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Vancouver Tenants Union discusses disability justice

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of a bunch of folks gathered around smiling for the camera with a sign behind them that says “Defend Tenants / Stop Broadway Eviction.”
PHOTO: Brandon Jacoby / Unsplash

By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer

On the final Saturday of last month, the Vancouver Tenants Union (VTU) hosted their June general meeting. With over 2,500 members, the group advocates and organizes for “rent control, meaningful eviction protections, more affordable housing,” and “better incomes for all.” These gatherings are designed for members to “learn, strategize, and discuss what impacts tenants in the city.” The June meeting focused specifically on disability justice and accessibility, with a variety of topics discussed and motions voted on. Masks were mandatory, and the VTU also provided the option to attend online. The Peak attended the meeting for more information.

The VTU describes disability justice as “a political framework developed in 2009 in the US by queer disabled people, largely women of colour.” They explain how “it was thought of and articulated to address the overwhelming whiteness of the existing disability rights movement, and to challenge the very idea of rights-based organizing,” and instead, focus on “justice-based organizing.” The VTU describes rights as “what people in power can give you” in the form of laws, while justice is “what can’t be taken away — values, identity, defined allies, access.” 

After a land acknowledgement and small group discussion on experiences in the union, the meeting turned to a series of motions to be voted on in pursuit of greater accessibility. The first was a statement of solidarity in support of the Migrant Rights Network. The VTU voted yes to endorse “the joint group statement written by Migrant Rights Network calling for the withdrawal of Bill C-2.” Notably, this bill would make the acquisition of refugee status more difficult for those seeking it in Canada.

“Disability justice is inseparable from housing justice, as disabled folks are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis, particularly those living at the intersection of other marginalized identities.” — Vancouver Tenants Union

Next, the VTU voted yes to join the steering committee of the National Tenant Organizing Fund, “a new national fund that supports tenant organizing across Canada.” Specifically, the steering committee “makes decisions about how the money is shared between unions.” The motion passed with the option to part ways if the VTU deemed the endeavour to be at odds with the organization’s values at any point.

The final proposal, titled “Motion to Adopt Accessibility Standards for the VTU,” aimed to make the union open and approachable for all. The broad focus was to honour that “disability justice is inseparable from housing justice, as disabled folks are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis, particularly those living at the intersection of other marginalized identities who face compounded barriers in accessing housing that meets their needs.” The motion incurred several edits, including an amendment to one point and a removal of two others, before passing. Ultimately, the amendment stated that the group “will continue to develop an Accessibility and Disability Justice Standards and mandate.”

For more information or to join your local VTU chapter, visit vancouvertenantsunion.ca

SFPIRG’s Organizer School builds grassroots power through political education

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Peak Web
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This is a shot of a row of people’s laps. Several people are holding a notebook and taking notes, while one person in the back is holding their phone.
PHOTO: The Climate Reality Project / Unsplash

By: Ashima Shukla, Staff Writer

Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG) is currently hosting Organizer School, a 10-week political education program that focuses “on the theory and practice of political organizing and mass movement building.” The program takes place weekly at the SFPIRG lounge and is open to all participants regardless of prior experience with organizing. 

SFPIRG’s “mission is to engage students and community in social and environmental justice.” Their Organizer School is designed as a participatory alternative to political education, inspired by Mass Movement and Struggle School from United in Struggle and Embark Sustainability’s Organizer Bootcamp. In an interview with The Peak, facilitators Hannah Ghaderi and Noëll Cousins said the program aims to address what they see as a gap in political education available to students and community members. “SFU really underserves its students in the kind of education it provides,” Cousins explained. “It’s very disconnected from people’s concrete problems and their real experiences.” 

In response to SFU’s institutional structure, the Organizer School prioritizes group discussions, reflection, and the exchange of lived experiences. Its content and format emerged from extensive syllabus development, “starting with how to really study the society and how to look at it scientifically, and then going from there, and thinking of all these texts that can help us navigate that.” 

Early sessions examine topics such as dialectical materialism and the roots of oppression, while later sessions focus on developing organizing strategies, movement building, and leadership. The curriculum draws on a wide range of historical and contemporary thinkers, including Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, the Combahee River Collective, and Paulo Freire. In choosing these materials, Ghaderi and Cousins intentionally included texts presenting differing or even conflicting perspectives. “Something that’s really important to us is to not censor or delete some parts of the conversation just for the sake of them fitting together,” Ghaderi said. “They’re like debates in a specific way, and that’s instructive,” Cousins added.

The program also includes practical activities to help participants apply theoretical concepts. One session involved a mock trial centred on Galileo’s historical conflict with the Catholic Church. The trial was used as a way to introduce class analysis and examine power dynamics. “It showed how attuned they are,” Ghaderi said, noting how participants were able to identify the murderer within the time limit set. 

Cousins shared that this emphasis on participation is partly inspired by Theatre of the Oppressed. Developed by Augusto Boal, this approach positions participatory theatre as a means of revolution, confronting injustice through role-play and collective problem-solving. Cousins noted how it’s a “safe and fun and playful” space to practice how to give speeches and criticism.

“There’s a little revolutionary living in all of us.” — Noëll Cousins, Organizer School facilitator

Organizer School is also shaped by a pedagogical stance: the facilitators reject the idea of expertise as a prerequisite and encourage collective learning that is accessible to all. One of their community agreements is “nobody knows everything, but together we know a lot.” 

The facilitators highlighted “an openness to learn new ideas and a desire to win, be victorious,” Cousins added. The facilitators also noted how the program is designed to be flexible, allowing the participants to engage even if they cannot complete all the assigned readings. 

Ghaderi, who taught for 10 years in Iran before immigrating to Canada, said this approach is rooted in creating space for participants to contribute their own knowledge and experiences. The Peak attended a session on June 23, where participants collaboratively analyzed mock data to establish the mass line. 

Looking ahead, Ghaderi and Cousins envision participants becoming facilitators themselves. Their long-term goal is to build a network of organizers who can carry the work forward. As Cousins said, “There’s a little revolutionary living in all of us.” 

Ghaderi further reflected, “We’re open to holding that space for each other — no matter what, no matter about what topic.” This care for others, she emphasized, is also political work. 

Organizer School is expected to run every semester. The current cohort meets Mondays from 6:00–9:00 p.m., with the final session scheduled for July 21. Applications for future semesters are accepted through SFPIRG.

Hot takes are killing our capacity to think

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Peak Web
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An illustration of a person standing on a stage with a microphone in hand. Four arms reach out to grab the microphone from them.
ILLUSTRATION: Victoria Lo / The Peak

By: Ashima Shukla, Staff Writer and Zainab Salam, Opinions Editor

There is a genre of content that only grows louder with time: a viral clip where someone argues against abortion, climate change, or immigration issues — with the knowledge of a poorly summarized Wikipedia page and unearned confidence. The audience laughs, groans, or aggressively types a rebuttal, but many click. In a media ecosystem designed to reward attention over thoughtfulness, we risk trading depth for reaction. The result is a culture where complexity becomes inconvenient, misinformation thrives, and our capacity for accountable thinking erodes. We need to resist the logic of virality and build a culture rooted in curiosity, revision, and collective understanding. 

As media scholar Wendy Chun argues, authenticity loses all meaning in a system designed to convert attention into profit. The call to be one’s self becomes a directive to become legible to social media algorithms — sortable, marketable, and brandable. Authenticity becomes algorithmic. When pushed towards outrage or confessions, everything becomes entertainment. This media logic doesn’t just distort what we see, it changes how we think, and what we think is worth thinking about.

Feeds become echo chambers recycling ideas — those ideas are not only shaped by our biases but also by algorithms that amplify them. Content is served to mirror an existing worldview or present the most extreme opposition to it, not to foster understanding.  

In such a system, entrenchment often replaces revolution. The practice of inquiry is supplanted by repetition: louder answers, rehearsed, and regurgitated. Opinion, trauma, and rage are performed; not to deepen understanding but to remain visible. To participate. And when that is the metric, complexity becomes inconvenient. Empathy becomes inefficient. Accountability becomes irrelevant. 

The path forward isn’t certainty — it’s the willingness to reject the myth of objectivity in favour of shared, collective truth-seeking. 

The invincible ignorance fallacy (and several studies) tell us that the least informed are often the most confident in their opinions — precisely because they don’t know how much they don’t know. Even well-intentioned people falter. Fearing the backlash of cancel culture or accusations of bias, media outlets default to a false sense of balance. Every issue is treated as a two-sided debate, even when one side is factually incoherent or ethically indefensible. Case in point? The New York Times’ coverage of trans health continues to platform inaccurate information. 

So how do we begin to challenge this system and move toward better thinking? We shouldn’t be neutral. We need to be honest. To resist the manipulations of a media environment that thrives on our worst impulses: our desire to be right, our fear of exclusion, and our discomfort with complexity. The challenge is to build a culture that can hold truth, even when it implicates us. 

This is where we can learn from science. As history of science scholar Naomi Oreskes reminds us, the strength of science is not found in the infallibility of individuals or in the myth of objectivity. It lies in its social fabric — in peer review, in replication, in the collective effort to get it more correct over time. It succeeds when it accounts for bias and makes objectivity a shared process, not an individual characteristic. The way we did in rebuilding the ozone layer, despite opposition. 

The goal is to create a culture where curiosity, revision, and errors are celebrated. To acknowledge that our thinking is inevitably shaped by our biases, values, backgrounds and to create systems of accountability where we can learn to move beyond hot takes towards nuanced discussions. In a culture overrun by algorithmic outrage, curiosity is radical. The path forward isn’t certainty — it’s the willingness to reject the myth of objectivity in favour of shared, collective truth-seeking.

Bill C-5 cuts red tape in service of capitalism

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Peak Web
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cartoon of a blond man uncovering another individual with a mask while money falls out
ILLUSTRATION: Angela Shen / The Peak

By: Yildiz Subuk, Staff Writer

In recent years, Canada has experienced record-breaking wildfires and heat waves. Climate change has caused global temperatures to rise and ecological disasters of grave magnitude. Wildfires heavily impact communities, with large property damage, poor air quality, and forced migrations as immediate outcomes. Just a month ago, 100 properties in Squamish were set under evacuation alert due to a wildfire. The June 2023 Donnie Creek wildfire resulted in enough land burned that it was comparable in size to Prince Edward Island, making it the largest fire ever recorded in BC. Our health, well-being, and our environment are on the line. The Canadian government must take environmental protection seriously. 

However, the government has taken a step backward. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced Bill C-5 (also known as the One Canadian Economy Act), which prioritizes economic interests while pushing aside Indigenous sovereignty and regard for the environment. It allows the government to fast-track any project deemed to be of “national interest,” causing major concerns about who this bill truly benefits. 

Bill C-5 has two parts. The first part of the bill disguises the negative, undemocratic nature of the second part. Part one focuses on removing interprovincial trade barriers. These trade barriers typically consist of regulations that restrict provinces from trading. For example, different licensing standards can discourage professionals from relocating from one province to another. As consumers, these trade barriers can be felt when purchasing alcohol from other provinces. Conservative party leader Pierre Poillivere has been a proponent of lifting these trade barriers, claiming they harm the Canadian economy. Economics professor Trevor Tombe published a paper claiming up to $200 billion is being cut from the Canadian economy due to the regulations. However, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reports these numbers are based on faulty methodology, which “overstates costs due to several unrealistic assumptions about interprovincial trade.”

There is no certainty that lifting interprovincial trade barriers will benefit the average person. The Policy Alternative claims the main factors that will be impacted are the transportation of alcohol across provinces and truckers’ mobility. This part of the bill seems like an attempt to reinforce, in the public eye, the government’s focus on economic prosperity more than actually helping anyone out.

The second part of the bill is more sinister; it allows governments to fast track any project that qualifies as being of “national interest.” These projects can include building pipelines which ultimately help the fossil fuel industry. According to The Tyee, the “fast tracking” in this scenario includes overriding preexisting laws including: “Fisheries Act, Indian Act, Canada Marine Act, Species at Risk Act, and the Impact Assessment Act.” These are all important pieces of legislation that ensure environmental safety and Indigenous sovereignty. 

“Despite the focus on building, this bill has put more of a strain on relations between the Canadian government and Indigenous people.”

Politicians use the term “cutting red tape” when explaining why this bill passing will be beneficial. The red tape is framed as frustrating bureaucracy, barricading Canada’s economic progress; in reality, that red tape is regulations which prohibit projects from violating Indigenous rights and causing further environmental damage. This terminology is misleading, yet also crucial in selling the bill. According to Prime Minister Carney, Canada is facing an economic crisis and to combat it the government must relay urgency in taking action — seemingly, even if it means doing more harm than good.

Indigenous leaders have criticized the bill, along with Amnesty International, claiming it can violate Indigenous people’s right to informed consent. Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, an Indigenous non-profit group, stated this bill will not fast track anything but rather create conflict as “The Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations will stand together to defend our rights and lands.” This bill pushes Indigenous Peoples out from debating and contesting projects being built. Despite the focus on building, this bill has put more of a strain on relations between the Canadian government and Indigenous Peoples. There’s also a reason why Indigenous communities are so opposed to such projects: sustainability.

This bill’s focus on fastracking economically beneficial projects poses serious threats to the environment. Canada’s oilsands produce some of the deadliest pollution, while actively downplaying its effects. The pollution is staggering — enough to cause sickness and other diseases, affecting air quality. The oilsands need pipelines to transport oil, so this bill is not only removing important regulation but essentially investing more into the most damaging industry in Canada. Fossil fuels, which include oil, have been the largest contributor to global warming. Global warming can manifest through wildfires, as hotter temperatures can result in wildfires worsening. 

This legislation is regressive. The oil industry does not provide long-term progress, but serves its own self interest. Those that benefit the most from pipelines are the producers and transporters, while there has been no tangible evidence that pipelines provide any proper economic relief for the working class. 

The Liberals clearly wanted to get this bill passed as quickly as possible. All members of the Conservative party also voted in favour of the bill. Meanwhile, the Bloc, NDP, and Green parties have all opposed it. The Bloc also proposed the bill should be split into two — free trade and labour being one part and fast-tracking projects the other — and each part be individually assessed by a committee. The proposal was vetoed by the Liberals. The eagerness to pass the bill is concerning, the message is deliberate as well. The way this bill is presented makes it seem like it’s a massive leap forward for nation building. The bill vaguely states it is looking to “enhance Canada’s prosperity, national security, economic security, national defence and national autonomy by ensuring that projects that are in the national interest are advanced through an accelerated process.” It strategically uses language associated with economic prosperity, to hide its hidden agenda.

The legitimacy of this bill is also validated by US president Donald Trump’s tariff threats, which aimed to economically back Canada into a corner. The bill acts as a response, indicating to the public that the Canadian government must do anything necessary to fight back. But, is an investment in fossil fuels and infringement on Indigenous rights truly serving the nation’s best interest? Or is it just a way to reinforce neoliberal policy that mainly benefits capitalism while being disguised as economic unity?

The return of the Eastside Arts Festival

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Peak Web
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This is an illustration of the Eastside Arts Festival, with rows of tents of vendors selling crafts and artistic goods while some festival-goers paint on a canvas
ILLUSTRATION: Stella Laurino / The Peak

By: Katie Walkley, Peak Associate

Sometimes, walking along downtown Vancouver makes me feel like a tourist in my own city, especially as I pass by the many interesting shops, artistic expressions, and the general beauty of the city all around. From July 18 to 27, you can experience that wonderful feeling tenfold at the Eastside Arts Festival at a multitude of Eastside Arts District studios. The variety of workshops, walking tours, and live performances all represent niche aspects of the connection between art, the environment, and Vancouver’s history.

Most workshops vary from an hour and a half to two hours. All of them are beginner-friendly and include activities that you have probably never had the chance to try before. For example, in the “Fun With Fusing” workshop, you can learn glass cutting and pattern formation to make your own tile with the help of an instructor who will fire the kiln for you. Other lessons, such as urban sketching and eco printing, celebrate our city’s relationship with nature. Overall, you will find that every artist leading these workshops is deeply dedicated to their craft while you share in the fun!

If you prefer to observe rather than create, you can find three unique walking tours. The Hogan’s Alley tour is also available as a virtual tour for those who would prefer to learn from the comfort of their home. On the “Not Your Heritage Tour-Whose Streets? Whose Stories?” tour, you will be invited to ask how Vancouver’s nuanced heritage and history live in the present. It emphasizes the experience of culture in daily life while taking a relaxing stroll with other like-minded participants.

The variety of workshops, walking tours, and live performances all represent niche aspects of the connection between art, the environment, and Vancouver’s history.

Along with these experiences, there will also be live entertainment, including The Dance Deck by the contemporary dance company Belle Spirale Dance Projects, with tickets by donation. A violinist, cellist, and vocalist will accompany the dancers as the production brings together upcoming artists and established creators.

For those who want the most fulfilling experience without hurting their wallet, you can check out a free six-hour outdoor concert at Maclean Park. Vancouver-born musicians performing span genres from cowpunk to surf rock. Meanwhile, you can also explore art activities and refuel at the food trucks showcasing Vancouver’s artistic flair, such as Midnight Joe’s, a vintage-style truck with neon signs serving sloppy joes and cherry pies.

Altogether, every moment of this festival will be a rich immersion into Vancouver’s artistic culture and heritage, as well as a chance to connect with its community. The Eastside Arts Festival will surely reinvigorate your pride for this city.

SFU vs. UBC: The renewed rivalry

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Peak Web
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Two boxers representing SFU and UBC beefing it out on an sfu rooftop
IMAGE: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

By: Katie Walkley, Peak Associate

It was still light out at 8:32 p.m., and I felt unstoppable. I’m not proud of what I did, but it had to be done. 

I revived the rivalry between SFU and UBC. 

I’d been missing SFU dearly over my summer break. Not enough to visit and pay for parking, but enough to reignite an ancient feud as a show of my love and solidarity from afar. So, I typed UBC into my Maps and put my neighbour’s electric scooter into sport mode to tear off into the night. Dan, if you’re reading this, don’t worry about it. Go take care of your kids.

My hunger for retribution began when I met some actual UBC students, and they weren’t even as God tier as their reputation leads us to believe. I was like, “Do you even Beedie, bro?”

We should have seen it coming . . . Their disgusting vintage architecture is a façade.

For weeks, I stewed on my newfound knowledge. It filled me with regret for how we had given up so easily on our rivalry against UBC. Many of our peers have even joined their side to make jokes at our expense, highlighting our constant construction and lack of social life. We’re not strong enough to handle all this friendly fire, people. Someone has to believe in us or else we’ll end up like CapU. To save us from that kind of downfall, I had to hit them where it hurts.

To honour the loner ideals of our school, I started this revolutionary war by myself. I almost made a Reddit post (the only way to connect with fellow students at SFU), but then I got distracted by reading about people deciding on classes to take and started wondering if I should change my major. By then, time was running out, and these geezers were wasting my precious daylight hours!

With a devil’s smile on my way to enemy territory, I scootered over the toes of neighbourhood parents gossiping about how “poor Stacey’s nephew didn’t get accepted into UBC — now he has to go up to that sequestered mountain school with all the bagpipes.” Boo fucking hoo, lady. It could be a lot worse. You could end up at UBC, where students major in either abstract exhibitionism or Wreck Beach-ology. I channelled the energy of 1,000 SFU commuters ferociously darting home to Maple Ridge to carry me past the haters. 

Upon arrival, I circled the UBC frat houses with one target in mind. I listened anxiously for the joyful holler of my mark’s catch phrase: “Let’s accelerate.”

Enemy spotted. My vision turned SFU-logo-red as I intercepted the UBC legend of my nightmares on his way to pick up his next partygoer. Scooter Dom, the Instagram-famous figurehead of our rivals, toppled instantly under the sheer power of my concrete-infused bones. Before anyone, including me, could process what had happened, I had kidnapped him, duct taped his loud mouth, and stashed him at an undisclosed location. Now it’s time for UBC to pay off their ransom . . . hand over your prestigious vibes and you can have your boy back.

Or don’t, we don’t care. We’re Canada’s most comprehensive university, beotch. We’re catching up!

Now that war has been waged, we need to be on defence. Protect Freaky Frank at all costs! SFU students, this war has just begun. Let us defend what we hold dear — let us defend SFU.

SFU’s cheery campus renovation hoax

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Peak Web
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A photo of a scenic garden film set at Burnaby campus with cherry blossom trees and a quaint cabin.
PHOTO: Mason Mattu / The Peak

By: Sarah Sorochuk, Peak Associate

SFU’s summer semester has been absolutely thrilling. From the koi pond being evacuated, sucked dry, and refilled to loitering chairs from convocation, to even an abundance of high school graduations, there is never a dull moment. 

With convocation came the regular maintenance and the sudden beautification of the campus to impress the incoming guests and persuade them to send their kin here. The event called for nothing but order and elegance. Keeping things neat and tidy for the graduates’ important day. We saw this coming. 

But what came as a shock was a random post-convocation bloom. The campus suddenly sprang to life, with gorgeous cherry blossom trees filling the area around the fountain in convocation mall. The entrance to the university next to the lower bus loop had doors instead of wet concrete stairs. It was like the happiness of summer ran over the campus — leaving a trail of trees in its midst. 

But then, not even six hours later, the entirety of SFU receives an email stating that the trees are for a movie set. Essentially saying our campus did not change for the better. The next day, the entrance to convocation mall was blocked off due to filming, forcing students to walk all the way up the sketchy stairs next to the parkade. Why can’t we have nice things? The gloom went to bloom and now it’s 50% back to doom. At least we have the cherry blossom trees near the fountain still . . . And yet there continue to be depressing undertones as the movie being filmed is a thriller. 

Actor Cynthia Erivo has been spotted on-site for filming. I just hope somebody warned her about the inconvenient detours on campus . . . Nevermind — she’s part of the problem and has a broomstick, so why would she even care?

When we got the message here at The Peak, the news spread like wildfire, crushing the souls of everyone at our publication. Prior to receiving the alert email about the movie set, we (as a team) thought someone was revamping our campus. The Peak began plans to adopt a “cherry blossom” theme to our print publication in the fall — a very costly endeavour that was supposed to meet the excitement of SFU’s apparent rebrand. But after learning the truth; the joy (not Johnson, unfortunately), colour, and ideas all faded away with the happiness of the cherry blossoms.

Now we are stuck looping old ways like SFU is doing itself. The colour was a nice change-up and gave us temporary relief out of the summer depression we have due to taking those pesky little summer courses. The memory of the cherry blossoms expose how we use our time to study and write for the paper when we could be out celebrating life and our free summer one peach bellini at the time instead. I will always remember the cherry blossoms and the memories they instilled in me. 

The painstaking knowledge of the beautiful trees not being permanent was enough to break the hearts of countless SFU students, while simultaneously ruining the vibes of the writers at The Peak. How are we supposed to write anything cheery in the humour section if the campus has returned to its original gloomy state?

CONFESSIONAL: I “pay it forward” in the drive-thru to gain aura points

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Peak Web
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A guy ordering from his vehicle in a drive thru
PHOTO: RNDE Stock Project / Pexels

By: Noeka Nimmervoll, Staff Writer

Imagine you’re me. A writer, in an age of inflation and AI takeover. Like Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice, “I’ve no money, and no prospects. I’m already a burden to my parents.” 

With my permanently low tax bracket, when I want to rizz up a baddie, what do I do? Break the bank? Can’t do that! Ain’t got a bank to break. I’ve gotta rely on my other assets — my supermassive, huge . . . creative mind and my flagrant tendency to break the rules. I can’t be caught stealing, because it’s “illegal and will end up with you behind bars someday like your good-for-nothing father,” or so it has been explained to me by my meemaw. So, I usually bend the rules. 

Inspired by my hero, Tim Robinson, and armed with my ultra-speedy-sexy-and-discreet MINI Cooper, I roll up to the Tim Hortons drive-thru once a month for the distinct goal of hacking the pay-it-forward system. My idea: I buy coffee for the three ladies I work with, and then they might think I’m cool enough to talk to. One day, they’ll take a good look and realize that I’m actually gorgeous under my go-to polka dot sun hat . . . and then, boom! Three baddies on the roster — on a budget. It’s foolproof. 

Usually on my missions, I aim to go at a really chill time, like 2:53 p.m. I make sure to bring my sunglasses and some fake bird poop (more on this in a second). Once you’ve got your supplies ready, step out of your cubicle and ask the ladies if they’re interested in a coffee. They usually play it discreetly, scoffing while walking away and laughing at my polka dots.

Haha, don’t worry ladies, I’m gonna get you the perfect cuppa joe. Yeah, we’ve got a pretty good rapport going already.  

The objective is this: discount coffee. Not free — don’t let your ambitions tear you away from reality. On average, I save around $3.75 per hustle, which really adds up! Just last month, I saved $2.25. Of course, I would’ve had a lot more money if I hadn’t bought any coffee at all, but . . . I’m no mathematician. 

Anyways, I roll up to Timmies with a positive attitude, making sure there’s only one guy behind me. If more than one car lines up, I stop everything, pretend I only speak gibberish, and do another lap around. It creates enough confusion to distract the workers. I wouldn’t recommend it, though, cause once the worker spoke gibberish back and that threw off my whole game plan. 

I buy one of the four drinks that I plan to get, ‘cause I’ve gotta get my drank on too! Then, I say: “Hey, how bout I buy the guy’s drink behind me.” They go, “OK, it’s X amount.”

If it’s over $15, abort the mission. Most days I abort. 

On the chance it’s under $15, here’s what you’ll do. Pay the bill, then zoom ahead, looping around the drive-thru. Stop before you’re visible by the car that was previously behind you and very quickly dump the fake bird poop all over your car’s windshield. This will make you unrecognizable. Put on the sunglasses. Drive up to the intercom. Act cool — no eye contact with the guy in front of you. This is essential, you need to ensure he doesn’t realize that it wasn’t you who paid it forward to him. Order your baddies their drinks. 

If you get to the window and the guy in front of you didn’t pay it forward, you gotta abort the mission. You can’t be letting this cheap punk get the better of you. Drive off and screech “NEVERMIND” to the staff — they’ll figure it out.

When you get to the window, and they tell you that there’s a pay it forward going on, channel your inner Tommy Wiseau: “Whoa, all this stuff for free? Cool.”

Do NOT pay it forward. Drive away. Boom. Now you’ve got four drinks and three girls that might drink it with you (or other times, they might dump it on your head, causing you to call meemaw for life coaching). I’m telling you, without this, I’d talk to nobody at my job all month long. It’s perfect.

Operation grit: the hidden experiment behind your commute

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An illustration of a devastated student on their knees putting a hand up in surrender, as a 145 production station bus drives away.
ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

By: The Peak’s lead undercover journalist and Big Pedometer’s least loyal employee

Our story starts on a Tuesday that felt like a Thursday — existentially, spiritually, atmospherically. A brave student (name classified, as she’s currently in hiding from TransLink and her midterm results) embarked on what should have been a simple journey from class. She boarded the 145, already daydreaming about Pedro Pascal TikTok edits. But as the bus jerked to a halt at Production Way, the driver turned, eyes haunted, and gestured towards the SkyTrain station. Just like that, our commuter had become a subject. 

For those blessed never to make the pilgrimage, here’s the sitch: there are 435 steps to the Production Way-University SkyTrain station from where the 145 Production Way drops you off. Yes, we counted. That’s 0.6% of Camino de Santiago, the length of one Doechii song, and at least three existential monologues narrated by Phoebe Bridgers. 

Why? Why are students being forced to descend into the concrete canyon separating the 145 bus stop from the Production Way-University SkyTrain station like Frodo trekking into Mordor with only his active U-Pass to save him from Gollum? 

According to unnamed sources (a guy on Reddit, a girl in a situationship with a TransLink intern, and one suspiciously knowledgeable pigeon), this is no mere transit oversight. No, this is a covert psychological operation. A psyop so intricate, Kafka would’ve dropped out. Documents (read: screenshots) obtained by The Peak reveal a shadowy partnership between TransLink, SFU’s psychology department, and Big Pedometer. 

“They’re measuring resilience,” said one anonymous psych major who wore sunglasses indoors and insisted on speaking from under the table. “How many steps before a student snaps? How long before they abandon hope, drop out, and start selling crystals on Etsy? How many shin splints before they lose all earthly attachment and legally become part of the pavement?” 

The experiment was allegedly launched in 2017 after the department received a grant from what one whistleblower describes as “a sentient traffic cone and disgruntled city planners coalition.” 

Your choices as participants are simple, yet cruel: 

    1. Tap back into the SkyTrain and become another cog in the Compass Card machine. 
    2. Cross the street like a lawless vigilante: risking life, limbs, and a $109 jaywalking fine. 
    3. Attempt to find the sacred transit portal hidden in the cracked pavement — a rumoured glowing rune, that if chanted over correctly (in Latin or the voice of a TransLink recording), will summon a snow day in Juneuary. 

The Peak reached out to TransLink for a comment, and they replied with a PDF of all the SkyTrain routes, seven unrelated QR codes, and a scuffed Canva graphic that read, “character development arc starts here.” The Ministry of Transportation and Transit declined to comment. As for SFU’s admin, one representative told us, “Like, what if the struggle is the syllabus?” 

So what now? 

Nothing. The buses stop just far enough to ruin your day, but not your GPA (it was already ruined). The sky rains. The pigeon watches. The Circle K plays its cursed jingle. 

But knowledge is power, and now you know. This isn’t just a commute. It’s a trial by transit. It’s the steps of your discontent. A ritual passage. A hyper-local dystopia. 

So as you take those 435 steps, remember: you are not alone. You are  one of thousands. And the system is watching. Your footsteps are data. Your complaints are metrics. Your suffering, a thesis. Welcome to the experiment! The commute never ends.

Book Nook: Quiet books for loud times

By
Peak Web
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This is series of photos displaying the covers of the four selected books
IMAGES: Courtesy of 1) Wolsak & Wynn, 2) Pantheon, 3) Broadleaf Books, 4) Hajar Press

By: Ashima Shukla, Staff Writer

Revery: A Year of Bees by Jenna Butler  
This book feels like a long exhale. Set on an off-grid farm in Alberta, it follows Butler’s journey as a beekeeper. In the gentle rhythm of tending to hives, Butler unearths something we must remember — that even in collapse, life persists. Her writing is slow and embodied, humming with resilience. Amid stories of bees, she touches on so much more: climate change, capitalism, grief. In these pages, you catch glimpses of Butler’s soul as it learns to listen to the land. 

Figuring by Maria Popova 
In Figuring, Popova weaves together the lives of scientists, poets, and visionaries into a meditation on thought, creativity, and genius. Across 12 years of writing, she brings you comfort by charting the long arc of human inquiry, in the quiet bravery of lives lived with care. Her prose is delicate and alive, pulsing with the gentle rhythm of curiosity. Reading it feels like looking up into the night sky and trying to grasp the vastness of the Milky Way, then slowly realizing we too are a part of it.

Becoming Kin by Patty Krawec 
This book found me while I was studying the destructive legacies of colonialism. It didn’t offer easy answers, but it did offer presence and relationship. As Krawec remaps our history, she invites us into a different kind of future grounded in witnessing, accountability, and love. Her writing is both intellectual and intimate, rigorous in its research and still deeply human. It teaches us about the world by making us witnesses and participants in grief, of a world lost and losing. It asks us to unforget. Reading it is an act of unlearning dominant narratives that we must engage in.  

Experiments in Imagining Otherwise by Lola Olufemi 
If the world around us is falling apart, this book doesn’t try to glue it back together. The form of this book, with its poems and lists, highlights and strikethroughs, is a refusal to be contained within a single genre and an invitation for imagining radically new futures. Her words fragment and flow, moving with urgency and care, textured by rage and tenderness. Through it, Olufemi reminds us that imagination is a tool of resistance. It is a rehearsal for freedom. 

I hope these books will meet you in your exhaustion and fear too, so they may show you a door. Not as a way out, but a way to go deeper in. Into all the complexity, sorrow, and strange beauty that surrounds us. Into community, imagination, and care that defines the human condition. In each story is a reminder that we are still here, loving and losing, and refusing to look away.

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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