Olivia Sherman
“Science lost to fear”: BC’s halted drug decriminalization program
February 16, 2026By: Olivia Sherman, Peak Associate In January 2026, the BC government announced their drug decriminalization policy “has not delivered the results we hoped for” and that the province would not seek renewal from the federal government. The three-year pilot program, an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), began in 2023 and allowed adults over 18 to carry a cumulative 2.5 grams of illicit drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids, without police confiscation or seizures. As drug deaths increased through the province, it was intended to treat substance use and addiction as a health issue and not…
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Independent Jewish Voices calls on BC government to reject IHRA definition of antisemitism
May 27, 2024By: Yashita Dhillon, News Writer and Olivia Sherman, News Editor Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) is urging the BC government to reject the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in its updated anti-racism legislation. IJV is an organization…
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Palestinian Liberation referendum passes
March 26, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer Editor’s note: Chloë Arneson, a former news writer, was interviewed for this article. The Peak acknowledges this and has taken steps to prevent conflicts of interest or potential bias from influencing the article. On February…
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Council Chats: SFSS president fined for violation of Council policy
March 25, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer On March 13, The Peak attended the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) bi-weekly Council meeting via Zoom. The meeting consisted of topics including a motion to fine president Liam Feng for attempted removal of the…
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Study underway to investigate effects of LNG plant in BC
March 20, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer Dr. Tim Takaro is part of a first-of-its-kind study that is currently being conducted to survey and examine the air quality and chemical release from a liquified natural gas (LNG) plant, Woodfibre LNG. The plant,…
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International Women’s Day rally in full swing
March 19, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer Content warning: mentions of genocide. Editor’s note: Karissa Ketter, a current editor who worked on the article, is an organizer of this event. Yasmin Simsek, a former employee, is also an organizer of this event.…
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Commissioner of Indigenous Languages discusses importance of language preservation
March 13, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer Content warning: mentions of residential schools and anti-Indigenous racism. After Canada’s implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act in 2019, aiming to support the reawakening of Indigenous languages in Canada, the Office Commission for Indigenous Languages…
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SFU student surveys local beaches for microplastics
March 12, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer “Plastic is everywhere. We see, use, and integrate it into our lives every day,” said Helen Wong. Initially inspired by the lessons she learned from an environmental science studies class by Dr. Anna Hippmann, Wong…
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SFU professor discusses risks of hypervisibility for Black trans community
March 6, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer Content warning: Racism, transphobia, sexual harassment, and violence. Dr. Victoria Thomas is an assistant professor of media, communication, and public engagement in SFU’s School of Communication. Her research primarily focuses on the hypervisibility of different…
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