Open Space: Canada’s future in our hands, not looking goodWhat does it mean to be Canadian? If you’ve ever asked yourself that question and thought about it, I’m betting you found there’s no good answer. Individually, it’s hard to define what my identity is as a Canadian. Pancakes? Beavers? Maple syrup? Economically, Canada is the globe’s resource prostitute: it’s always there, ready to provide, […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: United Canada or American takeoverQuebec is one of my favourite provinces. It’s our country’s leading example of passion and Frenchness, two things I love deeply. Whether it’s through cultural preservation, students protesting tuition costs, or general indignation about goodness knows what, Quebec represents much of our nation’s vivre and spirit. It’s a riot! However, sometimes we err in thinking […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: The naked truthI went to my first nudist parade last year. It was a naked bike ride in Victoria protesting carbon gas emissions… at least I think that’s what it was for. The truth is, I just thought yelling in front of our government legislature completely nude was a great idea, no matter what it was for. […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: Gay Shame not all rainbowsThis year, in a haze of rainbow flags and sparkly confetti, I participated in my very first gay pride parade. With a big smile and a multicoloured parasol, I hid my urge to vomit while waving to all the people lining the streets enthralled in the extravagant floats and outrageous costumes. I was uncomfortable, and […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: Rape: a part of our heritageIn Canada, we often hear “rape culture” defined as something that’s a problem only in countries abroad. But a few weeks ago major headlines began to tackle this touchy issue when student organizers at St. Mary’s and the University of British Columbia were called out for their welcome chants with lyrics that promoted non-consensual, underage […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: E-waste poisoning e-workersWith the advent of electronic devices, our life has become more and more convenient. For example, because of smartphones, we don’t have to remember a lot of information. To enjoy the convenience of electronic devices, we replace our electronic products more and more often. But what we do we do with the old ones? Some […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: Canada’s commercial flight scene dismalHave you ever noticed how Canada has absolutely no decent commercial airlines? First of all, it seems more than half the staff on Air Canada flights are old enough to be my grandmother and have probably been working there since the company started. Though, I have to give it to them, making it through countless […] Continue Reading |
Anti-injection site article spews venom, misses pointAn article in The Calgary Herald by Licia Corbella on July 26, “Vancouver’s easy drug access may have helped kill Monteith,” linking the death of Glee star Cory Monteith to a safe injection site in Vancouver, was as disturbing as it was ridiculous. On the one hand, lazy writing should be against the law, but […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: Buying local foods has many rewardsLet’s stop destroying our world, the local market, and our bodies: it’s time to focus on eating local foods. Yes, it’s very hard to resist going to large corporate stores such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Safeway, because it’s cheaper and more convenient than buying local. Most students are tied to budgets, but how many students […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: Canadian Target store openings good for studentsAmerican megastores such as Walmart are often maligned for their aggressive business expansion and homogenization of local marketplaces. This is an issue again this year as discount retail giant Target opens stores across Canada. Many Canadians feel some resentment at yet another big-box corporate invasion of our retail space, bringing with it some echoes of […] Continue Reading |
