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Two-Minute Drill: Charlotte Prangley

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photo of Prangley mid-race.
Keep an eye on Prangley if bushes are near. PHOTO: Wilson Wong / SFU Athletics

By: Simran Sarai, Sports Writer

Charlotte Prangley is a sophomore on the women’s cross country team in her third year of a biomedical and physiology degree. Prior to joining SFU, Prangley competed for North Vancouver’s Argyle Secondary School and the Hershey Harriers. She specializes in the 800 m and 1500 m races.

Q: What is your go to pre-race song?

A: Usually something that’s lighthearted and upbeat. During the race, I like to repeat it in my head [to] set the pace.  I think [the last song I listened to] was Dog Days Are Over [by Florence + The Machine]. 

Q: What is the best course you’ve ever raced on?

A: I really like when they have hills. I liked last year’s Bellingham course [ . . . ]  it had a nice forest part, and then it also had some gravel, and some grass.

Q: If you could pick one Olympian to have lunch with, who would it be and why?

A: I think Mo Farah because I’m English, so I really like him. He’s also my cousin’s favourite. When we were younger, we would always follow his races and watch him. He’s been a big inspiration for me.

Q: What is your least favourite workout?

A: 1K repeats. We do this one at Burnaby Lake, which is like six times 1K. They’re super fast, we don’t get much rest, and they’re just really hard.

Q: How do you unwind after a race?

A: It honestly depends on the race. Sometimes if I’ve had a race that really drained me, I’ll kind of escape and go hide somewhere. I remember once when I was younger, I sat in the forest for half an hour. 

Q: What is something you wish people knew about cross country?

A: I wish they knew how big the races were. I feel like when you think of cross country races you only think there’s a few people. I remember before I did anything at SFU, I was used to racing with 50 people. But they’re actually very big — 150 people, sometimes 200.

Q: If SFU women’s cross country could have a team pet, what animal would it be? What would its name be?

A: I think I’d choose a dog.

(I guess McFog didn’t cut it?)

Q: SFU women’s cross country came out with superlatives, which one would you be assigned?

A: Most likely to do something clumsy. During our workout yesterday, during our warmup, I accidentally ran off a little bridge and fell into the bushes.

Robin Mitchell Cranfield’s unique analysis of the Ulysses universe

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Headshot of Robin Marie Cranfield against a black background
Cranfield is a master’s student with an interest in typography and early modern publishing. PHOTO: Robin Mitchell Cranfield

By: Petra Chase, Arts and Culture Editor

Irish novelist James Joyce’s modernist novel, Ulysses, is widely known in literary circles as notoriously tedious to get through. With 732 pages of inventive language and experimental style, it’s considered a great feat to tackle the book in its entirety, and most people who take up the challenge surrender in the first chapter.

Set in a single day in Dublin in 1904, Ulysses has long been an enigma to me, which is why I was intrigued by print designer and illustrator Robin Mitchell Cranfield’s lecture at the Alcuin Society, “Banana Peels & Falling Stars.” Taking the audience through the challenging reading experience, Cranfield’s presentation made sense of Joyce’s chaotic universe by zeroing in on a seemingly trivial event in the book: a character dodging a threatening banana peel in his path.

The familiar slapstick trope of characters slipping on banana peels led Cranfield down a series of rabbit holes involving Charlie Chaplin, Homer, and The Muppets. Eventually, this led her to the James Joyce Symposium at Trinity College and University College in Dublin, where she presented on the topic this summer.

I was fascinated by Cranfield’s ability to find patterns within the ordinary objects that make up the book’s inventory, connecting them both to their typographical and literary significance. Describing the reading experience as “destabilizing” due to the sheer amount of things, she shared how searching for repeated objects helped her take a closer look at what Jocye was doing with the text.

For instance, a key motif that stood out to Cranfield was “sunlight becoming tangible through text,” which she found in the repetition of words like “coins” and “lemons.” This is juxtaposed with the uninviting, gloomy typeface. Interestingly, when Cranfield visited Dublin, she experienced firsthand how these glimpses of light reflected the cloudy weather and fleeting moments of sunlight characteristic of Dublin, where the book was set.

Cranfield is an English master’s student in the faculty of art and social sciences with an interest in typography and early modern publishing. She told SFU, “As we go through our day, we read hundreds, even thousands, of typeset words. But while one of the earliest things we learn is how to recognize the meaning of these words, many of us never learn how to really see the type that forms those messages.”

Cranfield is currently working on Wings, Waves, and Webs: Patterns and Nature, a children’s book set to release in 2023. She also has a podcast, where she shares essays, readings, and conversations about design.

The talk, which you can watch on Alcuin Society’s YouTube channel, is part of the Alcuin Society’s 2022 lecture series. Alcuin Society is a non-profit organization which “promotes the appreciation of beautifully produced books.” They host events, hold awards, and publish a journal called Amphora. The journal covers a wide range of book-related topics, including typography, type design, calligraphy, and the impact of digital technology on books.

Though I have never read Ulysses, Cranfield’s presentation vividly conveyed the mixed emotions involved in reading it, from frustration, to humour, to introspection. It also made me more aware of how book design affects the meaning of a text, something which many readers like myself take for granted.

An ode to friendly bus drivers

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photo of the 144 metrotown to SFU bus
Why I always thank my bus driver. PHOTO: Jonadan Cheun / The Peak

By: Olivia Visser, Opinions Editor

If you’re a regular commuter, you’ve likely been in a situation that involved a less than friendly bus driver. Perhaps you were short .25 cents and denied service, or the driver couldn’t wait two seconds as you finished your sprint to the door. You were left a sweating, late-for-class mess, while passengers gawked in pity through their windows. Not all bus drivers are friendly, which is somewhat understandable given the abuse they face on a regular basis. The drivers who do make an effort to brighten everyone’s day therefore leave a real impact on transit users.

Bus drivers hold power in people’s daily lives. They carry us to work, school, and doctor’s appointments. We sometimes spend hours in their vicinity. Of course, drivers aren’t under any obligation to provide overly friendly service. Their job is to bring us to our destinations. However, basic decency should be commonplace. Those who go beyond, and take time out of their days to treat people with kindness, are truly something special.

I’m normally not fond of small talk, yet I can’t help but smile when I see a driver engaged in friendly conversation with a passenger. The other day a bus driver greeted and said goodbye to every single person. I mean, wouldn’t you be more likely to say thank you if you were met with a smile and “you’re very welcome?” Other, more subtle acts of kindness make a difference too: letting low income people on for free or low cost, or waiting for someone to take their seat before driving, shows they care.

Altercations with bus drivers aren’t an infrequent occurrence. Many people from marginalized communities, including disabled people, experience discrimination while taking transit. Unfortunately, this discrimination sometimes comes from drivers themselves. One North Vancouver resident alleged in a court case that a driver refused to lower his bus to sidewalk level. Daniel Sands, a wheelchair user living in Victoria, shared their experience of frequently being told there’s not enough room for them on the bus, despite other people being let on first. “That’s institutional ableism,” they said.

Long commutes suck. There’s no sugar coating it. You spend half your day in uncomfortable seats thinking about how nice it will feel to finally be at home in your bed. Not only is transit tiring and stressful, it can also be a traumatic experience for people who experience discrimination. Bus drivers who make an effort to improve their passengers’ days deserve to be appreciated.

Ukrainian creativity amidst the war with Dr. Bilaniuk

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This photo is of people gathered in a group waving large Ukrainian flags.
Ukraine issued stamps commemorating the border guards who insulted a Russian warship. PHOTO: Noah Eleazar / Unsplash

By: Chloë Arneson, News Writer

Content warning: This article mentions violence, war, and death. 

On September 1, Professor Laada Bilaniuk delivered a presentation on Ukrainian creativity and resilience in the face of war. She focused on detailing the cultural creativity that erupted on social media since the Russian invasion in February. 

Laada Bilaniuk, who teaches anthropology at the University of Washington “is currently working on a book on the politics of popular culture in Ukraine.” Bilaniuk began the lecture by noting how Ukrainians have faced a multitude of horrors since the war began, including “destroyed buildings, looted buildings, death, maiming, [and] torture.” 

Bilaniuk said many did not expect Ukraine to fare so well against Russia. “Against the odds, Ukrainians have resisted not only militarily, but also on the cultural front, with an explosion of creativity.

“I’m going to be tracing the threads of memes, sayings, songs, and images that have been viral that express the way Ukrainians have been coping with what’s going on.”  

One viral phrase originated from a Ukrainian soldier from a small island who stood up to a Russian warship by telling them, “Russian warship, go f**k yourself.” The phrase became so popular that it was featured on official Ukrainian stamps, which sold 700,000 copies. “Wartime and horror seems to break down the barriers of vulgarity,” Bilaniuk said. 

After cultural erasure under years of Soviet rule, many Ukrainians are now embracing the “hybridity” of the two cultures. “Musicians and performers who started out embracing western style [ . . . ] have increasingly started experimenting more with using Ukrainian,” said Bilaniuk. She explained many Ukrainian artists are “turning back to the culture they grew up in and finding value in that.

“If anything, this war has done the opposite of what Putin and others in the Russian government wanted,” Bilaniuk said. “It’s pushed Ukraine away from the Russian sphere of influence.” 

Many of the jokes and art created during the war highlights the cultural differences between the two countries, according to Bilaniuk. It is showcasing that Ukrainian “cultural language has power.” Bilaniuk explained that the people of Ukraine want to demonstrate through media that “they’re not just second rate peasant little brothers to Russia.”

She stated many Ukrainians are embracing the decolonization of collective mentality. “While it has pushed Ukraine away from Russian language and culture, at the same time it has really united the government and the people.”

Local student disappointed that icebreakers don’t involve actual ice (and other literal disappointments)

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A person with a confused expression on their face, they've brought a giant block of ice to class with a piece of rope
ILLUSTRATION: Angela Shen / The Peak

By: Clarence Ndabahwerize, Staff Writer

VANCOUVER — A student showed up to an icebreaker at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts with an ice pick and giant ice cube. Onlookers described initially being in shock until they found out the student in question was a theatre major who’d just watched the first episode of The Rings of Power. Enthusiastically, the young gentleman proceeded with great fanfare to have his couriers place the ice cube in the centre of the room before invoking the rite of Sigin-tarâg! Calling himself Sir Lit A. Rally, he brought extra ice picks and many more ice cubes so everyone could partake.

At the end of the evening, several ambulances rushed many of the attendees to St. Paul’s and Vancouver General. The young gentleman was the only one left standing. Revellers admitted that Rally was initially disappointed to find that the icebreaker was just a pizza party, but he appeared to convince everyone to BREAK THAT ICE for real! The attendees rushing to the hospital were described to be in a state of “frozen shock.” What a waste of ice, right? An internal university investigation concluded that some sort of Jedi mind tricks were at play by Rally.

However, this wasn’t the end of the debacle. Rally, after hearing of a potluck, brought several “lucky pots” to the potluck! To make things worse, the pots were empty, just apparently full of “lucky vibes,” in his words.

“I-I made a joke . . . ” sniffled Harald, “and Lit stole all my thunder. Not lit, man. Not cool!” Harald informed us that he was an exchange student from Hell, which he clarified was in Norway. He held a small bowl of mashed pecans with a small sign that read, “deez nuts.” Apparently, Rally had unleashed a cashew nut costume onto the icebreaker-potluck, which he’d been saving for Halloween.

The night ended with the fire department on scene when Rally tried to give Harald a literal taste of home. Seeing a potential for trouble, SFU took steps to quickly transfer an exchange student named Guy Fawkes to UVic to avoid a more grievous incident from unfolding! You’ll never guess what his nickname is. 

ACORN calls on municipal candidates to act on housing crisis

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This photo is an aerial shot of the suburbs.
There is an urgent need for affordable housing facilities as the population expands in Surrey. PHOTO: Tom Rumble / Unsplash

By: Pranjali J Mann, News Writer

BC Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is calling for Surrey municipal election candidates to make the issue of affordable housing central to their campaigns. This call to action comes in as the city continues to face “significant pressures in its housing system,” as highlighted by the Surrey Housing Needs Report. 

ACORN is a local organization which focuses on community organization for issues of “social and economic justice” for low and moderate income people including “fair fees, childcare, internet for all, housing/tenant union, and social assistance.” 

According to the 2020 Surrey Housing Needs Report, the city was in “immediate need for 17,900 affordable rental housing units.” This number was never met, and the city now needs at least 18,600 new homeownership units within the next ten years to cater to its growing population. A report by ACORN noted, “With almost 50% of BC renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing,” BC is being referred to as the “eviction capital of Canada.” 

To find out more about this and the avenues of possible solutions, The Peak interviewed Leslie MacFarlane, co-chair of the ACORN chapter in South Surrey. 

The Surrey housing crisis includes a lack of “standards of maintenance” for landlords in Surrey, according to MacFarlane. Comparing the city to other densely populated ones like Toronto and New Westminster, she said, “in Surrey the standards basically only protect people about having working appliances, and the heat, and a few minor things. But they have nothing in place to actually protect them from mold or for things falling apart. And that’s a huge problem.” 

For this, she suggested landlord licensing as a way to add accountability from the owners’ side. Just like New Westminster, the licensing would allow for “enforcement of the Standards of Maintenance bylaw, ensuring that buildings remain in good condition.” This would act as a relief for tenants that suffer from substandard housing in the city. 

MacFarlane also asked for “right of first refusal” for tenants, which would provide them with the option to move back into the new units once their buildings have been redeveloped.  

When asked what other issues residents face in the city, MacFarlane shared, “we are losing our low to moderate income rental units faster than they’re being replaced, which means that people are being displaced by the thousands with nowhere to go.” 

For this, MacFarlane suggested all levels of government invest in building social housing. “As far as I can see, the only thing that’s going to solve [this issue] is if there’s social housing built that people could move into, that have the proper standards of maintenance to replace the drastic loss because there’s a huge, exponentially larger loss of affordable housing going on,” said MacFarlane. 

You can read more about the demands and efforts of ACORN, on their website.

SFU faces criticism over new varsity team name

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Renaming reveals contentious process behind SFU’s new moniker. PHOTO: Krystal Chan / The Peak

By: Simran Sarai, Sports Writer

On September 6, over two years after SFU announced they were dropping “The Clan” due to its racist connotation with the “Ku Klux Klan,” SFU Athletics has chosen a new name. Moving forward, athletes will be known as the “Red Leafs” — a name chosen through consultation processes with the Varsity Team Name Working Group and the wider SFU community. 

According to a press release issued by SFU, part of the process included analyzing over 65 potential names, narrowing it down to two selections by the group. It was made up of “student-athletes, coaches, Athletic and Recreation Department staff, and student representatives from SFU First Nations, Métis & Inuit Student Association [FNMISA].” The two names were then brought forward to student groups, including the Simon Fraser Student Society and SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA). SFU said they “also sought feedback on the names from nine Host Nations.” 

Now, SFU is facing criticism from the same students who fought so desperately to have a new name adopted in the first place. Marie Haddad, co-organizer of the campaign to push SFU to change the previous name, spoke out on social media about the school’s choice to not include herself or fellow student organizers, Othniel Spence and Mason Glover, in any decision making processes. Spence and Glover were instrumental in garnering online traction for a name change. 

“I am saddened to say that I was never included properly within the process and am completely disheartened that Othniel Spence and Mason Glover did not receive any credit for our work that made a new name a possibility.”

In an interview with The Peak, Haddad said she felt “hopeless and deeply sorry for the people this name affects,” including those who might correlate the leaf to Canada’s ongoing history of colonization. “It doesn’t take much [more] than a simple Google search to know that the red leaf, symbolizing Canada, has gruesome colonial backing. Replacing a horrible racially insensitive name with a less insensitive name is not harm reduction, it is negligence.”  

Haddad only found out about the new name when the general announcement was released on social media. “It felt like a slap in the face,” she said, “I felt a wave of stress, of institutional betrayal, and carried this sorrow with me through the upcoming weeks.”

The Peak also reached out to Othniel Spence and Mason Glover for an interview, but did not receive a response by the publication deadline. 

The Peak spoke with a representative from FNMISA, who wished to remain anonymous. “The new name is the lesser of two evils,” they said, “Every Canadian athlete who competes internationally falls under the red maple leaf.”  However, they believe the name was really chosen due to SFU’s affiliation with Nike, who gifted athletes uniforms branded with a red maple leaf in 2019. “Sticking with the new logo saves money and prevents further conflict,” the representative said. 

While SFU stated they had consulted with student groups, including FNMISA and (SOCA), the representative said these groups were last contacted about the name change in “mid-summer of 2020,” and “neither student association gave their approval on the two choices presented.”

Although the representative has personally come to terms with the unfolding of the process, they believe “the process could have been performed a lot better from the start. The Host Nations, the FNMISA, SOCA, other BIPOC student groups, and just more student engagement should have been present from the start.”

The Peak reached out to Theresa Hanson, senior director, SFU athletics and recreation for a comment, but did not receive a response by the publication deadline.

Student athletes weigh in 

The Peak also reached out to athletes who will compete under the Red Leafs name for their thoughts. Kaelan House, a member of the men’s cross country and track and field team, was excited to finally have a name to compete under. Jordan Thorsen, a third year goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team, acknowledged that the previous name had not been one that “a lot of the athletes could take ownership of.” He believes Red Leafs is a much more fitting name for the only Canadian NCAA school. 

On the other hand, Fourth-year point guard David Penney, had neutral feelings about the name. “I love that they changed it [ . . . ] but I feel like most of the athletes didn’t really get a say until we knew what the name was gonna be. We just heard about options, and I didn’t even know that the Red Leafs was gonna be an option,” he explained, “There was a disconnect between the two parties.”

Instead, Penney believes SFU should have taken the two-years to get opinions from athletic teams about the other 65 names proposed during the process. “Even a survey to just one team or all the players and coaches [would have been enough] It feels like it was very behind the scenes,” he said.

Somto Anyadike, senior running back for the SFU football team, echoed Penney’s feelings of disconnect. “I thought that when we were getting a new team name, we would have a school vote. I was kind [of] off put by that,” he shared. Anyadike and the football team suggested potential names like the “Mountaineers” to fellow teammates who comprised the working board. Anyadike understood the correlation between the new name and the school’s slogan “rep the leaf,” but after a whole two-year debacle, he “thought a little more effort would go into the name.”

The Five Vengeances is a badass play

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2 warriors in kung-fu stances and fierce expressions surround a person in a white robe with half a skull face reaching forward against a yellow background.
Affair of Honor takes stage combat to the next level. PHOTO: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

By: C Icart, Staff Writer

The Five Vengeances (T5V) is an action-packed play by Affair of Honor, a “fight and movement based theatre company” at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. The production combines the work of playwright, Jovanni Sy and multimedia design collective, Chimerik 似不像. ​​It’s a stunning reimagination of the Jacobean revenge tragedy genre, which, in the Jacobean period in England (1603–1625), depicted bloody portrayals of violence and murder in the name of revenge.

As a queer theatre kid, you didn’t have to ask me twice if I wanted to see a play about a queer love story. While it’s described as such, I think T5V would be better categorized as a queer revenge story. At the beginning of the play, Fury, a warrior, has already lost her beloved Bella and has returned to the kingdom for revenge against the Overlord who murdered her. She does so with the help of her friend, Shotgun. However, it won’t be so simple. The royal family is full of people with their own interests in mind. Fury’s quest for revenge is quickly complicated, and she’s forced to look at herself in the mirror and decide what’s truly important. 

When I got to the theatre, they had a content advisory for coarse language, violence, and sensitive subject matter, including depictions of non-consensual drug use and references to sexual assault. They also mentioned the effects used: haze, loud noises, and flashing lights. The play started with a bang, a dynamic fight scene to end all fight scenes — until the next one came along. One word came to mind: badass.

Considering the serious topics, I didn’t anticipate laughing nearly as much as I did. Before the play started, the people behind me debated whether or not the disco ball on the ceiling would be used. Spoiler alert: it was, in the most unexpected and hilarious way. 

The relatively minimalist set included two warped walls reminiscent of American Ninja Warrior, only shorter. That didn’t stop me from being impressed by the ease with which the actors ran up and slid down them. Much of the decor was digital, enabling them to use dynamic effects to enhance the numerous fight scenes.

T5V is over two hours long, but there isn’t a dull moment. Constant twists and engaging fight scenes made time breeze by. The play is described as giving “the feel of 1970’s kung-fu cinema,” and I couldn’t agree more. The music and special effects made it feel like I was watching an action movie all the way down to the slow-motion fighting. The effects highlighted how good the actors were at stage fighting because the lights and sounds aligned with their fast-paced moves. On top of hand-to-hand combat, they used a variety of weapons including swords, ropes, and ninja stars. 

The play reminded me how creative folks can be with theatre and reignited my admiration for the artform. I loved every second and had so much fun laughing and reacting with the crowd. Most importantly, seeing badass queer characters on stage telling stories that don’t center around being queer was so refreshing.

Sonia Furstenau meets with SFU350 and SFPIRG

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This photo is of Sonia Furstenau and Liam Mackay sitting at the front of an audience. They are engaged in conversation, sitting in two red chairs as people listen from the audience.
Furstenau discusses her solutions for Canadian politics on climate change. PHOTO: Federico Cerani / BC Green Caucus

By: Karissa Ketter, News Editor 

SFU350 and the Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG) hosted a meet and greet event with BC’s Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau. The conversation was held in the Student Union Building at the Social Stage on September 22. 

SFPIRG member Aida Mas Baghaie opened the conversation. “When I started thinking about climate and affordability, I really thought about how we just can’t afford to not react and address the issue of climate change.”

An example they noted of this is the recent flooding of BC. “On these unceded Coast Salish and [surrounding] territories, over the last few years we have seen so many devastating impacts of climate change,” said Baghaie.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada noted the cost to repair the damages of last year’s floods was $675 million. This cost only covers things that can be insured and does not include environmental or ecological damages caused by the floods.

In response, Baghaie noted instead of spending large amounts of money on repairing damages from climate change, this money could be put towards climate change mitigation and adaptation instead. 

“I don’t think I would be here if I thought we were doomed,” said Baghaie. They believe there are strategies to address climate change, but “we can’t afford to have solutions that are only for the rich.

“A lot of what I believe the solutions and strategies to address climate change are, are actually things that are for the people, by the people.” 

After opening the conversation to the audience, an audience member suggested redirecting “fossil fuel subsidies into grants that allow homeowners to install heat pumps or buy electric cars.” Another suggested localizing food production, to which Baghaie added, “localizing food production in a way that doesn’t violate human rights because currently we rely on exploitative migrant work in order to create local food.”

SFU350 member Liam Mackay sat down with Furstenau to get her insight on the relationship between climate change and affordability. She began by noting “actually working together is better than fighting each other” in the political realm. 

Furstenau believes its important to change the way Canadian politicians view climate change because the issues we face with climate change “aren’t going to be solved by the methods that got us here,” according to Furstenau. “It almost seems childish to me now to look at our political system and to see it rooted in this finger-pointing, conflict-driven way, at a time when we have no time to waste.”

Mackay asked Furstenau what needs to be done at a local and international level to address the climate crisis. She said our government needs to stop subsidizing and funding the fossil fuel industry. She cited the billions of dollars of subsidies Canada puts into the LNG and the oil and gas industries. “If we were putting those billions into a clean energy transition, into a just transition where we support people and communities to be well and healthy, into food security, into ensuring water security, into transportation, we would be transforming the world,” said Furstenau. 

She feels it is unacceptable for governments to put “the extraction of resources and profit ahead of every other value.

“We have to remember what actually is valuable,” said Furstenau. “In a hyper-consumer culture of competition, perceived scarcity, and the loss of compassion that comes with that — we forget what’s real.”

One of Furstenau’s main concerns with our national politics is the amount of voter apathy amongst Canadians. Global News reported only 62% of eligible Canadians voted in our last federal election. “We have to demonstrate that governments have an important and positive role to play in these solutions,” said Furstenau. 

She said her suggestions of remedying voter apathy is based on the words of Tsleil-Waututh First Nation activist Cedar George-Parker: “We need to humanize our politics and Indigenize our institutions.”

The Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia hosts webinar on mindful outdoor use

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Protecting the outdoors includes limiting litter, human waste, and legal land use. PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

By: Olivia Visser, Staff Writer

The Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia hosted a webinar on July 20 on “cultivating responsible recreation practices.” The discussion focused on fostering mindful outdoor practices, and was triggered by the environmental and social impacts of an increased “surge in outdoor recreation.” The event involved five speakers with relevant expertise on outdoor recreation. 

Clara-Jane Blye is finishing up her psychology degree at the University of Alberta, with a focus on environmental psychology. She has studied park visitor behaviors across Alberta, BC, and Ontario. At the webinar she discussed a recent project that assessed environmental communication from the last 50 to 60 years, focusing on its ability to “advocate for environmental behaviors.”

Blye noted that understanding the “why” in environmental communication is crucial. She said “tapping into people’s moral norms or their ethics” while being specific about their harmful behaviors is one of the best ways to convey important outdoor practices. According to their study, effective environmental communication should involve targeting emotions like guilt, pride, and anger. A release from the Sea to Sky Destination Management Council highlights residents’ distress about litter, illegal land use, and human waste. Blye said tapping into someone’s pride involves reinforcing their positive behaviors. This might look like encouraging someone to “pack it out” instead of demanding they don’t litter. 

Stephen Hui, hiking book author and former Peak news editor said he “learned a lot about responsible recreation through hiking clubs.” Hui noted, “When I’m talking to people, they often ask “aren’t you worried you’re destroying these places by writing about them?” He responded  by saying he feels a “responsibility to provide the context” needed to use these spaces safely and respectfully.

Hui emphasized “everywhere we hike is Indigenous territory” and people don’t realize “a lot of these places are sacred.” As such, outdoor users should pay particular attention to every location’s specific guidelines. He listed four resources that inform his writing and recreation habits: Leave No Trace, WildSafeBC, Marine Trail Code of Conduct, and the Haida Gwaii Pledge.

John Rae works for the Sea to Sky Destination Management Council. He spoke about a new campaign called “Don’t Love it to Death” which highlights that increased outdoor recreation activity puts strain on “the environment, on communities, on residents, and on infrastructure.” This campaign consists of ads and posters distributed throughout the North Shore and Sea to Sky region. The slogan attempts to be “provocative without shaming.”

Brian Pratt is involved in the Four Wheel Drive Association of BC and is a Tread Lightly! educator. Both organizations offer education, training, and stewardship projects to offroad drivers. Pratt described local trips around Stave Lake with Tread Lightly! that taught new backcountry users about responsible back road travel before participating in  environmental and maintenance projects around the area. 

Sherry Lu is the Education and Learning Project Lead at BC Parks. She recognized “behavior change is a systemic issue that [BC Parks] can’t solve single-handedly.” Lu talked about four BC Parks partnerships that help promote responsible outdoor recreation habits: Camper’s Code, Discover Parks Ambassadors, BARE Campsite Program, and Hiking ExplorePACKS. BC Parks also has digital frontcountry and backcountry visitor guides on their website, as well as a self-guided online course for backcountry camping. The guides cover topics like campfire and bear safety, trip planning, and dog restrictions.

“While we’re all busy blaming others, few people are talking about the personal responsibility we all have to manage our own behavior and check our own attitudes,” Rae added. 

Simple practices like proper bathroom usage and packing out garbage make a big environmental difference, while sticking to safer trails can save lives.

A recording of the webinar is available on the Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia’s Youtube page. 

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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