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Finding happiness as a multi-sport athlete

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Peak Web
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Photo of a speed skating match.
PHOTO: Hana Hoffman / The Peak

By: Hana Hoffman, Peak Associate

I got my start in sports much like everyone else: enrolled in a handful of sports all in the hopes of finding the one. It wasn’t until I was 10-years-old and saw speed skating on TV that I knew I had found the sport of my dream. I joined the nearest club to me and confirmed my suspicion, instantly falling in love with speed skating minutes after getting on the ice. 

Not too long after I started speed skating, I noticed an overall improvement in my athleticism. Seeing this change inspired me to try my hand at more sports, primarily those that would translate to better success on the ice. I started with cross country. My work building up my stamina on the ice meant that I could run faster and longer off the ice. I then added cycling to the mix to increase my leg strength for speed skating.

By the time I entered high school, I was participating in a rotation of sports during the school year, cross country included. While the extra sports were something I enjoyed, not everyone in the skating community thought this was a good thing. Some people frowned at my decision to split my time between multiple sports, instead of committing all my time to speed skating. While I loved speed skating the most, I relished having the skills to do the sports I did, and enjoyed my time doing them. 

Despite my indecisiveness on what sports I should keep up with or leave, I managed to find success as a multi-sport athlete. I went to westerns and nationals in speed skating, and provincials for swimming, cross country, ultimate, curling, and track cycling. On top of that, I played basketball, netball, and ran track & field just for fun. This led to me being a four-time winner of my high school’s “Female Athlete of the Year” award, and the recipient of various sports scholarships.

I didn’t want to stop competing after high school. But after battling shin splints — a name for the pain along the shin bone — and adjusting to the workload of my first year at university, I no longer had the time to practice. Looking back now, after years of struggling to commit to a sport, I’m happy with the decisions I made. Despite the pressure I faced, I stayed true to myself. I enjoyed too many sports to be the type of person to put their whole life into a single sport. After all, going through a wide variety of experiences was what brought me the most happiness and satisfaction. 

For all athletes, there will come a time when you have to decide what you want out of your sport. No matter what people tell you, there’s no right path to take. If participating in multiple sports and reaching a less competitive level is what you enjoy the most, then go for it. If you’re passionate about giving it your all in just one sport, then so be it. Just make sure you make the most of the time you have playing sports because that time comes to an end. What do you want to remember when you walk away? 

Hidden Gems: Vancouver businesses worth checking out

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Peak Web
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The exterior of a building with chestnut-coloured wooden panels and text sitting above a window that reads “Regional Assembly of Text.” There are snowflakes falling outside and trees reflected in the window. There are various typewriters in the display window.
PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

By: Jeeya Parasbhai Khavadia, Peak Associate

Regional Assembly of Text
3934 Main St., Vancouver / Monday–Saturday 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

This is an adorable stationery store and a must-visit if you’re a fan of stationery. The store may be small, but it’s packed with all sorts of unique stationery, which can also be bought from their online shop. From hand-bound notebooks to quirky greeting cards, there’s something for every pen and paper lover. As many of the products are made by regional designers and artists, every purchase you make helps to support Vancouver’s creative scene. The store is also a refuge for writers; you can let your imagination run free in the pleasant writing room located in the back of the shop. The Regional Assembly of Text is an ideal location to get away from city life and work on your writing. Trust me, you’ll leave feeling inspired and creatively rejuvenated.

Kin Kao Commercial Dr.
903 Commercial Dr., Vancouver / Monday–Sunday 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Appetizers $8–15, entrées $15–25, sharing plates up to $30

Kin Kao is a quaint eatery tucked away in the bustle of Commercial Drive, and it’s quickly becoming a local favourite. Their authentic, delectable dishes will take your taste buds to Thailand. From traditional dishes like pad thai to crispy pork belly, the menu offers a variety of dishes to satisfy whatever you’re craving. I highly recommend trying the thai tea old fashioned. It incorporates the traditional ingredients of an old-fashioned cocktail — whisky, bitters, and sugar — with the distinctive and subtly sweet flavour of thai tea. The restaurant is compact so it can get busy during prime times, but it’s worth the wait to experience the amazing food and cozy atmosphere. They also offer takeout options.

The Arbor
3941 Main St., Vancouver / Thursday–Monday 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m. (Hours and days extended during patio season)
Small plates $8–20, entrées $14–26

If you’re on the lookout for some delicious vegetarian and vegan cuisine, you definitely need to check out this charming restaurant. Their menu features a variety of options, ranging from fresh salads and sandwiches to hearty mains like vegan mac and cheese and mushroom risotto. The Arbor is the ideal place for a romantic date night or a casual supper with friends because of its warm, laid-back atmosphere. The staff makes you feel at home as soon as you enter by always being warm and accommodating. Prices at the restaurant are close to what most Vancouver’s casual dining places typically charge. You can place orders for pickup over the phone or through the restaurant’s website or you can order through food-delivery apps like DoorDash and SkipTheDishes.

The Soap Dispensary and Kitchen Staples
3718 Main St., Vancouver / weekdays 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., weekends 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

The Soap Dispensary sells a wide range of environmentally-friendly and low-waste products for everyday use. This includes cleaning supplies, personal care products, kitchen staples, bulk foods, and DIY supplies. Many of these items are sold in bulk, allowing customers to refill their own containers and save money. They also provide workshops, such as their vegan chocolate making workshop, soap making, and DIY projects. They also offer online shopping on their website. Follow them on Instagram at @thesoapdispensary to stay up-to-date!

Sustainability event expresses concern for Canada’s climate action

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of a climate protest sign that reads “Climate Justice Now.”
PHOTO: Markus Spiske / Unsplash

By: Natalie Cooke, News Writer 

In 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced, “We will continue to do our part to cut pollution and build a cleaner future for everyone.” Yet, conversations from SFU’s “Sustainability Research Intersections” event expressed concern for Canada’s response to climate change. 

The event was held over two days, and was centered around four major themes: energy futures, sustainable mobility, sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions. The event included many panelists with a variety of expertise on each topic. The event had speakers such as Radoslav Dimitrov, Nancy Olewiler, Melina Scholefield, Michael Ross, and Mariana Resener, who discussed the future of energy. 

The event made reference to our endowed access to oil and gas, and the ways in which this has been a blockade in Canada’s progress towards climate change. Further, issues with Canada’s policy implementation were highlighted in the event and the government has been criticized for its lack of action. 

The Peak attended Radoslav Dimitrov’s lecture. Dimitrov is an associate professor at SFU and an expert on climate change negotiations. He said there is a weak correlation between the promises we hear on social discourse from politicians and the actions that come from these promises. 

Trudeau pledged to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 40–45% below the 2005 emissions for 2030. The Financial Post noted that since Trudeau took office in 2015, the percentage of emissions has only plateaued, “but all of Canada’s peers in the Group of Seven, or G7, have managed to achieve economic growth while simultaneously cutting emissions.” 

Dimitrov shared, “There isn’t a single country in the industrialized world whose emissions have grown so much.” He emphasized, “The situation in this country is a disaster that will have devastating economic consequences [ . . . ] Jobs will be lost, and we will be economic losers in the 21st century.” 

Catherine Saget, the chief of unit with the research department of the International Labour Office, said to Canadian HR Reporter, “The impact of heat stress on labour productivity is a serious consequence of climate change, which adds to other adverse impacts such as changing rain patterns, rising sea levels, and loss of biodiversity.” Work-related heat stress will lead to a decrease of millions of jobs. 

Global News reported that 80 million jobs will be lost across the world by 2030; As temperatures rise, the heat becomes too strong to work in. The 2.2% drop in working hours by 2030 will “equal 80 million full-time jobs [ . . . ] with poor countries worst hit.” 

Canada will not be immune to climate change related job loss. By 2025, Vancouver Sun reported Canada’s economic growth will be slowed by $25 billion. They added, “All households will lose income, and low-income households will suffer the most.” Climate change-related economic impacts are primarily caused by the costs of responding to droughts, wildfires, floods — climate disasters cost BC billions of dollars which ultimately slows economic growth. 

Despite the negativity that surrounds Canada reaching its climate goals, Dimitrov explained their goals and policies will only become more aggressive in the future, due to the Paris Agreement. “Every government, including Canada, is completely free to declare its national plan. However, as soon as they declare it, a little obligation kicks in where every five years they have to change that plan upwards, and make it more ambitious.”

Dating shows aren’t about love

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Peak Web
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a sunset proposal on a rocky hilltop
PHOTO: Louis Watson / Unsplash

By: C Icart, Staff Writer

I love reality TV competitions. I’m currently in my Drag Race era, but I’ll watch pretty much anything. Don’t believe me? I watched Dance Monsters on Netflix. But if there’s one kind of reality show I refuse to watch, it’s dating shows. 

This was not always the case. After school, I used to turn on MTV to watch Next, Room Raiders, and Parental Control. So what happened? Clearly, I didn’t outgrow my love for cringey TV. Am I now too queer to subject myself to hetero nonsense? The topic of inclusion in dating shows often excludes representation of queer, racialized, and plus-size contestants. But I think a more profound issue is that dating shows are fundamentally not about helping people find love; they’re about making money. 

Participants are not in scenarios where they can comfortably build connections and get to know each other. Instead, producers generate situations where contestants constantly compete against each other and watch the person they’re interested in date other people. The premise of most dating shows is more conducive to generating drama than healthy relationships — probably because drama is more exciting to watch. 

So why do so many of the most popular dating shows these days center around marriage? The American versions of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Married at First Sight have aired a combined 62 seasons. Most of the folks who have gotten married on or as a result of these shows are now divorced. And yet, producers continue to wash, rinse, and repeat the same formulas selling us their heteronormative ideals of monogamy and marriage. 

Dating shows “often feature the common romance tropes of ‘soul mates,’ ‘prince charming,’ and ‘love at first sight.’” Not only does this provide a very narrow understanding of love and dating, but it also does not align with dating trends among millennials and gen Z. For instance, “fewer and fewer are looking for a relationship that will end in a marriage.”

So should we get rid of dating shows altogether? Well, I think they can be a fun distraction, and I’m going to guess that the millions of people who watch these shows agree with me. However, we need new concepts with more diverse casts, and less of an emphasis on dating only for marriage featuring monogamous relationships. Let’s put the dating back in dating shows, and showcase more people having fun dates and enjoying each other’s company regardless of whether or not they want to be together for life.

Letter to a Legend: My mentor Jason Botchford

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Peak Web
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Photo of the late Jason Botchford.
PHOTO: Jason Botchford / Twitter

By: Isabella Urbani, Sports Editor

I have a unique relationship with my mentor, Jason Botchford. We never had the chance to meet, but I can only hope he sees the impact he’s made not only on me, but the entire Vancouver Canucks community. 

Botchford, or Botch as people came to call him, helped me for the first time without even knowing it. I was in the midst of finishing grade 10 and was still completely undecided on what career I wanted to pursue. On the one hand, I wanted to become a pediatric doctor. On the other, a sports journalist. 

I spent my fair share of nights in hospital rooms with immunocompromised siblings. On those occasions, I promised myself that the next time I stepped foot in a hospital, it would be to take care of people in my brothers’ situations. After burying myself in my studies and extracurriculars in high school, I had the marks to get myself into a reputable school. 

Problem was, I was head over heels in love with hockey. Study sessions weren’t study sessions without a hockey game on the TV in front of me, and another being broadcasted through my headphones. My parents tried to convince me it was nothing but a hobby — something I shouldn’t make a career of, especially when I had early acceptance offers for science waiting for me. 

Botch’s writing helped me make up my mind. Before stumbling upon his work, I had an idea of what sports journalism was in my head. It was dry articles overflowing with analytical information that you kind-of-sort-of know, but couldn’t actually articulate into words if someone asked you to. If that was what sports journalism was, I knew I had no business writing. That also wasn’t Botch’s style. He was a true storyteller. You didn’t have to watch a single Canucks game in your life to read Botch’s work and feel confident that you knew the full story. He was just that good. 

Storytelling was what sold me on hockey in the first place. The fact that each game has its own unique story, despite being played under the same rules, was something that made watching any hockey game, at any level, magical for me. Knowing there was a market for this type of writing was all the confirmation I needed to spend my spring break watching Toronto Blue Jays games and crafting articles as practice. 

Another practice I developed was waiting for Botch’s articles to be published in The Athletic. One moment I was reading his article, and the next day, the Canucks community, myself included, were mourning his death.

Messages poured in online. Through them, I was introduced to the full scope of Botch’s legacy and the kind of person he truly was. Botch was all about paying it forward to the next generation of writers. From what I’ve heard from my fellow coworkers, he loved showing upcoming writers the ropes. That didn’t change after his passing. When the next hockey season came, the Canucks announced The Botchford Project: an annual opportunity for six inspiring journalists to get to experience a day in the life of a hockey journalist. 

I was one of the lucky six recipients hand-selected for the 2022 Botchford Project, by none other than Botch’s wife, Kathryn Botchford. To this day, I can’t help but smile when I think about it. Nothing has come close to topping that experience. Getting to rub shoulders with some of the most influential Canucks writers has opened up so many opportunities for me. It’s given me something to sink my teeth into and create a career from. Having the honour to sit in Botch’s spot in the media booth and peer down at the game unfolding in front of my eyes was the confirmation I needed that I made the right choice in pursuing hockey.

I am eternally grateful to Kathryn, who continues to give back to BC in more ways than one. Through her, Botch’s legacy can continue to be everything that made him a beloved writer and person. I may not have met Botch, but he’ll forever be present in each sports article I write. I’m so glad to have the privilege to call such a person my mentor.

New Music: Singles and music videos from February

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Peak Web
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A woman with a pearl necklace, hoop earrings, and cornrow braids wraps her arms around OK Naledi, who is wearing a tan collar shirt. Both of them are smiling with their mouths wide. A basketball hoop is seen blurred behind them, and the rest of the background is a gray-ish blue sky.
PHOTO: Quest

Editor’s note: This article was updated on March 8 to correct the release date for Witch Prophet’s album.

By: Petra Chase, Arts & Culture Editor

A woman with a pearl necklace, hoop earrings, and cornrow braids wraps her arms around OK Naledi, who is wearing a tan collar shirt. Both of them are smiling with their mouths wide. A basketball hoop is seen blurred behind them, and the rest of the background is a gray-ish blue sky.
PHOTO: Quest

“INtrlD” by OK Naledi

Released on Valentine’s Day along with a music video, “INtrID” is your new go-to soundtrack for sapphic longing. Naledi Sunstrum, a.k.a. OK Naledi, is a Motswana-Canadian Afro House musician bringing a “queer, gender diverse presence to the Afro House genre — something that is still lacking in this genre.” In this deeply vulnerable track, Sunstrum recounts “falling in love with a woman at a time when homosexuality was illegal in Botswana.” Building anticipation and intensity through the lyrics and uplifting piano, it’s the type of song you put on a loop as you daydream for hours. The beautiful video that accompanies the song feels like a hazy, joyful memory, pulling you into mise en scène of Sunstrum’s storytelling. OK Naledi’s debut LP, Bones, was released on March 3 as the “first chapter” of their storytelling through music.

 

This is a photo of the five members of VERTTIGO looking fiercely to the camera. They are all wearing black clothes. Two members sit on a brown couch wearing leather and three members stand behind them. The image is a shadowy interior of an antique-looking room with carpet, a painting on the wall with an antique frame, a window, and a light shining from behind them.

“Autumn” by VERTTIGO

With a synth sound as crisp as an autumn breeze, Edmonton-based band, VERTTIGO, shows off a unique blend of punk rock and dream pop in their debut track. Citing influences such as Cocteau Twins, Alvvays, and Beach House, the intensity of lead singer K A R Í M A H’s soaring vocals also draw comparison to Evanescence. The song captures feelings of longing with dark undertones, reflected in the stunning music video’s gothic aesthetic. It’s shot in a cabin built in the ‘30s which has long been a “hidden gem” in Edmonton’s arts scene. Stay tuned for their upcoming album, which is set to be released this year. You can also watch them live in Vancouver at Verboden Music Festival in May.

 

A closeup image of Witch Prophet wearing steampunk accessories, including round sunglasses with eyeballs with metallic lining decorating one lens. There are paperclips all over Witch Prophet’s long hair and a thick silver chain at the crown of their head. They have a black leather choker with a metal star pendant and more thick chains hanging from it.
PHOTO: Francesca Nocera

“Energy Vampire” by Witch Prophet ft DillanPonders

“Energy Vampire” has a commanding energy. The laid-back hip-hop beat is built for strutting in self-assured bliss. The term “energy vampire” to describe those who drain your energy is a powerful revelation; this song will empower you to recognize and block energy vampires in your life. Witch Prophet is a “queer, East African singer-songwriter” based in Toronto. The music video feels psychedelic, with steampunk-like visuals showing off their unique style.

Her new album, Getaway Experience, comes out on May 1. It’s named after a “CIA report where they studied the use of sound tapes to manipulate brain waves with a goal of creating altered states.” “As a neurodivergent artist who struggles with focal seizures (Déjà vu, out of body experiences, lucid dreaming, memory loss etc) I feel like; sharing my experiences through my music is one of my paths to healing,” she said. “Gateway Experience is an album focused on the connection with the human brain, seizures, god, and otherworldly abilities.” 

Listen to The Peak’s regularly-updated “New Music” playlist on our Spotify profile.

ChatGPT presents new challenges

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of someone at a laptop. ChatGPT is on screen.
PHOTO: Manmeet Sagri / The Peak

By: Hannah Kazemi, Staff Writer

ChatGPT, a new AI chat bot, has quickly become known for its ability to answer questions and write assignments based on prompts from its users. Users can input almost anything into the chat box, and ChatGPT has an answer. With the rise of smart tech like ChatGPT, the risk of plagiarism and cheating increases along with a perceived “threat to higher education.” The Peak reached out to SFU Administration to learn about the university’s response to ChatGPT. 

ChatGPT works by generating content following a question or command inputted by the user. Depending on how detailed the prompt is, ChatGPT tailors the length and depth of the response to cater to the user’s request. The output could be as short as one line, or it could generate a five-paragraph essay responding to a specific prompt.

In an email statement, SFU said technology such as ChatGPT gives universities “both challenges and opportunities.” As reported by Global News, it seems that many Canadian universities are in the process of crafting specific policies relating to the use of AI such as ChatGPT. Sciences Po, a university in Paris, has issued a complete ban on the use of ChatGPT in academic work submitted by students. Reuters reported Sciences Po students found to have used ChatGPT to complete their work may be expelled from the school. Canadian universities predominantly have yet to release concrete statements on how they plan to handle this situation. However, individual SFU professors are making their own policies to account for ChatGPT’s rise. 

Since its launch, there have been varying opinions on the usefulness of ChatGPT: some are saying it is a positive advancement in technology due to its ability to help students understand particular concepts. Leanne Ramer, SFU senior lecturer of biomedical physiology and kinesiology, is asking students to use ChatGPT to “synthesize results of several studies [because] ChatGPT and other tools like Perplexity.ai can provide a very high-level summary of a field.” 

Others are alarmed by the AI’s capacity to churn out entire university essays and research assignments simply by inputting the assignment prompt into the chat. SFU told The Peak that while ChatGPT poses “a new challenge to academic integrity,” they are also “looking for ways to leverage artificial intelligence platforms, like Chat GPT, to support learning and research activities in an educational environment.”

When asked about SFU’s plans to mitigate the increased risk of plagiarism that comes with AI such as ChatGPT, they said the “fundamental approach remains the same” to other such cases of plagiarism — they aim to “closely monitor for signs of dishonest behaviour, while educating students about appropriate use of technology, policies, and potential penalties for violating them.” 

SFU noted students have “responsibilities as members of the academic community, as well as consequences for inappropriate student behaviour,” should they be found of academic dishonesty or plagiarism through the use of ChatGPT and otherwise. The current Student Academic Integrity Policy dictates that students who are found to have plagiarized their work are subject to consequences such as receiving failed grades, getting a “formal reprimand,” or being required to redo their work, among other consequences. “Interim measures” while awaiting the investigation of plagiarism allegations include preventing students from enrolling in courses or graduating.

The Peak contacted SFU’s Centre for Educational Excellence to ask about how SFU students might be affected by the new AI, but did not receive a response by the publication deadline. For more information on SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy, visit their Policy and Procedures website.

Reclaiming disability narratives through art

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Peak Web
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Photo of Alice Wong, an Asian American disabled woman in a power chair, against a background of bamboo trees. She is wearing a blue cardigan and sitting in a power chair. She is holding a copy of her memoir, Year of the Tiger, a paperback in yellow and red with a fierce tiger on it designed by Madeline Partner. She is wearing a bold red lip color and a trach at her neck.
PHOTO: Eddie Hernandez Photography

By: Olivia Visser, Opinions Editor

Photo of Alice Wong, an Asian American disabled woman in a power chair, against a background of bamboo trees. She is wearing a blue cardigan and sitting in a power chair. She is holding a copy of her memoir, Year of the Tiger, a paperback in yellow and red with a fierce tiger on it designed by Madeline Partner. She is wearing a bold red lip color and a trach at her neck.
PHOTO: Eddie Hernandez Photography

Alice Wong

Alice Wong is an Asian-American “disabled activist, writer, editor, media maker, and consultant.” She founded the website Disability Visibility Project, a platform to share and connect disabled voices. Wong is well-known for her writing on topics like disability justice and culture. Her work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Vox, and Radiolab, and covered across multiple news publications. Some of her most notable publications are the books Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life and Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century. Wong’s writing emphasizes the need for better support and representation among disabled communities. She’s also an active member of Twitter’s disability community @SFdirewolf and on Instagram @disability_visibility. 

A 40ish mixed race Sri Lankan, Irish and Galician nonbinary femme with curly brown silver and purple hair, lying on a couch looking at the viewer horizontally. They have rose gold aviator frames, thick eyebrows, red lipstick and sand colored skin, and are looking at the viewer with a kind of tired but hopefully crip wonder. They wear a blue denim vest with a pin that says Neurodivergent Universe above a pink and blue image of a ringed planet, and a black tank top with yellow lettering that read Talk To Plants, Not Cops is barely visible. They have a tattoo of the words "We begin by listening" in magenta cursive script on their left arm.
PHOTO: Syrus Marcus Ware

Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha is a “nonbinary femme disabled writer and disability and transformative justice movement worker of Burgher and Tamil Sri Lankan, Irish and Galician/Roma ascent.” On top of their poetry, they’ve authored and co-edited ten books and have won multiple awards for their writing. Their latest publication, The Future is Disabled, asks the question: “What if, in the near future, the majority of people will be disabled — and what if that’s not a bad thing?” The Future is Disabled highlights the necessity of disability justice in the age of COVID-19 and systemic barriers that exacerbate or lead to disability. They can be found on Instagram under @leahlakshmiwrites.

Yo-Yo Lin

Yo-Yo Lin is a “Taiwanese-American, interdisciplinary media artist” who uses innovative techniques like animation, performance, and sound. According to her website, her work “reveals and re-values the complex realities of living with chronic illness and intergenerational trauma.” Yo-Yo’s art has been shown at Lincoln Centre, New York Film Festival, SXSW, and many other galleries and conferences. She blends futuristic, trance-like visuals with emotive elements like nostalgia and isolation. Her online portfolio showcases some of her art, and is definitely worth checking out. 

Sharona Franklin

Sharona Franklin is a Vancouver-based “multidisciplinary disabled artist, writer, designer, consultant, and advocate.” Her work has been featured in Vogue and Pinup Magazine, among other publications. Franklin largely works with sculpture, textiles, and other visual mediums to conceptualize topics like bioethics, disability justice, and life as a chronically ill person. She publishes her artwork under the social media handles @paid.technologies, @star_seeded, @hot.crip, and @disabled_personals.

Michel poses for a selfie with a joyful expression on his face and a paintbrush between his teeth. He is standing in front of a fiery painting with vibrant yellows and reds with a touch of blue swirls.
PHOTO: Michel Dumont

Michel Dumont

Michel Dumont is a “Métis, Two-Spirit artist descended from the Robinson-Superior Treaty Area.” He’s known for his “wearable art” which has been featured in multiple art shows and exhibitions. He also uses vintage tiles to create colourful upcycled mosaics. Dumont wrote a piece for Canadian Art that describes the challenges of Canada’s “tokenization” of BIPOC and queer creators. He stated it was only until recently that funding agencies moved beyond requiring traditional materials like “leather, sinew, and beads” for Indigenous artwork. Dumont also stresses the need for better representation of Indigenous and disabled creators. You can find him on Instagram at @madbear67.

Playing 4D chess with bus seats

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Illustration of a person chasing after a bus.
ILLUSTRATION: Angela Shen / The Peak

By: Emily Huang, SFU Student and Professional Transit User

Waking up early is overrated. Self-care is important! Unfortunately, the limited amount of bus seats, and genetics have cursed my height so I will get thrown around more easily. The bus seats and my height aren’t the boss of me, and I will perish on this hill to defend the honour of that statement. After a few days of playing four-dimensional chess, I have managed to beat the bus bot on medium difficulty with a game-changing hack — having Lougheed Town Center as the closest station to home. Let me explain my big brain strategy.

Two bus routes and three train routes. That’s all I need to be able to wake up forty minutes before class. The walk to the station is the most crucial part of the commute — it’s important that I’m not too slow, but given the number of train lines I get to choose from, I am allowed a five-minute leeway. One trick I like to use is to download songs that are at least 130 bpm so I can trick my body into becoming Sonic the Hedgehog. I add them to my don’t-be-late playlist before beginning my daily journey to the school on top of a mountain. 

Once I reach the station, I take a quick glance at the monitor showing the train arrivals. I methodically calculate three routes: the 143 from Burquitlam, the 145 from Production, and the mysterious VCC-Clark secret — which I will disclose later. The advantage of taking the 143 bus from Burquitlam Station is that there is a higher chance of getting a seat than if I took the 145 bus from Production Station. Because the train has less carriages, be prepared to run towards the front of the very first carriage. “Why so?” I hear you ask. Why, my bus-taking Watson, the staircase leading to the exit of Burquitlam Station is closest to the front of the first carriage. Getting downstairs faster than everyone else on that train increases your odds of getting a seat in the bus. It’s a competition, remember?

The standard route involves the 145 bus line. Standing near the hind doors in the third carriage or the front doors of the fourth carriage of the Production Way University train grants the nearest access to the stairs leading to the exit. It is important I keep a quick pace during my descent, because everyone else has the same goal in mind — getting that sweet, sweet seat and taking a fat ten-minute nap. One drawback of this route is that the Expo line train has much longer intervals between trains. I cannot guarantee that it would be the most foolproof route, but that’s where the emergency third route comes into play! Instead of taking the Production Way University train, take the VCC-Clark train. Trust me, it’ll work in a pinch. Since Millennium line trains have less carriages than the Expo line trains, make sure to stand at the furthest end of the carriage. The process after stepping out of the train remains the same: hurry. Cartwheel to the front of that line if you have to. I recommend the middle doors, but if you enjoy a challenge, the front doors will be ample. 

All that’s left is to enjoy the fruits of my hard work: that mildly uncomfortable upholstered seat and getting to scroll on my phone without having to worry about splatting around and accidentally showing someone my fanart-filled timeline. Once I reach the campus, I thank the bus driver for the enjoyable ride and take a deep, victorious breath of the fresh mountain air. Once I reach the lecture hall, my mood  always sours at the lack of seats near the charging ports. Unfortunately, I no longer have the brain juice to play four-dimensional chess with the world.

The reflection pond is going to waste

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Peak Web
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Illustration of the koi fish in AQ, looking visibly angry.
ILLUSTRATION: Raissa Sourabh / The Peak

By: Nercya Kalino, Staff Writer

Dear SFU,

One would think that the reflection pond has a sense of purpose, considering its name. I have never come across such oblivious humans in this concrete confinement I’m obliged to call home. As the oldest fish in this pond, I find it baffling — almost jaw dropping — at how the students in this university seem to be unaware of the purpose of the reflection pond. It’s in the name!

I don’t get that many visitors, you know. No one wants to talk about how they feel, or even just come out and sit in silence looking back at the reflection of their images casted on the serene, still water. I will say this: as I’m getting closer to kicking the bucket, I find that my skills as a master of self-reflection are quite redundant. I didn’t ask for this, you know. I just wanted to be like the rest of the fish with no worries — except for plastics in our waters — but no! I was given this job to listen to a person’s thoughts . . . and when the moon is full, I ought to pray to it as a way of helping. I am special! But what is it good for if none of you brave opening up to me?

And don’t get me started on why the Avocado is a waste of space! Just the most useless statue among the rest. It is ludicrous that everyone is in love with the Avocado. People have reflected more on its existence than they have pondered my glorious presence. I used to wonder what the fuss was all about. One day, out of curiosity, I leapt out of the water and landed on the pavement. Yes, I risked my life to unveil this mystery. I stared hard at the Avocado and thought to myself, “I don’t understand these people — this is pathetic.” Before I knew it, raccoons thought I was dinner and scrambled towards me! Luckily, my old friend, Crow the Might, pushed me back into the water. I was bedridden for weeks before I could comfortably swim again. How I loathe the Avocado. Yet, you would rather stare at that . . . thing and ask each other the least philosophical questions. 

Let me tell you who among you is the most perceptive. The daycare children! Every once in a while we hold a festival for them as they walk on by. We gather at the pathway and cheer at the bumbling creatures. The children smile and applaud at our performance! They gather at the edges of the water. Some of them receive insightful foundations of self-consciousness. You can see the glimmer in their eyes when they find themselves within the reflection of the water. We call them the beholden ones. They are my favourite, because they appreciate my existence. You students, on the other hand, leave me speechless. 

You would think that maybe the professors are not the same. This is true, but not in the way you think. They gossip, I can tell by their laughs. They cackle and snort as they walk around the pond during their breaks. They call it, “Getting some fresh air!” Ha. Here in the pond, we call them chatterboxes. Like a radio, you simply have it on for background noise. 

As for you students, we do not have a definite name for you yet. Sometimes, we call you “zombies” because of your eye bags, to others we call, “happy litterers” but that’s a smaller demographic. On good days, we call you strangers because never have we seen you look back at yourself from the pond. Maybe you ought to give it a try. Screw this place.

Diving back into the ocean floor,

An Angry Koi

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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