Open Space: The CRA hates students

In the waning days of this year’s tax season, nothing could be so dull as to reignite the topic—it isn’t particularly stimulating conversation. But to many Canadians, the spring months severely disappoint pockets, and of those individuals, students are directly harmed. It isn’t new, certainly, but remains improperly addressed: unreasonable restrictions on the Canada Workers […]

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New Music Revue: Horrenda delivers confusing but exciting EP

Horrenda Think on Your Sins Fiadh Records 3/5  Originally released independently last year, Horrenda’s EP Think on Your Sins is being reissued by Fiadh Records. On the EP, the Dublin-based extreme metal group brings us a thrashing depiction of Dante’s “Inferno,” one that, unfortunately, doesn’t quite bring the heat. The five songs, averaging about four […]

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Terrifically terrible: Victoria’s best and worst chocolatiers

Considering the recent Easter holiday, I decided this was a perfect excuse to eat far too much chocolate, for the educational benefit of my readers. So, I embarked upon a mission wherein I rated a wide variety of confectionaries from six chocolatiers in Victoria: Roger’s, Cococo, Chocolat & Co., Chocolats Favoris, Pure Lovin’, and Purdy’s.  […]

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Friends of Dorothy offers safe space for queer culture

In 2019, a little gay lounge appeared on Johnson Street. Friends of Dorothy, known for its Kelowna location, had appeared in the heart of Victoria. Celebrating the inclusivity of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, it offers another stage to enjoy our local talents and those from out of town. Friends of Dorothy event manager Derek Brougham […]

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Shopping alone: On the death of the department store

On each floor of the Hudson’s Bay department store, luxury goods stale under fluorescent light. It prides itself on DKNY and Calvin Klein. It offers Levi’s and Breville and the Wonderbra. They stew in uninhabited air and have mildewed. They wait for buyers who never show. A scuffed white hue, presumably pampered many decades ago, […]

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New Music Revue: Tumble’s Lost in Light a promising and hard-rocking start

Tumble Lost in Light (Echodelick Records) 4/5 This Canadian band is a breath of fresh air when it comes to new music. Tumble, a heavy psychedelic rock and proto-metal trio from Toronto, recently released their debut EP, Lost in Light. It’s the first of a promising and hard-rocking career. The trio, which consists of Liam […]

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Must-visit cafes in Victoria this summer

Summer is a time to disconnect from routines and the rush of daily occupations. It’s the time of year to go out and explore the city and what it has to offer, with friends, an engaging book, and a cold drink.  This summer, there are four coffee shops in Greater Victoria perfect for slowing things […]

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Lydia’s Film Critique: Buffalo ’66

Vincent Gallo’s Billy Brown is pathetic. He whines and shouts and contorts in frustration. He moulds his expression into a man-child tantrum in an abrasive defense to care. He entered prison this way and he exits it the same. Volatility was learned and loneliness is the by-product. Indeed, Billy needs what he isn’t owed: a […]

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