Page 129 – Algonquin Times

Wolves complete perfect regular season with a convincing 20-point win

The Algonquin Wolves basketball women finished their undefeated regular season on Saturday with a dominant 63-43 win over the Durham Lords. The Wolves came into the game with a 13-game […]

Andrew Sorokan

Photos: Andrew Sorokan

February 19, 2023
Revised: February 19, 2023 6:15pm

Photo: Andrew Sorokan

Wolves forward Jade Lyons shoots a free throw.

The Algonquin Wolves basketball women finished their undefeated regular season on Saturday with a dominant 63-43 win over the Durham Lords.

The Wolves came into the game with a 13-game winning streak and looking for their 14th win and a perfect regular season.

Second-place Durham started the night with a 12-1 record and the only loss coming earlier in the season against Algonquin.

With the win, there is no doubt the Wolves are the team to beat going into the playoffs.

“Going into this game we were all like, it’s going to be tougher. All the teams get better going through the whole second semester. Knowing that we thought it was going to be a closer game but having it be a 20-point game it just feels so great,” said Wolves forward Jade Lyons.

The Wolves were ready for the Lords from the start. Algonquin came out hot and scored 11 unanswered points on Durham. It took 7:59 for the Lords to get their first basket.

“The whole focus of today, when we started this game, was defence first,” said Wolves head coach Jaime McLean. “Just do the simple things defensively, staying disciplined and they did that for the first eight minutes. Got to be happy as a coach.”

The Lords got the first three points of the second quarter to bring the game within four points with the score at 20-16 before the Wolves called a timeout.

After the time out, the Wolves went on a 6-0 run, putting them up by 10 points.

Despite being outscored 14-13 in the second quarter, the Wolves still managed to take a 29-23 lead into halftime.

The third quarter started with an 8-2 run helping the Lords tie the game.

“We got away from what was working for us, playing simple easy basketball. We really got back to that for the fourth quarter. Just playing for the simple stuff and taking the easy stuff,” said McLean.

The Wolves managed to battle back after the tie game and took a 44-36 lead.

The Wolves extended their lead at the end of the third and brought a nine-point, 48-39 lead into the final quarter, looking for the perfect regular season.

The Wolves extended their lead to 13 points in the final quarter before the Lords called a timeout. After the timeout, the Wolves only continued to dominate. They went on a seven-point run, increasing the lead to 20 points before another Lord’s timeout.

“The way they stepped up in that fourth and really started playing for each other was fantastic,” said McLean.

The Wolves battled until the end and took the victory and the perfect regular season.

“It’s a great season but everybody is going to be ready to compete, everybody’s going to be coming hunting. We gotta be ready for it,” McLean said.

“We know we have that bulls-eye on our back, but that’s not going to stop us from being focused at practice,” Lyons said.

The Wolves have a playoff game on Feb. 25, but their opponent is yet to be decided.

Sports & Recreation

Algonquin Wolves | Basketball | Durham lords | Lords | Playoffs

Andrew Sorokan

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Algonquin Times retires its print edition to focus on digital publishing

The journalism program and the Students’ Association have discontinued the print edition of the Algonquin Times, Algonquin College’s student-produced news outlet. “I guess it’s the official suspension,” said Julie McCann, […]

Guillaume Laflamme

Photos: Guillaume Laflamme

February 19, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Guillaume Laflamme

"I think it's rather sad," said Kate Playfair, (right) the current editor of the Algonquin Times and a first-year journalism student. Magan Carty (left) and Liam Fox (centre) were the Times' editors in winter and fall 2022 respectively.

The journalism program and the Students’ Association have discontinued the print edition of the Algonquin Times, Algonquin College’s student-produced news outlet.

“I guess it’s the official suspension,” said Julie McCann, program coordinator for journalism, “but it’s been long time coming if that makes sense.”

The Algonquin Times published its last newspaper on Nov. 24, 2022 and copies can still be found on newsstands around the campus.

Claude Brulé, president of Algonquin College, was sad to hear the news.

“I will miss the print version,” Brulé said. “But I get it. To be with the times so to speak, and to be able to reach a wider audience more easily, the digital version makes a lot of sense. And the cost of printing is so exorbitant. So, I can see why the decision’s been made to go that route.”

The Algonquin Times is funded by the Students’ Association. Jack Doyle, general manager of the Students’ Association for over 33 years, was also sad to hear the news.

“When I see the Algonquin Times, there’s a message on the front or an image, and I just find that helps to contribute to the community,” said Doyle. “So, instead of it being in your face on a print version, you have to go look for it online. And so I think there’s a little bit of a loss there.”

Aadil Naik holds the first printed edition of the Algonquin Times from 1987. — Aadil Naik, the managing editor of the Times in fall and winter 2022, holds the first printed edition of the Algonquin Times from 1987. Photo credit: Guillaume Laflamme

Algonquin College students responsible for producing the printed edition were disappointed to hear the news but understood why it had happened.

“I think it’s rather sad,” said Kate Playfair, current editor of the Algonquin Times and a first-year journalism student at the college. “We’ve had it for so long and it just kind of sucks that we’re the people that don’t get to have a printed Times. But it also makes a lot of sense because it’s not cost effective and the future is online.”

Others see the end of print as an opportunity to shift the focus on teaching students skills that would be better suited to today’s digital media environment.

“It’s more opportunity for our students to focus,” said Karen Kavanaugh, program coordinator for the advertising and marketing program. Her students sell advertising for the Times and manage its marketing and promotion. “Which means that they can be more in tune with that environment, with the distribution environment, or with the website, or the email newsletter.”

The decision was made to discontinue the printed edition of the Algonquin Times as the demand for printed newspapers has decreased with modern times and the physical product became harder to produce.

“We’ve been talking with our advisory committee who are all folks working in a different wide range of media outlets,” said McCann. “A good number of them are suspending their print papers. It’s very much a community decision that’s aligning with industry needs. Our curriculum needs to match industry needs to learning outcomes.”

The 2022-23 academic year is the first year of the journalism program’s newly revised curriculum.

“The courses that used to support the production of the print edition of the Times, they don’t exist anymore,” said McCann. For the last few issues of the paper, students haven’t done the page layout or shipped it to the printer themselves as they had in the past. “We have an external production person actually taking their files and building the newspaper.”

Although the discontinuation of the printed edition of the Algonquin Times marks the end of an era, its producers remain hopeful for the future to come.

“We’re super committed to the Algonquin Times’ brand. We’ve started the process of creating a new website,” said McCann. “It’s going to look sharp and it’s going to have greater functionality.”

The Algonquin Times will continue to provide news updates and regular media content on its website, through social media and through its email newsletter.

Featured Story | News

Algonquin times | Digital | Print | Social media | Website

Guillaume Laflamme

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Algonquin Wolves bounce back Friday night against the Fleming Knights

The Algonquin Wolves bounced back from their loss on Feb. 11 against the George Brown Huskies to pick up a crucial 86-83 win over the Fleming Knights on Friday. While […]

Stephen Priel

Photos: Stephen Priel

February 19, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Stephen Priel

Chris Lachapelle drives to the basket in efforts to put in a lay up for the Wolves.

The Algonquin Wolves bounced back from their loss on Feb. 11 against the George Brown Huskies to pick up a crucial 86-83 win over the Fleming Knights on Friday.

While Saturday night’s game saw the Wolves fall to the second-seeded Durham Lords 85-81, the Feb.17 game was a better story.

The game was tightly contested from the tip off with the Wolves struggling to find their stroke in the opening exchanges.

The majority of the first quarter also saw both teams go blow for blow with the game finely in balance and the Knights’ only within a single point advantage throughout the quarter.

The Wolves finally got their first lead of the game in the second quarter thanks to a timely three-point shot from Topaz Kana. This put the Wolves up 32-31 with 5:55 remaining in the quarter.

The game did swing back in favour of the Knights towards the end of the half as they quietly picked up some momentum and had a spell that felt like they couldn’t miss. The Knights finished the half ahead 41-39.

Wolves star point guard, Nathan Garcia, wasn’t concerned however and he felt that the win was destined to be theirs if they fixed the “little things.”

“Boxing out, forcing guys to their weak hand and just forcing the ball more,” Garcia said after the second quarter. “We just got to get back to doing the right things. Right now we are playing down to their level. In terms of the standings and just in general we are the better team.”

The resumption of the game went exactly as Garcia said as the Wolves started off the third quarter strongly and showed that they were in fact the better team.

A combination of persistent attacking of the basket and threes from Kana and Carter Normandie gave the Wolves a much deserved lead going into the fourth quarter.

It was a quarter that also saw a buzzer-beater shot from Chris Lachapelle, which put the Wolves up by five to lead 64-59.

The final stages of the game were largely dominated by the Wolves despite the late run that the Knights had made.

Coach Trevor Costello was delighted with the performance and even more pleased with the fact that the bench players were able to contribute and get invaluable experience on the court in pressure situations.

“Everybody got to play yesterday and we got the win,” said Costello. “Guys who haven’t played since December played last night and got some important minutes.”

This is the first game of two this weekend for the Wolves and even after having just won, Wolves shooting guard Normandie was wary of the test that lie ahead.

“As soon as you walk out the locker room door you forget about tonight and you focus on the next game,” said Normandie. “That’s the tough part about these back to backs it’s a short turn around it’s not just physical but mentally too.”

Featured Story | Sports & Recreation

Algonquin Wolves | Durham lords | George Brown Huskies | Men's basketball

Stephen Priel

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Vintage clothing sale takes people back to the past

Students rummaged through vintage clothes racks looking for great deals. Old university jerseys, Disney shirts, leather jackets, and jean brands that are no longer being made and sold were among […]

Linda Verreault

Photos: Linda Verreault

February 19, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Linda Verreault

Students rummaging through clothes at vintage clothing sale.

Students rummaged through vintage clothes racks looking for great deals.

Old university jerseys, Disney shirts, leather jackets, and jean brands that are no longer being made and sold were among the finds.

The Midday Vintage Market was held on Feb. 15 for the first time at Algonquin College.

High-quality second-hand items at affordable prices were featured.

Megan Edwards, an 18-year-old student in hotel and restaurant management operations, was excited to find a mint-condition Manchester City jersey and two Reebok jerseys. She said, “there is a big city vintage cool.”

“I’ve always liked going to the thrift stores. You know it’s cheap,” Edwards said.

“Upcycling, that’s the big thing,” Darby Schuldaus, a 20-year-old student in the dental hygiene program, said.

“Thrifting is kind of in. It’s fun to find weird funky stuff that you don’t normally find in regular stores.”

Brady Warnock is the owner of Thrifting with Brady. He is an alumnus of Algonquin College in the building construction technician course. He said, “I’ve been thrifting basically my entire life just because we didn’t grow up well off and it was the only way of getting clothes.”

Brady Warnock, owner of Thrifting with Brady, is one of the organizers of vintage sale. Photo credit: Linda Verreault

Warnock started his business when his friends encouraged him to start reselling cool stuff he would find in a thrift store.

The vendors at the event met up through an Instagram page called Midday Picnic, so they decided to call themselves Midday Market. Warnock is one of the four organizers of this event.

Kimberly Cassell is the owner of the Downtown Underground. She is an alumna of Algonquin College in community studies and the University of Ottawa in psychology.

She has been selling vintage clothing for 10 years and picks up items from Facebook marketplace, Value Village, Salvation Army and estate sales. “There is a really cool phenomenon that’s happening people come in and I’ve been buying in the store a lot,” said Cassell.

Maddie Craig, owner of MC Closet, has been selling vintage clothing for four years and takes it one step further. She took up sewing during COVID-19 and is now making new items out of old clothes and creating tote bags to upcycle items that she vends.

She said, “I quit my job and decided to take this one, full-time.”

Craig is also a full-time student at the University of Ottawa.

The vintage sale was a great success for the vendors and they hope to come back to the college more often.

Arts & Entertainment | Featured Story

Vintage

Linda Verreault

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Sens fall to Blackhawks in OT after honouring legend Chris Neil

The Chicago Blackhawks came from behind for a 4-3 victory on the back of a two-goal performance by Patrick Kane, spoiling a memorable night for the Ottawa Senators. Blackhawks centre […]

Andrew Sorokan

Photos: Rebekah Houter

February 17, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Rebekah Houter

Holden Gubb (left), 10, and Findlay Gubb (middle), 7, William Gubb (right), 12, are excited to cheer on their favourite team on a night when the Sens retired Chris Neil's number 25.

The Chicago Blackhawks came from behind for a 4-3 victory on the back of a two-goal performance by Patrick Kane, spoiling a memorable night for the Ottawa Senators.

Blackhawks centre Andreas Athanasiou scored the game-winner 2:52 into overtime. Athanasiou scored on a tap-in after he and teammate Tyler Johnson made cross-crease passes on a two-on-one.

The Senators honoured Chris Neil pre-game with a jersey retirement for his No. 25. The fans were all on their feet and cheered loud for the Sens legend when he came out. Guests for the ceremony included Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Sens legend Chris Phillips.

The third period was full of action, with four goals. With the game tied after two periods, the pair of goals the Sens netted in the third gave them the 3-1 lead and what looked to be a path to victory.

Claude Giroux started the scoring in the third at 2:11 with his 22nd goal of the season. Alex DeBrincat was credited with the assist, getting his first against his former club.

DeBrincat is in his first season with the Sens after being traded from Chicago to Ottawa in the summer of 2022. DeBrincat spent his previous five years with the Blackhawks after they drafted him in 2016.

Brady Tkachuk scored just over three minutes after Giroux did at 4:53 to give the Sens a 3-1 lead and control of the momentum. Tkachuk buried the puck on a tap-in from Sens winger Drake Batherson.

The Blackhawks had other plans. They started their comeback shorthanded with a goal from centre Sam Lafferty at 10:49, making it 3-2 Sens. Lafferty scored on a breakaway beating Sens goalie, Mads Sogaard, glove side.

At 16:55, Kane netted his second of the night to tie the game at three, setting up overtime.

With Kane playing on the last year of his contract and speculation of a trade at the deadline, this could be the last time Sens fans see Kane in Ottawa with a Blackhawks jersey.

The Blackhawks got on the board first when the puck dropped to start the game.

Only 44 seconds into the game, on the Blackhawks’ second shot, they found the back of the net. Max Domi passed cross-crease to Kane, who buried his 10th goal of the season.

The Sens struggled with getting the puck out of their zone in the first period, with Chicago outshooting the Sens and taking the 1-0 advantage into the first intermission.

The Sens tied the game up at one each 7:31 into the second period with a goal from Shane Pinto. After a Derick Brassard shot from the point, Pinto got his stick on the puck, deflecting it past Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek.

The game was knotted at one after 20 minutes of play. The Sens picked up their pace in the second, outshooting the Blackhawks 11-6

The Sens remain at home through the weekend and play the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.

Featured Story | Sports & Recreation

Andrew Sorokan

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Earthquake death toll in Turkiye and Syria nears 40,000

Local CTV: Despite safety concerns from the Transportation Safety Board, the head of Ottawa’s transit services says the city’s LRT system is safe. “The O-Train is safe. If for any […]

Rebekah Houter

Photos:

February 17, 2023
Revised: February 17, 2023 6:04pm

Local

CTV: Despite safety concerns from the Transportation Safety Board, the head of Ottawa’s transit services says the city’s LRT system is safe.

“The O-Train is safe. If for any reason we believed that the train wasn’t safe, we would not operate it,” said Renee Amilcar at the first meeting of Ottawa’s LRT subcommittee on Thursday.

The TSB warns of problems with the axle-bearing assembly on Ottawa’s Confederate Line trains and says the part will pose a risk until they get resolved.

OC Transpo is looking for heat detection units as recommended by the TSB but says the current technology is not equipped for light rails.

The trains are inspected every morning, and there are temporary speed reductions in several places along the tracks to reduce the force on the axles.

But Amilcar admits current measures are not substantial in the long term.

National

Global News: Unusually warm weather has broken records across southern Ontario this winter.

The high was 9.6 C on Feb. 15, beating out the warmest temperature last set of 6.7 C in 1954, according to Environment Canada from Ottawa International Airport.

The warm weather is not predicted to last, with colder winds coming in late February and early March.

This winter has been one of the “least predictable,” according to Anthony Farell, a Global News meteorologist.

International

CTV: Since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 6 in Turkiye and Syria, the death toll has now risen to nearly 40,000 people, with over 108,000 people injured.

The death toll is expected to rise in the upcoming days as more bodies are found.

As time goes on and the chance for survivors to be found, some international rescuers are beginning to pull out.

This has been described as the most natural disaster on NATO territory according to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

News

News briefs | News curation

Rebekah Houter

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Students challenging themselves every Monday at the ARC

Every Monday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Algonquin College students participate in an in-house event at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreational Centre where they get challenged with fun […]

Sahlym Florestal

Photos: Sahlym Florestal

February 17, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Sahlym Florestal

Ayoub Elbeggo enjoying himself while doing a dead hang.

Every Monday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Algonquin College students participate in an in-house event at the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreational Centre where they get challenged with fun and safe exercises.

According to Erica Johnston, a client service representative at the ARC, the goal of Move it Monday is to provide awareness that any kind of movement is great for your body and overall health.

“Creating these challenges allows members to motivate themselves and their friends to try out a new exercise. Overall, this promotes healthy living and well-being within our Athletics and Recreation facility,” said Johnston

Taking part in challenges is a fun way for students to try new exercises and challenge themselves while having a great time.

“I enjoy the Move it Mondays. They’re fun, you push yourself at a different exercise every week,” said Artem Kuptsov, a second-year student in the paramedic program.

Move it Mondays is also a great way for students to bring out their competitiveness.

“Move it Mondays are great; it gives you a competition to participate in every week. It’s always good to have a little bit of competitiveness.” said Lucas Moskaluk, a first-year student in the paramedic program.

Every Monday, the challenges change. On Feb.13, the ARC members challenged themselves to a dead hang competition, hanging on a bar for as long as possible.

“The challenge was fun, but I wish I had the chalk. The bar was very hard to hold on to,” said Lili Lebel, a first-year student in the fitness and health program.

Move it Monday has the potential to boost the competitive spirit of students by giving them an opportunity to compete with their friends.

“Today’s challenge wasn’t tough. I’ll wait and see who has the best score and come back later to beat it,” said Ayoub Moskaluk, a second-year student in the civil engineering program.

The challenges are a great way for students to improve their health.

“Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles and improve your ability to do everyday activities,” said Johnston.

Featured Story | Sports & Recreation

Arc | Exercise

Sahlym Florestal

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Clubsfest provides organizers with networking opportunities

When the first recruit signed up 30 minutes before the event’s start, the friendly Nerf club organizer knew she’d have a busy Clubsfest. “Get like-minded people together and shoot people […]

Alex Lambert

Photos: Alex Lambert

February 17, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Alex Lambert

Kathline Valiquette discusses her newly formed Nerf club with a student at the Clubsfest event on Feb. 8.

When the first recruit signed up 30 minutes before the event’s start, the friendly Nerf club organizer knew she’d have a busy Clubsfest.

“Get like-minded people together and shoot people with them,” said Nerf club organizer Kathline Valiquette. There were countless names on the newly formed club’s sign-up sheet.

Bringing nothing but a sole Nerf blaster, Nerf game rules and ambitions for a fully fledged club, Valiquette’s motivation stemmed from her animation professor, whose Nerf passion inspired her.

“People know there are clubs but not exactly like, which ones are available, which is why an event like this is so good. It shows what there is to offer,” Valiquette continued. She hopes to rent out an ample open space like the old gym and says other plans are in the works.

The Algonquin Students’ Association hosted a Clubsfest event at the Student Commons on Feb. 8.

“There’s such a variety, and honestly, the club’s world is endless for what you can create,” said Cassandra Jones, Students’ Association clubs and communities coordinator.

Clubs at Algonquin cover a range of interests, including well-being, academics, socializing, culture, gaming, sports and exercise.

Before Clubsfest, there were 49 active clubs spanning the Ottawa Algonquin College campus, plus five at the Pembroke campus and two at the Perth campus. Five new clubs were started because of the Feb. 8 Clubsfest event.

Primarch Club table featured a game piece's painting process, going from put-together pieces to priming and painting. The table was at the Clubsfest event on Feb. 8. Photo credit: Alex Lambert

With a remarkable turnout and a wide range of club representation, students noticed various group stations’ media, like the Primarch club’s “miniatures” among noisy discussions emanating through the Student Commons.

The music club’s percussion stool sounds emanated through the Student Commons every so often when the group organizer was not speaking to a potential recruit.

Josiah Claridge chats with a man about his experience in music club at the Clubsfest event on Feb. 8. Photo credit: Alex Lambert

“They let you have a decent bit of autonomy with whatever you do, when you meet and where. So, they mainly provide a really good platform for you to get familiarized with that,” said Josiah Claridge, a business management for entrepreneurship student who organizes the music club.

Claridge became the leader after he took over the role of organizer for the club. The music club offers weekly jam sessions. Claridge hopes to hold a concert eventually.

Beyond the opportunity of networking, the Students’ Association made accommodations to represent every club and brought candy bowls for each table.

“I find when people do actually look into the clubs, they find stuff they’re interested in,” said Aaron Perkins, a second-architectural technician student who organizes the powerlifting club.

Featured Story | Life

Clubs | Clubs and Communities | Clubsfest

Alex Lambert

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Pembroke campus launching business fundamentals program

A new business fundamentals program is coming to Algonquin College in Pembroke. The eight-month certificate program will begin in September 2023 and students will be workforce ready by April 2024. […]

Kerry Slack

Photos: Kerry Slack

February 16, 2023
Revised: February 16, 2023 9:11pm

Photo: Kerry Slack

Kim Drake prepares to welcome new students in-person and online.

A new business fundamentals program is coming to Algonquin College in Pembroke. The eight-month certificate program will begin in September 2023 and students will be workforce ready by April 2024.

Program coordinator Kim Drake says the program is ideal for anyone who is out of work or is looking to retrain for a different career. Drake hopes to have 30 students enrolled.

“Students will learn the principles of accounting, marketing, business law and human resources management,” said Drake. “The ideal candidates are high school graduates who are unsure of what they may want to study, students wishing to try business courses to see if it is the right fit, people in need of retraining or wishing to change vocations, people wanting to run a business and would like the fundamentals.”

Jamie Bramburger, manager of community and student affairs at the Pembroke campus, added, “We believe the program is a very good fit for our local labour market as we have many small businesses and a good mix of private and public employers who need graduates with fundamental business skills.”

The courses will be administered in-person on campus or online, giving students who have transportation issues, or barriers to getting into the campus a chance to enroll.

“This program as well as the business diploma are being delivered in a multimodal setting at the Pembroke campus. This allows students who do not have easy access to a campus to be able to attend asynchronous, real-life classes either in-person or in Zoom. This added flexibility is very advantageous for students and we now have students who join us from a great distance as well as local students who can attend campus regularly,” said Drake.

“Multi-modal classrooms are equipped with large video monitors, speakers and microphones that allow students to join classes in person or virtually at the same time. Students can choose on a daily basis how they access their courses giving them plenty of flexibility to engage with their faculty and classmates,” explains Bramburger.

The program is eligible for funding through Better Jobs Ontario.

“I anticipate the local students will continue to live and work in our area, helping to fill labour market gaps in our economy,” said Bramburger.

“We also partner with local businesses to allow the students to get some applied experiences within the courses. The business program has been a long-standing program at the Pembroke campus and well-integrated within our business community,” added Drake.

More details about the program and applications for the Business Fundamentals Certificate are available online here.

News

Hybrid learning model | Pembroke

Kerry Slack

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Students celebrate Valentine’s Day country style with Tebey

Students at Algonquin College celebrated Valentine’s Day country style with Tebey performing at the Algonquin Commons Theatre. Tebey is a platinum-selling artist with such hits as Denim on Denim and […]

Morgan Farrell

Photos: Morgan Farrell

February 16, 2023
Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm

Photo: Morgan Farrell

Tebey preforms in front of a crowd of 400 at the Algonquin Commons Theatre.

Students at Algonquin College celebrated Valentine’s Day country style with Tebey performing at the Algonquin Commons Theatre.

Tebey is a platinum-selling artist with such hits as Denim on Denim and Shotgun Rider. Along with being an acclaimed singer, he is also an award-winning songwriter, having written songs for many well-known bands in a variety of genres, such as One Direction, Flo Rida and Gord Bamford.

Students and concertgoers were lucky enough to see him perform his newest single, Country Music Kinda Night, a song he released that day to streaming services.

“It sounds great in there, a lot of people, it’s a good way to spend Valentine’s Day with the boys,” said Zack Veley, a first-year powerline technician student.

Along with Tebey, the Quebec-based country duo Five Roses opened the show. The night was filled with giveaways and prizes, and a few in attendance were able to win a meet and greet with Tebey.

Tebey is an artist who always tries to make time for his fans. At one point in the show, Tebey asked the jubilant crowd to follow him on social media, saying that he responds to as many of his fans who message him as possible.

The event was originally meant to be held in October but was postponed due to COVID-19, something that had left many eagerly waiting for the event for the past four moths.

“I thought it was good, I had tickets to the first one, so I’m glad he rescheduled. I think he came out with some new songs since the first event,” said Lauren Beaulne, a third-year learning and community development student.

“It was a great show, I can’t choose a favourite song, but I really like Denim on Denim. I heard about the outing, and I thought, why not, I had nothing to do tonight,” said Amanda Blenkarn, a third-year business administration student. “The openers (Five Roses) were really good.”

Arts & Entertainment | Featured Story

Algonquin commons theatre | Valentine's day