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SFU Music for Memory goes Christmas carolling for Alzheimer’s disease

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Peak Web
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This is the logo for SFU Music For Memory. Inside a blue circle, a cartoon brain is winking and giving a thumbs up. The circle reads Music for Memory.

By: Natalie Cooke, News Writer

Music for Memory is an SFU club that raises money and awareness for Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. Over the holidays, Music for Memory hosted a virtual carolling fundraiser where they raised $1,445 for the organization. Club president Evan Wright said in an interview with The Peak, “I was overjoyed with the amount of support I had on this fundraiser.” 

Their initial plan was to have an in-person event and to go carolling in the community. The fundraiser was shifted to a livestream due to weather conditions. “Instead of 20⁠–30 people participating, only I and my good friend Raven Gonzales sung on the livestream. We sang a few Christmas classics while playing guitar and piano,” said Wright. 

Jinny Kim, Music for Memory’s vice-president, told The Peak, “We hope that our club can raise further awareness of this illness, and to support those that are affected by it.”

“In the new year, we plan on visiting a senior community with seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia,” said Wright. They are planning to hold interviews with people with Alzheimer’s to learn about their music preferences. The club members will then develop playlists to engage a variety of moods. In 2023, Music for Memory is also planning more events such as dance parties with live music, karaoke, a musical chairs tournament, and a talent show. 

“The reason we are so focused on musical therapy is that in the majority of cases of Alzheimer’s disease, the part of the brain that associates music and memory together is not affected,” said Wright. “People might forget names, places, and faces but won’t forget specific memories from a song from their childhood. Because of this, listening to music from ones’ adolescence can reduce stress, depression, and improve overall quality of life.” 

Wright spent time as a teenager caring for his grandfather who lived with dementia. He shared, “As his condition worsened, I found it harder and harder to connect with my grandfather.” After discovering how music brought back memories for his grandfather, Wright was able to reconnect with him. “I played all his favourite tunes such as Elvis and the Rolling Stones. I saw him almost instantly [become] upbeat and more so mentally present. He was able to communicate memories he had to me because of the songs, like how he [used to wear a] 1950s pompador hairstyle when he was listening to Elvis, or the places he used to go with friends.” 

Wright is now bringing this experience to more families that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. He explained, “Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most prevalent form of dementia, currently has no cure and is very misunderstood.” He reported one in five Canadians care for someone with dementia. Kim added, “Music brings people together, and I am delighted to be a part of this club’s journey.” 

For more information on upcoming events and leadership opportunities visit their Instagram @musicformemorysfu.

Comparing SFU’s first-half finishes from 2021 to 2022

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Peak Web
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photo of the men’s golf team holding hardware.
The golf teams surge after first-place finishes. PHOTO: Matthew Steinbach / SFU Athletics

By: Isabella Urbani, Sports Editor

Men’s basketball

2021 record: 6–3
2022 record: 5–8
Verdict: Finish below last year’s 12–13 record

Last year’s men’s team soared to a season-high three-game win streak after losing their first two games at the annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) challenge. While this year’s squad found success coming out of the gate, the team’s winless November stretch has them below a .500 winning percentage. SFU, riding a two-game losing streak, is the underdog heading into a month of matchups against teams who have had success against the Red Leafs. Pivotal wins are necessary to change the trajectory of the team’s first-round elimination last year. 

Women’s basketball 

2021 record: 4–6
2022 record: 3–4
Verdict: Finish below/repeat last year’s 12–14 record

Although this year’s women’s team haven’t had the luxury of playing as many games, they’re on an almost identical pace to last year’s quarter-final finish. After playing in three preseason games, SFU has only been playing four games a month. In January alone, the Red Leafs will see that number double. After playing three consecutive home games in December, the women’s team will be on the road for the majority of their remaining games, which could determine where they finish in their 10-team division. 

Swimming 

2021 record: two first-place team finishes 
2022 record: three first-place team finishes 
Verdict: Men finish better than last year, women repeat/finish below last year

This year’s swim team didn’t get off to the same winning start as last year’s, but they have managed to not only catch up to last year’s first-place performances, but lap them. Consistency has been the name of the game for this year’s swimmers: they’ve stayed in the top three in their last four invitationals. While the men placed 14th at last year’s NCAA championships, they should be expected to make the biggest jump in the standing. Improving last year’s eighth-place finish for the women will prove to be much tougher. 

Men’s wrestling 

2021 record: 5–1 
2022 record: 3–6
Verdict: Finish below last year’s 8–3 record 

The men’s team struggled to find their footing last month, dropping six of eight duals. Half of those losses could be chalked up to the unluckiness of facing four top-20 teams in a two-week span. But after a disappointing eighth-place finish to conclude last season, the men will have to bet on themselves repeating the same success against familiar opponents to make up ground on last year’s dominance.

Women’s wrestling

2021 record: 3–1
2022 record: 4–1
Verdict: Finish better/repeat last year’s record

The women continue to push forward on yet another impressive season. After winning the NCAA Regional Championship last year, the women aced their first challenge of the season, toppling 19th-ranked Schreiner and Tiffin. SFU’s first loss came at the last meet of the year against fourth-ranked Colorado Messa. While the women were unable to ring in the new year with a win, they’ll have a chance to defend their title and push for a National title in two months” time.

Men’s golf 

2021 record: no first-place team finishes 
2022 record: one first-place team finish 
Verdict: Finish better/repeat last year’s record

If there was any indication that this season was going to go well for the men, it was their first invitational. After three second-place finishes last season, the men finally secured that all elusive first-place finish. SFU last teed off to a ninth-place finish in October and will need to pick up their momentum if they hope to wrap up the season just as strong as they started. They’re chasing a GNAC title after finishing second last season. 

Women’s golf 

2021 record: no first-place team finishes 
2022 record: one first-place team finish 
Verdict: Finish better/repeat last year’s record

On top of their first-place finish, the women finished in the top two during their first two weeks of competition. After slipping to 12th-place in a two-day Hawaii classic, SFU rebounded with a top five finish in their last event of the year. Miles ahead from last year’s season-low 19th-place finish, the women will have another opportunity to boost last year’s stats by competing in the California East Bay Shootout, which they failed to finish after multiple team members tested positive for COVID-19. This will kickstart their quest to improve their second-place GNAC finish. 

Are in-person workplaces our best option?

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Peak Web
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PHOTO: Afsaneh Keivanshekouh / The Peak

By: Victor Tran, SFU Student

COVID-19 brought new difficulties to our workforce, while also presenting an opportunity to transform society for the better. One of those opportunities is the emergence of a flexible working mode: work from home (WFH). Though some might argue that an in-person setting fosters greater productivity, research says otherwise. 

Before COVID-19, in-person work was the industry standard. According to Forbes Insights, eight out of ten executives prefer face-to-face meetings for three main reasons: more rapport development, better comprehension of body language and facial expressions, and more interpersonal interactions. Studies have shown an in-person workplace allows for better relationship establishment due to a few biological reactions: emotional contagion and mirror neurons. These reactions allow us to feel others’ feelings by being in close proximity, which accounts for better relationship establishment. According to Harvard Business Review, a face-to-face request is 34 times more successful than an email. In-person workplaces can result in better persuasion as workers transmit spoken and non-verbal information more effectively.

All these benefits sound great — however, they are not always necessary in every business scenario. According to a McKinsey study on 2,000 activities in over 800 occupations, some tasks that can fully take advantage of an in-person workplace include jobs like teaching, counselling, and coaching, among others. Yet, tasks like updating knowledge and learning, interacting with computers, creativity, and information processing can be done remotely with little to no productivity loss. In-person workplaces are not necessarily the best settings for all business tasks. Furthermore, forcing onsite work limits flexibility for workers, many of whom might have unique circumstances such as caring for children or managing disabilities that impact their ability to consistently work in-person. This can drive productivity down further and increase business costs — both of which can be easily avoided by adopting remote working.

Remote work settings offer great benefits to both employees and business owners. WFH allows employees to adjust their work schedules, resulting in better task prioritization and productivity. A Harvard University study revealed that while remote work rose during the pandemic, employees spent 12% less time in large meetings and 9% more time on external tasks such as interacting with customers. Prodo — a leader in employee monitoring software solutions — confirmed that employee productivity increased by 47% each year. Researchers measured an increase in activities like telephone calls and email responses throughout the pandemic, highlighting that a physical office isn’t necessary for many tasks. 

The flexibility of WFH leads to better job satisfaction. 80% of workers from one US study agreed that WFH helps them manage a work-life balance as they have more time for themselves and their families in a comfortable environment. Higher worker satisfaction will reduce businesses’ job turnover rates and absenteeism while increasing efficiency. During the pandemic, 95% of employers who adopted WFH models saw a positive impact on employee retention, while 75% of teleworkers were less likely to resign. 

Although an in-person workplace offers strong team building and persuasive advantages, not all business tasks benefit from these characteristics. Meanwhile, WFH presents itself as the next transformative tool of the business world, having the potential to increase employee satisfaction, accessibility, and productivity while cutting costs. Businesses must realize the necessity of the WFH model and carefully consider tasks that can take full advantage of a remote working environment.

BC youth tackle eco-anxiety in new digital zine

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Peak Web
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PHOTO: Rise Vancouver

By: Simran Sarai, Sports Writer

The effects of the climate crisis are disproportionate for minorities and low income countries. In BC, communities have suffered damage and death from extended wildfire seasons, flooding, and heat waves. Although the fight for climate justice continues, many people, especially youth, are dealing with intense feelings of grief and loss when it comes to navigating a world with a rapidly changing climate due to exploitation. 

A Vancouver organization has decided to take action to help BC’s youth share their emotions as they work to combat climate change, by creating a new digital zine addressing youth’s eco-anxiety, titled Solastalgia. RISE Vancouver, a program run by the nation-wide organization, Apathy is Boring, published the first issue of Solastalgia in early December 2022. The zine is a collaborative project, bringing together young artists and writers from across the province to showcase the way that youth “relate and experience eco-anxiety/eco-grief and the full range of eco-emotions when thinking about climate change, anthropocene, and the ongoing planetary health crisis.”

Each poem, story, and art piece was thoughtfully created, showcasing the depth and diversity of emotions being felt by youth across BC. As I read, I felt a sense of connection to each contributor’s story.

Artist and contributor Sabrina Guzman Skotnitsky borrows Glenn Albrecht’s definition of “solastalgia” in her description of her piece, “Winter on the Coquihalla,” as the “homesickness one feels when no one is at home.” The zine creates a cohesive and immersive experience for anyone seeking to process the grief and anxiety feel when working towards climate justice. It ties together a symphony of perspectives, all symbolizing individual youths’ shared experiences dealing with the grief of living in a world that is changing so fast that it ceases to feel familiar.

The poem “My Sister’s Children,” by Alex Masse eloquently describes the fear of the future quality of the natural world, and the guilt and despair shared as the climate crisis unfolds and environmental destruction continues. A touching tribute to Masse’s sister and their sister’s future children, this poem encapsulates the sentiments felt by so many young climate justice activists across BC.

As the second-generation daughter of Punjabi immigrants, author Kiran Shoker’s short story, “Punjabi Immigrant Look at Climate Change and Think, Goriye Da Kam,” felt so personal. Her writing captured the ever-important intersections between climate change, race, and our world’s social and economic systems, written poetically through an immigrant’s lens.

Solastalgia is a thoughtfully compiled work that highlights the wide range of experiences youth working towards climate justice have experienced and will continue to experience. It’s a must read for youth looking for a community of young people navigating eco-anxiety and eco-grief, as they deal with the unfolding impacts of climate change. 

Read the full issue at https://issuu.com/solastalgia and follow Rise Vancouver on their Instagram, @aisbrise_vbc, to support the organizers and be alerted about future editions of Solastalgia.

Creative Corner: My 2023 vision board

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Peak Web
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PHOTO: Mateusz Dach / Unsplash

By: Petra Chase, Arts & Culture Editor

The winter break holds the liminal space before a new year that always inspires introspection, but this year I decided against writing resolutions. I often feel pressured by productivity culture to set rigid standards for myself, so they don’t work very well for me. By collaging a vision board using magazines, brochures, and other paper materials I had accumulated over the year, I was able to capture a more feeling-focused vision for 2023, with the purpose of lifting my mood. If you’re someone who likes to reflect and plan the future at the start of a new year, a vision board is the perfect project for you. 

The process of making a vision board is just as gratifying as the finished product. To get myself into a ruminative spirit, I put on some music, made myself a herbal tea, and lit a candle. I began by journaling about my growth in 2022: the things I’m proud of achieving, the people I’m grateful to have met, the new hobbies and passions I’ve uncovered, and everything I’ve learned along the way. Most importantly, I also gave myself grace for my mistakes and staying strong in spite of hardships. Reflecting is an important first step of setting goals because it helps you realize how far you’ve come and envision what comes next.

Next, I brainstormed my intentions for various aspects of my life: relationships, hobbies and passions, mental health, physical health, spiritual health, school, and career. Instead of thinking of ways I want to change or quantifying anything, I wrote down the attitudes I want to have in approaching these aspects of my life. 

Once I had finished journaling, I began looking through and cutting out everything that caught my eye from my materials: patterns, photos, and words. I even pulled out some illustrations from our newspapers (I always grab two copies of each issue for this reason). I used a paper from a gradient paper pad as my background. The final touch for my vision board was writing down uplifting affirmations on pink sticky notes, based on the intentions I had journaled. Finally, I found some star stickers and put them all around the board, because why not?

I used to collage as a teenager with Rookie Mag yearbooks. Those were the best for collaging because most of the magazine is collage art, or beautiful photoshoots, so you’re simultaneously looking at beautiful art while making your own. If you don’t have magazines on hand, you can find materials by going to a used bookstore where you can often find resourceful magazines and art books. Collaging is a fun activity to do alone or with a friend, and it’s also a great way to declutter your desk area if you’re someone who collects flyers, brochures, stickers, and other random print material like me. It’s also so easy, and inspiring to look at all year long!

The Rundown

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Peak Web
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photo of men’s wrestler Maka Yacapin mid-competition.
PHOTO: Jimmy Ma / SFU Athletics

By: Simran Sarai, Sports Writer

Men’s basketball

The men’s team started December with a 75–61 loss against Western Washington. In what was their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener of the campaign, SFU recorded 13 blocks, a league-high since joining the NCAA in 2010. The Red Leafs jetted off to take on New Mexico State two days later in a lopsided 77–35 loss. 

A narrow 79–73 win against the Hawaii Pacific Sharks in Honolulu during the Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic, snapped the team’s four-game losing streak. Despite dropping their next game, SFU finished the tournament with a decisive 74–69 victory over Chaminade on December 19. 

The men concluded their 2022 season against Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon. Senior guard and forward Jahmal Wright recorded a career-high of 22 points, while sophomore forward George Lefevbre recorded a 20-point career-high game during SFU’s December 29 matchup against Saint Martin’s. However, the team would fall in both of their matchups, bringing them to 5–8 to start the year.

Women’s basketball

The women’s team welcomed the first of three GNAC opponents at home on December 3, starting with nationally ranked, Western Washington. Three weeks after losing 69–60 to Western Washington, SFU rallied to an 89–78 victory against Alaska Fairbanks on December 29. Sophomore forward Gemma Cutler alongside junior guard and forward Jessica Wizotzki enjoyed a big night. Cutler tied her SFU record for points and three-pointers while setting a new personal best for shot blocks. Wizotzki’s 24 points in the contest marked the junior’s sixth game in a row with at least 20 points. A game later, in an 86–69 defeat to Alaska Anchorage, Cutler set her new career-high points total, and Wizotzki moved to seven 20-point games on the season.

Men’s cross country

In late November, the men’s cross country team earned their fourth invite to the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Cross Country Championships. The team finished 19th, scoring 453 points at the December 2 event. SFU was led by sophomore Charlie Dannatt, whose 15th-place finish is the best by an SFU athlete at the NCAA championships. He is also the second Red Leaf to earn All-American honours. 

Football

The Red Leafs’ football program closed out their 2022 season on December 2 with the highly anticipated return of the Shrum Bowl. The coveted matchup between SFU and UBC returned for the first time in 12 years, packing the SFU stadium with close to 3,000 fans on a cold Friday night. After an exciting back-and-forth game that saw the majority of the scoring occur in the last quarter, UBC would emerge victorious, scoring with 25 seconds left in the game to steal an 18–17 victory from SFU.

Swimming

The swim team competed at the weekend-long Husky Invitational in Washington on December 2. The women’s side took home all five relay wins in the team’s last university competition of 2022. The men’s and women’s teams posted strong performances from individual athletes, starting with senior Jordan Doner’s winning time in the women’s 100 m breaststroke (1:02.98). Teammates Marcus Mak won the men’s 200 m backstroke in 1:47.72, and Dylan Kormendy won the men’s 200 m breaststroke in 1:59.84. 

Men’s Wrestling

At the Carolina Clash on December 3, the men’s wrestling team faced two top-10-ranked teams in the NCAA. The men won two of their five duals matches, including victories against Kentucky Wesleyan (34–9) and Belmont Abbey (26–23). Red Leafs’ competitors Magnus McCrackin (sophomore, 157 pounds), Randy McDonald (senior, 141 pounds) and Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (junior, 285 pounds) each won three matches. During the Minnesota State Cactus Duals on December 17, the Red Leafs dropped three dual matchups against Minnesota State, San Francisco State, and Colorado State Pueblo. Junior team member Maka Yacapin won his three matches, remaining undefeated during the competition. 

Women’s Wrestling

The sixth-ranked women’s team had a full day of competition on December 18 at the Wartburg College Desert Duals. The team won all but one of their dual matches, pulling out victories against Schreiner (53–6), Wayland Baptist (44–11), and Tiffin (44–13). Team members Emily Cue (senior, 170 pounds) and Eleni Fakaosi (sophomore, 143 pounds) were undefeated at the meet.

Memorable Moments: Canada wins gold at home

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Peak Web
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photo of people celebrating a goal from their couch.
If you have to know any hockey moment, it's this one. PHOTO: Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels

By: Isabella Urbani, Sports Editor

Do you know where you were during the golden goal? 16.7 million people do. 

February 28, 2010. It’s the 2010 Winter Olympics, hosted in Vancouver. Canada and the US are deadlocked at two in the gold medal game. Two hours earlier, this seemed impossible. Canada was sitting pretty with a two-goal lead halfway through the game. However, just minutes after Canada’s insurance marker, the US cuts the deficit in half. In true anti-hero fashion, Ryan Kesler, former Vancouver Canuck, gets the US back into the game in the same city he’ll try to win a cup for the next season. 

As the game clock winds down, the US pulls their goalie, desperate to score the equalizer and push the game into sudden death overtime. Pressure mounting, six-year-old me went from checking in on the score each period to being pressed against the television. Nerves so shot, I couldn’t look anywhere but the clock, trading in my view of the game for listening to the commentators.

25 seconds. They had done it. The US had tied it up. They had erased a two-goal lead. Shock was written across everyone’s faces in my living room. The next goal would decide it all. I was barely a hockey fan at this time, and yet, I felt this pit in my stomach. I couldn’t fathom the US winning. I didn’t want to go to school the next day and hear about it. I didn’t want to watch them throw their gloves, and I certainly wasn’t prepared to hear a pin drop in a packed stadium of over 18,000 people. 

Winning aside, the goal wasn’t very golden. It happened in a flash. One minute the puck was on Sidney Crosby’s stick, and the next, it was in between the legs of US goaltender Ryan Miller and in the net. You didn’t celebrate because you saw the puck in the net. You celebrated because you heard the eruptions. You saw the players throwing their equipment on the ice in front of a sea of screaming fans, and you couldn’t help but get goosebumps as the remaining players fled the bench to jump on one another. 

Now, as a full-fledged hockey fan, the golden goal is sacred. But even for those who don’t follow the sport, if you ask them where they were during the golden goal, they may not know the name, but they’ll remember the moment.

Top ten holiday side dishes

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Peak Web
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Very calm, very cool. Nothing wrong here. Illustration: Siloam Yeung / The Peak

By: Maya Beninteso, Peak Associate 

1. Uncomfortable and deeply personal questions from extended family members casserole 

I can imagine that if you’re a private person, you would invite extended family members and loved ones to dissect every aspect of your life. Coming in strong at number one is: “Do you have a partner yet?” Of course, because you haven’t freely shared that information, it practically means you’re begging someone to ask you about your love life. Other honourable mentions include: “And what exactly are you planning to do with that degree,” “What were your grades this semester,” and “Why are you crying?” 

2. Disappointment pudding

Whether it be disappointment in others, yourself, or in your aunt’s lack of ability to cook without setting the kitchen on fire (sorry, Angie), disappointment embodies the true spirit of the holiday season. Although you could set your expectations low like me, an intellectual, so as to not experience disappointment, the holidays are truly not the same without this side dish. 

3. The five-spice will to live

The most rare holiday side dish indeed. For those of you who managed to cook up this delicious dish, PLEASE! TELL ME HOW!* Please and thank you (don’t tell me to look at my notes from my psychology courses, because I don’t take any). *Note: this does not apply to my therapist. Keep your thoughts to yourself, Royce.

4. Coal

Yum, this holiday side dish will surely be accompanied with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia . . . right? Or was that just me? We all got coal as children, no? Oh cool, it was just me! Thanks mom. I’ll just cross this one out, then.

5. Delayed brown paper packages tied up with string

There’s nothing quite like the excitement that comes with not knowing whether your holiday presents will arrive in time for present exchanges. On that note, whoever gave me my first (fine, second) copy of Fifty Shades of Grey that they had lying around in their house, I know my real gift was delayed coming in the mail. You wanna know how I know it was your personal copy you decided to re-gift to me? It must be the fact that certain definitely appropriate phrases are underlined in pen (without a ruler, nonetheless, you animal.)

6. Just . . . just tears of children

Why, one of my favourite side dishes is the tears of children — especially after having defeated their sorry asses at Sorry. Taking it easy on the children only sets them up for failure. So, assert your dominance, but make sure to temper your bitterness. You don’t need to be Uncle Krampus. (Hmm, maybe I should be nicer to my cousins, if you children are reading this, which only one out of you three can, I sincerely apologize . . . Not. You should try to, I don’t know, actually win for once). One day I will be humbled, but not today, wee!!!

7. Holiday chee— Beer. Alcohol. Just alcohol.

‘Tis the season to enjoy one of the best holiday dishes, fa-la-la-la-liquor, to your heart’s content. Indulge in some ponche crema (hold the eggnog, of course) and validate your unreasonable overspending on holiday cocktails from your local restaurant or bar. 

8. Cancelled flights to flavourtown

Nothing puts me in the holiday spirit quite like flight cancellations and heavy delays. But, I suppose this tracks — not only is your love life failing to take flight this holiday season, so is your actual flight. If only this happened like it did in the movie Home Alone, but then Kevin wouldn’t have learned that favourtism is real, kids.

9. Snow, a fuckton of snow

Oh my, you snow this one’s my personal favorite — especially when I’m on my way to work and cars without snow tires plague the roads. Oh what fun it is to ride on the roads you might as well call a slip and slide, am I right? This side dish is such a fan favorite, you can almost say it’s to die for. 

10. Hallmark movie hash

Ah, yes. A classic side dish is indeed Hallmark movies. Don’t you just love the lack of diversity and watching the same movie but in different fonts? Not to mention the completely natural dialogue and Oscar-worthy acting. Don’t mind me, I’m just about to cozy up with some hot chocolate and watch a Hallmark movie where the lead who is fed up with her mundane desk job decides to bring her rich — but not totally present — boyfriend/fiance back to her small hometown where the holidays are a big deal. Then, the hometown run-in with the ex-boyfriend/the one who got away/childhood best friend who got hot. He successfully sweeps her off her feet and they both decide to live happily ever after in her small hometown because she’s #DownToEarth.

This week at SFU

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Peak Web
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photo of women’s basketball player Gemma Cutler high fiving teammates.
PHOTO: Ethan Cairns / SFU Athletics

By: Simran Sarai, Sports Writer 

Home Games

Thursday, January 12: women’s basketball vs Western Oregon at 7:00 p.m. (West Gym)

  • Rep the Leaf bracelet giveaway

Saturday, January 14: women’s basketball vs Saint Martin’s (Wash.) at 7:00 p.m. (West Gym)

  • Bucket hat giveaway

Away Games

Wednesday, January 11 until Saturday, January 14: swimming at TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville (all day)

Thursday, January 12: men’s basketball vs Alaska Fairbanks at 8:30 p.m. 

Friday, January 13 until Saturday, January 15: track and field at UW Indoor Preview (all day)

Saturday, January 14: women’s wrestling at Alberta Golden Bear Invitational (all day)

Saturday, January 14: men’s basketball vs Alaska Anchorage at 8:30 p.m.

Soweto Gospel Choir brings hope to fans in Vancouver

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Peak Web
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Members of Soweto Gospel Choir in colorful traditional dress stand with their fists in the air.

By: Nercya Kalino, Staff Writer

On November 12, Grammy award winning Soweto Gospel Choir performed at the Queen Elizabeth theater as part of their North American tour. “HOPE: It’s Been a Long Time Coming” is their new concert with an uplifting message of resilience they aim to bring to the continent to overcome challenges.

Soweto Gospel Choir is a South African ensemble renowned worldwide for their breathtaking and spine-chilling energy that leaves a room full of joyful applause. Over the past two decades since their inception, they have performed for influential figures, including the late president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They have performed in the presence of former president Barack Obama and collaborated with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, and John Legend. The choir is simply in a league of their own.

Their team consists of young musicians who are passionate about music and the impact they create through it. I was able to briefly speak to the choir master and founding member, Shimmy Jiyane, about what the Soweto Gospel Choir is excited for in the upcoming months and holiday season.

“It was a great performance with a beautiful audience and we felt moved by the turnout from the Canadian crowd,” said Jiyane. “The choir is very excited to be continuing our tour in this wonderful country and starting to bring some Christmas songs into the mix for the holiday season.”

As a choir, they hope that things will change for the better and wish their fans positivity. “We hope people leave our concerts smiling and filled with energy, joy, and encouragement.”

The performance reminds fans that despite the difficult circumstances of the pandemic and social struggle around the world, music can help bring a sense of hope and unity that transcends borders. Jiyane shared that the Soweto Gospel Choir hopes to perform in Vancouver again someday. Until then, you can experience the depth of their passion in their newest album, “Hope.”

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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

© The Peak Publications Society