Page 45 – Algonquin Times

Algonquin College community decks the halls of the Student Commons

Students, staff, faculty and their families gathered in the Student Commons for the 13th annual tree lighting ceremony

Ben Seabrook

Photos: Ben Seabrook

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 6, 2024 12:04pm

Photo: Ben Seabrook

The Algonquin Students’ Association Board of Directors gets in on the action, being the first to get their photos taken with Santa Claus.

The AC Hub and the Students’ Association teamed up to kick off the holiday season for the Algonquin College community on Dec. 2 with the 13th annual tree lighting ceremony.

Students, staff, faculty and their families joined together in the Student Commons to celebrate the holidays with holly jolly activities.

“This is like an end-of-year tradition that we’ve done, and it encapsulates our relationship that we have with the SA,” said Samantha Therrien, event programmer for the AC Hub. “It’s just a nice way to kick off the holidays.”

Therrien sees the tree lighting ceremony as a way to celebrate the holidays where everyone can feel included.

“We’re trying to be non-denominational and welcoming to everyone of all faiths and religions and those who celebrate different holidays at this time of year, so the tree symbolizes the holiday season as a whole,” she said.

Shortly after the tree was lit, Santa Claus arrived. People of all ages lined up to get pictures taken with him in front of the tree wearing Christmas hats. Presents, stuffed animals and nutcrackers were behind Santa.

The tree is lit as the holiday season approaches. Photo credit: Ben Seabrook

Santa Claus wished Algonquin students good health, happiness and a successful graduation, hoping they finding jobs quickly. He said most students are on his nice list.

“A few are naughty, but I can’t give out coal anymore because it’s not eco-friendly,” Santa Claus said, joking, “so they have to pass gas.”

Following the ceremony, the AC Hub and SA held a Home Alone marathon in the Algonquin Commons Theatre. Students got to watch Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York on the big screen for free, with popcorn supplied.

According to Therrien, this edition of the event started earlier than previous years in hopes of higher attendance as students often leave campus around 5 p.m. or sooner.

“We wanted to get the students who are already on campus, and we wanted kids to be able to come before dinner,” she said.

Organizers supplied free food and hot chocolate and they organized a craft station where students and their children made gingerbread cookies.

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Ben Seabrook

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First Person: Growing up with coyotes

I'm not sure what the true effects of living near the coyotes was for me as a young person. They were an invisible presence. I was grateful to walk in the woods, but there were many nights when I feared what lived there

James Gray

Photos: Steven Dalloo

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 2:34pm

Photo: Steven Dalloo

"Today, when I think of the 'forest,' I think of a place that's nice to visit, but also a spot that houses creatures who hate human lives in a primeval way," writes the author.

Just four years ago, three Ottawa residents were attacked by coyotes in Riverside South. “It was definitely the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me,” said one woman, who had to fight off a coyote that lunged at her on the ground, and only escaped by fleeing in a car.

And the sightings have not stopped in the region. Almost every year, there’s calls for a cull or other action.

It’s something I’m familiar with from my own youth, growing up in Barrie. And yet living here in Ottawa attending Algonquin College, when I learned of this story, I realize how much worse it could’ve been.

Today, when I think of the “forest,” I think of a place that’s nice to visit, but also a spot that houses creatures who hate human lives in a primeval way.

I recall being six years old, and seeing a “Lost Cat” sign while on a walk. I pointed it out to my mom, and said, “We need to look out for her!”

Mom seemed concerned. “Yes, keep an eye out.”

As I got older, the signs kept appearing — ” Lost Cat,” “Lost Dog” — five or more times a year just in the neighbourhood. And I kept pointing them out. My parents, however, grew more and more noncommittal, often not even promising to keep an eye out unless I, in my childishness focus, kept badgering them.

When I was about ten, they finally explained it.

“There are coyotes in the woods. If the dog isn’t found quickly, he’s probably gone.”

I remember being sad, but also thinking that coyotes are cool. So I wasn’t too sad.

I asked Dad, “Have you ever seen a coyote?”

“No. Hopefully we never do.”

Around that time, a classmate at school also had her cat go missing. We were all sad for her, but, being kids, quickly went back to talking about NHL.

By the time I was 14, I’d affected a cynicism at the whole thing. I thought it was people’s own faults for letting their cats go outside, or their dogs wander off. Don’t they see the signs? Don’t they know what happened to the last outdoor cat?

And yet, when I walked our own dog some quiet evenings, I feared a howling pack would emerge from the woods and devour us both. Once, after a rainy night, I found paw-prints near the playground.

In 2022, during one coyote-caused hubbub in Ottawa, CBC quoted a resident who said he was “depressed for a week” after his cat was killed and that “it’s impossible to keep a pet home who is used to going outside.”

I had always felt smug for first not owning a family pet, and then when we got one, keeping a very close eye on him. Were these feelings merely a way to avoid acknowledging the reality of coyote danger? A smugness to ward off sadness, and blame the victims of the attack?

And in recent years, the aggression seems to have grown. This January, a coyote grabbed a dog that was right next its owner in Barrie. In Ottawa in 2022, there was a season which saw a dog killed, a cat killed, a coyote in a public park and one in a school yard. I never heard of anything like that growing up. Was I just lucky to live in a more peaceful time?

I’m not sure what the true effects of living near the coyotes was for me as a young person. I was grateful to walk in the woods, but there were many nights when I feared what lived there.

Today, I’m still quick to judge pet owners, yet I also grumble about those in urban areas without greenspace. Perhaps those who actually lost a pet to coyotes, or were attacked, feel this even more strongly. Or perhaps I’m just a grump and a paranoiac.

I do wish, honestly, that our school team here at Algonquin wasn’t called “Wolves.”

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James Gray

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Genre-hopping local author advises newbie writers to try it all

In a talk to the Media Club of Ottawa on Nov. 19, Catina Nobel, advised writers to push fear aside: "People said I had to stick to one genre. I was like, 'no, I'm just going to do whatever I want'"

Kaitlyn Lemay

Photos: Kaitlyn Lemay

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 1:50pm

Photo: Kaitlyn Lemay

June Cox (left) the president of the Media Club of Ottawa and Catine Noble (right).

Catina Noble, an Ottawa-based author, persevered through the challenges in her life to pursue her love of writing. She now has over 200 publications including books, short stories, poetry and articles.

At the Media Club of Ottawa meeting at the Lord Elgin Hotel on Nov. 19, Noble told aspiring authors they just need to put themselves out there and try everything to get the ball rolling.

Her newest book, Boxing Day, a romance novelette, was released on Nov. 16, just in time for the holidays.

The Media Club of Ottawa allows writers from all backgrounds of experience and ages to come together and use community to push each other forward. Denise Anne Boissoneau, a recent addition to the club, attended Noble’s presentation and has felt the support of the community in her journey into the writing world.

“It was the first time I had heard Ottawa described as a village,” Boissoneau said. She had only started to be able to call Ottawa home once she found herself within her writing and in the Media Club.

Noble is an Algonquin College social services worker graduate and currently enrolled in the addictions and mental health program, as well as the creative writing certificate program. She uses her Algonquin College diploma and a BA in psychology from Carleton University in her career working in halfway houses in Ottawa.

Since she was young, Noble always wanted to be a writer but found herself a single mother of four at 23 years old. She didn’t know how or if she would ever be able to pursue her dream.

She’s always kept journals, filling the pages everyday with her life story and fictional stories. But her writing never saw the light of day.

“I kept writing because it just, it gave me a reason to get up in the morning,” said Noble during her talk. “It just helped me stay focused and life was always better for me when I was actually writing.”

The fear of never getting published, and therefore wasting her time writing, lingered in her mind until 2013. Then she received notice that one of her poems, You Can’t See Me, had been shortlisted in a poetry contest in Ottawa. It eventually went on to win first place.

From that point on, the fear of rejection was pushed aside and Noble propelled forward, diving into her writing.

“I just wrote everything,” she said. “People said I had to stick to one genre. I was like, no, I’m just going to do whatever I want, and that’s what I did.”

Noble allows her life to bleed into her writing. Her eclectic collection ranges from having a story published in an edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul to non-fiction about booking a Black Friday deal to Mount Everest Base camp and going on the trip without any prior training.

While some writers want to live off their creativity, it may not be financially responsible for most people. Many authors, like her, have to work full time and write on the side.

“I remember thinking, there’s got to be more to life than just paying your bills,” said Noble. “I just, I cried so hard. And I was like, it stops here. We’re going to make changes. And I did.”

Public lending rights are a great way Noble suggested independent authors try and get paid for their work.

Public libraries can accept small authors and offer their books for lending in the library and authors can collect royalties. The process is done through the Canada Council for the Arts to see if the books qualify. The maximum they paid out per individual between 2023 and 2024 was $4,500, according to Noble.

Noble found connections through the Ottawa Media Club that have greatly helped her writing and the exposure necessary to propel her success. Having people in the same field supporting and sharing each other’s projects has had a huge impact in Noble’s marketing strategy.

“You meet different people and everybody’s at a different place,” said Noble. “They have a lot of experience… it’s just interesting to hear the different takes because everybody has a different approach.”

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Kaitlyn Lemay

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Holiday Market showcases student creativity and community connections

More than a holiday shopping destination, the event celebrated creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and the connections within the campus community

Zhiqi Zhou

Photos:

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 12:26pm

Miguel Fausto stands behind his booth selling his products on a table with already printed Christmas decorations and a working 3D printer.

The Holiday Market returned to the Student Commons in the E-building on Nov. 29 for its third year, with many students like Miguel Fausto honing their business skills at the event.

After the Students’ Association released the dates for the event, a number of vendors began signing up, including some of Algonquin College’s students. For many students, the market was a stepping stone into the world of entrepreneurship.

Fausto is a Level 3 engineering automation and robotics student. When he heard about the event, he immediately applied for a booth, trying to use the 3D printing technology he had learned in class to generate revenue.

“I decided to sell these Christmas ornament products to make some profits from something I love such as 3D printing,” Fausto said. “I design it myself and send it to the printer, which I call profiting from it.”

Many graduates joined the holiday market, including Amanda Rogocki, who graduated from the animation program at Algonquin College, and her sister, Erin Wiles, who brought their own printed and hand-knitted items to sell.

“I found out about this market when I was a student here, and it’s like a nice local market,” Rogocki said.

Wiles came to the event for the first time with her sister and her booth setup was not an easy task.

“It could be very intimidating during the first set up,” Wiles said. “There’s a lot of things to consider such as how to make the product and also how to do the payment.”

Rogocki has been doing this kind of activity for a long time and she’s hoping her business will expand outside of Ontario.

“I may attend more events outside of Ontario. Right now I go to Toronto and also Montreal. But I’m also hoping to do some shows in Calgary and Vancouver,” Rogocki said.

Dory Tran and Annie Le, Level 3 supply chain students at Algonquin College, love the market.

“In the mall, people there are crazy,” Tran said. “But here you have the time to walk around and ask how they made it and I think it’s more fun.”

Le said such events could be publicized more in the future.

“I didn’t know the event was happening today, I wish there could have been some notice and more advertisement,” Le said.

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Zhiqi Zhou

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Bedroom fire on Viewmount Drive leaves bungalow scorched

Repairs were underway after a fire ripped through a one-storey bungalow near Algonquin College

Ben Fleguel

Photos: Ben Fleguel

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 12:04pm

Photo: Ben Fleguel

The scene left over from the blaze that displaced eight people living in the bungalow.

A fire that started in a bedroom of a one-storey bungalow on Viewmount Drive has left the dwelling needing serious repairs.

Ottawa Fire Services said it received multiple calls on Nov. 27 reporting flames and smoke coming out of the structure at approximately 8:55 p.m.

According to Ottawa Fire Services, eight students were displaced by the fire. However, the owner of the bungalow, who spoke with the Algonquin Times, said they were not students but a part of the workforce. The occupants were not home during the blaze and no injuries were reported.

Workers had repairs underway two days after the fire on Friday morning. At the rear of the house, all but one window in the basement had been boarded up after the windows were ruined in the fire.

The facia and soffit on the front and northeast sides of the house were scorched beyond repair and had to be ripped out.

Workers are about to begin work on the northeast side of the house. Photo credit: Ben Fleguel

The damage the fire caused was still visible at the rear, with the fire burning the soffit jet black above the windows.

The fire started in the bedroom behind the top left window. The violent scorch marks are still slightly visible below. Photo credit: Ben Fleguel

Firefighters arrived on the scene Wednesday night four minutes after being dispatched.

The owner told the firefighters that no occupants were inside the home when they arrived.

According to OFS, the firefighters initiated a “fast attack” and advanced a hose line on the structure.

Firefighters had the blaze under control nine minutes after arriving at the dwelling. They then ventilated the building using high-pressure fans strategically placed inside the home.

The cause of the fire was still unknown, but an Ottawa fire investigator was been dispatched to determine the source.

Victim assistance was called to the scene of the fire to help the eight displaced tenant, according to OFS.

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Students climb to the top of the ARC’s latest competition

Competitors looked to climb their way to victory in the beginner, intermediate and advanced divisions in a rocky race to the top

Tyler Reis-Sanford

Photos: Tyler Reis-Sanford

December 4, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 11:18am

Photo: Tyler Reis-Sanford

Tessa Galbreath says she has "found a great community here" with fellow rock climbers.

More than 50 contestants bouldered, billeted and climbed their way to the top of the rankings, scoring points by completing various courses and recording their times for a rock climbing competition at The Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre during the last week of November.

“We run on a bit of an honour system here,” said competition organizer Adrian Bunner. “But people usually come in groups to compete with friends, and they keep each other accountable.”

The event was a collaboration between the Students’ Association and Coyote Rock Gym with competition split into multiple divisions: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Each category winner was awarded a gift card to Coyote Rock Gym, a rock climbing gym in the east end of Ottawa.

Kieran Ferren-Miller is an Algonquin College alumni who works at Coyote Rock Gym. Ferren-Miller came to the ARC to help set up the boulders, but figured he’d stay to try his luck at the more advanced courses.

Kieran Ferren-Miller shows off some of his hard earned callouses after braving the advanced courses of the Arc rock wall. — Kieran Ferren-Miller shows off some of his hard earned callouses after braving the advanced courses of the ARC rock wall. Photo credit: Tyler Reis-Sanford

“I probably go four, maybe five times a week,” said Ferren-Miller. “Course 33, that’s definitely the hardest, 33, 32 and 27. I don’t think anyone has completed those.”

The courses are laid out in order of ascending difficulty, with Course 1 being the easiest to climb with the most options, and Course 33 being the hardest.

Tessa Galbreath is a Level 3 photography student who has been rock climbing for just over a year, and said she’s found a new passion for the sport.

“Funny enough my two friends got me into it, they brought me here one day and then never came back, and I did,” said Galbreath. “There’s days where I’ll go six or seven hours a day if I can, not always to climb but sometimes to take breaks in between, to just chat with other people in the community. Climbing people are the best.”

Galbreath said the rock climbing community has been very supportive and welcoming, and that beginners shouldn’t worry about being judged.

“I hate working out, but climbing is such a fun full-body exercise. Now I’m working out to get better at climbing,” said Galbreath with a laugh. “It’s a full circle moment.”

The winners of the competition are expected to be announced in early December.

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Tyler Reis-Sanford

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Canada Post strike disrupts student life at Algonquin College

Algonquin College stops incoming and outgoing mail due to Canada Post strike

Emmet Paradis

Photos: Emmet Paradis

December 4, 2024
Revised: December 4, 2024 3:55pm

Photo: Emmet Paradis

Unlocking a Canada Post mailbox on Bedbrook Street in Nepean.

The ongoing Canada Post strike, which began on Nov. 15, is causing significant disruptions for students at Algonquin College.

As the national postal service suspends all activity, students are facing challenges in receiving important documents, parcels and managing their daily affairs.

The college has taken immediate action to address the situation. In a statement to employees, the college announced, “Until further notice, incoming and outgoing mail will cease.”

The termination of mail services is expected to have “a substantial effect on day-to-day college work,” according to the college.

The impact on students varies depending on their individual circumstances. For Breeanna Maurice, a Level 2 veterinary assistant student, her banking and insurance mail is affected.

“I think it’s affecting all students differently depending on if you like hard copies or emailed stuff for your bills,” she said.

For students living in residence, the strike causes unique challenges.

“I had to order a parcel to my parents’ house to make sure I got it before I’m gone for my internship,” said Alice Baker, a Level 4 broadcasting – radio student. “And I had to pay an extra $20 because it’s further away.”

The college is advising students and staff to seek alternative solutions for urgent deliveries.

“If there are any urgent deliveries that cannot be delayed, these can always be couriered by dropping them off at central shipping and receiving,” according to the colleges communication department.

The strike’s timing is problematic as it aligns with the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Canada Post has warned that customers should expect delays, even after the strike ends, as it will take time for operations to return to normal.

For international students, the strike can cause additional stress, potentially delaying important documents or packages from home. The college’s International Education Centre is ready to provide support and guidance.

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Emmet Paradis

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Record-breaking game for the men’s basketball team before winter break

The Algonquin Wolves accomplished more than just a win against La Cité Coyotes

Itel Sapozhnikov

Photos: Itel Sapozhnikov

December 4, 2024
Revised: December 4, 2024 3:53pm

Photo: Itel Sapozhnikov

Tesloch Luk (left) has the highest point per game average in all of Ontario College Athletic Association and Simon Desta (right) just broke the all-time scorer record.

The crowd went wild when Algonquin Wolves’ guard Simon Desta sunk the three-pointer that broke Algonquin’s all-time scoring record at home against La Cité Coyotes on Nov. 29.

The record was previously held by Gary Gallagher, who played for the men’s basketball team from 1983 to 1986 with a total of 1,149 points. After this thrilling game, Desta has a total of 1,152 points.

“It’s a pretty big accomplishment, can’t lie,” said Desta. “I feel good.”

The men’s basketball team conquered the court during the last game of 2024 with a final score of 97-74.

The Coyotes’ attempt to keep up with the Wolves was unsuccessful and they fell short during the first period with the score of 23-18.

By halftime, the Wolves had established a dominant lead, ending the second period with a score of 48-37.

Tesloch Luk, the Wolves’ forward, was on fire. He finished the match with 26 points. Currently, he has the most points per game within the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association with 22.4 points per game on average.

“I feel good, we’re 7-3,” said Luk. “Hoping to come out next semester stronger and better, and hopefully chase after a championship.”

Desta also has his eyes on the big prize. He believes Luk will be a crucial part in leading the team towards winning a championship.

As the game when on, the Wolves kept expanding their lead. By the end of the third period, they were ahead by 22 points with a score of 73-51.

“It’s nice to get a win,” said Wolves’ head coach Trever Costello. “Is it our best effort? No, but I think we’re a lot better than we have been.”

Costello said the Wolves will continue to practice during the month-long hiatus. Imad Ruhamyandekwe, the Wolves’ guard, feels the same.

“We’re just trying to stay hungry and do better in the second semester,” said Ruhamyandekwe.

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Itel Sapozhnikov

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Woodroffe campus after dark: a tribute to the overnight cleaning crew

When darkness falls, a dedicated night crew works tirelessly to ensure Algonquin College is spotless and ready for a new day

Grinje Randa Bringi

Photos: Tshilinda Musadi, Khushneet Singh, Caleb Edem Quarcoo and Mark Belarmin. Photo credit

December 4, 2024
Revised: December 4, 2024 2:07pm

Photo: Tshilinda Musadi, Khushneet Singh, Caleb Edem Quarcoo and Mark Belarmin. Photo credit

Some of Algonquin College’s night shift environmental service workers, clockwise from top left

It’s Friday, well past midnight at Algonquin College. The once-bustling hallways are now silent, with only the hum of fluorescent lights and the rhythmic tune of the electric floor scrubber gliding across the tiles. Hours earlier, these same corridors were alive with chatter and footsteps, but now they belong to the night shift crew.

“You know, sometimes I’m done in the morning, and as I’m walking home, students pass by completely unaware that I’m one of the people who keeps this campus clean,” said Caleb Edem Quarcoo, a environmental service worker who works overnight. “And that alone makes me feel good.”

Quarcoo’s quiet pride reflects the essential yet often overlooked role the cleaning staff play in the college’s ecosystem, ensuring students and staff begin each day in a safe and clean environment.

Caleb Edem Quarcoo, a environmental service worker, is an international student from Ghana, pursuing a construction engineering technician diploma. Photo credit: Grinje Randa Bringi

This photo essay honours the resilience and dedication of Algonquin’s night shift team. They are the unseen hands that ensure Algonquin College is ready to welcome its 20,000 students and 1,300 staff each morning.

In Quarcoo’s case, he is an international student from Ghana, pursuing a construction engineering technician diploma. By day, he’s a student; by night, an environmental service worker.

His tireless efforts to balance multiple jobs and academic ambitions reflect his determination to succeed. Quarcoo aspires to start his own business after graduation.

“It’s all about dedication and self-motivation,” said Quarcoo. “I work here overnight and during the day I work at a hotel and I’m a student.”

A quiet, rain-soaked campus at night. Photo credit: Grinje Randa Bringi

For these environmental service workers, their labour goes beyond cleaning. It’s about creating an environment where students, staff and faculty can thrive. Each worker brings their own story, shaped by unique backgrounds, sacrifices and dreams.

Many like Quarcoo, Tshilinda Musadi, Khushneet Singh and Mark Belarmin are immigrants who juggle the challenges of supporting their families while contributing to the college’s success.

Father of two has been working overnight at Algonquin College for 5 Years. — Mark Belarmin, a father of two, has been working overnight at Algonquin College for five years. Photo credit: Grinje Randa Bringi

Belarmin has been part of the environmental services team at Algonquin College for over five years. He has meticulous attention to detail and always ensures the classrooms and common areas are clean and welcoming.

Originally from the Philippines, Belarmin is a devoted father of two who is very professional and pleasant to be around.

“I focus on doing my job right,” said Belarmin. “When I see the results, it feels good.”

Khushneet Singh: An international student from India, currently a Level 1 Nursing Student and overnight environmental service worker. — Khushneet Singh, an international student from India, is currently a level 1 nursing student and overnight environmental service worker. Photo credit: Grinje Randa Bringi

Singh, a level 1 nursing student from India, is one of the newest members of the team. He balances his studies with three night shifts per week.

“Most of my classes are in the morning so the night shift doesn’t interfere with my studies,” said Singh.

His flexibility and focus speak to the adaptability required of international students balancing work and school.

Overnight Environmental service worker of 16 years at Algonquin College and a PSW by day. — Tshilinda Musadi, an overnight environmental service worker, has been with Algonquin College for 16 years and is a PSW by day. Photo credit: Grinje Randa Bringi

Tshilinda Musadi has been cleaning at Algonquin College for 16 years. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, she manages her demanding night shift while being a mother to three young adults.

She has a carefree personality and infectious laughter. Musadi lights up even the quietest corners of the Dare District and MakerSpace. Her favourite building is J-building, where she worked for the longest time.

By Monday morning the campus will come back to life, bustling with students and staff. The night shift crew will have clocked out quietly, their work done, as the spaces they’ve cleaned fill with the activity of a new day.

Their contributions may go unnoticed, but they remain indispensable.

So, next time you see an environmental service worker, take a moment to acknowledge them. A simple thank you can go a long way in showing appreciation for the people who keep Algonquin College running smoothly.

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Grinje Randa Bringi

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Students put out loud vibes at Silent Disco party

Around 40 students had the chance to join the Silent Disco, a one-of-a-kind experience at the AC Hub

Aicha Chamor

Photos: Aicha Chamor

December 4, 2024
Revised: December 4, 2024 1:26pm

Photo: Aicha Chamor

Students are dancing, taking selfies and sharing the same channel.

As exams approach and stress fills the campus, the Students’ Association brought joy to students by hosting a Silent Disco at the AC Hub on the second floor of the E-Building on Nov. 28. From 5 to 7 p.m., students listened to music, danced and enjoyed light snacks.

The Silent Disco streamed live and attracted around 800 viewers from different parts of the world, thanks to Ash Kater, a business marketing student and TikToker who shared his experience with his followers.

According to Kater, the party was fun and interesting, as he had never been to one like it before. However, his expectations were higher.

“I was expecting zero noise, but everyone is singing, which makes it even funnier,” he said.

The concept of a Silent Disco party is simple: each person puts on special light-up headphones that could connect to various DJs playing very different music.

There were three channels, each with a different colour representing a different music genre: green for smooth jazz, blue for pop and red for Indian music. The colours made it easy to see who was dancing to which tunes, allowing students to join their peers who were on the same wavelength.

Alongside dancing, there were light snacks including chips, soda and Cranberry Twilight Punch.

For some students, the Silent Disco served as a platform for social connection.

“I believe that our friendship is going to last for so long, we added each other on social media and we are planning to keep in touch from now on,” said Harshpreet Kaur, a student in interactive media design, who came alone to the event with curiosity to experience it and to let go of the pressures of daily life.

She was on the red channel listening to music when she met a group of Indian students for the first time, all of whom were strangers before this party but shared the same passion for a music genre.

“I love these moments of human unity, there is no fear of judgment, no thinking of “are others going to do it,” said Vanshika Saran Sharma, a friend of Kaur.

Even though the vibe was enjoyable for the group, Kaur and her friends expressed disappointment that the playlist didn’t include Punjabi music, which is an important part of Indian culture.

They also raised concerns about the need for air conditioning in the room because it felt too hot.

A total of 95 headphones were rented by the Students’ Association specifically for the Silent Disco.

The event was planned after thorough research conducted by Rebecca Lafontaine and Samantha Therrien, the event officers for the college.

Therrien said that after every event, they carried out a survey to ask students about what they liked and didn’t like, as well as what they would like to see in the future.

“Based on trends of what other colleges are doing and what other people in this age demographic enjoy doing, we try to cater to that kind of stuff,” said Therrien.

The Students’ Association is always open to suggestions from students, including the idea of hosting a loud disco in the future.

“We do have to be mindful of noise at the college because of classes and stuff like that, but if students want it, we always try to figure out a way to make it happen,” said Therrien.

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