Page 120 – Algonquin Times

Environmental activist Autumn Peltier heading for university after year at Algonquin College

Walking through the Woodroffe campus this year, people might not have realized an internationally respected environmental activist was walking the same halls. Not a household name, but famous enough. At […]

Kerry Slack

Photos: Kerry Slack

April 13, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Kerry Slack

Autumn Peltier, an 18-year-old activist and P.I.E. student, is featured in the new Hershey's campaign.

Walking through the Woodroffe campus this year, people might not have realized an internationally respected environmental activist was walking the same halls.

Not a household name, but famous enough.

At 18 years old, Autumn Peltier has spoken at the United Nations, addressed key leaders of the country given speeches at Harvard and won a Children’s Peace Prize. She was named chief water commissioner of the Anishenabek Nation in 2019 at 14 years old.

Peltier is a Canadian Indigenous environmental activist and water protector. Born in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ont., she is a member of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation.

“As a society, it’s important to continue to uplift and recognize the strength of all women,” said Peltier — Autumn Peltier, an 18 year-old activist, and P.I.E. student, is featured in the new Hershey's campaign. Photo credit: Kerry Slack

Peltier has been a prominent voice for the protection of water and Indigenous rights since she was eight years old. The dress she wore when she addressed the United Nations is on display at the Canadian Museum of History.

United Nations Headquarters, New York City, U.S.A.
Autumn Peltier, 13 years old, is wearing the dress, which resides at the Canadian Museum of History. — Pictured at the United Nations in New York, a 13-year-old Autumn Peltier wears the dress which now resides at the Canadian Museum of History. (Photo given to Autumn Peltier. Used with permission.)

“I’m on a chocolate bar,” said Peltier and she proudly grabbed her phone to share the ad campaign for Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme.

The perfect chocolate bar representation of her.

Sweet, but gritty.

Hershey Canada worked with Toronto-based mural artist Gosia Komorski to bring women’s stories to life on limited-edition Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme and Hershey’s Whole Almond bars.

Photo supplied by the Her She campaign, via Autumn Peltier Photo credit: Hershey Canada

“As a society, it’s important to continue to uplift and recognize the strength of all women,” said Peltier, who is excited to see her bar wrapper and story come to life.

“Everyone deserves a seat at the table — there is power in the word she,” said Peltier.

Peltier’s tireless work has had a significant impact, inspiring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people around the world to join the fight for water protection and climate justice. She continues to be a voice for the voiceless and a passionate advocate for her culture and the environment.

A student in the pathways to Indigenous empowerment program this year, she has managed to move quietly through the college’s hallways, mostly unnoticed.

“The P.I.E. program was a great bridge into a college course, for me because it’s directed toward Indigenous students,” said Peltier. “It helped me figure out what direction I wanted to go. I was undecided between a few things.”

Peltier will be moving on to the University of Ottawa next year to study criminology.

She had many prestigious schools extend invitations to her. Staying close to home drew Peltier to the University of Ottawa.

“All my family lives in Ottawa. I love spending time with my family,” said Peltier. “My sister is one of my biggest priorities. I can’t leave my sister.”

Peltier explained why she chose the criminology program.

“I’d like to further a career in Indigenous rights, and human rights law, and aim to focus my work on murdered and missing Indigenous women,” said Peltier.

That’s not all she has going on.

“I’m actually training toward competing in bodybuilding,” Peltier said with a smirk.

“Yes, it’s cool that I’m on a chocolate bar, but not sure I’ll be eating too many of them.”

Featured Story | News

Activism | Chocolate | Indigenous

Kerry Slack

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Algonquin College faces financial constraints due to enrolment challenges

Algonquin College has identified the financial loss due to a decrease in student enrolment to be the school’s most critical risk. According to a report for the Board of Governors […]

Mingan Wang

Photos: Mingan Wang

April 12, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Mingan Wang

The Student Commons building at Algonquin College.

Algonquin College has identified the financial loss due to a decrease in student enrolment to be the school’s most critical risk.

According to a report for the Board of Governors meeting on Feb. 27, overall enrolment was trending behind the approved annual budget target by 11 per cent for domestic and international students combined. In response, the college administration has implemented strategies such as operational spending reductions and deferred hiring of new positions, the report said.

The report said there were 18,706 registered students in the winter 2023 semester, which was 335 students behind the enrolment budget.

According to the Finance and Administration department, the college is spending more than it’s bringing in as a result of insufficient government funding and the enrolment decrease, but the college doesn’t plan to reduce essential student services.

“Generally, the biggest factors influencing enrolment right now include: greater competition (from universities, other colleges and industry), changing demographics and the current low unemployment rate means that more potential students are entering, or remaining in, the labour market, rather than pursuing post-secondary education,” according to a statement provided by the Finance and Administration department.

“The financial constraints of the college have not impacted Algonquin’s commitment to student services. As Algonquin comes out of the pandemic, we continue to put student needs and preferences at the forefront as we learn in the new post-pandemic world how our learners prefer to access education and services.”

The Students’ Association is also impacted by an enrolment decrease.

The main source of the Students’ Association’s budget is membership fees from the students.

“Enrolment does affect us, it affects all of us”, said Matt Regnier, SA board communications and process manager, on April 5 during a press conference with the Algonquin Times.

“We would adjust our budget according to the enrolment, during COVID when the enrolment was low, we partnered with other Students’ Association on events rather than doing our own events, so that allows us to do larger events for free. We haven’t had to cut fundings on events so far, (if we had to) we would focus on cutting programming rather than services so that there’s a service standard that we’ll always maintain.”

Featured Story | News

Enrolment | Finance | Students' association

Mingan Wang

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Grad shows are back in person for interior design students

After three years of COVID-19 and online learning, students in the bachelor of interior design program will be hosting an in-person event for their 2023 graduating class on April 20 […]

Kit Gervais

Photos: Kit Gervais

April 12, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Kit Gervais

Interior design students Mackenzie Wegman, left, and Haley Stevenson, right, collected money from an art and thrift sale fundraiser for their 2023 grad show.

After three years of COVID-19 and online learning, students in the bachelor of interior design program will be hosting an in-person event for their 2023 graduating class on April 20 in the ACCE building.

The event is to help graduates show off their thesis projects to the community while creating networking opportunities with sponsors. It’s also about celebrating the students coming to the end of their program.

“Even though we are the graduating class, the program as a whole is involved in helping us graduate,” said Georgia Reitsma, a fourth year student.

Professionals from different interior design sectors are invited to the show to take a look at students’ work. Along with networking opportunities, select students will be given awards based on the quality of their projects or community involvement.

While these career-building reasons for the show are important, the event is really to celebrate the students and their graduation.

“I’ve always looked at it as a real accomplishment to be able to succeed in a in a rigorous program,” said Erin Jenner, a professor in interior design.

Their final thesis project depends on the sector of interior design students would like to work in post-graduation.

“They are responsible for designing a space, a facility, a building within any of the sectors of interior design,” said Jenner. “The idea is that they are solving a societal problem through a design intervention.”

Students are excited about the event.

Interior design student, Kirsten McDuff, helped sell second-hand clothes at a fundraising event for the bachelor of interior design grad show. — Kirsten McDuff, an interior design student, helped sell second-hand clothes at a fundraising event for the bachelor of interior design grad show. Photo credit: Kit Gervais

“It’s just a fun way for all of us to see all the work, the research project, come to life,” said Annalee Blackman, a bachelor of interior design student. “It’s our senior project and we invite friends and family to see what we’ve been doing for the past four years.”

Leading up to the event, the students were organized into committees to take on different tasks such as running social media pages, collecting sponsorships or setting up fundraisers.

They then held different fundraisers such as bake sales, art sales and thrift sales to raise money for the show, as they don’t receive any money from the college.

Interior design students Farid Badran, left, and Younes Gueddi, right, sold art supplies to collect money for their 2023 grad show. — Students Farid Badran, left, and Younes Gueddi, right, sold art supplies to collect money for their 2023 grad show. Photo credit: Kit Gervais

Running the fundraisers has been a lot of work.

“It has been stressful trying to raise the money because we didn’t want to do so many events,” said Blackman.

But being the first in-person graduating class in years comes with big expectations for the students.

“I think it is a large amount of pressure because of our year in particular,” said Reitsma. “We’re the first grad show that’s happening since pre-COVID.”

Featured Story | News

Kit Gervais

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Board of directors resign from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Local CBC News: Ottawa police services are reminding the public to use 911 only for emergencies. In correspondence with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the service released a list of […]

Linda Verreault

Photos:

April 12, 2023
Revised: April 12, 2023 3:03pm

Local

CBC News: Ottawa police services are reminding the public to use 911 only for emergencies.

In correspondence with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the service released a list of a few examples of outrageous calls received by 911 operators:

· A call was placed involving an argument over sleep schedules and who gets to sleep alone in the master bedroom.

· Another call was placed wanting a barista arrested for excess sugar in their coffee.

· A five-year-old called regarding their three-year-old sister’s potty training.

Dispatch services handled 667,000 calls for help last year.

“We can help them do their jobs by only using 911 when it’s warranted,” said Russell Lucas communication inspector.

National

CTV News: The volunteer board of directors at the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation has chosen to resign.

The board is citing the “politicization of the Foundation,” which has placed tremendous pressure on the management and the volunteer board.

The political climate over the $200,000 donation received in 2016 seven years ago, from a businessman with ties to the Chinese government has made it impossible to continue their function.

“The circumstances created by the politicization of the Foundation have made it impossible to continue with the status quo, and the volunteer Board of Directors has resigned, as has the President and CEO,” reads a statement.

The board will have three interim directors to maintain their obligations as they seek new members.

International

National Post: New York City has the latest in high-tech police devices: a robot dog.

The devices were removed from service two and a half years ago after being called creepy and dystopian.

“Digidog is out of the pound,” said Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer. “Digidog is now part of the toolkit that we are using.”

Adams said he won’t bow to anti-robot dog pressure.

“A few loud people were opposed to it and we took a step back,” the mayor said. “That is not how I operate. I operate on looking at what’s best for the city.”

The remote-controlled 70-pound canine will be used for high-risk situations like hostage standoffs starting this summer.

“If you have a barricaded suspect, if you have someone that’s inside a building that is armed, instead of sending police in there, you send Digidog in there,” he said.

News

News briefs | News curation

Linda Verreault

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Cartoons over politics

I was talking to an international student from China a few weeks ago. That was right after the world got excited about the mysterious balloons. I wanted to ask him […]

Arty Sarkisian

Photos: Alex Lambert

April 12, 2023
Revised: April 12, 2023 10:04am

Photo: Alex Lambert

Algonquin Times writer Arty Sarkisian

I was talking to an international student from China a few weeks ago. That was right after the world got excited about the mysterious balloons.

I wanted to ask him a question. The question one had to ask in the circumstances. It could either go very well or not go at all.

“What kind of cartoons are you guys watching back home?”

Mike Hong, a first-year accounting student has told me about The Stories of Avanti – the cartoon he had “kind of watched.” It’s about a man named Nasreddin, who was taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor. Basically, it’s the Chinese Robin Hood.

The number of international students almost doubled in the past academic year. All of them have different backgrounds, childhoods and experiences. But usually, instead of asking, we interrogate.

We interrogate them on politics, human rights and violations of human rights.

Some of you interrogated poor Hong as if he was the one responsible for the tanks smashing people on Tiananmen square in 1989.

I am sure we would have left him alone if he wasn’t “too Hong.”

We claim we want to get Hong’s perspective and learn something, but usually, we just want to hear him agree.

“Hey Mike, what do you think about the balloons?”

Mike has to answer. He can’t be silent. As a Chinese person, he certainly has an opinion, right? He will certainly agree with us, because why wouldn’t he, right? We are right, right?

Even if we are not, Mike Hong will agree with us anyway. He is a Chinese person desperately trying to be Canadian.

But it feels like he will never be Canadian enough.

Fifty years from now, we’ll still be looking not in but at his eyes, not asking but interrogating why on earth the Chinese government is acting so Chinese.

However, I will remind you then, and I am reminding you now, it wasn’t Mike Hong who sent the balloons to Canadian airspace. He did not interfere in Canadian elections. And most importantly, he wasn’t the one who banned Winnie the Pooh in China. So, back off and ask him about the Chinese Robin Hood. Hong has a lot to say.

Opinions

International students | Politics

Arty Sarkisian

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Two sports. Countless injuries. And one giant tape ball

Ripping off a Band-Aid. Many people dread doing it. Some choose to peel slowly, taking a little at a time. Others rip fast, enduring the discomfort only for a moment. […]

Kerry Slack

Photos: Kerry Slack

April 12, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Kerry Slack

Started in February 2022, Erin Cunningham's injury tape ball grew quickly this season. “There is talk of it just staying here as a legacy. But I am here next year, let’s hope it doesn’t grow to the size of a beachball,” said Cunningham.

Ripping off a Band-Aid. Many people dread doing it.

Some choose to peel slowly, taking a little at a time. Others rip fast, enduring the discomfort only for a moment.

Erin Cunningham has almost become immune to this procedure.

The injury tape ball, which she started in February 2022, has grown to more than seven pounds in just over a year. “It’s taken some dedication. In my 11 years in sports I’ve never seen one like this,” said Cunningham.

“When the tape ball really started growing was soccer this year because I had to have both my knees taped,” said Cunningham. “It was a robust tape job, so it just started multiplying very quickly.”

Setting goals is nothing new to Cunningham; maintaining two sports and a full-time program requires dedication, organization and perseverance, all qualities sports have helped teach her.

The Algonquin Wolves know Cunningham as their only dual-sport athlete. As a member of the varsity soccer and volleyball teams, Cunningham brings strong determination and tenacity to every game.

A highly respected member of both teams, Cunningham is known for her cheerful outlook, willingness to collaborate with her teammates, dependability and…her injuries.

“She has this giant tape ball that’s bigger than a basketball that she keeps in the locker room of all the tape she’s collected after every practice. She is always injured but plays through it. I don’t know how she does it,” said Lauren Ebert, a volleyball teammate.

Erin Cunningham poses with game balls after two tough sports seasons. Photo credit: Kerry Slack

Cunningham’s passion for sports has taught her the value of discipline, perseverance and setting goals, all of which she applies to her academic pursuits. Having an older brother who is also into competitive sports helped grow her level of competitiveness.

“Growing up in competitive sports has taught me patience, with myself and others,” said Cunningham.

“This translates to school this year doing a lot of group work. Knowing how to balance dealing with different personalities. Bring people together for a common goal.”

When she is not on the field, her photography work captures the excitement and anticipation of sporting events. She often stays after her games to practise her craft during the men’s games.

“I was impressed every time I saw Erin get her camera out (after her game) and shoot the following men’s game. That shows me she wants to be a photographer,” said Ellen Bond, the Wolves’ event photographer.

Despite her demanding schedule, her commitment to her passions never wavers. She takes pride in being a well-rounded student, both in and out of the classroom. Her ability to excel in both athletics and the arts serves as an inspiration to all those around her.

As the seasons wInds down, Erin Cunningham looks forward to next year with the Wolves. Photo credit: Kerry Slack

“This year has been more independent projects. I can schedule them on my own time. No midterms. Still a heavy course load but that made it manageable,” said Cunningham. “Being organized has been crucial. I have a colour-coded plan, every day.”

Although she comes off as shy, she forms connections and attracts admiration from those around her.

“Erin put everything into soccer. Then when soccer was finished, she was raring to go and put everything into volleyball. Even in school and her photography, she appears passionate about that, which is reflected in her outstanding high grades,” said Basil Phillips, head coach of the Wolves women’s soccer team.

“Erin is a great teammate, very personable and a real pleasure to coach,” said Phillips.

Cunningham’s future is in a competitive field, photography, which fits in perfectly with her spunky nature.

“The avenue I’ve chosen is not female-dominated, I like proving myself,” said Cunningham. “I’d like to develop more video skills to further diversify myself from other photographers.”

Although event photography is her passion, Cuninigham also enjoys taking photos full of colour. Photo credit: Kerry Slack

If you have ever been to a women’s volleyball game you may have seen her fan section, complete with a life-size cut-out of her. Dubbed the “Erin Cunningham fan section” by announcer Vikta Paulo, several of the Wolves women’s soccer team faithfully attend every volleyball game in support of Cunningham.

“Erin is extremely dependable as a teammate. Erin isn’t the most outspoken person on the team but on the field, she is always where she needs to be, communicates well, and supports her teammates. She is consistent, puts her best effort into every game and every play,” said Caitlin Pavone, a soccer teammate and friend.

Erin Cunningham successfully defends her net, helping the Wolves to a victory over the Grizzlies, on February 3, 2023. Photo credit: Kerry Slack

“Erin listens intently. She works very hard and seldom misses a practice when not injured. She is a dedicated athlete and a good teammate which will undoubtedly spill over into her career in the future,” said Everton Senior, head coach of the Wolves women’s volleyball team.

As she prepares to enter a year in the music media and film foundations program, Cunningham hopes to play another year with the Wolves.

The size and weight of the tape ball speak to her dedication — the same dedication that will undoubtedly steer her future.

“There is talk of it just staying here as a legacy. But I am here next year, let’s hope it doesn’t grow to the size of a beachball,” said Cunningham.

“Hopefully I’m not injured as much.”

Featured Story | Sports & Recreation

Kerry Slack

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Students climb with confidence during competition at the ARC

Normally, when you hear the word competition, thunderous crowds come to mind. You think of pressure. Stress. Rivalries. Egos clashing. Trophies. Medals. Glory. Not here. Not at the climbing and […]

Noah Simmons

Photos: Noah Simmons

April 12, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Noah Simmons

Greg Heibet on the bouldering wall during the five-day climbing competition.

Normally, when you hear the word competition, thunderous crowds come to mind. You think of pressure. Stress. Rivalries. Egos clashing. Trophies. Medals. Glory.

Not here. Not at the climbing and bouldering walls inside the ARC.

It was the opposite — chill. Even carefree. But not in a way to suggest recklessness. More like assured. As if they’ve done this a thousand times. They knew what they were doing and didn’t need to prove themselves.

It was almost professional.

New and experienced climbers signed up for the climbing competition, which happened between March 27 and March 31.

At the top-roping wall, the climbers reached inside their chalk bags attached to their harnesses and coated their palms. Before their hands and feet scaled the wall, it was their eyes that travelled to the top. Then they began their ascent.

They scurried up the wall methodically, carefully choosing which climbing hold to grip.

They executed various holds like “jugs” (easy to grip, like a jug of water), “under clings” (upside down jugs), “slopers” (hard to hold, no edges for your fingers to pull on) or even “crimps” (come in all shapes, distinct edges that restrict your grip to the first two knuckles or the fingertips). Some climbers successfully pulled off a “dyno” (dynamic movement that uses momentum to reach the next hold, making you look like Spider-Man).

When a climber reached the peak, they tapped the top hold and then rappelled down. Occasionally, the climbers lost their grip or footing and slipped, but it wasn’t a huge deal for them. It’s part of the sport. It’s how they learn.

They climbed and tapped and slipped and rappelled and repeated the process.

Across from them, with no harnesses, climbers tested their grip on the bouldering wall using the same variety of techniques but having to climb half the height. After they “topped out” (climbed onto the top of the boulder), they climbed down the back of the wall and reappeared seconds later for another attempt.

Prizes went to the top five climbers in men’s and women’s categories and they included a sample of liquid chalk, a shaker bottle and a T-shirt.

Maya Croft, who is in her first year of becoming an occupational therapy assistant and physiotherapy assistant, was convinced by her brother and started to climb.

“He said, ‘Oh, you’ll love climbing. Do it!’ And also, it’s here, so why not try it? If I don’t like it then there’s this entire gym here to use,” Croft said at the base of the bouldering wall.

Croft entered the competition to see if she could push herself to do things outside of her orbit.

As did Owen Willoughby-Richards, a second-year business management and entrepreneurship student who considers himself an intermediate climber.

“I like seeing progression and getting better. Coming and doing a problem I’ve not done before or can’t do and completing it eventually,” Richards said.

Richards appreciates the accessibility and free cost of using the walls in the ARC and is now reaching new heights at Altitude Gym.

“It’s a great way to keep fit,” he said. “It’s just really good fun.”

Fun is the reason why Mason Gauthier, a first-year student in building construction, decided to compete and wants to make a career out of climbing.

“Friends invited me years back. I found out it was something I was good at and it stuck ever since,” Gauthier said.

Gauthier won the men’s top spot and Megan Fuller won first place in the women’s group.

Featured Story | Sports & Recreation

Competition

Noah Simmons

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PR students’ thrift shop ‘conquers the current’ of mental health

Algonquin College’s public relations students hosted a pop-up thrift store on April 3 to collect funds for the Upstream Ottawa Foundation, which focuses on mental health and addictions. The thrift […]

Stephen Priel

Photos: Stephen Priel

April 12, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Stephen Priel

In order to raise money for Upstream Ottawa, public relations students sold repurposed clothing in a temporary thrift store. (Pictured left to right) Emily Grinnell, Erik WIlson, Jack Beeston, Holly Szabo and James Schleihauf

Algonquin College’s public relations students hosted a pop-up thrift store on April 3 to collect funds for the Upstream Ottawa Foundation, which focuses on mental health and addictions.

The thrift store offered students used clothing and accessories, with the most expensive item being 20 dollars.

PR students chose a thrift store because it was the easiest to pull off and because it is popular among students. This is according to Jack Beeston, a public relations student who was dubbed the “man in charge” of setting up this second-hand shop.

“We realized it would be the easiest to throw and probably the most successful as well because the buying and selling of used goods has boomed recently we’ve noticed. We did trend research and looked into the statistics and we really think it’s the best way to do it,” said Beeston.

Renée Jewer-Pineau looks for her newest shirt to add to her closet. — Renée Jewer-Pineau looks for a shirt to add to her closet. Photo credit: Stephen Priel

Dylan Martyn, a graphic design student, proved Beeston’s research true. Martyn said he visited the second-hand store because it was nearby and because he is a big fashion fan who likes the idea of repurposed clothing.

“It was pretty close to where I was and I’m a big fashion head,” said Martyn.

Students’ attraction to retro materials also applies to fashion, Martyn said.

“The same reason other older things are appealing, you have people who collect vinyl even though everything is digital now. It’s just an acquired taste and especially with clothing a lot of people like to dress as a way of expression and some people are into that kind of clothing and want to send that message,” said Martyn.

PR students were given the task of creating a campaign and selecting a cause to assist. They decided to aid those dealing with mental health and addiction challenges. As a result, they came up with the moniker Concurring The Current.

The title was picked because it relates to the name of the organization they chose to support (Upstream Ottawa Foundation) and it was a creative way of describing how people conquer mental health and addiction struggles.

Another student in the public relations program, James Schleihauf, said that because mental health problems can not be seen, they are often overlooked and are thought to have less of an impact on people’s wellbeing.

“I think it’s something that is a lot harder to see, whereas your physical health, you’re injured, and people can see it and there are obvious ways to treat that. With mental health, because you can’t see it, there is the stigma around it and people can be very dismissive if they haven’t been through it,” said Schleihauf.

Arts & Entertainment | Featured Story

Fundraiser | Public Relations | Upstream ottawa

Stephen Priel

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Pancake breakfast has students starting the day on a sweet note

Algonquin College students were quick to line up for a treat at the AC Hub eager to enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast on Monday, April 3 at 9 a.m. The […]

William Bailey

Photos: William Bailey

April 11, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: William Bailey

Yohann Angbe, a computer programming student, enjoyed a pancake meal despite not being a breakfast person. "It doesn’t really make any difference in my energy levels," he said

Algonquin College students were quick to line up for a treat at the AC Hub eager to enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast on Monday, April 3 at 9 a.m.

The AC Hub filled up quickly, as pancakes were available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Along with bringing their appetites, students also took the opportunity to hang around with their peers for some early morning socializing. Approximately 30 students were in attendance.

“We felt that providing breakfast for the students would be a good way to bring them together,” said Lauren Larocque, an events officer at the college. “It’s good for the community when we have events like this where students can meet one another while enjoying a nutritious breakfast.”

Lauren Larocque, events officer at the college, sees serving breakfast to students as a way to unite them. “It’s good for the community when we have events like this where students can meet one another." she said. Photo credit: William Bailey

Along with uniting them, the Good Morning Monday pancake breakfast provided a brief escape for students as they enter the final stretch of the semester.

“Supporting the students with breakfast could help them start their day off the right way and perhaps take their mind off of finals coming up, as this is typically a very stressful part of the semester,” Larocque said. “Not to mention that food can be expensive, so hosting this at least gives the students one less meal to worry about.”

A free breakfast is open to all students on the first Monday of every month.

But enjoying a nutritious breakfast is a rarity for some students, who often skip breakfast or even neglect food outright during school hours.

“I don’t normally eat while I am at school,” said Yohann Angbe, a computer programming student. “Today is an exception because I am going to the gym later. But I honestly don’t think breakfast is that important. I personally feel I’m more focused without eating much and it doesn’t really make any difference in my energy levels. Sometimes, I may eat two or three oranges when I wake up, but won’t eat for a while after that. But if I ever go too long without eating, I’ll get headaches.”

Other students see tremendous value when it comes to the most important meal of the day.

“Of course, breakfast is very important for all of us,” said Ryan Yasawy, another computer programming student. “Breakfast is the first meal of the day and it’s necessary because it gives you the power, the energy to go about daily life. In my case, I don’t usually eat breakfast because almost all of my classes are in the afternoon, so I’m sleeping through most of the morning hours. But if I woke up early enough regularly, I would definitely be eating breakfast.”

Featured Story | Life

#pancakes | AC Hub | Breakfast | Community | Students

William Bailey

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Indigenous vendors greet the community with crafts, beadwork, art and more

When Elise Campeau suffered a serious injury a few years ago, she needed to find something to do while she recovered. She decided to revisit a passion that she had […]

Justin Hancock-Lefebour

Photos: Justin Hancock-Lefebour

April 10, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Justin Hancock-Lefebour

Amanda Latreille (left) and Anabelle Latreille (right) sold jewelry, candles, seal skin and fox fur at their booth.

When Elise Campeau suffered a serious injury a few years ago, she needed to find something to do while she recovered. She decided to revisit a passion that she had when she was younger: painting.

Campeau, who is Mohawk from Akwesasne, joined other Indigenous vendors and creators in the Student Commons on March 31 and sold paintings and prints at her booth.

“I just like expressing my vision of different things, and just want to share them,” Campeau said.

The Mamidosewin Centre and Students’ Association invited Campeau and the other vendors to share their work with students, staff, alumni and community members of the college. These vendors sold crafts, jewelry, blankets, furs and art.

Anabelle Latreille, a vendor from Iqaluit, sold jewelry, candles, seal skin and fox fur. Latreille views her craft as a great way to heal due to the fact that it is traditional in her culture.

“Making jewelry and doing anything connecting to our culture is super healing to us,” Latreille said. “When other people buy it, it makes us feel 10 times better, which is why we sell our jewelry.”

Latreille has some encouraging words for aspiring Indigenous vendors.

“Your talents are great, and your ideas are great,” Latreille said. “Just keep creating and thinking there’s always a market. Everybody likes different things. Don’t feel like you’re not going to belong.”

Taliah Lyons, a founding member of Youth4Youth Canada, a group created and led by female Indigenous youth, wanted to raise money by selling sweets.

“We’re trying to raise money to support our other projects so we can bring members of our community together,” Lyons said. “Sometimes fundraise to send things to our communities.”

Cassandra Tolley, who is Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi and is now based in Maniwaki, is the founder of Cass’s Native Beadwork. At the event she hoped to meet new people, get her name out there and get recognized. She sold a large assortment of items at her booth.

“I have earrings, medicine pouches, bolo ties, dreamcatchers, blankets, smudge feathers,” Tolley said.

Tolley’s mother taught her how to bead when she was young and her talent became practical. “I started beading and just started generating a lot of money, so I just kept going after,” Tolley said.

Other types of creators were at the event too.

Jenna Spagnoli, a marketing strategist, hoped to spread the word about the newly opened NAC Indigenous Theatre.

“Indigenous Theatre started just actually before the pandemic,” she said. “And the first inaugural season was interrupted by the pandemic, so this year is our first full season. Compared to the rest of the NAC, we’re a newer department.”

What is Spagnoli hoping to get out of this fair?

“Ideally, to sell some tickets or spread awareness for our upcoming shows, but also to let people know about the NAC Indigenous Theatre,” she said. “We have some programming for national Indigenous history month. We’re just here to represent Indigenous Theatre, let people know about our programming.”

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