Niveja Assalaarachchi

Illustration depicting a red dress hung on the branch of a willow tree.
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Indigenous Student Centre observes Red Dress Day

Peak Web May 10, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer On May 5, the SFU Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) hosted a community care circle on Burnaby Campus in honour of Red Dress Day, which commemorates Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Peoples (MMIWG2S+) of Canada. The community care circle served as an opportunity to bead and offered Indigenous students a “space to rest.”   In a statement to The Peak, ISC’s Indigenous administration and events coordinator, Audrey Heath (Gitxsan Nation) said community care circles are spaces “created for Indigenous students, facilitated by ISC staff, counsellors, Elders, and caseworkers from the Sexual Violence Support and…

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an illustration of robots with malfunctioning body-parts. They’re lined up for "Renaissance Gears,” a robot spare-parts shop. The shop is in AQ in Burnaby campus.
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All consenting SFU community members have uploaded their minds to the cloud

Peak Web March 30, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer At the culmination of a long-drawn-out process, the final consenting member of SFU’s community has uploaded their mind to the cloud. This revolutionary move has led to 90% of members of the student body and…

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a photo of Canada’s cricket team celebrating in a group hug.
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Once a tool of empire, cricket has been reclaimed for good

Peak Web March 24, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer I know what you’re thinking: “Don’t you gotta know what a crumpet is to understand cricket?” For most people at SFU, and in Canada, cricket is seen as an odd sport, often associated with British…

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a grandmother handing her grandson a piece of candy. The kid is happy.
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Family makes food special

Peak Web March 23, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer When I was a kid, my grandmother would always try to sneak a piece of candy into my pocket, much to my parents’ dismay. Maybe for many people this story might sound trivial, maybe amusing.…

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Monday Music: For the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year

Peak Web March 23, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer The start of the year is an important time for most, often marked by reflecting on the past year and making new promises. However, for many cultures, January 1 is not traditionally seen as the…

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The 501 Surrey Ctrl bus drives along a road, below SkyTrain infrastructure.
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Movement presents plan for Surrey’s transit future

Peak Web March 17, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer Surrey is the Lower Mainland’s fastest-growing city and is expected to surpass Vancouver in population by 2038. Considering this growth, the organization Movement: Metro Vancouver Riders recently released a report highlighting their vision for the…

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a photo of “Totem Poles” at Brockton Point in winter light, in Stanley Park. The poles represent a number of Indigenous Nations. The poles depict real and mythical events, carved from Western red cedar.
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Reconciliation is forged by authenticity

Peak Web March 17, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer Content warning: mentions of genocide against Indigenous Peoples and denialism of genocide. The question of what reconciliation is and what solidarity with Indigenous Peoples can look like is a necessary topic of conversation. How settlers…

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A snowy City of Vancouver and the surrounding mountains are pictured from afar.
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Vancouver City Council rejects motion for transit snow removal priority

Peak Web March 16, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer On February 4, Vancouver City Council’s standing committee on city finances and services rejected a motion to prioritize snow removal at transit hotspots. The motion, which was brought forth by OneCity Vancouver councillor Lucy Maloney,…

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Our Staff Writer poses curiously while interviewing his professor.
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Cunk on Mountain: SFU professor reveals what politics really are

Peak Web March 3, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer They say that politics is real, veryrealpolitiks, I think, is what the experts call it. But does it really feel real right now? Are we living in a simulation — is it all AI? Why…

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Rabbani and Moustafa’s portraits are collaged on top of an image taken in Palestine that has a sign. The sign has a blue arrow pointing to the left, reading, “to Gaza.”
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Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies holds lecture on the path forward for Gaza

Peak Web March 2, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer On February 4, the Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies held a lecture on the future of the Gaza Strip. The talk highlighted the background of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the origins of the Palestinian…

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