SFU student creates hoodie for people with anxiety

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September 17, 2024

This is a photo of Vansh Sobti wearing a cream-coloured anxiety hoodie and holding up a navy-coloured one to the left — PHOTO: Gudrun Wait-Gunnarsson / The Peak

By: Sofia Chassomeris, News Writer

SFU Beedie student Vansh Sobti has designed an “anxiety hoodie” for his clothing brand Cloud Nine Clothing. Sobti’s clothing line was created to provide “ultimate comfort and relaxation” for students with their mental health in mind. The hoodie features a “discrete stress ball” in the cuffs of its sleeves and is made with a heavy fabric to help soothe the wearer.

In an interview with The Peak, Sobti explained how he came up with the idea for his hoodie in 2021, when he set out to buy something similar for himself. “I was trying to find different fidget tools or different ways of fidgeting without drawing attention,” he said. He found himself fidgeting at school, but could not find a product that suited his needs.

“That’s when I saw a gap in the market,” he continued. “If I want something that’s discreet, that won’t catch people’s eyes, there’s probably more people like that that would benefit from this.”

Sobti began experimenting with prototypes and eventually landed on the current design: sleeves with hidden and strategically-placed stress balls in the cuffs. A new, patent-pending design, the anxiety hoodie offers an alternative to traditional fidget tools. He emphasized in his product pitch that discretion is part of Cloud Nine’s mission to promote better mental health and make people feel more comfortable in public.

He also said the hoodies would aid undergraduates with anxiety and ADHD.

Aside from the sewn-in stress balls, the anxiety hoodies are also “slightly heavy-weight.” Sobti compares the material’s effect to a weighted blanket, saying the weight of the hoodie “helps trigger the autonomic nervous system into ‘rest mode.’” The autonomic nervous system is responsible for the body’s unconscious functions including the “rest-and-digest” processes which physically calm the body. A recent review of the hoodie shared that, “It’s so soft and cozy, and the weight feels great; it’s not smothering at all, just comforting.”

Sobti shared that after the hoodie’s launch in 2023, there were a couple of months without any orders, but he persevered. Since then, Sobti has gained over 150,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok and received over 2000 orders. He also expressed his interest in making his hoodies available in therapy studios and collaborating with universities like SFU to make the anxiety hoodies official school merchandise.

“If no-one else sees the potential, but you do, just keep going,” he said. “[Don’t] let outside criticism stop you from what you know you can do.” Sobti added, “If you see a vision, just execute it.”

Red Leafs gear up for September season

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September 16, 2024

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A girl with a red baseball cap, black pants, and a black long sleeve swings a driver. — PHOTO: Courtesy of Shawn Toner / SFU Athletics

By: Kaja Antic, Sports Writer

As the academic year begins, so does the season for many Red Leafs teams. Here we look at all the teams that begin their competitive seasons this September.

Cross Country

The Red Leafs cross country team began their season on September 14 at the Green River Gator Invitational in Lakewood, Washington. Last season, both the men’s and women’s teams earned a first place ranking at their first races, at the 2023 Pacific Lutheran University Invitational in Tacoma, Washington.

Golf

Krysta Schaus will take the helm as interim head coach for the men’s and women’s golf teams this season, as former head coach Matthew Steinbach departs the team after eight seasons to pursue his masters in sports psychology in Scotland. Schaus joined the team as an assistant coach in October 2023, and was previously an assistant coach for Gardner-Webb University. She also competed in NCAA Division II golf at Erskine College, winning four individual tournaments.

Both teams are coming off successful seasons, with the men’s team earning second place, and the women’s team earning first, at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships. 2023–24 senior Michael Crisologo won his final GNAC tournament as well as GNAC Athlete of the Year honours in men’s golf. SFU’s Meera Minhas, who is now entering her junior season, took the Athlete of the Year title for women’s golf.

The future looks bright for the Red Leafs golf teams, with Denby Carswell and Dana Smith taking Freshman of the Year awards for men’s and women’s golf, respectively. The men’s team begins their season on September 23 at SFU’s True North Classic in Burnaby, while the women’s team starts on September 20 at the Saint Martin’s University Grisham Memorial Shootout in DuPont, Washington.

Men’s soccer

The men’s soccer team is looking to replicate the success they reached in 2023 — where they topped the GNAC standings — though with a roster that looks much different than the previous season. New freshmen on the roster are Luca Aiello, Dominic Di Paola, Kundalini Dominique, Justin George, Daniel Hobson, Mario Lefevre, Alexandre Marcoux, and Christopher Nicolaisen. Former Trinity Western University Spartans sophomore Brandon and senior Tristan Torresan also join the Red Leafs. Sophomore Lionel Kabangu from Iowa Western Community College, senior Jacob McCall from Douglas College, and Canada West second team All-Star sophomore Kian Proctor from the University of the Fraser Valley were also acquired by SFU. The team has begun their season, but has yet to face any GNAC competition.

Women’s soccer

The 2023 season saw the Red Leafs win their first ever GNAC Women’s Soccer Championship title, with the team looking forward to repeating the same form. Carlo Basso has been named permanent head coach ahead of the 2024 season after leading the Red Leafs to the title as an interim head coach. The team has added two freshmen, Dariella Lopez and Isabella Santoianni, and two transfers, junior Elyse Beaudry from Radford University and sophomore Sofia Faremo from the University of the Fraser Valley. At the time of writing, the team is undefeated. They will take on their first GNAC opponent, Western Washington, at home on September 26.

Swimming

The swim team starts their 2024–25 campaign at Biola University in La Mirada, California on September 27. The 2023–24 was their inaugural season in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), where the women’s team placed third and the men’s team placed fourth in the conference championship. During the overall NCAA Division II championships, the women’s team placed eighth while the men’s team placed 23rd. Heading into the 2024–25 season, the team has added Daniel Pinto as an assistant coach. Pinto has prior competing experience in Venezuela, along with sixteen years of coaching experience across Venezuela, Chile, and at the North York Aquatic Club in Toronto. Pinto will assist head coach Demone Tissira as the Red Leafs look to reach higher conference and divisional results.

Volleyball

The 2023 season saw the Red Leafs post a winning record, yet miss out on the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships, placing fourth in GNAC standings. The team started the 2024 season on a good note, going 3–1 at the San Diego invitational, with their only loss being a 3–2 set result against Point Loma Nazarene University. The Red Leafs also added three new freshmen to their roster in the offseason; outside hitter Katarina Damnjanovic, and middle blockers Elianna Gerbrandt and Logan Remington.

The fall of BC United has British Columbians everywhere whispering, “Wait, which party is that again?”

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Peak Web

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September 16, 2024

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ILLUSTRATION: Angela Shen / The Peak

By: C Icart, Humour Editor

BC election day is coming! Sure, our provincial election campaign news doesn’t have assassination attempts, coconut tree x brat remixes, and unexpected drag throwback pics, but that doesn’t mean it’s not exciting. For example, BC United has dropped out of the race. Isn’t that wild? Oh, you don’t know what BC United is . . . The only Canadian politicians you know are named Justin Trudeau, Pierre P-something, and Stephen Harper . . .

I’m sure you’re just not giving yourself enough credit! You know local politicians. Like Ken Sim, our mayor! Oh, you didn’t know Vancouver had a mayor . . . You thought we didn’t need one because of the monarchy or whatever. Well, we do have one! He, like, shotguns beers and builds office gyms and stuff.

Anyways, back to BC United, they’re a provincial party running in the upcoming elections (oops sorry, they were a provincial party running in the upcoming election). Oh, you thought there were only two parties: Liberals and Conservatives . . . I’ll leave the link to an article explaining the four parties’ (oops, three) platforms right here.

Basically, you’re not even that far off! BC United = BC Liberals (no affiliation with the Liberal Party of Canada because Canadian politics wouldn’t be fun if they weren’t atrociously confusing). Remember when Mr. Musk rebranded Twitter to X, and no one called it X, and actually people were making fun of the rebrand and also just flat out not using Twitter anymore? Well, it’s kind of like that. BC United candidates started defecting to the Conservatives.

And the tea gets hotter. One night, the BC United leader, Kevin Falcon (Big Bird for those in the know), had a terrible nightmare! He dreamt that an evil force was out to get him and his loved ones. That evil force was none other than the BC NDP! So, he decided to withdraw from the race and endorse the Conservatives who are led by John Rustad (Sir Rusty to his closest friends). This is so wild because two years ago, Big Bird kicked Sir Rusty out of BC United because he’s a climate change denier! Oh how the turntables . . .

So, now that you know all the drama are you going to register to vote? We’re in the final stretch and the Conservatives are neck and neck with the NDP (the Greens are around too). Everyone’s begging for your vote (I heard you’re into that). What are you more afraid of, the colour orange or contributing to making our planet uninhabitable? Oh, you’re an international student and you can’t vote? Sorry for wasting your time . . . Still spill all the juicy details to people who are eligible to vote. Thanks bestie!

Most Googled questions: SFU edition

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Peak Web

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September 16, 2024

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Photo of the Academic Quadrangle at SFU — PHOTO: Ujjwal Arora / Unsplash

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

We all love a good, ol’ fashioned game of the most searched questions on the web. Tap into all things SFU and prepare yourself for your next university trivia night. Here are SFU’s Most Googled Questions to curb your curiosity, according to very accurate and highly credible searches on the World Wide Web.

What is Simon Fraser University known for?

Well, Google’s top answer is that we use “research and innovation with impact,” according to the university’s website. We’re also first “in Canada for entrepreneurial spirit,” and second in the world, overall. According to a Google result from Maclean’s magazine, our computer science program is top notch.

What is Simon Fraser University ranked in Canada?

Do we even rank? Oh, wait, yeah, we do. SFU comes in hot at number one for the most comprehensive university in Canada. What does “comprehensive” mean, you ask? Honestly, we’re aren’t sure either, it’s a bit of a mystery wrapped around a veil of vagueness. But hey! Still number one, vagueness and all. We’re also ranked 11th overall, according to Maclean’s if that means anything to you. We’re also Canada’s top university for global innovation.

What does Simon Fraser University specialize in?

Right off the bat, Google only says, “arts and sciences, education, and business administration,” which isn’t necessarily wrong, but they’re excluding a lot of other programs because we’ve got so much more to offer than that. Don’t forget the contemporary arts (including music and sound, dance, film, theatre and performance, production and design, and visual arts), the social sciences, communication, interactive arts, a plethora of sciences, a vast languages department, and about every other topic for a major and minor under the sun. Take your pick from various programs and degrees, bachelors or masters, and even post-graduate diplomas and certificates. You name it, we’ve got it. Except nursing, and social work, and architecture and . . . the list goes on.

What is Simon Fraser University’s acceptance rate?

As if any student around campus would even know this, so good thing there’s trusty old Google to give you a reliable answer. Good luck getting in! The acceptance rate is about 59%, according to Leverage Edu — which isn’t too shabby.

How good is Simon Fraser University?

Good for what? Social life? Not at all — more on that later. Good at instilling dread and fear on its students with its overimposing brutalist architecture? Probably the best in the world. Academics? Well . . . that depends who you ask. Some students say it’s great, some say it’s not so great, and others are in the middle with a mediocre response. Google says it’s great regarding the aforementioned ranks, but overall, the verdict says it’s a boring university, though the academic standards are good, so at least the majority of us are getting by just fine.

How much is tuition at Simon Fraser University?

The first tuition answer to pop up is about $3,500 CAD for domestic students per semester, and over $15,000 CAD for international students per semester. Too expensive, if you ask me. Of course, that cost varies depending on course and student fees, how many credits you’re taking each semester, what level courses you’re enrolled in (100, 200, 300, or 400 levels for undergrads, and 500–800 for graduate courses and programs).

Where is Simon Fraser University located?

The simple answer is three campuses altogether including Burnaby, Surrey, and Harbour Centre in Vancouver. If you’re looking for a more complex, sophisticated answer, that would be three plus a handful of satellite campuses all in Vancouver, which include the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts at SFU Woodward’s, 611 Alexander Street Visual Arts Studio, Segal Graduate School of Business, 312 Main, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, and VentureLabs.

When was Simon Fraser University founded?

Come on, you’re an SFU student, you should know this! But if you didn’t know, time for a history lesson! If you really must take to Google for this one, the answer is 1965 (but the sophisticated scholar in me didn’t need the web for that one). If my math is correct, that means the university will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year (and so will The Peak!). Wow, all those math courses that I never took really paid off.

What’s the social life like at SFU?

Um, seriously lacking, if you ask me . . . and Google says the same. It pales in comparison to UBC (I’m sorry to say), and even though the website hypes up hundreds of clubs, every student review and thread online agrees that SFU’s social life is seriously lacking. Personally, I think we’re somewhere in between. Coming from a previous post-secondary school with absolutely zero social life and party scene whatsoever, I think SFU is doing a better job, even if it may seem mediocre to most.

Why is Simon Fraser University in the NCAA?

Your guess is as good as mine. Despite SFU’s decision to axe the football program and the fact that facilities like the Aquatic Centre and Climbing Wall have been closed due to renovations since 2023 — we’re still the only university in Canada to be included in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. But with the precedent of many sports teams being cut, or facing the threat of being cut, alongside the lack of funding, this status might not last long. Despite this search, there’s really no solid answer as to why SFU is part of the NCAA, so I guess Google has failed us on that one. That’s a first.

Is Simon Fraser University public or private?

Please, we’re public. No Google search needed, but I promise you the web says the same. I’m smarter than Google, OK? As if the blatantly obvious “public research university” that’s plastered across the top of the screen upon the first result of a quick Google search doesn’t do it justice for you, every single other link as you scroll down the Google page says exactly the same.

Give help instead of offering it

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September 16, 2024

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Illustration of three people handing out takeout boxes at a table that reads free food. — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

By: Tam Nguyen, Staff Writer

Living in a capitalistic society where your value is based solely on how independent or productive you are makes reaching out for help harder than ever. Instead of burning ourselves to the ground and then struggling to reach out for help, we as a society should proactively look out for each other.

The principles of capitalism focus on individualism with the belief that we are “self-interested” and “inherently competitive.” This is a harmful mindset, as it conditions us to feel embarrassed and inadequate whenever we struggle. However, we can be more attentive. The next time you are hanging out with your loved ones, offer to help — even small gestures such as driving them home, getting food, or helping with chores go a long way. One study found that when you help out a friend, your stress level reduces. When we improve other people’s lives, our own lives improve too.

Looking out for others should not be limited to the people you know, either. As we interact with strangers in daily life, it’s also important to keep a positive and pay-it-forward attitude. Our circle of support should involve our peers as much as professionals. The only way we can transform toward this collective mindset is by building communitiese through acts of kindness.

I have been a first-hand witness in spaces where people focus on fostering relationships and care. Many activists also practice security culture, with their motto being “we keep us safe.” People from all backgrounds look out for each other, and while no one should feel ashamed to admit that we are struggling, help is always appreciated.

Poilievre is anything but “for the people”

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September 16, 2024

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Canadian Parliament building in Ottawa — PHOTO: Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr

By: Yildiz Subuk, Staff Writer

Pierre Poilievre is a version of Trump for individuals who are not quite comfortable with revealing their bigoted beliefs. He’s built his campaign on rigorous attacks on current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Conservative leader presents himself as being “for the people,” but his support for problematic movements leads me to question how authentic his campaign to liberate Canadians truly is. While Trudeau has had his share of criticism, Poilievre has made his entire campaign about attacking the Liberals without any clear plans for addressing issues in Canada.

Poilievre announced he will run for prime minister in 2022 — after endorsing the “Freedom Convoy,” an anti-vaccination and far-right political movement (and the same space where many far-right people flew nazi flags and indulged in racist sentiment). As a candidate who understands the power of media, he frequently produces ads and other content of himself engaging with voters. He presents himself as an everyday Canadian, often showing up to social events in a T-shirt, positioning himself as a humble, hardworking Canadian.

However, Poilievre is anything but that. He is a populist leader — someone who appeals to working class individuals by placing the blame for their disadvantages on a real or imagined elitist group — in this case, the Liberal Party. While inequality does exist for the working class, populists often scapegoat marginalized groups and offer solutions that, ironically, further reinforce inequality. This type of leader’s “charismatic” personality can have a wide appeal among the majority of low-information voters (people who are not as informed about political discourse). Populist leaders can belong to any political ideology, but are often right-wing.

Poilievre has managed to grab the attention of many by tapping into a real anxiety: the housing crisis. But while this anxiety is valid, his solution boils down to not voting for Trudeau. In his video Housing Hell, he blames the current prime minister for causing the housing crisis, while failing to address any nuances about the issue. The video intends to instill anger by infuriating the viewer with stats about how housing has gotten worse, but only provides a vague explanation of why the issue exists in the first place. Housing insecurity disproportionately impacts low income and marginalized folks. Voting for a leader who doesn’t value social programs will not solve these issues.

While the Conservative candidate may be an expert at stirring the pot, he lacks sincerity. He’s gone on record saying that he stands with Israel, while legitimizing the genocide against Palestinians — he tweeted “Israel has a right to defend itself.” In 2008, he made statements about how compensation for residential school survivors doesn’t provide any “value.” While he later apologized for those comments, he also gave a speech at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, a research group that has downplayed the effects residential schools had on Indigenous children. Comments like these should make you wonder whether Poilievre truly understands the “average” working class folks he tries to appeal to.

Currently, the Conservative Party have nearly a 20% lead over the party under them. While Poilievre has won a lot of support since the start of his campaign, and while his approach may seem enticing to some, it is important to note that his actions do not reflect the reality he preaches. He’s claimed that he will make Canada “the freest nation on earth,” but when diving deeper into his comments about marginalized groups, it is important to question who exactly he will make the country “free” for.

Vancouver’s Clean Air Festival returns for its second year

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Peak Web

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September 16, 2024

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This is a photo of many people sitting down outside at last year’s Clean Air Festival — PHOTO: Courtesy of Do No Harm BC

By: Sofia Chassomeris, News Writer

On September 15, the second annual Clean Air Festival was hosted at Slocan Park. The Clean Air Festival is an “immuno-inclusive,” hybrid event put together by a team of community members and organizations. Some organizations include Clean Air 604, a group that provides arts and cultural events in Vancouver with masks and air purifiers, and DoNoHarmBC, a group that advocates for “effective and equitable public health policies.”

Other organizers included Safe Schools Coalition BC, an organization that works to protect the rights and safety of marginalized students, as well as Protect Our Province BC, an organization that advocates for evidence-based public health policies. The first Clean Air Festival took place in 2023 and was inspired by the idea that protecting each other by wearing masks “should be considered a celebration.”

The Peak interviewed Dr. Karina Zeidler, co-founder of Protect Our Province BC. Zeidler described the event as a place where people can “get together and celebrate solidarity, mutual aid, and community care.” Considering the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, she emphasized the importance of making “sure that the safety precautions for the event would be really robust” for people to enjoy the festival without unnecessary risks.

“It can be pretty isolating out there these days for people who are still wanting to stay safe from COVID-19 as well as other airborne pathogens or other air pollutants,” said Zeidler. “For some people, there’s very limited events and activities that they can participate in if they are particularly high-risk.” N95 and KN95 masks were provided to event-goers and required for participation at the festival. Zeidler also noted that a lot of effort was put into making sure that the festival was physically accessible and a safe environment for queer and gender-diverse people.

The event hosted activities for all ages, including kids’ games, live shows, and a workshop for making air purifiers that were later donated to schools and vulnerable community members. Zeidler explained that the live shows’ purpose was to deliver entertainment in a safe manner and uplift multiple marginalized artists. Zeidler described Rae Spoon, the main performer at the event, as a “trailblazer” in the music industry for their career as a Canadian trans musician over the past 20 years.

Other artists featured at the festival included Dani Your Darling, Kayli Jamieson, Travis Bernhardt, and Geoff Berner. Zeidler added, “They’ve been doing a lot of work in terms of wanting to create safe, live music performances” by holding outdoor concerts and wearing masks.

Zeidler hopes to see the Clean Air Festival continue to be an event where people can come together in a safe and accessible way. “We’re hoping every year that we’ll be able to push it a little bit further,” she said, referring to the festival’s growth in size and sponsorship since its first run.

SFU lab makes breakthrough in reversing Parkinson’s disease

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September 16, 2024

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This is a photo of different tables and gas tanks in the Verheyen lab — PHOTO: Prerita Garg / The Peak

By: Caitlin Kingsmill, News Writer

In July, researchers at SFU’s Verheyen Lab and the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas identified a gene that may reverse symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The Verheyen lab was exploring the role of a gene known as “Cdk8” in fruit flies and its human counterpart gene “CDK19” when they discovered a connection to Parkinson’s. The neurodegenerative disease is currently incurable and affects one in 500 Canadians.

Researchers found that by decreasing the amount of the Cdk8 gene present in the fruit flies, the flies developed movement impairments associated with Parkinson’s. However, their impairments were reduced when researchers “put more of the fly Cdk8 or human CDK19 gene into cells.”

“This function involves helping cells get rid of defective mitochondria which is a function that is impaired in Parkinsonism,” Esther Verheyen, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at SFU, told Global News.

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinsonism is “a set of movement symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease and other disorders.” Individuals with Parkinsonism may have stiffness, difficulty walking and balancing, and tremors. Symptoms can include “mood and thinking changes, speech problems, and sleep disturbances.”

In an interview with The Peak, Verheyen discussed the research and the team behind it as corresponding author of the paper. She said Jenny Zhe Liao, an SFU PhD student and co-lead author of the study “really took the lab in a new direction with this work” and that “this was a really big accomplishment for her.”

The paper’s other co-lead author is Hyunglok Chung, a PhD student, and Hugo J Bellen, a professor of molecular and human genetics, is the other corresponding author. Verheyen explained SFU’s collaboration with these two researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine, saying, “We realized there was some overlap in research interests with a lab in Texas, and so we reached out to them and started collaborating with them on the project.”

The Verheyen lab has been working on this research for several years, though they did not originally set out to find a potential Parkinson’s treatment. “We stumbled into it the way genetics research often is — you find something that you weren’t expecting,” shared Verheyen. When the research began, the goal was to better understand the functions of the Cdk8 gene. The team pivoted once they made the connection to Parkinson’s disease, which Verheyen described as a “lightbulb moment.”

This is the first research to establish a connection between the Cdk8 gene and Parkinson’s. With the paper now published in Nature Communications, Verheyen said she is “hoping that the larger scientific community that works on this could [ . . . ] collectively move it forward.

“Our work with Cdk8 changed how the mitochondria act and made them change in a way that helped with Parkinson’s features,” explained Verheyen. These findings “could help with other diseases that also impact how mitochondria work.”

There is always a lag between conducting research in a model organism like a fruit fly and advancing that research into human cells. However, a treatment for Parkinson’s may lie in existing drugs through a process called drug repurposing.

“Here at SFU, we have this great screening center where you can do drug screenings. We could look for drugs that might somehow help a cell make more Cdk8,” said Verheyen. “Sometimes there are drugs that were developed for one purpose but then found to have another effect.”

SFU Olympians: Red Leafs who performed on the world stage

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September 15, 2024

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Six athletes in athletic wear (two in red bodysuits that read “USA,” two in red and white bodysuits that have a Canadian flag, one in an all-red one that says “Canada,” and one in a taekwondo uniform). — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

By: Kaja Antic, Sports Writer

Though the 2024 Paris Olympics have now come to an end, we should still take pride in the performances current and former SFU athletes showed during the two weeks of competitions. Six athletes competing in the games have ties to the Red Leafs, competing both for Team Canada and Team USA.

Justina Di Stasio – Wrestling
Team Canada – women’s 76 kg

Illustration of Justina Di Stasio — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

Di Stasio wrestled for SFU from 2010–2014, and went on to earn silver and gold medals at the 2015 Toronto and 2019 Lima Pan American Games, respectively. Now an assistant coach for the women’s wrestling team, Di Stasio earned her spot on Team Canada as a first-time Olympian for the 2024 games. Di Stasio placed 12th in the 76 kg women’s classification, falling to Türkiye’s Yasemin Adar Yigit in the Round of 16.

Ana Godinez Gonzalez – Wrestling
Team Canada – women’s 62 kg

Illustration of Ana Godinez Gonzalez — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

Godinez Gonzalez began wrestling at age 16, looking to improve her performance in rugby. Competing for the Red Leafs until 2021, Godinez Gonzalez has twice been the 62 kg women’s wrestling gold medalist at the 2022 and 2023 Pan American Championships, earning a silver in the 2024 Commonwealth Games. Godinez Gonzalez defeated France’s Ameline Douarre in the Round of 16, then lost in the next round to eventual gold medalist, Japan’s Sakura Motoki. Earning a spot in the repechage round, Godinez Gonzalez defeated Romania’s Kriszta Tunde Incze, then lost in a bronze medal match to Norway’s Grace Jacob Bullen, placing fifth overall in the 62 kg category.

Josipa Kafadar – Taekwondo
Team Canada – women’s 49 kg

Illustration of Josina Kafadar — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

Kafadar is currently working towards an undergraduate degree in biological physics, as well as becoming a first-time Olympian. Kafadar was an alternate during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and earned her black belt in Taekwondo at the age of 12. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kafadar lost in a Round of 16 match to eventual bronze medalist, Lena Stojkovic of Croatia.

Marie-Éloïse Leclair – Athletics
Team Canada – Women’s 4x100m Relay

Illustration of Marie-Éloïse Leclair — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

Fresh off of being named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s (GNAC) Female Athlete of the Year in June, Leclair headed to Paris to take part in her first Olympic Games. The star sprinter was part of the relay team that set a new Canadian national record for the women’s 4x100m relay during the qualifying race in Paris, reaching the finish line with a time of 42.50 seconds. Team Canada ended up placing sixth in the 4x100m final. Leclair has been highly successful with the Red Leafs in both indoor and outdoor track and field events, while also majoring in health sciences with a minor in Indigenous studies.

Helen Maroulis – Wrestling
Team USA – women’s 57 kg

Illustration of Helen Maroulis — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

Maroulis went undefeated during her collegiate career with SFU and dethroned the three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida of Japan to win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Hailing from Maryland in northeastern US, Maroulis earned the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and mirrored that result at the 2024 Paris games. Maroulis defeated Anshu Anshu of India and Alina Hrushyna Akobiia of Ukraine. She lost to eventual gold medalist Tsugumi Sakurai of Japan, then defeated Canadian Hannah Fay Taylor to win the bronze medal.

Dom Parrish – Wrestling
Team USA – women’s 53 kg

Illustration of Dominique Parrish — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

Parrish wrestled for SFU from 2015 until 2019, and was a training partner for Team USA during the 2020 Tokyo games. Originally from California, Parrish won gold at the 2022 World Championships in the women’s 53 kg wrestling. Parrish was defeated in Paris in the Round of 16 by eventual gold medalist Akari Fujinami from Japan. Selected for the repechage round, Parrish was defeated by Khulan Batkhuyag from Mongolia — who she had defeated in the World Championship finals in 2022. Overall, the first-time Olympian placed 11th in the 53 kg classification.

Need to Know, Need to Go: Fun and free September events

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September 15, 2024

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an illustrated calender that says — ILLUSTRATION: Courtesy of The Peak

By: Amrit Kamaal, Peak Associate

Editor’s note: the Kairos Blanket Exercise event has since sold out.

The summer may have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean the fun should! With the fall semester Peak-ing around the corner, now is the perfect opportunity to unwind and relax before you start that autumn grind. Here are some of our picks to unleash that summer high for the perfect back-to-class transition.

Filipino Fest
Museum of Surrey, 17710 56a Ave, Surrey
September 21, 2024, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

entrance of museum of Surrey — PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

This lively festival is the perfect place to learn about and appreciate Filipino cultures and communities in Canada. Activities include story sessions in Tagalog and English, market vendors, textile displays, a Filipino dance involving bamboo poles known as Tinikling, and more! The festival will also feature live musical performances from local Filipino artists such as Glisha and Gabriel Regehr, traditional dances by Himig Kabataan and PhilCAS, and some sets by the DJ collective, The Kuyas. This event will also have a quiet, comfortable, sensory-friendly space available.

Kairos Blanket Exercise
Joseph & Rosalie Segal Centre Room, SFU Vancouver Campus
September 21, 2024, 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

inside of SFU harbour centre — PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

Hosted by Hubert Barton, Catalina Parra, and the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre, this insightful, intercultural event explores Indigenous experiences. Event-goers are welcome to bring a friend and traverse the blankets that are meant to “represent the land.” This is the perfect opportunity to take a step forward in reconciliation by walking through history.

Adult Colouring Club
Vancouver Public Library, Renfrew Branch, 2969 East 22nd Ave. Vancouver
September 20 and 27, 2024, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

A brown brick building with book deposits and a motion-sensored glass door. The letters V, P, and L are written on the wall in blue, red, and yellow boxes respectively. — PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

We’re all in need of a self-care day every once in a while. With school starting, this is the perfect place to release school stress. Taking place every Friday of the month, this event is catered towards folks looking to unleash artistic energy, connect with others, and relax their minds. Along with offering free drop-ins, the Renfrew Branch also provides free colouring sheets and pencil crayons. Bring your family, friends, or study buddies, because this will become an essential escape from those first few weeks of the fall semester.

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