Maya Barillas Mohan

a photo of a group of people. One person is sitting down and is working on their tablet. While the others are congregated over a game of pool.
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There is a need for third spaces in the roommate economy

Peak Web January 27, 2026

By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer In what I call the roommate economy, third spaces serve a rangier function. Third spaces are places that are not home (first) or school/work (second), that are intended for socializing or connecting, and affordable (if not free). Third spaces can include cafés, parks, libraries, and recreation centres. As a university student in Vancouver, the most affordable options off campus are living with family, or living with roommates. Beyond campus and home lies a prominent need for somewhere else to go — but options are narrow.  I elected to move hours away from my hometown…

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Book club creates community through feminist literature

Peak Web January 26, 2026

By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer Content warning: mentions of sexual assault. SFU’s department of gender, sexuality, and women’s studies (GSWS) concludes Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) with community. On January 12, the GSWS book club collaborated with SFU’s Sexual…

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a set of two small white notes, one has “New Year resolutions” written on it, and the other has three bullet points that are yet to be added. There’s a pen right beside the notes.
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New Year’s resolutions should leave some room for spontaneity

Peak Web January 20, 2026

By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer There’s merit in questioning whether you’ll be keeping up with your New Year’s resolution of running every day. There’s a chance you probably won’t. While the new year is a tempting landmark to reconfigure…

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Sam Wiebe says a career in the arts is possible

Peak Web January 19, 2026

By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer Looking beyond the fog of midterms and assignments, a career in the arts is actually quite possible in misty Vancouver. A case in point is the SFU English department’s Writer-in-Residence (WiR) program, which bridges…

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Six Ayx Bus workers and advocates stand outside the Ayx Bus with a sign that says, “the bus is open.” The white bus is about the size of a TransLink community shuttle.
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Finding warmth in the cold with the Ayx Bus

Peak Web January 12, 2026

By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer For some living in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), the warmth associated with the holidays is not a reality. The Ayx Community Bus, a grassroots initiative spearheaded by advocate Fiona York, attempts to lessen the…

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The interior of a living room with Santa bears on display next to a radio and bulky speakers on an antique coffee table. There is also a Pointesettia plant, and tropical art on display on peach-pink painted walls.
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A summer Christmas in Costa Rica

Peak Web January 5, 2026

By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer “Pura vida” is the unofficial national motto of laid-back, cloudless Costa Rica. It is the one-size-fits-all response to life’s greatest satisfactions: good food, weather, and company. Because Costa Rica is 10 degrees from the…

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