental illness, this should only be considered in extreme circumstances where one’s mental illness is completely debilitating for the individual, or they have other severe, terminal diseases or health issues on top of the matter. 

Canadians face compounding issues of housing instability, on top of a lack of support services, medications, overdose prevention, and employment opportunities. When it comes to mental health and the cost and quality of living, better access to resources must be implemented to grant people the help they need. The same goes for people with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions where they also need access to health care resources to help with treatment, prevention, and overall accessibility. Why does the government cover the cost of death, but not the “cost of medications needed to live?”

In October 2022, an Ontario man, Amir Farsoud, applied for MAiD due the risk of becoming houseless and qualifying for medically-assisted death. He isn’t the only one. Others turn to MAiD out of desperation as a last resort. When patients say poverty is the number one reason for MAiD —  there’s an obvious issue. This is completely unethical, and the lack of support is unacceptable. Although Farsoud has physical health conditions alongside depression and anxiety, his conditions are not severe or life-threatening. Farsoud stated he didn’t want to die, but feared he had no other choice aside from houselessness. Luckily, people fundraised over $60,000 for him. Farsoud later posted an announcement thanking everyone for their contributions and stating that he had reconsidered his decision. However, this isn’t always the case. The fact he was even able to access MAiD in the first place, more easily than affordable housing, is completely appalling.

Rather than expanding access to MAiD for individuals with mental illness, there are many other, more appropriate resources that should be implemented. Mental health services often fail Canadians because there is lack of access — patients may not be able financially afford services or face barriers like racism and ableism while seeking support. Access to supports such as mental health care, counselling services, and medications — including prescribed drugs specific to certain disorders, and agonists such as Methadone (a “medication-assisted treatment” for opioid addiction) should be increased. Safe injection alongside overdose prevention sites, and better access to subsidized and affordable housing are resources that must be expanded to aid in mental health support and help alleviate associated challenges. These systemic issues must be addressed before expanding MAiD, and it’s been shown that the lack of access to resources directly correlates to mental health and substance use. 

MAiD should not be used as a way to mask or eliminate certain conditions that can otherwise be treated — whether this be through pain management, medications, therapies, medical appointments, or other supports. There is a certain time and place for MAiD, and offering it as a “solution” for people before addressing systemic issues is not the right thing to do.

Opinions in Dialogue: Content warnings, online activism, and taking a rest

By
Peak Web
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0
A person holding their phone, logging into Instagram
PHOTO: Claudio Schwarz / Unsplash

By: Izzy Cheung, Staff Writer and Olivia Visser, Copy Editor

Content warning: mentions of gore, war, and torture.

Some argue we should add a content warning to graphic material on social media. Others say those in the west shouldn’t have the right to look away as we are removed from war, compared to those suffering violent attacks in Palestine. However, what happens when graphic material traumatizes viewers? What if seeing this content triggers people with PTSD? Does taking space away from social media mean we don’t care? 

Olivia: There are plenty of ways to be an activist on or offline, but social media has become one of the best ways to connect people around the globe. Without it, the general public would have to rely solely on news organizations and word-of-mouth to get their information. For this reason, mediums like Instagram and TikTok can be a great way to share resources — but should merely using social media count as consent to view graphic content? Most platforms have guidelines surrounding graphic media, and will generally blur out these posts unless you intentionally press a button to view them. However, in times of heightened conflict and injustice, there are simply too many posts for even an automated moderation system to account for. 

I’ve had more than a few experiences scrolling through Twitter and coming across graphic images or videos of death. This is a long-standing issue, but recent attacks in Gaza have spurred more of these posts. As someone who lives in Canada, it’s easy to say I don’t want to see these images — nobody wants to, but it’s still the reality for the millions of people who live through war and injustice. I understand the desire to document reality, and I can’t reasonably tell people to censor their own suffering. At the same time, I don’t think you need to see visible evidence of cruelty to know it exists and to empathize. There are plenty of people with all kinds of trauma that simply can’t look at images of death, not to mention the fact that content moderators often develop PTSD as a result of frequently viewing such material. Are you less of an activist because you opt to scroll past disturbing content? Not necessarily. 

Izzy: I can see why people wouldn’t want to see violent depictions of torture, death, or overwhelming amounts of gore unpromptedly. However, there is a certain level of ignorance that comes with content warnings. Content warnings on social media give you the option to look past whatever might be blurred and completely ignore the issue altogether, which is something I’ll admit I’ve been guilty of. While some of us may be able to empathize with others in certain situations, it’s hard to know the severity of an issue if we just skip over it. This is especially true if we’re not overly knowledgeable about a situation.

Some content creators and journalists have even accused various social media platforms of muting content about Palestine even if all it does is discuss what’s going on. In this context, it feels important to spread what we can to raise awareness about the scale of violence in Palestine. Many journalists who have covered the ongoing attacks in Gaza have been silenced, leaving the duty of dispersing this news to social media. Suppressing this kind of content, even without specific trigger warnings, creates a society that’s ignorant about issues that don’t directly concern us. Being exposed to information that might make us uncomfortable allows us to engage with struggles occurring around the world that we might not initially be aware of. It demands we pay attention. 

Olivia: I agree people need to be uncomfortable sometimes — reality is uncomfortable, and we generally need to feel some level of discomfort if we want to meaningfully engage in activism. However, I don’t think people should be expected to view disturbing photos or videos in order to be educated. Graphic content can go beyond mere education and genuinely traumatize people. Many have cautioned against sharing such videos to avoid traumatizing yourself or others. Psychologist Monnica Williams told NPR that footage of violence and death can be highly traumatizing, “especially if you’re part of a stigmatized or minoritized group that’s often dealing with trauma like this.” While there is absolutely an argument to be made for sharing injustices that happen in the world, I also wonder if the loved ones of victims are always comfortable with these videos being shared. I can’t really tell people what they can and cannot rightfully share — especially if they’re the ones in front of or behind the camera — but I do think visually graphic content should come with a warning whenever possible. However, if someone is disturbed by violent footage, that also doesn’t mean they should avoid engaging with troubling issues altogether. There are ways to draw attention to injustice without potentially triggering people. Ultimately, it’s important to stay informed, in whichever way works for you. 

Izzy: In an ideal world, I don’t think it should take seeing disturbing content to be able to empathize with others, but unfortunately that often ends up being the case. It’s not fair for the families and loved ones of those who may be the subject of this content to have to witness this over and over again, nor is it fair to any of the victims. Graphic content can only accomplish so much in terms of activism, but doing something about it is up to the person viewing it. Seeing injustice, rather than just hearing about it, could prompt more action from those of us who are on the other side of the world. Visual manifestations may demonstrate the severity of attacks in Palestine to those not directly involved, in turn commanding us to take action. Opening eyes to the hospital situations in Gaza will rightfully force these narratives into our online conversations.  

While advocating on social media can be helpful to introduce us to issues we aren’t familiar with, we should also seek to make lasting change through other opportunities. Keeping difficult conversations going within your own social circles can potentially educate those around you more than an Instagram post could. Attending protests or walkouts can help raise awareness. While it’s true that we have the privilege of resting from home, taking breaks from exposure to difficult content is important so you have the energy to take action. Online activism is important for generating conversations — but we need to do more than that to keep them going. 

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society